Christmas 2010

Christmas morning at Nene's and Pepaw's Santa spread!
Look what Santa brought...excuse the bedhead!

Waking up and smiling

I forgot her stocking so a bag had to work but she didn't mind...it's always the little things that get the attention first.

What a look! I love it!

I had to get Claire a "name bench". Me and my sisters had them when we were kids....it's one of those things I have yet to part with.

She loves to help me clean, so she got her very own Dyson!

John Deere is finally getting some attention....she wasn't so sure about it at first.

Barney had to ride too!

Time to take it for a real spin!

Funny story: Later on in the day Claire was driving and cousin Gavin was in the back, she was driving around and around in circles. Then we realized she had fallen asleep while driving!!! I guess Christmas just wiped her out! Gavin had to wake her up.

Christmas at Mimi's & Pop Pop's

More cleaning supplies....YaY!

Can you tell who gets all the attention??!!

Silly girl!

Sweet girl!

Claire loves giving very tight hugs these days...not sure if Mimi is breathing here!

I am kicking myself for not taking more pictures this Christmas...so unlike me!

A Day at the Zoo....

....well a few months ago, back this summer, when it was hot and sunny! Nothing like finding summer time pictures on your camera on a cold, snowy day! Claire loves the zoo and knows nearly all the animals...I know as soon as the sun comes back out and the days get longer and we can put our shorts back on, we will head back to the zoo!

Christmas Card Photo Shoot

Everyone is always looking for that perfect Christmas card picture....these are just some of favorite pictures I took of Miss Claire. I just LOVE her Christmas dress!

More Catching Up...

Oh! How I love this little girl!!!
Claire loves helping in the kitchen...stirring the cornbread for the Christmas Day dressing.

This little girl would be in heaven if she had a "Claire size" puppy. This is Alye's new puppy, Wilma, and oh, how Claire loved Wilma......by the end of the night I am not sure if Wilma felt the same way!

Catching Up...

Daddy, Uncle Ry Ry, and their buddies killed a lot of ducks and Miss Claire thought she needed her picture made with them. Of course, she even had to "pet" a few of them.
Gabell wanted her picture too...even though she didn't retrieve any of these ducks.

One Happy Little Girl!...That is our Super Excited face!

Children's Church Christmas Party....Claire wasn't so sure about Santa but she sure loved playing with all the kids and coloring her stocking!

Big Girl

I just have to say I am such a proud Momma!!! Claire is completely potty trained and has been for a month...knock on wood! She still wears a diaper at night because I would rather change diapers and not sheets. She is growing up so fast. She is telling me how to fix her hair, wanting to dress herself, telling me what she wants to wear, what cup she wants to drink from....I would be lying if I didn't admit that she pushes my patience to a limit in outer space. I just hope this is normal and that it doesn't mean I am a bad mother?? Which I question all the time these days! But everything around our house is "Me do it" or "Am going to do it"and of course, we should have been out the door to be somewhere 5 minutes before...note to self: practice patience...and we are working on proper words.

Claire moved up to Toddler 3 this week so now she is in the class with 3 year olds. She is trying to "read" on her own. I say that loosely but she does pick up books and start to tell the actual story of the book. Maybe she is going to be an early reader or maybe she just has a dang good memory!

Christmas was crazy, hectic, exciting...and will be a later post. I will try and get back in the swing of blogging....really no excuse, it's just taken a backseat.

11 for 11

1. Trust in the Lord

2. Be Happy

3. Laugh More

4. Try Harder

5. Rest

6. Think Positive

7. Stop and Breathe

8. Slow Down

9. Savor Everyday Moments

10. Think of Others

11. Love Deeper...including myself