Trees are Good

We went to check out the "Kid's Day in the Garden" at the Great Big Greenhouse and had a lot of fun today! We saw Clifford, and Claire went right up to him and waved, hugged him, and gave him a high five. They had several cute activities set up for the kids, a little farmer's market, and a petting zoo. When we left, they gave us a tiny tree to plant so after naptime, we headed outside to plant our tree! Claire helped me dig...
Here's the proud gardener with her work... (doesn't everyone wear a dress, a coat, and rain boots to work in the yard?)

I can't promise that we planted it exactly 100% the way you're "supposed" to.....sorry Uncle Andy. I hope it survives - the info they gave us said to plant it in a sunny spot which doesn't exist in our yard. We'll see! Claire was very proud though and when Daddy got home, she wanted to show him her tree. She told him "you can pet it" and then she petted the tree!

Christmas (and New Years!) with the Southards

On Saturday we headed to Newport News for our Southard Christmas party (postponed due to snow) and we had a wonderful time seeing everyone!

Here's Uncle Jake helping Claire with her present...

and Uncle Jake playing with Katie. He is such a good uncle to these girls! (From what I hear Claire was loving her quality time with Jake watching football...wish I had a video of that!)

Brooke, Claire, Matt, Tim, and Joe opening presents...

Claire playing with her Rudolph and Katie's Rudolph. (we are slowly learning to share!) Mary Lynn...LOVE the hat! Thanks!

More of Claire playing with Katie's toys. Why do I bother to bring things when everyone else's stuff is so much more interesting?! Not only did she commandeer Katie's things, but we raided Caitlin's beanie babies and played with those too. (We even got to take home the baby skunk...THANKS!!!)

My family getting ready to head home. We loved spending time with everyone today and thanks for all the wonderful gifts!

Hopefully a few more pictures to come.....

Lewis Ginter in the Winter!

One of Claire's favorite summertime things to do was going to Lewis Ginter with Mimi. We thought it would be fun to take her at Christmas-time to see what she thought of all the lights. We bundled up and headed over Friday night to check it out. She ran around like she owned that place! She scurried around from one thing to the next....the lights maze, the treehouse, the kids' play area.....she loved it! I don't think I've ever seen her run so fast (Rob didn't realize he'd be spending the whole night chasing after her)! After being out in the cold for while, we headed indoors to see the beautiful Christmas tree and the trains! This picture is Claire intensely watching the trains. She didn't like the one that came a little too close to her!

It was too dark to get good pictures. This is a quick video of Claire looking at the rows of little (baby) candy canes.

(Subtitles: "That's be-a-u-tiful. It's beautiful. Baby candy canes!")

Happy 2010!

Happy New Year friends and family! We're looking forward to all that 2010 will bring!

Aunt Alison and Cousin Katie stopped by for some New Year's Eve playtime. Both Claire and Katie were little "hams" and put on a great show for us. Claire loves to kiss her cousin and talk to her. They also did a little dancing and Claire said "nice dancing baby Katie!"

Silly Claire

Just a few videos of Claire dancing, singing, and being silly!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Christmas, Round 4

The day after Christmas we headed to the farm to celebrate with Ganny, Billie, Dude, the Rozakis family, Jake, Matt, Alison, and Katie! I think it was the most people I've ever seen gathered around Ganny's table. We had a wonderful lunch together, visited, and opened more presents.

Claire got this cool train with animals from Uncle Matt, Aunt Alison, and Katie!

This was the best I could do for a picture of the cousins together. (Claire was giving Katie a kiss.) How could you not kiss that baby - look at those cheeks!!

Here Claire is playing with her "10 year twin" as we call them. Anne Cole shares a birthday with Claire 10 years apart. Claire was so drawn to Anne and watched everything she did. Thanks so much Anne for being so sweet to her!

The Rozakis family brought Claire gifts too - a cute outfit and Christmas weebles from Anne!

Before we headed home, Claire found some toys that have been left by grandkids along the way.

She especially liked the rocking horse upstairs!

Thanks to everyone for making it such a great Christmas! You'd think after 4 family gatherings Christmas would be over.....but we actually have one more to go in Norfolk with the Southards on Saturday!!

It's Christmas!

We woke up Christmas morning and Santa had come! We opened stockings first...

Santa knows how much Claire loves animals! She got a deer, a moose, a bear, and several other woodland animals in her stocking.

After a nice breakfast (including ziplock omelets and the Christmas must-have sausage balls) it was time for presents!

Santa brought the other 2 Wonder Pets, Tuck and Winnie, and a book to go with them!

And a box full of MORE animals! They were a hit!

That evening we headed over to the Hulchers to celebrate with them. It brought back so many memories of pizza at my grandfather's house on Christmas night. We always laugh about the pizza - how he would leave it on the counter for who knows how long and the one year that he forgot to buy it. There wasn't any pizza place open on Christmas Day so if I remember correctly we had pizza (and hot dogs?) from 7-11 that year!

We tried to get a family shot by their Christmas tree....this was the best we could do. I think Claire is roaring like a lion or something??

Claire and Mimi....Mimi is wearing Grandpa's Christmas vest!

It was a very special Christmas and we all had so much fun. I love to experience the holidays through Claire - all the excitement and wonder. I can't wait til next year when she really "gets" it all!