Happy Birthday Claire!

It's so crazy how time passes so quickly. One year ago I had just moved to a new city, into a new house that needed work, into a whole new life and
I literally can't believe I looked like this...

Yes I was this large moving boxes, unpacking, cleaning and nesting....CRAZY. However just a few short hours after this picture taken.... I had this in my arms!!!!

Yes this sweet baby Claire Jane was born at 4:32pm weighing in at a whopping 8lbs 4oz 20 1/2in long

Such a beautiful baby!!

Looking at these pictures caused so many emotions to flood back. I was scrolling through the hospital photos on my computer and tears filled my eyes. I so vividly remember the ride to the hospital and talking to Wally how our life was about to dramatically change. I remember checking into the hospital and snacking on ice chips all day. I read the whole book "The short second life of Bree Tanner" as I labored. Then 2 pushes later she was here in my arms. What a feeling!!!! The pain of labor (of course I was induced with an epidural, but by this point it was wearing off) and then having a pleasure of having the most innocent and precious thing forever. When they are in the belly, they feel so enormous, but look how bitty she is in her carseat...

Now my baby is allowed to be in a big girl carseat facing forward! Just in time for our Michigan trip!!! Time flies, but it somehow seems like she's always been part of the family!

This really is my 4th child...

So I'm outside minding my own business, pulling weeds ECT When I look over to see this...

And then this...

Instead of stopping my baby, I just let her continue what she's doing, just to see what happens...

I think that she was regretting her decision!!! Don't we all feel that way sometimes, especially after a supersize value meal or a hot fudge sundae??

I can't believe that I actually have 4 kids! It often blows my mind! But then there are some days where I don't think that 4 is too many...I know, I'm out of my gourd! I'm just so grateful that I have had an opportunity to be a mommy. My kids are so amazing, don't get me wrong, it is soo hard a times, but all in all the good WAAYYY out weighs the difficult times. When I look into my sweet babies eyes, I know what pure joy feels like...and that is priceless!!

Dancin Machine

My girls have been DYING to get enrolled in a dance class and finally we got them in! It is a jazz, tap and ballet class. Amelia has been counting down the days until "dance class." The day finally came! They took a bath in the morning and immediately put on their dance clothes. Class didn't start until 2:45 so they were dressed for like 4 hours! They are so beautiful inside and out!!
2 Ballerina girls striking a pose

Amelia Grace age 4

Lauren Elizabeth age 6

Before I know it, baby Claire will be joinin the ranks of them!!!

Twilight Camp

Since Ethan is now 8, we have him in Cub Scouts. In our city they have this amazing camp called Twilight Camp. (I know I thought of the book too!! Maybe that's why I loved the camp sooo much!!!) So about 300 boys from the area were brought together for this camp and it was from 4:30-8:30pm M-F. He had such an amazing time!! It was 110% boy filled fun and he had a total blast! One of the activities they did was these hats. They put little "swap ems" on them and he was able to trade other boys for fun things ECT. It was great!! He made Hex bugs out of a toothbrush, a drum from a real cow hide, whirly bird, a boat powered by air and a balloon, shot bee bee guns and did archery....just to name a few!! Can't wait til next year!

Sum sum summa time!

This is our pool for our association...it's called the "beach club."
We spend a whole lot of time here because it's a pool and it's stinkin hot here!!! It's super cool though because it actually gives you sand, as if you were at a beach, but it is a chlorinated pool...pretty sweet right??

This was little Claire's first experience...without freaking out, on the sand...she seemed to LOVE it!

Here is big sister Lauren lovin on her baby sissy! The kids absolutely adore Claire....maybe that's why she has NO desire to walk yet? The kids do EVERYTHING for her!!

Ethan has done really well adjusting to our move and making new friends. We brought Hudson, one of his new friends who just so happens to live in our neighborhood and is in his class, along for the swimming day. He is such a sweet boy...seriously this kid says "Yes maam, and NO maam" all the time!! LOVE him! They played Pokemon the whole time...who does that any more? I remember that about 15 years ago..a pat on the back for the man who came up with that!!

Amelia is turning into such a little fish!! She hasn't technically learned to swim yet, but she feels really comfortable going under the water and using her goggles to see what's happenin down under!! She is such a goof ball!!

We made sand castles, went to the splash pad, played mermaids and dolphins and finally we knew it was time to go!! She honestly passed right out in Daddy's arms! She is a Daddy's girl!!! What a fun day!

Someone is growing up!!

So today EC came home from school and....

He is such a stinkin cute kid! I love him so much and he tries so hard to be good! He now has lost 5 teeth...my little boy is growing up!

Chip and Dale??

So let's talk about squirrels...I know, random right? Well these sweet, cuddly little critters are so fun to watch as they run across the road or collect acorns, adorable...not so much! These little buggers are vicious, coniving, and sneaky! I am soooo done with squirrels!!!!!! Let me just let you in on what we have been going through the past week!
We recently discovered that one of these darling little squirrels was with child...er children, she was looking for a place to build her nest. Instead of making a nest in the GINORMOUS tree in front of my house, she decided that the best thing to do was to make a hole in my house to make a nest and have her little rat babies!!!! We found this out too late! So we decided to get one of those crazy ladders that were on an info-mercial in the 90's or something. One of those ladders that can convert and contort into like 135 different ways.(we have so many tall places in our house, we totally needed a 22' ladder!)

We had a handy-man come over to see if he could close the hole. He said that we would need to capture the squirrels befor we could repair the hole. So I called the city and they brought a cage over...I know this thing is legit!

So I didn't think that we could successfully catch the squirrels if the cage was on the ground, so I put the cage on the roof. I set up this mother of a ladder all by myself!!

I baited the cage with the squirrels favorite, sunflower seeds and nuts, and slowly descended from the ladder. I didn't think that it would be safe to leave the ladder leaning against my house, so I wanted to collapse the ladder. These ladders slide into themselves so it makes about a 10' ladder. Well, this was the first time I had ever used this ladder....and I slid the ladder from the roof into itself...and right on to my big toe!!!!!

I'm not sure if I broke it or not, but it was instantly black and blue and it flippin HURT!!!!! My kids didn't know what to say! I was kinda freakin out! So crazy! I can't believe I didn't loose my toe! I have been limping and my toe was soooo swollen! You take for granted things like, a big toe, until something goes wrong...be grateful for your working toes!!! Well long story short, we caught a total of 6 squirrels over the course of the weekend and the hole is now clear of varmits!!!!!! Wally has plans of repairing the hole tomorrow, so hopefully there won't be any more mishaps!!! Isn't homeowner-ship grand?

A VERY busy weekend

What a weekend! Saturday was crazy and soo much fun!! Our community had its annual Easter Party. We were able to go egg hunting, meet the Easter Bunny, go to a petting zoo, jump in the bounce houses, and visit the balloon guy! Following the community party, the school had its carnival. We stayed all night and had a total blast!!! I love Texas in the spring! You can do everything outside! Such a great time!!
My sweet babies with the Easter Bunny...Claire isn't sure about this!

Amelia loved holding all the animals at the petting zoo

The balloon guy would only do a bunny or a bunny hat...Amelia and Ethan wanted swords!

Sweet sisters loving their freshly painted cheeks!

Cute Claire

Who didn't want to try this at the mall at one time or another?? All three of my kids, in true former cheerleader style, were doing backflips simultaneously!!!!

Racers Start Your Engines!!

So my child is old enough to be in Cub Scouts....how is this possible....first a baptism, then Scouting! Craziness...I'm seriously getting old! Anyway, with Cub Scouts comes the, da da da daaa...PINE WOOD DERBY! I am soooo not a car person...I've never been. Especially when the "car" starts as a block of wood. So creating the car was completely in Wally and Ethan's hands. They carved and sanded, painted and glued. And finally "The Blue Bolt" was ready for racing! There were about 15 boys and my child seriously got 1st place in his wolf den and 2nd place overall!!!!! How is this possible?? I can't even believe it!! My kid is awesome! I was so proud of him! Congratulaions EC!!

Welcome back!!

So I can't believe I'm actually doing this, but....I am updating my blog!! It has been such a long time that I didn't even remember how to "update" a blog. My profile was so outdated! It said that I had 3 kids and was married 8 years...it has been a llloonnnngg time, too long! Since my family is all out of state, and one my besties has recently moved to Argentina, I have decided to give this blogging thing another try. Since we last spoke, we have moved and had another baby...she is almost 10 months old! Things are good!!! My Wally is still at Halff Associates and I'm still at home with kiddos!
Ethan and Lauren are excelling at school. They attend Glen Oaks Elementary. Ethan recently had a presentation at school where he had a choice of several different historical figures. He REALLY wanted to be Davy Crockett, but he was already taken, so by default he chose Theodore Roosevelt. It was called a living museum and 2nd graders researched their figure, memorized a speech and dressed up as the character. All the kids set up in the cafeteria and parents, students, ECT walked around and learned about these prominent figures. It was really cute!!
Here he is as Mr. President

And here he is with his constituents!