Clara, Clara, Clara

I don't know if it was the slight fever she had today or the cold she has inherited from Gracie (who is almost recovered now), but Clara was non-stop entertainment in the car today.  Our journey consisted of driving to Gracie's piano camp and then to various stores and then back to pick Gracie up.

On the way to the piano camp, Clara was sure we had gone too far and missed our turn (she really likes to help you out with your driving - I can't wait until she's working on that learner's permit).  "Mommy, we missed the H-turn - where's the H-turn???" 



Let me preface this next part by saying that last night, Clara wanted Gracie "OUT" of "her" room (they share a room) during her storytime.  So today about 5 minutes after dropping off Gracie, Clara started talking about what would happen after she and Gracie were grown-ups. 
Clara: I won't see her anymore.
Me: Yes, you will. Remember how I get to visit my sisters?
Clara: But it won't be everyday...It will be different.  It will never be the same again!  And I won't get to see you ... and you will be really old.
Me: (I had to pause and think about the really old part!) . . . Well, you can always come visit us and you can call us.  Everyday, if you want.  We can talk everyday.
Clara: No ... that would be too much.  Not everyday!!!

Then, in the parking lot where it was raining: "Look at all the windwipers - they're wiping off the wind....Is that right, Mommy?  Do they wipe off the wind?"
So I didn't give her a straight answer - I just couldn't inform her that they weren't windwipers.  It's much more interesting sounding.  So I told her I supposed they might.   I guess eventually I should tell her what they are really called.  But I'm sure Gracie will set her straight (one of her most recent favorite activities) if I don't.

I know she had a few other funnies, but it's late and I'm definitely having Mommy memory (=no memory). 

But here's my all time favorite so far & I still don't correct her because it always makes me laugh!
Clara's a big fan of a show called Zoboomafoo (which is all about wild animals).  So here's one of the things she's learned on the show:  "Animals have to protect themselves from their creditors."

Sundresses!

Just in time, as the humidity has risen and so has the temperature, a package arrived from Aunt Sue. Can you sense the excitement?

Not only did the girls get a beautiful sundress each to wear, but I got the pattern complete with additional instructions and examples (which you know I need - sewing a circular poodle skirt for the girls is about the extent of my skills!).

The girls love their dresses and Clara packed hers to wear in Amarillo that weekend!

Look at those smiles!  Thank you, Aunt Sue!

Round #3 - JM's Birthday

So after watching Gracie's encore performance of Hallelujah Hop, Mimi & Pap came over to celebrate JM's birthday.  He was thrilled & had definitely gotten the hang of opening the presents.  Clara was sure he still needed some help, but I'm sure he would have done fine on his own.  Then after presents, he got to have a birthday treat - a cupcake.  And boy, did he love those! 

As soon as he woke up from his nap that afternoon he started talking about "cake, cake."  I think that look on his face must be wariness, just in case anyone is trying to steal that delicious cupcake!

And of course, no visit would be complete without another matchup between the checker champ and Pap:

The next day, the girls were playing with the toys JM got (yes, that's how it goes when you have older siblings and you are not that old, yet!) and JM was playing with his gift from Aunt Mary Jo and Uncle Dick (which he loves!)  And just so you younger siblings don't worry too much, JM did get a chance with his new bubble blower . . . eventually!

Hallelujah Hop - Take 2!

This was Gracie's second year to be in the "Hop" (it's for the PreK 4 class and the kindergarten class) and she was very excited. JM had to stay home with the sitter for the evening performance, since it didn't start until 7:30 but Clara got to come this year.

So both girls got a new "poodle" skirt. They were very excited to choose their fabric and then I let them choose which applique they wanted since the pattern had a few choices. And they both ended up with Kitty "poodle" skirts.

Gracie had a grand time (again) and was almost as excited as the year before.   She was really proud of her speaking part (all of the older kids get bigger singing/speaking parts) and did an awesome job.  Sadly, I was too slow with the record button, so here's what she said with a picture.  And you should have heard the emphasis on the last line!!

"One of the verses we learned in chapel this year was John 3:16, 'For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whosoever shall believe in him will have everlasting life.' AND I BELIEVE IT!"

This is her whole class before the show (1/4 of the kids in the show).  Mrs. Matejka, her teacher (on the left) is in charge of it all and does an unbelievable job.  The whole production takes an hour and the kids have to learn all the songs, hand motions and lines/cues.  Anyhow, you'll get to see a lot of Hallelujah Hop pictures over the next few years.  With Clara starting PreK 4 next year and then JM 2 years after that, we'll end up with a total of 6 consecutive performances in the family.

The next day the kids do the performance at a local nursing home.  This year Mimi & Pap came for that and it was great that they got to see Gracie "live."  Then we went back to the school for a "cast party" complete with the 50's theme.  Gracie got to show off her poodle skirt twirl some more ...

and then, it was back to our house with Mimi & Pap for another party for JM (he managed 3 parties for his 2nd birthday!).  And I'll cover that in another post!

Two Wheels!

Yes - that's right! Two wheels for both girls!

Of course, Mike had just spent an hour yesterday putting the training wheels back on their bikes so they could go around the block with him. I had been asking him to do it, too because the girls go pretty fast on those bikes with training wheels. Then I have to run (with JM in the jogging stroller) to keep up. Nothing like seeing your kids getting way ahead of you on their bikes and careening toward the ditch to make you run fast!!

And then this morning, Clara started off balancing on our third bike (bought it cheap at a garage sale with the idea of replacement parts) and then she got the hang of it, balancing and pedaling, after about half an hour. She was doing circle around that driveway like a pro.

It took a little longer to get Gracie warmed up to the idea, but after she had a while to decide for herself she suited up and headed out. She got discouraged more easily, but Mike took her into the shade of the driveway and had her going straight up and down. He helped her for a little bit and then she took off on her own, too.

I know it's hard for Gracie sometimes to see her sister accomplish these things at the same time, but I guess it's teaching her the lesson to persevere and not get discouraged!

I'm so proud of them both! Hopefully, in a few weeks I'll be jogging?/running along with them around the block and we'll be avoiding all the ditches. Mike found a bike ride in a month or so with a 9 mile route. We'll have to see if the kids would be ready for that (JM would get to ride in the trailer).

He's 2!

There's the birthday boy on his actual birthday, April 5th! (This was the best picture we got - everyone was still tired from the Easter trip to Amarillo, especially Mommy & Daddy!)

With his "poo-boo". Every bear is a Pooh bear.

The boys having a blast with the tike bike.

And the best of all, the 3 second video that always brings a smile to my face:

Strawberry Farm and Spur Ct

This is my first guest post! I didn't know it until this afternoon, but Mike composed a post about his day with the kids yesterday (I was off scrapbooking).  So I got a day off yesterday, a post for my blog, and breakfast in bed this morning (the girls initiated and helped with that, but JM wasn't allowed to help). What a nice Mother's Day!

Katherine
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We visited the Strawberry farm in Granbury this weekend. 

On the way we stopped by Spur Ct (Scott's old house) 

to see what it looks like these days.

After picking strawberries for an hour we drove back through Godley and stopped at the city park. The new playset was fun.

Everyone rode the merry go round even if their feet ouldn't reach the pedals.

 We were tired of mowing around the basketball goal so we just put it back up. It had been laying on the ground since 2007 when we built the playroom onto the house. We got this blue basketball for free at a garage sale.