Easter

After looking back at years of Easter pictures...it seems like the last several years, we are in St. George for Easter! This year was no different. It was a fun weekend, and beautiful weather. The girls had so much fun being with cousins and Grandma and Grandpa. This particular Easter was really sweet, given the recent passing of my Gramps. It was as if I finally really understood and took to heart the tender and incredibly beautiful meaning of Easter. We went to visit Anton's grandparents before we left, and seeing his grandpa interact with the girls brought back so many memories. In fact, the whole weekend seemed to bring back sweet memories of my gramps. Walking around the art festival made me miss him so much. He would have wanted to know all about it, and would have wanted to know all about what we did while we were there. I really really missed him while I was down there. As we drove away from Anton's grandparents home, I cried. I cried selfishly because I missed my cute little Gramps. And, I cried for Anton...I told him I dread the day when he has to say goodbye to his sweet grandparents. Even though I was a little melancholy over my gramps, we had a great time! And, with our track record, we will probably head down again next year!

Cell Phone Pictures

We had some good friends from our old neighborhood stop by to visit with their brand new baby girl. She was SO adorable, and Lilly couldn't get enough of her. We ooooed and awwwed all over her. Lilly had to take off her socks to look at her tiny little feet...so funny! Anton and I couldn't believe how small she was, and how weird it felt to hold such a small baby. Definittely strange to think our little twerps were once that small - or smaller! It was fun to have a baby in the house for a little while! 

 The girls had their well checks. Both are growing just right, and everyone is healthy!! Lilly was sitting in the chair across from me, with her legs crossed and she looked so grown up. I couldn't believe it. Stop growing!!!!

 Anton has cut down several trees in our front yard, and Lilly really wanted to help. So, gladly, we put her to work!! I remember doing yard work as a little girl, so it is kind of funny to be putting my little girl to work.

 It has been so fun living within walking distance to my parents. I love getting the phone call to see if we are home, so my mom can walk up to say hi. This particular day she brought Easter treats for the girls. Of course they are the super nice, fancy chocolates and treats that I would never buy....leave it up to Nana for the good stuff :)

 Claire kept her bunny ears on for so long on the drive to St. George. I love how random she is!

 Batman is in the house!! Notice the buns on her head...sometimes she likes her hair done, and when it is "done" it is darling!

Claire turns 4!!

How?! How on earth is Claire already 4?!?! I can't stand how fast time flies by. This year she wanted everything "Batman" for her birthday...the cake, her presents, her balloons. And, that's what she got! She is such a funny, sweet, adorable little 4 year old. Every single day, I give thanks that I am blessed to be her mom. She is the definition of Joy. Not a day goes by where she doesn't make each of us laugh. Here are some of my very favorite things about Claire:
*Every morning she asks for Pancakes and chocolate milk.
*She loves Pizza, and asks for it almost every day for lunch.
*She has the best imagination...she can even play "family" with french fries! 
*She loves anything Super hero. In particular, Batman.
*Every night she can't go to bed without a love and kiss and "love you more" from us.
*She loves to ride bikes, jump, play outside. She could play outside for hours.
*She asks me all the time when it is going to be summer, because she can't wait to swim!
*She doesn't love going to school, but enjoys it once she is there. When I pick her up from school, it is my very favorite thing. Seeing her in her little backpack, and the smile she gets on her face when she sees me, absolutely melts me. 
*Right now, the only friend she needs is Lilly. She loves Lilly so much. I am so glad they have each other.
* My very favorite thing about Claire...she still needs me. She needs snuggles, loves, encouragement and mommy time every day. I love it. And, I love her. More than I can adequately express.

Love you Little Claire Bear!! Happy 4th Birthday!!

Claire, 4^th Birthday!

1. What is your favorite color? Dark Blue

2. What is your favorite toy? Batman

3. What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon

4. What is your favorite tv show? Batman

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Pizza

6. What is your favorite outfit? Batman shirt with dark pants

7. What is your favorite game? Bubble Guppies game

8. What is your favorite snack? Yogurt

9. What is your favorite animal? Cheetah

10. What is your favorite song? Let it Go

11. What is your favorite book? Batman book

12. Who is your best friend? Lilly and Charlie

13. What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Jump on the tramp

15. What is your favorite drink? Chocolate milk

16. What is your favorite holiday? Summer

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Softie

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Pancakes

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Mashed Potatoes with gravy

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Batman or a zoo keeper

Spring Break

We stayed in town this year for Spring Break. I knew we were leaving town for St. George several weeks later, and I needed to stay in town for work. Unfortunately the weather was so crappy, so we didn't get to do much outside. Still, we had fun! Lilly got to go to the Jazz game with Anton, I took Claire swimming. We went out to lunch. And, the highlight...we went to the new aquarium! It was amazing! Super expensive, and some of the exhibits weren't full, so I was a little bitter paying so much and not having it be completely complete. But, it was amazing. The girls loved it! It was the perfect place for the cold rainy day!

March

* We went to Nickel Mania with the kids and their cousins. Claire has been asking to go back every single day! It was a little sketchy, but the kids had an absolute blast. I love that the kids are getting to the age that we can go do fun stuff with them and not have it be a big ordeal. 

*Claire is still the very most random kiddo in the world. I can't tell you how much fun and laughter she brings to this house! Every day she does something so funny, and so darling. She is such an original - I love it. She is one of those kids that is so funny without even trying to be. Sometimes she gets her feelings hurt because people laugh at her, and she doesn't know why. Sweet little thing! She is scrumptious!

 *Lilly is still in skating and "wants to always stay in skating". This session was particularly fun because her cousins took it with her. And, another fun event...Claire went skating for the first time. She did well, and really enjoyed it! But, I think it helped that I held her hand the whole time so she wouldn't fall. Knowing her, if she fell once, she would hate going out on the ice after that. Her little ice skates were the tiniest, cutest little things!

 *Lilly has had an awesome case of "shark mouth". Her permanent teeth are coming in before her baby teeth fall out. One tooth was so loose, but she hated when I would pull on it because it hurt. (Anton will not do this job - he gets so squeamish!) So, we decided to just let it be until it was so loose it would basically fall out. And, that's exactly what happened. I went to pick her up one day after school, and she surprised me with showing me her tooth in her hand! She was SO excited! And, so was I...I was so done worrying about that darn tooth! She has another really loose tooth, and I think we will take the same approach :) Another thing that is exciting around our house is Lilly and her reading. She has just taken off, and loves it! It was like over night the light bulb went off, and it became so much easier for her. Proud of my little stink!

 *The girls have become the very best of friends. Yes, they fight. Yes, they need their space. But, they adore one another and have so much fun together. There have been so many times when we go in to give kisses or put them to bed and they are snuggled in Lilly's room and she is reading to them. And, whenever that happens, they always ask if they can have a sleepover. I know it won't always be this way, so I always let them. I love that they love each other so much!

 *Claire is very conflicted lately. See, she loves all things Batman/spiderman. But, she also kind of likes girl things. I frequently hear "Batman likes dark pink too right?"! This particular Sunday morning, I thought she looked so cute with the bow in her hair - which doesn't happen very often, but is starting to happen more. She is such a cutie!