Claire Writes

Claire wrote a couple letters while we headed home from Grandma and Grandpa Dodge's house today.  She's always taken a great interest in drawing/writing.  And her 'writing' just keeps getting better, and now actually writes a few letters.  She particularly likes 'H.'  Her drawings are also getting really good!  She drew a monster last month and it looks awesome!  It is similar to a closet monster from a book we read.  There was more content to the letters today, but here's what I remember...

"I am a lovely sister for Henry.  I love Grandma and Grandpa Dodge."  (Lovely sister...that she is.  Grandma Dodge must have said something like this to her this morning.)

"I love Grandma and Grandpa, Mark and Brenda.  I love Grandma and Grandpa Dodge."  (Hurry home, Grandma and Grandpa!  Someone has been missing you.)

"Mami and Daddy, Thank you for picking up my toys.  I'm gonna pick up my toys."  (Good thing that lesson from last night was remembered.  I am not sure how many times I told Claire to pick up her toys.  I helped her at first, but when I was the only one picking up and Miss Dawdler wasn't doing anything, I stopped helping.  So I set the timer for more than enough time.  When it went off and she hadn't made much of an effort, she lost everything that was still not put away.  Lucky for me, there were one or two things that she actually cared about losing in the stack - that is always a gamble.  So, let's hope that the "I'm gonna pick up my toys." sticks!)

Might I add that we are so fortunate to have such a supportive family who love to spend time with and watch our kiddos!  Grandpa mentioned on the way out how busy they are, and we all agreed that there is a good reason that 80 year olds don't have babies and little ones.  :)  (Imagine how the woman in the Bible must have felt (Sarah, was it?) having a baby at such a ripe age!  God must have given her the strength and energy to raise a little one!)

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb?

Wrong month, actually, but January looks like it was in like a lion - snowy at first - and out like a lamb - no snow here (besides a few piles here and there).  We wish there was more snow, but are thankful for the fact that the first month of the year had above average precipitation.  Hopefully that January rain will continue into the spring and summer!  Here's the picture recap from the last month or so!

Yep, we've still got it!  (Even though we're old and married, and us with kids.) 

A little Mad Gab for your evening fun.  Good thing Jaclyn was on my team - she gets competitive!! ;)

"Let me feed you!  Yum.yum.yum."

Amber and Sage visit!! - Future Marching Band

A Boy and His Dog

"What 'cha got?  What 'cha got?  What 'cha got?"  (Claire likes to put Riley's biscuits in her pocket and he follows her around sniffing and almost knocking her over until he's sure he has all of them!)

Little Mama with 'Baby' in her new Mei Tai!

Climber Extraordinaire while Daddy works on his hobbies. 

"Help!  I crawled under here to pull the cat's tail and now she ran away and I can't get out!"  (The kitties are amazingly patient with Henry's pulls.  We are working on gently petting them.)

"I'm getting pretty good with eating with a spoon!  Sometimes I squawk when Mami and Daddy don't give me utensils to eat like the big kids."

Picture 2: The Giant wreaks havoc on the town after his nap!  He crushes homes and pulls the Autobahn up in one fell swoop.

Picture 1: Architects Claire and Mami plan a town, complete with a business district, parking ramp, 2 Autobahns, housing area.  Look closely!  The skyscraper hospital even has a helicopter pad!  (I did want to be an architect at one point in high school.  Good thing I went with teaching and motherhood.)

I love breakfast.  And my sweet boy.

CHEERIOS!  The luxury of a Saturday when Daddy's home.   Mama has us eat omelets, pancakes, oatmeal, and other homemade goodness when he's not here.

Henry the Destroyer!  (Seriously people, this is the most curious kid you've ever known.)

Daddy's Little Helper: Painting the basement walls in their work clothes!  I tried to throw some old shoes of Claire's away today because Riley had chewed them, and she talked me into keeping them as her work shoes for when they paint the basement floor.