Studious

The past couple of days Clara has been really fascinated by scissors. She can now reach the jar on my hutch where I keep pens and scissors, so I figured it was time to either find a new place for them or teach her how to use them. Since they take a lot of concentration and keep her occupied for a long time, and since using them seems like a special treat to her, I figured the "teaching her to use them" option was a good win-win choice! Who knew cutting index cards into itty bitty pieces could be so much fun!

Horses!

Though today started with 4 inches of snow on the ground, the sun came out in the later morning and it turned into a beautiful day. We celebrated Luke's birthday together by being low-key all day as a family. In the afternoon we rode horses and Clara was so excited to ride with Mommy "big" (i.e. "a lot" - whenever I ask if she wants to do something "a little bit" she says she wants to do it "big!").

She had an absolute blast. I love that my horse is so safe so that she can enjoy him too.

Happy Birthday Daddy! We love you so much! (more birthday pictures hopefully over at Stirrup to Stirrup tomorrow)

Snowman!

Um, yep. Another snow picture. This girl is obsessed, I tell you! She was dying to go outside in the newly falling snow most of the afternoon, but we had birthday cake to work on. Finally, after dinner we bundled up and headed out for a little bit before bed. She has been making snowmen with play dough and she was thrilled to make a real one for the first time she can remember!

Bundled Up

Well, I think the snow is what Clara has been waiting for to spend more time outside. As soon as she woke up this morning she wanted to go out in the snow! I made her wait a little while until the sun had warmed things up a bit, but then we bundled up and out we went! She didn't want to come in for a long time, either! We got a good 2+ inches last night and it was cold, so it was all still on the ground this morning. At first she had a little trouble figuring out how to walk in it, but she got the hang of it before long and then all she wanted to do was run back and forth in the snow (holding my hand, of course)! She was fascinated with the footprints, especially Sadie's footprints in the snow.

I was sorely tempted to give you the picture of Clara striding through the snow in this get-up plus her sunglasses, but was won over by this shot in the end. If you want to see the alternate, take a peek over at Stirrup to Stirrup.

First Snow!

Today we had our first snowfall! As soon as Clara woke up from her nap and saw it snowing she wanted to "go out in SNOW, Mama!" So we bundled up and headed out! She thought it was the funniest thing that Sadie had white snow on her back. We ran around in the (very wet) snow flakes for awhile and Clara had a blast trying to catch them on her tongue.

Awhile later, however, I caught her picking snowflakes up off the ground and putting them in her mouth! Oh my, this child never ceases finding ways to make me laugh. After we were thoroughly wet, we came inside, built a fire in the woodstove and sat in front of it drinking tea and eating peanut butter balls rolled in coconut to make them look like snowballs. It has continued snowing since and there's quite a blanket of white on the ground! Clara will be so excited to get back out in the snow in the morning, she wanted to go out in it at least 3 or 4 more times during the evening.

I unintentionally offended Clara this evening. We're doing some rearranging of toys and I also took the diaper pail and changing table out of Clara's room and moved the dresser. I was planning to put her dolls' little wicker bassinet in the newly freed up corner of the room. Clara came in, saw it and immediately told me she needed to take it out. "But why, baby?"
"This not a good place for them. This is my room!" *said with great pathos and hands held out to the sides*
I never thought she would see the little doll bed as an encroachment on her personal space! I cannot even remember the last time she has played with these dolls or the bed, but I thought if I set up a special place for them with their clothes and things in her room they might get some more play time. She was incredibly offended about the whole thing all evening, walking around with her head down and looking at me sideways like I was trying to displace her with some dolls. I did ask her where she would like to put the bed but she couldn't give me any answer other than, "out." They got moved in and out several times. Then, in one of those typical two-year-old reversals, she decided right before bed that she wanted them in her room and she wanted to sleep on the floor next to them! Oh my. So now their little bed is right next to her crib. We'll see what she thinks of the whole thing in the morning. It is so fascinating to me to watch the way her brain works.

"Dear Jesus..."

Clara has been loving her little dolls and dollhouse the past few days. Today she decided the dolls needed to eat lunch with us. We prayed (her holding hands with one doll, me with the other doll) and she began eating, sharing bites of her yogurt with them at times. Then she put a few peas on their table. Then she decided she needed to pray with them again.

 

"Dear Jesus, thank you for this day... thank you for this day... thank you for this day... thank you for Jesus... for Jesus help us... for all things He give us... Jesus name AMEN!!"

Oh my, talk about adorable! I have wanted to snap a picture of her during prayers for awhile now because it's so cute how she bows her head and closes her eyes but I haven't wanted to interrupt prayers (since I'm usually holding her hand). So I took advantage of not being included in the prayer this time to snap a few.

She also prayed for our dinner with Daddy. Most of the time when she prays it's a lot of whispering/mumbling with a few discernible phrases - tonight they were from the Lord's Prayer, which she also joined in on at prayer meeting. Her memory is so sharp these days and it's such a joy and blessing to hear the things she comes up with. She amazes me with what a large portion of the books we read regularly she knows by heart, scripture she says to herself and songs she sings that I know she's only heard a few times. It motivates me to provide lots of great memory material right now while she's such a little sponge!

Reading with Daddy

Clara's favorite book at the moment is a collection of stories illustrated by Eloise Wilkin. She asks all the time to read "Busy Timmy" and "We Help Mommy," though she will happily listen to the other stories in the book as well. More than she loves any book, though, she loves her Daddy. Adores him, in fact. Listening to these two in the evenings as they play, read and chat is one of the great joys of my day and one of the terrific parts of our lives right now.

 

Head on over to Stirrup to Stirrup to check out the fun Clara had with Sadie today and the humongous carrot we found in our garden!

Caterpillar!

Today we found a fuzzy caterpillar on the driveway after we got home from running errands. He was so cute! Clara held him for awhile and then gently moved him to the grass in the yard. How nice of her to "help him get back home!"

 

To see more of our morning adventures, come visit over at Stirrup to Stirrup! 

Terrific tenderness: Clara has such a tender little heart. Last Friday we were at the Goulds' while Luke was working on Mercy with a vet. The vet took out her hoof testers (they look like ginormous pliers) and Clara started crying. "No Mommy! No Mommy! What she do Mercy, Mommy? She not hurt her!" I explained that the vet wasn't going to hurt her but help Daddy make her feel better. Even after two feet had been tested, Clara insisted, "She not do other feet. She not do that more." Her little face was a study in concern as she watched closely to make sure Mercy didn't get hurt. 

Then, this afternoon I went into our garage to get out some gardening tools and found a tiny stray kitten hiding in the corner. He wouldn't let me catch him so I kept an eye on him and waited until Luke got home. Clara was also up so she watched as we caught him and put him in Sadie's old crate. The whole time she kept saying to me, "He's so tiny Mama. He needs his Mommy!" Each time she said this her lower lip would quiver and she would almost start to cry. Once he was in the crate she told him, "It's okay kitty. You no have to be scared. We will take care of you." After dinner and a couple of phone calls, we transferred the kitty to a smaller box so Luke could take him to our friends' animal rescue. Kitty, of course, was not a fan and kept mewing and mewing. Clara knelt by the crate and said softly, "I know. I know kitty. I know. It's okay kitty. I know kitty. You no have to be scared. I know. We will help you. It's okay. Tracy will take care of you. It's okay." Over and over she told him, "I know. It's okay." It was so precious to hear her doing her best to comfort this little stray kitten. What a huge and special responsibility to shepherd this tender heart God placed in my sweet little girl!

In a cabinet

Clara has a new favorite place to play at her friends' house. Inside their new cabinet. They added an island to their kitchen but haven't started using it for kitchen storage yet and Clara and Annabelle think it is the greatest thing. A couple nights ago they were in there for an hour or more, reading books by flashlight. Tonight they were reading and who knows what else, having a grand old time shut up in the cabinet. It is the funniest thing to hear that cabinet talking and giggling while we're sitting at the table having a conversation!

Moment I wish I had a picture of: Clara riding on our friends' horse Clay, happy as a clam, calling, "You riding Logan, Daddy? See, Daddy! I riding Clay! Becca, you riding Paladin Becca?"

Terrific moment of the day: riding Paladin in the arena while Clara played with Annabelle in the sandbox way across the yard. Just after we did a lovely trot-halt transition, Clara shouted, "Good job, Mommy!!!" I thought Luke was going to die, he was laughing so hard.

Discovering

We have not been outside as much lately as I would like. Honestly, some days it is hard to get Clara outside - she is in a huge book-reading phase right now and would rather sit on the couch and read Busy Timmy, We Help Mommy and Mother Goose rhymes for hours on end than do almost anything else. Sometimes I feel a little guilty about this. But then I remember that she's had phases where she has wanted to be outside 24/7 and I could hardly get her to look at a book. Oh, the extremes. So I try not to worry and just enjoy the phase she is in. However, I do still try to provide some balance in her life and get us out as much as possible. Today we were out for a bit (not as long as I'd like), looking for pretty leaves for a fall centerpiece on our kitchen table and Clara discovered some fuzzy seed heads on long grass stems (I'm not sure what they are, exactly). She was entranced. I almost missed the moment because I was so focused on leaves. I am so thankful the finger of God poked me enough to slow me down so I could pay attention. We felt the seed heads. We picked several. We talked about how long the stems were. We tickled each other with them. We had a blast! It was a moment of discovery, of enchantment, of observing the natural world and finding delight in it, of everything I want the outdoors to be for my little girl. And I almost missed it. Dear God, help me to slow down enough each day so I can get out of the way and let the discoveries happen instead of trying to manufacture them.

Clara walked all the way back to the house rubbing the seed heads on her face, talking about how soft they were and "tickling" herself with them.

Uh, yeah, she's a little disheveled. Some days we get around to brushing her hair before nap, other days, well....

Kitty Love

This morning we went along to Grandma Pat's house while Daddy was working on Mercy the horse. After awhile in the barn we headed inside to play with toys and visit Clara's favorite kitty, Jammer. He can be playful and rambunctious but is, overall, a very tolerant cat. Clara absolutely adores him. Can you tell?

When it was time to go, Clara cried and cried because she wanted to stay at Grandma Pat's house. We promised to go back and visit Grandma Pat, Mister Roger and all the animals very soon. :)

Raspberry Smile

Today started out gray and rainy. I was not optimistic about the rest of the day, and planned some cozy lentil soup for dinner. But God gave us a wondrous gift! The sun came out in the late morning and continued shining all afternoon! Clara woke up a little early from her nap, so we seized the opportunity and went raspberry picking; I have been wanting to go since August but we had never had the chance until today! The picking was not great but we got enough to make a small batch of jam, we had a blast enjoying the beautiful fall afternoon, and Clara even found a friendly kitty to pet in the raspberry patch. As you can see, she fully enjoyed the outing!

If you want to see more from the rest of our day, come visit over at Stirrup to Stirrup.

Home!

Although we are missing extended family terribly, it was so nice to wake up in our own beds this morning! Clara slept later than she has since we left - a combo, I think, of exhaustion from the day before and the comfort of her own bed in her own room. She has had a fun time rediscovering favorite books and toys today and loving on Sadie Mae.

Dancing

For Tuesday, the 18th: On our last day at Gramma's, Clara practiced some dancing in the kitchen in her new tutu. What a wonderful 9 days together these two had! It was such a blessing to spend time with our family and especially for Clara and Gramma to have lots of special time together.

Making Music

Today we visited the coolest little playground. It was near the nature center at a local park and I loved the way they integrated the play areas with the natural woods. There was a climbing/jungle gym (a little above Clara's age range), a sandbox area, an area that had a low log balance-beam (which Clara loved!) and stumps of varying heights to climb on, and a neat little music area that had 3 xylophones: one wood, one marble and one made of old metal wrenches! They were so cool and Clara had a blast playing them!

We also had a major potty milestone today: Clara actually stopped right in the middle of playing the xylophone to tell me she had to go potty. Then, she held it all the way to the nature center (a good 2-3 minutes before we actually got to the bathroom)! Last week she had a couple of accidents when she was really engaged in something and would just get her panties a tiny bit wet before running to the bathroom, but today she was completely dry! Way to go Clara!

After the park we went by the mall to return some pants I bought last week that are too big in the waist for her. While I was browsing, waiting for the register to be open for my returns, Clara and Gramma found the rack of socks and tights. Clara zeroed in on one particular pair of tights and brought them to me, announcing, "I want these ones, Mama!" They were my least favorite out of all the different tights there and I did my best in a cheerful way to convince her to consider one of the other pairs. Nope. Not a chance. Her mind was made up and she was dead set on the ones she had chosen. This girl knows what she wants! Since I had planned to get her some tights anyway we bought them, along with a tutu and a turtleneck. All wardrobe essentials, don't you think?? As soon as we got to the car she ripped the packaging off her new tights and admired them all the way home. :)

Catch

This afternoon Clara got to play catch with Uncle Thomas on the back porch. At first she just let the ball land somewhere near her, but after awhile she started catching on to the fact that she could try to get it with her hands, too. As you can see, she had a blast tossing it back and forth with Uncle Thomas!

Terrifically laughable moment: Clara's 2 hour non-nap this afternoon. She went from calling, "Mama! Maaaaaaamaaaaa!" to playing and talking to herself, to singing "ABCDEFG....." to momentary quiet (just long enough to make us say, "Did she finally fall asleep?") to saying, "It's a picture! Look, Mama! It's a flower picture! Look at picture Mama! A picture!" to fake laughing, to saying, "Mama! I'm obeying God, Mama! I'm obeying God," to singing a made-up song about God to screaming at the top of her lungs to jumping up and down while saying, "I'm BOUNCING! I'm bouncing in my CRIB!"

Most of the time we were laughing uproariously listening to her silliness over the monitor while simultaneously wishing the poor exhausted girl would just go to sleep! Finally, after 2 1/2 hours I went upstairs, only to discover that she had taken off her pants and fiddled with her diaper so it was barely on her and half the bed was wet. =P No wonder she couldn't sleep! Of course, she hadn't said anything about that over the monitor! She proceeded to tell me, "I just peed li'l bit Mama." Oh my goodness. She is certainly quite the entertainment! Hopefully she sleeps soundly and for an extra long time tonight to make up for the lack of sleep today!

Acorns

Today was another sunny day. After a trip to a local craft fair, Clara and Uncle Andrew searched for acorns for Gramma to use in a wreath project. Have I mentioned how wonderful it is and how happy I am that Clara is getting to spend some time just relaxing and doing fun things with her uncles? It is so sweet to watch her getting to know them and enjoy them. I am so, so thankful we could spend a longer time here without a lot going on so that she can just relax and have fun with her doting uncles.

Sunshine

Friday we finally had sunshine after a week of off and on rainy weather. It was glorious! We spent the whole morning outside in Gramma's yard and garden and then we went on an adventure around the block. Clara found this little bench in the yard of a foreclosed house Gramma was looking at. Wish we could take the bench home with us, she loved it!

Four Elizabeths

Today my mom's parents came up for a visit. How fun to have four generations of Elizabeths together! Unfortunately we didn't get any great pictures, but here is one from Uncle Joel's soccer game. Left to right: Elizabeth Craig DuBose, Elizabeth DuBose Pinckney, Erin Elizabeth Olson, Clarita Elizabeth Olson. The Elizabeth name goes way back in my mom's family as well. So sweet to pass on this heritage to my little girl and to see her spending time enjoying her great grandparents. I am so thankful that she has been able to meet and spend time with all eight of them and I appreciate what a rare privilege that is.

To get ready for her fun day with family, Clara had an intense exercise session with Gramma this morning. :) Hard work!

Forts!

Trains!

Today, Clara discovered Brio trains. She loves trains in general and quickly became enthralled with the Brio set. I think everyone in the house played trains with her at one point or another today, including Aunt Kay who was here to do some baking with us. It is so fun to watch Clara discover new things and stretch her imagination in new ways!

Tomorrow, Papa gets home from a quick trip to Minneapolis and Uncle Andrew arrives on break from college! Yay!!!

We're Here!

Yay!!! We are loving being at Gramma and Papa's house! Clara has had a wonderful time today reading and playing with Uncle Joel (cascades of laughter came from the living room for an hour and a half this morning), making and playing with pink play dough with Gramma and Papa, swinging on the neighbors' swing set and running a few errands in the evening. We are so happy to be here and have a special time to relax and enjoy extended family.

Traveling together has reminded me how incredibly perceptive my little girl is. She notices everything. Being in a new house, she picks up on all the things that are different and quickly learns the lay of the land. She hears all the new sounds outside (different birds, airplanes going overhead), wants to know where each person sleeps ("Where's Mama's bedroom? Where's Gramma's bedroom? Who made this bedroom for me?"), who sits where at the table, whose potty she is using ("Gramma share her potty with me?"), etc. She also quickly got Uncle Joel's number down and was charming and twisting him around her finger in no time at all. :)

Clara is so thrilled to be at Gramma's house and was worried today when we talked about going to her neighbor's house to swing. "I no want go to neighbor's house, Mama! I no leave Gramma's house. I stay at Gramma's house! I no want to go!" We finally convinced her that it was close enough and Gramma would come too. It is so sweet to see her settling right in and feeling at home in no time.

Leaving on a jet plane...

Sunday night Clara and I flew from Albany to Charlotte to spend time with Gramma, Papa, three Uncles and one Aunt! We were so blessed by a wonderful gate attendant who went way above and beyond the call of duty and finagled us onto the overbooked direct flight to Charlotte so that we didn't have to connect through Philadelphia. Clara was so happy to finally be on the airplane heading to Gramma's after long weeks of waiting. She settled right in and enjoyed some snacks and the special treat of juice when the flight attendants came around. I am so thankful for my terrific little traveler!

First Stitches

We've now sustained our first stitches in the Olson family (well, Luke and I have both had them before, but not since we've been married). :'( Clara dropped a heavy bookend on her right big toe this morning, giving herself a 3/4 inch long gash on the tip of her toe which included splitting the whole toenail from top to bottom. Thankfully, none of the nail needed to be removed but the gash in her toe required one stitch to hold it together and stop the bleeding. My poor sweet girl was so brave at the doctor's, holding super still for everything he had to do, although she cried almost the whole time. Rips this mama's heart to shreds. But new bandaids (notice the loving look) and medicine make everything better!

 

Despite it all, she woke up from her nap laughing. Love that little girl! And tomorrow we go to Gramma's!!!

Open wide!

Enjoying a rare bowl of cereal for breakfast.

Favorite moment: family snuggle time in bed this morning. Love the sweetness and coziness of a warm bed with my two favorite people on a chilly morning, us all waking up together (Clara much faster than Luke and I!) and giggling at Clara's silliness. :)

A whole house of toys...

... and yet, playing with the kindling is so much more fun!

Outside!

We had sunshine today! For a whole day! We're out of the outside routine though - Clara got outside and wasn't sure what to do, it was a little sad. We did have fun swinging, both in her regular swing and on this pony swing from Grandma Pat. It's a little big for her still and she's not quite sure about not being buckled in, but she got a kick out of holding onto the "ears." Sweet girl. Hopefully we have lots more sunshine and can spend more time outside - the light is so much nicer! Not to mention it's just nice to be out.

We also had a blast "exercising" today. We alternated jumping jacks, sit-ups and push-ups. Clara loved counting the reps and kept asking for "more exercise" the rest of the day. Jumping jacks were her favorite, of course. :)

And, we started The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe today! Just like my Daddy, I couldn't wait to share these wonderful books with my little girl. She loved being read to while she finished lunch and kept asking for more. Love that she loves reading so much!

The Imp

Being silly in her towel on Mama's bed after having a fun shower with Daddy!

Clara has really been into "being silly" lately and will often just start giggling for no apparent reason, then look at me (or call me) and say, "Mama! I bein' silly!" Oh my goodness.

Today we had our weekly conversation on the way to Bible study (the same every week).
"We goin' to Bible study."
"Uh huh."
"I go in nursery. *pause* Mama will leave."
"Yep, Mama has to go into her Bible study."
"I might cry little bit."
I tell her it's okay if she needs to cry a little bit but then she'll be okay and have fun with her friends. When I take her to nursery she always does cry when I leave and beg me to stay. Once I'm gone she cries for a minute or less and then has a great time with her friends. When I come back to get her she gives me a happy hug, then turns around and runs off with her friends again. But still we have this same conversation every week about her crying "a little bit" when she goes to nursery at Bible study. Silly girl. :)

Clara's Scarf

I had a hard time deciding on a picture today. That's not unusual, but today seemed to hold so many unique moments. What to pick? Clara sitting in the bathroom first thing in the morning, putting on my eyeshadow and calling, "Leave me 'lone, Mama!" while I got dressed? Having crazy fun in the fort we made on the couch (for the first time!)? "Helping" Daddy work on his truck? In the end I picked this one, coming out of the library, wearing her "scarf," which she had to have because Mama was wearing one. When I put mine on she immediately asked for it. When I told her no she started to have a fit, then ran out of the room. I thought she was mad but she returned a few moments later with this piece of cloth saying, "Mama, help me with my scarf!!" Good recovery, little girl! We have been praying every night that God would help Clara learn to control her emotions and her temper and He is certainly at work in her little life. Finding a substitute scarf on her own was a small but terrific moment for my little two-year-old.

Uncle Scott

Meet Uncle Scott. Clara actually has two Uncle Scotts - Luke's brother, who lives in Montana, and the man you see here, one of our very dear friends. He was one of the very first people outside of our family that Clara let hold her when she was little. She loves her Uncle Scott (who has four girls of his own) and as you can see, he loves her too! Tonight Clara was sitting next to me at dinner and said, "I go see my Uncle Scott?" We are so blessed to have sweet surrogate family here where we are so far away from our blood relatives.

 

There are few things better than watching my terrific kiddo enjoying the wonderful people God has placed in our lives. What a blessing!

Serious Business

Seriously holding the romal reins, just the way Daddy showed her.

Favorite moments: watching her run and play and be silly with her friend Callan at our church fall festival this evening; making casserole together; snuggling with my big girl who really wanted to be held after she woke up from her nap.

Potty update: no diapers, even at the festival all afternoon and evening. One accident, my fault because I knew I should have taken her sooner. Oh well, live and learn. She did great the rest of the day!