We Went Back...

It was fairly warm today, considering much of the week it was 20 or below, so we headed back to the soccer field for some more fun. I think Sadie may have the most fun of anyone! Clara was so excited to play on the bleachers some more!

This evening, Daddy came up with a terrific game! Clara recently discovered that she could hear Daddy in her room over her monitor and she thinks it's great fun to walk around the house and hear him talk over the monitor (I'm sensing walkie talkies in her future...). Tonight Luke was talking over the monitor and told her, "Go in the living room, and pick up two toys!" She thought that was a great game, laughed, and did it. Over the course of the next 10 minutes he gave her other tasks such as, "Go in the kitchen and give Mommy a hug!" "Pick up all the toy fruit on the floor!" "Come in your bedroom and give Daddy a high five!" "Pick up all the toy french fries!" By dinner time 90% of her toys were picked up and Clara was thrilled about it! What a blessing to have such a terrific, creative Daddy and a cheerful kiddo having fun together!

Dolly Snuggles

One terrific moment of many from this morning. Clara sure loves her dollies!

This afternoon she came in the living room with three bears, then went back into her room to get two more. She came out again saying, "They're all my friends, Mommy!"

Clara's Kitchen

On the menu today: peanut butter balls, gnocchi, heart cookies and pie! Mmmm....

Oh my we had a terrific day today! This morning we headed out to check on our horses and, after a quick stop there, headed over to Clara's friend Callan's house. Clara and Callan were born 8 days apart and while they've always enjoyed each others company, they haven't spent lots of time together because Callan's mommy was working full time. But, she quit! And we're so happy!! C & C had a great time together today, sliding, running, rolling on balls, crawling in a big box, snacking, doing puzzles and just having a blast! They played together well, shared nicely 95% of the time (pretty great for two twos!) and neither of them wanted to play date to be over. Clara kept telling me on the way home, "I really, really want to stay at Callan's house Mommy!!" We are looking forward to more fun times together!

Probably due to the fun she had this morning, Clara actually slept during her nap time for the first time in 3 days! That made our evening and bedtime so much smoother and it was lovely to have a cooperative, smiling girl brushing her teeth, putting her jammies on and going nicely to bed instead of an exhausted, screaming, fighting mess. Yay for a terrific day!

Contemplating Peas

Clara was apparently very thoughtful about her lunch today.

After dinner her dollies Laurie and Emily were sick so we took them to "town" to see the doctor. "Town" was in my bedroom though when I asked Clara where town was she said, "Judea. It's in Judea. We going to Bethlehem." Baby Joy was the doctor and when we got to the bedroom Laurie (through Clara) said to baby Joy, "We're sick. Help, please!" Baby Joy helped them feel all better by giving them both hugs. If only all sickness could be cured so sweetly!

The Cold is Here

After a long while and wondering if it was ever going to come, it is finally cold here! Today our high was around 18 and tonight it's supposed to be down around zero. After our out and about and rather rough day yesterday, it was nice to just hang out in our cozy house, not go anywhere, read books, do a few projects but not get too ambitious. I am having a hard time getting back into a routine after two weeks of guests and Daddy on vacation and I think Clara is too - I know for sure she is missing all the playmates! Today while I was washing some dishes she started asking from the living room, "Mommy, what's that? What's that? I couldn't tell what she was pointing to so I walked over to where she was a realized she was looking out the window. There was a huge flock of birds in our neighbor's field that looked like they were doing the wave! One end of the flock would fly up, flutter around and settle back down. As they went down the next section would flutter up, and so on. Clara was fascinated and climbed up on the trunk so she and baby Joy could watch.

Other favorite moments:
Before lunch she was spreading out blankets for us to lie down on and said, "Oh, let's take my slippers off. It's hard to lie down with my slippers on." I gave a tiny little chuckle and she immediately responded with, "Don't laugh at me!" She proceeded to laugh at herself and then repeated, "Don't laugh at me!"


Getting her up from her "nap" (no sleeping today) - this is one of my favorites every day because I tap rhythms on her door with my fingers and every time I tap, she squeals and laughs and bounces and squeals some more and I can hear her through the door and when I open the door to go in she is full of laughter and giggles.

Watching her light up as she told Daddy all about a James Herriot story we read today about a little lost kitten that ends up suckling from a pig. She loved the story and just glowed while she was telling Daddy about it.

Puppy Love

This moment just melted my heart.

Holding on tightly to terrific moments like this (and the sweet bedtime snuggles I had tonight) today when we've battled the "terrible" side more than usual.

Soccer!

Today was gorgeous. Close to 50, sunny and a beautiful start to 2012! This afternoon after Clara's "quiet time" (she talked away, no sleeping) we headed over to the local soccer fields. We were all feeling the itch for a change of scenery and some fresh air and this was the perfect fix! We had a blast! We took a ball to kick around, which Clara loved (she also carried it a lot). We investigated soccer goals (Clara liked going in them). We chased a train - the tracks run right behind the fields - Clara on my back, shrieking with excitement and laughter the whole way. Clara discovered the bleachers and then it was all over. I have no idea how long she spent walking back and forth on them, but she loved every second of it. It was a great discovery and we will definitely be going back soon!

We'll have to see Uncle Joel, we might have another soccer player on our hands!

I have to say that running crazy toward that train, with Clara in all her terrific two-year-old excitement and glee bubbling over with laughter and joy on my back was the absolute best start to a new year. I can't think of anything better!