Easter Bunnies

It is very difficult to get both children in the same photo, simultaneously smiling and looking at the camera. So I figured this was blog-worthy, although a little late. A quick photo taken right before church on Easter Sunday.

First Foods

I held off as long as I could. Now that Clara is six months, I figured it was about time she started sampling solids. Well, I don't think she's consumed more than one spoonful of baby cereal in a 'mealtime' yet. She just doesn't love it. But she is still waking twice in the night to nurse, so she must be hungry!

How she feels about the texture and taste of....well, let's face it, rice cereal is basically paste.

And just for fun, a few pictures of James at the same age...starting rice cereal. He really went for it and loved it from the beginning. But at the time he was also more accepting of baby formula, which Clara is not. I think it helped that he had been exposed to something other than mommy's milk prior to starting cereal. Just my theory.

Everybody that sees Clara says she looks JUST LIKE James. They DO look a LOT alike. But I think there a lot of differences, too. James had bluish eyes for a long time (they're hazel/brown now) and his cheeks weren't as full. But they have some similar expressions!

Easter 2011

We had an Easter gathering at our house Saturday. We had planned on my parents and brother Joel and his family coming over. My youngest brother Jeff surprised us by showing up and then Elizabeth's brother Justin also joined us for the day. It turned out to be a fairly relaxed afternoon of just hanging out in the backyard while Mark smoked meat.

Taking a break from meat-monitoring. Clara loves her daddy.

We smoked baby back ribs and turkey breast.

James loved loved loved having family around.

I took about 20 photos in a row of this little cousin trio. They were a little non-perfect. I think we've got years of that to come! The pink fluffy outfit (and beret) that Clara is wearing was from my grandma for Christmas.

James knew exactly what to do when it came to the hunt. He dove right into most eggs he found to sample the fillings.

Annie had a practice round the day before at my parents' house. But she was still perfectly content with about three eggs. She was so excited about them and really enjoyed putting them in the basket....then taking them out of the basket...repeat...

We dyed eggs, too. Only seven, though. That was about all we could handle this year...

Clara just started swinging a few weeks ago.

It was a full day. Our potluck meal with smoked meat was delicious. The kids were WORN OUT, as were the adults!

Flower Girl

Well, dandelions are not flowers. But isn't this just a hoot? James was getting into picking them a few weeks ago when we were at my parents' house. Clara was being a peach, as usual. Sometimes Mark and I ask one another, 'how did we get such a sweet little girl?' Maybe she'll really give us a run for our money later on, but for now we're enjoying her sweetness! Clara turns 6 months on Monday. We'll be starting solids soon, the girl is hungry!

That's all for today. We're enjoying a Friday with Mark at home. We ate breakfast at Hy-Vee, grocery shopped as a family at 8am, and now Mark is smoking meat with my brother's smoker we have on loan for the summer. Yum!

Annie Moved to Town!

It will be interesting to see how their relationship develops. I have a feeling they will relate more like siblings. James is only 16 months older than his cousin Annie. Annie (and my brother Joel and his wife Elizabeth) just moved to town a few weeks ago and we have been soaking it up!

I'm so blessed to have Elizabeth for a sister in law. We got to know one another on a missions trip before she and Joel were even engaged. She's an amazing, patient friend.

James literally jumps up and down when Annie is 'coming over'. We're looking forward to lots of play dates this spring and summer!

Joel and James helping Annie stand up.

Welcome home, Joel, Liz and Annie!

Visiting Home

A few weeks ago we took our first road trip in a while to visit Mark's parents. One of his sisters and her two daughters were also home that weekend. I always love the big-family gatherings, but it's also a treat to spend time with just a few, too. You'll notice a common theme here; Clara is a cuddler. And not just because she can't move yet...well, maybe because she can't move yet. But I like to think that she's going to be laid back and snuggly.

Elena has always been so patient with my kiddos. You wouldn't believe how young she is, just so sweet.

Staci and I helped prepare dinner and Clara watched. :)

I got a glimpse into life with elementary kids...Mark LOVED helping our niece Sophia with her science project. I mean, LOVED it. Sidenote: James was determined to call Sophia "MISS-fia".

Cuddling with Grandma. An update on Lois; she has continued to recover from surgery and has completed half of her chemo treatments. She is so strong!! I admire her for her strength, determination, and faith that God has the entire situation in His hands. We were blessed to have her and Steve join us this past weekend for Clara's dedication, too!

Typical, James is a blur. He was really into making everybody into a 'sandwich' with pillows.

Not much to say here. Clara loves her daddy, and he adores her!

Four Years

Mark and I have been married four years. We celebrated our anniversary on St. Patrick's Day. Before we got married, so many people asked me if I was Irish...was that the reason we had chosen St. Patrick's Day? No, I was teaching and it was Spring Break. And that was that! No honeymoons or get-aways this year. But we did get to go out to eat! Mark sister Jody came to town just so we could go to dinner. What a blessing! So nice to eat a meal and actually chew our food....and talk to each other. Four years doesn't sound very long...but both Mark and I agree that, in a good way, it seems like we've been together much longer. I just can't imagine not being married to him!

And now updates on the kids. James is two and a half. Some days we think he is getting to be such a big boy. But other days I'm reminded that he's still so little. I'm thankful for those days because it's almost heart-breaking to realize how fast it's going! We love this phase of him talking more and more all the time. He really says the funniest things....at least we think so. Along with the age comes a good dose of independence and tantrums, too. So hard to know how to deal with irrational toddler behavior sometimes!

James loves the new (used) van we got last weekend. Every time we go somewhere he shouts, 'oh YEAH! Let's go on AVENTURE!' (aventure = an adventure) After we took these pictures, we decided to put an end to him sitting in the front seats. Too many buttons for a little boy to push!
Mark was 'stowing' one of the seats into the floor of the car and James exclaimed, 'Oh, FANCY!' What a hoot!!

Miss Clara Marie is turning into the sweetest little girl. Ever. She smiles at everybody and everything. She's not very interested in rolling over (yikes) and is really content being held. James was always a little more squirmy, wanted to be down on the ground movin' around. Clara is a cuddler...so far, anyway. I know, those could be 'famous last words' and next thing you know she's as active as her brother....but for the time being, we're enjoying her relaxed personality.

I took these on her 5 month 'birthday'. Little peanut.
(Thanks to Andrea and Lauren for loaning us clothes! Clara is wearing 6 month clothes now)

Clara has been chewing and drooling quite a bit. She prefers a finger....or two...or her whole fist...or teething rings. But she's not as wild about the pacifier as James was (and is still, sadly).

I'll never get over pictures of tiny toes. Too sweet for words.