Clara, 6 Months

Clara is already six, nearly seven months! She has so many new 'tricks'. We are having a blast with her. As she has become more and more responsive, it is such a delight to see James interact with her. He loves to make her laugh. I think it is so special.

Checking out Papa's new cell phone...isn't it funny how our children are growing up with cell phones as a reality?

Practicing sitting up with Grandma. (5/11/11) She has gotten quite a bit better since this photo...but not steady enough to sit straight up on her own yet.

My sweet peach.

This was one of our Monday photos. I've lost track of which week. Somewhere around 6 1/2 months.

I'm sure Clara will pop a tooth in the next few weeks. She is drooling and chewing on everything!

Clara is enjoying two different meals lately; avocado/banana/cereal mashed together or sweet potato/cereal. I need to branch out a little more. Believe it or not, this isn't an expression of disgust. She loves her food but makes this face anyway!

We're totally embracing the chunky thighs.

A little much needed girl-time with her future b.f.f., Lauren. I love this picture because it really appears that they are having a heart-to-heart!

Red Swing.

In our little corner of the world, our back yard we have a swing set and slide...and now sandbox this spring. I like this spot in our yard because their are fences on either side and it's far from the street.

See James roaming around? This was taken a few weeks ago, before Mark had finished the sandbox. James LOVES to 'help' Mark. Usually that looks like James getting into everything imaginable and then just playing nearby.

Although James has learned how to swing on the 'big' swing, he still requests this red swing pretty frequently. As Clara gets older I'm sure she'll claim it when we play outside.

James is so happy-go-lucky. I don't know why I love this picture so much. I think it's because you can see the dirt and grass smooshed into his shoes, proof that he's been active in the yard.

We love this little guy; so adventurous, funny, and sweet.

Stacia's 40th Fiesta

We had wayyyy too much fun this weekend. Mark's sister Staci turned 40 and this family was excited to throw a fiesta celebration for her! Staci seriously makes 40 look great, doesn't she? Anyway, all of these photos are out of order. Maybe blogger is changing the way they upload...?

Staci was such a good sport about wearing the sombrero and dress I had brought from my Spanish-teaching stash. Here she is with her sopapilla dessert!

Uncle Roy's tractor was out and cousin Jacob helped James stand up on top. He was so proud.

Family gatherings with Mark's family are always a tight squeeze! Garages work perfectly for fitting (mostly) everyone in the same room. We also used my lanterns, Mexican blanket, and chili pepper lights.

Prior to the fiesta the men worked on roofing Roy and Shari's new garage. Mark had a blast and suffered only a little later from a sunburn across his lower back from bending over for hours.

Sopapillas were surprisingly easy to make...and SO good. Here's the recipe Lois picked out and I helped a little with.

There were flowers in the girls' hair....

...and on the tiki torches.

Fresh sopapillas.

After the Mexican feast, Grandpa organized a few yard games; wheel-rolling races and tug of war!

The girls won this round with the help of Uncle Paul.

these two cousins are exactly two years apart. James adores his cousins.

James was very excited about his first pinata experience!

Mother's Day family picture

finished off the party with watermelon...this little boy was thoroughly grubby and worn out!!

Gone Fishin'

James went fishin' for the first time this weekend with his daddy, grandpa, and cousins Brock and Jacob. We had to go visit them to take a few pictures of this milestone!

Brock caught two right in a row! James was very cautious around the fish. He did NOT want to touch them.

Miss Clara was perfectly content to observe from the arms of cousin Jacquie and (below) Aunt Jody.

I'm not sure why I always feel the need to take pictures like this....a bicycle with the word 'tradition' printed on the side.

"Grandpa, can I eat this radish?" Grandpa was hard at work picking lettuce for our salad (and fish) dinner.

The girls--I married into a great family! Lois is doing amazing with her chemotherapy and has just one more round left!

Right before dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's

Story time.

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!