I Spy Animals in the Backyard

Hello everyone!  We are so happy it is finally spring!

Things are on the crazy side over here.  Work is thick, and Grace is busy too - she will be going to the local high school to throw pottery with her preschool class this week!

Clara LOVES animals.  Here we are, discovering some bunnies, squirrels and birds in the backyard.

Grandma and Grandpa's happy accident of ordering two binoculars is coming in handy.  Of course I can't get a picture of them both looking at the same time.  I think Clara is viewing some very wild window frames.  You'll grow a couple inches soon, little girl!

I have a couple cute videos to share with you.  The first is of Grace reading the Dinosaur book (gifted by the very thoughty Aunt Calleen!) aloud to Clara.  I must apologize for the poor video quality.  They were sitting in a fairly dark room but I didn't want to disrupt the cuteness by turning on the light, so I stuck my hand and camera through the door and crossed my fingers they wouldn't notice!

Did you not get all of that?  I've provided a transcript below.

Grace:
Here is another dinosaur that flies.  Clara, do you know this?

Clara:

DAGON!

No, not dragon...

Dubdub.  Dibdib.

It IS dibdib!  So Clara...

NIBnib!

Search of you.. (I don't know this one.)  OH!  How they chew up all their enemies!  So Clara,,,

"Sup Mommy?"  (This is when my camera was discovered, but Grace doesn't seem to care.)

Here is a rang!  (Grace likes to make up words when she doesn't know the right one.  I think she is doing that here.)  So your rang is this dinosaur.  So Clara do you know this dinosaur?

Yes.

SteeeeeGASAURUS!  It's a stegasaurus.  It's stegasaurus.

This again.

All of,,, All of,,,  This dinosaur is all of their rangs.  (rest made up words?)

*camera battery dies and video ends, but you get the picture!

This next video is an adorable game they play sometimes.  I call it the hugging game.

I hope to get some good pottery wheel pictures.  Be back soon!

Your Turn

Please don't be disappointed with this video.  It really is just the girls running back and forth, but for some reason we think it is pretty funny. 

p.s. I figured out what "sacko" means.  Clara is saying "Set go" as in "ready, set, go".

Happy Birthday Mommy

The cake wasn't finished before I left for work, so I came home to this sweet video!

No one can make a 3 year old wait an entire day for chocolate and caramel birthday cake, even if the birthday girl is absent!

p.s. she drums on her chest at the end because Daddy was trying to get her to clap.  He was holding Clara and was thus one handed so she was copying what he was doing.  

Valentines

We've been busy making Valentines over here!

This actually isn't a Valentine, but it is a cute picture with which to start.  She went through a very prolific cotton ball phase.  It ended when we ran out of cotton balls.

School Valentines!  I cut out the hearts but she decided where and how many to glue on each card.  Then she did her own painting and stamping!

This one is my favorite!  The preschool teacher says Grace is becoming quite the painter.  Grammy says "of course she is!"

And some other cute pictures just for fun.

Daddy pile up!

Grace and Daddy assembled and painted a model car together!

Clara counts to three!  Right after I turned off the video, she said "ONETWOTHREEFOURFIVE!"

Tucson Christmas - GG

We were able to see GG a couple times while we were there too!

She came to visit at Jon and Roberta's house for a Christmas celebration.  She brought the shoes I bought for myself months ago but accidentally shipped to her address!

Another meal that couldn't be beat.

GG gave rings to both girls.  Clara enjoyed checking it out.

GG did some drawing with Grace.

She even played a game of Trouble!

You might not believe this, but Jason can corroborate.  We went to visit GG at her house on this trip also.  She made a lovely lunch for us and we went to Costco.  When it was time to go, Grace didn't want to hug goodbye even though GG asked for one.  Grace has been known to do this before.  GG didn't skip a beat.  She chased Grace, cornered her and lifted her off the ground, all while Grace giggled uncontrollably!  It was a sight to see!

Tucson Christmas: Grandma

I'm back, here with my second installment of my many Christmas photos.

These photos will feature Grandma.  Grandma likes to teach things.  Here she is teaching Grace how to play a Peruvian game called Sapo.  She tried to teach me too and I was terrible at it.

Grace also learned a ton about baking.

We all benefited from these lessons in other ways.

This apple pie says "Gracie's Pie" in letters made from dough scraps.

One of the best projects they did was a collaboration.  Grace said the pool needed a boat and Grandma listened.

Grandma came up with the Styrofoam design and helped Grace to carefully paint it.

Thanks Grandma!

A Little Spinning Music

Hello everyone!  After I made my last post, my new computer broke and had to be sent back to the company!  I had grand plans to get our Christmas pictures up sooner, but that derailed my efforts.  I should have my computer back tomorrow.  In the meantime, please enjoy some pictures and a video!

We're having a bit of warmish weather and we're making the most of it!

Clara's eyes are healing well we think!  She has been experimenting with tantrums on occasion but she is still generally sweet.  She talks all the time.  She is working on her letters and asks questions all the time.  Her favorite one is "Why?"  She loves to help, but she gets the words mixed up when she asks and says "help me!" instead of "help you." English is confusing!

Uncle Ian gifted Grace this very loud but very fun train for Christmas.  Clara loves to dance and spin to its music!  I love how she asks Grace repeatedly, "On please.  ON PLEASE."