Growing up too fast...

Today was a momentous day for me, I signed Claire up for Gymnastics and Dance Class!! I even signed up Owen for a Gymnastics class too. Since I found out I was having a little girl, I looked forward to dance recitals, leotards, ballet and tap shoes, etc. It is almost surreal this time is already here. It seems like yesterday she would sit in a high chair and just bounce to the music (I have felt she was a gifted dancer since the beginning =)). Even though it is going to take up so much of our free time (Monday evening, Tuesday evening, and Saturday mornings), me and Shane are so excited....Claire is REALLY REALLY EXCITED!!! My sweet baby is becoming a little girl...

Pictures of Claire less than 1 week old...

Boatin' with the Browns'!!

Better late than never, but this post is about 2 weeks late! A couple weekends ago, we went out on Shane's parents' boat with the Brown family. To be honest, I am not really a lake kind of gal (if I had to categorize myself, private pool or the REAL beach girl), but about once a summer, I fulfill Shane's dreams of his "Out-doorsy wife", and we go. WOO HOO!! Now, we don't exactly rough it, Shane's parents have a nice boat. The Brown's are like a family of fish, they love the water and they grew up water skiing, diving, boating, etc., so they love for all of us to go and let the kids do the same (My Mom's way of taking us to swim was the Golf Country Club pool =)). I did not grow up as a great swimmer, in fact I did not learn until I was 13 (scary moment as a toddler ruined everything). Neither me or Shane want our kids to be the same way, so he wants the kids to grow up as he did. Luckily, we have Nana and Papa to take us out when we want to.

Sooooo we loaded up and went out and had a good time. Owen, of course, thinks he is invincible and thinks he can just walk off the boat and be fine...so relaxing huh...Claire is a little more cautious, but will not be shown up. For example, if Aunt Brooke jumps in, so will Claire. The kids had a great time, and Shane even took them both at the same time out on the inner tube behind the boat, they LOVED that (me, nervous wreck, but they had life jackets, etc). It did make for some great pics...see below...

Such a thrilled family...Owen was furious with the life jacket...

Claire and Clayton...

Owen protesting the life jacket...

"I think I will drive now..."

Is he not the hottest little toddler you have ever seen???!!!

I can thank Poppy for this picture...Claire has started flashing either the peace sign or what looks like a gang sign in pictures...

Riding the boat...waiting our turn to ride...

Now our turn, going out...

Still going...

Waving to mama...

And we ride...

Long day...fingers in mouth, time for nap...

Owen was helping Daddy drive back...

Lake trip for Summer 2008 - CHECK =)!!

Owen's new reading spot...

This would be the ottoman / storage bench I just cleaned out...Owen found it to be a great place to catch up on his reading!


"Ga gone" (per the picture of the empty bowl and spoon) =)

Great weekend....ready for FALL!!!

Okay, I have had it with this insanely hot weather!! I am ready for football, jeans, leaves, the smell of pumpkin, etc, etc! By August, I am so ready...I think I still have bad memories of being pregnant with O in August and literally thinking that I would not live to see my son!! As much as it was the excitement of Owen coming into the world, I was so miserable, August is just not the same anymore (any of you pregnant in the summer mamas know what I am talking about). ANYWAYS, below are some pictures from the weekend and last Thursday night. It is always a sign of the fall / back to school when Jace starts football at Kiwanis Kid's Day. We went to his scrimmage Thursday night, Owen LOVES it!! As soon as we pull in the parking lot he starts yelling "Fooball"!! He is so excited the entire time we are there!! Mom and Jake spend 2 weeks every night taking him to practice every night (except Wednesday and Sunday) and then they have a weekend tournament. It sounds crazy, but we cannot wait to do it with O!! Unfortunately, I did not get any shots of Jace, but we had to leave a little early as Owen could not handle staying in one place and we were hot and tired from chasing him!

He was so excited!!

Pretty Claire...

The girls...

The boys...Sweet boy...always a mess =) This is what we call a jail break... Daddy and Claire to the rescue...
Caught!

Then Friday night I went out with the girls for our Monthly Movie Dinner and Movie Night!! We went to see Mamma Mia and it was great!! Here are some pictures of the pretty girls...

Me and Tara...

Me and Nicole at the restaurant...

Me and Christen...

Tara and Jessica...

Me and Jess, MY BFF...=) Love you Jess!!!

Tara and Mom...

Dancing Queens...=) Saturday night, Mom and Jake came over and Shane grilled for us...

I love this picture of Claire, it sums her up pretty well...PURPLE shirt says "Little Miss Naughty" (from Nicole), hair in ponytail with bow, playing soccer, while wearing a skirt =)...this picture is for Nicole and "Meil" =).

Owen was hot...that is only explanation for the WT photo =)...

Me and Shane...

Nonna and Poppy...

The cutest couple of the night...why are sweaty, dirty kids so adorable...at least I think they are!!

Have a good week!!!

Girl's Week!!

I have been slow on blogging lately...as usual it is crazy around here. Shane was out of town the first of the week after a busy weekend, and Nicole came home from Joplin for the week!! YAY!! Nicole is busy with nursing school and working at the hospital, so she does not get to come home as often. Neil is out of town this week, so she came home to spend time with us (and bring little Winston, who is not that little anymore, puppies grow so fast =()!! I absolutely love spending time with my sisters (Mom too!)!! They are my very best friends!! We have so much fun and Claire is in heaven!! She loves them, mostly because they buy her things and spoil her rotten =)! So we have spent pretty much every night this week all together (both sis's, dogs in tote, spending the night here =)), going out to eat, enjoying a few beverages, and staying up late planning Tara's Bachelorette Party and looking through MySpace pages (hehe)! It has been a great week!! Since it has been mostly a girl week (Shane just got home last night, but he is used to us and I think deep down actually enjoys spending time with the crazy sisters), below are some cute pictures of Claire and the girls. Owen is just his usual awnry self and getting into anything and everything...he won't even stop long enough for a quick picture!!


These first 3 pictures are so cute...we went by Victoria's Secret last night - Did you know that they are selling College apparel in the PINK line now? I just got some adorable short gray sweat Razorback pants, but they also have PINK logo, they are so CUTE!! Brittney - I soooo see a pair in your future, I know your hubby would appreciate them =)....ANYWAYS, Claire went with us and Nicole bought her some lip gloss. The associate gave Claire her own bag for her gloss and Claire thought she was something! Of course, Tara had her camera in her purse and got these great shots!! Erin and Megan would be so proud!!


Walking out of the store, bag in hand, such a big girl (sniff sniff)...


Posing...
If you look close at her arm, she is all sparkly...Tara hooked her up with some kind of sparkle poof thing in VS=).

Last night after all the kiddos and hubby went to bed, just hanging out...I am still jealous that they both got these cute jerseys at VS, they only had theirs and we could not find me one!!! I think this is an awesome shot of my gorgeous sisters!!


We always say that dogs look like their owners =)...Sadie on the left, looks just like Tara's Drew, and Winston looks just like Neil....I am sure they would not agree =).
But who does he look like????? =)... I have a new Claire quote:


This morning, I am running around picking up the house and Claire is laying on the couch watching TV...


Claire: "Mama, I was thinking. You know how you always forget to water my plant?"
She has a plant that she planted in VBS, just the seed in soil and Shane insisted that we water it and let it grow. Well, lets just say that watering this little plant does not always make it to my to do list.

Mama: "Uh-huh"

Claire: "I think we should get an Akaglub."

Mama: "A what??"

Claire: "AN AKAGLUB!! It waters the plant for you, just stick it in the soil and you don't have to remember!! We can get it in your favorite color red!!"

Mama: "Do you mean an Aqua-globe? The one on TV?"

Claire: "YES!! AN AKAGLUB!!!"