Joy

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Oatmeal Braids

Claire's hair is finally long enough for braids! Well, sort of. This first one was a bang braid. She has the most obnoxious bang hairs that make a point right in middle of her forehead. Too short to reach the clip, too long to ignore. We just brush them to the side constantly. This braid helped keep them away.


When is she going to out grow that outfit!?!?
The next day we did french braids. She isn't very good at sitting still but I gave her some watermelon in her chair and that bought me just enough time to get them done. The sad thing is, the only reason they stayed in and held together somewhat, was because I didn't wash her hair the night before and she had oatmeal for breakfast. (she likes to take a bite, stick her hand in her mouth, and then rub either her eye, ear or hair.) It really is a fantastic mousse.

We are going crazy today at our house trying to get ready to leave for California tomorrow. We are leaving a day earlier than originally planned so that is super exciting. I am dreading the looooong drive with Claire though. Maybe she will surprise us and be good but I am planning on sitting in the back to entertain her the second half of the trip. *Joy*

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Water Water Everywhere

Today Claire a little swimming lesson. My friend from high school, Jenni, met us at my mom's house and basically reaffirmed that what we were doing with her in the pool was right. I found that when I dunk her I need to do it faster than I have been. Claire was not a fan of her lesson but that's just how she is when she swims.


That afternoon, my parents had their flood irrigation which Claire absolutely loved! She tried to catch the birds that come to snack on the bugs that rise to the top of the water, she threw the ball for Cali and mostly just ran around in it and had a great time. It made me happy she wasn't afraid of it - that reassures me she will be good at the beach next week!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Amazing 4th, Race and Baby Dolls.

What a busy week we have had! On the 4th of July we were going to go see fireworks in Tolleson but rather than sit for hours in the heat with a hot, sweaty and crabby Claire and not know how she would react to the fireworks, we decided to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Claire thought it was great fun to wash her hands in the dog's water dish and was very proud of herself.
She hadn't seen her Aunt Shelbe for awhile and she was so happy to see her! It was so cute how excited Claire was about her Aunt. The day was fun and relaxing and I remembered how last 4th of July we went to their house as well but Claire was much smaller! What a difference a year makes!Josh then left for Youth Camp on the following Monday and just got back last night. I headed over to my mom's. We were super busy the first few days because we decided to apply to be on the Amazing Race! I found out on the 3rd that July 10th was the deadline for sending in your application. We had to get my passport, take photos of the two of us together and then have more passport sized photos of us individually. We also had a 10 page application to fill out and then we had to make a 3 minutes video to send in. Yikes! It was a lot of fun! The chances of being contacted are 1 in 20,000 but it was worth a try. I would post our video here but my mom made me destroy it. It was pretty good if I do say so myself.

That week Claire also discovered babies. We got her this one at Goodwill for $1.60. She LOVES that baby. She is very intrigued by the feet for some reason and often carries to around by the feet and matches them up together and makes them clap.


I tried giving her my old cabbage patch dolls we had in the attic but she threw them on the ground and made it clear that only this baby was good.It's a boy. (until I find some different clothes for it)

Friday, July 3, 2009

Cool Pool Day

This week Grandma Tracy took us to her gym (Lifetime) for a fun pool day. Lifetime has a zero grade pool with one of those mushroom things with water falling down, and a sprinkler area for the kids. We loaded Claire up with her all natural sunscreen (which worked very well I might add) and let her go in the water. She was unsure at first but then got pretty cocky and waded down so the water was at her chest. Other kids would swim by and make tiny waves and then she would get freaked out and hang on to one of us. She played with her ball. And looked at the little fountains bubbling up, and she played in the sprinkler area. Claire HATES water on her head though and she would cry and run whenever water got on her head or face. I think, “what a strange child I have” but then I realized she got this disorder from me. I can’t put my face in the shower stream or let water drip down me and into my eyes. It also makes my eyes water when I see people swimming and they come up straight out of the water with their hair stuck to there face and in their eyes. Ugh! I come up out of the water with my face up so my hair is behind me and off my forehead.

We made Claire go under water three times and each time was horrible for her. She will just have to get over it though.


She likes to point at the other kids.

"Don't make me get near that thing!"

We stayed at the pool for nearly 3 hours until Claire got too tired and cranky. It was a very fun day for all of us! Thank you Grandma!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Play Volleyball!

Last Sunday was our church's annual volleyball tournament. I always love this day and look forward to it every year. I have to be careful when I play though to not get on a team of people who "play for fun" This just makes me frustrated and then I end up angry. I understand having fun while playing, but to me fun is doing well and trying hard.... not swinging wildly and laughing at yourself because you have no skills or no desire to improve your skills. I don't understand why being bad at something is fun. I take 1 Corinthians 9:24 very seriously where Paul says "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." Not, "Be horrible at the race but if you had fun - you won!" Anyways. I remember being very sad that I couldn't play last year because I was over 9 months pregnant with Claire. This year she got to join in the fun. Josh and I were on the same team so she cried whenever we were playing a game and someone else had to watch her. Eating watermelon was the only thing that made her happy if we weren't around.
Why there is such a thing as white shirts for babies I will never know.

She also was amazed by hula hoops for a little while, but my proudest moment was when she picked up a volleyball and triumphantly walked around with it like she was a pro. Notice that she is very serious about her volleyball playing just like her mommy.

We did have to leave before the championship game (which my team won) because Claire was so hot and sweaty and whiney. Poor girl had been out in the heat for 3 hours and it was time for bed.