Moments

Claire's commentary on tasting a new food: "I'm glad it doesn't taste like a trash can."

Averi Kate is currently obsessed with belly buttons. She calls them "be-bo" and wants to see everyone's and is certain that everyone wants to see hers.

 

Claire wanted to pray for our friend Meily, who lives in Ecuador. This is what she prayed. "God, please help Meily to get close to me so I can see her. Because I've never seen her before but I saw her in Rome on the webnet but I haven't really seen her up close so please help her to move two houses down when that lady moves. And please help her to know God. Amen."


Averi Kate thinks it is really funny to put things on her head. She is turning out to be an awesome dancer, much like her big sister. I'll have to get some video to share soon. She loves to play with my phone, or anyone's phone for that matter. She also loves to eat and starts to hyperventilate at mealtime when I say, "Let's go get in your highchair!"

The other night I was rocking Averi Kate to sleep when she passed gas. She looked up sharply and said, "Gog!" (which means, "Dog!")

No honey. That wasn't a dog. That was you.

Claire's current favorite song: "If you're happy in your nose, clap your hands..."
She must have the happiest nose in the world.

 

Averi Kate can climb all the way up the ladder and into the "treehouse" on the girls' playset. I was watering the garden one day while AK was playing on the ground, and when I turned around to check her face was peering at me through the window in the treehouse. Laughing gleefully. It is highly ridiculous that she can do this already.

Theology with Claire:


Did I disobey you today?

Oh honey, I don’t remember. You probably did, because it’s hard to make it through a day without disobeying.

But sometimes I don’t disobey!

Yes, and I am thankful for those times that God gives us the grace to obey! But you know what else I’m thankful for? I’m thankful that in the times we disobey, God loves us the same! His love doesn’t change – He loves us soooo much. And those times when we disobey, that’s why Jesus died on the cross for us…

Yeah, but sometimes I don’t like it because they nailed him to the cross. It sounds like that hurts.

It did hurt him. But He thought we were worth it! He said, “Even though it hurts, I will die so that they can be God’s friends again!”

Do you think He liked the people that put the nails in?

Yes! In fact, He prayed for them while He was on the cross! He said, “Father, forgive them – they don’t know what they are doing…”

But who is His Father?

God is His Father.

No He’s not. Jesus is God.

Yes, Jesus is God. He is the Son of God…but He is also God…

But why did He pray to God because He is God?

Oh goodness.

Sometimes when I try to take pictures of Claire, this is the only view I get. And it makes me sad because she is growing up so fast. Slow down, Little.

And your sister is right behind you...

And I am still here...in the rocking chair...ready to kiss your head and sing you to sleep...

Funny Girls

The other day I was listening to one of my dad's sermons online. Claire was busy painting a picture at the table. I said, "Claire, do you know whose voice this is?"

Claire listened for a moment. "Is it Daddy?" she said uncertainly.

"Nope," I said. "Guess again."

After a moment of silence, she ventured in a whisper..."Is it God?"



Claire's version of the "Would you rather" game...

Claire: Do you like bananas...or an oven?
Me: Umm...I like both.
Claire: But which one do you like the bester?
Me: I guess if I had to choose, I would go with the oven.



Averi Kate can't really tell jokes yet, but what she can do is walk into a room, stop, and proceed to laugh as loudly as she can until someone looks at her and laughs back.


What funny girls I have.

Concert

My dad had his high school reunion last weekend. Now what you may not know is that he is a former member of the world-renowned Dooly County FFA State Championship band. I know, hold yourself together please. Well, they had a little reunion of their own and I was able to catch some of it on tape. See the awesome piano player? Yep, that would be Popple.

Here is what the lead singer was saying about him...

“Jerry Pickard turned out to be a fine Christian man... He could have probably gotten a Grammy, but he chose the path that he did, and I’m glad that he did, ‘cause a lot of people have been touched by his life…”

Claire had an absolute blast. She didn't have a care in the world as she danced the night away.

And here is Claire in a concert of her own.

Easter Fun

 Easter afternoon we had lots of family over to our house...we had such a good time hanging out, doing an Easter egg hunt, making resurrection rolls with the kiddos, and eating lots and lots! (We will try to forget the stomach virus that pretty much hit everyone who was there after it was all over...)

Videos

Here's a video from a few months ago that I forgot to put up. It shows off Claire's mad songwriting skills.

The sounds of bathtime.

AK just being AK.

A little motor skill training.

Happy Easter?

This Girl

 This girl right here...

is a little ball of sunshine.

She is also a monkey.

 

And a cheeseball.

And a daredevil.

She makes us all laugh so much.

She got her first stomach virus last week.

We survived with a lot of help from Elmo, Baby Signing Time, and Baby Einstein.

She is growing and changing so fast. She hates it when her hand gets caught in the sleeve when I put her shirts on her. She loves to be held unless she sees something she can climb, in which case you really need to put her down asap, please. She loves loves loves grapes and strawberries and crackers and cheese and broccoli. She wants to read two books before she goes to bed at night. She has a little separation anxiety but it could be much worse. She still loves to play with Fisher Price Little People.

 And of course she always wants to play with her sister. Sometimes in the bathtub. With no water. (Why didn't I think of this before...)

And most of the time, she would rather be outside.

And did I mention, she would always rather be with her sister.