Claire's 1st trip to Boone

This past weekend we were able to visit Jarrett, Lara and Colby in Boone. (Jarrett and Bradley were roommates in college). Bradley and I LOVE to go to Boone. I love to ride around and just look out the window. It is beautiful!! It was COLD this weekend though! The high on Saturday was around 18 degrees and the wind chill was around 0. That's ZERO! This TX girl isn't used to that kind of cold! Claire did really well though. Jarrett and Lara even babysat on Saturday for about an hour while Bradley and I had a "date"...we went to Walmart, the Christian bookstore, Food Lion and Chick-fil-A. :) I've got to tell you about a DEAL I got a Walmart too...let me preface it with saying that for YEARS I've wanted a pre-lit Christmas tree. But, I haven't ever been able to justify buying one just cause I "wanted" it when I knew I had a perfectly good tree. Every year though, Bradley and I hit the after Christmas sales looking for one and every year I talk myself out of a purchase. Even $75 for a tree that I don't "need" is too much for me. :) When we moved into the house that we're in my "needs" kind of became a little more justified because our living room is smaller and I have to SQUEEZE my tree in a corner...but, it still works. Well, last Thursday as I was taking down my tree I broke the base of it. The tree will no longer stand up on its own. So, while we were in Boone, we browsed the Christmas tree section at Walmart. And I found what I was looking for!! A slim, pre-lit, 7 foot tree for (drum roll, please)...$24.50!! It was 75% off!!

Okay, now that I've shared that...here are pics from our weekend. We had a blast hanging out with good friends and comparing notes on raising our first born children. :) (Colby is just 4 months older than Claire)

"Dad, can I check email too?"

Colby had a super-fun Lightening McQueen riding car. She loved it.

Loving to ride.

She snorts when she's happy.

Again, snorting cause she's happy.

Playing with Colby. He has some fun toys!

Colby was supposed to be in his room playing by himself...Claire was having no part of that. :)

They were so cute together. Claire loved playing with Colby (and I think Colby had fun too!)

Riding Lightening McQueen together. I love how Colby's hands are on her shoulders. :)

Ha ha...it looks like she's honking the horn.

All bundled up to go outside.

NOW she smiles...she's all ready to go outside...it's COLD.

We thought we'd get some pics of Claire in the snow...turns out it was pure ice. Boone was so cold that all the snow had a layer of ice over it.

She's not so sure what to think about it. She was slipping and sliding on it. Plus is was unbelievably cold!

Posing for a pic.

Okay, we got a smile out of her...:)

Family pic in the snow/ice.

Claire and Colby were constantly interested in what the other one was doing. Colby is supposed to be eating but Claire had other plans.

Grassmick Fun

In November, Claire and I went to visit my friends from college, Melissa and Jonathan Grassmick. Bradley goes fishing every Fall and I usually try to go somewhere too when he's gone. I hadn't visited them at their home since February of 2006...they now have 2 more kids and I have 1. This was my first time to meet their youngest, Anderson and their first time to meet Claire. Claire and I had a wonderful time (except when she would wake up for the day at 4:30 am...yes, gotta love that time difference) and I'm scoping out tickets for when Bradley can go back with us sometime.


Melissa made this super cute sweater and hat for Claire. I love the little pom-pom on the top of the hat.


Melissa put Claire's hair in a pony tail. Gosh it was so cute.


Sweet Annie Grassmick.


Claire just loves to play with the Grassmick kiddos.


Jonathan manages a 7000 acre ranch in Middle of Nowhere, NM. :) When Bradley and I first went to visit in 2006, there was nothing there. Even Melissa and Jonathan lived down the highway from the ranch. But, now, Melissa and Jonathan live in a home just adjacent to the ranch and the company has built a ton of stuff there. There is a home (for the ranch owners) an office building, a bridge, a stable and much, much more. This is a picture of Claire and I at the river.






Claire and I on the bridge. It totally wasn't there in 2006! To get to the other side of the river, they used to have to just drive across a low spot.


We went to visit Jonathan in the office while we were there and there was a super fun Gator-like vehicle there. All the kids wanted to play on it.

Claire absolutely loved Jonathan.

Johnny and I are thowing the football in the shop.

Claire and Melissa.

When we were driving around on the ranch, we let the kids ride unbuckled. On the way back to the house, Melissa held Claire in her lap. Claire had so, so much fun "driving". But got distracted easily...she started to lick the steering wheel...nice.

Can I get a Grassmick to smile?? Thank you, Emma.

Can't figure out how to rotate these pics...
Melissa and Jonathan and family built a chicken coop. They go out and get fresh eggs every day.

Johnny's about to check for some eggs...

"There are TWO!!"

Johnny was so sweet with Claire. Well, all of the Grassmicks were. I was amazed at how at just 4 years old, he knew how to keep her safe from harm while she crawled around on the floor. I guess that's what you can expect from a child with 2 younger siblings.

While we were there Melissa and the kids made a Thanksgiving Tree and we all took turns each night sharing something that we were thankful for. One night, Jonathan got out his guitar and we sang praise and worship songs.

Melissa with Anderson and Claire.

Thanksgiving Tree!! (Sorry, can't rotate it)

Just 2 short weeks after we were in NM, we were ALL in TX visiting family for Thanksgiving. The Grassmick family came to Ft. Worth to play and visit one day. We took my parents Gator out for a drive in the cow pasture. I've never seen so many smiles from kids before. We all had a blast. Oh, and thank you Melissa for getting a pic where my hair looks like I just got out of a wind tunnel. :)

Jonathan loving some time with Claire.

My parents have a swing set/jungle gym and the Grassmicks had no problem knowing what to do with that! Bradley's helping Annie get across the rings.

My parents have lots of fun outdoor toys. Anderson "drove" this car.

We may not get to see each other very often. Since college we've all moved out of TX. But, when we DO get together, we easily pick up where we left off. I have NO other friendship like it. One thing that I realized while I was with them was how amazing it is that you can love your friend's kids, even when you hardly know them, just because they are your friend's kids. One day I heard Melissa tell Claire that she loved her and I teared up as I came to that realization. I truly, truly love her kids and I know she loves mine...and that's because we love each other. We go weeks, sometimes months without corresponding with each other, but I know that no matter what, I'll always have her in my life. I have no one else in my life that can compare. Melissa, I love you and am so thankful for your friendship. Can't wait to see you again.

A Beach Adventure

We have such generous friends! A few weeks ago, Chad and Jamie spent the week at Topsail and invited us to come for the weekend. Bradley and Chad got to go fishing and Jamie and I were able to hang out, talk and play with the babies. We were at a beautiful home right on the oceanfront. What a refreshing weekend! Thanks Chad, Jamie and Barrett....we had a wonderful time!!


I've been wanting to try this for a while...Claire's got a really long "strip" of hair, so I decided to put it in a ponytail. This was the end result...it cracked me up. I think I'll wait a little longer though before trying again...she looked hilarious.


Claire's new "fun" is to take her basket of toys and dump them all out. Sometimes she dumps them all at once and sometimes she takes them out one by one, but anyway you look at it...they're all out of the basket. :) I love to watch her play with them too. She picks them up, looks at them, talks to them and then moves on to the next toy.


Claire is a little older than Barrett (although Barrett is her same size). She is constantly trying to grab him and we have to hold her back. We laugh and laugh at how aggressive she is. But, it won't be long that she and Barrett will be able to play safely together. But for now, we have to keep an eye out for poor Barrett. :)

Claire in her daddy's fishing hat. One day she'll have one just like it and will be fishing right along side him.

The Stars at Night are Big and Bright

In October, Claire and I went to TX!! Her first visit to Nana and Grandpa's house. It was her Aunt Angy's birthday and we wanted to surprise her with a visit from her favorite sister and niece. :) Claire did GREAT, despite a crazy full schedule!! We can't wait to see everybody again in November.


Claire's about to go on a plane for the first time. She did AWESOME!!


Claire loved playing with her Aunt Angy! Here we are at dinner just a few minutes after surprising Angy!

Claire was able to meet her Great-Grandma. What a special moment that was for all of us!


Four Generations of Women. A moment I will treasure in my heart for years.

Nana enjoying time with all 3 of her grandkids!

We took Claire to see her Great-Papa's gravemarker. I wish that Papa was able to see his beautiful Great-Granddaughter! He LOVED babies and children and was so good with them. As Claire grows older, she will definitely be told stories about Papa...he was funny and had a great sense of humor!!

Claire is checking out her Grandpa.

Claire loved spending time with her crazy Uncle John. I think that's what we'll teach her to call him...Crazy Uncle John. Ha ha ha...seriously though...she loved hanging out with him...they laughed and played and had a great time!

Claire and her Grandpa.

Aunt Angy discovered that Claire loves to be tossed in the air. It makes her giggle every time!

I LOVE these kids! Jake, Charlie and Claire!!