Home Alone with Clara

These last two years it's been just Clara and me.

She's been such a sport to model for me while I play around with my camera.

 We have fun games of Hide in Seek.

 It's hard to find someone who's small enough to fit in a cupboard.

 And she loves having the tub all to herself when brother and sister are gone.

I love having this little cutie pie all to myself.  She's so easy, fun, sweet, and so loving.  I am dreading her going to Kindergarten in the Fall.  She, on the other hand, cannot wait!  Everyday when I pick her up from preschool she says, "I'm ready for Kindergarten!"  And she really is.  She's going to be almost six when she starts.  Whereas Ben and Belle hadn't been five for very long when they started.  So to me, she seems very advanced and mature to be starting Kindergarten.  She's counting down the days.  I'm treasuring the days.

Rub a Dub Dub

Three kids in a tub.

Mom's jetted tub + bubbles = FUN!

Maybe a little too much fun.

  They flooded the bathroom into the bedroom carpet and the closet carpet.

 Oh the joys...

Seaworld Pics off My Phone

I forgot my camera on our trip to San Antonio in February.  So here are all the pictures I got on my phone.

 Riverwalk.

 We met my cousin Helena for lunch on the Riverwalk.  Then we rode a tour boat.

 Seaworld!

 This was the best part of our trip.  We had so much fun at Seaworld.  It wasn't too crowded and we saw all the shows and rode all the rides we wanted.

 They got soaked on the Rio Loco ride. I opted out of that one.

 And of course these cute little guys. 

Belle and I also got to touch dolphins.  One thought I was feeding it so he was trying to eat my hand but he was very gentle.  It was really cool.

It only snowed once in Midland this winter.  Jan. 3rd.  The kids woke up and played in it first thing in the morning.  That was a good thing because it was all melted by the afternoon.  Here are some pictures of the snow.

 My Snow Belle.

Dog on a Blog

I know y'all probably don't want to look at pictures of my dog but I wanted some pictures of him.  He's so pretty.  And I wanted to have them on my blog so bear with me.

 I took these pictures on his 1 year birthday.  Here's Charlie!

Christmas 2012

Benjamin couldn't wait to get to bed on Christmas Eve.  He asked us not to bother him so he could go to sleep and Christmas could come quicker.  He turned the lights on in our room at 1:30 am to tell us there were lots of presents.  He asked if he could open them.  Danny tried to help him go back to sleep but he was too excited.  Finally at 6am Danny said they could wake the girls up.  Belle was glad because she said she's been up waiting since 4:30am.  Oh the anticipation...let the excitement begin.

Among Belle's stuff was a ipod touch cover, an American Girl doll bed, clothes and a suitcase from her favorite store Justice, and a giant stuffed Elephant.  She loves stuffed animals!

And a book about Manners from American Girl.  Maybe this will help :)

The first thing Clara did when she walked in the room was run and get the gift she'd bought me with her own money.  She didn't even react to the Santa gifts.  She was most excited to give.  It brought tears to my eyes.  What an example for the rest of us.  

She gave me a beautiful necklace that spelled out "LOVE".

Clara got an American Girl Doll bed too as well as a Cinderella suitcase, some games, playdoh, clothes.

I got Danny a garment steamer that he just keeps in the closet to use every morning.  I also got him a metal penguin for his desk. He loves penguins.  Then I got him a sign that says, "I Love You More Than Bacon"  Anyone who knows me knows that this is huge!

What a mess!

Benjamin got a Ninjago set, a big remote control truck, a globe, Sonic games and toys, and a stuffed Lion.

The girls had so much fun playing together most of the day.  We had to remind them to include Benjamin but he was too busy playing new video games to care much.

 It was another great Christmas!