Dave's Wedding

On Saturday, we went to Huntsville for our friend Dave's wedding. Chris worked with him at SHSU and we spent a lot of time over at his house hot tubbing and eating tacos. The wedding was on his property several miles outside of Huntsville. We hadn't seen Dave in quite some time, but we had to attend this wedding. Dave is a character so we had no idea what to expect.

As we suspected, Dave didn't disappoint. We felt very overdressed when we first arrived. In fact, I thought maybe we were in the wrong place when I saw lots of people in shorts and flip flops, but then I spied several in tie dye shirts and knew we were at Dave's wedding. He was even wearing tie dye under his white shirt.

I took a picture for you, JDog, aka Mr. Anonymous. Notice who the best man/ring bearer was? Yep, Maggie. (Maggie and her brother showed up at our house in Huntsville when they were puppies. We looked for their mama, but never found her, so Dave took Maggie in.)

It was a very nice ceremony and I'm sure it was a fun reception, but we didn't stay. I wasn't feeling great so we left early.

Clara wore her Minnie Mouse dress to church for the first time and Minnie had to come with us of course. So cute.

We received a surprise in the mail from Nanny. It was a box filled with 6 different kinds of gourmet english muffins. Clara says the chocolate chip ones are A-ok!

Notice the circle on her forehead? Sunday night I was talking to my mom on the phone when Clara fell off our bed. She landed flat on her face, right on top of a lid to Chris' inhaler. Ouch! It's a nice shade of green now.

Easter Weekend

On Saturday, we went to our friend's birthday party. It was at a park and the kids got to do a little Easter egg hunt. Clara was way more interested in her party blower thing and only managed to pick up a few eggs.









Sunday morning we met Jessica and her kids for breakfast and they joined us for church. Robert also came (the rest of his fam was a little slow getting ready in the morning). During bible class time, we had an Easter egg hunt. It was supposed to be outside, but we had thunderstorms all morning, so down the hallways lay a sea of plastic eggs. We got to take another picture with the Easter Bunny, too.

Oh, and I should mention my embarrassment during the service. Our church has a children's offering right after the normal one. They go up to the front and drop their money in and then can head off to children's church. Well, they weren't having children's church because of the holiday, but I guess I didn't make it clear enough to Clara that she needed to come back and sit down after giving her offering.

Instead, she marched right on over to the door they normally exit from (which is right on stage), pulling on the door, with Natalie and Samantha close behind. I had to book it over to them from all the way across the auditorium and pull her off the stage. Then she realized she forgot to put her money in, but he had already gotten up, so she pulled away from me trying to run back to the front. Thankfully she ran into a dead end and I didn't have to chase her too far, but she wasn't too happy about not being able to put her money in the can.





After church, we went over to Jessica's house for lunch. Robert, Debbie and Taylor joined us as well. Robert made a yummy brisket that we all thoroughly enjoyed. I feel the need to explain the outfit below. As we were finishing lunch, the kids had gone outside to play. Clara came in the back door, stood there and said, "I go potty", as the pee is dripping down her leg. What she meant to say is "I'm going potty right here before your very eyes and there's nothing you can do about it." So she got to wear her emergency pants that stay in the car for just such occasions.

It had stopped raining finally and after a couple of hours, the yard was even dry enough to hunt eggs in. The older kids got to hunt eggs also. Their eggs contained money. Robert was told to hide theirs well, a job he took very seriously. They couldn't find them all and eventually had to be given clues. That hunt ended up taking a looong time.



We didn't get home until 5:00, but I still managed to slip in a little nap because I was just plain pooped. It was a lovely day and we had a good time with our friends, though I did miss going to Pecos like I have the last two years. It would've been nice to be there for Brody and Grayson's first Easters.

Springtime Cutie

Our neighbor offered to take pictures of Clara awhile back, so I took her up on her offer and got some wonderful pictures of Clara in her Easter dress at the arboretum. She was in a perfect mood, posing up a storm, looking just like a little doll. They're just too cute not to share a whole slew of them with you.

Eastery Fun

Clara got a fun surprise in the mail this week. She got a few homemade suckers from Myrt Myrt and got to taste them for the first time ever. It was my first one in years, too. Momma and Myrt Myrt made them all the time when we were little. That was always the class treat I brought on holidays. I remember the first day of school one year when a very excited classmate realized I was in his class and would get suckers throughout the year. Anyway.... thank you Myrt Myrt!!

On Wednesday, we met our playgroup at the park and played and then hunted easter eggs. They had so much fun and Samantha won the award for most committed hunter. I guess being the oldest and the only one with 3 older siblings does that to a girl. She had twice as many eggs as the rest.

Look at this face. I love this smile. Pure, unadulterated joy at something as simple as finding a few candy filled eggs. Ahh to be young again.

Quick Update

I had my first appointment with the midwife today and everything looks fine. She agreed with my due date assessment, so it's officially November 20th. I peed in a cup, they took some blood and my uterus feels like a pregnant uterus, so that's good. It's too early to hear a heartbeat, but hopefully next month we will be able to. Oh, and I've been having a bit of nausea these last few days. Yay! Thanks for your prayers everyone!

Easter Bunny Progression

At four months, there was no smile, but there was total cooperation.



At 16 months, still no smile and the complete opposite of total cooperation.



Same song and dance at two.



And now at three, we experienced an Easter miracle! For those out there who have lost hope of their child ever unclinging themselves from your bosom long enough to snap a picture in the bunny's lap, I am here to tell you there is hope. There is hope. Never stop believing.

Clara's First Wedding

We went to a wedding this morning for one of Chris' co-workers. It was perfect weather for an outdoor wedding. A little warm and sunny, but we survived. I've been itching to get this adorable little halter dress on her for awhile now.

Clara had fun and she did very well. We really hyped it up and told her the bride would be dressed like a princess and there would be a really tall cake. I don't have to tell you she loved the idea of a huge cake.
Robert was in the wedding and we sat with Debbie and Taylor and Chris' boss at the ceremony and reception. Clara saw another little girl dancing with the bride, so she wanted to dance with the princess too and went out on the dance floor. Courtney danced with her, all the while wondering who this little girl was I'm sure. We met her last year at Chris' company party, but I'm not sure she remembered her.

Clara got Taylor out on the floor for one dance and then she wanted to dance with Daddy, which to my surprise, he agreed. I was so proud of him out there doing the twist with his little girl. I'm sure if there was a little boy there she knew, we would've had to drag her off the dance floor. I'm glad Clara finally got to experience a wedding. Now I'm excited to go through our wedding pictures with her since she now has a frame of reference.

The Teaser

The three of us were walking around Home Depot last night when we came upon a toilet and sink display. It was on an end cap, so it was in a highly visible location. Chris walked us over to it and lifted the lid. Then he told Clara in his firm, no nonsense voice, "Go potty."

I proceeded to give him the disapproving look, but secretly wanted to see what she'd do, so I kept quiet. She said "But Daaad." And then, being the obedient little girl that she is, she turned around and started pulling her pants down.

We start laughing and told her he was just teasing. Then she pulls away from him and is trying to get to the toilet, hands on her pants, saying "I gotta go potty!" I give another look and although I didn't have to say it, I informed him that he earned the privilege of a public bathroom break this time. Funny enough, he didn't disagree.

I couldn't stop smiling the entire time I waited for them and I'm still smiling as I'm typing this. On the way to the bathroom, he kept telling her that Daddy was just teasing, but she kept insisting that he wasn't.

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Speaking of Daddy's teasing, I should elaborate on the head shaving conversation from a few nights ago. I was on my computer while Chris was in the bathroom shaving his head and face. All I know is she came into the office and asked, "Can I shave my head?"

My reply was a resounding "No", but she wasn't having it. I go on and on about little girls don't shave their heads. Only daddy's shave their heads. You won't be able to wear pigtails and bows. Yada yada yada. She was getting really whiny and annoying. "Pleeeeeeeeez, Mommy. Daddy say I could shave."

I told her Daddy was just teasing her and she says, "No he not. Say yeeeeeeeeesssss, Mommmmmmmmy." Over and over until I finally said very loudly that she was not shaving her head and that was the end of it.

We walked into the bathroom where I sweetly asked my wonderful husband exactly what he told her. Yeah, he told her to go ask Mommy. What a guy.

What am I going to do with these two?