Little Man and Pictures of the Siblings

 I had to grab some fall pictures of Hayden and the kids together.  I can't neglect this little guys sweet smile.  If I wait until his birthday in January, I fight weather a little much for the length of time I like to have with him taking pictures.  So I wanted a few more to add to those come January.  Plus it was a great excuse to get outside on a beautiful day.

Pumpkin Patch...Take Two

 So we thought we'd take another shot at the pumpkin patch.  The weather cooperated beautifully for us this Saturday.  The kids had a blast and we found our carving pumpkin.  We had a packed lunch for the kids and I thought I could make it until we got home, however, the smell of funnel cakes took me down.  Nothing like fried dough with powdered sugar to take down a hungry pregnant woman.  Nevertheless, we had a great time and made us so happy to be back raising our kids in what we remember and to see their joy in it too.

Tricycles with off road capabilities

Finally a bunny she can catch

What do you get when you have a lawnmower pulling painted barrels with wheels on them...happy little kids

Taking off from the air pillow

Who doesn't love things that burn energy off of kids.

Duck races and Daddy flooded the canals with the overzealous pumping.  I think our ducks won.

Riding out to the pumpkin patch

On the search for the right pumpkin

Our prized pumpkin

Perfect size for a 2 year old to rest on or to look like she was going to hatch a pumpkin egg.

This was our little navigator...and he owned that corn maze.

Clare figured out that she had a better view and an easier walk in Daddy's arms during the corn maze

That is his happy face....I love this little goofball

Clare's 2 Year Photo Shoot...With Me as the Photographer

So I took a lot, a by a lot I literally mean 500 pictures of this girl.  While it didn't require much Photoshopping because she is just so beautiful (okay I am biased), I will not be getting to the whole batch anytime soon.  Some of the pictures are funny to me because I can tell she's had about enough of me and she knows we are at the place she loves to play and mommy is keeping a tighter leash today and saying a whole lot of "smile pretty girl."  She's a good sport though and soon she'll feel the camera and get her pose on like her older brother does at 3 1/2.  My little hams.   But seriously, I look at these pictures and look at her pictures last year and I cannot hardly believe she is the same little girl.  She is so much more verbal and confident.  She is independent in a matter of speaking, sometimes beyond her physical capabilities.  She has definite likes and dislikes now and will let you know it.  She's developed her own style of playing and favors the baby dolls.  She likes to clean and grocery shop and help with the laundry.   Hmmm, this is sounding familiar.  She loves to learn songs and I'll catch her singing new ones I didn't even know that she knew.  She loves her boots in these pictures and loves tutus but can tackle her brother like a 300 lb linebacker.  Keeps the contact low.  She loves to wrestle with her daddy everyday when he comes home from work.   She calls it being taken downtown.  She loves her gymnastics class and is fearless (frightening).  She has pretty good ball control with a soccer ball and can catch balls.  She has a sense of humor and once she knows something is funny, she will try her hardest to keep you laughing.  I have loved getting to know her personality this year.  Though a stubborn streak was born this year, a little part of me is thankful its there for when she gets out there and doesn't have anyone to stand up for her.  She's my little 2 year old going on 20.  I'm blessed to get to raise her!

Happy 2nd Birthday Clare!

Our little Clare just celebrated her 2nd birthday.  I cannot hardly believe it.  It doesn't seem like she should be that old.  I feel like we were just here celebrating her 1st.  I feel like I'm going to wake up in the morning and she's going to be asking to borrow my car.  That will depend on her driving.  But that's beside the post.  As you might be able to make out we had a Sweet shop themed party.  We had lollipops at the entrance, large hard candies hanging throughout the house, and a lot, a lot of sweets.  We had a candy buffet for the guests to make their own treat bags.  And for the kids were sent home toothbrushes and toothpaste for their sweet tooth brushing.  Overall, we had a lot of fun.  It was so much fun to see Clare really enjoy the celebration.  To love the cake, the attention, and to finally get how to open a present.  Every card that she opened she acted as if she were reading it and said "Happy Birthday".  Of course, the next day she wanted to know if there was going to be a repeat of the festivities.  I'm glad she liked it so much she wanted a repeat.  The only person I'm trying to make sure has the best time is my birthday baby!  Everyone else is icing on the birthday cake.  Happy Birthday baby girl...Oh wait, not baby girl.  My big girl.

 

 

A sweet entry with lollipops and all

A candy buffet

For the aftermath of the candy

As if there wasn't enough sugar...but you must have cake and eat it too

Great Grandpa K and Clare

Poking Grandpa K in the cheek

Had to have the bouncer in the unfinished basement instead of outside because it was bit chilly but energy was burned either way

Getting ready to receive her birthday song and cake

She owned the cupcake eating

I wish we could have had the video running when we she opened a card with a check in it.  She screamed in pure joy for the money and said "Happy Birthday".    Already knows the value of a check made out in her name.

Her shirt says Peace, Love, & Sugar