Family Pictures

 We attempted family pictures last week, and although Claire wanted no part in them and cried most of the time, we were able to get a couple keepers.  You can tell Claire has been crying in the second shot, and she's holding a piece of the candy the photographers were bribing her with, but it turned out cute all the same.

 

Christmas decorations

While at Grandma and Grandpa Hausner's this past weekend, the girls were waiting impatiently for Grandpa to put the lights on the tree so they could decorate.

They decorated each other to pass the time.

They decorated poor Nosey too, who puts up with their games, but I'm not she she enjoyed the garland.

Hannah and Adrienne did a great job with the tree, and had a lot of fun together too!

Bake Sale

 Yesterday Hannah insisted on having a bake sale.  She sat outside in the cold wind for about ten minutes before making the executive decision to move her bake sale indoors.  Since Matt and I were her only customers, we each had to go through line a couple of time and buy the rice krispie treats she was selling for 5cents each.  They also came with a napkin for the 5 cents - a pretty good deal had I not bought the napkins and made the rice krispie treats myself (well, Matt made them).  She is so full of ideas, I love this smart girl!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Love Matt, Hannah, Claire, and me!!

15 Months

It's hard to believe that my Clairie is 15 months old already, the weeks are just flying by! It seems like only yesterday I was talking to Hannah about about a baby joining our family!

I was so worried about how adding another person would change our little family of three.  It's amazing how smoothly Claire has fit into our family, it seems like she just arrived, and yet, like she's always been a part of us.

Claire is FULL of spunk, she runs everywhere she goes and never holds her feelings back!  She is just starting to talk a lot, but we always know what she wants.  She loves to play and is getting really good at entertaining herself.  She's starting to eat a little better, now that her 11th tooth has poked through, and is sleeping a little better too.

 I can't wait to take her out to play in the snow for the first time this winter and see her face as she watches the flakes fall.  I can't wait for her to start talking more and learn what's been going on inside her busy little head!  I can't wait to see how she and her big sister interact together as they get bigger, I hope they'll always love and adore each other as much as they do now!

We love you Claire, thank you so much for joining our family!

Blogging

Well, after spending the better part of the day messing around, I think I've gotten my blog to look the way I want it to!  Next I'm working on putting video on!  I can't figure out how to do it yet, but have no fear, I'll figure it out!  I've got lots of cute video of the girls I can't wait to share!

Game time

Hannah is a whizz at memory these days! I hadn't played with her for awhile, and I was amazed at how good she was when we played this week! She'll be beating me in no time! The girls also had fun playing Go Fish together!
Claire cheats and doesn't use the fishing pole, but she's happy to be included in the big girl games!

Basket Baby

Claire just climbed into this toy basket the other night while she was eating her popsicle. She looked so cute tucked in there I had to take her picture!
That girl loves popsicles! She goes to the freezer and points and yells several times a day!
Don't they look like they're up to nothing but trouble!

It's November, so I know the beautiful weather we've had this week won't last for long. The girls and I have been trying to get outside as much as possible to make the most of what nice Fall weather we have left. Despite both girls having ear infections, we've managed some outside time.
The breeze has been perfect for kite flying, and Hannah is lovin' it!
Hannah has been taking Claire for rides in her car too! Claire loves it and never wants to get out!
Hannah is such a good big sister, I'm amazed every day at how loving and patient she is with Claire!

Fairy Girl and a Sleeping Baby

Hannah picked out a face painting kit in the clearance Halloween stuff, so she's been begging me to give her fairy eyes! My first attempt, not perfect, but she was happy! Now she wants all sorts of face paints on each day! So tired, my busy little baby crawled up on Daddy for a morning snooze! I just can't resist a sleeping baby, the sweetest thing ever! Look at those cheeks! I just can't help but smooch them!!

Jammie Time

We've got a fun little bath and bed routine going every night. Both girls loved bath time, and snugglie matching jammies are my favorite! I had to get a picture of my clean snugglie girls ready for bed!

Children's museum

Sunday afternoon we went to the Coralville children's museum for a little family fun. I love having a children's museum so close to us, it's the perfect way to spend a day when the weather isn't nice. It was Halloween, so they had some fun themed activities for the kids. Hannah went up to dance to the Monster Mash with a group of kids and Claire went with.
Hannah made a skeleton out of pasta, so cool, a long with a bunch of other fun crafts.
Claire loves the children's museum and runs from room to room playing. This reading nook in a hallow tree is one or her favorite spots.
She kept choosing books, then crawling into her spot to "read" them.
Hannah also decorated a candle which she used inside her pumpkin Halloween night to light it for the trick or treaters.
Claire loves the resident turtle, Peter, as well as the fish. She runs from tank to tank pointing and squealing.
If there is a slide, Claire will find it, she loves to slide!

The last totally cool thing was bubbles made with dry ice and dish soap. You could hold them in your hand!
So much fun, one of our favorite places!

Haunted gingerbread house

Hannah loves decorating these pre-made gingerbread houses by Wilton. For Halloween she made a spooky one, or "feaky" as she likes to call it!
She is very serious about her decorating! She's getting really good at it!


Claire sat and supervised, begging for the little green ball candies.
All finished, yes, she has a gumdrop in her mouth, lol!
Eating the finished results is her favorite part!

Halloween Party

We had our annual neighborhood Halloween party the day before Halloween. Although not everyone could come, we still had a great time. Hannah helped me make candy corn shaped sugar cookies to take.






The girls got all dolled up in their costumes and we headed over to the Benests.

Hannah and her buddy Finn, who she just couldn't convince to dress up as her groom!
We had a great spread of food, as always!

The kids enjoyed their meal

Then did some pumpkin painting,



Hannah's pumpkin turned out awesome! These little gourd pumpkins were grown by my dad too!

Jessi had made homemade pumpkin pie scented play dough , and the kids all had a lot of fun playing with it using Halloween themed cookie cutters.

All the costumed kiddies sitting together!

The girls had a blast!


We're so lucky to have such a great set of neighbors!