Christmas 2008

Clare was so excited when she went to bed that night, that I expected her to be up at the crack of dawn, but she slept 'til almost 8:00am. When she woke up, the first thing she said was, "it's Christmas Day!"
Seeing her toys from Santa!

"Can I really unwrap it?"

Dinosaurs.....big surprise.

Already playing with the first present before she opens the others.

Friends and Christmas Eve

We enjoyed being with our St Louis "family" on Christmas Eve. The Kesselring's (Jason, Sonia, and their 2 kids, Andrew and Allison) invited us over to their house so that we wouldn't have to spend CE alone. We had a really great time at their house with good food and good company!
Getting the cookie and carrot plates ready for Santa and the reindeer's visit.

Daddy and Clare enjoying How the Grinch Stole Christmas as Sonia reads it.

Clare digs dinosaurs---literally! Our good friends, Guy and Chris, spoiled her with a paleontology kit, which included a block of sand with dinosaur bones to find!

"Hellllllooooo, can you see me?" The kit also included a paleontologist's outfit.

Clare's Christmas Concert 12.18.08

Clare's first ever Christmas concert (preschool) was a fun-had-by-all event. Clare made quite an impression on the audience, to say the least. Below is a link to the concert, if you wanna see what kind of a character she is. Yes, the laughing in the background is at her....well...not at her, with her...maybe? (This video is from our friends who happened to be in the front row taping their daughter a few kids away from Clare.) Everyone said that Clare's reminiscent of Mary Katherine Gallagher (Molly Shannon's character on Saturday Night Live). The picture's a little grainy...Clare is the one with the red sweater, white t-shirt, black plaid skirt. Yes, she bows at the end. I love the juxtaposition of happy, singing Clare with the crying, singing girl next to her.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8275666180482481661&hl=en


Anxiously awaiting their place on stage.

Giddy.

Clare and Greta enjoying their conversation.

A proud momma of a reinClare.

Clare's Christmas story she wrote.

Can't stop being silly. Enjoying some good cookies.

Good friend (and classmate, Jacques,) joins Clare in the cookie gobbling.

BONUS--ding--ding--ding! A visit from Santa.

Clare on stage, smack-dab in the middle.

Nollaig Shona Dhuit! (Merry Christmas in Irish/Gaelic)

We visited The Kerry Cottage here in STL on Dec 14th. This was a very cordial Irish Santa who talked to Clare for quite awhile. She enjoyed it!

Listening intently to what he has to say.

Telling him the things that she wants (and doesn't want).

Clare's Sillies

--Attention: Clare is NOT getting a sister named Tallulah. She's getting a sister named Daffodil.

--One of her preschool teachers used the word "butt" and Clare piped up and said, "butt's not that nice of a word, please choose a better one."

Breakfast with Santa 12.6.08

Clare's preschool had a breakfast with Santa, and we couldn't get to the school fast enough because "Santa's got lots of other girls and boys to see"; Clare certainly did not want to miss out.

She climbed right up without hesitation.

Oops, she'd already gotten down before she realized that she hadn't told him what she wanted. Apparently, unbeknownst to mommy, her list has changed!

When we left, she ran over, hugged him and told him, "I'll have cookies and milk waiting for you. Have a safe flight back to the North Pole."

Parade in Montpelier, OH

Aunt Bonnie got awarded "Citizen of the Year" in Montpelier. So, she got to ride in the Montpelier Christmas Parade and asked Clare (and me and Toby) if we'd like to ride with her. It was an honor and a good time!

Awaiting Bonnie's chariot.

Aunt Bonnie looking gorgeous as usual.

Hanging out until it's our turn to jump in the line.

Cold, but happy.

Toboggan at Potawatomi

Potawatomi Inn has an old 1/4 mile toboggan run, which we've been talking about doing for years, but have never done it....until now.....

Clare had this as "first to do" on the agenda for the morning. The slide behind Toby and Clare is the first part of the slide.

Touching the her first snow of the season.

At the end with our large toboggan. We went about 30mph on it and Clare loved every minute. Daddy screamed, but Clare didn't!

It's lonely at the bottom.

Other Ohio Fun!

Clare (and the rest of us) had a great time enjoying all the things at Potawatomi Inn!

Playing air hockey with cousin Wyatt in the game room.

Painting a toy airplane (she could've spent all day in the craft room). It was nice that Gma Pat could join us! Thanks Grandma!

Two happy cousins.

Working very diligently.

"Look, there it is!"

Trying to do a 500-piece dinosaur puzzle in the hotel's library....but pieces were missing....darn it (wink, wink)!

Clare found a cozy chair by the fireplace to enjoy some pre-bedtime stories.

Thanksgiving in Blakeslee, OH

Another great Thanksgiving in Blakeslee with a surprise show-up of Tyler and company!

A tryptophan induced smile. Will you all quit avoiding the camera and smile? Thanks Morganne!

Clare and Maymie at the craft table!

Could be sisters.

Some of the Winright crew (sans Tim and Wyatt...the showed up later).

November Leaves

This past Sunday, it was a gorgeous 55 degrees. (Gorgeous temps are relative this time of year.) Clare spent some QT with daddy playing and helping rake leaves. She's a great helper, and it's nice to have free manual labor....until she learns the word "allowance". It was a great time had by Clare and daddy--lots of laughs, smiles, and giggles.


Being goofy and unable to take a nice, smiling picture. She even has daddy's sunglasses on her head.
Ready......Set......

Go!!!!!!!!

Goofy, silly face.

Ah, finally, a genuine smile....only after daddy told her a knock-knock joke.

I told my friend that I loved her baby's toothless grin....now she tries to do one, too.

Getting swallowed into the belly of the leaf pile.

Helpin' out!