Monday, December 24, 2012

Announcing...

We are thrilled to announce that we are expecting a baby!  This new "Little" blessing is due June 6.



"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." Ephesians 3:20

Family Photos


Many thanks to our friend, Christine Davis, for taking photos for us again this year!





 

































 

October 2012

We made a day trip to the western part of the state with a visit to the Frontier Culture Museum followed by apple picking at Carter Mountain Orchard.

 Bryce and Carter at the African home site.

 An Irish homestead.

Apple cider donuts--yum! 



We took a tour of the Richmond Canal with friends.



Pumpkin Patch with the family in Moseley, Virginia (our neck of the woods!).







All dressed up! 

Brian and I were also able to take a trip to Hilton Head with our friends, the Moores.  It was a fun get away!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Claire-isms

One thing's for sure, our little girl keeps us on our toes!  She is one spunky gal, full of energy and always making us laugh.  Below I've logged just a few recent funny moments.

Brian was buckling her into her car seat and when he had finished he bent down to give her a kiss.  Claire quickly moved her head to the side and then declared with a big grin, "You missed!"

Claire has a bad habit of jumping on the couch, which we are trying to break.  After three consecutive time outs for this infraction, she walks back into the family room, proceeds to climb up on the couch begins to move up and down ever so slightly.  I asked her what she was doing to which she replied, "I'm not jumping, I'm bouncing."

Upon entering the gym and heading to the child care room, one woman who sees us often commented, "She never walks, does she?"

At the park one afternoon we kept hearing gun shots (I learned later that they were trying to get rid of the geese that had taken over the pond).  Every time a gun went off Claire would stop walking, cover her ears and say, "I'm not scared."  She would pause for a moment and then keep walking.  She doesn't scare easily--or at least doesn't admit it!

Claire doesn't want to be rocked to sleep.  Oh no.  Her method of calming down (instituted by Daddy) is a countdown of 1..2..3 before being tossed (or should I say thrown?) into bed.  The more she bounces off the mattress the better.  She usually asks for this several times before being tucked in, always requesting to go higher.  So.much.fun.

Yes, she is full of flare, Miss Claire is.  While she can be quite sassy and fearless, she is definitely a sensitive soul at heart.  She is full of compassion and when one of her brothers gets hurt she is always quick to give them a hug and go fetch a "bam-baid."  She loves babies and takes very good care of her dolls and stuffed animals, feeding them, changing their diapers and rocking them.  She enjoys coloring, swinging, and getting her nails painted.

We sure do love the fun this little girl adds to our family!