Parent Teacher Conference

We met with Claire's teacher last week for a parent teacher conference. It's great to hear Miss Brenda's take on our three year old firecracker.  Can anyone take a guess on Claire's strengths/weaknesses?

Excels: Helping the teacher, vocabulary, perceptive, imaginative
Areas to Improve: Listening, using her words when she is upset, patience

Somehow it is reassuring when someone else gives their opinion, so it's not all the biased family view right? I mean, someone else noticed Claire doesn't listen? :)

Miss Brenda also told us some funny stories. One was about how Claire has to be the closest person to her during story time. Right up front. However, Miss Brenda said that Claire has a extreme fascination with nail polish and kept derailing the story to talk about Miss Brenda's feet and try to touch them. She said she no longer wears open toe shoes. haha.

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Easter Egg Hunt

Sometimes I just don't get around to posting pictures very quickly. Le Sigh... Better late than never! Here are pictures from our Easter Egg hunt with our neighbor friends.

The kids were trying to convince us that they needed to open more eggs and they needed to eat some candy. 

They kids did a great job getting all the eggs; I only found one in the yard a couple days later :)

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Remember When?

Only 1 year ago I was 37 weeks pregnant with a very special little girl named Paige Renae in my belly. Take a look back at some other blog posts!

1 year ago: Spud at 37 Weeks

2 years ago: Our New House

3 years ago: Remembering how to Cook

4 years ago: Eye Surgery

5 years ago: Africa Safari

6 years ago: Really Amazing Carrot Soup

7 years ago: Grampie's Showroom

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Movie Review: Hidden Figures

We watched the movie "Hidden Figures" tonight on Netflix and it was one of the best movies I've seen in quite some time. I totally recommend it! It's about a group of African American smarty pants ladies that work at NASA in the 60's. I'm guessing everyone has seen it already, but we don't get out for movies much anymore :)

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Soccer, 3-year old Style

We have had a new purpose on Saturday mornings for the last few weeks-- SOCCER! Yep, YMCA 3-year soccer. So take everything you know about soccer and then shake it up and divide by 10, which is the number of kiddos on the team. It's seriously a new adventure every week.

Game #1 Claire wouldn't even get on the field without clinging to Mom or Dads leg and crying
Game#2-#3- Get on the field but sort of watch all others participate. Occasional bolts for Mom and Dad on the sideline
Game #5+ - On the field and running, but the minute other kids come after the ball she doesn't pursue the ball anymore. Does great at penalty kicks/throws. The heat of the summer is hard on the kids; Claire is usually red cheeked and "DONE" before the end of the game. "Mom I'm so tired..." The 30 minute practice before the 30 minute game is hard for most of the kiddos.

Claire is on team "Seattle". Coach Troy emails focus areas before the games each week. My favorite so far has been this:
1. Soccer is more fun when you're on the field
2. Soccer is more fun when you kick the ball
3. Soccer is more fun when you kick the ball into OUR goal

We're somewhere in between step 2 and 3 right now. Ross has had to give me a couple pep talks, encouraging me to suppress my inner competitiveness and find my zen. Check.

We're so proud of Claire!

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Gardening with Dad

Here's to hoping that Claire Avery has more of a green thumb than her Mom and Dad...

Did you notice the ORANGE flowers? Not a coincidence they're Claire's favorite color :) The mint and rosemary weren't as exciting.

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Family Pizza Night

Cooking with Claire...

E- "Claire, what do you want on your pizza"

C- "Cheese Mom, lots and lotta cheese. I need a taste test."

C- "That's not enough cheese Dad"

C- "I will show you"... she reaches around Ross and grabs a whole fistful of shredded cheese

C- "Good job Dad, I like cheese"

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Mother's Day

I had a pretty awesome Mother's Day Weekend, thank you! Soccer game, stroller run, park picnic, swimming, good food, "Jesus School", flowers, & family. I feel loved and blessed, so very blessed.  

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Paige at 10 Months

Paige you are such a fun little person! Let's hang out, ok?!

Paige is saying "Momma", but we're still working on Dada :) She is pulling up on furniture and showing other signs of being very close to walking. Paige's school daily report said she ate beef burritio, rice, and pinto beans the other day which sums up quite a few things :)

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Sonoma Wineries

While in Sonoma we spent a day doing a guided Platypus Wine Tour (otherwise known as a dedicated driver). Here's where we went, with our favorites noted:

1. Loxton- Recommend
2. La Rochelle- Recommend
3. Petroni Vineyards- Strongly Recommend due to the hillside views
4. Little Family- Do Not Recommend

I pretty much loved every wine at Loxton. And for all you naysayers out there, this is where we started our day :)

Now this is a good way to start the morning of a wine tour...

Purple teeth, don't care!

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San Fran & Muir Wood Forrest

We had some beautiful weather on our drive into San Francisco. And let's be honest, getting pictures with the Golden Gate bridge is way ore picturesque when you can actually see the bridge! (#2009picturefailure)

We made at quick stop at Muir Wood National Forrest. I would have loved to go a more substantial hike, but sometimes on weekend getaways you don't have time to do everything. Guess we'll have to go back!

Do you see the big 'ole spider??

San Fran Views, from the Pier right by our hotel

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Golden Gate Bridge

This week I'm finally getting around to sharing San Francisco/Napa pictures from the trip Ross and I took, sans babies, to celebrate Ross's 35th a couple weeks ago.

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