Princesses

Happy birthday to Lucy June! 

Claire was in her glory this weekend at Lucy June's princess birthday party. All of the girls dressed up, accessorized, played princess games, and ate cake and ice cream like princesses. The best part... The men getting involved with their daughters and grand daughters with the princess activities. It was so so sweet. We sure are lucky to have these special men in our lives! 

Old fashioned wood swing

Daddy made Claire a new old fashioned wooden swing today. It's low enough to the ground that she can climb onto it all by herself and she is learning how to pump herself to swing with no help. It is seriously magical. & it is right next to her brothers baby swing. This little spot is our new favorite hang out and I am envisioning us spending most of the summer out here.

Bathing these beauties in my parents tub... Reminiscing my own baths in the same tub.

Girlfriend

We have a little neighbor names Dassah. She is one year older than Claire and they are literally obsessed with each other. We recently got a screen door on our back door so we can enjoy the fresh air this summer and with the warm weather we have had the past week we have spent almost all day, everyday outside. So every time Claire is outside on our deck she now yells "DASSAH come up and play!" As 2 and 3 year olds go... The first 15-20 minutes they are happy and playing and sharing and then boom... "That's mine!" So for a short while, it's heaven. Then it's over. But they sure are cute during those first moments together.

This past weekend I was told my multiple people, "I have been checking your blogs and there have been no updates!" I am sorry. I have been neglecting them, as well as my big fancy camera. I haven't picked it up since Christmas. It is just so much easier to use my phone and now that I have a blogger app on my phone I will try really hard to keep it updated! I didn't even realize my Disney photos never loaded onto the blog! I will work on this :)
For now, here are a few from Jimmie cone last night!

Disney

We were SO blessed to be able to visit disney with our amazing family. Everyone pitched together and took care of all the kids and it worked out so perfectly. All of the kids were angels on the airplane rides to and from. Claire was in awe. It was magical. We can't wait to go back. For now we will dream of princesses and Minnie... And for sure we will be planning a princess birthday party for this girl.

Countdown

Ema and pa gave Claire this countdown calendar for Disney! Only 9 more wake ups!!!

Big helper

A letter to my girl

Dear sweet sweet Claire Jane,
You are two and a half years old and somehow I have more of a connection with you than I do with any adult my own age. You are my best friend. You make me so proud. Over the past 6 months you have blossomed into the most caring and empathetic little thing. You truly feel for others and it warms my heart. I can see your future holding something in which you help others.
The little things you do and say have your father and I in tears daily. The "if I have to tell you one more time mommy" and "I need some love" and "do you hear me daddy?" You are a hoot.
The past 2 years have been the best years of my existence. You have taught me more about life and what I should live for than any class or experience. With your hard head, stubbornness and free spirit, I have definitely learned to let things go, take my time, live in the moment, and slow down and listen. Because each day you ask me to tell you the same story, each day you ask to watch that same movie, each night you ask to read the same books, say the same prayers, kiss and hug me over and over again and ....you tell me you love me. Without prompting or asking, on your own, you throw your arms around my neck and tell me you love me "sooo much, mommy". I melt. I swoon. I'm madly in love with you, each and every little part of you. You filled a hole in my heart I never knew existed. You warmed my soul when I didn't even realize it was chilled. If I would have known I would feel this way about having a daughter, I would have had you sooner. I hope we can grow together and stay best friends forever.

Preschool

Oh the hunt for preschool... It's bitter sweet. I am so excited for this next phase in our lives full of friends, crafts, and learning new things. But I am so sad my baby girl is growing up so fast! This past Friday we took a tour of 2 preschools in our area, daddy took the morning off of work and we went as a family to check them out. It was so nice.
The first school we looked at was saint James in mount airy. It was a nice little school with bright open classrooms and such an inviting environment. We loved almost every thing about it.
The second school we checked out was Montgomery Methodist children's center. This preschool was a little larger and accommodated kindergarten students as well. It was an older building but still had a great feel with a VERY helpful and welcoming director. It was a really hard decision but we decided to go with this school because of the strong religious teachings they offer. With prayers before snack, bible stories/songs, and memorization of bible passages each month, the choice was easy for us. This preschool will help us develop a solid faithful background for her to build on as she grows. The registration works as a lottery, so we are praying she gets a spot!

It starts early

"I'm just writing a wetter to Santa."

Christmas

This girl is getting so excited for Christmas, I am finding a new joy for the holiday with having her around. She was so into decorating this year and had a say on where everything was placed. She absolutely loved putting up the tree and hung each ornament very carefully. She reiterated the rules to her brother.. "This is our chwistmas twee Wyatt, we don't take the ornaments off okay?"

She has been obsessed with her nativity... All nativities really. I told her the story of the night which Jesus was born and it stuck. She asks me to tell her again and again, over and over. Then she tells it to me, and to daddy, and it makes me so happy to hear it click. To hear her actually understand why we celebrate this special day.
We have been watching a fair share of Christmas movies, including frosty, Santa Claus, Rudolph and the grinch- which is currently her first choice. There is one line in the grinch that we emphasized every that we read the story and now when that scene comes up in the movie she makes a point to remind us-"this is the most important part mommy"...

"It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?"

"Wook mommy, I did it by myself!"

I walked into my living room the other morning and this is what I saw... Claire putting together a puzzle. I did not help with one piece. This is one of her new favorite things to do these days, puzzles. Almost all of the puzzles we have now she can do by herself.
I have not had a lot of time to post to her or Wyatt's blog lately with all of us being sick, working and preparing for Christmas. On top of everything else we have going on as well... In fact I am only uploading photos to blogger through my phone anymore. Who has time to get onto the computer anymore?!

But I am an advocate instagramer. It is so easy and quick that I am usually uploading 3-4 photos a day onto it with a little tid bit on what is going on at our house. So if you have Instagram and want to follow me, my username is jennybusbey. I am loving following people through their photos!

Love

I walk into this... "I wuv you buddy woo." ::sigh::