Christmas wrap-up

This was the first year in which Claire had any real interest and understanding about Christmas and was therefore a little more special for her parents, too. Claire now recognizes Santa (aka "Ho-ho") but, wisely, is a little afraid of sitting on his lap but is more than willing to wave. On Christmas morning she feared going downstairs, thinking that Ho-ho might still be there! When she was coaxed down stairs and saw the gifts in her stocking she quickly forgot her fear, however.

Our holidays began with a trip to Iowa City to visit Will's mom. Our time there was cut short due to the weather, but Claire still managed to enjoy herself thoroughly.

Claire sets up her first manger scene with Nana

"Boo-yah!" said Claire when she first saw the Slinky

Christmas Eve was spent at our house. We cooked (and ate) a very good Indian dish, chicken tikka masala, and enjoyed some quiet family time before the chaos that would ensue.

Christmas Day dawned and after opening up our presents we headed over to Ma and Pop's house and then opened more presents with Kate's family.

Claire, so excited about gifts that she didn't want to waste time getting out of her pajamas, surveys the Christmas morning scene.

Claire expertly helps Ma open a gift

The following day we left the icy roads of Iowa and traveled south with Kate's family to Mt. Sterling, IL, home of Kate's grandparents. Saturday was the celebration of their 80th birthdays and so the entire family descended on the farm from across the country. Claire seemed to enjoy the chaos of having so many people around and ate up all the good food that the farm is known for. She also loved the watching the kittens.

Chaos! And this is only part of it...

Claire enjoys (tolerates?) a little quiet time with great-grandpa

Claire and Kate watch the kitties in the barn

Now we are home in the quiet of our house, enjoying catching up on a fair amount of missed sleep and marveling at Claire's ever-expanding vocabulary. (Oh yeah! Boo-yah! No, ma'am. Etc.)

Happy Christmas eve

I can't believe we haven't posted in so long. Maybe a New Year's resolution will come out of this... Though I will explain (yes, an excuse) that now whenever Claire sees the camera (or hears the word 'camera') she immediately plasters her 'smile' on her face and stops whatever cute thing she was doing. It makes our pictures these days even less interesting than they usually are. Maybe we'll get some other expressions when she opens presents...

Anyway until then, thanks to our friend Santos, we have something to share:
Dancing (click here)

Merry Christmas from all of us!

Cookies and more

What did Claire do this weekend? What did her parents do? Make cookies, that's what. Seriously, the total amount of calories contained in the cookies in our kitchen right now is, ummmm... large.

Claire also experienced the joys of sledding by going down the little hill in our backyard over and over and over and over...

Claire also put together her first real two word phrase, "Yes, ma'am." This is a very polite thing to say, except when she's talking to those of us with a Y chromosome. She hasn't mastered "Yes, sir" yet.

Here are pictures of Claire helping decorate cookies in her new cooking apron.

Our little Duhawk

If you find yourself wondering what a Duhawk is you're not alone. Click here for an answer.

Claire has become a Duhawk fan, and now has the t-shirt to prove it. She seems especially fond of basketball and mimes the dribbling and shooting of a basketball and points across the valley to the Loras campus, where she goes to watch Duhawk hoops games, whenever she sees pictures of basketball games in the sports page or hears us mention basketball.

"Dad! The sky's on fire... If it's the last thing I do, can we go to a Loras basketball game? Please..."

"Sure, Claire. Let's go. But the sky really isn't on fire. It's just the sunset over the Loras campus as seen from our dining room."

"These basketball games are sure fun, especially when I get to dress in purple and gold and have a Duhawk on my shirt AND go with Aunt X!"

Claire and her parents traveled to Rockford, IL, for a funeral service for Will's maternal grandmother, Lorraine. Claire's great-grandma had been in poor health for some time, and just a few weeks ago we were fortunate to be back to Rockford to see her. That day when great-grandma first saw Claire and realized who she was her face lit up in a huge smile. And that's how she will be remembered.

While the circumstances were less than ideal, Claire made the most of the toys in the basement of the church and learned to drive.

"It gets great gas mileage, Dad... Can I get one?"

Here Claire demonstrates her advanced parking skills.

Until next time...
-WcH