ClaireBear

Mmmm Homemade smoothies

2012-02-06T20:13:00.000-08:00

Compliments of chef Rob

Wipe out

2012-02-06T20:10:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpqrvRuVxCc

Sent from my iPhone

Little gymnast

2012-02-06T20:06:00.001-08:00

Alley and Claire have started gymnastic lessons at Kenwood Gymnastics. They love it and love to wear different leotards.

Frosty the Snow Man

2012-01-12T18:18:00.001-08:00

See Claire sing Frost the Snow Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4W1eXB_7TI

Sent from my iPhone

Winter Gala

2012-01-12T18:02:00.000-08:00

The annual winter gala was tonight. Claire performed like a true star.

First snowman of the year

2012-01-02T19:14:00.001-08:00

Stand on C

2012-01-02T19:13:00.001-08:00

SCHEELS store Fargo - surprised that Claire let Grandpa Charles Alley stand on the C

Love Grandpa Alley

2012-01-02T19:10:00.001-08:00

Ferris wheel w Grandpa Alley

2012-01-02T19:09:00.001-08:00

At Scheels in Fargo after Christmas

Mmmm tasty house

2011-12-28T08:40:00.001-08:00

> Claire has enjoyed the holidays- with lots of good food and candy!!!!! Starting with Thanksgiving - we had everyone to our house on thanksgiving weekend. Then came December and the advent calendar that Grandma Erlys made for them. We put left over Halloween candy in each days pocket to count the days down to Christmas. We have dipped pretzels in aims bark & sprinkles and made gingerbread/ graham cracker houses. Claire was so excited to get the Pressed Dough maker ( as seen on TV) from Rob for Christmas. We made sugar cookies w grandma Erlys supposedly shaped like animals.

Claire's crazy gingerbread house

2011-12-28T08:38:00.001-08:00

I want a train set Santa

2011-12-28T08:35:00.001-08:00

>
> Claire & Alley, along w AJ & Amelia and family visited the model train museum in St Paul for their night train exhibit w all the models lit up just before Christmas. Claire still loves trains - so when she saw Santa there , it was no surprise what she asked for.
>

Claire's scary pirate pumpkin

2011-11-02T18:08:00.001-07:00

A girl can change her mind.

2011-11-02T17:49:00.001-07:00

Alley looks a little scary in this picture-even though she is suppose to be a mermaid.

Claire was Snow White on Halloween night - but she was a purple princess for her preschool party and a Fairy Princess with wings of course for a party at Mason and Madison's party over the weekend.

Do you want to pet my chicken?

2011-11-02T17:33:00.001-07:00

There was a little petting zoo at Phoenix's botanical garden near the pumpkin patch for their Halloween celebration.

Phoenix Monarch Butterfly Exhibit

2011-11-02T17:31:00.001-07:00

Fun at the rodeo

2011-10-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

Claire had fun at the rodeo but was pretty tired.

Horses love carrots

2011-10-20T19:38:00.001-07:00

Horses love carrots and kids that have them.

Fishing

2011-10-20T19:36:00.001-07:00

Only one fish bit all day Claire got to real it in

Birds Big and Small

2011-10-16T19:54:00.001-07:00

Claire loved feeding parakeets and Ostrich's too at Sever's Fall Festival. The Ostrich however you can only feed with a soup ladel - otherwise if would probably eat your finger too. The parakeet's were quite the opposite - we bought popsicle sticks encrusted in bird seed and the gentle birds would fly right up and perch on your stick.

Besides all the fun we have had this fall - Claire is still liking pre-school in her beloved Mr Mark's class, taking a phonics class, and just started Sunday school. She is in a class with Alley, and our friends AJ Ficek and Kevin Bizily.

Farmer Claire

2011-10-16T19:44:00.000-07:00

Farmer Claire-

We went to the Fall Festival At Sever's in Shakopee and really had a great time. We did the corn maze of course, hail bail maze and jumped in a huge pit of corn kernels. Claire was so dirty by the end of day, but the animals didn't care. She fed sheep, goats, deer, llamas, and even ostrich at their petting zoo.

Claire's a horse girl too

2011-10-16T19:14:00.001-07:00

Lots of opportunities to get close and personal with some ponies. Labor day weekend we went to pick apples and Claire was excited to ride a white pony and brush his mane afterwards. Later in Septemeber, we went to see the show Cavalia. Claire was really into it for the first half, but fell asleep for the second half of the show (I guess she still is a little girl). Lastly, Claire got to perfect her riding technique at the Fall Festival in early October.

Bouncing around

2011-10-01T13:06:00.001-07:00

Claire informed me that watching Alley play soccer is boring and she intends to bounce the whole time at the playground. Below - 1 of 2 big bounce pillows that Claire had fun on this fall.

Claire is doing well in preschool- she started phonics which I think has already helped her. She still has problems with the "th" sound - she doesn't seem to correct herself when I remind her it is "three" not "free"

Cupcake Claire

2011-08-29T17:03:00.000-07:00

Grandma Erlys came for a belated birthday party. She gave Claire a cupcake holder and Claire and Alley decorated the cupcakes to display.

Celebrating after a good trip

2011-08-24T23:17:00.001-07:00

"I'm four!"

2011-08-24T23:16:00.001-07:00

Most of the gang at The Animal Kingdom

2011-08-24T23:14:00.001-07:00

Meeting Ariel

2011-08-24T23:09:00.001-07:00

Claire had a Ariel mermaid themed birthday party when we got back from Disney World.

Claire could be a mini Sleeping Beauty.

2011-08-24T23:07:00.001-07:00

Claire in front of her castle

2011-08-24T23:04:00.001-07:00

Eeeeeyooore

2011-08-24T23:00:00.001-07:00

"Hey Alley- did you know piglet is behind us?"

2011-08-24T22:59:00.001-07:00

Taking a break to play at the Magic Kingdom

2011-08-24T22:55:00.001-07:00

Claire was still a little short to go on some rides so she took a break to play instead or went on Alladin's Magic Carpet ride w Grandma which she reports was her favorite.

Got to love Italy

2011-08-24T22:46:00.001-07:00

What is that green guy doing???

2011-08-24T22:45:00.001-07:00

Army guy from Toy Story

Cool stuff at Hollywood studios

2011-08-24T22:43:00.001-07:00

Winnie the Pooh in background

Break from the heat at Hollywood studios

2011-08-24T22:41:00.001-07:00

Watching Playhouse Disney

Learning to wait at EPCOT center

2011-08-24T22:39:00.001-07:00

The gang looking a little tired on day 3 of 4 of our park hopping experience at Disney world

Good day care kids

2011-08-24T17:28:00.000-07:00

Look at how great the kids can line up to do the piñata.

Jumping is fun!

2011-08-24T17:26:00.001-07:00

Bounce house

2011-08-24T17:25:00.001-07:00

We rented a bounce house for Claire's birthday. It was huge.

More cool 3D glasses

2011-08-24T17:07:00.001-07:00

Tinker bell

2011-08-24T16:54:00.001-07:00

Who doesn't love tinker bell.

Claire loves Winnie the Pooh

2011-08-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

The pink knight

2011-08-24T16:47:00.001-07:00

That is not blood on the knights shirt.

Toy Story 3D

2011-08-24T16:44:00.001-07:00

The 3D toy story ride at Hollywood Disney was one of the best rides. Plus it had cool shades.

At EPCOT

2011-08-24T16:03:00.001-07:00

Good helper

2011-08-24T15:53:00.000-07:00

Claire was a good helper while traveling, she loves to roll the luggage.

1st night at Disney

2011-08-12T19:02:00.001-07:00

Those disney people are amazing, they were able to sneak a Mickey shaped fruit snack in Claire's bag.

Claire the dog whisperer

2011-08-07T18:07:00.000-07:00

Sean and Nicole's dogs were more exciting to Claire than the baby who just sleeps

Talkative Claire

2011-08-07T07:48:00.001-07:00

Claire whispered through the whole wedding we went to last weekend. She talks a lot more than she use too and gets frustrated when Alley tries to talk over her.

She often talks about her other houses (rainbow or pink) she has and her pony there. She also has other mom's and dad's sometimes. The other day she asked "where does the world end?" and then she said she thought "it will end and then start all over again". Deep thoughts for a three year old.

Vacation Bible School

2011-07-28T15:09:00.001-07:00

Alley and Claire had a recital of the songs they learned at vacation bible school this week. Claire's favorite song was "This little light of mine".

Claire the turtle

2011-07-16T15:17:00.001-07:00

One of the ants!

2011-07-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

Claire played w other kids at the children's museum in the ant hill playground. Claire seemed to be a worker ant- she mostly crawled after the queen ant. Maybe she won't be so scared of real ants anymore.

AJ's birthday

2011-07-16T14:23:00.001-07:00

Claire at the children's museum St Paul

No pictures please

2011-07-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

Disney World? Nope Como Town

2011-07-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

I see London.....

2011-06-24T17:33:00.001-07:00

I see France. I see Claire's underpants!

ZOO VISIT

2011-05-30T19:19:00.000-07:00

Alley and Claire went to the zoo today they decided they wanted to do two things: see the new polar bear exibit, and eat contton candy.

Trying to find the way the Polar Bears

First sighting of the bears

The Polar Bear gave a great show and the girls had a front row seat

Weekend of fun and family

2011-05-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

Grandpa Alley went with us to Legofest in downtown Minneapolis. One of the exhibits you were invited to make something to fill in a giant map of US. Claire made a cow, hay bails, and a sunflower and put it in North Dakota.

This weekend we also went to a family reunion for the Alley/Eli family in Jamestown and Glenfield. It was neat to see Claire and Alley play in the same playground that I spent so many holidays at my Grandma's - although they sure don't look like little Syrian/ Lebanese girls :)

Little Claire @ Lego fest

2011-05-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

Princess castle

2011-05-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

Claire and Alley made a princess castle while Grandpa Alley was here for a visit. They said the rounds pieces on top help guard the castle by shooting out hot lava.

Claire's pink Lego tower

2011-05-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

@ Legofest Minneapolis

Rock star

2011-05-08T16:48:00.000-07:00

Claire's rainbow house

2011-05-01T19:03:00.001-07:00

Here is Claire at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Fargo - but lately she has been talking about her rainbow and purple houses. She apparently has other mommy and daddies at these houses. So I asked which house has her favorite mommy and she said rainbow. What is that rainbow house mom doing that I am not?

Practicing to be a bar maid

2011-05-01T15:06:00.001-07:00

Fancy little girl

2011-04-30T15:31:00.001-07:00

Sharing the loot

2011-04-22T21:34:00.001-07:00

Claire and Alley had a Easter egg hunt w AJ and Amelia. They divided up what they wanted at the end- Alley getting all the little horses & AJ and Claire got mini Lego (well knock off brand) figurines.

It's cold mommy

2011-04-22T21:23:00.000-07:00

Swim class has resumed.

Buddha Baby

2011-04-07T19:49:00.000-07:00

The story behind Claire's interesting outfit she wore on our trip home back to Minneapolis: We arrived a little early at the airport in Greenville - it was a nice day, so we sat outside by the fountains where Claire and Alley ran around and played. Claire leaned a little too far to touch one of the fountains and fell in. She was soaked head to toe! She kept telling everyone she "drowned". It wasn't quite that serious - she stood up right away but was understandably upset and scared. We had already checked our bags with all of our clothes - so I put Alley's sweater on her and went to the gift shop in search of some shorts hopefully. There were lots of t shirts - but no shorts or pants - so I thought a scarf would have to be fashioned into a skirt. As long as I was spending the money - I thought I would get a scarf I liked - never thinking that the orange colored scarf, worn as a skirt would make Claire look like a buddist monk. Claire added the touch of putting the hood up on her sweater. She got plenty of looks needless to say and kept proudly telling people how she "drowned in a circle fountain".

Reedy Falls

2011-04-07T19:45:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day - the last day of our trip to Greenville.

Greenville Children's Museum

2011-04-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

Claire and Alley really enjoyed the Children's Musuem while visiting Uncle Gregg in Greenville. I have to admit I think it was better than St Paul's and Phoenix - which I both thought are pretty impressive. Here Claire is in a wind tunnel - using it to dry off after playing w boats and ducks in the stream/water exhibit. They had a lot of fun at the farm - Claire is planting flowers and then fed the pigs and milked a cow - lastly made us all supper of course - all in a days work at the farm.

Candy Store

2011-04-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

Mast General Store - Greenville, SC - has the best selection of old fashioned candy.

Security Alert

2011-04-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

No Claire did not go through security in a bin - but she thought it was a good place to sit and put her shoes back on.

" I can't a know"

2011-03-25T12:14:00.001-07:00

I had a conference w Claire's preschool teacher and he was a little concerned about her grammar. She often says the above phrase that is kind of cute but we need to correct her. She also says "Her told me to....." But Alley says "her" a lot instead of "she"- so likely getting that reinforced from Alley. We talked to Alley before about "her" - she is so stubborn- she said she wants to say it that way.
But overall Claire is growing up - talking a lot more and has an imagination- always telling me about stories she has made up- that seem to have cats and monsters in them a lot.
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Gymnastics

2011-03-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

Claire with much enthusiasm accepting her completion certificate for gymnastics.

Smile

2011-03-10T17:09:00.000-08:00

Can you see her cavities? I guess the dentist felt her enamel didn't form right and now has 2 cavities in her molars. Even the minor hospitalization when she was 5 months could have deterred enamel formation . So fillings in a couple weeks w the help of laughing gas.

Hair raising experience

2011-03-01T21:29:00.000-08:00

Claire had a blast going down the slide at Alley's party. She also has had a lot of fun playing with all of Alley's toys. She has taken a liking to the Alley's new Barbie Veterinarian that came with a cat, kittens, x-ray machine and of course there is a slide for the cats to conveniently get off the examining table.

Super Jump

2011-03-01T21:20:00.000-08:00

Alley's 5th birthday at Pump It Up

Climb, play, and crash

2011-03-01T21:12:00.000-08:00

Claire at Alley's Pump It Up party.

Post jumping, cupcake, and candy crash. This is the staring phase prior to the meltdown.

On a mountain expedition in the front yard

2011-02-15T17:38:00.000-08:00

Picture worth a thousand words

2011-02-05T18:32:00.001-08:00

Tired of shopping

2011-02-05T13:19:00.000-08:00

Daughter like father

The old pro

2011-01-31T19:49:00.001-08:00

Claire showing off her skills.

Claire's update

2011-01-24T14:48:00.000-08:00

Claire too loved Christmas. Christmas day she woke to a Woody doll in her stocking and Santa brought her match box cars with a track and loop. Grandpa Alley came from Arizona and Grandma Erlys and Virgil were here over Christmas. Claire and Alley made a gingerbread house with Grandpa Alley and we all got to see Tangled. Claire loved it so much that she saw it again with Rob. Claire loved playing with Megan and Breanna and Grandpa Charlie's and Grandma Helen's house over New Years. They stayed up late - since they stayed in the same room but didn't quite make it to midnight. We stayed in all weekend, due to the 3 day blizzard - but Alley and Claire didn't seem to mind.

Claire was spoiled also. She loved the cash register that Grandma Erlys got her. She also got 2 ponies, an Ariel princess barbie, barbie clothes, 2 floor puzzles, magnetic paper dolls, Lego kits, and little pony Ferris wheel (that Alley has taken over as her own).

Claire took the intro gymnastic class - so I decided to enroll Alley and Claire in a weekly gymnastic class that starts this Wednesday.

She was pretty excited to be included in one of Alley's play date recently to an indoor pool, where they brought their babies to play with.

Alley and Claire play more together on their own, without us, but also unfortunately fight now too.

Policewoman

2011-01-16T14:55:00.000-08:00

Static electricity

2010-12-31T15:46:00.001-08:00

"I match!"

2010-12-30T13:20:00.000-08:00

Grandma Erlys got Alley and Claire matching outfits for X mas

Hopping on a big trampoline

2010-12-30T10:46:00.000-08:00

I think this was Claire's part of gymnastics.

All smiles

2010-12-30T10:42:00.001-08:00

Claire loved her Intro to Gymnastics class. The coach was great w little kids.

Balancing Act

2010-12-30T10:38:00.001-08:00

On the lower beam Claire walked forwards, backwards, and sideways - no backflip dismounts.

Time to make cookies

2010-12-28T16:41:00.001-08:00

Bowling

2010-12-28T16:40:00.001-08:00

Claire and dad watching to see if Claire can get a strike.

At MOA

2010-12-28T15:35:00.000-08:00

The girls had fun at MOA today

Crabby Christmas

2010-12-19T17:26:00.001-08:00

I had the great idea to drop Christmas cards off to the neighbors and bring the kids w Santa hats and jingle bells. Instead it was a crabby Christmas. Let's hope for next year!

Fancy outfit

2010-12-09T15:54:00.000-08:00

Don't you like Claire's outfit? Ballerina and construction worker in one

Visiting Santa

2010-12-06T15:27:00.001-08:00

Claire in elf's cloths

2010-12-06T15:26:00.001-08:00

They look so tiny next to grandpa Alley

2010-12-05T19:35:00.000-08:00

Pony ride at McCormick Park Scottsdale AZ

2010-12-05T19:33:00.000-08:00