Claire's Birthday

When did I become old enough to have a three year old? (Yes, I am beginning Claire's post by referring everything to myself). Seriously though. I feel like three is a big deal. She'll be joining the ranks of Sunbeams at the beginning of the year. SUNBEAMS! She is not old enough, yet... I'm so excited for her well behaved body (haha) to sit in primary and sing songs. After that it's Preschool. AH! And Kindergarten is a measly 2 years away.

Bring out the tissues, people. My daughter is getting married in just, what, 18 years. Let's just bask in the fact that she's building number legos right now talking about 7 and 8 being best friends.

I feel like I didn't quite celebrate three enough. We celebrated after 1:00 church, time was cut short, her cake was already a day old, and my house wasn't clean. Church was Full. Of. Weirdness. and I wasn't in the best spirits. After a short and good cry to myself in the bathroom, I tried to come out and forget everything except her adorable smile. It worked.

Her princess cake that she wanted so badly was more than she wanted. It had a castle. It not only had Aurora, but Bell made the party along with Ariel and Cinderella. What could possibly be better? Oh, the fact that she put that cake her in mouth this year lit up my day. Hours in the making and she had the urge to taste it. That's a happy mother.

We finished off with presents, of which she was embarrassingly spoiled. The presents kept coming and I kept contemplating the thought, "we should have saved some for next year, huh?" In our defense, we had saved some books from last summer and only bought her one thing.

It was a good day. We had family here. Who could have asked for more?

Happy birthday, Claire!!

Making princess tiara's for the girlies. 

Haha! I can't stop laughing at this one. He just ate a crayon and he's saying, "CHEESE!" in the most slobbery way possible. I think he looks like a goblin.

Blurry...but still cute.

LOVES her new bike! 

I wish I got that scowl from the front. :)

Bedtime reading: one of my favorite times of the day! 

The July Post

Where did July go? I'm sitting here, on the very last day of the month, and I'm wondering where summer is flying off too. Maybe it's the fact that our summer is spent inside instead of sweating our hearts out in the heat and humidity. I think that has something to do with it.

Actually, to be honest, our summer here has been pretty mild and we've had lots of rain. It smells so good and it makes me so happy. It's the after-rain scorcher that's the real killer, but I've just embraced the fact that although things may be bigger and better in Texas, I am also uglier in Texas. My hair doesn't often get done beyond a ponytail and my makeup melts off my face. In fact, last week at play date, I got a weird heat rash on my cheek that hasn't yet gone away. I was just a sweatin' and went home with blisters all over my cheek. Weird? Yes.

 What's the first amazing thing I discovered about Texas? It's called The Ark. A local church has a free indoor playground, and it's amazing. The kids love it. I love that it's air conditioned and that they get worn out. I'd move here just for The Ark.

So sorry for the blurry picture, but Claire is already making it in with those older men. These boys loved her. Searched for her when she left them and helped her up and down the slide for about an hour.

I took the kids out during a rainstorm to experience rain under an umbrella. Did someone shoot me in the head with a stupid dart? Kids don't stay under umbrellas in the rain. They got wet. They got muddy. They got stinky. It was beautiful and I wished that I were a kid again and didn't have to get all that mud out of their clothes. Then I wouldn't have cared to ruin my favorite shorts.

Stomp, Stomp, Stomp!

Catching the run-a-way....again.

Grandma came to visit again! Geez, we sure have been spoiled in the Anderson visits lately! It's been so much fun this summer to have Brian's family so close and visiting so much! We haven't had this much time with them...ever, so we've just really loved it. His Brother just got a job in Houston, so they're moving today and it's been a little glum around here knowing that they're 4 hours away instead of 20 minutes. I know. Four hours. You'd think they crossed the earth two times over.  :)

Anyway, we went to the Dallas World Aquarium with Grandma and I think it was a huge hit! Other than the first exhibit being filled to the brim with people, we really enjoyed it. Claire keeps talking about "THE SHARKS!"

The Anteaters were my favorite 

Closeup anyone? 

Shark tank

That boy loves his fish!

A Book Per Week

So, I'm not going to lie, I totally stole this adorable idea from my friend Katelin (who is one of the most inventive and adorable mom's out there). Sorry Katelin- I even used the exact same craft. :) Thanks for helping me be a better mother and do something fun with my kiddos.

So, a book per week. Lately (ok always) I've been feeling like I'm not as good of a mom as I should be (more on that later) and I've wanted to do something creative with both kids that they would enjoy. Claire can't get enough as far as reading and books go, so this is a great thing for her. I don't read to Jared nearly enough because Claire pushes him off my lap and demands the book attention, so this is good for him too. Win, win, win.

This week we did the Very Hungry Caterpillar. We read this book all the time. We love it! Claire is really into watercoloring, she even spent 3 hours one day just painting, it was amazing. I cut up an egg carton, let her paint away. I helped Jared since eating paint and markers were more appealing, but after 3 days, they are still in love with their caterpillars and hide them all over the house.

See that paint on his top lip? 

Finished Caterpillar and Butterfly

This one's for you, Diane! I finally updated. :)

Dallas Museum of Art

Am I going to become one of those bloggers that only post pictures? Uh.....I won't say. I think I may have an insightful post popping out of my head in the future sometime. Maybe by the time I'm 80? We're shooting for the stars here, people.

We went to the Dallas Museum of Art on Saturday and had just a wonderful time. We're not super artsy people (especially the hubster), so I don't even know if we ooo'd and aaahhh'd enough to be allowed back in there. It was my second time, so at least I know my "oooo"-gling was efficient.

We walked through all of the building this time. When I went with my brother we missed the Ancient America portion. Although it was not my favorite, I feel like it tells a great story. Those people had NOTHING to work with it seems. All ancient American art is...raw is the only word coming to mind. The gold pieces hanging from the headdresses still show where they were pounded with a hammer and even though it's not exactly perfectly beautiful, it tells a story...and I like that.

On the flip side, the European art is always impressive. We went through the special exhibit there which features the Discobolus and other AMAZING sculptures/pottery from ancient Greece. Here is the difference. While American art looks like it was made from raw materials and formed with an (mostly) unskilled hand, European art looks like God waved his magic hand and placed figures in perfecly cut marble on the earth. It was incredible.

I would like to go back without the kiddos just so I can spend sufficient time to read and absorb it all. That's my next mommy date - with myself.

In conclusion, you all now know that I am not, nor ever could be an art critic.

Good thing European Art had couches so Claire could show her class. 

Sigh... I am in love with Egypt. Can things get better there someday so I feel safe to visit? Please. 

In the kid's play area at the museum.

Claire doesn't quiet get how to smile on command and look happy...

This kid cracks me up! Blowing spit and bubbles at me.

EGG! He thinks they're balls and loves them.

Chillin' with the egss in the bird nest.

This is Jared on our way home from church yesterday. Such a good oreo!