Teacher's Pet

It's my favorite time of the year!! Last week I was FINALLY able to go back to school. I'd been asking Mommy all summer when it was time to go back to class - it took forever for September to come.

On the morning of my first day, Mommy offered to make me a special breakfast, but I declined. I was too excited, so I just ate a quick bowl of Raisin Bran Crunch.

Claire was excited for me, too. Since I spent so much time deciding what outfit I would wear for my first day, Claire thought it would be nice for her to wear coordinating colors. She's such a supportive little sister!


I had to take a stuffed animal for our first show and tell. I took Rainbow, the bear I made with Aunt Sammi at Build a Bear. It was nice to take a friend into the new classroom with me! My teacher said I did a very good job of introducing Rainbow to the whole class.

I spotted my Clifford nametag right away, and I put my attendance sticker on the right date. I felt so smart!

I wasn't sad or upset at all when Mommy and Claire left. I gave them kisses then ran off to play with the Strawberry Shortcake dolls!


I had a GREAT first day! I love my new teachers and met a lot of great new friends (even one named Claire!)

As much as I loved it, I was very happy to see Mommy and Claire. I ran right over to Claire, gave her a big kiss and told her how much I missed her.


To celebrate my big day, Mommy and Claire took me to one of my favorite restaurants, Isaac's, for lunch. I ordered the rainbow PB&J with marshmallows, and of course I ended the meal with a sundae.

My first full week was fantastic. Mrs Kirchner told Mommy that I had a great idea on Wednesday. We finished a Clifford craft, and I suggested that we have a Clifford parade to show off our creations. She thought that was a wonderful idea, so we had a parade!! She liked the idea so much that she had her Thursday class have a Clifford parade, too! Mommy was so proud - she said that I'm a little teacher in training, coming up with creative lesson plans already :)

Happy Six Months!!

Our "little" Claire Bear turned six months old today!!

She has developed some guns over the past six months :)

Claire can now roll both ways, is '"talking," and trying really hard to sit up on her own.

In two weeks, she'll be able to start solids! I can't believe how much you've grown, Claire!!

Twinkle Toes

What a fun week!! Dance class started on Tuesday and I FINALLY have my first day of school tomorrow!

I was very excited for my first dance class. The studio was completely renovated over the summer and now it is GORGEOUS!! There are more classrooms and there is a big flat screen TV in the lounge where Mommy can watch me dance - so cool!


I was also ecstatic because we have a new uniform this year - instead of wearing a black leotard, we need to wear a pink leotard :) Since pink is my favorite color, this was wonderful news to hear!

I was a little shy for the first minute because I had a new teacher (Miss Elaina) and new friends in my class. It didn't take long before I was twirling, gliding and smiling across the new dance floor! I LOVED it and can't wait to go back next week.

Even Claire liked the new studio - Mommy was worried that she would be cranky because my class is during her normal naptime, but Claire had a great time in the new lounge with Mommy and all the other mommies. I think Claire might be a dancer there with me someday!

Don't miss the new post below about my dentist visit - this is a busy, busy week!

Tooth Fairy

No, the tooth fairy didn't visit my house, but I felt like a tooth fairy princess at my second dentist visit today! I got to sit in a princess throne and have pictures taken of my mouth. Then the hygienist let me pick a flavor of toothpaste - I chose cookie dough!!

I did such a great job that I picked two prizes from the princess prize box - a purple ring and a princess tattoo!


Claire was a little bored - she didn't understand why she had to go to the dentist's office when she doesn't have any teeth!
I received another No Cavity Club certificate AND a very special gift - an Ariel toothbrush! I love the dentist :)

Music

Just because our digital camera is broken doesn't mean we can't share some fun! Mommy took some video of Claire and I enjoying some music.

This is Claire's new favorite toy - her highchair music player.

Here is a video of what I love to do the most - sing and dance. About half way through you'll hear Claire and her lovely voice, too :)

Sisters

Sorry for the delay - Mommy's camera is currently not working (hopefully it's just a bad battery, but Mommy isn't optimistic...)

We dug into the archives of the last few weeks to find these photos. Claire and I are having so much fun together. She likes to watch SuperWhy with me in the morning while Mommy makes breakfast :)


I love to read to Claire. I hope she grows to love books as much as I do!













One of my favorite things to do is to 'pet' Claire - she's so soft and smushy!!!


Hopefully we'll be back soon with new photos!

Fun with Friends

Last week Mommy planned a get together with some of her internet mom friends. The moms talk about us online all the time, so they figured that we should probably meet!!

There were four mommies and eight kids total. We decided to go to the Hands on House to play and then have lunch at the Oregon Dairy. These are my new friends Connor, Emily (she's an old friend!) and Eva. We were all born within one month of each other!



Eva and I loved inspecting the eggs. The ones with cracks had to be thrown away. It was fun tossing all those rotten eggs!


Emily and I very carefully milked the cow. We didn't want to hurt Bessie!
















Eva and I had to make sure that the local restaurants received their share of our fresh corn.


I wasn't quite sure what was going on here. We had to make a thingamajiggy and put it through all sorts of quality tests. It didn't involve princesses or anything sparkly, so it lost my interest quickly!

Speaking of sparkles, I found this stylish vest in the dress up room and proceeded to put on a concert for my friends.

I hope American Idol is still on the air in 10 years - I'm ready for it!

The obligatory photo on Daddy's tractor!

After an hour and a half of playing, we were tired and ready for some lunch!

When the people at the Oregon Dairy saw us coming, they realized quickly that we'd probably need our own room. They put us in the back in a private area! We felt very special :)

Lunch was yummy, but our ice cream took its sweet time getting back to us. We thought that a few rounds of "Ring Around the Rosey" would keep our minds off of the coming treats!

Maisie and I both loved our ice cream!

Claire loved hanging out with all of our new friends, too. We hope to see them all again soon!

A few days later we had another fun outing with friends. This time we went to an air show with our neighbors Tom, Libby, Natalie and baby Lillian. We saw planes to lots of cool tricks, but my favorite part was sitting on Daddy's shoulders so I could see better. I felt so tall!

Mommy's favorite part was the parachuters. They landed on a specific spot on the runway - how did they do that?!?

The pilots did all sorts of cool spins, turns and tricks. When they were finished, the did a drive by so that we could wave to them.

Natalie and I were snug as bugs in a rug in my stroller. Daddy got a good workout pushing us!!

Claire didn't seem to mind the loud planes too much, especially when I ducked under her shade to check on her. I think she really just wanted some of my fries!

It was a hot afternoon, but we had lots of fun with our neighbors!!

Return To Hilton Head

We're back!!

For the second year in a row, Mommy, Daddy, and I made the long drive down to Hilton Head with our new beach buddy Claire. Daddy had a genius idea to drive overnight, so instead of taking over twelve hours like last year, we made the trip in just over ten!! Claire slept the ENTIRE trip, and I finally dozed off after chatting non-stop for about two hours :)

We arrived early Saturday morning and immediately met up with Nana and Joepa to start our fantastic vacation!!

The big news this year (aside from our new beach companion, Claire), was that I am no longer afraid of the water!! Ocean water, pool water - I loved it all. Last year they couldn't get me into the ocean, this year they couldn't get me out!!


It seems like Claire isn't afraid, either. This is her very first dip into the ocean!



We were even able to pull Daddy away from his tennis to join us at the beach one morning!


One of my favorite things to do at the beach - sit with Nana in one of her beach chairs, watch the ocean and make 'mud pies' with the sand.




I think Claire enjoyed Nana's chair, too!





Claire, wishing she could run out and jump in the waves by herself.


This pile of sand needs some accessories - aka, pretty seashells.



Mommy didn't get a photo of me with it, but I found my very own sand dollar on the beach!! Nana was very jealous - she's been looking for one for years!!


Modeling my favorite Ariel cover-up!


I loved the pool even more than I loved the beach! Give me some floaties and move aside!



Claire loved kicking her chubby legs in the pool, too!!





Mommy, Claire, Nana and I spent LOTS of time at the pool!



Even Claire laughed when she realized that she looked like the Michelin man in her bathing suit!!

To keep with tradition, we went to the Old Oyster Factory on our first night out. There were hush puppies. Lots and lots of hush puppies...

Thankfully Daddy didn't order any wine this year!




Claire didn't seem too upset that she couldn't try the hush puppies.

The next day we explored Shelter Cove, and Mommy admired all of the beautiful boats that she wants, but will never have.






We were so excited that we got to eat lunch at the Salty Dog Cafe this year - last year the line was too long. Here I am riding Jake, the Salty Dog!!




Love my Salty Dog cup!!




Claire decided to model the Salty Dog hat that Nana and Joepa bought for Reed. It fits Claire now, so it might be a LONG time before it fits little Reed :)


Having fun with Nana and Joepa at the Salty Dog.



Claire got a bit irked when she wasn't included in the first photo!

That night we went to Sea Pines to see my favorite singer - Gregg Russell. He's been singing in Hilton Head every summer for over THIRTY years!! I have his CD and listen to it all the time.


I was excited for Claire to experience his show for the first time. Daddy was so nice to hold me AND Claire so that we could both see!

The next day we went on a dolphin cruise. We chose a different ship with a different route this year - we got to travel on the Atlantic Ocean this time!!



We saw a TON of dolphins!! I didn't get to drive the ship this year, though, so I left a little bit disappointed.
Claire didn't see quite as many dolphins as we did...

For our last night, we went to Marley's for dinner. It was delicious!! We were all in really good moods considering we had to leave the next day. Mommy even let me take this photo!


I took this photo, too. Hilton Head brought out the creative side of me!



Goodbye Hilton Head! We had a marvelous week and we can't wait to return!