Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, friends and family!

Wishing you a blessed day...full of laughter and joy!

P.S. If you're anywhere near snow, make a snowman for us.

It's 76 degrees...humid...and raining in Florida.

You know the less familiar Christmas song...

"I'm Dreaming of a Humid Christmas."

Christmas Lane

We just learned about a local attraction called "Christmas Lane."  A single family started this event on their property, and it has grown and grown over the last 25 years.  It is run by volunteers, it is free to the public, and it is a HUGE SUCCESS!!!

Clare sat on Santa's lap for the first time.

The Toy Lady needed to have a picture in front of the Toy Shop!

Clare could hardly contain her excitement.

The light bill alone is $4,500 per year.

The map, behind Phil, shows the location of Christmas Lane.    

It was only ten minutes from our house,

and it will surely be an annual tradition.

We enjoyed this special evening with Grandpa and Grandma Hillary.

We don't have any pictures with them because they took them. :(

This and That

Grandpa and Grandma Hillary have been in town for over a week, and we've had a TERRIFIC time with them.  Clare loves the extra attention as well as the special gifts and goodies that Grandpa and Grandma brought along for their "Southern Belle."

 

Clare received this Caterpillar dump truck as an early Christmas present, and she can't get enough of it.  Grandpa Hillary picked it out, and now Clare is "one of the boys" when she plays with Grandpa and Daddy.

Clare enjoys helping in the kitchen.

(Look at the way she's looking at Phil in the picture below.  She loves her Daddy!!!)

Grandpa hooked her up with his IPod,

and she strolled around with it in her back pocket.

We love having family in town,

and we wish that they didn't have to leave in a few days!!!

Tractor Driving

This is a new favorite activity at our house.

Clare drives the tractor, I run after them with the camera,

and Phil counts down the years until she takes over the lawn job.

Driving with a solid 3 and 9 position.

Keep your eyes on the road, Clare!

Parked in the shed isn't quite as much fun...

but almost!!!

Fort Britches

Daddy would never allow his girl to have a "doll house,"

so this is Clare's new FORT.

This was a hand-me-down from our neighbor,

and we were THRILLED to be the lucky recipients.

Clare LOVES her new fort, and we love watching her enjoy it.

After a few days, she somehow turned it into her personal bathroom.  As soon as she's ready for her morning "duty," she goes into the fort, closes the door, hides in the corner, and grunts loudly enough to shake the walls. 

As she developed this new routine, we named the house "Fort Dirty Britches."  We now call it "Fort Britches" for short.  :) 

There's nothing like having your own special place to do the duty.

Happy 26...and 1 day!

Yesterday was my sister's Birthday!

Clare affectionately refers to Auntie Ann as "Ninnie."

Birthday wishes from Florida!

We LOVE you, Ninnie!!!  :)

C is for...

C is for...

Cuddling!

Clean Teeth!

Corrie and Clare

Christmas!

Not So Little Anymore

Our Little Peanut is not so little anymore. 

Where does the time go?

The last month has been full of discovery and growth.  Clare says new words every day, she tries new things, and she certainly makes us laugh on a daily basis.

A few of her recent obsessions include: playing outside (it's finally cool enough to be out there for more than three minutes), eating popcorn (pronounced "pa-po"), taking baths (she literally squeals with delight at the mere mention of the word), and "helping" me around the house (she "carried" in the recycle bin today, and she tried to wipe up her spilled water with a burp cloth).

Reading, however, remains one of her all-time favorite activities!

She snuggles with Uncle Tory when he reads to her.  :)

It's hard to believe that Clare is already 16-months old.

Before we know it, she'll be a teenager!

ICE!

Our Michigan blood has officially thinned out to fit Florida standards,

and we actually PAID to see an ICE exhibit.

We bundled up in insulated body suits to fight off the cold.

Clare was thrilled with the multiple layers.

She was our little Oompa Loompa!

It was only 9 degrees in the exhibit.

We couldn't resist!  :)

All of the displays were carved out of thousands of pounds of ice.

The carousel was amazing, but I think Clare prefers the real one!

Too stiff, or frozen, to move!

The Nativity scene.

This is Phil going down the slide made out of ice.

We enjoyed this FUN day with our bestest friends, Sarah and Tory.

Phil and I sat on Santa's lap and asked him to

never let Sarah and Tory move away.

With frozen toes, fingers, and noses, we welcomed the Florida heat.

We walked around the rest of the resort after enjoying some complimentary hot chocolate.  It was in the mid-70's,

but it took us a while to thaw out.

C...for Clare!

We had a lot of fun, and it might become an annual tradition.  I don't mind paying to see ice when I know that I don't have to live in for six months of the year.