Rubbish Roundup

I thought I would post this video since I have told a few of you about it. Clara is a very ambitious helper around the house. She has inherited my clean freak trait (yes, I am freakishly clean if you don't already know that). Anytime I am cleaning she is literally under my feet wanting to push the vacuum or sweep the floors. She even helps clean up the playgrounds we visit at times because she knows the trash on the ground is out of place. Well, because I think trashcans are pretty gross, I keep them under all the sinks in the cabinets (if you were ever wondering while at my house). So needless to say, trashcans are out of reach for Clara due to the child safety locks. She discovered that at Uncle Mark's house, none of the cabinet doors are locked. You can see her excitement that she has in face as she is throwing trash away. Uncle Mark and Aunt Gretchen got a kick out of this and made a few new pieces of trash just for the exciting occasion. Enjoy and just know that I am beaming from ear to ear behind the camera lens at my Mini-Me. :)

Gold Metal Thursday

I won! I won! I won a fabulous gold metal at our Stroller Strides Olympics. Well, unfortunately, although I will treasure it forever, it does not fit my neck. I had to pass it to the next person who would be able to represent our family to the best of her ability and that was indeed Clara. Clara refused to take off the gold metal all day, she wore it proudly to several stores today and Clara's adoring fans (old, white haired ladies) loved the touch of gold. Here are a few pics of our day.

Okay, so I had to add this picture from our evening. Clara is laying on a now-retired swaddling blanket but found new life as a wonderful dust rag - it's clean people! Look how HUGE she is! I cannot believe I used to swaddle her little 5-pound body in that blanket! I couldn't even attempt to wrap it around her once, not that she would sit still anyway to even try to swaddle her now. Anyway, I better not blink anymore or she will wake up taller than me tomorrow - okay so that really is possible.

Bath Time

Okay, so I thought I was done blogging today until bathtime. Clara has begun swimming in the tub and it is pretty hilarious. She just prefers bathing on her belly lately. Maybe she is a true Phelps Phan and is practicing her strokes.

Chick-fil-A playtime with Thatcher

Lunch with Grandma and Grandpa

My parents treated Clara and me to lunch on Thursday. It sure was yummy - Thanks!

Playdate with Crystal and Kayla

Crystal and Kayla came over on Wednesday for a playdate. It has been a couple weeks so it was fun seeing them and seeing Kayla's new trick - sitting up! She has great balance and it was fun seeing Clara and Kayla nearly eye to eye. Crystal brought back our Bumbo chair since Kayla no longer needs it and Clara loved her "new" old chair. Kayla's New Trick

Enjoying Clara's old toys
Clara showing how the toys all work
Tickle, Tickle
Ignore my hair-do
Clara's "new" old chair

Trip to Austin

We made a trip to Austin this past weekend. We made it a long weekend because Adam had a meeting in Temple on Tuesday (you now understand why Adam is hula-hooping in a tie in the slideshow below). Gretchen had a baby shower on Sunday (sorry, no pictures of it) and I attended that with Grandma, Susan and Ella while Adam and Mark watched Zane and Clara. We really had a great time hanging out, watching the Olympics (yes, it took over my life in Austin as well), catching up and having fun. Gretchen and Mark treated Clara to the Austin Children's Museum on Monday and she loved it. It was really amazing that she just started talking out of the blue this weekend. She repeats everything anybody says - I guess that means that I need to start watching my language or Clara will start repeating a few of my favorite four-letter words. I have added a video from Austin below. It is cute of Clara giggling and making funny noises and repeating "juice!" Turn up the volume! We had a really wonderful time and we can't wait to meet Metallica (a.k.a. Baby Smith) next month!

Trip to Austin

Fun Friday

We attended a Fun Friday class in Stroller Strides at Pump it Up last week. We have not been there in quite a while. Before, Clara was really too little to do anything, but this time she had a blast. She really took to this one obstacle course that had small hills and things to go around and at the end, there was a big slide. She did it at least 20 times if not more before we left to have lunch with my dad. Here are the pics from Pump it Up and one from the visit with Grandpa. Sorry Gramp's, my camera insisted on taking full advantage of your reflective strips on your clothes. It's a cute picture anyway.

Thatcher and Clara

Clara and I went to visit Rebecca and Thatcher this afternoon. They had a fun time playing hide and go seek. I can't tell how fun it is to watch Clara and Thatcher grow up together. Enjoy the pics and video.

Mom's Night Out

I met some friends for dinner last night and had a great time eating dinner and watching the Olympics at BJ's.

Here is our Pizookie Party Platter Dessert with a mountain of yummy ice cream:

and here it is after eight women dug in:

mmm...

I was definitely feeling it today while working out. Too bad Pizookie is not considered a health food. At least part of the proceeds went to charity, unfortunately all the calories went to my thighs.

This is how I Blog

If you ever wondered what Clara does when I blog, here you go:

Sunday

Wondering what we did today? We did absolutely nothing. It was a great day of laying on the couch watching the Olympics and playing with Clara. Clara is really enjoying the Olympics. She especially enjoyed the Rowing this morning, since her favorite song right now is "Row, Row, Row your Boat." Adam and I probably sang that song at least 50 times that hour.

Clara cheering on Women's Volleyball

(Clara invaded my drawer with my swimsuits and workout clothes)

Reading with Momma

Clara loves to sit and "read" to herself and whoever else is listening. She just babbles about whatever is on the page.

Stroller Strides

In the spirit of the 2008 Olympics, I am participating in a "MomOlympics" contest with Stroller Strides. The opening ceremonies were today, complete with a torch and family flags. This is a month long contest in which we "compete" against each other to win points. I am determined to win so help cheer me on! Here are some pics of Clara and a few of the kids at the park after workout today.

Swimming with Kayla

We went swimming with Crystal and Kayla yesterday and had a great time. I have no pics of the pool but I thought I would share these cute pics of the girls and me. Ignore the no makeup and just rolled out of bed-head.

Naked Dinner, Part Deux

Hummus was on the menu tonight. You can see from a previous hummus night - Hummus Among Us - this is what really inspired our naked dinners. Who really likes doing laundry anyway?

Nice Outfit

I finally found a Tu-Tu for Clara this weekend at Target and you got to love what she paired it with today - Camouflage rain boots! Here she is waiting for Thatcher to come over today at the front door. I also had to share this photo of them on the chair reading and one of Thatch playing dress-up, too. Too cute!