Fifth grade clay project

Claire seems to be going all out in school this year. This seems to include her fifth grade clay project. She is more clay than I think I was given in all elementary school to create a plate that holds cupcakes and a cake on it. This thing is expensive. It’s about a foot and a half in diameter for the plate just to give size perspective. She worked on this for months. She’s pretty proud of it but wishes she would’ve done a little bit more detail in the painting. Remember, I will be able to keep it. 

Great job Clair Bear!

Another cool school project we could not keep

Clair made a very nice math project she got a great grade on. School has so many neat projects the kids do. I feel guilty I can’t keep them all. So I take pictures!

Genuine care and sweetness

I’m amazed sometimes at how caring Clair is. When she sees me upset or even uncomfortable, she provides physical touches such as hugs or back rubs or sweet kisses on the cheek with genuine care and desire to soothe. She is so heartfelt. I don’t know who taught her this and her parents can’t take credit for it. I truly think she gets this from relatives pat she has never met. 

Tonight I’m doing a nose rinse and she reaches over and starts just rubbing my back. 

A great day of soccer

Today was the end of season bracket playoff day for both Max and Claire soccer teams. They were at different fields so we had to go separate ways as a family. I took Clair and David took Max.

Claire‘s team played really well. They won two games and tied the third one. They only gave up one goal the whole time. Clair was goalie almost the entire day and she really did an amazing job. She was brave enough to put her hands down there and people were going after the bar. She caught a huge ball kicked from half court in the air perfectly. She ran out to get the ball and stop the play as a good goalie should. She seems to be really enjoying being old. She says she likes it because she can use her hands like Softball.

Though I really think she played quite flawlessly, she was really disappointed when that goal in the final  game went over her head and in a goal with 15 seconds left in the last game. She was in the right place in the goal and put her hands up but she was just not tall enough to block it. She was devastated about that goal. She was angry that they didn’t win in advance to the championships. Many people told her she did a great job and she shouldn’t worry but it was really hard to pull her out of the anger that she felt.

After Clair‘s game the coaches talk to them and told them to be proud of what they had accomplished for the day. Coach also gave them each a special shirt with their nickname on it. We packed up and headed over to the other field so we could watch Max‘s last game.

Meanwhile, Max’s team which was the second to last in the whole big for their group, Was having a great day. They ended up first seated in their flight and in the championship game for the day. I was able to watch him play the last game. I saw him get the first goal for their team.

We learn today with the team that scores first win 70% of the time. Max score a couple goals today and really helped his team.

We learn today with the team that scores first win 70% of the time. Max score a couple goals today and really helped his team. His team ended up beating The other playoff team and tomorrow they are in the championship game. Those boys had a rough year and it was great to watch them celebrate when they saw the news that they were going to the championships for their bracket tomorrow. I’m really excited for them. 

About two hours after leaving the field from Clair‘s team we get notifications from the coaches that there was a mixup and Claire‘s team is actually progressing as the winner of their flight to the championship game tomorrow as well.

This girl was so excited, she was literally jumping for joy in the Chick-fil-A bathroom when I told her about the message. She has determined they will win tomorrow. She really wants to be a champion and bring home a trophy. She spent most of the night thinking about and celebrating this victory. She went from sad to happy with this news.

I’m proud of them both and really happy they’re having such a great weekend. Tomorrow will be another long day in the soccer field and it is totally worth it.

The baby is turning 9

Clair has been counting down the days until she turns nine. She has been very excited about her birthday. Tomorrow is the big day. She had instructions for the day that includes lots of cooking and fun and decorations and presents. I have spoiled my children. I set a precedence that their birthdays are in many Christmases. At least they will grow up knowing that we treated them special on their birthdays.

Here’s a picture of her but I took before putting her to bed.

When I said this is your last picture eight she said no. She told me to lay down beside her and take a picture of a snuggling. My girl loves her snuggles and her mommy time. And I absolutely adore this about her.

Clair is a great busy and loving child. She brings positive energy and happiness to every situation. She sees the good in the world and then others. She can tell when others are stressed and she tries to bring them up. She has a heart for God and I truly believe Jesus lives in her heart and I absolutely am so thankful for that. She has plans for this world and I believe she will accomplish every single one of those plans that she wants to accomplish.

I love her so much and I am so grateful that I get to be her mommy

We put this little decoration up on her bedroom door. I struggle to believe it will still be there at least looking like it does right now in the morning, thanks to the cats who are very interested in it. We shall see.

Sharing my sink

Ever since we moved into the new house, five years ago, I have been sharing my sink, my bathroom counter, and our master bath with Clair Vonita. This happened because Max‘s bathroom that she was supposed to share was just so nasty I could not keep it clean and I could not have her use it. This has stuck.

Every week and there’s extra toothpaste and yuck around my sink I have to take a deep breath. I think I wish she had her own bathroom. And then I quickly think, soon enough she’ll be out of my house and I’ll be wishing for these days back. She is such a sweet girl. The conversations we’ve had while sharing a bathroom or countless. She is so open with me and she tries so hard to clean up and to make good choices. She is a wonderful wonderful little person. And I am lucky to share the bathroom with her. 

I keep asking David when he’s going to build her very own bathroom, but honestly, as long as this is working and she’s happy, I’m happy.

Birthday eve

Tomorrow my baby girl turns 8. I really can’t believe how fast the days and years go by. She has been so excited about her birthday. We have reminisced. We have anticipated. Tomorrow is the day! She is set. 

Claire is a very bright seven-year-old girl. She has a heart of gold. She truly has a heart for God. She loves to help other people. She is super creative. Her mind is busy all the time. She gets excited to try new things and then want to make her own version of it. She is very observant. She understands how others are feeling innately. She’s especially attuned to other people being sad. She doesn’t like that at all. 

she loves to play with Max. He is her closest confidant and they play very well together. They love avatar and Pokémon and Minecraft and all other Digital things that kids their age love. She also has a very close relationship with her big sister. Clair looks up to Ellie. She is her mom‘s baby girl. We make each other happy when we snuggle. We must snuggle every day. We love snuggling. She can get anything she wants from her dad he just by asking. 

In Claire short life she has played soccer and softball. She has done dance for a year. She has played piano now going on three years. 

We have decorated. We have put up the birthday tree. We have set up the presents. I have baked and decorated a glamorous cake. The balloons have been blown up and placed around the house. The cards are hung on the birthday tree. We are all looking forward to celebrating Claire turning eight tomorrow. I took a half-day off work so that we can have a game day in the afternoon just like she wanted. 

I’m so glad Clair came along to complete our family.

The sweetest things

Putting Clair to bed can be a bit like a wrestling match. I love to snuggle the girl and the girl loves to snuggle me. When it comes to settling down at night it’s very hard for her brain to stop. She constantly wants to tell me her thoughts and her ideas. Trying to sing to her and settle her is not as easy as it was the other two. Last night when I was putting her to bed I convinced her to let me sing a song to her. She lay still and listen while I sing a Christmas Carol to her. When I was done she said next year for Christmas I want you to make me a CD with your singing on it because it makes me relaxed and helps me settle down for sleep.

This has to be one of the sweetest request I have ever had. I know I don’t have the best singing voice. I love that my singing can calm her.

All things baby

Recently Clair has shown quite an interest in baby dolls and all things baby. Couple weeks ago she convinced me she wanted to have a bottle of milk in the morning. The past couple days she became fascinated with going for a ride in the stroller. Yes it may be slightly strange that I still have these things around the house, I to still miss the baby days gone by and struggle to give them up.

She’s decided that everything she wants for Christmas stuff to take care of her babies including a twin stroller car seat swings of playground a new baby dolls. She’s asked for diapers and pacifiers and all the things necessary to take care of babies.

Last night when we went outside after dinner to give her a little walk in her stroller, she was so excited. After dusting the stroller off and getting it outside she couldn’t wait to get in and proceeded to try to buckle herself. We pushed her for about 15 minutes and she said it was very relaxing. When we got back she asked about laying down in it and I finally snapped this picture. She is a happy kid and was a happy baby. I’m going to take this as fond memories in the making for her. 

Playing in my head

Clair’s mind is so busy. She talks often and thinks always. She has triple focusing because her thoughts get away from her. 

Last night I came into the bathroom to check on her after about 10 minutes to find she hadn’t done much. I try to talk to her about staying focused and she proceeds to tell me that she has gotten lost in her head, playing and she is sorry. 

😂

I ask her to explain. She says that she likes to play games in her head and it’s fun to imagine different things happening. 

She has this same problem going to sleep. We were talking this morning about why she has trouble falling asleep. I’m snuggling her on the couch. She picks up here hand and holds it beside her head and moves it swiftly across in front of her face and to the other side of her head when exclaiming that’s ideas just come flying in and distract her from getting to sleep. 

I love this kiddo. I’m sorry I afflicted her with this condition and I understand it. 

The artwork overflow

Clair will make me some artwork and or writing almost daily. It’s very thoughtful and she puts her heart into both making it and giving it. I’m greatful for it. 

But I can’t keep it all. I try to take pictures. Here are some from recent gifts! 

Love my girl. 

Deciding to grow up

For the past month I’ve asked Claire to set the table for dinner every night. She chooses the silverware for each person. She generally does a good job helping me.

The other night she announced, “mommy look, I’m using a big girl work now.“

These little moments are coming all too often for my little five-year-old Claire bear. She is excited to grow up and tackle the world. So far though, she reminds me many times each day that our love and our snuggles and our time together or what matters most to her. She is such a great gift to my heart. I love watching this girl grow up and being able to be her mommy!

Night time snuggles

Ever since I went away on business for a week in February, Clair has come to my bed in the middle of the night about 95% of the time. I have mixed feelings about this. I do not get a good night sleep but boy do I love that she wants to be with me and snuggle. She can’t handle not touching. And she is happiest like this. This girl will grab on and hold me tight! 

Clair made me a foot rest

My foot has been really bothering me. So Clair made me this foot rest and insisted I use it- without squashing it. Lol

Finally some snow to play in

This winter we have only had ice, until today, finally some snow the kids could play in. Clair was truly beside herself. She had no memory of ever playing in the snow. Every time she saw a few flakes this winter she got super excited. Today, when I told her she could finally go out and play in the 3 or so inches she squealed with delight. 

Max and Ellie were happy to go out too, as long as there was hot chocolate when they came in. Expectations just keep increasing with age. 

They made snow angles. They sled down the hill. Ellie snowboarded down on the sled. They played on the playground. Max even spent time digging at the top of the hill and pushing the snow off the fence line. Clair also tries to help me clear snow from the driveway. 

I’m so happy they all finally got their snow! I think there will be more fun tomorrow because more snow is expected. 

Hours after coming in, Clair Still has her red rosey cheeks she got while outside! 

 

A snuggle monster is real

When Clair is dismissed from school each day, she is asked to say goodbye to both of her teachers before leaving. This means she sits there waiting for her turn to say goodbye to the headteacher, Miss Debbie, and then the swcond teacher, Ms Megan who is sitting in the back of the room.

It’s a time consuming ritual, and requires patience for the children who are anxious to go see the ones who have come to pick them up.

For years Sarah has taking Clair to and from school. The recent change with our schedule means that I get to pick Clair up each Wednesday. She is so excited when I walk into the classroom she can hardly contain herself. She sits there waving, and smiling, and just giggling and wiggling in her seat. She is clearly anxious to be dismissed to come give me a great big hug.

Today when she was called she gave Miss Debbie a hug and then walk past me to give Miss Meghan a hug. She stopped to explain to Miss Megan, “ on the days when my mommy is here it’s sometimes hard to remember to come give you a hug too because I am so anxious to get to my mommy because she has the best snuggles in the world!”

Now, some may worry the teacher would be offended, but not Miss Meghan who is fantastic. She just looked at Clair and said, “awe, Clair, that is so sweet.” Then she looked at me and said “ how could you do anything else but sit around and snuggle all day with that one.”

I smiled and told her that’s what we do on these Wednesdays.

I sure do love my girl who loves me so much!

We went out to lunch and had frozen yogurt as a special treat to spend more time together before I went home to finish.

I was really worried about Wednesday’s would work, and I’m starting to see them as the blessings God has given us. I didn’t get to enjoy the older two before they went off to kindergarten. And I know that starting kindergarten changes everything. I appreciate getting this time on Wednesdays to truly enjoy my four-year-old, pre-kindergarten, Clair bear.

Block letters from my 4 year old

Clair has loved letters since she understood what they were. She wants to know how to spell and write everything everyday. Last week she took it a step further and decided she would do block letters for me like Ellie does. 

She did this on her own and brought it to me! I didn’t figure out block letters until I was older. I’m throughly impressed with this, yet not all that surprised. 

Loving letters!

Clair's love of letters continues! She's starting to write them. She just picks up a pencil and constructs them from her memory. It's rather amazing! Kindergarteners don't do this! She's so smart. I'm biased!

My Mother's Day, little moments go by

She's trying to outgrow me. You never know when it might be the last time you get to rock and gold your sleeping child as they grow. I don't know when it happened with Max and Ellie, but it did. So many of those little moments go by. This is my Mother's Day treat to myself. I should wake her. Instead I am letting her keep sleeping, on my lap, a little while longer. 

I had no idea she could also write the letter

We were sitting at dinner last night and Clair was looking at her kids menu word search. She asked where is the Q. I said I could find one. She quickly says, "here's a Q!"

I can't believe how fast she's learning this stuff!

Tonight at dinner she ate pizza directly off her plate. 

She's a character.