Thanksgiving Holiday 2012

I never take enough pictures when we get together, for some reason. But here are some highlights from this year's Thanksgiving:

A little Grammie time for her birthday the week before

Maecie showing off her "singing with a spoon" skills!

My Thankful Fireplace

Keeping kids busy is sometimes a dirty job...

Paint is always a fun activity though!

Pre-holiday baking!

Clayton likes to take pictures of himself with my phone. I don't know where he gets it from....

Look at that hot mama!! Haha!

Sleepy Daddy and Lucie in a post-turkey nap

Huntsman is on the move... this little cutie was pulling up on everything!

Aunt Shea and Maecie making faces at the camera!

Cute siblings snuggled up together in the hotel room

Happy Lucie and Daddy!

When you don't make it to Thanksgiving, others will eat your favorite foods and rub it in your face!! Cause that's love...

"Uh, mom ... I think I need a little help here" says the cutey from the other room

Having a baby shower for Logan and Sarah kisses the baby!

The younger girls decide to watch Peter Pan during the shower.

Two best friends getting closer to 30! AHH!!

All in all, it was a wonderful and mostly relaxing weekend! Looking forward to next year when we head to the mountains!!

Happy 4th!

So my computer was attacked by a killer virus ... but my handsome hubby says he can fix it. Except it's been the hottest summer ever and he is an AC guy and therefore has been quite busy. It's making my computer not top priority. So I take his when I can and thus have not blogged nearly as much as I would like. But I digress ... and here is our 4th of July celebration blog!

For us, July 4th means water and hot dogs and fireworks to celebrate our freedoms. And what is more American than a homemade water slide?

Patrick sliding down...

Clayton doing twists and turns....

And landing in the big pool!

Maecie got a little intimidated by the slide and spent most of the day chilling on the couch..

Mom and Lucie hanging out next to the slide, cheering on the crazies!

And of course, this just made Patrick even more excited to have the water slide at our house again. So the count down is on! We have so much to do before we are ready, but it's coming!

Mother's Day Tea with Clayton

This was probably one of my favorite Mother's Days (so far) because of Clayton's preschool. They do amazing things with the kids for every major holiday and we have enjoyed being a part of their school.

First, the kids sang songs to us ... and they were so cute with hand motions and everything!

Then I got a flower in a flower pot with thumbprint flowers on it (and the flower is still alive!), a paper flower, and a questionnaire about mom. According to Clayton, my favorite food is chocolate chip cookies (guilty!), I clean the house all day, and the activity we do the most together is putting together dinosaur puzzles. It was the sweetest day!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone!! From the cutest Beare's around!

Christmas with the Beare's

A little late posting (I guess pregnancy slows me down a bit)...but here our pictures from our Christmas adventures!

The kids with the ever-popular Santa at Bass Pro Shops!

The picture from our Christmas cards that almost did not happen since kids to do not always like to cooperate. But we made it and even sent them out before Christmas!

The kids making Christmas cookies ... this is a good example of how independent they have become and like to dress themselves. It's December and Clayton is sporting a too-small-for-him Halloween shirt. Maecie still has her tights on from church that day, while wearing two shirts, since (heaven help her) you can't assist in putting her clothes on!

The putting together of the Gingerbread House. And since Mom and Dad didn't read the instructions and let the icing set on the house for 15 minutes before adding the candy....

the house quickly sagged and eventually fell apart! But the kids had fun putting it together (and of course, eating a bunch of candy!)

As for Christmas morning, the kids actually slept in until about 7:30am! I guess I was a little more anxious to see their faces, as I was up at 6:30, constantly looking at the clock until I heard the first stirring of little noises and jumped out of bed!

The kids got to see what Santa brought first. They both received bikes and were quite excited! Santa was a little sneaky and put Clayton's bike behind the counter. So the first thing they saw was Maecie's tricycle. Clayton was excited for Maecie, but when I told him to turn around, he gasped, threw his hands up, and said "It's just what wanted!" Score one for Santa!!

Maecie decked out in her pink monkey pajamas, pink tricycle and pink helmet!Clayton in his guitar pajamas and Lightening McQueen bicycle!

Trying to get pictures by the tree in their nice Sunday outfits ... but we had to mix a little fun into it!

The best picture we could get of the whole family!

After opening presents from Mom and Dad ... which were all a total hit....Maecie loved her baby doll and accessories, Clayton loved his Transformers Rescue Bots ... we had to get ready for church! Then we spent the day with Grandma and Papa Beare and Beare cousins. We ate tons of food, opened more presents and played games. The day after, we went to Grammie and Grandpa Watkins' house for more presents and more food.

We enjoyed our Christmas together! Although Clayton didn't understand why Christmas was then over...since it didn't snow like in the movies. I just keep trying to reiterate that now we get to enjoy our toys and memories we made! But I'm afraid that won't really sink in for a few years.

Clayton's First School Program

Clayton was so excited about his school program today, that he had many comments and requests to share. Such as, "Will you make me a special sparkly shirt to wear?" and "Don't worry, Mom. I won't cry."

But it wasn't until the story started, that I realized he was to play Joseph in the story of Christmas. He was such a sweet performer; held "Mary's" hand and walked from one side of the staging area to another. Then sat down next to the laundry basket (aka...the baby manger) and smiled. It was perfect!

The kids then stood and sang Christmas songs..."Santa Claus is Coming to Town", "Jingle Bells", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"! Too bad my videography skills weren't as good as they should have been and I missed the majority of the songs. I did manage to get the Christmas Story Play!! (I should get points for that! LOL)

Such wonderful memories for Moms, Dads, and the students themselves! Thanks for all the hardwork teachers!

EASTER!!

I am a little late in getting this posted, but here is our Easter fun!

Clayton and his buddy Mitch, hunting Easter eggs with their bunny ears on!

Maecie just wanted to play in the car ... didn't really care about plastic eggs!


And then they taste their findings ... Maecie the little moocher!


Had a little trouble getting the kids in their nice outfits ... so I might have had to bribe them a little!

The Bribe = suckers!

Trying to take the bribe away, hoping for a candy free picture ... didn't work!

A happy girl ... so adorable with her polka dots and bare, chubby feet!!

Such a cutie pie!