Q Bear

Since Quinn didn't get talked about that much this week in blogs here are a couple of pictures.

Curly Sue

Claire wanted her hair like Tinkerbells the other day so I twisted it up in a bun. Later when we took it out Claire's hair was wavy. She called it her curly hair and loved it! She asked if she could have curly hair again so I twisted her hair up on Saturday night and let her sleep in the twists. She woke up at least 6 times through out the night and I am convinced it was because I did not place the hair twists in the right spot and they were waking her up. I asked her each time she got up if the hair woke her up and if she wanted me to take them out. She insisted to keep them in. Sunday morning came and she was ready to untwist the moment she woke up. The result was curly hair. She walked around swinging her hair and running her hands through it. Jared said that was the girliest thing he has ever seen her do. She looked pretty cute. Who knew that even at three you want hair you don't have.

Bouncy Barn

Our MOPS group had a playdate at the Bouncy Barn last week. It was the first time for the girls to go. I always felt they were a little too young until this year. They had the BEST time. My favorite part was that they wore themselves out and slept like angels during nap time that day.

Beautiful Weather

The weather has been so nice, considering it is January. We have tried to spend the weekends outside if we can so a couple of weekends ago we went to Turkey Mountain and went for a walk. The girls loved being outside. They ran, collected rocks, threw rocks, collected sticks and leaves, raced, and just had a great time. I love days like that.

Hiding God's word in her heart!

Claire has been memorizing bible verses at church and I have to say it fills my heart with joy! I am so thankful for those that volunteer at church to show my girls the love of Christ. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. Plus it is nice to know I have others helping me out in bringing them up learning about Jesus. The first verse Claire learned was "I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13. She was so excited to tell us. The second verse she just learned was "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10. She doesn't know the "call numbers" or where to find the verse so we need to have her learn that part too. I am so proud of her and she just lights up when I ask her to tell me. I do it often so that she doesn't forget. 

 I know that kiddos may start memorizing verses around 3 and though I have thought about getting started I haven't done anything. I actually thought maybe she wasn't ready yet. I guess I would be wrong. A friend of mine gave me this website that has ABC scriptures to memorize with your children. I printed each letter/verse out and am in the process of making flash cards with them. I can't wait to start learning with Claire. Yes, I said learning with her. Most of the verses I know or have heard but I need to memorize them as well. Here is the link. http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/10/abc-printable-scripture-cards/

First Birthday Party

Claire received her first birthday party invite in the mail at the beginning of the month. She was beyond excited to attend her friend Brooklyn's party. The invitation said to wear a dress that makes you feel like a princess. We picked the dress that she wore for Halloween as Tinkerbell. She helped me pick out the gift. It was princess theme, of course. On the day of the party she was so giddy and girly. I loved every minute of it. She had a good time and talked about the party for days afterwards.

Talking with Claire

Claire says some of the funniest things. I have been keeping a list so that I won't forget to tell her when she is older. I thought I would go ahead and post some of them.

"I am not a baby I am a big kid."

When she doesn't think she can say a word she says "Mommy, you can't say that word."

While Quinn was crying Claire started acting like she was crying. When I asked if she was sad because Quinn was crying she said. "No, she is too loud and I am just whining."

She likes to call Quinn Sweetheart.

While I was coloring in one of her coloring books she asked if she could color in it. I told her I wasn't done yet. She replied with "Mommy, you have to share."

"Mommy I will eat carrots when I am tall, like this tall, big big big. Not today."


When she gets upset she says "Don't talk to me! No one talk to me!"

When Quinn had a really bad diaper rash and was crying right before bed...Claire looked at Jared and I and said "We need to pray for she."

Jared is the happiest daddy ever! Claire likes to watch Sports Center...which she settles on when there is no football to watch. She actually asks to watch football.

I told the girls that I love them very much. Claire's response was "Daddy loves us....and God too....and Noah loves us." I can tell she is learning about Noah at church. :)

When I told Claire we have church tomorrow she asked "What am I wearing? I think I will wear the pink dress with a bow." "What is Quinn going to wear? How about the orange dress. She has two." She is not even three yet and she is already talking about clothes and her wardrobe. Oh my.

Both girls came up to me and did funny things. I was making rice krispie treats and Quinn would come over and sneak marshmallows from the counter. When she realized I knew what she was doing she just asked "More pillows please". (In her 20 month old barely able to understand voice, of course) Then Claire came up to me and asked if she could put 3 $1. bills in her piggy bank. I asked her where she got them and she said "Your wallet."

She likes to play doctor with Jared's old Fisher Price doctor kit he had as a kid. She tells us we have a Dr. appointment and she is Dr. Claire.

Claire was talking to Jared and this is what I heard. "Daddy it looks like Christmas up there." (I had just decorated the mantel) Jared "Yes, Christmas will be here soon." Claire "Will Jesus be there?".

While talking about Jesus' birthday cake Claire said "Will God be here to eat cake with us?"

I love this kid!

Dr. Claire is in.

Jared has this Fisher Price doctor kit that he played with as a kid. The girls are loving playing with it. Claire calls herself Dr. Claire and gets into character. She has her office set up in her room with all the doctor supplies, a phone, and a computer (leapfrog) like her real doctors have. She even gets a phone call in the middle of her appointments and leaves the room. She is a very good doctor and is very thorough and uses all of her instruments. She had a stuffed bear to give me after my appointment because I did a good job. Her main patient is Quinn even when Quinn is not willing. I will see her running around chasing Quinn with a stethoscope and a thermometer.  So far only Claire has been the doctor. Jared and I can't wait until Quinn gets to be the doctor. We will call her Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman!

Dr. Claire's Office

This is my favorite!

Tiny Dancers

The girls got Bella Dancerella as a Christmas gift along with leotards and slippers. The girls couldn't wait to try it out. By the time they were dressed as dancers and once they had the bar and the dvd was ready to go they were beyond giddy. Once it started Quinn jumped right in but Claire was a little more apprehensive which surprised me. She acted sad and wouldn't dance but watched intently. After the dvd played through once she was ready to dance and we played it again. She has since been quite the little dancer. The girls have put on their leotards and danced almost every day this week. I am thinking real lessons may be in our future. Thank you grandma!

Quinn Twirling

Claire dancing.

Christmas with the Rileys

We had Christmas with my family on New Years Eve morning. It was the only day all the family could get together. Joshua was in Alabama and couldn't make it and he was dearly missed. Gift opening went by in such a fun whirlwind way. With 7 kids ready to open gifts it was exciting. So much so that I did not take one picture and no one else did either. That is not like me at all! The day was beautiful and the kids had the best time playing outside. Claire had a blast with Malachi playing in the dirt with shovels. We have got to fill the sandbox this summer because that girl loves to play in the dirt. We rang in the new year with my mom and dad and left the next morning. The girls were so sad to leave that they cried all the way out of the neighborhood. They wanted to stay with their cousins and play. The girls call their cousins their friends and I love that! We can't wait until we see them again.

Christmas with the Liesers

We spent Christmas day with Jared's family. The girls were so excited to play with their cousins and to open more presents. We arrived the night before everyone was coming so the girls had lots of time to see the gifts under the tree. By the time we opened gifts Claire knew whos went to whom. Once cousins started arriving she would take them to the tree and tell them which ones were there's. She was so excited once the last of the family had arrived, it was finally time to open presents. The adults had a good time that night snacking and playing Mexican Train dominoes. One of my favorite games. This night in particular because I was winning. ;)I was winning the entire game but ended up losing on the last round to Jared's brother by two points!!! I write this only because I am still a little bitter about it. Fun times!! We are blessed with such great families and I think this is why I love Christmas so much...family time.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

I am a little behind on posts. You know what that means, right? A slew of them all at one time. Sorry.

We had such a wonderful Christmas season this year and with two little ones it was so much fun! Here is our Christmas in Tulsa. As I mentioned before, Claire asked for lots and lots of presents and Quinn asked for cookies and cake. They were very excited to wake up and find all of those things. Reminder from my last post: the girls did have lots and lots of presents but I wrapped everything that could be wrapped so it looked like they received a lot. Claire woke up about 6:30 but Quinn was still sleeping so we let her crawl in bed with us. She woke up again at 7:15 and Quinn was still sleeping. It was torture on Claire to have to stay in our room until Quinn woke up. Ok, maybe it was more torture on me. To be honest Claire didn't even remember about the presents under the tree until we told her. Jared wouldn't let me wake up Quinn so we FINALLY got to go look under the tree once Quinn woke up at 8:00. The look on the girls' faces was priceless. Claire started looking for her name right away and was tossing Quinn's her way. Claire was done opening before Quinn was. They seemed to really like all of their presents. Made me feel good!

Claire has been asking us what time it is for a long time so she got her first watch with her favorite Tinkerbell on it.

Quinn is going to be so mad at me one day when she sees the pictures I post of her but I just LOVE her bed head!!!

Relaxing after all the hard work of opening presents.

It has been a tradition to read the Christmas story every Christmas morning. We had been talking to the girls about it being Jesus' birthday and that is why we celebrate Christmas, we have not mentioned anything about Santa bringing gifts. The girls are not quite at the age where we needed to worry about it. We will see what next year brings.

So, since Quinn asked for cake I made a birthday cake for Jesus. It was so cute because we sang happy Birthday to Jesus and blew out candles. It was fun. After cake we loaded up to drive to Enid to have Christmas with the Liesers. Blog to follow.