Holiday Peek-a-Boo

This looks like a good spot!

Where's Clara?

Peek-a-Boo, baby!

She loves the surprise!

Helping with the Cleaning

Clara helps us clean up the new house.

She knows she's trouble! But who could get angry at that cute face?

We ended the day with a cold one. She loves anything red.

Clara helps Mommy clean the Fridge

While Mommy was cleaning the new fridge, Clara discovered a new game. Lights on!

Lights off!

Lights on again!!

"Mommy? Why do you have a headache?"

We have a new house!

As of Friday, November 30, we are the new owners of 5229 Jule Star Drive!!!

We are so excited to end our long stretch of apartment living, have room to expand and the freedom to paint the walls! Stay tuned for pics of Clara helping to set up her new home.

Happy Thanksgiving

First Signs of Christmas

Grandma Pretz already started her decorating over Thanksgiving with the help and enthusiasm of Uncle Mark.

Clara has always loved looking into the lights, and now her favorite peek-a-boo spot has a new look.

True to her budding personality, she has to figure out how everything works and is connected.

Kitchen Helper

Clara's looking to help Grandma with our Thanksgiving dinner.

She usually plays with the muffin tin at Grandma's house, and she knows exactly where to look.

Destruction Zone

Clara loves to knock down towers of cups or blocks. Uncle Mark and Daddy are willing to keep building for our little wrecking ball.

Action shot of the hit. She swings for the top ones because they crash to the ground with the most sound.

Clara rewards herself and seeks approval by smiling and clapping the cups together. Uncle Mark has already started the next tower for her to destroy. All of this provided lots of fun between Thanksgiving football games and eating.

Fall Leaves with Great Grandpa

Wednesday before Thanksgiving, we went to the Pretz's to see everyone who came into town. Anne and Humbi, Great Grandma and Grandpa Larson, Uncle Mark, Aunt Joanie, and of course our thoughts were with Uncle John over in Iraq. I took Clara outside to play in the leaves. She found them so interesting, and then Great Grandpa shook the branches over her head to make the leaves fall. Oddly enough, the leaves were completely off the tree the next morning thanks to some high winds and a cold front.

Bundled up for Coffee

Sunday morning, Mommy bundled me up for a quick walk to Caribou coffee. It was so cold outside! Thanks to Grandmom and Grandpop for the cozy hat and gloves!

As Aunt Joanie would say, "Ooo, my cheeks are wintery!"

Fun on the Porch

Being four floors up in an apartment that overlooks a busy shopping and restaurant area has its advantages. Clara loves to be out on the small prch looking at all of the people and cars hustling and bustling around. The sunlight and breezes are so nice too!

Her thinking face. She does this all the time when she's interested in something or looking at something.

Halloween Part 2

Well, our attempts to get Clara into a costume as Winnie the Pooh's honey pot were foiled by a bad cold that turned into croup. We did, however, carve her a little pumpkin that I picked at a real pumpkin patch in MD on a second grade field trip, and we carved the big pumpkin that was a gift for my classroom from the parents. I scooped the seeds out, and Clara was very scared of the inside of the pumpkins. Chris meticulously and very professionally carved the faces and letters. So, we apologize there aren't any costume pics, but we'll take a healthy, well-rested child instead.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

"Which one should I choose?"

"Can I have this one, daddy? Pretty please?"

Inspecting the pumpkin

All looks good

At Cox Farms, the closest Northern Virginia can get to a pumpkin patch!

William and Mary Part 3

The wedding reception was held at the Alumni House, and there was a beautiful grassy area with a replica of the original sundial from campus.

William and Mary Part 2

Waiting for admission to William and Mary's class of 2029

Cocktail hour with Daddy, Chris, Jasen, and Spud

Clara was more interested in the grass and the tiny ants crawling around

Our little family.

William and Mary Part 1

The Crim Dell bridge on campus

Walking to the reception, we stopped for a picture by the Sunken Gardens

I love this picture. It reminds me of the final walk through campus we took on our graduation day.