Claire

I just downloaded 3 months worth of pictures off my camera onto the computer.  So many were blogworthy and I have been so lax about blogging and concerned about catching up and filling in the big gaping hole I have left. In 2012 we have already celebrated three birthdays and have had several visits from Grandma and Grandpa and some big family get togethers.  I think what I will do first is give a little summary of each kid and then talk about fun events.  I thought I would start in the middle this time.  I often start with the oldest or youngest, so let's start with Claire tonight.

This has been an exciting year for Claire.  She recently turned 5 and is always SO excited and enthusiastic.  She loves her preschool class and I can't believe she will start kindergarten next school year. She loves daddy daughter dates and recently got to go on a rare mommy daughter date.  It is fun to get some one on one time; she becomes extremely giddy.  I took her with me to a baby shower for her aunt Kristen on Saturday, and she was so funny the whole time.  It was an hour drive up and then back and I thought she would crash on the way home for sure, but with Great-Grandmother Plumb, Grandma Plumb and aunt Becca in the car, she didn't want to miss a second.

This picture was taken the day after she broke her arm and cut her own hair.  I pulled her hair back, so you don't get the full effect of her retro do-it-yourself hair doo.  She was leaning over cutting some hearts out of paper and decided she would cut off the hair hanging down too. She cut off a huge chunk on the right and then created a short little side burn on the left. We were rescued by a lady we go to church with that cut off quite a bit to even everything out.  It turned out cute, so it will probably be her hairstyle for a while. She had a look on her face after she did it of complete innocence.  All the hair had been carefully put in the trash, and I think she was rather hoping I would not notice.  I had been vacuuming when this heinous crime was committed and so our big bean bag was up on the couch.  She thought it would be fun to get on top of the bean bag and roll off with her little bro.  This would have been fun if the vacuum was not in the way...She crashed into it and fractured her radius bone up by her elbow.  This happened on a Friday and we didn't know it was broken at first.  I didn't take her into the doctor until Monday, and the urgent care doctor didn't spot the small fracture so we didn't get a cast on until that Thursday.  Luckily, (or rather unluckily) one of our good friends had also broken a bone.  She got a green cast to match his, and neither of these two let a cast slow them down.  Claire was mad they wouldn't let her do anything in PE time.  She loves her preschool PE teacher coach Ben, and really didn't like not being able to participate.  Fortunately it only had to be on for a couple weeks.

Here is a picture of Claire with her Preschool teacher Mrs. Mahlstedt. She was Ashlyn's teacher too and runs such a great program.  We feel lucky to have found her.  Claire was so excited to show off at her open house.  She took Brock around and showed him everything.

Right after the cast came off in the middle of March  We were out riding bikes and she said her friend Adrienne didn't use training wheels and she didn't want to either.  I took them off and in one afternoon she had it down.  She took a spill two days ago and sprawled forward skinning her chin, but that won't slow her down. 

 This picture just cracks me up. Claire bravely leaping over this little "stream" in the middle of the Salk institute in San Diego. Ashlyn did a report on Dr. Salk, and so we went down to explore. I think the kids appreciated the running space a little more than the science and research. Brock has convinced the girls that being a Doctor of the mind enables him to read thoughts and basically be our resident expert on almost everything...I am often called into question by Claire when it comes to being knowledgeable on certain subjects. "Mom, are you sure?...you are not a Doctor of the Mind." :)

Here is Claire and her friend from school, Adrienne. On her birthday Brock picked them up from school and let them play at Playwerx for a few hours before coming home for presents and cake when her sister got home from school. She was fairly particular about her cake this year. She wanted her prince and princess on top and yellow and purple flowers. fun fun.

For her birthday we flew her new kite in the evening.  There was absolutely no wind, but a tradition is a tradition.  :)  We only got an hour in since we kept hoping some sort of ocean breeze would come our way, but it was kind of a muggy day for us. The girls had to run like mad to keep it up in the air. Dumbo was a good sport.

Here is Claire with Great-grandma at cousin Joshua's second birthday party at the park by the beach (Great Grandmother calls Claire her "little Swedish Girl").  This was a few days before the cast came off and we covered the cast with a leg warmer to keep the sand out.  She was itching enough as it was, but a good sport about everything. She is a girly girl, prefers skirts to pants, but a tough one.

Last thing about Claire...When she is around, guard your cell phone.  She has a knack for sneaking off with my phone and taking random photos with it of her toys and siblings.  :)  future photographer.  She loves taking pictures and having pictures taken of her.   Can you believe she'll be in Kindergarten soon????!!!