Pictures on a Sunday Afternoon...

So, it was pretty tough getting them to look at the camera...and not be crying too...





But they also got a good-ish (meaning good...of them mainly) one with Mommy...



Not before Claire did THIS on camera:

Yep, that's what we call: "The Look." I had to laugh. She's giving you "The Look" while possessively putting her hand on Anya's head. Classic.

*And now you can see how big my nose is.*





I have to say, Claire is a TOTAL Gollaher (that would be my maiden name) in this picture. Her look reminds me of my Daddy. Ahhh :) I miss him.

Soon Anya will look at the camera--probably about the time Claire will stop looking, let's be honest here.

Claire wonders why dogs are scared of her...

We don't.



Poor Tess... what I couldn't get on video was the first moments...when Tess would try to run away, and Claire would grab at her. It was hilarious. That's why, in this video, Claire pretty much always has a death grip on Tess while she "gently" pets her.

Costco can be such a drag...

Beat Boxing with Anya

When Jordan does this, she generally is laughing the whole time--of course, not the time I'm filming :) But it's cute nonetheless.

She Laughs & Talks

Anya is really developing her little personality :) She is such a cutie and definitely knows how to get attention, that's for sure! You know, some babies, you can carry them around and as long as you're standing up, holding them, that's sufficient for them to be "entertained," but not Anya. Even when you are holding her standing up, lots of times, she starts complaining until you actually PAY ATTENTION to her. I'm a little worried about the future, really. What happened to my kids? My Mom said that I was a content little baby. Not MY babies! It's all Jordan, I bet...

BUT, we just love her, and don't mind paying attention to her, as long as I can get at least a few things done around here!

Happy Birthday to Yousss

Yes, that's how Claire sings Happy Birthday, dontcha know? For some reason she puts an "s" at the end of the "you." It's like she's from NY or NJ or something :) Like how the Cake Boss talks!

Anyway, this was the first year she kinda understood that her birthday is a cool event. Not that she understands anything about the whole aging process, but what she DOES understand is BIRTHDAY PRESENTS!!

She was so spoiled I don't even want to go into it. But I will.

We got her a little horse she can ride, that has casters on it. 75% off at RITE AID, of all places, and only 10 bucks. A steal. Especially since she plays with a toy that she was SO EXCITED ABOUT for like 5 minutes and then, like never again. That's how it is with all her toys though.

Grandma and Grandpa Taylor on the other hand, got her like a ZILLION things. Seriously, she is spoiled.


All I am going to say here is: at least it tasted good.


Claire loves blowing out the candles, but she always needs "anonymous help" from possibly Mommy or Daddy blowing from afar, lol


Sam, Claire, and Ava being cute


Our little angel :) LOVE these new jammies Grandma and Jessica picked out for her for Christmas!! SO CUTE.

Jordan and the two little ones


Mommy has probably eaten the most of these...YUMMY. (except recently because they have dairy :( )


Grandma and Grandpa Taylor also got her a kitchen!! I was OK with it since they said they'd keep the huge, bulky toy at their house :) I was also OK with it since they said it was $5 at DI. Score! She loves it. And loves putting her new favorite toy, "Santa Claus" in the little high chair on it. Ever since we got that from my Aunt Ruth's house on Christmas Morning (her annual breakfast), Claire has been obsessed with it!


And they also got her this Dora tent with plastic balls inside. How did she feel about this one?




Yep, think she likes it...

Silly Claire and Ava

And this would be what happens when the kids get a hold of grandpa's camera and take the pictures themselves. Yep. Awesome photography skills!

Well, we celebrated her birthday for like 3 days...Friday, her actual birthday, Saturday, we had some neighbors over for cupcakes, and Sunday, dinner with the Taylor's and more birthday. For all I know, Claire STILL thinks it's her birthday it went on for so long!!

Christmas 2010

Yes, I'm just getting to this...

And we didn't take that many pictures--at least, not that many of anyone but Claire and Anya, mainly, lol

We were at 3 different houses over Christmas, so we'll start at the very beginning :) It's a very good place to start... (Sound of Music, you know?)


Christmas Eve at the Coleman's

Claire thoroughly enjoyed running around their house, checking everything out...


I need to adopt little Becca to come and play with Claire all day :)

Nieve, Becca, and Stephen signing Christmas Cards for the neighbors


Anya

Christmas Eve at the Pace's


Solomon & Anya just hangin' out, watching the tube!

Sam-o being Sam-o


Auntie Jessica and the kiddos


Hangin' out on the couch. Wait, is Joe making a face there? How odd...that never happens.

Probably the only decent picture of me since the baby lol :) So I had to post it. Jessica with Anya.



Ava pushing Claire in the doll stroller--this is one of Claire's favorite pastimes

Who needs toys when there are kitchen utensils to play with? Claire, Ava, and Sam had fun running around with a strainer and a wire wisk, with Uncle Joe running after them.

Christmas Day at the Taylor's

YUMMMMMMY breakfast of Ebelskievers!


Someone likes Ebelskievers :)


Typical Christmas Morning--pajamas, no makeup, no showers, etc. :) (Except for the Gollaher house when we were little and had to clean our rooms, shower and get dressed before we could come down and open presents--what kind of crazies raised us???)


The jammies Grandma & Grandpa Taylor got the grandkids... "Mommy's Monster" is so perfect for our little...angel...

Anya, just being cute!

Glow sticks are a staple for pretty much every holiday at the Taylor house--Christmas stockings, Easter baskets, Halloween, etc. Claire doesn't mind them at all.




The one gift we got Claire, lol. A Dora Snow Princess or something like that.


Figuring out the Sit n' Spin


My brother, Joseph (I call him, "Joezinho" actually), spent the day with us too! Claire had fun with TWO "Uncle Joe's!" She was so cute with him and said "I love you, Uncle Joe" a few times, actually :)




Anya likes her new little toy!


With Aunt Millie!

This is actually the day after Christmas...I was on my deathbed, and Claire spent the day at Grandma's again...with Daddy too.

And here is Claire on her big wheel or trike from Grandma and Grandpa Gollaher! She loves it! We missed you guys! Christmas in Hawaii 2011??? What a great idea :)

The Prayer

Claire said her prayers for the first time ALONE tonight. Here's how it went:

Heavenly Father,
Thank thee best...day...ever
Thank thee Ella & Hudson,
Birthday,
*something I didn't understand*...maybe Ghost Song?
Heavenly Father,
Jesus loves you,
Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Something like that. It was soooooooooooooooo cute, and so cool how she listed all these things, without hesitation and just one after another. Ella and Hudson are my friend, Kjirsten's cute little kids that Claire is pretty much obsessed with :)

She's just the cutest. All of her tantrums are worth it today...at least!

The Ghost Song

This is Claire's FAVORITE Raffi song. I don't know why. It's cute, she gets really scared when I start singing it, but lately, she'll break out with this song all of the sudden-in the car, in the bath, anywhere!

I know, another bath video, but she is so funny in there... oh and this is post-finger painting...hence the face.

Thank you :)

I was very excited to get the mail this Christmas season :) Hopefully next year my door will be FULL!!

And yes, I am a dork and put up my own Christmas Card. I just liked to look at it, OK?