Momok and Popok's House through Clara's Eyes

I mentioned after our trip to Phoenix that I had given Clara a disposable camera while we were at Momok's and Popok's so that she could take a picture of all of her favorite things there. This is a handful of her pics.

Here's Popok

and Momok

One night we cooked dinner for Momok and Popok. Clara picked what we should have and the kids helped me cook.

Here's Jonathan helping me out.

Momok and I looking at pics in the camera.

Jonathan splashing his feet in the pool

More pics of her favorite things -- here's the pool!

This is a pic of the little dog that Momok has. It's one of those ones that looks like it's breathing as it sleeps. The kids both thought it was pretty cool.

Here's a pic of the golf clubs along with the toys we brought along.

Clara LOVES taking pics. We got her one of those Fisher Price digital cameras last year for Christmas, but she seems to aim better when she's forced to look through the view finder vs. looking at the LCD screen. The only problem with the disposable camera, aside from pic quality, is that she will take ALL the pics in about 30min. At least she's having fun!

Penelope Feathers

For those of you who don't know, we have a cat named Penelope. We have had her for as long as we've been married, which is 10 years now. She's a wonderful cat very sweet and lovable -- and yes, BIG!

As you can see in the picture she is a grey cat with a white belly.

Today as we walked in the house from Preschool, Clara saw a white feather on the floor. I assume it had fallen out of one of the throw pillows on the couch, but Clara had a different idea...

She saw the feather when I was barely 2 steps in the house and exclaimed, "Penelope feathers!!!!!" She picked it up and brought to me to show me, "Look Momma, Penelope feathers!!!!" I tried really hard to stifle my laugh so I could get a picture, after which she took it back to Penelope to find out where it came from. I never had the heart to tell her Penelope doesn't have feathers.

Cinderella

Speaking of Jonathan's choice of accessories...This is how he chose to go pick up Clara from school today...

Look closely at the feet!

Notice -- I had dressed him in nice BOYS' clothes today, but there's no stopping him. It gets even better, these particular princess shoes have heels that light up bright blue when you walk. When we arrived to Clara's preschool there was a man in the lobby who was the grandfather to one of Clara's classmates. The sight of the Cinderella shoes on Jonathan made him snicker, but then when he noticed them light up as well, the poor man couldn't stop laughing. Finally, when he regained composure, he looked at me with the most serious face he could muster and said, "I'm available for counsel this afternoon." Apparently he was indeed a counselor. I simply laughed and said, "It's just not a battle I choose to fight right now."

And for the record, Jonathan lost his slipper 2 times as he was running on the way home!

Where's Jonathan?!

I was getting the kids ready for their baths tonight and walked out of the bathroom for a minute while the tub was filling up.

When I came back in, I couldn't find Jonathan. "Where's Jonathan?" I asked Clara.

"There he is!" she said, laughing at me.

Look at that face and tell me they weren't working together on this one!

Ballet

Clara started her new dance class today. This time she's going to a real dance school out in town instead of just the base community center. After just one class today, I know it's the right choice. The dance school is more structured and I think that in just today's class, she learned more ballet and tap steps than she did in the full 6 weeks this summer. She loves that they dance in front of the mirrors too -- she spent the whole time looking at herself! I only snapped one pic today, because for the class the parents sat outside the room and watched through a viewing window. It was fantastic, I could watch without either Jonathan or I being a distraction -- no more chasing after him throughout the whole class as he tries to be with his sister!!!!

Clara was adorable today! I got this pic when they let the mom's in the room at the beginning of class to run through some rules and protocol. I wish I could've gotten more pics, but there was too much glare on the window from the reflection of the outside door. I know Chris would've loved to see it all! I told Clara that he may be able to come watch one of her classes when he gets home (she takes a morning class, so he'd have to have a late flight). She got SOOOOO excited. She said, " I'll still be in that class when he comes home?" She can't wait to show him what she's doing. Clara will have just one recital this year, the first weekend of June - though I heard a nasty rumor yesterday that Chris will be back out to sea at that time :( Time will tell.

Clara has been reading her Fancy Nancy book a lot lately, and she is quite certain that ballet IS fancy. All she talked about this morning was how fancy she looked, so of course sticking her in a room where she was surrounded by mirrors was just icing on the cake!

Clara's 1st Day of Preschool

Clara started Preschool today!!!! She was sooo excited. Both kids were still sound asleep when I went in to wake them up at 7:10am this morning. Jonathan, for one, was not at all excited to see me 2 hours earlier than normal, but we pushed through it. By the time we had breakfast and Clara was dressed, she was so excited she could hardly stand it. She has a new backpack with her name embroidered on it -- purple, of course. I'm not sure which part she was more excited about -- her new school or her new backpack!

Here's the preschooler all dressed and ready to head to school. The Child Development Center (CDC) is only about a 10 min walk from our house, so I gave Clara a jacket since it was a little chilly so early in the morning.

We found her cubby and put her backpack on the hook underneath.

We put on her name tag, and then Clara found a place on the rug with her friends and teacher, Mrs. Lorraine.

I guess every year they go with a theme - this year is a barnyard theme.

When I came back to pick Clara up, I got her to stand with her teachers, Mrs. Tiffany and Mrs Lorraine, so I could get a picture. Mrs. Lorraine told me, "Clara did great in school today. She's really bright." I explained that was exactly why she was there, she's too bored with me at home. She needs the stimulation.

Clara was particularly excited because today was one of the other kids' birthday, so she got a cookie to bring home. How much better does it get? She even offered to share it with Jonathan "since he's not big enough to go to school and get his own". That girl makes me sooo proud!

This pic is particularly for Chris. He filed a formal complaint with me after my trip to Phoenix because I'm not in any pics, so I got a friend to snap this one of me and the kids on the way out of preschool this morning. Jonathan still insists on wearing those boots -- what are you gonna do?! People are always commenting on Jonathan's appearance, whether it's the boots, sunglasses or the beaded necklaces and bracelets he gets out of Clara's room. Today as 2 of the other kids' fathers passed us by, I heard Jonathan's outfit had sparked a conversation, "I wish I could dress like that...."

Update

Thank you for all of your well wishes and prayers for Preston and his family. I spoke with Uncle Larry Saturday or Sunday and they had just brought Preston home from the hospital, which is REALLY impressive considering all he's been through. He's doing well, but he still has a good bit of recovering to do, so please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks.