to get a good one

The progression (or digression) of how to get a good picture of Clara...

Spring Break

 Craig's parents came down for Spring Break

 We rented a minivan and drove to Biloxi.

We went on a air boat tour to see some gators.

Minus Clara and I (fan too loud for Clara)

The tour guide said he gave neck massages to this alligator.

He gave her treats of marshmallows that 

she would come close to the boat to chomp.

 Shrimping is a big industry in the bayou

so we went on a shrimp boat tour.

 Still early in the tourist season so the boat was not crowded

 The boys loved the boat!

 It was windy

 Landon and Grandma Ellen watching the net

 They caught some shrimp (the water temp was too cold to have a large catch), 

a puffer fish (our tour guide blew the fish up for us, mouth to mouth), an eel and some other fish.

 Holding a real live gulf shrimp!

 Then we took Don to touch the Gulf of Mexico.

Landon was in heaven!

 Proof I was there!

 Ollie fell asleep during our shrimp lunch and

stayed asleep for about 10 minutes on the beach. 

Almost missed out on the coolest part of the day!

 Clara didn't mind the sand and getting dirty.

Sensory heaven for a 5 month old!

 He was having too much fun!

Good thing I had a plastic bag for wet clothes.

 Ollie wasn't sure about the water getting him.

He ran away screaming when the waves washed on the beach.

Like the ocean was playing a game with him.

And of course no trip would be complete without some manual labor and a mess, so Craig and his Dad ripped out 3 windows in the house and replaced 2 of them. The third had to ordered and was replaced this weekend. It looks sooooo much better in our bedroom now AND the windows open AND have screens! 

Ironically the primary wallpaper under the paint in our room has the same base color that we painted the room when we moved in. Wierd?!

We had a blast with Craig's parents and 

we are so grateful they help us out with our house projects!

Clara

 "What, who me?"

 "Yep, I'm the cutest baby girl in this house!"

 "And I know it!"

 "How can you not love me?"

"and squeeze me?"

Clara

 Everything goes in the mouth

 Cheeks getting bigger by the day!

Feeling everything

Clara

 Starting to be grabby

She loves the sound of a bag crinkling. 

The bread bag, cracker bag, anything I have in my hand

Just being helpful

I walk into the kitchen for literally one minute and back to the living room and this is what I find.

Oliver got the box of changing supplies from the book shelf and had her onsie up and old diaper off.

At least he was wiping front to back

Kiddos

Adorable

Clearly I have nothing better to do with my time than 

to dress up this little girl and take her picture.

 Maybe I need a hobby or something...

oh wait, I do, but I don't have time to do it.

Priorities.

But she's just so stinking cute!

Even with a ridiculously sized flower with sequins on her head.

Someone's gotta be girly, right?

Neighborly

Our next door neighbor hosted a baby shower for our neighborhood

and a few honorary members.

Craig and the boys joined us as well.

We have the sweetest neighbors, always willing to help us out with the boys.

We are very grateful!

There was some very delicious food.

Fruit

Sausage rolls

Vegetable casserole

Donut holes

Little cupcakes with fruit on top.

Ollie took about 4 of these and ate only the fruit on top.

Here are two of the ladies that hosted the shower.

Our next door neighbor, Judy and her mother-in-law, Carmel.

Judy is holding our other next door neighbor, Mary Gresham.

Mary Gresham and Clara will soon be best buds, they are one month apart!

More neighbors.

Landon loves these girls!

Here's my very good friend and honorary member to the neighborhood, Carmen.

Carmel LOVES to hold a baby!

She always wanted to hold Ollie when we first moved here.

Most of you know how solid Ollie is and she loved to tote him around, 

I'm not sure how she did that!

 Clara got some cute outfits, books, and a name puzzle.

And of course partying is hard work so afterward she passed out.