Christmas In July.

High: Nothin' to do today :) AND all new toys to play with :)
Low: Daddy took Claire to the playground without me :(


Well, the party is over. Phew! And this morning totally felt like Christmas morning! Claire woke up to a room full of toys! Yesterday was so crazy with all of the people that she didn't really understand that all of those presents were for her. So this morning, it was like Christmas! The morning was spent opening new boxes, Daddy putting together new toys, and Claire just going from one thing to the next and LOVIN' it. There were toys, pieces of toys, boxes, and garbage everywhere. It was excellent! After all of the madness over the past week today was spent in our jammies (until four o'clock thank you very much) just relaxing and playing.

I was looking at pictures today and I cannot believe how old Claire is and how much she has changed over the last two years.

Here is Claire just minutes after she was born. I know, not her best picture but look at how tiny she was!!

Here is Claire at her birthday party last year. The girl loves her presents!

And here she is this year! It's funny because when I think back to when she was younger (like she is sooo old now) she looks the same in all of my memories. To see these pictures it reminds me how much she has changed.

Here are some pics of Claire playing with her new toys.



Daddy got a new running stroller today. He couldn't wait to use it. They were supposed to go for a run but they snuck to the playground without me :(


Claire loves to have her "window down".

PARTY TIME!!

High: Claire's party :)
Low: Two words...the...rain :(

Well today started out a little rough. I woke up saying over and over in my head "I will not be a madwoman today. I will not be a madwoman today." Ok, I was ready. I was NOT going to be a madwoman today, I was sure that I was going to enjoy the day and relax. I got up, got Claire up. We had breakfast, I had my coffee. So far so good. Then the thunder began followed by torrential downpours. I will not be a madwoman today, I will not be a madwoman today. At this point I am still smilin'. Mark and I decide just to be safe we will set everything up in the garage. Good. Still feeling pretty good. Then it happened. I went out on the back patio to see this:

Which quickly turned into this:


And not too far behind, it looked like this:

Wait..not to be outdone by this:

Yes folks, that's ALL WATER!!! Notice Claire's baby pool, which is now at this a point no longer a pool but a boat! I will not be a madwoman today, I will not be a....FORGET IT....I AM A MADWOMAN TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously! Come on!!!!! Then my mother and my girlfriend Jenn came over and calmed me down. We moved the tent in front of the garage and relocated the party. We decorated everything really cute and we were all set. Believe it or not the rain stopped (thank you for all of your prayers)! And the party went on to be a SUCCESS!!!!

Everyone enjoyed the food!

Wouldn't be a party without Baby Owen (which we all decided that he will forever be called Baby Owen no matter how old he gets).

Claire took time out from all of her partying to hold Baby Owen.

This kids loved playing outside.

Shay loved the treats at the party!!

The kids loved frosting their own cupcakes. It was such a hit at Claire's school we thought it would be fun to do it at the party!

Claire loved making hers!

She loved EATING her cupcake too!!

Aunt Colleen couldn't get enough Sierra Mist :)

And most importantly of all, Claire LOVED her party and that is all that really matters!!

No amount of rain could spoil a great party. It was so great to share this day with everyone. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED!!! It was a perfect party. And to answer the most important question you all may be asking yourselves...no, I was not a madwoman today (not the whole day anyway)!!!!!!!!!! I had a GREAT time and enjoyed EVERY second of the party :)

Busy Day 2....

High: We got tons of stuff done :)
Low: Claire slept late and now I am worried that she will be all off schedule for tomorrow:( AND word is that the weather is supposed to be terrible tomorrow :(

Well talk about being busy! Today Mark got the lawn done - FYI he is all about the lawn now, he is out there double mowing, switching blades, watering...its crazy...but the lawn does look great! - anyway, Mark got the lawn done, scrubbed the awning, and finished mulching the yard. I got all the inside stuff done, made the fruit salad, and the brownies. AND we had time for a visit from Grandma and Grandpa. AND a visit from my friend Jessica and Claire's friend Giada.

Today we introduced Claire to the sprinkler. Let's just say, not so much!!

Here is Claire getting just close enough that the water touched her toe.

And here is Claire running like a madwoman AWAY from the sprinkler!!!

She did let Daddy carry her through (about 94 times).

A little playtime with her friend Giada.

Hot mama Giada sportin' her adorable new haircut and earrings. Isn't she beautiful! The poor thing, I just kiss up those cheeks whenever she is around!

Claire was funny today, anytime Giada went to me, Mark, or Grandma she would run over and say "Uppy please!" Usually she isn't so jealous, but today she did not want to share her peeps!

Then after Giada left, it was straight up playtime with Grandpa! She wanted Grandpa to push her around on her bike!

When Grandpa got tired Daddy had to push her around!

Then when Daddy got tired Claire pushed Daddy around!

Then when Claire got tired Daddy pushed Grandma around!

Then when Daddy got tired Claired wanted to push Norman Beans around!

Then it was tubbie time and time to get ready for a good night sleep before the big party! We promote Claire to express herself but I am thinking that this do is a little much! And yes, I believe she is giving a thumbs up for her new do!

So my goal for tomorrow is to be as relaxed as possible while doing the final touches for the party. I also plan on enjoying this party and not being a madwoman the whole time (wish me luck!!). Above all else, I just want to Claire to enjoy this party with all the people who love her so much!!!!! She is such a lucky little girl to have sooo many people who love her and want to share her special day with her!!!!!!!!!!! Please say a prayer that the weather is decent. And also say a prayer that if the weather MUST be yucky that we can still make this party perfect!!!

Busy Day....

High: I got all the food for the party and started cleaning, therefore I am ahead of schedule :)
Low: Claire had school and I missed her like crazy :( AND Pete's paw is still bothering him :(

So, I REALLY missed Claire today. I miss her whenever I am not with her but for some reason today I REALLY missed her. The upside is, while Claire was at school I got all of the food and beverages for the party. I also got the cake ordered and started cleaning the house. Mark and I even had time to run over and get some new bathroom stuff for our rental property. So overall it was a very productive day. Not too many pics for today though. I am meeting my friends from work downtown this evening. While I am super excited to see my friends from work (I work with really fun people), I am sad that it will be two nights in a row that I won't put Claire to bed (Mark is thrilled though, he loves his father daughter time with Claire).

After school Claire enjoyed her usual viewing of Sesame Street with a snack of pretzels.

Pete's paw is still bothering him so he laid around on his couch most of the day. As soon as Claire got home (after her Sesame Street of course) she wanted to check on him.

Then she just sat next to him for a little while. Pete must not be feeling well because notice he didn't even turn around to see her :(

So, tomorrow we are in full party mode. We have to get everything ready tomorrow, so wish us luck. I am feeling pretty confident right now but I am sure there are some major things that I forgot to take care that will come back to bite me!!!

Sidenote: while I was out Mark texted me that Claire put him in timeout. Apparently, Mark was making funny faces at her and she told him "Stop making funny faces at me. You go timeout. You sit over der!" She is on a big timeout kick and I swear to God we don't put her in timeout that often!!!!!

Poor Elmo.

High: Claire swam all by herself again today :) AND I got a nice night out :)
Low: Peter's paw is really hurting him :( AND Guess who didn't show up again?! :(

So Claire was a rockstar at swim lessons again today. Today we practiced using our arms when we swim. She tends to just kick her legs. But today, she was all arms!!! I had a video to put in here but, it seems that I can only post one video per post and the one further down is MUCH better!

Poor Peter. Yesterday he was licking his paw a lot and kind of limping. This morning he woke up and won't even walk on it :( We put medicine on it all day and we are hoping he will feel better tomorrow. Claire was very worried about Pete today. She kept petting him saying "its okay, its oooooookkkkkkaaaaayyy!" It was really sweet. And she was right there to help Daddy put on his medicine.

As I was cleaning up from breakfast, it was waaaayy too quiet. I looked out of the kitchen just in time to see my creative little mama creating a slide with my area rug.

Then Claire and I went to get dressed for the day and it was waaayyyy too quiet when we came downstairs. I looked out onto the patio just in time to see Daddy taking a little nap.
Claire tried to wake him up but he was out like a light!

I swear Mark really isn't that tall, my wicker furniture is just smaller. He looks like a gaint though, doesn't he?!

Here is Elmo. Poor Elmo has been in timeout for about 2 days now. Claire just keeps moving him from room to room to put him in time out. Lately Claire and Elmo have a bit of a love hate relationship. I am not exactly sure what happened but as of yesterday "Elmo hitted my body" was all Claire would tell me. But this morning she woke up and the first thing that she wanted was Elmo.




Here is Claire taking my picture. I am not sure but I think she may be starting her own blog. I will keep you posted.

So tonight I went to dinner and a movie with my girlfriend Jessica. It has been way too long since we have hung out. Because Mama had a night out Claire went to lacrosse practice with Daddy (he is the coach). I am not exactly sure what happened because Mark is asleep as I type this. I handed him the camera before he left and asked him to take pictures. And this is what I got:

I can't be positive but I am pretty sure that her crib is full of sand!!!

Party update: No, I did not order the cake.....and Wayne did not show up again. So, yep things are movin right along Natalie style. But Claire has school tomorrow so I will get it all done then....right?! Say a prayer and wish me luck!!!

Let The Madness Begin!

High: A fun filled visit to Nana and Papa's house :)
Low: Wayne Newton stiffed on the dining room today :( BUT he says he is coming tomorrow....we'll see.

So today I began getting ready for Claire's big birthday party this Saturday. Now, I am notorious for waiting until the last minute and running around like a lunatic to get stuff done. All the while yelling at poor Mark for not moving fast enough. This year I vowed it was going to be different! So today while Claire was at school, I ordered the food and went to Party City. So...I got the food ordered and all of the decorations. Now all I have left is to get the cake! So we will see. Plus, Wayne stiffed us today. He was supposed to come and sand down the walls and now he is coming tomorrow. Why is the problem one might ask. Well I will tell you....I AM HAVING 45 PEOPLE HERE ON SATURDAY!!! Did you ever see the mess that sanding makes?!?! But, not to worry because I will have everything done and all I will have to do is clean all day Friday to get ready. What do you think? Did that sound convincing?

So after we picked up Claire from school today Mark had to work. So, Claire and I went to visit Nana and Papa!

Nana and Papa just opened their pool so they bought Claire some sweet new swim gear! Apparently, we are really pushing the swimming this year huh?!

While Claire was explaining how she got her booboos today at school, Nana realized that they had matching booboos!!!!!

After dinner Claire checked her blood pressure. Everything looks good :)


Uncle Johnny stopped over for a quick smooch from his favorite niece. I will tell ya, Claire loves her Uncle Johnny!!!

Papa kept Claire amused after her bath by showing her some magic tricks. She was totally amazed, it was hilarious!! First, my dad would hold up his fist.

Then he would cover up his hand with Claire's silky.


Then he would pull the silky off and hold his hand up with his two fingers up!!! Claire was soooo amazed! It was really adorable! And yes Papa is available for parties!