I Don't Stand a Chance!

 This picture doesn't have anything to do with this post but look at this cutie!! :)

So I had no idea what Claire's personality would be like but we are learning more and more about her every day.

One thing is for certain, she is a dare-devil!

 She's not scared of anything!

 We are teaching her safe boundaries every day.

 Can you tell?? :)  (unfortunately her brothers are teaching her all kinds of other things!)

 One thing is for certain...

 I don't stand a chance against these three crazies!

 And I just had to add this-we received this paperwork in the mail just a few weeks ago, and Claire happened to be wearing the same dress.  This photo was taken the day we officially adopted her, the second day we met her.

 What a difference 2 months makes!!!  She looks so much older already (and happier of course! :))

Catching Up

Wow I have had a hard time keeping up with the blog!  Here's just a random assortment of photos from June!

Claire has really been opening up to us! She is now so comfortable with the boys.  She still definitely loves to be by me most of the time, but she will now occasionally play in the playroom with the boys when I'm not there!  Of course they are teaching her how to be a daredevil so I try to make sure I don't stay out of there for too long! :) 

We are already starting teaching her how to do housework!  (don't worry, the boys know how to do this too :))

She loves pushing around baby carriages (this is at my parents' house)

All of the monkey cousins.

Claire's first time in the pool!  ( I think??  First photos at least)  She LOVES the pool.  Loves it.

I wanted a photo to put in a little patriotic vignette I have up and so we did a little photo shoot.  Love this one!

In the beginning of June we went to an info meeting about tiger scouts and they had face painting.

Both boys loved it but we didn't have Claire try it- I think it would have scared her!

She has discovered the phone!  (we strip her to eat usually which is why she's not wearing clothes in a few pictures)

She's started giving the boys kisses!

She really doesn't have any interest in reading and so when she stopped to read a book with us I yelled for Ryan to quick get the camera!

This girl LOVES shoes!  She's started saying "shoes" and she'll go in her closet and get out pairs.  These are shoes that are too big for her but she grabbed them out of the closet for me to put on her and then clomped all around.  It was too cute.

We celebrated G and G's birthdays and mother's/father's day all at once.  This was the best picture-life with kids!

She copies everything the boys do!

Super heroes!

Claire helped me cook brownies one day!

She loves to take the cushions off of the chairs/couch and jump all over them.

This was her first time sitting on Jackson's lap!

Also her first watermelon slice!

And the cutie girl just hanging out.   We are sure having fun with her and are so blessed to have her in our lives!

School Stuff

Cooper went to school all the way into June!  But finally, the last day was here. How is it possible that he is done with his kindergarten year??




Trying to get a picture of my three kiddos! 

 

 

On one of the last days of school we saw an upside down rainbow!!!! 

During the last week of school we took Cooper lunch, and Jackson is modeling his new toy from Sonic.

 After school they opened a little "welcome to summer" gift (just a few books, silly string, and a game to play)...

 I made "apples."  Not too cute but they were tasty...

 and then went to our friend's house for a swim party!

 Look at this cutie pie in her swim suit!  Isn't that adorable?!   She was so busy, I could not get her to stop for a picture!

 Swimming with the three kids was slightly stressful, but then they got out for snacks and a water balloon fight and it got a little bit easier.  (Until Jackson stepped on a rock and then cried and wanted me to carry him home which was impossible with Claire.  Fun times.)

 Enjoying the snack while posing for a photo.

 

Claire's first ice cream come-she loved it!

 

When we got home Cooper had his last day of school fun!

Then summer began, thank goodness!!!

Cousins

My parents celebrate their birthdays in May and June, along with Mother's Day and Father's Day.  We knew that the present they'd appreciate the most are pictures of all their grandchildren! 

 

Needless to say, it was a challenge.  A fun challenge, but a challenge.

 

 Half of the time Claire did not like it.

 But then she would turn a corner and enjoy it! 

 

This was our favorite photo!  My mom loves to read so this just turned out perfectly for her.

 

 Again, she wasn't a fan. :)

 We then just let the kids run around and play for awhile.

 The girls.

 We tried to get a cute picture of the kids walking toward us.  Look at that personality from Cooper!

 The boys.

 My first photo with all of my children!