Where'd we go??

To Jacksonville!! The blog may not be updated until we return, on the 28th. So, please check back :) I will have lots of fun pictures to share of Claire's first trip to the beach!!!

My Little Cheesehead...

Souvenirs from Daddy's trips are the best!!

Grammy and Grandaddy

We have been so lucky lately to see Grammy and Grandaddy twice in one week!!  They made the trek all the way from Duluth first on Wednesday and then again on Sunday.   Since they just returned home from Hawaii, they had lots of goodies for the 'goose' as well as lots of pictures to share.  We enjoyed dinner at Kayson's Grille and then spent time together at the house.  Claire enjoyed showing off all of her new talents that developed while they were away--pulling up on EVERYTHING, cruising, using a 'walker', conquering the first stair, etc.  What fun!!

Grammy with Claire in her PJs....almost bedtime

Claire LOVES her Grandaddy Bill!! 

 (Oh, and her hibiscus hair clip, too--thanks Grammy!)

Next, we were able to see them on Sunday.  They attended a wedding in Madison and were able to come by our house Sunday afternoon.  We met them at the pool and we all enjoyed a dip.  Claire was able to try out her new float--it was WONDERFUL!!  She loved being able to kick around and splash without one of us constantly holding her.  She managed to paddle all over the place!  She is going to swim like a fish one day soon :)  Unfortunately, it was close to nap time.  She tired of the water much quicker than usual, so Grammy tried to rock her to sleep in the lounge chair.  No luck--there was way too many fun things to watch!  So, our pool fun was cut short.  We still had lots of fun with Grammy and Grandaddy after the nap.  Lee grilled up some yummy hamburgers and we enjoyed cookout fare.  What a wonderful summer day!

Claire enjoying her new float--with a little guidance from Daddy and Kathy

Grammy trying to coax Claire to sleep

Kenny Chesney, Walking, and Swimming

We've had a very fun-filled week!  Claire has really started trying to walk--she's been pulling up, but now she is "cruising" some on the couch and even made her own walker!  She took her musical table, that is meant to be stationary, and decided to push it across our hardwood floors as her walker.  It was adorable!  She's standing more and more without our coaxing and has even climbed one stair :(  I don't want her too interested in the stairs yet, but luckily she is always at the bottom and I can catch her before she tries to get too far.

Pushing her "walker" around the living room

Her eyes are closed in this picture, but she was so proud of herself!

On Thursday Lee and I went to the Kenny Chesney concert!!  It was wonderful!  I had missed the past 2 KC concerts due to pregnancy and nursing, so I was so excited to be able to go this year.  We met up with Lee's brother Michael and his friend Cassie.  We tailgated in the parking lot before the concert (with all the other crazy fans) and headed over to Verizon Wireless Amphitheater for the show.  The venue was spectacular and our lawn seats were great--we had a perfect view, even from far away.  Kenny played "Me and You", the song Lee chose to have sung at our wedding.  That was such a nice surprise!  The show was fantastic, right up to the point when it began to pour rain on us!  Luckily it waited until the last 15 minutes of the show, so we weren't wet the entire time.  All in all it was a wonderfully fun, soggy evening!!

Lee and Mike before the show

Mike and Cassie with our sad palm tree

Me and Lee!

On Friday Claire and I adventured over to Perimeter Mall so that I could use a coupon and some giftcards that I had gotten for my birthday.  Mom and Dad decided to come along so they could look at some home stores while in the area.  We began by having lunch at Jason's Deli.  Yum!!

Grandmommy and Claire outside Jason's.  Thanks, Grammy for the cute outfit!

Finally, today we spent the day at the pool.  We met up with Kathy and Damon at the back pool for some fun in the sun.  Boy, was it a beautiful day!  Unfortunately, I ended up getting sunburned :( but not too badly.  Claire absolutely loved being in the pool!  She kept her hat on almost the entire time we were there.  I was nervous that she wouldn't leave it on her head and she would get burned (even though I'd slathered her with sunscreen from head to toe!).  She lounged with Lee and I in the Woods' float and held on to her noodle and kicked.  She had a blast, and looked so darn cute in her new bathing suit!  We can't wait to take her back to the pool soon.  It is going to be a fun summer.  I can't wait for Jacksonville and the beach!!

Getting ready to take a swim

Lounging with Daddy in the float and waving to Kathy

Hanging onto the noodle and kicking away!  

My Birthday Extravaganza!

Memorial Day was my 31st birthday!!  I was especially looking forward to this birthday because last year I didn't even realize I turned 30.  You see, Claire was barely over a month old, so my birthday was way down on the priority list!  So, this year I got to make up for it.  I was allowed to choose the day's activities.  What do you think I chose?  Shopping, of course!!  And not just any shopping, OUTLET shopping!!!  This was Lee's worst nightmare :)  But being the wonderful perfect husband that he is, he stuck to his word and agreed to hit Dawsonville with me.  Knowing that this is the absolute last way he'd like to spend the holiday, I decided it would be best if Mom, Gretchen, Claire and I went on up and got a head start.  Then Lee and Dad could join us in the afternoon.  That's just what we did, and boy was it a good idea!  

Claire, who's got you??

When we first pulled into the parking lot I noticed a big new store that was not open the last time I visited.  It was a LOFT outlet.  I heard angels singing!!  I parked and barely got the stroller out and Claire situated before I was hitting the sale racks!  It was wonderful!!  

Claire's adorable shoes.  I love her feet!!

The girls spent most of the morning and early afternoon in the Loft and other clothing shops before the boys joined us for a little home decor shopping.  After we had exhausted, and I do mean exhausted, all of the outlets, we headed down 400 towards North Pointe for dinner. Before we ate, we stopped in at the Bassett furniture store.  Lee had found a couch on sale online and we wanted to see it in person.  We loved it, and so I got a couch for my birthday!  Finally, we were off to eat Italian at Buca di Beppo.  Yummy!!  

Posing with the crazy Buca lady sign

All-in-all, I had a wonderful birthday.  I spent it with my favorite people in the world doing my favorite thing in the world while eating my favorite food in the world!  What more could a girl ask for???

Playing Catch-Up

For those of you that didn't know, I have been sick.  Veeeeeeeeery sick.  The kind of sick where you don't leave the bed and pray that the shot and pills the doctor gave you keeps you sleeping until the nausea subsides and the room stops spinning.  Okay, I'll spare you all the gory details :)  Needless to say, I've been unable to update the blog this week.  So, I'm going to start right now with one gigantic post!

We've had lots of events since the last post.  May is a huge month for us.  We have 5 birthdays, 1 anniversary, and Mother's Day---plus, a bonus graduation this year!  So we have much to celebrate.  We love all the excuses to get together with family and enjoy visiting.  We celebrated Bill's birthday on Mother's Day, so you've already seen those pics.  The next big event is May 17th.  That is the day on which my father, Lee, and Lee's brother Jamie were born.  They say they are triplets--ha, ha, ha!

This year we celebrated Lee and Dad's birthday at Miyoshi Japanese Steakhouse.  It was delicious!!  I was a little nervous since Claire had never seen a hibachi chef.  I wasn't sure how she'd take to the onion fire volcano, seeing as she was terrified by her single birthday candle.  Luckily, she was a trooper and watched in amazement as the talented chef prepared our dishes.  She even got an entire scrambled egg all to herself!  The evening ended with Dad and Lee being sung to while having to 'shake it' for the entire restaurant.  It was great!  I hope you enjoy the pictures.

My new favorite picture of me and my baby girl

Claire enjoying some of Grandmommy's ice cream

Lee "Shakin' It"

Daddy "Shakin' It"  (he's gonna kill me)

Our next celebration was for Lee and Jamie at Lee's dad's house.  Fortunately I get to participate in this one, too, since it's our only chance to get together before my big day on the 25th!  So, there were presents for just about everyone at the table.  Claire sat at the table and enjoyed her pasta and veggies while we feasted on grilled burgers and homemade cole slaw--yum!!  To finish it all off, Laura made "gooey", which is basically like an undercooked brownie.  Think lava cake a la mode.  Wow, was it delicious and rich!!  Claire chased Uncle Michael all around the house and was absolutely enamored with Uncle Jamie.  She wouldn't let him go!!  

We had a wonderful time!!

Claire with Daddy and her two favorite uncles!

She could not get enough of Uncle Jamie!

Come get me, Uncle Michael!!

Sitting pretty at the dinner table

You turn your head for one minute...