Bad Breath

So what normally happens in our home at around 3 in the morning is this:

Claire wakes up with some form of screaming (bad dream, fell out of her big-girl bed, just wants some Daddy attention, etc.).  The other night was no exception (so I was told).  Peter is the one who always gets up and gives into her "sadness".  

Pete walked into her room and told her everything was alright and that he would snuggle her in her bed for a few minutes to calm her down.  He went and laid down by her when she automatically started to cry hysterically again.  Pete asked "what's wrong", and in her tired state she blatantly said "Daddy, go brush your teeth"... to which I reply... "Claire, go to bed!"

Beautiful Butterfly

I am absolutely in love with this picture that Ally took of Claire... 

Lady Lump

My super-talented friend, Ally, is jump-starting a hobby/career as a photographer.  How lucky are we to be guinea pigs for her new business (doesn't she already come across as a seasoned professional?).  The other day, we packed our kids in the car and headed out to take some shots at a local winery.  It was so fun being with Ally, watching her do her thing and allowing the kids to run free on the grass. 

Here are some pics of the kids and some pregnancy shots of me at full term.  Yes, I am ready to pop... I can't put on socks, or see my legs to shave them and I have resorted to picking things up off the ground with my toes.  I think it is about time.   

Be on the watch for more of Ally's beautiful photographs since she will be taking a few more shots of my belly, infant pictures of our baby when he decides to emerge, and our family Christmas photo.  Hopefully she won't get sick of us anytime soon. 

Splendid Shower

My sweet friends Hillary and Julie threw me a baby shower on Tuesday and it was such a wonderful evening.  Great friends, fabulous desserts, beautiful flowers (thanks Julie for your creativity and blue spray paint), and incredibly generous gifts.  This is one lucky boy coming and I am one lucky lady to have such lovely friends.   Here are a few pics from the evening:

Hillary, me & Julie (friends and the YW Presidency :))

My wonderful parents sent a package full of incredible gifts.  My cute Dad was a hit with the Baby Bjorn he sent wrapped in camo wrapping paper and my sweet mom even sent Claire a dress as well as matching shirts for Dallin and JB (jelly bean baby).  I have such 

thoughtful, fun and special parents... 

thanks Mom and Dad for everything!

A small reminder of how excited we are 

to have a little dude

My fabulous new diaper bag... thank you ladies!!!

Incredible diaper cake made by Jen Nielson 

I came home feeling so prepared for this baby to join our family... thank you to all of my wonderful friends who are so loving and supportive.  Bring on baby...

Preschool Princess

Claire started her first day of preschool today at 1-2-3 Learn.  She was a little confused that Dallin was not with her (since he went to this preschool for 2 1/2 years and has always been a standard there).  Ms. Carol explained to her that she is now the big kid that gets dropped off and she gripped my hand even tighter and wouldn't let go as she realized it was all her today.  No Mom, no Dallin.  

She was a little hesitant when I left, as was I (since I was saying goodbye to another one of my babies to school this week).  Apparently Claire asked Miss Melissa to call me often in the beginning for me to pick her up.  When that pick-up time came, she didn't want to leave.  Not a bad day when you make some cute new friends, paint a picture with your favorite color (PINK!), have teachers who already adore you and you leave school with a pink popsicle in your hand.  Not to mention a new dress and cute new ladybug backpack (thanks Nana).  

Here's to Tuesdays and Thursdays and to everyone being happily occupied!

Kindergarten Knight

Well, here it is... the day that I have been dreading and Dallin has been anxiously anticipating.  It was his first day of kindergarten.  I woke him up this morning in tears (gotta love Hinckley genes and pregnancy hormones) and as he woke up, he noticed my tears and automatically smiled knowing full-well that my tears=his exciting first day of school. 

I was invited to attend class today with him (it was a shortened day) so that we could meet his teacher, Mrs. Oakes, go on a tour of the school and learn all of the Kindergarten rules.  His normal day will go from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m... oh, how I will miss my Dallin during these long weekdays!

We arrived early today (what!?) and took some pictures out in front of his school.  

We then waited by the gate that leads to the kindergarten classrooms for his teacher to invite us into classroom #1.  He found his seat, played blocks with me and met some of the new kids in his class.

We also happily greeted some well-established friends from church (Jake Draeger and Avery Sumida).  It was nice for Dallin to have some friendly faces in his class and for me to have some mom-friends to hang out with today :).In what seemed like no time at all, we were done and on our way.  Dallin grabbed his cool new backpack and met me at the gate to practice our pick-up for his "real" (and long) day tomorrow. 

 I took a picture of Dallin with his teacher Mrs. Oakes to start a little "first-day-of-school" tradition.  I got an idea from our friend's, the Dursts, to hold up the number with your fingers for the grade you are in... since Kindergarten isn't a number, Dallin and Mrs. Oakes are making a "k" in sign language.  

We are so excited for Dallin and still are in a little shock that we are old enough to have a child in elementary school.  He is absolutely ready for this next step in his life... he is such a kind, smart, social and sweet little guy.  I can't wait to see what Kindergarten has in store for him (or maybe what he has in store for Kindergarten :)).  We love you Dallin!  Promise not to grow up too fast, I'm running out of waterproof mascara.

Exciting Engagement

Congrats to my little brother and his brand new fiancee, Erin!  Dave proposed last night and we are so happy for them... can't wait for the wedding in November!

Flying Fairy

This summer (& every summer) we have been plagued by flies.  We also have a bird feeder and a hummingbird feeder in our backyard, so we often have flying visitors surrounding our home.  Yesterday, we had a flying visitor of a different sort:

A butterfly fairy visited our backyard yesterday (and her daddy got a really good workout).  Dallin even got the fly swatter out and tried to "take care of" this particular pest (ie: his little sister).  I hope Dallin sticks to getting rid of the obnoxious flies, and lets the cute hummingbirds and butterfly fairies roam the yard whenever they please!