Latest Happenings

My mom, Nico & I took Clara to see Cars 2 at the Maya Theater. Cars is one of her favorite movies and she begs to watch it all the time. It's only the 3rd time she's been to the movies. First time she was only about 4 months old and cried the entire time, so I missed most of Julie & Julia because I hung out in the hall way. Second time was when I had Jackson, my mom and Nicole took her to see Rio. She did really good watching Cars until the end, I think she was on a bit of a sugar high from the Icee.

 Even Jack Jack loved it.

 She had on her Cars shirt, and her Cars bows that Aunt Misty made for her.

 Jack loves his bath chair. He LOVES bath time now. He just gets very relaxed and calm in it. He also likes to go wee wee once the warm water touches him.

It's been so awesome that I can bath them at the same time! Saves me tons of time and Jackson just adores Clara, so he just watches her as she plays.

 With our crazy busy life lately, our poor labs have not had a bath in over a year. It's disgusting and they needed one desperately. So today was a lovely warm day to do it. Zakk looks like a little pup in this picture. He's so cute.

 Clara helping give them a bath. The first of many to come over the years!

 She thought she could help by rinsing them with her sink toys.

 I love when dogs shake off the water. Those pictures are always really funny!

 Zoey was next and NOT happy about it. She was very disturbed. She kept standing afar watching Zakk is dismay as he had his.

 This picture cracks me up!! Zakk about to nose dive into the grass for a good roll around.

 Izzy in a full leap chasing Zakk after his bath.

 You can barely see her in this picture, but Izzy was hiding against the house, hoping Mike wouldn't catch her.

 Zakk is totally laughing at her here, so rude.

 Clara washing "shizzhy" as she calls her.

 Zakk was rubbing himself against the house, you can see a giant wet streak across my stucco. And then she shook off right next to Jack Jack, and poor little Jack cried and cried.

 So I cuddled him!

Clarabear in her "shooooo", swing. 

4th of July Weekend 2011

Fourth of July weekend was super busy, yet relaxing. Nicole's brother DJ, just came home for serving in Iraq for the second time. So his mom threw him a Welcome Home party.

 My parents with Jack & Clara

 Mike, Tom, & Eric eating tacos

 My dad & Jackson

 Clara was having a blast running around eating jelly beans

 forced hugs as always.

 DJ with Clara, she LOVED him instantly. I think she has a little crush!

 Nico, Misty, Jack, & I

 Thomas trying so hard to show his muscles next to DJ.

 Clara with her favorite person in the entire world "COLE"

 Clara with Uncle T & Uncle Boba

 All ready to go shopping, except wait where are her clothes?!

The next day we went over to the Nichol's house for a BBQ & swimming with the Nichol's, Bunting's & Phelp's families. We had a blast swimming all day long. It was scorching hot, I felt bad for Jack, so I tried to put his feet in but he screamed.

 She chowed down a drumstick but didn't want the end, so lucky for mama I got to eat the chocolaty end, lol!

 Later that evening we went home and Clara took a nap and woke up REALLY cranky. As you can see. Her shirt says, Daddy's Little Sparkler but I see nothing sparkling in this picture, lol.

I always dread 4th of July because I HATE fireworks. If people would just follow the law and not buy illegal fireworks, get drunk and then set them off then I would be perfectly fine with them. Every year someones house catches on fire, and hundreds of dogs run away or have panic attacks, not to mention we live in the 2nd worst city in the U.S. for bad, polluted air. So we have to stay home and ace our dogs and make sure they are safe and that our house is safe because of IDIOTS!

At the end of the evening I gave Jack Jack a bath and he was so adorable. He reminds me so much of Clara in this picture.

Here's Clara at the same age as Jack after a bath, 3 months old.

Clara's 2nd Birthday

Clara turned 2 years old on May 21, 2011, we had a small birthday party for her at our house with just close friends and family. Her birthday was Toy Story themed, because she is obsessed with the movies. She calls it "Toy Toy" and she plays with her Jessie dolls and says "yodel yodel yodel".

 Auntie Misty made the most amazing cake. It's Andy's bed with the characters on it. It even had a little adorable pillow. It was so cute!!

 Clara's buddies Lucy, Sarah, & Carter

 My mom, my nephew Aedan, and my aunt Judy. She came with her daughter Cassell to meet Jackson.

 My brother's Mitchell & Thomas, & Eric

 Brother Bobby & sis in law Crissy

 Mike & David

 Clara was so excited with all the commotion going on that she wouldn't even take a picture with me.

 Clara is terrified of the "Birthday Song" & candles. When we are at restaurants and it's someone's birthday she flips out. So this picture captures her fear perfectly. I felt so bad, I thought she would have been over it by now but NOPE!!

 "Misty HELP me!!"

 I felt so sorry for her, and she only cried for a few minutes, I hope she out grows it, because Auntie Misty still hates the birthday song and refuses to be sang to.

Aunt Crissy & Uncle Bud holding Jackson 

 had to take a break in between all the presents to eat some cake

 so excited to be opening presents!!

 Grandma & Clara

 Later that evening we were invited to the annual Neville Party. The theme this year was African Safari. They had so many exotic animals, and tons of food, shaved ice, face painting and East High's Choir came and performed. It was really fun, Clara had the BEST 2nd birthday.

 The best picture I could get of the girls. They refused to pose for me.

 Dada & Clara enjoying some shaved ice

 Baboon named Jack!

 Stanley the giraffe, only 18 months old.

 How many 2 years old can say they fed a giraffe on their birthday? Clara can!! She loved it!

Here I am with 2 of my closest friends, Lindsey & Katy. We each had a daughter first, then a son, and our boys are all little presidents: Carter, Lincoln, & Jackson