Luke at 10 months

I was a little late in taking these pictures since he was almost 11 months by the time I got around to taking his picture. But he was still technically 10 months when I did finally get these pictures. Luke still has only 4 teeth, he still is my sweet easy baby, and he still sleeps well during the night. He is eating more and more food and loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and grapes. He also likes eating tortilla chips and graham crackers. He's not a picky eater and will pretty much eat whatever I put on his tray. He loves to go on the swing at the park and he finally starting pulling himself up on his own. He also started trying to stand on his own for a few seconds. He loves to give big kisses and snuggle. He is very social and loves to be passed around the room, as long as he is being held he is a happy camper. I can't believe how big he is now and I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that he will be turning 1 at the end of next month! 

Hannah and Luke

Hannah wanted to pose for all these pictures

Giving baby brother a big kiss

Daddy Day for March

For our Daddy Day this month J took us all out for Hibachi. I love Hibachi and we thought the girls would have a fun time. Grace loved it the most, she couldn't get enough of the food and the fire. Luke was really excited too. He kept squealing and clapping and of course getting everyone's attention due to extreme cuteness. Claire was a little nervous with the fire. She had to stand behind me during the fire part of the cooking process. This is entirely due to the fact that she watched the movie Big Hero 6 and has been scared of fire ever since. One of the main characters in that movie dies in a fire and that really stuck with her. Other than that we all had fun. The girls especially loved using chopsticks.

eating rice

St. Patty's Day

I grew up celebrating St. Patrick's Day so I just can't help myself when March 17th rolls around. I put green food dye into my french toast casserole and served it with green milk and green grapes. For Grace's school we decorated shamrocks for the letter "S" and then all of us girls painted our nails green. We finished up our day with corned beef and cabbage. My mom would always make corned beef and cabbage on St. Patty's Day and so far I haven't missed a year doing the same tradition. Claire was so excited to pinch her daddy when he got home from work, he wasn't wearing any green. Over breakfast our devotional time was spent learning about St. Patrick and over lunch I told the girls all the stories my Irish grandpa used to tell me as a little girl. 

The green breakfast

Look at the green french toast!

Decorating shamrocks

Green nails

Happy St. Patty's Day

Snow

Every year we get a little snow to enjoy. This year we had two separate weeks of snow playing. The first week it only snowed a little but we made the most of it. The girls mainly ate the snow and then when Daddy was home he built them a snowman. We also attempted sledding but the girls were not too interested in that.

Hannah

Luke all bundled up

Mommy and Claire

Mommy and Grace

Gracie all bundled

Claire and her snowball

Trying to sled

The laundry basket worked the best

Daddy building the snowman

Putting on the face

Ta-Da! Our own Texan Olaf

Claire is 5

My baby just turned 5 and I still can't believe it! She wanted a How to Train your Dragon party this year because she loves the dragon Toothless. She loves the Toothless character so much she asked for a Toothless costume for her birthday. So without any sewing I put together a costume for her to wear. I put little flying dragons on the ceiling for her and she requested chocolate cake. She loved all her gifts but the most special was the one she chose out. She received a lot of birthday money from her Michigan family and with it she bought her very own Toothless doll from Build-a-Bear. She wore her costume to get her new doll and she had a blast. It was fun to see her so in love with her new toy. 

Claire never ceases to amaze and surprise me. She is quite the smarty pants around here and we just love hearing what she is going to say next. She loves playing with her sisters and carrying her little brother everywhere. She never passes up dessert and loves to draw and create. She loves hot chocolate when it's cold outside, sitting by a warm fire, swimming, eating popcorn while watching movies, building forts/tents, dancing, riding her bike, playing with her friends, writing letters, receiving letters, and being cuddled. She loves to tell me she is growing up fast and that soon she will have her own house and family. When I give her a sad face, she reassures me that she will visit and take me grocery shopping. Claire is keeping us on our toes with her questions about faith, God, and sin. She was asking Jason the other night how God created himself. She is always asking about salvation and when will she know if she is going to heaven. I love talking to her about Christ and I love all her questions. What a privilege to be able to evangelize my sweet baby and tell her about Jesus. I pray that one day she will serve Jesus with all her heart, mind, and soul and find her true joy in Him alone. 

Our friend Gigi made this for Claire

An edible Toothless dragon

Following the dragons to her birthday breakfast

Opening her gifts

The costume

Toothless picking out her Toothless doll

She is in love

Stuffing him

Cleaning him