I know it's been a while...and I have no excuses

As can imagine a lot has changed in nearly 3 months. I don't even know where to begin...

Alexandria started a new school the end of August and she's doing great! It's a Montessori school. I love their program. She's learned so much! She recites the Pledge and sings "My Country Tis of Thee" every morning she's there. She has made many new friends. One of whom she says she's going to marry. Can you believe she's already talking about marriage?

About the same time she started her new school she began dance classes. She does 30 minutes of ballet followed by 30 minutes of tap. She loves it. They've already begun learning their routine and she knows it pretty good. Their tap song is "The Lion Sings Tonight." I borrowed a CD my mom has with that song on it and we play it over and over while she dances around in the living room.

Alexandria & her dance class

October 30

Alexandria turned 3 a few weeks before my last post (Sept. 7) and for some reason I didn't post any pictures. The day of her actual birthday we took her to Adventure Park and got her a small cake. She usually likes to play games but she was attached to Trace (my cousin). But James got her to ride a go-cart with him. She enjoyed that.

The next day she had a Strawberry Shortcake party and my mom ordered a giant cupcake for her cake. It was filled with fresh strawberries. It was yummy!!!

We took the kids to the Tulare County Fair in mid-September. Alexandria rode some rides for the first time. The first one she wanted me to ride with her and the second she wanted to ride alone.

In October we went to the local pumpkin patch and let Alexandria pick out pumpkins for her and Clayson. (James & I got to pick our own) She had a blast writing all over her pumpkin and helping hollow and carve them. She decided that her pumpkin was sad and Clayson's was suprised.

Alexandria was supposd to be a Ballerina and Clayson was suppose to be a Peapod. Well neither of those worked out. Alexandria decided a few days before Halloween that she was going to be a Bumblebee again. And Clayson didn't like his Peapod costume. It was a bunting and I guess he felt a little tied down. He kept arching his back as if he was irritated. Halloween day I went to find him another costume. The only thing in his size I could find was a dalmation. My mom had a Cruella DeVille costume, so I had to dress up. Alexandria was a little confused about the whole "Trick-or-Treat" deal. She thought that after knocking on someone's door they were suppose to tell her "Trick-or-Treat" then stick candy in her bag. So guess who got to say it all night long...yes Mommy did. But we had fun!

Guiseppe even dressed up...he was a lobster.

For Thanksgiving we went to the Bay Area to my Uncle, Aunt & Cousin's. My cousin Trace recently became engaged to Nicole. So we celebrated the holiday and their engagement. Alexandria adores Trace & Nicole. When they asked her to be the flower girl she was excited...although I don't think she knows what that means. She talks about them getting married a lot.

Last year we began a new tradition. We decided that we would all decorate my mom's tree together. This day happened to be this past Friday. We were having a little too much fun and decorated Alexandria too.

Now a little about Clayson. He's changed so much. He's rolling all over the place and cooing at everything and everyone. He recently began getting in the crawling position and rocking a few times. He's eating baby food twice a day now and loving it. He's so much fun but oh, so demanding. He wants to be held 24 hours a day. There are many times I have to just put him in his swing and let him cry for a little bit to get things done. Alexandria will go into the the living room and talk to him and he hysterically laughs at her. He loves watching her and talking to her. She's such a good big sister. We go to the Doctor if a few weeks for his six month check up. Wow time flies!!!

Some additional pictures: Daddy gave him a crazy hair-do after the bath

Uncle Josh has got Alexandria into what she calls a "play housie housie." Better known as a tent.

Yummy!

Both of them in Mommy & Daddy's bed

Daddy gave the kids a ride...Clayson didn't have much fun

an oreo cookie


Clayson wearing Papaw's shoes