Halloween 2011

We had a VERY low key Halloween this year, but fun none the less.

Claire dressed up as a Watermelon this year and she looked adorable. I seriously couldn't stop laughing the whole time she had it on. The hat and tights just completed the costume. I was worried she would hate the hat, but she loved it!

She played around the house in it all day in preparation for the evening!

For some reason whenever me and Claire take pictures together she always turns and looks at me like I'm crazy. Like... "For reals mom??" So funny!

We didn't go out trick-or-treating but Claire answered the door in her costume all night long! She loved seeing all the kids and their fun costumes. Every time the door bell would ring Claire would crawl as fast as possible and be the first at the door!

Once the trick-or-treating had finally died down, we finished off the night with a family Halloween movie and snuggle time with Dad. This started out as a fort, but Claire wasn't a fan. Perhaps she gets claustrophobic easily like her mom! HaHa

Happy Halloween!

Carving Time

After we had carefully selected our pumpkins at the patch, we needed to carve them up! I thought Claire would love it more, but sadly, she really didn't.

They had sat for a couple of days after we got them so the insides weren't near as gooey and fun as usual, but oh well! She lasted through the cleaning out of the pumpkin and then she was done, entrusting her Dad and I to carve something fantastic for her!

Jacob carved the scary haunted house, I did the witch and for Claire we did the classic pumpkin face! Maybe next year Claire will be a bit more enthused about pumpkin carving, until then, Jacob and I will have to enjoy it alone! :)

Pumpkin Patch

We took Claire to the pumpkin patch this year and St. George really knows how to do it! It wasn't just a pumpkin patch.... they had a corn maze, hay rides, petting zoo, rides, a playground area and even a live singer to serenade you as you enjoyed the evening.

We had a blast!

I sure wish Claire would walk so she could just run around and be crazy. She wanted to get down so bad all night, finally we let her get down and she scooted all around in the dirt. Dirty, but she had fun, so oh well I guess :)

Halloween is much more fun with kids.

Being A Mom....

.... doesn't get any better than this!

I am beyond lucky to be the mamma to this beautiful little girl. She makes me so happy!

Having kids is the most rewarding experience ever. Some days can be rough, but a smile or laugh from this sweet things makes nothing else matter.

She has a way of grounding me, making me realize whats really important.

Thanks Claire for all you do for me and for our family. You are still so small and innocent, but you've already had such a great impact on so many lives, including mine.

Thanks for choosing me to be your mamma, thanks for being patient with me and thanks for bringing me so much happiness.

I Love You Claire Bear!

Wheeler Farm

My sisters, mom and I decided to take all the kiddos to Wheeler Farm to see the animals! They were in 7th heaven.

They got to run around, get dirty and we fed the ducks; probably the favorite of the kids. I would give bread for Claire to throw to the ducks and she would just eat it, go figure! Haha Perhaps she is a little young to understand that you throw it, not eat it yourself!!

Although they just have the norm of cows, horses, chickens, pigs and such - the kids still loved it! We had so much fun!

If Claire will ever walk, I'm sure she will enjoy it that much more!

Midway Family Reunion 2011

We changed the Montague family reunion this year from Pineview to Midway/Deer Creek and it was a total blast! We set up camp in Cole and Brit's backyard in Midway! Jacob and I just purchased a new tent so we were able to use it for the first time and it was amazing! It's a 9 man tent, huge I know, but it doesn't slope on the sides so its so roomy! Love, Love, Love. Claire wasn't quite as convinced. She had rough sleep both nights in the tent and cried and finally ended up on the air mattress with me.

Our first night there I rode their horse! I haven't ridden a horse since I was little, and I'm actually quite terrified of them. Cole was getting it out so I decided to give it a ride!

Claire was freakin' out when I got on to ride. Not sure if it scared her or what... but she totally started screaming!

It was actually really fun. It's crazy how high up you are when you ride.

After the horse we had dinner, made a little campfire, played some games and talked till the wee hours of the morning!

Saturday we spent the whole day at Deer Creek riding wave runners, going on the boat, and, of course, soaking up some sun. Claire, again, was in heaven! She couldn't get enough of the water.

There wasn't much of a beach so we played in the water a bunch. She HATES her life jacket with a passion. If you can distract her while you put it on, she wont notice it for like 15 minutes, but once she does she is not a fan!

We just put her in the raft and she floated all around and loved it. Not to mention, she looked adorable in her new swimming suit from Aunt Wendy!

We also had a yummy lunch on the shore! Something about swimming and water that makes a hoagie sandwich taste like gold!

So I've talked about Claire's obsession with animals on here before, but it is so dang cute. My father-in-law had his cute little shiatsu puppy up in Midway with us and Claire was dying. Cole and Brit have 2 labs as well and so Claire just followed all 3 dogs around the yard all day long. The little one Claire would try and pick up and cuddle. I was dying. I so wish we could get her a little dog; it would keep her so occupied! Haha

I seriously have the best in-laws! We always have so much fun together! Thanks everyone who makes it possible! Can't wait till next year!

Bear Lake 2011

Bear Lake was so fun this year! Jacob didn't get to go because of work, so me and Claire made the trek alone. The beach was pretty much obsolete this year, which sucked, but you can never have a bad time at Bear Lake.

Claire LOVED the water and the sand. The rocky sand didn't stop her from scooting all around the beach. You can only imagine the sand in her swimming suit/diaper at the end of the day.

We enjoyed some sun, a boat ride, swimming, Minute to Win it, some great company and DELICIOUS food. It passed by WAY to fast this year, I could have stayed for a few days longer, but who couldn't! The beach, water and a lot of SUN is all I could ask for!

Our yearly family picture!

Thanks to everyone who put it together! Such a fun family tradition that we look forward to every year!