California part 2

Monday: Went to Newport Beach area and took the ferry over to Balboa Island.  Ate lunch by the docked boats, rode the ferris wheel, and rented the coolest 8-person bike ever that made us laugh the entire time.  Then, we drove to "the wedge" to check out the gorgeous area and big waves, followed by dinner at Cafe Rio, driving by the Newport Beach temple, and hanging out in the hot tub at Craig's apartment complex.  This was a day packed to the brim with fun things.

California part 1

We recently took a fun trip out west and California was the first stop.  All 4 of us got there on Friday, July 25th and we stayed until Sunday, August 3rd.  Since I am getting behind in my documenting, I am just going to list what we did each day and then let the pictures tell the rest of the details.


Friday: Arrived in California in the afternoon and went to Rachael and Jon's house.  Just hung out, ate dinner, and got settled in.  Lynnlee and Lucy ran around together and read bedtime stories with Rachael.
Saturday: Went with the Stephens to Huntington Beach and met up with Craig and Devaun.  Then we went to a really good mexican place for dinner (Fiesta Tacos, I think).  After tacos, we went to some amazing donut place.  We ended the day by all going back to Rach and Jon's house to play Monopoly deal.
Sunday: We got up and went to church at Rachel and Jon's ward, and then just hung out at their house all day and relaxed, talked, played games, etc.

  

Claire: 11 months

I am so behind every month on little Claire Bear's updates, but better late than never!  This cutie turned 11 months on September 3rd, which means she is almost one year old!  How did this happen?!  All I did was blink!  Crazy.  Here is a little about her at this age:

• Standing like crazy.  We let go of her and she will just stand for a while until she slowly sinks to her knees.  She has even started clapping for herself while doing it, since we all are too, which is about the cutest thing ever.  And I'm impressed with that coordination since it doesn't make her fall down.
• Still a great night sleeper, although naps have been all over the place simply because we are in a transition from one to two.  She still needs 2, but with the amount of time she can stay awake these days, the second one is getting to be too late.  So now she needs to nap from like 11-1, and then Lucy goes down at 1.  So, the dual naps hasn't been happening, which isn't cool, but I have enjoyed my 1-on-1 time with the girlies.  
• Her personality is shining through a little more and she is turning into more of a toddler everyday.  She laughs like crazy when Lucy does, but also gets really mad when she wants a toy that Lucy has and won't let her see. 
• Claire is really leading the food transitions way more than Lucy did.  She doesn't want her bottles as much anymore and can eat table food forever.  She usually has a banana and some cereal for breakfast, some fruit, cheese, pasta, veggies, and/or pbj for lunch, and whatever we have for dinner (in a modified version, if needs be)  She also loves avacados and can down an entire one herself in just a couple of minutes.  Loves her food, just like the rest of us around here!
• Growing big and is mostly wearing 18 month clothes, with some 24 months mixed in.  Most 12 month stuff is getting too small or tight.
• Claire is SUCH a little snuggle bug!  Whenever she is sad, tired, and even sometimes just content and happy, she will suck her thumb and snuggle up with me.  Especially if I have a little blankie for her to grab onto too.  If I don't, she will just grab part of my shirt.  She always has to be holding something though.
• Claire LOVES her baths!  When she hears the water turn on in the tub, she books it into the bathroom and will stand on her tippy toes and high as she can and try and reach the water and just let it run over her hands as it fills up.  She likes the water really warm, like I do.  She will play with all of the toys in there happily for a long time.  She often gets really upset when we have to take her out.  
• She has kind of been going through a fussy stage for a while because she was sick and now she is teething.  So she wants to be held constantly.  She's still so sweet though and it pulls on your heartstrings to see her get so sad when you cant pick her up sometimes (like in the middle of making dinner).  
• Claire Bear and Big Bear are like bff these days.  The other day, things got really quiet and I looked around and found Claire just snuggling with Big Bear in the corner.  When I found her and laughed about it, she started cracking up too, like she was so proud of herself.  Then, the same thing happened the next day too.  Good little friendship these girls of ours develop with this bear at this age for some reason. :)
• Whenever she is riding in her carseat in the stroller and is not buckled in, she ends up standing up in it and facing out.  She loves doing this and it amuses her so much that usually is shouting and yelling and laughing the whole time like she is on some wild ride.  Of course I hold on to her super tight so that she doesn't fall out, but she loves it and it is so cute because she just pops right up and surprises everyone we pass.
• We have temporarily nicknamed her "motorboat" because she goes around all day everyday making a motorboat noise.  She especially likes to do it all through sacrament meeting. :)  The way she does it though only makes on side of her face shake, which is pretty funny to see one of her chubby cheeks jiggling like crazy while she makes the noise.  It's cute.