Thanks

Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, so Jack's preschool class has been discussing what it means to be thankful. Each student was asked to make a list of the things for which they are thankful. Jack's list is as follows [Please note who took the number 1 spot]:

1) Mommy
2) Daddy
3) Sissy (Claire bear)
4) Nana
5) Papa Chip & Papa Fred (apparently a combo)
6) Papa Jimmy (Jeremy's Uncle who loves to rough house and give them candy)
7)Sharks
8) Food
9 Tika & Bailey (our dogs)
10) Jonas & Robert (two of his classmates)
11) Jesus
12) Mrs. Eaton & Mrs. Fleak (his teachers)
13) Our House
14) "Mans" (action figures)
15) Breakfast Corndogs (corndogs, but made of pancake and sausage)
16) Human Torch costume
17) Mr. Fantastic (super hero)

Back and Throwing 7 different kinds of smoke!

Maybe I first!!

Jack has this thing with starting every sentence with either Maybe or Because. Maybe we can have ice cream. Maybe I need to go to the bathroom. Because why did you do that? And so on.

He has another issue with being first or being the leader. No I am the leader. He has to get out of the car first (before Sissy) he has to walk ahead of her, etc. Maybe they will end up track stars, because don't think for a minute that Claire isn't ALWAYS trying to do whatever it is that Jack has in mind. She will counter with No, Jack, I first. And so it begins.

Our Girl...

Claire-bear turned two.

If you call her Claire, Sissy, Hey You, etc... She will promptly correct you and tell you "No [insert name], I Care Bear", so now you know.

Her latest thing is playing Simon Says. In the effort to keep her from touching all uncharted surfaces of a public toilet, I distracted her with the game...that was 2 weeks ago and she hasn't stopped playing since.

It is do or die, we have given her a two week window to adjust to the idea of pony tails (she calls them princesses) or we will be cutting back the Canadian passport; mullet; her golden camaro hair; the ol' yep nope; hockey hair...... because she is all business in the front and party in the back, but the party has come and gone. Time for pony tails or a trim, her call.

She spent the morning of her party in the ER with Daddy. She had dislocated her radius at the elbow, apparently more commonly known as a "milk maid's elbow" commonly to who? Dairy farmers, I dunno. This was probably just the start of trips to the ER with this one. Jack, so cautious... "Mommy, can I jump off this?" Claire- "YEAH!!! [as she jumps]. All is well, and the doctor taught Jeremy how to pop it back into place.

She loves her baby. She was nice enough to teach baby to crawl over the weekend, albeit face down on a tennis court. That lucky baby got scuffed up one side of the court and down the other. Baby enjoys rousing games of Simon Says, jogs in the stroller, and a taste of every beverage and meal.

She has already started lying about her age. She tells everyone she is five.

Claire likes for Mommy to cradle her in her arms and sing Rock-a-bye Baby to her twice before bed, this being the only time Mommy is permitted to sing...EVER. Likewise, Claire enjoys singing to her babies, Rock a Baby in treetop, as well as Happy birfday, and Tinkle Tinkle little Star.

Our girly girl is the greatest thing her un-fancy family could EVER hope for!!

Happy Birthday, Claire Bear.

Love, Mama, Daddy, and Jack

Claire turns TERRIBLE two

We had originally planned to be out of town for Claire's birthday, but had to make a call at the last minute not to go, long story. BUT, we did not want to let Claire's birthday pass without some pomp and circumstance. Additionally it was the Nana's 60th birthday. I give you Super Cupcake III and Super Cupcake IV, in honor of these two fine ladies. (Note: we finally painted the dining room and finished the wood trim, so yes that is our house).

Nana and Claire-bear enjoyed a wonderful party together on Nana's birthday, incidentally on our 6th Wedding Anniversary, June 29th. We had a nice family lunch full of presents, food, and cake. Claire was a lucky girl and got a dollhouse, Cool Bake Magic Oven (like an easy bake oven but uses "cool technology" instead of heat from a light bulb), My little ponies, doll house accessories, a super hero memory game (guess who picked that out!), a baby doll.....and on and on. We were very happy to have Papa Fred feeling up to coming over as well. I think the promise of cake is always a great motivator! Claire bear had a "Costume Change" mid party. She is a girly, girl full of girlish ideas, if I hadn't been present at her birth I would question the authenticity of my maternity! She had to change into her "pincess skirt" in order to take her baby for a walk in her stroller..or maybe I should say a RUN in her stroller. I could hardly track her with the camera at the pace she takes her babies burning through the yard!

Summer Lovin'

Summer is flying by in a blur of trips to the park and pool. Both of the kids took swim lessons. Claire, our dare-devil, immediately tried to jump in and took to it with gusto. Jack was reduced to tears, but won the heart of Rebecca, one of the two swim instructors. Thanks to Rebecca, Jack now loves swimming and the pool; a modern day miracle. We haven't forgotten that long winter and have enjoyed getting outside as much as possible. But the midwest was hit with an unbelievable amount of rain and days outside were few and far between for a while. Enjoy the pictures from swim class and the park.

Super Cupcake II

The Jack Rochford 4th Birthday Extravaganza began on Thursday and didn't wind down until Saturday. We gave him waffles with strawberries for breakfast (his request) and let him unwrap presents to start his day. At school, they partied some more. It was his snack day (he has to bring the snack for his class). He got to pick and decided on Oreo Cakesters and Goldfish Crackers, yum. Usually it is Kashi granola bars and fruit- brain food. I had taken the kids out on Monday while J played basketball to pick up a cake pan for Jack's big day. He wanted the "Super Cupcake". I think Williams and Sonoma calls it the Giant Cupcake, whatever...it is a big frickin' cupcake right. So I think, I can do this and I give it a try on Tuesday...FAILURE, complete and utter failure. Had to scrape the ginormous cupcake out of the pan kicking and screaming. Try, try again... I give you: Super Cupcake II

We took Jack out for the night to Bounce Zone on Thursday and jumped, bounced, dove, ran, slid, and climbed for as long as his attention span could take it. (roughly an hour) and then we were off to play the arcade games. We headed out of bounce zone to meet Nana B for dinner and then home to crash.

Friday was another celebration at Betsy's with his friends and then out on the town with Mommy, Daddy, and Claire-bear. Saturday was Jack's special day of fun out with Mommy and Daddy. We took him to lunch, walkin' around, and to see Iron Man. Now before you tsk, tsk and cluck, cluck too much. We kinda went back and forth as to whether or not he was ready for it or not... and decided we would leave if it got bad. Jack gave the movie... ** (two stars) which translates to "Can we go home now?" but the action sequences got **** he loved watching Iron Man fly!!! His favorite present was the talking Iron Man action figure that Nana B and Papa Fred got him. On Saturday the whole family came over to celebrate with pizza and a super cupcake. Papa Chip, Mommy, Daddy, Claire-bear, Uncle Riley, Aunt Missi, Cousin Xander, Nana B, and Papa Fred all came over for the festivities. We had an amazing weekend full of fun and CAKE. Gotta run!

The Paparazzi's got nothing on me!!!!

Sponsored by Heinz Ketchup, the best thing to come out of Pittsburgh (besides Keith Dziki)

Back by popular demand.... the little Rochies.

Things have been all a-buzz 'round the Rochford hacienda. The kids had a visit from their Great Aunt Nona and Great Uncle Arvin (referred to as Nona and Poppy). They came up for a long weekend from Colleyville, TX ~ some of Mama's kin.

We also had a visit from KEEF!!!!!!- that is actually Keith Dziki and his wife Carrie and son Liam. Jack is a devoted follower of ALL things KEEF!!! If we talk about plans to go to the park or out to dinner, "Is Keef coming?" "Will Keef be there?". Keith and Jeremy played in a charity golf outing with Uncle Jimmy (Rochford)- the trio took third place and helped raise $4,000 for the Little FLower School scholarship fund.

Claire is teething. In case you don't have kids or in case yours remained sane while teething, let me just tell you, not our girl...oh no. She has been a GRUMPY, GRUMPY girl. But she has such a great sense of humor and a lovely, lovely heart~ so I suppose we will keep her. She loves her babies, she loves her puppies, heck .. she loves everybody. She is her father's daughter, never met a stranger and never lost a friend.

Jack is nearing the end of his first year of preschool- with perfect attendance. He has learned so much this year and done so well. He just celebrated his 4th birthday. He is having trouble with going to bed at night, keeps getting out of bed...needs a drink of water, "because there's a tiger in my room", you know, the typical stuff.

They are both doing amazingly well. Each a joy, for each their own reasons.

Looking forward to a summer rolling in the grass, throwing the ball, taking walks, maybe a trip out east thrown in for good measure, and time with friends and family.

Pictures as far as the eye can see.