Turning the Big 3!

I can't believe that it was already 3 years ago that this cute girl came into our lives.  The past 3 years has gone by so quickly and as much as we've tried to savor every moment I am sad that there are already some memories forgotten.  We are so grateful to have Clara in our family.  She is as much happy as she is feisty, as much curious as she is energetic.  She's our child that is anxious for each new day and is always asking me what we're going to do.  She is our child that looks out the window when we're driving places and really notices everything (especially any animals).  We love her so much and she is VERY excited to be a big sister. :-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARA!!!

Nov. 2010

Nov. 2013

So excited to open G&G Wagner's presents that came in the mail

For months every time we went to Walmart she would ask me if she could have an Elmo balloon for her birthday.  Well, after months of waiting she finally got her balloon. :-)

This is a new favorite face she likes to make.  She thinks it's so funny.

"I love my big, big, brother, Cooper"

She wanted the first taste so we let her go for it!

Fun Pictures

Cooper loves to build things.  This was one of his fun ideas on a Sunday a couple of months ago.

Clara loves to get her picture taken and I can't resist taking it when she gives me the sweet grin with the squinting eyes. :-)  But don't let her fool you.  She can turn ugly within seconds of not getting her way. Lately we've been seeing the ugly side of her more than the nice.  Hopefully, she'll outgrow it soon.

Miss Independent - She is always wanting to push the grocery cart by herself.  And a cart full of wood is no exception.

I had some play mustaches that I gave to the kids and this is where she put hers.  I hope she didn't think she would look like mom or dad by doing this. :-)

Fall Break in Rocky Point, Mexico

Even though the weather is beautiful in October in Arizona we have discovered thru the years that everyone either goes to Mexico or California for the week...Which means our kids have no one to play with their entire week out of school and the it's too cold to swim so all we hear is "I'm bored" "There's nothing to do", etc.  This year we decided to jump on the bandwagon and join about 20 other families from our ward and neighborhood and headed down to Rocky Point, Mexico.  Boy are we glad that we did.  It was so AWESOME and the kids LOVED it!!!

We all rented personally owned condos in this resort strip and our place had 3 private pools, but we spend all our time on the beach.  Our room opened up right to the beach and the weather was perfect but the best part was the warm water.  Way better than cold southern Cal water.  And the kids always had a friend to play with because there were so many other families there.  Have I sold you yet?  It was truly a wonderful vacation.

The kids would roll out of bed and immediately put on their swimsuits.  Then they wouldn't get dressed again until it was time for bed.

The view from our back patio area.

Each of the condos had a full kitchen so we went grocery shopping in town (so fun!) and made our own meals.  Here is Tyler making a favorite from his mission days (he served in Mexico).

We were so excited to have my parents come with us!  It's always nice having extra sets of hands, but mostly the extra company was fun!

Addi's shell collection

The second day the girls all got their hair braided.  It was great except that we had to remember to put sunscreen on their scalp between the braids. :-)

Tyler and Cooper flying a kite

There were only two days that the waves were big enough to boogie board.  Otherwise, the ocean was like a big swimming pool and super calm.

Cooper decided to try out the pool.  He only lasted a couple of minutes because the pool water was colder than the ocean!

The kids never got bored of playing in the sand.

Every day there were guys that would pull carts up and down the beach and you could by ice cream or mangos on a stick.  It was fabulous!

Something I didn't know but in Rocky Point they have one of the biggest high/low tides.  So at different times of the day the tide would go out anywhere from 1/2 mile to a full mile from where it just was.  This made for the perfect sandcastle sand (moist and compact) and also perfect for finding ocean creatures.

Addi and her friends

Cooper and friends building their fort.

All those black spots in the water are little hermit crabs that Ella caught.  She is our animal lover.

A couple of us pitched in and rented a 2 person kayak to share for the day.  It was fun to paddle around in the calm water.

The kids floating in a raft.  Now we know that you can literally bring pool toys for the ocean because the water is so calm.

So fun to have my parents come with us!

Some of the gang...

This was the last gas station/convenience store before we crossed the border.  It is located in Why, AZ. We chuckled at the name of the store.

End of a fun week.