So long Summer!

Our crazy busy summer has finally come to an end. We did so many fun things...Allie Kate had mentioned lots of things she wanted to do and if Clayre could talk, I can't imagine what else we would have added to our "summer to-do list". We enjoyed our time away from our school schedule, but we are all looking forward to school starting in a few days!

Memorial weekend, Allie Kate went with her Nae Nae and Pop Pop to a family reunion in Missouri (This is where Grandma Ann and Papaw are from). Allie Kate got to see the old farm where Papaw's parents lived and tends to cattle. I can remember LOTS of Christmas Eve's in this old farm house. My great granny made the BEST mashed potatoes and apple pies. 

Early June, my sister and I took IKE middle school and high school to NCA cheer camp. Allie Kate could not understand why she was not in the routine or pictured in the paper with the "ikings"... I have no idea why she would think that :)

Allie Kate was the flower girl in a good family friends wedding. She thought this was AWESOME. She was mesmerized by the bride and danced the night away at the reception. She told me afterwards, 

"I just really really like weddings mom." -Allie Kate (age 4)

...I think daddy is in trouble!

We SAIL-ebrated Clayre's 1st birthday at Nae Nae and Pop Pop's house! What a precious joy she has been for us. She is the sweetest, most cuddly little thing and is ALWAYS smiling. Big sister, being held, ice cream, Duece Dog, and her grandparents are just a few of her favorite things.

The day after Clayre's party we went to Florida. We stayed at the Trachte's cottage in Rosemary. The town is pretty much PERFECT. It was a great week away with family, and Clay and I celebrated our 8th anniversary there!

We went to Great Wolf Lodge with Cooper and Emmy!

Both Allie Kate and Clayre went Tuesdays and Thursdays to play at Christa Bear's house...We LOVE Christa. She is wonderful to my girls and they are always so excited to go stay with her. This was a huge treat for AK. We usually are just dropping and picking up Clayre and she is always wanting to "stay and play."  Christa also invited the girls to Vacation Bible School. I don't have a picture to share, but Allie Kate was excited to go each day. Such a blessing! 

In July, Allie Kate went to Ms. Sherri's dance camp. She had a great time and loved dancing for all of us the last day! Thanks Ms. Sherri!

We played LOTS with friends...one of Allie Kate's most favorite things!

Tai brought down her boys right after Luke turned a year old. We had such a FUN day playing, taking pictures and laughing.

We celebrated the 4th of July with family.

We spent as much time as we could with Aunt Tay Tay. The girls are totally obsessed with her, but I can't really blame them...she's pretty awesome. She recently just started LAW SCHOOL in OKC. Good luck Aunt Tay Tay! We love you and hope to see you before Christmas break (hehe).

We helped babysit Duece Dog while my parents went to Greece :)

Allie Kate thought it would be a great idea to have a Daisy Duck party, so we invited over a few neighborhood friends. They swam, ate pizza and had Grandma Ann's chocolate cake! 

We celebrated Graham's 1st birthday in Norman!

In July, our "Clayre Bear" was 13 months!

Allie Kate has asked since about April to go ride horses. I think in her mind she thought she was going to climb on up and ride off into the sunset :) BUT she was just as thrilled having the nice lady lead her around the farm. We also invited Colston and they had a blast! Clayre absolutely LOVED the dogs. They were so good with her too! My girls would love nothing more than a new puppy...but this momma just doesn't have it in her yet....someday :)

We decided to take a large group pic with Gammaw and Nana...it was a group effort and lots of photoshopping, but we got it done! Pictures are so important! Such a treasure...everyone should take a million!

Everyone knows that when school starts...so does football! We are ready! BOOMER SOONER!

Allie Kate is ready to start Pre-K with Ms. Tammy! We are looking forward to a great year!

Hope everyone had a great summer and has a great school year!!! 

Love,

The Andersons

SAIL-ebrating Clayre turning 1!

I know A LOT of moms would agree with me when I say, "Party planning is so much FUN!" I absolutely love it. Some moms love to bake, read, shop, work out...Nothing excites me more than to plan parties, especially for my children.  I love thinking of all the fun details and creating decorations.  Maybe it lets my mind escape all the million things on my "to do list?" I think it is also because I love seeing it all come together... I love having our friends and family together to celebrate... I love to see all the kids having a good time. Any way you look at it, it's a win-win situation  :) 

When I was pregnant I saw this little row boat at Hobby Lobby (I have a small addiction to Hobby Lobby, especially now that I have a 40% off coupon ap on my iphone at any given moment).  I decided to buy it as a picture prop to use once the baby was born.  I didn't even know what I was having at this point, just thought it would be cute. 

Once I took the picture, I thought it would be fun to take pictures with her in it throughout her 1st year...

And before we knew it, an entire year had gone by...literally felt like it SAILED right by...so that became the theme...

Clayre's 1st year sailed by! It's time to SAIL-ebrate!

To no surprise, my family was GREAT help. We came up with all kinds of clever food and sweets to match the theme and my mom offered her backyard for the party, which was also PERFECT since my parents live on water.  I was a little worried about the weather, but it ended up being a BEAUTIFUL day.  I was thrilled. Here are a few pictures of the SAIL-ebration. We had a blast sail-ebrating Clayre turning ONE. We are a little sad this is our last "baby," but we are looking forward to her becoming older so we can do more as a family and watch her grow into the child and woman God has planned her to be. 

The invite...I had so many pics I "had" to include. I simply could not choose just one :)

Food table

I was running out of time so my sister made the cute puff balls for the light and centerpiece.

 Chicken "crab" sandwiches with olive eyes made by my mom and sister...they turned out so cute!

 Walk the chicken plank

 Fruit of the sea

JJ made homemade Shells and cheese! Delicious!

Fish -n- Chips

All of Clayre's favorite foods...chicken, mac -n-cheese, fruit and gold fish :)

The SWEETS table

Grandma Ann's cake...awesome like always!

Pop Pop made his AMAZING "Chips Ahoy!" chocolate chip cookies. These were a HUGE hit :)

 Air for your sails 

 Beach balls

Life savers from J's donuts

 Fish of the sea

 Ocean mist twist suckers

 Peanut butter & jelly fish sandwiches

 The sand between your toes

Blue ocean jello

Drinks...

The ocean water was sprite dyed blue :)

Gifts

The banner included one picture from each month throughout the year

Clayre's favorite part of unwrapping gits was the tissue paper. She was attempting to make a quick escape down the hall before I snatched it from her. She loves nothing more than to eat paper :)

 

One of Clayre's FAVORITE things...ice cream! But who doesn't love ice cream?! Cherry Berry came with their catering cart. It was awesome!

Photo booth fun!

Aunt Tay Tay's matching nautical jewelry :)

Swimming!

 One of many of Emmy's belly flops :) 

 The birthday girl and her big sister in their matching anchor swimsuits!

Happy birthday to you...

I guess that's one way to eat cake...

While Clayre was eating her cake, a group of geese swam up.  I'm sure they were looking for food but Clayre thought they came to wish her a Happy Birthday! She ran to them and said "duck duck!" with a huge smile! A perfect end to her afternoon!

I think Allie Kate said it best, "Clayre's party was AWESOME!"

Happy 1st birthday Clayre!

Thank you to everyone for SAIL-ing by!

****more pics to come!