Clayton is 1 year old!

I can't believe it, but Clayton is 1 year old.
He isn't walking yet, but he is cruising around the furniture like a pro. I think he'll start walking when he forgets and lets go. He has the balance, but not the confidence. He also can climb like you wouldn't believe he pulls himself up onto chairs, tables, and anything else that will stand still. As for verbal development he 'says' some words like 'stinky', 'no', and 'dada', but his most impressive feat is the way he sings "Diego, Diego, Diego, Go Diego, Go" from the show's theme song. He doesn't enunciate the words very well, but he is pitch perfect on the melody.

Get Out Of Bed Sleepy Head

So this morning I had let Clara sleep in for a while, but Clay and I decided it was time for her to rise and shine. I let Clayton wake her up... she can be kind of grumpy with me, but not so much with him.  This first picture his him trying to say "shhhhh" with his finger in front of his mouth.

Ah-ha... target acquired!

Shhhh... you have to approach the subject with caution.

And now....ATTACK

Success!

 

Once everyone was awake, the playing began...

Its Fall

Fall is officially here. The weather is cooler, the days are getting shorter, but most importantly the leaves are falling. Today I decided to tackle some of the raking with my trusty side-kicks.

So, Clara enjoyed this a little more than Clay.  Here is a picture of him ready to come in!

Playtime with Paw-paw

Clayton has really started to take up with his Paw-paw. Here is a little video of some of their fun and games.

Just a Little Bit of History Repeating

So many, many moons ago (think 1991), my little brother created his own snow storm inside his bedroom using baby powder. I was 12 at the time, but I still remember clearly walking into his room and seeing him squeezing the powder bottle with glee through a dusty white plum of the stuff. Given this memory, you would think I would have been more careful where I left the powder after the kids bath tonight, but...

Apparently, poor Pluto had the dusting of a lifetime. I vacuumed everything up as best as I could. Including vacuuming Pluto himself, but when I tossed him across the room into the toy bin he still made a puff of powder when he landed.

Playing in the Tower

Clara and Clayton had a great afternoon playing on their tower toys. I was fortunate to have the camera both close at hand and charged so I filmed some of their fun. I can't tell you how much I enjoy watching them interact.

 






Also heard today (but not caught on film) was Clara's new excuse for everything - I'm just pretending:
Clara: Mom, you so crazy!
Me: Clara, it's not nice to call your Mom crazy.
Clara: Oh, Mom, I just pretending.
But what was great was the sarcastic attitude she had during the exchange. Boy am I in trouble.

Mossy Creek Festival

Yesterday Grandma Dayna, Grandma Selma and I took the kids to the Mossy Creek Festival in Perry, GA.  It is a rustic arts and crafts festival.  Clara enjoyed the petting zoo and her first horseback ride.  The petting zoo was a nice cap to our latest school lessons about farm life. Clayton liked riding up front in the double stroller where he could flirt with passers-by and see all of the action. 

 I've never seen a tortoise at a petting zoo before, but Clara liked this one...

 

 The bunnies weren't to interested in the food Clara had to offer.

 This turkey was the scariest of the animals in my opinion.  Every once in a while it would stick its neck out and gobble really loudly without any warning.  But even though it startled me, it didn't phase Clara.

 Clay didn't come in the petting zoo, but he did have a great place to watch with Grandma Dayna.

 

 Did I mention he really wanted in with us...

 Clara really liked her first horse ride.  A few of the kids got a little scared when they were lifted onto the horses, but not my little trooper.

 

 

 Clara and Grandma Selma taking a little break from all of the walking.

 Clay riding up big and tall in the double stroller (thanks, Kelly).

 Peek-a-boo!