Christmas Fun!

Christmas has always had great meaning for our family, in that it is the celebration of our Lord's birth, but I have to say, having Claire with us to share in the celebration brought great enjoyment this year!

We started the festivities Christmas Eve. Aaron participated in the leading of worship at Flipside in the morning. Claire and I were in attendance. Then Aaron lead worship at Cross & Crown in the evening with Claire & I in attendance. When we returned home Grandpa Joe, Grandma Debbie, and Aunt Amy came over for the traditional opening of one gift containing pj's. Aaron went to play for the candlelight service at Flipside while we hung new oramnets and enjoyed eachothers company for while before Claire had to retire for the night.

Christmas morning we spent at Grandpa Joe & Grandma Debbie's home where we enjoyed yummy breakfast and exchanging of gifts. Aunt Melissa made it down in hill in record time so we all could be together Christmas morning! Aaron made his masterpiece french toast for everyone to enjoy. Claire had a lot of fun revealing her stocking's contents but was too tuckered to open her presents. She napped while the rest of us visited and exchanged gifts.

We then went over to Grandpa Mark & Grandma Cathy's home for Aunt Nicci's Birthday party and Christmas fun! Grandpa Mark had prepared a game for the family to play. The goal being to discover 3 things about the Christmas gift we were to receive. 1)the location where it is hiding 2) the material it is made from and 3) the store where it had been purchased. The basis for game was "Clue" but the cards & board was remade by Mark specifically for us. It was a lot of fun!
Again Claire was tuckered out and fell asleep on her Poppy's chest, which is uncharacteristic of her. She usually falls asleep in her crib by herself. So it was a nice treat for Aaron & I. We had dinner and then the traditional Gift Exchange which I have recently heard called a Yankee Swap. There were about 35 people playing this year, although there was far less swapping than years past.

We then went back over to Grandpa Joe & Grandma Debbie's home to have second dinner & dessert. Claire got to open the presents she had slept through earlier & enjoy the company of her Aunts who both did a bit of traveling to be there. Claire was so cute with her presents. She liked to hit at them and chew on the wrapping more than anything else.

It was a full day.....full of family, love and fun. We were very happy that we could share this day with so many of the people we care so much about and who care so much for us!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Claire-Bear's Fan Club

Claire had many visitors in those first few weeks. Many thanX to all of you who brought super yummy meals to help out the new mommy & poppy! Here are a few of the visitors we were able to get a shot of. Now I know there are many more of you who I was unable to locate a photo of, but if you happen to have one, please send it my way and I will be sure to update the posting!

Aunt Melissa, Grandpa Joe & Grandma Debbie


Grandma Cathy & Grandpa Mark


Great Grandpa Joe & Great Grandma Brenda


Great Grandma Jenkins & Aunt Amy


Aunt Kelly & Aunt Lisa


The following are honorary titles: Uncle Don & Aunt Gina


Uncle Todd & Jett


Uncle Sean & Aunt Amy

Claire's 1st month

Two week old feet. Oh so cute!












Aaron's first Fathers Day came quickly. Just 3 days after Claire was born.







4th of July at Uncle Matt & Aunt Kelly's house. This was the first holiday celebrated since Claire was born. She slept most of the time :)






Claire took her first dip in a swimming pool when she was 4 weeks old. It was a very warm day and the water was nice. She didn't hate it, but I wouldn't say she loved it either. That night she had her first "real" bath and she loved it!

Jan to Jun 2006 in a nutshell

I, or should I say Claire, began to grow!
Here I am at 4 months and then at 8 months.












Claire's baby shower was on the same weekend that escrow was to close on our homes. We sold our home on Cortland Street and purchased our home on Armstrong Place. We are very happy here.















In May "the girls" took a mini vacation to Lake Arrowhead. We had a lot of fun doing "girly" stuff :)




Amy graduated from SFSU at the end of May and I couldn't miss the ceremony, so even though my due date was only 2 weeks away, Aaron & I hopped on a plane to San Francisco. We had a lot of fun celebrating Amy's accomplishment!



And then the day finally came....

Claire was born! June 13, 2006. What an amazing experience. We are parents now and we are happy and blessed! Claire is truely the best thing that has ever happened to us! We love her more than we could have ever imagined!

Here we are!

I guess we are a part of the blogging world now! I will try to keep ya'll posted on what's new and exciting in our family as it happens.