Pink Teddy Bear

Claire's favorite stuffed animal is her Pink Teddy Bear. She got it from the Bauer family for her first birthday, and it quickly became her lovey of choice. Recently, she's upped her imaginary play and good ol' Pink Teddy Bear has been involved in the action.

Yesterday, she gave Pink Teddy Bear a "time out" because he "bit her on the back." She put Pink Teddy Bear in a time out spot in the bathroom. It was so cute hearing her explain to PTB why he was in time out. She then told me all about it, menwhile making sure to clarify, that PTB is in fact a BOY. About twenty minutes later (I think she forgot about him), she came back to remind PTB why he was in time out. So, this pic is her, mid-explanation.

This morning, I went for a jog around the base and pushed the girls in my double jogger. When we got back, she insisted on putting PTB in her doll stroller and ran around the room pushing the stroller. She then insisted that I take a pic, which is the one at the top of the post... too cute!

Lago Patria Beach

Claire has begging me for weeks to go to the beach. So, finally today, the weather was nice and we had some extra time, so I took her to the beach just south of Lago Patria, about 20 minutes away from our house. The girls both had a lovely time. It was quite breezy, but in all, a beautiful afternoon.Claire insisted upon being buried several times and Eloise loved getting in on the action!

I had to get a Mama self portrait, of course.


This is a picture of Claire actually EATING sand. Yes, I caught her in the act, and even more disturbing... she liked it.

The girls loved digging in the sand.

Butterflies and Kites

My mother's day festivities began with Claire waking up, insisting that I paint butterflies on her belly. I don't know where she comes up with this stuff. She was very specific that she wanted two of them, that they had to be green and white, and she told me the location of where they should be. She asked so sweetly, I had to oblige. After all, isn't that what Mother's Day is really about?
Later in the day, we decided to go outside to the "central park" field on the base to take advantage of the slight breeze that was perfect for kite flying. Claire had never flown a kite before and she had a blast!

Her expressions of joy are priceless.... this picture was taken right after she yelled at the kite saying, "Buzz Lightyear, get up in the air!"
And of course, mommy and Eloise had fun watching. She'll get in on the action someday soon.

Italian Chocolate Easter Eggs

One thing that I really like about Easter time here in Italy, is the large chocolate Easter eggs that they sell around here. Stores sell all kinds of huge, beautifully wrapped eggs, often with toys and surprises on the inside. Claire really enjoyed opening her (and Ellie's) egg this year.

The egg that the girls got was wrapped in orange foil and each had a stuffed animal attached to the outside. One had a duck and one had a frog.

This is what the egg looked after unwrapping it. I took the picture of Claire with the egg to demonstrate its huge size.


Claire is carefully breaking the chocolate, so she can find the prize inside.


Claire finds the prize... a jump rope!


And, the chocolate was pretty tasty too.

Easter pics... a bit late, I know

For the second year in a row, we went to the Carney Park Easter Eggstravaganza. It was great fun, like last year with lots of kids activities, egg hunts divided by age group, and of course, the Easter Bunny him (her) self. Claire and Eloise sat on the Easter Bunny's lap (sort of an odd "tradition") and while they weren't scared of him, they were certainly a bit perplexed.


Claire, who had just turned three a week before the event, was put in the 3-4 year old age group for egg hunting. She was quite nervous, but thankfully, her friend Avery, who is nearly 5, held her hand through the whole thing and picked up eggs for both of them. Claire was pretty determined not to let go of either her basket or Avery's hand, so collecting eggs and candy was a tricky proposition. After a little while, she began to pick up some eggs... to accomplish this, she would put down the basket near an egg, pick up the egg, put it in her basket, and then pick up her basket. She would still not let go of Avery's hand, though. In the end, I think Avery collected most of the eggs for Claire, but it sure was cute to watch.

All moms and dads had to wait outside the fence, so here is mommy looking on with Eloise.

The results of the hunt!


Here is Claire and Avery with Avery's big sister Emerson and of course, Eloise after the egg hunt.

After the hunt was over, Daddy and Claire went on the Easter train and Claire jumped in the bouncy house and got a balloon animal.

She had so much fun that this is how she fell asleep in the car on the way home.