Memorial Weekend: Part III

HERITAGE DAYS

After church today we went to Carillon Park for the Dayton Heritage Days. It was a bit warm outside, but we still had a great time!! Claire learned how they made candles over a hundred years ago!

We were lucky enough to be able to hear the Dayton Philharmonic practice for their concert later that evening! It was kind of like our own private concert!!

Claire found out what "time-out" was like back in the one room school houses. They had to stand on their tippy toes and put their nose in a circle the teacher put on the chalkboard!

Claire had fun just drawing on the chalkboard!


Grammy & Claire playing with some old fashion toys!


We really enjoyed watching the old printing presses. Claire even got a neat souvenir!

Hot off the press... just for CLAIRE!!!

We took a fun train ride around the park!

I have vivid childhood memories of this huge Reynolds & Reynolds clock off I-75 near I-35. So neat to see it up close. The clock is well over 100 years old!

Claire liked looking at all the bicycles in the Wright Cycle Shop!

Making a princess crown!!

Showing off her crown!

Playing a fun game! She loved winning the cheap-o prizes!!

Daddy & Claire being silly!

Just relaxing and listening to the Philharmonic!!

AWANA Award Ceremony

Last night we had our award ceremony for AWANA at church. Claire is in the 2 year old 'Puggles' program and I helped out with the 'Cubbies' (3-5 years old). I love the AWANA program and I'm so happy that both Claire & I were able to be involved with it this past year! The Puggles were so adorable. They were supposed to sing their Puggles song, but once they got up on stage they totally froze. The only one singing were the adult helpers. It was so funny!!

Couldn't be any cuter if they tried!

We had a large group of Cubbies this year! They were a blast! LOVE my Cubbies!


I had to take Anna with me because Ben had to work late and she wasn't at all reluctant to play with the Cubbies on the playground!


Anna was definitely the center of attention with all the little girls! Look at the little sewing circle they formed around her!


All the little mommies! Anna loved all the attention!

Two of my favorite Cubbies! Trenton & Caleb are best friends and so sweet!

Claire & Caroline... two of the cutest Puggles ever!

Oh... this picture kind of makes me sad because Claire & Caroline look so big. Hard to believe they are almost THREE! Next year they will graduate to Cubbies.

Zoo Babies

Deanna & I took the kids to the Cincinnati Zoo for the Zoo Babies exhibit going on now. We always enjoy our trips to the zoo and this time was no exception!!Claire looking thrilled at the elephant exhibit (really... she liked the elephants, but doesn't always like getting her picture taken!).


SHOCKED that Miss Claire touched the snake on display! She liked it so much that she went back for a second touch!


Waiting in line to feed the giraffes! She was soooo excited!


Thankfully we were at the front of the line so the girls didn't have to wait long to feed the giraffe!

I wasn't sure if Anna would actually hand the cracker over, but she did great! This little girl never ceases to amaze me!

One of my favorite animals of all time!

Claire and Anna sat and watched the giraffes for quite some time! This was probably their favorite exhibit!

Our little group! Olivia, Anna, Claire & Landon (note that Claire & Landon are in the same stroller. That was a special request!!).

Claire & Landon watching the baby rhino soak in the muddy water.

Soooo cute! Claire & Landon holding hands and running through the zoo!

Anna thought it was so neat that Olivia was sitting next to her in the stroller!

Love the rhinos!

Claire & Landon really enjoyed the carousel ride! It was a great trip!!

Family Day

Last week I took the girls over to my Grandma McDowell's house for our monthly lunch date. It was such a beautiful day so we spent most of our time outside. We had a lovely visit with her and I know she really enjoys being able to spend some one-on-one time with the girls!
After our time with my Grandma, we stopped by my parents house for a little visit. We always look forward to and enjoy our time with family!!

Grandma helping Anna eat dessert! Mmmmmm!!

Anna is so very affectionate and loving with Grandma McDowell. It melts my heart to see their bond. I love it that my girls truly know and love their great grandparents.

The girls with Grandma and her pretty Iris patch in the background! They smelled wonderful!!


Another shot of Anna being affectionate! She must've given Grandma a hundred hugs in the three hours we were there!


The girls loved playing games with her!

She is pretty spry for being 81 years old!

Claire smelling an Iris.

Anna, of course, had to get in on the action!!

Claire loves to swing with her Nuna!

Papa helping Anna down the slide!

It was a long day so Anna decided to take a rest next to Bella!!

Cousins Photo Shoot

Heather & I had the girls' pictures taken in March by Lori Moore. The photo shoot was to benefit two families from our church going to Trinidad on a missions trip in July. We've talked about getting a picture taken professionally with all the girls, but it just never happened. We thought that this was a great cause and a perfect time to have their pictures taken together! We think they turned out really cute!

The McDowell "little girl" cousins! There is only a two year span between them. Claire was born in July '06 and Catherine was born in July '08. Who would've ever guessed that we would have four girls in such a short amount of time! It's so much fun!!

This picture is so funny! The big girls looking at the little girls as they cry.

Anna (15 months) & Catherine (8 months). The babies of the family!


Caroline (2 1/2) and Claire (2 years 8 months).


My girls!


Claire Bear!


Anna wasn't very smiley, but Lori got a couple cute shots of her!


So serious, but soooo sweet!