Cutting down the Xmas tree

Erin and I were excited to start a new Xmas tradition with Claire when we went and cut down our tree at Whispering Pines Tree Farm. Grandma and Grandpa Waymire also joined us (so they could get their tree). We took a horse drawn carriage out to the where the tree's were, and cut down G & G's first. Then, Erin and I walked around to find ours (we wanted something tall, but had a hard time finding one as they seemed to be younger trees). Finally we found "the one"..which meant I got to enjoy cutting it down with a butter knife (I actually used one of their saw's, but it was so dull it felt like a butter knife). Afterwards we enjoyed some hot coco and popcorn, ran into a few friends, and made the trip home with both tree's still on the roof of the car (Herb and I only used about 200 yds of twine to tie them on!).

Breakfast with Santa

Erin, Claire and I went to Breakfast with Santa at St. Vincent's Hospital (where Erin works) a few weeks ago. Claire was excited to meet her best friend Abby (and her big sister Ella) there...and was very excited to see Santa. That is until it was her turn to sit on his lap. As usual she wanted absolutely nothing to do with him...so Dad got to be the middle man and sit on Santa's lap...I sure hope that was a candy cane in his pocket!


Claire, me and Santa



A more intimate moment for Santa and I...

Mom and Claire

This was taken at the annual poinsettia sale last month.

Big Girl Bed!

About a month ago we put a "Big Girl Bed" in Claire's room...and she loves it! She is very proud of her bed, and will definitely let you know if she does/doesn't want you on it with her. So far she's done great with it!

Halloween 08

For Halloween this year, Claire dressed up as a beautiful butterfly. (I actually thought she was a lady bug, until later on in the day when I saw she had butterfly wings.) Claire and Erin went to a few of our neighbors houses...and as usual I handed out candy. We set a new record this year with a 125 kids...the last two were lucky, as I dumped the rest of the candy bowl in each of their bags.

Claire's 1st Packer Game

Well, she didn't actually go to the game, but did get to participate in her first tailgate. Aunt Kate and Uncle Adam were going to the game with Grandma and Grandpa, so Erin and I brought Claire down to Lambeau so she could experience the pre-game atmosphere.


Playing catch with Aunt Kate.



Family pic in front of the Frozen Tundra



The fly-over after the National Anthem.

Watching Dad play softball

Erin and Claire came to one of my softball games a few weeks ago and Claire had a great time watching...as well as playing with the other kids that were there. The little boy she is standing next to in one of the pictures is our friends Joel and Amanda's son Jackson...I better keep an eye on those two!

Swimming lessons

Claire started swimming lessons at the end of July. Erin and I take her every Tuesday to the YWCA and for 45 minutes get in the kiddie pool with her so she can get comfortable with the water. She wasn't too fond of it her first night, but has gotten better with it ever week and now is very excited to get to the pool...that is actually one of her favorite words right now...and she LOVES watching swimming in the Olympics.

The naked lawn-mower!

Daddy's little girl

Claire's 1st pool

With the weather finally getting warm in July, we went and got Claire her first pool. She is a bit timid with it, but enjoys walking around it and splashing the water with her hands.

4th of July

This year for the holiday weekend Erin, Claire, Baxter and I went up north to Grandma and Grandpa Waymire's house on Sunrise Lake. They were also up there, along with Aunt Kate and Uncle Adam (along with Oliver), so we had a great time. We did a lot of fishing, cooking out, and spent a lot of time around the fire pit. Adam and I also showed off our pyrotechnic sides as we purchased a number of fireworks to shoot off...and in doing so put on a show for the entire lake (per the loud cheers we received once we were finished lighting them off).

My teacher's wedding...

Two weekends ago Claire's Day Care teacher Amy got married...and Claire, along with her best friend Abby, got invited. The girls had a great time getting dressed up and dancing with Amy...and the adults enjoyed getting a free drink from their teacher!

Memorial Day Up North

Erin, Claire, Baxter and I headed up north to Herb and Judy's house on Sunrise Lake for Memorial Day weekend and had a lot of fun. Claire hadn't been up there since Labor Day, so she had a blast scooting around the house and deck, going for a boat ride with Erin and I, and blowing bubbles with Grandma and Grandpa. We did a lot of fishing, grilled out, and drank a few beers...so all-in-all it was a perfect holiday weekend!

Bass-Masters

Well, this past weekend Herb and I decided it was time to let the fish in Sunrise Lake know that there were two new Bass-Masters in town. Neither of us had been fishing in ages, so we geared up and hit the lake on Sunday afternoon. Herb was the first to catch something...a bluegill which was pretty decent in size. Soon after that I got into the game by hooking a large mouth bass (about 14" and 4 lbs). It put up a bit of a fight...it even did the signature "bass jumping out of the water". It was a lot of fun, and everyone (Judy and Erin also got their fishing license's) is looking forward to hunting the fish again over the 4th of July.

Where are your eyes?

Here is a short video of Claire after her bath the other night. It seems like she is picking up a new word or two every day...so Erin and I were quizzing her on the name of her favorite Sesame Street character, along with different body parts. Her teachers say she is very bright and picks up on things quickly, so dad needs to start watching his mouth!

Claire's new swing set

Last Saturday a new addition showed up in our back yard...a swing set for Claire. With the weather getting nicer, and Claire getting much more mobile and active, Erin and I knew we needed something for her to play on outside. She already loves it, and if you ever drive by out house at 6:30am, you may see one of us pushing her on the swing before she goes to day care since that's the first thing she wants to do once she's dressed and ready to go.

Happy Mothers Day!

I'd like to wish all the Mothers out there a very Happy Mothers Day...even though it is a little belated. Erin and I were actually out of the country on May 11th. Her and I took a trip to Cancun, Mexico for 5 days with Kate and Adam. We had a great time, got a lot of sun, and drank a lot of pina colada's...but were excited to get home to Claire. So, since Erin wasn't home for the actual Mothers Day, Claire and I celebrated it this past Sunday. We took Erin to lunch, then the three of us went to the zoo. It was Claire's first time there, so she had fun seeing all of the different animals, and saying "hi" to the monkeys.

We have a walker!!!!

Well, it took some time...and practice, but Claire finally has begun to walk. She isn't brave enough to venture out on her own, from the security of a near by piece of furniture. But, she will walk to Erin or I when sitting across a room from each other, as this video shows. Erin and I have been waiting for this day to come...but once it did, we looked at each other with a tear in our eye and said that she is growing up way too fast;)

I found my belly-button!

Claire made a major discovery a few weeks ago...she found her belly button! And, she loves to show everyone it...along with trying to find yours (she continuously lifts my and Erin's shirt up to find ours).

Showing Mom...


Showing Dad...

My first time on a swing!

Last month Grandma Christensen came and visited, and we all went for a walk to the park so Claire could go on the swings for the first time. Her and Grandma had a blast swinging together. Ever since then Erin and Claire go for walks to the park on Erin's day off, and we should have our very own swing-set in our back yard in the next couple of weeks.

Happy 30th Birthday Erin!

Well, the day finally came...Erin turned 30!! (March 27th) The only picture I have is of the flowers that Claire, Baxter and I delivered for her at work to mark the occasion (30 Red Roses). Claire and I, along with Herb and Judy, took her out to dinner that night. Then, on the following day, I took her out of town for a 3-day weekend (thanks for baby-sitting Herb and Judy!). She didn't know where we were going, or what we were doing...so she was excited when we pulled into a resort in Lake Geneva...but even more excited to see that her (older...by a few minutes) twin sister was also there (a surprise to her as well). Adam and I had fun planning it, and the four of us had a great time relaxing and hanging out.

Two step process on how to kill a chic

First, you pull its head off...



Then, you start munching on it...any questions?

Happy Easter!

Well, the Easter Bunny once again visited our home, and filled up Claire and Baxter's Easter baskets. After they went through them we went to church, then headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Waymire's for lunch with them, Aunt Kate and Uncle Adam, Great-Aunt Kathy and Great-Uncle Dean, and Great-Grandma McVey. Claire then put on a piano recital for everyone...I have a feeling a piano purchase will be in our future.