Lucy and Tweety

I'd like you all to meet the newest critters of our home - Lucy and Tweety! Aren't they beautiful?!

Uncle Mike and Aunt Heather were in town last night so we all got together at mom and dad's for a Father's Day dinner. These little guys were found on the parsley in the garden. Mike was so excited to show the girls!
Eden had to be very gentle and loved them =) She did quickly lose interest and moved to climbing and moving chairs!

You can guess who has become obsessed?! Miss Claire is of course the one who named the caterpillars and was so thankful that Mike let her take them home. She is fascinated by how fast they eat and how often they poop - I'd say I am too! These things poop a lot and it's much bigger than I'd expect.

After spending the night in Claire's room, they were stared at for hours this morning and moved around the whole house. We searched online and found out that they will turn into Black Swallowtail butterflies and we can't wait. Couldn't find how long they will be caterpillars or how long they will be in their cocoon but don't worry - I'll be documenting it for us and for Mike who wasn't too sure about giving these guys up. (Just got a text that Heather found Mike two of his own in their garden!)

Lucy and Tweety even made an appearance at HEB today. They were on their way to playgroup when I had to stop to pick up some things for lunch. It's so darn hot here already that they got a prime spot in the cart right by the colored goldfish. They got a lot of attention!

A huge thanks to Mike for letting Claire keep the caterpillars. I'm so excited to watch them and use it as an opportunity to teach Claire and Eden about the whole process. We've read and learned all about it but to watch it actually happen will be quite memorable! And just like the caterpillars, how we become a new creation through Jesus as our Lord. We transform into HIS image everyday!

Heart on her sleeve

Here is my sweet, sensitive Claire who wears her heart on her sleeve.

Those of you who know her know that she will cry at the drop of a hat - if she gets in trouble, if I correct her in any way, if someone laughs at her (for whatever reason), if she has to leave and doesn't want to, if she thinks she hurt someone or if someone hurts her or her feelings... the list goes on. (My mom likes to remind me that I was the same way) This drives me crazy at times but you know what? Along with this tearful part of my girl comes the sweetest heart you will find in a four year old. She might be ultra sensitive but she has the empathy that many don't ever posses. So I'll take the sensitivity if that means she will forever have her tender heart for others. It just makes me smile thinking about it. Here are a couple stories I want to remember:

-The picture above was taken this week while she was making cookies for all of our neighbors. I came hone and told her we were making cookies for our neighbors Larry, Sandy and Joanne as thanks yous for various things. With the biggest smile she yelled out to our other neighbor Lucy "We're making cookies for you! And for Peggy and Laura and Larry and Sandy and Joanne..." She wanted to make special cookies for everyone just because =) How could I say no to that? And her favorite part was knocking on the doors to deliver the brightly packaged cookies. Oh and having a cookie for herself! What a sweetie!

- Always kissing and hugging on Eden when she is upset or crying. She often gets swatted at when this happens because it's the most inopportune time according to Eden.

- The other day Claire asked to say the prayer after our bible time together. She said "Dear God, Thank you for the bible and for all my family and friends. Please keep baby brother safe wherever he is. And thank you for Jesus. Amen" Oh, melt a mama's heart!

- Looking out at a lady who was waiting for a bus and saying "Oh no mom! That lady doesn't have any food. We should go give her some." Always looking to help those in need.

- Picking up some trash in the HEB parking lot and saying "Mom, we need to take this because we aren't supposed to litter" and then put it in the car.

- Giving Aunt Linda a huge hug while she was sitting down at the dinner table. Linda asked "Who paid her to do that" but she had done it on her own accord. I LOVE the unsolicited hugs and kisses.

- When she says "Mom/Dad.... I have a present for you..." and she gives us a huge hug =) That's all the present I need.

- The other morning she told me "Mom, I want to get a bag and put toys in there to give to other kids." I gave her a bag and she went to work. When I looked in the bag she had some of her favorite toys in there including one of her favorite dolls and her new favorite star purse. Wow - convict my heart when I hold too tightly onto things. Just things! When I asked her "Are you sure about _______?" She would say "Yeah mom!" like I was crazy to even ask her. Thought this was coming out of no where but later I found out that daddy told a story the night before about a Care Bear who learned that it was better to give than to receive. They are always listening!

Gosh I LOVE this girl!

Two of a kind

Eden can't get enough of sister =) She wants to do everything Claire's doing, play what she's playing, climb on what she's climbing, eat what she's eating, "count" when she's counting... it's been so fun to listen to them (most the time!) This also contributes to some of the first spats between sisters but they are learning quickly how to share and take turns. Here are some moments to remember:

- Eden blowing bubbles after Claire taught her in the bathtub
- Eden twirling around in her new outfit after Claire spun as fast as she could
- Eden "counting" or "singing" after hearing Claire
- Eden climbing on the bathroom stool to brush her teeth and climb up Claire's bedside stool to get up in bed with Claire
- Eden chasing Claire and yelling behind her until Claire turns around to yell and chase her. This will happen forever! As loud as it gets, I LOVE IT!

And here are two of the cutest videos! Actually, I uploaded these about three - four weeks ago and the first one has been viewed 139 times. I guess other people have enjoyed it too!

WHAT? 321 views without posting it on my blog? Is that weird?

Convos with Claire

A few light bulbs have gone off in Claire's head the past couple of weeks. I have two to share!

A couple weeks ago Claire was riding around with Billy and I and she saw someone smoking in the car next to us. This was the conversation:

Claire: "Mom, that lady's smoking. That's dangerous"
Me: "Yes, it is. It could make you sick."
Claire: "We should tell her mom!"
Me: "Oh honey... she already knows that she could get sick."
Claire: audible gasp - "What? She still does it? Why?"
Billy: "Sometimes people do things that they know are bad for them."

Claire was so confused by this. What a sweetie being so concerned for people. Just this week after just meeting a man, she randomly told him "I have to tell you something" which of course made me nervous because I didn't know what she was going to say! He asked "What?" and she said, "Smoking is bad for you." After finding out that he smokes himself, I was embarrassed but he quickly said "You know what? I think you were supposed to tell me that today because I've been trying to quite." Hopefully an almost 4 year old gave him something to think about! =)

The next convo was just this morning. We were on our way to drop her off at school and a song came on K-LOVE talking about someone coping with losing a loved one.

Claire: "Is this guy sad?"
Me: "Yes. He's singing about someone he loved that passed away."
Claire: "But they're in heaven?"
Me: "Yes. He's saying they are in heaven and he'll see them again soon."
Claire: "But Jesus is there! We shouldn't be sad."
Wow - she made me smile
Me: "That's right! We can be happy because they are with Jesus but it is still hard to say goodbye to someone you love."

Of course tonight before bed she was such a big girl and asked "Can we talk?" She asked to talk more about Jesus. Long story short she wanted to take her purse and turtle to heaven with her because she would miss them! I tried to explain that they were just things and we can't take anything to heaven with us. She wasn't too sure about this and was convinced that she would need them there because there aren't any toys in heaven =)

Tough things to realize and think of as a little girl but I'm so glad she is learning and asking questions. She's always wanted to know more and more and I pray she never stops asking questions and learning about everything around her.