Claire's Birthday

Claire turned one in December. I have no idea where the year went. I do know that it passed in wonderful bliss. Claire has been a DELIGHT to our family. We have all been smitten by her sweet teasing happy personality. She loves to give us kisses. She loves to play with us. She smiles a lot. She is such a joy. We sure love her!


So the pictures posted in a random order and I'm okay with that. Here's what happened to her on her day. We started the day by opening presents. She helped but mostly Lily and Ollie opened them. She was happy to have new toys. Then I was holding her while getting breakfast for the other two kids. She was the unfrosted cupcakes on the counter. She wanted one. I thought well, why not, you only have one birthday a year. So she got an unfrosted cupcake for breakfast. The other two came in and saw what she was eating and of course wanted one. So they got cupcakes (and cereal) for breakfast. Spencer came in and was surprised to see everyone eating cupcakes for breakfast. That night we gave her a frosted cupcake. She was not sure about getting dirty. She touched it a few times and then decided to try to eat it by leaning over. Then she actually picked it up and ate a bit. I would have to say thought that she likes it better unfrosted. :)

Ollie's Birthday

Ollie had his seventh birthday last month. What a wonderful blessing he is for our family! I remember the day that he was born like it was yesterday. He didn't really even cry when he was born. When they handed him to me he just picked up his head and looked at me. He's a great kid and we love him so very much!!!



Ollie always wants different cakes. This year he wanted a cake to represent the earth and he wanted it to have layers. I thought well that's strange but that's what he got. I did a bottom layer of blue to represent the oceans and a top layer or green to represent the land. He was very happy with it!



He got a giant cardboard play house. He and Lily spent HOURS coloring it. Then they spent HOURS playing in it. It kept them very entertained! Ollie was actually with us when we bought it. When he saw it in the cart his eyes lit up! I wanted it to be a surprise so I told him it was for a sub-for-santa gift. His little face just crumbled but he didn't complain, he just said, "okay." I was so proud of him for acting so good about it so I told him that it was for him but he couldn't have it until his birthday.



He also got several books (mostly read by now) and some swimming stuff. He's been wanting new swim goggles for a while now so he was excited to get that. His sisters got him a real working compass for all his adventures.



To make the day a little more special we had the missionaries over for dinner. Over all it was a wonderful day. Ollie had fun!

Randomness

Here's a selection of random pictures that show more of our everyday life. Enjoy!



Ollie is the best big brother ever! He adores his little sisters. Here he is helping Claire learn to walk- this is an old picture, she now walks everywhere.



This is a dress that was mine when I was little. My mother saved it all these years and now it's Lily's. She was super excited to wear my dress to church. :)



Claire "helping" mom with the dishes. I use the term helping very loosely. Anyone who's ever had a toddler will understand.



The girls reading books.



Ollie (number 4) at a soccer game. He played soccer this fall. He really enjoyed it. He made several goals throughout the season.



Hiking in Cameron Park. Super fun family outing!



The girls playing together. Claire loves this little bike and Lily was pushing her around the house.



Lily's finished Halloween birthday quilt. I had fun making this but it seems I always forget how long it takes. :)

Thanksgiving

Here in Waco there is a tradition at Thanksgiving. The tradition is football. This year the tradition did not end well for Spencer. He got a black eye and sprained his thumb and finger. The jury is still out deciding if this will continue to be a tradition for the Stirland family. :)
But really, we did have a good Thanksgiving weekend. We spent Thanksgiving with some good friends and had fun eating and visiting. That weekend we went to a craft fair at a local farm which we enjoyed. Ollie picked a bird house to make and Lily picked to make a candle. We also enjoyed the yummy food and seeing the animals.
We also put up our Christmas decorations. This is the first year that we put them up so soon. It was fun to do it when we had a long break because it didn't feel so rushed to get it all up.

Santa Letters

Dear Santa,
I love you. I want to send you a thank you note. Our Christmas tree looks so pretty. I already told you I want Barbies for Christmas. I want real Christmas icecream on Christmas day. Let's play together. I want a pink carseat. Claire also wants a matching pink carseat.
love, Lily



Dear Santa,
I've been a good man this year. This Christmas I need love, dog food for the dog, a Christmas coat, and I want a art books, lots of paper to draw on, and learning books about animals.
love, Ollie


p.s. Our Christmas tree looks pretty.
I can't wait for you to see it!


Dear Santa,
I've been a good baby this year. This Christmas I need new diapers. I want princess walkie talkies for my older brother and sister. I want a new baby doll.
love, Claire


Ollie helped Claire decide what to say. He's been learning about wants/needs in school so he differentiated between the two. He also started out his letter by saying that he was a good boy but than changed it to a good man. I love life with a seven year old!

Halloween

We had lots of Halloween fun this year! We had two fun parties for the kids. Ollie got to have one with his friends and Lily got to have one with her preschool friends.




Lily sweeping a pumpkin. At Ollie's party we played a relay game race where the kids had to sweep pumpkins. It was a fun game that they all liked.



Lily playing pumpkin bowling. Another game from Ollie's party. Yes, it was Ollie's party but he was too fast and all over the place so we have pictures of Lily doing the activities and not Ollie...



Lily's preschool Halloween party. We played a beanbag game, bingo, and had yummy treats.



Raggedy Anne and Andy (aka Shreann and Spencer)



Mummy wrapping game from Ollie's party.




Ollie was a dragon this year. He knew exactly how he wanted his costume. I had a hard time finding it but he really liked it! I didn't get any pictures of him with his mask on.




Tinkerbell Lily. She got to have glitter in her hair which she LOVED!









Claire was a duck. She wasn't sure about having something on her head, hands, or feet. :)




The best picture of the three kids together. Taking pictures of all the kids together is hard work!




We made some fun food for Halloween and the parties. Here's some teeth made out of apples and almonds.



Pumpkin cupcakes




Mummy hotdogs




Pumpkin pizza



Spider crackers- made by Ollie




Pumpkin carving... Claire loved to feel it and taste it. She didn't mind getting slimy but the older two were hesitant to touch it!



The finished product- a cat pumpkin

Family Pictures

A few months ago we had family pictures taken at the Waco bridge. They turned our really good! Here's a few for your viewing pleasure. :)