Claire turned 9!

My first baby- the one who was born, what? two weeks ago?- had the NERVE to turn 9 years old. Can you believe that? I cannot.

But, goodness. She is the very best 9-year-old that there ever was. The sweetest, most generous, kindest, cleverest of all the 9-year-olds in the land. Could not possibly be more grateful for the person she is.

Birthday girl!

Lily and Brynnie each chose gifts for Claire, and it was adorable to watch them pick out their special gifts for her. They definitely chose gifts that reflected their own relationships with Claire, and I had so much fun watching them.

Claire LOVES this skirt that Brynn picked out, incidentally.

Gifts for dayssss!

From near and far!

Jewelry kit from Bo

Trumpkin was THERE FOR THE PARTY.

We have a couple of friends with children whose birthdays are very close to Claire's, and since we run in the same friend circles, we combined forces for a party at the park. Lots of food...plenty of running-around space...worked out really well!

We had a great few days celebrating our best big girl. I'd like her to slow down on the growing-up front, though... It's going by too fast.

Around here lately: August 2021 edition

This hand has the honor of having the callous. And being the left hand.

Brynn, asking something incessantly
Erin: I've literally answered this 7 times.
Claire: or seventeen...

If we ever have to run away from home, I'll take The Boxcar Children because it has good information!

To Lily
Growling doesn't help. Say what you want.

Oh, so Jesus and Trumpkin share a birthday! How nice. Do you think Jesus is happy to be partners with Trumpkin?

Watching Frozen II
Explaining a deep thought to me
Erin: You're understanding it well.
Claire: That's what happens when we get older.

Watching Frozen II
Elsa... New outfit. New pets. They're going to need more storage at the castle.

I've been wearing clothes this week that remind me of Nana. She's my third or fourth favorite person in the whole world!

During our Ukrainian study unit for school
Claire: Hm... Where is Gru from? Gru from the Despicable Me movies
Erin: Well, he's Russian.
Claire: Well, Russia took over Ukraine several times. Maybe we should watch Despicable Me since it relates to Ukraine?

A text I sent my mom, when a family friend was very sick
Claire prayed for Gannell tonight and she also prayed, "and thank you that Nana is so kindhearted to go visit her"

It's amazing that God took dust and made so many things in our bodies, like brains, hair, and ESOPHAGUSES!

You know, once, the movies were GRAY!

Around here lately: July 2021 edition

Tippy is a proper cat.
Meaning: Tippy wasn't a running, jumping, playing cat. She liked to watch everyone, keep clean, and move slowly and purposefully.

The girls got a cat-sitting job for a few weeks this summer.

I remember that breeze!
At the beach

I'm glad I'm brown-headed.

Erin: Well, you need to eat and stop talking.
Claire: But I don't WANT to stop talking!

I love this picture. I think she looks like Ramona Quimby.

Bucket List family: Good morning from Kyoto!
Claire: THE ANCIENT CAPITAL!
We watched a Bucketlist Family video from their travels to Japan while we were studying Japan before the Olympics. I was thrilled that she had paid attention during our Japanese history lesson!

Proceed!
When I stopped reading aloud for a moment

Ready for the Olympics!

Isn't she just a sweetie?
Hallie

Criticals of Narnia
Trying to say "The Chronicles of Narnia"

To the group
Erin: Babies show their interest in things by putting them in their mouths.
Claire: Hallie's interested in EVERYTHING.

I took botany, I know carrots don't grow on trees.
In a letter to Mrs. Romine; Claire had drawn a picture of a tree with carrots growing on it.

Hallie's charm says "dream big," even though she's so small.
Discussing the new charm Nana got for Hallie's charm bracelet.

To Mr. Brent, while swimming at their house
It's past our bedtime, but don't look Mommy in the eye.

Around here lately: June 2021 edition

Goldilocks : Blonde
As in "Hallie and Brynnie are goldilocks, and Lily and I are brown-headed."

Oh! I've got to put in chocolate chips. Ms. Julie's a special person, and she deserves a special banana bread.

I think I know who Lily and I are now. We're the science-y, baking-things people.

Each time I open the cabinet, it greets me with a lovely, bakery smell.
Our cabinet with the baking supplies

I like making cookies for people who are nice. It's part of my DNA.

I'm really fond of the How to Train your Dragon soundtrack.

It's driving me frustrated.

I want to be a polyglot.
She asked what a person who likes studying languages is called.

Mid-ager
The stage before becoming a teenager

I dubbed it the "cranker."
A tool used when she had her cavity filled last year

Let me unheat the oven.
Turn off the oven

I'm wearing my book shirt again this week. I like to read so much, and when we see people, I want them to know!

The teaspoon is very popular.
Referring to how often recipes call for a teaspoon of something

Those little guys can be a big help!
Referring to the miniature figures on Night at the Museum 2

First time watching Jeopardy

You know, a little bit of everything can make a lot of taste.
Her thoughts during the baking process

Oh, that Bo. She is just a sweetie.
Bo = my sister

If the cat cafe thing doesn't work out, I'm going to be a firefighter.

Mommy, I'll have an easy time being a mommy because I've watched you do such a good job!
I pretty much could not handle that one. 

Around here lately: May 2021 edition

Pinata-making

Talking to Amiee about Erin's upcoming birthday plans
Yikes! I've got to do some organizing!

Brynn (to Amiee): My tongue hurts.
Claire: She could also mean her throat. Because sometimes she doesn't know her body parts.

During family devotions
Brad: What do you think will happen in 700 years? (question from the devotional)
Claire: Well, people won't be wearing masks by then... Or maybe there will be a new virus?

Claire: It smells like rain.
Erin: What does rain smell like?
Claire: It smells like a little bit of humidness mixed in with a little bit of earth and a little bit of air.

Around here lately: April 2021 edition

Sabrina Star is going to be an astrophysicist after she's too old to be a hero. Which is 31.
Inspired by Jane's writings in The Penderwicks, Claire has been trying her hand at story writing. This was one of her musings. Apparently, 31 is the age cap for being a hero. Good to know, I guess.

These dresses are so beautiful. And so many people will see us tomorrow!
Referring to their Easter dresses and going to in-person church for the first time in over a year

Brad: I can stay under for FIVE minutes! Under water- he was teasing
*Long pause*
Claire: You'll have to prove that to me.

Claire, very generously offered marshmallows to me, mom, and Amiee, which we thanked her for but let her eat.
She then went upstairs to offer one to Poppy.
Returned and reported:
I didn't have to eat Poppy's for him.

She wanted me to give her a "Bo haircut" so she can be like Amiee.

Look at the tree! It's a beautiful lemon-y green!

Mommy! I think Brynnie's whiffy!
Dirty diaper

My prediction is Hallie's voice is going to be thrillingly beautiful.

I taught her to fingerknit and she was off to the races!

Referring to a gift that was wrapped in several parts
It's a package inside a package inside a package... Matryoshka!

I already zipped it up so that it's secret.
An envelope

Nana invents her curls.
Meaning: Nana curls her hair

Can I touch your costume?
Brad's academic regalia

Text sent to my mom after Claire pulled another tooth:
Pulled another one! Told me to text the Tooth Fairy 😂

I have a hundred dollar piece of paper.
Hundred dollar bill

Erin explains international date line.
Claire thinking about it later:
Mommy, is Hawaii next to the magical line?

Your sparkly fingernails are so glamorous, Mommy!

Around here lately: March 2021 edition

Erin: You're doing a great job with your math today.
Claire: I'm getting closer to astrophysics!
Because of her love of The Penderwicks and a character who is an astrophysicist, she has some lofty ambitions.

Erin: Buzz, your girlfriend. Ever since we did Home Alone as the Boswell Christmas movie in 2016, we will occasionally quote this line. In the movie, Kevin follows it by saying "Woof," meaning that Buzz's girlfriend is unattractive. We use this line in exasperated moments when our feelings can be summed up by "woof."
Claire: Woof doesn't seem like a nice girl.
Erin: Claire..."Woof" isn't her name...
Claire: Oh. What's her name, then?

Hallie seems to be even cuter than the last time I saw her!

I'm drawing my feelings.

Wacky day at co-op

Hey Lily! We can clean up again! Wasn't that fun?? I'll make a chore list!

I wish gravity would be more bounce-iful.

To Lily, regarding ABC Mouse (a learning app) "purchases" in the "store" using tickets they earn in the games:
That's much too expensive, Lily! You can't afford that!

Winnie is licking her and making her feel better. Dogs have that affection.
Amiee's dog was licking Lily's hand when she was sad.

For her birthday, Tim and Jenna sent her this felt animal-making kit. She LOVED it! She cranked them out so quickly and had the best time! When she finished this kit, she immediately used birthday money to buy another one.