Spend 5 minutes with Claire - at 22 months old

I've been capturing Claire on video as much as she will let me. Normally whenever we pull out the camera she stops whatever adorable thing she is doing and asks to look at herself on the camera. Frustrating.
But I've got four cute ones this week - during our date at petsmart where she is so adorable and enthusiastic about the animals; singing "e-i-e-i-o" and "wheels on the bus" in the car; and swimming! She started taking breaths which is really the biggest step and hardest to teach. Have I mentioned, WE LOVE CLAIRE!?!


(the humorous bonus in this video comes at the end when she starts to poop in the pool. )


(the humorous bonus in this video is watching her try to balance her miniature cat statue on her hand)


(the humorous bonus in this video is her star stretch pants)


(the humorous bonus in this video is my voice (am i tone deaf?) and the amount of AC blowing on our faces while the car is parked in the garage. Hot outside?)

Ain't No Movie Star

For those of my readers looking for something new to add to their google reader, today's your day. I've resurrected Ain't No Movie Star.  For a week I've been posting daily over there - ish, outside of my trip. I'm having fun with it and hope to gain a third reader at least (I know I have two - deedee and jill)! So check it out.  www.aintnomoviestar.blogspot.com

(Hillstead Happenings in a family journal. Ain't No Movie Star is MY journal).

My boy is 10

Luke had his sports party. The boys started out in the basement shooting hoops and playing ping-pong and wii. Then we moved them to the church where they could spread out and play kick-ball and football. They all worked up and nice sweat so we dumped them in the pool when we got home. Then had pizza, ice-cream and presents. 10 year old boy birthday party success.  Later that night, we took our traditional date to Benihana. It's Luke's third year picking that place for his birthday dinner. We gave him a football, a gumball machine, skip-bo jr. and a book about his first 10 years.  I can't believe we have been parents for a decade. Best 10 years of my life.

Labor day weekend

We took the most spontaneous trip ever last weekend. I woke up on Thursday morning to a text from Jill inviting us to go camping and boating w them and we went on Friday! I am so glad we just did it - everyone had a blast. Plus, it's always special to vacation with family friends. Here are some of the pictures Jill emailed me: