Happy Easter!

This was the best picture I could get today.
I know I'm biased, but these girls are so darn cute.

Things I know and love about this picture because I'm the Mama:
1. C is clutching the M&M egg for dear life. She takes after me in her love of chocolate.
2. C's knees are muddy from running across the grass outside of church today.
3. The size of MJ's dress is 9 months.
4. I didn't ask Claire to hug her sister like she is. And MJ is staring at C completely enamored in every other picture I took.

In the midst of a great church service, eating yummy food, and visiting with family, there were some AMAZING conversations had in the Martin household today.

Mama: "Claire, what does Jesus say?"
(Sidenote- I have NO idea why I asked her this.)
Claire: "Argh!!!"
Mama: "Jesus is a pirate?"
Claire: "Jesus is a pirate!!!!"
Mama to Daddy: "She's totally going to say that in nursery today."

Claire: "I like Jesus."
Claire to her Aunt Amanda: "YOU should like Jesus." (while pointing her finger)
Jeremy: "Yes, we talked about the Great Commission last week."
(No, we really didn't.)

What Claire Sleeps With

*I had started to feel like Claire was getting too crowded in her bed and then I read a blog post by my friend, Cary, that made me feel better today.*

1. Her baby doll. She's has 3 almost identical ones but there is one in particular that she sleeps with. Side note, if you ask any of her doll's names, she says, "Mary Jane."
2. A rubber ducky. Yes, the small, plastic kind.
3. Her frog lovie
4. A stuffed bee
5. Her skunk
6. A Wocket (as in the Wocket in my Closet)
7. Curious George
8. 3 blankets (the number of blankets often changes but apparently she has 3 favorites right now)

And every night, Claire has to tuck in the baby doll and duck next to her. I'm actually not sure if she'd even miss the rest of her "friends" but they stay in the bed anyway. We're not messing with her bed time routine to try it out. :)

Claire's new friend

Claire calls our sweet, six year old neighbor, Larry.

Her name is really Katia.

Thankful for our new playset and getting to know our neighbors better!

Hilarious.

As my husband just pointed out, I'm way behind on this.

But that's beside the point.

Go watch this video NOW!

(Even if you've already seen it, aren't you glad I reminded you of it?)

Sweet MJ

Sweet Mary Jane fell asleep on the floor,
in the middle of playing,
while sucking her thumb.

I just can't get enough of my squishy, beautiful girl!!

(Side note, the girl tends to fall asleep anywhere!)

Superheros

Claire got this superhero a while back.

She says that he's Daddy when the REAL Daddy is at work.

Today she also told me that Daddy is Batman.

It makes me laugh and makes my heart feel full.

Claire doesn't understand who Batman is or what a superhero is.

BUT I can tell that she already believes, at two years old, that her Daddy is one of the greatest people on earth. (her mama being the other one!) She already looks at him like he has every answer and can do anything. Like every little girl SHOULD view her Daddy. I love that she always wants him to look at her and admire her.

Claire's Daddy loves her very well.
My girls are so incredibly blessed.

It's also worth noting that my own Dad has been gone four years now, in March. How can it be that long? He would love these little girls so very much. And they would adore him.

As we grow up, we learn that even superheros have faults.

After all, they are human.

But the good Daddies have superhero powers that outweigh their faults.

I'm married to one of the good ones.

And my Dad was one of the good ones.

And I still think of my Dad as a man who could do anything and got things done.
Pretty great superhero qualities.

Popcorn picnic

This afternoon Claire and I had a "popcorn picnic" in the backyard while Jeremy and his Dad worked on the playset.

First off, our popcorn picnic consisted of a blanket and giant bowl of popcorn. Claire thought this was awesome.

Second side note, the playset is almost done and awesome! Claire calls it her castle. Her castle is now what I see from my kitchen sink. I love it and am excited to have this fun thing for the girls!

During our picnic, Claire tried desperately to keep the whole bowl of popcorn for herself. She, very convincingly, told me over and over that:

"Jack is too little for popcorn." (Jack is our 85 lb dog)

"Mama, it's too hot for you."

If she weren't so darn cute....