"Back" from Myrtle Beach

Well Clarissa is happy to announce that Daddy and Grandpa have returned safely from a week of golfing at Myrtle Beach.












The weather was fantastic, the hotel was fantastic, the golf was fantastic, the steaks at Angelo's were fantastic, and the Yuengling (the best beer in the world) was fantastic.


















Oh and the bunkers...they were fantastic too......


















Having said all that.....it was soooooooo good to be home to my girls!!!!

Clarissa and Mommy really enjoyed having Grandma over to keep them company while we were gone!!!





















We did meet a new friend while we were in Myrtle Beach.....
















But it is still really all about this.....

Needles....more needles....and huge cuteness...

Clarissa is learning to feed herself......













....and she is learning to dress herself to go outside.....


















....and she is learning to touch her toes.....
















....and this....well I don't think that I need to say anything about this do I????
















We have been spending quite a bit of time at the doctor's office catching up on Clarissa's needles....and she is NOT happy about it one bit. In fact, she can't stand going there anymore. The poor girl has been stuck with more needles than her Grandma's pin cushion.

Between visits to the Doctor though, all is well in Clarissaville.




















She has learned to climb up on the bunnies' hay box.....err...but she can't get back down. So a hundred or so times a day she climbs up on the box....and then squawks until Mommy or Daddy comes to take her down.
















I had more to say, but nothing can follow this........

Some things that I have noticed......

I know, I know.....nothing for weeks then two posts in one day. First things first.....














I was thinking about some things that I've noticed lately.....some things have changed around here since Clarissa has been on the move. Let's see....

1) We apparently are not allowed to put toilet paper on the toilet paper holders anymore, so one has to search and usually reach awkwardly to find it. A certain little girl has taken a liking to pulling on the paper until it all comes off the roll into a big pile on the floor.

2) The days of going to a drawer in the kitchen (well anywhere in the house actually) and opening it up to grab something are over....drawers have childproof (and...errrrr.....Daddyproof....) locks on them. A certain little girl has taken a liking to opening drawers and taking stuff out.

3) The days of going to a drawer and opening it up (assuming that you can get passed the childproof locks) and actually finding what you were looking for are over......Mommy has moved everything to new, safe places....so Daddy now needs a cherry picker or a scissor lift to get a ziplock sandwich bag.

4) The days of being out somewhere and reaching into my coat pocket and finding what I expect to find there are over. A certain little girl has taken a liking to going through Daddy's coat pockets and removing stuff and hiding it somewhere....somewhere that I'm sure we'll find if we decide to move and need to pack everything up.

5) The days of having the whole house in a true state of "clean" are over. A certain little girl has taken a liking to.....well I don't think that I need to finish this one....

6) The days of pouring myself a glass of pineapple juice.....and getting to drink it are over. A certain little girl had taken a liking to pineapple juice....well pineapple juice that is in Daddy's glass.

7) The days of getting to the door in the morning on the way to work and finding a matching pair of footwear are over. A certain little girl has taken a liking to taking Daddy's shoes/boots and bringing them someplace (hmmmmmmmmmmm maybe if I find them I'll find the stuff from my pockets.....could be....)

8) The old sitcom gags on tv of the Dad tripping on a toy and landing flat on his back (did I mention that the xrays on my back showed a small crack and some compression issues?? Nothing to due with tripping on a toy....but....) are based on truth.

Just some of the things that I've noticed......and I wouldn't trade any of it for anything.....

Happy Chinese New Year!!!!!

So much has gone on. The Red Team got together for our annual Chinese New Year party at Will and Fannie's a couple of weeks ago. They were fantastic hosts as always and Will cooked up a heck of a feast for us all. Clarissa enjoyed meeting all of the guys from the team (and the girls of course).
















We also celebrated Chinese New Year in Clarissaville on Sunday and a great time was had by all. Clarissa got to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa which she thoroughly enjoyed. Her and Mommy even got all dressed up for the occasion....

Back pain, eye injuries, new best friend, sharing, and my girls.....

Let's see what's been going on in Clarissaville this week. Well I have learned two things: 1) I learned that it is very difficult to carry around a 20 pound girl with a severely aching lower back.....wait let me change that to three things that I learned because I also learned that 2) a little strong anti-inflammatory, some muscle relaxant, and some Tylenol 3's do wonders for severe lower back pain. 3)I learned that the sharp plastic edge of a toothbrush packaging on the eyeball hurts quite a bit.

Enough about me....Clarissa has a new best friend.....













Clarissa loves to share stuff, all kinds of things, and she is always very happy to do so....

















Check out my beautiful girls....they are theeeeeeee best......


















And this......well this needs no explanation......

What????? It's been TWO WEEKS??????

Wow time sure flies. I cannot believe that it has been so long since I've put something up here. I need another....hmmmm...I figure 5 hours per day would do it. Two more hours with Clarissa, two more hours with Carolyn, and one more hour to sleep. Ahhhhhh forget the sleep...I'm getting used to very little of it...I think that I'd rather go with 2.5 hours with each of my girls.

It's funny and amazing to watch Clarissa grow and learn. She's not speaking much yet, but she understands quite well. For example if I say "Clarissa bring the ball to Daddy." she goes and picks up the ball and brings it to me. If I say "Clarissa throw the ball to Daddy." she goes and picks up the ball and throws it (sometimes it goes in my direction, sometimes not...but she's trying to do what I asked). If I say "go see Mommy." she walks over to Mommy. If I say "bring the ball to Mommy" she brings it to Mommy. If I say "Clarissa please don't do that" she does it anyways...ummm....errr....wait...let me clarify that....she stops looks at me with that look that says "Oh ya Daddy?????" and then she does it anyway. Yep, she's learning.

She's also becoming more and more cute and beautiful each and every day (just like her Mommy). Here's proof:
















Oh...did I mention that she is starting to climb the stairs....and as you will see she is quite proud of herself for doing so. Fear not....we have the baby gates in full use. She only climbs when Mommy or Daddy is there letting her climb.