Happy 2nd Birthday, Claire!

On September 10th, our little Claire turned 2! I can't believe that it's been two whole years since we welcomed her into our family. She is such a blessing and makes me smile on an hourly basis. I am never quite sure what to expect from her.......which is what makes her Claire!

Here are a few pictures from her birthday. More celebration pictures to come after the girls' birthday party this weekend!

The night before Claire's birthday, I took Chloe to Wal-Mart to shop for a present for Claire from just her. One of the things that she insisted that we get were cupcakes. The sweet ladies at the bakery even gave Chloe some princess rings to decorate the cupcakes with......she was so excited to have princess cupcakes for her sister! Here she is putting the rings on the cupcakes......

And here is the birthday girl going in for some goodness.......

I love this picture.......quite possibly because I love her so much!

On the morning of Claire's birthday, Chloe woke Kevin up at 6:45am and told him to get up so that "we can celebrate Claire's birthday, Daddy!" So being the wonderful Daddy that he is, he rolled out of bed, grabbed some clothes, scooped Chloe up, and snuck out the door to get Claire a birthday doughnut......something that is quickly becoming a birthday tradition around here! Claire woke up about 2 minutes before they walked back in the door. Then Chloe and Daddy put candles in her doughnut and we sang to the birthday girl......all by 7:30am!

Here's Chloe's present to Claire......a Mickey/Minnie lap tray.

I find the greatest joy in watching my children love each other. I pray that they will always be best friends and that they will always look out for each other.....no matter what. I pray that they will always communicate on their birthdays and during special times in their lives, no matter where they live.

Happy Birthday, Claire-bear! We love you so much! I hope that you never grow to old to wrap your little arm around my neck and lay those curly locks on my shoulder........those are the memories I'll never forget.