Big Girl Carseat!

I wanted to keep Claire in a rear facing carseat as long as possible as it is the safest. She's so long that her knees were constantly bent and would make it known (quite loudly) that she did NOT like being in her carseat. Being that her current carseat was rear facing only, we used some Christmas gift money and purchased a new one a few weeks ago. It was a bit funny watching her crawl into her new seat not being exactly sure how to sit in it. Claire seems to really like it. She's been pointing out lots of these like school buses, trucks, horses and cows; just to name a few.

This new one is super duper! It goes up to 100 lbs, converts into a booster and should be the last one we need to buy for her.

Claire reading to Mama

Christmas Festival of Lights at the Grotto

http://www.thegrotto.org/

Our trip to see the Grotto's Christmas lights had to be postponed several times due to rain. We lucked out the weekend before Christmas with a dry day so we bundled up and off we went. Claire really enjoyed the choir music and actually sat still for three whole songs. This is definitely going to be an annual event for the Hicks Family.

Playing in the snow

Christmas Eve we went up on Mt Hood to find some snow to play in. Grandma and Grandpa Reiman joined us in the adventure. We packed the chains, a lunch, a thermos full of hot chocolate, the dogs and off we went. It has been sometime (like 15 years) since Dave and I have been sledding so we had no idea where to go; but I figured it's Mt Hood in December, there's got to be snow somewhere.

A few weeks earlier I purchased a pair of snow boots and bibs for Claire at a local consignment store super cheap. Plus the winter coat that Grandma Dee sent her and she was all set to stay warm and dry. I on the other hand had no idea what I was going to wear. Luckily for me Dave had an extra pair of rain pants and with some thermal underwear, jeans, a sweatshirt, two pairs of socks, my Columbia jacket and LL Bean fur lined boots I too stayed warm and dry. Overkill maybe, but I wasn't cold. :)

Ruby loves the snow.

Not too pleased with Daddy's attempt to
 have her make a snow angel. 

Claire has eczema on her cheeks and the cold weather makes them bright red giving her that 'rosy' look.

We found a 'Claire' (basically a little bump) size hill for
her to go solo on. 

Notice the snow balls clumped to Ruby's fur.  They got so
big she had to sit down and bite them off. It was super cute watching Tucker trying to help her get them off.

Ready, set, go!

Claire and Grandpa Reiman

Whhheeeee!