hi this is riley and claire

Claire Turns 6

I look at my "baby" and realized this year that she is no longer my baby. As hard as it is to admit, she is growing up and with that she turned 6. We survived our first year of school with age 5. Now what will 6 bring us? I hate for her to grow up, but I can't wait to see where each year leads us. This is the time of her life where friendships are the most important part of life. If only to be 6 again. Happy Birthday to my "baby", ok "big girl" Claire. May the next 6 years be as much of a joy and blessing as the first 6. Mom and Dad love you, and are proud of all you have become and who you are. Enjoy another year sweetheart.

Carly Turns 10

We hit double digits this year with my oldest daughter, Carly. Which means I'm getting old with her. Seems like yesterday when I found out I was having her, doing her nursery, buying baby items. Then we move onto learning to read, ride a bike, help with homework, arguements over a messy room, the list is endless. But through it all, I couldn't be more proud. She has become a bright young lady who is finding her way and who she is. With this birthday, she was given a little more responsibility with her own cell phone. We will see where this leads us and how soon it will be taken away. Until then, enjoy being young and carefree. If only we could stay 10, where friendships are the major stresses in life, but only last a few hours. Where Hannah Montana, iCarly, and Wizards of Waverly Place top the list of favs. To Carly, we are so proud of you and who you've become. Can't wait to see what the next 10 years brings us. Mom and Dad love you dearly!

Moved but Returning

So I decided this past year to start a new family blog on another blog site. It served it's purpose, to document our life. But I have decided that this is our true family home, and all blog posts should be on here, where I originally started to blog about our family. So for now, I am giving a link to the "temporary" blog for this past year, in hopes of moving all that information to this blog as it's final home. Until then, feel free to visit the other blog, but don't forget to return home.

What a life we have.

http://conwelldailylife.wordpress.com/

Halloween 2008

Another Halloween has passed and everyone was surprised we were not in Disney World as we have been the past two years. Poor Claire didn't remember how to trick or treat. We enjoyed the Fall Festival at the girl's school, a Halloween party at a neighbors house, the Pumpkin Patch with friends, and of course Halloween night itself which included pumpkin carving, dinner and of course trick-or-treating through the neighborhood. We ended the night sitting out with friends around a firepit enjoying good fellowship.

First Day of School

It was a day that I had long awaited yet dreaded at the same time. It was 5 years in the making and I wasn't really sure how it was going to end up. But the day came. We all awoke early in the morning. I surprised the girls with breakfast in bed. With excitement and anticipation they both woke and began to eat. Eyes half open, but open non-the-less. The girls decided to dress alike. Hair done. Backpacks packed. Lunches made. It was time. It was time for me to take my "baby" to her first day of kindergarten. In the end. I survived just fine. A few tears filled my eyes briefly, but she was fine. Was ready for the day. And I was ready to let her go. As hard as it was I knew it was the beginning of the rest of her life. And a big change in mine. I have been a stay-at-home mom for 5 years now. And I just handed over my baby to someone else to guide and teach her. I wondered all day how she was doing and if it was everything she imagined. I anxiously waited to pick her up and hear all about her day. She loved it! That's all I needed to hear. Everything else didn't really matter. Here are pictures from open house and the first day of school. I put them here for me to remember how big my girls now are.

Claire's 5th Birthday - July 25, 2008

How do I describe how I felt the day Claire turned 5. No words can really say. I am so proud that we are blessed to make this milestone and have so many memories in the process to share. But by hitting the big "5" means my baby is no longer a baby. She would of told you that years ago, but to me it's hard seeing both my kids grow up. With this birthday means she will be starting school in just a few weeks. While she is looking forward to going to "big" school, I will sure miss having her home. I have been lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mom for the past 5 years so that I wouldn't miss a thing. I am sad to think of all the new things she will now experience and learn without me. But that's ok. I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't wait to see what this year brings us and all the new beginnings we will share. This is how Claire chose to spend her birthday. Ice skating with Carly and a friend. Dinner of her picking. And of course presents a plenty. Now all I have are these photos and a bitter sweet feeling to go with them.

Happy 5th Birthday Claire!
Love, Mom

Vacation Bible School 2008

We just finished Vacation Bible School at our church last week and the kids had lots of fun. We look forward to it each year. This year I was lucky enough to be Claire's teacher. Here is a slide showing all the fun we had during it.

Meet of Champs 2008 & Awards Party

We had an amazing swim team year this summer. Claire joined the swim team for the first time and did more than we ever expected. Carly beat all her times from last year and made it to the Meet of Champs (the last meet of the season where you have to qualify to go by either making gold, silver, or top 8 bronze out of the Central Arkansas Swim League) in every event. We are proud of both girls as they worked really hard all season. Here is a slide of the Meet of Champs and the swim team awards banquet and pool party.

Express Yourself LIVE

Muscle Systems

Just the girls

A day with Carly, Claire & two other friends at Chuck E. Cheese.

Claire's last swim meet 2008

Here is Claire swimming "freestyle" at her last swim meet. This is the second time she swam it. She had been doing only kickboard all season. We were so proud of her for doing it. Might not be "olympic form" for it's Claire's form.

Swim meet 2008