My summer finally begins!

After weeks of cheerleading and sporadic days in the Counseling office, I finally have my summer! It's just Claire Bear and me so now I'm on the hunt for fun things we can do together. I just signed Claire up for an Aqua Tots class and I'm looking to do a day at Gymboree soon. What else is on my list of things? Well, I'm going to drag Claire to the farmer's market on saturday morning followed by lots of park time and lots more!

I am super excited about a recent purchase from Macys. I've been looking for a new comforter for our master bedroom. Although I've been stalking the pottery barn website, I didn't find anything that made me click on the purchase button. Then I went online to the Macy's website and I found it! It's a Martha Stewart pattern that is cream, gray, and chartruse! I. LOVE. IT. Here it is online:

My project for this week is to paint my formal living room. I'm going to paint it the color called pool tides from Behr. It's a very light blue/green. There are a lot of things I have to do to the house before Claire's 1st birthday party- I'm so excited about it!
Wahooo!!! School is out!

Summer Reading

My goal for this summer was to read 4 books.
I just finished Nicholas Sparks' "The Choice." Okay, here's my opinion: Although his books are terribly predictable, yet visceral, I found that the plot twist at the end surprised me. He managed to take all a huge fear of mine and document the torment Travis (the protagonist) went through. It's a great read and I highly recommend it! It'll only take a day or two and a box of tissues to get through it.
The book I just started is Peter Walsh's "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?"
Silly title, but I LOVE Peter Walsh. First off, I absolutely love organizational things and second the way he ties in the American "values" and obesity/clutter is very clever. I'm only in the first few chapters, but I love his dry, "in your face" voice and I can't wait to see what he is going to say.
With that being said, my next book has to be a thinker. I've read a romantic, easy novel followed by a how-to book.
Any suggestions??

SAHM

So the acronym SAHM stands for "Stay at home Mom." What it should stand for is, "Sh*t! Ah! Help Me!"
I don't know how people do it! I truly appreciate my Mother and Mother in Law who watch Claire all day while I'm at work. She is everywhere! I just like to gate off where she can't go, then I can work on the dishes or getting lunch together while she pulls Puppy's ears or tries to open and shut every door down stairs!
But I wouldn't change anything. She's so sweet and she is way too much fun! I love her and I'm thankful I get to spend the summers with her.

Learning to stand

Yesterday morning, Jeff and I were in the kitchen and we were watching Claire. She crawled on the floor and just like that... she stood up! No help, no pulling up on anything, all by her big girl self! I started screaming and clapping which made her giddy and she fell. She has been practicing standing all day for the past two days! One of my cheerleaders said, "I hope she doesn't walk soon." Of course I freaked when she said that. Then she said, "I leanred in our psychology class that when a child delays in walking, it helps develop the spine better and helps to develop parts of their personality." Well, when you put it that way, I guess she could wait a little longer- but not much longer! She hasn't said her first real word yet, but she is babbling a lot more lately. I'm hoping that if she hangs out with her talkative cousing, Era, more she will pick up some words.

So now it's 7:00 (yes, my daughter usually gets up within the 6 o'clock hour) and we have a full day ahead of us. I'm thinking the lake...

Claire's 1st birthday party brainstorm session

I want to throw a lovely cupcake party for a lovely little girl! Above are a few inspriation photos that I've been thinking about. I know I definitely want to do pink and cupcakes, but I haven't thought much about anything else. I need ideas people!

Geeze, long time no post!

What have the Lussiers been up to you ask? Well here's a quick run down of the past month...or so.
I still have a job, hallelujah! I'll be back at Kell next year and I am the head cheerleading coach. I spent most of the last few months worrying about whether or not I'd actually get a contract. Sadly, we are saying goodbye to two wonderful ladies who have made my life richer the past two years. I don't think I could have been a counselor without them. They both have such wonderful and amazing characteristics and I'm wish that I can be as wonderful as them someday too! I'd like to say that cheerleading has taken up most of my time, but I feel a little immature about it (meaning, I just don't want to deal with it sometimes!). I have this wonderful cheer mom who I think should run the world! She's about 20 steps ahead of me and I am so thankful for her!
We went to the beach with some of our good friends, the Rands. They have a sweet 5 month old boy who Claire is in love with. She would babble at him and he would giggle. I think it's a match made in heaven! It was really fun to hang out with another couple and I even picked up some fun songs to sing to Claire from Meredith!
So that brings us to the beginning of my summer vacation. I spent last friday home with Claire and I was so exhausted by the time Jeff got home! She wears me out! I guess the last time I really spent a full day with her was during Christmas and she wasn't mobile. Let me tell you, Miss Claire is everywhere! I can't keep her out of anything and if you tell her "NO!" she just smiles and laughs at you. She is going to be a very smart business woman who won't take no for an answer! She doesn't play with her toys, she likes to play with doors and other things she can take apart (things with lids on it, etc). Needless to say, I'm going to have to revisit this whole watching Claire thing. It's intense!
I'm excited though about having a summer with the C-Bear!