HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA CLAIRE (APRIL 17, 2006)

I can't believe my girl is turning 5! Oh my! She is so dear to my heart. There is no way I describe my love for her or her brother. I remember when she was born. When we got "the call" Gary and I got to Norman, Oklahoma as fast as we could. I remember holding her for the very first time. I was so scared I would drop her. She was so tiny and fragile. I'll never forget the first time I gave her a bath. My first grandchild. My biggest fear was that she would just slide right out of my hands.

Ma's first look at her little granddaughter. Poor joy!

Anna Claire has always been raised in the church. Even at a week old.

She has always travelled. When she was a month old she was in Florida with Brent and Jessica for the summer.

Uncle Shane had a break for Memorial Weekend and he made a trip to see his little niece for the first time!

Either she doesn't know what to think about Uncle Shane or it's obvious he's never held a baby before!

Now, I'm not being ugly but who doesn't remember these days...and nights! The staff at the motel in Florida tried to give Jessica advice everyday. They even bought Anna Claire toys. Who wasn't trying to make her quit screaming. I would say "quit crying" but, it wasn't crying. It was all out screaming.

Anna Claire has always been a "girlie" girl. She invented the term "girlie girl." Even when she turned one she was a little princess.

Anna Claire has had this mousey since she was born. We have all grown attached

Anna Claire loves spending time at Nana and Papa Jack's farm. This picture was taken May 12, 2007. Anna Claire is barely a year old.

When Anna Claire turned two we (Ma and Granddad) took her to Six Flags Over Texas. She had so much fun. Her favorite thing was riding the tram from the motel to Six Flags. Her least favorite was riding the boat through a tunnel at Six Flags. She held on to Granddad for dear life.

Anna Claire was also one lucky little two year old. Her mommy and daddy took her to Oklahoma City to see Elmo. At two she LOVED Elmo.

Elmo even came to see Anna Claire at her 2-year old birthday party!

Thanksgiving, 2008

Ma and Granddad took Anna Claire to see "Bob the Builder". She was totally fascinated and bored at the same time. After about 15 minutes she was ready to go home. We made a night of it and stopped on the way home for ice cream.

A wonderful memory of when she was 4 was last summer at Panama City Beach. The family was in Florida for the summer. Ma and Granddad came for a week. Each day Bennett would knock on our door requesting Granddad to take him to breakfast. After breakfast Ma and Granddad and Anna Claire and Bennett went walking on the beach, visiting this particular beach restaurant that gave kids fake "tattoos" and hanging out.

Anna Claire got to wear her cheerleader outfit to the Arkansas vs. Texas A&M game in October, 2010.  

Dress up has always been an important part of Anna Claire's life. I keep princess jewelry in the travel trailer. At her home she has every play outfit probably ever made.

Anna Claire making a snow angel February, 2011.

Anna Claire explaining to her Daddy that Bennett took the paci out of the mouth of the baby snowman she made. Bennett did not think it was funny.

A night time tradition when we visit the kids is to read "two" bedtime story books. I'm not sure why but it has to be two...not three...not one. Bennett picked out this book on Trains.

Another tradition we have is every time Ma and Granddad visit the family we must go to Bass Pro in Oklahoma City, whether we need to or not. It's just something we do. The kids love looking at the fish and crawling all over the boats.

Four has been so much fun! Anna Claire is the little ballerina. She and Brent will be in a dance recital at the end of May.

Anna Claire loves her Mommy so much. I really love to watch them interact. There is so much love!

And, it's the same with her Daddy. My wonderful son! He and Anna Claire have such a strong daddy/daughter relationship.

At four Anna Claire loves going to the cabin in Eufaula, Oklahoma

A fitting picture to a blog celebrating a birthday. Thank you Mommy and Daddy!

This was certainly not a year in review. It would take volumes and volumes of entries to do that. I'll just keep making entries in the blog to have a year in review. I'm definitely looking forward to more dance recitals, more dress up parties, more baking, more crafting, more stories about when mommy and daddy were little, more talks about Jesus, and more good ole love to my perfect granddaughter.

Happy birthday precious girl. Ma and Granddad love you MORE!