Some more of Clara as an only child

 She loves bathtime.

 In her new big girl bed. She was reluctant to move from the crib to a regular bed but we put the bed in her room one day and that night, she was like, I want to sleep in the big girl bed. Hasn't looked back since. And she loves her princess sheets.

 Clara is becoming her own person. She lounges on her chair quite often.

 For Christmas 2011, she got her very own camera. Our budding photographer took some nature photos outside.

 Whenever she has a lollipop, she likes to know what color her tongue has become. Here she had a blue lollipop and then a red one so that turned her tongue purple.

 Clara loves this bunny statue at the library. We have many photos of her next to this bunny. (I know it looks like she is modeling the alarm system sign.)

 We went to 2 Durham Bulls baseball games in the summer of 2012.

 Her first day of preschool at Calvary Baptist Church (Kingstown).

 Helping me bake some pies.

 Pumpkin patch October 2012.

 Mommy and Clara at pumpkin patch.

 State Fair pony ride, October 2012.

 Painting pumpkins for Halloween.

 Clara was a dinosaur for Halloween (October 31, 2012).

 Her first ice cream cone (November 2012).

Marbles Kids Museum (November 2012).

Mike's 40th and our 5 Year Wedding Anniversary

My 40 year old man :) (June 26, 2012)

2012 saw two significant events: Mike's 40th birthday and our 5th wedding anniversary. And somehow I managed to pull off a surprise birthday party for him AND a surprise anniversary trip to Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

I started planning the surprise party in January by checking with Mike's parents to see when they'd be free to come and also watch Clara so we could go on this childless anniversary trip. Once the date was settled, I emailed family and friends and asked them to save the date.

Plan was Mike and I were going out to dinner for his birthday and my parents were going to watch Clara. So they stop by. A few minutes after that, Ray and De and Kim and Dave were to come over and say they were going to help watch Clara and also wanted to learn how to play Bananagrams. Mike was wondering what was going on as all these people started showing up. Then Preston and Lila were to knock on the door, followed by Raymond, Melissa, and Mike's parents.

After that, the rest of the guests arrived and Mike just kept saying when they'd walk in, "and you knew about this too?" He was amazed that everyone (including me) kept it a secret.

Clara packing herself in the suitcase so we wouldn't forget her.

Ferry to Island

The next day we left on our surprise trip to the Outer Banks. Neither one of us had ever been to Ocracoke Island. I found a really nice Bed and Breakfast, The Cove, online (and used a gift card Mike got me for Christmas one year) and reserved 2 nights there. It was a nice, relaxing time.

Sunset on beach

Hatteras Lighthouse

Ocracoke Lighthouse