Claire's Fourth trumps July Fourth

July 2 is a biggie in our family, because it's

Claire's birthday.  The early celebration took

place last Saturday, and I had my camera 

charged up.  The children were fully charged, too!

Will the immovable object meet the irresistible force?

Pushers, swingers, and pumpers.  The good kind.

Claire blew out her # 4 candle in a flash!

Everybody's excited for Claire to open her gifts ...
because she shares!

Matt and Jennifer's living room is well designed for
viewing events like this.  And LOTS of open space
for the kids to perform.

Thanks, Gail and Jeff, for my Superman shirt.
With a CAPE!

Bri and Reese entertain themselves AND the grownups
with a game of catch.

Well, you can't catch 'em all.

Perhaps the most popular gift was her
Princess Merida costume (from the movie
"Brave") and the accompanying bow and arrow.

The girls willingly accept instruction.

We're all about survival skills.
Don't know about those rubber-tipped arrows, though.
We might starve.

Hmm.  Those party balloons are a tempting target.

Bri's turn next. She's sporting one of Claire's
new dress-up gowns.

While Evan waits for his turn, he's content to bounce
on Grandpa's buckin' bronco feet.  Hang on, Ev Man!

The party's over, but Claire has a whole year

to enjoy being four.  As we all know, the years

begin to go faster, sometimes too fast.  But we

are determined not to miss any fun along the way!