Land Between the Lakes

We went for a drive with Grandma and Grandpa Walker through LBL on a perfect day in November. Cool, but sunny. We got out and checked out a few camping areas in hopes of using some next spring or so.

Clarie and Her Babies

Claire likes to hold both of her babies (Rachel and Madeline) unfortunately, one of them does not always cooperate.

The Walkers

Grandma and Grandpa Walker and Uncle Gordon all visited for Thanksgiving and we had to get some pictures of everyone before church on Sunday. (It was an exciting day at church that day. The power went out in the middle of sacrament meeting and we finshed the meeting and went home.)

Uncle Gordon and Rachel

Uncle Gordon, Claire and Rachel

Grandma and Grandpa Walker and the girls

Rachel in her beautiful dress.

We were trying to get some pictures for a Christmas card, but someone, we won't mention who (she is 3) would not cooperate.


"Who me? Not cooperate?"

We finally did get some okay pictures,

but then Claire stole the camera again for her own photo shoot.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Would the real Easter Bunny please stand up?

Oh if only we had snow!

Claire found the box of snow clothes and wanted to try them all out. Maybe if she did a snow dance we would get some. Unfortunately it didn't work, but we did have quite a fashion show.



Behind the scenes of the runway.

The Coffman/Walker Girls

It was so fun to have Aunt Kari visit. She certainly kept Rachel and Claire entertained.

Aunt Kari and Rachel.

Aunt Kari and Claire.

Who are these nuts?


Sisters!!!

Thanksgiving 2007

Thanksgiving here in Murray was great! We were able to have a full table, with family and friends. Lots of good food, lots of laughs, amazing, wonderful, beautiful turkey headbands for all to wear and a few minutes of football.

Gathered around the table were Gordon (Paul's brother), Elder Hilton, Vernon (an investigator to the church who was baptized 2 weeks later), Elder Gray, Mel (Paul's dad), Illene (Paul's mom), Xinia (a friend from church), Kari (J.J.'s sister), J.J. and Claire. Paul was behind the table and Rachel safely away from grabbing food off the table in her high chair.

A close up look of Claire, Grandma Walker and Rachel in their turkey headbands. I think these are going to catch on really quick and make me rich one day.

It's not Thanksgiving without olives on your fingers!

Happy Turkey Day!



Thanksgiving from Claire's point of view.

Mommy cooking. (I actually only cooked the desserts. The men cooked the turkey and only one small fire later, we had yummy bird to eat)

Daddy enjoying a full tummy

"I swear this is my first piece of dessert!" - Elder Gray

My friend, Vernon.

Mommy ate so much, her teeth rotted out!

"Oh my! Is that Claire taking pictures?" - Aunt Kari

Vernon loved to hold my sister Rachel!

My baby got so full, the only thing that would fit was this blanket.

Uncle Gordon got so full he couldn't sit up.

I gave the camera back to mommy so I could get in on the action too!

Vernon, Rachel and Claire

Xinia, Kari and Elder Hilton all enjoying the after turkey relaxation!

My Girls

Rachel and Claire never fail to bring a smile to my face. I hope they always get along this well.

Queen of the Throne

Potty Training with Claire has been a challenge to say the least. This is just one of my many ploys to get her to use the potty. She could be "Queen of the Throne" each time she went. (Just like all my other ploys - stickers, books, m&m's, other candy, parties, toys - it worked for all of about 2 times.)
I guess I just need to realize she is "The Decider"

Happenings 11/11 - 11/17

We wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving this week. Our week was fairly quiet, although J.J. was kept busy doing free babysitting on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I did some grading and writing and reading during the week along with some administrative things, and then on Friday evening we got a babysitter and went out to dinner with Trevor and Shara and then went to the college rodeo, which was fun to watch. They have an indoor arena here for rodeos and other things, and the action was quick and efficient, not like some of those rodeos you go to where they spend as much time telling dumb jokes and having the clown do silly things as rodeo things.

Saturday J.J. and Claire went to Music Time class, while Rachel took a good nap and I did some much-needed filing of our various papers that have been piling up. When J.J. and Claire returned, we packed up to go to Nashville to pick up J.J.'s sister Kari later that evening. First, we went to the zoo, and had 2 hours before it closed and almost saw everything. It was a nice temperature -- long sleeves only, and being later in the day all the cats were out and wandering -- two tigers (one white), leopards, and a cougar. We also saw elephants and giraffes, which Claire said were her favorite, and also several neat birds and savannah animals. We still had an hour or so before we had to pick up Kari, so we drove around downtown Nashville a little, and that was fun to see for the first time. We picked up Kari, ate dinner at the Opry Mills mall, and then drove home.

Our weather here has been different every day; it rained early in the week and the clouds kept the temperature not as cold, and then when it cleared up the mornings and nights were cold. It warmed up today quite a bit. The trees are in the last stages of colors, and one of our trees lost all of its leaves in the rain -- one day it was bright orange and the next it was bare.

We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo, How about you, you, you?

If you don't have children and are not a Raffi fan, you probably don't understand the title, but anyway, we went to the Nashville zoo before we picked up Kari at the airport and had perfect cool, yet sunny weather. The girls loved it! I kind of liked it too.

Claire and Rachel ready for the tour!

The mearcats enjoyed the sun too.

Claire and I got a "mearcat's view"

The white tiger was beautiful and kept pacing back and forth for us to see him.


His buddy the brown tiger wasn't too shabby himself. I love to watch the big cats!

Claire didn't want to pet the camel, but his fur was suprisingly soft.

Claire loved the giraffes, and with her on Paul's shoulders, she "was almost as tall as they are!"

These were the cutest animals of the day. Soft and cuddly too.

They had a kids play area also with a huge playground and a big padded area with things to climb on, bounce around in and run. I loved it almost as much as Claire.

So, ya'll come back ya hear?!