slide stepped?

i think the saying in stair stepped, but alas su and i were so busy chasing the kiddos we didn't have time to think ahead and pose! we had a wonderful morning at the park\lake...so much so, that when we were leaving vivian said, "mommy, that park was weally [really] great!" so was the company, thank guys. :)

i'm pretty sure bauer LOVED the swings...don't you think?

vivian has become the best "jungle" climber...

but she really liked riding double in the swings, too.

setler enjoyed talking into the microphone thing...with a little help from his mom.
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and in case you didn't catch it the first time...bauer REALLY LOVED the swings! (seriously, this was his expression the entire time.)

tammy faye vivian

for those of you that are new to this parenting thing here is a VERY valuable piece of information. quiet does not necessarily mean good. and here is the proof.
bible study\dinah's birthday brunch is at my house tomorrow, so while i was downstairs pulling out the cup and saucers, finding my flatware, ironing linens, etc...vivian decided to decorate herself with mascara.

i have NO idea where she comes up with these hair-brained ideas!! oh well, at least the mascara was a lot easier to wash off her face than the chocolate was to come out of the carpet, right?!

this just in...

i always wanted an older sister, and my cousin cathy fits the bill perfectly. she sends emails\packages\goodies\knowledge on a regular basis, and i LOVE it. but today's was especially great. enjoy...

"Funny grandmas story. Mom told me that one time my grandmother and yours were standing side by side and my grandmother noticed that while she was taller, your grandmother's shoulders were higher. She mentioned it and said, "How can that be?" Without hesitating, Juanita answered, "You're deformed." And they both burst out laughing. I thought that was cute."

big kids & tattoos

i could not help but take a picture of the kids before school last week. they were both in such a good mood and looked so sweet. since the blog is their baby book, i feel the need to mention just a few of the things that they have been up to lately...

bauer has really become a toddler, running everywhere and loving to play hide and seek. he can say just a few words now: sissy, mama, dada. hi, bye bye, ball, uh-oh. but, most of all he LOVES doing anything and everything with his sister. everyday at school she sweetly gives him a hug and a kiss and tells him to "have good day baby brudder". :)

vivian is growing in leaps and bounds, too. we have noticed a lot of new imaginative play ("now YOU ariel and I am snow white, bauer.") and as always her vocabulary is off the charts ("bauer you behavior is frustrating me."). she also has found a renewed love for all things dora, and was only too proud to sport her first tattoo for a picture!

and most exciting...bauer and vivian are now both eating at the big kid table. all together now....awwwwww!!!!

elephants, rhinos and bauer?!

this week at the zoo there has been a very important new discovery. i believe the genus species name is baueris eatemupus. look at its fierce snarl...scaaaarrrryy! :)

and here are a herd of wild children. from left to right 3, 4, 1, 2. yep...we are busy around here folks.

and FINALLY there was an appearance by the very elusive rhino. seriously, we go to the zoo OFTEN and this is the first time they have been out.

bauer was so excited..."look mom, do you see it?"

"of course you do!"

i cannot believe how fast he is learning new things...

and what a fashionista little miss vivian has become! check out her shades and knee socks.

and of course, doesn't every good trip end with a carousel ride*?!

*please note the very rare appearance by that strange woman, i think her name is mom, on the merry go round...that is usually a daddy ride.

ketchup, catsup, catch-up

so as you may (or may not) have noticed...i have been a little mia. it was a much needed mini-break from blogging. the truth is i LOVE to document all of the sweet things these little munchkins (and occasionally us big munchkins) do, but it gets a bit overwhelming at times...i mean can you say SEVEN birthday parties this month? that is A LOT!! so here is a bit of "ketchup" for you. random things we have been up to. please know that i normally spend time chronologically organizing photos, but i didn't for this post. the scattered nature is very indicative of the last month of our lives...ENJOY! also be sure to scroll ALLLL the way down for some very important info...

ol' smiley! you take the kid to the park and all he wants to do is steal other kids' sippy cups and eat leaves...silly boy!

the playhouse has been a BIG hit. they both love to hang out and take turns playing "big bad wolf".

he will always be my baby...and a pretty one at that!

last saturday we returned to funland, this time with the lee's. thomas LOVED the cars.

the kiddos were so excited they couldn't hold still for a picture. :)

vivian adores hbl.

we also have had lots of fun with those sweet dillman boys. here ben is having a great time at the park.

sweet little miss vivian.

handsome big boy drew.

oh did i mention bauer is OBSESSED with eating? the other day he helped himself to an entire BOX of cheerios!

is he laughing from happiness or the fact that he knows i have to clean it up?!

obviously he just is starved!! yeah, right!! :)

vivian and bauer have also really enjoyed their new discovery of riding double. (i know the picture is blurry, but their faces say it all!)

hbl and vivian on their hogs....HIL-AR-I-OUS!!!!!!

this sign totally cracked me up at funland. my dad fits ALL of these things except pregnant woman. teehee...really...it kills me.

clif and vivian on the helicopters. she got off and said, "mom...that was too much fun!!"

bauer holds the train tickets for me...what a great helper.

daddy and the kids on the train.

playing at the park...

playing together...

what a big big boy!! (sniff, sniff.)

aunt addie came for a visit, spent sunday afternoon, and even stayed for ice cream on the front stoop...YUM!

since vivian got a big girl bike for her bday we have been spending a lot of time outside.

she and daddy are working hard at mastering the big hill in front of the house!

and there you have it folks. a small slice of the last couple of weeks. and here is the big news. after careful thought i have decided to privatize the blog. this is not to say that i don't love my blog stalkers :) i TOTALLY do. i actually have received so many nice compliments, and comments concerning my little take on this world, but for several different reasons (not to get too preachy) i think it is time. so i would like to take this opportunity to invite all of you to send me your email at clifday1@aol.com , i will gladly add you to the list. i'll probably wait a week or so...or you can also leave it in the comments. so that is all for now...hope you enjoyed the "catsup" (btw, what is up with that weirdo word? ICK!!)

THE pictures

i couldn't be happier with the results of our recent photo shoot by miss whitney loibner! this lady is a truly gifted artist. so, check her out if you are local...heck, check her out if you aren't, and make the drive (or be green with envy)! these are just a few of the nearly 80 proofs, and if i do say so myself....the subject matter "ain't too shabby" either...

don't you wish they were yours?! ;) need more? call\text\email me, i'll give you the password....maybe ;) jk.

saturday night entertainment

.ok..so sometimes...when it is football season...i find myself a bit bored. clif REALLLLY loves football,, and i enjoy a nice game or two (a week NOT a day) but i, no mater how hard i try, cannot watch 12+ hours of tv. so i finish projects (ottoman recovered), start new ones (rearranged BOTH kids' rooms), and piddle on the computer. and, look what i came across:

yearbookyourself.com. HILARIOUS. almost all of the 70's were great for clif. here is me in 1960 and clif in 1968*.

and clif in 1990 rocking the mullet!**

and me in 1998...not too far from the truth! check it out if you get bored...i'd love to see it!

*i find it strange how much we look like our parents in these photos. i KNOW i have seen one of my mother with this hairdo, and su, isn't this REALLY close to your dad in his wedding photo?!

**clif would like me to add a big thanks to his mother for removing him from sylvan hills, or this probably would have been what his senior pictures ACTUALLY looked like! ;)

a flashback\preview

huh?! i know it is a bit of a confusing title...BUT bear with me. today we had the kid's pictures made by a professional photographer. this is really a first for us (except for craig who is addie's fiance' who made last year's christmas card photo). whitney loibner did the honors...and she was AMAZING!! check out some of her work. she also happens to be the mother of two great boys (one of whom has been in vivian's class the last three years), and was SO kind and patient with a one and three year old.

so in anticipation of the new photos i went in search of the old. here are my sweet bedtime babies in january 2008. look how much they have grown! good to know the love still continues!! :)