Adeline's Fav Spot in the House

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Biped Baby!

Adeline decided to go biped, about time too. She's been talking about walking for the past six months. I'm please to report that her moon walking is coming along well but her roger rabbit needs some serious work. I keep telling her she needs to practice everyday, but she just ignores me says she's too busy trying to find a way to make potting soil taste like chocolate. Kids these days.

So that's why I'm out of ink.

So I've been cleaning out some photos and video files on my computer (remember when you thought 80GB was a lot of space–yeah right) and came across this gem. Enjoy.

I did it!

And now I am all caught up. Thank you, Thank you. I'll try not to let it happen again.

Vieve-isms

So things the Vieve is famous for saying right now or things that I just really think are funny when she says them:

"hum on" (Come on)

"ham-mer-mer" (Hammer)

"I don like it ____" (There's always something she doesn't like)

"ahh ah- ah, ahh ah-ah" (The Little Mermaid song - she sings that one about 20 times a day pretending she's Ariel and the thing is, we don't even own that movie. I think she's seen it maybe 2 or 3 times total.)

"choc-wahyt" (Chocolate - a true woman at heart)

"Dammie's house, ok, shopping!" (That's "Grammie's house," but I think it's funny so I let it be. My dad has the kids call him "Viejo" and they all say "A-ho" we warned him it would sound like they were always yelling profanities at him but he insisted.)

.. just to name a few.

"No baby!" (That one's ugly when it happens. The joys of havin 'em close together I guess.)

"oh no! the wish!" (That's "the witch." She likes to pretend a lot. And one of the most reoccurring themes in her pretend is that a witch is coming (thanks to Little Einstein's) and then we have to sing low to make her go away. I also listened to her while she was supposed to be going to bed and heard her having a conversation with Simba, Ariel, and Guppy (Flounder) Precious.)

There's never a time when she's not singing "Pa-cor" (Popcorn Popping), "Sun bee" (Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam), "Fish" (Slippery Fish - my mom taught that one to her and she likes it cause she gets to burp at the end) or a whole assortment of Little Einstein's songs. She found a toy that played Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik"and got so excited for "birt-day ba-oons!" She literally was jumping out of her seat with excitement and then pushed the dag-gum button over and over and shouted "I yuv ba-oons, I yuv, I yuv ba-oons" over and over again.

O'Natural

Yep. That's us on an average, rainy day in Chicago. I traded these pictures for sushi. Yes, you heard me right - sushi. And I would gladly order another round in a heartbeat. Not only did I get a couple of really great pix out of the deal but we also found a really great sushi bar that we hadn't been to before. What a deal and what do ya know, we kinda look cute in these, eh?

We Just Can't Get Enough

Everyday, the girls ask me for one of three things: "see the fish" (go to Bass Pro Shop), shopping (but that's only if Grammie's around -- Grammie = shopping in their books) or swimming. They usually get their way and when faced with an opportunity to go with the cousins - we can never resist.

How can you say "NO" to these faces?

(Top: Genevieve & Adeline, Middle: Ellie & Zach, Bottom: Keira & Aubrey)

Aubrey is always on water patrol and pushes the blue button whenever

the water runs out...

... which is important because nobody ever actually goes in or through

the water, but they all celebrate it's arrival in song and dance.

Much of the day is spent conquering hippos & claiming

uncharted territory.

All together, the splash park just makes everyone happy, loving, and

the best of friends. What more could you ask for?

Meet the "Tank"

We went to the doctor's Saturday. Adeline was top in her weight class and couldn't be happier. I've never seen such a content little (?) girl in my life.

Pre-Naptime Tricks

The roller-slide (our favorite)

They think they're getting the better end of the deal. An hour later, that's what I'm saying.

Senorita Bonita

Stuck in Reverse

And stuck in all the worst places.

A Taste of the 4th

You can see everyone was real excited to go.

Actually, Greg and his friend were probably still traumatized from the train ride over. It was their first time on a train and in the city and lucky us sat right across the upper deck from a completely inebriated, very large, Mexican holding a huge, empty bottle of taquilla. He started screaming profanities in spanish and falling all over the seats. When he started heaving, we told the people directly down below who were cramming as far inside their rows as possible to get the heck outta there. Then we just kept saying to ourselves, "Please don't spew, please don't spew!" He soon passed out and the "spew" was more of a slow leak, like a volcano. It was utterly, the most disgusting way to start out a trip and I think these poor Iowa boys may be scared for life.

Ben & I made a quick recovery though and enjoyed our time away from the babies. (Thank you Baylie.)

The trip was really all about one thing; Guster was playing at the Taste that day! The concert in the rain was great. Nothing like being trapped in a big sea of wet, smelly people drinking beer and eating greasy food and listening to fine music. The "People Watching" sites were fine that day. Everything was very entertaining and tasty.

What is that?!

"Eetz ah mo-skeeto bite."

Actually, it's a spider bite that swelled up VV's entire face.

The poor thing.

Swimming with the Dolphins

We decided to splurge this summer and take the girls swimming with the dolphins. I know they're probably to young to remember it but the therapeutic value of the experience is truly priceless.

"I don like it, shapes"

I know, I know, what girl doesn't like diamonds!

Do NOT feed the Hippos

Don't even eat in front of them. They get really aggressive and hostile when you don't share.

However, they are good for the occasional piggy-back ride.

Nothing compares to the recycled fountain drinks when you go to visit the hippos. Yum! I can almost taste my own feet in this drink!

Darn stinkin' cute

Even she thinks so.

One of my favorite things to do is lay her on top of a giant mirror and watch her give herself a literal shower of kisses. She gets such a kick out of seeing herself. You really can't beat cheap entertainment.

Double Dooty

VV's been potty training. So far, I'd say it's been pretty successful as long as there's a Reader's Digest to help pass the time.

You say Tomato

I say Garden! We salvaged some old railroad ties from my sister, Emilie's backyard and decided to try our luck out at a garden. We planted tomatoes, carrots, green beans, peas, chives, onions, basil. and lettuce. So far, soooo delicious!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

The Wedding Dancer

VV danced and danced all night long at friends, Susan & Tanner's, wedding reception.

Pretty Pretty Princess

All the time. We often have to make trips to the grocery store like this.


(VV & Keira)

Crazy woman driver

The sidewalks are no longer safer than the streets.

Row Row Row Your Canoe

VV sang "Book of Mormon Stories" to us the entire time on the lake. She was so loud that the birds were getting scared off. We decided to bring her back to shore and avoid any more "looks" from local fishermen.

Hangin' with my girl

This happens all the time...

at 6 months...

at 8 months...

This thing's exhausting.

Brookfield Zoo

They were thrilled... really.