Backyard Fun!!!

We finally decided to get a little kiddie pool for those really hot days when you just need to cool off. We also got a little sprinkler ring that we put around the pool and then because it looked fun, we turned one of Michael's slides into a water slide. We've had lots of fun with all of it so far. My niece Rebecca came over on August 1st and she and Michael had so much fun together.
Then on August 21st we had some friends from the Ward come over and they all had a blast together.

Kathryn just jumped right into the pool as soon as we got out there. You can see Vivian in the back ground going, "Are you crazy?"

Angel had fun playing with the bath toys we stuck in there.
Ronald was trying to push Vivian, but she wanted to be a big girl.
All three Boys in the pool together.
I had to catch this picture of Ronald's plumbers crack. It was too funny.
And here Vivian is, still on the car.

"Mama"

Sometime last week Vivian FINALLY (after much teaching, coaching and encouraging) started saying "Mama!" For some reason she got "Dada" right away. John claims he worked with her on it all the time but I don't remember that. But for the past couple of months it's always been "Dada" as she pats either herself, John, or me on the chest. I think she was using it as any name. But now she finally learned "Mama" and this Mama is very excited about it. She uses it so well that whenever she wakes up she'll stand up in her crib and sing it over and over again until I come get her. But when John comes in the door she still says, "Dada!" So she really is getting the concept right, she's just still confused when she pats on her own chest. I guess we can't expect her to say "Vivian" right off the bat though.

Playtime

I figured I'd jot (can I say that if I'm typing?) down a few stories that are still fresh on my memory. Like yesterday while we were playing Legos, Michael randomly kisses Vivian on the cheek. I don't know where she heard it but right after he did it she's like, "Aww." It was so cute and funny but I honestly don't know when or where or who she picked that up from. But here is a picture of the tower we built.
Later while I was doing dishes but still able to see the kids, I saw that Michael was trying to keep a book away from Vivian and they ended up going in circles around the trampoline. He soon realized that was really funny so he threw the book onto a nearby bench (thinking she wouldn't notice) and he kept chasing her. Well, not much gets past her so she immediately goes for the book but then looks back at Michael still going around in circles and then goes back and joins him. I wish I would have gotten a picture but sometimes you know you're not gonna have enough time to dry your hands, go grab the camera and then hope they are still being cute.

I'm finally blogging!

I've been having 'the battle' for a long time about whether I should start a blog or not. I've had so much fun reading my friend's blogs (sorry that I don't leave comments, but I am reading them, I promise) That I finally decided I need to get in on the full blogging experience. John has also been bugging me to start a "Cute Journal" for the kids where I write down all the cute things they've done. What better place to put it than on a blog? So this is for you John ... and the kids. I'm going to try my best to make this a positive journal for all our happenings and we will have fun looking back on it in a few years.