Katie Sierer

Fun Stuff

2012-02-07T13:09:00.000-08:00

Today Clark and I took the train to Philly and visited 'The Academy of Natural Sciences'. Clark loved the dinosaur bones, animal displays, and fun interactive live animal area. The butterfly garden is amazing, but the second we walked in he wanted out because it was HOT and HUMID--he kept saying 'Mommy, I am sooooo sweaty, we need to get out of here'. After enjoying the museum for a few hours we had lunch at one of my favorite spots in Philly 'Sabrina's Cafe'.

We have a few other fun things coming up---we start private swimming lessons in two weeks. We are signed up for 8 weeks and he will do weekly, 30 minute lessons. I really would like him to be able to swim well enough to save his own life by August when the twins are born.

We are going to a children's storytelling concert performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra next week. The focus is on percussion, and Clark isn't crazy about loud noises so hopefully it will still be fun for him.

I am also planning to register him for a multisport class this spring through the township. It will be fun to give him more opportunities to be active and meet other kids.

I guess all of this is a sign I am starting to feel a bit more like myself. I am still nauseated a good portion of the day/night, but I am not throwing up as much and I am feeling more energetic. I am 12 weeks along, and at our OB appointment yesterday one of the babies was jumping around like a nut, and the other one was hiding and taking a nap. Everything looks great with the pregnancy so far.

My Sweet Three Year Old Clark

2012-02-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

Before another month goes by, I need to write about what is going on with little Clark man at 3 years old.

3 Year Well Check:
39.8 inches (93rd percentile for height)
37.1 lbs (91st percentile for weight)

Likes:

Reading and library trips
Playing outside
Anything related to the Revolutionary War. No kidding--the kid is obsessed. 'Mommy, you be General George Washington and I will be a Colonist! Let's go look for some Redcoats!' He knows the full story of Washington crossing the Delaware for a surprise attack against the Hessians (yes, he even calls them Hessians and can identify them by their hats) and he loves to 'talk about' the story.
Much to my dismay he loves anything that is war like. 'Mommy, check out the bayonet on that musket!'. He loves cannons, bows and arrows and anything else that shoots. Yikes.
Knights and knight stories
Puzzles
Playing with friends
Adventures to aquarium, Please Touch, historical sites--anything new and interesting he loves.
Nature hikes 'Mommy, we sure went on a great hike this afternoon! I loved seeing all that deer poop' (hysterical laughter).
Playing with friends
Food and desserts (favorites--any protein (salmon, chicken, beef etc), breakfast for dinner, pasta, cucumbers, pears, pineapple, cantaloupe, watermelon). If given the option, he will always pick chocolate.

Dislikes:
He isn't into coloring or drawing
Consequences (his least favorite is having a toy taken away--he would take a time out or even a spanking any day over that)

New social situations--he loves his friends and people he knows, but is slow to warm up in new situations

Being dirty--the kid isn't a fan of having anything on his hands, even if it is fun! (i.e. fingerpaint, salt dough etc)

Personality:

Clark is very sweet and concerned about others. While reading 'National Geographic' the other day, he became obsessed about the article about Tsunamis. 'Mommy, I feel really sad about all of those people whose houses and cars got washed away in the Tsunami'. I was telling him about animal shelters and he said, 'Lets take all of those puppies and kitties food, and water and maybe we could take them little jackets in case they are cold'.

Clark is so excited to be a big brother. Almost daily he has something new he is going to teach the babies. 'Mommy, when the babies come out, I am going to teach them how to eat', 'I am going to read the babies stories, sing them songs, and tuck them into their beds', 'I am going to teach the babies how to talk!'.

He is full of questions and likes to TALK about EVERYTHING, ALL THE TIME. Really--it is a marvel to me when I sit in the car with other peoples children and they contently look out the window. That never happens with Clark--we are always having some discussion. Some of the latest questions--'Mommy, how did you get pregnant?' Really? He is 3! Thankfully, he was happy with a very basic (yet honest) answer.' 'Mommy, where do the clouds go when they move across the sky? Do they go back to heaven?', 'Mommy, where is Heaven? Is it between the earth and the sun or on another planet?', 'Mommy, what are the guys who put on the knights armor? Oh, I remember--they are Dukes. You be the duke and I will be the knight'. And on....and on. Sometimes his questions make me laugh and sometimes I am really stumped and have to turn to Google.

I am working with him on not giving up--he gets frustrated quickly if something doesn't come easily to him. We have been doing some little learning activities together most days, and because he knows exactly what all of his letters SHOULD look like, he won't really try to write them because he can't make his hand create the shape he knows the letter should make.

As a side note, we got him bunk beds and he is in heaven! He sleeps on the top bunk at night and for naps and LOVES it. He goes to bed around 7:30, wakes up between 6-6:30 and takes about a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. I was worried he was dropping his nap earlier in the week, because he didn't sleep two days in a row, but he is back on schedule napping every day.

We are in love with this little boy. He is such a joy and a gift to our family.

First Real Snow

2012-01-25T04:27:00.000-08:00

On Saturday we had our first real snow. Clark loved helping Todd shovel even though it started drizzling freezing rain. It was the perfect day to stay inside and assemble Clark's new bunk beds!

Birthday fun continues!

2012-01-25T04:22:00.000-08:00

Mama B and Grandfather stayed over for a pajama party after Clark's birthday party and then we woke up bright and early for breakfast at the Pop Shop.

We decorated chef hats and ate delicious stuffed french toast, pancakes and eggs benedict. The best part? Kids eat free if they wear their pajamas on Saturday morning!

Clark's 3rd Birthday Party

2012-01-25T04:18:00.000-08:00

Clark's birthday party was super simple but tons of fun. We had the Mulliner and Mann families, Mama B and Grandfather and Miss Susan from Todd's work. We ordered pizza, had cake and cupcakes and opened gifts. The kids had a fun time running around and playing and Clark was thrilled with all of his presents.

Clark's 3rd Birthday!

2012-01-24T12:30:00.000-08:00

We started out celebrating Clark's birthday with M&M pancakes--his favorite! I also let him watch two cartoons which is about two more than I usually let him watch.

He then helped me make his chocolate birthday cake and we picked up helium balloons for his party.

Boy I have been slacking!

2012-01-14T12:21:00.000-08:00

I have been so terrible about blogging--I need to post more about Christmas and a good long post for Clark's birthday we celebrated yesterday.

We made the announcement on facebook this week that I am in the process of cooking TWO little nuggets who will be born in August(ish). I am pretty much devoid of energy and constantly nauseated--so any down time I have is typically spent with my head over the sink or in my pillow. I am sure it will all be a distant memory in a few weeks and I will get back on track with keeping more up to date on my blog.

A few things I want to remember about this pregnancy:
1. Positive pregnancy test December 12th.
2. Went into doctor's office on December 15th and was given reports of 'abnormally high' beta HCG levels suggesting multiples--ultrasound didn't show much more than a black dot.
3. December 21 ultrasound showed one healthy little yolk sack and possibly one additional--but still couldn't really tell. HCG levels still through the roof.
4. Made announcement over Christmas to my family about pregnancy--Clark wore a 'Big Brother' t-shirt. We still had to clue my mom in, but her reaction was priceless.
5. Ultrasound on December 30th showed two little beating hearts. My first reaction was pure JOY and about 15 minutes later panic!
6. So excited and happy about pregnancy--thrilled about raising twins with all of the challenges that will go along with the joy!
7. Much sicker than with Clark--the nausea, vomiting and fatigue are definitely more than doubled! I am trying to have a good attitude--the weeks will go quickly but sometimes the days really drag.

We are all so excited to welcome two more little ones into our home! It is going to be wild, but so fun.

Christmas!

2012-01-04T12:15:00.000-08:00

Before time runs away with me I wanted to catch up with our trip to Tucson, AZ.

My entire immediate family was there, including Granny Frome and it was so great to spend time with my sibs, in-laws and parents! The little cousins had an incredible time running around together and we stayed at a beautiful resort surrounded by miles of dessert trails.

Here is a rundown of our itinerary:

Friday: We arrived after waking up at 3am to catch a 6:30 flight. We were beat, and hung out with my parents and Grandma at the clubhouse while Clark and Shayne reconnected and played! When they saw each other they sprinted towards each other for a giant hug. So cute! We checked into our condos and had dinner at Mom and Dad's place.

Saturday: Saturday morning my mom had crafts for the kids--gingerbread houses and making ornaments and decorations for the Christmas Tree. The kids really got into it. Saturday day evening Todd and I were in charge of dinner--we ordered tamales, a huge salad, salas and guac from 'The Tucson Tamale Company'. They were awesome--traditional and very unusual tamales. My favorite was The Bombay with curry. After dinner, we had the traditional Christmas program. Singing, Christmas stories, and opening jammies from Granny.

Sunday: We all did Christmas at my parent's condo. The kids had a blast opening their gifts from Santa. We had breakfast and then headed to church. We went to a Spanish branch--oops--but half of the group speaks Spanish so it was fine. Sunday afternoon we were treated by mom and dad at the Marriott Starr Resort Christmas buffet---the food was amazing and there was something for everyone. Unfortunately, Clark wasn't feeling well throughout the day. He had a fever and zero energy. He was a trooper and went along with the flow.

Monday: They guys loaded up and went golfing, and the girls took the kids to 'The Dessert Museum'. The kids loved all of the wild animals, climbing on the rocks and exploring the trails. It is a really well done place where we really could have spent all day. Monday night Dan and Holly hosted a great dinner at a local Mexican food restaurant.

Tuesday: Spa day! The girls went on a hike and to the spa while the boys kept the kids. We had such a great morning relaxing and then going to lunch treated by Granny Frome at the spa. Tuesday evening Todd and I took Clark to see Uncle Jim and Aunt Kathy in Green Valley. They are both super generous and interesting and we had a wonderful time.

Wednesday: In the morning we went to Sabino Canyon for a tram ride and some short hikes with the kids. It was beautiful but freezing! We still had a great time. The boys golfed in the afternoon and then we had an awesome dinner hosted by Carrie and James at 'Feast'.

Thursday: We packed up and headed to the airport at 9:30. Our flight was delayed two hours, so we hung out in the Tucson airport and then thankfully made our connection in San Francisco to arrive home around midnight. Clark was a dream travelling to and from Tucson even though it was a 12-14 hour ordeal each way but we were still exhausted after arriving Thursday night.

It was so great to spend time with family!

Storybook Land

2011-12-16T19:38:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, a friend invited us to Storybook Land to check out their Christmas spread. It is out towards Atlantic City, but totally worth the 45 minute drive!!! The decorations and lights were amazing and it is a magical place for 2-5 year old children! They can go on most of the rides themselves, and everything is nursery rhyme or children's book themed. Clark LOVED the beanstalk bouncer, having hot chocolate and funnel cakes and staying out until almost 11pm!

Macy's/Love Park

2011-12-16T19:30:00.000-08:00

On Monday, we went to Macy's in Philly with friends and enjoyed the amazing light show and Dickens Village! After the show and learning about the Ghosts of Christmas, we went to LOVE Park and checked out the Christmas market and giant Christmas tree!

Don't mind the floral scarf that Clark is obsessed with and insists on wearing :)

It's beginning to look....

2011-12-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

A lot like Christmas! We are having so much fun preparing for Christmas and taking advantage of all of the many Christmas activities in the area!

We headed out towards the Morris Arboretum yesterday for the Holiday Train display, but it was POURING so we stopped at the Please Touch Museum instead. They have some fun Holiday displays and their usual fun activities. Yesterday afternoon we made gingerbread houses. It totally fell apart because of my lack of patience to sit and hold it together, but Clark had a great time decorating and spreading frosting all over it. I asked him not to eat very much of the candy because it had been in the attic all year (leftover from last Christmas). Clark tasted a few and then made eye contact with me as he was reaching for another gumdrop. He then said:
'Mommy, maybe you should go in the family room and take a little rest'. Haha, I was laughing so hard--I asked him if it was so he could eat his candy in peace and he knew he was busted. Pretty cute.

Every morning he is so excited to open the next door on his advent calendars! One has candy, and the other has a scripture and felt replica of some part of the manger scene. It makes each morning so exciting and fun.

Other plans include the Franklin Institute on Saturday (Todd and Clark), Macy's light show/Christmas village next week, The Morris Arboretum (weather permitting), a date with Todd to see Handel's Messiah at the Kimmel, the Comcast light show, Love Park Christmas village, live nativity at Mount Laurel Baptist church, and of course spending Christmas with my family. We are excited--and Clark is really wrapped up in all of the magic.

Catch up!

2011-12-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving weekend Todd and Clark went and picked out a real tree! Todd's parents came down for the weekend and we had a wonderful time with them and Ben setting up Christmas! We have a more formal tree in the living room/entry way and a fun, quirky tree in the family room.

I have been very busy with the final organization and implementation of 'The Prince of Peace: a Celebration of Christ through Music and Art'. It is next Sunday, and I will be very glad when it is over.

Today I took Clark and a little friend to Johnson's farm. They play so well together and had such a fun time looking at the reindeer, playing in the sand, decorating cookies and taking advantage of the other activities there.

Test

2011-11-27T12:05:00.000-08:00

Christmas at the Aquarium

2011-11-25T19:37:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, Clark and I went to the aquarium! They are setting up for Christmas and it is sooo fun for Clark to see the decorations and get excited about the holiday.

They have a new alligator--mighty mike who was also a huge hit.

Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade!

2011-11-25T19:32:00.000-08:00

We went to Philly early on Thursday morning to enjoy the Thanksgiving Parade! It is a huge four hour ordeal with blimps, huge floats, bands from all over the country and local/regional celebrities.

Clark LOVED seeing Curious George, listening to the music and taking it all in. Even though we had to leave Jersey early and the train was packed, this will be an annual tradition!

November Saturday in the backyard.

2011-11-15T12:01:00.000-08:00

What could be better than jumping into a GIANT pile of leaves that daddy raked?

Philadelphia Musuem of Art

2011-11-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

Today we went on a little adventure to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and had a fabulous time.

Clark's favorite exhibit was the 'Arms and Armor' full of Horse and Man Armors, swords and guns.

He was very curious about all of the nudes, 'why aren't those ladies wearing shirts?'.

He really had fun looking at the map and deciding where to go next and he made some great choices. We spent about 2 1/2 hours there today, but I went alone I could spend all day. The building is massive and absolutely brimming with incredible art. Not to mention you get beautiful views of the city, boathouse row and fairmount park.

What we've been up to...

2011-11-08T11:55:00.000-08:00

I am absolutely LOVING this time of year in NJ. It has been sunny, and warm and gorgeous.

Last Saturday, we went to Philly and did a mini sculpture tour before meeting Todd for dinner at Tiffin. It was so fun to finally find some decent Indian food.

Last night, Grandfather and Mama B came--it is always so fun for us to spend FHE with them. Clark is in heaven when they are around as they devote all of their attention to reading...and reading...and reading..and reading and some wrestling

Today we made some last minute plans with friends and met at the zoo. The kids had so much fun running around in a big group.

Some things I want to remember about Clark:

* He loves to read and will bring book after book until we get tired.
* He still takes a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon. I hope he will keep it up for another year!
* He is really into word play---he will make up a word and enunciate it very slowly and clearly...'s*nuck*el*bop* snucklelbop! Say it with me mama!' And then he expects me to pronounce his made up word properly.
* He is still full of questions--very curious and wants to talk about EVERYTHING! 'Let's talk about it mommy!' Some of my NOT favorites lately have been: 'What are my testicles for?', 'Why do girls wear bras', 'Why is that lady smoking? Doesn't she know that will make her lungs black?'(right next to the lady smoking),
* He loves school, his friends and has such a sweet little personality.

Little Sweetie

2011-11-03T17:17:00.000-07:00

These pictures were taken today, about 5 minutes before Clark started vomiting his little guts out.

Thankfully, I was able to trade shifts and be off with him tonight. It is a rare occasion where Clark will cuddle long enough to fall asleep in my arms. I loved every second.

Autumn

2011-11-03T17:11:00.001-07:00

Halloween

2011-11-03T11:36:00.000-07:00

First Snow

2011-10-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

We arrived to New Jersey exactly one year ago. To celebrate, mother nature gave us our first snow of the season. It was a wintry mix (in other words...the worst weather possible).

Clark was soooo excited! I am so bummed I got a quick picture with my phone, but he had a blast running around in the snow.

It was a perfect evening for this soup and reading by the fire.

Here is to another great year in NJ!

I never should have walked out the door...

2011-10-24T18:59:00.000-07:00

I should know better than to head out to the grocery store after dark, but tonight it was absolutely necessary. Todd was working late, and so Clark and I left after dinner.

I had a long list and everything started off fine. Clark is really fun to shop with, and loves to help select produce and put food into the cart. While I was carefully examining the beans, Clark accidentally dropped a glass candle on the floor and it shattered everywhere. He apologized to the store clerk and we grabbed an unbroken candle so we could pay for it at the register (I do mean 'we'. I took 1$ in coins out of Clark's piggybank to pay for it).

We managed to check all of the items off of my list without further event and our cart was LOADED. I am making 'Pumpkin Stuffed with Everything Good' tomorrow and a huge batch of Chili with Masa Harina on Wednesday so I needed a lot of ingredients.

By the time we got to the check out line, Clark was desperate for a bathroom. We left our cart in the front and ran to the bathroom. When we got back and started unloading our cart, I noticed that the elderly woman in front of us looked pale and weak. The next second she lost consciousness and her (also elderly) husband stopped her before she hit the ground. By the time I scooted around the carts, she was unconscious, pale, sweaty, drooling in mass amounts with a thready pulse. I will spare you the rest of the details, but after a few minutes, she started regaining consciousness--she was disoriented but recognized her husband. EMS arrived and found her blood pressure to be 60/38. Poor thing and her poor husband.

Clark was a total trooper--He just played on the cart and looked around for the 20 minutes that this was going on. He actually seemed oblivious to the event and totally absorbed in looking at 'Real Simple' and 'People'.

When we got home he said, 'Mommy, I need a bowl of gelato!'. Not ice cream. Gelato. We aren't a full service Italian Market buddy. He ended up being okay with Ben and Jerry's.

Countdown

2011-10-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

Clark is obsessed with Halloween and his new fireman costume.

Yesterday we went to the Free Library of Philadelphia to a Beatrix Potter display with a new friend. We then went to dinner at Sabrina's (our new favorite South Philly restaurant). Clark insisted on wearing his firehat in the car and to dinner. We are definitely getting our 20$ out of this costume!

Atlantic City

2011-10-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

My sweet friend Sophia kept Clark last Friday evening so Todd and I could get away for the weekend. We spent the night in Atlantic City at the Borgata Water Club. We had an awesome dinner at Wolfgang Puck's American Grill, a run on the beach Saturday morning and a luxurious massage at the spa. It was great to relax and spend some quality time with Todd.

Clark was beyond thrilled about the prospect of a sleepover with the Mulliner clan. It was quite devastating when we came to pick him up and he kept saying 'Just leave me here! Don't come and pick me up!'. As we were walking out the door he told Sophia, 'when I am bigger, my Mommy and Daddy won't come and pick me up!'. Sad for us, but I can't really blame him! It was so fun for him to have playmates and a fun trip to Johnson's farm on Saturday.

Valley Forge

2011-10-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

I volunteered to take a member of our church to the train station this morning--we had to be in Philly by 7am so I figured it was the perfect opportunity to head on to Valley Forge. It was soooo worth the trip! There are almost 30 miles of beautiful trails, historical landmarks, a nice visitor's center and theater. Clark has this strange obsession with the 'red coats' and the story of Paul Revere so it was very memborable and fun for him to read about the soldiers and their time in Valley Forge.

The second the woman I was taking to the train got in the car, Clark said 'I am going to see the red coats and Paul Revere at Valley Forge'. She didn't really know what to say to that. She thought he was so funny as he pointed out to her various landmarks. 'See, we are now on the Ben Franklin Bridge! You can see the aquarium and the battleship! Look!' and as we drove through Philly, 'Over there is the Philly Art Museum and the Schuylkill River'.

We will definitely be back--next time with our bikes so we can take full advantage of all of the trails in the park. The best part--it is free!

Philadelphia Morning

2011-10-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

This morning Clark and I took the train to Philly and wandered around the Rittenhouse area and then to Schuylkill River park. We had a great time looking at sculptures, beautiful brownstone lined streets and playing at the park. We ended the morning with lunch at Parc for a tricolor beet salad for me and frank and frites for Clark.

Thanks to the generosity and love of Sophia--Todd and I are getting away to Atlantic City for the night. What a treat! I couldn't ask for a better birthday.

Smith Playgound

2011-10-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

Today was the perfect day to enjoy Smith's Playground! The weather was perfect and it wasn't too crowded.

Aquarium!

2011-09-26T17:40:00.000-07:00

Clark and I had the best morning at the aquarium! It was totally empty so we had all of the creatures to ourselves!

Clark loves the garden eels, sharks, hippos and enjoyed seeing a scuba diver in the tank with all of the sharks. He is fascinated by lungs and the difference between fish and people--'why do people need oxygen tanks to swim under water?'. They have great 'touch' exhibits where you can feel sharks, stingrays, jelly fish, shrimp, starfish, sea cucumbers, and lobsters. We also watched a seal feeding which was really fun.

Tonight Mama B and Grandfather came down and we had a great time with them going to dinner and shopping. Clark loves having them close--and so do we.

Bye Grandpa!

2011-09-14T18:13:00.000-07:00

After a great week long stay, we dropped Grandpa off at the airport.

We had a blast at the Pop Shop--coloring chef's hats and getting Clark's face painted! He thought he was so cool and scary.

A few funny Clarkisms:

Clark was trying to get his cup to balance on his trike and he said 'Errggh! This cup is not standing up properly!'. Did he really say properly?

I was asking him about his time at the park today and we were discussing a little altercation he and his little friend had. His friend was building something in the sand and Clark started running on it and stomping on it. His little friend got mad and started kicking him and throwing sand. I asked him why he ruined his friend's project and he said, 'I just did'. I pressed him further and he said, 'Mommy--that's just it. That is the end of the story'.

Lucky Kid!

2011-09-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

We went to a great beach today! Very little surf--soft sand and perfect weather made for a great day! We were at the beach for four hours and could have stayed longer. We saw a huge horseshoe crab, tons of shells, a lighthouse, sailboats and alot of fishing boats. The best---nobody on the beach but us.

Yesterday at preschool, they had a Grandparent's day celebration. Clark was so lucky to have his Sierer Grandparents and his Goulding Grandpa. He was so excited when they all arrived and absolutely loved the attention!

Updates

2011-09-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

We have had a full week since Todd has been in Asia.

Howard and MB were generous enough to come and spend the night with Clark on Monday. They had a great time hammering nails, reading books and building with Clark. He is so lucky to be able to see them so much this year!

I picked my Dad up from the airport on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning we went to the Please Touch and took along one of Clark's little friends. They had such a great time running all over that place! They were both exhausted by the time we left. I worked Wednesday night so slept most of Thursday, and that evening we went to Moorestown for pizza and ice cream. It was fun to be back on main street there and see our old house.

Yesterday we had a great morning at Johnson's farm. We played in the playground, visited the animals, enjoyed the hayride and picked apples. Clark is in heaven with Grandpa here and it is nice for me to have some company while Todd is gone.

Clark's version of primary:

2011-09-04T12:54:00.000-07:00

Me: 'Clark, what did you learn in primary today?'

Clark: 'We talked about prayer. I am going to pray to Heavenly Father. I will first say 'Dear Heavenly Father' and thank him for blessings. Then I will ask him for a new Thomas bike. Then I will go up on the stage and his disciples will give me a new blue Thomas bike. And they will be nice to me. Very nice.'

Me: Speechless. What do you say to that? Nice disciples handing out Thomas bikes?

Potty Trained!!!!

2011-08-30T13:27:00.001-07:00

Potty training was much less traumatic than I expected!

It was annoying to stay so close to home last week, but Clark is doing so great!

We ventured to the zoo yesterday morning and he was accident free all day!

Today we went to the library and grocery store and were gone for 4 hours and he did so great.

Todd and I went to check on him last night--and it was a little sad to see our baby growing out of his toddler bed, with no binkie and no diapers.

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-30T13:25:00.000-07:00

We survived an earthquake and a hurricane within a week!

The press was in an absolute frenzy about hurricane Irene. We prepared by getting water and nonperishable food, but the damage to us was minimal with only a 12 hour power outage.

Clark LOVED playing in the 'river' in front of our house the night before the hurricane hit and the morning after.

A few more family pics

2011-08-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

Pics of Clark From Sami Jo

2011-08-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

Tell me this isn't cute...

2011-08-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

Update

2011-08-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Time as flown by since we returned from vacation.

Updates in brief:
We have seen Todd's parent's the last two Monday afternoon/evenings for dinner and family night. It has been so great to have them in the area and Clark always looks forward to their visits!

I completed two day shifts and two night shifts last week and am working two nights this week. The unit is amazing---the staff are all so helpful and everyone seems so happy and satisfied at Virtua.

On Saturday we went to the Collingswood Farmer's market and picked up the best tomatoes, peaches and corn.

Clark has been at potty training boot camp this week. The first day (Monday) we went through a lot of shorts! Tuesday he did really great, except at a dermatologist appointment where he peed on the floor--he pooped in the potty Tuesday evening. Today he has done great--no accidents while he is at home and naked---that seems to be the key--and he has done #1 multiple times successfully today as well as #2! I am putting a pull-up on him for his nap and a diaper on him at night. He goes to school tomorrow and Friday so we will see how it goes for them there.

Hopefully next week I will feel that we can venture further away from a bathroom and get out and do some of our favorite outdoor Philly activities.

Reconnecting

2011-08-11T21:07:00.000-07:00

Since we have moved to Jersey, we have really missed hanging out with Candice and KC. Clark loved spending time with them--especially on the tractor with KC and on the horses with Candice. Their little Kamryn is adorable and it was so fun to see her again!

Day 1 of Box Y

2011-08-11T21:02:00.000-07:00

On Monday, the family came together to build a swing set next to the lodge. Tim had done quite a lot of research online about the best way to do it and so he led the crew.

It only took a few hours and we had 2 baby swings, 2 regular swings and a tire swing all set up. There wasn't a minute that went by where the swing set wasn't in use during the week.

Backtracking...

2011-08-11T20:53:00.000-07:00

Our first day in SLC we went to a delicious breakfast and walked to Temple Square. Clark really enjoyed the visitor's centers and we had fun talking to a few of the sister missionaries. Clark really wanted to see where 'Bocelli' (Andrea Bocelli) sang with the 'Taybernaycle Choir' so we stopped at the old tabernacle. We have watched Andrea Bocellli sing 'The Lord's Prayer' with motab on youtube and he is kind of obsessed with him. I was explaining how he was born blind as a little baby and somehow he got confused and thinks he has a baby in his eye.

Box Y

2011-08-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, we made our annual trek to Barstow Lake for a picnic and swim. The water is absolutley FREEZING and I don't even consider wading. Todd jumped in with Dan, Chris and Connor.

Box Y

2011-08-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

Today was our final day at the ranch. This morning we watched Shayne while Dan and Holly went a four wheeler ride. The kids played in the creek, had a great time on the swings and rode horses with Uncle Clint. Tim harnessed up the draft horses and we all went for a ride on the wagon. Uncle Cory caught a snake and Clark, Shayne and Hudson had a great time petting it and squealing every time it squirmed.

Best Buddies.

2011-08-06T21:42:00.000-07:00

One of the best parts of the trip so far is watching Clark and Shayne play together. They get along so well and have so much fun together. Today they played for hours in the pools, sandbox and neighbor's swing set. They are even sharing a room tonight. It makes me so happy that they are 2 days apart and that they get along so well.

Intermittent Spring

2011-08-06T21:37:00.000-07:00

We made our annual trek to the intermittent spring this morning. It was a gorgeous day--perfect for a hike. Clark loved throwing rocks into the river and running through the water with Grandpa.

Lincoln County Fair

2011-08-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

We are having a great trip so far! We spent Wednesday touring around Temple Square in SLC and then drove to Wyoming Thursday. We paid a visit to our neighbor's horses and cows Thursday evening, and had a fun family dinner with cousins.

Yesterday we went to the fair and checked out the sheep, cows, pigs, chickens, ducks and rabbits with Granny and Grandpa and Granny Frome. We ate Navajo tacos under the big top and Clark rode a few rides with Kara. He LOVED the monster truck ride. We went to my 10 year class reunion last night and Clark had a blast with Granny and Grandpa.

My life.

2011-07-27T18:05:00.001-07:00

I started my new job at Virtua Voorhees this week.

It is such a breath of fresh air, and I am so happy to be with such a wonderful hospital.

The facility opened in May and is unbelievable---the rooms are amazing with all of the most recent technology and state of the art equipment. My commute is also less than 10 minutes now-which is a gift after commuting 30-45 minutes both ways on top of a 12 hour shift.

I will be part of a union which will be a totally new experience for me. After a visit from the union representative today, it seems like unionization does offer many advantages to the nursing staff so we will see how that goes.

Clark has been a trooper this week going to school three days, and having a babysitter the other two days. I hate to leave him so much, but when we return from Wyoming I will be back on two nights a week.

Clark at 2 1/2 years

2011-07-13T18:12:00.000-07:00

2 1/2 years--what a big boy.

Clark is such a joy. Aside from Todd, there is nobody else in the world I would rather hang out with. Todd is out of town and so we went on a dinner/gelato date tonight, and he is such a great little companion.

Milestones:
His imagination is exploding--he always has some imaginary friend tagging along on our adventures and his play is becoming more abstract and complex.

He loves to sing and make up songs.

He loves to make people laugh. He frequently says 'Mommy, let me tell you some of my jokes'.

His mind and mouth are constantly in motion with little filtration between the two.

He is in the thick of the 'Why' stage. 'Why Mommy why?' is the most frequently used phrased around our house.

He comes up with the most hilarious things--'Mommy, when I am older, I am going to ride a coyote' and he is starting to use the phrase 'Mommy I really wish we could _______'. He also loves to say 'Arrrggg, I am really frustrated!'

He is very social and turning into a bit of a tease.

He loves to eat and try new foods. He loves cucumbers and watermelon.

He loves to swim, build with blocks, play with his cars, dig in any kind of sand/dirt, and go on any kind of adventure. He is a really good traveler as long as you don't mind carrying on a constant conversation the entire trip.

He goes to bed between 7-8pm and wakes up EARLY (like 6am). He has a clock in his room that illuminates a green light at 6:15 and he stays in his room until it changes color then RUNS out 'My light turned greeeeeeen!!!!!' He still naps for around 3 hours every afternoon.

Potty training...he is physically ready and capable. I have been procrastinating it but will buckle down this fall after vacation.

We love you little Clark---thanks for making the last 2 1/2 years our best yet.

Long Island, NY

2011-07-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

We took a very impromptu trip to Long Island, NY this weekend. I called Todd at work at 3pm and asked him to get out early if possible for the weekend.

We stayed the Hyatt Regency and it had two pools, a playground and to Todd's pleasure it was on a golf course. We went to the beach on Fire Island, swam in the pools, ate delicious sea food and visited Bay Shore for brunch and a jog around the harbour.

Clark loved sleeping in his big boy bed in our 'fabulous hotel room' (according to him) and swimming in the pool. He is still afraid of the waves and ran away any time we tried to take him down to the water. He was afraid the waves were going to 'get him and take him to the ocean'.

Let Freedom Ring...

2011-07-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

We had a great 4th this year attending the Haddonfield Parade and enjoying ice cream with friends afterwards.

Philly Zoo

2011-07-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

We went to the Philly Zoo last week and took along Clark's sweet friend Isabella. The kids had a great time running from place to place and really loved the pumas and the baby orangutan.

Cousin Anneke Visits!

2011-07-05T06:02:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful visit from our niece Anneke from Colorado. We went miniature golfing at Franklin Square, visited the aquarium, got pedicures and played games! Thanks for visiting Anneke!

Bye Bye Binkies.

2011-06-28T11:14:00.000-07:00

I made an executive decision yesterday that it was time to nix Clark's binkies.

Since he was a year old, he has only used them at night and during his naps but he really, really, really loved them (Yes...plural. He liked to sleep with two).

So, with the suggestions of other experienced Mamas out there, I cut the nipples off of his beloved binkies while he was in the bath last night and then placed them on his bed next to his monkey where they are always kept.

After we read stories and were kneeling down to say prayers, he grabbed his monkey and his favorite yellow binky. He got the most perplexed and devastated look on his face 'Mommy, Mommy! My binky is broken! Please fix it Mommy! Please!' I explained to him that his binkies were broken and I was sooo sorry I didn't know how to fix them. He didn't have a fit. He didn't cry. He just begged me in a sweet little voice and looked at me with those big eyes to fix his binky. I would be lying if I said Todd and I didn't shed a few tears. Clark did great. He went to sleep no problem and just kept his broken binkies in bed with him.

I was concerned about his nap today--that he might have a difficult time falling asleep with them but he put his imagination to work and solved his broken binky problem. This is what he said to me as I was putting him down:

Clark: 'Mommy, my binkies are broken. It is soooo sad. But they were very, very, very old and so my dump truck will take them to the recycling center. When they get there, Bob will put them on the conveyor belt and they will go up, up, up and into the big box'.

Me: 'Oh, that is great to be able to recycle your binkies! (Clark walks over and puts them in his dump truck'.

Clark: 'Yep! And then the big, giant, blue garbage truck is going to bring me a new binky from the store! It won't be broken! See, here it is!' He walks over to the hallway and pretends to pick something up.

Clark: 'See Mommy? It is a blue binky that isn't broken! He takes his imaginary binky into bed with him, curls up with his monkey and two hours later, I haven't heard a peep.

I love this age where his imagination is so vivid. He is constantly bringing his cupped hands over to me 'Mommy! Look at my porcupine (or squirrel, or kitten)! It is soooo tiny and cute!', or he brings along his imaginary train friends Dash and Ferdinand who according to him have hands and feet instead of wheels. He comes up with elaborate stories about where they are going and what they are going to do there.

I wish I could write everything down, and capture it all via camera but he has been rebelling against photo and video shoots lately. I will get what I can!

Dinner on the Battleship

2011-06-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

We were able to attend a fundraising event on the Battleship New Jersey. There were appetizers and performances from a local show choir, followed by a lobster and filet mignon dinner. The views were beautiful and the kids had a blast running around the ship.

Our Yard.

2011-06-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

This is a place of happy memories.

ipad.

2011-06-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

Three guesses on who is most excited about the family ipad purchase.

NYC Day 2

2011-06-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

Today I had an amazing run in Central Park, and we had a quick breakfast with Todd before he left for his conference.

We needed to kill some time before the zoo opened, so we stopped at the Billy Johnson playground. It is a gorgeous park with trails, a little fountain and a super fast metal slide.

We had a great time at the Central Park Zoo. Clark loved the sea lions, and was laughing hysterically as he fed the goats. We stopped at Chop't for lunch and then napped for a few hours in our hotel.

We lucked out and Todd had a few extra hours to spend with us in the afternoon. Clark loved climbing on the rocks with him and swinging at the park.

We were mesmerized by all of the street performers, especially a group of break dancers. Clark tried his own break dancing skills out as he watched them.

Todd had dinner plans, and so Clark and I ate at the Fig and Olive. The food was absolutely incredible. We shared a fig and olive salad with fresh greens, figs, apples, walnuts, olives, goat and manchego cheese and the best balsamic dressing and then branzino served over figs and fresh sugar snap peas. Seriously amazing. They had a great menu of small plates which would be so fun for a long dinner with Todd or friends. It is definitely on my list of restaurants to revisit. Clark was a great date, and the staff spoiled him.

NYC Day 1

2011-06-21T17:53:00.000-07:00

Todd had a conference in NYC this week, and Clark and I decided to tag along. It has been such a great trip! Yesterday, we checked into our hotel and then went right to central park for a picnic. Clark had a blast climbing on the boulders and running around. We came back to our hotel room for naps and then met up with my parents again in Central Park. Clark devoured a popsicle from Granny and had a blast watching the turtles and climbing up 'the big, giant, huge rocks' with Grandpa.

We ate dinner at Beacon with Granny and Grandpa, and the food was delicious and the service wonderful.

Granny and Grandpa Visit!

2011-06-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

Last week, my parents came for a visit and we had such a great time together! We did a walking tour of Philly and ended up at the Constitution Center, visited the Smith playground in Fairmount park and Clark enjoyed lots of exploring in the forest with Granny and Grandpa.

We were spoiled with a shopping trip and a delicious dinner in Collingswood.

Thanks for a wonderful visit!

Friends

2011-06-16T02:40:00.000-07:00

Fudgesicles on the deck. What could be a sweeter memory.

Jersey Shore

2011-06-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the shore this morning with friends! It was HOT and so the water actually felt good. A big change from 18 months ago, Clark is PETRIFIED of the waves!! He shrieked with the fear of death when the water came toward him and sprinted back toward our beach spot. He loved digging in the sand and doing his 'jobs' of moving dirt and loading his dump truck with shells.

Actually...

2011-06-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

Clark has integrated the word 'actually' into his daily vocabulary.

Our conversation before lunch:
Me: 'Clark, do you want some watermelon or cottage cheese with your lunch?'
Clark: 'Accctuallly', (while opening the feezer), 'I think I will have some of this ice cream'
Actually....not. But it was still pretty cute.

Philly Sculpture Tour

2011-06-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

This morning we bagged soccer (hhhmmm again), and went to Philly on a sculpture safari. We started at Rittenhouse Square--to me, the most beautiful neighborhood in Center City. Clark really loved the little goat sculpture but wasn't so sure about the lion and snake. From Rittenhouse we walked to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Clark loved imitating Rocky with both hands high and noticed ALL of the other interesting sculptures around the grounds and gardens of the Philly Museum of Art. We stopped at the Azalea Gardens and Fairmount Waterworks Park. En route back to the train we stopped at Logan Square and Love Park where we ate a picnic and Clark cooled off in the fountain.

This afternoon we are going to make our own sculptures with play doh. Hopefully I can improve from my latest attempt at the Statue of Liberty that Clark informed me didn't look anything like the Statue of Liberty.

Date Night

2011-05-31T11:07:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Todd and I had dinner with a few other couples at Butcher and Singer and then enjoyed an incredible production of 'The Damnation of Faust' put on by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philadelphia Singers and the American Boychoir.

Johnson's Farm

2011-05-31T10:47:00.000-07:00

This morning we took an impromptu trip to Johnson's Farm which is about 10 minutes away. They have a great playground, amazing greenhouses, petting zoo area and vegetable and fruit picking in the fields. We picked radishes and peas so I can make this, and the most incredible, sun ripened strawberries and cherries. The flavors are unbelievable. Clark loved picking the cherries and digging out the radishes.

Springdale Farms

2011-05-27T11:04:00.000-07:00

We live less than 5 minutes from Springdale Farms and have been visiting almost daily. They are harvesting strawberries, spinach, asparagus, green peas, and blackberries and the flavor is out of this world. Clark has never been a big berry fan, but he ate an entire pint of blackberries on our way home from the farm yesterday. We also purchased a bird feeder and a few pots and seeds to plant our own cucumbers and tomato plants.

Clarkisms

2011-05-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

Lately Clark has substituted the word 'want' with 'need'. I suppose he thinks it gets better results. Examples:
'Mama, I NEED to go on a train ride to Philadelphia'
'Mama, I NEED a chocolate cookie for dessert'

He is also getting really good at expressing his feelings. I took a drink out of his water bottle today and he said:
'Mama, don't make me sad! That is my water and I need to drink it'. Anytime we do something he isn't excited about, he pulls the same phrase out 'Mama, Daddy--don't make me sad!' It is so hilarious.

He is definitely in the WHY stage. Everywhere we go I hear 'Why Mommy, why?'. 'Why are there cracks in the road?', 'Why did that truck move the dirt?'.

Clark likes to be in every conversation. We were walking through Haddonfield tonight to pick up our race packets for a 5K we are doing tomorrow and Todd and I were commenting on the architecture and landscaping of some of the homes. Clark kept chiming in, 'Look at that beautiful house! I LOVE the bushes!'

He is really into 'reading' signs (like road signs, plaques, billboards etc). When we will walk or drive by one he will say, 'I am learning all of those letters on that sign and it says, 'Clark needs to go to the Statue of Liberty!', or 'This park is so awesome!'.

We have been doing a reward chart and he just met his goal and was able to go to Target and choose a toy. He is very motivated by rewards and loved putting stickers on his chart every time he listened the first time, went to the potty or took his shoes off right when we came into the house. I think he could be potty trained---on Tuesday I let him run around naked most of the day and he went to the bathroom on the potty every time. I am just not sure I am ready to be tied down to be required to be close to a bathroom so I am thinking we may wait a bit longer.

True Freedom

2011-05-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

Running around in torrential rain on Liberty Island looks like true freedom to me. He didn't miss a single puddle.

Ellis Island

2011-05-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

Clark loved the models and pictures of old trains and boats. I absolutely loved the old black and white photos that told so many stories of the immigrants as they made their journey and assimilated in the states.

Lady of Liberty

2011-05-18T12:06:00.000-07:00

Clark has been completely OBSESSED with the Statue of Liberty. I am not sure where he picked up on it; perhaps from driving by on our way to NYC or from one of his favorite Curious George stories (George Goes to the City).
.
He has been talking about it incessently and frequently BEGGING to go and see it! 'I want to go and see the Statue of Liberty!' He will walk up to random strangers and say 'Have you seen the Statue of Liberty?'. It has been his favorite conversation opener and closer. He can be randomly spotted standing on an ottoman or chair with one arm in the air holding his torch Lady of Liberty style. This kid is obsessed.

We decided to bag soccer this morning and head to Liberty Park and put his obsession to rest.

Clark loved the ferry ride to Ellis Island and we both really loved the Museum and Visitor's Center there. After a great tour of Ellis Island we jumped back on the ferry and went to Liberty Island and looked at Lady Liberty face to face. It started pouring rain but it didn't deter little man one bit. He loved every minute.

Visit with Tara

2011-05-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Tara came for a visit last week! Her husband surprised her for her birthday with a trip to Jersey with only 3 days notice but she packed up and left her family for 5 days.

We had such a wonderful time reconnecting and catching up on 6 months of happenings. We went to Philly and did the historical tour, including a fun carriage ride through beautiful Society Hill on Wednesday. Thursday, we did a driving tour of South Jersey and then walked around Haddonfield. Friday just the two of us went to NYC and walked the entire city! It was such a blast! Thanks for coming Tara!

California Girls Weekend!

2011-05-14T14:03:00.000-07:00

Carrie, Holly and I had a fabulous weekend 'off' in California! It was filled with relaxation, shopping, eating, going to the beach, working out and being pampered by James. It was so fun to see sweet Braeden and sit and catch up with two of my favorite ladies in the world! As an added bonus, I got to catch up with Janell in 3 short hours--definitely not long enough!

Guest Blog Post: Happy Mother's Day!!!!

2011-05-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, with Katie out of town this weekend on a “Goulding Girls” trip to SoCal, I thought I’d hijack her blog and put a post up to celebrate what a wonderful wife and mother I tricked into marrying me almost eight years ago (clearly grounds for questioning her judgment…there were those that thought we wouldn’t last a year!). I admit, this is long and gushing, so if you don’t want to read the whole thing, just know that Katie is amazing…but not in that whole “my wife is amazing” bit that we’re all supposed to say. If you’ve ever met her, you know that in her case…it’s absolutely true.

~~~~

Anyone who knows Katie knows that she has always wanted to be a mother, but more than that, just like Lance Armstrong was born with a larger than average heart to help him ride a bike, or like Hillary Clinton was born with an ability to remember thousands of names, Katie was born to be a mother.

When we first started dating, she convinced me to enroll in the Early Childhood Development course she had just taken, and for which now she was a TA. As we studied together, it became apparent that as we learned about the theories behind nature vs. nurture, the hierarchies of needs, and the sensitive periods for cognitive development, Katie was merely applying definitions to concepts that she innately understood. It was all so obvious to her. Clearly, I had to marry this woman.

Sadly, in the first few years of our marriage, no matter how hard we tried (omitting several jokes here, you’re welcome), and no matter what medical treatments we used, we couldn’t get pregnant.

While this was difficult for us, and especially for Katie, we found other ways to parent. Katie has always been like the pied piper: children flock to her. It goes beyond just her warm personality, universal beauty and engaging conversations, she just exudes some kind of aura that causes children to want to be near her. I can recall several times when random children sitting at another table at a restaurant, or on a plane, would come over to Katie and share something out of blue. “I like to ride my bike” “We’re going to grandma’s” Whenever we would go out with friends with children, the kids would spend most of their time trying to play with and talk to Katie. It never failed.

Thankfully, we had great friends in Austin who had kids, and at this moment I’m thinking specifically of our good friends the Mattsons and Morgans. We spent every Sunday afternoon and several times a week with these good friends, and of course Katie was the center of attention. Considering my tendency to hog the spotlight, it took me a while to recognize that Katie was the main act and I was just there to warm up the crowd.

While both those families and countless others have commented on the deep role Katie has had in the lives of their children, our good friend, Byron Morgan, put this so eloquently one day while speaking from the pulpit at church. While bearing his testimony about the Savior, the Scriptures and the Church, he took a moment to express his gratitude to my wonderful wife. He said “I want to thank Katie Sierer for the love she’s shown my family, and (to the congregation) I think you all should thank her as well. I know she’s been a mother to every child here today.”

Yes, I’m prone to hyperbole, but if you’ve ever met Katie, or if your children have interacted with her, you know it’s an accurate statement to say that she is the perfect example of the loving, nurturing motherhood that is found more often in textbooks than in actual practice. I bet that your children have talked about her days after spending time with her. She is magic around kids.

~~~~

Mother’s Day was always a tough day in our home. In our church, it’s common for all the mothers to be asked to stand up after that Sunday’s service and receive some kind of gift as recognition for their sacred role in the family. We usually played hooky on those Sunday’s in order avoid the awkwardness and flood of emotions that came as a result of our inability to have kids.

But in a beautifully poetic (and I’d say divine) twist, it was the Mother’s Day of 2008 that we found out we were pregnant.

Clark is nothing short of a miraculous child. To be blunt, there was only one chance that we had the previous month to naturally conceive a child, and given Katie’s infrequent cycles, the sheer probability that it would work, despite months and months of medical treatments in the past, is mind-blowing. That morning Katie swore she felt different, so of course I ran off to the store to buy our 347th pregnancy test…but this time there was a second line. The second trip to Walgreen’s that morning was my call, and returning with an engineer-worthy digital test, we found out a few minutes later that yes, in fact, we were having a child.

In the three years since that day, as if watching a professional athlete finish warm-ups and begin to play in the real game, I’ve seen Katie be the All-Star mother that she was destined to become. She is amazing with Clark. She doesn’t get frustrated or impatient. She recognizes that he is a child and doesn’t let him dictate her emotions. She sees beyond the hundreds of details and keeps her focus on the long term vision of raising a strong, righteous boy. She does all this while keeping an immaculate house, cooking amazing meals almost every night, and working two night shifts a week at the hospital.

~~~~

On weekends like this, with her out of town, I’m even more impressed by how well she balances and dominates so many different parts of her life. It’s not like I’m surprised at how much work it is to take care of Clark, I just spend so much time keeping track of all the basics (meals, clothes, activities, sleep) that I don’t spend time interacting with Clark as much as I do just carrying him along the day’s timetable.

I realize how much I need her in my life. This weekend I’ve thought through what it would be like if she never came back from California. How would I raise him? How soon should he start reading? Is he getting enough fruits and vegetables? How on earth do you potty train a child? It’s times like this that I realize how easy she makes my life. To know that my son is completely cared for, that someone knows all the sensitive periods for cognitive growth, that someone knows how to teach and edify, and not just scold and embarrass.

Thank you, Katie, for all that you do. Thank you for who you are. You are who I wish I could be. Your love for others, and especially Clark and I, is the hallmark of your life and something none of us will ever forget.

Smith Playground

2011-05-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

This morning we went with Sophia and the crew to the Smith Playground in Philly. It was one of the coolest parks I have ever been to! It is in the shadow of this huge mansion (which is full of kids activities) and there are multiple different levels and playgrounds surrounded by HUGE shade trees. The hit for Clark was the 100 year old wooden slide that you go down on potato sacks. The weather was absolutely perfect and the kids had a blast.

For the background of the park check out: http://smithkidsplayplace.org/history/. It has been a playground designed for children of all backgrounds since 1899!

Ocean City

2011-04-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

Clark and I took a quick trip this morning to Ocean City to check out the Jersey Shore. It was a quick, beautiful drive and Clark loved playing in the sand, walking along the boardwalk and having a picnic.

He did get motion sick in the car on the way there...car vomit is always awesome, but thankfully he felt better right away.

Easter Bunny

2011-04-26T12:30:00.000-07:00

The Easter Bunny came after church Sunday and left a basket for Clark by the front door. His favorites: the water gun and jelly beans.

We had an incredible dinner with Jason and Sophia! The food, table and company were wonderful.

Franklin Square

2011-04-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Clark and I headed to Franklin Square to enjoy the afternoon. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL and we made a lot of new friends. I never regretted not living in Center City this winter---but it would have been so fun to live there spring/summer/fall.

Jokes Revisited

2011-04-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

Clark: stating 'Mommy, I say a joke'
Me: 'okay'
Clark: 'people go poo poo on the tree branches!' (uncontrollable laughter)

He then proceeds to state about 15 other locations where 'people go poo poo', none of which include a toilet or a diaper.

We have digressed.

Not Pictured...and Thoughts

2011-04-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

Not pictured: Clark's room, 1/2 bath on main floor, laundry room, master bath (think coat closet), and storage room in basement. I will try and get a pic of Clark's room tomorrow.

Likes:
1. the lot (love the forest behind the house and neighborhood)
2. love having a basement for storage and containing toys and mess
3. love having a large enough dining room and table to have large groups eat comfortably
4. like the majority of paint and finish work

Dislikes:
1. master bathroom/closets (tiny tiny!)
2. backsplash in kitchen
3. lack of lighting in living room and bedrooms

Overall, the house has exceded my expectations. I really love it and am excited to keep updating and decorating.

Master

2011-04-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

Guest 1, Guest Bath, Guest 2

2011-04-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

Basement

2011-04-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

Kitchen...Breakfast...Family Room

2011-04-22T19:39:00.000-07:00

Entryway--Formal Living--Dining

2011-04-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

If you never make it out here...

2011-04-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

When we lived in Austin I did a picture tour of our home there. I have LOVED looking back at it and how our home evolved throughout the five years that we lived there.

Here is our NJ place 3 months in.

Entry Way...Exterior...side yar

Easter Eggs...

2011-04-20T17:42:00.000-07:00

We dyed some Easter Eggs today! It caused some confusion with Clark...he couldn't figure out why/how the eggs were going to 'die'---he knows Easter is about Jesus dying and then being resurrected and he carried it over to the eggs. Despite trying to explain the complexities of the English language to a 2 year old, we had a great time as a family.

Reunion

2011-04-20T17:35:00.000-07:00

Ann and her kids were able to come down from NYC this week. We had a wonderful time catching up watching the Mulliner/Anderson/Sierer kids play and have a blast together.

We tried to get a picture of all the kids...most of them were a blur!

Si was such a sweetheart to Clark and read him bedtime stories every night. It was so fun to see him so grown up after babysitting him as a toddler in Austin.

Thanks for coming Ann! We loved having you.

Funny Kid

2011-04-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

Clark has started telling jokes. They go something like this.

Clark: 'Mommy, what does a horse say?'
Me:'I don't know...what?'
Clark: 'Cock-a-doodle-dooooo' followed by hysterical laughter.

Clark: 'Moommy, what does a peacock say?'
Me: 'I don't know...what?'
Clark: 'Oink, oink oink' again...the hysterical laughter.

His imagination is also hilarious right now. He is still extremely scared of the 'wild things' that apparently infest our house. The other day as I was getting him dressed he refused to let me put his socks on him. He put them on the floor two feet away from him and said 'WILD THINGS! Come and put my socks on!'. He kept repeating it and became very frustrated that the wild things weren't cooperating. I pretended to go and talk to the wild things in the room, and brought one in by the hand but it wasn't good enough. Finally, I went and talked to them and they told me they were napping and would help with the socks later and that one made sense to the boy.

Test...

2011-04-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

Johnson Farm

2011-04-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

We visited the Johnson Family Farm in Medford, NJ (about 15 minutes from our house) on Saturday. We had such a great time! We spent over 3 hours there, but really could have spent most of the day.

Clark absolutely LOVED the Easter Bunny and gave him a giant hug. We enjoyed the tracter tour of the farm, Easter Egg hunt, petting zoo, go-carts, barn yard and play ground area. We will definitely be visiting again soon for strawberry, blueberry, cherry, peach and apple picking seasons.

Soccer Pictures

2011-04-11T17:12:00.000-07:00

Here are the images from the previous post that didn't upload properly.

Soccer!

2011-04-07T16:22:00.000-07:00

Clark had his first soccer practice Wednesday and he absolutely LOVED it! Coach Amber was wonderful and kept the kids engaged for the entire 45 minute class with lots of games and activities. Clark won the award for 'best listener' and got a patch for his soccer t-shirt.

Some funny Clarkisms:

I was playing the piano and Clark was sitting on the floor listening and looking at books and he said 'Good job Mommy! That sounds great!'.

Bella was jumping on him begging for his eggs yesterday morning and Clark said sternly 'Bella! Go and lay down in your basket, it is NOT a choice'.

I was eating a pear and Clark asked for a slice. After I gave it to him he said, 'Mommy, thank you for sharing your delicious pear with me! That was a good choice!' Apparently we are talking too much about good and bad choices lately!

Philadelphia Natural History Museum

2011-04-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

We had a great morning checking out the Philly Natural History Museum. We took the train in and walked to Logan Square. Clark LOVED the dinosaur exhibit. He expects me to know EVERY kind of dinosaur, but he remembers them better than I do. He likes to talk about the 'diplodocus, tyrannosaurus rex, stegasaurus, triceratops and eucephalus'. There was a cool area where he excavated for dinosaurs with a chisel.

The other exhibits were also wonderful! Digging for shark teeth in the sand, touching centipedes and snakes, a lot of taxidermy (yuck)and a beautiful butterfly garden!

We stopped at Marathon Grill and then took the train home. I really love Philly. There are so many things to see and explore and it is nice to be able to do them in 3-4 hours with Clark.

Building Blocks

2011-03-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

We were trying to take a good picture of Clark last night and he was in the post bath, pre bed HYPER stage and wouldn't hold still for a second until he started engineering a 'skyscraper' with his blocks.

Funny things he has been doing/saying lately:

This morning as I was eating breakfast he said, 'Mommy, Bella's MISERABLE!'

He is obsessed with the book 'Where the Wild Things Are' but is frightened by the thought of them being in the house. His imagination is really coming alive. Yesterday he started running up the stairs 'Mommy, Mommy! I am really worried!' I asked him what he was worried about and he said,'The Wild Things are in the basement and they want to get me!'

At school when I went to pick him up, he gave one of the little girls, Tyler a big hug and kiss as we were leaving. HIs teacher told me they had been playing and talking together all day. When we got home and were eating dinner he said, 'Mommy, Tyler is sooooo cute. She is Clark's girlfriend at school'.

Clark is starting soccer next week. I am really looking forward to meeting some other kids/moms in our neighborhood.

Pansies...

2011-03-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we went to Springdale farms and picked up a few flats of pansies! We had a great time planting them on our deck and in our front planter. I am hoping to plant a few pumpkins, tomato plants and vegetables this spring and be savvy enough to keep the deer and other critters from eating them.

Family!!

2011-03-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

Last week we had a wonderful visit from Carrie, James and sweet baby Braeden! My sister is my best friend and we now live on opposite coasts! It was so great to spend the whole week together. We went to Philly and spent the day checking out the historical sights on Tuesday. Wednesday we visited the Please Touch Museum which the kids LOVED. Thursday we went to Reading Terminal Market and James and Braeden ran up the steps Rocky style, and Friday I slept after working and then we went out to a wonderful dinner in Collingswood.

It was such a great week! Braeden is the sweetest little guy and it was so fun to watch him crawl around and smile all of the time! Clark started in with some serious terrible two behavior...lots of fits and very emotional last week, but thankfully he seems to be back to his sweet self today.

Granny and Grandap!

2011-03-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful visit from my parents last week! We went to the aquarium on Thursday, the zoo on Friday and Washington's Crossing to check out the historical sights on Saturday. CLark loved going on walks with Granny and Grandpa, showing them worms, wrestling and telling them stories.

Owl Calling

2011-03-08T10:03:00.001-08:00

Cute Boy

2011-03-04T14:06:00.001-08:00