Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Christmas
Over the last few years we have tried to make our tree as child friendly as possible so we stuck with the plasticy paper chain, lights, and only the hardier ornaments. This year I felt like the babies are old enough to learn not to touch more delicate ornaments. We bought some new balls for the tree and really decked it out this year. All the kids have been great and we only lost three balls so far. I bought each of the kids one new ornament in honor of the new fuller and fancier tree.
Nate was so pleased with his tiny Santa ornament he visited it every few minutes for the first hour it was on the tree.
Nate was so pleased with his tiny Santa ornament he visited it every few minutes for the first hour it was on the tree.
Jake's ornament is funny. He was very happy to also get a Santa, especially one with a "beard like Papa's!"
Audrey's ornament is by far the largest. The minute she saw the portly snow man she HAD to have it.
Emily's ornament is adorable. I think the striped scarf is what sold her on it.
Barkley
Just before Thanksgiving we decided to rescue a puppy from the local shelter. Up to this point I couldn't even consider the idea after the loss of Brandy last December, but for some reason this Thanksgiving that all changed. Now Mandy, the greatest dog on earth, has a new sidekick named "Barkley". The kids voted and came up with the name. I voted for Charlie but the house ruled and said Barkley was it, although Emily calls him Charles Barkley and Jake calls him Chuck. Nate and Audrey call him Bar-ccolli (like broccoli).
The vet said he's a Black Mouth Cur and he's recovering nicely from the horror of being a puppy in an animal shelter. Anyway, we sure are glad he's joined our family and he seems to fit in just fine.
The vet said he's a Black Mouth Cur and he's recovering nicely from the horror of being a puppy in an animal shelter. Anyway, we sure are glad he's joined our family and he seems to fit in just fine.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Poop is The Word
What's with the fascination with "potty talk"? Why do my kids love to say poop, poo poo, and poopy more than anything else?
Looking to head this off, one day I told Jake and Emily if they cleaned the play room up they could say poop as much as they wanted the rest of the day. I don't think I have ever seen kids clean so fast. The immediately started saying "poop" and prancing around.
About 6 hours later I swore I would never do that again. The word has since been outlawed but now they slip it in by accusing the other of saying "poop". Like "mom, Jake said "poop"! and "I did not say "poop" Emily", "yes you said "poop" Jake, I heard you say "poop" like this "POOOOOPPPP", "Emily I said "po-op" not "poop", we aren't supposed to say "poop" Emily, right mom? We are not allowed to say "poop"? And so the argument goes around and around....
I think I'm losing my mind.
Looking to head this off, one day I told Jake and Emily if they cleaned the play room up they could say poop as much as they wanted the rest of the day. I don't think I have ever seen kids clean so fast. The immediately started saying "poop" and prancing around.
About 6 hours later I swore I would never do that again. The word has since been outlawed but now they slip it in by accusing the other of saying "poop". Like "mom, Jake said "poop"! and "I did not say "poop" Emily", "yes you said "poop" Jake, I heard you say "poop" like this "POOOOOPPPP", "Emily I said "po-op" not "poop", we aren't supposed to say "poop" Emily, right mom? We are not allowed to say "poop"? And so the argument goes around and around....
I think I'm losing my mind.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Random October Pictures
It's a little dressier than I usually get for breakfast but that's just Audrey.
Nothing like a good breakfast smoothie.
This is what happens when you think they are playing nicely in their room together.
This is our breakfast windowsill. I didn't know that until recently.
Before the crack of dawn at the Mother's of Multiples garage sale. Jake and Emily camping in the back of my car while I set out buckets of baby clothes.
We went to a petting zoo in October. Everyone loved feeding the goats, deer, and sheep. We could have done without the bees though, Audrey is the first one to be stung by one.
The girls and a momma goat. She was sweet.
See all the little piles of food? Nate made those. He liked the goats just fine but really loved playing with their food.
By the end of the day we were so exhausted and mentally drained it was all we could do to pick out some pumpkins and head home.
Nate and Audrey at their school's costume parade. Nate liked his costume so much he did 5 laps around the class after we put it on.
Jake and Emily had a storybook character parade at school. Jake went as Jeremy Jacob from How I became a Pirate and Emily went as Pinkalicious from the same named book. We had to custom make Jake's tee shirt with fabric spray paint and contact paper. It turned out perfect.
She was very proud of this costume. We peaced it together and she looked fantastic.
Happy Halloween!
It was a busy day for us. It started with Jake's belt ceremony at Tae Kwon Do early this afternoon. Then the block party at our business shopping center, home for naps and lunch, then dinner and trick or treating. It was a fun day but definitly packed full of things to do.
Audrey and Nate of course don't remember Halloween last year, so esentially this was their first year. Audrey, with her Canadian accent, was screaming/squeaking at the top of her lungs at the kids walking by, the lights in peoples yards, and the pumpkins on the porches. She could not have had a better time. She ran to and from the first few houses yelling out everything she saw along the way "Doggie! Rock! Pumpkin!Candy!" A bottle rocket would have been a good costume for her but she was a very cute ladybug instead. She tired after five or six houses then rode on Jeff's lap the rest of the way sneaking candy out her bag here and there.
Nate was very excited too. He was screaming and wiggling in his car seat on the way to the neighborhood we were trick or treating in. The first house, he trotted right up to with the rest of the clan but tried to turn back and run at the last minute. The second house he made it all the way to the door but wouldn't walk up to get his candy. The third house he went right up to the lady and got his candy. The fourth house he went right up to the lady and as she bend down to put candy in his bag he screamed and threw the bag at her! I carried him for several more houses all of which he didn't want anything to do with it. At the seventh or eight house I was still holding him and after the lady put candy in his bag he reached in his bag and gave her some back!
Jake and Emily went house to house like a team of professional candy samplers which is actually what they would be if it were a real job for a four year old. They actually rang doorbells and said "trick or treat". I was very proud of them.
We ended the night with too much candy and a glow stick bubble bath (see the picture).
Audrey and Nate of course don't remember Halloween last year, so esentially this was their first year. Audrey, with her Canadian accent, was screaming/squeaking at the top of her lungs at the kids walking by, the lights in peoples yards, and the pumpkins on the porches. She could not have had a better time. She ran to and from the first few houses yelling out everything she saw along the way "Doggie! Rock! Pumpkin!Candy!" A bottle rocket would have been a good costume for her but she was a very cute ladybug instead. She tired after five or six houses then rode on Jeff's lap the rest of the way sneaking candy out her bag here and there.
Nate was very excited too. He was screaming and wiggling in his car seat on the way to the neighborhood we were trick or treating in. The first house, he trotted right up to with the rest of the clan but tried to turn back and run at the last minute. The second house he made it all the way to the door but wouldn't walk up to get his candy. The third house he went right up to the lady and got his candy. The fourth house he went right up to the lady and as she bend down to put candy in his bag he screamed and threw the bag at her! I carried him for several more houses all of which he didn't want anything to do with it. At the seventh or eight house I was still holding him and after the lady put candy in his bag he reached in his bag and gave her some back!
Jake and Emily went house to house like a team of professional candy samplers which is actually what they would be if it were a real job for a four year old. They actually rang doorbells and said "trick or treat". I was very proud of them.
We ended the night with too much candy and a glow stick bubble bath (see the picture).
...and the WATER is the problem?
About two hours ago Jake and Emily were placed in my bedroom to watch a movie and have some "quiet time" before Halloween gets started. I say "quiet time" loosely. Anyway, one of the 100 times one of them came out of the room for something Emily comes out of the room and finds me in the office. She says "Jake just spilled water all over your bed". I got up and headed into the bedroom expecting to need a beach towel and only find a 2 inch spot of water. I turn to Emily and say "that's what you called me in here for?" She shrugged in semi-agreement while my brain finally registered the sound of rushing water. "Where is Jake" I asked, she said "the bathroom", so I headed in. He was standing at the sink with the water on full blast (only the cold knob). I asked him "what are you doing Jake?" He said "trying to wash this stuff off my face", as he looked up from the sink. His face was COVERED in a magic marker. Pink and magenta magic marker. Picture a masquerade mask, yep that's the one, all around the eyes, down the nose and across the cheeks. I wish I had the sense to take a picture but all I could think was "and you called me in here for the WATER?" Later I realized she also did all 10 toes, his right shin, and his thumbs. At least today is Halloween! No one will notice. :-)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
One Year Ago...
These pictures are from October 2008. Sometimes I look at them and think I can't believe it's only been a year! With all that's happened it feels more like several years have passed. Then again, it seems like just a few months ago I took Nate and Audrey to the church and did a photo shoot in their "TW" "IN" shirts.....
Nate's sense of humor was really showing up that day. He still likes to make funny faces and in fact loves to make his "mean face" for people that ask.
I remember that while he was very little lots of people asked if he was a girl. He has such soft features and large eyes. I think his hair being longer than Audrey's didn't help either! His toupee was really flapping in the wind during the photo shoot. :-)
Yes, he's eating grass, but Audrey licked that stone bench so they were even.
Nate's sense of humor was really showing up that day. He still likes to make funny faces and in fact loves to make his "mean face" for people that ask.I remember that while he was very little lots of people asked if he was a girl. He has such soft features and large eyes. I think his hair being longer than Audrey's didn't help either! His toupee was really flapping in the wind during the photo shoot. :-)Yes, he's eating grass, but Audrey licked that stone bench so they were even. We went to the zoo two weeks in a row last year. The weather was just so nice and we had such a good time we couldn't pass it up. We'll be heading back there soon now that its cooled down again.
The giraffe's are by far the most interesting animals at the zoo. It's unreal how large they really are.
We also went to Old McDonald's Farm. We went (our first time there) with my Mother's of Multiples group. It's such a neat place that the kids can't wait to go back again. Luckily that will be next weekend. Nate and Audrey stayed in the stroller almost the entire time last year because they were only partial walkers, mostly still stumblers.
They have dear, that you can pet and feed. I couldn't get enough of this one. Jake and Emily fed them so much that they didn't want to eat anymore. Worried about the deer making it through the night without them there to feed them, Jake and Emily made a huge pile of food by the deer's stomach as soon as she laid down in the shade to rest.
Last Halloween Emily dressed up as Ariel and Jake was Spiderman. The day their preschool had the costume parade Jake threw a huge tantrum as I was dressing him and the zipper broke. We were already late so I didn't have time to fix it. I had to dress him in an old lion costume he had from the year before. He had outgrown it but we made it work....kind of. It really was horrible and I cried while I fixed his Spiderman costume with iron-on Velcro. This year his Grammy bought him a brand new Spiderman costume with a nice sturdy zipper and built in muscles. Jake likes to put it on then put his clothes on over it and say he's going as Peter Parker! How did he think of that?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tae Kwon Do!
Jake recently started Tae Kwon Do. He was determined that he would hate it but we made him try it just once and he was hooked! He cried when we made him go in the first day. After the warm up he started to settle down a little. Then he actually had fun. Then when it ended we couldn't get him to stop kicking and punching! He was thrilled that he's allowed to play fight with a room full of other kids and they're all play fighting too! It's just too good to be true!
That's Jake fifth from the left.
That's Jake fifth from the left.
Update
Ugh! Nursing school has kept me so busy that I keep forgetting to post an update!
Audrey: You are such a Binky addict! Sometimes we sneak you one in the middle of the night if something wakes you up and you can't go back to sleep. You love the Binky so much that it sends you into an instant coma! If you only knew that we have a whole Ziploc full of them hidden in my office! Oh I can just see you passed out in the middle of the floor surrounded with Binky's! The really funny part is that you don't even know it! You see, the Binky falls out of your mouth sometime during the night and gets lost in the bedding. So when you wake up...no Binky; "It must have been a strange yet wonderful recurring dream!?!"
Nate: "Weegoles daddy Weegoles!" You finally put in a request and it was The Wiggles! You have always been so easy going and sweet that sometimes I worry you are being trampled by the bigger personalities in the house. You seem to enjoy almost everything that is watched on the TV and played in the living room but yesterday you finally chimed in and asked daddy to put on The Wiggles for you. It made me happy to see you get exactly what you wanted and everybody likes The Wiggles! Good job Nate!
Emily: You have babies in your belly! Some days you only have two but most days you have five or six. This morning while you were coloring before school you said you had ten babies and ten puppies in your stomach. The most popular names for your babies are Calla, Callie, Lauren, Annie, Henry, Hannah, Joy, and Grace. I like that you love babies so much and I hope that you have a huge family. There really isn't anything better than kids!
Jake: You still love to be "loved on" as we call it. You have me carry you or "hold you" everywhere we go! If daddy goes too then either you ride with him or have momma carry you. We know that one day soon it will end so we carry you now as much as we can. We're going to miss it when its past. We're also going to miss those early morning visits in bed. You come in around five am about three days a week. You like to spoon daddy with one leg up on him. ;-) We'll miss that too, although it would be weird when you're ten!
Audrey: You are such a Binky addict! Sometimes we sneak you one in the middle of the night if something wakes you up and you can't go back to sleep. You love the Binky so much that it sends you into an instant coma! If you only knew that we have a whole Ziploc full of them hidden in my office! Oh I can just see you passed out in the middle of the floor surrounded with Binky's! The really funny part is that you don't even know it! You see, the Binky falls out of your mouth sometime during the night and gets lost in the bedding. So when you wake up...no Binky; "It must have been a strange yet wonderful recurring dream!?!"
Nate: "Weegoles daddy Weegoles!" You finally put in a request and it was The Wiggles! You have always been so easy going and sweet that sometimes I worry you are being trampled by the bigger personalities in the house. You seem to enjoy almost everything that is watched on the TV and played in the living room but yesterday you finally chimed in and asked daddy to put on The Wiggles for you. It made me happy to see you get exactly what you wanted and everybody likes The Wiggles! Good job Nate!
Emily: You have babies in your belly! Some days you only have two but most days you have five or six. This morning while you were coloring before school you said you had ten babies and ten puppies in your stomach. The most popular names for your babies are Calla, Callie, Lauren, Annie, Henry, Hannah, Joy, and Grace. I like that you love babies so much and I hope that you have a huge family. There really isn't anything better than kids!
Jake: You still love to be "loved on" as we call it. You have me carry you or "hold you" everywhere we go! If daddy goes too then either you ride with him or have momma carry you. We know that one day soon it will end so we carry you now as much as we can. We're going to miss it when its past. We're also going to miss those early morning visits in bed. You come in around five am about three days a week. You like to spoon daddy with one leg up on him. ;-) We'll miss that too, although it would be weird when you're ten!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Audrey's Babies
Did I ever mention how much Audrey loves babies? She loves to undress them, dress them, feed them, and carry them around. What she loves to do most though, is to put them to sleep....
Something Funny
This is Audrey giving Nate a bath. She's "reading" a Leaps and Bounds catalog. I DID NOT set this up. She actually had her leg crossed before I made a run for my camera. She's turning the page in this picture. I wonder if she ordered anything?
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