More "fun" pictures

At the Fall Festival, Kiefer looked as if he was a teenager, dragged by his parents to a lame party. And of course, he looked like he was forced to wear a puppy costume when indeed, he wanted to be the superhero. (for the record, he liked the puppy in the store and he like the puppy the first night he tried it on) 

However, he acted like the perfect two year old child. He held tightly on to either Mommy or Daddy's finger the entire time. He sat completely still while on the hayride. We didn't hear a single "no" to any question we asked.  (I began to daydream of what it would be like to take him to the store wearing his puppy costume...) 

Here are a few of the "this is lame" and "my parents made me wear this costume" looks.  

I'm not sure what this one was about.    

At least his brother had fun. Even if his 2T costume was a bit snug. 

Anyone know of a Halloween picture contest?

Cause we just might win big with this one.   

Could they be less enthused?

(More to come on this one.  To answer the question above. Yes, they remained un-enthused for most of the evening at our church's Family Fall Festival.) 

Take two

Remember all the sentiment last night about my boys... 

Well, I am ready to throw them both outside and lock the doors until they can cooperate just a little. They are currently fighting over the same marker. One of their 6 markers. Its not a special marker. Its not even the best color (according to mom). But for some reason, they both must have it.  I try to equally divide the (in this case) markers. I try to explain none are better than the other. I try to put some space in between the boys.  But they insist on sitting practically on top of each other, with all the markers in the middle, grabbing at the same one. So I've learned to leave the room and let them figure it out.  

I am hearing the Fridge DJ and silent mouths from the kitchen. They must have worked it out.  

Now. Naps in 45 minutes. ;) 

TwinTalk

Sometimes I forget about this little thing that takes place in our home every day. Its not necessarily unique these days... all the cool people are doing it. Brangelina. J-Lo. Tiffany ;)

But it really is truly amazing to me. 

Twins. Together (almost) always, ever since they shared a womb. 

Sometimes I forget when they are crying over the same book. Or teasing one another by taking away a toy. Or teaming up against me by running separate ways. Or sometimes I just plain forget about the whole wonderfulness of twins when I want to do nothing but put them in bed an hour early!  (Wait. That's never me. Okay. Sometimes.) 

I'm reminded on days like today, when I drop them off at Mom's Day Off, and they just stand next to each other near the door. One decides to be shy, so the other stands back, too. Supporting one another, simply with their presence.  And when we come home and Reagan trips on the steps and Kiefer grabs his hand to pull him up. Or when Reagan sees Daddy playing "this little piggy" with Kiefer and immediately starts to pull off his socks because he knows his turn is next. Or when Kiefer wants his drink but won't leave the kitchen without his brother's cup, too.  Sure, these things may be very similar with siblings that didn't roll around in the same uterus...

But I also think it is completely different. And the bond is strong. And I pray it is there for their entire lifetime. You are (generally) with siblings longer than you are with parents, friends, spouses. And to think these two got a headstart back when we knew them as "a" and "b." 

 

A sneak preview

And a look back (to exactly a year ago)... 

(remember that poor injured face? from the driveway, the fireplace and some random toy...)

Rainy day cooking

whew. 

Stacey and me. 

One trip to the grocery story in the pouring rain 

(with two boys in their turtle rain coats). 

3 meals for our friends with a new baby. 

Another trip for me back to the store, in the pouring rain, 

for a few more ingredients. 

Another meal for 5 families on our church staff* 

or from the looks of it, an Army. 

Some tired ladies. 

A hot and muggy house. 

Oh, and a crockpot of chili for tonight. 

double whew. 

*Don't forget your Pastors during Pastor Appreciation Month

hairy legs, switching places, and pigs

Found in Parents magazine's "baby bloopers"...

"My mother was sitting on the couch next to my 4-year-old son, Wyatt, and she pointed out all the little hairs on his legs. Wyatt responded, "Mommy has pinchy hairs on her legs." 

from Melissa Barr; Pittsburgh, Pa. 

I was just talking to friends of mine about this.... I had shorts on the other morning (and needed to shave) and one of the boys was standing next to me and had his hand on my leg. I had an instant flashback of myself as a little one, brushing against my mom's legs and wondering why they were scratchy!!  (Sorry, mom! But apparently it happens to the best of us!) 

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I was doing some work on the computer this morning and Reagan and Kiefer were sitting behind me reading books. 

I heard Reagan declare "ba-ba" which as those that spend time around them know, is their twin talk for "let's switch." (I don't know. It just is)  Switch toys, switch trucks... in this case, I assumed switch books. 

I hear lots of movement, look back, and see this 

Wait... double take. 

Apparently they needed to switch places in order to switch books. 

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And just for an extra smile today... 

Kiefer doing his best pig impression. 

Tummy troubles

*Update:

Reagan was better by Friday evening. Kept everything down from after naptime. 

Kiefer was fine all Saturday morning, had lunch, took a good nap, and had a snack. From that time, he quickly became sick, with a high fever and was very lethargic. He literally laid in a lap or on the couch from 4pm until bedtime. His fever is gone this morning, and he is doing better. He would get up and play, and then take a break on the couch for a while. Hopefully we will be in the clear tomorrow. 

I just wrote the beginning of a long-ish post and realized, this is probably too much information for most people. 

Let me sum up. Buttercup is marrying Humperdinck in little less than half an hour...

Oh wait, I got of track... 

Somehow we are sick here again. 

Kiefer didn't eat breakfast and acted like he didn't feel well. Uh-oh. 

But then Reagan is the one that has gotten sick. Three times to be exact. 

This happened with Kiefer like only a month ago. 

And just like last time... I will be stuck in the house. 

No Oktoberfest. 

No trip to the mall that was actually quite necessary this time. 

Bummer. 

But similar to how I love don't mind when Kiefer is sick 

because he lets me hold him, I am taking advantage of the extra snuggles from 

Reagan this morning. It is still different between the two of them. Kiefer doesn't 

feel well and he allows me to hold him and love on him. Reagan doesn't feel well 

and he wants me to hold him and love on him.

Please pray Reagan's tummy gets better quickly and that Kiefer doesn't get worse. 

Thanks.

Look what I can do!

I suppose you are to be happy when  your children are smart. When they are imaginative. Innovative. 

Not this mama. 

Well at least not this time. 

They (and when I say "they" I mean "Kiefer") have figured out how to turn their toy tubs upside down and use them as stools. To get into changing table drawers for lotion. Kitchen drawers for silverware. On top of counters for (Daddy's stash of) candy corn. And they've fallen off a tub or two trying to reach things like light switches and mini blinds.  

I guess I'll count myself fortunate that it took this long. They've been dumping and using the tubs as seats for quite awhile. It was bound to happen. Its just too bad they don't like using the toy tubs for their intended purpose- holding the toys. 

She works hard for the money

I haven't written anything here about the newest chapter of my life. So its time to catch you up. 

A season of change (in our lives) has come along with the cooler weather and pumpkin spice lattes. 

I am officially employed. I have an out-of-the-house-money-making-JAY-OH-BE.  

Before Reagan and Kiefer jumped into our lives, I knew I wanted nothing more than to stay home with our then-hypothetical babies. (Little did I know they'd come at the same time.) And I will forever be grateful that I had the opportunity to do just that for more than two years. During that time, however, I knew it wouldn't always be the case. I knew there was something "out there" for me to do. But I wasn't going to give up my time with my babies for just any old job.  I wasn't going to throw away my status as a SAHM for a simple paycheck.  I wanted to get back into social work (and finally use my MSW)  and get back into saving the world (see side profile). And it had to be perfect or it wouldn't be worth it. 

So I've found the perfect job, with a perfectly flexible schedule, making the perfect amount of cash... doing group, individual and family therapy in an elementary school. I'm working very part-time, about 10-2ish on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with some work every other Wednesday morning.  The boys are attending a Mom's Day Out/Preschool/Day Care at a nearby church and so far, so good. They've been too busy to say good-bye to me both times I've dropped them off (this is par for the course with our social butterflies at the church and YMCA nurseries).  Things have been a little rough picking them up (naptime is shortened on these days) but I know they will adjust quickly. The second day was already drastically better than the first. 

I'm working with kids in Kindergarten through 4th grade and so far I have learned: 

1) I am out of practice with "leaving it at the office." I was very good with that in Child Welfare. But I need to work on it again. 

2) there is already one little boy that I want to bring home with me

3) I don't look any older than 29, according to a 3rd grader

4) it is easy to adore a child that asks for extra pickles with his lunch and then builds a "pickle castle" on his chicken sandwich

5) now that I have kids, I'm easily angered by hearing that a kid's dad "sleeps, eats, and lays on the couch" and "won't play" with his 7 year old son. or that "my mom left for the grocery story and didn't come back"  

6) that I like meeting new adults 

7) that I'm easily beaten in Candy Land

8) I was a very well-behaved student. I remember having a time out in recess once in 2nd grade and having my name written on the board once in 4th grade. Those are honestly the only times I can remember disobeying a teacher or other authority figure in elementary school. You would have NEVER found me talking back to a teacher, rolling around on the floor, screaming in class, peeing on the carpet, refusing to do my homework, hitting another student or chewing on my socked feet. Not that I've seen any of that in the two short days I've worked. Okay, all of it. 

It must be Monday morning...

when I grab the coffee pot, add the water, grind the beans.... and brew a whole pot of hot water.  It helps if the coffee goes from the grinder to the filter.  

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At least I have the following images from this weekend to get me through the Monday morning blahs... 

Reagan and Kiefer loving the peach salsa from Grandpa Wayne

(don't mind the remnants of applesauce in Ray's hair)

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The boys' first golf lesson with Daddy. 

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Kiefer doing his best Bill Cosby impression. 

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and more fun shots from the pumpkin patch

Fall Fun

Confessions of a Busy Mom

I decided as soon as I woke up that I needed to run to the store for something later in the day, so I put on some clothes and went with hand-combed hair, no make-up and morning breath. 

The clothes I dressed in came out of the suitcase I still haven't unpacked from our weekend. 

I realized half way through my peanut butter bars, that I was short 1 1/3 cups powdered sugar (yes, after my early morning trip to the store. and I knew our neighbors were gone so they couldn't help me out.)

I threw some jeans on the boys but left on the t-shirts they slept in, and we went to the store again. With me still in my suitcase clothes and no make-up. But this time it was a ponytail and coffee breath. 

I put the boys in their beds and put on a movie so I could finish making the desserts and get ready to leave. 

As I was changing Reagan's dirty diaper and putting on a clean shirt, Kiefer took his jeans and diaper off and peed in his crib (a first). I got him out, changed him, and left the wet crib. 

We left the house 5 minutes before the boys' (flu-shot) appointment that is at least 12 minutes away. 

I put minimal make-up on in the car and was torn between wanting red lights for the mascara application and wanting green lights for the speediness to the dr's. office. 

I considered for at least 10 seconds, leaving the boys in the car while I ran in to a restaurant to  grab a gift certificate. (I parked right by the door and the walls were all windows.) I didn't do it.  

I dropped off dessert for our church staff as part of Pastor Appreciation Month. 3 cookies were missing. One for me, one for each boy.  Who am I kidding? Two for me, the boys split one. 

It was already past our normal lunch time, so I stopped at Sonic and the boys ate Popcorn Chicken (also a first) as they watched Elmo all the way home.  I had to keep them awake! 

And lastly, I am blogging instead of cleaning up the disaster I left in the kitchen this morning. 

Whew. I feel better. 

October 7th, 1947. My dad's birthday. 

October 7th, 1978. The day my parents brought me home from the hospital. His 31st birthday. 

October 7th, 2008. Our 11th time missing him on his birthday.   

Would be his 61st. 

I love you, Dad. And my heart aches from not being able to tell you that today.  

 

Some highlights

Back from our short trip to Iowa. A weekend full of family and fun. 

Taking part in the Walk to Defeat ALS walk with Aunt Deana in memory of Grandpa Olson. 

The boys playing with Aunt Kim and Tricia 

Blowing out 30 candles. With some help. 

My mom's roast. And Iowa corn. Yum-O.

Helping cousin Ben open his early birthday present. 

Grandpa Willie getting the most enjoyment out of Ben's present!

The Star of the weekend. New cousin, Taylor Grace. 

Grandpa Wayne sharing cake with three little boys. "Bite! Bite!"

Reading books with Grandma Nancy.

Grandma's doors have easy escape handles, so he was mad when we locked the doors to keep him inside. ;) 

So I'm 30.

I don't feel any different. 

I don't think I look any different. 

But I was reminded again how much I'm loved. 

Donnie keeps asking me how I feel, like I am supposed to freak out about my new age. 

The only thing that seems weird is that my 20's are gone. But only because people talk so much about "your 20's." But now I'm in "my 30's." 

I remember growing up and knowing my mom had me when she was 31. I thought that was old. (Mainly because it was old compared to my friends' parents. My parents had at least 10 years on a lot of them.) But here I am, a year away from 31. If I'm going to have another child, it will have to be in the next year, otherwise I will be older than my mom when she was old. (what?)

When people have asked how I feel about turning the corner to 30, I've had the same response. I'm either in denial about it or I'm totally accepting of it. Because its really been no big deal. (I think its the latter of the two). I have a thoughtful husband and two beautiful, happy, and healthy boys. We have a home and blessed life. I have a support system of friends and family that are more than wonderful.  Why would I dread turning 30, and continuing in this life I have? 

So, how did I spend my first day in my 30's?

Slept in. 

Was served breakfast and sat down and ate with my family. 

Donnie told me he took the day off and was sending me to get a massage. 

After the massage, I took advantage of the steam shower and all the yummy products. 

As I was leaving the spa, Stacey showed up to take me to lunch. 

PF Chang's. Yum. 

Then a manicure. 

Topped off with a Pumpkin Spice Latte.

And then a little reading (about vampires and werewolves. Don't ask.) 

And then a sort of accidental nap. 

And then, as I was waiting for friends to show up for Survivor, it turned out to be Stacey here to babysit so Donnie and I could go have dinner. 

Sushi and martinis. Yum. Yum.

And then back home to watch Survivor on TiVo while eating cheesecake. 

Oh yeah. And this. 

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Kiefer wanted to wear my necklace, so we shared it. 

Reagan was still in his bed, awake at 9:00. After several singing outbursts, I went in and grabbed him. He came out to be the center of attention for a couple minutes, for a little more birthday snuggling, and a bite of cheesecake. He was sound asleep within minutes. 

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With the dozen phone calls and multiple texts and emails (and even a real card in the mail!), at the end of the day, I still think about that one call that doesn't come anymore. The one call that always reminded me of how old he must be if his baby was having another birthday. The one call whose absence brings me to tears every year, from my 20th to my 30th.