Twice Blessed

Small Price to Pay

2009-03-23T17:11:00.007-05:00

Like Carol Brady, I'm always telling the girls not to play ball in the house. And, just like Peter, they never listen! (Don't worry...this doesn't end badly like it did for Peter!)

Catherine had been begging all day to play with her soccer ball inside, but over and over again, I told her no.

...until I got a phone call from a friend that I really wanted to take!

Both girls promised to keep the ball on the ground at all times and to be really careful. I knew they had no intention of following through on their promises, but I also knew the soccer ball would occupy them for a few minutes.

So I gave in.

It got pretty loud in their room, but I was able to tune it out. Nothing short of blood or broken bones was going to end this conversation prematurely!

At the end of our talk, I noticed the soccer ball was missing. I also noticed a guilty-looking little girl trying not to act suspicious.

It didn't take long to find the ball. It was in the same spot it's been in many times before. No, it was definitely not on the floor. It was on the top of their shelf, nestled in with some stuffed animals.

Okay, so they totally disobeyed and got away with it. Nothing was broken. No real harm was done.

And I was able to have a complete, uninterrupted phone call. Totally worth it!

Don't you have those days when you'll do just about anything for a few minutes to yourself?

BFFs

2009-03-21T01:20:00.000-05:00

Practically since birth, the girls have had best friends. If you spend much time around them, you'll figure it out pretty quickly. No, I'm not just talking about each other. That goes without saying. They each have another best friend. Nanny and Pop. Just ask, and they'll always tell you the same thing. Grace will answer, without hesitation, that her best friend is Pop. Catherine will enthusiastically tell you her best friend is Nanny. And they aren't kidding. These two girls love their best friends! It's pretty cute, to say the least.

Usually, nothing makes my two girls happier than hearing that they are going to spend the night with their best friends. Yesterday, though, when I told Grace that there was a sleepover planned for tonight, she wasn't excited. She didn't go nuts like she usually does, and she didn't even crack a smile. In fact, she almost started to cry.

I was completely stunned, and asked her why she wasn't happy. Did she not want to spend the night over there? Was she scared? Was she sick? Was she going to miss me? (Okay...I knew that wasn't it, but it never hurts to ask, right?)

It was none of that. She was sad because she didn't think Pop was going to be there. My dad, Pop, was out of town the other night, and she didn't realize he was back. She didn't want to go without him. (No offense, Mom! If Catherine had been awake, I know she would have been ecstatic!)

She perked right up when I told her Pop was back. Once she knew he would be there, she couldn't wait to go!

I asked her if she wanted to go, now that she knew Pop would be there.

"Yes!" She said. "But Mommy, I really miss my best friend when he's gone!"

Awww...I understand!

Finally!

2009-03-20T14:20:00.007-05:00

My blogging lately has been sporadic, at best. I could give you tons of excuses, but the bottom line is that I just haven't felt like it. I haven't really been in the mood to sit down and post some cute pictures of the girls, or go on and on about all of the wonderful things that have been happening around our house. Honestly, until the past few days, there haven't been many cute pictures. Most of the stories I have to tell would be far from wonderful.

And that's hard to admit.

For the past few weeks, the tears have come close to outnumbering the laughs. They've shed tears over everything from hurt feelings to not getting their way. I've shed tears out of sheer frustration, and because I just haven't been the mom I want to be.

That, too, is hard to admit.

Finally, a couple of days ago, things started to change. Yes, they are still three. And yes, they might still be throwing the kind of tantrums in public that draw a crowd.

But something is different. We've actually been having fun these past few days! I've enjoyed them more, and they are enjoying me! We've laughed more than we've cried, and the good moments have outweighed the bad.

I'm hoping this trend will continue! I'm really looking forward to seeing more of these happy faces...

I wish I may, I wish I might...

2009-03-13T00:25:00.002-05:00

Catherine has been having a little trouble lately being nice. She's trying, I know she is, but sometimes it's just hard.

I can sympathize.

Yesterday as I was brushing her long, messy, tangled hair, she told me she was going to make a wish. She was wishing on a hair clip. Not a star, or even an eyelash. A hair clip.

It went something like this...

Catherine: I wish that I could be nice to Mommy all the time!

Me: Well, you actually don't have to wish for that. You can just do it!

Catherine: No, I just want to wish for it. I don't really want to do it.

At least she's honest.

Thanksgiving Thursday

2009-03-12T09:59:00.000-05:00

>>

I've noticed a few of my bloggy friends playing along with Nicole, from What a Trip!, on Thanksgiving Thursday, and I thought today would be the perfect day to join in! Honestly, we've not had the best week, and I think it's about time to change my focus. There is so much I have to be thankful for...

1) My husband, who works ridiculously long hours this time of year and doesn't complain about it. He works so hard to provide for us, and I'm thankful to have married a man who is not only a great husband, but a wonderful dad! The girls truly adore him!

2) A weekend getaway! It will just be a little over 24 hours, but I get to go visit a really good friend of mine tomorrow...without the kiddos!!!

3) Silly girls. I'll admit that sometimes I wish they'd tone it down a little, but they do keep me laughing!

4) Fabulous friends! I really do have the best friends - ever! I have the kind who know just what to say (or not say), call at the exact moment that I need them, and love me unconditionally, quirks and all!

5) My new iPhone. Shallow, I know, but I love it! Even if it has a mind of its own.

6) Living near family. I live within 20 minutes of my parents and in-laws! They have all come to my rescue numerous times over the last 4 years!!

7) Baby Allen's safe arrival! Our friends Sara and Robert had their first baby boy yesterday, and we are so excited for them!! Can't wait to see him...hopefully soon!

8) BSF. If you've been reading my blog, you've heard me mention it before, but I'm so thankful for the lessons I'm learning this year! And for what the girls are learning.

9) Oldnavyweekly.com. Thanks to a heads up from my sister, I got a coupon for $75 off $100! Seriously!

10) The Imagination Movers! Yes, I'm the adult, but I had just as much fun as my kids at the concert! They were so good!

What are you thankful for?

Imagination Movers

2009-03-10T08:10:00.007-05:00

Don't be jealous, but this weekend we took the girls to see the Imagination Movers! Before I was a mom, I thought I would never go to one of those kiddie concerts. Disney on Ice? Maybe. The Doodlebops? No way!

I'm so glad I changed my mind!

We've been big fans of the Imagination Movers since they've been on the Disney Channel, and our love for them has only grown. I'm not ashamed to admit that I am as much of a fan as the girls are!

So when I heard they were coming to town (um...yeah, I'm on their e-mail list!), I told my husband that we just had to go. Being the great husband and dad he is, he stayed home on the Saturday morning that the tickets came out so he could get us the best seats. And they really were good seats!

We all had a really good time at the concert! The girls got to meet the Imagination Movers after it was over, and we were all able to take a picture with them.

It was definitely a day the girls will remember!

Meltdown in aisle 7...

2009-03-02T22:14:00.013-06:00

Late this afternoon, the girls and I went to Walmart to do our weekly grocery shopping. I had a feeling it wasn't going to go well, but I really didn't have a choice.

About 4.2 seconds into our shopping trip, Catherine started melting down. I managed to distract her for several minutes, but eventually, she broke down.

She just couldn't take it anymore. Frankly, neither could I. Right there in the pillow aisle, she just let it all out. Our cart was full, and there was really no turning back. I couldn't leave, and I definitely wasn't coming back another day to finish the job.

So I did what any loving and compassionate mom would do.

I took her picture.

Then I told her I was putting it on the Internet. And sending it to Daddy at work.

Did the tears stop? Not really.

Did she calm down? Hardly.

Did Grace and I get a little chuckle out of it? Maybe.

I promised her that later I would take a happy picture, too. And I did.

Before bedtime, she told her daddy all about what happened and I actually think it made an impression on her. She was sorry for throwing a fit in the store, and she said she liked the happy picture a lot better.

Me, too!

(And yes, if you are thinking this picture looks familiar, there is a reason. You've seen this face before!)

Water, water, everywhere

2009-02-28T15:30:00.004-06:00

Y'all, they flooded the toilet.

That says enough, but allow me to elaborate...

We had just gotten home from lunch, and the girls were in the bathroom taking care of their business before naptime. There was some giggling, which is normal, and then a flush. The flush, though, did not sound normal. It was immediately followed by the sound of water pouring onto the floor.

I raced into the bathroom, hoping it wasn't what I thought, but it was.

Water was going everywhere, and there were two petrified little three-year-olds just staring at all the water.

As if there wasn't enough water already, they both burst into tears when they saw me.

I got the water turned off, sent them to their room, and started cleaning. My mind is a little fuzzy on the details here, but voices might have been raised. Or maybe it was just mine.

After counting to ten about 43 times, taking several hundred deep breaths, and repeating, "I will not yell, I will not yell," it was time to go talk to them.

Catherine confessed pretty quickly, admitting that it was her that put almost an entire roll of toilet paper in the toilet. Grace, meanwhile, maintained her innocence.

I decided that they had already been punished enough, and I handed out no further consequences. Seeing the toilet overflow and Mommy completely flip her lid was probably enough. Neither was a pretty scene.

Let's hope they don't try it again!

Reunited

2009-02-26T08:05:00.002-06:00

The girls are rarely apart. Rarely. Occasionally I'll take one to the grocery store with me and the other will stay home, but that's pretty much it.

So last week, I decided to send one to choir alone, and keep the other with me. I was just curious to see how they would do without their other half.

At first, this idea was not well-received. Before I could even explain it, they were both in tears. "But I don't want to be by myself! I wanna be with my sister!! I'll miss her!"

But I did it anyway.

Catherine went to choir alone last week, and Grace got to stay with me and pick something fun to do. Just the two of us.

This week, Grace went to choir alone, and Catherine and I spent time together.

Surprisingly enough, neither had a major meltdown. Or even a minor one. I think Catherine might have been a little sad last week, but they were both fine this week.

Last night, Catherine and I dropped Grace off at the church before heading out on our own. As we turned to leave the room, Grace caught up with Catherine to say goodbye. They hugged and kissed and each one told her sister that she loved her and she'd miss her.

Grace and I had a great time last week, and Catherine and I had a blast this week. They both told me how much fun they had alone with me.

But as much fun as we had together, they were delighted to see each other again once our time was up. And the whole way home, they talked like they'd been apart for days!
And what did each of them choose to do with Mommy? With endless possibilities, they both chose...Target. I guess the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree!

At last...

2009-02-25T13:10:00.002-06:00

We've had a few rough days around here lately. Lots of tears, grumpy kids, too much fighting, and not enough naps.

It was starting to wear me down.

I thought last night would be the end, but it wasn't. I was hoping that an early bedtime would mean more sleep. More sleep would, of course, mean happier children. What I wasn't counting on, though, was that fact that in this house, bedtime does not always mean sleep.

Although bedtime came early, sleep did not.

Fortunately, this morning was BSF. The timing was perfect, as usual. Not just the fact that we were all out of the house, but I heard just what I needed to hear. Funny how it always seems to work out like that.

And now, only ten minutes after laying the girls down for their naps, they are fast asleep. Apparently, the nap that Catherine so adamantly denied needing was, in fact, just what she needed.

Contentment

2009-02-24T18:39:00.004-06:00

Or maybe discontentment would be more appropriate.

Much of today has been filled with the sounds of whining, crying, screaming, and moaning. Remarkably, none of it has been mine.

I just can't seem to please one of my children today.

I've served the wrong drinks, driven home on the wrong roads, picked out the wrong clothes, played the wrong music, and said all the wrong things.

Even in the good things today, she's found the bad.

We played at a friend's house today (one of her all-time favorite people), but we didn't stay long enough. And we were upstairs when she wanted to be downstairs. Outside when she wanted to be inside.

I treated them with dinner from Chick-fil-A, but she wanted to eat it there instead of taking it home. And the nuggets weren't at all to her satisfaction.

I'm frustrated (really frustrated!), but I know we all have days like that. No matter what, it's not good enough. Even when we get the things we've begged and pleaded for in the past, we want more. Or we want something totally different now.

I'm her mom. I know what's best for her. She doesn't see that, though. All she sees is what's missing. What didn't go her way.

And she's been miserable. Almost all day. Because she's missed everything that was there. Everything that did go her way. She couldn't see that she had just what she needed.

Typical of twins, her sister has been the complete opposite today. Gushing over even the smallest thing, hugging me and thanking me every time I turn around. Telling me how much she's loved the day.

And she's been incredibly happy. She hasn't missed a thing.

Oh, the lessons I learn from my 3-year-old twins!

Fortunately, today's problem has a solution. It's called bedtime. And it's coming early tonight!

Preschool, here we come!

2009-02-23T13:00:00.000-06:00

It's done! We went up to the preschool this morning and turned in our registration papers for the fall...and it was almost completely painless. I only teared up once, but no one noticed. The assistant director is also a mom of twins, but her twins are now in college. I couldn't help but look at her and think about how fast this is all really going, and how quickly I would be in her shoes.

The girls were so excited to register. The only disappointment was that they couldn't start today!

Is it time for this already?

2009-02-23T07:50:00.000-06:00

Today is a big day for me. Maybe this day isn't a huge deal to most moms, but it is for me. In just a little bit, I have to go register the girls for preschool.

I know, some of you are wondering what the big deal is. The big deal is that in the fall, my only two children will simultaneously leave for several hours, two days a week, to attend preschool. And we all know what that prefix "pre-" means, right? It means before. As in before school. As in the year before they simultaneously leave for several hours a day, five days a week, for the next 12 years! I can't even talk about what happens after that!

Don't get me wrong, I'm really excited about preschool. I'm excited about everything they'll be learning, the new friends they will make, and how much they will grow.

And I won't lie. I'm also a little excited about the prospect of a Tuesday morning Walmart run, with no one fighting over who gets to push the cart.

But mixed in with my excitement is a little bit of sadness and anxiety.

Should we split them up or leave them in the same class? Will they know as much as the other kids in their class? Have I taught them enough at home? Will they listen to their teacher? Will they remember to wash their hands after going to the bathroom?? Will they cry when I leave them? Will they cry when I pick them up?? What if I've picked the wrong preschool?

I could go on, but I won't.

Instead, I'm going to give myself a quick pep-talk and head out the door before it's too late.

Today, I will not give the preschool's assistant director another reason to doubt my emotional stability. I'm pretty sure she's already questioning it. The first time I spoke with her on the phone, my voice trembled several times. Then, during our tour of the school, my eyes filled with tears more than once.

Today, I'll do better.

I will not cry...I will not cry...I will not cry.

I'll let you know if I cried!

birthday surprise

2009-02-22T12:15:00.004-06:00

A couple of you have asked me about the "surprise" birthday presents the girls were working on, so I thought I'd share a quick picture of the proud little crafters! The girls are so proud of their hard work! I think my mom is proud of her hard work, too!

For lunch on my birthday, we met my mom, sister, niece and nephew at Arby's. Not too long ago, I would have met friends for sushi to celebrate my birthday. Now it's kid's meals at Arby's. The meal might not have been quite as hip or trendy, but the company couldn't have been better! All in all, it was a great day!

the bean-spiller

2009-01-31T09:07:00.004-06:00

There has been some talk lately about a special project the girls have been working on with my mom for my birthday. It's top secret, and the girls both promised not to tell me anything about it.

You know where this is going, don't you?

The other day while we were in the car, Catherine kept talking about the big secret. She was about to crack when I stopped her and reminded her that she wasn't supposed to tell me. She assured me that she wasn't going to...

Catherine: Don't worry, I wasn't going to tell you about your birthday present. But you know, Mommy, pot holders are sure hard to make!

Grace: Catherine! You just told her!

Catherine: No I didn't! I just told her that those pot holders were really hard!

Grace: Ugh!

Guess we know who not to tell our secrets to!

name that hymn

2009-01-15T10:29:00.002-06:00

Each week in BSF, the kids learn hymns in their classes. Last week, two of the hymns they've been learning were on a CD in our car, so we'd been listening to them while we were out.

Yesterday, the girls couldn't wait to tell their teacher that they had been listening to "Holy, Holy, Holy" in the car. As soon as they saw her, they told her the great news, then proceeded to bust out in song.

After a particularly moving rendition of the popular hymn, Grace went on to tell her teacher that one of Pop's favorite songs was on the CD, too.

"Pop loves one of the songs on the CD! It's the one about the boat!!" she says.

I couldn't figure out what she was talking about for a minute, but then it hit me.

"No, Grace. That song isn't about a boat. It's called How Great Thou Art!"

"Oops, I thought it was How Great's the Ark!" she giggled!

not so fast

2009-01-13T19:18:00.002-06:00

I guess I spoke too soon. Maybe we need a little more time with Safe Side Superchick.

The girls were overcome by temptation today in the Wal-Mart checkout line. The waiting, the friendly older couple behind us, the inquisitive cashier...it was the perfect storm.

Technically, they didn't really break the rules.

They pointed out that they didn't know anyone in line, labeled them all "don't knows," and then asked if it was okay just to say hi.

It was all over after that.

They started with "Hi," then proceeded to put on a mini-talent show right there in line. It was complete with theme songs from all of the Disney Princess movies, some high-kicks, and a little hair-pulling. Fortunately for the girls, there was a problem with the register just as we tried to pay, so they had a captive audience for an additional few minutes.

When the couple behind us asked the girls what their names were, I was curious to see what they'd say. Like I said, they didn't technically break the rules. Instead of telling them their names, they spelled them!

What can I say...if there's a loophole, these two will find it!

making progress

2009-01-12T17:25:00.004-06:00

After our oil change the other day, the girls and I came home and had movie time. They were hoping for one of the Disney Princesses. Instead, they got Safe Side Superchick!

I've had the Stranger Safety video, (part of The Safe Side program) for several weeks, so I figured the time had come to watch it. I was actually really impressed with the video! It's pretty corny, but the girls really watched it. It teaches kids about staying safe by putting people into three groups- Don't Knows, Kinda Knows, and Safe Side Adults. While we watched, we would pause the video and talk about what they were saying. The girls seemed to get it, and started to understand why we have certain safety rules. The video is very clear about why these rules are important, but in a way that wasn't over their heads or scary.

We've been out in public several times since watching, and I'm happy to report that they haven't engaged in conversations with random strangers, given out their address to any cashiers, and have only introduced themselves to one person. They even asked me if it was okay to say hi to one of our waiters at lunch!

The girls are spirited, funny, and outgoing, and I don't want to change that. I just want them to be safe. Hopefully, this video will help!

new friends

2009-01-10T21:12:00.005-06:00

On the way home from my parents' house this afternoon, we made a quick stop to get the oil changed.

We all piled out of the minivan, grabbed a few things to pass the time, and headed inside to wait. I gave the girls their markers and coloring books and hoped they would be entertained until the car was ready.

Little did I know, they would soon be doing the entertaining.

Not even three minutes into our wait, one of the mechanics came into the waiting room to do some paperwork. Grace glanced up at him, looked back down at her book, then quickly turned her attention back to him.

"Mommy!" she says, in a tone that's a cross between amused and appalled, "that boy is wearing earrings!"

"Yes, he is." I mumbled, hoping she would just drop it.

She did, and quickly went back to her coloring. Kim, however, couldn't stop laughing.

Who is Kim? Kim is the complete stranger that was sitting next to Grace. Wait...scratch that. She was the complete stranger sitting next to Grace. They grew quite close in the ten minutes we were there.

Once Grace saw Kim laughing at her, she didn't waste time getting to know her. Grace introduced herself, then bombarded her with a string of questions, revealed some random and personal information, and told a few silly stories. Catherine chimed in pretty quickly, and it didn't take long before they included Pete, the retired mechanic sitting next to me, in the conversation.

By the time we left, we'd learned about transmission fluids (thanks Pete!), shared a little too much with people I'd never seen before in my entire life, and made three new friends (we met Ernest,too, shortly before leaving).

Apparently, my "don't talk to strangers" speeches are not making much of an impact.

Never a dull moment with those two. Even when you sometimes wish there was!

clear the roads

2009-01-02T09:28:00.001-06:00

For Christmas this year, my in-laws bought a Barbie Jeep for the girls and their cousin. Even though it was late on Christmas Eve, the girls all took the Jeep out for a spin that night.

As I watched the girls drive around, I had a vision of what life would be like in 13 years.

Two giggling, carefree, fun-loving blonds out on the road together.

I'm not looking forward to it.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T10:21:00.004-06:00

...and a very belated Merry Christmas, too!

Yes, we're still here! I don't really have a good explanation for why I haven't posted anything in so long. We've been no busier than anyone else, we've been in town the whole time, and my computer wasn't down.

I think I was just a little overwhelmed. I get that way sometimes. Honestly, I kind of stay that way!

I promise I'll be back tomorrow.

Until then, Happy New Year!

Way Back When-esday

2008-12-17T11:04:00.003-06:00

Oh, how times have changed! This is a picture from the girls' first Christmas in 2005, when they were about 8 months old. Who knew 3 years were going to go by so quickly! It's true what they say...each day can seem like a year, but the years pass by like days.

Check Twinfatuation to see who else is sharing some pics from the past!

birthday boy

2008-12-06T16:43:00.003-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, POP!

We love you!

Yeah...THAT didn't work!

2008-12-04T09:15:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I am guilty of handing out consequences without really thinking things through.

Let's just take Tuesday, for example.

The girls and I had battled all morning over cleaning the playroom. We had planned to meet some friends at the park after lunch, but I had told the girls that we weren't having lunch until the playroom was clean (which should have taken all of 4 minutes).

The minutes ticked by, and the room was still not clean. In my frustration, I ~~shouted out~~ calmly explained that it was almost time to leave for the park, but since they had not finished cleaning up in time to eat lunch at home, they would have to take their lunch to the park to eat.

Okay, stop laughing. I know...a picnic in the park on a beautiful day. How horrible!

Here was my logic - Instead of playing with their friends in the park, they would have to sit all alone and eat. While watching all of the fun they could be having if only they had obeyed Mommy at home, they would become extremely remorseful and vow to be obedient until the end of time.

Obviously, that didn't happen.

On the way to the park, brown bags in hand, Grace actually thanked me for letting them have a picnic. "Not everyone is lucky enough to eat their lunch at the park!" she said.

UGH!

After eating their sandwiches and spending a few minutes in time out, they did apologize. I'm kind of doubting, though, that this will be a lesson they will remember. Unless, of course, the lesson I was going for was, "Mommy doesn't think too quickly on her feet!"

I wish kids came with a discipline cheat-sheet. I wish they made playbooks for mommies that we could wear on our wrists like football players. No huddle or timeout required. One glance at my arm, and I'd know just what to do next.

Could someone start working on that?

Way Back When-esday

2008-12-03T06:50:00.000-06:00

Since it's December, I've decided to try and use Christmas pictures for the next few weeks. This picture was from Christmas of 2006, when the girls were about 1 1/2. It's hard to believe they were this little! Christmas was so much fun that year, and it's only getting better. I can't wait to see the girls on Christmas morning this year!!

Check Twinfatuation to see who else is sharing some pics from the past!

Two for Twos-day

2008-12-02T11:51:00.005-06:00

Before running some errands on Saturday, we made a quick stop at Chick-fil-a. As you can see, Catherine has really started to take her job as "big sister" seriously. She is a whole minute older, you know!

Stop by Eight is Great today and see who else is playing:)

Blessed

2008-11-27T20:17:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

don't look too closely

2008-11-27T02:34:00.007-06:00

2 hot pink t-shirts: $6
brown and pink polka-dot fabric: $2.50
red and orange felt: $0.50
buttons and thread: free
hand-making Thanksgiving tees (that are nothing like the ones I wanted to make) for the girls in under four hours (without tears or expletives) that I'm not too embarrassed to let them wear in public*: priceless

*Please note that the public I'm referring to is limited to my parents, sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew. The girls will most certainly not be wearing these shirts in the presence of professional seamstresses, perfectionists, anyone in a well-lit room, or the rest of the general public. The handprints are ironed on, the stitching is all over the place, and no two legs are the same length. The shirts will have to be removed before eating, as I'm quite sure they won't survive a trip through the washer!

Way Back When-esday

2008-11-26T08:01:00.006-06:00

Thanksgiving 2007

Girls' age: 2 1/2

This picture was taken last Thanksgiving, before heading out for the day. Little did we know, we were going to need coats! A little while after we arrived at my parents' house that afternoon, it started snowing! That doesn't happen here! We didn't get enough snow to even stick on the ground, but it was pretty neat anyway. I doubt we'll have another Thanksgiving snow anytime soon:(

Don't forget to stop by Twinfatuation to see who else is playing!

and the winner is...

2008-11-25T00:28:00.004-06:00

...Sara! (chosen by random.org)

Congratulations, Sara! I know you will love your new necklace!! And thank you, Lisa, for donating this beautiful piece of jewelry!

Thank you all so much for participating. I hope you had a chance to view all of Lisa Leonard's amazing designs. Maybe you were able to pick something out for yourselves! I don't know about your husbands, but mine sure liked getting my e-mail several months ago with a link to Lisa's website, the specific necklace I wanted, and exactly what I wanted on the necklace. After a few clicks, he was done shopping and he had something he knew I'd like! And there were no lines, parking lots, or crowds! Couldn't be easier!

I really enjoyed reading everyone's comments, and seeing how much we all have to be thankful for. No matter how different we all are, there seemed to be a few things that we all had in common. It all came back to faith, family, friends, and freedom. No one was most thankful for their possessions...it was all about people. People who stick by us through thick and thin. People who add love, joy, and comfort to our days. People who are willing to sacrifice everything to protect our freedom and fight for the freedom of others. And most importantly, a Savior who was willing to die for our sins.

In the busyness of our lives, it is all too easy to take these things for granted. We tend to forget that we have so much to be thankful for. We focus on what we are lacking instead of all of the blessings that surround us.

Maybe this week, we can start to change our thinking. Maybe we can use this Thanksgiving to change our hearts. And maybe, just maybe, that change can last!

100th post!

2008-11-20T21:42:00.013-06:00

***giveaway has now ended***

Yay!! It's my 100th post! I wanted to wait until tomorrow to post this, but I was way too excited! I started noticing a little while ago that lots of people did something special on their 100th post. It seemed like most people either had a giveaway, or a list of 100 things about themselves. Knowing that none of you were really that interested in learning 100 random things about me, I decided to do a giveaway! I considered a gift card, a book, or maybe something handmade. A gift card is so impersonal, though, and who knows if you would like the same books I like. And really, who wants something that I've made? (except you, mom!) Instead, I thought about one of my absolute favorite things. It is handmade, just not by these hands. How would you like to win something made by Lisa Leonard's hands??? That's right...Lisa Leonard has so graciously offered to host a giveaway here! One very lucky reader will win an Original Necklace, just like this one...personalized just for you! If you've never seen her handmade jewelry, you've got to go check it out. She has lots of different designs, and each one is so unique and beautiful! I get compliments on my necklace every time I wear it. I've been stopped by random strangers (even the Sonic carhop!), asking me where I got mine. My girls love it, too, and think it's pretty neat that I have a necklace with their names on it.

Now, here is your chance to get your very own. Just leave a comment here before Monday at midnight CST telling me what you are most thankful for. Don't forget to leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win! That's all you have to do! I'll post the winner first thing Tuesday morning. And while you're waiting to see if you've won, pop on over to Lisa's website, take a look at the rest of her amazing pieces, and check out her blog. You could even do some Christmas shopping while you're there. Who wouldn't want to find something from Lisa Leonard Designs under the tree?

So go ahead...start commenting!

it's only getting worse!

2008-11-20T15:26:00.002-06:00

Last week I told you about Catherine's bad habit. Unfortunately, things aren't improving. Here's a portion of the conversation we had just a few minutes ago...

Catherine: Mommy, you know how last night I picked that really big ear booger (ear wax)? Well, I put the big one in a tissue, but I also picked a little one.

Me: Oh, really? What did you do with that one?

Catherine: Well, umm...I ate it!

Me: CATHERINE! That's gross! You don't eat things that come out of your ear. Or your nose. Or any part of you body. Didn't it taste bad?

Catherine: Well, no, not really. It was just a little sour.

UGH! Seriously! What do I do about this???

Recipe Contest

2008-11-19T20:41:00.003-06:00

Sarah from Short Stop entered her Chicken Pot Pie recipe in the Marx Foods Comfort Food Recipe Contest. And guess what? She's a finalist!!! So let's help her out! Click here and go vote for Sarah. Her recipe is #95 - SG's Hearty Chicken Pot Pie. And while you're at it, check out her blog. She's got lots of yummy recipes and tons of cute pictures of her adorable boys.

What are you waiting for? Go vote!

Way Back When-esday

2008-11-19T07:07:00.001-06:00

This picture was taken in February of 2006, when the girls were only 10 months old. They were getting way too big for their carriers, so we had just bought new carseats. Catherine was trying out her carseat in the living room. I can't believe how tiny she looks it in! She liked it way better in the living room than she did once it was in the car!

Remember to check Twinfatuation to see who else is playing along!

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psst...Don't forget to keep checking back for an awesome giveaway! I'm only a few posts away from #100...you really don't want to miss it!

ch-ch-ch-ch-changes?

2008-11-18T19:06:00.002-06:00

Last week at MOPS, we had a speaker that came to talk to us about nutrition. She talked about the importance of healthy eating, the difference between regular and organic foods, and the science behind things like hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. It was pretty interesting, to say the least. It was also a little convicting. I don't normally buy organic foods, but I do try to feed my family a healthy diet. I read labels, try to avoid excess sugar and fat, provide my kids with lots of fruits and vegetables, and teach my kids about healthy eating. We opt for fruit instead of french fries, eat lots of whole grains, and buy Morningstar Farms products on a regular basis. Until Friday, I thought I was doing an okay job (even though I knew there was plenty of room for improvement!). My eyes were really opened, though, and I've started doing my research. During my weekly shopping trip, I tried to pay attention to what I was buying. I bought natural peanut butter, organic grapes, organic lettuce, and Annie's mac and cheese (sorry blue box...you'll always have a special place in my heart!!). Today, I bought a book about organic foods, and I'm hoping to learn more so I can make an informed decision. I want my kids to be as healthy as possible. I want them to enjoy eating healthy, and I want them to make healthy choices, even when I'm not around. With all of that said, though, I do have kids. They like chicken nuggets. Sugary snacks are around every corner. They want the cereal box with Barbie on the front (don't worry...I don't give in!). I need meals that are quick, easy and healthy. And I need to be able to serve them without breaking the bank. To do all of that, I think I'm going to need some help!

So here are my questions to you...

Do you buy organic foods?
What are some healthy snack options you give your kids?
What are some healthier alternatives you have found for some traditional favorites (like substituting Annie's for Kraft!)?

I really do want to know more. But I don't just want to hear from a middle-aged author who doesn't have little kids at home to feed. I want to know the text-book stuff, but I need to know the real-life stuff, too. So, help me! I really want to know your thoughts!

seventh heaven

2008-11-17T08:27:00.003-06:00

Today is our seventh anniversary!! I told Toby last night that it seems like so much longer. I really meant that in a good way...I promise! I think it's because even though we've only been married for seven years, I've known Toby for over half my life. We've been through the good and the bad together. We've sailed through times when life was easy, and stuck together when things were hard. He knows how to make me laugh, lets me hog the covers, puts up with my trashy reality tv addiction, and waits (fairly patiently!) for me as I search for my misplaced keys on a daily basis. He knows all of my quirks, habits, flaws, and weaknesses. And he's still here! Seven years ago, I never could have imagined what our life would be like today. I can't wait to see what the next seven years have in store for us! And the next seven, and the seven after that...

Happy Anniversary, Toby! I love you!

There's No Place Like Home

2008-11-14T22:28:00.001-06:00

Tonight was supposed to be date night. Toby and I were supposed to go to dinner and a basketball game with some friends. Instead, he's there, and I'm here. The girls were supposed to spend the night with my parents. Instead, they are here, too. Catherine woke up not feeling well this morning, but I didn't think much of it. Grace and I went to MOPS, and she spent the morning with my mother-in-law. When I picked her up around lunchtime, she said she felt better. She looked better, too. But it didn't last long. She didn't eat lunch, took an early nap, then woke up feeling terrible. Since it was Friday, I decided to play it safe and go to the doctor. Just a virus. She was feeling better, and insisted on still going to my parents' house to eat dinner and spend the night. By this time, I'd already canceled my plans for the game, and Toby had already found a friend who could take my ticket. I let the girls go to my parents' house, and after staying over there for a while, I came back home. Not 10 minutes after getting home, my mom called and said they were bringing the girls home. Apparently, when it was time to get ready for bed, the girls had decided they wanted to come home. They wanted to see Mommy and sleep in their own beds. I still can't believe they wanted to come home! They are usually the ones telling me to leave so they can be alone with Nanny and Pop. This is definitely a first! And probably a last. While I hated the fact that they missed out on their sleepover, I'll have to admit that it was nice to be needed. Really, though, she didn't need me. But it was sure nice to be wanted.

Score!

2008-11-13T13:09:00.001-06:00

I have a confession. Several actually. I'm a procrastinator. I'm also kinda cheap (especially when it comes to clothes that will only be worn once!!). And I have a really hard time making decisions. Even simple ones. All of these things usually get me in trouble. Today, though, they paid off BIG time! I was at The Gap Outlet several weeks ago, and I saw some dresses that would be perfect for the girls' Christmas dresses. I considered buying them right then, but I didn't. I wanted to wait and look around more. They were also kinda expensive for dresses that would only be worn once, maybe twice. On top of that, I just couldn't make up my mind. Since then, I've searched high and low for cute, but cheap, Christmas dresses. No luck. In the back of my mind, I kept thinking about those Gap Outlet dresses, but I knew they were probably already gone. I finally decided to go today, and guess what? They had the dresses! And they were 40% off!! AND I had a coupon!!! I got both dresses for $22!! If only things would always turn out so well when I procrastinate!

Way Back When-esday and Giveaway Info!!!

2008-11-12T08:20:00.001-06:00

Today is Way Back When-esday! Share a picture from way back, then check Twinfatuation to see who else is playing along!

This is one of my favorite pictures! It was taken in August of 2006, when the girls were about 16 months old.

Tickle, tickle, tickle!!

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GIVEAWAY INFO... Only 8 more posts until the big 1-0-0!! To celebrate my 100th post, I'm going to be having an AwEsOmE giveaway!! Seriously...you won't want to miss it! I can't tell you what it is just yet, but I can promise you that it's something you're going to want. Keep checking back to see if I've hit 100 yet, then be sure to enter to win. I may drop some hints in the next few days, so stay tuned!

such a hard habit to break

2008-11-11T13:46:00.004-06:00

I hate to admit it, but I have two little nose-pickers. One is fairly serious about it. The other is really just a recreational nose-picker. Today on the way home, I heard this exchange coming from the back seat:

Grace: CATHERINE!! Put your hands down!! Quit picking those boogers out of your nose! EWWWW!!!

Catherine: Oh, fine. I'll just put 'em back in there.

Nice. See why we need so much Purell???

A Hunting We Will Go

2008-11-09T10:06:00.011-06:00

For a long time, Toby has been promising the girls that once they were old enough they could go out to the deer lease with him. They watch hunting shows together, go to Cabela's and Bass Pro, and love looking for deer in fields around dusk. They ask all the time when they can go deer hunting with Daddy, so yesterday was finally the day. Okay, so we didn't actually hunt, we just watched. For those of you who know me, picturing me sitting in a deer blind wearing camo might be a stretch, but I do have pictures to prove it. The trip was actually pretty close to perfect. It was about a 2 hour drive out there, and we got there at just the right time. Not 5 minutes after getting settled into the blind, several does came out to feed. Just a few minutes after that, a buck came out, too. Surprisingly enough, the girls stayed pretty quiet. They whispered as quietly as they could, and they tried to be still. We stayed about an hour, then headed back to the truck. The girls had a great time, and so did their Daddy. I don't know who had more fun...Toby or the girls! I had a pretty good time, too. It was sweet to see the three of them together doing something that their Daddy really loves, and it was fun to see where he spends all of his hunting time. Maybe next weekend we can all spend a day at the mall!!

Way Back When-esday: Storytime

2008-11-05T13:02:00.007-06:00

This picture was taken back in September of 2006. Hard to believe it was that long ago! The girls were only 1 1/2. My sister and brother-in-law were out of town, so my dad was keeping my niece, Courtney. These three girls sure love their Pop! (And I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual!)

Today is Way Back When-esday! Share a picture from way back, then check Twinfatuation to see who else is playing along!

tired tinkerbells

2008-11-04T08:50:00.002-06:00

Like I mentioned the other day, the girls had originally planned to be Tinkerbell for Halloween. Luckily, even with the last-minute wardrobe change, the costumes did not go to waste. Nanny and Pop had all of the grandkids over for a special Halloween dinner on Wednesday night. (Kids, you can thank me later for talking Nanny out of the ghost-shaped, pastry-covered meatballs!) They were all supposed to wear their costumes to dinner, so the girls wore their Tinkerbell costumes. I didn't think to take their picture while they were dressed up, but I did snap these pictures at a stoplight on the way over.

See girls...you do still need your naps!

weekend ranch hands

2008-11-03T15:11:00.003-06:00

My cousin, Kristen, got married a few weekends ago, so we turned the trip into a mini-vacation. Instead of just staying in a hotel, my parents, my sister's family, and our family shared a three-bedroom house on a ranch. The house came complete with land, a pond, a barn-turned-gameroom, and horses. In the mornings, the kids got to help feed the horses and give them treats. There was even a white horse there who was temporarily renamed Sara. Not surprising. At the end of the trip, all of the kids even got to ride her. You can imagine that the girls were over the moon. They got to sit on a real-live Sara!! While we were there, the girls learned the fine art of pool, played a little shuffleboard, played a few games of ping-pong, and went fishing. It was the perfect place to stay for the weekend. They had lots of room to play instead of being locked into a tiny hotel room.

As far as the wedding, things couldn't have been nicer! Everything was beautiful and elegant, but kid-friendly at the same time. There was a hayride at the rehearsal dinner, and pizza and cupcakes at the wedding. The wedding was outside in a gorgeous setting just a little before sunset. The reception was also outside with plenty of room for all of the kids to run around. There were even a few peacocks for the kids to chase! A little to my surprise, the girls did really well at both. I don't get to see my cousins very often, and it was so much fun to watch the girls interacting with them. My only regret is that we didn't take more pictures!

tricks and treats

2008-11-01T21:35:00.009-05:00

The girls spent part of their Halloween last night at our church's Trunk or Treat. They had so much fun...and got way too much candy! They got to see most of their friends, and even spotted a few celebrities. Yes, they saw Ariel and Sleeping Beauty in person. They also saw Cinderella, but since they knew it was one of their friends they weren't fooled. A little while later, though, they spotted Sleeping Beauty. Since they didn't know the little girl that was dressed up as her, they were pretty convinced it was actually her. Same thing happened with Ariel.

After much shopping, debating, and costume-trying-on, the girls decided to be brides. They originally wanted to be Tinkerbell, but the costume we got was just a little too big. I looked through their dress-up clothes for an alternative, and suggested that they wear the wedding dresses my sister gave them for their birthday. They agreed, and it was perfect. A salon for kids was doing Halloween hair for just $5, so we stopped by on our way to the church and had the girls' hair styled like a real bride. They looked so cute. It was almost a little too realistic.

After the candy had been safely put away, the hairspray and glitter washed out, and the beautiful brides were turned back into silly little girls, we got our Halloween trick. Catherine woke up around 2:30...throwing up! No, it wasn't candy overload. They didn't even have any candy. That turned out to be a very good thing. She's better now, and Grace seems to be fine. Let's just hope it stays that way!!

The Fair

2008-10-28T13:24:00.007-05:00

A few weeks ago, we took our annual trip to the fair with Toby's parents. The girls had a great time, but they were really only there for one reason - the carousel. They enjoyed the petting zoo, loved feeding the animals, inhaled some chocolate-covered strawberries, and had fun seeing the cows up close. None of it, though, held a candle to the carousel. See, the carousel at the fair last year is where they met their very best horse-friends, Pepper and Sara. They rode these horses last year at the fair, and they haven't been the same since. Every horse since that day has been named Pepper or Sara. They have talked about them on a regular basis. They even bought little plastic horses that resembled them. So, of course, we had to make sure they rode Pepper and Sara this year, too. And they did. Twice. In a row. Usually you have to get off the ride, get back in line, and pay again. Knowing that wouldn't go over very well, their granddad paid the attendant to let them ride twice without getting off. Needless to say, they were pretty excited. And pretty bummed when it was time to leave. There's always next year girls!

I'll be loving you FOREVER!

2008-10-20T14:50:00.011-05:00

You already know about a few of the things I am madly in love with. Of course there is my husband. Then there are my kids. And then there's the minivan. What I haven't told you about is a love that began before all of these. Before Violet, and way before my girls. Even before Toby, I've loved these five. Jordan, Joey, Donnie, Danny, and Jonathan. Oh yes, I'm talking about the New Kids On The Block!!! And I got the see them the other night! LIVE!! I can't even put the experience into words! An arena full of 30-something women, squealing like a bunch of 13-year-old girls. It was great! They were even better than they last time I saw them many, many years ago...with my dad! Who else has a dad like that?! Years may have passed, but once we walked through those doors, it was all the same. We were on our feet the entire time, hands in the air, singing and screaming. I didn't buy the $40 t-shirt, but thanks to Jennifer, a fellow NKOTB fan, I've got plenty of pictures to remember the night. SO. MUCH. FUN.

8 bags

2008-10-17T08:21:00.002-05:00

I like to keep things. Especially things that are tied to the past. I keep letters, shoes, pictures, books, clothes, and more. I have a sweater from 8 years ago that I refuse to give away, even thought I will never wear it again. But I was wearing it when Toby proposed, so to me it still has value. Even if it's just the sentimental kind. Maybe that's why I've kept all of the girls' clothes. Really. I've kept them all. I've given away a few things to friends, but that is it. Or that was it. Until last night. The girls and I went through some of their old clothes to give away. We didn't go through everything, just about 1/3 of their old stuff. Everything I picked up had memories attached. I remembered the day they wore that shirt to the doctor's office, or how cute they looked in those dresses at church. I remembered the excitement of all of the firsts they had in those clothes. I also remembered the struggles. They liked to hold their baby clothes up to them to see if they still fit. Of course they were much too small. So small that I wondered how they ever fit into them. But they did. This time next year, I'll wonder how they ever squeezed into their little jeans that they wore this week. I'll remember how cute they looked at night in those little ladybug pajamas, and the way they giggled, talked, squealed and sang in their rooms before falling asleep. I'll remember how small their hands were and what tiny feet they had. Hopefully by then, some of the struggles of this year will also be a memory!

As I sit here, there are 8 bags of memories on our porch. 8 bags of sleepy pajamas, innocent dresses, and well-loved shoes. There are even a few pair of shorts that made a trip or two to time-out. I hope that those 8 bags will bring as much fun, love, and memories to their next families as they did to us. Minus the time-outs, of course!

look a little closer

2008-10-15T14:05:00.004-05:00

One of the things I used to worry about when I was pregnant with the girls is that I would not be able to tell them apart. I pictured Jesse, from Full House, mixing up his sons' socks and fearing that he would never again know which one was Nicky and which was Alex. I was pretty sure this would happen to me. At some point within the first 72 hours of their lives, I would lay them down, side by side, only to come back moments later and forget who was on the right and who was on the left. Once they were born, I realized that I had worried over nothing. Parents of twins (even identical) will always be able to tell their children apart. What I didn't count on, though, was that few others would be able to do the same. Sure, there are other relatives that we see on a weekly basis who can. I also have a handful of friends that can tell them apart almost instantly. Other than that, most people have to really think about it. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they're wrong. But they try. Other people will just take a wild guess. It doesn't bother me that people get stumped. They are identical. I get that. What bothers me is that some people don't even try. To some people, they are a set. Catherine and Grace. The twins. I try to do something to their appearance that sets them apart and makes it easier for others. I fix their hair differently, put in different colored clips, or dress them in different colored clothes. It hasn't helped. I think it's only made things worse. Instead of finding something unique about each one, people just look for the clips. They take one glance at the girls(if that!), look at me, and ask, "Who is in pink today?" I didn't even realized how much this bothered me until today. We walked into BSF this morning, and the girls' teacher was waiting for us in the hall. She greeted the girls with a huge smile, and told them how glad she was to see them. She said that she had waited all week just to see them again. Then she looked straight at Grace and said, "Hi, Grace!" At first I didn't think much about it. The girls' names were embroidered on their shirts. Of course she could tell which one was Grace! But then the teacher said something that really touched me. It probably won't mean much to you, but it did to me. She said that she knew it was Grace because of the part in her hair. She remembers Grace by saying to herself "Grace's heart," because Grace's hairline gives her face a heart shape. She has only been in this class for five weeks. And the teacher knows her. She doesn't know Catherine and Grace, or the twins. She knows Grace. And she knows Catherine. She made it a priority to learn about each of them as unique individuals, not just a set. Many people don't do this. Some people take a guess and then with a laugh say, "Well, I had a 50/50 chance!" Like I said, I know they look alike. I know it is hard to tell them apart. And yes, I know that people are not meaning to be rude or hurtful. But they aren't interchangeable. They aren't carbon copies. They are not the same. They deserve to have people know their names. Or at least act like they care. No, I'm not terribly offended when people can't tell Catherine from Grace. Yes, I am mildly annoyed when they don't even make the effort. Or when they make it half-heartedly. I know people's intentions are not bad. I know some people are just trying to be funny with the comments they make. I don't expect everyone to be able to tell them apart all the time. I just want people to be considerate. I want them to know my children. Not just my twins.

Tag! I'm it!

2008-10-11T14:01:00.005-05:00

I've been tagged! Cheryl at Twinfatuation tagged me for this meme. To play, you have to go to your sixth photo folder, and select the sixth photo from that folder to share. As it turns out, this is one of my favorite pictures...and I didn't even cheat!

This picture is of Catherine and my dad, taken the day she got her cast removed. She was almost 2 1/2 at the time, and had apparently tried to jump off the bedrail in her bedroom. Not a good idea, just in case you're wondering. Despite having to get creative with bathtime, the cast wasn't too bad. She didn't even use it as a weapon!

Now it's my turn to tag 5 people to play along...

Anna at Anna and the Boys
Sarah at Short Stop
Stephanie at Stephanie's Spot
Mandi at Stories from the Savages
Karen at Doubly Blessed

Have fun, girls! I can't wait to see what pictures you find! Even if you weren't tagged, you can still play along. Just leave a comment so we can visit your blog and check out your pictures!

Way Back When-esday

2008-10-01T07:48:00.014-05:00

When the girls were babies, they had some major reflux issues. Even on medicine, they spit up MANY times a day. We cleaned up after them so much they eventually started doing some of their own clean up! Here they are in June of 2006, when they were about 14 months old, pretending to clean the floor. I wish they were still this interested in cleaning!

Today is Way Back When-esday! Share a picture from way back, then check Twinfatuation to see who else is playing along!

looking back

2008-09-30T08:05:00.000-05:00

Four years. It seems like so much longer. Four years ago we realized our life was about to change even more than we thought. Just a little over four years ago, we found out we were having twins. We went to the doctor on that Tuesday afternoon, eagerly hoping to see our little baby's heartbeat. We saw two. To say that I was shocked would be a colossal understatement, at the least. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I think we would have twins. From the moment I saw the second heartbeat, my mind raced. I was scared to death. I didn't know anything about twins. I didn't know if they would be premature, or if they would be born healthy. I didn't know what complications we could face, or if I would need bedrest. Once the babies were born, how would I possibly be able to take care of two babies at the same time? I worried that I wouldn't be able to tell them apart. I wondered how I would do things normal moms do. How could I go the the grocery store? The dry cleaners? Church? What if I favored one child over the other?

There were so many questions. So many fears.

Four years later, I can still feel those emotions. Even though we've come so far, those emotions are still so real. Maybe it's because I still have the fears and the worries, but for a different reason. I don't worry about the pregnancy, but I worry about their health now. I don't worry about taking care of two babies anymore. I worry about keeping up with two toddlers in the mall. I don't worry about being able to tell them apart. Now I worry about really knowing each of them. And no, I don't favor one over the other. I just worry that others will. Or worse than that, I worry that others won't see them as unique individuals, just twins.

We've learned to do all of the things "normal" families do. Except I've realized that no family is really normal! As they've grown, I've learned how to manage two baby carriers at once, get two babies into and out of the car without the carriers, maneuver a double stroller like it's nobody's business, and get two toddlers (who are most likely to run in opposite directions!) safely through busy places. I've said it before, but it's really true...raising twins is a totally unique experience. It's nothing like I thought it would be four years ago. It is harder, more exhausting, and more unpredictable than I imagined. There is also more love, more laughter, and more blessings than I ever thought possible.

friends in town!

2008-09-29T09:22:00.006-05:00

One of my best friends was in town for a wedding this weekend, and the girls and I were lucky enough to be able to spend a little time with her and her family while they were here. The girls enjoyed playing with her son, Preston, and meeting Jill, her husband, Greg, and Jill's dad. It was Jill's mom, though, that won their little hearts! They loved walking through town with her, singing songs to her, and holding her hands. I wish I had a picture of the three of them! I wish I had more pictures of everyone, actually! When the kids are around, they have a way of stealing the spotlight! It was so much fun to see them all and spend a little time with them. I wish we got to see them more often!!

a child's heart

2008-09-25T10:45:00.023-05:00

On the way to choir yesterday, the girls wanted to pray that we would stay safe on the way the church. Is my driving that bad? Anyway, here is how their prayer went...

Dear God, please keep us safe on the way to church. And thank you for the green trees and the green grass. And thank you for our friends. And please don't ever go away. You're our Father! Amen.

Pretty sweet.

(And yes, we did make it to church safely!)

Way Back When-esday

2008-09-24T13:46:00.004-05:00

Today is Way Back When-esday! Share a picture from way back, then check Twinfatuation to see who else is playing along!

These pictures are from July of 2006, when the girls were only a little over a year old.

Hide-and-seek, anyone?

Hot dogs and french fries and ice cream! Oh, my!

2008-09-18T09:22:00.009-05:00

Grandma and Grandad took the whole family to a baseball game last night. The girls had a blast! Reminded me a little of our last visit to the ballpark. They are all about the food...not the game.
Who could they have gotten that from?

perfect pair

2008-09-16T22:28:00.005-05:00

Being a mom of twins is really unique. Especially when they're identical twins. They have this whole world that I'm not a part of. A bond that no one can break or even understand. They know what the other is thinking before she has a chance to speak. They can make each other laugh without saying a word. They've been best friends since birth. If you think about it, they've known each other longer than I've known them. They were together before I even knew about them. Watching them grow together over the last 3 1/2 years has been amazing. I can't wait to see what lies ahead.

mother of preschoolers

2008-09-13T12:13:00.004-05:00

Yesterday did not go as planned. I should have known that it wouldn't. I'd been looking forward to Friday for months. It was our first MOPS meeting at church. As the table leader coordinator, I'd been working throughout the summer to get table leaders in place, centerpieces organized, and ladies placed at tables. I had made cute little candy jars for the ladies at my table, and placed lots of phone calls. On a selfish level, I was really looking forward to two and a half hours with some of my closest friends. The girls would be playing with friends in another room of the church, and even though I would be at a meeting for mothers of preschoolers, I could excuse myself from mom-duty for a little bit. At least that's how I thought it would go. Instead, my day was a little less predictable. Catherine woke up Friday morning with a cold. She was miserable, so I dropped her off at my mother-in-law's house. Grace and I headed off to church. She went to her room, and I went to mine. Things were great...for about 45 minutes. Not even half-way through MOPS, I got a tap on the shoulder. "Grace is throwing up." I grabbed my things, and took off down the hall. We changed her clothes, got in the car, and prayed that we'd make it home before round two. We didn't. My mother-in-law said she'd keep Catherine through lunch to give us time to get cleaned up and settled in. By the time she got home, Grace was feeling a little better. Just before naptime, Catherine said she had to go to the bathroom. She ran to make it in time, but didn't. After a morning of vomit duty, I now had to clean pee off the bathroom floor. We all three went to take a nap, hoping to wake up feeling better. Once again, it didn't happen. Grace got sick again, and Catherine wasn't any better. The rest of our day was spent in front of the tv, with tissues, towels, and throw-up buckets nearby. Not the day I had planned. I wanted a relaxing morning at a Mothers of Preschoolers meeting. Instead, I got an eventful day of being a mother of preschoolers. But I guess that's what motherhood is all about. Being flexible, dealing with the unexpected, and putting your kids first. And, of course, a little vomit!

Life Lessons

2008-09-08T16:13:00.005-05:00

I'm learning with the girls that experience is often the best teacher. I'm always trying to warn them when they're doing something dangerous or thoughtless, but they don't listen. "Don't run on the tile in your socks! I don't want you to fall." CRASH! "Keep you cup away from the edge of the table so it doesn't spill." SPLASH! "Don't bend your headband like that...it might break." SNAP! "Don't stand on your chair like that or you'll hit your chin." THUD! At least a dozen times a day I can be heard saying, "Watch where you're going. You're going to run into something" Well, folks, I think she might have finally learned her lesson...

This morning the girls were running in the yard with a friend when it happened. My friend and I could see it happening like it was in slow motion. There was Catherine, running at full speed, heading straight for a tree. She was, of course, looking behind her. I tried to warn her, but it was too late! She turned to look just in time to hit the tree with the side of her face. She didn't cry for too long, and I was actually surprised it didn't turn out to be much worse than it is. I bit my tongue and didn't say any of the things that were going through my mind. No, I didn't say "I told you so." Not even under my breath. I cleaned her face and held her in my lap until she was calm. You know what the first thing she said was? "I guess I should have watched where I was going." Maybe she's been listening all along!

Grandparents Day

2008-09-07T00:30:00.002-05:00

In honor of Grandparents Day, I was going to go on and on about what wonderful grandparents Catherine and Grace have. I was going to tell you how much the girls love them, and how much they love the girls. I wanted to try to explain how much fun it is to see our parents with our kids, and how grateful we are that we all live so close. I thought of so many things I wanted to say, but I couldn't really find the words. The connection between grandparents and grandchildren can't really be written down. Instead, I decided to let these pictures speak for themselves.

Happy Grandparents Day,

Granma and Grandad

Nanny and Pop!

We love you!

I'll Tumble For Ya

2008-09-02T22:18:00.003-05:00

Last Thursday was the girls' last day of tumbling. Grace, Catherine, and their cousin went to tumbling class twice a week during the month of August , and they loved every minute! I don't know what they liked best - wearing a leotard, getting to hop, jump, and tumble on the mats, or watching themselves in a wall of mirrors! I'm thinking it was the whole package...watching themselves tumble in their leotards in the mirrors. Anyway, they really did have a great time. Their teacher was very laid back, and let all the moms sit in the room and watch (she said we could participate if we wanted!). She didn't even mind if we took pictures during class. It was the perfect first "class" to enroll the girls in. I was able to sit back and watch them interact with other kids and adults in a way that I haven't been able to before. I noticed new things about each of them, and saw little differences come out. Yes, they might look the same, but they are different!

Home Alone

2008-09-01T15:45:00.002-05:00

Toby went hunting yesterday, and the girls had at a sleepover at my parents' house last night. That meant I had the house all to myself! Yipee! For more than 12 blissful hours, it was just me. I had a long list of things I wanted to get accomplished last night...clean, vacuum, do laundry, finish MOPS centerpieces, make clipboard crafts, get to bed early, and the list goes on! What did I actually do? I changed the background on my blog, cleaned the kitchen, watched a movie, and picked out the paper for the clipboards. Basically, I stayed up way too late, but I don't have much to show for it! Okay, so I didn't accomplish all that I had planned. I still loved every minute of my evening. But I'm kind of glad that it was just for one night. I missed not telling the girls goodnight, singing to them in bed, and listening to them talk in their room before falling asleep. It was a little lonely, too, not having someone to talk to at night, sleep next to me, or wake up to. Today, the house is back to normal. There have been little feet running through the house, and squealing voices echoing through the halls. The kitchen is already a mess again, and my scrapbooking paper had to be put away. I'm definitely not alone anymore. It was so nice, though, to have time just to be me again. Not that I don't love my role as a mom and a wife, but sometimes I just need a little time for myself. It makes me appreciate what I have even more.

One more thing...as a bonus, the girls are taking a long nap. Really long. 2 hours and counting. Good chance there were some long naps at Nanny and Pop's, too! I heard it was a late night and an early morning.

Altered Lunch Box

2008-08-27T21:44:00.004-05:00

Call me a dork, but I love crafts! Although I haven't been very crafty lately, I'm constantly bookmarking cute craft ideas and tearing out magazine pages of things I'd like to do in the near future. I've seen a lot of these altered lunchboxes lately, and I've really wanted to make one. I just didn't have a reason to. Until now! The girls have been taking a tumbling class this month, and tomorrow is their last day. As a little thank-you for their teacher, I made a little box for her to store all of her stickers in. It only took about 30 minutes, but it was wonderful! I had so much fun making it!! I was so proud of it when I finished that I even had to go show my mom. I know...that's another reason why I'm a dork. Anyway, It's kind of plain, but I thought it turned out pretty cute for my first time. I'm going to be a table leader again this year at MOPS, and I can't wait to find fun little things to make for the ladies at my table!

So, what do you think??

Oh, no she didn't!

2008-08-27T11:50:00.002-05:00

We went to Hobby Lobby today to pick up some crafting materials, and it turned into one of those "quick errands" that made me wonder why in the world I even left the house. The girls weren't acting bad, they were just acting three. And there were two of them, so everything was magnified. I was looking through some scrapbooking paper, and I noticed a lady standing next to us. She was looking at the paper, but she also had one eye on us. After a few minutes, she comes up to me and says...are you ready for this... "Do they always act like this?" Really? Are you kidding me? Why would you say this? I didn't even know what to say. "No, this is their good behavior?" Or maybe, "These kids?? They aren't mine." I seriously considered saying, "No. Do you always act like this?" Instead, I said nothing. I was way too shocked and mad. I don't even remember if I made eye contact. I'm pretty sure she, too, is a mom, which made me wonder even more why she would have said that. Has she not ever had one of those days? If not, maybe she will soon. I'm secretly (okay, not so secretly) hoping that she has a chance to be in my shoes in the very near future. Maybe someone will say to her what she said to me, and she'll get a glimpse of how she made me feel. Maybe, though, someone will show her more compassion, and she'll learn a little something.

Was that supposed to be a compliment?

2008-08-26T12:46:00.007-05:00

We have several good cooks in our family. I, apparently, am not one of them. According to the girls, Pop makes the best pancakes in their "whole wide lives." Grandad makes the best malts in their "whole wide lives." Today at lunch, the girls let me know where I rank. For lunch, I "made" veggie corn dogs, apples, and yogurt. While eating her corn dog, Catherine looks at me and says, "Mommy, you're the best cook in the whole wide kitchen!" Grace wholeheartedly agreed. The whole wide kitchen? That's all??? I was the only cook in the kitchen! And I didn't even cook any of their lunch today. I warmed the corn dogs in the oven, scooped yogurt out of the container, and pulled the pre-sliced apples out of the bag. Thanks, girls. I appreciate the compliment. At least you're easy to please. Look forward to "cooking" for you again soon!

Drive-in Playdate

2008-08-22T09:19:00.006-05:00

Earlier in the week, my friend and I had what could easily be called the best playdate ever. Sonic Happy Hour. We met at Sonic, piled all four kids into her car, flipped on a DVD, ordered soft drinks for us, water for the kiddos, and relaxed. The kids didn't actually watch the movie (they claimed it was too scary), but they were all contained there was little fighting. For just over 2 bucks, we had a little adult conversation, some much-needed caffeine, and a break from the house. Next time, we're bringing a different movie, and we're looking into installing one of those bullet-proof Plexiglas dividers. You know, like the ones police officers have. Then we can really relax!

Smile Award

2008-08-19T08:59:00.006-05:00

Wow! I received my first blog award! I'm so excited! The award is from Karen at Doubly Blessed. She is the mom of twin boys, Bryce and Drew, who are as cute as can be! I don't even remember how I found her blog, but it has become on of my daily reads! I love seeing what they are up to, and reading about her life with twins. Karen has a great sense of humor and truly loves and enjoys her family. Thanks, Karen, for the award! You're so sweet!

These are the rules:

1. The recipient must link back to the awards creator the babblings of mere
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must chose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere.
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.

Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude. (not necessarily at all times--we are all human)
2. Must love one another
3. Must make mistakes
4. Must learn from others
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world
6. Must love life
7. Must love kids

Here are the 5 people I chose for "The Smile Award!"

1. Lindsey at imperfect. I've been reading her blog for months, and I've bought several cute things from her. She has three of the most gorgeous kids and she is incredibly talented and crafty! I love reading her blog and seeing what new things she's doing. She makes adorable party invitations and has such fun ideas for decorations!

2. Sarah at Short Stop. I've also been reading Sarah's blog for several months. She is hilarious! Her blog never fails to make me laugh. Her three precious little boys are so, so cute!

3. Alana at A Kiss, A Hug, and A Squeeze. Alana's blog is honest, sweet, funny, and warm. She is loves her family, and it shows.

4. Sara at The Best Days of My Life. Sara is the mom of two beautiful girls and is an extremely gifted writer. Reading her blog always leaves me thinking. She reminds me to appreciate my family, focus on what's important, and make each day count.

5. Tina at Baby Be Blessed. You've got to go to this site! They make the most adorable dolls with scriptures sewn right on the tummies. I won a doll on Free Friday, so I purchased another one so I'd have one for each girl. Tina was sweet enough to coordinate the fabrics so the girls would each have their favorite colors. Tina has such a heart for God, and looks for ways to make a difference.

SNAKE!!!

2008-08-12T16:07:00.002-05:00

About an hour after breakfast this morning, I went back to the kitchen to get a drink. On the floor of the kitchen, not 6 feet from where the girls were playing, was a SNAKE! When I took a step forward (still about 4 feet away), it raised its head and started slithering back and forth. In total panic mode, I told the girls to go stand far away, and I grabbed the phone to call Toby at work. He didn't answer, so who did I call? My dad! I don't know what I thought he could do about it, but I needed a calm, rational voice to talk me through this. As soon as he answered, I said something like, "DAD! There's a SNAKE in the KITCHEN! A SNAKE! IN MY KITCHEN!!WHAT DO I DO???" A few seconds later, I explained that I was pretty sure it was a snake, but there was a small chance it was just an earthworm. Did I not mention that part yet? Yeah,it was pretty small. Okay...it was the size of an earthworm. That's pretty much beside the point, though. A snake is a snake...especially when it is in MY KITCHEN! Long story short (or not so short!), I was able to use my Swiffer WetJet to kill it. It took several attempts, but I got him. My dad stayed on the phone the whole time and talked me through it. Sometime around lunch, I stopped shaking. I managed to get the snake into a little baggie, and I'm saving it for Toby to look at. The good news is that it was a little snake. The bad news is that it was a little snake. I've spent the entire day checking corners and looking under cabinets for other baby snakes. I'm praying that Mama Snake is outside...far, far away. I don't handle these things well. I freak out over geckos. I squeal when I see a spider. Worms gross me out. I have to have my dad come to my house to kill wasps. I can't deal with snakes. Toby will be home within the hour, and I'm sending him out to inspect the yard. By tomorrow night, there will be Snake-A-Way around our home. I'm not taking any chances.

back in the kitchen

2008-08-04T12:37:00.009-05:00

The girls loved making muffins on Friday, so I promised them that they could start helping out in the kitchen more. Staying true to my word, I let them help make their lunch today...mini pizzas. I had seen this idea on another blog, but I can't remember which one. It is so easy! The girls really did do it all on their own. You just need refrigerated biscuits, pizza sauce, cheese, and any other toppings your kids like. The girls pressed the biscuits into a muffin pan, put a small spoonful of sauce in the center of the biscuit, then topped with cheese. Grace added pepperoni, too. I baked them at 450 for about 8 minutes, and they were delicious (for kid-food, at least). I used to make biscuit pizza by pressing biscuits into a pie pan and topping with sauce and cheese, but this was so much faster and easier. And, the girls got to make theirs just the way they wanted them. Now I just need to find more kid-friendly recipes!

the next food network stars

2008-08-03T00:36:00.001-05:00

On Friday, I let the girls make their very first batch of muffins. All by themselves, from scratch. Well, they had a little help. But I did let the girls do most of the work.

They measured out the ingredients...

mixed the dry ingredients...

whisked the wet ingredients (Grace loVEd the whisk!)...

and stirred the batter.

Then I filled the muffin tin...

...and we waited.

18 minutes later, the girls were in heaven!

The girls said these were the best muffins they had ever had in their whole wide life! If only they were old enough to start cooking dinner!

summer fun

2008-08-02T23:24:00.004-05:00

We went to a friend's house earlier in the week for a playgroup/therapy. I think it was one of the best yet. Playgroups, that is. I'm really not in therapy. We played inside for a little bit, then headed outside for some water balloon fun. I think it was the first time any of the kids had thrown water balloons, so it took a few minutes before they got the hang of it. Even once they got into it, they still didn't really "get" it. Except for one that was thrown at someone's head (by one of my daughters at the other, of course), most of the balloons were just thrown on the ground. (Okay, okay...one or two of the balloons thrown by the moms *might* have made contact with a child. Just maybe.) Anyway, the kids all had a blast just watching the balloons burst and water splash everywhere. It was a fun way for everyone to get a little energy (and maybe some frustration) out on a really hot day. Surprisingly enough, none of the kids were really that wet.

before:

after:

and I just had to show you this one:I don't know where she came up with this pose!

going swimming

2008-07-29T17:37:00.004-05:00

This morning I wasn't feeling well, so the girls were sweet and went to play in their room to give me time to rest. Things didn't go smoothly at first, but after a few ~~threats~~ reminders, they actually played nicely together for the rest of the morning. I had no idea what they were doing, but they were quiet, having fun, and I was able to lay down. I'd see them come out of their room occasionally to get some toys, then head back while mumbling something about a swimming pool. Right before lunchtime, they came to invite me to see the pool they had made. They had taken every stuffed animal from around the house and created a "swimming pool" which they had taken turns swimming in. There was some major clean-up involved before naptime, but it was well worth it. They definitely redeemed themselves after yesterday's shopping fiasco!

unfinished business

2008-07-28T11:48:00.004-05:00

We made our weekly trip to Wal-Mart today, but we have very little to show for it. It just wasn't a good day. Things were going well for a little bit, then went downhill very quickly. About a third of the way through the trip, I called it quits. I'd had enough, and we were going home. How did this solve the problem? Not sure. I was just done. We headed to the front to pay for what little we had managed to get, and out of 23 check-outs, only TWO were open. Seriously?! TWO?!?!? Grace was doing fine, even apologizing for her sister's behavior and the fact that we were having to leave. Catherine, on the other hand, was not fine. And she let everyone around us know it. So, after waiting for what seemed like an eternity, it was our turn. Grace continued to apologize and explain to the cashier why we were leaving. Catherine just continued to demonstrate why we were leaving and provided plenty of reasons for Grace to apologize. It wasn't pretty. I could barely look the cashier in the eye for fear that I might burst into tears. I actually did when we hit the parking lot. Things have settled down, but I'm still on the verge of tears. Why? Because we still have to go back to Wal-Mart for the rest of our groceries!!!! Maybe next time they'll at least have three check-outs open!

sleep-fighting

2008-07-26T00:03:00.004-05:00

This is what I heard tonight coming from the girls' room:

Grace: "Catherine, stop doing that!"
Catherine: "No."
Grace: "CATHERINE! Stop doing that!"
Catherine: "No!"
Grace: "CATH-ER-INE!!! STOP DOING THAT!!!"
Catherine: "NO!"

I went in to check things out, and they were each in their own beds, dreaming away. Pretty amazing that they even manage to fight in their sleep.

u-turns allowed

2008-07-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I learned an important lesson. Two, actually. Before leaving home yesterday to head to my friend's house, I put her address into the navigation system (we call her "Violet") in the minivan. I told Jessica right before leaving that I didn't need directions...I would just follow the car's directions. It's nearly impossible to get lost in my new car. You know where this is headed, don't you? About 20 minutes into our little excursion, Violet told me to head north on the freeway. For some reason, I had my mind set on heading south. Occasionally, Violet will take us on a different path than the one I originally planned that will still end up in the same place, so I thought maybe that's what was happening. I thought I would go the way I knew was right, she'd recalculate the route, and we'd be on track again. Not quite. For the next few miles, I kept hearing things like, "take the next left," or "make the next possible u-turn." Like I said, I was convinced that I was right, and she was wrong, so we kept going. After several more miles and much more urging by Violet to turn around, it finally hit me. I was supposed to be going north. Oops. It took me a few more miles to find a place to turn around, and then I had to get back on the freeway, heading in the right direction. After traveling many needless miles and wasting precious time I could have been with my friend, I was finally going the right way. It was then that I realized that this wasn't the first time I had ignored a loud, clear voice that was trying to lead me in the right direction. I thought of how many times I've prayed for direction, guidance, and answers, but then taken things into my own hands anyway. I'll present a situation to God, specifically ask for His help, then ignore Him when He tries to tell me which way to go. I head off in my own direction, convinced that I know the way. The whole time, He's calling out to me, "TURN LEFT! MAKE THE NEXT POSSIBLE U-TURN!" But I keep going. Until I've gotten so far off track. It's then that I usually quiet down just enough to hear Him. And then I realize. Oops. I wasn't supposed to go this way. I've just wasted so much time, so much energy, and I've gotten myself into an even bigger mess. Luckily, neither Violet, not God will give up on me. No matter how stubborn I am, or how far from the calculated route I might stray. There's always a way back on the freeway. But, it might cost us something. Time. Pride. Heartache. So, please learn from my mistakes. Don't ignore your navigation system, especially when you are as directionally-challenged as I am. More importantly, don't ignore God.

twin playdate

2008-07-23T14:44:00.007-05:00

We just got home from a playdate with the only other set of twins we really know! We had the best time. I met their mom, Jessica, about two and a half years ago. Seems like so much longer than that. I was in Target (big surprise!) with the girls, and we ran into her in the diaper aisle. She asked me about the girls, and in my head I was thinking, "Here we go again." When you are in public with twins it can feel a little like a freak show. Especially when they were little. Everyone wants to stop and tell you their story about their brother's neighbor's cousin who went to elementary school with a girl who has a sister with twins. Seriously. We were having a bad day (which had been preceded by about 8 months of bad days) and the last thing I really wanted to do was stop and make small talk with this cute, put-together girl who was all by herself, leisurely making her way through the store. I'm so glad we stopped to talk, though. Turns out, she had twins at home. Twins who are only about 4 months younger than mine. She got my phone number, called a few days later, and we became instant friends. Friends doesn't really even describe it, though. She is the only other friend I have with twins. She knows what I go through on a daily basis. I mean, she really knows. She can empathise with me in every situation. She knows what it is like to have two kids going through the same stage at the same time. She understands the unique situations we go through. She never judges me. She never criticizes me. She just listens. And she knows. Sometimes that's really all I need. So today, I got to spend time with my friend who has known me for the shortest time, but is one of the ones who knows me best. The kids had fun playing together, but I think I had more fun. I was actually really sad to leave. She lives about 45 minutes away now, so we never see each other. When I left, I really did get sad. It was the kind of sad that you felt when you left home to go back to college after that first Thanksgiving break. The place you were headed was great, and you were excited to see everyone there, but you felt like you were leaving a big piece of you behind. Like you were leaving the people who know a part of you that no one else knows. She is such a blessing in my life. I hope the years will only bring us closer!

teamwork

2008-07-22T14:50:00.000-05:00

When they aren't battling over a toy, screaming at the top of their lungs at each other, or knocking each other upside the head with their sippy cups, the girls love to help each other. They like to take things to each other, open doors, find missing toys, dress each other, etc. Sometimes they like to feed each other. Last week, it might have gone a little too far. One of them actually wiped the other one's bottom. Real nice. At least I didn't have to get up to do it. That's a good thing, right? They've offered to do it several times since then, but I've managed to get there in time. We now have a strict no wiping anyone else's bottom unless you are mommy or daddy policy.

3 minutes

2008-07-21T21:37:00.002-05:00

At 4:56, we pulled into the parking lot of our town's water department to pay our water bill that was due at 5:00! The girls and I raced in before they closed, and in the mere three minutes we were there, Catherine and Grace managed to make a new friend. This happens wherever we go. They have never heard of stranger danger, and they are pretty sure everyone we come in contact with is just dying to meet them and hear everything they have to say. In under three minutes, the girls were able to tell the nice man in the office:

the name of the town in which we live (which he obviously knew!)
our street name
we had to come pay our water bill
mommy lost the envelope
if we don't pay, we can't take anymore baths or showers
we have a dog who is sick with a skin infection
our sick dog peed on the rug last night during dinner and daddy threw the rug away
we had waffles for dinner
they were NEW waffles (don't worry, I don't feed them old food...these were just a new kind of waffle)
Grace has two bug bites
we were headed to see Nanny and Pop
they are our best friends

I really don't know where they get this. They find someone who looks willing to listen, and they just start spewing out random things. Okay...maybe I do know where they get this. I've been known to do the very same thing. Just not to strangers. Unless blogging counts!

supermom...NOT

2008-07-17T12:53:00.000-05:00

i'm no supermom. is anyone? we all have our flaws. our dirty little mom-secrets. we pick up chicken nuggets on the way home because we're too tired to cook. we leave our kids in their pjs until dad calls to say he's on his way home. we put the kids to bed early on thursdays just so we can watch "the office" without interruption. no matter what your secret is, i think we all have them. i'm guilty of forgetting that, though. i get bogged down in my little world of tantrums, bribery, and failure (mine, not theirs!), and i start to feel very alone. i see the moms at the grocery store, the mall, and church who seem so put together. not a hair out of place. no flip-flops or mom uniform in sight. all the other moms seem to have everything in order, and i wonder what's wrong with me? am i the only mom who considers just getting to wal-mart a major accomplishment? am i the only mom who wonders if she's doing a good-enough job? does any other mom constantly feel like she's two steps behind? my twin-mom friend and i have this talk a lot. are we the only ones who just can't seem to get it together? how does everyone else do it? where are we going wrong? after talking a while, we try to convince ourselves that we're really no different from those moms. they may look like they have it together, but maybe they don't, either. their kids have fallen out of the car onto the church parking lot head-first on their watch, too, right? surely they bribe their kids with stickers just to get through the store like i do. and who hasn't parked their kids in front of the tv with a snack just so they could catch up with a friend over the phone? tell me i'm not the only one! i'm certainly no supermom. some days, i struggle just to be mediocre-mom. i don't think my kids mind, though. that's the great thing about our kids...they love us just the way we are. flaws and all! why can't we just accept ourselves the way we are?

table manners

2008-07-15T13:18:00.003-05:00

Me: You have a fork right there, you know.

Catherine: Yeah, I know.

Then, as always, monkey see, monkey do...

What can you do?

stepping back

2008-07-10T17:55:00.005-05:00

On Wednesday, we went to the park with some friends. It was a park that we had never been to before, and the girls loved it! I, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck. The park is not my favorite place. Especially new parks. Familiar, frequently visited parks are great. Unfamiliar ones...not so much. I'm constantly scouting out the place for hidden dangers, unsafe structures, and people I've seen on America's Most Wanted. See, here's the things about twins - they always, always run in opposite directions. This is especially true in open spaces (as well as Wal-Mart!). At the park, the girls often go different ways. Even if they are in the same place, it's likely that they still aren't together. One is going up the stairs, the other is coming down the slide. I prefer to have both girls within arms reach. I'll admit it, I am a bit of an overprotective parent. I really am working on it. Admitting it is the first step, right? Little by little, though, I'm learning to step back. To an outsider, I doubt that it looks like I'm making much progress. But I know that I am. There is a place between the mom who hovers over her child at the park every moment (me), and the mom who sips Starbucks, reads her magazine, and text messages her friends without glancing at her child until it's time to go home. I'm trying to find that balance. I want my kids to know that I am always there, watching and ready to help if they need me. More than that, though, I want them to know that I have confidence in them and that I believe in them. I want them to know that I know they can do it, I trust them to make good choices on their own, and I have faith in them to do the right thing. I know they'll fall (we've already had a broken arm!), and I know they will make mistakes. As much as I want to protect them from falling and failing, I know it is good for them. It is only by experiences that they will learn how to get back up, make things right, and try again. It is only by falling and failing that they will learn that they can get back up, make things right, and try again. Being a good parent isn't making sure nothing bad ever happens to your children. If that was it, I'd have it made! Instead, it's teaching your children how to handle situations and giving them the confidence to know that they can do things on their own. So cut me some slack next time you see me at the park looking a little stressed out. I'm working on it. I promise, I am!

company's here!

2008-07-09T12:52:00.005-05:00

My grandmother was in town for a few days this week, and I don't know who was happier about her visit - my grandmother or the girls! Catherine and Grace loved spending time with her, telling her jokes, and making her laugh. She loved seeing how much all of the great-grandchildren had grown and seeing all of the new things they can do now. It's funny to watch someone who hasn't seen them in several months...things that have become old hat are new again. There is someone new to ooh and ahh over all they can do. Someone new to tell their jokes to, sing songs to, dance for, and share pancakes with. Someone new to kiss and to hug. And they loved every minute.

hard at work

2008-07-07T14:28:00.005-05:00

Last week, at one of my favorite places in the whole, wide world (the Target dollar spot!), I found some great and cheap stuff for the girls. They had just restocked, and they had tons of preschool workbooks and flashcards. Don't worry, mom, I know they are only three. The workbooks are, for the most part, for later. One book, though, had some tracing pages that I let them do the other day. They loved it! They loved sitting at their little trays "working." It was funny to see their little personalities come out while they worked. They reminded me of so many of the kids I taught. Catherine was the one who was too busy to stop and listen to directions. She heard me say, "follow the arrow and trace over the line," and before I knew it, she had finished three pages. Grace started out as the kid that just wanted to get to the end. It wasn't that she didn't care about doing a good job, she just wanted to do it fast. Once I convinced her to slow down, she turned into the perfectionist. I don't know where she gets that. She wanted to try over and over until it was right. If she tried, but couldn't do it perfectly, she didn't want to do it at all. Each day since then, they have wanted to "do some work." Catherine likes to draw circles to show Daddy, and Grace likes to draw straight lines. Lots and lots of straight lines. I'm happy to see that they like to sit and work. I'm actually happy to just see them sitting still and concentrating on something! I hope they will grow up loving to learn. I hope Grace doesn't lose her determination, but I hope she's also able to accept imperfection. I hope Catherine keeps her focus and motivation, but I also hope that she will remember that it's okay to accept help from others. In just a little over two years, the girls will be doing real work at school. TWO years? That can't be right! '08, '09, yep, 2010. In just a little over two years, they will be at school all day, five days a week. I'll have to send them off in the morning, and not see them again until the afternoon. (Except for the days that I go eat lunch with them, which will be all days ending in "y". No, I promise not to be that mom!) They will spend more time with their teachers than with me. (Unless I decide to go back to teaching so I can be their teacher! Just kidding. Umm...maybe.) I'm so thankful to have this time with them now. I'm thankful that, for right now, I get to be the one who is teaching them their letters, reading to them, and singing songs. Even on our bad days, I'm glad I'm the one disciplining them, teaching them right from wrong, and drying their tears. Before long, there will be a school nurse bandaging their skinned knees, and they will have new friends to tell knock-knock jokes to. They might even realize that minivans aren't cool! Until then, I'll remind myself to enjoy the time I have, and we'll make as many memories as we can.

4th of july

2008-07-04T22:06:00.006-05:00

today was a fabulous fourth of july! we had lunch with one set of grandparents, and dinner with the other. what could be better? we even squeezed a pretty good nap (for all four of us!) in between. for dessert at my parents' house, we all got a little messy and had s'mores. it was fun to just relax and be with family all day.

happy 4th of july!!!

it's gone!!!

2008-07-02T17:43:00.004-05:00

before:

after:

today was the day! i've been growing out my hair for months, and i finally got it cut today to donate to locks of love. 11 inches...gone. i think i like it, but i'm still a little on the fence.

oh, crap!

2008-07-01T19:45:00.004-05:00

literally.

i heard the cry today about 45 minutes into the girls' nap. every mom knows the cry. it's the cry that you know needs immediate attention. it can't wait until the next commercial or until your finish another page in your book. you have to go now! someone is seriously hurt or sick. until today, hearing that cry in our house meant that someone had thrown up. i hate the cry! i'm not good with throw up. today, though, it had come out the other end. for those of you who don't know me, that's just gross. for those of you who do, it's hilarious. there i stood, total germaphobe, with my sweet little girl laying in a bed of poop, crying. it wasn't as bad as it could have been. there actually wasn't that much. anyway, there i stood, just staring at her. i was the only one home, so it was up to me. the germaphobe in me wanted to go get a pair of rubber gloves. the mom in me just wanted to hug my little girl and tell her it was okay. so i did. i hugged my poopy little 3-year-old. i told her it was okay, and we took care of it. we got everything and everyone clean (and sanitized!). i got her bedding and clothes in the wash, and threw away a few things that couldn't be salvaged. i gave her a bath, then held her in my lap until she calmed down. i'd like to think that won't happen again, but i know it probably will. maybe next time, though, toby will be home!

true love

2008-07-01T11:25:00.003-05:00

i'm in love. true love. and it's not with my husband. yes, i am in love with him, but i have a new love, too. i lOvE, i mean seriously LOVE, my new minivan! i didn't think i could love it more than the day we got it, but it do. i love it more and more each day. today was our first really big shopping trip at wal-mart. let me define big for you - no more room in the cart (top or bottom), over an hour, we can't buy one more thing - BIG. i never could have done this with both girls in the accord. not only did i buy lots of food, but i got bulky things like toilet paper and paper towels. i really couldn't wait to get to the car, press the buttons, watch the girls climb in, then neatly load my groceries. it was heavenly. i didn't even break a sweat. and it's july. the girls got in by themselves, and i was able to buckle them in without ducking, bending, or stooping. all of the groceries fit perfectly in the back. and there was still tons of room! there were even two hangers on the top of the back seat to hang my chips and bread above everything else so they didn't get crushed. when we got home, the girls could reach in the back and grab sacks to carry in. no more reaching down into the trunk to dig things out. i used to hate going to the store when we had lots of things to get. i'd have to strategically plan when to purchase large items so everything would fit in the back. now i couldn't fill it up if i tried. okay...maybe i could, so i better not try! anyway, all of this just goes to say that i really, really, really, love my minivan. even if it is a dorky mom-mobile!

party time

2008-06-30T09:47:00.005-05:00

last night we took the girls to a birthday party at a swimming pool. the girls had a blast, and i just tried not to think about how many kids had already peed in the pool. catherine loved to go down the kiddie slide, but grace was more content to have both feet firmly touching the bottom of the pool. there was a little frog slide that they both loved, and played on for the majority of the time. catherine liked to "swim like a mermaid" with mommy and float on her back. after swimming, there was, of course, cAkE! at 7:45 at night. we headed home around 8:30, took a quick bath, and got into bed around 10:00! the good news? they didn't get out of bed until almost 8:15 this morning!!!

kids say the darndest things

2008-06-27T23:03:00.004-05:00

last night, the girls were playing with a bowl of mints. individually wrapped lifesavers mints. i don't know why, but they love to play with them and smell them. anyway, while they were playing, catherine asked me if she could have one. i told her no, because they were just for grown-ups. she of course wanted to know why, so i just told her that they were for adults who wanted their breath to smell nice and fresh. then i asked her what she thought little girls did when they wanted good breath. (since it was bedtime, i thought she would know that the answer i was looking for was "brush their teeth") know what she said? she very seriously and confidently replied, "they eat chicken." where does she come up with this stuff?

alike, but different

2008-06-20T23:33:00.016-05:00

funny how a little change can make a big difference. grace wanted her hair in pigtails, catherine wanted a braid. all of the sudden, they looked nothing alike to me!

things i'm thankful for:

1. a husband who doesn't mind that i occasionally burn dinner

2. kids who think it's funny that i burn dinner

3. a husband who cleans the dishes even after i burn the dinner!

4. sliding minivan doors - i can't tell you how much easier it has been getting the girls buckled into their seats in the minivan than it was in our accord!

5. the weekend!

top ten ways you can tell i'm a mom

2008-06-19T13:45:00.003-05:00

10. i make references to "dora the explorer" in daily conversations

9. i call my peasant skirt and tank top my fancy outfit

8. my purse is often mistaken for a diaper bag

7. i never leave the house without hand sanitizer, snacks, crayons, and stickers

6. i think steve from "blues clues" is kinda cute

5. i consider getting home past 9:00 staying out late

4. i no longer subscribe to glamour, cosmo, or marie claire. i now read parents, family fun, and good housekeeping

3. i have the number for poison control programmed on my cell phone

2. i can recite the entire "doodlebops" pledge

and finally.......

1. i am now the proud owner of.....

....a minivan! hUrRay!!!

bribery

2008-06-18T11:28:00.005-05:00

the girls had to leave church today right before their class was going out to play. i was finished working and was ready to go home. they were not. and believe me, they let me know it. i lured them out of the church with the promise of a fabulous surprise. i had no idea what that surprise would be, but surely i could think of something by the time we got home, right? then i saw the sign on main street that knew. doughnut holes! worked like a charm.

things i'm thankful for:

1. the girls have been sleeping in a little this week

2. friends to teach vbs with next week

3. a church that makes kids a priority

4. kids who adore their grandparents (and vice-versa!)

5. doughnut holes, of course!

eating out

2008-06-16T11:46:00.004-05:00

since yesterday was father's day, toby got to pick what we did for lunch. he chose to eat out at a "resternaut," as the girls would say. i'm usually not a huge fan of eating out with the girls. i know that sounds mean, but it's just not relaxing. yesterday, though, things were better. during lunch, i noticed how much things are changing for us. there are no more highchairs, we don't have to bring sippy cups and kiddie utensils along, cheerios aren't spread out on the table as an appetizer, and the table usually doesn't look like a tornado came through. i actually think there was only one crayon left under the table! we ended up having a really nice lunch. it reminded me, once again, that even though there are tough stages that we go through, they are just stages. they don't last forever. before we know it, toby and i will be eating out all alone, wishing we had someone's pancakes to cut!

father's day

2008-06-15T08:00:00.002-05:00

like i said on mother's day, things changed when we had kids. i started to see the world through the eyes of a mom. i also started to see myself as a mom, and my husband as a dad. and what a great dad he is. he has been in love with our two little girls from the moment they were born. even before that. having twins made our early experience as parents a little different than most. there was no trading off, taking turns, or sleeping through a feeding. we were in it together. all the time. we fed the babies together, day or night. we both lugged around a baby carrier wherever we went. we both paced the living room with a crying baby night after night. we both wore spit-up stained clothes for a year. through it all, though, toby has been the best dad i can imagine. he is kind, loving, patient, and compassionate. he is proud of them, encourages them, and teaches them. he works hard everyday so that i can be home with our kids. when he gets home, he is always excited to see them. no matter what his day has been like, he comes through the door with a smile on his face. he loves to get on the floor and play with the girls. he makes them laugh, giggle, and squeal like no one else can. he is the first person they want to see in the morning, and the last person they want to see before going to bed. they look out the window every morning to see if daddy's car is still in the driveway. if he is still at work when they go to sleep, they make me promise that he will come in to check on them when he gets home. the other day, i asked them what their favorite things were. after thinking about it for only a second, catherine smiled and answered, "when my daddy comes home." the girls have a bond with their daddy that is so special. a bond that i see getting stronger each day. they are so lucky to have a daddy like him.

happy father's day, dad

2008-06-14T09:00:00.003-05:00

i know today isn't exactly father's day, but today is the day that we are celebrating with my dad. and since today is his day, i thought it was fitting that i told you about him today. my dad has always been there for me. when i was little and i fell and scraped my knee (really bad! to me, at least), he held me on the stairs while i cried. he stuck up for me when the little boy on the bus was mean to me, and again in middle school with the kid in art. he made sure that i was treated right, but instead of just swooping in and always fixing things, he taught me to stand up for myself. this wasn't an easy task! i was always the shy, quiet little girl who was easy to pick on and take advantage of. my dad taught me how to speak up for myself without being rude. he taught me to always make good choices, and not just go along with the crowd. when i broke my arm on the monkey bars in elementary school, he held my hand while the doctor fixed it. having kids of my own now, i know that wasn't easy. seeing your own kids in pain is the worst. after my arm healed, it was my dad who took me back to those monkey bars and made me try again. over and over, so i wouldn't be scared. once when we moved, he listened to me cry over the phone on my first day of school. he helped me adjust to all of our moves, and he told me it was for the best. i didn't believe him, but it was. moving helped me become who i am today. as a teacher, it made me more sensitive to "the new kid." as an adult, it has helped me make friends more easily. my dad put up with my teenage drama. and there was a lot! seriously, there was a ton. he taught me to drive, took me to a "new kids on the block concert," and taught me correct grammar (sorry, dad, if i still don't use me and i correctly all the time!) when i had the girls, my dad came up to the hospital to keep me company and help out. after the girls came home, he took time off work to come over and help. he would come over at night, when we couldn't get them to sleep, and rock one of the girls in the corner to give toby and me a break. no matter what stage of my life, there is one thing i've always known. there is nothing my dad wouldn't do for me. i hope my children can always say the same about me. thanks, dad, for everything. i love you! happy father's day!

so simple

2008-06-13T13:00:00.000-05:00

what makes for a fun afternoon to a couple of 3-year-olds? nothing elaborate. nothing spectacular. just some sidewalk chalk. and their best friend.

sleepy, stubborn girls

2008-06-12T22:42:00.000-05:00

it is after 10:30, and my children are just now going to sleep. they first went to bed at 8:20, but they didn't go to sleep. they weren't mad, crying, fussing, or fighting. they were just awake. i knew they were tired. they knew they were tired. they just wouldn't give in. so i did. i don't usually do this, but tonight i let them out of bed. i let them bring their blankets and pillows into the living room to watch tv. i turned off all the lights, got them all snug and cozy, turned on the tv, and we all watched the care bears. they said our living room looked like nanny and pop's "movie room." i'm sure supernanny would disapprove of this, but i thought it was kinda fun. will they be tired tomorrow? probably. will they be a little grumpy in the morning? maybe. was this the best parenting decision ever? i doubt it. or maybe it was. sometimes you've gotta bend the rules. sometimes you have to stay up late and snuggle with your kids. will they remember all of the rules they followed today? no way. will they remember the one that i let them break? i hope so. i know i will.

sour cream coffee cake

2008-06-11T09:01:00.000-05:00

here is the recipe that i've been promising many of you for months. okay, maybe years. it is one of the few recipes that i don't already have saved on my computer, so i'm finally taking the time to sit down and type it out. this recipe comes from the nordic ware bundt classics cookbook that i bought years ago at williams sonoma when i bought this bundt pan. there are lots of yummy recipes in it! it is well worth the $15 i spent on it. here is the recipe as it is in the book. at the bottom are some changes that i make when i bake it.

filling:

1 c finely chopped walnuts or pecans

3/4 c sugar

2 tbsp cinnamon

coffee cake:

1 (18.25 oz.) package yellow cake mix

1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix

1 c sour cream

3/4 c water

1/4 c vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

heat over to 325 degrees. grease a 10 or 12 cup bundt pan.

stir together filling ingredients and set aside. in a large mixing bowl, mix all other ingredients. mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. sprinkle bottom and sides of prepared pan with 3/4 c of the filling mixture. gently spoon half of the batter into pan. top with remaining filling mixture. spoon remaining batter over mixture.

bake at 325 degrees for 50 - 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. cool 10 minutes. remove from pan and cool completely on rack. to store, wrap tightly in plastic wrap. flavor increases overnight.

** i use low-fat sour cream, egg beaters instead of eggs, and applesauce instead of oil. it cuts down on fat, but tastes just as good! when baking, i don't layer the cake. after mixing the cake batter, i gently fold in the filling. i don't mix it completely, i just swirl in it. i found that when i layered it, the top layer of the cake (the cinnamon sugar) would burn a little. it's just a lot easier to swirl it in instead of layering it. i don't use the nuts, either.

beer bread

2008-06-11T09:00:00.001-05:00

here is the easiest bread recipe ever! it is quick to throw together, very simple, and delicious! sara, a friend of ours, brought it to a baby shower several months ago, and i've made it many times since then. all you need is:

3 c self-rising flour

1 (12 ounce) bottle of beer (i use shiner)

1/2 c sugar

mix ingredients together and bake at 350 degrees for about 50 - 60 minutes. brush with melted butter during the last few minutes of baking if desired. that's it! it's really that easy!

gardening

2008-06-10T16:19:00.007-05:00

yesterday at my in-laws, the girls did a little gardening. their garden consisted of rocks, sticks, dirt, grass, bumbleberry seeds, flowers, and an acorn. they "planted" all of this on the driveway. i'm pretty sure they are expecting to find a beautiful assortment of flowers growing on the concrete when they return. i wonder what they will do when they see a car there instead?

i'm thankful for:

1. a wonderful, relaxing weekend with friends

2. my husband, who took care of the girls while i was gone

3. getting a little color this weekend...i can't call it a tan, but it's an improvement!

4. coming home to a clean house and clean dishes

5. a power nap