Friday, July 29, 2011

Picture of the Week: July 29



I mean ... I did tell them to share.

P.S. Can someone please tell me when my children got so big?

P.P.S. Aren't they adorable?

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Caption Contest: July 26

Is that love? Anger? Curiosity? You could take it so many different ways ... so off you go!



For all the fame and glory I have to offer, which as April can attest to, isn't really all that much, write a caption in the comments below. If you're a little nervous about putting your name on it, enter as anonymous and if you win, you can step up and claim your prize. Fame. Glory. Awesome.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Pictures of the Week: July 22



Just look at that ornery face. We fight the standing-in-the-chair battle every day. We win every time, but that doesn't stop her from trying again. That persistence will serve her well later in life.




Hilarious. Just freaking hilarious.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Weirdest. Day. Ever.

In all the days and all the weeks and all the months that these lovely little girls have been with us, yesterday was by far, the weirdest day ever.

It was right after their afternoon snack. They were quietly playing in their room when Claire started crying -- like I-just-fell-down-and-broke-my-arm kind of crying. I ran in there and assessed any possible injuries. All limbs were attached. No blood. No bruises. No swollen parts.

When I picked her up to hold her, she laid her head on my chest and cried. And cried. And cried. And then Grace started crying. And I called Scott in for backup.

They both felt feverish, so we took them into our room and I had both girls on my lap while Scott went to fetch tissues. All the sudden, Claire throws up. On me. I could still see grapes. Gross.

They both started crying even harder. We changed clothes, Scott took Claire, I took Grace and we laid down on the bed.

This is where it gets really weird.

Keeping in mind, that these girls rarely (as in, next to never) lay down outside of nap/bedtime. If they do lay down, they cuddle with a pillow or a blanket for 7 seconds and then pop back up.

But yesterday was different. It was about 6 p.m. They just laid down on our chests and stayed like that for 15 minutes. For 15 minutes, they were completely still. Just breathing and blinking. And then they slowly fell asleep. During the middle of the evening. Nearly simultaneously.

We slowly, carefully turned out heads to each other. Bewilderment is the only word to describe our thoughts.

We went from fine to meltdown city to asleep in about 17 minutes.

They slept for about 30 minutes, woke up nearly simultaneously and then we finished the rest of the evening.

Weirdest. Day. Ever.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Caption Contest Winner!

And by Friday, I really meant Monday. Evening. Life got busy. Big surprise.

For all the fame and all the glory ... the winner is .... April!



Grace: I heard someone on the news talking about "fracking."
Claire: *gasp*


I thought all the submissions were quite funny, but I deal a lot with "fracking" for my job, so it struck a funny bone with me. Enjoy your fame and glory, April! Check out the rest of 'em here.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

18 Months



They turned 18 months a couple of weeks ago, but the word punctual isn't even in my vocabulary any more. And their 18-month check isn't until Friday, so I'm still in the window. Right?

Sometimes I look at them walking and running and climbing and I wonder, how did we get here so fast?

Then Claire slams the door in Grace's face, Grace starts screaming and Claire starts whining because SOMEONE shut her alone in her room.

The thoughts dash out of my head as I head down the hall to repair the damage.

And that's life around here these days. Always on the move. So much in fact, that the other day, when I found Grace just laying in the middle of her room I shouted for Scott, "Look at her! What's she doing just laying there?!?"





This stage of life has ushered out old challenges and welcomed new ones. They are sleeping well, eating well (if not a tad on the picky side) and all of the motor skills seems right on target.

But they are also getting brave.



Getting hurt.



And getting independent.





The biggest challenge of raising twins at this point in life is when one is behaving badly, the other copies. And unlike with an older/younger combo, logic isn't a factor. I can't tell one to stop badly influencing the other. I just go round and round in this circle. "Stop Claire." Claire stops. "Stop Grace." Grace stops. "Stop Claire." Claire stops. And around and around until I grab the rocking horses and fling them in the other room.

One of the most delightful changes around here is their interaction with each other. The will chase each other around the house squealing in delight. And when one catches the other, they both break into giggles.

I watch them chase each other giggling and shrieking and quietly thank my lucky stars that I have these little girls. People stop us whenever we're out to comment on our little twinkies. It never fails that the last thing they say is "Cherish every moment. It goes by too fast."

I appreciate the reminder each and every time because at 18 months, I can already attest … it goes by way too fast.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Caption Contest: July 13

It's back — for a limited time only — with your purchase of a small drink ... wait. Scratch that. I've got food on the brain.

But it's back! The caption contest that is. You know the drill. For all the fame and glory, submit your most hilarious, thought-provoking, world-changing caption to fit this photo.




Winner(s) will be announced Friday!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

H. O. T.

It's hot here. Scary hot. So hot, we don't venture outside unless absolutely necessary.

But the girls REALLY love going outside.

So, I got smart and brought the outside in. Except the hot. It had to stay.













Monday, July 11, 2011

No, no, no

For awhile there, I thought I had things figured out.

Grace was my defiant one, Claire was my compliant one.

Grace was constantly pushing the limits, anxious to see what my reaction would be to her doing something I didn't want her to.

And Claire feared "getting in trouble" above all else. Even a stern look would illicit big tears.

Now? Not so much.

Claire has learned what "no" means, and she uses it like its her job.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Picture of the Week: July 8



In the last 12 months or so, the twinkies have bounced back and forth between Mama's girls and Daddy's girls. We're currently in Mama mode. Can you tell? Wherever I am, my little ducklings are waddling (more like flat out running) right behind me. And whenever one gets attention, the other demands some, too. Earlier this week, Claire stumbled and hit her head on the wall. I snuggled and loved her. And not even a minute later, Grace walked up to the exact location of the incident, leaned over, purposely bonked her head and started fake crying. Then she walked over to me and sat in my lap. It was all I could do to stop from laughing. Sweet little lovies.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Identity

For a majority of my driving life, I have driven cars that fit my budget, rather than my personality.

That was until I bought Penny.

Penny was a black 2003 VW Passat. She and I were such a fit. Reliable. Simple. Cute. (If I do say so myself). And a little unique.

She was the first car I owned that really said Katie.

But then I went and had twins and life got bigger and heavier and more cluttered. And I needed a car that could fit a twin stroller, groceries, coolers, pack 'n' plays, toys, diaper bags, and on and on.

So, for a few months, Scott and I talked about getting something bigger.

And so it was.



I always said I wasn't the mini-van driving kind of gal. Not because I think there is anything wrong with them, but because it didn't seem to fit my personality. It was a far stretch from little ol' Penny.

But I'm in love. Totally, completely in love. It's not the color. Or the design. It's the utility.

Seven seats.



At least 10 cup holders.

Automatic sliding door. (When you have a twin in each arm, this is useful.)

A back seat that folds down.



And … So. Much. Room.

It may not be my style, but it totally fits my love of utility.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Happy Belated 4th!

We had a fun-filled weekend with friends and family, and now we're recovering. So, here are some pictures to snack on until tomorrow.






This is about as good as it gets when I try to get them to sit still for a picture. Oh well.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Pictures of the Week: July 1

This was our first swimming experience of the summer. They got in, they got out, they went down the slide, sat in their house, ran into the woods, got in, got out and giggled the whole time. There is something truly magically about water.