LOUD!

asd Wow! Today has been quite the day and it's not even 10am yet. Luke was up at 5 this morning (stupid teeth!) and I got him to go back to sleep until 5:45 :( . We woke up Andrew - I know, don't wake up a sleeping baby, but you really have to with twins or we would be on such a weird schedule - and fed the babes.
I scrambled to take a shower, but heard them crying before I was done, so there goes that. Hold that thought, Luke's crying...
You know it's been a bad day when you can't even recognize the cries anymore - that was Andrew (he had to burp). Luke has a panicky screamy cry - one that would cause you to think something was seriously wrong - even when all he wants is someone to watch what he's doing. Andrew has a sad wail kind of cry - truly pathetic.
So, back to my story. Shower was short. Came downstairs and played with the boys and they were loud the whole time! Luke is not only crying because his 6th tooth is coming in (yes 6th!!) but he is babbling up a storm! Most of the times he says "mamavavabala" and I pretend he says "mama". Andrew is just watching him with huge eyes wondering how he can make noise, and he has learned to make rasperries SO LOUD that his face turns red and you think he can't breathe.
They both screamed throughout breakfast (which they liked, because in between screams I heard some "mmmm" sounds). They screamed while getting dressed for the day. They cried in their jumpy toys. They cried when I held them, and they cried when I put them down to make bottles. Then they had a bottle and fell asleep, but started screaming because they woke up and the bottles weren't in their mouths (not kidding - I have a couple of hogs ;) ).
Finally, just now it's quiet - for maybe an hour - I love naptime!

Here are some pictures I thought were funny. They pretty much sum up our "now mobile" life around here. Andrew studies everything, while Luke gets closer and closer and closer...

P.S. Not quiet - someone just woke up - it lasted 10 minutes...

organic

I'm not sure if I've mentioned that I dislike pesticides and chemicals, food additives and cleaning products. Have I? Well, here I go again!
It all started 2 weeks ago when my friend Nikki told me about a book she just finished reading (Master Your Metabolism). She said 'You should read it - or, maybe you shouldn't - it might make you crazier' (it was something to that effect maybe not those exact words :) ). So, I read it. It was awesome! It backed up ,my beliefs about preservatives, chemicals, and other poisons in foods and products and it gave actual medical reasons why we should NOT be putting these chemicals into our bodies!
Ever since, I've been on an organic kick. I've always fed my boys organic foods, so why shouldn't I be eating them too?? I'm trying to buy as much organic foods as I can. If I can't get it in an organic form, I try to get the most natural foods possible. I've (GASP) stopped drinking Diet Mountain Dew, and if you know me, you know I've been drinking at least 2 cans/day for years thanks to my college roommate from freshman year who introduced me to the deliciousness of pop - we didn't have a whole lot of pop when I was a kid - for SURE not Mtn. Dew and for SURE not 1 a day. I've made a deal with myself that I can get pop if I'm out of my house, but no more diet EVER! Did you know that the aspertame in diet soda turns to formaldehyde in your body?? Do you remember high school anatomy, dissecting animals?? That smell is formaldehyde. That was enough to change my mind - not to mention the fact that it alters your body chemistry and in some cases your DNA, it sticks in your brain and you can't get rid of it. (This coming from someone who was up to 4 diet sodas a day - I"M DONE!)
Is it expensive? Not anymore than usual. Yes, the foods are more expensive, but I'm not buying as much pre-packaged garbage (sorry Adam) and I'm not buying pop. It evens out for us according to our grocery bills.
And now for what you really look at my blog for...

Look how happy they are waiting for supper

Last night, Dad fed Andrew.

I really want to know how he stayed relatively clean.

Mom fed Lucas.

This is usually what the boys look like.
Peas all over. On the forehead, inside ears...

After this was taken, Luke proceeded to rub his eyes and got sweet peas inside his eyeball. This resulted in a full-blown fit (naturally - wouldn't you cry if you got peas in your eye??) and Mom digging in his eye to get all the peas out. He is fine and can see very well as he just saw me try to sneak his bottle out of the fridge and into the bottle warmer (he's screaming because the bottle warmer is not faster). Light just went off - gotta go!

traveling

My frustration with posting this particular blog entry has hit a maximum level, and since I don't have time to fuss around with formatting the pictures (again!) I'll leave it how it is right now. You just want to see pictures of the boys anyway, right?

So, traveling. Oh, man, we sure are! Luke is "crawling" around on his stomach and can get into EVERYTHING. He especially likes the air vents in the floor. He can pull them out of the floor. Yikes! When he's not crawling, he's rolling. He also started hanging onto the bottom of the swing - like he's doing a circus trick. He's very talented AND he has another tooth (yes, #5). Do NOT let him bite you - it hurts!!

Andrew is rolling around too, but he's a little more laid back (lazy), and doesn't go too far too fast. He prefers to push himself around backwards on his tummy. He has no teeth yet, but they are coming - he is a drool machine and last night (in a fit) he bit me with his gums and that hurt! I'm glad there are no choppers in there. (Yes, my kids have fits - especially when overtired.) Andrew still could stand all day, and he's starting to blow raspberries or at least try - it's really funny!

We have been gone for the past 3 weekends. We were up at my parents' on the 4th of July, then we went to help Adam's parents the following weekend at their lake, and finally last weekend we went to visit Auntie Amy in Duluth. The boys are good in the car. If they wake up they don't really cry, they just make a lot of noise to get some attention. Luke has perfected the fake cough (then he looks behind him to see if anyone's looking) and Andrew likes to scream as loud as he can. At this point, I usually crawl in the backseat to entertain, and the three of us fall asleep for the rest of the trip. I think Dad likes it that way - everyone quiet!

So, here are some recent pictures of our daily trials and travels:

Northwoods Confections

I brought the boys to my old work. This is the candy store where I perfected my flabby physique back in college - chocolate ALL DAY?? Why, sure, thank you! Luke is in the backpack. He doesn't look very comfy, but he was almost asleep the whole time. My back was sweaty, and my shoulders hurt...if you wanted to know. :)

The 4 of us by Lake Superior.
When we left town Adam said "We are those people I HATED in college. Those idiots taking pictures by the lake and driving around looking for a parking spot"
Yes, we are THOSE people.


Ooh, lift bridge, boys. (They didn't look.)

VISITING G & G L.

Taking a dip in Grandpa Don and Grandma Judy's lake.



On the pontoon.
Andrew was driving with Grandpa. Luke was sleeping. Both of them hated the life jacket situation. They had crabby looks on their faces the entire trip.

Luke's idea of a nice boatride - eating and falling asleep. The poor kid had no neck in that lifejacket!

Relaxing in the hammock.

BACK HOME

Below: The First Toy Fight.

Luke is mobile and also grabby. He will roll/crawl himself to Andrew and steal whatever he has. We have doubles of most toys, people, and often Lucas has the same toy - he just wants Andrew's too!

But don't feel bad for poor little Andrew. He is not so innocent.

Here he is after he stole Luke's blankie - right out of his arms!

Don't let the face fool you...

My life has just become REALLY crazy.

busy, busy, busy

We've been busy. Adam and I were busy last weekend celebrating the 4th of July with our annual party at my parent's lake. We were trying to figure out how many years we've been doing it, and have no idea. I think it's been at least 20 (making me REALLY old!). It's also the weekend we celebrate my dad's birthday, my aunt's birthday, my uncle's birthday, and 3 cousins' birthdays.
On Sunday (my dad's actual birthday), we helped my parents move all of the "big stuff" out of their house. That was a little sad, but very exciting because they are building a new house closer to the lake. I was reminiscing all weekend - alone, because no one would reminisce with me - about playing here and there, writing on the walls (sorry about that!), and remembering my childhood in that house.
The boys have been busy, too! The Sunday before the 4th, they had their first "photo shoot" with their auntie Morgan. She took WONDERFUL pictures of the boys that you can see here if you want to!
Luke is busy rolling all over the house, chewing on himself and his brother (which Andrew does NOT like), and just overall demolishing things :). Luke is using his 4 teeth to rip toys and put bite marks on most everything. He will roll over anything in his way - including Andrew, who doesn't seem to mind.
Andrew is rolling one way, then gets stuck. He is perfecting his "goo" sound and his screaming. He'll scream as loud as he can and then look over at us. We can't tell if he's looking proud that he can scream or sheepish like "whoops, that was loud" - it's a surprised kind of look and it's really cute.
Other than that, I'm just enjoying being home for the summer! I'm not really thinking about next year quite yet - denial works wonders! I will have to think about it soon because my new classroom is full of old flashcards that I'm allergic to (yes, nerdy, I know) and I have to figure out a system for storing my high school and birth-3 things in the same room.
Oh, someone's getting hungry - gotta go!