catch up day!

Once again, we've been busy. I know, I know, excuses, but you have 2 year old twins and see how much you get done!

We celebrated the twins' season opener with Granny and Grandpa's yearly photo op. in Twins gear.

Taking this picture took about 10 minutes and 1/2 a bag of m&ms and this is the best shot we got. Seriously.

One weekend, we met some friends at Sea Life aquarium at the MOA.

It was pretty good if I forget the fact that we waited in line for 30 minutes to get in. It was probably 150 degrees down there and we did an awful lot of standing around waiting to file through to go through those tubes. I feel as though I may have a better understanding about what cows go through when being herded.

We sang the "octopus, octopus swimming in the water" song for 2 days.

I'd go back again.

The boys have been working on potty training. They like to wear undahpayants.

We have talked about it that this is not the correct way to wear them.

It doesn't really change anything.

We moved all the toys upstairs to the new "toy room".

It's wonderful in the living room now.

Slightly cleaner.

(but only slightly)

The boys are diggin' "Bob the Builder".

Get it? Diggin'?

I'm funny.

If you are wondering what this picture is here for, it's because I went upstairs and someone put undahpayants in the washing machine in the play kitchen.

I thought it was cute.

Today we dyed easter eggs.

It was not as messy as I had anticipated and the boys liked it!

And this?

Do these french fries give anyone else the creeps?

I couldn't eat them if someone paid me.

Well, maybe if someone paid me...

Have a great week!!

undahpayants

That's right!

We are officially wearing undahpayants in our house!!!

Luke refuses diapers and hates being wet, so he pretty much trained himself. He still has some accidents, but whatever.

Andrew is jealous that Luke gets praised for using the potty. Not to mention the fact that he gets "em nems" if he goes, so Andrew's following suit. (He is not successful as frequently and will often run around with a huge wet spot on his undahpayants before someone notices it. - Sound like anyone? Aaron ring a bell? - I have flashbacks daily)

So, we've been busy washing clothes, running to the bathroom and you know what the best part is? When daddy's home, no one wants mom's help.

In fact, I'm usually banned from the bathroom (and that is SO totally ok with me!)

I love hearing those three little words: "Daddy do it!"

Is that ok?

join me!

I just got an email about this 21-day vegan kickstart.
If you sign up, you get meal plans emailed to you.
If you've ever thought about trying to eat vegan, there's no better time than the present!!
Seriously, it's not a big deal, and you honestly won't even miss meat - maybe not even dairy. Isn't it worth a try??

Go here and try it with me!! It starts April 4th.
http://21daykickstart.org/

A Sigh of Relief

Those of you that see me or talk to me often know my recent stress and craziness relating to my boys. They have been nuts and I feel like a crazy person and a terrible mother almost daily.
Last week was spring break and while I looked forward to hanging out at home, towards the end of the week life became absolutely WILD! The boys were naughty, busy, testing ANY and ALL boundaries and just being overall difficult. We had a rough few days.
I went back to work this week looking thorough parenting and discipline books and trying to find one I hadn't read yet. Seriously, we have every book imaginable in our library at work and I've read them ALL. I have to so that I can recommend them to others as part of my job, but I use them frequently for my own life.
In any case, life was nuts. To top it all off, I had a busy week at work and wasn't home for bedtime 3/5 nights this week. Again, feeling terrible about it, but not being able to do anything about it.
Then a wonderful thing happened.
One week after the naughty started, it was over. Those 7 days were tough, but all of a sudden my nice, sweet boys were back! Daycare was good - no timeouts, no hitting, no biting or pushing friends (yes, this happens almost daily). Tami (the daycare lady) was amazed.
We went out for dinner as a family on Friday and the boys were ANGELS! They were polite and quiet. They visited with us and each other and had me laughing with all of their "interpretations" of what was going on (L:"mom, look fan! A:"No, fan. Helicopter" L:"oh, yep. Helicopter").
This weekend we had company and the boys were FANTASTIC!! Nice and helpful. Good to each other and us (and company too). Honestly, I haven't broken up a fight in 4 days! (it really is a new record)
And last night, Adam broke out his old home movies looking for some college antics (awful movies that should be destroyed before my children EVER see how crazy boys in college are), and we found a tape I had started with the babies on it. We saw Andrew's first day of talking "da da da da". We saw Luke rolling around the room like a lunatic! We saw the boys eating for Beth and Nicole.
I had totally forgotten all about all of it - but looking back made me remember how far we have come and how my life was calmer at one time (back when these boys couldn't move as fast!), but reminded me that I really wouldn't have it any other way.
Funny how fast your view on life changes, huh.
Have a fabulous week!

twins

This had Adam and I cracking up!

Eck-a-size

Lately I've been trying to work out more, but never seem to have the time...

So, in trying to be a good mother and still work out, the boys and I have been exercising (together) in the living room. Is it a good workout? Well, no. But, it's better than nothing!

Luke helps me put Jillian in the dvd player.

Jillian has since been broken.

For some reason, the boys think that they need to be shirtless and sometimes pants-less to "eck-a-size". I swear, I don't know where they got that from. I'm usually pretty clothed when I exercise.

The video is Luke asking Andrew to "eck-a-size" with him. Note he's trying to take off his shirt, and yes, those are my running shoes.

what we've been up to...

Now that the boys are so much older, they've been becoming more and more independent. It's a good thing, however, sometimes this is what happens:

Yes, he's ready for anything now.

(I think it's Andrew, but at this angle it's hard to tell.)

The boys got some playdoh for Christmas and their birthday, and have been having fun with it!

They like to open and close the cans and take the playdoh in and out.

The boys do NOT like to wear pants.

This is new. I'm not a fan because when they have their pants off, they want their diapers off. When the diapers are off, inevitably someone will potty on something - either by accident or just for fun!

They LOVE to dress themselves.

They put on their own hats and mittens often inside the house.

Only it's hard to eat their favorite snack with mittens on.

Yes folks, the snack of choice around here is bread.

One piece of bread.

Weird.

Here's Andrew playing piano.

Hat on of course.

Helping mom put away the paper.

Luke dressing himself.

He's getting really good at it!

Coloring.

On paper - this time.

We've had some wonderful wall decorations and window decorations courtesy of the boys' artistic attempts.

Reading books with Dad.

"Pig a Pancake" is the new favorite around here.

And puzzles.

Andrew is some kind of puzzle savant.

Really. He is a crazy person with the puzzles and is really good at them.

So that's what we've been doing.

I was home with the boys last week and it was a week of ups and downs.

Ups: Spending actual time with my kids, playing, and having actual time to get things done.

Downs: FIGHTING! AHHHHH! I can't handle the fighting over everything. yikes!

But, now I'm back at work, and they are back at Tami's playing with their friends, and they are pretty happy about that!