Wesley and Oliver and Max

First snowman of 2009

2009-12-18T15:39:00.000-08:00

James' new van

2009-12-18T15:37:00.000-08:00

No, he hasn't become an air conditioning guy - that's the old name on the van. It's outfitted with shelves and holds James' tools.

So Done

2009-11-21T10:41:00.000-08:00

I'm so done with Christmas shopping. I finished all my extended family gifts last week, and then headed out to Michaels and Toys R Us for my boys today. I got everything I wanted for them - stamps and stamp pads, sidewalk chalk, stickers, colored pencils, and hex bugs.

I also got what I didn't want - a view of the ugly side of my society at Toys R Us. There was arm-pulling, hissing, cart-ramming, glaring, and eye-rolling -- and that was just the moms. The kids were, well, doing the same things. That store is beyond redemption, but they sent me a "20% off any one item" coupon in the mail. I got $2 off one of the hex bugs. Was it worth it? Actually, yes, it was. I need that $2.

I know I'll miss out on good savings on Black Friday and thereafter, but by not shopping at all until January (other than groceries), I'll save something even more valuable: my sanity.

Maybe

2009-11-18T12:25:00.001-08:00

"Mommy, I want more milk!", says Max.

In fetching more milk for Max, I turned my back on the dinner table for thirty seconds. When I returned, my Diet Coke ("ale" in twinspeak) was half gone.

"Who drank my ale?", I asked.

Silence.

"Who drank it?"

With an expression of total innocence that may well have been sincere, Wesley offered, "Mommy, I think that maybe I drank it. I think it was an accident."

Lake Erie in August

2009-09-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

boys at a park on Lake Erie

2009-09-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

Oliver isn't overjoyed with nature -- he's pulling other campers' trash out of that tree stump.

visit to western NY in August

2009-09-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

wesley and cousins in mayville

2009-09-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

twins canoeing with daddy and Uncle Mike

2009-09-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

twins watching daddy canoe at Chautauqua Lake

2009-09-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

Happy (It's Not Your) Birthday!

2009-09-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

Wesley asked if it could be his birthday today, specifically, could he have cake after his nap? He got really animated and started brainstorming, "Mommy, the cake could be chocolate! Or it could be white cake with BALLOONS!" I offered carrot cake and promised balloons. During nap, I finished sewing their Superman costumes, so we had presents too.

We decorated the house with balloons, decorated the cake, blew out the candles, and opened presents. It was very exciting! The Superman costumes really made them superheroes. Oliver ran around shouting, "To the rescue!", and all three of them jumped from the window sill onto a mattress on the floor.

You might be able to see Wesley's wounds - he fell on the playground at preschool yesterday and had the worst injury of his life so far. Scrapes on forehead, nose, lip, chin, elbow, and both knees. He was really shaken - lost his balance a bit, and walked gingerly for the rest of the day.

a better view of their costumes

2009-09-11T16:51:00.000-07:00

fear not!

2009-09-07T15:41:00.000-07:00

Today was the open house at preschool, and the first day of school is tomorrow. The twins are going Monday-Thursday, 8:45-11:30 am. James and I both felt strong feelings at the open house, more than either of us expected. Speaking for myself, I'm a little fearful. Afraid of what? That my boys are developmentally behind. That they're on the young end of the age range in the class. That they'll strangle the class guinea pig. That a classmate will be mean to them. That one of them will pee his pants and be embarrassed (or NOT be embarrassed, which is a different kind of problem). That they will never learn to write their names. That they'll get over-tired. That someone will abuse Wesley's tenderness. That other kids will come between their twin bond. That they'll take all their clothes off. That they'll repeat inappropriate things I say to them at home.

But Oliver and Wesley are like angels to me, proclaiming "Fear not!" with their exuberant expectations. When I told them to get ready this morning, they grabbed their backpacks ("pack-packs") and ran for the van. When we got to the preschool, they ran in, greeted the teacher, and made a beeline for the guinea pig.

all the minnesota cousins

2009-09-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

the feeding of the goats

2009-09-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

first cow milking

2009-09-03T09:43:00.000-07:00

Wesley and Oliver milked their first cow at the Hennepin County Fair in Minnesota. Since then, "num-nums" have been a major point of interest. Wesley says good milk comes from the cow, and bad milk (sour) has to be drunk by the cow.

boys in June

2009-09-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

happy 4th birthday!

2009-08-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

Twins turned 4 in June. This was at their first birthday party, where it was only us and grandma and grandpa. Other cousins and family were told to stay home, because Wesley was sick. Within a few days, so were Oliver and Max. It was probably worth it to them, though, because they got another birthday party the following week.

two more of the basement

2009-08-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

our new basement

2009-08-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

I think we've done a pretty good job of breaking in the new basement. It's a total mess just like the rest of the house. James built everything - new exterior windows, new bathroom, ceilings, walls, etc. Amazing!! Now we have a big play room, a bedroom for Max, and a bathroom/laundry.

Wesley at his 4th birthday party

2009-08-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

He partied so hard he had to take off his clothes and lie down on something soft.

Uncle Marty reading a bedtme story

2009-08-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

On our Minnesota visit.

Max likes cake

2009-08-24T17:55:00.000-07:00

Fire!!!

2009-08-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

happy birthday to daddy

2009-08-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

James' birthday was in June. Look at the twins' faces - they couldn't be more excited than to see candles ("fires") lit (by "fire sticks").