Potraits

Here are some portraits the twins made of a couple family members. After they finished making them, I asked them who there were. They each picked all the colors and glued everything on themselves, even choosing where to place each item. I did the cutting. Here they are.

Aunty C by Twin2

Daddy working by Twin1

Weekend

I missed a day. Gulp. And here I was trying to blog everyday this month. I guess that is out the window! If I blog twice in one day, will that right things?

The weekend is over and it is time to pick up the pieces once again. It doesn't even feel like we had a weekend. We were crazy busy. We had dinner with family both nights. I attended a cooking class on Monday and then had a facial. I got some much deserved 'me' time. But what was missing - oh, time as a family? Yup. Last night, as my husband and I cuddled trying to wind down for a few minutes before bed, we discussed how busy we were this weekend and both came to the conclusion that we missed the weekend because we missed spending time as a family. Isn't that nice. It's so wonderful that we love each other so much.

My cooking class yesterday was fantastic. The class was instructed by Chef Dez who was very funny, entertaining, and knew his stuff. I learned how to make pasta from scratch with a variety of sauces. I have always wanted to make fresh pasta and now I know how. We tried to make pasta as a family in the summer. The twins had a blast, but the result was awful. Looking back, we did almost everything wrong that you could possibly do. I will have to try it out on the weekend.

We had Turkey Dinner at my mom's last night. It was delish. She sent me home with left overs, so I am going to try to make Turkey Pot Pie from scratch. I always make the insides from scratch, but this time I am going to try the pastry crust too!!

Twin1 didn't want to put his rain jacket on this morning, so I explained that he needed it because it was raining out side. He replied with, "All right, mom." It struck me as a very grown up response. He actually understands my explanation and responded with more than a one word answer.

Well, mom's got the twins this morning, so I am going to try and nap while the baby is asleep. Maybe I can still fight off this cold. I think it has finally won the battle, though.

Joke of the Day

Q: When do kids adjust to the time change?

A: HA. Never. They wait another 6 months for it to change back to their schedule.

4am came very early this morning. And, yes, I did manage to not return the huge smile the baby was using to provoke me out of bed. All he got was a grumble from me and a snore from his dad before I whisked him upstairs to play. I finally got him back to sleep at 5:20am, got myself to sleep, when I heard the pitter patter of little feet and the yell of, "Daddy, Mooooom," at 5:40am.

My husband thought I was still up with the baby, so he told the twins to go upstairs. Resulting in the baby once again sitting up and giving a huge grin, as if to say, "Finally, it's time to wake up. Enough of this sleep thing. Lets play." This time the grin was received by a groan from me.

Twin2 is showing a few signs of his asthma emerging once again. It has been over a year from our last attack. We have got him totally drugged on all his puffers. So far the cough has not turned in to a wheeze. We are hoping to keep it that way. He is so like me. If he misses out on a little sleep, as he has done with this wicked time change, then he immediately gets sick.

I told my husband about this night lite I found on line. He told me to buy it right now. So I did. I hope it works.

We are off to the cuz's today for dinner and to pick up our new (old) couch. My brother and parents are also going to join us. Should be fun. I also plan to hit the sale at the Fabric Store and see what gems I can come away with. My husband wants to pick the twins up some hockey gloves. I am not too sure how this is going to go, since they still refuse to even venture onto the ice for more than 3 minutes. (Snicker, snicker) I am still hoping they take to skiing before hockey!!! My husband of course is trying to push the hockey - hence the gloves. Perhaps the gloves will remain dress-up attire. I'd be okay with that.

Toddler Independence

Twin2 put his own jacket on yesterday. The right way and everything. He, specifically, has become very independent as of late. His now favorite saying is, "All my self." Or, "My do it, mom." Or, "My try." Which when translated means that it now takes us 30 minutes to get ready to leave the house, you know with potty stops, arguing over whether or not they have to pee and which jackets/shoes to wear and which toys they are not allowed to bring with them, boots, jackets, and all this independent dressing.

Grey

I feel a little like the weather today. Grey. We went to Strong Start this morning. There were only 6 kids there. It was really nice to have such a small group of kids. Yesterday, we went and there were about 20 kids. With that many kids, I tend to spend the entire time with my back clenched waiting for one of the twins to barrell one of the other kids over.

Yesterday, at Strong Start, I witnessed a sad moment with my twins. I am sure that some would look at the incident with pride, but I was quite saddened. After gym time, the kids always sit around the table and have a healthy snack. The twins tend to stick together like glue. They line up behind one another to wash hand and they sit next to each other at the table. Yesterday, though, was different. They each got in two different lines to wash their hands. Which resulted in my jumping back and forth between the lines, saying excuse me, excuse me, as I bumped in to all the other parents with the baby in my arms. Twin1 was already seated at the table and Twin2 joined him. After a few seconds, Twin1 got up and found a seat at the other table where he stayed to finish his snack. Today, as there were fewer children and only one table to sit at, they did not sit together, but apart. This has never happened before. I don't know if they are starting to seek independence from each other, or not. They did not seem to be unhappy with each other, but there was definitely a conscious choice to sit apart.

I always envisioned that they would be joined at the hips and would do everything together. Although I new they would eventually develop different interests, I certainly didn't expect them to start so soon. They just grow up too fast.

Good Night's

Night, night is one of my, no, is my favorite time of the day. It is the time when all of the days hustle and bustle, meltdowns and messes can be put to rest. It is the time when all is forgotten and love abounds.

Night, night is usually right around 7pm for all three kids at the moment.

The baby
I place him in the crib and say night, night. The first thing he does is lay flat on his blanket and give it a hug, as if to say, "Ah, I'm home." Then he sits up, plays and sings for a bit, whines for a bit and eventually falls asleep hugging his blanket.

The twins
We walk down stairs with our milk. Both organize their bed for the night - toys placed in the correct spot. For twin1, he puts a machine on the bottom shelf of his side table and a stuffed animal in his bed, usually one of my husband's old bears. Twin2 collects as many things as he can fit in the three drawers of his night stand and then strategically stacks a few items on the top, careful not to let them fall, and a stuffed animal in his bed. Twin2 then nestles himself into the corner of his bed because he doesn't want to hurt Thomas, by sleeping on him (He has a Thomas the Tank Engine Pillow Case). Blankets are pulled up around their chests and my husband and I alternate kiss. Sippy's are handed out. At the door, we give a round of, "Miss you. Love you. Miss hockey (or which ever sport is on their minds at the time)." Sometimes they list off family members and say they miss them, sometimes they list off toys.

My husband and I always head up stairs with a big sigh of contentment knowing that we are doing the best we can and they still love us.

Shots

I am listening to twin2 and the baby mimic each other in the other room. I love it when they play together so nicely. It brings a smile to my face.

We all got our H1N1 and Flu shots yesterday. Consequently, or coincidentally, twin2 developed a fever last night and still has it. All of our arms are very tender. The baby was in a lot of pain last night and needed to be given Tylenol. He is still uncharacteristically crabby today and I continue to give him Tylenol. And, to think, we get to do all this again in a month. Because the baby is young, he received a half dose and needs to go back in 1 month. The twins need to receive a booster in 21 days. Yahoo. That was something I was not prepared for.

The decision to get the shots was a very difficult one. I have never taken the children for flu shots in the past because of skepticism over the preservatives in it. My husband and I discussed it and would not be able to live with ourselves if any of them did get sick.

They all did very well getting the shots. The twins are well versed in the area of hospital treatment and medications. They know that medicine makes them feel better and choke it down or deal with the pain. We had a few tears, but nothing compared to some children.

My husband and I still are up in the air about whether we made the right decision to vaccinate or not. I guess, only time will tell.

Self-worth

I have an odd sense of entitlement now that I have earned some money. I know that I have been contributing via maternity leave, but it never really felt like I was an equal part in the financial contributions of the house.

I always felt a little guilty when I bought something for myself knowing that my husband had worked so hard to earn it and I was just at home 'playing' with the kids. I know that I have the hardest job in the world - er, at least that is what is said about SAHM's -, but when people ask if I am working and I say 'no,' I feel like I am copping out on 7 years of education and hard work.

This morning I woke up and felt like it was okay if I spent some money at the fabric store or the outrageously expensive Pampered Chef catalogue - I earned it.

Hmmm. I wonder what this says about my feeling of worth as a SAHM. I had no idea I felt this way. However, it doesn't change the fact that I think we have made the right decision for me to stay home with the kids; instead, it makes me realize that I have not fully acknowledged my contribution as a mother, house wife, maid, cook, mender, personal shopper, nutritionist, teacher, chauffeur...... Just because there is a monetary value attached to working a day as a teacher, it shouldn't demean all that I do for my family.

Mommy's Gotta go to Work

"Mommy's gotta go to work," rang through the house this morning. I awoke at 5am thinking I this was just another weekend Monday. No plans really. Just a nice day spent as a family.

At 8am I received a call from the school that I offered to TOC for. The principal said, "It's November. Can you work today?" I couldn't think of any reason not to. My husband was home today. I had been away last Monday at a cooking class, so really I couldn't use the baby as an excuse. I was ready and heading out the door in 20 minutes. I mean, there isn't much to do when you have been up since 5am already. All the kids and husband had already eaten and the baby was down for his 1st nap.

I had a great day. The class was easy. No problems. I even came home at lunch and fed the baby. I guess all the stress and anticipation wasn't all that necessary. I was, however, asked to work tomorrow and I politely declined. Two days in a row is a bit much.

The twins had their daycare trial this afternoon. My husband dropped them off at 1pm. They didn't even turn around to say goodbye. They just barreled into all the toys. I picked them up at 3pm after work and they didn't even notice me. Twin2 actually asked if he could stay longer. "More time, mom," he pouted. To refer to the Staples slogan, "That was easy!"

Why do I make things so much harder than they have to be? I guess all the worry is really me. I need to get over myself.

Joke of the Day

Q: How do you get 3 kids to shift their routine 1 hour?

A: HA. You don't. Or, it certainly doesn't happen over night.