Christmas 2011

Christmas morning.  Kids woke to find that Santa had brought them a trampoline and a Rody horse. Big hits.  They were a little frightened at first - but soon settled in to all of the presents. 

John ripped right into a Snuggle Buddy from Auntie Kell. 

Elinor chose the Button Art from the Smiths

Then it was time for kids to strip down to their underwear which they so frequently do.  I think they get that from their Uncle Peter. 

 John was intent on showing me what his remote control Thomas could do up at the counter while I fixed cinnamon rolls for breakfast. 

The magnetic dress up dolls kept Elinor busy. 

Playing with Daddy 

My favorite picture of the day.  It just says it all! 

Andy's family arrived the day after Christmas and stayed for a few days. We had the whole crew here.  Although in years past we have always traveled for Christmas to be with family, I have to admit that I liked having just the four of us here for the actual holiday.  A new tradition has been born.  

Happy New Year everyone!

What's not to love?

Seriously... what's not to love about this cold weather????

Just chillin'

I bundled up the twins this morning and we all went out for a walk with Lloyd today at the nearby baseball fields.  Lloydie ran and we chased after him.  Our cheeks were red by the time we got home.  I cooked up a batch of homemade hot chocolate and put some in their sippy cups.  Elinor loved it... John... not so much.   I fed them lunch at around 11:45 and by noon they were both begging for their "jammies on".  That cold air must have tired them out.  I put them down for their nap and they were asleep by 12:30 and did not wake until 3:30.  I started to get a bit bored by the third hour.  Then when they were up from the nap they wanted to strip down.  Whatever!   We weren't going anywhere else.  We enjoyed our day!

Holiday Stress

I write about this every year.  There is always too much to do in such a short amount of time.  I looked back on the last two holidays to see how late we put the tree up, here and here.  Yup, we are even later this year. Still no tree.  However, we were smart and hung the outside lights before Thanksgiving.  So any drive byers or onlookers will think we are ready for Christmas from the outside.  Christmas gifts have been bought.. a few but nothing wrapped or shipped to other little girls and boys.  I figure this year or next year may be the last that I can go unorganized....
However, the good news is.... we have new carpet going in probably by next week.  I cannot tell you how happy that makes me.  This carpet we have now is original to the house I am sure.  It shows.
Snapped a couple of pics of the kids this morning on our way out the door. It may be impossible to get a picture for Christmas cards this year.  They are so difficult to photograph.  Although it would be a dream to get them with neat hair and faces and pretty outfits... that's just not our reality.  Ha!

Thanksgiving

Hello all!  I have been away for a bit.  We were in Wisconsin to visit Peter and his family for the holiday.  The twins were great in the car... really great.  Snacks and videos are key to happy children.  Thanksgiving day was busy with rowdy kids and plenty of side dishes.  Peter had a master plan of deep frying the turkey.  Well,  the fryer never really took off... so we were without a cooked bird.  We enjoyed our plethera of side dishes though... some of the best side dishes I have ever had on Thanksgiving day.  Leslie, really outdid herself with all of the planning.  We had a delicious kale salad and a sweet potato/cauliflower gratin and roasted brussell sprouts.  We had the usual mashed potatoes and stuffing (my personal favorite). Peter cooked the turkey later that night and we had sammies throughout the weekend.

However, the kids had a blast together.  The adults had some great conversations and plenty of laughs.

Cousins in the bathtub

Andy and Leslie going out on a date.

Lunch at the Noodle Co after visiting their new house construction site.

Unfortunately, John got the flu in the wee hours of Friday morning.  Andy started up with it late Saturday night and suffered on the drive home on Sunday. 
Thanksgiving 2011:  no Turkey and the Wisconsin flu bug. 
But really, it's so much more than that.  It's a holiday just like it should be... spent with loved ones, making memories,  not perfect, but a lot of fun and well worth the trip.

A Box Is All We Need

We are home

We arrived home from the hospital around 4pm on Wednesday. But not before Elinor had finally decided to take a nap.... right when we were trying to leave.  She is doing much better now.  We have a follow up appointment tomorrow with the pediatrician.  She will have allergy testing done next Tuesday.  

This is the scene when John and Mimi came to visit at the hospital.  Elinor said, "John, sit." as she moved over to give him room in the bed. So cute. So sweet.

We are happy to have everyone home again.  We leave tomorrow for a weekend trip to Olean.  Andy is playing in an alumni hockey game at Bonas.  

Asthma

Elinor was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday morning.  She woke up at 4 am and having a very hard time breathing.  I took her to the pediatrician and he gave her a couple of breathing treatments in the office but they did not help. So here we are in the hospital. She has been getting a breathing treatment every 2 hours... so we have not slept much.  But the good news is, that her oxygen level is up to 98%.. an increase from yesterday morning at 90%.  Wendy came in to town and has been helping Andy with John John, who I have not seen since yesterday morning.
We should be out of the hospital sometime later today.

An Allergy

We had a bit of a scare over the weekend. Elinor ate some kind of nut and had a severe allergic reaction. Both kids rode in an ambulance with Andy to the ER.  This happened while I was getting my hair cut.  The ambulance ride was a bit of a thrill for John… not so much for our Elinor.  She had completely swelled and blistered and was covered with hives.  Andy said it happened really fast.  As of today, the swelling has pretty much diminished.  I am feeling like I should not ever have peanut butter or any other kind of nut in the house again.  Too frightening. Not worth taking the chance. 

 

And look at that adorable hat that my friend Kirsten knitted for her.

Whoo Whoo!

I had trouble when it came to the twins' Halloween costumes this year. They are 2 years old.  They are picky and temperamental.  What could I possibly dress them up in?  I mean, they will never remember this Halloween.  It is more for me to feel good about myself as a mother. So, I came up with an idea on costumes that would be easy.  Ponchos!  I made a ghost poncho for John.  Just flip it over the head. For Elinor, I made an owl poncho with a headband.  So, we went to a community Halloween party last night. Disaster.  Neither would wear their costume.  Neither would stand with me.  I finally had to scoop them up and leave. It was unsafe.  I felt defeated as a twin mom.  No costumes and no party. No fun.
However, today at home was a different story for Elinor.  I could not keep the darn costumes away from her.  (John still needs convincing)..

There's always next year! 

Playing with the Grandparents

Pop pop and Mimi are here!

Dad and Wendy arrived last evening and were well received by two excited kids.  They are sitting for the twins today while we are at work. I am hoping with the extra hands on board I can get a bunch of things done this weekend.
On the list:    new carpet, winter apparel shopping for twins, halloween costumes and more.
I'll post some pics later.

Raking Leaves

We did some raking this weekend.  The kids loved being outside and messing up the piles of leaves.  It was a bit on the chilly side.

John is really improving with his speech.  He can say everyone's names including the dog.  He has begun to put two words together "Where Daddy?" "Hi Mama".   We are really pleased. 

No potty training yet... but I am thinking it will be soon because John tells me when his diaper is dirty.  I don't look forward to it at all.  I wish there was a potty training school that we could send our kids to for a week... sort of like dog obedience school.  They would come back potty trained.  

I need to start on their Halloween costumes.  They are going to be very simple costumes.  I'll give you a peak when they are done. 

Fall Things

Beautiful Fall weather here.  My sister-in-law Hilary and baby Michael are here to visit for the week.  We are having so much fun.  Today we took the kids to an apple orchard/pumpkin patch.  They were more interested in the swings and slides.  We left with a peck of apples for apple crisp and vanilla ice cream tonight.  I also picked up a butternut squash to use as a topping for homemade pizza.  I am planning on roasting it first.  Then I will top the dough with the squash, onions, thyme and ricotta cheese and a sprinkle of prosciutto.  Should be quite yummy.   And all this goodness while Andy, unfortunately,  is working late tonight.  

She Likes to Accessorize

She would not nap without this hat...

We Have Been Sick

We have all had colds in the past couple of weeks.  Mine went away quickly. The twins' colds seemed to drag on until their illness finally got the best of them.  I took Elinor to the doctor last Thursday and she was diagnosed with minor pneumonia.  Poor thing.  John had an infection as well. Now they are both on antibiotics - which they hate - and they seem to be on the mend. They were both witnessed jumping and playing together yesterday.  That's a good sign.

While the house was full of sickness, it's good to know that dog grooming was not forgotten.

Elinor is using her own hairbrush.  Too cute. 

John is really adding to his vocabulary. He says "poop" when his diaper is dirty.  I think he might be ready for potty training before Elinor.  He says "Mimi" and "Pop Pop". I have also heard him say bed, duck, stuck (that's a big one) and more. My favorite is when I greet him in the morning and he says "Hi Mama"  ...plain as day.
Oh, and a shout out for Elinor... as I was covering her with a blanket the other day, she exclaimed "Nice and warm!"  I thought that was so funny.

One last swim

I love autumn.  I love the cooler temperatures. Most of you probably know that winter is my season of choice.  It will be interesting to see which seasons are John and Elinor's favorite.  Here they are trying to get in one last swim in the swimming pool.... sans water.

Don't look too close...

I cannot remember the last time I was able to get a picture of the twins together; one where they are both smiling and looking at the camera.  So, I had to do a bit of magic and merge two photos together.  So don't look too close....

Andy gave John John that buzz cut.  Not too shabby!

Here are the other two photos.... 

A Day at the Park

Friday, a friend and I took the kids to a beautiful park not too farm from here.  The park, Schoepfle Gardens,  is just over the county line.  I could not believe it has been here the whole time I have lived here in Huron and I never knew about it. It is beautiful with walking paths, trees, flowers and a small children's area for climbing and playing and touching.  So wonderful for the twins.  

We're Still Here...

Alive and well...

New words

Elinor has been talking up a storm.  Some of her new sentences are:

"Mommy, I help you."  which translates to "Mommy I need help"
"I like that."   translates to "I don't want it or I don't like it"
"Here Lloydie"
"Mommy (or Daddy) I love you" 
Elinor can name all the animals in Noah's Ark, she knows many colors, some shapes, and today she counted backwards from the number 8.
I have been trying to teach John some sign language and it's funny when Elinor uses it.... because I know what she is trying to communicate.
John has picked up a few more words. He is using "Mama" and "Daddy" without being prompted. He can say no, choo choo, Elmo, Ernie, ball, Pop Pop, Mimi, bye, Ellie, pull and maybe a few more.  Every word is a celebration.  He uses some sign language when I prompt him, which is great because it confirms what I am asking him.  He has also started to sing using la, la, la and he loves to play the harmonica.
I have to remind myself not to compare him to Elinor.  Each child is different.  I don't feel like I am a very good teacher though.  The speech therapist comes weekly - I am not sure how much that helps.  However, the kids will go to a new sitter after Labor Day.  There are a few kids their age and I think that may help John with his verbal skills, as well as his social skills.
Next on my checklist:  eliminating Elinor's paci and then on to potty training.....

Mommy, I'm Sleeping

Elinor is talking really well.  She can put two to three words together.  She is starting to recognize colors and she can almost sing the entire songs of Twinkle Twinkle and the ABCs. Yesterday, while I was cooking dinner I heard her yell, "Mommy, I'm sleeping."  I yelled back, "Okay."  I mean, I wasn't going to argue with that.  But she kept yelling it, which meant "come see me."
This is where I found her....

... in the bathroom sink. 

What a hoot!

Photos from the week

Morgan has been here this week.  We took the kiddos to Cedar Point one morning and an Animal Park another.  John was not a lot of fun at either place... I guess he prefers the comforts of his own home.  

While in Olean last weekend, we had a Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday party.  Aunt Kathleen made the cupcakes. They turned out so cute. 

My dog

Lloydie is just craving for more attention.  Can't you tell? 

2 for 2

Two kids are 2.  We had a super day!  Here are some photos from the day. It's been a long day.  We go to the pediatrician tomorrow.  I'll try to have some stats for you.  All I have to say is... boy does 

TIME FLY!

magic marker on nose