winter's last hurrah (we hope)

On the eve of what may be the biggest winter storm here in years, I have to say we had a lovely week. We played with cars (an OBSESSION around here right now).

On Tuesday, we made carrot/raisin/walnut corn muffins. We’ve made muffins a couple of times before, but this time they didn’t try to eat any batter at all, and actually did most of the stirring and adding things. I still added the eggs last just in case.

There were a lot of drips on the pan, but most of the batter got into the cups, and the muffins were delicious. Every time Oli*ver ate one, he said “made muffins!”. I found part of one in his pocket last night.

We had ECFE (early childhood class) on Wednesday, and afterwards it was so nice out that we spent another half hour playing in the front yard (in the above picture they are giggling madly because they’ve switched hats). A lady walked by and told me she has identical boy/girl cousins. Well, that’s a first! Impossible, but whatever… In a few weeks, on their 2nd birthday, we start another ECFE class for 2 and 3 year olds. It’s such a wonderful program. The first hour is parents and kids together. We have open play, then sing songs, then have snacktime. Then the moms (dads are welcome, but it's almost always moms) go next door and talk each other off a ledge for another week while the kids play with the teachers. It's nice group. The boys always come home exhausted but very content.

O*liver was in a generous mood.

Once inside, they got onto their favorite game of late: running matchbox cars through a tube.

And of course, mouse needed a hug from No*ah before supper. It lasted about four minutes – for a second I thought he’d gone to sleep!

Then, while I was fixing supper, the slide fell on him. It wasn’t heavy, but it pinned him onto the ground, and he yelled “Mama! Unhappy surprise! Unhappy surprise!”

Yesterday was perhaps our last warm sunny day for awhile, so we tried on our “new to us” rubber boots and headed for a little puddle splashing.

This morning, Joe*l took the boys downtown to the Central Library, and then took them back on the light rail in the double stroller. He’s a brave man! Twin parents are very grateful for the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), because most of the accommodations it requires on new construction are very helpful for us too, like one level access onto the train, automated doors, and curb cutouts. I don’t know what I’d do without those things!

We can’t wait to see Jo*el’s sister Meag*an on Tuesday after her 2 month long trip to India! She’ll be living with us through the fall. We’ve all missed her.

Greetings to everyone, in Minnesota, the rest of the U.S., Europe, and (for a couple more days) India.

President's Day

What an exciting day the boys had! First, mom had the day off and it was warm enough to go outside for a walk with grandma. It was their first long walk outside for weeks, because it’s been so cold.

Then we had the good fortune of seeing the garbage truck go by. The boys were still talking about it hours later.

After a long nap, during which mom got her hair done, it was the boys’ turn to get a trim.

Before:

Last time we took No*ah for a haircut, he screamed through the whole thing. This time, we let Oliv*r go first. No*ah watched in grandma’s arms, while Oliv*r was his usual easygoing self. The lollipop and the TV didn’t hurt. I don’t think the boys had ever really watched a cartoon before.

When it was No*ah’s turn, he sucked really hard on his lollipop, but he hung in there, and sat still through the whole thing.

After:

Happy President's Day!

stinkers, I tell you

Eat it, mama! Eat it!





What is with the insistance that I sample their food? I'm all for "sharing", but predigested yogurt is not on my list of tantalizing menu options. Oh, what a long weekend. More sickness and such, lots of crabbiness and tantrums. The children were even worse.



(time out chair)

Thankfully, Aunt Jen*iffer came to visit this morning, and their extremely kind grandparents took them out and about for a couple of hours this afternoon, and during that time, I found the camera charger. It was in a drawer that I distinctly remember Oliv*er playing with a couple of weeks ago. He looks so innocent, doesn't he?

a break from our regularly scheduled programming

My digital camera charging cord is missing. Really missing. As in, I've turned the house upside down and looked under and behind all the furniture missing. So until I either find it (probably along with every missing sock and puzzle piece), or break down and buy a new one, I can't take pictures of the boys or anything else. I'm working on it.

Meanwhile, this will have to do:

I had no idea I was still stuck in the 1950's.

P.S. We ALL ended up getting sick, but we're all finally better.

tomatoes

On Saturday mornings, the boys and I are taking a Music Together class that involves a lot of rythm games, pitch matching and such. The teacher will call out a rythm or melody, and the parents echo it. The idea is that eventually the kids will join in, or echo the parents at home, thereby improving their rythm and listening skills. Twins, as usual, show us their own way of doing things. Tonight, after the boys are in bed I hear the following from the next room:

Crib #1 (N's crib): paa, paa, papa paaaaa
Crib #2 (O's crib): paa, paa, papa paaaaa

Crib #1 (N's crib): papapapa, papapaaaaaaa
Crib #2 (O's crib): papapapa, papapaaaaaaa

silence

Crib #1 (N's crib): kaaaaBOOM!
Crib #2 (O's crib): kaaaaBOOM! (giggle giggle)
Crib #1 (N's crib): (giggle giggle)

Which is to say, O's feeling better. His fever was lower this morning and gone this evening, so we're not sure what the problem was, but it seems to be resolving. A year ago December, O was hospitalized with a sudden, severe infection, so we're a little gun-shy around unexplained fevers, but he really seems fine. Not even a cold. Further evidence: I strapped both boys into their seats for a snack this afternoon so that I could quickly vacuum, and came back into the kitchen to find that O had stripped off one of his slippers and filled it with the pretzels and sliced tomatoes he was supposed to be eating.

N, who is obsessed with tomatoes, was horrified. He would eat an entire tomato with every meal if we let him. The surest way I can get N to come get ready to go home from somewhere is to remind him that we will soon see the dog and the cat and that there will be tomatoes at home. This morning, he was clamoring to get out of his crib, and he said "mama? daddy? milk? tomatoes?" In that order, fortunately for us! It's nice to know that we still rank above the common tomato.

Saturday night (and day) fever

O woke up with a 103° fever today. He was much better after a little Tylenol, but his fever shot right back up (to 103.6°) when it started to wear off. We called the nurse, who wanted us to keep the fever under 105° but was not too concerned otherwise, and we are keeping a close eye on him. He slept for most of the day, but was in fairly good spirits this afternoon. N seems totally fine, if a little stir-crazy from staying home all day. I won't be at all surprised if he wakes up with a fever, though. At almost 2 years old, they've gotten every single one of each other's viruses.



I went and heard family friend Myra's "Apron Talk" today at the Women's Tea at Ste*ve and Kath*y's church. It was a lovely time, and very interesting. J's dad and brother took care of the boys for a couple of hours while I was gone. They did well despite a cat scratch (to Ste*ve, supposedly unprovoked), some very messy pants (O) and a lot of tears (also O, I think). We're so fortunate to have capable and loving families who live nearby or come to visit.

I'm going to go make sure all the towels and sheets are washed, because you never know what a toddler fever will bring in the middle of the night. It is still bitterly cold here. At this point, I think that the next time it hits 20° here, people might be dancing in the streets.

early morning reading

J took this picture yesterday morning. I was fast asleep less than ten minutes before it was taken. Not that I'm complaining - it's a pretty nice way to wake up.

(P.S. I fixed the comments feature so that it should work now.)

our pediatrician on TV!

Dr. McKay, our wonderful pediatrician, was on TV today to talk about the 3 pediatric flu deaths we have had here in Minnes*ta recently. Here is the link. Minnes*ta has been home to 3 of the 13 deaths so far nationwide.

Last year, we were on a waiting list to get the flu shot for the boys because we requested the kind without thimerisol (a mercury preservative). They eventually got it, but this year we were pleased that all the clinic even had was thimerosol-free, and there was plenty available.

Welcome!

N and O are growing all the time. In the 22 months since their birth, I've never been great at keeping up a baby book, (though I've written a lot down) but we do have family on at least two continents at any time, and perhaps we'll be able to do a better job of it by doing a "public" baby book to share with anyone who'd like to see it. Of course, you are under no obligation to read it - I erred on the side of not leaving anyone out when I sent the invitations. Feel free to share it with anyone.

I'd like to save this for the boys to read someday, along with your comments. If you are a family member and would like to be able to post a picture of the boys or a story about them (or us), please e-mail me and I'll send you an author invitation so you can post too. It's very easy! You might even want to start your own blog and link to this one, and then we could link back to you. I plan to add milestones, stories, pictures, and updates such as vacation dates and family news. I may still put pictures up at the Yahoo site that I'd like to print, but look for the best ones here.

Please feel free to comment, contribute, or just say hello (click on Comments below).

Here are a few recent pictures to get us started:




























































And of course, I can't leave out our recent visit from Omie (my mom). She stayed for a week, during some of the coldest weather we've had in 3 years. It was fortunate timing, because not being able to go outside at all meant finding ways for us to let off a bit of steam. We really saw the sights in a week. We went to the Children's Mus*um, a music class, 2 play dates, the Minnes*ta Zoo, the Global M*rket, a couple of coffee shops (the American kind) and even to the church where J works to run around. I kept having to tell my mom that we're not usually quite so busy!









We miss you, Omie!

(P.S. I know O's head is cut off in the snow picture at the top. I'm working on it. Don't worry, his head is intact in real life).