it's all about redirection

I was upstairs trying to get the girls down for this first nap when I heard footsteps coming up. "Mommy, I fixed the crack on the walls!" the little boy said. Trying not to jump to conclusions, I didn't say anything and just waited for more information.

"Mommy, I fixed the crack!"

"What did you use?" I finally broke down.

"I used tape!"

Oh boy. By this time I'm trying to imagine chipped paint from the wall that sometimes happen when you rip scotch tape off. "I can't see it, M. Can you show me?"

"I'll show you, but don't spank me."

"OK". Me? Spank? Never! Ok, maybe sometimes, but just swat.

"Here! I took it off already."

Phew. I don't see anymore damage than was already on the wall. Rather than stop him from his newly found fascination with scotch tape, I told him it would be more fun to rip up paper and tape the pieces back together.

my kitchen drawer is so big, it can hold twins!

I was busy cooking dinner when I saw this. This is the one drawer I keep plastic containers in. It's baby proofed, but it broke. I've been letting them play with the drawer, but perhaps it's time to rethink it.

there were 2 little monkeys, jumping on the couch....

"one fell down and bumped her head. Momma called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the [couch]!"

The little man just loves the story of the jumping monkeys. Thankfully, none of my 2 monkeys fell on from the couch this time.



(Thing 1 is on the right, wearing green. Thing 2 is on the left, wearing cream.)







They both have 8 teeth right now, and are getting ready to get molars. Thing 1 is a little further along and is pretty cranky. She woke up crying last night because of the pain.

it's the end of soccer season

Gotta love this personalized trophy!

And the ball spins, a plus for 3 year olds!

This weekend was the last soccer session. Unfortunately, we didn't make it. The little man hardly slept the night before coughing furiously. It would have been alright for him to go, without playing much just to be there, but it rained all morning. From what others told us, the team were out there for 20 minutes before they all ran for cover.

Toward lunch time, the plan was for the team to meet at the local pizzaria to enjoy each other's company and to hand the trophies. So right on the dot, we were there. But all the other soccer families had the same idea and we couldn't get a table. The party I promised the little man was not to be. He was quite disappointed, so I had to improvise. I told him we were a part of the soccer party that was already there. Thankfully they all had the same kind of trophy, so the ruse worked.

I explained that there is no more soccer, so now he said he wants baseball. My explanation of how baseball is for the summer went out the window because he said it's already summer. It was quite warm that day.

Daddy and the girls didn't make it because they were sick too. All three had a fever.

I'm a slacker with an excuse...

I am hoping not to uproot our big family, but it is better to be prepared. The company Daddy works for is not doing well and is in the process of laying off more than one half the work force. It's scary. We seem to be in this pattern of staying in one place for only 4 years. But this time, with three little ones, it won't be so easy. But I am hoping we don't have to do that. But to be prepared, it's time to get rid of some junk we manage to haul from house to house. Only now, we have tons of toys to add to it!

We've entered into a new dimension of parenting with the twins. With the little man the time between 15 months to a little bit after 2 years old were the most difficult and this is true with the girls as well. They are at an age where they want to do what they want to do, and any attempt to stop them ends up in a full body tantrum. With two, it's much more difficult.

The other day, when we dropped Big Bro off to school was especially frustrating. I no longer use the stroller now (I don't know why I make it difficult for myself). Instead, I use harnesses. So I put Thing 1 and Thing 2's harness on. Big Bro wanted to hold one, and he's in a mood where he wasn't going to take no for an answer. So rather than lose it, I let him. So he either pulls or pull Thing 1, making her lose her balance. Finally, I was able to get him to give up. But then there was the Exploration room right when we enter the building. It's a huge play area that everyone passes through to get to the rooms. Why it has to be right there in the middle near the doorways, I don't know. The girls went in two different directions. So there I was being pulled in the middle...and then Thing 1 came falling down, hitting her face on the floor. It wasn't serious, but it was the icing on a cake of a very difficult morning.

Today I decided that I can't handle the stress, so I used the stroller. We all need a little break once in a while.

it's cold today!

We all woke up at 7:30 this morning. In our house, that's considered sleeping in, unfortunately, that's too late for a 9AM soccer game! But we did still somehow got there on time.

It was only in the upper 40's so we all froze our buns off (it was 85 yesterday!). But yet, the little man still made 3 goals. Yay! It still takes a whole lot of coaxing and encouragement for him to play, though. If we ask him play, he says, "I don't want to!" But when he's out there, he's pretty good! I heard that trophies were being handed out today so I used that as an incentive. Unfortunately, the plans were changed at the last minute. The trophies will be handed out next week after the game. The team will have a 'banquet' at the local pizzaria. It should be fun.

Trying to keep warm!

Half time snuggle time. Can you tell the eyebrows were made from the same mold?

Such a sad puppy-eyed look from Thing 2. See the horizontal red line on her nose? She tripped just before we left home and landed flat on her face on the floor. Thankfully, nothing is broken. She should grow up to have her Mommy's pug nose.

Thing 1, the little red riding hood.

since when did mothers have to explain their actions to their 3-yr olds?

Yesterday morning, Big Bro asked if I could carry him down the stairs. I told him, "I can't, M. I told you Mommy's knees hurt."

He thought for a moment. "You carry only my sisters?"

Feeling like I've been caught in a lie, "They're babies and they are not very good at doing down the stairs yet. But you're a big boy and can do that by yourself."

He cocked his head to the side and crinkled the side of his face. He looked up at me and asked, "Your knees don't hurt when you carry my sisters?"

I conceded quietly and thought it better to change the subject at this point.

the pumpkin festival

We had a lot of fun at the pumpkin festival. Though we quickly learned a great lesson - pick the pumpkin at the end on the way back to the car, not at the beginning!

(Thing 1 in pink, Thing 2 in purple)

We opted for the wagon instead of the stroller since it was easier on uneven terrain.

Then we went on a hay ride to the pumpkin patch. We were greeted by a clown who gave Thing 2 a sticker, but couldn't even approach Thing 1 before she started crying. As you can see, Thing 1 broke down on this picture when Daddy let her down for the picture. Poor thing was terrified.

Finally everyone was ready for another picture. Big Bro scoured the field for the perfect pumpkin (actually, he was looking for one he could lift by himself).

We find it very cute that they all look similar.

He won a finger gummy after doing one of the children's game. Yummy finger!

Boys and cars.

His very first horse ride. He was awesome!

Children's duck race. He didn't win, though.

Me and the girls nearing the end of our fun. Notice Thing 1's glassy look. She was ready for a nap.

We don't have a picture but Big Bro went into a Pirate's Cove (scary house) by himself. We paid for a different admission price for him to allow him to enjoy all the kid stuff but we only paid for regular admission for Daddy and I. So he was the only one allowed in the Pirate's Cove. But when he didn't come out when we expected him to, I rushed in to look for him. I came out a little panicked, but Daddy told me that Big Bro came out a few seconds ahead of me with a great big smile in his face saying, "I want to go again!" This boy is fearless! There were kids older than him that came out of there crying.

Everyone was passed out on the drive home. :-)

and he scores! Twice!

It was a great day at soccer because Big Bro scored 2 goals (not that we keep score though). Not bad after missing last week's session. He wasn't into the game and took a little coaxing to get him to play, but when I told him I was going to the field with him (I was the only parent on the field!) he agreed to play.

He was awesome. He was able to get the ball out of the crowed (3 on 3 game) and took it to the goal.



One mom in our team approached and asked me, "Wow, he has been practicing!" To which I replied, "um, no not really. He hasn't touched the ball in 2 weeks!"

While taking a break and still on a high, he demanded I take his picture while he makes faces.



On the last game, he was able to get the ball away from everyone else again. But on the way to the goal, another player from the other team was just standing still right on Big Bro's path. Because of this, the other kid was able to steal the ball away from him and was able to get away with it. Big Bro cried like someone had just taken his lollipop. He ran to me and said, "that boy took the ball from me!" So funny.

the doll stroller is as much fun as the push car!

the little people in the little people village

The girls and I tagged along with Daddy to his doctor's appointment (Daddy wanted to show off the girls) and then we spent the morning at the mall. Big Bro is at school at this time.

Thing 1 is wearing the cream dress with brown leggings, and Thing 2 is wearing the purple dress with cream leggings.

It's so rare that both Daddy and I are both on the picture!

Mommy time!

Thing 2 and Thing 1 man the General Store. I do hope they didn't eat all their earnings.

Thing 2 and Thing 1 found the General Store's window a fun place to play peekaboo.

Lunch time after a hard day's work.

The girls with the Jolly Green Giant, I mean, Daddy.

Then we head off to the water fountain. No, there wasn't music playing, and we weren't actually dancing. This is just how it is when you try to get 2 little girls heading in the same direction.

Then Thing 1 became fascinated with the the picture of flowers on the "Keep of the grass" sign. And because she was enthralled by it, Thing 2 just had to join her and see what the fuss was about.

Thing 2 inspecting something interesting on the ground.

Finally, we all made it to the fountain.

a day with thomas and bob

We chugged along to Nana's and Papaw's place in order to see Thomas and Bob this weekend. The little man fell ill early in the week but thankfully bounced back just in time. Then Daddy fell ill on Thursday so I was left to do all the packing and driving. Then the girls came down a cold. Daddy and the girls had to stay at the grandparents' house. But when all was said and done, it was a memorable weekend.

Oh, Thomas. If you only knew the amount of restraint a 3 1/2 year old had to exhibit in order to wait for his designated ride time, while the whole time seeing you ride back and forth without him!

Sir Toppamhat

Oh how much fun it is to pretend to be a train on a turntable while it turned around and around. This little guy did enjoy it, even his face says otherwise.

Bob, I was quite surprised at your ability to hype up the boy. But you did it. I had to act like a looney to get him to loosen up, but it was all in good fun. A mom has to do what she has to do, even if she truly did enjoy the show herself. ;-)

my little mommies

Big Bro loves this stroller and the dolls when I bought them for him to get him used to having 2 little baby sisters. He used to zip through the house and stop suddenly, sending the doll flying forward. It scared me thinking this is what he was going to do with his sisters!

Here are the girls enjoying the doll stroller for the first time. Of course Thing 1 had to put her baby in. She wouldn't let go of it, so Thing 2 didn't even bother fighting for it. She just moved on and used the Wiggles car.

Thing 2 looks on as Thing 1 investigates the doll stroller.

Thing 2 moves on to the Wiggles car and waits until Thing 1 is done.

Then I try to trap them in my arms to take pictures. It used to be so easy!

Thing 2 on the left, Thing 1 on the right.

I was able to hold Thing 2, but Thing 1 was just too into her own picture on the camera!

By the way, these 2 aren't all about fun and games. They are also into terrorizing each other. Yesterday I found a circular red mark on Thing 2's left arm. I had a suspicion on what it could be, but I didn't get a confirmation until today. I saw happen to see Thing 1 about to bite Thing 2's arm. I had to rush over to them to make sure it didn't happen and chastised her. But as soon as I turned my back, she bit Thing 2 anyway!!!! And Thing 1 is still into taking Thing 2's things, whatever it is, even if she has the exact same thing.

Thing 2 does her thing too, but nothing so damaging as the Thing 1's bites.