Friday, December 26, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
My Christmas Present
Can you guess what I got for Christmas? Here's a hint - doesn't this video look a little better than my prior cellphone clips? Yep, Zach bought me a digital video camera. The funny thing is, I also bought Zach a digital video camera! It's nice to be on the same page, or should I say frame?! Merry Christmas, everybody!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Eve
Merry Christmas, everyone!
The girls were all dressed up tonight for Christmas Eve service. It was the children's Mass, and they had a nativity scene complete with live baby Jesus and donkey. Constance and Victoria were so excited to wear their fluffy dresses and tights, and they were well behaved, for the most part.
After we put them to bed, Zach and I got to put together our first Christmas toys. The girls are getting trikes this year; they are pink and purple Disney Princess tricycles. We got the stockings all stuffed and the presents all wrapped. It's really a lot of fun being the parents at Christmas!
We've been getting together with lots of family this week. I have pictures, of course, and I will post them all to flickr hopefully tomorrow or the 27th. Have a blessed Christmas!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
FishHead
So I got a flat tire yesterday. No idea how it happened; I loaded up the girls in the van Saturday morning, backed out of the driveway and noticed that the tire was completely flat. We're talking no air, falling off the rim, flat. Called roadside assistance to change the tire (no way am I doing it myself while trying to keep the girls from running into the street)
When the nice tow truck man came, the girls insisted on remaining outside in the front yard to watch him work. I took the opportunity to rake the leaves for the umpteenth time, and it was actually a fun change-up from our normal routine.
Then, Victoria ran into the house and emerged with the Goldfish box, which Zach recently cut into some sort of mask, since the girls really enjoy putting it on their heads. Victoria walked the box out to Constance, put it on her head and started cracking up. Constance loved it, trotting around and showing off for the poor guy who was much too busy changing our tire to properly recognize their comedic genius.
When the nice tow truck man came, the girls insisted on remaining outside in the front yard to watch him work. I took the opportunity to rake the leaves for the umpteenth time, and it was actually a fun change-up from our normal routine.
Then, Victoria ran into the house and emerged with the Goldfish box, which Zach recently cut into some sort of mask, since the girls really enjoy putting it on their heads. Victoria walked the box out to Constance, put it on her head and started cracking up. Constance loved it, trotting around and showing off for the poor guy who was much too busy changing our tire to properly recognize their comedic genius.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Our Meeting with Santa
At least threre was no line. 10:15 am on a Thursday is definitely a good time to see Santa. The girls were full, rested, and very happy to be at the mall. They waved at Santa and smiled. Then we lifted Victoria up to sit with Santa. As predicted, she burst into tears.
So our photo with Santa became a family one. Nice move, Katie, wearing a hat and no makeup. Ah, well. It didn't turn out too bad, I guess. All in all, a fun morning.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
2008 Christmas Card
Tonight we took photos for our Christmas Card. I know it's sort of late, but better late than never. We ordered the generic 4x8 Christmas prints from Sam's Club, so I'll pick them up tomorrow and hopefully get them addressed and sent out by Friday.
As usual, it was a total zoo trying to get a decent shot of all four of us. Zach and I have learned to just look at the camera and keep smiling, in hopes that at some point both girls will look in the same direction and the moment will be captured. It rarely happens, and we end up with a lot of images like this one. There were only two that were o.k., and neither one really captured the total cuteness of our girlies. Ah, well. They'll just have to do.
I'm still deciding whether we'll take on the other traditional photography madness tomorrow -- pictures with Santa!! Stay tuned...
As usual, it was a total zoo trying to get a decent shot of all four of us. Zach and I have learned to just look at the camera and keep smiling, in hopes that at some point both girls will look in the same direction and the moment will be captured. It rarely happens, and we end up with a lot of images like this one. There were only two that were o.k., and neither one really captured the total cuteness of our girlies. Ah, well. They'll just have to do.
I'm still deciding whether we'll take on the other traditional photography madness tomorrow -- pictures with Santa!! Stay tuned...
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Grandma and Grandpa
Ian and Vickie were in town Thanksgiving weekend. We had a really fun time together. We really didn't do much except eat leftover Turkey, hang out and play with the girls. Pretty much my ideal weekend :)
Vickie and Ian tried to get a Christmas Card photo with the girls. That's always a challenge! Perhaps that's why Zach and I haven't figured out our Christmas cards yet. As usual, more pics at flickr.
Vickie and Ian tried to get a Christmas Card photo with the girls. That's always a challenge! Perhaps that's why Zach and I haven't figured out our Christmas cards yet. As usual, more pics at flickr.
thrill
Victoria climbs all over the playset in the backyard now, and she gets so excited when she figures out a new route of climbing.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
The Children's Book, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie," is a Metaphor for My Life.
If your toddler wakes up in the morning...She'll want to eat some breakfast.
You'll fix her some scrambled eggs, and she'll ask you for some ketchup.
The ketchup will get all over, so you'll have to give her a bath.
And put clean clothes on her.
While in her room, she'll see her books. So she'll ask you to read her a story.
After you read her favorite story for the millionth time, she'll want to play. You'll have to get down her blocks.
As she's making a royal mess of the blocks, she'll realize that she's hungry again. She'll ask you for a snack. You'll try to give her something healthy, but she'll see the goldfish in the pantry. She'll demand fish.
When she's finished eating her goldfish, she'll ask you for some milk. Then she'll want to go outside to drink it.
On the way outside, she'll spill the milk on the dining room floor. You'll step on a block running to catch her.
You'll leave the door open so you can keep one eye on your toddler while you try to tackle the mess from breakfast, dirty PJs, goldfish, blocks and milk on the floor.
You'll avert your eyes for a couple minutes and your toddler will attack the cat. She'll get scratched and start crying.
You'll feel like the worst parent in the world and get your baby cleaned up and give her a frozen gogurt to make her feel better. When she's feeling better, she'll want to go outside again. This time, you go out with her.
She'll climb into the garden bed and shove a handful of dirt into her mouth. When you ask her to spit it out, she'll spit it all over her gogurt-embellished jacket. Another bath? no, you'll just dust her off and bring her inside. She'll ask you for some lunch
You'll push aside the mess from breakfast and feed her a quesadilla and some peas. She might eat some of it. The rest will be thrown onto the floor. You realize the toddler is obviously tired, so you'll take her into her room for a nap.
She'll catch wise to the naptime routine and throw a small tantrum. So you calm her down by reading a half-dozen books. You put her down for a nap.
Finally able to take a breath, you look around your house. You have a choice here - begin cleaning up, shower, or nap. You try cleaning up, but end up falling asleep on the couch.
You've only conqured half the day; somehow you still feel like the luckiest girl in the world, because you know that tomorrow your toddler will wake up in the morning.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Oh, NO! Baby Jesus is missing!
We bought the girls a little toy nativity set. It's really cute, with a manger, baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Victoria has fallen in love with it. She takes them everywhere, but always as a complete set. She likes to put all of the pieces in a little purse and carry it around. But the baby Jesus she is most fond of. She will pick him up and hold him, saying "baby, baby."
Glammie and Guapo took the girls out to their favorite restaurant, Chick-fil-A, on Saturday night. Victoria brought her purse. That night, I noticed that baby Jesus was missing. The next day, we asked Victoria, "where is baby Jesus?" She said "Baby. car." and runs toward the front door. Together we searched the car high and low. Baby Jesus was nowhere to be found.
We will eventually replace the baby Jesus. For now, whenever Victoria finds the manger, she says, "Baby! Oh no! car!" and trys to find him.
Awww, babies' first public meltdown - how cute!
Well, it seems the girls are entering the "terrible twos" a little early. Here's the story -
I go to a tax workshop on Saturday morning, and Zach decides to take the girls to the mall. I head over to meet them around noon. "Constance is poopy," Zach says over the phone, "meet me at the family bathroom so I can change her diaper." I meet them, give the girls hugs, and hoist Constance up to the changing table. Looking around the stroller, I note the absence of a diaper bag.
"Um, Zach," I say, as gently as possible, "did you bring any diapers?"
"I thought you kept them in the stroller," comes his reply. "I'll run out to the car to get some."
So I stroll the girls around the mall for 10 minutes. Constance decides she is too uncomfortable sitting in poop, so she wrangles free of her seat belt, climbing out of the stroller. Victoria sees that Constance has freedom, so she starts crying. Constance begins screaming when I grab her hand to prevent her from running around the busy mall, and soon I am one Mommie, with two screaming toddlers at the Roseville Galleria. ON A SATURDAY.
Somehow, I am able to herd the girls back to the relative safety of the new "family lounge," which I now realize I never should have left - there are toys there! This time, there is a very kind stranger who offers me a diaper. Sweet! One problem solved.
Zach shows up with more diapers and wipes, and soon we are ready to eat lunch. By now, it is almost 12:30 and the girls are really hungry. Recall, if you will, our lack of diaper bag - this means no snacks, cups, toys, books...
The new food court is totally packed, so we decide on Panda Express because the food is already made and the line moves fast. Zach sets the girls up outside and I get the food. There are no high chairs available, so the girls get to sit big-girl style, which pretty much means they have to stand on chairs to reach their food. Constance is now happy with her terriyaki chicken, but Victoria sees the fortune cookie and thereby spoils her meal.
Thanks to Glammie, Victoria can spot a Diet Coke in any cup, can or bottle, so she refuses any food or water and reaches across the table for the coke. When she stands up, she looks down and sees terriyaki chicken and fried rice covering her jacket and starts wailing. I mean, wailing and thrashing and screaming. I become desperate at this point and try to give her another fortune cookie and a sip of coke to calm her down. Doesn't work. It's clearly time to go, but both girls refuse to sit in their stroller. Zach wrestles each one into the seat belt and we head out of the mall, with two banshees screaming all the way.
Zach notices at least one lady sneering at us. I'm glad I didn't see her. I really think I would have confronted her. "Seriously, lady," I think, "have YOU had twin toddlers at the mall? I would LOVE to hear how you think we should better handle this."
Actually, I do know one thing that would have helped - a well-stocked diaper bag. I think Daddy's learned his lesson :)
I go to a tax workshop on Saturday morning, and Zach decides to take the girls to the mall. I head over to meet them around noon. "Constance is poopy," Zach says over the phone, "meet me at the family bathroom so I can change her diaper." I meet them, give the girls hugs, and hoist Constance up to the changing table. Looking around the stroller, I note the absence of a diaper bag.
"Um, Zach," I say, as gently as possible, "did you bring any diapers?"
"I thought you kept them in the stroller," comes his reply. "I'll run out to the car to get some."
So I stroll the girls around the mall for 10 minutes. Constance decides she is too uncomfortable sitting in poop, so she wrangles free of her seat belt, climbing out of the stroller. Victoria sees that Constance has freedom, so she starts crying. Constance begins screaming when I grab her hand to prevent her from running around the busy mall, and soon I am one Mommie, with two screaming toddlers at the Roseville Galleria. ON A SATURDAY.
Somehow, I am able to herd the girls back to the relative safety of the new "family lounge," which I now realize I never should have left - there are toys there! This time, there is a very kind stranger who offers me a diaper. Sweet! One problem solved.
Zach shows up with more diapers and wipes, and soon we are ready to eat lunch. By now, it is almost 12:30 and the girls are really hungry. Recall, if you will, our lack of diaper bag - this means no snacks, cups, toys, books...
The new food court is totally packed, so we decide on Panda Express because the food is already made and the line moves fast. Zach sets the girls up outside and I get the food. There are no high chairs available, so the girls get to sit big-girl style, which pretty much means they have to stand on chairs to reach their food. Constance is now happy with her terriyaki chicken, but Victoria sees the fortune cookie and thereby spoils her meal.
Thanks to Glammie, Victoria can spot a Diet Coke in any cup, can or bottle, so she refuses any food or water and reaches across the table for the coke. When she stands up, she looks down and sees terriyaki chicken and fried rice covering her jacket and starts wailing. I mean, wailing and thrashing and screaming. I become desperate at this point and try to give her another fortune cookie and a sip of coke to calm her down. Doesn't work. It's clearly time to go, but both girls refuse to sit in their stroller. Zach wrestles each one into the seat belt and we head out of the mall, with two banshees screaming all the way.
Zach notices at least one lady sneering at us. I'm glad I didn't see her. I really think I would have confronted her. "Seriously, lady," I think, "have YOU had twin toddlers at the mall? I would LOVE to hear how you think we should better handle this."
Actually, I do know one thing that would have helped - a well-stocked diaper bag. I think Daddy's learned his lesson :)
Flowers from Daddy
Zach came home from work on Saturday with a surprise - flowers for all 3 of his girls! Constance and Victoria danced around with theirs. So cute!
Sunday Leaves
We raked the leaves yesterday, and the girls instinctively knew what to do! They jumped in the pile, rolled around, tossed the leaves into the air. We had a great time.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Apple Hill
We had a great time at Apple Hill with the Creiglows today. We visited High Hill Farm, ate Fudge and caramel apples, had a picnic and, of course, bought some fresh apples!
The girls' favorite part of the day was certainly the ducks at the pond. These ducks would eat right out of their hand. Constance just said "duck, duck, duck," over and over. As usual, see more pics at flickr!
The girls' favorite part of the day was certainly the ducks at the pond. These ducks would eat right out of their hand. Constance just said "duck, duck, duck," over and over. As usual, see more pics at flickr!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
i don't even know what to call this...
Last night, Victoria gets on all fours in front of the fridge. "Huh," I think, that's funny. "What's she doing, yoga," I ask Zach. She must have heard us. The next thing we know, she's walking up the fridge into a handstand! WHERE would she have picked that up? This girl is interesting...
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
our friend Sarah
This is from a couple days ago, but I wanted to share it. The girls' friend Sarah came over to play. The girls had fun playing with Duplos and eating lunch together. Sarah looks just like her mommy Abby and she has a big personality! I had to hold her and sing to her for awhile to make her comfortable in our house, but after lunch she was singing and dancing around with my girls. It's really neat to see the little ones interacting with each other! They're all so cute.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Multimedia message
Victoria colored only the dog's paws. Not bad for 21 months old!
Constance still eats the crayons.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
little reader
Lately, we've figured out that if we don't know where Constance is, the first place to look is the bookshelf. I snapped this the other day, as she was sitting quietly in the chair in the nursery, just flipping through her books. She also loves to bring books to me and sit in my lap as I read to her. It's just about the sweetest thing in the world.
My Little Engineer
So, we know Victoria likes to study everything. She's always inspecting things, as though she really wants to know how they work. Today I came home from my MOMS tea and she had built this--
Pretty simple, but until now she's just built single stacks with the Duplos. I especially like the little lego guy on top :) Maybe she'll be an engineer, like her "Guapo!" (Grandpa Dave)
Pretty simple, but until now she's just built single stacks with the Duplos. I especially like the little lego guy on top :) Maybe she'll be an engineer, like her "Guapo!" (Grandpa Dave)
Friday, October 31, 2008
Costumes, Candy and Carving
Last Halloween, Zach was working and the girls were only 8 months old, so we didn't go out around the neighborhood or carve pumpkins or any of that. This year, Constance and Victoria had a blast! They got to wear their elephant outfits and go out in the front yard. woo hoo! We stopped by our neighbors' houses for a little trick or treating. Everyone loved their costumes. I haven't heard that many oohs and aahs since they were teeny-tiny babies. The girls loved walking to all the houses, and they got to play with the 3-year-old twin boys across the street. Constance learned how to roll down a grassy hill, which she did over and over, until she got a little bit of an allergic reaction to the grass!
Next, the girls discovered CANDY! I let Constance have a mini Hershey's bar, and Victoria a tiny bag of M&Ms. It didn't take them long to figure out that the other candy was right there in their Halloween "purses." They tried to eat the candy through the wrappers! Victoria got chocolate all over her face, hands, and costume. It was classic and so much fun.
The girls love it when the doorbell rings. Even as I was putting them to bed, trick-or-treaters would ring the bell and Victoria would gasp happily as Constance exclaimed "door!" It's either that or the sugar high; I can still hear them in their room, refusing to sleep.
We had picked out a great pumpkin at the pumpkin farm, but had never gotten around to carving it. So, Zach pulled out his carving knife and introduced the girls to pumpkin guts. 
As predicted, Victoria wanted nothing to do with the slimy orange innards, but Constance was all over it! We made a pretty cute, last-minute Halloween decoration and had a fabulous evening! Happy Halloween!!
Next, the girls discovered CANDY! I let Constance have a mini Hershey's bar, and Victoria a tiny bag of M&Ms. It didn't take them long to figure out that the other candy was right there in their Halloween "purses." They tried to eat the candy through the wrappers! Victoria got chocolate all over her face, hands, and costume. It was classic and so much fun.The girls love it when the doorbell rings. Even as I was putting them to bed, trick-or-treaters would ring the bell and Victoria would gasp happily as Constance exclaimed "door!" It's either that or the sugar high; I can still hear them in their room, refusing to sleep.
We had picked out a great pumpkin at the pumpkin farm, but had never gotten around to carving it. So, Zach pulled out his carving knife and introduced the girls to pumpkin guts. As predicted, Victoria wanted nothing to do with the slimy orange innards, but Constance was all over it! We made a pretty cute, last-minute Halloween decoration and had a fabulous evening! Happy Halloween!!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Halloween Practice
These girls really love their halloween costumes! They will be elephants this year, because with the election I couldn't resist. Besides, the costume is just too cute! It's easy, too. The top is worn like a jacket, with velcro up the center. And the fat padding is so much fun. I'm not sure what it is the girls like so much about dressing like elephants. Maybe it's the giggles they hear from their Mom and Dad when they put on the costume! more pics at flickr
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
What happened to my Freedom of Speech?
The other night, our McCain-Palin sign was torn in four pieces and neatly deposited on our front porch. Our Tom McClintock sign was stolen and thrown in the neighbor's yard around the corner. How frustrating and disapointing that this would happen in our neighborhood!
I don't mind people disagreeing with me; that's what politics are all about. Get yourself an Obama sign and display it in your yard. But vandalism like this is what destroys the political process.
Oh, and before you vote for ANYBODY, do a little research. Please! Our system depends on an educated populace. Think for yourself, don't just mark "D" or "R"
Homer's All-Purpose Bucket
Those orange buckets from Home Depot really CAN be used for anything! Like a backyard swing. Victoria climbed into the bucket and, of course, Zach just HAD to pick it up and carry it all around the yard. The best toys are the non-toys.
Yes, those are the Jonas Brothers...
... you hear on this page. I'm so out of the pop culture loop, I had no clue who they were. This song woke us up the other day and I made Zach keep the alarm clock going, because I liked it. Does that make me a fan? Dunno; I've never heard any of their other music.
Thanks, Mom and Dad!
When is a new dryer the BEST Christmas gift ever?
When you're living on one salary and the dryer you bought, literally, off the street, dies.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Mobile Blogging test
Tomatoes are still growing in our garden! (Zucchini, too) And Constance can find them.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Bishops Pumpkin Farm
We took the girls to Bishop's Pumpkin Farm this weekend. They had lots of fun petting the goats, riding the hayride and picking out pumpkins. It was really nice to have the girls' Grandpa Ian in town for the weekend. He helped out so much with dishes and diapers. It was good to have a couple less tasks to worry about contantly. See more pics at my flickr photostream!
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