Gingerbread "Men"

The boys and I decided to surprise Daddy and make a Gingerbread House. This is their very first house they made. They did love decorating it, most got eaten along the way and then it turned into a game.

The game: Take the little beads, throw them at the house whatever doesn't stick has to make it into the goalie's net (a.k.a. bowl on the other side) and they win a point. Yes, they thought of this themselves and attempted to make goals (a.k.a - beaded candy all over kitchen floor while dog hunts to eat) while mommy was trying to clean up the frosting.

It turned out good. When Ken got home he was VERY IMPRESSED because he thought I put the "house foundation" and possibly thought I baked the gingerbread?? I just looked at him with my usual domesticated goddess smile and said "Oh Yes...I baked it and put it all together"... One word...PUBLIX.

Once we broke into it to eat or should I say we didn't know if it was edible (I wouldn't recommend the Gingerbread "Men" built it with bricks) the boys wanted to see all the "Gingerbread Men" living inside. They were sad to see it was empty, sad that it was like a brick but happy to eat the pure sugar Christmas trees!!! All in All - a great Xmas activity, a great tradition to start but next year I think I will bake myself!

The Starting Kit

Boys Working Hard

YUMMY! The Game Instructions- Game BeginsFinal Product

Mr. Grumpball

Notice Nicolas in the photo. Doesn't that perfectly just say "Grumpball". Here's the thing with twin boys (or at least mine) if one is having a great week (meaning not cranky, stubborn, testing boundaries) it is like a tag team affect the other decides to test all boundaries. A few weeks ago Christian was really testing us with the "I don't want to go to the bathroom, I don't want to brush my teeth, hitting and ummmmm ANYTHING that describes a rebel child. We went on vacation and a switch flipped. He has since been the past two weeks easy and has really showed self control and basically a sweetheart. Within seconds of the Christian being so sweet Nicolas turned into Mr. "NOOOOOOOOOOOO" . Ken and I have always say that Nicolas is a gentle soul, but when he decides he is pissed, it will be fierce. Let me just say...FIERCE! They don't happen often but when he gets mad, watch out all hell breaks out. FOR EVERYBODY!

For example: First thing this morning at 7 a.m. he was refusing to do about anything. Mr. No was in full force and even took a swipe at me. Ken must of heard this from the other room and walked in and said very firmly, "Nicolas get to the table now and listen to your mother".

There was a pause for a brief second and then Nicolas looked at Ken and screamed in a demon voice, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"! My head wiped around so fast to look at Nicolas because I thought I would see his head spinning like the exorcist. I couldn't believe it. I quickly looked at Ken, he was in shock and Christian just smiled. It was like Christian was thinking "Your turn dude, your in big trouble". Ken just looked at me and said :"umm ..well" like he was taken back not sure what to do. Ken was in shock. Sweet Nicolas has discovered he can challenge dad. I simply had to turn around because I couldn't stop laughing. Nicolas knew he had us. Ken tried to recover but there is no recovering when you say.."umm -well" to a child during a boundary challenge.

Another example: I decided to take the boys out for a walk WITH Rocky our dog. The boys wanted to ride their scooters. I am so happy at this point because it was nice out, boys seemed happy and Ken was coming home soon. Then as we were leaving the driveway, Nicolas decided he wanted his bike. I said no because I couldn't keep up with the bike with the dog and with Christian on a scooter. As we were coming down the driveway, he decided he wanted his "Cozy Coupe" instead of scooter. I said fine. Once he was in the "coupe" and we were on our way, he started DRAGGING his legs so it wouldn't go and started crying. Meanwhile, Christian is flying ahead with his scooter and Rocky is pulling me to the side of the yard to chase a squirrel. Fast forward..I get Nicolas to go back and get his scooter. Things were great for exactly 1 block then some kids with bikes came up next to us. Nicolas looked at them and started to cry "I want my bike, I want my bike" louder.....and...louder until M.E.L.T.D.O.W.N. He was dancing on the sidewalk doing the 2-step cry, leaving his scooter in someones driveway, Christian is getting way ahead near the street corner and Rocky went PSYCHO at another dog passing, slipping his head out of the leash. Oh and the 3 kids on the bikes wouldn't move and just stared at us like freaks. I honestly didn't know what to do for a second, this hasn't happened in a long time in public or where there were so many things happening at once. Then something switched in me and I knew what to do:

1. Grab Rocky by the head and put a choke hold on him to put the leash on.



2. Sprint to grab Christian (dragging Rocky with me).



3. Leave Nicolas screaming on the sidewalk.



4. Keep my thoughts silent on wanting to tell the kids on the bikes to stop staring at us like freaks and RIDE ON...obviously they could see the bikes were causing Nicolas to keep screaming "I WANT MY BIKE".



5. Scream help to my neighbors (just kidding).

Thankfully, Christian listened and he understood why he had to turn around and we had to go home. That part makes me sad when one child is being good and you have to stop the activity because the other is not being so good. Nicolas did the 2-step scream all the way home lagging about 2 houses behind. Thank god I have cool neighbors because if you didn't know us, with that scream someone probably would of called Child Protective Services.

So....this week it is Nicolas. He is fierce and you just never know..maybe in a few minutes it will switch and maybe just maybe we will get our week of both not testing us! The funny part is that both boys say to each other after a meltdown ..."Are you mad now? Are you happy again, Mommy he is happy"! Thankfully, usually the meltdowns are limited and in the house but that one in the street definitely took the cake!!!

School Halloween Party

I am officially pumped about tomorrow for Halloween! The boys had their preschool Halloween party and it was so ADORABLE and fun!! I just love their little class, buddies, the moms and teachers. Helping out with the party and doing the gift baggies were such a blast. Although I was super sick and felt AGAIN on my deathbed, I was determined to volunteer and be there for my little men on their big school adventure!! Sneak preview of their costumes for tomorrow night and OH BOY let me tell you--They get it this year, we are going to be sprinting this year house to house, they just don't realize all the candy (well most) we will be handing back out to all the kids that come to our door after the boys are in bed.....IS THAT WRONG?

Trunk from one of the boys class. Alex and Christian having a "side chat"Which ended in a buddy hug.

Classroom photo

Christian some how made it to the front of the line first - on almost every trunk (car).

Dad loving the food and of course time with kids at their fiesta!

Big Boys

For some reason, I can't really seem to cry when I am happy and for some reason as I am getting older it is getting harder for me to cry unless I am super sad or if I think about someone I have loss or a family/friend tells me of something sad they are going through. A.K.A., the nice name my husband has called me "Ice Queen" when it comes to crying (not because I am a bitch...er..I don't think??) :). Don't get me wrong I do have lots of emotions on a daily basis. Well, yesterday we had a break through - I think?? I had such moments of pure joy resulting in tears and tears of sadness at the same time when we officially took the boys cribs down and cleared out the very last little toys for our garage sale. They are growing SO SO fast. I also got sentimental when I took their Land of Nod toddler sitting chair out to the garage to sell today. I am telling you, when you finally take that crib down, for some reason it is HEART WRENCHING but to see their joy in big beds brings me such joy...hence the tears yesterday. Here is how big they are getting!! Notice how Rocky has finally opened his heart for the boys and lays between them in a protective way!

Old Nursery Went from this old bed (crib)To this big bedChristian's big bed!!

Bamboo Again?

Come On..Christian got Bamboo this week ..Really!

If you don't understand that statement, read my last blog and you well clearly understand. What are the chances of it? Don't get me wrong, I like Bamboo. He is growing on me. I think it is a fabulous idea but those first few hours are Torture..the fighting...

Here's the deal with how it works with Bamboo the baby stuffed panda. 1 child gets Bamboo on Thursday. You take him on adventures over the weekend, journal about them and return him on Tuesday. Then Thursday a new kid gets him. So, as I am running to pick up the boys (late as always) the teacher greets me with the biggest smile and just says, "Oh Jody, Christian got Bamboo.. I am so sorry"....KNOWING THE FIGHTING I HAD LAST WEEK. I literally got one day without Bamboo. Come on really, this has to be a joke.

She said they were sitting in the circle and getting ready to pick a name out of the bag. She said Christian verbalized out loud, "I know I will get him, I know I will get Bamboo, I miss Bamboo, I know I will get him" with the biggest smile. And he did. Ms. Lora (his teacher) laughed and congratulated Christian on his positive thinking. Congratulated me on teaching my children to be so positive ( hummm.. that is my goal, not sure how I am doing it because I verbalize everything, including my complaining...hence my blogging). I had a quick flashback on the car ride home from last week when Nicolas got Bamboo. The fighting.

But then I looked at Christian who was BEAMING with that charming smile and I was so happy for him. Then I looked at Nicolas who had the most evil, grumpy face I have seen on that kid and thought "Oh no, here we go". Especially, when he didn't want to say goodbye to his friends and very snotty said good bye to the teacher. Nicolas is my super lover boy so I knew it was going to be a tortuous car ride (see not so positive right)? So what did I do to try to make the situation better..what any mom would do: Bribe them with going out for Pizza! When that failed I knew we were in trouble. Nicolas had a tantrum about Bamboo at nap time for 50 minutes. I am talking the KING of all meltdowns. The type where you lay on the floor praying to god to please make it stop. The kind you beg God if he makes it stop you will do this, you will do that, you will be a better parent...yadda yadda yadda.

Now keep in mind, I also have to plan adventures, take photos, get them developed and of course scrapbook it all again. That damn scrapbook.

Bamboo will not be seeing much adventure this weekend because the boys went to get their flu shots found out Nicolas has the beginning of Croup. I knew he was cranky yesterday I should of realized that it couldn't have been just from our good friend Bamboo. I didn't even think a kid could get croup at their age. Both boys are a little cranky today and just want to chill since they have fevers. So, I am thinking this is how the photos will go this weekend:

1.) Bamboo with the boys fighting.
2.) Bamboo at the doctors.
3.) Bamboo watching T.V.
4.) Bamboo taking medicine.
4.) Bamboo sleeping a lot.
5.) Bamboo being thrown in the washer.

I am sure the next mom will love that one! Well, at least I got a few good pictures of Christian and Bamboo yesterday!! Gotta love Bamboo!

Bamboo

CHAGGA-CHAGGA-CHOO- GOTTA GET BAMBOO ( a song from Diego)

Hooray..Nicolas was chosen this past week at school to take home "Bamboo", the class mascot panda, home for 5 days. Nicolas had to bring Bamboo on all the adventures for the weekend and journal about it in "Bamboo's" book. Then the journal entries are read to the class. Now..this is a BIG thing to get Bamboo but I was not expecting it this week! My first thought: "Shit I am away all weekend on a girls trip to Houston". My second thought.."Shit the fighting over Bamboo between the boys". The teacher said Nicolas jumped up so excited and then Christian jumped up with a twinkle in his eye as he ran immediately to teacher and said "Nicolas has to share him right? Nicolas has to share right"? She explained 1 child gets Bamboo each weekend, for special one-on-one with Bamboo and this is Nicolas's weekend. Another example of a "Singleton" activity in a "Twin World"!

Oh lord! The whole way home I heard fighting non-stop about Bamboo and that Nicolas had to share. Those first 5 hours were TERRIBLE. Plus, when I looked at Bamboo's journal, it was a professional scrapbook with 3-4 tier framed photos from the previous creative moms. I called my sister and said " Well, we got Bamboo and guess what, we are going to have 2 photo's this weekend : 1.) Nicolas and Christian fighting over Bamboo and 2.) A photo of Bamboo on the refrigerator for the weekend (to stop the fighting). Plus, I intend to lower the standards on this scrapbook journal for all future BUSY moms. Yeah right, after a weekend away from the boys, I was driven into madness to create the best damn Bamboo pages ever!

The first day with Bamboo was rough, in fact I had a nickname for Bamboo - "BASTARD BAMBOO". Within that first hour at home, Bamboo almost lost an arm and leg when Christian took it and flung him across the room, poor Bamboo hitting the wall. But after explaining for 5 hours that this was Nicolas's special time with Bamboo and that Christian would get a turn the novelty wore off. It turned out to be a cool experience other than it took me 3 hours to do the damn scrapbook (which I secretly enjoyed), I am extremely creative so I needed this to SHINE! I laugh now at the vision of Ken coming upstairs, seeing me in a flurry of cutting, taping, gluing photos..it was piled up ALL OVER my desk! Now remember, you have to get the photos developed the last day so all the pages get created in the journal on the last day. At 10 o'clock pm, I called it quits. I actually told one of the mom's from the boys class today " Hey..if Jack gets pick can you lower the barr down so when Christian gets pick I don't have to go all fancy again"! But of course I will, it is my son and he only deserves the best as well! The director of their school commented to me it looked awesome when I picked up the kids (probably because I added a educational twist to most of the photos and she probably thought..."Poor Jody, she has to do this twice"). LOL! All-in-all this is a wonderful activity for the kids and it created cherished memories for Nicolas and Bamboo! Here are a few of Bamboo's great adventure at the "House of Hughes"!

First Day Home, Bamboo getting snuggled

Nicolas calling Daddy to tell him HE got Bamboo and Christian will not stop taking him.

Bamboo upstairs for a nap with Nicolas (how many germs do you think are on Bamboo)?

Had to feed hungry Bamboo- hey bears get hungry too!

Showing Bamboo the neighborhood (that is Bamboo's little bag)Bamboo on a Trolley RideBamboo at the aquarium where the most famous dolphin "Winter" is..I can say that because the story of Winter has been on the Today Show and news with the new movie about him.It wouldn't be complete without Bamboo seeing some sort of machinery!

The Final Countdown

The countdown is on...the boys start preschool in 12 days. I have so many MIXED feelings about this. On one hand, I know it is a wonderful opportunity for them to learn more things, meet new friends and have some separation from me. I like that their school is Christian based and I am excited that they will be able to help me learn more about teaching them about God and our faith. And a welcomed break!

(Photo of the boys with their buddies doing a camping theme/ preschool setting with some of my girlfriends)

On the other hand, I struggle with that they are only 3 and I know next year they will be going 5 days a week for 1/2 days for Pre- K. Wow it is so weird to think my kids will be in Pre-K!! So my days of doing what I want with them anytime, with my girlfriends are almost over. They have 19 years of structured school coming up so why not make it as fun as possible with me and their buddies for the next year? Lack of monitoring, what they are exposed to, keeping that sweet little innocence for as long as possible that they have right now...ohhhhh, that part really sucks.

We have made a joint decision to try it out since they have been excepted at a program that we have been on a waiting list for the past year and half. This is one of the many hard decisions to come. The first thing someone said to me in the class (A parent) was "Are these the twins, we are so excited they are in the class"! I was glad she was excited about my boys but annoyed they were labeled as "The Twins" and not Nicolas/ Christian as you would do with any other kid. They are individuals!!! Yes, I know I am contradicting myself because I talk about "twin experiences, raising twins"....but I am the mom! I have learned to say very nicely, "Oh you mean Nicolas and Christian and went ahead and introduced them as Nicolas and Christian". The teachers were sweet and nurturing. They did ask me at open house:

• "Have you considered separating them in school"?


• "What are your views on this"?


• "Is there anything you can tell us you want us to focus on with the dynamics of twins"?


• "Do they play with other kids easily or go to each other" ?

They actually picked up on one unique dynamic that I never realized and I was encouraged this is going to be a good experience, with great teachers. I have to say though I wasn't prepared for some of these questions and just said "Let's see how it goes, you can share with me your perspective as they participate in class and I then I gave them information about each of their personalities, how to encourage and honor their differences. I made that part VERY CLEAR about honoring their differences. Like I said, lots of decisions, mixed emotions and now I can see how they will very easily be labeled as "The Twins".

Nicolas hunting for bugs and looking at them with his magnifying glass during our camping theme.

This was a cool idea is anyone wants to try it for a snack- they went "Fishing". We took a pretzel, they dipped it in peanut butter and fished for "Goldfish".

Brotherly Love

Occasionally Ken and I separated the boys so they could each have their "Alone" time from each other and with us. I ventured with Nicolas to my Grandma/Grandpa's house and Christen went with Daddy to pick out a movie - Bugs Life ( I know lame for Christian but he didn't seem like he was feeling great- hence the sick fest later that night). After being separated from each other, it was so cute. They ran and hugged each other, told each other what they did and then when it was movie time, they snuggled up together. Normally, they like to have their own space when we watch a movie, that is why I had to snapped a few photos.

I know- this photo is on my last post but it is so cute of their hands.

Ten (Eleven) For Tuesday

1. Today Nicolas told me : "I don't want to be Handsome, it's hard”.


2. When we put on Diego, they both told me to stop singing to the intro and to stop dancing. What can I say, I was happy that I was going to get 24 minutes of quiet.


3. We had an exciting moment this afternoon, the Weeble Wooble Treehouse came (this thing was around 25 years ago and it still brought the same excitement).


4. Poor Nicolas ended up in the E.R Saturday night after having a Shrimp allergy reaction, no shellfish for at least 2 years. Next day, we were at a party and someone spilled a shrimp platter, shrimp juice hitting the floor while Nicolas walking barefoot. Panic attack in mom!


5. I took the boys to the gym today, Nicolas didn't want to go and Christian said: "It's okay buddy, we will have fun”.


6. I made a meal last week that turned out to be so bad that the boys refused, Ken choked it down with some Red Hot and after I gave it to the dog, the next morning we had to give him Pepto Bismo. Yes, it was that bad!


7. I read in a blog that accurately described 3 year olds - they are like "Mini drug addicts". Think about that statement, doesn't it seem so true at times? Can be so sweet but in a second’s notice they can turn into a moody, spastic person. For example, Nicolas didn't want to eat breakfast this morning. Then all of a sudden he got mad when Christian and I went ahead to eat and started with our prayers. Then he looked at me and said, "Mom, I love you so much". Melted my heart, after I was so mad he wouldn't come to the table initially. Maybe I am the one that acts that way?


8. The boys were making a ridiculous sound over and over today, when I asked what they were playing, they said : "We are playing puking baby" Like dah mom you should know that. Nicolas ran in and said: "Mom, I just can't keep up with cleaning the puke, there is SO MUCH".


9. Yesterday Christian told me "Stop Mom, your making me crazy".


10. Christian trailed into the kitchen with his tunnel and said he was a Very Hunger Caterpillar with a big butt.


11. We all took a 2 hour nap today. I am reading the craziest book called "Hunger Games" which is keeping me up to almost midnight and I cannot put it down even though I am a zombie. It is the first of 3 books and I just heard they are going to make a movie out of it.