My Birthday

Well.. we survived this week while Ken was out of town and we all managed even though we were sick. It actually went well. Taking care of two little precious guys while I felt like I was on my death bed was a challenge but I just kept telling myself, you have not other choice, get up and do it! The power of the brain. The down side was, because I didn't get a chance to recoop, I had to go to the hospital yesterday because of a coughing attack that would not stop and I couldnt breath. But luck was on my side because I was in and out of the hospital in less then 40 minutes! ( I guess when you look like your going to cough yourself to death, they move you along pretty fast)!

So fast forward...here we are today on my birthday and I have an infection in my throat and I am not supposed to talk for 24-48 hours. YEAH RIGHT with two year olds but I do get to rest in bed and take it easy which is always nice - without the guilt and I can blog!

My girlfriend Vanessa, wrote a blog once about jumping on the trend with a new camera! I have wanted to jump on that trend for A LONG TIME but I couldn't bring myself to spend the money on it when I have so many other things to budget for. However, today on my birthday - I am on that trend! The boys got me a new camera for my birthday and I love it...love it ....love it!

I snuck downstairs to take a few shots with it . With zero experience, it still takes such crisp photos! I can't wait to learn more about it because this is the kind of gift that will last forever - memories of my family.

When I came down around lunch time, I found the boys making my birthday cake and Ken had taught them to say " Happy Birthday Ma Ma"!! ( Boy do they need haircuts)!

"Tickolas" - Nicolas!


Hummm...did you say I had to eat vegetables?

I love this photo- catching Christian with his morning hair and smiles!

I have to get better because next weekend is their big 2 year birthday party with my family and I have so much to do!! Being sick the past two weeks is going to put me into MANIC mode this week trying to get the place cleaned up for the party!

KEN IS GOING OUT OF TOWN!

Oh boy, Ken is going out of town tomorrow for three days! Aghhh... which I say not only for the shear craziness of the insanity when he is gone, missing him but Nicolas, Christian and I all have Strep Throat!! Again...Aghhh!

Wish us luck and hopefully it will go smooth! The only part I am dreading is the first part of our morning routine where Ken gets the boys up and battles Christian's diaper change ( boy can that kid fight to the death with diaper changes). I am NOT a morning person, never have been.. especially with a sore throat! Remember what they did to me last time he was away? at bathtime and after baths???

Thomas The Train Day!

Thomas...Thomas...Thomas! The boys love Thomas the Train and what a better day than to go to " Thomas the Train Day" and ride him! The boys thought it was great, even in the pooring rain! Christen getting his ticket stamped.. what a big boy.We went with one of my good friends ( Deseray) that also has twins ( Cayden and Chase). The boys are only 8 days apart! Boys Riding The Little Train

Hay Ride on wet hay!We were soaked as the event was " Rain or Shine"

How Long Can A Kid Bounce?

Seriously.... can most kids copy "Goofy from the Mickey Mouse Club House Show" and bounce just like him? There is a song called the " Hot Dog Song" at the end of every Mickey Mouse Show and they have a special dance where all the character's just bounce and kick a leg out. Christen has the bouncing part, Nicolas has the kicking leg part. I thought this video was funny the way Christens feet never leave the ground and Nicolas is mad his brother is doing the dance gain.

Christian even tries to say part of the lyrics " Hot Dog.. Hot Diggity Dog , It's A Brand New Day, Hot Diggity Dog"...... he is truly the ultimate " Bouncing Boy"! Watch in the middle of the dance how he breaks out his moves with the arms ( you can also see Ken trying the Hot Dog Dance in the very beginning and Nicolas getting mad)!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a entertaining book, written by Eric Carle. It has bright colors and shows how a caterpillar grows into a butterfly. We have been reading this book to the boys since they were babies. The book teaches children how to count to five, the names of the days of the week and random food! Since they like it so much I decided we would make Caterpillar headbands and I had these great visions of them wearing them while we sat and read the fabulous book. Cute right??? I also thought it would be fun for them to feel the different textures and learn how to use glue. Not the case !!!

First, sitting still for 2 year old is never realistic what was I thinking? Second, wearing a headband with foreign objects...only stayed on for about a minute. Third, a mass explosion of pom-poms, making a HUGE mess for mom to clean up ! To this day we are still finding pom-poms around the house . Lastly, the worse part is my fat cat finds them (always during the night) and thinks he is holding a mouse and carries a pom-pom to my bedside and meows at 1 am in the morning until I get up and take it away.

Warning to all the moms out there with twins..... be ready for a mess!!! Explosion begins....

Nicolas hating the headbands.Explosion and Christian shoving them under the TV. Rocky tolerating the mass explosion of pom - poms. POOR ROCKY!!

READY - SET - GO !!!

Last year for their 1 year birthday, Grandpa Hughes bought the boys these cool 4-wheelers (he even came prepared with helmets - which I call the "bumble bee" helmets because they look like the shape of a bumble bee to me ) Is that weird I have always thought bike helmets look like bumble bees??

Anyways, my little guys LOVE driving their 4- wheelers! We don't get to do it alot because it takes both of us to supervise but when we go out, they are the hit of the neighborhood. They can do it on their own now and they think they are such big boys when riding them ( well they always think they are big boys nowadays) ! Christian : " Wait..did you say slow down mom?" No way!
Ken showing them how to pick up speed, mom having a heart attack behind them.

Is mine faster than yours?
Nicolas really giving me a heart attack trying the "no hands" approach!

Nicolas going "off roading"...well as much as he can in Florida living on the "Ranch" !

Look at his devilish grin since he knows I hate when he goes on the grass - Another weird thing about me- I HATE FLORIDA GRASS -RED ANTS AND WEIRD SPIDERS.

Dressing Two Year Olds

This morning the boys were really showing their independence with me and I couldn't believe I was actually having a "clothes" disagreement with both boys.

It started out when I "quickly" opened their shirt drawer and Nicolas came running behind me to swipe out his "Truck" shirt. That in itself- no problem.

Christian then saw the opportunity to grab the famous orange "bug" shirt they both love ( which I only have one of). You can guess what happened...Nicolas saw the bug shirt on Christian and had a complete meltdown because he wanted to wear it! He was so mad and kept telling me he wanted "buggy" shirt.

Usually, I put them in the same clothes- not to be cute or make them look like twins but to avoid this!! All of this happened of course as I was running 15 minutes late to meet up with some friends at the park. I was trying to distract him with "do you want to wear a "special" jacket"? That backfired because then they both wanted the "special" jacket. What was I thinking? Quickly, I am trying to come up with which "special jackets" I had two of. Then Nicolas quickly informed me he wanted his BLUE jacket ..which was in the laundry. Another meltdown!

Now I have both tugging on my leg for their blue jackets! I seriously didn't know what to do because I just wanted to get out of the house and they were doing the "limp pose" and running from me. Finally, after what seemed like thirty minutes of wrestling shirts and jackets, breaking out in a sweat, exhausted already at 9:00 am - out of nowhere they started laughing and were happy as can be. It was like a light went off and they realized.. no jacket...no park!

Wow, they are becoming more and more independent , which I love in so many ways. I do want them to be independent, individual little boys, rather than just known as "the twins" (which I will blog about later) but geez fighting over clothes already! Morale f the story: "This is the true reason I dress them alike and I was exhausted at 9 am"!!