Double Time!

When you have twins, everything is about strategy. Including the Easter Egg Hunt. Everything also comes in double, including the Easter Egg Hunt. We went to a neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt in the morning, then in the afternoon spent some time with our friends and the boys girlfriend Addison! We topped it off with a nice relaxing dinner. Is it really possible with 3 kids at dinner, amazingly it was. SO....Ken had to prep the boys the night before the Egg Hunt and go over the strategy on how to get the most eggs. Grandpa also did the same, so the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Then my boys did it with Addison. Ken said " Go to the middle, don't stop for the first eggs, just go to the middle and grab them, don't open them, just grab them"! And..they did!

Here Christian is sizing up the field, getting ready and getting his game on.Grandpa reviewing the strategy with NicolasGo Time!Egg Hunt #2 at Jessica's Grandma which was GORGEOUS!! A true tropical paradise (which it is where we live and I often forget) other than the heat, it was so much fun with our friends!Christian going over the strategy with AddisonAddison going back for more! On a mission!Christian not so sure if he got enough!Nicolas..yep happy he got enough!Finishing the evening with a relaxing meal and quality bonding time - ummmm..are you happy Christian?

Easter Eggs

Part of our Easter tradition has been to make a Easter Egg Tree. My sister and I would go in the backyard and pick a huge branch with lots of twigs, then we would plant it in potting soil in a Easter Planter. Once the branch was sturdy we would hang our decorated eggs that we had just colored and eggs that we had decorated over the years! Each year my mom would give us each about 4-6 eggs to color. To make the eggs my mom would use vinegar, food color and crayons - this was before the Paas Easter decorating kits. We would draw on the eggs with our crayons then dip them into our favorite colors. My mom still has these eggs (except the broken ones) plus all the ones from my other siblings...we are talking about 35 years of decorated eggs between all of us! The big part of this tradition is not only the hunt for the best branch but blowing the yolk/egg out of the egg. This is the first year it TOTALLY grossed me out. First, I couldn't get a hole in each end of the egg without cracking the egg and I couldn't stop thinking about SALMENOLLA. I literally washed each egg, then before I blew the yoke out, I would give the egg a bath in Purell. After I blew it out, I would again give the egg a bath in Purell. Neurotic..yes of course! I wonder if my mom felt that way? I used an old Paas egg decorating kit from 2005 that I had in my Easter Box, some of the tablets crumbled before opening but most worked fine. The boys ended up with dark colors because they wanted to dip them in every color. You can also see we only have 4 eggs because I cracked so many and the holes on some of them are huge...not sure how to hang yet.

Starting out..

Ironically, Nicolas is wearing Santa PJ's while doing the Easter Eggs! Nicolas explaining to Ken exactly how he will proceed with his egg. Christian creating his masterpiece.

Nicolas making a face at how Christian's egg came out thinking it looks "whacky".

Christian hard at work.

Nicolas - Raccoon Egg, Christian - Bunny Egg

The giant hole I cracked to blow out the egg, haven't figured out how to hang yet. This was their very first eggs, I feel kind of bad that I made a deformed egg.

We opted out of finding a branch here in Florida (since you never know what could be on the trees down here in the South....neurotic...of course)! So we are using our nice, clean fake tree in the kitchen as our Easter Egg Tree! The new tradition.

The Tale of 2 Little Boys, A Binkie and A Badger

Where do I start?

The boys have graduated to big boy beds (well toddler beds until next week when they get their twin beds). Main point here is they are no longer sleeping in cribs! No more lifting them up/down out of the cribs. It went so smoothly, I thought - this is awesome, they actually did it! My sister warned me...just give it a few days, wait until they get out that first time. Nope..not my guys, they actually listened..well up until today.

Let me back up a bit........ We created this crazy story (well it isn't crazy for this household) that the "Binkie Badger" was going to come on their 3rd Bday and gather their binkies to give to all the new babies. We are going to make a house for the Binkie Badger,they are going to help me put all the binkies in the house, leave it out for him, leave him a tasty snack and the Badger will bring the boys a gift for being so kind in donating their binkies. The story has expanded to the Badger will give them to Santa who will give them to the babies. Now it is Santa will give them to our friend Jessica's baby Ava.

NATURALLY, I threatened them with "If you get out of this bed when Mommy and Daddy are not in here with you, The Binkie Badger will need to come immediately and take your binkies". It worked perfectly, so easy, I thought we lucked out! It must be because they are older now. Right?

Today at naptime, I heard the boys talking back and forth. As I am listening on the monitor all I could think of was Oh shit....This was their conversation:

Christian: I dropped my book Nicolas.

Nicolas : Are you going to get it? Do you want the Binkie Badger to come?

Christian: You get it Nicolas.

Nicolas: No- What about the Binkie Badger, mommys not here.

Christian: Mommy..mommy...mommy (no response from me - I thought that was going to be the end of it).

Christian: I will get it! I will get it Nicolas, let's see the Binkie Badger.

Nicolas: No...then the binkies will be gone. I don't want to see the Badger.

Christian: It's okay, I will get it..let's see the Badger!

Nicolas: Are you getting out?

Christian: Yes, I'm doing it.

Nicolas: Okay.

And he was out of his bed. I hauled ass upstairs and opened their door and said as stern as I can "GET BACK IN YOUR BED NOW!!!".

Christian just laughed and said "No- I want to see the Badger, where is he, I am out of bed, is he here, let's see him"? I didn't know what to say, it all backfired, a whole weeks worth of work and FEAR of taken their binkies away- gone..gone...gone.

Finally I just turned his toddler bed against the wall (back side of it is still high) so he couldn't get out!

Nicolas responded with "Christian ...you look like a caged animal"! I had to turn around because I couldn't stop laughing.

Christian just laughed and kept saying ...I am still standing mom..still standing. Whatever that means..like as if he was not going to back down! Finally he fell asleep. Thankfully, Ken gets to put them to bed tonight!! :)

Everyone asks me why a Binkie Badger? I have no idea, it was one of those weird things that frequently pop into my head and came out of my mouth before I thought about it. My sister keeps saying, why didnt you go with something cute and nice like the "Binkie Bunny - Badgers are so furousous with long dagger nails"....oh so true but I was thinking cute...little fluffly black and white animal.

Busch Gardens ~ Sesame Street Safari

Yesterday we went to Busch Gardens and what a blast we had! Ken and I were teary eyed on the first ride that they did by themselves. Nothing can prepare you for the first time they do it by themselves! I had all these flashes of when they were infants, learning to sit, walk..etc..
I can't even begin to imagine what it will feel like when they go to school, first dates, college..BLAH!! I just have to cocoon them to stay this age somehow!

We stayed until 4:30 which was really good for them but a long day. No tantrums or meltdowns which was a beautiful thing (however today I paid for it -big time)! They did have one ride that wasn't the greatest, a plane ride that wouldn't fly, the one plane and my kids picked it. Everyone kept yelling "pull the level, pull the level", everyone cheering them on. But, when they came around - both leaning back, pulling the level and breaking a sweat from trying so hard..nope they stayed low to the ground. It was the one ride we actually had to wait in line for~ figures. Their favorite ride- the motorcycles!

Busch Gardens has a new area Sesame Street Safari which is all geared for little kids. It was cute, they got to go on a ton rides with no lines, we hit the jackpot except when we got ATTACKED by Peacocks at lunch as we tried eating at an outdoor restraraunt. I don't think the boys will ever look at a Peacock the same again. Ken and I were chasing them away, having heart attacks, then some bird attacked a ladies table next to us and we took off inside! IT was CRAZY!

The water log ride with alittle hill. Their first solo ride. I couldn't get a good shot but had to put it on because the ride is so cute!

The train ride (if you do this park - this ride is SLOW and takes about 45 minutes). They were good on it, they were just hot and tired by this point.

The "Count /Sesame Street" car ride. Boys were convienced they were making it move! They didn't stop smiling.The Big Bird Ferris Wheel.

Boys were first checking out Cookie Monster, Abbie, Grover and another character. Unsure but excited. Christian was terrified at first, especially of Cookie Monster as you can see him backing up into Ken for protection.

Finally ~ a success for Christian...we finally got him comfortable to sit with Grover! He refused the other ones!

Daddy and the boys!

This was ABSOLUTEY their most favorite ride - the "Motorcycles "! First they went together then immediately had to go on again because Christian wanted to drive it and Nicolas..well..Nicolas picked up a chic! :) This ride was crazy how fast it moved up and down!

Nicolas and his "girlfriend" well..at least for those two special minutes. LOL!

The lolly pop bribe to leave the park! Nothing like loading them up on sugar for a hour long car ride home!

A Sisters Bond

I just got off the phone with my sister and decided I had to do a quick blog on her. She is absolutely one the funniest, wittiest, smartest, classiest women I know and my rock. I know she will never read this so I can write all this about her- otherwise she would get pissed because it's all personal! Love you Sam!

I just told her I was going to my moms WITHOUT the kids for 4 days in May and immediately she was scheming and planning on how she could make her great escape!! We call it the great escape because my sister has 4 boys, all between the ages of 3-7, so you can imagine how hectic her life is. Yesterday when she called on my Anniversary, she sang some made up Anniversary song then said.."Hey 8 years ago, we were driving to your wedding and you were pissed off at me remember"? She said I kept saying on the way to MY WEDDING "Are you going to talk to me..Are you going to talk to me..it's my wedding day, it's supposed to be my happiest day and your being mean to me"! Of course 2 minutes later we were laughing hysterically that I said "Your being mean to me", as if we were back in middle school. We are like two peas in a pod, 18 months apart, fights or no fights, there is NEVER judgement between us no matter how wacky we get. It just makes me think, if we are this close at 18 months apart- can you imagine how close Nicolas and Christian are going to be!! It is just so cool to imagine! Twins has such an amazing bond and my dream in life is that they have this with each other!

Reasons my sister rocks:

1.) She has 4 boys - enough said.

2.) She does a boot camp at 5:30 am 3 days a week - again with 4 boys! And at 5:30 am, this is the girl that threw an alarm clock at me in high school because I woke her up with it. She definitely is not a morning person but kids help you over come that.

3.) She gets my sick sense of humor and has one!

4.) Is brilliant, she was a chemist and by nature is just a very rational, analytical person and can research anything with accurate stat's instead of just believing the hype of media.

5.) She prays, prays and prays and is so spiritually grounded.

6.) One of the best moms I know....even with 4 little boys.

7.) Everyday when we talk, we laugh so hard about the stupidest things - today's comedy- she has entered into the world of Facebook, after she has rejected it since it started but still says she is Anti-facebook. It's awesome because I see her getting addicted already, so I love to screw with her and leave random messages! Yet she doesn't want to write on it or people to comment on her page- that is what makes it so much fun to write on her page!

8.) I love that she tells it like it is, AT TIMES gentle if need be- but usually just matter of fact and has no problems confronting people, no problem speaking her mind on anything, anytime, especially when it comes to her family. She once told me : "Why not speak it if you do it gently and fair, then you never have to deal with drama, regret, gossip, resentment, pity and people know exactly where you stand". I think this is probably one of the most admirable gifts she has. That she can say NO to anyone at anytime and not worry about what they think of her, no guilt and yet she does it in a way that isn't mean to the other person or disrespectful. She respects others at all times, even if they disagree with her. Cool right? Yet the girl has class.

9.) Can easily admit on the days when she does feel insane with 4 boys, husband, 2 dogs and a diabetic cat.

10.) She and both our husbands went to college together in NY, so its pretty cool how it worked out- 2 sisters marrying 2 best friends ( I met my husband when he was 18 when I visited her at college but it DIDN'T click, then we met again at their wedding and the rest is history).

11.) We have the same old age dream-Once we all retire, we are going to live next to each other in NC, and be "The Biddies" on the front porch on the beach, drinking our cappuccino's, while the guys are out fishing and we want to recruit all our boys to be in the same town with their families, as well as my other siblings! One can dream right about our old age right?

Okay- here she is trying to train me from her boot camp when I was visiting her at Xmas. I used to be the one who would train her, so this was a CRAZY shift in roles! As you can see I am not putting much effort into it..hey I was on vacation!
My sister and her husband, true scientists (at a science museum for the kids) and they just couldn't help themselves.

Finally Relaxed

Wow what a difference a week will make! I feel like I can breath and had some GREAT family time with Cousin Donny in town, Aunt Dianna and Rich! We got to go visit them at Grandpas and then they came up for a visit last night! Is this really my little boy? I can't believe how big he is, sitting here eating a piece of Hersey's Chocolate he snuck!!! Sneaky little guy!

Other great reasons for my new charge of energy:

• Finished taxes and got all my paperwork upstairs in my office CLEANED up and filed! No piles of paperwork, no piles of paperwork, and no piles of paperwork! First time since boys were born!


• PUMPED the boys got into one of the best schools of our area.


• Cleaned house top/bottom, took almost a week, because we were supposed to have my best friend Kim in from Colorado with her two kids today, but unfortunately the trip got canceled at the last minute Monday. So sad about that part!!! However, on the only up side is I have a clean fresh smelling house.


• It was our 8 year anniversary yesterday and we went out and celebrated last night! It was so fun to get out and just have some great laughs.


• Had a garage sale which I ALWAYS LOVE and this time made some killer cash, best one yet! Ken made fun of me that morning because I straightened my hair, put on make up and he said "for a garage sale really?" I was like: "Hell yeah, this is serious sales today, I need to be on my A game and look the part"! What sales professional doesn't look good when they are selling!


• Boys and I have had a great week, especially with the time change, they are not getting out of bed until 7:45-8:00! Fabulous!! And for some reason for over a week now they have been taking 3 hour naps! Again...Fabulous. It just gives me more energy to go all the fun things with them without being burnt out! Loving it!


• Boys learned how to ride training bikes with training wheels at Grandpas Sunday!


• Decided no huge Birthday party this year because when we tallied friends/family this week- we were up to about 60 people - 30 family- 30 friends, boys have so many friends because alot of them are twins so it adds up fast. So now we are just doing a family party on Easter night since Easter is at our house this year...MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER!!

Here is story time last night that ended up in our loft (office)...the family came upstairs and got blankets, pillows, food and books to snuggle up with before bedtime.
Nicolas cuddling with Grandpa- they are both beat after NOT napping!
Grandpa rocked the weekend with getting the boys yet another cool gift, remote control boats. Even Daddy was excited, I think more than the boys.

Dad couldn't resist playing with the remote boats...next is the helicopters according to Grandpa and Daddy!We couldn't call it the complete Fabulous Hughes weekend without a little GOLF involved. Boys got a new set - thanks grandpa! Kens sister plays too so it made it even that more special for the boys! Although on pavement- still fun.

Grandma Paula even came out in the Sun, which means she was really having a good time!

Gotta love that hat!!

What Day Is It

(Christian at a birthday party this weekend, decided to create his own dance floor and bust some moves).

These kids have it made! I love seeing them so happy and wish to god I could be a kid like this, living in the actual moment, expressing exactly how I feel at any time. I need to break out into a dance right like Christian because right now in this actual moment, I FEEL LIKE A MISERABLE ZOMBIE and out of it!! I seriously do not know what day is it...Tuesday, Wed or Thursday? That is how brain dead I am right now, actually all week since Saturday. I told Ken last night, it feels like this week I am lost, meaning I can't focus and moody. Boys both have colds, we have been inside all week and the boys have been rotating in their levels of CRANKINESS. Plus 3 years ago my dad passed away this week when I was 7 months pregnant with the boys. The boys have been asking a lot of questions lately like "Who is your daddy", "Is he coming over to play". It breaks my freaking heart this time of the year not having my dad here to see things like Christian busting a dance move or how happy these kids are.

I haven't gotten much sleep the past few days between Ken snoring, the dog snoring and the kids restless in their sleep. Maybe my happy pills need adjusting or I just need to get back into our normal schedule. At least I have a smile on my face right now because Christian just woke up and started saying out loud "Hey Nicolas, wake up, you like Bubble Guppies"? What the hell are bubble guppies?? Glad they are waking up happy ~ makes for a happy mommy!!

Here are a few snapshots of the boys from the "T-Rex"theme birthday party they went to. I will put more up soon!