Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Influences

I went for a much needed haircut today. I sat in the chair flipping through gossip magazines trying to figure out what is in style.

I am out of touch. To add insult to injury, my birthday is approaching and I feel in need of a little sprucing up. Something to counteract the aging.

The stylist (that is what they are called now-a-days) was selling the bob. She was doing a good job convincing me. She even paraded a few people past me to demonstrate how it would look.

It was close, but I decided against it. Not because I was afraid. Not because I particularly love long hair.

Why not go for the bob? Because I love when Ella and Drew watch me put my hair up and say, "I love ponytail mommy."

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Off Again

Back to my parent's house today. The kids are as excited as I am.

We are planning to hit the local fair to see animals and ride some rides. Im also hoping to knock that swan boats ride off of our summer to do list.

Visits with Nana(s), floats in the pool, rides in the jeep, snuggling with Caca on his chair, reading with Nonnie...what else could we want?



Instead of this type of family portrait, I may use the weekend to work on something like this... Very cool.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Cousins!!


Although we live close, we don't see them all that much...so when we do we pack in as much fun as possible!!
I love the little conversations around the picnic table. So cute to watch them grow up together :)

Friday, August 21, 2009

Twosome


Sometimes we forget they are twins. We are asked less frequently as they get older, especially since Drew is getting a little taller a little faster. I guess you can say the novelty has worn off a little.

Other times I look at them in amazement. That they were in "there" together. That they have spent everyday of their entire lives together. They share a room, they share toys, they share friends. How special is that?

The books tell me that as they get older it becomes more important for us to help them focus on themselves, as individuals, not twins. To encourage them to become their own little people, to not always be identified as twins. I can see the point, but isn't it a little sad? Being twins is special and positive and unique. I guess a balance is best.

I can't wait to see how they do in school. Im keeping them together, of course - they don't need to be totally traumatized by school! I figured being separated from me for the first time is enough without separating them. Most people assume that quieter Drew will rely on Ms. Social Ella to help him adjust to school. Im sure she will. But I also know that as Ella braves uncharted territory, she always looks back for Drew.

They support each other. Sometimes Drew in the lead, sometimes Ella, sometimes side by side.

It's awesome.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Sand Man


Tyler loves the beach, and the pool, and well he loves to have fun. He is brave and adventurous and will follow his big kids anywhere.

Today he was under the water in the pool for far longer than any baby should. I was being careless and was too far away from him and the pool. He is ok and was trying to jump back in the pool 10 min later.

Im still shaking.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Chair and a Half


I think this chair is living up to its name, and then some.

Ditto for the Grandpa, aka Papa, aka Caca.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

10 Minutes

There are lots of things that can be done in ten minutes.

This is what Tyler can do...


Unfortunately, I didn't have 10 more minutes to take pictures of the toilet paper, toilet seat, floor, tables and chairs that were also covered in black magic marker. Thank goodness they were washable!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Check!

Finally made it to the beach while visiting my parents. It was a picture perfect weekend and an awesome day at the beach. The kids loved jumping the waves, finding crabs, and running with Caca.



Just awesome.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Heading Home

After a summer of canceled trips and a week of various illnesses, we are finally heading home.

Feels good.

I found a photo card for my camera that I didn't know I had...on it were these long lost pictures of Ella and Drew on the train to Massachusetts. It was their first and only trip on the train, but it was fun - in the way that all things are when you look back on them a few years later :)


Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Crunch Time


NJ Hot Air Balloon Festival 2009 with neighbor Matt

Summer has only a few more weeks to go...time to check in on the ol' Summer to do List.

Here is what we have left...

1. Swim in the ocean (I can't believe we haven't done this yet!)
2. Make a big sandcastle without the kids knocking it down before it is done
3. check
4. Visit the pick your own farm each time a new crop is pick-able - I think we missed blueberries
5. Fly a kite
6. Have a lemonade stand
7. check
8. Go to an outdoor concert
9. check
10. Collect sea shells
11. check
12. Tie Dye
13. Make Stepping Stones
14. Ride the swan boats in Boston

We better get going!!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Cheap Thrills


Can you just hear him saying "Cheeeeese!"

My three wee ones can be quite difficult at times, mostly just for the sheer fact that there are three of them. But at other times, they are so easy to please it is comical.

Some of their cheap thrills:

* Riding in Shopping Carts, especially the car ones at Stop & Shop and the large 3 seaters at Target

* Fruit, any kind, any time - donuts - juice boxes - and these strange organic fruit bar things

* Glue (for art projects, not sniffing)

* Movies, although they only watch 101 Dalmations and Fox & the Hound

* Spray Bottles filled with water

How fun is it to be a kid?!

Monday, August 10, 2009

End of an Era


It happens all the time as a parent. You are faced with shaking up one of your tried and true methods or routines, and it is scary.

"If I change the car seat and no longer use the carrier, HOW will I get the baby to the car?!"

"If I stop the last nursing or take away the last bottle, will the baby go to sleep?"

Yes, once you have moved on and look back at your trepidation, you feel a bit ridiculous. But at the time, you may tend to obsess. It is one of those annoying things about yourself that you didn't realize you were even capable of until you became a mother. Correction, "That" mother. The one you never thought you would become.

So, Ella and Drew are no longer napping. I was petrified of this day. It has been obvious for a while that they don't need an afternoon siesta - Ella especially. It would take them an hour or so to fall asleep and then that night they would be up until all hours talking, playing, yelling down for Daddy. I knew they were ready.

But I wasn't. I love my afternoon of peace and quiet. Two to three hours (I know, gluttonous) of uninterrupted thinking, house work (who am I kidding), tea drinking and reading (that's more like it). Would I be able to make it through the afternoon without my head exploding? Honestly, I was doubtful.

Here we are a week into it, and I must report, I love it! We have been doing art projects, reading together, talking, and miracle of all miracles they play with each other and alone so nicely. Once Tyler the Trouble Maker is snoozing in his crib, the whole house seems to exhale.

Glorious. A welcome change.

Friday, August 7, 2009

5 Years Ago


What a beautiful day.

What a beautiful life.

I am so lucky.

Pesky Shadow

We couldn't figure out why Drew's little shadow was pushing him while he was trying to use the bathroom.

Finally he worked his way to the other side of the potty, yanked up his t-shirt and held his belly button.

Drew just looked at him and said, "No Tyler, pee pee doesn't come out of your belly button! Find your beche!"

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Im in Control


My name is Lauren and Im a control freak.

There I said it. I admit it. I apologize for it. Well, maybe.

How can I apologize when Im always right? When I always know the best way to do things? When I know my children better than anyone in the world?

There is no hope.

Last weekend I valiantly sent the children upstairs to have Daddy help them get dressed. I told them they could wear whatever they wanted - "Have fun!" I belted as they scampered upstairs. Mike has chosen their clothes only a handful of times in the 3.5 years since they were born. I felt proud, loose...letting go of the reins was easy!

Minutes later, I walked past the bedroom door and made a few tweaks to the outfits he had laid out.

Ok, maybe a little harder than I thought.

The thing is I know I need to change. I want Ella, Drew and Tyler to be confident - they need that little voice inside that tells them they can do anything. That voice comes from hundreds of experiences of accomplishment. If I don't loosen up, all they'll hear is their crazy mother correcting them.

Geesh, when did I turn into that?!

Im working on it. Im trying every day. No coincidence that they will be starting preschool in a few weeks - hours without me? Another adult in charge of my kids?

I know they will be fine. It's me Im worried about, wish me luck!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Blink


and three years will pass you by...

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

NYC

We headed into the city one day to browse the Union Square Farmers Market. A surprise visit from Daddy was better than hundreds of blueberries!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Quintessential


Nana Vera's house is the kind of house that you need to fish in. There are so many drawers just begging to be opened. Candy, pictures, thimbles, or magnifying glasses are treasures just waiting to be found. As a kid, ah who am I kidding, even now they call to me. I can't resist.

You can see how I was so tickled to catch Drew fishing in Nana's drawers on our last visit.

Hers is also the kind of house where at any moment she may start washing the windows, or dry mop the floor. If you look close you can see her mopping the bathroom floor in the background.

Oh yeah, she's 92.

I love this picture, I love that house, I love that woman.