did you ever have one of those days?

You know - one of those days when you go to the beach while a tropical storm is passing by the coast just to see the waves, watch the surfers and take some pictures. Well, once you get there, you just can't help but end up in the ocean???? Luckily, Mommy was prepared and had full changes of clothes in the car.

So, here are Carl & Gretchen, Daddy and Grandma and even TS Danny at Wrightsville Beach on Saturday August 29, 2009! The waves were 6 feet according to the people on the news. The next day, they were back down to 2-3 feet. This is about as exciting as Danny got for us. A week earlier, Bill gave us a touch of rain, but not much more than that.

Gretchen said this one looked better with no color!

what I did this summer

That is the theme for a slideshow presentation we are doing with my camera club for our opening meeting in September. Each member was asked to submit up to 3 photos from their summer travels and we'll have a slideshow with the members telling stories. Many of our members are retired, pro or semi-pro photographers who travel far and wide, coming back with amazing photos! Then there is me! (Hey, I am the newsletter chairperson - I am part of board meetings... not bad for a MWAC "mom with a camera", eh?)

Here are my 3 entries... you've seen them all before in other posts. Well, maybe not the wedding photo.

All The Grandkids. This was taken after Grammie's birthday party on June 15th.
First Dance. This is Steph and Josh dancing. OK, technically not the first dance, but it made a better title, don't you think? The only face you see is Josh's mother, I believe.
and finally - Good Old Backyard Fun. We don't have to go far to have fun around here, you know!

you have to read this... it's a riot!

I have a friend online whom I have known so well for years now. We are very much cut from the same cloth. So, it makes perfect sense that she got pregnant with twins right after we did. Gavin & Rachel are only 3 months younger than Carl & Gretchen. Gavin & Gretchen are very very similar and Rachel & Carl seem more suited to each other. And, the Gs were even born first!

You need to read this hilarious conversation she overheard the other day.



Stay tuned for photos of this morning's trip to the beach to see Danny (tropical storm passing us by)!

what I did on my summer vacation, by Carl

Today, Carl's speech therapist came to the house for his first session of the new 2009/10 school year. We haven't seen her since June 5th when pre-school ended last spring. He had pre-school summer session and his other therapist continued with him there, but no speech since early June.

He blew Tracy away today! I knew he would, but I was so happy he didn't let me down. He spoke to her in full sentences! He followed her directions quickly! He answered questions with appropriate answers! He read her Green Eggs and Ham and even had Huggy Bear read some of it in this really cute deep goofy voice! He gave proper responses to all kinds of things! And, the cutest part - he thanked her every single time she told him what a good job he was doing! I got a compliment, too... she said, "Oh, I see you took the whole summer off and did no work with him at all, huh?"

We are very excited to see how he progresses in his new classroom and also to update his goals! He pretty much reached all her goals for him already - and they were supposed to carry him until November when he turns 4!

I forced them

to go outside to play this morning. Am I the meanest mother on the planet or what???? I actually have to lock the door behind us when we go outside or they go back in!


I did get my reward, though. Gretchen ate a good lunch and both kids dropped off to sleep for nap in 12 minutes! That was worth a little whining and pouting, I guess.




Shh... don't tell anyone, but Carl did have a little fun out there!! PS - the shirt Carl is wearing was Kenny's!! Mom found a few things up to camp and just sent them to me!

getting ready for the new school year

Pre-school starts next Tuesday for the twins. We are continuing with our Carl 3 days/Gretchen 2 days schedule as they move up into the Three year Old Class. yes, they are close to four years old, but because of the cut-off for kindergarten, this is the grade they need to be in now. They have some classmates who will turn 4 before them and even one who hasn't yet turned 3! Big age span for one room.

Monday afternoon, Lew & I met with Carl's therapist, new teacher, old teacher and the director to do a little transition for Carl. Honestly, I was worried the new teacher might not dig deep enough into the quiet little boy to see all he can do, so I wanted his former teacher to be able to give the new teacher an idea of just how smart Carl really is. (No one needs to point out anything about Gretchen - she can manage that all by herself.) The meeting seemed to go well and we'll meet again in November to revise Carl's IEP for the upcoming year. By then, he'll be well settled into his new routine and running that classroom, I'm sure!

Today, we were invited to join the new class for Circle Time, snack and Free Play Time to help the twins better transition. This coming Friday they will have another opportunity, but that is the planned Open House and surely will be chaotic. If there is one thing I know well from my years of teaching in early childhood centers... it is that a three year old class is often chaotic. Give me 10 babies any day over 18 three year olds!!!! I recognized all the kids from their other class and they all know me fairly well, too. But, this room is quite different already. I remain very hopeful that this year will bring growth and challenges for both of the twins.

Tomorrow night is the Parent's Night meeting, Friday is Open House.... and then school starts next week! Where did the summer go????

Here's how handsome Carl looked this morning:

And here's Gretchen. When we got home, she wanted to paint. I had just explained to her that in her new class, they do not allow you to mix the paint colors (like she loves to do) so I told her that at home, she could still mix whatever paint she wanted. Then, I gave her 3 colors; white, red and blue. But, only 2 little brushes. I figured since she was going to mix anyway, she wouldn't care. Well, turns out, her 3 yr old logic told her that since I did not give her 3 brushes for 3 paints, I obviously wanted her to use her hands for the third color. Then, that just turned into a lot of hand painting... and this is how she ended up....

swimming Saturday

Yesterday was the last day of the season for our city pools. (For one more week, at this pool, they are allowing dogs to swim! No humans allowed, but pooches can paddle around for one week before they drain the pool. Neat, eh?) As you will see, Carl is a flying fish! Gretchen is not quite as daring, but she still loves being in the water and likes to swim independently.

Look closely at the last shot... he just dove in! I also brought an underwater disposable camera, btu haven't gotten those shots back yet. Hope they came out fun!

all before noon