historically cute day

September 19th seems to be filled with cuteness! The pictures get bigger if you click on them.

2006 - exploring pumpkins in their jammies

2007 - if dogs can play poker, jungle animals can do puzzles

2008 - dancing at the Bluegrass Festival

2009 - playing together in the sandbox.  Look how cute those sandy toes are!

2010 - at the favorite play place's birthday celebration

There will be some pressure to capture something adorable today!

dragons and rainbows

We attended the first kindergarten classmate's birthday party today.  Oh, we're on the Birthday Circuit.  We did not do any parties when they were in the 2 yr old class or 3 yr old class. I declined every invite.  But, during their last year of pre-school, we went to every party and now in kindergarten, they are much too aware to think of declining invites. 

Today, Chloe was turning 6.  Her party was at a local drop-in childcare facility. There was a clown there who did magic, had a parachute to play with, did a couple neat cooking tricks and she was the coolest face painter.  The kids got to pick from several designs.  Gretchen and her best friend (the very same little girl she sat next to on the first day of school.  The one who said to me, "My mommy is sad because now I am in kindergarten."  She and Gretchen have been best friends since that very day!  Today, she mom asked us if Gretchen talks about Rebecca as much as Rebecca talks about Gretchen.  Yup, she does!!)  both wanted glitter rainbows and Carl said he didn't want anything on his face.  Well, then he saw one other little boy got a dragon on his forearm and Carl was ready!  They handed out numbers so the kids didn't have to stand in line, but honestly, this clown was fast.  The kids were so excited, too!

Here they are showing off their cool paintings! 

my mother's luck

We had some shopping to do today for a birthday party tomorrow.  I tried to find the CD we like to give yesterday, but Best Buy didn't have any.  So, today, we hoped to find it at Barnes & Noble and then head over to another bookstore to pick up a Webkinz to go with it.  Well, B&N had the CD and we even found a stuffed animal that Gretchen loved to give to her friend tomorrow.  Cool.  We were done with the real shopping.  Now, just check the shoe store for black boots for her Halloween costume and go to lunch.

We had to pass the fancy toy store on our way to the shoe store.  We were shopping at an outdoor shopping center with lots of streets and shops with apartments above them.  It's a fun place to go and walk around.  So, we were heading to the shoe store while the Boys were going to check out World Market for cool stuff.  Well, the fancy toy store was having a birthday party and we got sidetracked.

They had a table with games to play.  We tried to win Spot It (well, he was going to give us the other version since we own Spot It) but we weren't fast enough.  They had fancy schmancy cupcakes.  They had goodie bags with some cool little toys in them.  Gretchen & I were having a good ol' time.  Then Lew texted us, "Where are you?  We're sitting outside B&N waiting."  I told them to head over thinking Carl would like a goodie bag at least. 

It was about 10 minutes to 1 at that point.  I filled out a raffle ticket and dropped it in the bowl.  They had a table with some cool prizes on it and said they would draw a name every hour.  We didn't hear who won the 1:00 drawing because we stepped outside for like 34 seconds and they must have drawn the name.  If they drew your ticket, you got to pick from the table so you had to be there.  Now, it's 1:01 and we decided we were done and we'd go to Chick-fil-A for lunch.  Baby Cow had actually been at the birthday party along with a big Elmo walking around.  Gretchen cried when we left because she didn't win the doll on the table.  I explained that you aren't going to win every time and that they only pick 1 ticket out of that whole bucket of names.  I told her that we needed Grammie here to fill out a raffle ticket.  "Does she win a lot?" she asked.  Both Lew & I both answered quickly, "YES!"   For some reason, my mother is a raffle winning fool.  Now, maybe she enters more raffles than you do.  But still, she has a pretty high success rate.

We ended up finishing lunch at about 1:40.  So, we decided to try to zip back over to the toy store for the 2:00 drawing.  The lady said they were going to draw a few names for that one because there were so many prizes to be given out.  I just wanted to take one more try.  Something told me to go back.  Plus, we were still in the shopping center area, so I knew Lew would be willing to take us back.  So, the kids played for about 5 minutes on the play yard thing, but the other group of kids in there - the ones with no parents in sight - were pushing and screaming loudly.  It was easy to get my kids to leave. 

I jumped out of the car at the toy store door and Lew went to find a parking spot.  About 5 minutes later, they pulled 2 names and disappeared with the tickets.  All I heard the one lady say was, "I think I know that person."  So, I stood there waiting to hear who they drew and still nothing.  A few minutes later, I heard the guitar playing entertainment in the very back of the store stop and they announced a name.  I started to move back there and that's when I heard, "And we also have Jill B----."  I yelled "I'm here!" as I moved to the back of the store.  So, now I got to pick anything I wanted off the table.  Well, I was 99% sure I wanted the baby doll Gretchen saw before, but there was also a Melissa & Doug wooden dollhouse with furnishings.  And a wooden train set from the TV show Chuggington.  (That had a $60 price tag on it.  I didn't see one on the doll house.)  I told the woman my husband was parking the car and asked if I could wait and let my daughter decide?  She said no problem.  I texted Lew "I won. Bring G."  So, yes... she loved that doll and wanted her!!!  (I noticed after she picked the doll for certain, it had a price tag on it too.  $89.99.  These were some serious prizes.)  The store lady took Gretchen's picture beaming and holding up her new doll.  We thanked everyone and headed home.

I am feeling a little sad about Carl not getting a brand new toy today, too.  He was OK with it until we got home and opened the doll. When he heard her cry, he wanted her!  Then, he looked at me sadly and said, "Can you win something for me?"  Breaking my heart.  But, you know, not everything in life is equal.  Being fair doesn't mean being equal.  There are times he gets treats that she doesn't.  Still, usually it doesn't involve big toys that could be holiday gift worthy, you know?  But, don't worry... there is a stuffed animal that talks that he has been asking me for for weeks. I'll be ordering that today.  So, in a week or two, there will be a day when Carl gets the cool new toy and Gretchen can be happy for him.

Besides, I told them, my name was on the winning ticket.  So, I think sharing the new crying (she stops when you feed her a bottle - and then makes smacky lip noises), cooing, laughing baby is going to be fine.  They agreed.  Sort of.

So, that is how we did our own impression of Grammie today.  Apparently, just talking about her lucky streak was enough to get us a little one of our own today! 

and, by the way... the doll had a name on the box which Gretchen kept for her:  Lila!

that boy loves him some cheeseburgers

Gretchen has been buying a few hot lunches at school.  She likes pizza day and corn dog day.  Or, the mini corndogs... aka Corn Puppies.  She especially likes it when she gets a dessert... one day it was a low fat brownie.  Another day, it was sherbet!  Not every day comes with a dessert choice, though.  Seems like they get a choice daily of a cooked veggie or a salad.  Both of my kids like lettuce, cukes, celery... so salad is an awesome choice.  "There was a tomato in that salad.  I just put it on the side."  That girl has some mad problem solving skillz, huh? 

Carl is fussier than Gretchen is.  So, today was the first day that might have a food he would like.  Cheeseburger day!!  Parents are welcome to come in and eat with their kids.  Last week, Lew & I joined the kids and brought McDonald's food.  We sat at one of the little separate tables near the big class table.  But, today, for Carl's first day buying hot lunch, I wanted to go in and sit with the class. 

The "veggie" today was tater tots.  Both kids politely declined.  There was no salad option.  Bummer.  Then they got a choice of fruit... a whole apple, a little container of juice or a cup of canned pears.  And they got their milk.  Carl told me he was hungry, so I bought myself an extra cheeseburger.  Not the whole lunch.  None of us wanted tater tots. 

I couldn't get around the kids to snap Carl's picture buying his first tray.  Or even in time to get Gretchen paying for her lunch either.  They were in too much of a hurry to get back and start eating. You can even tell he is smiling here as he runs off with his newly purchased tray of food.  His first hot lunch.  Yeah, Gretchen's isn't documented.  Everything in life isn't equal. 

He ate his burger.  And 2/3 of mine.  I'll be honest... I tried it and one bite was plenty for me, thanks.  But, he liked it!  And, Gretchen ate half of hers.  That's good for her.  She really wanted to eat more of her apple, but her top 2 front teeth are loose and she couldn't bite into it.  I ate that.  Carl loved the pears.  He even drank the juice in the cup after.  Unheard of for him.

She struggled with that apple.  She really wanted to eat more of it, but her top two front teeth are a little loose and it was hurting her to bite the apple. 

 mmmmm..... pears!!!

The teacher's aide told me that Carl eats everything I send him for his lunch.  She said he doesn't appear to be hungry after.  I'm sending just the right amount for him.  Cool.  We also talked again about how he won't eat the sweet treats kids bring in. I did tell her that he likes plain vanilla ice cream.  On Fridays, the kids are allowed to buy ice cream.  So, the aide told me she will make sure Carl buys the vanilla dixie cup.  Knowing him, he'd pick up something else and not eat it when he could have a treat he loves.  I'm glad I was able to tell them and I do believe they will follow through on watching out for him.

Boy, want an eye opening experience?  Go eat lunch with kindergartners.  They were actually very well behaved, but what you want to check out is the amount of junk food they bring.  I saw one little girl had pasta salad, a bag of potato chips and a bag of chocolate chip cookies.  (The latter 2 both being those pre-packed bags.  Much more expensive than buying a pack of cookies and bagging them yourself.  I wonder if her mom buys the pre-made jello that cracks me up so much.  Really... who has so much on their plate in life that they cannot find time to make jello?)

The little boy sitting next to Gretchen had quite a lunch.  I noticed he had a 2 pack of ding dongs while she was still eating her burger.  I didn't see what his main course was or how much of it he consumed.  Then - today was a birthday for one boy classmate and they had cupcakes with huge tops of frosting.  So, basically, that little boy had cake for lunch. 

Carl won't eat cupcakes, but his awesome Mom had a pack of his very favorite fruit snacks tucked in her pocket so while Gretchen savored a cupcake, Carl got a treat, too.   We had fun eating and talking about their morning.  Then, I did snap a couple shots of them throwing away their trays.

 
Then, they headed back to their classroom for naptime.  Ha Ha Ha!!  Cupcakes with 4" of frosting on top right before nap!!!!  Ahhh!!!!  Friday afternoons!!!!!

school fundraiser night

Tonight was a school night at the local water park - which has other things to do besides the water park.  The water park was not included in this event.

But, the kids could choose 2 activities from Laser Tag, Rock Climbing Wall (I think they were too young for this choice), Go Carts (had to be 12 to drive), Mini Golf or Climber Room (for ages 8 and under).  This is the same place they had their 5th birthday party.  So, Gretchen wanted to wear her 5 shirt.  Once Carl saw she had hers on, he wanted to change, too.  "In case I want to make a fifty-five with Gretchen."  Numbers.  It's a Carl thing.

We picked Mini Golf first and then played for an hour in the climber room.  They had never played miniature golf before.  Carl picked a yellow ball and Gretchen a pink one.  Of course. 

Lew helped them with their clubs and with how to swing.  A couple times I think he felt they were playing for a green jacket, but he did lighten up a bit and they had fun moving the ball and reswinging and swinging backwards and pushing it in the hole etc.

Carl yelled, "I won!" every time he got the ball into the hole. 

Gretchen did get a hole in one!! 

It was fun, and the elementary school got $5 out of each $10 admission.  This school doesn't sell cookie dough or wrapping paper or entertainment books.  Thankfully!!

Now, I have noticed that since the photos I post in my entries have become clickable, the quality of them when they are within the text here is poor.  But, once you click on them, they get bigger and much crisper.  I hate it when my photos don't look good.  So, if something looks a bit "soft" (or fuzzy) to you, click on it and see it as I intended it to post.  Thanks!

I ♥ NY

Today, the kids wore their I♥NY shirts that Sheila and Bob gave us before we moved from NY back in 2007.  Funny, back then they looked so huge to me.  I never pictured them fitting, much less being too small.  I wasn't looking that far ahead.  Even now, I am not looking 4 or 5 years ahead really.  I sort of am because I wonder where we'll live, but I am not making mental images of the kids and of us.

We talked about 9-11.  We talked about showing our support and respect for the people who lived in NY, PA & VA who were scared, hurt and even killed by terrorists, or very bad people.  I did not go into detail about PA or VA, but I told them that terrorists flew airplanes into very tall buildings in New York City and the buildings fell.  People got hurt and some even died, but an important part was how the police and fire fighters came to help.  They can to save people and bring hope.  They were heroes.

And, today, is the 10 year anniversary of the date that many families lost loved ones, and also, many families saw their loved ones become heroes as they saved people and helped try to make some sense out of the fear and sadness.

The twins do not remember.  They weren't born. 

But, we will never forget. 

Today, we honor those everyday people who became heroes.  We remember those who lost their lives and their loved ones.  We will never forget.

Here they are today.  Tomorrow, they will wear their new I♥NY shirts to school.  I wonder if Gretchen will tell her teacher all about 9-11.  Or even that they were born in NY.

Here is a look back at some September 11th photos.

Sept 11, 2006.  stars and stripes!

 Sept 11, 2009

 Sept 11, 2010

other random I♥NY shirt sightings... Feb 2007.

 November 2007

summer 2010 my mom and her grandchildren

 also summer 2010... this photo still makes me laugh every time I see it



"Now I can sleep in Gretchen's room again!"

His feet were hanging out of the yellow buggy car bed.  That's when we decided to move forward with putting up the set of bunk beds we bought months ago.

I told you that I listed the toddler beds on craigslist.  Well, I have buyers for both.  One is coming tomorrow to get the blue one.  The yellow one we're holding until the 20th when the lady gets paid.  Both came off craigslist and I was able to resell them for what I was hoping to get for each.  Cool.

Gretchen is a little sad.  At dinner, she said she hopes the new kids who buy our beds love them as much as we did.

In the process of switching.  I know it's a busy photo... and I know you are trying to figure out the craziness...

1. new bed mattresses
2. bunk bed frames
3. blue race car bed
4. yellow buggy car bed
5. crib/toddler car mattresses
6. the 4 houses we have owned before this one... each with a photo in all 4 seasons
7. pre-school artwork still hanging on the front door
8. table with Gretchen's princess oven and other kid toys
9. some of Lew's 9 gazillion books
10. library book bag and a camera bag
11. 2 boxes of Lew's stuff we haven't unpacked yet

Lew put the new beds together this afternoon.  We haven't stacked them yet because there was 1 bolt missing... one of the 2 that will hold in the railing for the top bunk.  But, the kids didn't care... they were just excited to have new beds!!  Carl loves it... "Now I can sleep in Gretchen's room again!"  He's been sleeping in the guest bed in what we call Grammie's room.  We name our guest room after the first person to visit us and sleep there.  One house, it was Rick's room since my college friend was our first overnight house guest. 

When they were born, I hoped to keep them in the same bedroom until probably kindergarten.  Well, seeing as we bought bunk beds and they like being in the same room, I don't see splitting them any time soon.  They like having someone in the room and I don't mind one waking the other in the morning.  It keeps them on the same schedule.

First bed ready!

 It tests out well.  She approves!

Second bed done.  That will be the top bunk when we put them together - we'll put the other rail on, of course.  I told you - there is a bolt missing.  Lowe's didn't have the right size when we stopped tonight.

Do you like the Lands End flannel sheets?  Nice and soft.  If you know me, I am a LE sheets lover.  But, I'm cheap, too.  So, these were on the sale sheet.  I only paid about like $16 for each set.  The color is Chili Pepper.  Hey, they kids like them.. and they go nicely with at least the Cars part of the bedroom theme. 

Look at how much room they have below their feet!  Carl is 48" and Gretchen is 45".  Yesterday, someone told me, "Wow, they are tall for twins."  I guess she was assuming twins should be only 1/2 the size of normal kids since they seach only got 1/2 a womb.   ????   Anyway, no feet hanging out of these beds!!

 Ready for bed!

Getting tucked in!  That Cars poster is a big vinyl wall cling.  You can see some princess ones, too.  We are going to move the small princess ones definitely, but I don't want to have to move the Cars one.  It is actually 2 pieces and it was hard to get lined up in the first place.   Oh - and the search for comforters is going on.  Apparently, they don't make many cotton comforters... or at least ones with Cars or princesses on them.  Do you know how hard I am fighting the urge to take up quilting and make them quilts?  The last thing I need right now is another crafting obsession.   I have friends who make quits.  They all tell me how easy it is - and their quilts are stunning!!!  And, they are all pretty much beginners.  I do not have the time, space or money for quilting.  I do not have the time, space or money for quilting. 

Only a couple animals tonight - Clifford and Huggy Bear along with her yellow blankie.  I predict she will have 200 animals with her tomorrow night.

Huggy Bear and T-Bone.  Mickey Mouse joined him after this picture, too. 

And this is how we left them to fall asleep. 

Good night every bunny, big and small. 

Sweet bunny dreams to one and all. 

Good Night.  Good Night.  Sleep Tight.