Ten on Tuesday

{1}

Are you ready for some football?!

Our Seahawk fan babies are 4 months old today!

 Pardon the binky but our normally smiley Jack was not cooperative this afternoon.

 

{2}

Note to self:

Next time you lift up your little 'bird of an eater' Cohen in prayer asking God to help him eat better and gain more weight, perhaps consider specifying that it would be preferable for Cohen's sudden growth spurt and hunger fest not to hit at 1:30 a.m.

Justin's comment after a very rough night: "I thought Cohen's cheeks looked a little chubbier this morning."

I'm so very tired, Lord, but I'll take it. Thank you.

{3}

 A typical 20 second snippet of a day in the life of Kendry:

"When I grow up I'm going to be a diver."

"You can be a diver too, Mom."

"Have you ever seen a talking fish?"

"When am I going to grow up?"

"Mom, while I'm resting can you pick up all my toys for me?"

Some day I will miss his nonstop chatter.

And no, I did not pick up his toys for him.

  

 

{4}

We had a short learning session about the letter "H" this week when Kendry asked me to construct a helicopter out of pipe cleaners.

I've got some mad pipe cleaner crafting skills, don't you think?

ME: "This is a capital 'H' and this is a little 'h'. What sound does 'H' make?"

KENDRY: "Huh, huh."  (making the 'H' sound)

ME: "Good. And we're making a 'huh'-helicopter. What letter does 'helicopter' start with?"

KENDRY: "Thpba thpba thpba thpba thpba."  (making a helicopter sound)

Yes, some day I will miss this terribly.

{5}

 Remember that song from the 90's with all the advice about life?

"...and trust me on the sunscreen."

Its a shame that I didn't.

Remember, that is.

To the Lewiston Roundup Board: we fair-skinned parade spectators sure would appreciate it if you would move the parade back to 10am again next year. The afternoon is just too darn hot.

{6}

When all else fails on a rainy day and everyone is feeling cooped up crazy, let your kiddo take a midday shower. Kendry often struggles with playing by himself for more than five minutes, but throw him in the bath or shower and you're good for at least thirty.

Desperate times require creative mommies.

{7}

 Status update on the addition coming your way tomorrow!

{8}

 It may be hitting 90 degrees this week but I still arranged my driveway barrel with some touches of fall yesterday.

Bring on autumn!

{9}

Its almost premiere week!

Is anyone else giddy over the return of Parenthood? I was so worried they were going to nix it.

{10}

This Week's Blessing:

Blue Bloods Season 3 marathon with my beloved.

Later, gaters!

SAHM I Am

The seasons are changing. Can you feel it?

September is upon us and the mornings now hold a slight chill in the air. The pumpkins in our garden are beautifully round and transitioning from green to bright orange. The hubs is spending noticably more time on the computer tending to his Fantasy Football teams...

This week I saw numerous friends post pictures of their kiddos' first day of school and I realized that no matter what month of the year your child celebrates their birthday, September seems to commemorate a child's age in its own way.  

Mary. 6 years old. First Day of 1st Grade ~ 2013.

While Kendry is only four and has yet to begin school, I see changes in him as well. Reminders that our little man is growing up so fast. Next September may find him commemorated. Kendry. 5 years old. First Day of Kindergarten - 2014. (We're still undecided if he will start him at 5 or 6.)  If we based it on his vocabulary he would already be enrolled. With words like "convenient" and "notice" escaping his lips we may gift him with a dictionary for Christmas.

The twins are transitioning into a new stage as well and are becoming more interactive. They are smiling like crazy and discovering their voices. Jack's first tooth has been spotted just below the surface, and just this week, two weeks shy of four months of age, the boys finally did their Momma a favor and dropped a night feeding. Just don't hold me (or them) to this "change" - we all know it may not stick.

I love this time of year, where the stifling heat tapers off and you find yourself in need of a sweatshirt after sunset. Where the casual "Who needs a schedule?" attitude of summer makes way for the return to regular bedtimes and weekly extra-curricular activities.

I love having a schedule. There, I said it. Judge me if you will.

The last four months have been a "fly by the seat of your pants" stage of my life and I am ready for some structure and predictability - or at least as much as can be expected with a preschooler and four month old twins.

Which brings me to a big change in this season of our lives: I will only be returning to my work part time. I have been given the opportunity to be home with my boys Saturday through Wednesday and will work in the office Thursday and Friday. I finally get to test my skills as a stay at home mom, but I also get to keep my foot in the door as paralegal. I couldn't be more elated.

To be honest, I have missed my job. I have a wonderful employer and great colleagues, and I love what I do. But I also know that our boys won't be little for long. My heart does a little skip each time I consider all the things we can do and the memories we can make as a result of me being home more.

More time for weekday morning trips to the skate park (while all the big boy skaters/bikers are in school).

More time for impromptu afternoon walks to the library and imagination sessions in the sandbox.

More time for silly photo shoots.

 

More time cuddling with our little monkeys.

And perhaps more time for blogging? We'll see.

I am so blessed to have this opportunity, so blessed to have an understanding employer, and so so so blessed to have a supportive and hardworking husband.

My prayer is that God will help me live each day intentionally during this season of our lives, however short or long it may be, and that I will be the wife, mother and daughter of Christ He has created me to be.

Wishing you a blessed change of season!

Ten on Tuesday

{1}

Some day I will return to my regularly scheduled programming with our blog.

And some day our twins will sleep through the night.

Some day.

{2}

In case you missed my brag on Facebook, Kendry learned to ride his bike without training wheels this last week.

A few days later we found him a bigger bike for just $5 at Goodwill (Thank you, GG!). Overnight the kiddo went from tentative rider on too small a bike to hell on wheels. I went walking with him tonight and ended up running most of the time.

On the plus side, my previously slow walks with a short-legged four year old have now been amped up to produce some serious cardio benefits. Yeah, baby!

{3}

Who says kiddie pools are only for kids?

{4}

Per my Martha Stewart Living magazine, August 8th was "Sneak some zucchini onto your neighbor's porch" Day.

To all my local zucchini growing friends, I was seriously disappointed to find my porch empty.

Rest assured, you can attempt to redeem yourselves next year and maybe, just maybe, I'll share some of my awesome Chocolate Zucchini Bread with you in return.

{5}

Confession:

I have never actually played Angry Birds.

{6}

Four generations:

My grandmother (aka GG) is 86 and still going strong.

We miss you already, GG!

{7}

Recent dialogue about creation with Kendry

ME:  "God made the whole world and everything in it in 6 days."

KENDRY:  "Yeah, then He broke it."

{8}

We have an abundance of baby smiles around here.


Cohen smiles nonstop on his playmat.

Jack with my mom.

{9}

Yes, my babies are three months old now.

No, I haven't ordered photos from their newborn photo session yet.

(sigh)

 

We just keep taking it one day at a time. 

Now if you'll excuse me, its feeding time (again); then hopefully its a good three hour stretch of sleep before we begin tomorrow with a 2am feeding.

Goodnight, folks.

{10}

This Week's Blessing:

This beast parked in our driveway for the last two weeks and various house guests filling it up. 

My parents departed in it today, making the trek up the Al-Can Highway back home to Fairbanks.

Can you see my dad waving?

Drive safe, Mom and Dad!

Walk With Me

I have always loved this poem and first posted it on the blog two years ago.

My dishes went unwashed today,

I didn't make the bed,

I took his hand and followed

Where his eager footsteps led.

 

Oh yes, we went adventuring,

My little son and I...
Exploring all the great outdoors

Beneath the summer sky

 

We waded in a crystal stream,

We wandered through a wood...

My kitchen wasn't swept today

But life was gay and good.

We found a cool, sun-dappled glade

And now my small son knows

How Mother Bunny hides her nest,

Where jack-in-the-pulpit grows.

We watched a robin feed her young,

We climbed a sunlit hill...

Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky,

We plucked a daffodil.

 

That my house was neglected,

That I didn't brush the stairs,

In twenty years, no one on earth

Will know, or even care.

But that I've helped my little boy

To noble manhood grow,

In twenty years, the whole wide world

May look and see and know.

-unknown-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

I walk with the boys several days a week. Some days we can call it exercise; other days we stop and go so much I doubt my heart rate increases at all. Those are the walks with 6 stops to insert a pacifier, 1 stop to pull a weed in a neighbor's yard, 2 stops to wipe spit-up, 3 stops to pick up a rock and/or stick, 23 semi-stops to hop over cracks ("Don't step on a crack..."), and 1 stop for a good cry after Kendry runs head first into a mailbox.

{That poor kiddo's head sure gets its fair share of beatings.}


To heck with exercise; its the stop and go walks I will remember.

As will they.



Today's walk involved some skipping practice along the sidewalk and 1 stop to peer down the rain drain.

Rain drains are dirty.

I do not advise smashing your face against them for a better view.

Ten on Tuesday

{1}

We hope you had a great Independence Day!

Kendry and I made these windsocks for our front tree courtesy of Pinterest.


We traveled to Justin's parents' house for the long weekend. These cuzzies had a great time together, especially at firework time.
 

{2}

The sunflowers are well on their way.

I was a little worried we planted them too late.

Then I fretted again after my little gardening helper created two flood-like experiences for the poor seeds when he took it upon himself to water them.

Apparently they are resilient sunflowers; now let's hope they are pretty. I used seeds from last year's flowers so I have no idea which colors I'm going to get.



{3}

Speaking of watering, explain to me why it is that my husband can coil a 50 foot garden hose into a perfect, tidy little circle and every time I try it ends up looking like a four six-leafed clover - and it only stays in that shape because I stand atop to hold it in place.

Its me versus garden hose.

The hose wins every time.

{4}

Dear Honda:
If you can explain to me how my new Odyssey managed to lock itself up entirely WITH my kiddos inside that would be much appreciated. Fortunately, the van and the A/C were running, but next time I may not be so fortunate. My four year old son even pushed the interior open/close button on his door and it wouldn't open! Finally I had him roll down his window for me, at which point I could reach in and unlock his door. Thank goodness I didn't have the window locks activated.

Please be advised that I was in my own driveway at the time of this incident and even tried my husband's FOB (I think FOB is an acronym, isn't it? For what I don't know.), to no avail. However, as my husband so kindly pointed out afterwards, I did not use the old fashioned "insert key into door" method, so I cannot confirm if that would have worked. (Does anyone really use that method anymore?)

I remain perplexed.

Yours truly,
Momma G

{5}
I'm trying out a new call sign for myself - Momma G.

Think it will stick?

 I'm curious if I can pull it off like Momma B does.

{6}

The neighbors behind us acquired two hens, a rooster and a turkey this week. I do enjoy a good rooster crow with the morning sun.

This rooster crows every five minutes.

{7}

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!"

We're presently sanding the drywall in the addition.

Dust, dust everywhere!

{8}

All the crying babies in the house put your hands in the air and sing "Neeeiiiggghhh!"

{9}

If you laughed at that last picture you have involuntarily been entered into a drawing to attend the next Unhappy Hour hosted by the Gimlin Twins.

Unhappy Hour is NOT a laughing matter.

{10}

This Week's Blessing:

Momma B and GG booked their flights to come visit us the first week of August.

Woot woot!