somedays..

It just doesn't get any better. I am tired, exhausted and I want to curl up in a ball and sob. We had a really really rough day here. Hopefully tomorrow is better. It will be busy but better. -M

a rough night.

Both babies were bathed and in bed by 8:30. We were in bed by 9:20... Then at 11:54 pm Ryan finished his last bottle of formula. We had planned to substitute Zachary's Soy formula to try to ween him from the Alimentum. Apparently the middle of the night is not the best time for this. He refused to take it and would gag.. At 12:05 am the hubby left for Rite Aid which did not have any, then Walmart which is obviously NOT a 24 hour, then to Walgreens, none there either and finally to Piggy Wiggly where he scored the goods.. And that's how our night started.. I was up with Zachary twice at 2:49 and 4:00. Then the hubby was up with him once too. At 5:30 am Ryan was wide awake and ready for the day... I may skip brewing the coffee and just consume the grounds.

and i forgot.

The hubby also mowed the grass, fixed the sliding door that came off track, sewed a button on for me and vacuumed the entire living room and hallway. He rocked today!

productivity.

I got to sleep in this morning. Nice. I woke up to the hubby making sausage, tots and liquid chicken with the dish washer already running. Nice. I watched Waitress, put Zachary down for a nap and took one myself for an hour and a half. Nice. I woke up, took a shower, gathered the family and we made our way to Starbucks for some mocha frapps. Nice. Then we went to the park... 5 minutes later it started to rain cats and dogs. Not Nice. We floated our way home... Then everyone pitched in and we cleaned the house. Nice. Rain stopped. We went back outside and the kids chalked and blew bubbles. I took the photos. Hubby did outdoor work and is about to start some supper. Nice.

the weigh in.

Zachary:
16 pounds 1 ounce
25.5 inches long
17.13 inches head circumference

Ryan:
16 pounds
26.75 inches long
16.93 inches head circumference

And round one goes to.... Zachary as the heavier twin.
And round two goes to.... Ryan as the longer twin.

And the vaccinations went well also. They each received 3 shots. Zachary forgot to cry one the first shot, but managed to scream for the second two. Ryan cried a little on all three, but was calmed down by the time the next shot was ready to be administered. Ryan drank a bottle and slept for almost 2 hours. Zachary only slept about an hour.

Two and a half hours later we are home and all is back to normal minus the 3 band-aids. And Mom Exhaustion has set in and my feet hurt. I should really wear better shoes.

he makes it all better..

Jason: "Mom I am just going to be a dad when I grow up."

go away, friday..

So this morning is a little melancholy, not sure why. I didn't feel well last night when I went to bed. I even hurled pizza. It's most likely the impending doom lurking above my head... The twins 6 month check up is today which means another set of vaccines. Three each to be exact. Six ritualistic stabbings total. Four legs. Two screaming babies. One sad momma. Hello, Anxiety. How do you do? I am here. Today, Please Go Away.

green babies.

comes within.

way to go, thursday!

Today is odd. It started out good then annoyed me, now it is just blahhhhh.

I had to get gas. It was on E where you are praying to make it to the station. Thanks, Hubby. There are 2 stations next to one another. One is $3.89 and the other is $3.99 (No Jeff, Neither were Shell Stations, Sorry!) I opt for the $3.99 price because I am familiar with their pumps. And because I only put $40 in, I only spent a $1.00 more. But as I start to pump, I am annoyed there is no catch to keep the pump on, so I had to hold it.....Fueling. Fueling. Done. So I get back in the van and a large black wasp has flown in the window.. I am freaking. How could I drive knowing there is a wasp that could sting my kids? Maybe they are allergic and could go into shock? Maybe I should drive straight to the hospital instead... OMG, It was starting to head to the back then I would never be able to get it out.. So I quick turn the van on and roll the other window down and it flies out. SAFE! My heart is still pounding like crazy.. Put vehicle in drive, start to pull forward, look back in mirror, see gas cap is off, wonder where my head is? Throw it back into park, jump out, screw cap on, jump back in and we are off..

Fast forward to the dentist office for Joryn's 6 month check up.. 100% perfect teeth. No cavity's. Way to go, Girlie!

Time for a sweet treat. Nice, right after the dentist.. shame, shame. Over to Dunkin' Donuts where 2 milks, 2 chocolate donuts (1 with sprinkles) and a flat bread turkey for me costs a whopping $9.54.. Ouch! Next time it will be .50 cent donuts from Walmart.

Then it is over to Fort Jackson to get a new ID card for Jordyn. I called the hubby to come help me so I could stay in the van with the sleeping babies and he can run in. Phone Rings: Hubby is 7th in line, but reassures me it will take 15 minutes (which is already 10 more than I wanted to wait) so I wait, and wait.. and wait.. and WAIT for 48 minutes! Yeah, by then the kids were wide awake (and had been for most of the time) and SCREAMING.. Did I leave the Excedrin at home? Damn.

So anyway we are home. Now we are chilling. The mail came, Thanks for the bottle lids, Kim. You rock. I also got FREE address return labels which always excites me. Onward, Thursday!

"are they BOTH twins?"

Okay, this is how we roll. In a fancy stroller, side by side. Two babies, the same size and age. And this is what we get asked and the first witty thoughts that come to mind. Seriously. These questions get asked all the time, everywhere we go.

"Are they BOTH twins?" - Are you an idiot?

"Are they twins?" -No, we bought one to match the other. No, we are just trying to decide which one to keep.

"Is that one about a month older?" -Is that physically possible? (Yes, I know with twins it can happen, but this fella meant as if they were not twins.)

"Which one is meanest?" -Are you kidding me? They are 6 months old.

"A boy and a girl?" -Adur.

"Are the natural?" -Nope. We think one is part alien. (This is a response to people asking if we took fertility drugs.)

"Was it IVF?" -Nope. Just great sex : )

"Which one is your favorite?" -We don't like either of them. Adur.

"Are they triplets?" -Um Yeah, we keep the third one in the diaper bag.

"Wow. They look close in age." -Adur.

"Twins? But they don't look alike." -That's because they have different fathers. You should see the stumped look I get with this : )

And the mother of all comments: "Do they have poopy diapers at the same time?" -Umm do your kids crap at the same time? Here's your sign.

Kiss Baby?

Part Gene Simmons? I dunno. Maybe. Ryan discovered his tongue last night. He sticks it out and curls it around to a point. It is funny. Jacques can touch his tongue to his nose; maybe Ryan will be able to also. That will look good on a Harvard application.

monday and away we go.

hello monday. thank you for a nice weekend, but it went by to fast. i will see you again. and the week begins. i was a little impatient today waiting for the coffee to brew. on cup deuce. above you see another symbol of love from the hubby. he got me this great cup from the bucks. (and technically i should be thanking you, aunt janie, as he used my gift card to get it) it is a hard plastic 16 ounce, double insulated cup w/ straw that does not come out or get lost in my sink full of dishes. and you get a .10 cent discount every time you reuse it at a bucks. nice. now i need to find a good iced coffee recipe for the house.

weekend recap: rain. rain. and more rain. not that i should be complaining. i have heard that our house in elk run heights, iowa is under water and the town has been evacuated. my prayers to our neighbors. we chilled at home for the most part and took a zoo day on saturday. it must have been mating day at the zoo. we had to rush the kids past several exhibits where the animals were "fighting," if you get my drift. it was quite a show. we also treated ourselves to sonic beverages afterwards. sunday came and went with more rain so we stayed around the house, but the kids did go out and play ball with the hubby.

today: with monday brings housework. i need to start dishes and laundry. i would like to vacuum and clean up the house. at the present moment, both babies are down for their morning nap, so i need to take advantage of that and get off the puter. i also need to get to the post office and hobby lobby. but the hubby took the van to work, so i will put off the post office till tomorrow. in fact, i will most likely send him. then i will hit hobby lobby when he gets home this evening. photo frames and albums are 50% off. go sale!

i am a homebody. i have been since (let's see how old are the twins?) oh right, almost 7 months. i am enjoying the summer. i am enjoying not having to make 4 trips/48 miles to and from jason's school five days a week. gas is high. staying home is cheap. it is nice to only have to get out every few days.

jump in.

Finally it's Friday and Hooray. I am tired and exhausted. This photo is from May 25 and I have not yet posted any of them. Later I will add some to flickr. Jason loves his slip and slide. It's a $7 cheapo from Walmart. Anyway not much to mumble about this morning. I brewed some Starbucks grounds this morning and they are extra strong. Maybe now I will not have to share the pot with Jordyn. I also have the twins 6.5 month pictures to post. And last night we celebrated Jason's half birthday with a cake, candles and the happy half birthday song. Photos from that later too.. I am off to chugggg some brew : )

he loves me.

Proof. Here it is. The proof that my hubby loves me. This is Book Three of my current obsession, The Twilight Series. I was able to finish book 2 this morning and have already dived, head first, into book 3. And much thanks to the hubby that loves me. Because, on father's day no less, he bought it for me.. At Target, he browsed the book aisle with all the kids and found it for me, knowing that I was wanting it... He even found a salesman to ask if they had it in paper back instead of hard bound. (Obviously he knew I wanted it in paperback.) But it has not been released in paper back and won't be until book 4 is released. So there you have it, PROOF.

Bell: Book 1 and 2 are making their way via snail mail to your front door. I will be waiting to hear how much you love them and how grateful you are that I introduced you to this tale of forbidden love.

Also Note: Shawna you would eat up this saga as well. You can pick up copies at Walmart. A good book is great for any upcoming flights... HINT. HINT. WINK. WINK.

And Julie: You would too. Summer reading, perhaps?

You know what else? Beside recommending it to everyone I know on the planet, I think I enjoy photographing these beautiful books almost as much as reading them. See my proof here in my flicker photos of Twilight.

Page 19 Here I come...

then wednesday smiled.

Okay.. so I did not get to finish New Moon yet, but soon. Have you ever tried to read while nurturing two 6 month old infants? Yeah, not as simple as it sounds.. So this morning I am hoping to pick up my book and READ.. I am also downing my first cup of joe. My hubby got me that mug for Valentines Day, he loves me.. and another post will soon prove it : ) -M

crayola baby.

The Smurf, Ryan. He was swinging in his swing, which is next to my desk, where Jason was working on crafts. Basically he was coloring with markers on Styrofoam.. Markers on Styrofoam does not dry...... ever. So the plate fell of the desk into Ryan's hands. I noticed as soon as I walked in the room... And, well, because crayola is non-toxic, I had time to snap a few photos before torchering him with a washcloth.

And here is Jason, who is celebrating his half birthday today. He is 5.5 years old today. And earlier today I read a this story on Fox news about a mom who lost her hearing after her 6 year olds kiss to her ear. So I told the kids it was a long shot, but to not go around blowing in the babies or anyone elses ears.. And Jason said, "So just don't suck out the babies hearing?" I about peed my pants. It was soooooooooo funny.

And my Tuesday Tip of the Day.. If you have baby boys, make sure you put the penis IN the diaper or you will be washing bedding two days in a row.

Now, I am off to wash my bedding.......... again.

Thanks, Zach.

alligator alley.

We stopped here in Summerdale, Alabama to visit Alligator Alley. It was great, and hot. We saw some massive gators. Jason and I got to pet a baby gator. AND a 22' boa constrictor named Harry. (See previous Snake Posts here and here.) It did not feel like I had thought it would. Odd. There are a bunch more photos from the gator farm over on flickr. See them there. Gator Video.

morning, monday. how do you do?

Today I heard from Jason, "Mom my throat hurts."
I administered Medical Intervention.
I already started laundry and dishes.
I am washing all our bedding.
Both babies are up and happy.
Jason has an auditory evaluation today at one.
Hubby is ironing his ACU's.
I was not in the mood for brewing coffee.
I am having Sunny D.
Jason already hopped in and out of the tub.
He is sporting an awesome haircut by his Dad.
I WILL finish New Moon today. Book 2 of the Twilight Series.
I have book 3 ready.
5 more days till Friday.
Let's GO!

happy father's day.

To all my favorite men folk. Hugs, M

stability.

So I wanted to pass on this financial quiz that I found today. It has simple multiple choice questions about your income,credit and debt to rate your finances and your financial stability. I scored a 91%. As the bill payer/head of household (shhhhhsshh! don't tell the hubby), I rock.

hi, saturday.

I welcome you with open arms.. I have a fresh stack of photos for fun and some brewed Starbucks coffee to start my weekend. Awwwwwwe that word warms my ears, Weekend. I have a few little projects to add to and then need to figure out how I want to start some new projects. I want some FRESH ideas.. any thoughts?

Today's agenda, Jason just got a haircut by his Daddy, and it is awesome and saved my $15 bucks. I need to hit Walmart today and we are BBQ'in with the Coopers tonight. I need to clean up and start working on tonight's entree'. Also I am curiously awaiting to see if I will receive a "Happy Saturday" in my inbox today..

two kids.

hello, home!

Soooooooo happy to be in my home.. not that I don't love a good vacation, but 12 days may have been a little much.. Especially when we drove a total of 45+ hours with two 6 month old infants.

Lots of random things to do today. The house is clean cause I could never go on vacation and leave a dirty house. So that is good. I need to upload and edit a ton of photos, then send them to be printed. Also have a bunch of random scrappiness to work on and plan. I have a few ideas a brewin'.

Need to unpack and regroup then grocery shop. The twins appointments were canceled today cause our doctor is sick so that will need rescheduled. Grrrr!

Also have a sad heart today as my most fave scrap club Cupcake Scrapshop is closing their doors. And I missed the June kit cause we were on the road when it went on sale.. Tear.

And I am not going to get any of these things done if I don't get off the blog. Holler at you later. M

12:27 am

We arrived at home. So much to do. Two babies wide awake.

updating..

Hello There. I am adding a ton of photos to flickr. Go there.. This is me and Zach on the Smoky Valley Railroad Train. June 5, o8 We are so cute. Thanks Mom, for taking this photo. Hugs, M

hello, texas!

It sure is good to see you again.

280 photos

taken in the last 6 days. All need transferred, edited and resized. Then posted. This may take a while. And more need taken everday : ) Hugs, Mandy

good idea.

Jason says: "Why don't we stay all summer here in this town? It has everything" My kid is one smart cookie.

we are here.

Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers and concerns for our safety on this trip. Everything is good. Life is Good. Much Love. -M