Learning...

Just because school is out, doesn't mean that it isn't time to learn.

 

Learning to be confident in the water

 

Learning to "heel" with Heely's

 

Learning to be just like your big sister

 

Learning a love for reading and the importance of time alone

 

Learning that this is where you put your "stinkies"

 

Learning to get what you want

Six months old

 

I know this is a re-posted picture, but I haven't gotten my six month old pics from my brother back yet (hint, hint, Curtis!)  I'll change this later once I get them...

As of today, they weigh 15.2 pounds.  Yes, exactly the same.  Kate has taken a huge leap these last two weeks, eating, eating like crazy.  Addison is 26 1/4 inches, and Kate is 25 3/4 inches.  They are now both exactly average on the charts.  They are close to sitting up by themselves, love to eat baby food, and are both getting their bottom two teeth first.  They are popping through right now!  

Amazing what six months will change:

 

Addison

 

Kate

The NICU seems so long ago...  As crazy as it is to have twins, Ben and I were both saying the other day how we could not imagine having just one of them or the other.  They are a set for sure!

Happy Father's Day

 

This was taken late Sunday night, but here are the details of Father's Day:

9 a.m. Muffin Breakfast for Dad before Church Meetings

1 p.m.-4 p.m.: Church. Ben was as usual, super Dad and took the twins during the second and third hour.  Well, technically Addison because a friend of ours usually always takes Kate.  I didn't even have a chance to run down and see if he needed a break since our Nursery leader did not come to Church and we were short staffed:)  

6 p.m. Dinner. I found this bag of fajita mix in the frozen food section.  It looked really good and Ben was excited.  Well, don't you hate it when you open the bag and they give you like 4 pieces of meat?!  It was mostly onions, peppers, etc... Well, I did also happen to make ground beef and two kinds of beans, so we were good.  Bailey scarfed down three tacos (remember this info for later)

Dinner was followed by yummy limeade ice cream pie.  The kids even ate it, since we just told them it had ice cream in it and did not mention the lime part.  (remember again Bailey had a nice slice of ice cream pie)

7 p.m. Ben wants to take a Sunday drive, something we haevn't done in I don't know how long.  So, we put the kids in jammies so when we get back they can go right to bed.  The road we took was long and windy and dusty and a good hour away.  Well, three tacos, ice cream pie, heat and a car ride do not mix for Bailey. And now we know when he is silent that it means NOW!  Now, he is going to throw up.  Yup, up and out it came.  We had just gotten to the spot Ben wanted to show us, and I had to jump out as I was not feeling well from the windy road either and the smell nearly killed me.  Ben found  half a water bottle in our car for Bailey to drink and someone had left an almost full one up where we stopped which was used to wet the towel to clean up the puke (towel and Bailey's pj bottoms were thrown away where we stopped).  

9:30 p.m. We make it home, with two screaming babies who want their crib now, plus a whiny two year old who took enough of a "nap" on the way up there to not be tired now, an irritated Emma and a disturbed Bailey.  Twins were put to bed, and the older three climbed on our bed to watch some of their movie with Dad.  We couldn't send them straight to bed after that!  

As crazy as it was, I think they enjoy their time with Daddy.  I caught them just today on the way home from the doctor talking about when Daddy will get out of school.  Bailey was explaining to Emma that it will only be until December, and then he has a test in February.  So after that, no more school and Daddy will be home every night.  Funny that they remember that so well.  We must talk about it alot at home:)

Bathtime

 

I just thought this picture was too funny of Addison.  She decided to hold on to the bath seat and just sat there lounging.  Really, I promise, she was enjoying it!  

Camping in the livingroom

 

Cousin Leena spent the morning with us a few days ago.  Emma convinced them to go camping in the living room.  So, out came the blankets, pillows, etc... It kept them occupied for a long time.

  

Kate and Addison even joined in the fun.

Leena (who is in a princess dress as well courtesy of Emma)

No, this is not upside down.  He wanted me to take the picture from this angle. 

 

Emma thought this was hilarious!

Reading time with Nathan

 

I found Nathan "reading" to Kate and Addison the other day.  He kept looking at the pictures, then showing them "See cow" "See the duck?"  They actually seemed to like it.

 

He loves "Cake" and "Ahdi"  I tried to just let him hold one of them, but he insisted "I hole two!"

Pictures in my head

We only have 8 weeks of summer, so I am trying to enjoy it.  During the school year, every night is come home, quick play time, showers, homework, bed.  I have been letting the kids stay up later while school is out which means longer play times in the evening.  With that, I think it is only right that I enjoy some of that time with them as well.  Last night, we were all out front and I thought how nice it would be to blog about our evening since it was so peaceful and relaxing.  I was planning to just describe the events going on since I didn't want to ruin it by going inside to get the camera (or I was just too comfy in my chair!)  But Bailey was headed inside anyway, so he got the camera for me:)

My "little" boy?!  3rd grade this year, wow...  His summer is full of Bakugan, riding bikes, reading, playing outside, and swimming. 

 

Still in her swimsuit from that morning, crazy hair as usual...  Her summer is all about friends-who's in, who's out, and it changes way too often:)  Emma was born for summer.  She has tanned like no child of mine, and her hair is getting blonder every day.  She loves sleeping in and lounging.  

 

He is always ecstatic when I will go out front so he can play too.  He loves to run with the big kids and play, play, play.  Nathan would play until he literally passes out if he could.  He's all about having fun!

 
 

Kate has some sass to her in this picture.  She's all about instant gratification.  She will smile at you the second you even glance her way and the slightest interest from others sends her into  full body smiles.  Kate is extremely social, but has been tagged by her siblings as the screaming one.  When she gets upset, she lets you have it!

 

OK, Addison is not sad, this is just her look!  She always looks deep in thought or forlorn.  When she smiles, it's kind of a half smile at first.  She has the puppy look of Bailey, hands down.  Her hair is also coming in much faster than her sister's!  Addison is content, best way to put it. 

 

Emma and her neighborhood friends, Gabby.  Gabby is older and does cheer leading.   She has been teaching Emma at night, and now of course Emma thinks she HAS to be a cheerleader when she turns 6.  Umm, no, but we'll maybe talk about it when you are 16...

 

Emma loves the attention!

 

Riding Nathan's bike. 

 

Kate looking just like Emma...

 

Addison's new favorite thing is eating her feet!

Two is better than one

Two sets of twins, that is!  We met my friend Melanie at the Galleria today with her set of twins- Lauren and Madeline.  Our mutual friend, Arianna also came with her cute little girl Aubrey.  Arianna kept a lookout as Nathan and Courtney (Melanie's 2 year old) ran around so we could get a quick picture of the girls meeting for the first time!  It turned out really cute.  Hopefully we will be able to periodcially get these pictures together as they grow older.  Her girl's were born in October, so they are only a few months older.  They can pass down the twin wisdom:)

 

 

Oldies but goodies

These pictures were on my phone and never made it into blog land, so they don't go together at all!

 

This is one of my all time favorite moments I captured.  Emma and Nathan came with me to Bailey's class (1st grade) for his teacher's baby shower.  Bailey and Nathan hung out the whole time like this, it was so cute.

 

Nathan can still wear that shirt and it's been about a year since this picture was taken.  

 

I emailed this to Ben from my phone.  It was showing him that we were "crazy" at home without him:)

 

Emma's first field trip.  We are at the fire station, obviously.  I don't know why I put my scarf in her hair, but she liked it!

A Random post....

The only picture I have for this post is of Emma in her gear for Sports Day.  I wish I had the other pictures I intended to take, but my brain is not in it's right place the last little while.  Last Friday, I showed up at the kid's school at noon because they had a half day.  I thought that since I was just picking them up, I didn't need to actually be dressed yet for the day or have showered.  Apparently I had written it down months ago for no apparent reason and there was no half day.  So I had not sent them with a lunch and had driven the 25 minutes to school. Fun day for me walking into the office not only not showered, but having to explain that I had thought there was a half day! 

Yesterday was Crazy Hair day.  This is really what I wanted to have pictures of, but forgot.  Emma's hair was in multiple pony tails and sprayed white and green.  Bailey had a red and black head with a big "B" on the back.  He said his B was a big hit at school, which of course made Emma upset that she wasn't as big of a hit.  But I am very glad that I remembered Crazy Hair day and got up extra early to make sure we had time to make their hair creations.  I was also able to do the cooking project that morning in Emma's class.  The kids loved her idea for cinnamon sugar toast, which is an obsession thanks to Daddy. 

Sports Day is today.  Emma borrowed her friend Isaac's baseball uniform and was so excited to wear it to school.  Again, my brain messed up and I sent Bailey and Emma to school with swimsuits/towels.  Well, now as I was cleaning off my desk I am thinking water day was only for Emma's class. Bailey will probably be confused when he gets to school as to why he does not have water play too. He did tell me that his sports outfit was "hot."  I was confused for a while telling him that shorts and short sleeves would not be hot. "no, Mom, it means awesome, you know-HOT?!"  OK... Well, in my defense, I am almost 30 so maybe my clang translation is weakening.

 

  

Emma, modeling her Sports Day outfit. 

Love the socks with her pink shoes:)

I am hoping that these last two children did not push my brian over the edge:)  Maybe I just need a good summer break!

At this very moment

So I was done blogging this morning and going on with my day.  At one point, I heard some fussing from the twin's bedroom, but they hadn't been asleep long enough for my taste.  I was finishing up with Nathan, trying to see if they would go back to sleep.  Well, it got quiet and I went in and found this....

They are fast asleep, snoring and as content as can be.  I thought about moving them, but they were so still I think I'll just leave them that way.  And as this post finds it's way to Ben, we hope he is having a good day and we miss you at home!  :)

BUGZ!

Bailey performed in his class play last night, "Bugz!"  He played a cockroach, or "Mean Bug #2."  Well, my little Bailey is far from the character of a mean bug, but he delivered his line very well, even if he was being mean to the stink bugs.  The play was so cute and funny, plus it only lasted about 35 minutes, which is perfect for a school play.  In the end, all the bugs were nice again to the stink bugs and they all ate at the picnic....

 Bailey is in the cowboy hat, taking a bow.  How that translated to cockroach, I am not sure, but he did have cute bug antenae on...

 

I made him pose so I could get a good picture.

 

Bailey and his teachers (Ms Rivera top, Mrs. Sherman below). He loves these two ladies.  Plus, I always laught because Mrs. Sherman's first name is Pam and her email starts with P. Sherman (get it...42 Wallaby Way, Sydney Australia -I think that's the address, but hopefully you get the Nemo reference)

Playing Footsies

Kate and Addison prefer to be in their Bumbos if they are facing each other, and their feet are touching.  They will sit and babble at each other for a long time.  This picture is how they join us for family dinners.  The kitchen counter is close enough to us at the table, and they can still see each other as well.