All in a day...

I wondered what all went into one day… I realized I took several pictures and captured it…

Even this happy happy child believes life is completely unfair because she has to go to school everyday. Tripp gets to play with Tessa and Doh and she must go work. She asked me how much more school does she have left in life? I felt too bad telling her!

It starts with LOVE and building trust… then after the kiss which is not documented is a pinch to the ear… when asked why he would do that… "Tyler is f-weaky" (everything is f-weaky… his favorite term since Halloween)

Then the nice boy comes back around and is ready to head outside boots and all...

He is sure that the wood duck caller from his Doh and Ul'Nanny is sure to bring the ducks around...

10 minutes later and he still has not given up hope….

His Sister comes home from school and begins to style hair…  yes, what a sport!

She promises him if she can style his hair, they can go play in the sand box. Why sure he says!

And with NO nap, the night ends early for the kiddies

but not for this Mama! She hit the town hard and had one heck of a good time!

While this guys thinks, what have I gotten myself into…

And folks… that's all in a day's work around here!

It's been REAL...

as they say…

I am back to work tomorrow morning! I have really been able to enjoy the twins, Juliette and Tripp. The first few weeks with preemies in the Winter was worrisome. I found myself worried about the cold and flu with good reason being in the middle of the season for it. However, in no time warmer weather came and with each week they get easier. They are good baby boys and Don and I learn something new about twins each day. Even being experienced parents, parenting twins is much trickier. We enjoy each minute of it…. well most minutes of it and would not trade any of it!

We have watched our family double over the last four months and what an adventure it has been! Juliette and Tripp seem to enjoy the twins more and more especially now that they are responding more, smiling and cooing. 

I ended my time with a wonderful trip to the Flowertown Festival this weekend. There is nothing like it for me. It is a tradition that can't be broken! All four kiddies piled into the car and off we went to meet the Millards. Amy and I loved the festival as kids together and continue the tradition with all of our kids. 

It's simple times like this I simply look at all the happiness around me and know just how blessed I am… and for that I am SO thankful.

Olivia, Juliette and Tripp… Juliette confessed last night that she wished Olivia lived at her house and was her Sister...

I LOVE this little boy to pieces! 

You can take the girl out of Summerville, but you can't take Summerville out of the girl!

Some days...

Tripp and I went to pick Juliette up from ballet like just another Tuesday. Tripp decided that he wanted to wear just one of his Sister's socks. In typical fashion I am thinking no worries, he has boots on so no one will notice. Juliette comes racing out of class and we are all asked to come in and watch the work in process of their recital. That means all shoes must be taken off…

Yup… here we are with all of the other children and parents…. He couldn't have been any happier showing off "Jew-iette's pink skeleto sock" (skeleto is Spanish for skeleton)

I was SO excited to watch her class perform and practice…. matter of fact I was shocked. As I watched her, I realized her growth even shows in ballet. She is quickly losing the baby and becoming a young girl…

A sweet afternoon spent at Chuck e Cheese

Juliette had a half day today and so Tripp and I decided to surprise her and head to Chuck E Cheese… not gonna lie - it is one of their favorites! We were waiting for the doors to open and shared the entire place with four other children. 

And then for the exciting part - counting the coins between each of them…

Who says you can't learn at Chuck E Cheese?

Everyone left thrilled! And for the 200 tickets that we had to cash in… earned two tiny boxes of nerds, two tootsie rolls and a tiny plastic top made in China no doubt… 

They thought they just won $20 they were so excited!

Wood ducks in the backyard

Don captured some beautiful shots of the Wood Ducks in the backyard! There were 4 pairs of them swimming around reedy to lay some eggs in the boxes in our yard. They are SO gorgeous!

If my hair were not highlighted….

I'm sure it would be totally gray!

He has no idea that I am watching him try to find a way to open the gate…. moves the chair, gets comfortable and then is going to make a run for it… Funny thing is he looked for me but looked the wrong way and so he thought he was clear….

This is his look after I catch up pulling his brother's leg…. "I no hurt him… I just touched his leg…"

And then this…. seriously?

And at the end of the day a good glass of wine always helps!

Tripp's first comfortable swimming

Well as I have said before we are lost with Ms. Viv as a swim teacher. I am so thankful to have had her for Juliette but she has since retired. I finally put the puddle jumper on Tripp and let Juliette quietly and slowly pull him off the step… he was so excited and nervous at the same time with that floating feeling! We had such a fun afternoon and it made my heart happy to see him comfortable. Hopefully this summer will be just the step that we need to swimming without the puddle jumper.

Here is the little video of Tripp in his first minute or two of being in the water…

This is the cutest after swimming video. We came in to warm up by the fire. This is the classic monkey see/monkey do. Tripp is at the age where he would like to be just like his big sister. Whatever she is doing or say he wants to do the same.

A little luck for the "Non-Irish" girl

Juliette had a super special St. Patrick's day as she got to participate in the parade with my Mom for St Claire's Church on the island. The parade was down King Street and she even got to take the day off of school. She met a few little friends who she got to throw candy for.

Three months old

Hard to believe that the babies are three months old! We are so happy to see the warmer weather and cold/flu season on the way out the door. I am now feeling like the babies can actually venture out of the house a little.

With that they keep getting cuter and cuter. We have had some of the first smiles

in the last week...

Tyler

Thomas

They have begun to coo as well. Thomas is feeling so much better on his new formula and his colic is really improving. Feeding is now not a dreaded act. Yesterday I felt like we were really turning a corner and things real feel like they are getting easier and we are on a nice routine. This is of course right as I go back to work. 

Thomas taking his morning nap!

Thomas is on the left and Tyler is on the right in all of these pictures, 

His big brother loves him so much. He wanted to hold him after swimming….

Until I had to remind him "we no pick a pig…"

Yikes! My 20th high school reunion!

I was not sure how it would be or if it had been so long having seen some of the folks that I could not even really know what to say… Let's just say that was not the case AT ALL! Matter of fact this one was much more fun than our 10th reunion. We visited with everyone and did some dancing and just had a ball seeing all the old school peeps!

Bishop England class of 95… until next time class… take care!

The twins meet Uncle John, Aunt Kathleen and Owen

"Mommy I can do it myself…"

Yes, this is what she tries to tell me everyday. She walked out of my bathroom today and this is how I found her. Not bad I thought for a six year old giving herself "pig tail braids"

She now loves to get in my makeup and tries to put anything and everything on… She could spend hours looking at herself in the mirror. The other day when my Dad picked her up and took her to the bus, she jumped in the front seat of his car, pulled down the mirror and redid her hair. Apparently she did not like the pig tails that I did for her. Dad noticed as she got out of the car, she had some disastrous braid that was sticking out to the side of her head. She was so proud of it and happily jumped out of the car and ran to the bus.

Why I can't leave him out of my sight for a minute

I noticed the lovely tranquility and quiet feeling in the house. It did not dawn on me to wonder why it was quiet - only how nice it was at the moment. When the quietness continued, I was concerned and began to take a look in my room to see what was going on…

Yup! He watched me put the eye liner on so that dickens went and found it in my make up case and tried to put it all over his eye…

I liked to think that he was trying to look like a pirate but unfortunately he just responded…. "I look like Mommy now…"

Working on some tummy time...

Thomas was working hard on stretching that head and neck… 

All was nice and peaceful until….

This piece of work decides to intercede! Even the baby lowers his head back down at the sight of that loud monkey! Dressed in his finest "birthday doggie Camisa" and his "jammie pantalones" with his Sister's kitten hat with a bow on it 

(luckily on backwards)