Is this seriously how I spent my last Saturday night? Yep, it is! This is a combo of falling behind in the babies laundry and washing all the 18 month clothes I retrieved from the attic.

Now that it's folded will it ever make it in their drawers??????

Building Blocks

This past week I finally took the time to get the building blocks out of the attic. The kids are starting to get bored with a lot of their toys and April gave us a big bag of plastic blocks a while back. The kids loved the blocks!

Ethan did not want to stack them he only wanted to knock them down. Boys!

Paige enjoyed taking them apart and putting them together.
Every time she takes two apart she yells, "Da"!

Both of them really loved picking them all up and putting them in the carrying bag. I thought it was wonderful that they were helping me pick up their toys until I heard the crash of them being dumped everywhere. Oh well it was still cute!

No it wasn't allergies

As much as I tried to ignore the fact that I was getting sick I in fact was sick. I woke up Monday morning and my chest was burning. I was coughing more and felt awful. I went to work for a couple hours before I went to a doc in the box for medication. I was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and bronchial something. They gave me a breathing treatment, antibiotic, cough medicine, and an inhaler. Wow, I really was sick this time. I went home to rest and slept for two days. The cough medicine had a "may cause drowsiness" warning which should have said, "will knock you on your butt!"

Dallas was an angel just as he always is when I am feeling under the weather. He picked up the kids that evening and took care of them. He tried his hardest to do as much as possible to help me out. He is so sweet and thoughtful. I appreciate him so much!

Today is Friday and I am feeling much better. I finally have gotten some of my strength back and I am on my last day of antibiotic. Summer colds that progress are definitely not fun but I would rather it be me than the twins any day! They still both have a runny nose but that is something we can live with.

Another weekend past... (Warning, Its a long blog)

We didn't do very much this past weekend which actually was very nice. Last Monday Paige woke up with a runny nose and I followed the next day with sinus congestion. Ethan's nose started running a day or so later and Dallas was of course all stopped up a few days later. Gotta love a summer cold, not! They are so difficult to get rid of!

Paige and Ethan have only had a small cough with their runny noses which is probably from the drainage. I have been sucking their noses with saline, pushing liquids down them and luckily their colds or allergies have not progressed. I on the other hand was just not feeling well near the end of the week. Since all our our weekend plans included pregnant women and children I decided to cancel them all. It was not that long ago that I myself was pregnant and I remember how miserable it is to be sick and pregnant. If you get strep throat you take Tylenol and curse the day you stopped to say hello to that cute runny nosed coughing kid in Target who gave it to you!

Saturday we were supposed to have our good friends Hillary and Phillip over to visit. They live on the other side of the metroplex by John Mark and Wendy so we rarely see them. Hint...hint... you people all need to move over towards Arlington! Hillary is currently pregnant with their first baby and it is a girl. She is 28 weeks along and has had a wonderful pregnancy. I wasn't really sure if we were a threat to her but I didn't want to take the chance and neither did she. We rescheduled our visit for September and Saturday was now open. I was very sad not to get to see them both but somewhat relieved just to be able to rest in pjs all day Saturday. We had a great relaxing day and by the end of the day I thought maybe I had canceled too soon...

Sunday we were supposed to go visit our old neighbors, Ed and Nancy, at their new house in Benbrook and go swimming. Since Nancy is 7 months pregnant we decided to cancel our plans with them as well even though we desperately want to see them. We will try again soon! We haven't seen them since they moved in April. We were also supposed to get together with our best friends, April, Mike, and Reese on Sunday. April is a little over 3 months pregnant and Reese was already showing signs of an ear infection so we cancelled that as well. What was I going to do with the kids all day? We had been in the house all day Saturday and were getting a little stir crazy.

Dallas left early for his fantasy football draft in Irving Sunday morning. He was going to be gone until after lunch so I figured I would get the kids out of the house. I got them ready, packed up their diaper bag, got myself ready, and we were out the door. I had thought about taking them to the park but wasn't really sure yet. I just didn't have it in me to pull that wagon around the entire neighborhood on a walk. I was still not really feeling my best. Once we were in the car I came up with another idea. Since we were out I would stop by Diane (my boss) and John's house and take a look at the bunk bed we are getting from them this weekend. Neither one of them has seen the twins in a long time so the visit would serve several purposes.

I called them and John said yes please come by. Once I hung up the phone I realized that it was 9 something in the morning. Oops! I have got to stop calling and planning things so early in the morning and remember that not everyone has to get up at the butt crack of dawn like we do. Although I do give the kids credit for sleeping in on the weekends now! We have gotten up to an hour and half extra sleep on weekends lately. WONDERFUL BLISS! As soon as we pulled up to their house and I let Paige out of the car she took off. Down the long sidewalk she went. I went after her, brought her back and proceeded to get Ethan out of the car. Before I could put Ethan down she was off again. I carried Ethan to where Paige was up the sidewalk and they both walked to the front door. They were eager to explore the new household.

We went in and they went nuts! Diane's house is in a round with all halls eventually leading back to where you began. I had to quickly run around the house shutting doors. I put them both in the play room which is where the bunk bed was located. They played while I looked at the bed. I am so thrilled about getting this bed for our guest room. When we have guest with kids over the kids can sleep on the top and the parents on the bottom. Perfect! The top bunk is completely barricaded and the latter is built in the side railing. It is white and they are giving us the mattresses for both top and bottom. I am very excited to change our guest room. We have too much furniture in there currently and it is the first bedroom set Dallas and I ever purchased. I have been looking at it for 7 years and I don't ever want to see it again! Thank you Keith for taking it all off our hands!

After I was done looking at the bed I trapped the kids in their living room so we could visit a minute. Once I was sweating and wore out I decided it was time to leave. The kids had torn up magazines, turned over pictures, pushed buttons on the TV, played their piano, and started their carpet cleaner... I would say it was time to go. On our way out the door I thought screw the park I am exhausted!

I got Paige in the car while Ethan proceeded to pick some of Diane's flowers. Once he saw me coming his direction telling him to stop he of course hauled butt the opposite direction. I caught up to him, strapped him in the car seat, and we were off again.

Once I had cooled off in the car's ac I decided that I would take a stab at the park after all. I pulled up to the Deaver park not far from our neighborhood and it was almost empty. A few girls were playing basketball in the back with their dad otherwise we would have the entire park to ourselves. I got them both out of the car and walked them to the play area. I should have known when I had to take off after Paige through the parking lot straight out of the car that this was a bad idea. They have never been to a park before and I should have waited for Dallas so I wasn't out numbered but we had fun nevertheless.

They liked climbing on the play ground equipment but I was a nervous wreck. The equipment was labeled for ages 2 to 5 and they both wanted to run opposite ways. One would go towards the slide opening while the other went for the next step up. After a few minutes on the playground I decided it was time for them to run instead of me running.

I put them down and just let them be. They were very good besides trying to eat the cedar chips in the playground circles. Even in the playground areas they would both run opposite directions every single time. I think they planned this while riding in the back seat!

Question of the day...
Why must we be going in totally opposite directions at all time?

I decided it was time to swing. They of course loved the swings and they were in the shade. We stayed in the swings for a while and I took the opportunity for photo opts. I wasn't going through all this and not getting any memories, damn it.

Once we were done swinging I decided it was time to try the bigger playground. I know this sounds really stupid but I really wanted a picture of them on the bridge. I thought they might think it was cool to stand up on the bridge and look down. Nope, I'm stupid. They didn't give a rat about standing on the bridge they wanted to run over it. Then they wanted to run to the next thing that caught their attention. At one point I thought Ethan was just going to lay down on his tummy and slide down the big swirling slide. Oh My Goodness, No! I quickly realized that the picture was not worth all this when Paige looked at the fireman's pole with a determined glare. Oh no you don't Missy. I grabbed them both and got us off of that dangerous thing.

I put them both down on the grassy area to run their little hearts out. Remember I am still trying different things each weekend to get Ethan to take his full nap at home. This past weekend my strategy was very simply... wear him out! They really enjoyed running around free in the grass. They decided to check out a tree and a picnic table while I followed close behind.

Run babies run!

Of course Paige has to go under the table instead of around it.

There were a few too many hills and such for my liking so we walked down to the little soccer field so they could run without me worrying about them falling. This was a great idea except they once again took off in opposite directions. Ethan ended up on one side trying to climb the wooden steps built in the grass while Paige was making her way to the basketball court to join in the game. My goodness those kids are so fast! I decided to take a few pictures so I could show Dallas what had happened and that was my first mistake. While I took the pictures I let them get further apart and I ended up running like back in the high school days to retrieve them both.

Paige had her her heart set on the basketball court the minute she got down here.

While Ethan thought the steps looked interesting...

I realized at this point that I would have to carry them both back to the car because we had gotten way too far for them to walk back. I held their hands as I decided how I was going to do this. I had to balance the camera strap on my shoulder and pick them both up from the ground. Huh... Well I did it except that Ethan kept slipping down because he is so heavy and I didn't have a good enough hold on him. We had to make a stop at the picnic table and readjust. We made it back to the car and I got them both back in the car somehow. I gave them a drink of water and sat in the ac trying to remember why I had decided to come to the park. Oh yea, so THEY could run off energy so why was I the one who was exhausted.

We made our way home and it was almost lunch time. I unloaded the kids and started getting everything ready. After lunch we played a while and then it was nap time. I was certain the kids would sleep great since they were exhausted from the morning. I was wrong once again. Paige slept for a little over an hour but Ethan just wouldn't have it. I rocked him, I patted his butt in bed forever, I even laid on the floor of his room on a blanket with him. Nope he wasn't going to sleep no matter what I did. He never took a nap and he hasn't done that in a long time. We survived the rest of Sunday and survived is the key word.

Dallas was exhausted from going out with Mike Saturday night and getting up early for his draft. Paige was exhausted and pissy from Ethan waking her up. Ethan was of course a nightmare because he didn't take a nap. I was not only exhausted but by the end of the day I had started to cough more and more. By the time I went to bed my chest was burning and I felt horrible. Dallas was coughing more and we both pouted as we got in bed knowing we had to get up early and prepare all the kids food for Monday. Maybe sleep would cure it all...

The games we play...

The kids amaze me daily with the games they come up with to play. The play chase and sometimes they add balls to the game. One will take a ball and run while the other chases behind them eventually the other takes the ball and they are off again.

They play peekaboo in the tunnel together which really cracks me up. They chase each other into the ball pit screaming and laughing.

hey like to dump the ball pit out everywhere certainly mine and Daddy's LEAST favorite game! Paige thinks it is wonderful fun to kick the balls as she gets out and continue kicking them as she runs across the living room. The ball fun doesn't stop there... they also enjoy putting balls in the holes in the speaker towers and seeing how many they can shove in there. They like hiding balls under the entertainment cabinet and behind the speakers.

They can make a game out of standing on anything even a mouse pad. Note to all a mouse pad can be used as a teether, a weapon, a perch, a seat, and a hat!

The most disgusting new game is to let Zoe lick their hands. Gross! They laugh every time she licks them. They follow her around sticking their hands in her face which she doesn't appreciate but she tolerates just the same.

Everyday they create a new game and I watch in aw. One of the latest games involved the fridge magnets and us. Dallas and I were sitting at the kitchen table after dinner and the kids were running around playing. Paige decided to take off a couple of the magnet letters and bring them to us. She dropped them in our hands and she was off back to the fridge for more. It was only a few moments before Ethan noticed sister's new game and joined in. Dallas and I had hand fulls of letters as they played. Once the fridge was out of magnets they would start taking them back in hand fulls. They were having so much fun laughing and screaming the entire time. Dallas and I were having a blast watching them.

The following day I was home by myself with the kids and Paige wanted to play her new game. I was busy preparing their dinner and couldn't play with her. Rather than wait for me to play she decided she would just take the magnets to the window seal and store them there. She was running back and forth having the best time playing her new game until brother noticed. He went straight to the fridge and grabbed a few letters to contribute. Once he reached the window seal he decided the game needed a little brotherly touch so he threw a couple letter in the floor. Paige continued to bring letters and noticed they were disappearing. All the letters were now in the floor, under the table, and her game was ruined. She didn't seem to mind very much instead she just crawled under the table and started throwing the letters with him! I guess that is what being a twin is all about!!!

Did you notice in the mouse pad pictures of Ethan Paige is in the back ground playing this game. Too cute! Man I love these two kids!

Goodbye Miss Claudia!

The last few weeks have been spent preparing for my good friend Claudia's departure. I have known Claudia for about 7 years and her mother, Anita, was the kids first babysitter. Since the day I met Claudia she has always talked of joining the Peace Corp. Many years have passed and it looked as if she was never going to have her chance to take her journey. About 4 months ago she started her application process again hoping this time she wouldn't have anything holding her back. She finished all the paperwork, test, shots, and tutoring that was required. She was finally in!

She had requested Central Asia as a destination and was supposed to ship out near the end of September. She was thrilled and I was amazed! What courage it must take to leave everything you know and go to another country alone. She received a call asking if she would accept an earlier deployment because they had a spot open in Central Asia. She jumped at the chance and that was it. She had only a little over a month and she would be leaving for Kazakhstan. I was so happy for her yet so sad for me. I have really become close to Claudia over the past years and consider her one of my best friends. The kids love her and she was Ethan's first official crush!

I drowned myself in projects preparing for her going away party so I wouldn't think about her actually leaving. I hand made signs for the party and even designed Claudia an adventure book about Kazakhstan.
I originally was planning on hanging pictures of Kazakhstan around the party with inserts of information so people would have a better idea of where she was going. Once I viewed the house we were having the party at I realized that there was no way I was going to be able to hang much of anything. The house was fully decorated and didn't have much open wall space. I decided I would put the pictures in a small book and she could take it with her. As usual my projects always start small and end up huge. It ended up being a scrapbook with an entire story and pictures staring Claudia and the adventures that lie ahead of her. It was awesome if I do say so myself. I was working on completing it the morning of the party but it all came together well.

Sing it girl! Claudia playing rock band on the wii.
The party was Sunday, August 10th, at 2pm which was very odd for me. I rarely attend and never host parties on Sundays but most of Claudia's friends worked on Saturday so we had no other choice. It turned out to be wonderful. It was slow to get started as people trickled in but by 4:30 we had a house full of people grilling, playing wii, and having a good time. Claudia loved her Kazakhstan book, the food was tasty, and the company was amazing. I have heard Claudia talk about her friends for years but I have only met a few of them besides the mutual friends we share. I truly enjoyed getting to know some of the people I already knew so much about. My favorite thing of the entire evening was watching Claudia. She is one of those people who gives, gives, gives and never receives. She looked so ecstatic! All her friends in one place just for her. It was so special!

Toasting Claudia

I also organized a group gift for her. I researched a digital camera (thanks Dad) and picked out the best user friendly digital camera I could find. I also bought her a 2 gig memory card, lithium batteries, and a carrying case. She was using an ancient 35 mm camera and she was so embarrassed. She wanted to get a digital camera before she left but had to use what money she had to stock up on supplies she may no longer have access to. She was absolutely floored by the gift! She has been taking pictures like crazy and already figured out how to download them to her laptop. I expect to see many beautiful and interesting pictures from her adventures over seas.

Last Sunday morning I took Claudia to the airport. She spent Saturday night with us and we were up late weighing her bags, dropping off her car to her mother, and finishing all the final details. We went to bed around 1 am and had to get up at 4 am to get ready to go to the airport. It was definitely the earliest I had been up since the newborn days of old. Thanks to the terrorist I couldn't walk more than 10 feet with Claudia in the airport but we said our finally goodbyes and she was on her way. I had to leave quickly as tears welled up. I didn't want her to be sad that morning she was living her dream and I was so proud of her. The selfish side of me wanted my friend to stay but I know this is what is best for her and her future. I headed back home stopping at Albertsons to get strawberries and bananas for the baby's breakfast. Of course the Alberstons I picked wasn't 24 hrs and I had to go to Wal mart but I was back home by 6:30 and in bed by 7 am. I took half a benadryl so I could sleep and I didn't wake up until 11:40! Dallas was in charge of the kids and he did a great job letting me sleep. Thanks D!

I talked to Claudia the three days she was in orientation in Philly and everything was going great. There were 63 other people going to Kazakhstan with her and she had met some of them at the plane change in Memphis. She was already making friends and learning about the Peace Corp. They put her up in an upscale hotel and gave her $160 for food and such for the three days of orientation. She was so excited! It was good to know they are taking care of her.

On the third day she called me one last time to say a final farewell. We won't be able to contact each other for probably 3 months while she is in training. She has to learn Russian, Kazakh, and everything she needs to know to teach English to high school students. I cried like a baby when I hung up that morning knowing this was finally goodbye for two years. I already miss Claudia so much but I imagine with time I will be too busy to worry about it. Now all I can do is wait for the first email of her adventures. Until then good luck my friend and I will see you online...

Love My Daddy

Ethan loves to lay with his Daddy and watch TV or sleep. I imagine this gene is pasted down through DNA because it runs deep. They lay together almost every weekend. I can't imagine anything sweeter than my two boys in their pjs watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

These are the Kodak moments that make it all worth it!