Breakfast with Santa

This year's Breakfast with Santa (through the Mother of Twins Club) was a lot of fun. We visited with our friends and their twins, ate pankcakes, visited with Santa and enjoyed some games and craft projects available. We let Evan and Leah observe Santa and get a little more comfortable looking at him before we asked if they wanted to go get their pictures taken with him. They did well walking up to Santa, but when they were right next to him, they both turned around and jumped into our arms crying. After about 10 minutes of trying to get Evan to even stand beside me (which I was next to Santa), the photographer's assistant grabbed two presents from under the tree and handed them to Evan and Leah to hold on to. That seemed to get their minds side-tracked for the picture.
I think next year, they will be ready to sit in his lap. Speaking of next year, we are hoping that Jackie, Greg, Peyton and the Thies twins (due to arrive June) will be joining us along with Kyle, Rachel, Drew and Blake for Breakfast with Santa! WINK, WINK- Jackie!

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Deck the Halls

I couldn't wait to get my Christmas decorations up. I love the house when it's all decorated for the Holiday Season. We debated on putting up the tree at all this year. Last year, we thought it would be too much of a hassle with the twins, so we put up my little mini tree. We decided to go ahead and try for the big one this year. The kids have been really good about not taking any ornaments off of it. They touch some of them occasionally, but have been better than expected as far as "getting into the tree." Evan, we found out, has a love-hate relationship with Santa. He talks about Santa, asks to go see Santa, but when he sees him at the mall, he starts whining. The Santa I have in the picture above is one he carries around EVERYWHERE in the house. That Santa has been in a stroller, in his bed (he puts Santa down for naps sometimes), in the kitchen to eat, etc. What a great purchase for a couple of bucks at a garage sale last year!

The kids were pretty funny decorating the tree. As you can see from some of the pictures, most of the ornaments ended up being placed at their eye level.

We Are Very Thankful!

I would love to say I was thankful the kids "slept in", but that didn't happen! Evan and Leah loved watching the parades broadcasted on tv and were very excited to see Santa at the end.
We had a wonderful time over at Greg's parent's house with his family. The kids didn't eat much. Leah's dinner consisted of a roll and a half, a bite of turkey, a bite of sweet potatoes and most of Aunt Sarah's pie. I am sure she ate some of other family member's pie as well. Evan did a little bit better. At least he ate a couple bites of vegetables.
We also spent some time over at my Aunt Bonnie's house; which the kids had blast playing with Great Aunt Connie and their 2nd cousin, Ben. They also loved playing the piano. I think we may have a future pianist on our hands. Leah tried crossing hand over hand and even took her fingers and ran them along the keys going in one direction (much of this was trying to copy my cousin Alyssa). Ben wore the kids out-thank you (no nap for the day) and they were asleep by the time we got out of the subdivision.
Greg and I are very thankful for our loving families and our two little turkeys!

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2nd Birthday Party

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For Evan and Leah's 2nd birthday, we went with a bug-themed party because they love bugs. I had fun decorating for the party, but it was a lot of work! I made bumblebee and ladybug cupcakes, we had bowtie pasta (butterfly wings), ladybug fruit kabobs, butterfly crackers, "ants on a log" and Bug juice (soda and lemonade). I decorated the bathrooms with big spiders and spiderwebs. The living room was decorated with tissue paper flowers that I made, some plastic bugs and books about various bugs. Instead of wearing party hats, we wore antenna that I made. I was very happy with the way things turned out for the party.

The kids had a great time decorating their bug catcher boxes, watching bugs grow from little capsules and licking and sticking oreo cookies onto a giant ladybug.

Once again, Leah didn't like everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to her and began crying. Although, it could be because we turned out the lights momentarily. They both received some great gifts from family; which if very much appreciated!

I still find it hard to believe that they are two years old now. Here is a picture of them from when they were only a day or two old.

Lights off, lights on

I am posting this especially for my mom. I have been telling her that Leah loves to take her glow worms, or any toy that lights up for that matter, and shine them on whatever she may be playing with in her crib. Many a nights, when I am sitting there for a couple of minutes while they are settling into bed, I watch Leah and just want to burst into laughter at this routine she has. She sets up her babydolls all in a row. She will then press Baby Glow worm #1-lights up and plays music, press Baby Glow worm #2-lights up and plays music, press a toy train-which lights up and of course makes a choo-choo sound. While she has enough light as the toys are all going off, she sometimes uses the glow worm or toy as a flashlight and holds it close to the puzzle, book, drawing board (whatever else she has in her crib she is playing with) and as soon as the lights/toys are done, she presses them all again, going down the row. I think it's hysterical. I always say to myself, I should set up the video camera one night. The other night, I just decided to bring it in and tape her myself. She noticed and didn't care.

In this video clip, she is drawing on her new birthday toy- a Magna Doodle Board. I don't know if you will be able to hear her, but she says "draw" every now and then.

Halloween Bugs

This year for Halloween, we dressed Leah and Evan up like a ladybug and a bumblebee.
We started the night over at my parents house for the annual Billington's Halloween Spaghetti dinner. The night actually started out rough due to our car having transmission leakage (took it in to dealer earlier that day and they forgot to put a piece back on the car, thus the spillage on my dad's driveway!) After we got that all figured out, we were able to have my mom and dad take turns walking with the kids to some of their (and my old) neighbors. Evan and Leah eventually got the grabbing of the candy and looked like old pros. (It felt really weird trick or treating down the same street as when I was a kid)
We then went over to Greg's parents house for more trick or treating. Grandma, Greg and I went out trick or treating with them; which the kids, again, enjoyed. I also enjoyed Grandma's subdivision. One lady was giving out hot chocolate with whipped cream and liquor in it for the adults! Nice treat for the parents!!!
Since Halloween night, the kids know exactly where the candy is located in the pantry. We are going to have to relocate it very soon-before they start climbing the pantry shelves!
I really enjoyed watching them go house to house and hold out their little pumpkins for candy.

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2 Years Old!!

Their birthday present from Greg and I- a train table with all 172 pieces!!!!! FUN FUN!

Our babies turned two years old on Monday! We can't believe it. My how the 2 years have gone by. Greg took off work to help celebrate their birthday. It's, I guess, what some people call their "golden/special" birthday because they are turning two years old on the second day of the month!

Here is how we celebrated the day...we started at our Parent Interaction Program class in the Parkway School District. Singing, dancing, playing, etc. Then we went to a park, ate lunch out in our backyard and then had them take a nap. After their nap, we went to the YMCA for some Parents As Teachers activities. We just made a craft and played some basketball.

Leah has been talking/pointing and saying, "Yeah, Yeah" to a picture in her scrapbook of her at the Brunswick Bowling Arcade. So, I told her that is where we would go on their birthday. We ate dinner and then played in the arcade. Watching them play ski-ball is a riot! Throwing the ball in the lane you are suppose to is a tad difficult still :) Enjoy the video.