Two Year Old Antics!

A few weeks ago, I told the twins to head upstairs and get into bed for naps. It was quiet upstairs as I finished lunch clean-up so I thought that for once they decided to listen to me. Well, they kind of did. They decided to take a nap in Ellie's Barbie house! Ava took the third floor, which is the bedroom, and Carter took the second level living room. Luckily, I was able to convince them to move to real beds!

Ava also likes to scale the pantry to find something to eat. I have caught her two shelves up a few times. Little monkey!

Carter throwing one of the "throw yourself on the floor and sob hysterically" tantrums.

Catching Up

I haven't updated the blog as frequently as I'd have liked to lately. I wish I could say this was due to the fact that we've been incredibly busy, but that would be a lie. It is more due to my lack of motivation to do anything that doesn't involve sitting on the couch and reading a book. I will have to post my January reading list with number of pages read but I'm guessing I read at least 10 books and around 4,000 pages. Too bad I can't get paid for reading as I think I could make a fortune!

I have received various feedback regarding using the blog as an outlet for my wit. Luckily for anyone who reads this, I have decided to disregard all opinions that are not in line with my own and will continue to make witty and hilarious posts. Of course I will continue to post pictures and news of the kids, but as I am the center and foundation of this family (I'm modest, I know), I will also be posting more about my thoughts on life in general. My inspiration for this came from this blog. This lady cracks me up and I check daily to see if she has posted anything new. If you check out her site, read her "best of" selections. I was actually in tears one night, they were that funny!

As far as what's new around here: not too much. Ellie did get Student of the Month for February! That was exciting, although the award was for cooperation. I didn't know she had it in her to cooperate, but I guess school is a whole different world. She also had an awesome report card, so we are pleased with all her success. Ava and Carter are talking more and more each day. Some of the things they say are quite humorous. I will have to decide if some of it can be repeated in the cyber world. They are both also showing more interest in the potty and enjoy running around naked and then using the potty when they have to go. I think if I actually focused and made the decision to go ahead with it, I could get them trained. Maybe this coming weekend as Ellie has a four day break and we can stay home and make a go of it. That's it from this camp for now.

Photographic Evidence

I feel it necessary to post evidence that I do actually take the children outside on my own and without prompting. I'm under the impression that I've gotten a reputation for hating the outdoors so here is proof that I will take my kids out without another adult telling me to or the kids begging. If that doesn't get me nominated for Mother of the Year, I don't know what will!

I also love this series of photos for the posing. They are in reverse order but that first (bottom photo) was Ellie giving a thumbs up, the middle one Carter also had to do a thumbs up, and the top and last photo finally got Ava looking at the camera!

The Trials and Tribulations of a Stay at Home Mom

Ahhh, my subject title would be an excellent name for a book. Perhaps a book I shall write when I one day have the time. I have been thinking about blogging certain topics for quite a while. In fact, I even have a new direction I'd like the blog to go. (More about me and my sardonic sense of humor, about the same amount of info on the kids) But alas, I just can't find the time to get the posts I write from my head to the computer. You'd think that as a stay-at-home mom, I would have all the time in the world, but that is where you are wrong. There really is so much more to staying home than just caring for and playing with the kids. There are studies out there that estimate the worth of a stay-at-home parent at over $100,000, largely due to all the hats worn by this one person. Nanny, cook, maid, laundress, chauffeur, and so on and on and on. Add to this the fact that every now and then, I'd just like to take a day off since I "work" 24/7 and you can see why things don't get done around here.

As I write this, I see two loads of laundry to get folded, one to get moved to the dryer, and at least three more to get washed. Add to this a dishwasher that needs to be emptied and reloaded, toys all over the living room floor, one bed stripped and in need of new sheets, three other beds that haven't even been made in days and you can see where I might feel daunted by all these tasks! So rather than be productive during naptime and actually get this things done, I read books. I have this great philosophy of "why do today, what I can put off until tomorrow or even next week." It's really working for me. I feel so much more relaxed in life! Who cares if Jake doesn't have clean socks to wear tomorrow? He can pick some up off the laundry room floor and get two uses out of them. Ellie doesn't have sheets on her bed? Ah, that's what all those blankets are for. Just wrap up in them. This mama doesn't have time for the trivial things in life! I'm all about relaxation!

I will try to post in the next few days about my inspiration for the new blog direction. At this moment in time, I have two kids in the tub who are cold and a basket full of laundry to push out of my way to get to them. I suppose I'll just fold that tomorrow.....

Baby Olivia

Hi! Carter here! I just had to write to tell you all about my favorite baby, my cousin Olivia. I got to meet her for the first time at Christmas. She was almost four months old at the time.

As you can see, I just love her! I couldn't get enough of holding her and playing with her. Every time my mommy or daddy got to hold her, I came running over since I knew they'd give me a chance to hold her too! When we were at the extended Wendorff family Christmas party and everyone was passing Olivia around, my mommy even heard me muttering "my baby, my baby" as I watched her everywhere she went. I couldn't help it! She's so cute and I have to look out for her. As I said, she's my baby and I want to have her all the time! Ava wasn't as into her as I was. Ava was more concerned with the fact that Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, or Papa was holding Olivia and not her.

As you can see, she is definitely one adorable baby. I can't wait until I get to see her again. I just hope she's not big enough to try to deflect my affections! I ask about the baby every day and have also decided that I want a baby of my own. I think Ava should have her own baby too, which Daddy thinks is funny. Could you imagine if we had another set of twins? Mommy would rather not picture that at all. I can't figure out why. Ava and I are so angelic! Who wouldn't want two sets of us running around?!

Love, Carter Jacob

Happy New Year!

Happy 2010! We wish we had an exciting tale to tell of how we spent New Year's Eve, but alas, for the third year in a row, we did not make it until midnight. I woke up at 1:30 am from putting the twins down to find myself still in my regular clothes, contacts in, and makeup on. Ellie's lamp had been blazing for hours as after the twins were down, she and I were going to play a few more board games. At least I had the foresight to make her wait for me in her bed just in case we all crashed!

We welcomed the first day of the new year by playing outside. Only single digits out? Pshaw, doesn't bother us! Jake and I had to drag two kicking and screaming two year olds in as they wanted to stay out so bad. We are definitely looking forward to all the great things ahead of us in 2010. First up is to try out the underwear Santa put in the twins' stockings. We'll keep you posted as to how that one works out!

Final Christmas

Ellie Mae's Popcorn

The kids and I took a trip to Wells for one last Christmas celebration with my grandparents. We had lunch at Grandma Mary's and an early dinner at Poppa & Grandma Jackie's house. Both grandmas had made note on previous visits that these kids love green beans, so, you guessed it, we had green beans at both meals! Ava ate at least 3 helpings of beans at both meals so I don't think she minded!