Our Visit with Grandma and Grandpa Carrithers

Oh Mom, check out the animals.....

We really liked the flamingos and ducks

At the Twins Game on Memorial Day

Liam pushing the stroller

At the sculpture garden

We had a great Memorial Day holiday with Grandma and Grandpa Carrithers. Daddy was also off for a few days so we enjoyed some extra time to play. We spent lots of time outside as the weather was beautiful and warm. We also went to the Como Zoo to see the animals and ride the carousel. We also went to a sculpture garden downtown for Grandma. We got to see the infamous cherry and spoon exhibit. Although I had to look this up after we visited (since we were busy chasing the boys while we were there), the spoon weighs 5,800 lbs and the cherry weighs 1,200 lbs. The exhibit is actually called the Spoonbridge and cherry. We also went to our second Twins game on Monday. We saw the Twins play the Boston Red Sox. We actually did very well and made it to the 7th inning with a few trips out into the hallways to walk around. We also had some treats that helped pass the time. Grandpa also got several great pictures of our weekend so we will post more later. Enjoy!

Have a nice weekend!

Fun in the Sun

Luke in the water table
Liam walking with Mom

Liam (he actually kind of liked the hat)

Water, Water everywhere....

After some cool days and nights, we had a blast of really warm air this week. I am not sure the boys have ever been so hot! We spent several afternoons outside playing in the water table (a mother's day gift from the boys), blowing bubbles, and digging in the dirt and sand. We even managed to get at least one of the boys to wear a hat to protect from the sun for more than a minute or two. Liam is making more of an effort to walk now, although he still loves his push toys. He is starting to really take several consecutive steps and is very proud of himself.

Grandma and Grandpa Carrithers are coming to visit us for the Memorial Day weekend and we are looking forward to their visit.

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Our Visit with Mimi, Sarah, Jason, and Calvin

Attempt #3 or so at a picture with all the boys in their matching shirts
Cute Calvin

Playing in the sandbox

Playing outside one morning

Calvin in the Water Table

All the boys

Calvin eating lunch

Uncle Jason and Luke

Mother's Day Breakfast

Happy Birthday Jason!

We had a busy week visiting with Grandmother Mimi Morse, Aunt Sarah, Uncle Jason, and our cousin Calvin. They all arrived on Friday of last week and left yesterday. We celebrated Jason's birthday on the 8th, Mother's Day on the 10th, and the boys all turned 16 months on the 11th. We had a babysitter over Mother's Day weekend so the adults could enjoy a dinner away from the babies. By the end of the week, I think the boys were really tired (not to mention very cranky!) We visited the downtown library for Aunt Sarah and spent an afternoon playing outside at Lake Harriet. Despite being born on the same day and being the exact same age, each of the boys is very different. It is amazing how each of them has such a unique personality. Calvin is always on the move, loves to be outside, plays very well on his own, and is already saying a few words. Luke loves to be held, grins and smiles at anyone who will look at him, and really showed a fondness for Uncle Jason. Liam is also a busy body and loves to use his push toys outside. He is independent, inquisitive, and shows very strong opinions about what he likes and dislikes and is very dramatic about virtually everything. It will be so fun to watch them interact more as they get older.

Happy Mother's Day

Silly Liam

Hey Mom, whatcha doing??

Pushing my wagon

this is what happened when I tried to get a picture with both boys looking at the camera

I am reading a really funny book right now called "Momfidence". The book talks a lot about being a mother and how obsessing less over the little things and just going with the flow helps you stay sane and keeps your kids happy and healthy. The author is very funny, here are a couple of things from the book that she uses to describe "Momfidence"....

"Using perfect only to describe such wonders as a ripe peach, a cloudless day at the beach, or a husband who does diapers and dinner....it has no application whatsoever in describing motherhood"

"Being completely amnesiac about the day's exasperating trasgressions when you peek in your children's bedrooms at night and watch them sleep"

"...is the confidence that comes from knowing everybody else is pretty much winging it, too."

Happy Mother's Day!

Welcome Back Daddy!

Luke snuggling with our friend Kirsten. This is what he does at most playdates.
Liam and our friend Jack

Lots of our Twin Friends!

Drinking some Water after our run

Liam

Playing peek a boo. The boys thought it was hilarious to open and close the door

Oops...Liam got mashed in the door (see Liam in bottom right corner)

The boys and I have had a busy week while John was out of town on business. He actually left over the weekend and thanks to the help of our friends, we survived! Over the weekend, we went out to dinner with two other moms with twins. We were quite the sight with 6 babies and 4 adults (one of the spouses came and the others were both out of town on business). We actually had to call ahead to check how many high chairs were available and thankfully we brought a few so that we would have enough. We had a great time and all of the babies actually did very well, perhaps better than expected.

We had a play date this week at a friends house and spent some time outside enjoying more of the nice weather. The boys are babbling and seem to understand more words that they did a month ago. They always point to balls and say "bababa". Liam, particularly, will chase a ball for hours. Luke loves to help out and even found a piece of paper on the floor the other day and took it to the trash can. I was expecting him to put it in his mouth, but he had other plans!

Welcome Back Daddy, we are happy to have you home!!

Growing Like Weeds

Our neighbor, Sarah and daughter Savannah, with several of the other babies

Snack time!!

Lots of babies


Liam kept running off the basketball court, he loves to go all over the place with that push toy

Brothers

Luke pushing Liam in his high chair

We had our 15 month check-up this week and the boys are healthy and continuing to grow appropriately. Luke is at 26 lbs. 10 ounces and Liam is 20 lbs. so they continue to be quite different in size. Both of them grew 2 inches since their 12 month check-up with Luke at 32 inches tall and Liam at 30 inches.

We had a playdate with our Twin friends up at the basketball courts at the park in our neighborhood today and enjoyed the warmer weather despite the strong winds. We each brought some push toys, balls, and other fun things to play with. The basketball courts give them plenty of room to run around but they are not close to the street nor is there a lot of sand or dirt for them to eat. Everyone did pretty well, but snack time was by far their favorite activity.

John just completed a small renovation to our laundry room. We pulled up the white linoleum floor and added a very nice slate tile. It looks fabulous. My only concern at this point is getting all of our laundry completed because we are at around 10 days and counting without the washer and dryer (they had to be moved to the garage for the project).

Enjoy!

Fun in the Sun

Mmm Pancakes!
I think it tastes better off the floor than in those high chairs

But Mom, I like the taste of the sand!

Swinging Luke

Swinging with Daddy

Liam

We have had a week of beautiful sunny and warmer days with temperatures in the 60's. The boys have been exploring all kinds of new things and enjoying the time outside. After dinner, we have spent an hour or so outside playing with the neighbors and swinging on our swings below the deck. We have also enjoyed more runs in the jogging stroller, bike rides outside, and a few play dates with our friends. I am posting a few pictures of one of our recent nights in the back yard.

I am also posting a few pictures taken recently when we made pancakes for the boys. I think there was more food eaten off the floor than in the high chairs. I would not worry about the food eaten off the floor being dirty considering how many times a day we have to clean the floor with all the food that gets dropped on it each time we eat a meal. Let's just say the mop is put to good use!