Flashback Friday

These pictures were all taken between 4 and 6 months of age. I love that they pose essentially the same way every time. Roo's head tilt and Em's raised eyebrows. We were still wondering about their eye color during this time. Roo's kept getting lighter. Em's kept getting darker. Now I've got a blue eyed blondie and a hazel-brown eyed brunette. And they still pose much the same way.

Shake N Bake Elmo

Apparently, Elmo peed Roo's bed this morning.

When I opened the nursery door the scent of urine smacked me upside the head. Her sheets, crib bumper, pillow, Nannie blanket, doll baby, puppy and Elmo were soaked and smelly.
(After typing this out, I am now aware we have a few too many items in the bed. I didn't even mention the 2 board books and the crib mirror.)
And Roo was yelling, "ELMO!" "ELMO!"
So, I take it to mean that the little red guy is the culprit.

Of course, I could be wrong. There was a diaper lying on the floor next to the crib.

So, everything lands in the washing machine. Everything but Elmo. He's not water friendly.

How do you get the pee smell out of Elmo?
Why, you put him in a big ole bag full of baking soda and shake!

And while I was doing this, I began to smell smoke.

Ruh Ro?!

From the laundry room.

Huh?

Yeah. The t-shirt Roo wore last night was wedged between the wash tub and the lid. And it jammed the spin cycle. And my washing machine was SMOKING!

I don't know if it's ok or not. I'm scared to go back in there and try it with a new load.

J is not going to be happy with Elmo when he gets home from business travel tomorrow.

Gotta Dance

Em and Roo love the Classical Baby series that Marmee bought them.
Especially the Dance dvd.

Em's favorite is the mambo. She cannot contain herself and has to get up and boogie.
Roo is a bit more refined. She just "hand dances" to this one.



They're not the only ones with mambo mania. Check out these kids.

Happy Fake Father's Day

We missed out on a real Father's Day for J this year. So, yesterday Em, Roo and I declared it Fake Father's Day and celebrated accordingly. (Not that J is a fake father. Just that the day is fake. Wait. It was a real Saturday. But not a true Father's Day. Never mind. I shouldn't really have to explain this.)

J's only real request was a morning to sleep late. So, the RG's and I spent the morning coloring and wrapping up the super top secret present we bought.

He liked it!

Chucks. Just like the girls'.

Since J slept until 11!, we headed out for lunch instead of brunch. Love us some Mexican food.

The RG's cheesed for a picture with Daddy and then snacked and colored until the food arrived.

Em colored everything. See that blue streak on her face? I did not know you could mark up skin with a crayon. Learned something new.
Roo was diggin' the chips and creamy jalepeno sauce. She had to arm wrestle her Daddy for the chip basket, though. She won. Just batted those big blue eyes and he caved.

J is just the most wonderful daddy. It's a privilege to parent with him. And the RG's really do think he's a rock star. They're right.

We Love You!!



*****
from the RG archives

1st Father's Day

2nd Father's Day (J was traveling in Europe)

Why, Hello 2! You're right on time.

Tomorrow is the RGs' due date. So, officially, Em and Roo are two years old.

Yesterday we had their yearly evaluation for the early childhood intervention program. (They qualified based on prematurity issues.)

Not so ironically, one of Roo's "goals" is (and I quote):
"What we want for Roo: to improve her communication so she has better social interactions. We will know this has been achieved when she uses words INSTEAD OF SHRIEKING."

and for her twin...
"... use words rather than SCREECHING."

Amen.

No Place Like Home

We are home.

It feels like we've been gone for months, not 2 weeks. The girls were really happy to see their beds. And their sweet teacher at Mom's Day Out. And oddly enough, their high chairs. But, Roo has also been asking for Nannie all day. And tonight during prayers, Em said Grandpa, Roo said "Narnee" (Marmee) and both said Nannie.

A few extra pictures from our time away from home.

Em. Worn out and falling asleep on the couch an hour before nap time.

Em finding the balloon bouquet to celebrate Father's Day and various anniversaries. She hogged the whole thing and stumbled around like a one-man-band with the balloons knocking together and the ribbons tangling between her knees. Roo had no chance at it.

Roo hopping into the sandbox 10 minutes after arriving home. Em had a 5 minute lead on her. They went out through the dog's door.

Home Sweet Home.

The End...

...and a new beginning.

Our darling Dubbie went home to be with the Lord today around noon. We are so blessed to be his. We are so relieved that his struggle is over. And we are so thankful that he is HOME.
But. Oh, how we miss him.

Roo and Em, your great-granddaddy Dubbie was just about the best man ever. You'll know him in a lot of ways, though I know your memories of him may be mine and your Daddy's. The pictures and stories will keep him alive for you. Most importantly, his legacy. Dubbie was a God-fearing, hard working, funny, talented, innovative, devoted, selfless man. And we are honored to have belonged to him. To have loved him and been loved by him.

Bath Time

Ok. Not really.
But the RGs wish this was how bath time went down every night.
With Maggie dog, and a giant water sprinkler beach ball, in the backyard and a wading pool nearby. It's a toddler's fantasy.

you are my sunshine

Em has been adding words daily. My favorite is "sunshine". We need some this week. The opening page of the Best Storybook Ever has a big smiley faced sunshine illustration. I sing "You Are My Sunshine" to her when we linger on that particular page. Now, Em's trying to repeat it. She also started saying "love you". It sounds more like "bu you". But, who cares!!!!

Roo has been a bright spot, too. I love watching the gears spin in her brain. This is what she decided to do with her fruit cup today.

And here she is taking a break after a fun box ride compliments of the Awesome Aunt Kaki.

My favorite thing that Roo is doing is her run/walk/wiggle down the hall o' portraits here at Marmee's. She goes all the way to the end where Nannie's and Dubbie's pictures hang. And she stands there and shouts "NINNIE! DUDDIE!" over and over with a gigantic grin on her face.
I'm taking that to mean that they are on her heart, as well.

Just Right

We're camping at Grandpa's and Marmee's for a while longer. We need to be with Nannie and Dubbie.

So, we picked up some chairs for Em and Roo.

After much "UP!" and "DOWN!"-ing they settled in. With blankies and milk.

Just right.

------

eta: After Roo was finished, she tried to turn around to back out of her chair. In the process, the chair closed over her hiney like a Venus fly trap and swallowed her whole. Then, it took her down. Must practice the exit strategy with Roo.

Rapunzel

Roo playing the "look I have long hair and isn't it fabulous" game.

Firsts

The RGs had their first Popsicles today. They were a huge hit.
And the perfect finale to a fun time in Marmee's and Grandpa's wading pool.

the young and the napless

Zebra, Giraffe and Hyena... Oh My!

We received a fun update from Mammaw and Pappaw in Tanzania.
Every night Roo and Em pray for them by name. It's still sounds a bit like gibberish to us, but God knows their hearts.
We miss them so much.
-----------

We returned Thursday from hosting our first OMEGA team "solo". It was great. The team was from South Dakota, ages 19 to 48 (9 in all). We had a blast with them and they worked like Trojans. They hand sawed and constructed 16 roof trusses and then attached the metal roof on a government school.

Our camp was truly "in the bush". We were 200 yards from Tarangire National Park and could see giraffe and zebra at a distance and hear hyena at night. Elephants had been in the area, but we missed them, as well as the lions the Maasai had reported.

The villagers were amazing. I took several into a town about 20 miles away to buy supplies so they could do a celebration for the team. As we drove along the dirt road, people would just come to the side of the road to give them money to contribute to the costs. The last day they roasted a goat and had sodas for us all. All the village and tribal elders came and honored the group with speeches and dancing.

There are so many things I wish we could experience with you. I even dreamed that I had to leave camp and drive into Arusha to pick J up at the airport.

Love to all,
Mammaw

Irony

Diaper ointment gives you the runs.

If you eat it.

Says poison control.

Today.

When I called.

Because Em ate some Desitin while I was wrapping up her dirty diaper.

fyi: You only have to sweat it if your kid eats the entire tube.

It's been a really awesome day so far. Awesomely bad.

Parking

The RGs did a little park/play-scape hopping over the weekend.

Starting with Friday and a meet up with our NICU buddies.

Chasing bubbles and their shadows.

Standing on the fire engine toy with Aunt Kaki. Thank you Kak! You give me so much peace when you're on RG patrol.

The body language says, "I. Don't. Want. To. Hold. Hands." Miss Independence.



Then, Saturday we picnicked with a local mothers of multiples group.

Roo is heading back to base camp and J is trying to extract Em from the bridge.

Playing "we got the beat" with sticks on the rock wall with another set of twins.

A brief moment when we were all seated. That didn't last long.

And Sunday we hit the Central Market playground during a meal swap for a cooking club that we're a part of.

Roo's BIG blue eyes

Roo hanging onto the same piece of honeydew melon from the previous picture. Eww.


Em and her Daddy.


Being ever so careful on the stair steps.


Wonder where we'll end up tomorrow?