Artists

Elaina loves anything related to art, especially play dough and drawing. More often these days, Skylar is showing interest in it as well, though his attention isn't quite as long as hers. A little art fun we did last week...

Play dough Mr. Potato Head, one of the many great ideas we have gotten from Skylar's therapists.


She is very hard at work and always has a plan for what she is making.


Finger painting!


Mixing the colors is so much fun:)


About 5 minutes after this she decided to rub those hands in her hair which led to a unplanned hair washing in the kitchen sink.


Messy fun

Countdown to Halloween

It might be the last year they let me dress them alike. It is pretty funny to see them chasing each other around, barking and pulling each others tail. I should probably put the costumes away so the novelty doesn't wear off for Halloween, but they are too funny.

Our little collector

I went into Skylar's room in the morning and found him in bed with all this. He usually sleeps with a toy or two and of course his bunny. But this night he had been carrying around Elaina's doll and cradle (which somehow ended up in bed) and he must have gotten out of bed and brought a basket of toys into bed too. How did he fit?! Who knows?

First Day of Kids Day Out

The kids are going one morning a week to Kids Day Out at our early childhood center. Today was their first day. No tears or protests of going from either. Elaina ran out the door with her back pack (or pack pack as she calls it) and yelled "Come on Mommy!". Skylar was more concerned with playing with his airplane and taking one last ride in the Cozy Coupe. His back pack made it on once he got to school.



See how excited she was?!?


Skylar wouldn't pose. He was too busy once he got to school running around and taking his back pack on and off. Elaina on the other hand was more than willing. She introduced herself to one of the teachers and then turned and said "This is Skylar". Once the door to the room was open, Miss Independent yelled "I'm going to school Mommy!!". She didn't look back. Once Skylar found some of the things he was interested in, he was fine. I am so proud of them...my little ones are growing up so fast!

First time fishing

Jon has been so excited to take the kids fishing for the first time. Yesterday we went to Bass Pro Shop and the kids picked out their poles....Toy Story for Elaina and Batman for Skylar! They carried their poles with excitement through the store and didn't want to put them down in the car (especially Elaina). She talked about fishing all night and the whole drive to the farm. Yep, she was excited! Skylar needed some coaxing and waking up crabby didn't help but he eventually came around:) PS Click on the pictures...they look so much better big.


Elaina checking out the fish daddy caught.

Learning to cast with Daddy


Skylar's turn



Guess who caught the first fish?! Skylar! But he was a little freaked out by the flopping fish. Elaina wanted a closer look.


Relaxing on the dock


Pointing out the bobber...she totally got the idea of fishing!


Reeling is the best part of fishing!





Worms! She is not afraid of anything:)


Swinging


Such happiness!

Some days I like blueberries

Skylar is a picky eater. Food is not something that is a priority for him - something I just don't get! It makes it even more baffling because Elaina is a great eater. She will try almost anything and rarely doesn't like something. So when Skylar tries something new or unexpected and doesn't spit it out, Jon and I are calm on the outside but screaming on the inside. Blueberries are fine in smoothies or in muffins but plain forget about it. Until this night. Skylar climbed out of his seat as I was clearing plates and then got into Elaina's seat, buckled himself in, and began to eat her blueberries. Not one, or two, but several. Let me just say this hasn't happened since. But there is hope now that we have witnessed it!



Elaina came over to see what he was doing and he fed her some. She has him wrapped around her finger!!

No more cribs (or pack n plays with tents!)

With most milestones and transitions your children reach, there is a feeling of both excitement and nostalgia. Excitement like "Thank goodness they finally did that" but also nostalgia over knowing they are growing up. I think the transition to the toddler beds has been the most nostalgic for me so far. People ask us all the time if we will adopt more children. The answer is no. We have no plans to expand our family more. We feel blessed beyond belief to have two children, TWINS!, and on top of that a boy and a girl. We like our family the way it is. And getting pregnant? I highly doubt that! So much that I am choosing to forego the extra $200 a month I would have to pay for my health insurance for maternity coverage!!

But with the move to the toddler beds, it seems we are officially moving away from having two "babies" in the house. We are cleaning out all the baby toys and clothes they have outgrown and are just unbelievably small. Seriously were these two really only 3 lbs 6 oz and 3 lbs 11 ozs at birth?!? It is amazing! Now if only both kids would cooperate and consistently use the potty. But I won't wish these days away (though underwear would be much cheaper!).

A few pics from the first days in their beds...

Trying it out for the first time (she is a total snuggler and piles her bed with lots of blankets and stuffed animals). We have now rearranged her room and the bed is not against the wall since we realized she won't fall out.


The aftermath of her meltdown over not wanting to stay in her bed for nap. Not even watching Finding Nemo would keep this tired one awake! Thank goodness it isn't quite as bad to get her to sleep. Though she has decided she must have the door open. This afternoon's nap included her "reading" her Brown Bear, Brown Bear book to herself and yelling "I am sleeping in a big girl bed!"


Getting ready for night two in his bed. He loves it and just snuggles in with his blanket, stuffed animals, and truck.


Giving the mommy rabbit a kiss (he moved onto the baby which is attached next!)