Virtual Craft Day

I'm linking up with my turkey-inspired project. 

I know, what a surprise with this being Thanksgiving and all!!

We started with hand prints, and foot prints. 

Emma, HAM, Claire

And after much ironing, cutting, and agonizing over placement we had...

Emma

HAM

and Claire!

Scrap fabric, felt, heat-n-bond, and a touch of paint.

Ta-Da!

(and yes they will have pupils)

What did you make this month?

This was a nap time project which I love! The girls had fun tracing their hands, and then they woke up with a surprise! I hope in the near future I can get them in on the cutting and assembling but the idea of six little hands and one big iron was a bit much for me. 

Hope everyone is having a great Turkey Day!

I'm most likely throwing spinach dip together and dreading all the driving today has in store for us. 

Well...

Well we were on a roll...

I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!!!???

So it turns out that this little girl...

(honest, I took this picture yesterday!!!)

is nearly ready for

THESE THINGS!

What happened? How did it happen?? Where was I???

If you ask DH I was pressuring her to perform. All I know is that with a little encouragement we make peepees in the potty all day long! Holla! It's bittersweet, but I am thrilled that she seems to get peeing in the potty. She isn't shy about where or which potty she pees in either. She can pee in the travel potty (which we've never used while traveling), pee in the dreaded but hugely popular froggy potty, or just pee using the big girl potty straight up. Pee, pee, pee. Miss Emma can pee. 

But that's where is seems to stop. She has the pee part down but I'm not sure how else to encourage the unmentionables-other than to mention she should always do them on the big girl potty because my days of personal pooper-scooper are nearing an end! She specifically demands a diaper for her other business. So I tried the whole we don't need a diaper route. She totally just pooped and then informed me she was a "yittle wet". I was expecting only wet when poop came flying out! 

So my question is how do I address this? Do I allow her to keep messing herself till she gets it? I can't ask her to sit on the potty anymore than I already am. Would letting her wear the panties encourage her? Because I don't want to give her the panties and then take them away. She is clueless about panties since I've taken the "freeballin" approach today. We keep things classy!!

My second, and far more troubling question to all the same sex twin parents in the universe:

Do they share underwear?

Seriously?! Do they? This grosses me out. I would never share my underwear. EVER. I'd just go without. A friend simplified it for me a bit. They are sisters. They are little girls. There is plenty of bleach. Even after soaking for days in straight bleach I'd NEVER wear my sister's underwear. My cousin reminded me that I didn't segregate their diapers. They share all their other clothes for the moment. Can they share underwear? Is that hygienic?? I feel like I'm over-thinking this but there is just something sacred about underwear. My solution was to just initial all the tags. I think I'm the only one who would pay attention AND the underwear are tagless! WTH?! They're also fairly unattractive, not that I'm going to a certain look for my 2 year old's panties but can I get something not so floofy? And something a little better made?? Lastly, who thinks that a six pack is reasonable? They're for little kids, where are the 20 packs??

So please, please, please, PLEASE send me your guidance!

Oh Friday...

So I do believe fall has finally settled in and winter is not far off. That means we are inside, all day. Everyday. CRAZY! Who keeps kids in? They pester you and are needy! Bwhahaha!!! In all seriousness, I miss being outside and the magical way it makes them yearn for nap. The only yearning being done inside is for "pay-doh" and "nacks!" 

So in an effort to switch things up and keep them on their toys, I brought and outside toy in! Craziness!

I think they would have been content to sit and bang on the easel all afternoon. They were quite excited to see it. I was quite nervous about containing mess. 

After all was said and done, we were left with an activity mullet! Markers in the front, paint in the back.  I am proud to report that paint stayed where is was suppose to with minimal paint found on the children! Markers however are too tempting and there was plenty found on said chitterlings.  

Thanks Crayola for upping the washability!

 Then it still wasn't lunch time and I was getting tired. So I needed to find something to occupy them. I asked if they wanted to make something and they began chanting for pumpkin rolls. Sorry kiddos, I've had my fill till next week. So I settled on brownies! HAM had a hell of a time banging the measuring cups against the counter and bowl. She was so eager to help. Emma lost interest when the batter wasn't orange. So I heated the oven and went about making some brownies with HAM while Claire supervised. She is going to be a GREAT jerk of manager some day.

The oven still wasn't finished pre-heating by the time I was done with the batter so I set it to the side while I cleaned up. I took two bowls to the sink, a whole two steps away! You just can't turn your back on these ladies!

Me: "Emme, did you stick your fingers in the pan?"

Em: "I try it!" (as defiant as can be!!)

But that is ok, because in the end I get the last laugh!

What's the best part about baking with children?

 Eating their free labor during nap!

Dogs Bark

Who knew?! In all my years of owning dogs I was never aware they barked. I was just flabbergasted when I found out!

Neighborman picked a prime time to discuss the barking of our furry, four legged friends. And by prime time, I mean 6am on a Monday morning-on his way in. Apparently our dogs bark during the day. Being upstanding, productive members of society, we aren't home to hear it. Hence my surprise to find out that they bark at all! And not only do they bark, Neighborman was kind enough to inform us that they bark when people pass or come up to the house! It's like they are protecting their territory or something! He was also quick to mention that they were interrupting his sleep and that he might be starting vocational rehab soon and he'd be needing his rest. 

Please note that he was coming in at 6 in the morning. Not coming in from work, no swing shift for him. He doesn't work. He's out on workman's comp, that is until that runs out and he finds another company to take advantage of and sue. He's done this song and dance three times since we've known him. Yeah, a total class act. If he has worked an entire year in the three or so years he's lived next door I would be surprised. 

I can say for certain that his existence disgusts me. He is worthless. Having heard him threaten and beat his ex-girlfriend, bully and belittle her child, cry to his daddy for money, put up with his music, AND hear him doing the hibbity dibbity (cause connecting walls are a two way street)- I have officially decided that...

I don't care. 

I thought I cared. Tuesday we penned the dogs in the kitchen to move them away from the front door and it's passerby's. That involved moving a gate, moving 50lbs of dog food, moving beds and toys, and cooking my beef stew on a step stool in the dining room. That friends, is way too much effort for this white girl! Not only that, they are dogs! Dogs bark. Dogs protect their territory. He knowingly purchased a house next to two dogs. 

If I get the chance and the timing is right, I would love to remind him of all these truths. I'd also like to invite him to get a job and not stay out all night. I'd tell him that parking his two POS cars far apart and in front of an elder lady's house because "she has a garage she should use" is rude. I'd also thank him for cutting my 50 year old azalea bush in half and tell him that edging with grass killer is trashy. While I was at it I'd inform him that the tattered flag in his back yard is a disgrace and the patches from the State Police where his daddy was a paper pusher are purely decorative.  Lastly I'd tell him that given the market he could always try to list his house because clearly he's not ready for homeownership.  

Sorry for the rant. I just find him totally intolerable. He has a crush on me. It's gross. I pray to the foreclosure gods every night. I'd rather live next to a rotting house.

So how do you get along with your neighbors? Would you consider moving because of your neighbors specifically?

Our street is mostly old people and a few families. Jerkhole next door is the only single person on the street and we share the only duplex. Just.My.Luck. I would honestly love to move in general, but especially because of him. 

On the upside, Neighborman has provided a nice distraction for craziness of the impending holidays and the unfolding horror stories in the news. Maybe he does have an upside!

Guest Bathroom

And you thought your bathroom was crowded! Whatever happened to privacy? Will my modesty ever return? Is this remotely helpful with potty training?

TV? Glee? PSU?

So admittedly, people often stop mid sentence when asking me if I've seen the latest episode or movie to correct themselves. I don't watch tv. I'm not with it. I'm certainly not one of the cool kids.

That being said. I've never seen Glee. I don't know anything about the show other than it's based on a high-school glee club I believe. I don't think that these actors look very much like high schoolers. I do however love me some Adele. And if you haven't heard the 300th episode of Glee's Adele mash-up, you are totally missing out! It so good might I have to you-tube the episode. Chances are I'll just buy the CD though...


On a heavier note, what the hell PSU?! I whole heartedly agree that the media is placing too much emphasis on Joe. Hello, let's think about the victims! Eight and counting, eight little boys that people turned their heads on. Horrible. To protect who? What? It's more than I can comprehend. What is more is that, I believe thanks to media coverage and spin, the public wanted people the Paterno and the President fired. So firing people solves the problem? I think the Board of Trustees should be looking at the chain of command and reviewing the schools policies. While he was still in the wrong, I almost feel bad that Paterno has become the fall guy.

This situation sparked a small debate at work the other night. How do you charge someone who is turning a blind eye to something. It doesn't necessarily have to be something of this nature. A woman I work with swears that everyone involved should be charged with rape and hung. I reminded her we watch people do things that are bad, wrong, and illegal EVERYDAY without saying a word. Nothing comparable to the situation at PSU of course, but I've seen people spank their child in the grocery store, threaten harm on another person, steal! I reported none of it. Am I an accessory? Of course she argued that it was completely out of context.

I reminded her that when you involve yourself in other people's problems, they become your problem. The person who would have gone to the police would have involved themselves in a child molestation case. They would have been questioned, asked to provide and statement and testify. They would have to face the accused. They would have been responsible for bringing criticism and shame to the university and the accused. I'm sure the pride of taking out the bad guy would greatly help, but they still would have taken heat for doing the right thing.

Again I say, what happen is a horrible thing. It makes you really think about the world outside your front door. The world you're sending your children into, without your constant supervision. It happens more than we hear or would like to admit. But how do you determine guilt?

And whatever happen to raising your children into respectable and productive adults?

Treat others the way you want to be treated. Keep your hands to yourself. Please and thank-you. Always ask questions, because there is no such thing as a dumb question. I think everything I needed to learn I really did learn in kindergarden. But in today's society, is it safe to send our kids?

Phone Week

Because who wouldn't want to walk through my phone? Also, it's late and being the ever lazy person I am- I don't feel like *thinking* at this hour!!!

She takes her stickers seriously.

Proper potty attire.

"You want me to get up?"

Thank you 1952 for this gem! Awkward.

Seeing the leaves go made me sad.

Bath time fun- HOLLA!

This is how we roll at 6AM.

"Cuddle with me DAMMIT!"

Just for you Marcia.

I was also amazed by the glowsticks.

This one has been naughty.

Pudding paint!

Snack wasn't desirable. 

Kid + Coat = Adorbs!

Sunday morning story corner.

A pallet of turkeys.

Blocking my freezer.

Blocked by a stack of pallets.

Reason #58273 I wish to resign my employment: MDC drivers who pay no attention to where they drop pallets.

In the event this wasn't an MDC driver.

Reason #58274 I wish to resign my employment: Frozen personnel who feel they are free to use any freezer.

In the event this wasn't a judgement error.

Reason #58275 I wish to resign my employment: Management who don't care to monitor or appropriately direct their employees. 

Pudding Paint!

Today I finally took the time to make pudding paint! Holla! I was excited for the girls to have fun and make a mess. Did I just say that? Surely this all sounded like wonderful fun in my head.

It's All-American, except for the sugar-free part.

Miss Timid-Pants got to be the official 'dumper.'

Then the 'mixers' joined in. I must have repeated the words share and whisk in the bowl a million times. I'm sure I sound like I'm yelling at a dog half the time with my short, sharp commands!

 I absolutely love that face. Both of my ladies do it when there is a lot of concentration involved. I hope they never lose it!

Then we waited. Emma and Ham would have been happy to sit and stir all afternoon. Instead we went to play while this vanilla cloud set-up.

Just before snack time we came down. I dished out some pudding, colored, and mixed. My master plan was to hand over spoons and animal crackers when they were done painting. I figured that they would taste the paint and eat more than they painted. For that reason alone we painted paper and not graham crackers. Just to prove me wrong, these little angels didn't take one taste! NOT ONE! 

In fact, they even threw a fit when they got some on their hands! They wanted it wiped off- IMMEDIATELY!

I have raised children who are afraid to get dirty. :( So I then encouraged them to try the paint. They refused. I tried some myself to show them how yummy it is! 

BLECK!

Sugar-free is not for me!  

Then Ham decided she was done painting, Emma soon after. The child who usually has the least interest and refused to tolerate dirt, mess, and disorganization, Miss Claire, continued to paint and paint. She even asked for another piece of paper-until she saw me dishing out real snack cups.

What can you do with a cup of sugar-free vanilla pudding?

I hope they at least enjoyed themselves for the 30 minutes they were occupied. I enjoyed sitting on my arse offering encouragement and praise while sneaking candy!!! 

Bwhahahaha!

Hope you're having a great Friday! 

November Goals

It's that time again...

So from October I had...

Vacuum and wipe down hall closet regularly

Put up fall decoration (already started) Can I leave scare crows up through Thanksgiving?

Pumpkin Patch

Pay off my credit card from the new tires-blah I'm going to give myself partial credit, I paid off the tires...and started charging Christmas! Hello points!

Take some pictures of the girls at the beach It wasn't a raging success but I did get some shots

Go on a date with the hubs Didn't even plan one but we did enjoy the beach!

Take the girls out to a nice restaurant (the kind without highchairs! oh-la-la)

Buy rug for family room I measured but big rugs are so expensive and I can't decide on one.

Establish family christmas lists (shopping, gifts, and cards)

Shop for x-mas I have passed the halfway point!!!

Finish ditch Ha! It's cold, there is always next year.

Paint living room That can is still staring at me.

On to November...

A date with my Husband is in order

Decide on Thanksgiving and make appropriate plans

Finish up x-mas shopping

X-mas card list and addresses

Make x-mas cards and have them printed

Make x-mas dresses!!!

Buy a pair of covered shoes

Find some new bras (impossible!)

Perhaps, just maybe, paint the living room

So that is that. I thought October was slightly ambitious but I did get a lot accomplished. I feel like I have things that I am horribly unmotivated to do but I'm not sure how to fix that. Can someone make me paint my living room?? So before I sign off, I'd like to inform the innanets that I most definitely feel "the cold" coming on. "The cold" being the one that has passed between the girls, the neighbor girl, and between the families. We like to share and there is just no stopping people's generosity!

Halloween

It was simple! It was easy! It was everything Halloween should be. That is until next year when they realize that all the candy they collected went into my tummy!! Mwhahahaha! 

We started off our Halloween weekend with an invite to a local kids gym. Fantastic! The girls had a great time once they forgot we shoved them into costumes. They danced around with the other kids and  my shy Claire Bear really liked participating in circle time. I love seeing her run around and have a good time, she is usually so reserved and to herself. I'm really torn over a membership. 

  I think she wanted this to be a teeter totter. Good luck kid!

For a while we commandeered the ball pit. I **almost** bought a ball pit that night. Then I realized who would be chasing balls all over the house!

While thinking about how much they love the gym and the interaction, I couldn't help but cringe at the "gym rules." NO SOCKS! Yeah, yeah, they'll slip and fall. Got it. Liability. What about cleanliness? Toddlers are walking petri dishes that ooze, spray, and hack everywhere! They spread almost as easily as they contract! Let's discuss athletes foot, hand-foot-and-mouth, and DIRT! Once we got to the car I was wiping myself down with sanitizer! There aren't enough bleach wipes in the world to save a toddler gym!

Monday we joined HAM for trick-or-treating this year, it was the first year for everyone. Needless to say we practiced a bit before we thrust them onto people's doorsteps to beg. 

I'm raising peepers! Would you answer the door for a lion, zebra, and giraffe?

Meet Emma the zebra! She walked half a block with the glow stick across her face as if it was totally normal. Mother of the year here kept taking pictures. 

This is Claire the headless giraffe. It took all month to warm her up to the costume, I wasn't going to fight her for the head too. 

Lastly we have the way-past-bedtime shots circe 2011. 

...and circa 2010...

...and circa 2009!