June 20th: Summertime Days

Let's see, how do we pass the time in the summer? A variety of outings, guaranteed to exhaust all children, and particularly Mommy! So far we've hit three different parks, the pool, the library, the Greenway biking trail, and Costco - yes, that counts as an outing because it includes frozen yogurt for a treat. Besides, they have those great big carts that can hold two babies in the seat, and a five year old in the basket. That's my kind of place. Oh, did I forget $7 bottles of wine? Huge cartons of diapers? Samples on every corner? These kids can eat the house down.

We've been meeting some of Cole's friends, and mine, at different parks each week. He has a blast, running wild with the boys, and the girls get to practice their climbing skills. They are especially good at running in opposite directions, while I stand & decide which one is in more danger. Jadyn at the top of the curvy slide, preparing to go down headfirst? Or Isabella, stepping off the edge of the platform? Oops, there goes Jadyn yelling "Wheeee..." Isabella, you have got to develop some depth perception! That's a 2 ft. drop-off! Oh, Cole, you're not supposed to climb on top of slide tunnel, hang on, don't jump! OK, no broken bones. I'm gonna have to pack something stronger than water in the cooler. For me, not them, everybody settle down! Some days it just doesn't pay to leave home.

The next day dawns, Mommy drinks coffee and ponders what fun outing we could go on today. In the background Jadyn begins to yell "Ba-bah! Ba-bah! (Bella) Uh-oh....uh-oh..." She comes my way, frantically pointing to Isabella in the hallway. What is it, Lassie? What is it girl? Is Timmy in the well? Oh, thanks for calling me, Jadyn. Isabella has a small shovel and is digging in my potted plant. Dirt & moss are strewn around the foyer as she dances in it. Jadyn continues to exclaim "Uh-oh...uh-oh..." What is that thumping sound? Good grief Cole! It is not OK to bounce such a large ball off the walls. Outside, now! What was that I said about not leaving home? We've gotta get out of here! And so it goes, the scale tipping back & forth each day as I weigh the fun of staying home versus getting out...

10/12/2005 - Eight and a half month update!

Well, I thought I would try a little stream-of-consciousness writing this time, to really get across the action going on around here. It is a multi-tasker's paradise! Or else grounds for permanent scatter-brain syndrome...

Here is one slice of a day: Babies crawling everywhere non-stop, trying to escape barriers I put up... Isabella is pulling up on everything, then can't get back down, so she cries... Jadyn crawls around perfecting her pincer-grasp by picking up small crumbs from the floor and eating them... jadyn rolls on isabella, kicks her in the head... Cole tries to pick up the girls, carry them around, drag them by their feet... jadyn leaves a spit-up trail everywhere she crawls, I follow behind wiping & scrubbing... oops, isabella can't get down from the windowsill again...Oh no, Cole's gone out the front door without permission...is that the laundry buzzer I hear... oh great, time to start getting dinner ready... and they're following me into the kitchen! jadyn is opening and slamming the kitchen drawers... isabella, stop pulling up on the trash can (gross!)...jadyn get out of the dishwasher... isabella is licking the kitchen floor... jadyn, don't kick her in the head! Cole, close the fridge quickly, the girls are getting in there... Is that the phone? Oh, hi (it's our car loan office) Cole get off of me! (phone ringing cues boy to take flying leap onto my back and giggle loudly into the receiver)... jadyn, come back sweetie (phone ringing cues girl 1 that she can proceed to foyer and eat plant leaves)... Isabella, this way! (phone ringing cues girl 2 that it is now OK to teethe on the wooden staircase)... Cole, put her down g-e-n-t-l-y... Is that the garage I hear? Daddy's home! Cole, please use a quiet voice (arrival of paternal unit cues boy to talk at abnormally loud decibal level)... jadyn, hush baby, daddy will get you (arrival of adored father cues girl 1 to fuss until picked up)...Isabella, stop licking the floor & fussing! (arrival of daddy cues girl 2 that it must be dinner time)... and the rest is history!

2/25/2005 - A Cole story...

The other day Cole asked me "Mom, what does re-dentical mean?" I kept having him repeat the word, while I scrambled to understand what he was saying. Finally, I got it. I asked if he meant "identical" since I knew he had heard everyone asking if the twins are identical. He said, yes, that was what he meant, so I explained the word, while he looked at me with his brow furrowed. When I was done, he said "Well, our girls are not identical, because Isabella is wearing pink, and Jadyn is wearing pink with white stripes, and so they don't look the same!"
What a good explanation...

More on being identical:
Today Cole was looking at the girls, and said "Mom, are our twins prac-tical?" I giggled and said no, they're fraternal. Cole frowned at me and replied, "Well, I see that they're wearing the same shirt today, so that means they're the same."