Lounging around

It's been a busy and fun summer so far. The kids are starting to run around so much that it's hard to keep up with them and take pictures. Today, Carter said diaper this morning after Will changed his diaper. When Will looked at him, he was holding his dirty diaper up for his dad. Later in the day after we picked them up for work, I was trying to get Carter to say it again and then Ainsley responded with diaper.

Visiting my sister's and Ainsley is lounging in their kiddie chair.

The twins still fight their bed time. Here is how I found Carter when I left them alone so they would sleep. He's managed to climb on top of the shelves and then shows me a book he wanted me to read to delay bedtime.

I rushed up to the room when the video feed stopped and this was the reason why. One of the kids unplugged it from the wall. 

We've had to find ways to get the twins to go to sleep. We bring them up to their room around 7-730pm and if left alone, they will play for at least an hour. Carter had a habit of not sleeping until 930pm and that was unacceptable. 

Most recently, I would rock Ainsley to sleep in the room because she will stay in the bed. Then Will rocks Carter in the next room over and lays him in a pack and play. He's more likely to fall asleep quicker that way when he can't run around the room. It seems to work.....for now. 

Heart of Africa

Ever since the new Heart of Africa exhibit opened at the zoo, we gave it some breathing space before finally taking the twins for a visit. It was such a wonderful concept that I can't believe it's taken this long to become a reality.

They have giraffe feedings at 9am but we didn't have the twin do it in case they got scared. Although we did go through to see the giraffes immediately after and Carter's eyes grew nearly as big as mine. Looking a giraffe in the eye face to face was both awe inspiring and intimidating. It's head was nearly as big as me!

There were so many cool things to see that I was too busy taking in the sights to take pictures. We stood in the perfect position for the cheetah run. I was shocked to see that the trainers stayed in the area when they let the cheetah loose to run around. Afterwards, they got their reward of some ground chicken and the cheetahs ate it right beneath us. Again, best seats in the house.

Ainsley here is not afraid of the lions and ready to press her face up to see them. Will brought Carter to the same spot and he said that Carter was curious until he realized the lions were bigger than him and got scared.

New park cool slide

We took the twins to a new park where we found a very cool slide. It was pretty big but lined with rollers that slowed down the descent.

Will let the twins ride down the slide together the first time but that did not turn out well.

Next time, Carter and Ainsley rode down the slide individually and that went much better.

House of Japan

My nephew Timmy turned 6 at the end of May and we all celebrated his birthday at House of Japan. It was the first time the twins get to experience hibachi and the exciting show that accompanies the meal.

We went during lunch and the chef normally does not light a volcano during the show. When we asked he said that the prep didn't cut onions till dinner time. Timmy was a little disappointed but took it well. Then at the end of the meal, the chef came back and did the volcano! That was so sweet of the hibachi chef!

Will had given Carter an IPad to play with but he really didn't need to. The chef was entertaining and made it fun for everyone. Ainsley loved it and signaled more every time the chef stopped. Will ordered the chicken with the egg yolk sauce and I ordered the scallops which also came with egg yolk sauce. During the show, we stuffed the twins with spoon after spoon of delicious rice/veggies/meat slathered in delicious egg yolk sauce. When Will finished his food later, he said that he felt sick from too much egg yolk sauce. I found that funny because I think he actually fed more of it to Carter than he ate himself.

The only person who did not enjoy the fire show was Eliana. The birthday boy was so excited!

The rest of the day was spent in relaxing in a nice food coma. What a nice and fun laid back birthday.

Memorial day 2014 weekend fun

What a fun month of May. After the Michigan trip, Will and I got a day off work to spend with the twins on Memorial Day. We took them to a park to try the swings again and Carter liked it this time!

The kids love playing outside. Carter really enjoys pushing this broom around. I like to think that he enjoys cleaning. Ainsley doesn't look like a toddler anymore and is really starting to look like a little girl now. Sniff, sniff.

The weekend ended with us taking them to enjoy some Skyline chili. We fed them at home first in case they wouldn't eat but both Carter and Ainsley enjoyed it. They were fascinated with all of the action going on in the store and the tvs. It was a quick meal like any meal out with the twins but fun nonetheless.

Finished the day off with a trip to the park and then the pool which was soon becoming a regular summertime treat.

Becoming a parent is such a gift

A wonderful couple who I'm very good friends with is hoping to adopt. It's been a long road for them and I know how great their desire is to be parents and know they will be amazing parents. Please if you know of anyone who might be considering putting a baby up for adoption or have any connections, please share their information with them. I know that Christine and Larry will be the best parents ever to one lucky little baby. Thanks.

Christine and Larry wish to Adopt

Boyne, Michigan

So it's early May 2014 and the temperatures are reaching the 70's in Columbus. What a nice time to take a little road trip up north! My parents and sister's family were going to the National morel mushroom festival in Boyne mountain, Michigan and we all decided to tag along.

Oh my, who would've guessed that Friday morning in Boyne was going to bring snow showers in 38 degree weather. The festival was a huge disappointment with a small handful of vendors which only two of them even sold the elusive morel mushrooms. 

The rest of the time in Michigan was spent hanging out at our rental at Torch Lake. When the weather got warmer, it was actually pretty nice to sit outside on the large deck and enjoy some sun. We had the lake in the background which was super cool for the kids since it was different. Of course we all also had to be on high alert to make sure that none of the kids decide to take a swim.

 

 

There was lots of indoor play time as well.

 

While on vacation here, I started to put Ainsley on the toilet when I would catch her making faces like she was about to poop. Lo and behold, she went number #2 in the toilet!!! I was so thrilled and would run her to a toilet whenever she would start making poop noises. It was exhausting but if it makes future potty training would be easier then totally worth it.

There was also an amazingly delicious pizza joint down the street. I can't explain what made it so unbelievably delicious and unforgettable. Poma's pizza was the name.

Went into Traverse City, Michigan when it was time to pick Will up from the airport from his trip to TechEd out in Houston, TN. The airport was tiny. Traverse City didn't have much that sparked our interest. 

My sister and parents did wander off to find morel mushrooms on Saturday and totally got lost for 3 hours. They did find eight of those little buggers though.

Adios Michigan!

Back in the chaise

Every month for the first twelve months, we would sit Carter and Ainsley side by side in the chaise lounge for their monthly pictures. We would quickly slap a sticker on their chest and hurriedly snap pictures hoping that one turns out well. I thought that we could try to get a shot of the two of them in the lounge again. In my mind, they would sit and smile politely.