The Best Laid Plans...

... always get the most royally screwed up. Did you read about the birthday party? If so, you know this isn't a new concept to me. There was little surprise then, when everything was as wacky as possible this morning and we ended up at the Museum Center instead of the Zoo. Long story, but still a fun morning.

We started in the Little Sprouts Farm, as we often do --















But we quickly moved to the Sprouts Town instead. We played in the kitchen --


















until Avery heard the bells ringing from the ball room, and took off in that direction :) (please note two things: a) I learned how to rotate a video that I (stupidly) recorded sideways. It's so easy it's embarrassing; and b) listen for Avery's excitement, all the way to the end - "Mmm! Mmm! Mmm!". Not sure why she chose that syllable, but it's pretty cute nonetheless :))



After we played in the balls a while,














we played with the train table and worked on some auto repairs --



































































before Avery headed off to do some grocery shopping.






























Pretty quickly it was time to call it a day. After all, afternoon naptime was fast approaching. (Remind me again then, why they are hollering in their room right now instead of sleeping?)

More Summer Fun in the Photo Album!

Just wanted to let you know that I am always adding pictures from these summer afternoons in the Picasa album, even when I don't update here. Pictures like these, as a sample :) --

Braves Game

Just got my XD card with pictures from an earlier Reds vs. Braves game this month. Check out these cute little fans!

































































We only lasted part of the game because it was in the middle of the wicked heat wave we've had the last few weeks, but it was nice to get to GABP, we had excellent seats, and the Braves ended up avoiding the sweep with a 7-0 victory. (Chip on the shoulders, you think, from the first 2 losses? :))

Playgroup and Popsicles!

Last Thursday the girls and I went to Stacy's for playgroup! Elise, Avery, Malia, Anna and Avary enjoyed some time in the pool and with lots of fun toys outside on a very hot day.



























In the afternoon, Nana came over and we played some more in the water mat. The girls didn't hesitate to get in and play this time!















































After "swimming" for a while and wearing themselves out, we thought it was time for a treat. What better summer snack than a popsicle?! :) Little Jennifer Avery really enjoyed sucking the juice out and then tolerated the leftover ice, while Elise shoved about 3 inches of popsicle in her mouth and did her best to break it down with her 7.5 teeth without losing any of it. Too funny! They split a red one and an orange one, and showed absolutely no preference ;)



























What a beautiful day, and now we have the pool here too, so this mama can "jump in" with them and cool off! Don't worry, I wouldn't dare share pictures of that. Someone has to be taking pictures of the cute girls, you know!

Summertime

I hate the summer. There, I said it.

I hate sweating, unless I'm working out. I hate sunscreen. I hate the clothes because, let's face it, it's much easier to cleverly disguise fat under a cute sweater or jacket. I hate the heat, and don't give me the crap about cold - you can ALWAYS add extra layers. You cannot, however, get much closer to naked than we all have been lately. At least not legally, modestly (duh), and without grossing everyone out. At least if you're me.

Add kids into the mix, especially two babies, and it just gets worse. The outfit changes (air-conditioner clothes --> outdoor clothes --> heat advisory clothes --> swimsuits --> air-conditioner clothes --> pjs --> repeat)... the sunscreen x3 and even more tedious ... the miserable, hot, uncomfortable babies that don't understand why it's so disgustingly hot.

(Rant over, considering I doubt summer is going anywhere any time soon.)

All of that said, the ONE thing that makes it all bearable, of course, is water. Not drinking it, because you know I hardly do that ;). PLAYING in it! This is the reason that we were stoked to receive not just the sprinkler I fell in love with, and the pool I specifically asked for when asked what the girls "wanted" for their birthday (the heavy-duty, old-school plastic kind so it's easier to get out each day. Oh yeah, and so I can sit in it, too), but also this super cool play mat. Seriously, we're so set to do our best to keep cool as June, what was supposed to be the most mild month of the summer, ushers in the two hotter ones. Fabulous.

I have to admit though, it does a nice job keeping us cool, and - most importantly - makes for some very cute photos! :)












































A few more in the Picasa album, and lots more to come -- of all the water toys, all (hot) summer I'm sure!

Especially for Daddy....

... because we miss him at bedtime!

We'll see you soon! :)

A Few of my Favorite Things

Since I was a little girl, I have LOVED swings. I still find myself a bit jealous of the girls as I'm pushing them, wishing I could just sit and swing for hours!

As I've mentioned, they like it too... and for their birthday, they received a swingset for our yard so we don't have to wait until we're at a park!


























Aren't they just so sweet?!


























On a completely unrelated note, I also love balloons. Look through my recent Disney trip (and probably every one prior), and you'll see this. While I won't pay $39.23 for a balloon there, I love photographing them because they make me happy. At first, they did NOT make Elise & Avery happy.

After several days of keeping an eye on the balloons tied to their chairs, though, I think they realized they were harmless. As soon as I noticed this, I of course taught the girls to "bop" them. Of anyone reading, I'm pretty sure only my sister gets the significance of this... but man, had I been waiting to "Bop" with my babies!

See them doing it on their own, a few days ago --



The balloons are floating about halfway between the ground and the ceiling these days, so you can hear one or both girls "bopping" at various times throughout the day. I'm not sure what they'll do when we have to throw the balloons out.

(Maybe learn to jump on the trampoline?)

12-Months!

Here are the big 1-year-olds!





































































And a ((n) utterly futile attempt at a) special shot one more time, before saying goodbye to the last of 3 "homecoming outfit" incarnations!

































































FYI, though I don't regularly use "catgories" on this blog, I did make a long-overdue change to these "Monthly Picture" posts. If you notice at the bottom of this entry, there is a link that reads "Monthly Memories". If you click on that link, you can view all of the entries showcasing the girls growth on their blankets and in their Anywhere Chairs. It's kind of fun to be able to quickly scroll through the past year and see how very much Avery & Elise have changed! (And as I always knew from the very beginning (NOT just in retrospect!), it also illustrates beautifully how much harder it got to parent twins the more mobile they got! ;))


Some random notes, since we've already talked a lot about their talking & walking & mimicking lately :)

The girls are in:
- Size 3 diapers
- Size 6-12 Month, or 9M clothing
- Size 2 shoes

They LOVE to eat:
- bananas
- mashed potatoes
- bread
- green beans

They DO NOT LOVE to eat :) :
- corn
- seriously, just corn. Weird, no?

They are growing bigger, smarter, and even more beautiful every day!

Happy Father's Day!

12-Month Portrait Issue

I got an email from Google yesterday saying there was an issue with Picasa and that some of my links might have been broken.  I noticed that the 12-month portraits were no longer showing up, and have fixed them.  Please let me know if you come across any other problems.  It should only affect recent posts.  Thanks!

Ready for Summer Nights with Mommy & Daddy

You may have seen these in the "Birthday Celebrations" album (along with pictures of the girls reading some of their birthday cards and opening some gifts), but just in case...




















































Thank you, Aunt Kelly & Uncle Justin! :)

Playgroup at Julia & Royce's House

June 11th was a playgroup day, but of course it's taken me this long to post about it with birthday festivities in between! :)

We had 10 babies there!













There are a few more pictures in the Photo Album (also linked in the right sidebar), but I had to share this one of Elise, caught red-handed trying to steal Henry's pacifier! :)

12-Month Portraits

Avery was hamming it up in the lobby before, and then turned stoic in the studio room. Go figure. Still, some sweet shots :)