Lazy

The title of this blog is pretty fitting since it have been well over a month since my last post. Honestly, while we have been busy, I have still had nights were I have had time to blog, but have decided just to get engrossed in TV or go to bed.  Pretty lazy, yes I know!  Partially to blame for the lack of blogs is the fact the last month of my kids' life has not been documented in pictures.  I have about 6 pictures, all which were taken this weekend, of the past 30 days!  I would like to say I lost my camera or it was broken but it wasn't, just sitting on the counter ready to be used! Funny, how I feel bad about this...no record of the past 30 days in photo. Do you remember the time of actual film?  No one would ever take as many pictures as we do now just for the purpose of taking pictures!  Pure laziness!

The silver lining in this laziness is that I did my Christmas cards out early (well early for) however no Christmas letter as yet again, I didn't want to put the effort into one...but I am sure it would of went a little like this...

It is hard to believe this year at this time I was just hoping to make it thru the holidays with out any problems with the twins and now they are 9 months old!  It amazes me each day, how distinct they are, but yet so the same (probably only makes true sense to those of twins reading this blog). 

The kids or "animals" as Randy and I refer to them are growing so fast...

Leighton...our 2 year old going on like 4 and a princess thru and thru...she has a very impressive vocabulary and is very fast to pick up on things. It amazes us how much she know. She is very imaginative and can play with her dolls and animals for hours. Since going to "school" she becomes more and more independent and confident. However, she still refuse to use the potty...even presents, stickers or candy won't tempt her...she too smart for that. Any ideas would be appreciated! She LOVES ice cream! Because of her, we have been thru 3 Cinderella movies, going on 4 and will be start our 2nd Sleeping Beauty movie!
Ryan or "watch dog" as we refer to him as is always first up, first down. He lets us know when Grant is doing something wrong or Leighton is being mean.  On occasion he hollers have been an alarm clock for both Randy and I when we try to get a couple more minutes of sleep!  He can stand but not brave enough to take that step alone yet.

Grant, or "bubba" is pretty much the complete opposite of his brother.  Likes to sleep in and stay up late. Is the one "breaking the rules" or "not listening" . "No no no Grant" is heard a lot in our house...followed by his big smile and a laugh.  He LOVE climbing stairs and is pretty fast at it too.  He even is a good escape artist and he can break thru gates.  He doesn't stand, has really no interest in it...but he tries to walk.  He will eat anything you put in front of him...doesn't matter if it edible or not he will try it.

Both boys LOVE their momma very much and fight for her attention.  Just these past couple of days they have started fighting between the two of over toys etc...surprisingly big brother Ryan usually wins! They both adore Leighton and she makes them laugh on the drop of a dime.

The parents of these 3 animals are doing well.  We are both busy at work and content in our current positions.  In the past month, we have had taste of a social life again (without kids), how different it is going out knowing you are going to make it thru the whole meal with out a meltdown!  Our living situation still isn't ideal, but we are making the most of it.

The 6 pictures in the last 30 days!

What did the Stanford kids do in October?

We started "school". We decided after searching for a nanny and coming up empty, to send the kids to an actual day care center. It is a smaller center and the teachers are very good with the kids! The boys really seem to enjoy as they do so much more than they would here at home (like paint). Leighton still struggles being dropped off but seems to like her "friends" and gets to do some pretty cool things (like see a fire truck!). For mommy, it has been stressful adjustment...getting calls due to bumps on heads, have to leave work due to fevers and taking work off for sick kids. Hopefully now that we have a month under our belts and have been introduced to all the "bugs" we will be easily sailing.

We spent out Columbus Day at the Center Grove Orchard in Cambridge. Leighton loved it more this year than last. I will have to say it was a thumbs up all around...pumpking lattes, apple cider donuts, kids running around, animals, apples, pumpkins and 70 degree weather! It will be crazy next year when everyone will be running about!

 

 

 

 

Poor boys, all bundled and confined to the car seat stroller

Daddy trying out the water races

The most important part...which one to choose
BUT the best part is everyone was exhausted!

I had the "awesome" idea that we would paint pumpkins this year as I wasn't in the mood for the carving mess. Let's just say next year we will be carving pumpkins.

Our Van Gogh

 

 

The finished product -- I think the boys second guess their decision in letting Mommy paint their pumpkins!

Finally Beggar's Night arrived! Leighton was BEYOND excited to go trick or treating! Every 5 minutes for the whole hour before 6pm, she asked if it was time yet! Of course, my children would not cooperate for a nice Halloween picture, this was the best one out of the bunch! She had a blast going out...only hit 8 houses as I think she was a bit cold. Randy and I think she actually had more fun handing out the candy to kids who came once she got home...she invited everyone in to play and alway said "your welcome".
 

Out I am....come on Daddy!

All we heard from the house...wait friends, wait!

Our welcoming committee

Don't know if tasking the boys with handing out candy was a good idea!

Checking out her loot!

Oh and last but not least, how could I forget to mention out family photo shoot!  To put it mildly, I don't know what I was thinking!  This picture pretty much sums it up!  (Kudos to Amy Allen for putting up with us and getting some decent picture...till next year!)

World of Make Believe

It is amazing to see the mind of a 2 year old work and her world of princes, princesses and make believe unfold.
Even more amazing is how her 7 month old brothers play out her make believe stories....

Come on Brothers, Come into my house

Her house sudden became located near the River

The animals attack!

Time to go "home"

Daddy hops in on the fun

Her addition of a "guest house"

To think these boxes kept all three kids busy on and off for a whole day...before the Daddy demolition team came in.
Thank you diapers.com and Daddy's Ebay habit for providing us with a day of make believe!

2 years and 6 months

We hit some MAJOR milestones in the month of September...our litte princess turned 2!!  And our bubbies turned 6 months...where does the time go?!?!

Princess Leighton at her birthday party

Leighton's 2 year appt went without a hitch!  She was good for the most part and only had 2 major freaks out--warrented due to being stuck by needles!  The doctor told her to cut back on her milk intake and gave Mommy advice on potty training and told us to take a little break in pushing her...so more diapers it is.

She was 35" -- 80 percentile for her age

27lbs 6oz -- 60 percentile

Grant @ 6 months

Grant aka big bubs was 26.5" -- 41 percentile

16lbs 60z --21 percentile

Ryan @ 6 months

Ryan aka Lil Bubbie was 26.3" -- 32 percentile

15lbs 13oz --14 percentile

  

Developmentally, the boys are off the chart!  All the doctors and nurses agree we are "done" for...which we concluded A LONG TIME AGO.  Both boys are crawling, sitting, and pull themselves up to stand.  Grant will "cruise" on the furniture a bit. Ryan is starting to babble. They both have 4 teeth two bottom and two top. They are interested in toys, climbing under chairs to get stuck (or anywhere they aren't suppose to be for that matter) and watching Sissy fascinates them!

Typical positioning for the boys

Tomorrow starts a new day in our lives...the kids are going to "school"!  We have made the decision that it will be easiest on everyone (especially me in the nanny hunt) that they kids tend a day care center.  We found a nice one down the road which isn't too big and seems to be a good fit with us.  Hopefully everyone transitions well (Mommy included!). 

Waiting for Daddy to cross the finish line at the Hy Vee Tri

 

Go Daddy Go!

Only Picture of our triathlete

Mr Big Stuff -- as we call him -- he climbs up there all by himself and smiles

Queen of the Yard

I'm sure I can reach it now

Friday Night Football

YAY WAUKEE TOUCHDOWN!!

Looky what I can do