Multiples....

I'm babysitting a set of 3-year old twins. And, let's put it this way: I'm so glad I don't have triplets.

On the other hand, Becca is happily occupied in the backyard and Andrew is napping and I'm totally procrastinating and blogging...

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Jo Anne and Jim and my mom and dad are arriving here tomorrow. On Saturday, David and Tara will be arriving and Saturday night Jane, John's dad, Tony and Kate are coming. We are so excited to have so much family coming (for the occasion of Andrew's baptism). I'm also going to be singing Ave Maria in church that day, assuming I don't have an emotional meltdown over the words and the occasion--My baby! Is growing up too fast! It is also John and my 12th wedding anniversary on Sunday! Big day!

Unfortunately, I have just spent the past few days making lists and not doing anything about the items on those lists, except fretting about the lists and re-writing them. So, today a babysitter is coming over so I can go shopping. OHYEA. Sometimes procrastinating pays off!

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Gotta run. One of the twins just let Becca's toads out and she's screaming bloody murder!

I'm Terrified to Say This Out Loud...

...but I think we're officially potty-trained over here.

I know. I know. I can't believe it myself. I mean, it only took a mere year and a half. No biggie. It was a cinch. I am already planning my snide, unhelpful and un-asked-for assvice for anyone embarking upon potty training. I obviously have all the answers. It is so easy.

(Ha.)

Becca just gets up in the morning and goes to the bathroom. I guess. Because her bed is dry. But I never hear her or see her use the bathroom. So, unless there is a fun surprise waiting for me in an unused corner of the house, I assume she's doing it the right way. She had one final sticker chart encouraging her to have no accidents for 10 days (not consecutive). And we reached that milestone! My (hopefully) final bribe for the potty stuff is done! We went to Toys R Us and she picked out a new toy (for the ten bajillionth time. Bribing! For desperate parents everywhere!) She picked out a My Little Pony who sneezes and has a fever and says "My tummy feels funny!" Everytime I hear that phrase I have a minor vomit-phobia freakout.

But hey. At least I'm not changing sheets in the middle of the night, or pull-ups in the mornings.

Instead, we spend every morning looking for little toads named Lila.

Weekend Wrap Up

How was your weekend? We had a busy one that started out with me attempting to take both kids "yard sale-ing," as they say here. If you'd like to know how that went, just install a soundtrack of a screaming baby in your car and then drive around aimlessly, randomly stopping to get out and paw through piles of crap.

We did come away with a couple new books for Becca, and an art/paint/music spinner toy--unopened. Oh, and a new photo album for me to fill up with page after page of baby pictures. So, it wasn't a total loss.

After that, I didn't have the stamina to attempt the farmer's market, as I'd planned. So, we stopped at a farm stand and bought fresh blueberries and corn. Later that day, we went to the library, where both kids got signed up for a summer reading program. They are supposed to have 25 books read to them. Becca is already at about 13. Poor Andrew...I think he is at about 3. I need to read to that kid more. But it seems by the time I get into his room to put him down for naps or bed, he is already over the brink and unable to sit and listen to books. He just wants to nurse and sleep. RIGHT NOW WOMAN.

Yesterday Becca played with toads outside and Andrew practiced waving and clapping and playing in the toilet. Then we went to church, because we figured we should appear there before we get Andrew baptized next week. And last night, John and I went out to Bonefish where we ordered the Bang Bang shrimp and Sam Adams Summer Ales. I highly, highly recommend this combo of deliciousness. Then I had shrimp and scallops and he had chicken marsala. And it was all very yummy. We saw Public Enemies with Johnny Depp after that. It was a great movie. We both thought it was really well done and something different than the usual Hollywood crap!

Whew! So, in a nutshell we had a great weekend, with lots of activities, but not quite enough of this. (As usual.)

How was your weekend?

The Griswold Family Reunion: Minnesota 2009

Complete with fish cleaning in dresses with Grandpa and his Leinie's.Fried sunfish for breakfast. Birch bark teething toys.

Helium sucking.

And bottle rocket lighting from broken gutter pieces.

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Ahh yes. What a blast we had. Here are some photos from the more tame portions of our visit.

My parents and three of my grandparents. My dad's parents (in blue and plaid) turned 90 this year. And my mom's mom (far right) turns 100 later this year!

Phirst Phourth Photos

We had a great day yesterday. First of all, the weather! Was perfect! And, though John had to work at the Guard for part of the day, he was able to be home for the afternoon/evening. We got together with two Guard families for burgers and dogs and some kiddo play time. The kids ran wild. I have no clue what they were doing half the time! I used to love evenings like that as a kid--just carefree...barefoot and muddy, catching fireflies and eating chips (why does it always come back to that for me?)

We meant to go to the parade, but didn't quite get there. It was easier to just hang around, ignoring the children, so no one seemed to mind. Of course, we did the obligatory family photo, and it actually isn't horrible. (It is nice to have someone taking photos who know's what she's doing and takes ten hojillion of them in hopes that one with turn out. Thanks, Tracy!)

Becca wasn't thrilled with the sparklers (They stink! They hurt!) But, all the girls were overjoyed when the fireworks started. We managed to find the perfect spot to view them. We spread out our blankets and settled in. Then, we heard the fireworks start, but....well...we couldn't see them. They were right there behind that one big tall tree. Overall we saw about the top half of the display. Luckily, it was enough for the kids. They were thrilled. But, about half way through they got restless. And then we spent the second half saying "WATCH! Look at the fireworks! Who cares about your glow bracelet? You can play with that later. Don't you want to see our city's budget go up in sparks? What is wrong with you!?"

(Oh! I forgot one part of the night. The kids were outside playing near the fence when the neighbors (who don't have kids, or much of a sense of humor, either, I might add) came out and started spraying weed killer right up along the fence where the kids were! Hello Angry Suburbanites! Who the hell sprays kids with herbicides on the 4th of July? Or any other day for that matter?!)

I hope you had a great holiday....maybe even as great as our backyard neighbors who have had their outdoor stereo blaring for 24 straight hours. They have been hooping and hollering and throwing horseshoes. I think I need to befriend these folks....

How I ended up Drinking Sam Adams Instead of Working Out 2.0

(You can read version 1.0 here.)

I am supposed to be working out right now--doing lunges and crunches and the elliptical machine. Or, even better, lounging by myself poolside. But, instead I am heating up bagel bites and drinking Sam Adams (Hefeweizen). It was just one of those days.

It all started out fine, but then Becca did one of her famous Nap Strikes That Make Your Mother's Ears Bleed and screamed and cried for 2 hours instead. "I'm hungry! I'm thirsty! My boo boo hurts! I'm not tired! My boo boo hurts! I need ICE! MAMA! I need ice!" You know. The routine.

Fine, I thought. I will just load these rugrats up and head to the gym where I can drop them off with people more in the mood to deal with irrational small people. People who get paid (a lot) to do it. There, I will workout a while, then go out to the adult pool and swim and read in the sun and turn my chair towards the trees and not look at anyone. Ahhh. I can indeed survive this afternoon. Yes I can. I will come home, refreshed, and make a healthy chicken and whole wheat pasta dinner. Life is good.

Once I arrived, I realized I forgot my bathing suit. Oh well. I decided to just get started on my workout. Ahhh. Music is on. Life is good. For 10 minutes. Until I hear "Will Katie *last name* please return to the nursery?"

Game over. Baby is screaming uncontrollably.

So I did what anyone would do. I loaded everyone up and drove by the liquor store on the way home. And now, once we eat our bagel bite dinner, they are all going to bed. And I will have a few moments of sanity. Right? Riiiiight?

Fun Fun

Do you know what is the most awesome thing ever? Going to bed at 9 p.m. and waking up at 8 a.m. I got up and dealt with kids three times, but I think I did it in my sleep.

We got back yesterday from our Minnesota trip. It was wonderful. I loved (almost) every second of it. We really pushed the kids past their usual routines. They were up until 10 p.m. quite often and waking up early and not taking their usual naps. I only changed Andrew when someone would come find me and say he needed it. I think I remembered to feed them (most of the time.) There were cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents roaming about and I just sort of hoped someone was watching my kids while I drank beer in the kitchen.

(Kidding.)

(Sort of.)