Treasure hunting....

I am learning very quickly that every day is a new "treasure hunt" with these two. So, here's my top 10 treasure hunts to date. 


#10 -- sippy cups. I absolutely dread these things getting lost. Most the time the boys know exactly where they are, and they will surface when they need a drink. BUT, if you go hunting for them yourself, you can about guarantee they'll be in the smallest hiding place possible.


#9 -- remote control. Oh, this one is a favorite hide and seek item. 9 times out of 10 it can be found shoved down in between the cushions of the couch, but the second best guess would be the bottom of the toy box.


#8 -- the singing toy. When the boys go down for nap, it's pretty peaceful... until the curse of the annoying toy returns. It typically is the creepy remote control car that drives itself, or a singing book that got shoved, you know where --- the toy box. It's your mission (if you dare) to find that book before the sounds of The Wheels on the Bus drives you straight to the nut house.


#7 -- the 4th shoe. It's highly important to always find 4 shoes before you even attempt to put on the first pair, on the first kid. Why you might ask.. because if you don't have two full sets of shoes, a meltdown will happen. The yellow shoes Logan has on better be the same yellow shoes Landon wants to wear. Don't even think you can get away with them wearing separate styles, I pick and choose my battles, and that's one I don't want to fight-- ever again. So if a certain shoe happens to disappear you can just plan on not wearing that style until it's found.


#6 -- socks. Every mom's nightmare. I'm not sure if my washer or dryer eats them, but it's just short of a miracle if I get a load of laundry folded without a 'single' remaining.


#5 -- stocking caps. How in the world we can have about a dozen stocking caps but when we are in a rush to go somewhere, we can't find a single one... (and we need 2!!)


#4 -- the crayon. I've always colored right along side of the boys -- for the simple fact that I don't want to write a blog someday about taking crayon off my furniture, or walls. Recently, a red crayon has turned up missing. I've looked high and low -- and it has yet to be found. Please say a prayer for my couch that I find it before my ornery little Landon does....


#3 -- diapers. Of course it's never the clean diapers that come up missing... it's the one that my Logan has decided for whatever reason he doesn't need to wear anymore. The hunt is on. AND it's an even bigger hunt because you're not exactly sure what treasure will await you when you do find it!


#2 -- my cell phone. My little helper who puts everything away, is pretty darn good at finding mom's phone. On the table, the floor, the chair... not where it's suppose to be. Sooo, into the toy box it usually goes. I have enough issues keeping track of my phone without the help of a size 8 foot running away with it. After months of this dilemma, I've found a secret code to assist in this treasure hunt. Or maybe I should call it a secret song. When anyone calls my phone it sings "do you wanna build a snowman...." WINNING! Thanks to Disney, and a slight love for the movie Frozen, my phone is found instantly and brought right to me. Every. Single. Time.


#1 -- the classic plastic toy. The best treasure hunt I've ever been on occurred last night. The vent cover fell off our kitchen vent, and I noticed Landon threw a plastic toy down it. Soooo... last night I purchased a "vent retrieval kit" from the hardware store. (yes, they do make these -- which means, I'm not the first mom to go hunting down the vent) During the process I found 3 socks (remember those I thought the washer ate), a single toddler shoe (are you kidding me? when did that make the trip down the vent?) not 1 but 2 plastic toys! oh -- and a old book that must've been down there for years -- years! It's a very old and brittle kids book.  


Soooo... as you can see, every day holds a new treasure hunt. BUT, if you're lucky the treasure that is found -- is one you've been searching for! If anyone knows of a treasure map to help cut down on my hunting hours, please let me know. Until then -- keep your eyes peeled for that red crayon!!

Without power...

So here I sit, where I'm guessing every twin mom of two year olds sits at 8:00 at night--- by the door of the bedroom. Why? Simply because there is always that ornery twin, you know the one-- the one whom thinks the rules don't apply to him. The one who'd leap out of his bed and into his brothers without any consideration. The one who's been caught playing drums on the side of the crib his twin brother is asleep in... And yes, the one who greets his brother every morning with a big 'ole jump in his bed! There's one in every bunch. Tonight may have been a little tough to calm down for bedtime compared to most. Tonight under this roof we got to experience our first power outage with these two. One might ask, how do you keep a set of toddlers entertained, in the dark-- without power. Well... I'm about to tell you. 

The top 4 items to have with twins in a power outage (or an alien invasion maybe)

#4 -- a doc McStuffins checkup center... Why? After turning off the "checkup light" time and time again: you'll be glad you've got that little glow when you find yourself searching for all the light up toys that have functioning batteries. In most cases, the only working batteries in the house. 

#3 -- a clubhouse

That dryer box that has been the source of constant entertainment for a few weeks now... Comes equipped with not a single thing that needs a power source. Thus making it a complete success as an emergency entertainment system. 

#2 -- flashlights

Ahh yes. Not for the need to look around, but solely for entertainment purposes. The first 15 minutes is just the "aww" factor of I have control of something that lights up... After the new has worn off, then you can show them how it shines on the ceiling.... Wowww, and then the icing on the cake would come with making munching shadows on the wall.

All these things are wonderful, but the greatest item to have with the lights out:

#1 -- light up boots! Those dorky boots my husband has been calling "moon boots" -- not only are they great entertainment for the boys, they make fantastic tracking devices! Good luck trying to lose your kids with a pair of those bad boys on. 

So, about an hour and half later, lights came on! There we were celebrating the success of our power outage survival skills... Up jumps Logan, runs to the light switch and shuts it off: I'd say, that's a win!

If you give a mouse a cookie

I feel like my life with the boys could be a children's book. Not just any books, it'd be one of the "if you give a mouse a cookie" type books! Here's an example of what a book wrote about today would be like.

If you give a kid a cup of juice, he's going to ask for a snack. You'll go to the cabinet to get a snack, and he'll see a cake mix... So he's going to want to bake a cake. When you're baking a cake, he's going to see the sink of dishes, so he's going to want to try his hand at washing them.... As he's washing, he'll realize he's spilled some water on his pants--- so he's going to need to take them off. At that point he realizes he needs a new diaper too, so he'll strip down and head to the bathroom to go on the big boy potty. Once he's in there, he'll see the toliet paper and decide it needs to go in the toliet bowl. He'll proceed to find himself washing his hands once again, and catch a glimpse of his brother snacking on a chip by the sink. And if he sees a chip, he's probably going to want a drink to wash it down. 

That last laugh...will belong to mom

See the problem with having twin boys is we are at the stage that everything is funny. This morning when Landon was dancing on top of the dining room table, the echo of mom in the background yelling for him to get down was just a figment of his imagination. On the floor standing next to the table you can find his brother giggling his butt off. Finding his dancing skills exceptionally groovy today, Logan suddenly got the beat and up the chair he climbed. As a mom, how can you possibly discipline (with a straight face) the two little blondes dancing their hearts out, giggling along with the Hot Dog Song... thank you Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. To answer my own question, I didn't. Instead I did the next best thing -- I joined in. If we had neighbors I'm sure their favorite part of the day would be window watching these two.


Tonight I had the boys in the bath tub, which is always a "trip". Landon was at an all time high of being ornery tonight, and it got him in a bit of trouble... or should have. He was taking the cup, filling it with water and dumping it--- out of the tub. I quickly found myself yelling "Landon-- do it again and you're getting out!" However, my mind wanted to thank him for helping to clean the floor. Because of his water outside the tub, my bathroom floor got scrubbed down tonight... and let's be honest -- that doesn't happen too often. Landon takes bath time pretty seriously, so he quickly stopped. BUT, in true twin fashion -- where one leaves off, the other picks up. "Logan -- do it again and you're getting out!" This time deep belly giggles came from both boys. Oh, they're funny alright. I ask again, how do you discipline them when they do something like that?!


Here's my answer. My phone. See my phone can easily record all the moments of their childhood that may someday cause some red cheeks from embarrassment. Bathing with his brother in the bathtub, dancing to mickey mouse on the table...... keep up the silliness my sweet little boys. For someday, you'll be teenagers and mom might just get that last laugh.

Christmas with toddlers

There are no greater joys in parenting than having kids on Christmas morning. The magic of Christmas is something that can be felt through the smiles that appear on your kids’ faces. Smiles from the simple things such as the Mickey Mouse stickers that were found inside a little red stocking embroidered with his name… simpler things like the fruit snacks found deeper inside that same stocking. You know the ones, the same kind they’d have nearly every day for lunch if you’d let them. Toddlers are the best! Logan was sooo excited to find he got a new “Jake and the pirates” shirt, but he was quickly side tracked when he realized he had to have a diaper change before he could wear it. He quickly found his way behind the couch, hoping that he may have magically became faster than his mom overnight… all to avoid having to lay still for the whooping 10 seconds it takes to change that diaper! Yes, the joys of Christmas. A small Pringles can that Landon quickly ate a few out of, and then accidently spilled on the floor--- ah, I’m pretty sure he feels one of the best benefits of having a brother is knowing another Pringles can was sitting around that house somewhere. He quickly determined Logan didn’t need them and managed to eat his whole can, then went back for the leftovers of his own on the floor, that kid—never a dull moment. All the while Logan sat opening all of his and Landon’s wrapped packages. Even playing field if you ask me… Logan opens the gifts, Landon eats the snacks.

Our house was probably much the same as many of you reading this. However, having only the boys – we tend to buy a few presents for them to enjoy “together”. Peacefully together, just like in commercials on tv. Siblings lovingly playing with a new toy-- sharing the accessories and of course full of smiles and laughter.

And as far as any of you need to know --- that’s exactly how it went down on their 3^rd Christmas… 2014.

Christmas Card Imperfections

Christmas time is here!

Unlike last year, I got my christmas cards ordered without any oops... But, I can't say they came without a "mishaps". When I recieved my cards in the mail, it seemed like an awful lot! I only order about 50 every year, and with such a large family on both sides -- those 50 go fast! As I began to address and stuff the envelopes I noticed a big oops.... On their part--Not mine this year! Halfway through my pile, sat 50 additional cards for another family. I was a little jealous of this perticular family. Perfectly matching (ha! Oh, well my family is like that too) a mom with her two little boys sitting nicely on her lap, no stains on the shirts, and beautiful smiles on both kids faces. Her husband (I presume) sat behind them with a matching smile. All 4 faces looking straight at the camera, and all seemed to be in great spirits! Wow-- that mother deserves a "peace prize". She nailed it! Now, let me fill everyone in on how a "normal family" gets a photo for the wonderful christmas cards.  (I like to try to convince myself we have a normal family; although many would disagree) 

Here I sat-- trying to get that one photo of my boys, both happy-- smiling, playing nicely. FAILED attempt #1 ended with one in time out, and the other crying on my shoulder... Turns out it's hard to get a good picture when toys are being thrown from one side of the room to the other. End result: ball to the head. My second failed attempt came when I thought they might nicely put a puzzle together- the happiness ended quickly when the puzzle only contained one cow piece. What were these people thinking?! Doesn't everyone have to have two of the same thing? So, my final attempt came when we had snow on the ground! I bundled up the boys and headed outside. Much to my disbelief, Logan hates being cold, and hates snow even more. He wouldn't even walk in the stuff! As we headed inside, my christmas photo hero appeared in the driveway! Dashing through the snow, that wonderful husband of mine went to the garage and got out the sled! He managed to get the boys on it, and sent them down the hill a few times. We may have had a few dried on tears, but smiles non-the-less! I grabbed my camera and managed to finally get that one photo I needed! 5 minutes with Dad home is all it took. 

This years Christmas card is compliments of one heck of a dad! Because without him, you all might have gotten a card adorned with a couple boys that may or may not have had diapers on, may or may not have been crying... And most likely wasn't that "picture-perfect" family. Ha! Who am I kidding-- having two healthy boys, a warm home, clothes on our back, and food in our belly... That's about as perfect as it can get!

From our family to you...

Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays and the Merriest Christmas ever!

 

Nothing could prepare me for this...

There really is nothing in this world that could have ever prepared me for raising boys, let alone raising two boys. So it begins...

Let me just first start by giving a bit of a background of my upbringings. I come #4 in the lineup. I like to tell myself it's because they were waiting for the perfect child, but let's be honest-- my dad wanted a boy. Yep, I've got 3 older sisters. 5 women in one household, one household which at the time had one bathroom. It wasn't until we all were moved out that they added a second, but that's beside the point! Not only was I #4 in the family, I came in wayyyy down the list of females on my mom's side of the family. To be honest, I didn't think it was even in my cards to have a boy! 

Boy was I wrong! Anyhow--- back to not being prepared to have boys.... I've compiled a list of a few happenings that has made me shake my head, laugh my butt off, and ask my husband questions I never imagined would come out of my mouth.

--- When we first had the boys, no one ever told me there was a "science" to putting a diaper on a boy. Did you know, if "it's" not pointed in the right direction-- you'll spend your day changing clothes because somehow your baby has managed to pee up his back?! After my loving husband clued me in, I realized--- I need a manual for this!

That one extra body part causes me much stress!

-- as toddlers: no one can ever be prepared for toddlers! When the boys put away their toys, they get a sticker. When they go in the potty, they get a sticker. BUT when the sticker goes on "the extra part" that sticker suddenly became one of my little man's arch enemies. No one ever gave me the heads up on that one! What do you do?! Well, luckily we were close to some warm water, and that sticker came off quick! 

Why couldn't their dad have been the one to handle that? Why's it gotta be mom?! *i'm so not prepared*

Our last "issue" came tonight:

----- the boys were taking a bath, and next thing I know.... Their standing up peeing on each other, laughing! Oh Lordy, really? Growing up with sisters I never recall being peed on, let alone laughing about it! Then, it gets worst/better... They get out of the tub, and sit on their potty chairs-- Baby A was trying so hard to earn a sticker, he tooted.... Followed by some seriously hilarious giggles from not only him, but his brother. Then, it happens again. And again..... At this point, like many-- you can find me shaking my head and laughing in disbelief. 

They're only 2 years old! How can I possibly deal with teenage years if I'm in over my head now? Just laugh. That's all you can do... I'm raising boys, it sure ain't for the weak.