A click and a prayer

This week has been busy as we prepared for Easter. April is also my very busiest time at work, so things have been crazy there with two huge events to plan. So, every minute I get at home is a gift - though I quickly learned that Easter candy brings out the very worst in the kids AND me!


I also broke my camera this week - and, of course, completely flipped out with Easter this weekend and my sister's wedding in a few weeks. Breathe, breathe, breathe... There is a great camera shop in LR we are going to take it to, but it will be a week at least until we can get it fixed so I had to pull out my old Kodak. It was actually fun to get it back out because I found this picture taken right before Easter in 2008:

Compared with the twins today:

Teamwork

Just a little video to share...

Kendal took this video with his phone a few days ago as we were hanging out on the deck. It's like something has clicked lately and the twins have a "real" relationship and are learning to share and play together. Simple things in some ways, but pretty amazing nonetheless. Here, the kids pushed their wagon up the hill, then pulled it down again... then back up and down... and up and down... I am betting the grandparents are the only people who will make it all the way through this video, but we found it to be pretty profound!

Right now, I'm listening to them talk to each other (over the monitor). We put them to bed about an hour ago, but they're just laying in bed chatting. Carlisle was home sick today with a fever, so she's been telling Jackson about her day: "I go to Wal-Mart to get toys. I eat Cheerios. I take a nap." Jackson is telling his sister about "Schoolbus," a video they watch and sing to at school, as well as who he played with outside. It's just fun to listen to!

On the Wal-Mart note... No, I probably should not have taken her out, but her fever was back down to 98 by 2PM and we really needed milk and something for dinner. No, not toys, though I did cave and get them big coloring books. As always, someone rats me out...

Funny Things

No pics today (I can't believe it either!) but I did want to take a second to record a few funny things the twins have said lately.

Today was the perfect Spring day - after dipping into the 40's this weekend! - so after we got home from work/school I fixed the twins some Blue Belle ice cream and Evie some rice cereal and we headed out to the front porch. Jackson Camper decided he wanted some whale crackers (knockoff Goldfish - and tastier!) in his ice cream, so he started counting them out. "Uno... dos... tres... cuatro..." Clear as a bell in Spanish, all on his own, no prompting. I'm wondering - is it Dora or school, 'cause I know he did not learn that at home! I do think this might be a good summer to try to get them into some Spanish lessons, though, since they are clearly primed. Any ideas about a children's Spanish teacher in the area?

Later, we were enjoying dinner on the back deck when Kendal tried to convince J.C. that he should eat some of his barbeque rib. He looks at the rib, looks at me, then says "No, Dad, it's ham. My mamma told me that!" I had said it was ham earlier and I was just so happy that he not only listened to me but believed me! So silly and simple, but it made me feel pretty darn smart! Even if it really was a rib... But a pork rib, so aren't we both right??

Yesterday, I was changing Carlisle's diaper and out of the blue she says with a huge smile "I so happy GanGan and Big Daddy come to my house!" My parents are coming later this week for a visit and CarCar remembered our talking about that earlier in the day. That was the first time she's verbalized a sentence using that much reason and emotion, so to hear her say that was pretty cool.

Evie is just smiling and having a ball :) I am getting closer to thinking about talking about thinking about moving her from our bedroom into her nursery. Seriously, she just turned five months last week, it's time for her to experience some independence. Unfortunately, I'm not ready for independence! I just love having her inches away from me at night (in her swing bed) and I am terrified about putting her in another room. The twins slept in their cribs from the day they came home from the hospital, but I've been able to take advantage of the opportunity to hold/carry/rock/nurse/hug Evie as much as I want and I'm frankly spoiled. The twins have never shown a bit of jealousy, which has made it even easier for me to keep her in one arm while I play and cuddle with them. So, while you're mulling over a local Spanish teacher, I could use some encouragement on giving Evie a little space :)

Papa's Birthday

From Collages

Last weekend, we piled in the car and headed to Shreveport to celebrate Papa's 65th birthday. It was a quick trip, but we got to enjoy a lasagna dinner with the whole family - including all seven Land cousins! The kids had a great time together and Kendal even wrote a "ballad" for his dad - as soon as I figure out how to post it online, I'll put it up!

Props to Aunt Jennifer on yet another birthday cake masterpiece! Not only was it the coolest cake I've ever seen, it was delicious! The kids enjoyed it way too much (as did the adults!). Great night and a reminder how lucky we are to be near family. Happy, happy birthday Papa!

First Fish

So, Kendal absolutely loves to fish. Give him a free hour and he'll grab his pole and hit the nearest patch of water. He grew up fishing with his Papa and with his parents; some of his best childhood memories were spent on the water. From the time we were married, Kendal talked about taking our kids on outdoor adventures (Hello, we have a son named Camper!). In fact, for Kendal's first Father's Day gift, I bought him a purple and yellow children's fishing pole. As the twins were born on Father's Day, I grabbed the pole from the back of my closet and gifted him with it as we raced out the door at 3a.m. headed to the hospital - I am not one to tarry in gifting a gift!

But I digress... Sunday was a wonderful Spring day - sunny and mild, full of endless possibilities. After a post-church family nap, we headed out for our first family fishing trip. Kendal bought some crickets ("dead man chirping" I thought sadly as we drove to the lake...), packed the snacks and drove us to our friend Tim's house for a little fishing. Tim and his wife Betty have an amazing log cabin on a small lake, the perfect getaway. They are so gracious to allow Kendal to fish there as often as he likes and they've now opened their home to our entire family. Brave folks!

I was not looking forward to the experience, but I have to say... it was a perfect afternoon. The twins were so well behaved! They cast their little poles into the lake with ease and only got themselves caught on fishing line a few dozen times :) They enjoyed their "catch of the day" (i.e. a box of Goldfish) on the dock when they got tired and just enjoyed being outside. Kendal has trained two new fishermen! Evie was a doll as she chilled in her carseat, content as always. We are so grateful to our friends for letting us spend some time on their lake and welcome Spring to Arkansas!

From Collages

I'm thinking that Spring is really, truly here! We enjoyed a beautiful weekend and, tonight, had our first outdoor dinner on the new back porch! The kids explored the yard, looking for flowers that are just peeking through. Our special "Eula Mae" jonquils have bloomed and are beautiful as always and a perfect reminder of one of the first friends we made here in Arkadelphia. Eula Mae, a member of our church, passed away from cancer several years ago but the flower bulbs she gave us when we first moved to Arkansas are the first to bloom each spring and always remind us of her.

Kendal grilled some yummy hot dogs and brats while we explored the yard, then we got to enjoy dinner together. Evie lapped up her rice cereal and we enjoyed our many, many blessings!

From Collages

Just a few cute things the twins have been saying lately - I want to write them down before I forget!

Just this morning, I was snacking on some vanilla Tootsie Rolls. They are hard to find, but absolutely the best candy ever made. In. The. World. Anyway, Jackson slides up beside me on the couch and casually asks, "Mom, what's in your belly?" as he points to the empty wrappers beside me. I tell him what they are and he says with a big grin, "I might like those in my belly, too." I'm just so impressed with his reasoning skills on that one! Instead of a typical toddler's "Give me some!" move, he goes for the sly, roundabout ask. Very good! We opted for some Scooby Doo gummies instead, but he did get points for creativity :)

I also love how protected Jackson is of the women in his life! Just this morning, I was playing with a cute little girl at a friend's birthday brunch and she was grabbing at my necklace. Jackson comes running over and gently takes the necklace from her hand and says seriously, "That's my mamma's." He also really protects Evie Claire whenever anyone gets close to her, particularly his classmates at school. He's quick to point out "That's Evie's!" if anyone tries to take her paci or blanket and literally forms a wall between her carrier and the child. He is so gentle with her and even demanded to kiss her goodnight at bedtime today...

Carlisle has really taken to one of the sweetest books ever written, "Big Sister, Little Sister." It is one we received from the Imagination Library project and it's simply about sisters having fun together. Great pictures, great message, etc. We read it almost every night and she even sleeps with it. Instead of simply saying she wants to read the sister book, she exclaims with pure passion and excitement, "I want to read Big-Sister-Little-Sister-Best-Forever-Friends," quoting the last line of the book. We asked her again and again what book and she said the whole thing - love it and loved that she's getting the "best forever friends" message.

I'm also proud to say that Carli, like her mommy, really likes the rap! The twins are generally absorbed in Thomas the Train or Care Bears during car rides, but yesterday I was rocking out to a rap-ish song on the radio (you know, the one about "Apple bottom jeans, with the fur, the whole club was lookin' at her..."). I looked back in the rearview mirror and Carli Mac is just rocking out! She's got the head snap going on and her hands moving up and down - I loved it!

Finally, a confession. I am totally and completely a "gleek." I am obsessed with the show Glee on FOX and just found out this week that the Glee cast is going on tour. OMG (as those other gleeks probably say). So my friend Mary Elizabeth and I are seriously contemplating a trip to NYC to see the show in May. Is this absolutely insane?! Feedback, please, before I buy a ticket!!