Happy New Year!

Well, 2011 was pretty uneventful for us in the grand scheme of things if you think about it. However I am sure if you had a camera on me from day to day you would think different. I am thankful for every one's health and safety. I am thankful I got to visit New York with my mom, sister, and T in October. I am thankful we took a summer getaway to Eagle Beach in Park Rapids in July. I am thankful we welcomed a new cousin, Max!  I am thankful we didn't have any traumatic ER visits with you guys either. I catch myself sometimes overreacting and thinking things are tough but on nights like tonight when you look back and reflect, we are pretty blessed.

Here's to 2012 being fun but UNEVENTFUL. I know I sound like a Scrooge but I think no news is good news. SO THERE!

Skibbie Time

I thought about starting this post off with some misleading words like, Charlie is potty trained! Making all you mom's out there shake your head and thinking I am SUPER MOM as Charlie just turned 2 on December 7th. He is NOT potty trained, and believe it or not he had these DIEGO undies for 2 min, and peed him them while I was taking his picture.

As you can tell he didn't feel "RIGHT" in big boy pants quite yet,  by the placement of his left hand. It just felt weird down there to him I think.

I can tell your little buns will look so little when they don't have the bulky diaper on them anymore. The Lion is what Adam and I gave him for Christmas. Lilly got an Elephant. They are from Scentsy and have scent packs in them and they smell AWESOME which makes them even more cuddly!

Coming Out Ahead

You guys sure came out ahead this year in the gift department.

This was the first you you really dove into the presents and ripped them open.



It was cute to see your excitement

 

Back to reality. Not sure why I am still totally wiped out from the weekend but I am.

Side Bar Visit

So on Christmas Eve, we had some time to kill before we could show up at Great Grandma Mergen's. I didn't feel like cooking and cleaning up a kitchen, and you guys needed to get out of the house as did I. Not a lot is open on Christmas Eve in Cold Spring, but The Side Bar was.

Bar Popcorn was a total HIT with these two!

 The games even kept them occupied while we sat and watched them burn off energy.

Christmas Eve

I got to dress you guys alike tonight. That doesn't happen very much with boy/girl twins.  Although you ventured out in 2 peice Jammies, you guys still pulled it off.

 We went out Christmas Eve for dinner and then to Great Grandma Almas for the annual Mergen Get Together. Not everyone makes it, as the Mergen family is HUGE, but a good number show up from about 6pm until 10pm or so.

I attempted PIG TAILS for Lilly, but her fine slippery hair won the battle and we ended up with the traditional barrette SWOOP.

Lilly got these shoes LAST Christmas from Uncle Chris and Auntie TT.  They finally fit, and the gold bling is perfect for the HOLIDAYS if you ask me.

It is 10:56, and I better turn in before Santa gets here tonight.

Merry 3rd Christmas

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

On Your Marks...

Get Set...

GO!

Yes, I timed myself on my stop watch that is on my new DRIOD phone. 3 min and 40 seconds it took for me to transform the mess into an organized toy haven. I still had 26 minutes and 60 seconds to spare for my 30 minute lunch break. I think picking up toys is work out if you squad way down to pick up each and every item! Try it

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. ~W.T. Ellis

 I Can't wait to celebrate Christmas in a couple days!

All the things that come with Christmas fascinate you guys. The lights, the goodies, the presents, the multiple sightings of Santa all over the place, especially on TV.  Yesterday I picked up some groceries and I bought us a half gallon of "light" egg nog. I am pretty sure you guys will LOVE IT! I may need to widen the drink spout on your sippy cup to let the creamy goodness flow through.  I plan to make Homemade Baileys as well for the adults. I got the recipe from a co-worker of mine.

Here is her email to me:

My mother-n-law makes it every year for Christmas. It’s delicious! Thought I’d spread the cheer!

4 eggs


14 oz. sweetened condensed milk


1-1/2 cup whiskey


1-1/2 whipping cream


1/2 tsp instant coffee


1/2 tsp coconut extract - you can leave this out if you don't have


1 tbsp Hershey's chocolate syrup


1 tsp vanilla


1/8 tsp almond extract


Pour all ingredients in blender and blend for 2 minutes. Pour into glass bottle and keep cold.

I don't think I can mess that recipe up. I plan to drink it on the rocks as well as in my coffee.
I had to go to a liquor store and scope out "Whiskey" as that is something I don't have in our Liquor Cabinet. As I was admiring the different kinds to chose from, I was quickly distracted by the wine aisle as well. Then I saw it.... a bottle of wine that is perfect for a mother of twins.

Look at the beauty! No, I didn't buy it, but now I am kind of having buyers remorse!

Mile 42

Well kids, this week started out with a tragedy. Papa Jeff's brother Carl was in a car accident and passed away. Carl was your daddy's uncle. He was a very nice man, with a contagious laugh and smile that nobody will ever forget. He has children, grandchildren, and a loving wife. Your Papa Jeff has lots of brothers and sisters and Carl was the first one to visit heaven.

As parents I know we have many obstacles ahead of us on teaching you life lessons and explaining why certain things happen. Not sure how we will deal with the "D" word.

Rest In Peace Carl. I only got to know you for about 3 to 4 years of my life, but I can tell you had a heart, smile, and laugh that will live on forever.

Caught A Sweet Moment

Lastnight I was sitting on the couch downstairs with Lilly and Leni watching "Over The Hedge", and I caught Lilly being a sweet little girl. She was slowly petting Leni while she gazed at the TV. Such a sweet Little Girl!

Charlie on the other hand was looking for somethign mischievous to do, so he could get some attention. Not a very eventful weekend but you guys really kept me on my toes. You are at the age where you are starting to whine and ask for everything, and if I have to say "no" you lose all control.

Luckily when you awoke from your nap on Sunday my phone told me it was 48 degrees. I bundled you up and sent you outside to help Dad pack the storage shed for winter.

They say 1 in every 4 Christmas' is NOT a white Christmas and I think 2011 will be that year. I would like some snow on the ground just so it could "feel" more like Christmas, but after the 2 winters we had, I think we are due for a shorter and easier winter.

1:1 Time

I heard from another mother of Twins that it is nice to take Twins out by themselves sometimes to have 1:1 time. The past 2 weekends I have done this, and really enjoyed my time. Last weekend I took Lilly swimming at Suburban Health Club. It was our Saturday night, and it was well spent.

This morning, I loaded Charlie up and took him into St. Joseph to try a Diner I have wanted to try ever since we moved up here.  Kay's Kitchen is the place, and I will definitely return!

It was YUMMY! I enjoyed a Mexican omelet, orange juice, and 2 cups of coffee.  Charlie got Pancakes and ate almost his whole plate. Shovel, Shovel, Shovel is how he eats. It is cute though.

Don't get me wrong, I love the twins and how they interact and play, but getting out with just ONE to look over and talk with is sure rewarding to this mamma. Stay tuned for other little adventures I attempt down the road.

TGIF!

Yeah for the weekend! Last weekend Charlie was taught by  "Luci" how to bump knuckles. In the picture above she is attempting to hit knuckles, he is confused and is trying to give her a high five. He eventually caught on.  Luci was born 5 days before the Twins in Bogota, Colombia. Adam went to college with her daddy. See their family The Novak Family.

We had a nice time catching up with daddy's college friends last Sunday. This weekend will be pretty low key with Dad being on call for work. Boooo Hisssssss

Dinner Date

After the Santa visit on Tuesday evening, I took you peanuts down the food court to split a chicken finger basket and fries.Diet coke for me and Choc. Milk for you guys. 

I didn't see 2 high chairs close by so I tried this set up. I didn't think it would work as good as it did, but we had success! Even though Lilly was counting REALLY loud and demanding colors for her coloring book from Santa which didn't exist. I may need to pack colors into the diaper bag for future meltdowns of having a coloring platform with no utensils to color with.

We then proceeded to the Toy Land run around thing they have for kids at the Mall. The kids played for 20 minutes until Charlie filled his pants and we had to evacuate and head to the changing station, which is nicely placed behind the play land. (Thank you planning department)

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. ~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

                                               

2011

From a performance standpoint, I would say that this progress of "liking Santa" is definitely  in the decline stage. I am sure it will get better as you grow older, but for now I can say I have done well as a parent. See, 364 days out of the year, we teach kids to stay away from strangers, don't take gifts/candy from them, etc. This is the one day a year where us as parents are complete HYPOCRITES! 

Here little Johnny go sit on this man's lap and tell him what you want him to bring to you when he breaks into your house while you are sleeping at night. I know that is a wrong way of looking at it, but I never claimed to be normal.

Bashful Babies

No, this is not Lilly's new vanity. We are at the Neighbor's house in this picture. This past Saturday our nice neighbor Amanda had a Scentsy Party. I have ordered their stuff before, and needed new stuff, so I drug the kid over to her house with me for the party after they woke up from nap. The dad, was at a wrestling tourney in St. Cloud with Papa Jeff.

It took about 27 min, for Lilly to leave my lap and look people in the eye. They are at the stage right now where they are pretty bashful around new surroundings. They come around eventually, but it takes some time.

There were a handful of kids playing in the basement, but the Twins didn't feel that comfortable yet to leave my side, so they found a nice Little Mermaid Vanity to keep them busy, while still in my sight. Charlie was curling Lilly's hair, brushing it, blow drying it, etc. It was cute.

The twins are very good in public, so it makes me look like the Mom of the Year. People always say "are they like this at home?"  I smirk and say, "not always." 

You guys are great kiddos though, I am very lucky.

Looks Like We Made It

We made it through the week of 3 birthdays!

Lasagna dinner Wednesday night.

Steak dinner Friday night with just Adam and I. It was a good week, and the weekend is off to a good start  as well. Relaxing weekend...(kind of)

Click Link Below For Video of The Twins Getting Their Cake

VIDEO LINK

Happy 2nd Birthday To My Babies!

I had every intention of writing a nice long post about how this day rolled out 2 years ago, but I just haven't had the time with work and life. I hope one day to be able to write a heartfelt rundown of Dec. 7th, 2009. All new mom's say to document your birth story before they turn 1 month old or you will forget the crucial details. I hope to prove them wrong.

I am so proud of you two little stinkers. You have brought a lot of joy to our lives. You have made me grow up and be a better person, and I thank you for that.

Bring on the terrible two's!

And They Call It Puppy Love.....

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. ~Ben Williams

Leni was kind of put on the back burner when the Twins entered the world 729 days ago, but I think as they grow up and start do "engage" him, he is starting to like his new siblings. See it wasn't very long ago that Leni was patiently waiting their arrival in the Fall of 2009.

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

It's That Time!

She's A Beauty Clark!

Christmas Time is Near!

This is the first time I have gotten the hubs to put up lights on our actual house.

Charlie got his first "Charlie Brown Xmas Tree"

This is a pretty exciting week coming up, too! 3 out of the 4 of us have birthdays this week!

Do You See What I See?

Lastnight you guys took a break to lay on the floor with your "Nigh Nights" together and just take it all in. I am slowly learning to do this as well. I put down the wash rag, grabbed my phone and caught you guys being "Sweet."

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.
~Jane Howard

Things Do Not Always Go As Planned

Lastnight at 7:00pm a Classic Cartoon was on the TV. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. It was Tuesday, so I was single mom til 7:25pm. I fed you a hearty dinner filled with Reese's Puff Cereal, and warm Toaster Strudels. I had you guys in the tub by 6:00pm, to ensure you were clean, sleepered, lotioned, and ready to take it all in with the gleaming Christmas Tree in the background.

Bath time ended pretty fast once Lilly crapped in the tub. It was like a scene from a horror movie, when parents are thrashing to save their children. I pulled both kids out of the tub and pulled the plug to do an emergency DRAIN!. I thought about posting the picture of it, but do not want to ruin your lunch.
I got you kids ready for Rudolph, and had the tub soaking in bleach so we don't have an outbreak in Ecoli next week.

The opening scene started to play, and I felt my childhood come back for a moment until Lilly screamed...

DORA! DORA! DORA!

Christmas Classic- Zero

Dora- 1