tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9931529937035148722024-02-19T03:40:58.280-06:00The Twinskis<i>Anna Sophia and Margaret Katherine, June 29, 2007</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-90215835121092161682009-07-27T22:24:00.002-05:002009-07-27T22:56:46.175-05:00A Little Bit On Margaret's NoseWe know, we know. We haven't updated this blog in quite a while. <div><br /></div><div>What did you miss? Well, there was a birthday in there, and now our precious little Twinskis move into the third year of their lives. And we have to move that much faster (and think that much quicker) in order to keep up with them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of moving, they are no longer content to be confined to the small sleeping spaces afforded by their baby cribs. They can now shimmy up and down the walls and up and over the sides at will. In order to contain our little Birdgirls of Alcatraz in the hopes of eliminating our tiny late night visitors to our bedroom, we had to install crib tents. Now, our girls don't so much get put to bed as they are locked in captivity for their sleeping ritual. Strangely, though it breaks mommy and daddy's heart to zip that door closed for the night, they seem to derive a bizarre joy out of having their own little mesh fortress in which to jump, flip, and sing their way to dreamland. Night after night, we are responsible for establishing "Camp Twinski" so to speak.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of speaking, the girls are doing it....endlessly. Even when they don't have an audience and are speaking in glutteral growls and lyrical tweets instead of actually forming coherent words and phrases, as if they are channeling some tribal shaman of the infant world. It is hard to keep track of these things, as the list seems to increase exponentially each week, but we estimate them to be up to around 75 words or so. Notably, they can identify all of the most important individuals in their lives: Dora, Diego, Boots, Ming-Ming, Tuck, Pets, Elmo, Ernie, Bert, "Bee Bee" (Big Bird), and "Cookie." Oh, and Margaret has adopted her own nickname for herself, and now refers to herself as "Mimi." I suppose among the potential contenders of Margie, Maggie, Marge, Meg, Peg, Mags, Megs, Gar, Argar, Teragram, and Queen Lothar of the Snake People, "Mimi" is not so bad. You'll have to ask Kate just where she came up with the Queen Lothar thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of Mimi, she has a new habit of losing her nose. Well, not so much losing it as having it stolen off of her face. By Daddy. About 3-4 times a day. </div><div><br /></div><div>You see, what happens is when one desperately needs to grab her attention away from the Nog channel on DirecTV, you can place your hand on her face and "grab her nose." Daddy will grab it, and show it to her (the old "thumb in between the the closed fist fingers" bit), at which point a very concerned look will fall over Margaret's face, and she says, "Nose...take, Dada!" Now, if Daddy really wants to get her aggravated, he takes her nose and puts it in his mouth, prompting Mimi furrow her brow and exclaim, "Eat...Nose, Dada!?!" Daddy is sure to swish it around in his mouth for the added effect, which always prompts a giggle from Mimi, no matter how dire a situation her nose finds itself at that moment. After a few seconds, Daddy spits the nose out into his hand, shows it to Mimi one more time, and puts it back on her face just as it was. Mimi takes this final trick in stride, giving a plaintive "Thanks!" and going on her merry way. </div><div><br /></div><div>When Daddy first tried that trick, he was sure that she would not get it. But it is amazing how self-aware they are. Daddy even had her diving beneath the bubbles in the bathtub tonight looking for her nose before it went down the drain. Oh, the precious innocence of a child and their desire to keep all their appendages in place!</div><div><br /></div><div>Must wrap up this long-overdue tale of Twinski travails. There is no good excuse for our lack of blogging of late, except to say that the Terrible Twos are actually the Terrible "Fours" when you have twins, and that equals much time and energy away from the other things in life. Blogging is one of the first activities subjugated by the Twincesses reign over our family kingdom. We are just fiefs plowing the fields in our daughters' lives, hoping and praying that our benevolent dictators continue their relatively peaceful rule, and perhaps, maybe, hopefully, get some good nights rests occasionally. </div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-16906110555873515592009-01-05T09:49:00.024-06:002009-01-11T23:28:37.935-06:0018-month Update / Looking back on 2008Hello and Happy New Year! Anna and Margaret turned 18 months old on December 29. For those of you keeping track, that was about 2 weeks ago, which shows just how behind I am on everything lately. Though it's a lame excuse to make up for the poor blogging - raising 2 eighteen month olds seems equivalent to running a cage-free zoo of wild monkeys. The girls are all over the place and into everything. The other day, they left the kitchen for just a minute, and when I walked down the hallway to find them, out of the corner of my eye I catch them standing on top of the dining room table, flashing me mischievous smiles as if to say, "I know we're not supposed to be doing this, and that's why it's so much fun!"<br /><br />I think my exhaustion in taking care of them stems from the fact that the girls have always been incredibly physical. They're coordinated and agile for their age, as was pointed out to me by an instructor at a "Parents and Tots" YMCA gymnastics class I took them to last weekend - during which they leaped, kicked, twirled, ran, tumbled, and jumped their hearts out, often running circles around the 2 and 3 year olds in the class (and subsequently took a 3 hour nap, much to my delight). They can jump, walk backwards, twirl in circles for minutes at a time, climb up and jump off of high surfaces, and manage to maintain their balance when I almost always expect a tumble. Some photographic evidence of their zaniness:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthifrui7s8TQ05NNIF-UiLMHqZF-SG7uNDQLSoMbDZMIOG7_ks8GBPhWDlEtIa7rNNPUJEccfCxyN5Wa7-MUi1EHKqRn_RVH743yx_CUi1PLnynhrJXM1M8lhr-1G5tQ5_mkCHwvwa63v/s1600-h/DSC_0141.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthifrui7s8TQ05NNIF-UiLMHqZF-SG7uNDQLSoMbDZMIOG7_ks8GBPhWDlEtIa7rNNPUJEccfCxyN5Wa7-MUi1EHKqRn_RVH743yx_CUi1PLnynhrJXM1M8lhr-1G5tQ5_mkCHwvwa63v/s320/DSC_0141.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290258919220431298" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">They're constantly requesting to sit on the kitchen counter (which their sucker of a mom gave in to one too many times, and now they fully expect to sit up there every day)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDqRx-4FEOzFD9hmwXU7Gxs1cfooAyxGSwYRuuMXN0BxBorTpu17InYCh2WlhG4RVO14aqCSmqzK488AyfeU_zkmEk92lMKGyx6c9fVRqQgmKBrxb-Qbf4DnL5w241oDE9NImdJSyNt2k/s1600-h/DSC_0106.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDqRx-4FEOzFD9hmwXU7Gxs1cfooAyxGSwYRuuMXN0BxBorTpu17InYCh2WlhG4RVO14aqCSmqzK488AyfeU_zkmEk92lMKGyx6c9fVRqQgmKBrxb-Qbf4DnL5w241oDE9NImdJSyNt2k/s320/DSC_0106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290258431162264898" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">So much climbing!! No horizontal surface has been spared of their climbing</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLirGa5iOF4XbWJ03NJfYl2t0MW8VSg-yqM_7dLGvAa-BVoJmQt0WbRfBa_W7uyk7zChyAFCTrKz1OjGultUxKmpAZa6pttfWg3rmPousR6gheJs6iyzVfmjZQ33cv6qt1OF-iutRETxGD/s1600-h/DSC_0098.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLirGa5iOF4XbWJ03NJfYl2t0MW8VSg-yqM_7dLGvAa-BVoJmQt0WbRfBa_W7uyk7zChyAFCTrKz1OjGultUxKmpAZa6pttfWg3rmPousR6gheJs6iyzVfmjZQ33cv6qt1OF-iutRETxGD/s320/DSC_0098.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290258134850798530" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">And then one particular lady thinks it's downright hilarious to take off her diaper and make a run for it, giggling with glee while her mother attempts to chase her down</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBpXmKSq30xNc8R8S0jamZuzP07OWu3bU1dnRs7531U-WS8Cg3rOFrI_r2o_csG8ZYdL7fNEOU5_cbjd9QxP_cXlApW5dOtibUyl5fRnR5d2kTcEO0PfsLyuw5QzKltiElI3PrHiMEV36/s1600-h/DSCN0723.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBpXmKSq30xNc8R8S0jamZuzP07OWu3bU1dnRs7531U-WS8Cg3rOFrI_r2o_csG8ZYdL7fNEOU5_cbjd9QxP_cXlApW5dOtibUyl5fRnR5d2kTcEO0PfsLyuw5QzKltiElI3PrHiMEV36/s320/DSCN0723.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290257859168024338" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The ride-on toys still give them endless amusement and so we take advantage of warmer winter days to take a ride on the deck</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcRLyJl0aMBFYHgoCvIr6D8i3O9w07A3xs7Iz6eUB8g5wjQkSVCRdsefuMMYHk1b1LTdDTU8F43Gk4_YXS9vTFZy94FqmzMPsiyXQIcsz0jzLjiUKSHz67pWDHh2AHfPHCVX2Eycp4uPQ/s1600-h/DSCN0676.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcRLyJl0aMBFYHgoCvIr6D8i3O9w07A3xs7Iz6eUB8g5wjQkSVCRdsefuMMYHk1b1LTdDTU8F43Gk4_YXS9vTFZy94FqmzMPsiyXQIcsz0jzLjiUKSHz67pWDHh2AHfPHCVX2Eycp4uPQ/s320/DSCN0676.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290257589568836034" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The girls have recently developed an obsession with clothing choices, with hats being the most common request ("Hat! Hat!" while furiously pointing to their heads)</span><br /><br />While they seem to take life at full speed, the one area in which they seem to hesitant to jump in with both feet is talking. I've had some friends reassure me that there just are some kids who are "talkers," while some are "doers," and our children tend to be of the latter. While they do use about 10 words on a daily basis, they largely rely on baby sign language and furious pointing to get their point across. As a parent, you worry about everything - and I discussed my concerns about their seemingly delayed verbal skills with the girls' pediatrician, who thankfully reassured me that they are average, there doesn't seem to be cause for concern, and they'll be talking in no time. I imagine one day I'll look back at this post and laugh- and long for the days when they weren't talking my ear off. ;)<br /><br />Speaking of pediatricians...here are their 18 month stats!:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Anna</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Height</span>: 32 inches (59%)<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Weight</span>: 24 lbs 3 oz (48%)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Margaret</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Height</span>: 32 inches (59%)<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Weight</span>: 22 lbs 2 oz (18%)<br /><br />And since we've entered a new year - here's a quick "Twinskis Year in Review," in photos!:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">January: Playtime (and perhaps the last month that they could be contained to one area)</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpTz3lxsxucum0jWCZJWkAEkUzMv-9GdAjX0LW7b9vbCbo3AlTyfzGMxhB0GwEa6Ia2edaE_P8oRnrbyD6StfLFdCRwg9yY0UYUerYYXyLL5RoI8iK98EgvSWJ5q3Z2nV97a8wr3Sapxc/s640/DSC03470.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpTz3lxsxucum0jWCZJWkAEkUzMv-9GdAjX0LW7b9vbCbo3AlTyfzGMxhB0GwEa6Ia2edaE_P8oRnrbyD6StfLFdCRwg9yY0UYUerYYXyLL5RoI8iK98EgvSWJ5q3Z2nV97a8wr3Sapxc/s640/DSC03470.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">February: Learning to crawl</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGU0TlyR0HEQE1meUi6jSiIBiJlvUHD6_RrWfKjRGUouOrS5ua3T0MVgSc11NJMsSZHqf0ENAV22Y0VFOqFYfsfnl9J_1uzPB6e5lt-7vgU5SB3xkMASDj44b01a_SGf1L-Nl_tK_8WvCg/s640/DSC03550.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGU0TlyR0HEQE1meUi6jSiIBiJlvUHD6_RrWfKjRGUouOrS5ua3T0MVgSc11NJMsSZHqf0ENAV22Y0VFOqFYfsfnl9J_1uzPB6e5lt-7vgU5SB3xkMASDj44b01a_SGf1L-Nl_tK_8WvCg/s640/DSC03550.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">March: First Easter spent at the beach in Sarasota, FL</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8vVQTSWHD6lYUfDbNhEW7KNi3jqOULAQgId0IIuJV8xQB9R5CwGAiUOEHtVJEKzKuu3HkueUnxAmYRMprezkFrYgnjG_Wm7bw-nuOfDPVZQmWeUVuMYkFvPi7CiqWVysBpIHGc4nX3eJ/s640/DSCN0097.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8vVQTSWHD6lYUfDbNhEW7KNi3jqOULAQgId0IIuJV8xQB9R5CwGAiUOEHtVJEKzKuu3HkueUnxAmYRMprezkFrYgnjG_Wm7bw-nuOfDPVZQmWeUVuMYkFvPi7CiqWVysBpIHGc4nX3eJ/s640/DSCN0097.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">April: Sharing a swing at the park</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsytSuRadPjvcYh8ULy1CXzJhmKPtQ1Qc0iIyhH5LrhlwfFjejZElndxqTc5qPG9czSgc-FNv2DnEdDek3wNKdFu87HTCT4_LUZ-FH0ONgzCdRmlmo3aYSqySilkkFjlqGCfoZeG23z0m/s640/DSC03840.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsytSuRadPjvcYh8ULy1CXzJhmKPtQ1Qc0iIyhH5LrhlwfFjejZElndxqTc5qPG9czSgc-FNv2DnEdDek3wNKdFu87HTCT4_LUZ-FH0ONgzCdRmlmo3aYSqySilkkFjlqGCfoZeG23z0m/s640/DSC03840.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">May: Exhibiting their love for mom and dad's laptop</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLOAAve8I9akOSmcH4WOOYWgEnVRDCtfakQ2_Ghyphenhyphen5hEIlQy4ZZpdG7oTv6J62n9Sj4AQfoXF07lMlxo9jJH7wLzFoq2XAnJWNd0J9zx6kbSSVMT4rHTSakld8t1y3PzLRI169rM4oOV_e/s720/D33_0186.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 479px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLOAAve8I9akOSmcH4WOOYWgEnVRDCtfakQ2_Ghyphenhyphen5hEIlQy4ZZpdG7oTv6J62n9Sj4AQfoXF07lMlxo9jJH7wLzFoq2XAnJWNd0J9zx6kbSSVMT4rHTSakld8t1y3PzLRI169rM4oOV_e/s720/D33_0186.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">June: our little girls turn ONE!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAidgyY-iUS76Oj3muco2xMW1A-MiAEvsiziwd5K3aTs-Q-d3YwxgUO7jU_-20OyBn-YRvMbJngvnCSgYl2t72oiw1t5ivBeblpZN4Y38sL4BE1huQ5V3OYV38HqHnLy7_z6Iy5oBqJ2NP/s720/D33_0556.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 720px; height: 479px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAidgyY-iUS76Oj3muco2xMW1A-MiAEvsiziwd5K3aTs-Q-d3YwxgUO7jU_-20OyBn-YRvMbJngvnCSgYl2t72oiw1t5ivBeblpZN4Y38sL4BE1huQ5V3OYV38HqHnLy7_z6Iy5oBqJ2NP/s720/D33_0556.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">July: Uncooperative and goofy for mom during an attempted photo shoot on the front porch</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEnN7yk9MVcKh0La8dQTdUMh8ikTqpNnwAQ46NjNf9z7Jxr5JhQW67d7I_1KrhzbZ6HGMHwA-jEo5G9ZfhE2TLTyWJY1TlTf3BoutY0zm_AQru7Y1PLXj9-KoIVub3lLjkW1MEaZiGY4e/s1600-h/P1010343.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEnN7yk9MVcKh0La8dQTdUMh8ikTqpNnwAQ46NjNf9z7Jxr5JhQW67d7I_1KrhzbZ6HGMHwA-jEo5G9ZfhE2TLTyWJY1TlTf3BoutY0zm_AQru7Y1PLXj9-KoIVub3lLjkW1MEaZiGY4e/s320/P1010343.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287851766646382530" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">August: Cooling off on a hot summer day by running through a reflection pool in front of Nashville's courthouse</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaPyBQbzALO_KWWZI_2zG0d3L8uzfneKU3tUjjUUOxeFAWLWx8xsAYTIFKho8z6wNVGYblmKMMO6qKsgNoFCWf13l-mWWi47sOMiwhV0yKWxwZHXrIeMU6Rs-ztP7hohusndwYLReWeLk/s640/DSC04355.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaPyBQbzALO_KWWZI_2zG0d3L8uzfneKU3tUjjUUOxeFAWLWx8xsAYTIFKho8z6wNVGYblmKMMO6qKsgNoFCWf13l-mWWi47sOMiwhV0yKWxwZHXrIeMU6Rs-ztP7hohusndwYLReWeLk/s640/DSC04355.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">September: A photo shoot with our friend and favorite photographer <a href="http://www.kimschmidtphotography.com/">Kim</a></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2fgzKnev2YT2LYvlFtSRFE6FwW11jNFMUuu-jxFlY2X05RlG1LD6w4mQ-j-w_8FqkSI7OghtNMqX8PkaQLGMF_N5LPmp59Py42tx3ccvQCpKjhwR_CRFT6umW7r9OZq4dTQzg0yUsy92/s1600-h/Picture+14.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2fgzKnev2YT2LYvlFtSRFE6FwW11jNFMUuu-jxFlY2X05RlG1LD6w4mQ-j-w_8FqkSI7OghtNMqX8PkaQLGMF_N5LPmp59Py42tx3ccvQCpKjhwR_CRFT6umW7r9OZq4dTQzg0yUsy92/s320/Picture+14.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287849591088151138" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">October: A fantastic trip to Nana and Grandpa's place in Sarasota, Florida</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ_kkqScIcl4XYSTa-pfRcX3LsJqHIejzJ3oSdrnylqmxvw0YHypjgOxEn6vVYIrqLmyFqy8a8eZvnys1dbQbLcqNxxmzn8_1OX3ZYyiNLXMVmJCtmxYKh0tRB5EfDi9cufNkrtWw8GBU/s1600-h/DSCN0595.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ_kkqScIcl4XYSTa-pfRcX3LsJqHIejzJ3oSdrnylqmxvw0YHypjgOxEn6vVYIrqLmyFqy8a8eZvnys1dbQbLcqNxxmzn8_1OX3ZYyiNLXMVmJCtmxYKh0tRB5EfDi9cufNkrtWw8GBU/s320/DSCN0595.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287839928802760066" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">November: Running an errand with Mom and Dad and enjoying a ride in the cart</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT51wkrOeJYlT5sdHk86dD5xvPq5ftkcm-GyvXV9mEqLJpyG1duYLIJlffWGmx2h1wTB5wQm-5D-H6efoGktdMrI8__aYxnvrk7RlR42GlXta3FmK_MIyfosCDAF7HWA-gugwPlkhVFW3c/s1600-h/DSCN0647.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT51wkrOeJYlT5sdHk86dD5xvPq5ftkcm-GyvXV9mEqLJpyG1duYLIJlffWGmx2h1wTB5wQm-5D-H6efoGktdMrI8__aYxnvrk7RlR42GlXta3FmK_MIyfosCDAF7HWA-gugwPlkhVFW3c/s320/DSCN0647.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287839503589450386" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">December: Finding joy in feeding each other snacks</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMt857JlybBmceiM3KEU5JDEWIU8LN65ixizVHh63vcerBiCZ5mBw-jqSJBxzcN3Kov-SlT0Oh0SoGXtNoEEZwJFox7umuBBffM6rTgTQeRmO9fdNo_TqbPztprfzyWGD5LIQZcKpScAb/s1600-h/DSCN0667.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMt857JlybBmceiM3KEU5JDEWIU8LN65ixizVHh63vcerBiCZ5mBw-jqSJBxzcN3Kov-SlT0Oh0SoGXtNoEEZwJFox7umuBBffM6rTgTQeRmO9fdNo_TqbPztprfzyWGD5LIQZcKpScAb/s320/DSCN0667.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287837590447146994" /></a><br /><br /><br />I wish you all a joyous start to the New Year! Joey and I are looking forward to another year of constant love and laughter that these 2 little gals bring into our lives.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-54279879289332828952008-12-14T23:58:00.002-06:002008-12-15T00:01:16.793-06:00Taking care of toddlers can be dizzying sometimes<P><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-4956537843830722579&hl=en&fs=true" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><br />Just a few minutes later, Anna ran face first into the chair as it was still spinning wildly in circles (with only Margaret riding at this point), leading to many tears and a little blood, as her tooth had cut her gum in the collision. So perhaps we won't be repeating that activity!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-64910222253956628362008-12-08T23:15:00.002-06:002008-12-08T23:24:30.595-06:00We finally can stop calling them "Cousin It"I'm once again neglecting this blog! I'd like to blame it on the fact that time has been limited with Joey being out of town for work last week and part of this week - but truthfully, we haven't been up to a whole lot! However, we did take the girls for their very first hair cut this past weekend, and Joey managed to get some video of the event. Here are a couple clips! (ha - "clips")<br /><br />Anna getting her hair cut, with Daddy showing her the video camera (with the screen turned around so she can see herself as a great distraction). You can see just how bad she needed some bangs since she keeps trying to push her hair away from her face and looks generally annoyed that they are in her way!<br /><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-3448890457708284964&hl=en&fs=true" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><br />And Anna finishing up - with Margaret running in to the scene at the end. And then the video abruptly ends as the destructive twosome manage to take out an entire shelf of shampoo and conditioner bottles. It's getting interesting to take them out in public.<br /><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=6968343329663796990&hl=en&fs=true" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-36202470979197078592008-11-18T09:02:00.005-06:002008-11-18T09:51:35.649-06:00Climbing out from under everythingI generally like to stick to the happy stuff on this blog, and - much to our great fortune - life with Anna and Margaret is blissful and wonderful. But the past 2 weekends have been rough on all of us, explaining why I haven't posted anything since we got back from Florida.<div><br /></div><div>Two weekends ago, I spent 48 hours straight on the couch while Joey took care of the girls in his always capable, super Dad fashion while I suffered through some weird stomach virus and the nausea that went along with it. Hoping it was behind us, we spent last week in our usual routine of play dates and trips to friends' houses, and prepared for an eagerly anticipated wedding of a dear friend of mine (who I've known since I was 10!) in St. Louis - and looked forward to seeing my family again. On Friday night, weather between Nashville and St. Louis was downright awful with gusting winds, pouring rain, and low temperatures - and so my paranoia of taking my 3 favorite people in the world on potentially icy roads for 5 hours straight, in the dark, got the best of me and we decided to stay in Nashville Friday night and leave early Saturday morning to make it just in time for my friend Joelle's 2:00 wedding.</div><div><br /></div><div>In hindsight, that was a good decision to stay for many reasons - as I awoke to Margaret screaming at 3 in the morning, grabbed her out of her crib, tried consoling her in our glider...and noticed an odd smell. I took her out in the hallway, and sure enough - she's covered head to toe in her own vomit. The night went downhill from there - as the poor girl threw up for 3 hours straight, and after multiple clothing changes and clean-ups, she fell asleep exhausted and drained. </div><div><br /></div><div>The next morning, we gave her a very necessary bath and made breakfast...at which point Joey started feeling not so right, sealing the decision to stay in Nashville. He ended up catching the same virus, as did Anna, and luckily I remained standing and spent the weekend doing a lot of laundry, clean up, and baby/husband care, while I watched them all suffer and couldn't do much to help anyone.</div><div><br /></div><div>The good thing is - everyone's feeling better, so we have so much to be thankful for - and that was a much needed though painful reminder to all of us to not take good health for granted. And despite the rough weekend spent entirely indoors, as well as a missed wedding of a dear friend - there were some funny moments. Like listening to the girls newfound love for animal sound impressions (their elephant and tiger are the funniest, and when I ask them what a dog says, they strangely pant instead of saying "woof"). Or watching them and their fixation with picking out their clothes - the recent obsession is wearing patent leather shoes and winter hats around the house, which makes for an awesome fashion statement.</div><div><br /></div><div>By Monday night, everyone seemed to be feeling back to normal, despite the girls' runny noses and Margaret's molars coming in, which are causing some pain for her. Just before their bedtime, Joey put on some music in the kitchen and we had a very goofy, spur of the moment family dance party - basking in the euphoria of feeling great again. I am so grateful to be surrounded by so much love and laughter. </div><div><br /></div><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-7695686308770119982&hl=en&fs=true" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-81626785830144008182008-11-07T15:26:00.008-06:002008-11-08T21:31:35.127-06:00Florida RecapAll week long, I've been meaning to sit down and write a meaningful post about all of the fun things we did while visiting my parents at their condo in Sarasota, Florida - how much the girls adored the pool, how they could have spent hours with their pail and shovel on the beach, digging little holes and pouring sand on their legs (and occasionally taste-testing), how enamored they were with living for 5 days in a warm climate in which they could go outside at any time of the day without being pestered to put on a sweater - but I figured our week there would best be told in pictures. So enjoy!<div><br /></div><div>Our (yes, admittedly dorky) family bike ride. Much to my surprise, our girls actually loved wearing the helmets and insisted on wearing them while walking around my parents' condo - which was quite a funny sight.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq9yfevubDuhTlFYyU4aKc6nHZv4HEfKZnnwxrZE9YIZONov5FO6K46LjFBCQyhHSyXBtOAfHsYaUeqLgO_G4jmq0k0krJKgMfRMiFLfXK19wfsWzuB1GMmBHNGrTOxCRjZqZdPxyO9Ev/s400/DSC_1391.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq9yfevubDuhTlFYyU4aKc6nHZv4HEfKZnnwxrZE9YIZONov5FO6K46LjFBCQyhHSyXBtOAfHsYaUeqLgO_G4jmq0k0krJKgMfRMiFLfXK19wfsWzuB1GMmBHNGrTOxCRjZqZdPxyO9Ev/s400/DSC_1391.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Check out Anna's delighted face as Daddy takes her for a spin around the parking lot (well, we did make it beyond the parking lot - we actually took them into the main drag of Siesta Key and stopped at <a href="http://www.captaincurts.com/crab_oyster.php">Captain Curt's</a> for lunch!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNAzjy7CPt-cKZYdPf8nUd0027osYFP0VKg_uCFfRK_EF4Z7vFRS2IF3sJGzCyv3aiH_GRmzhibuvAx_sAXUE18pwZ6iwKRcSg-1KyEgeGk-OgY-bjdIQUY-Q-yo2azxpCyvTOjBeINoq/s640/DSC_1383.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 428px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNAzjy7CPt-cKZYdPf8nUd0027osYFP0VKg_uCFfRK_EF4Z7vFRS2IF3sJGzCyv3aiH_GRmzhibuvAx_sAXUE18pwZ6iwKRcSg-1KyEgeGk-OgY-bjdIQUY-Q-yo2azxpCyvTOjBeINoq/s640/DSC_1383.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Bad timing for their first dip in the pool - the weather was a little chilly that day, the wind was blowing hard, and the pool heater didn't seem to be working very well - poor little Margaret's teeth were chattering, so she welcomed a warm towel and hug from Nana (my Mom)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNc2V5cJgsyhgwhnJbfMTLtHoCeJUOPWxQEkh683lRaQRs2HZukdnrxS-4_wo1603CdD5aX_sKEKFh0Hryt7jKRg8kVWomiI3OD3EBfHoESU3Kj0aWc45rqPYvrEWl6CpapqDaZ3lKhib8/s640/DSC_1415.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 428px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNc2V5cJgsyhgwhnJbfMTLtHoCeJUOPWxQEkh683lRaQRs2HZukdnrxS-4_wo1603CdD5aX_sKEKFh0Hryt7jKRg8kVWomiI3OD3EBfHoESU3Kj0aWc45rqPYvrEWl6CpapqDaZ3lKhib8/s640/DSC_1415.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Anna seemed unaffected by the cold and insisted on playing in the pool with Daddy<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gLwUYki5DKm_JWyJh3iIuHefuFvOWjpzpg5mF7T8I9eKuVCiwmORWrr-11DvTDoWjxdggSQkGpUaDk8qJ-dyJOi4ehVVaqrGwDqraAl3pEyvMFrN36aWXBQpwhjFqVyXp0nBtGbFaLwM/s640/DSC_1423.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 428px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gLwUYki5DKm_JWyJh3iIuHefuFvOWjpzpg5mF7T8I9eKuVCiwmORWrr-11DvTDoWjxdggSQkGpUaDk8qJ-dyJOi4ehVVaqrGwDqraAl3pEyvMFrN36aWXBQpwhjFqVyXp0nBtGbFaLwM/s640/DSC_1423.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />All warm and dry in their cover-ups (and Margaret carrying around the 2 sand buckets that she insisted on holding for the majority of the day, including bath time in the evening)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5ON0aNYKZzY8MSVjQreTkM4xdK8axJ78sAg5RVM7yEY9PKh6OTdtYl5H8AQTrh2tqjMh41UeORxPKSJdQlQb3FvdZJYIjRmAFTjfQMG5qJccn1eppGRpAFqThbQd3_L3q8KiTsbT5BOF/s640/DSC_1429.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 428px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5ON0aNYKZzY8MSVjQreTkM4xdK8axJ78sAg5RVM7yEY9PKh6OTdtYl5H8AQTrh2tqjMh41UeORxPKSJdQlQb3FvdZJYIjRmAFTjfQMG5qJccn1eppGRpAFqThbQd3_L3q8KiTsbT5BOF/s640/DSC_1429.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Anna finally took a break from the pool<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJihGwMSfXFKCqr4uy0_mn09lxlGIA_fQsBenqQtKTKkVAElSB22OaRNXtg8Ri01NZ2RcEmnfKgWM90DZ-rXguei_Tzpss_eq80ZR8fazJjEE2N55OEPKb4T2C6k9AChSAJ3Dxa3jyQhds/s640/DSC_1427.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 428px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJihGwMSfXFKCqr4uy0_mn09lxlGIA_fQsBenqQtKTKkVAElSB22OaRNXtg8Ri01NZ2RcEmnfKgWM90DZ-rXguei_Tzpss_eq80ZR8fazJjEE2N55OEPKb4T2C6k9AChSAJ3Dxa3jyQhds/s640/DSC_1427.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />We dressed up Anna and Margaret in their (somewhat makeshift) Halloween costumes and did a little photo shoot near the pool and on the beach, since we didn't take them trick-or-treating that evening. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCJCnp1NL7Xt1ynFKHEMWcdOjhdrRXW_2BUR9fEviuh76Xj7dq1DSFBbtkoa1guGn9gTZqamB9H9Rkq7i2bmH42MI96HW7lufBXJmhhfggKzDkas0y0YaWH40W_4EHdibgzSRFn4NCv-j/s576/DSCN0541.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCJCnp1NL7Xt1ynFKHEMWcdOjhdrRXW_2BUR9fEviuh76Xj7dq1DSFBbtkoa1guGn9gTZqamB9H9Rkq7i2bmH42MI96HW7lufBXJmhhfggKzDkas0y0YaWH40W_4EHdibgzSRFn4NCv-j/s576/DSCN0541.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Margaret and I<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1JfbuAOmZGpjxwboINEky0hvACNRMT24JWXCNU2-LxJZmJ3wk_bkPadaWP6kHJWSkEFXQj-9pdXeSlaNSFKHCawEoqIr6HPHSH01aCpU8PzaxRoajfzzUZdXk5wClfjwJESuUaHMddDt/s640/DSC_1487.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 428px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1JfbuAOmZGpjxwboINEky0hvACNRMT24JWXCNU2-LxJZmJ3wk_bkPadaWP6kHJWSkEFXQj-9pdXeSlaNSFKHCawEoqIr6HPHSH01aCpU8PzaxRoajfzzUZdXk5wClfjwJESuUaHMddDt/s640/DSC_1487.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Our little (fairies? angels? something like that...) on the boardwalk to the beach<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRelhXsrng1UFh5E3vDgX0t0gghHCTlbHt6CINn3HVq2BZyGcELJ6iot2DjSlMvyEfJ58_Zfj-p_XpwAO7eGJJZI1xjc7RdKD10wgkNIK8mFNV7W1Fmqr1PbxhdOzndBeXzHoNPP9cg2V/s640/DSC_1515.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 428px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRelhXsrng1UFh5E3vDgX0t0gghHCTlbHt6CINn3HVq2BZyGcELJ6iot2DjSlMvyEfJ58_Zfj-p_XpwAO7eGJJZI1xjc7RdKD10wgkNIK8mFNV7W1Fmqr1PbxhdOzndBeXzHoNPP9cg2V/s640/DSC_1515.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>I love how the sky looks in this photo<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQhQHy8PqTvmm6tVtjCseL-MmQo7IdNza_BeKsim7brqCt9KsQ-vW-rP6Dn6oeCnaPVVRhyphenhypheny-s1oUFHwx_bBiWg9UAJu13aMRYhqTZcRpwNzWLHSkbu7wT3OIFHdkrFESLyZeMi8KS2yE/s576/DSCN0555.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQhQHy8PqTvmm6tVtjCseL-MmQo7IdNza_BeKsim7brqCt9KsQ-vW-rP6Dn6oeCnaPVVRhyphenhypheny-s1oUFHwx_bBiWg9UAJu13aMRYhqTZcRpwNzWLHSkbu7wT3OIFHdkrFESLyZeMi8KS2yE/s576/DSCN0555.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Loving how curly their hair has become<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DNCbb3YezRs0kP_DrJnURHVrFjYuCol_PlCy9aCgywCqh689TweO9egYxKdBxQj86UtT5RPqmQdiruYSsQk0Wvn1d4DaWaDnJRTICCTJKxXn-uL9A48ZexJdYXTeLSqZoCmRSLR1A96Q/s640/DSC_1520.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 428px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DNCbb3YezRs0kP_DrJnURHVrFjYuCol_PlCy9aCgywCqh689TweO9egYxKdBxQj86UtT5RPqmQdiruYSsQk0Wvn1d4DaWaDnJRTICCTJKxXn-uL9A48ZexJdYXTeLSqZoCmRSLR1A96Q/s640/DSC_1520.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Catching our beach fairies sitting together (this lasted about 5 seconds)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvU4Wd0yV5mLGNrHdWX1vb2Yt3eeNbiBiJLJNkCsAP7qib_prnbohj54m_wo4GKVPcRBDZXAreDU-SBXAv4xwh-LHe0GAFrgnNU028AjLyiDo_hiPOFPUeX0b2YnkYZAYZIx4PVk3fhcmz/s640/DSC_1553_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 428px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvU4Wd0yV5mLGNrHdWX1vb2Yt3eeNbiBiJLJNkCsAP7qib_prnbohj54m_wo4GKVPcRBDZXAreDU-SBXAv4xwh-LHe0GAFrgnNU028AjLyiDo_hiPOFPUeX0b2YnkYZAYZIx4PVk3fhcmz/s640/DSC_1553_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Daddy giving Anna a lift while Nana and Margaret hold hands<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVOdmcqJIM2gjEjnS_e7J5VNO-mKVAiJ7I1VRwp-2bRyV6rwBtNQzqKitJ-pFo74b6KaBYW9XhazNXCO1h1E7zw9MPyiqYZmjdpfvv-GZeANy6SaUkDoG9nAQj0Q-VB_u6jHvH47QPIW_/s576/DSCN0571.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVOdmcqJIM2gjEjnS_e7J5VNO-mKVAiJ7I1VRwp-2bRyV6rwBtNQzqKitJ-pFo74b6KaBYW9XhazNXCO1h1E7zw9MPyiqYZmjdpfvv-GZeANy6SaUkDoG9nAQj0Q-VB_u6jHvH47QPIW_/s576/DSCN0571.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Margaret and her Nana (not to be confused with Anna, or their favorite morning snack, a banana)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB81ladhPnElyWkGijgHDlRfRN_mHxsd3xbrq4q0wCkAoTElWM6RJJ0VCJEihlDZOcRyldL85ZwSRRMRV8FQyE-TN-vXut0SXFiL8Nm_dy7a5-HWDRfJHtzp9BUIbgR4JuSgfrd4A7FaWf/s576/DSCN0577.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB81ladhPnElyWkGijgHDlRfRN_mHxsd3xbrq4q0wCkAoTElWM6RJJ0VCJEihlDZOcRyldL85ZwSRRMRV8FQyE-TN-vXut0SXFiL8Nm_dy7a5-HWDRfJHtzp9BUIbgR4JuSgfrd4A7FaWf/s576/DSCN0577.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Catching a cute moment between Daddy and his girls<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3Go59qYbMtdgHcxLeeselz09wsjNQ_0giFW8CPAXoc071hq9N8Uj_gHc4MLvVn7zaolqSmIdi6bfSH1J7LYVKW3Y_cvRfFn6DaDq8EKC5Q95giOJQOrTr87k22RnkMALfmRaOHeZP_Hj/s576/DSCN0581.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3Go59qYbMtdgHcxLeeselz09wsjNQ_0giFW8CPAXoc071hq9N8Uj_gHc4MLvVn7zaolqSmIdi6bfSH1J7LYVKW3Y_cvRfFn6DaDq8EKC5Q95giOJQOrTr87k22RnkMALfmRaOHeZP_Hj/s576/DSCN0581.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Margaret's elated reaction to having her feet buried in the sand<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnPWrz1RwcvrcVfIfCFk15kXMr4OkId_wXInb4kCUFGrU9iiVTNk5vxoojT8uvcSJQKVHZlwFRkgrjPyjndS9i9lvRDr-XaVJKvAbyeqkjeptl37KGAw5j-h4LXe-UrqwawmQjBzamcWr/s576/DSCN0587.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnPWrz1RwcvrcVfIfCFk15kXMr4OkId_wXInb4kCUFGrU9iiVTNk5vxoojT8uvcSJQKVHZlwFRkgrjPyjndS9i9lvRDr-XaVJKvAbyeqkjeptl37KGAw5j-h4LXe-UrqwawmQjBzamcWr/s576/DSCN0587.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>A surprisingly happy reaction just minutes after taste-testing the sand<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FkGNrfj91UIGsPCO-YjaxbVoA5S5ObFLyl5TKZSc1RDAbwB2UKFjbRI_f0LLIwBqiU0WxOzNbxBmI6LRhiiQgP6kMFRQih59-2fq5tw4KxvHvsTd5AnIiEPAOLqRYBIdJAfRdW-pq9Qf/s576/DSCN0596.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FkGNrfj91UIGsPCO-YjaxbVoA5S5ObFLyl5TKZSc1RDAbwB2UKFjbRI_f0LLIwBqiU0WxOzNbxBmI6LRhiiQgP6kMFRQih59-2fq5tw4KxvHvsTd5AnIiEPAOLqRYBIdJAfRdW-pq9Qf/s576/DSCN0596.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>I think they could have stayed at there for hours. Don't you just love little gals in pigtails?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wZehMs_AhDyfylxEJFqZ-rdHCpEUqMA1PRe-gEMmT2Yn-Q6WkPftYHhc04_gnpSblVL2w-212zLyv-eoG61_gOFDQYtR34lr9w-4zfLFt3GIuV3-0mxAm8hFX1ZcYraOVTS14k8uf884/s576/DSCN0595.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wZehMs_AhDyfylxEJFqZ-rdHCpEUqMA1PRe-gEMmT2Yn-Q6WkPftYHhc04_gnpSblVL2w-212zLyv-eoG61_gOFDQYtR34lr9w-4zfLFt3GIuV3-0mxAm8hFX1ZcYraOVTS14k8uf884/s576/DSCN0595.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-59358154097424463732008-10-24T10:55:00.012-05:002008-10-24T11:50:28.646-05:00Our grand tour of the upper midwestIt's obvious how behind I am in updating this blog when I'm posting pictures from last weekend - on a Friday. I've had a mental block about writing lately...but I figure a rainy day is as good of a time as ever!<div><br /></div><div>Last weekend, we visited Joey's family in Mishawaka, Indiana to meet his brother Aaron and wife Michelle's <a href="http://babyleniski.blogspot.com">new baby boy, Logan,</a> who was even cuter than in pictures and remarkably calm and well behaved. Proving once more that our 2 wild monkeys, Anna and Margaret, were indeed the high-strung, colicky babies that I remembered.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are a few pictures of the new babe and family:</div><div><br /></div><div>Logan in all of his adorableness</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0wu4vmibI/AAAAAAAADhc/CDoBl_Nb8J0/s576/P1010555.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0wu4vmibI/AAAAAAAADhc/CDoBl_Nb8J0/s576/P1010555.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Proud parents Aaron and Michelle<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0wwancewI/AAAAAAAADhs/Om33lTB0Chk/s576/P1010564.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0wwancewI/AAAAAAAADhs/Om33lTB0Chk/s576/P1010564.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>And a tired Daddy taking a nap with Logan<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0w4lFB-qI/AAAAAAAADis/XP5jNsSlVFQ/s576/P1010587.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0w4lFB-qI/AAAAAAAADis/XP5jNsSlVFQ/s576/P1010587.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Uncle Joey<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0w5cV2zgI/AAAAAAAADiw/kbNeM-Wytj8/s576/P1010589.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0w5cV2zgI/AAAAAAAADiw/kbNeM-Wytj8/s576/P1010589.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Uncle Joel (Aunt Karolyn, so sorry I didn't get you in this picture!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP91lI7R6L-GDlIBPpXQBZxGa1QajrRxDdVG-81Lk2JFF3GQVlKMZTQKOKg5g5VY5IUiqq798yv-aJzuR5mPyP4Tyz3C5Y3m-aKTOgM5l87tYzEAmdZFcOhzkr-gLFWGnAcHmLPAoqkVJ5/s1600-h/P1010601.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP91lI7R6L-GDlIBPpXQBZxGa1QajrRxDdVG-81Lk2JFF3GQVlKMZTQKOKg5g5VY5IUiqq798yv-aJzuR5mPyP4Tyz3C5Y3m-aKTOgM5l87tYzEAmdZFcOhzkr-gLFWGnAcHmLPAoqkVJ5/s400/P1010601.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260757085247524290" /></a>Grandma and Grandpa and their 4 nieces and 1 nephew<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXq-ZekPr3qA75amUot_W1-i0tpvDh_qeHVgqU_LKW0IYbueCLLtpeEzScmg0MBZUfQwH2gVU2dUiHSAJ3rWuEJ7RBP-p_NCFs2tZ7o_qYEOTaPxVNq43AFmIC7ppR4cDd9BcKetG2m4W/s1600-h/P1010602.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXq-ZekPr3qA75amUot_W1-i0tpvDh_qeHVgqU_LKW0IYbueCLLtpeEzScmg0MBZUfQwH2gVU2dUiHSAJ3rWuEJ7RBP-p_NCFs2tZ7o_qYEOTaPxVNq43AFmIC7ppR4cDd9BcKetG2m4W/s400/P1010602.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260756975297396402" /></a><br /></div><div>And a few pics from enjoying the beautiful fall weather and falling leaves in Indiana:</div><div><br /></div><div>The friendly stray cat that's hanging out at Joey's parents' house:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0wyThwl8I/AAAAAAAADh4/L6PLQ2oS2RA/s576/P1010568.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0wyThwl8I/AAAAAAAADh4/L6PLQ2oS2RA/s576/P1010568.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Perhaps it won't be by as often after getting chased:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0wy5Rp49I/AAAAAAAADh8/xPJqFEF3wJ8/s576/P1010570.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0wy5Rp49I/AAAAAAAADh8/xPJqFEF3wJ8/s576/P1010570.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Margaret enjoying a few throws in the air by Daddy:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0w0OfNP0I/AAAAAAAADiM/yXPETD0s6d4/s576/P1010574.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0w0OfNP0I/AAAAAAAADiM/yXPETD0s6d4/s576/P1010574.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Anna attempting to catch the leaves we threw in the air for her<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0w1-78mPI/AAAAAAAADic/y0ZDeEN6ZR8/s576/P1010579.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0w1-78mPI/AAAAAAAADic/y0ZDeEN6ZR8/s576/P1010579.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Margaret not enjoying this game as much<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0w2Qq2g7I/AAAAAAAADig/Xivl7UkTR8o/s576/P1010581.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 576px; height: 432px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SP0w2Qq2g7I/AAAAAAAADig/Xivl7UkTR8o/s576/P1010581.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></div><div>Sunday night, we drove to Columbus, Ohio, as Joey found out quite last minute that he had to be at a work meeting Monday morning. I was a bit apprehensive of the whole experience, as we had yet to sleep in a hotel with the girls, but it went surprisingly well. The 2-room hotel suite was perfect, and the girls were strangely giddy and ran laps around the hotel room when we walked in at 10 p.m. - well past their bedtime. The hotel bathtub was also a huge hit, as apparently the travel sized hotel shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and lotion bottles are the coolest - things - ever to 15 month olds. I think they carried those bottles around the entire time we were there.</div><div><br /></div><div>Monday morning, Joey attended his meeting and I lucked out to find a city park (<a href="http://recparks.columbus.gov/Parks/Parks_3.asp">Goodale Park</a>) right next to our hotel to burn some energy and entertain the girls before we got back on the road. Anna and Margaret tried out the playground (doing their requisite attempt at climbing up the slides, as they do every time), petted a few dogs (the new obsession in their lives), and even posed for a few photos taken by several Ohio State University photography students at the park doing class homework. We wandered over to the pond and gazebo area, at which point the girls were drained and wondering why their mother was denying them of the critical morning nap - note the exhausted looks:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCctroDmye_CvJHWbtoaFEBS9CwXxj5pPJeG2z5y4H7UON2c8jLvq1zCx_8F7B9-px8s3nmoDkh7EYYHg_BpDb2Ayx8IuC6IN1iZUf69e4Uar0QQpadjmkijKzJQO4puDhmhEF6tzEB5uv/s1600-h/P1010607.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCctroDmye_CvJHWbtoaFEBS9CwXxj5pPJeG2z5y4H7UON2c8jLvq1zCx_8F7B9-px8s3nmoDkh7EYYHg_BpDb2Ayx8IuC6IN1iZUf69e4Uar0QQpadjmkijKzJQO4puDhmhEF6tzEB5uv/s400/P1010607.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260751444515197218" /></a><br /></div><div>After they could take no more of the park and stroller, we went back to the hotel room and had a little Fruit Loop snack party on the floor while we watched Elmo. Who they strangely refer to as "Da." Spoken in a high pitched, frantic, "DA!!!!" every time they see him on TV. Elmo is #1 in their lives right now. Don't try messing with them when Elmo's World is on in the morning- that's must-see-TV for these chicks and their furry, red, monster friend.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIXOoW86fX4xBB_bSm1VvWYgF5ljVN6VE9gYR3uH7tmQa8iaPVuW1r9aT-6RUJli-azFevv6feq3ublygrAlSowknHu-CRdTMJG0RiArW7-a7gopRWCx6hMnW4ETrSxAb-DDGGJ9qIF8u/s1600-h/P1010610.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIXOoW86fX4xBB_bSm1VvWYgF5ljVN6VE9gYR3uH7tmQa8iaPVuW1r9aT-6RUJli-azFevv6feq3ublygrAlSowknHu-CRdTMJG0RiArW7-a7gopRWCx6hMnW4ETrSxAb-DDGGJ9qIF8u/s400/P1010610.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260750526057932770" /></a></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-32981092824551665272008-10-15T09:38:00.005-05:002008-10-15T15:19:16.190-05:00A trip to the farmJoey, the girls and I made a trip to <a href="http://www.gentryfarm.com/">Gentry's Farm and Pumpkin Patch</a> this past Sunday. Anna and Margaret had a great time - Gentry's had this children's activity area where the girls saw goats, chicken, and roosters; rode the toy tractors; climbed up a little barn ladder and slid down a slide; played with farm animal toys in a little barn play area; swung on the tire swings (with assistance from us, of course); ran through the 4-acre corn maze; and their favorite thing of all - they played in this area that had feed troughs set up filled with shovels, toys, and grain feed. That seriously fascinated them - I think we were there for 45 minutes.<br /><br />Here are a few photos from the fun day! What is lacking is a trip to the actual pumpkin patch - we wore them out so much doing everything else that we never made it to the pumpkins. But we managed to pick 2 up for our front porch on our way out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNnjX0LHFI/AAAAAAAADdI/rkkQpYDsUE4/s576/P1010499.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNnjX0LHFI/AAAAAAAADdI/rkkQpYDsUE4/s576/P1010499.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Walking up to the farm entrance - on an unusually hot October day. We had 4 straight days of upper 80-degree weather.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNn1AwimMI/AAAAAAAADd0/UI3D4pXTaQQ/s576/P1010506.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNn1AwimMI/AAAAAAAADd0/UI3D4pXTaQQ/s576/P1010506.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Anna quite proud of herself for climbing up an old, rickety, narrow barn ladder (and Margaret in the background, contemplating going down the slide on the other side). And then there was me - praying for no trips to the Emergency Room.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNnjoah5qI/AAAAAAAADdg/NfcJOsDRtEo/s576/P1010503.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNnjoah5qI/AAAAAAAADdg/NfcJOsDRtEo/s576/P1010503.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This little city girl can drive a tractor!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNn0hYCEBI/AAAAAAAADds/j53KA8nQqLQ/s576/P1010504.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNn0hYCEBI/AAAAAAAADds/j53KA8nQqLQ/s576/P1010504.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Or maybe not.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNn1MACwSI/AAAAAAAADd8/tMGDpQkqIzs/s576/P1010509.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNn1MACwSI/AAAAAAAADd8/tMGDpQkqIzs/s576/P1010509.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anna caught site of the goats (which she called "dogs," hee hee) and was immediately out of there.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNn1QeLgSI/AAAAAAAADeM/OTRvpIYYGQQ/s576/P1010511.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNn1QeLgSI/AAAAAAAADeM/OTRvpIYYGQQ/s576/P1010511.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Playing with the toys in the troughs<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNoM8yrPII/AAAAAAAADek/U5dzYcRi02g/s576/P1010514.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNoM8yrPII/AAAAAAAADek/U5dzYcRi02g/s576/P1010514.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Do not feed the animals. Don't feed the goats, either.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNoNKJP7mI/AAAAAAAADes/Kf-aH7gUDBE/s576/P1010518.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNoNKJP7mI/AAAAAAAADes/Kf-aH7gUDBE/s576/P1010518.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">And we're back to the troughs. Those things held their attention for so long that I briefly entertained the notion of buying a trough and putting one out on our deck for them to play in. And hey - I can feed them out there too!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNoYSUGCeI/AAAAAAAADe8/hlq3jmX833Q/s576/P1010520.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNoYSUGCeI/AAAAAAAADe8/hlq3jmX833Q/s576/P1010520.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Running after Daddy in the corn maze. I love the fact that they've actually started to figure out how to run - even if it's still a little bouncy and awkward looking.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNoYZfEMUI/AAAAAAAADfE/JPzCCmBMor4/s576/P1010521.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SPNoYZfEMUI/AAAAAAAADfE/JPzCCmBMor4/s576/P1010521.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Catching up to Daddy! I was so proud of the girls - they walked/ran the majority of this corn maze without Joey or I holding them. I think they were so enamored by the fact that they could walk wherever without us stopping them. Margaret lagged behind because she kept wanting to pick up the ears of corn on the ground. Our little hunter/gatherer.<br /></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-60487168154585916892008-10-14T12:42:00.005-05:002008-10-15T09:17:25.962-05:00We have a nephew!!<p></p><div>Joey and I are thrilled to announce the arrival of our nephew - the son of Joey's brother, <a href="http://babyleniski.blogspot.com/">Aaron</a>, and sister-in-law, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 26, 139); text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://babyleniski.blogspot.com">Michelle!</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Logan Anthony </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Born October 13, 2008</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">4:20 p.m.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">8 lbs, 8 oz</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">21 inches*</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">He is beautiful and perfect and gorgeous in every way - an adorable face with rosy cheeks, long, dark, eyelashes, and a head full of thick, black hair. Photographic evidence is on their <a href="http://babyleniski.blogspot.com/">blog</a>!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We're so thrilled for Aaron and Michelle, and so very proud to have a nephew. It's so hard to not be there and hold him - so we're making a trip up to Indiana soon to visit, during which I plan to cuddle Logan and stare at his adorableness. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Congratulations and welcome to the world, Logan!!! Logan is the first grandson on Joey's side, after 4 girls in a row. Prepare yourself, Logan. You may have to fight off some bossy girls in a few years from attempting to dress you up or make you join a tea party.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">*Making note of the fact that Logan is just a little less than 1/3 of the size of my very petite sister-in-law, Michelle. Hee hee. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-13676519231749517702008-10-10T16:39:00.015-05:002008-10-12T09:43:04.233-05:00Busy, busy, busy<div> I usually hire a babysitter for about 3-4 hours on one day of the week to get out by myself, get some errands done that ordinarily are impossible to accomplish with the girls in tow, and just get a little sanity break. I just realized the other day that I haven't hired a babysitter to come in over 3 weeks - and I find myself happy to say that I have just been having too much fun with the girls, and our schedule has been too packed with fun activities, to even bother having someone come watch them.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think that really made me aware of the fact that I'm truly settling into this parenting thing, that I finally - after 15 months - have got the hang of it, and that it doesn't seem like as much work anymore. I won't say that taking care of two 15-month olds is a breeze - I collapse on the couch out of exhaustion every night after we put them to bed - but I will say that now that they are aware of so much around them, that they can enjoy so many activities, and that I in turn am experiencing things a second time through their eyes - I'm totally loving spending time with them.</div><div><br /></div><div>The girls thrive on a busy schedule, and did particularly well this past week, during which I gave them little downtime to just play around the house, and even forced them to skip a morning nap one day (an experiment that I have chosen not to repeat) in order to pack in several activities during the day. We spent the week hopping around town from one play date to the next, exploring various playgrounds and parks around town, and enjoying our weekly music class.<br /></div><br />One of my friends in our moms' group is awesome about taking photos of our group events, and managed to snap a bunch of photos during a trip to <a href="http://www.thelittlegym.com/">The Little Gym</a> on Thursday afternoon, during which our toddlers tumbled and jumped and climbed various gymnatics equipment. I thought I'd show off a few of Anna and Margaret:<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjxLX-fz8k43lQ96VncZqOdtaxdtQIkOL3fwj-ETf3YZFTcsX_VvQIwdtOLk0NzqCdG99OhhDSM-qMPQ28vKvylvKDr2kRYoHVAZoJsOc8gd6XVwdKOiT-2zJ5G2KWuRGFoHcG2IY8Ylo/s1600-h/highres_5808668.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjxLX-fz8k43lQ96VncZqOdtaxdtQIkOL3fwj-ETf3YZFTcsX_VvQIwdtOLk0NzqCdG99OhhDSM-qMPQ28vKvylvKDr2kRYoHVAZoJsOc8gd6XVwdKOiT-2zJ5G2KWuRGFoHcG2IY8Ylo/s400/highres_5808668.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255647372936116050" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Margaret taking a photo break</span><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FMFAB44fP-OvxVssZkEflbIQa5DenpbpVwm54ssTGvbXy95jhiInVJQxtxKjRYeehIh_z0I-OjiBwplPvEytKiecGYyJWNed5I_bzSze48r31E13sZplASuYwolcEtvkrfvQJ6O32u4D/s1600-h/highres_5808667.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FMFAB44fP-OvxVssZkEflbIQa5DenpbpVwm54ssTGvbXy95jhiInVJQxtxKjRYeehIh_z0I-OjiBwplPvEytKiecGYyJWNed5I_bzSze48r31E13sZplASuYwolcEtvkrfvQJ6O32u4D/s400/highres_5808667.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255647194984406306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuul8pnxSZWGGiWVTxBLc-QAemYvgzdGJOcZhy6P7vrjiTE1Tfabf_hnPTtkkAH1KcOadrdlHOC3OuAzRlUtAXEqwprfiwMGboPU3iBMQsaUv41dlvQ1gNkTo2tVT02Kqk4FtSQ4UJU1o/s1600-h/highres_5808664.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuul8pnxSZWGGiWVTxBLc-QAemYvgzdGJOcZhy6P7vrjiTE1Tfabf_hnPTtkkAH1KcOadrdlHOC3OuAzRlUtAXEqwprfiwMGboPU3iBMQsaUv41dlvQ1gNkTo2tVT02Kqk4FtSQ4UJU1o/s400/highres_5808664.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255646409647952914" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Anna, Margaret and a friend running up and down (repeat 10x) this inclined foam ma</span>t<br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Hed3jNADNbko5Cq_kHn0CWO0Xht-1V2bef3J57ib9LEadAJTqHws4ysgIjEC_QpXMSelukcyNKFEHNUSKAlHymAMx7WkUuIpEDmzNrW3TbYLgrXI6SLtXXk2qpdL2ydoi-J1aeNKyWOq/s1600-h/highres_5808615.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Hed3jNADNbko5Cq_kHn0CWO0Xht-1V2bef3J57ib9LEadAJTqHws4ysgIjEC_QpXMSelukcyNKFEHNUSKAlHymAMx7WkUuIpEDmzNrW3TbYLgrXI6SLtXXk2qpdL2ydoi-J1aeNKyWOq/s400/highres_5808615.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255643800530093778" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">Margaret shows off her impressive balancing skills</span><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DGeVLWwroJ8C9mFgSW5sDCzPTRqA_iPhbQW-96RNWg8Fk_VElildS0acNbjCRkOo_cTzNCU4U9DlUZMTc89oqQ5BZXtZPsQRc6XKvy6GfvoZPsaNAF4SRulGfp663RRBM-vzPNlHSadS/s1600-h/highres_5808539.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DGeVLWwroJ8C9mFgSW5sDCzPTRqA_iPhbQW-96RNWg8Fk_VElildS0acNbjCRkOo_cTzNCU4U9DlUZMTc89oqQ5BZXtZPsQRc6XKvy6GfvoZPsaNAF4SRulGfp663RRBM-vzPNlHSadS/s400/highres_5808539.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255643253911298914" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">The girls tap their sticks along to the music during circle time</span><br /></div></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDXPcjY4iEhG2ZKEEDQX0q7vN8Um9wp0e4k3IwgudBUrMkg8D_1DyqE1ItjwpMMbJkqGumGvv_KcZyAxHf8nu1tmSX6UDGmLePnxy5zwYkj5uBFSNB2Mfc7Y5vAGu45jH6DwSRSpKx5eU/s1600-h/highres_5808670.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDXPcjY4iEhG2ZKEEDQX0q7vN8Um9wp0e4k3IwgudBUrMkg8D_1DyqE1ItjwpMMbJkqGumGvv_KcZyAxHf8nu1tmSX6UDGmLePnxy5zwYkj5uBFSNB2Mfc7Y5vAGu45jH6DwSRSpKx5eU/s400/highres_5808670.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255648162032603890" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And my favorite photo of all: Margaret attempting a forward roll. The instructor had demonstrated with each of the kids how to use that barrel shaped foam to show a toddler how to roll - and after the demonstration, Margaret was desperate to do it herself. She sat in this position for a couple of minutes, trying over and over. Go Margie</span>!<br /></div></span>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-52054846423375825112008-10-08T12:54:00.004-05:002008-10-08T13:03:02.526-05:00Way Back When-esday!I decided to take part in blogger friend <a href="http://twinfatuation.blogspot.com/">Cheryl's</a> "Way Back When-nesday"! Thanks, Cheryl, for letting me participate!<div><br /></div><div>Here's my "way back" photo:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4454/5/87/36/57/73/7/773573687505_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4454/5/87/36/57/73/7/773573687505_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Date: July 9, 2007<br />Twins' Age: 2 weeks old</div><div><br />This photo shows Anna (left) and Margaret (right) in their post-bath glory after their first sponge bath at home. My Mom was staying with us at the time, and took the lead in bathing the girls. I can't believe how tiny they are - and how those newborn onesies are huge on them! It's amazing to think that we could bathe them on the kitchen counter and not worry about their rolling off. We have a video of this bath somewhere - and at the time, I remember finding it fascinating to see their little movements (look, she blinked! listen to those coos and gurgles!) - but now that I look back at it, I realize that newborns are slightly, well, boring. But adorable, beautiful, and best of all - easy to contain. ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>Have a great day!! Thanks, Cheryl - your blog continues to be so much fun to read!</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-29928629607510100522008-10-07T17:23:00.018-05:002008-10-07T22:16:09.163-05:0015-month check-up stats + picture updateYesterday was the girls' 15-month pediatrician appointment, during which I discovered that:<br /><br />A) Anna and Margaret can now open the doors of the exam rooms and fling themselves out into the hallway, running in opposite directions with delight and shrieking while nurses chase them down;<br />B) They now have sympathy for each other during the dreaded immunization part of the exam and whimpered alongside each other...sad but cute. And not a good thing for the second kiddo (in this case it was Anna) to get her round of shots, as this time around, she had an idea of what was about to happen to her, judging from Margaret's howls;<br />C) They hold grudges against nurses bearing said shots - Margaret gave Nurse Jessica a growl as we passed her on the way out; and,<br />D) They have huge noggins. Check out these stats:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Anna:</span><br />Weight: 23 lbs (49th percentile)<br />Height: 31 inches (60th percentile)<br />Head circumference: forgot the number...but 92nd (!!!) percentile<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Margaret:</span><br />Weight: 21 lbs (18th percentile)<br />Height: 31 inches (60th percentile)<br />Head circumference: Also joining the big head club at 92nd percentile<br /><br />I'm behind on getting any photos up but grabbed a few off my camera from the weekend. Enjoy!<br /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Margaret swinging at the park (with her new sneakers on, which she hasn't quite figured out how to walk in just yet and sort of clomps around like she's wearing clown shoes)</span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pfpwMc9lh-AZyfgTLaADuvTd20g0xs63aZDDJybD9KwTZLcd_tUmQq1GEEet6ofNV1OZqcNREeg3cXCwDZchG5wl_uJnYDRit9k3CEIbi0tM3JLwfJP5DQXLepFAyQjVjxsJDVCHu2c_/s1600-h/P1010432.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pfpwMc9lh-AZyfgTLaADuvTd20g0xs63aZDDJybD9KwTZLcd_tUmQq1GEEet6ofNV1OZqcNREeg3cXCwDZchG5wl_uJnYDRit9k3CEIbi0tM3JLwfJP5DQXLepFAyQjVjxsJDVCHu2c_/s400/P1010432.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254612762244766082" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The girls' favorite part of Dragon Park: the water spraye</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">r</span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAM_YOfjm_O4XPFwAbBrdv-ZlQ8bZJrOYTwjarssMU64YVhGfcFgQVBKPTisJ3-T-zYMmPKEXBqtwVXHrGU1kYzQTzU8kvLxFQIVAiggw-tnmlDsMc7wDoZxiWLxYUMvRL4En-BPIBwAkj/s1600-h/P1010438.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAM_YOfjm_O4XPFwAbBrdv-ZlQ8bZJrOYTwjarssMU64YVhGfcFgQVBKPTisJ3-T-zYMmPKEXBqtwVXHrGU1kYzQTzU8kvLxFQIVAiggw-tnmlDsMc7wDoZxiWLxYUMvRL4En-BPIBwAkj/s400/P1010438.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254612613789414530" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anna playing peek-a-bo</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o</span><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U9su-QPlKiduekcLUXGcB-PCTXVZtp4EzlN8U3PvHTcGMkQsGTttlVcK46t6UxAtlxdLnBA9qGCEGwqyOa7kPozorhYWcY3FYekDdkPXJGG1vO8EU7_PQo8sYT0_SCz0G8TUoZ22b2nU/s1600-h/P1010443.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U9su-QPlKiduekcLUXGcB-PCTXVZtp4EzlN8U3PvHTcGMkQsGTttlVcK46t6UxAtlxdLnBA9qGCEGwqyOa7kPozorhYWcY3FYekDdkPXJGG1vO8EU7_PQo8sYT0_SCz0G8TUoZ22b2nU/s400/P1010443.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254612484576670322" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Dressed in their "Commodores in Training" t-shirts for a visit to Vanderbilt's campus last Saturday morning for ESPN Gamed</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">ay</span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtT5ZZPkbR0vJE7oPfVVngPwVdAoqqf9rtJfdC2qUOnSNv6OVAty6EPfsKPiJ8llQW2ddU1JquKSOqKUPSiQFCu_gsUHMEWmLEefTlIpWsMOShWVDQ-q79D1_5SLxxp69BkTH98_TcQAiC/s1600-h/P1010449.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtT5ZZPkbR0vJE7oPfVVngPwVdAoqqf9rtJfdC2qUOnSNv6OVAty6EPfsKPiJ8llQW2ddU1JquKSOqKUPSiQFCu_gsUHMEWmLEefTlIpWsMOShWVDQ-q79D1_5SLxxp69BkTH98_TcQAiC/s400/P1010449.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254611016058129602" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What is it about sneakers and jeans that makes a kid look so grown up</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">?</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0XRrYPJUnr2Ghx4qvudIMzatDg61e4-EYAT-_ycpltGKZWYHv8Yv95NkJkXpj8gmC_KtkvxtvBEEl0NNNCd-Zi_Jff87SjAsUa2lAFVVGXrpNCRcphMa5lT3gKyETtpKCv9TTCchGp50/s1600-h/P1010454.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0XRrYPJUnr2Ghx4qvudIMzatDg61e4-EYAT-_ycpltGKZWYHv8Yv95NkJkXpj8gmC_KtkvxtvBEEl0NNNCd-Zi_Jff87SjAsUa2lAFVVGXrpNCRcphMa5lT3gKyETtpKCv9TTCchGp50/s400/P1010454.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254610861048547154" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Margaret being helpful by feeding her friend Josie Cheerios</span><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVTK3FF2Yy4p6384Qb2_ccUs_EgdS6Z5aEuyBAXgwnVLcN8uDxtMv1ULl77lwUnyXulSKiuHOgmLbWEUOP4vDFPCDKuMs2shOVrwIw0O6-cPWj5-8YggaqS_of0tN1m2qe-_KxBy67e8e/s1600-h/P1010460.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVTK3FF2Yy4p6384Qb2_ccUs_EgdS6Z5aEuyBAXgwnVLcN8uDxtMv1ULl77lwUnyXulSKiuHOgmLbWEUOP4vDFPCDKuMs2shOVrwIw0O6-cPWj5-8YggaqS_of0tN1m2qe-_KxBy67e8e/s400/P1010460.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254610716062733186" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">They actually shared a toy for like 9 second</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">s</span><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8H-gqekvmwkrKzsK4Vddib5ZVePWtu1Z3Mbpbx_ApjXuz4L4vypzdenr5SduHZZKBECHUj4l1_6OKVZIQs6kc6QvaZmDvzWQ9H5757PXFfxpfPVJJvn6pb2_kmhrtUCZDzRoGLCMIDEL/s1600-h/P1010470.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8H-gqekvmwkrKzsK4Vddib5ZVePWtu1Z3Mbpbx_ApjXuz4L4vypzdenr5SduHZZKBECHUj4l1_6OKVZIQs6kc6QvaZmDvzWQ9H5757PXFfxpfPVJJvn6pb2_kmhrtUCZDzRoGLCMIDEL/s400/P1010470.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254546215163660994" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've made a couple of attempts lately to allow them to feed themselves with a spoon (in this picture, Margaret trying Mott's strawberry banana applesauce). I'm not sure they have the hang of that just yet. But, they had fun. And Mom had a lot to clean up</span>.<br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPewSTaxsQpnWwEJm0C21AJRKi9KpYwcN-bi0vAE6JygTp6eAr6O8vAFtnpFpp_XjFreeqxjTAvPvxSdQN3DXlRSCwZH3dQgHLuFcJwBfQ3WWLlrF2rfWOkUIy-s_8yH4LhEvRzSGY2ZK/s1600-h/P1010476.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPewSTaxsQpnWwEJm0C21AJRKi9KpYwcN-bi0vAE6JygTp6eAr6O8vAFtnpFpp_XjFreeqxjTAvPvxSdQN3DXlRSCwZH3dQgHLuFcJwBfQ3WWLlrF2rfWOkUIy-s_8yH4LhEvRzSGY2ZK/s400/P1010476.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254546065298224770" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Captured during their daily make-out session. Funny, yet kind of weird</span>.<br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ35h3ccxHAp9KL7F2DuTnFFZRvjmAki-fLMrOgTzkvReoxUV8aHIUM74fW2El_4bgTIRv33ukbhSVs9gc2EsQFIauf1vfWVU-9SE2H2p2uKuNAO3CKDg4DvWKLPkHH-KBwxb6qLWO_ZLp/s1600-h/P1010482.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ35h3ccxHAp9KL7F2DuTnFFZRvjmAki-fLMrOgTzkvReoxUV8aHIUM74fW2El_4bgTIRv33ukbhSVs9gc2EsQFIauf1vfWVU-9SE2H2p2uKuNAO3CKDg4DvWKLPkHH-KBwxb6qLWO_ZLp/s400/P1010482.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254545836610083170" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-19451027481199023192008-10-03T10:07:00.009-05:002008-10-03T10:31:38.487-05:00We live in Tennessee, after all...<P><br />I present to you, 2 gals in a pick-up truck! <br /><P><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzCRPdS676-1RCcDMjnNK_dHHkk1qnnwLtUApdabpz0Hhhwf9-SGonaNjCwnvyRFUmltSLxH5RYfN2mHONCOeswZFM6GRC2WbC-18y-aM9SUqcMBdURS4IWEDs5JXMB1c2gzRXCkeyHqS/s1600-h/girls+in+a+truck.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzCRPdS676-1RCcDMjnNK_dHHkk1qnnwLtUApdabpz0Hhhwf9-SGonaNjCwnvyRFUmltSLxH5RYfN2mHONCOeswZFM6GRC2WbC-18y-aM9SUqcMBdURS4IWEDs5JXMB1c2gzRXCkeyHqS/s400/girls+in+a+truck.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252947146645633202" /></a><br /><br />Taken by my lovely friend Carrie, who allowed Anna and Margaret to crawl around the back of her Honda Ridgeline while it was parked in our driveway. The girls were endlessly amused - it was like an elevated, outdoor playpen. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.crazyrhinos.com">Carrie </a>and her beautiful newborn baby girl, Adylin Claire ("Ady") came to visit us the other day, during which we (the girls and I, as well as our friend <a href="http://www.kimschmidtphotography.com/?p=349">Mandy</a> and her beautiful 9-month old daughter Hannah) sat and ooh'ed and ah'ed over her 3-week old baby, a whopping 7 lbs of cuteness. Her little gurgles and stretches and funny newborn faces (and audible toots - baby farts are funny) made my heart melt. Even her tiny little socks were falling off of her. I loved every second of meeting baby Ady - and was also eternally grateful to my girls for sleeping for the first hour that Ady and Carrie were here, as I knew that the second they were up, we'd have to be protecting poor lil' Ady from a toddler mauling.<br /><br />As predicted, the girls wanted to touch baby Ady's face and were fixated on the poor kid the entire time she was there. Anna seems especially interested in babies (her new favorite word is "baby," repeated 10x per day - baby, baby, baby). Carrie took a photo of Anna's reaction to a sweet sleeping Ady - that little smile was on her face the entire time Ady was here. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifp3UL9Hk1jVFX2OkaegAK7MZWE8kGAW3NPuhgs2snAXS48z5SSYExRqrcBdUeEdi7xhkSIWZI8ATmGOTwiYu6tNsxMXa6jwMK5RtgjDmB1bsfZcSFJK3w8brigPKECvVjJKpaLJ9_zKe6/s1600-h/annaady.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifp3UL9Hk1jVFX2OkaegAK7MZWE8kGAW3NPuhgs2snAXS48z5SSYExRqrcBdUeEdi7xhkSIWZI8ATmGOTwiYu6tNsxMXa6jwMK5RtgjDmB1bsfZcSFJK3w8brigPKECvVjJKpaLJ9_zKe6/s400/annaady.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252947779954556498" /></a><br /><br />In fact, Anna seems extraordinarily fascinated by both babies and dogs at the moment. Joey and I have been making a habit as of late of going for a jog down our neighborhood's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rexblog/sets/72157600059984499/">greenway</a> with the girls in their jogging stroller when he gets home from work. It's a perfect way to calm down the girls, get some exercise, and get outdoors and enjoy the fresh, crisp fall air. About that time of the day, many of our neighbors are taking their dogs for walks, and Anna practically jumps out of her seat with excitement every time we pass a dog. <br /><br />I mention her love for dogs and babies because I find it sweet that Anna, typically the more aggressive of the two girls, has such a sweet side and love for those of the canine and infant variety. It's heartwarming to see, and a nice relief after watching Anna bulldoze through the house all day long, terrorizing poor Margaret and stealing toys out of her hand at every opportunity.<br /><br />That's the cool part of raising twins - seeing 2 completely different personalities develop, and then being surprised the minute you see a side to them you never expected.<br /><P>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-75838490642956638292008-09-28T08:27:00.000-05:002008-09-28T08:28:12.093-05:00Rock Out!<p></p><div><br /></div><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-8592692854261026402&hl=en&fs=true" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-40122930734233715972008-09-27T15:25:00.008-05:002008-09-27T23:51:18.014-05:00We've survived September<div>Still alive here! I've once again slipped into my infrequent posting ways. September has been a crazy month! Here's a quick run down of the month:</div><div><br /></div><div>We spent Labor Day weekend visiting Joey's family in Mishawaka, Indiana and attending his brother Aaron and sister-in-law Michelle's couples' baby shower in anticipation of the first grandson on Joey's side, soon to arrive in mid-October. </div><div><br /></div><div>The second weekend of September, my friend Anne and her boyfriend John visited Nashville and treated us to an amazing Ben Folds <a href="http://www.nashvillesymphony.org/main.taf?p=1,1,6,1&EventID=0809-S2">concert </a>with the Nashville Symphony. Then it was back to Mishawaka the following weekend for the Notre Dame/Michigan game - otherwise known as Moonsoon weekend. The area received 11 inches of rain within 48 hours, and we were poured on during the 3rd and 4th quarters of the game - but managed to hang in there until the end, despite being soaked head to toe, as the game was awesome and we had 50-yard line tickets.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last weekend was a big first for me in that I left the girls overnight for the first time (in the wonderfully capable hands of their grandparents) to join Joey in attending a wedding in Baltimore of a friend of his from law school. And despite the fact that I pined for the girls the whole time, thought about them incessantly - particularly during their bedtime, as that felt like the hardest time to be away - and had to physically restrain myself from stopping and cuddling every baby in a stroller we encountered in our walks around the Inner Harbor, I enjoyed the time away immensely. We slept in both mornings, enjoyed long, leisurely brunches with coffee and the paper, strolled around Fells Point with no particular purpose, ate the best crab cakes we've ever tasted at a <a href="http://www.berthas.com/">local favorite</a>, danced the night away at a fabulous outdoor reception under a beautiful tent (at a completely amazing <a href="http://www.museums.jhu.edu/evergreen/rental/facilities/upgarden.html">venue</a>), stayed up late partying with friends, and noticed how easy it was to get ready for a wedding without 2 babies whining at your feet. And though it was a nice reminder of how uncomplicated life is when traveling without children, I can't tell you how much my heart pounded with joy to pull into the driveway Sunday evening and see these beautiful little gals running to the car to hug us.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMiIGhrw0XJ-1CM2SD1tmetMT8qXeswxHgG6eUwnVZ_EqILmz5bKEkLujs9i0kzXOuLHe7SESppiLcEqKTH0McRsJeEWhXvV-7q-7B2OrLJQV0qqg2z60avA2Yzc1JomeXmLttEMpvzeK/s1600-h/P1010391.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMiIGhrw0XJ-1CM2SD1tmetMT8qXeswxHgG6eUwnVZ_EqILmz5bKEkLujs9i0kzXOuLHe7SESppiLcEqKTH0McRsJeEWhXvV-7q-7B2OrLJQV0qqg2z60avA2Yzc1JomeXmLttEMpvzeK/s400/P1010391.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250810813665740770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkve_YipRKiYA0bPMmH-NYQwO-9bXGHeWPIB_fgusZuMYG6BRijXd9O_E4lNvXGYzHQ7wm6kNSuq2upvpCglt1u292xcYW4lsEvt2XiSgGBQI0WLdwHSYUfOkTEWnyR5Vs-xXgrmhSQBs/s1600-h/P1010398.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkve_YipRKiYA0bPMmH-NYQwO-9bXGHeWPIB_fgusZuMYG6BRijXd9O_E4lNvXGYzHQ7wm6kNSuq2upvpCglt1u292xcYW4lsEvt2XiSgGBQI0WLdwHSYUfOkTEWnyR5Vs-xXgrmhSQBs/s400/P1010398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250811947482517442" /></a><br /></div><div>I've got so much updating to do - the girls are doing all kinds of funny things that I've wanted to make note of - but for now I'll leave you with some great new photos (click <a href="http://www.kimschmidtphotography.com/?p=358">here!</a>) that my friend (and our favorite photographer) Kim took of the girls. <a href="http://www.kimschmidtphotography.com/?page_id=92">Kim</a> was in town over the past 3 days and stayed with us on Thursday and Friday night, which was so fun - and so we managed to squeeze in a photo session and finally (!), after 15 months, get a nice family picture of the four of us. Thanks, Kim!<br /></div><div><p>Hoping to write more soon...but in the mean time, we're truly enjoying being in town this weekend and just hanging out together as a family. Have a great rest of your weekend!</p></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-61097178871486096812008-09-11T10:13:00.003-05:002008-09-11T11:09:40.966-05:00We took the plunge...and finally bought ourselves a minivan. My transformation to a (future) soccer mom is now complete.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLbBZxHnPhI/AAAAAAAAC4g/J5vFAYXurxY/s576/DSC04433.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLbBZxHnPhI/AAAAAAAAC4g/J5vFAYXurxY/s576/DSC04433.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></div><div>The day after we bought it, my parents congratulated us, and then my Dad jokingly told me to go to McDonald's, order 3 orders of large fries, and then dump them all over the back seat and floor of our minivan, as eventually it will look like that.<div><br /></div><div>I'm not sure why I still cringe a little when I tell people that we bought a minivan. Seriously, it's completely awesome, and brand new and wonderful in every way. I read that the Honda Odyssey (which we purchased) is often regarded as the Lexus of minivans, and that couldn't be more true - the ride is smooth, the interior is beautiful, roomy, and comfortable, there are compartments and storage areas for just about everything you can think of, and the car is just built for kids with side curtain airbags, automatic sliding doors, built in sunshades, and tons of other great safety features. Best of all, Joey can actually drive this car (he was too tall to even get behind the wheel in my old car, as the convertible car seat forced the driver's seat so far forward that his tall legs wouldn't fit). We've already taken one road trip up to South Bend, IN in the minivan, and it honestly seemed like Anna and Margaret were just more comfortable. Throw in some snacks and a DVD, and voila - a (somewhat) whine-free road trip.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I'm getting over that minivan stigma quickly, although strangely enough I still find myself behind an infuriating driver of on Odyssey, Sienna, Town and Country, etc. - driving 10 miles below the speed limit and changing lanes without even looking - and I find myself mumbling under my breath, "Dang minivan driver." And a few other words that I cannot print in this blog. Luckily, I really don't care about the "coolness" aspect (or lack thereof) in driving a minivan - I neither measured my hipness based on the car I drive, nor ever could claim to be hip in the first place. </div><div><br /></div><div>I really do feel so lucky to be driving a brand new, completely awesome car that is perfect for our girls - and I'm so thankful to Joey for working so hard to enable us to do this. Our girls are positively giddy about the car. I made the mistake on the first day we owned the car of letting them crawl around inside (while parked in the driveway) while I was organizing a few things and setting up the car seats, and I think the thrill of not being strapped into car seats got to them, as they now demand to play in the car every day. Something about pushing the radio buttons, climbing up and down the seats, sitting behind the steering wheel, and walking from the front seat to the back provides for the world's best indoor playground. I really should never have started that - but hey, it does kill about an hour of time every day.</div><div><br /></div><div>I need to update you all on a few cool new things they are doing and saying - so I'll work on that today! Have a great Thursday!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-11233022220214877232008-09-03T09:55:00.009-05:002008-09-03T16:20:21.186-05:00Happy 30th Birthday to Anne<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D1xQ6gUiTKR97m3PS6nKIbFF4rBfe1w2KCED7hA2nNsfpN6EN7_tLwsd6Sf0RjpBGo_DDxFSlDYNiPb-6IFYvIWMj0q-NmZtZevpH9NtnG5KhC-OQdVGIu9dOWZ7Y6Z6k4lidc8c7oDM/s1600-h/Annes+30th+Birthday_Page_0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D1xQ6gUiTKR97m3PS6nKIbFF4rBfe1w2KCED7hA2nNsfpN6EN7_tLwsd6Sf0RjpBGo_DDxFSlDYNiPb-6IFYvIWMj0q-NmZtZevpH9NtnG5KhC-OQdVGIu9dOWZ7Y6Z6k4lidc8c7oDM/s400/Annes+30th+Birthday_Page_0.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241904694828667714" /></a><br />Today, my friend Anne turns 30 years old. Happy Birthday Annie! Wishing you so much happiness on your special day!<br /><br />Anne and I met when we were 15 years old at the fine academic institution of Visitation Academy High School in St. Louis, MO. I feel so blessed to have had Anne as a friend by my side through high school, college, grad school, and our moving all over the place - her to Philadelphia and back to St. Louis, me to North Carolina, DC and Nashville. We've seen each other through job changes, relationship changes, house moves, and the ups and downs of life. <br /><br />Anna and Margaret are so very blessed to have "Aunt Anne" in their life - Anne was calling and emailing me moments after their birth, spent a weekend getting to know them in Nashville when they were 4 weeks old, and then made multiple trips to see them since then - and was there to help us celebrate their first birthday. She's spoiled them with gift after gift and treats them with so much love, generosity, and kindness. We are all so lucky to have her in our lives, and I often feel that I don't deserve such a perfect friend who unconditionally loves and supports all of us, even through this last year when I haven't been the friend I've wanted to be because I've gotten so caught up with caring for the girls. To have a friend who forgives you for not returning emails and phone calls, and for not being there when they could have used your company and support - well, that truly is a good friend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7tvjHmm09RgaDAR6Ld79qb8kaxEL9gjK3qShyelX5Je1Y9oJp4TlbCeBYRYxSCR2CToQ564f7g3GKZqrJZ-wtWHy5-lRMonP2LwQrczMNGEt5WMx1glpY0MEv9iQPT2Hq0HHt4SM1YTv/s1600-h/annekt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7tvjHmm09RgaDAR6Ld79qb8kaxEL9gjK3qShyelX5Je1Y9oJp4TlbCeBYRYxSCR2CToQ564f7g3GKZqrJZ-wtWHy5-lRMonP2LwQrczMNGEt5WMx1glpY0MEv9iQPT2Hq0HHt4SM1YTv/s320/annekt.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241810677205286594" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">At my bridesmaid luncheon in July 200</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">4</span><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1097/946117002_92c23d681c.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1097/946117002_92c23d681c.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Holding 4 week old Ann</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">a</span><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1057/945271007_957185d7d9.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1057/945271007_957185d7d9.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And 4-week old Margaret</span></span><br /></div></span><div><br /></div><div>Thank you, Anne, for being the most loyal, supportive friend in my life. Joey, the girls and I are so thankful for you! We are so excited to celebrate your birthday this weekend in Nashville. Lots of love from our family to you.<p></p></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-4251327726747437662008-08-28T21:27:00.004-05:002008-08-28T21:42:34.426-05:00Discoveries<div>Every night, after we put the girls to bed, Joey and I go through the living room and kitchen and put back the myriad of toys strewn about the house - a hurricane clean-up of sorts. In the past week, I've found the following items in rather odd places:<br /></div><div><ul><li>My car keys in the dryer<br /></li><li>One of the girls' shoes in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator<br /></li><li>My cell phone in their playhouse<br /></li><li>Cheerios in the bottom of my shoe<br /></li><li>The TV remote control in the storage drawer below our oven<br /></li><li>Hair clips in the tupperware cabinet</li></ul></div><div>And you know what? Finding these little things always makes me smile - because they are just little end of the day reminders that we have these lovely - and very, very busy - little ladies in our lives.</div><div> </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SDOlpuxJSQI/AAAAAAAABUo/-6KvKcL6btc/D33_0083.JPG?imgmax=576"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SDOlpuxJSQI/AAAAAAAABUo/-6KvKcL6btc/D33_0083.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Taken in May 2008: The last time they ever sat still long enough to get a picture of them together. </span> <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-15623436268594854512008-08-26T09:37:00.000-05:002008-08-26T09:37:55.790-05:00Perfect Weekend<p>So I'm a day late in posting this, given it's now Tuesday...but I thought I'd give a little run down of our fun past weekend in Nashville:<br /></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Friday</span></p><p>The girls and I met Joey right as he was getting out of work at the Nashville Courthouse Public Square, which happens to be directly across from his office and viewable from his office window. I've been wanting to take them there for some time to play in the huge spray fountains. Not to my surprise, they were entirely intimidated by them - particularly when they towered at least 6 feet over their heads - but they were quite enamored by the reflecting pools. After an hour and a half of playing in them and being soaked from head to toe, we literally had to drag them away, kicking and screaming, to take them home for a late dinner and bath. I'm sure we were quite a sight as we frantically pushed two screaming toddlers in just their diapers toward the car.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGyjUGm45I/AAAAAAAACuk/SMO7mBz1rDk/DSC04355.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGyjUGm45I/AAAAAAAACuk/SMO7mBz1rDk/DSC04355.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" alt="" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thrilled at walking back and forth across the reflecting poo</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">l</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGygx7qxnI/AAAAAAAACuc/iDim2kBL18k/DSC04354.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGygx7qxnI/AAAAAAAACuc/iDim2kBL18k/DSC04354.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGycxPLn5I/AAAAAAAACuU/yKRPLV0XkgE/DSC04352.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGycxPLn5I/AAAAAAAACuU/yKRPLV0XkgE/DSC04352.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" alt="" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kleniski/August200813MonthsOld/photo#5238164091621966290" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGy4-jt-EI/AAAAAAAACvQ/OuCH36-2mBw/DSC04365.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGy4-jt-EI/AAAAAAAACvQ/OuCH36-2mBw/DSC04365.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As an afterthought, it's pretty gross that we let them play in these, given the pools are frequently visited by dogs</span><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGy9YEJqOI/AAAAAAAACvc/4asPgJw9Hn8/DSC04367.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGy9YEJqOI/AAAAAAAACvc/4asPgJw9Hn8/DSC04367.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The aforementioned fountains in the background of this photo - apparently we're not quite ready for those just yet.</span><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGzBow-dgI/AAAAAAAACvk/Llk1G7Ia4sk/DSC04369.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGzBow-dgI/AAAAAAAACvk/Llk1G7Ia4sk/DSC04369.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Soaked! And taken just after Margaret dunked her entire face in the poo</span>l<br /></div></span><p></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGzMVoMLPI/AAAAAAAACwA/zqm7lxXoYBs/DSC04375.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLGzMVoMLPI/AAAAAAAACwA/zqm7lxXoYBs/DSC04375.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Drying off by chasing Daddy on the law</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">n</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">We enjoyed a quiet morning at home, making breakfast and playing with the girls. After their nap, we took a test drive of a Toyota Sienna as part of our ongoing search for a minivan. The car was nice, though the test drive was slightly humorous, as our car salesman happened to be a 3-days in rookie on the job and didn't know anything about the Sienna. As we were driving, Joey and I were actually pointing out the features to him, so I guess we sold him on the car, ha ha. No big deal, though - everyone has to be a beginner at their job at some point.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That night - a babysitter came over to watch the girls so that Joey and I could have a date night! We enjoyed a 4-course meal at <a href="http://restaurantzola.com/">Zola</a> and really got a chance to talk, free of the distractions of the girls and household chores that we normally get wrapped up in while we are home. We shared a chocolate cappuccino tart for dessert, fulfilling my serious craving for chocolate that I've had for the past few weeks since we've cut out buying ice cream in an ongoing effort to drop the pounds. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Joey's college roommate, <a href="http://evieandamelia.blogspot.com/">Bo</a>, who now resides nearby with his wife Rhiana and daughters Evie (2.5) and Amelia (3 months), called and asked us if we wanted to meet them at the Nashville Zoo. Seeing that we thrive on last minute planning, and it was the perfect day for a trip to the zoo with overcast skies and cooler temperatures, we jumped at the opportunity and even bought a family membership while we were there. It was perfect - the kiddos behaved well and the animals apparently were up for showing off that day, getting close to the fence to let us take some pictures.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLG0w07kwcI/AAAAAAAACyU/erfC7WQpahw/DSC04404.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="text-align: right;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; " src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLG0w07kwcI/AAAAAAAACyU/erfC7WQpahw/DSC04404.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As you can see, Anna and Margaret are far more interested in their snacks than the very cool giraffe behind them</span><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLG0lWnX9wI/AAAAAAAACyA/-wYZmNeu4Ag/DSC04399.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLG0lWnX9wI/AAAAAAAACyA/-wYZmNeu4Ag/DSC04399.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLG0iTImC2I/AAAAAAAACx4/CLtb1XVnG4g/DSC04398.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLG0iTImC2I/AAAAAAAACx4/CLtb1XVnG4g/DSC04398.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Margaret and Daddy</span><br /></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLG0IAtCkfI/AAAAAAAACw0/dxyshkeLRyY/DSC04383.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SLG0IAtCkfI/AAAAAAAACw0/dxyshkeLRyY/DSC04383.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><br /><br />Well, off to attend to my non-napping daughters - I hear them both screaming and "talking" to each other in their room. I think Anna and Margaret are caught in this weird, in-between phase of not being tired enough to take the morning nap, but not ready to stay awake until their afternoon nap, so our days have been erratic and often filled with overtired meltdowns. Toddlerhood has been interesting!<br /><p></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-54706793694470633232008-08-25T14:48:00.006-05:002008-08-25T14:57:49.767-05:00To my sister-in-law, on her birthday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFejF6h92F-16RvlEEl3kk-uJzKfeZZed9-hQ5TYJYwZZqrfHTXfa-iFyjJHWKVYD1bOltzaaN1cL7HYx6P2yzggBcT9weESDYcEn7i4wK4lSfOnjF4ScXZqFeDsfI1vOzyFy9wUXmCNPU/s1600-h/karolyn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFejF6h92F-16RvlEEl3kk-uJzKfeZZed9-hQ5TYJYwZZqrfHTXfa-iFyjJHWKVYD1bOltzaaN1cL7HYx6P2yzggBcT9weESDYcEn7i4wK4lSfOnjF4ScXZqFeDsfI1vOzyFy9wUXmCNPU/s320/karolyn.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238545301780766194" /></a>Dear Karolyn,<br /><br />Happy Birthday to you!! You are so special and amazing in every way, and I feel so honored and blessed to be in your family. Thank you so very much for always showing so much love to me, to Joey, and to Anna and Margaret. How lucky they are to have an aunt who loves them so very much. We are missing you always, thinking and praying for you today, and looking forward to seeing you in just a few days.<br /><br />As always, we were late in getting your birthday card and gift in the mail - and so Anna and Margaret decided to make you a little e-card to brighten your day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKI1oXubXD70dxMV0W-Q5NupOCJSdaTe31RKTmOxoHquKcAL6gsvliEawJR6EFEAqnciO4WdzrKlxttJuHMs2_E4R-dm2NhjOM2N1F7wmSLb6TmbiXA3Oa3dS_Tu2paEVtZOawsOL_zx7a/s1600-h/Karolyns+Birthday_Page_0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKI1oXubXD70dxMV0W-Q5NupOCJSdaTe31RKTmOxoHquKcAL6gsvliEawJR6EFEAqnciO4WdzrKlxttJuHMs2_E4R-dm2NhjOM2N1F7wmSLb6TmbiXA3Oa3dS_Tu2paEVtZOawsOL_zx7a/s320/Karolyns+Birthday_Page_0.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238546450295956866" /></a>We love you!!!!<br /><br />Joey, Katie, Anna and MargaretKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-66070835872355905362008-08-22T16:21:00.002-05:002008-08-22T16:22:25.567-05:00Somehow this still hasn't gotten oldThe tupperware party continues!<div><br /></div><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=3603376999419036934&hl=en&fs=true" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-75121326976827876052008-08-18T08:44:00.003-05:002008-08-18T09:00:52.017-05:00Mental Note...<p><br />Large amounts of sugar early in the morning aren't conducive to winding down for a morning nap. Anna is currently standing up and spinning around in circles on our living room floor, and then laughing hysterically after falling down on the ground out of dizziness. Slightly hilarious to watch, but I fear trying to get her to take a nap in 15 minutes. <div><br /></div><div>The reason for this sugar high? <a href="http://www2.kelloggs.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=10550">Eggo Bake Shop Muffin Tops</a> for breakfast. Oops.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hello everyone! I promise I will get back to this blog this week - I've been quite neglectful. It feels great to say that between my moms' group, a music class that we're taking, and meeting up with friends, we're having so much fun that it's leaving little time to blog. And we've had beautiful, pleasant, tolerable August weather (that sounds like an oxymoron), so we've visited every park in town. This sure beats last summer, during which we experienced the <a href="http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=7422116">hottest summer on record</a> since 1955. Have a great week!</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d635b3127ccec489d381b59300000040O08AaNG7Ro1ZNge3nws/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d635b3127ccec489d381b59300000040O08AaNG7Ro1ZNge3nws/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Question for the week: When will our mother cut our hair instead or resorting to these ridiculous hair styles to keep our bangs out of our face??</span><br /><br /><P>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-24459662601620156062008-08-07T14:25:00.006-05:002008-08-08T09:30:29.265-05:00Five instances this week during which they proved to be the geniuses I always thought they wereI think I need to give my children more credit for what they know and understand. I jabber all day long, not really thinking they are listening or comprehending all that much - but they proved me wrong the past few days.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Incident #1</span>: We're preparing to go outside and I say to the girls, "Okay, ladies, let's go put on our shoes."<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Twinski reaction</span>: They both walk over to the closet, pull out their shoes, and bring them to me. (Admittedly, they grabbed 2 mismatched shoes, by hey, pretty cool, huh?)<br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Incident #2</span>: We've come back inside from yet another sweltering, humid day, and I say, "Let's take your shoes off."<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Twinski reaction</span>: Anna sits down and begins pulling on the Velcro strap on her shoe.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Incident #3</span>: Anna has dug my keys out of my backpack and is carrying them around the house. I call to her from down the hallway and say, "Anna, please bring Mommy the keys."<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Twinski reaction</span>: Anna walks on over, hands the keys to me, and smiles. I felt like I should have patted her on the head and given her a treat.<br /><br /><br /><em>Incident #4: </em>Margaret hands me a small, crumpled up piece of paper that she found somewhere in our house. I act surprised and truly overjoyed to receive this gift, and say, "Oh, how nice, it's beautiful, but I insist you keep it - it's for you."<br /><br /><em>Twinski reaction: </em>Margaret takes the piece of paper back and puts it to her ear.*<br /><br />(*Okay, that one needs an explanation. Whenever we're playing with the myriad of toy phones we have around the house, I pick it up, pretend to have a conversation with someone, and say something like, "Oh, you'd like to speak to Margaret? Okay, she's right here. Margaret, it's for you!" So I think when Margaret heard the words "it's for you," she instantly thought we were playing the phone call game. Cute!)<br /><br /><br /><em>Incident #5 - or, my heartwarming moment of the day: </em>I'm in the girls' room, about to put them down for their morning nap, and we're playing with their dollies. I pick up a doll, and to demonstrate being affectionate, I give the doll a hug and a kiss.<br /><br /><em>Twinski Reaction: </em>Margaret watches intently - then leans over and gives Anna an enormous hug. Awwww!!!!!! Moments like this make the challenges of raising twins all seem so very, very worth it.<br /><br />Of course, the hug then went on for 30 seconds too long for Anna, and turned into a wrestling match with kicking and screaming, but it was cute there for a second.<br /><br />So it's not much, and certainly no need to sign them up early admissions to Harvard. But I guess I find myself so surprised that they're absorbing so much - and understanding so much language. It also makes me realize that their ability to selectively listen is there - and when I'm saying to one of them, "stop pulling your sister's hair!" but they refuse to stop...it's not a lack of understanding as much as mind over matter.<br /><br />On a completely different note...we took a few photos of the girls outside this past weekend, and so I thought I'd post them. They look so OLD to me - my goodness, where have my babies gone?<br /><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhep2-guI/AAAAAAAAClo/3u07ZT8rGZU/DSC04258.JPG?"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhep2-guI/AAAAAAAAClo/3u07ZT8rGZU/DSC04258.JPG?" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhhJuU4xI/AAAAAAAACmA/lOS126iF3O0/DSC04277.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhhJuU4xI/AAAAAAAACmA/lOS126iF3O0/DSC04277.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhjRGcONI/AAAAAAAACmY/1J4fLNYYGjQ/DSC04287.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhjRGcONI/AAAAAAAACmY/1J4fLNYYGjQ/DSC04287.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhfqAci_I/AAAAAAAAClw/5hfeSH8qVH0/DSC04266.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhfqAci_I/AAAAAAAAClw/5hfeSH8qVH0/DSC04266.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a> </div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-53381501012816566802008-08-05T09:20:00.004-05:002008-08-05T10:02:04.686-05:00When does Fall start?I'm sure I'll long for these hot, sunny August days in January...but for now, all I can think about is jeans and sweater weather. It's just so darn hot and humid. Our grass has turned crunchy and a shade of yellow, the flowers start wilting an hour after I water them, and you could hear a pin drop when you walk outside our door, whereas during nice weather, the sounds of kids laughing can be heard from the playground just down the street. The girls get red faced and cranky after just a few minutes of being outside, and our car is an oven most days when we get in - so the temptation to just stay inside all day and play is always there, which means we're experiencing a winter-like cabin fever. Luckily, the girls are easily entertained - they spent a half hour the other day climbing in and out of a cooler.<br /><br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhc6fnzZI/AAAAAAAAClY/ywVc5LTmVyc/DSC04236.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhc6fnzZI/AAAAAAAAClY/ywVc5LTmVyc/DSC04236.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br />Which gave them close quarters for some open mouthed kissing (HA!)<br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhdrTzynI/AAAAAAAAClg/d0c5oR9K-Qk/DSC04244.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhdrTzynI/AAAAAAAAClg/d0c5oR9K-Qk/DSC04244.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There's just not a lot to do with 13-month olds, particularly when they're not content to sit in a stroller for any period of time (otherwise I'd be spending far too much time at the mall). Whereas Nashville is full of opportunities for pre-schoolers, from pottery painting and cooking classes to the new planetarium at the Adventure Science Center - taking young toddlers to those places is like throwing money down the drain, as I learned after paying the $13 admission fee to the Nashville Zoo in June and spending half of our time in front of the drinking fountain (the girls' favorite attraction, strangely enough).<br /><br /><br />During the week, my moms' club is a true sanity saver. We're headed to the library later today for their story time hour, which is such a completely awesome, free event. The last time we attended, the girls weren't walking yet - and so even though Margaret insisted on climbing into this other mom's lap four times in a row (apparently her lap was more comfy than mine), they generally stayed in my vicinity and actually paid attention to the story and puppets for about 5 minutes. I fear what today will be like, though, with their being proficient walkers - and sometimes runners (!). Luckily, the story time presenters don't seem to mind their audience making a lot of noise and moving around.<br /><br /><br />I've also signed the girls up for a music class on Thursdays at a bookstore, which I'm really looking forward to. I'm hoping Anna and Margaret will show off their rhythmic swaying/bobbing moves to the class. I hear the high-energy instructor is awesome but insists on all parents full participation, which means I'm going to make a fool of myself for an hour straight while I sing along and make the associated hand gestures to songs like "The Wheels on the Bus." I just always pray in those situations that no other adult is watching me.<br /><br />Our weekend was nice and relaxing, although I ended up getting a head cold/sore throat/earache that was worse than any cold I've had in years. I guess I'm lucky to say that it really was the first time since the girls were born that I was too sick to take care of them - and so father of the year Joey stepped in and took the lead in tickling/chasing/throwing/singing to/feeding/and generally exhausting himself for 2 days straight, while I layed on the couch and watched. At the height of sore throat aching, all I could think of was eating a popsicle, so we took the girls to <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhpDsvKGFI/AAAAAAAACnw/0bgFJAlyXUw/dragon.jpg">Dragon Park</a> with the ultimate plan of walking over to <a href="http://www.bongojava.com/fido.html">Fido</a> for a <a href="http://www.wheresthesign.com/">Las Paletas</a> popsicle.<br /><br />We had the park to ourselves, of course, and I adore this place - it's located directly across from Vanderbilt Children's Hospital and features a fully handicap-accessible playground, which is also quite awesome for wobbly toddlers not quite ready for the monkey bars and slides.<br /><br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhmfIym0I/AAAAAAAACmo/biyeQEi-3Fk/DSC04306.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhmfIym0I/AAAAAAAACmo/biyeQEi-3Fk/DSC04306.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhktpcgYI/AAAAAAAACmg/3Dlisj7zZ34/DSC04305.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhktpcgYI/AAAAAAAACmg/3Dlisj7zZ34/DSC04305.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhnSiB1MI/AAAAAAAACmw/paOIT1lFby4/DSC04310.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/kleniski/SJhhnSiB1MI/AAAAAAAACmw/paOIT1lFby4/DSC04310.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br />The Water Sprayer - which was quite a hit until the wasps started to surround us<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrJ9eWIkdHgh94q0NJAwyfQHupOeqEbsPOWaVQikNCQjZCnNxudhcBvzJaop_tcWqaEuwsONWDnBqt4Hdf-GPyCKydsPrvb8Y2-6KTqThUi8-lGJT9PHcnCCD3YsrZIj4YA8feqYFDsyx/s1600-h/water+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231047701688778450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrJ9eWIkdHgh94q0NJAwyfQHupOeqEbsPOWaVQikNCQjZCnNxudhcBvzJaop_tcWqaEuwsONWDnBqt4Hdf-GPyCKydsPrvb8Y2-6KTqThUi8-lGJT9PHcnCCD3YsrZIj4YA8feqYFDsyx/s320/water+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, and the Las Paletas popsicles? Totally hit the spot. We highly recommend the Mexican Caramel and Strawberry Pineapple Banana flavors, although Joey and I got a mere taste whereas the girls devoured them. I'm not even sure they stopped for air.<br /><br />Well, I'm off to get a shower while the girls are still sleeping. Have a good one!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993152993703514872.post-87251247207367104562008-08-01T23:55:00.007-05:002008-08-02T14:38:34.552-05:00Catching up on some photos...and tangential storiesMy parents came to visit us last weekend and brought with them a CD of photos from their first birthday celebration in St. Louis last month. I uploaded those photos to our <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kleniski/FirstBirthday">web gallery</a>, but thought I'd pick out a few of my favorite.<br /><br />Anna's signature thumb suck - I love how she always hooks her finger around her nose<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIycsxIuIuI/AAAAAAAACT4/CEzCW8yn0YU/D33_0540.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIycsxIuIuI/AAAAAAAACT4/CEzCW8yn0YU/D33_0540.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This photo cracks me up - check out their annoyed faces when we put on the birthday hats<br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIycwURqgiI/AAAAAAAACUw/GncEUCHtiuM/D33_0547.JPG?"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIycwURqgiI/AAAAAAAACUw/GncEUCHtiuM/D33_0547.JPG?" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Their favorite trick right now - putting their hands in the air when we say "Hands Up!"<br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIycvVcSVmI/AAAAAAAACUg/VeF3eb9OoJY/D33_0545.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIycvVcSVmI/AAAAAAAACUg/VeF3eb9OoJY/D33_0545.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our first ride on a carousel - Margaret absolutely loving it<br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIybQpPjkQI/AAAAAAAACIU/qytLWQCiUCM/D33_0341.JPG?imgmax=512"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIybQpPjkQI/AAAAAAAACIU/qytLWQCiUCM/D33_0341.JPG?imgmax=512" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Anna - not so much<br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIybT5r9R1I/AAAAAAAACI0/BE1OTsKyJ88/D33_0352.JPG?imgmax=576"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIybT5r9R1I/AAAAAAAACI0/BE1OTsKyJ88/D33_0352.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Margaret was desperate for another turn and couldn't believe the ride was over<br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIybWX1ezEI/AAAAAAAACJI/WeJ4KDO4A6U/D33_0364.JPG?imgmax=576"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIybWX1ezEI/AAAAAAAACJI/WeJ4KDO4A6U/D33_0364.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Showing their determination in attempting to scale the slide<br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIybahQvLLI/AAAAAAAACJw/klapZ1zDMCs/D33_0380.JPG?imgmax=576"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIybahQvLLI/AAAAAAAACJw/klapZ1zDMCs/D33_0380.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Totally loving climbing up this plastic tube<br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIybdJV54FI/AAAAAAAACKI/YYd1kv3OvFQ/D33_0387.JPG?imgmax=576"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIybdJV54FI/AAAAAAAACKI/YYd1kv3OvFQ/D33_0387.JPG?imgmax=576" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Not quite comfortable in the prickly grass<br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIycGPLQPrI/AAAAAAAACNQ/BT3ZAyGRNYo/D33_0442.JPG?"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/kleniski/SIycGPLQPrI/AAAAAAAACNQ/BT3ZAyGRNYo/D33_0442.JPG?" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On an unrelated note, Joey and I test drove a Honda Odyssey minivan today, and we loved it. I make myself a little nauseous just writing that - if you'd have asked me 2 years ago if I would ever consider buying a minivan, my answer would be a definitely no, no way, never gonna do it. But seriously, this thing rides like a dream, has an infinite amount of storage space for the caravan of junk we take along while traveling with the girls, and you just push these little buttons and presto!, the doors close. Purchasing a car that gets a mere 16 miles to the gallon in this economy seems like a sin - but I've still got my head wrapped around buying a car that doesn't feel like the clown car I'm driving around town right now.<br /><br />On the way to the dealership, I asked Joey if he feels like his fun and crazy bachelorhood is truly long gone since he's taking his wife and 2 kids to look at minivans. You know what he said? That he loves his family so very much, and that this is exactly what he wants to be doing. I truly married the right man, and 2 days ago, as we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary over a romantic dinner and a dozen roses that he brought home for me, I was reminded of how lucky and blessed I am. I love you, baby. You are an incredible husband and father.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifauT-1eAwBp6Bjov7kuHQQRbIqi2QXcl2CkBiMTIxcPnzuhqF1eG71qZS5Nurr3JsZto51jaYqt4pKUKRFK2nmGkmqL805VDdgsfqfEPNb-mBv9ttLENpp3qaE_D7tjtoEzL0gTAdSS94/s1600-h/wedding+(2).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230005675872940482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifauT-1eAwBp6Bjov7kuHQQRbIqi2QXcl2CkBiMTIxcPnzuhqF1eG71qZS5Nurr3JsZto51jaYqt4pKUKRFK2nmGkmqL805VDdgsfqfEPNb-mBv9ttLENpp3qaE_D7tjtoEzL0gTAdSS94/s320/wedding+(2).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-Tdg9jicOpnwvI2aJc57ICIm1ykUx4ESnqL8P4BD_eIlxODVLbcJ4QsKn2_eWaWje11_PdKBjGLDWQsKA2R-dd4oU2Xj_iOs3VEs-V6w2bmEJDvA-APGgLZWlrWBIPYqihgHBSw63_U4/s1600-h/wedding.jpg"></a><em><span style="font-size:78%;">July 31, 2004</span></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:78%;">University of Notre Dame</span></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Notre Dame, Indiana</span></em><br /><br /><br /></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13321740892380602308noreply@blogger.com7