Twin Birth Announcements

One of the most often asked questions for parents that are expecting multiples is, "Where can I find nice [or cute] twin birth announcements?" Well, they were much more difficult to find when my twins were born and so I went with something from Crane's, but I recently came across this website, Ballyhoo Creations, and it looks like they have some really cute creations.

I really like this one

but they have quite a few others. I will also post other sites that have things of interest to twin parents or parents of multiples as I come across them.

Party Rama

Last weekend we celebrated our children's birthday. We have taken to not throwing parties at home any more because we live it before, we live it during, and we live it after. We'd rather just live in the present. So, this year we went bowling.

Sissy invited 6 friends, Max invited 6 friends, and we had family there, too. Well, it was a lot of fun but my husband and I both overlooked the fact that a bowling party would fall entirely on our shoulders as far as keeping the order, directing the activities, etc. It was dicey at times for us, the kid's, though, had a ball! Lucky for us we had some great friends and relatives in attendance that really helped.

I guess the best part is that the children had a lot of fun. But...next year we already decided it's back to Disneyland for us!

Fair is Fair

I decided that this year I will volunteer in my children's classes even though, typically, I work more than full time. The problem is that they are separated into two class rooms and volunteering twice is difficult. I have been volunteering in Max's class correcting their daily, timed, math tests as well as correcting homework and extra assignments at home. My daughter let me know in no uncertain terms that she thought it unfair that I was volunteering for Max's class but not hers.

The reality is that Max's teacher had her volunteers begin almost immediately after the school year started and my daughter's teachers just had the volunteer meeting yesterday. I was able to split the correction of the same math tests in my daughter's class with another mom and on the same day I do the tests for Max's class. In addition to that I will correct homework and take on other assistance, as needed.

The difficult part is that there are no answer keys so, oh...to be in second grade again...I feel like I am living it.

Wow, It's Been A While!

I have been off for the last few days enjoying my children. I have had the opportunity to attend their schools, pick them up and take them to their various events, and eat dinner (that I cooked) as a family. It has been such a change for me and a good one. So good, in fact, that I have posted nothing for the last couple of weeks. Sorry! I am now back on board and back to my regular posting schedule.

I did not know

I had no idea that the US government collected the names of twins born in the US and published the most frequently used names. Check out the US Social Security's website for the 2007 list of most popular names for twins.

What interests me about the list is how many of the names are alike. What's also interesting is that neither of my children's names are included.

So Close

My daughter often will get up early to chat with me while I am getting ready. This morning, she came in to my bathroom while I was getting ready and laid down on the floor. I covered her with my bathrobe so she could stay warm and relax as we chatted. After a bit, while I was still getting ready, Max came in too and snuggled up next to Sissy. I pulled the bathrobe over him too. They just laid there next to each other like yen and yang. They are so close!

I'll Dribble You For It

This morning, like some mornings, Max decided that he was mad at his sister. It isn't always Max that has an issue, it's often his sister, so that, too, they share fairly equally. This morning the issue was that Sissy ate all the lemon yogurt and that's what he wanted, never mind all the other days when I asked (read "begged") him to have some yogurt and he declined politely.

Today went something like this:

"Honey, what would you like for breakfast?"

"A cereal bar and some yogurt, please."

"What kind of yogurt, I think we have strawberry, peach, and some other berry kind."

"I want lemon!"

"I think we are out of lemon but, I'll check"

"That's not fair! Lemon is my favorite. Sissy knows that and she ate all the lemon yogurt just so I could not have any! She knows I ONLY like lemon!" All this as he kicks the door.

"I think Sissy only ate one lemon yogurt."

"No she didn't, she ate them all."

"Well, I only packed her one and so Daddy must have eaten the others."

"I know Sissy ate them all because she knows I ONLY LIKE LEMON!"

"I will get you some more lemon yogurt at the store soon."

"I don't want lemon yogurt later, I want it NOW! Besides if you get it later Sissy will eat it anyway."

"We can put your name on some of them to be sure that you get some."

Okay, I engaged and I probably shouldn't have but at this point his bedroom door closes sharply and I head to the kitchen to get breakfast together. I then hear quite a scuffle down the hall and Max appears relaying that Sissy "traded" him something and now she took it back. I tell him that they need to work it out. Shortly, Sissy comes in and says that she took back something she gave Max because he did not give her anything for it, i.e., not a trade. I tell her the same that I told Max, "You two need to work this out." There is some more loud discussion and some accusations from each of them that I like the other one better then they both appear with half smiles on their faces. Sissy announces, "Mommy! We solved it. We decided that we will have a dribbling contest at school today and whoever wins gets to keep it." I don't ask any questions, I just agree, as long as they solved it and I don't have to be the judge. They were best of friends after they agreed to the contest, too. It's great to be close with your siblings.

Balloon Boquet

My children are turning a year older and you know what that means, that means we have to throw the requisite party. Since our children are twins we try to do something at the same time and in the same place. The first three years we threw the party at our home with jumpy house, decorations, etc. The next two years we took the children to Disneyland in lieu of a party, that was the best decision we have made yet because Disney did all the planning for us. Last year and this year we are having the party outside our home. We let them each choose and last year and this year we have been lucky that they chose the same venue. This year it's bowling!



Well, although my children want a bowling party they still wanted to each pick a theme for the party other than bowling. Max chose Spongebob and his sister chose Pokemon. Well, Spongebob is everywhere and Pokemon, well, it is not so easy to find.



In looking for all the requisite themed party paraphernalia, I drug my children to a local party store. As we approached the door Sissy sees a sign in the front plate glass window that had the cutest little sea otter on it. She stops and Max stops beside her and they both marvel at how cute the little sea otter is. Under the picture it says in big bold letter, "WARNING!" Sissy starts to read the sign with Max's help. I peer over their shoulders and help them. The sign reads, in a nutshell, that although balloons are fun you should take care not to let them fly away because they eventually pop and land in the ocean and the sea creatures ingest them then suffocate.



My children were so sad because, like every child I'm sure, the love to let their balloons go and watch them fly away into the sky. So, Sissy looks at Max and says, "So, no balloons for us this year, okay? Is that a deal?" Max looks at her with big eyes and says, "Yes, it's a deal. That is so sad." Then he turns to me with sad eyes, "Is that the sea otter that died, mommy?" Awwww.



My children have since decided that it is okay to have balloons for their party but they will make sure that they are all disposed of properly, that is to "pop them and throw them away in the garbage can." So, balloons they will have!

What Am I...Sliced Bread?

Last weekend my mom took my children shopping, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. We met at noon for lunch and to exchange children. As my husband, my daughter and I arrived, my son, Max, was standing inside the restaurant with my mom. We opened to door and Max walked right by me and his daddy to give his sister a hug. They are so close. My husband has mentioned several times, like almost weekly, that if something were to happen to us they would still have each other and that is almost more important.

Maybe Someday Your Wife Will Tell You...

I went to our favorite store last weekend, Trader Joe's, with my two children. If you have a Trader Joe's in your area and you have never been, I highly recommend a stop. They have really great values and good wholesome food, for the most part. Okay, I digress.... We completed our shopping and you so know that when you have children with you you end up buying so much more than you thought. We went in to get yogurt (my favorite Greek Style Nonfat yogurt) and some thing else, I forget what it was but it was only one other thing. We ended up with no less than 25 different yogurt containers courtesy of the children and a bunch of other items I had no idea we "needed."

After we completed our shopping we walked outside with our grocery bags (I bought the reusable ones and always forget to take them with me. I am really trying to be more green but, that story is for another day). As we walked outside my daughter announced that she had to go potty. We marched through the entrance doors, bags in hand and headed toward the rear of the store for the rest rooms. We settle into the women's restroom, the three of us, and the ambiance is really quite pleasant. I lock the door as my daughter takes care of business and Max pokes around the room. He sees this display on a table in the corner of the restroom, points at a cup full of tampons and asks me what they are. I reply, matter of factly, "Those are tampons, honey." Bracing myself for any follow up and, of course, he does follow up, "What are tampons?" I think for a moment and reply, "There something women need...sometimes." I see his little brain processing this information and hope no request for how they work follows.

My daughter looks at me quizzically then says, "Oh, I know." She "knows" because there is really no such thing as privacy in our home and has asked me before about what is going on there. Anyway, Max then asks, "Well, what do women need them for?" I think for a second and my daughter pipes in and says, "Maybe someday your wife will tell you. I'm certainly not telling you."

It's good to be protected sometimes.

YaWhoDee

My children are at an age where they deny everything and what they do not deny they blame each other for. So, we have a little joke going that anything that happens and no one knows who did it we blame on YaWhoDee (I'm really not sure how to spell it so I spelled it phonetically). It is really funny to see their little faces crack when YaWhoDee takes the blame.