March 2013

March 2013

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Memorial Day Fun!

Thanks to all of our selfless USA military men and women, past and present (including my Dad), who put their lives in harms way so we can live freely and comfortably at home.  We so appreciate the sacrifices you make every day!  

My parents had a party at their house for some of our good friends Memorial Day weekend.  It seems that this is becoming an annual tradition.  My parents definitely know how to throw a party!  We all had a great time and it was wonderful to see Addison, Allison, George, and Clara swim and play.  Thanks to Paul, Whitney, Jake, Maria, Mike, Megan, Mark, Sarah, George, Bianca, Mom, and Dad for all the fun! Hope to see everyone next year!

Addison, Clara, George, and Allison

 Addison and George playing in the rocks.

Clara and Allison hanging out on the driveway.

Checking out Grandpa Quinn's peppers.

Yum Yum!  BBQ!

Playing with Mike and Megan

Hanging out with Grandma H

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Just the beginning of summer fun!

We recently hosted 8 Mommies and 8 sets of twins at our house for a splash play date.  When I type it, it sounds a little crazy but it was so much fun!  All the kiddos were so well behaved.  George and Clara had a blast with all their new friends!  Our KAMOM group has so many fun play dates planned this summer.  I am really looking forward to all the activities.  I hope we can host another play date soon!

Getting ready for our friends to come over!

Playing with new friends.

Splash time!

Recently we went to one of our favorite Italian restaurants for lunch at Kings Harbor with Grandpa Quinn and Daddy.  Kings Harbor has a fun fountain for kiddos to run through.  The twins loved it!  After our fountain play time they slept for three hours!  Now I know where to bring them this summer to get out the never ending energy!

George was cautious at first but then he jumped right in!

As usual Clara just went for it!

Trying to plug the holes.  :)

These two monkeys are always up for a dance party.  I have music on in the house a lot during the day so we frequently break out in some serious dance moves.  This time Mommy had the camera near by.  I love these dancing toddlers!!

Good moves Clara!

Awesome George!

Giggling girl!

Yay!!!!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Christina and Sayed's Baby Shower

We hosted family and friends at our house this weekend to help celebrate with the parents-to-be and get ready for the upcoming arrival of their baby girl.  It was a packed house!  Congratulations to my sister-in-law Christina and her husband Sayed.  We can't wait to meet the new addition to the family!






We can't wait to meet our cousin!!! Yay!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

A year and a half!!!!!!

It is hard to believe that these two are a  year and a half already.  They have brightened my days and our parenting adventure keeps getting better and better.  I honestly can't remember what life was like before them.  Next to marrying their Daddy, they are the best things that have ever happened to me.  I adore my funny sweet George and my beautifully fiesty Clara!



George:

We had George's 18 month doctor's appointment recently.  He is in the 50th percentile across the board.  Completely average for his age!  He is 32.5 inches tall and weighs 26.1 pounds.  The doctor said he looked wonderful.

George loves to spend his time outdoors.  He plays with his push toys on the driveway or rides in his little tykes car.  He swings his plastic golf clubs and plays in any dirt he can find.  We definitely have an outdoors kind of kid!  Right now he is very much into throwing things inside and out.  He tosses blocks, dolls, balls, and even books.  While we are trying to shape this into an outside behavior only, I am learning to duck out of the way quickly!!! 

George has become a master barterer.  One of the beautiful things about having multiples is they learn to share...well...from the very beginning.  We are constantly working on taking turns with toys.  George figured out that if he presents Clara with a toy that is "better" then the one she has (and he wants) then she may abandon the "wanted" toy for whatever he is offering.  I crack up while I watch him take toy after toy out of the box and offer it to Clara.  He is pretty good at it but sometimes he just has to wait.  I can't wait to see what his negotiating skills are like when he grows up!

George is adding words to his growing vocabulary.  This month he has mastered the word cookie (one of his favorite things to eat).  When asked, he will now tell me the sounds that animals make instead of just repeating them.  He will respond correctly to bird, cow, monkey, lion, dog, and duck.  George also referred to Clara as Sissy this month which melted my heart.

On my 18 month birthday!
It finally rained in Houston!  George loved walking around in the rain.

I learned how to water Daddy's roses.  I am such a helper!

Clara:

We had Clara's 18 month doctor's appointment recently as well.  She is 32 inches tall which is in the 60th percentile and 25.6 pounds which is in the 70th percentile.  Clara loved her new doctor.  She went right to her and was climbing in her lap when the doctor was speaking with us.  Our little social butterfly.   The doctor said she looked perfect.

Clara is very interested in puzzles right now.  We have about five different puzzles and she is constantly taking the pieces out then putting them back.  She is really good at doing it too.  I was impressed with her ability and understanding to match the piece with the picture and also how to move or turn the piece so it will fit.  Smarty pants!  Clara is an animal lover.  On our morning walks, she becomes so excited when she sees dogs, birds, and squirrels.  She usually squeals with delight and then waves at the animal.  If it is a bird and it flies away, then she will flap her "wings" while it flies off.  So adorable!

Clara is also adding words to her growing vocabulary.  When I ask her to, Clara will say thank you after I give or do something for her.   She will also repeat please which sounds a little more like peas.  She is adding a lot of people to her word list.  The best yet...Momma!  I know this sounds crazy but she hasn't called me anything.  Until now!  She has been saying Dada forever.  I think since I am always around she figures why do I need to call her anything! :)  Needless to say I am so excited that she calls out to me to get my attention.  It's the best sound ever!  She also is trying to say George which sounds a little more like the word judge.  So sweet!  She started referring to my Dad as Pa-Pa and recently called my Mom Ga-ma.  Clara seems to call John's Dad Ga-Ga.  Exciting that she is finally calling people by name.

 On my 18 month old birthday

 It started to rain and she loved it!  Playing in the rain.

 Backyard fun...pirate water table.

Mommy's Favorite Moments of the Month:

-John Travolta was on TV dancing.  Clara looked up from her snack and yelled, "Dada!"  Not quite Clarabear.  Not quite.
-After nap John asked George, "What did you dream about buddy?"  George quickly and clearly responded, "Juice."  Teehee!
-When I get ready for the day the twins generally wreak havoc on our bathroom.  One day both twins were sitting in my closet looking in the mirror.  It got pretty quiet in there (never a good sign).  All of the sudden, George started pulling all of my shirts off the hangers.  As I was correcting him, Clara ran out of the closet.  As I was cleaning up the mess, George quickly followed.  Once I was done, I went looking for them.   I was surprised to find the twins playing in the powder room toilet together!!! So gross and so planned by my two conspiring kiddos!!!!  Can someone tell me why toilets are so interesting to toddlers?!?!  Yuck!!



Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Happy Mother's Day!

Since having kids, I have learned that flexibility is key.   Mother's Day was no exception.  We had a great dinner planned at my parent's house for both families.  My Mom had done the shopping and started preparing the big dinner.  Unfortunately on Saturday morning our little guys woke up with a terrible rash.  In fear that they somehow got the chicken pox, we went to the urgent care center in the neighborhood.  The doctor said no chicken pox but they definitely had a virus.  On top of the virus George had a bacterial infection in his throat and required antibiotics.  Sigh.  Never a dull moment with kids!  Plans for our family celebration quickly changed.  Due to Christina's pregnancy and George's recent surgery, they were understandably no longer coming to dinner.  We were all disappointed, especially since it would have been the first time we were all together since Christina and Sayed moved back to Texas.  This is where the flexibility part comes in!  John changed our brunch out to brunch in and made an amazing meal for me and the twins.  John went to visit his Mom during the day to toast her and give her a Mother's Day gift.   And many wishes were sent to the happy Mommy-to-be Christina over the phone.

John, the twins, and I enjoyed a day together.  We took a nice long walk, played outside, ate that yummy brunch, napped, and went to my parent's house for dinner.  They were feeling much better so we actually had a great night.  The twins were definitely the entertainment.  They made us all laugh with their antics and big personalities.  I was very thankful for the beautiful amethyst ring my babies gave me for Mother's Day.  I was also very thankful for the time I was able to spend with my Mommy.  AND I didn't change one diaper all day long.  Now that is truly a gift!  In the end it was a wonderful day!  I truly enjoyed my second Mother's Day!!!

 Daddy's yummy breakfast casserole!

Giving Mommy her Mother's Day gift.  Thanks Clara!

Ready for Grammy and Grandpa Quinn's house.  Not too into pictures this year.

Exploring Grandpa's Garden

Smelling Grandpa's flowers.

Clara with one of her very favorite people.

Sweet George.  Looks sleepy.

Mommy's little Clarabear.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

New Swings!

We've been trying to figure out how to get swings into our backyard for a while now.  We didn't want one of those gigantic sets that take up the only grass we have.  At a friends house recently I saw that they attached swings to their porte cochere in front of their garage.  Off to the toy store I went!  John installed them and the twins love them!  John says, "This is the life!"

 Swinging 

 Swinging while saying, "Da plane!"

This is the life my friends!!!!

Derby Time!

Clara, although a little under the weather, was ready for the Kentucky Derby in her fancy hat!  Run horseys run!!!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Fun with The Ring Family!

Mark, Sarah, and Addison came over last night to BBQ out by the pool.  The kiddos had lots of fun playing in the backyard.  Miss Addison is motoring along a month from her first birthday!  All she wants to do is go, go, go!  It is great to have such wonderful friends.  Thanks for the fun Ring Family!

Great walking Addison!

See Addison it goes like this.

Great toss Georgie!

The girls splashing together at the water table.