44 posts tagged “twins”

So, the end of 2008 was fast approaching, and the twins were beyond their second birthday.  I was thinking back to the point in Brianna's toddlerhood when we made the transition to Big Girl Bed.  We did the Step-2 toddler bed thing with her crib mattress and a bed-in-a-bag set that I picked up from Wal-Mart.  I confess I was very eager to get her on to the next step, and so when she told me she wanted the new bed, I jumped at the chance.  She was 22 months and could speak clear enough that I understood, "I want my Big Girl Bed now, Mommy."  I feel the need to tell you this because at 27 months, the twins were barely able to say a couple of words without the need for "Twinglish" translation. 

She had her toddler bed (which later became a funky Step-2 castle bed that looked like this) until it was time for her to move into a twin size bed so that we could have her mattress for one of the twins cribs. 

Back to the twins.  We decided to forget about the Step-2 toddler bed stage and just go with full size twin beds.  A big expense at once, but we felt that they would at least have these beds for many years.  I found the beds at Wal-Mart (geez, I love that store), and the quilts, sheets, pillows and mattresses at Sears.  The beds are actually bunk beds, so we can stack the girls when they get older, and they were only $230.

Kaitlyn (in white) making sure that Daddy was putting her bed together properly, and Ainsley was making sure the mattress rails are strong enough.

I found it funny that we didn't tell them which bed they should sleep in.  It seemed logical to them that since one bed was in the exact spot of Kaitlyn's crib, that bed should be hers.  Ainsley didn't seem to mind that her new bed was not in the same spot as her crib.

 The twins felt the need to get their bouncy bums going... just to test the firmness of the new mattresses, you see.  I was just pleased that they were feeling positive about the switch!

 

 

 

 

 

Now the twins are perfectly happy in their Big Girl Beds and we haven't looked back.  Just one more stage down (of so many yet to come).

Kaitlyn on left...... Ainsley on right.

I have started making some yummy smoothies for the kids as a mid-morning snack, and I have to say they are quite good!  Here's what I use:

Depending on the fruit/tofu combo, I can make some great variations.  I use Sunrise Tofu Dessert, fresh and/or frozen fruit, skim milk (to keep the smoothie from getting too thick) and yogurt.  Easy Peasy!  They amounts of each are up to you, but I usually add approximately:

2 cups fruit (blended)

1/2 cup yogurt

1/4-1/2 cup milk

1 package of tofu (they are sold in pairs)

** You could also add some wheat germ or liquid vitamin supplements to the mix to boost the nutritional value if your kids are picky eaters.  They would never know!

 

Some of the flavours we like:

Bananas, French Vanilla yogurt (or plain), milk, and Banana Tofu Dessert -- for the cheeky monkeys in your house.

* Add a dollop of chocolate syrup to the above for a choco/banana flavour! 

Frozen (or fresh) strawberries, bananas, strawberry yogurt, milk, and Banana Tofu Dessert -- for a classic strawberry/banana flavour.

* Use Coconut Tofu Dessert in the above mixture (instead of banana) for a yummy Pina Colada flavour!  My favorite!

Peaches (peeled), French Vanilla yogurt (or plain), milk, and Peach & Mango Tofu Dessert -- tropical! 

* You could also add some fresh mango to the above mixture to increase the flavour, but they can be expensive out of season!

Freshly squeezed lime juice, French Vanilla yogurt (or plain), milk, and Key Lime Tofu Dessert -- for the more "mature" pallate!  I haven't tried this one yet, but I want to!  Kids may not like this one as much.

 

The proof is in the photo!  A guilt-free snack in only a few minutes -- but the kids think it's a real treat!

 

I have to admit, we don't get the chance to take leisurely walks these days.  We have a few great parks within a short driving distance, but it just isn't something that we think to do.  There is always something going on -- work, school, gymnastics, swimming, birthday parties.... -- so when we actually have a few spare hours around the house, it is usually taken up with housework, renos... or just plain vegging.

Mike suggested that we take the kids to Campbell Valley Park to feed the birds, and I thought it was a great idea!  I used to take my daycare kids there all the time as an afterschool activity.  It was free (worked for my budget) and the kids loved hunting for birds and squirrels!  I would often buy bird and squirrel food, and the kids would litter the paths with enough seeds to feed a small army of critters! 

I don't think this was the first time the twins had been to the park -- but it may have!  They loved it!

We chose to leave the stroller in the van -- despite the very long walk we would be taking -- so that the twins could really enjoy the trails.  We knew they would be crying to get free anyway!  It slowed us down quite a bit, but they really taught us that there was much to see on the ground (not just in the trees).

 

Brianna did a great job staying still so that the wee Chickadees could land on her hand to eat some seeds.  When she was much smaller, she would be brave enough to put her hand out, but would jump and shoo the birds away once they came near her!Ainsley tried her best to feed the birds but she was just too little.  Mike & I lifted the twins to our level so that they could watch the birds eat from our hands.

An excellent couple of hours had by all.  Now that we have re-discovered this great park, we will be sure to go back often!

 

PS...I apologize for the duplicate photos to my Vox neighbours who also happen to be Facebook friends! :-) 

 

What question do you hate being asked?

"Are they twins?"  Uh... YEAH!!!

So, a couple of months ago I asked Brianna what kind of party she would like to have this year.  She knew she wanted an outdoor thing, so we brainstormed some themes.  Beach party at the lake was a contender, but then we thought of clowns and a carnival theme.  Y'know, cotton candy, popcorn, clowns, balloons, piñatas, bouncy castle, games for prizes.... the whole shebang!

When we came down from La-La-Land -- and checked the budget -- we decided to go with the carnival theme at home, but slightly... uh... smaller.  It wasn't just the cost of all the activities, but her guest list usually rivals that of an A-List Hollywood party (we were expecting about 35 kids) so I knew I'd already be spending a lot on food and goodie bags! 
Much to her dismay, we said no to the bouncy castle, but we did book an excellent clown to face-paint, sing songs, do magic tricks and make balloon animals for 2 hours (not cheap, let me tell you)!  I didn't rent cotton candy or popcorn machines, but I did fill up 3 (yes... THREE) piñatas so that there would be less pushing and shoving, and everyone would get a good amount of candy.  

We also found some great games at Wal-Mart -- horseshoes, obstacle courses, basketball, soccer.... all for under $10 each (the horseshoe sets were less than $4 each!!).  I also bought fantastic cakes from a wholesaler here in town -- one chocolate upon chocolate with chocolate on top and then drizzled with chocolate... and one yummy berry burst with raspberries and blueberries on top.  Expensive, but a nicer alternative to a Safeway slab cake, and I didn't have to spend a bunch of time baking one myself.

I thought I had everything under control until the weekend approached and I realized that it was going to RAIN!!!
#%$^&*@ !!!!

I had pushed her birthday party to July 5th because her actual birthday is always cloudy or rainy (it was beautiful this year) and since it fell on Father's Day this year I thought few people could make it.  That day, I joked that Mother Nature would feel my wrath if it rained during the party, so my sister suggested that I increase my carbon footprint by buying Hummers for everyone in my family, throwing out all my recycling, etc.  Mother Nature must have known I was not happy because she held the rain back just long enough for the kids to play outside for a couple of hours!  All in all, I'd say it was a successful party!  Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to do next year!!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The day after the Playhouse Raising BBQ, there was still a bit of work to be done on the house.  Finishing work and so on.  It was another scortcher, so we set up the kiddie pool to let the girls cool off and stay out of Daddy & Papa's way.  It was the first time the twins ever went in (they were too small last year), and they just loved it!  We were smart to not fill it with cold water from the hose... we filled it half way, and then attached the hose to the hot water feed to the washer.  Voila!  Perfect temperature. 

Mike gets full credit for that idea!

I am amazed that this pool is still in working order.  I bought this for my daycare at least 3 years ago, and I haven't been so diligent about storing it carefully.  No holes!  The roof is great... it attaches to the pool with velcro. 

The polka-dotted swimsuits and hats were Easter gifts from our good neighbour friends.  I just love them!  Brianna was given a matching suit as well, but she wore hers the day before. 

I can't believe my last post was April 5th!!!  My Vox page is my husband's home page when he logs onto the internet, so he will be very happy that he no longer has to see my last post.

I have to say this last month has been crazy!  I was out of commision for a whole week with what was most likely bronchitis or pneumonia, but -- much to my husband's dismay -- I did not seek medical attention.  Major cough, fever and aches and pains kept me on the couch (one day in BED) so I was so thankful that Mike was able to step up to the plate and take over some of the more important day-to-day stuff... uh... like feeding the kids.  I didn't even have the energy to crochet, let alone blog.  I tried to keep tabs on all of you, though, and I just spent a couple of hours reading the last few weeks of my 'hood's posts.

The kids have been ill off and on too.  This household should have yellow 'quarantine' tape around it.  We have been passing colds to each other like crazy, and I am hoping we are at the end of all that business.  Brianna was off school all last week with a fever, but the Dr couldn't find the cause right away, asked that we just monitor her for a couple more days before he orders tests, et voila -- the next day no more fever!  She obviously fought whatever it was she had, but I can't help touching her forehead now and then.

I have not been that sick since... I just don't know when.  I am usually lucky when it comes to dodging colds.  Not this time. 

I have finally posted a new profile pic with my new 'do.  I posted about my haircut a while back, but I have had it cut even shorter since then and I just love it.  My husband did not have much to say about it.  I guess it was one of those "Don't say anything at all" things.   

Anyway, I have so much to share with all of you.  I'm just going to start with a couple of pics that I am just busting to show you:

We call this the "Cheetah Couch"... although, I think it's more of a jaguar print.  We bought it for Brianna when she was about 2 1/2 so that she had something just-her-size to sit on and watch Dora and Blue's Clues.  We brought it out of retirement for the twins and they love using it as a comfy reading spot.  

I have often said that the twins are "The best of friends and the worst of enemies", so moments like these are so precious!  That Elmo book is majorly coveted by both girls.  It is now ready to be taped together -- again! -- and the front cover has been peeled off.  Can't throw it out though.  Major jammer would ensue and I'm not into dealing with that right now. 

** I just love the way Kaitlyn plonked herself down between Ainsley's legs.  See her wee stripety foot to Kaitlyn's left?  Too cute!  

How are your Saturday nights different now than they were five years ago?

 

This is what Mike and I often did on the weekends.  As a matter of fact, we usually ended our work weeks with a Friday Date Night that consisted of parking ourselves on a couple of barstools to eat, drink & chat the night away.  To be fair, this was more like 6 years ago and back.

 

 

 

 

 

This is how I spent practically every night about 18 months ago.  Yahoo.  This is when days started to just mold into one, so Saturdays were no longer a "night out".  At least when we had just Brianna, we could still go out to eat quite often since a sitter was easy to arrange.  Or, we would go out as a family since Brianna was pretty easy to handle.

 

And this pretty much represents Saturdays for me now.  Trying to arrange for a sitter for all three kids is difficult -- believe it or not, we don't have a line-up of volunteers at our door!  The last time we went out for dinner, it was a couple weeks ago on a Thursday night.  We arranged for my friend Naomi to do the first couple of hours and put the girls to bed, and then our friend that is staying with us for a few months hung out while the girls slept.  The time before that, was way back in the beginning of DECEMBER!  Both Grandmas stayed at the house while Mike and I went away for the night.

Oh yes... times have changed!  I've gone from closing down bars and pubs, to reading bedtime stories and watching rented movies till I fall asleep! 

Know what?  I wouldn't go back for anything! 

Well... maybe for a good night's sleep and a loooong lie in the next morning! 

I managed to pull it off once again.  Baskets brimming with goodies and toys from the Easter Bunny (and smaller baskets from Daddy and me), plastic eggs filled with necklaces or sweets and scavenger hunt clues hidden around the house, pastel dresses all ready for dinner at Grandma's house... all without breaking a sweat!  Well... almost.  It nearly fell apart as I was sneaking a basket into Brianna's room while she was sleeping. 

You see, when I was growing up we always woke up to find our Easter baskets at the foot of our beds.  It always seemed extra magical to think that the Easter Bunny could just pop in and out of our rooms without waking us up.  I wanted my girls to enjoy the same feeling.  I've pulled it off before with small gifts from Santa, Brianna's birthday bike, and last year's Easter basket, but it's getting harder.

This time, Brianna woke up and looked right at the basket, but I held my hand near her face (pretending to just guide her head back to the pillow), and told her to go back to sleep.  I thought I was in for it.  She asked me when the Easter Bunny was coming and I said I didn't know, but she had to go back to sleep or he wouldn't come for sure.  She said OK, but I was convinced she would figure it out.  I left the room but hovered by the door to see if she sat up in bed or not.  Thankfully, she fell asleep and I was in the clear. 

** Mental note: No more plastic wrap on the Easter Bunny's basket -- too noisy! 

Unfortunately, Mike and I got a rude awakening at 6:30 when she came into our room to tell us that the Easter Bunny had come, and could she open her basket, and when can she hunt for eggs, and when will her sisters get up.....  Crap. 

After many attempts to get her to go back to sleep, we had to agree to get up around 7:30.  The twins were starting to stir anyway.

The twins were given packages with a small stool, a doll, and some sweets from the Easter Bunny.  I have to admit, I liked the dolls but I really liked the stools... they make great Time-Out stools (Ainsley tested hers out right away!).  In her basket from Mike and me, Brianna was given some pretty earrings since she had been asking when she could take her first ones out and wear new ones.  She refuses to try them on.  Nothing we say can convince her that it will not hurt to change her earrings. 

 

We tried to re-create last year's adorable shot of Kaitlyn, Brianna and Ainsley.  The twins were having none of it.  Serious diva moment.  We should have known better than to think that the twins would have just posed nicely for the camera. 

Brianna, on the other hand, smiled beautifully for us!  How did I luck out with such a gorgeous daughter??  You can still see the evidence of her collision with the corner of the wall a couple of weeks ago.

The girls were pleased to see that Great-Grandpa Leo had a surprise for them.... but the twins were not so into sharing. 

Brianna has enjoyed playing Grandma's piano since she was the twins' age... now Ainsley and Kaitlyn have discovered the fun that can be had!  The solo has become a trio! 

Frugality (also known as thrift or thriftiness ) is the practice of acquiring goods and services at minimum cost, achieved via economical restraints or creative measures. Frugality can be related to the idea of being conservative or conserving money.

 

"You only like to buy cheap things, right Mommy?"

HUH?

I was kind of taken aback when my daughter asked me this question on Friday, as we were walking through Zellers looking for fabric softener sheets.  OK, so I've been known to compare prices, clip coupons and buy no-name brand products to save a few dollars here and there... but I know I'm not the only one! 

Am I the first shopper to use the calculator on my cell phone to figure out the price per load of one laundry detergent over the other?  Most stores provide this info on the price tag right there on the shelf, so that makes the comparison easy! 

Of course, I make a special trip to Costco for diapers, wipes and such... but when you go through as much as I do, the savings makes the trip worth it! 

So most of my wardrobe is from Wal-Mart.  Who am I out to impress?  My toddlers?  My nicer clothes are from popular stores in the mall... I just don't wear them everyday.

I was raised in a household with similar philosophies, but I must say that my daughter has FAR more luxuries than I ever did.  Our lunches never had Fruit Roll Ups (or other such novelty snacks) -- not that I buy sweets like that for Brianna all the time.  We had plain old granola bars for our treats.  Nothing was bought unless it was on sale or Mom had a coupon.  She would even make weekly trips across the line to get all our dairy and gas from the States because it saved money.  That's not to say we did not eat well.  We always had well rounded meals... just not the fancy snacks or sugary cereals we envied our friends for having.

One other thing my mother taught me was that with some things you should never scrimp on quality... no matter the savings.  Yes, I buy family-sized boxes of pasta because it works out cheaper by weight... but I always buy the good-quality whole wheat (or multigrain variety).  I don't buy no-name dishwasher detergent because it leaves a film on the dishes.  I only buy free-range brown eggs because they taste so much better and are better for you, but are also almost $5/dozen.  You get the point.

I'm a stay-at-home mommy, so my pocket money comes out of what my husband earns.  I get $500 every other week -- plus $300 once a month from the government for having 3 kids under the age of 6 -- and that must cover groceries, diapers, cat food & litter, clothes for me and the kids, gifts for birthdays and other holidays... and so on.  Mike is good about picking up a gallon of milk or some other item I need on his way home from work, but for the most part I cover all the food.   

I feel a sense of pride in my shopping savvy when I check the bottom of my grocery receipt to see how many dollars I saved that trip.  Little does Brianna realize, those saved dollars might go toward renting a couple of movies for her that week, or a Happy Meal after school one day.

Brianna's question reminded me of another one she asked me about a year ago: "What does 'We can't afford it' mean?"  It was amazing to me that, before the twins came, she had never heard that sentence before!  Mike and I were both earning a living (I was running a full daycare up until I had the twins), so I had much more money to put toward special treats.  After nearly every shopping trip, she was accustomed to coming home with a small toy or treat.  Not so anymore! 

** Note: I am well aware of the behavioural issues with that.  We were new parents, and Chapters was sold out of Parenting For Dummies.    

Brianna is in gymnastics, she went to the ballet at Christmas and a dinosaur show last month, we are planning a couple of family trips for this summer, AND I just bought 3 tickets to the up-coming Wiggles show to take Brianna and her friend. 

And I'm CHEAP???  The word reminds me of Scrooge.  A miser, counting his pennies and squirrelling them away... never to be spent on himself or anyone else.  I also think of poor quality... as though something that is cheap may also be worth less than another item.   

One day, she will understand the difference between cheap and frugal... and thank me for all the opportunities I could afford!