Christmas 2008

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Our Christmas was really nice and the kids got spoiled! We now need a bigger house! (or to finish the basement to move toys down there!)

We spent Christmas Eve with my in-laws, had our own little family gift opening and breakfast Chirstmas morning and then packed up and headed to my parents in Rice Lake for Christmas Day through Saturday.

I will try to post pictures later this week!

Happy Holidays

Things have been so busy lately that I just can't find the time to get done all the things I want to! Like working out, blogging, finishing Christmas shopping, wrapping Christmas presents and spending time with the kids. (cleaning, laundry...the list goes on and on)

So I am writing to say Merry Christmas to everyone and let everyone know I probably won't post again until the week of December 29th.

Hope everyone has a safe and healthy Christmas!

Cute picture

This was one of the pictures taken at our church. I just love this one of the kids!

Fun at McDonald's

Tonight the kids and I met my friend Lisa and her three kids (twins girls and a boy) at McDonalds. I forget how little you actually get to talk to people when you have young kids. I spent the evening chasing kids that were trying to escape from playland, taking kids to the bathroom to change diapers and helping them eat! But the kids had lots of fun...they love chicken and french fries!

Yesterday Santa came to visit the kids daycare and Abby is very afraid of him. The teachers told me that she cried when he came and then was very emotional after he left! The teacher also told me that when the kids start getting wild and naughty at daycare they have been telling them that Santa is watching and has his eye on them and I guess Abby has a meltdown when they say it. So we have to try to convince her Santa is not all that scary! I am sure she will love the presents he leaves (if she can be good that long :) )

Gavin is still sleeping in his crib even though we brought the toddler bed up. Hopefully this weekend we will take naps in the new bed and get him used to it so we can just have one bed in his room.

And lastly, I can't believe it is only 2 weeks until Christmas and I haven't even really started Christmas shopping yet! I better get moving before everything is sold out! maybe I will just do it online this year and hope it arrives on time!

My Little Escape Artist!

I think I jinxed myself last Thursday at the Mother of Multiples Mom's holiday party! I was talking about how lucky I was that my kids had not tried to climb out of their cribs yet! Saturday I put Gavin in his crib for a time out and when I started walking down the hallway to get him out he met me in the hallway! Saturday night I had my work Christmas party so we had a babysitter and I told her that Gavin had just learned how to climb out of his crib so I wasn't sure how bed time would go. She said it went fine, he laid down and fell alseep almost instantly. Sunday night I put him in his crib and a couple minutes later I heard him trying to open his door...he wanted more juice!

So tonight I decided to bring up the toddler bed and let him get used to it...apparently it looks more like a trampoline than a bed! I couldn't keep Gavin and Abby off the toddler bed so finally we closed the door. Gavin talked about his "new bed" all night but didn't really want to sleep in it so he is back in his crib tonight and so far has not climbed out. Hopefully in a few days we can get him to sleep in his bed (and stay in it!)

Yesterday some friends came from Rice Lake...Dad and son went to the Packer game and Mom and 2 daughters came to our house to visit. Gavin had a great time playing with the girls but Abby just wanted to hang on mom. But when the guys got back Abby was in love with Jason, who is around 8! After the Packer lost Emily and I said the Packer stink...so now Abby says the Packers Stink...PU!!

Winter is here!

We have only had snow for less than a week and I am sick of it already! I like it better when it doesn't come so often! But I will be happy that there is snow on the ground for Christmas...I love a white Christmas.

Well I know I am way behind in blogging, it is amazing how hard it is to find the time to sit down and enter a few words on the computer! This time of year tends to get a bit hectic with planning holiday meals, parties, cleaning for the holidays and shopping!

Quick update on the kids...Gavin has been being very mean to his sister. He is constantly pinching and hitting her. He gets time outs but it doesn't seem to phase him. Hopefully it is a stage but if anyone has any advice I am all ears!

Abby is 2 going on 16! She wants to pick out her own clothes in the morning which is fine but it takes her 20 minutes to decide, which we usually don't have that much time to spare in the mornign! She is very into tights and skirts right now! She is also wanting to go potty every 30 minutes. She doesn't actually go on the potty yet but I take her in and let her sit on it!

I am hoping to get the kids over to see Santa early next week so hopefully I will have a picture to post. I didn't get any pictures over Thanksgiving becuase I forgot to charge my camera!

And lastly...I went to the Packer game last weekend and am so disgusted with the Packers! They are very frustrating to watch right now but I will always be a Packer fan! Lets hope they can get it together for next season!

Weekend Fun

We didn't do much at all on Saturday except play and clean! Gavin is such a good helper when cleaning. He loves to have a "job" to do!

I did get the kids inflatable chairs to sit in. Abby got a princess chair and Gavin got a batman chair. They really like them. Now Abby will sit in her chair and look at books for a little while before wanting to sit in our laps! I took a couple pictures of her in her chair...Gavin wouldn't cooperate in his chair but we got some pictures of him in his fire truck. As you can see in the pictures Abby thinks tights are pants! She wanted to wear her tights but no skirt or pants!

On Sunday we had a play date with a little boy that used to go to the kids daycare. We should have those everyday...the kids slept very well last night and didn't wake up until almost 7 this morning! They had a great time and I had a nice visit with his parents!

Cold Season

I was just thinking the other day how we have been pretty lucky lately and not had any illnesses! I should have never had that thought! yesterday I got a call from daycare that they had cleaned out Gavin's eye 3 times and if it gooped up again he would have to go home in case it was pink eye. I schedule a doctor appt for Gav so he could get the all clear to go back to daycare because I knew that he did not have pink eye and the drainage was just from his cold. We went to the doctor and I was correct. No pink eye but a very bad cold.

Last night Abby started showing signs of getting the cold that Gavin has so it will probably be a very long weekend at the Kennedy Household! Hopefully everyone can get healthy by Thanksgiving so they can have fun with Grandpa and Grandma!

This morning Abby finally agreed to wear her new Gymboree boots! I just love them and she refused to wear them for the longest time. Everyone was telling her how cute they were this morning at daycare so maybe she will want to wear them all the time! I will try to get some pictures of her in them and post them.

Happy Friday to everyone!

Potty training adventures!

Over the weekend Abby told me she had to poop...so we headed into the bathroom and she gets on her potty and sits for awhile. (This is the usual routine, we sit for a LONG time and nothing happens). Gavin wanted something so I went into his room to help him and Abby comes running out telling me that she pooped. I tell her good job, stay in the bathroom I will be right there (all the while thinking she is still telling me she has to poop) so I go walking in the bathroom and she was telling the truth! She went poop in her potty. so I dump the little bucket out and we flush. Abby says poop bye, bye! and we praise her. Gavin still thinks going potty is just sitting on the potty chair in your pants and diaper and filling that up! But at least he is sitting on the potty. WE will eventually get there! :)

Tonight I was changing Gavin's diaper on his changing table when Abby says she has too poop. Before I can help her she goes in the bathroom, takes off her pants and diaper and is quiet for a couple seconds. Then she comes running out saying I pooped but this time she came out a little too early...she was not completely done going! So I in a panicked sounding kind of voice tell her to get back in the bathroom and wait for mommy! I try to hurry putting Gavin's diaper on, which is hard to do when he is kicking and squirming, but finally get in the bathroom to discover that she either filled her diaper and then took it off or didn't quite make it to the potty chair!

so that is our adventures in potty training so far this week!

New Goal!

I have really been slacking on a lot of things lately...keeping up on my blog, exercising, healthy eating and studying for the CPA! So my new goal is to blog, at a minimum, every other day, workout at least 3 times a week (hopefully 4), start studying on Monday and really try to watch what I eat! I really need to lose some weight and it isn't going to happen without putting some effort into it!

Updates on the kids...both are doing well. They have been in pretty good moods lately except mornings have been a little challenging! maybe they just aren't morning people!

Last weekend we celebrated Pat's, Pat's mom and his youngest brother's birthdays. His mom recently had knee surgery so I did all the cooking. I loved it. I like cooking but don't get much alone time to spend in the kitchen anymore so it was really nice to do some cooking with no kids hanging off my legs begging me to pick them up!

Before we headed to the birthday celebrations I attempted to make Pat's favorite chocolate cake (his mom's secret recipe) of course it did not turn out quite right but was closer than the last one I tried. After making the frosting I gave the beaters to the kids to enjoy. As you can see in the pictures they did enjoy!!

Stubborn!

I recently purchased very cute pink boots from Gymboree for Abby! I just love them. Today I got Abby dressed and wanted her to wear her new boots. She said no and would kick her feet and try to run away from me when I tried to put them on her! I cannot believe that at the age of 2 she already knows what she does and does not want to wear! I thought I would get to dress her for a few more years yet but I guess I was wrong! I am hoping when the snow flies and she has to wear winter boots outside maybe she will wear her boots!

Halloween

Our Halloween was nothing too exciting! We took the kids to Grandma & Grandpa's in Green Bay and then Pat and his brother took the kids over to see Great Grandma while I helped Grandpa get some food for all of us! The kids had a little party the day before Halloween at day care so really didn't need much more candy! They don't get candy very often so when they do they are quite hyper!

The kids were dressed in 50's attire...Gavin had on jeans, white T-shirt, black leather jacker and black Converse Chuck Taylor's! Abby was in a white/pink/black poodle skirt and black Mary Jane shoes. I did not get any good pictures so we will probably re-dress them up and take some pictures...I will post as soon as I get them taken!

pictures from the weekend

here are some pictures from Abby's haircut and the children's museum

Event filled weekend!

On Saturday Abby and mommy went to JC Penney in Green Bay for haircuts! I found a stylist I just love when we lived in Green Bay so I keep going back! I had an appt on Saturday and brought Abby along hoping Dawn would have enough time to cut Abby's hair also! She said she had time so she trimmed Abby's fly-a-way hair first! Abby did really well for her first haircut! then after her hair cut it was my turn. Abby sat in the chair next to my chair and was "reading" her books! Then she decided she wanted to get down and of course fell on the way down and hit her head on my chair. She ended up with a black & blue mark in between her eyes! She was crying and wanted ice for her boo boo but they didn't have any. So Dawn got a mini peanutbutter cup and unwrapped it for Abby and give it to her. Abby took the candy and put it on her forehead like ice! I told her that chocolate makes mommy feel better too! it was too cute! the candy left a nice chocolate mark on her forehead. I took a picture but haven't uploaded it yet...I will get it up this week!

After our haircuts we headed home to pick up daddy & Gavin and headed down to Milwaukee to meet some friends at the children's museum. I was really disappointed...I thought it would be bigger and have more for the kids to do. They are definitely too young for most of that museum! After the museum we headed over to our friends house for pizza. Their 1 year old showed Gavin and Abby where the food pantry was so my kids helped unload all the cans and boxes of food! It sure is hard to visit with friends when you have toddlers! I spent most of the time tending the kids needs and keeping them out of things!

Sunday the kids were supposed to go for a play date with one of their friends that used to go to their daycare but Abby took an almost 4 hour nap so we had to cancel! She woke up very crabby so I thought for sure she was sick but so far she is just whiny and not really showing any signs of illness! we will keep our fingers crossed.

Tonight we hope to decorate pumpkins so I will add those pictures along with the haircut, chocolate ice and children's museum photos!

Another illness!

I took Gavin to the doctor yesterday because his ear and breath were very smelly (and not a good smell) I thought for sure he had another ear infection but I was wrong. He has issues with his sinuses. The doctor checked out his ears, nose and throat and did not see any foreign objects in the nose or ears! He put Gavin on antibiotics and said if it didn't clear up soon we would probably have to go see the ENT doc so they could take a closer look up the nose and make sure Gavin didn't shove something up there! So I am praying it clears up on its own. he seemed in a much better mood already this morning so hopefully it is just a bug that will clear up soon!

Abby is developing some of the same symptoms so we are keeping a close eye on her...she will probably be going in next week for the same thing!

Abby has become quite the little mother hen...when Gavin gets in trouble by mom he also gets yelled at by Abby! Poor guy will probably always have 2 mothers and a little tattle tale to report all his actions to mom and dad!

Well...we still haven't gotten rid of the nuks! But it is more me than the kids I think. I know I need to just do it cold turkey and get it over with! We did a trial run last evening and you would think we broke a bone on Abby the way she was crying and screaming! I have been told by a few people to cut the tip off and tell her it is broken...maybe we will try this weekend. Hopefully by Monday we can report we are nuk free or at least have the nuk usage confined to nap and bed time!

Church pictures

Last night at 6 PM we had our first family photograph taken for church. At about 5:45 Gavin got up on our bed and was jumping and fell and hit his forehead on the metal decorative part of our bed! Luckily he didn't split it open but he did get a really nice purple bruised goose egg right above his eye. Very nice for pictures! Thank goodness they can "touch up" pictures and remove the bruise! I wish the touch up feature included weight reduction for your photos...I looked HUGE and was not a big fan of the pictures I was in but did order some so we could have a real family photo! time to get serious about losing weight! Once we get our pictures back and I have to look at that everyday that should be plenty of incentive to get to work out class and eat better!!!

Gavin's New Car

Over the weekend Gavin found what was supposed to be a Christmad present in the garage. We had a Step 2 fire truck for 2...I decided to get it out and let them get some use out of it before winter arrives! Now they will just not have a big gift to open for Chrsitmas but I don't think they will care (and they will get plenty of gifts from the grandparents)!!

Since we got the car out Gavin has been in it non-stop...he loves it. Gavin usually drives and Abby rides on the back! On Sunday during the Packer game, Pat and I wanted to watch the game but Gavin wanted to go outside to play with his "new car". We decided to bring it in the house so they could play with the car and we could still watch the game! Pat decided to give them a push and they loved it!

The Pumpkin Patch

On Saturday we went to a pumpkin patch in Hortonville with the mother of multiples club. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to go back next year! the kids had fun climbing on hay bales, running through the cornfield and sitting in the tractor! Instead of writing all about it I will just post pictures!

Catching up

I have not blogged in a while so have a little catching up to do! I am not even sure where to start! The kids are both still working on the potty training thing. Abby does good for a few days and then goes back to going in her diaper and not wanting to use the potty. Gavin still isn't very interested. he likes to sit on the potty but has not actually gone in the potty yet.

Abby likes to take her diaper off and when she keeps doing it we have resorted to using duct tape to keep it on. you will see from the pictures that it is working:)

We are still using Nuks and I have to be honest I have not put much effort into taking them away. it is so much easier to just pop the nuk in their mouths when they are having a melt down than it is to listen to them scream for 20 minutes.

I took some pictures of Abby throwing a tantrum...sometimes her tantrums just make me laugh so I thought I would take a picture of it!

Last night I had an upper case living party and the demonstrator put up my expression for me as demonstration. It turned out better than I could have imagined. I also posted that for you to see.

I think that is it for now. We are taking the kids to Cuff's Pumpkin Patch tomorrow with Mother of Multiples club so hopefully we get some good pictures to share!

Another big day for Abby

Abby had another big day...she went potty 3 times on the potty yesterday at daycare! She gets so excited when she goes on the potty! and we also learned that when she tells you poop you don't have much time to get her on the potty! Last night during bath I was getting Gavin out of the tub and Abby said poop. I was in the middle of lifting Gavin out so I didn't get to her right away and she pooped in the tub. Good thing we were almost done. Gavin still isn't showing much interest in actually going potty on the potty chair...it is still just a cool toy to him. But I still let him sit on it when he wants to get him ready for potty training. I am not going to force him...it will happen when he is ready!

So Pat was gone over the weekend and I think Gavin really, really missed him. Last night after we put the kids to bed Gavin started crying for daddy. Pat went in there and got him calmed down and came back out in the living room and Gavin started screaming for him again so he ended up laying down in Gavin's room with him. And Gavin has been talking about daddy's home for the past 2 days non-stop! Abby is still clinging to my so she doesn't seem as stressed out about daddy being gone as her brother is!

Gavin's 1st haircut

Last night we went in for Gavin's 1st haircut! He did really well! They had to chase him around a couple times because he didn't want to sit in any of the chairs but overall he was really, really good! It is hard to see much of a difference in the before and after since his hair is so blond but he had some really long curls around his ears that needed to be cut!

After his haircut he touched his head and said pretty. I told him no you are handsome so then he said handsome and Abby said "I'm a pretty girl" just to make sure we hadn't forgotten about her!

Big day for Abby

Just had to post...Abby's teacher from daycare called me this morning to let me know that Abby pooped on the potty today! She said that Abby came up to her and said poop. The teacher went to changer her diaper but there was no poop so she thought she would take her to the potty. she said Abby sat down and shortly after sitting down pooped on the potty! So I guess we are going to give potty training a try!

And tonight is Gavin's big night...his first hair cut!

4 nights in a row...

I can't believe it...Abby has slept through the night for 4 nights now! Today we were up at 4:30 but I still like that better than up at 12, 2 & 4! Gavin did wake up once early this morning but I made Pat go see what he needed and he quickly went back to sleep!

The kids are talking so much now and are repeating EVERYTHING they hear! This morning Abby kept trying to tell me something or ask for something but I could not figure it out and she wouldn't show me anything, she just kept repeating herself and getting frustrated with me because I wasn't doing or getting whatever it was she wanted. I still have no idea what she was trying to communicate to me!

Yesterday at daycare both kids sat on the potty! Neither has actually gone in the potty yet but they are getting used to it and they like to sit on it before and after bath. I am not pushing them...I think they will do better if I let them do it in their own time. And if daycare wants to start the process even better! Just have to find out exactly what their procedure is so we can kind of follow it at home.

and we are still using Nuks...hopefully this week sometime I will get brave enough to take them away! I think it is more for me at this point than for them! Patrick is going to New York this weekend for his annual "guys weekend" to watch the NY Jets football game. I am so jealous that he gets to go to NY and see Brett Favre play! Maybe we will surprise him when he gets home and we will have gotten rid of the nuks!

Family Picnic

This past weekend we went to Rice Lake for a family picnic. It was at my parent's house for my dad's side of the family. The kids were excited because I told them we were having a party! Gavin still thinks anytime we leave the house we are going to a party!

It is always nice to see relatives that you don't get a chance to see very often. But with the kids I don't get much time to sit down and visit so have to do it while running to catch one of them. but overall the kids were really good. They enjoy being outside and we were outside most of the weekend. I really wish we lived in the country like my parents with lots of land and things to look at and explore. Our yard is so boring with no trees or plants! (We need to do some landscaping but that requires money and time that we don't have right now)

And some good news...Abby has slept through the night for the last 3 nights. She is up at the crack of dawn but I would much rather get up at 4:45 after sleeping 5-7 hours straight than be up every couple hours with her! Each night I put her to bed I keep waiting to hear her crying because I can't believe she could really be sleeping through the night. hopefully it lasts!

Wednesday night Gavin is going in for his first haircut! I will post pictures after we get done!

Gavin's first naughty word

Last night we went to Fond du Lac...Pat was playing baseball and the kids and I went to visit a co-worker. On the ride home Gavin was talking and then it sounded like he said bulls&*t. I asked Pat what he thought he heard Gavin say and he agreed! We didn't say anything as he kept saying it and then it turned into no bulls#%t. I am still not 100% sure that is what he is saying but it sure sounded like it! And then of course Abby had to try repeating what her brother was saying but it was not very clear when she said it.

Earlier today I took Gavin to the doctor. His right ear has been kind of smelly (not a good smelly either) the past few days. At the doctor appointment we learned that his tube has fallen out of his right ear which is fine and the tube is still in his left ear which is infected. And not only does he have an ear infection but he also has bronchitis! I would never have guessed he was so sick...he has been acting normal and playing! Good thing I took him in!

hopefully Abby stays healthy...we are heading out of town this weekend!

banana cookies

I forgot to add the picture of the banana cookies I made for the birthday party...so here it is!

Sleep deprived

This week has been horrible in the sleep department! Gavin doesn't want to go to bed and Abby doesn't want to stay sleeping! Gavin screams for mommy and then wants me to lay down by his crib. Which is fine but I usually fall asleep myself and then get nothing done so the cleaning and laundry really start piling up! Two night this week he seems wide awake when he goes in his crib and we have tried different bedtimes but it doesn't seem to matter. The good thing is that once he gets to sleep he usually stays sleeping!

Abby on the other hand goes to bed really well but wakes up several times a night and wants to get up and play! We make her stay in her crib and either rub her back until she is settled down or we just let her "cry it out." She rarely sleeps past 5:30 and both kids wake up crying and crabby.

Any advice people have on the topics of getting kids to bed, keeping them sleeping all night and getting them to wake up happy would be very helpful. I think I will be investing in some sleep books to get some help! By the end of the week I am barely functioning...I sort of feel like I did when they were infants...a walking zombie!

2nd Birthday Party

On Saturday we had the twins 2nd birthday party. I had found really cute invitations made for twins that had 2 monkeys on the front and it said monkey see, monkey do. On the inside it said we are having a party, and inviting you!! so we did a monkey themed party. I made two monkey cakes (the first cake wasn't as large as I had anticipated so made a second one) and banana shaped cut out cookies! It turned out better than I had anticipated!

The kids had a great time opening presents and then playing with the boxes that they came in!! I still can't believe they are 2 years old. Time sure does go fast after you have kids. Before I know it they will be starting school, graduating and getting married.

Now that they are 2 I am getting ready to tackle the big obstacle of getting rid of the NUKS! I am ready to be done with them so we don't always have to remember to bring them along on trips. Wish me luck, I am sure it will not be easy!

My babies turn 2 today!

Wow where did the last 2 years go! I can't believe my babies are 2 today! We didn't do much to celebrate today but will be having a party tomorrow with some family and friends. I will be sure to post pictures after the party!

Now I have to get back to baking and cleaning for the party tomorrow. We are doing a monkey theme so I am baking banana shaped cut out cookies and a cake that I hope to decorate to resemble a monkey! If it turns out I will post pictures of the that too...so if you don't see any monkey cake pictures you know it didn't turn out as planned! :)

Am I raising a bully???!

This morning when I dropped the kids off at daycare Gavin and Abby each had a package of Yo-Go's. A little girl game over to Gavin and smiled at him and reached in to take a Yo-Go and Gavin pushed her down and swatted at her! I told him that was not nice and asked him to tell her he was sorry and he told me no! Then a little boy tried to take one of Gavin's snacks and he pushed him down! I know the other kids should try to take things that aren't theres but my kids should not be pushing other kids down! Guess we will definitely have to work on that!

Here are some pictures of Abby with her pretty in her hair! Her teachers at daycare put in some green and gold ribbon for the Packer game on Monday! She really loved it! Maybe she will start letting me put things in her hair but it will still be a challenge...she doesn't have much to work with!

I am also attaching photos showing why not to leave the markers within your kids reach!

and also just wanted to let everyone know we are still watching Ice Age morning and night!

Crazy life!

I have been meaning to get on here for a while now but just can't find the time. I have a few spare moments at work so thought I would just write a few things but hope to get completely caught up this week!

The kids are talking up a storm now! And Gavin LOVES the movie Ice Age so we have seen it about 100 times in the past couple days! I need to find another movie he will like...I can't take much more if Ice Age! it is a really cute movie but gets old after the 100th viewing!

On Saturday the kids and I (and Uncle John because daddy was sick) went to the Aurora Miracle Baby Celebration in Green Bay. The Aurora Fertility Clinic sponsors the picnic. It was great seeing the nurses and Dr. Severino again and they really enjoyed seeing the kids. It is amazing to see all the people that have used the fertility clinic...makes you know you are not alone!

well that is all I have time for today...but will continue to update all week!

A day at the zoo

Monday the kids got to go to the zoo in Greenville. Some friends of ours were brave enough to take them! Before the zoo they took them to IHOP for breakfast and I was told they were angels there! One woman even commented on how well behaved they were...I still don't think she was really talking about my children but that is what I was told!

When they arrived at the zoo Gavin got freaked out in the gift shop on the way in but once they got past all that scary stuff he was okay! When they went in the petting zoo section Gavin had to be carried because he is easily spooked but Abby was brave and went on her own!

Tuesday was Patrick and I's 8th wedding anniversary! To celebrate I went to an Uppercase living party with a friend and Pat got to watch the kids! We actually celebrated a couple weeks ago when we went to see Trace Adkins:) The Uppercase living party was a lot of fun but now I have to try to make some decisions on what I want to purchase! I cannot afford to purchase everything I would like to! So tonight I will go home and do some measuring and imagining and hopefully have my order ready!

Little Escape Artist!

We have a little escape artist on our hands! Abby will not keep her diaper on unless we put on a onesie or a one piece outfit! I am sure it will not be long before she figures out how to unsnap her clothes so she can get that diaper off! Usually we catch her taking it off but on Sunday she got her diaper off before we could catch her and of course she had pooped! So we had a mess on the kitchen floor where she dropped her diaper and then she squatted on the living room carpet so we had a huge mess to clean up! And when I was trying to put her diaper back on and dress her in a one piece outfit she kept pulling the tabs off her diaper so it was a long process to get her dressed again!

So far Gavin only tries to take off his diaper if he sees Abby doing it but when you tell him no he usually stops! I am sure this will not last too long!

I also learned over the weekend that markers that say washable are not as washable as one would think! Abby found a green "washable" marker and decided that the walls, table, refrigerator and herself needed to be colored! It came off the fridge and Abby really well but took lots of elbow grease to get it off the wall and table. There is still some on the wall that is visible but I will just wait until they outgrow coloring on the walls and paint!

One night last week the movie "Ice Age" was on television and Gavin really seemed to get into it so we bought the movie and now Gavin keeps asking for the movie to be on. He watches for a while and then goes off to do something else and then comes back and wants the movie on again. I think we have seen Ice Age about 15 times over the weekend! I tried putting a different movie on and he did not want anything to do with it...he just kept telling me "movie on, movie on" so we put Ice Age back in and he was a happy boy! I might try sneaking in the 2nd Ice Age movie just to watch something different!!

Talking up a storm

I am just amazed! Less than a week ago the kids were saying a word here and there...now they are constantly talking and repeating everything they hear! Now we really have to watch what we say!

Monday night Gavin was playing with the radio and must have turned up the volume before he turned it on! When he hit the power button it was really loud and I said something about the music being loud. For the next 10 minutes Gavin was walking around the house saying "loud, loud" but it is so cute when he says it...he puts his tongue way out to say the L! It just cracks me up!

Last night I met a fellow member of the Mother of Multiples club to do some shopping for the summer picnic and while I was at Wal-Mart I puchased some tiny barrettes for Abby. This morning we tried to put some pretties in her hair but she just doesn't have enough but she still wanted me to try. and then she had to bring the whole strip of barrettes to daycare to show them off! when we were at daycare Gavin decided he wanted a pretty in his hair so I put one in for him! Daddy would not be happy!!!

Repeat after me!

Once again I am WAY behind on blogging! I will run down the more exciting events from last week and weekend!

Beginning of the week was fairly uneventful! On Thursday I picked up a patio set for the kids. it is a small table with a little umbrella and 2 chairs. It is so cute and the kids love it! When I got home from picking up the patio set the kids came running up to me and I saw that Gavin had a little pony tail on the top of his head. He must have wanted "pretties" in his hair when the teachers at day care were putting them in the little girls hair. Abby wants nothing to do with pretties in her hair...might be because she still doesn't really have enough to do anything with! hopefully soon but then she probably won't let me touch her hair!

Friday night I went to see Rodney Atkins at the Brown County Fair. It was an awesome show and we had excellent seats! I had a great time! Saturday morning we took the kids to the Little Gym because we didn't make it Tuesday night. They did really good until about 10 minutes before the end of class and then they lost interest and were just running around like the wild children they are! :) Saturday night we got a babysitter and Pat and I went to Fox Cities Stadium to see Trace Adkins. That was also a great show and it was nice to have a date with the hubby! It isn't very often we get to enjoy each other's company anymore!

Sunday we went to the in-laws for dinner. The kids were good most of the day but shortly before dinner (or supper depending on where you are from) Abby wanted a toy Gavin had and Pat told her no. She started throwing a fit and wanted her Nuk and blankie. I gave her the Nuk and told her that we left her blankie at home...wow, wrong thing to say! After that she was in a full blown tantrum. We tried giving her a small towel and a knit blanket but that didn't work so Pat made an emergency run to Target and saved the day! Now we know...never, ever leave home with out the blankie!!!

I am way behind on blogging!

I will try to give a quick recap of the past week and weekend! The week was just a normal week, the kids went to daycare, Pat and I went to work and we played and cleaned in the evenings! The weekend was fairly uneventful. Saturday the in-laws came over and some of Pat's relatives stopped in for a short visit. His cousin, his wife and her son and their new puppy came over for a while. Pat's cousin and his wife just recently moved to Wisconsin from Hawaii! I bet they will LOVE winter! Their puppy was adorable and even though it was almost small enough to fit in the palm of your hand my kids were afraid of it. they have a huge fear of dogs which I think is from the neighbor's dog barking in their faces this past winter but I am not sure!

After our company left we got ready to go to our babysitter's graduation party. The kids had a great time and are quite spoiled. She had juice boxes and cheese it crackers there just for the kids!

Sunday we took the kids to High Cliff for a little while. We went for a walk and then took them down by the water. They really have no fear of water, they both just started walking in! And then of course had to squat down so they got their butts all wet! but they had fun!

Last night Pat and I went to the Packer pre-season game. It was very strange watching a Packer football game with no Brett Favre. It didn't seem real! I thought Rodgers looked okay but I am still not on the Rodgers band wagon!

Slammin' the salmon 2008

This past weekend was our annual fishing trip in Algoma...only this year neither Pat nor I fished. We just went to visit with family we don't see very often. The trip is a bunch of my aunts, uncles & cousins on my mom's side. The group that did fish had enough people for 2 boats and between the 2 boats they only got 9 fish. In the past we have gotten more than that on just one boat so it was a pretty slow evening!

Pat, the kids and I arrived on Thursday evening. We stayed at a house along with my mom, my aunt Anita, my cousin Tracia, her husband Adam and son Mason. The kids had a great time together...they really enjoyed playing the piano! The kids did pretty good sleeping Thursday night but were up at 4:45 AM! Friday we hung out at the house and played outside. In the evening everyone came to the house to grill out and play games. Gavin went bed great and Abby not so great. She usually has to cry herself to sleep and since we were all in one bedroom I couldn't put her in her pack n play to cry herself to sleep since Gavin was in there...so I rocked her and walked with her and sang to her in the living room but she was fighting it! I finally got her to bed around 10 and went out to visit with my family for about 10 minutes and then went to bed myself!

Saturday most of the group went to Green Bay to watch the Packers practice but Pat and I thought it would be kind of stupid to drive to Green Bay, back to Algoma and then back to Appleton the next day so we stayed back in Algoma with my mom, my aunt Marlene and my cousin's two daughters. We all went to the beach. The kids had a great time! They loved the sand and Gavin liked throwing rocks into the water. He also decided to taste the seaweed and some sand!

My aunt Anita and cousins Tracia, her husband and son left Saturday so that night we had an extra bedroom so we could separate the kids. Everyone slept much better! so I guess from now on we need 2 bedrooms just for our family!

Weekend fun

Friday was my annual work golf outing! It was a lot of fun but I must say my golf game needs a lot of work! Perhaps I would improve if I played more than once a year! Pat joined the group for dinner and a great time was had by all!

Saturday we played outside, visited with Grandpa and Mimi Kennedy, uncle Rob and Uncle John and had a cookout. The kids were quite crabby by Saturday afternoon. My mother-in-law now knows what I am talking about when I mention Abby throwing a temper tantrum! she was full of them on Saturday. If someone looked at her wrong she would throw herself on the floor. Then Saturday night she went to bed at the usual 7:30ish time and woke up at 11. She was wide awake and kept saying "bye-bye". I told her know, nigh-night! then she wanted her shoes on and some juice. After 3 hours of fighting with her I finally got her back to bed. So I slept until 6 when they woke up. I was really looking forward to nap on Sunday because I was exhausted! We laid down about 10 and Abby was up before 11! I couldn't believe it!!!

Sunday after Gavin and daddy woke up from their naps we decided to go try out Picnic Express. It is a little park that has a few inflatable toys for the kids to jump on, slide on and run through. Gavin loved the slide and the Wacky World which was like a little obstacle course! Abby loved her snocone! After an hour or so of fun at Picnic Express we headed to the drive through at Culvers for a late lunch! After lunch we played out in the sprinkler and then played in the house.

Monday night the kids were crabby again and fighting with each other over everything! then Gavin started playing with the vacuum cleaner and the kids thought it was hilarious for Abby to put a goldfish cracker on her hand and have Gavin suck it up with the vacuum cleaner! they were laughing and laughing...very entertaining!

Now they are sleeping but I am sure not for very long! I think Abby might be working on her 2 year molars so I gave her some Motrin tonight...we will see if that helps at all!

Isn't Peacock everyone's favorite word!

Monday night we had the kids pictures taken at a park in Neenah. Of course they were not very cooperative in sitting together for a picture but Dave (the photographer) got some really great ones of them together on the merry-go-round! It is much easier to get their picture together when they don't actually realize that is what is going on! We got lots of pictures of them playing on the bouncy toys...the kids loved those! And I think we got our pictures done just in time...it started pouring about 5 minutes after we left! Now I am just anxiously waiting for Dave to put our proofs on his website so we can see them. He showed us a couple on the camera as he took them and they were awesome. He really does great work. check out his work at www.davidejackson.com

Last night was the Little Gym night and just Gavin and I went. Abby was too crabby and too busy throwing tantrums! Gavin did super most of the night, until he discovered the water fountain in the corner. After he found that he just wanted to play in the water so the instructor covered it up so he couldn't get to it! His favorite activity last night was this big padded thing shaped like a giant donut. the kids would lean on it and then we would roll them forward and they would end with a sommersault. He must have done it five times...we would get done and he would run back to do it again.

I just have to share Abby's new favorite word...Peacock! We have a book that has a peacock in it and she must have liked the way it sounded! so now she says it all the time!

And also have to share that the kids both slept all night with no night wakings last night! yeah!!! I wish that would last more than 2 days at a time!

Time Out

Yesterday the kids got their first "official" time outs. Gavin got to spend a couple minutes in Abby's crib and she got to spend a couple minutes in Gavin's crib! It started when Gavin decided to climb up on the kitchen chairs and onto the kitchen table. I told him to get down and he didn't listen so I lifted him off the table. When he started climbing on the table again I told him no. He didn't listen so he went in time out. After a minute or so I brought him back out and then both the kids did it so they both got time outs. Abby was crying very hard during her time out but Gavin didn't seem to phased by it! After they came out from their time outs Abby sat on daddy's lap very quiet for a while and Gavin went right back to the table. I asked him if he wanted a time out and he thought about it for a second and got down! so maybe it worked or maybe it was just coincidence.

I bought the kids a bop bag for them to hit around when it is too hot outside or raining. They prefer to sit on it but it was really fun to watch them play with it! Gavin loves it...he carries it around with him which is quite a site since it is about double his height!

Other news from the weekend...Pat and went to see the Dark Knight movie and LOVED it! I would go see it again! We also went to Paperfest on Friday night and had WAY TOO much fun...Satuday was a very long day!