Summer 2017 Family Vacation

We recently got back from an 11-day trip to the Midwest where we got to see most of my family, my two best friends from high school, and a lot of extended family.

I try to avoid posting pictures of other people's kids on here unless I have permission, but here are a few I can post. Alex and Will had a wonderful time.

Alex has become an excellent traveler, I have to say; traveling is geography come to life so as long as he knows where we are, what the schedule is and who all these people are, he tends to be pretty cheerful and flexible. Will was so excited about all the people and all the activities (especially at family camp where there was swimming, boating, archery, etc., and lots of new friends) that he was bouncing all over the place.

At the zoo we visited with their cousins (Alex loves zoos, and maps, so it's not surprising that he now collects zoo maps!). Will is now obsessed with wolves and insisted on getting his picture taken with a picture of a wolf.

Breakfast at a hotel along the way. A&W wanted to wear their A&W shirts this morning. (I need to start checking eBay for A&W shirts a size up; they've had these for a couple of years now!)

Will insisted that Shadow the Hedgehog has all of Will's personality and characteristics. He tucked Shadow into bed next to Alex in his place. ;)

A few glimpses of fun at family camp:

Photo op at the Hoedown on the last night of family camp:

That's a Wrap

What is it that makes time go on fast-forward as your kids get older? It is surreal to me that I now have rising third graders.

They definitely grew and changed a lot this year. Overall I'm a fan of age 8, though not super wild about the sass and know-it-all defiance. Also, will they ever stop bickering?  I guess I was in junior high before my siblings (4 years older, 2 years older, and 6 years younger) and I really started getting along, so ... we'll see how this goes.

I love comparison pictures, so here is First Day of 2nd grade, back in August:

They definitely grew a few inches this school year!

Boundaries with kids ...

Will: "Here, I'm going to serve you your snack."
Alex: "Um, that's OK; I want to do it myself."
Will: "I'm making a goal of becoming a nicer person, so you're ending my life here!"

So then we had a conversation about the importance of respecting other people's "no" without punishing them. (Thank you, Cloud and Townsend.) And how that's part of becoming a nicer person. 

Snow, Sweetness, Silliness

Today was very exciting; Alex and Will had the opportunity to make a snowman for the first time in a very long time. They named this cheery little fellow "Luke Reginald."

And catching up on recent anecdotes:

February 8, 2017

"I'm graceful but I'm also impulsive. I'm glad God gave me ninja-like powers. And I'm glad for especially the help of Dad. He trains me in ninjitsu." (Bet none of you can guess which kid said this.) His brother, on the other hand, said, "Can I go to rest time early? I need to be in my room by 4:00 because that's when I'm taking my stuffed animals on their field trip." "Oh? Where are you going today?" "Pompeii."

February 14, 2017

(overheard)
Alex: You were mean to me when we were in Mom's belly! You were kicking my bubble!
Will: Well, you were kicking *my* bubble!

February 24, 2017

While stirring something, I mentioned that the tip of my pinky finger accidentally brushed the batter. Will said, "That's fine. Your germs aren't dirty; they're sweet, like you are." I guess I'll keep him after all.

March 7, 2017

Quotes from dinner
Will: What's the most beautiful place you've ever been to?
Alex: Hmm, I can't think of one ...
Me: Kiawah Island? Hunting Island State Park? The mountains in NC with the waterfalls?
Alex: I think it would actually be Grandma and Grandpa's house [i.e. the house I grew up in, in Indianapolis], because the trees there are really beautiful, don't you think? 
***
Me to Tom: What do you think we should do to celebrate our anniversary this year?
Will: I know! You could play a game of Monopoly while you babysit us!

March 

Will and Romance

Alex: So today at recess I was playing with Ellie and Charity-
Will: So you were playing with my girlfriend, and my girlfriend's friend?
Me: So Ellie is your girlfriend?
Will: Oh yeah. Since earlier in the year.
Alex: You know you're not allowed to have a girlfriend yet, right?
(Note: This is not something we've really talked about. Because, you know, they're in 2nd grade.)
Me: Well, technically that's true. You can start dating when Dad and I decide you're ready.
Will: Well, we're not *dating.* She's just my girlfriend.
Me: Oh? What does that mean to you, that she's your girlfriend?
Will: Well, it just means we might date someday. It's like being married. But not yet.
Me: Um.
Will: And every time Ellie sees me, she blushes.
Me: (because I like to ask them questions just to see what they'll say) So how old do you think you'll be when you're allowed to date?
Will: Oh, I don't know. 18 or 12.

And now they are 8.

First off, a shout-out to any Siestas who drop by from Beth Moore's blog! :) I am excited about our Scripture memory team this year. My verse for the second half of January:

And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands—yes, the work of our hands, confirm and establish it.
Psalm 90:17 AMPC

That's an amplified version, so it might sound a little repetitive? But I love it. Savoring the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God. And praying he will confirm and establish the work of our hands this year!

OK, back to the post title.

Seriously. These tiny little babies:

turned 8 years old.

And for good measure, them on Christmas Eve, two weeks before their birthday:

For their birthday, I let them skip school and they had a fabulous day at the children's museum and Chuck E Cheese (they each got to pick a place) with their aunt, uncle and cousin who were visiting from Texas.

My husband was in Israel on their birthday having amazing, life-changing experiences, so we are finally doing their family birthday celebration tomorrow.

So yeah ... 8.

Parenting has been nothing like I thought it would be. Partly, I'm sure, because I NEVER imagined myself having two at once. I always imagined myself easing into motherhood all snuggled up with one peaceful baby. (I'm funny, I know.) Cherishing that time with just one before my attention was split in two or more directions; ironically, that was one thing I most looked forward to about having my first child! God had his reasons for sending my second child along for that same ride. And it's not always so bad ...

Even eight years later, though we've certainly moved past the Survival Mode of the first year or five, it can still be pretty challenging. There are a lot of medical issues in our family. Will and Alex are polar opposites. They love each other, they expertly press all of each other's (and their parents') buttons, they fight frequently, they wrestle and laugh and scream and tattle, and I'm praying that at some point, iron will sharpen iron.

In some ways, not much has changed.

There are definitely some amazing moments. Many laughs and, increasingly, deep and meaningful conversations. Alex is conscientious, a little geography professor, sweet-natured, book-loving, a born traveler, and thrives on routine and traditions. Will is "wide open," a born leader, spirited, surprisingly articulate, energetic, extroverted and thrives on attention and drama!

I look forward to seeing what the next year will bring.

Excited for a new year!

This might sound weird, but I don't get that excited about New Year's Eve ... However, I love New Year's Day. I love new beginnings and fresh starts. I know a lot of people peter out on their new year's resolutions, but over time I've become more consistent about meeting more of my goals.

I am always looking for ways to improve my health and I'm really looking forward to a new online course by Crystal Paine, aka MoneySavingMom: 15 Days to a Healthier You! It's $15 right now so hurry up and buy it if you're interested. I've done several of her online courses and never been disappointed, but one thing I really appreciate is she always offers a full refund, no questions asked, if you end up feeling like the course isn't a good fit for you.

This is my affiliate link if you want to check it out:
https://t.co/K1HVqPvmAd

I love these boys.

Alex knocked on Will's door.
Will came to the door and said sternly, "Whatever you're selling me, I don't need it or I already have it."


And some pics from this fall. They are rocking 2nd grade. First time in separate classes and they've adjusted well. They also both qualified for the gifted and talented program, so now they are together one day a week after all! It's a nice balance.

 My big boys on their first day of second grade (each wearing their favorite colors):

And some of our recent adventures. 2bluedad (a pastor) was on sabbatical for three months so we managed more family outings than usual.

One great thing about 7-year-olds: They're old enough to be helpful! After our orchard trip, Alex and Will learned how to peel apples for the first time.

And a few more adventures:

End of summer highlights

We just got back from a two-week journey to Texas. We spent some great time with family, some close friends, and really enjoyed some church and ministry visits. On the way back, we drove through flooded Louisiana (pray for them!! It was bad). 

A few photo highlights. And yes, since it was Texas in August, they spent a lot of time in the water:

Today's Anecdotes

Alex: Mom, can I play on your tablet for my reward?
Me: Sure. I'm going to be catching up on you boys' calendar, writing down what we've done recently so we can remember later.
Alex: Oh! Can I watch you do that for my reward instead?
Me: Are you serious?? Tom, did you hear that?
Tom: Sure. What's wrong with that?
Me: I'm just fascinated that he considers it a reward.
Alex: Well, I'm fascinated that you *don't* consider it a reward!
***
Me: OK, Will, after I cut your nails I want you to go wash your hands. And what did I ask you to do after that?
Will: Mom, do you suffer from short-term memory loss?

Baseball and rainbows

Will's baseball season is coming to an end. This has been his best sport so far in terms of taking to it well and thoroughly enjoying it.

Tonight was his last practice. We spent 10 minutes getting everything unloaded, pulling it in the wagon way across the field, setting up the chairs and sun shade. Practice started, and about 3 minutes later it got cancelled due to lightning right behind us.

Since my husband had gone in the Y to work out during practice, I packed everything up and loaded it back in the car as fast as I could, hurried the boys on the long walk into the Y, and took them to the indoor track to burn some energy and kill time so my husband could still get his workout in.

I was a little irritated, but as we dashed through the rain and got into the car to leave, I heard, "Look!" I turned, and we were rewarded with this beautiful rainbow.

Will's comment: "Hey, it has all the colors in the right order like a real rainbow!"
My husband: "Maybe it could be a real rainbow." ;);)

Spiritual Carrots

Will (talking about what he chose for his lunch today): "And I had carrots, because I know they're good for my eyes ... You know, I like spiritual carrots."
Me: "Spiritual carrots? What are those?"
Will: "They help you see the good. And the good choices. I have a lot of spiritual carrots in my life."

Christian Songs

Alex: "I think maybe you only need to like one Christian song for God to love you. You don't have to like all of them."
Me: "Actually, you don't have to do anything for God to love you; He already loves you. He made you."
(a few minutes later)
Alex (to Will): Did you know you don't have to like *any* Christian songs for God to love you?
Will: Well, that makes me love Him *more*!

I love these people.

Make Over Your Evenings

I've enjoyed Crystal Paine's blog www.MoneySavingMom.com ever since my sister told me about it when my twins were 4 months old. On one modest salary and with one more baby than we'd bargained for, I was trying to figure out the world of couponing; MoneySavingMom made that easy!

Over time, she's come out with a variety of resources and she shares a passion of mine: to help people move past survival mode, thrive and really make a difference in the world!

I was definitely in survival mode in those first months with twins. And some aspects of that survival mode clung to me throughout several years of being a SAHM. To some degree, I lost my passion, energy and sense of purpose. They weren't completely gone, but they were dim reflections of what they used to be. In the past two or three years, God's been working in my life to help me graaadually work through some things and get those back, and to rediscover my purpose and priorities in a new season of life as a mom to school-age kids.

I recently did the course Make Over Your Mornings (also very good!) and today I finished Make Over Your Evenings. They're both 14-day courses that only take about 10-15 minutes each day. You watch a short video and then do workbook projects. Both courses help you clarify your priorities, identify time-sucks, learn how to say no without feeling guilty, and set up routines that help you move toward thriving and living your days with purpose and intention. I love that!!

I did the courses pretty much back to back, so I'm still refining and tweaking my routines and working on forming new habits. (I don't necessarily recommend doing them this close together. However, since I did them during the summer when there's less structure and our schedule is so different from week to week, I felt like I needed to go ahead and jump into MOYE!)

My reason for doing Make Over Your Evenings was to stop feeling behind, scattered and guilty. As much as I want to live my life with purpose and intention, I tend to feel pulled in a lot of directions. I don't always stop to intentionally address and think through the expectations I have for myself, or that others have of me, and consciously choose which to accept and which to reject. This course is helping me move more in that direction. I definitely want to live my life with purpose and intention, and to thrive. It's so easy to slip into the hamster wheel, or complacency (especially when I'm struggling with health issues and fatigue!) and survival mode. The routines and habits I'm developing through these two courses are helping me live the life I want to live, and am called to live.

If you're interested in checking them out, here's my affiliate link:
https://gr161.isrefer.com/go/MOYE/macchiatto/

Fractious

My husband, bless him, has read the entire Anne of Green Gables series. I love that he's a man of such widely varied tastes and interests. 

I recently borrowed the Anne of Green Gables DVDs from the library. My husband and I have been watching them together. I hadn't seen them in years (long before having twins) and some things jumped out at me this time around, especially this line, which is my new favorite quote:

My twins have been mighty fractious lately,

and I'm terrible worn out.

I love my boys. Love. Them. But goodness, this is the story of my life. Especially on summer vacation. Especially now that they are at the age of bickering and nit-picking so many tiny, inconsequential details. And they are always right. ;) 

Once I stopped to think about it, I realized this has been true for eight years now, since the days when I was hosting internal wrestling matches, and ultrasounds revealed them kicking each other or sitting on each other's heads. 

So many  people have said to me since pregnancy, "Oh, I always wanted twins!" "Twins must be so fun!" "Twins are so cute!" "They must just be the best of friends."

And you know, there are certainly adorable sides to it, e.g. tiny Alex and Will:

But I also like to keep things real, right here in 2BlueLand. So today it's time to acknowledge the fractious side of having twins. And the fact that each set of multiples has its own dynamic and relationship, some closer and more harmonious than others. As one young adult identical twin shared with me, "My least favorite part of being a twin is that everyone assumes we're best friends and honestly, we're just not. We're very different." 

Alex and Will are very different, too. They've gone through phases of getting along better and phases of increased fighting. Like most sibling relationships, it's a love-hate relationship, but with multiples I think sometimes both the love and the hate can be more intense, what with all that togetherness and sometimes a strong sense of competition.

People often speak of twins as either super hard (as Anne does!) or super special (double blessing! what a bond!) and really, for me, the experience has been somewhere in the middle. Raising these two together has been harder--at times, seemingly impossible--and also more remarkable and heart-enlarging than I ever could have imagined.

After spilling my random thoughts, I leave you with some photos just from the first 18 months that pretty much sum up the breadth of my experience:

And really, that is life. One up, one down. Both up, both down. Learning, growing, exploring the world; sometimes together, sometimes at odds with each other.

Same faces and same dynamics; just bigger now and with more words.

So many words.

 Making us laugh, making us crazy, making us rely on God for moment-by-moment sustaining grace.

Making us fall in love with them all over again, one day at a time.

I blinked ...

It's such a cliche, I know, but first grade went by in a FLASH. Time seems to have sped up considerably just in the past few years, especially since the boys started full-day school.

They had a great first grade year with a wonderful teacher. They are both confident readers now, and spend a lot of their time reading for fun. We're glad they take after their parents with a love for books. Alex is obsessed with animals and geography. Will is enjoying playing real baseball for the first time, and they've both made some great swimming progress during their spring and summer swim lessons.

On a field trip with their class at a state park:

Look at how this boy grew in one year!

And this one!
His comparison pic is slightly different; you can see how much he grew in one school year!

The first month of summer break has also absolutely flown by; busy with swim lessons, baseball, two beach trips (good for us! In the past we haven't made it to the beach very often), the children's museum, a last-minute trip to Orlando, and a total of 17 doctor and physical therapy appointments in the month of June (mostly for me!).