Snapshots from the Road

This one is for the grandparents. One quick view from the road before we enter a 2 week window where our internet availability & free time to blog may be non-existent.

We have learned that any place with a play-place makes road trips so much more enjoyable, and we now map them out ahead of time. This has led our children to think that McDonald's is a magical, fun place. I think they would choose McDonald's over Disney World. As they waved to us from various windows in the structure they would yell, "Hi, mommy-daddy! I'm playing at McDonald's!!" Sigh...what have we done?!

Curious about the dip? Hoping it isn't what you think it is? Stop hoping and start gagging. It is exactly what you think it is. My children love dipping their apples in ketchup.

We decided to split up the trip and spend a night at a hotel. Not a first for our family by any means, but the last time we stayed in a hotel was almost exactly a year ago, so it is the first time that the twins remember. The only thing they care about? The big, BIG tub! Once they saw it the only thing they wanted to do was swim in the tub (I chose to not tell them there is a swimming pool downstairs...this was easier!). My favorite thing: when they practiced some of the things they learned in swim lessons! And when Ryan called the tub the ocean. We have got to get that kid to the ocean soon. Poor thing calls any collection of water "ocean"...it's so sad!

And now we are off to join our sweetly slumbering children for a (hopefully) full night of rest before we embark on the next leg of our trip!

Swim Lessons!

Since we live near a lake, and my children love the water, I thought it would be a good idea to get them in swim lessons. It would help them get more comfortable with water & practice things like kicking, paddling, floating, and going under in a controlled environment. Thanks to my fabulous friend (who did all the leg work to find a class), the twinners have been going to swim lessons this week with their friends!
Each morning we start with "Ring Around the Rosey" to get us used to "falling down" in the water - getting a different part of our face wet each time (this is Ryan's least favorite part of class).

They were a little clingy this morning...

Then we do different activities like:

Kicking with the kick boards!

Floating on our backs & kicking!

Various "circle" activities (this one is floating on our backs & kicking, but we also work on blowing bubbles or practicing paddling or bouyouncy).

There are a lot of other activities that make up the 30 minutes class - being monkey's (holding onto the edge and moving side-to-side), jumping, going down the slide (a little slide set next to the pool - a total favorite) - are some of them.

But the all-time favorite, for my kids, is throwing the ducks and swimming to get them. They talk about it all dayIt is pretty much all they want to do when we get there. They love the ducks!

The instructor (Miss Katie) is fabulous. They are having a blast. The price was incredibly reasonable. The only down side is that they will only get one week of the 2 week course :( They are enjoying it so much that I'm bummed they will miss out on the last 3 lessons. Oh, well. There's always next year!

Celebrate!

Saturday was a day full of party-hopping & celebrating. For me at least. In the morning I hopped over to Ann Arbor to attend a Bridal Shower/tea for my soon-to-be Sister-friend. It was a fabulous shower (well-done to her friend who planned the event), and I had a great time getting to know some of her family & friends (and therefore getting to know her a little better). BUT...I forgot my camera. Left it sitting on the counter. Which means I didn't get a single picture. Sad day.

Thankfully, Lucas remembered to take the camera with him to Cousin Cuppycake's Party (which is where I hopped next)! Because I would have cried if I didn't have any photo documentation of her turning 2 (especially since we missed the party last year...).

The party was outdoors & there was a fabulous pool which the twins couldn't resist playing in before we put on their suits...

Soon there were cups involved...

Then pots...

And then we decided the prudent thing was to just put on their suits & let them get in!

Cuppycake with her cupcakes.

Pretty soon it was present time!

note: this was not our present. I somehow took a picture of (I think) every single present she got EXCEPT for ours!

During cake & presents Ryan and Allie stayed busy & barely seemed to notice (which made me happy because they couldn't have the cupcakes!)

Ry-guy stayed with the other boys in the pool.

Allie hit Nana up for some bubbles.

Pretty soon, however, Cuppycake became less interested in un-wrapping & more interested in playing with the toys. Allie was there & ready to step in and help!

Sweet Baby D (herself close to leaving babyhood & stepping into toddler-dom), was there. But somehow I didn't get to hold her. Not once. I just took pictures of her (like this one) from afar. And you better believe a missed opportunity to hold my niece makes me pout :)

Ry-guy didn't spend a single minute (aside from eating) away from the toys! He swam, climbed, slid (slided? slode?), and had a ball :)

Nana & Lil Grandma came home with us for the rest of the weekend (a few pictures from that to come). This summer seems full of celebrations big & small, and this weekend condensed them into a small, super fun time :)

Happy Birthday, America!

We had a fabulous 4th of July weekend! I know I have mentioned this before, but this is one of my favorite holidays. There is the obvious Christmas & Easter, but after those two is the 4th of July (yes, I like it more than Thanksgiving). So I'm big on festivities, even though the twins are still a little young for my favorite things (read: fireworks).

On the 3rd we went to the home of a former professor/current friend to watch the Great American Parade!

Giving a wave and hydrating pre-parade.

If you ask the twins about the parade they will tell you about the horses, the tractors, the big trucks (semis that WERE gigantic), and the CANDY! Mostly they will tell you about the candy. People walking up and handing them candy (even though it was almost all peppermints and bubble gum which they don't know yet that they can't have), wad a monumental experience for them.

Putting on the shades so as not to be easily recognized by adoring fans.

Shhhh! It's about to start!

Here they come!

We had a blast, and had hoped to stay, and play in the pool, but it the parade lasted so long that we ended up needing to leave for food and to be home for bedtime.

On the 4th we had a low-key morning. I did make sure to take them outside and get pictures in their patriotic outfits before doing ANYTHING else. A lesson I have learned over the years - if you want good pictures in special outfits, take the pictures right away!

She insisted on standing one step up to wave her flag...

Always waving the flag with extreme joy!

The only way to get a picture of the two of them together was to have them run!

Marching with their flags.

We told the twins we were celebrating our country's birthday. So we celebrated like we do all other birthdays - monkey bread for breakfast, a special cake, and many renditions of "Poppy's Song" ("Happy Birthday"...but we sang it - or tried to get them to sing it - so many times on Poppy's birthday that they assumed it was his song!)

In the evening, we went to a BBQ at our friend's. He got up at 3am to start smoking the most amazing brisket & ribs!

The kids enjoying their meals.

Ryan & Allie got to try the kool aid bottles for the first time. It was love at first taste. They downed these immediately and asked for more. Since it WAS a birthday, and birthdays tend to be total-fun-relax-on-all-rules days, I let the, have another. Those didn't last long either! They are SO my kids - no idea how to savor!

One of our friends has a 9 yr old daughter who was fabulous with all the kids. The collage made the pictures tiny, but here she is with 6 kids ages 2-4 on the trampoline. She had them walk in a circle (she is holding Ryan's hand because he kept walking - in a circle - the opposite directions of all the other kids and jamming the flow), sit down, and hold hands and walk in a circle. We all wanted to take her home!

Poor Ry-guy. Finally on a "bike" his size, but he doesn't know how to pedal because he can't reach them on his! It wasn't easy to Flinstone it on this one...

Allie helping out with a game of "Corn Hole." Whether they wanted it or not, everyone got a hole in one!

Ryan knew if he just stayed in the wagon, his persistence would pay off with a ride (he was right!)

Allie stealing cake from Heather.

E offered to give the twins a ride in the wagon. She actually did move them a few feet on her own!

We left when they brought out the sparklers (the twins clearly had no fear and no concept of getting burned, and we figured it would be best to go), but I snapped this picture of their friend A. Isn't she adorable!

After putting the kids to bed, Lucas and I watched the Boston 4th of July special. We reminisced about all the times we were there. We set a date to meet our friends there again in 15 years, but as I watched the show on tv, I knew I would need to be there before that. I love the holiday too much, and was spoiled by too many years celebrating it in the most amazing place possible (seriously, where else can you hear the Declaration of Independence read from the same balcony where it was originally read? Or participate in a reenactment of the famous Tax on Tea debate? Or run into Minute Men at Starbucks? Or listen to the Pops play the 1812 Overture - every single fabulous measure - live with a rousing fireworks display at the climactic end?), to not take my kids there again. Soon. In the next 5 years I think...

And because I was feeling reminiscent, look back here, here, and here to see pictures of the twinners (and cousin!) from previous celebrations.

Happy Birthday, America!!