Playground World

Everyone asks me if I have help, a babysitter, nanny.  No I do not.  I do it all on my own and am proud of it! I take them everywhere on my own and have done it since they were newborns, unless my husband is around.  Grocery shopping, library, zoo, museums, playground world, mall, play group meetups, park, etc.  I love that we have a routine, I don't have to stay in the house all day, and that they are so good in public.

What is nice though, is when I do have help.  The only people who help me is family.  It is very rare because everyone works or is out of town.  My sister, brother-in-law, and baby Gavin were here for two weeks.  Our playgroup had two meetups at Playground world and I took advantage of the help from my sister and brother in law.  It was nice because we each had one, and I didn't have to chase two in opposite directions.  Here are some pictures and videos!  The girls had so much fun, and we will be going more often!

If you are around my area, there is a playground world on the eastside.  They have free play Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10am-11am.  It is nice during the winter months to let the kids still play on equipment that is suppose to be outside!

Harly on the tire swing!

Titi pushing Zoey

1st snow adventure!

The girls had their 1st snow adventure!  They loved it.  They were not happy when we told them it was time to go inside after an hour and a half!  Here are some pics from our adventure!

Happy Zoey!

Happy Harly!

going for a sled ride!

Next baby!

Helping make a snowman and snowballs!

determined to make a big snowball!

**Next on the list to to take them sled riding on a little hill!

chalkboard

We have a little area underneath the tv in the living room that is just the right height for the girls.  Our house is very small, we are already starting to outgrow it.  We didn't want to add an easel into the playroom.  So I went to Pinterest, of course!  This was the best idea I have gotten off there.

I wanted to use the same paint color in the living room.  I did not want that black chalkboard paint.  So this is what I did:

I turned this:

Into this:

What you need:
*flat finish latex paint in any shade that you desire ( we used latex satin finish and it worked just fine).
*unsanded tile grout
*150-grit sandpaper

1.  Pour 1 cup of paint in container.  Add 2 tablespoons of unsanded tile grout.  Mix with paint stirrer.  Break up all the clumps carefully.

2. Apply paint with a roller or sponge paintbrush to a primed or painted surface.  Make sure you work in small sections, going over the same spot several times to ensure full, even coverage.  Let it dry

3.  Smooth the area with 150-grit sandpaper.  Wipe off the dust.

4.  condition:  Rub the side of a pieve of chalk over the entire surface.  Wipe away with a barely damp cloth.

Thats it, so simple!!  The girls were so excited!  I may have won best mommy award that day by the girls!!

canvas boxes!

Ok so over the past couple months, I have been making canvas boxes.  With the traveling from Thanksgiving and Christmas, we decided to not bring the cloth diapers and just buy a box of disposable diapers; we also have a bunch of wipes boxes.  I had a lot of fun doing this and it was pretty easy!

Turn this:

Into this:

I cut this box down, that is why it does not look like a diaper box!



This box I use as storage for our cloth diapers!  Visit Positively Splendid for the complete instructions!

For the liner I used THIS tutorial!  I do not have a sewing machine yet, and I was not about to hand stitch.  What is great about this world today is all the new inventions.  I used Ultrabound permanent iron on to put all the seams together.  It works great and does not fall apart!

Hope you all enjoy!

twins day

National Geographic did an article about twins day.  Here is the webpage for it.  It is very interesting!

Its crazy how identical twins are best friends, inseparable, look alike, yet they have different personalities.  After watching the girls grow day by day, I will have to agree with the doctor that they are identical.  They are everything this article describes.  There is slight difference in the face, but you have to really study to see it.  I get them mixed up all day long, but I know when they don't respond to the name I am calling, and when they look at me.  They talk the same, laugh the same, they are inseparable, and best friends!  When they look in the mirror, they always say sissy.  they think it is sissy in the mirror and not them!  Identical twins run in the family so this is what I am going with!

People always ask if they are identical or fraternal.  It is so hard to go into everything about what happened.  We just now tell people they are identical.  Will we get them tested at some point?  Eventually, but we are in no rush!  When we do I will let you all know, but I will go with all the doctors who have seen the girls, and examined the placentas and believe them when they say, "the girls are identical."

When it comes to raising twins, it can get difficult at times.  We never want one to feel left out.  We will never favor one over the other.  We love them both equally.  They each have different personalities and we will never change that or compare them to each other.  I want them to feel like an individual.  We will keep them together though, through school until they decide they want to be in separate classes.  I don't think that will ever happen though, because they are so attached to each other.  They freak out if one leaves the room, they always have to know where each one is. 

I hope you all enjoy this article.  Also look through the photo galleries of the study on identical twins, you can tell the twins apart due to the camera they used.  It is pretty amazing!

National Geographic magazine- twins day!

week with daddy!

We got to spend a whole week with daddy! We went to the zoo, cuddled, went out to dinner, and just played and enjoyed our time together as a family!  Here are some pics and videos!

celebrating daddy's bday again!

Thanks Grandma DeeDee for the cake and cookies!

they love putting make up on daddy, stickers on him, and brushing daddy's hair!



heading to the rainforest and zoo! ( yes they had hats and gloves but she took them off and stuffed them in front of  her!)



mommy, I just want to look at the bats!

I love that we had Ian for a whole week, but I am ready to get back to our daily routine and schedule.  It has been so off with the holidays.  Also, when daddy is home, the girls only want him!  I am ready to have them all to myself again until he gets home from work!

We have not caught a break for almost two months and won't til the end of January.  I am so looking forward to February for a weekend of just the 4 of us!

Christmas and New Year 2011

We had a great christmas and New Year!  We got daddy for a whole week and enjoyed every minute of it.  Christmas day we went to Ian's uncle's house in pa, then headed back and stopped at my uncles.  The girls had so much fun opening gifts in the morning!  They were also scared of their power wheels at first, then got used to them and drive them around the house!  By the way, not only did we celebrate Christmas, but also daddy's birthday, he was born on christmas!

Playing with their new laptops from Grandma DeeDee!

Laying at Uncle Dicks.  They were pretty exhausted!

They are inseparable and I love it!!  They also love their magna doodles from Santa!

Helping mommy clean!

We had round 2 of christmas with my mom's side of the family New Years day.  We always have a good time.  We also got to spend some time with my cousin and his wife who live in NC!

Uncle Brian taught Zoey that her feet can be chip holders!  Only my cousin would do something like that!!

I did not take a lot of pictures.  I wanted to enjoy this time with my family and not behind the camera.  I apologize!

Round 3 will be in two weeks when my sister comes home!!!

I can't wait for this coming year!  We have a lot happening!  Lots of challenges, decisions, weddings, vacations, but most importantly continuing to be able to stay home and watch our girls grow up!