uno, dos, tres...

Say what you want about children watching TV, they can learn from it.  Maya came walking downstairs last night counting in Spanish!  She can count to 8 all by herself....and to 12 with a little help! 

We don't watch a lot of tv in our house, but I do allow the children to watch morning cartoons on netflix.  They usually choose Diego, it's the only show ALL the kids can agree on.  It gives me a little time to myself to drink some coffee and check my email and facebook. 

I got all excited when I heard her and decided to sit the girls down just to see how smart they were.  We got some of our favorite counting and color books and I got to work quizzing them. 

camille

That's when I observed something very interesting in my girls. 

I've been asked several times "Which one is the dominate twin?"  I never really know how to answer.  They are just different.  Both have pretty strong personalities but neither one dominates the other. 

When the girls are together Maya answers all my questions.  She is very bright and articulate and loves to "play school."  Camille lets her sister do all the work and just sits there quietly listening.  She doesn't speak up or participate.

I separated them and asked Camille her colors and we practiced counting.  She did great....away from her sister.

So this makes we wonder about school in a few years.  As parents of twins we have the choice to separate them or keep them together.   On one hand preK is a HUGE adjustment and maybe having each other would be nice....but I want each of my girls to shine and not be thought of as a unit. 

Maya Princess

A while back at our TMOM's (Tulsa Mother's of Multiples) meeting we had a panel of older twins and their parents.  One mother decided to keep her boys in the same class throughout elementary school because she wanted her children to have the same foundation in education.  She feared one twin would get a "better" teacher.  Not to mention the annoyance of different homework. 

I have 2 years before I need to make a decision, but this observation in my girls really got me thinking on the subject.  A question for other MOM's ......

Are you going to separate or keep you twins together in school?

Tulsa Kids Magazine

Be sure to pick up a free copy of Tulsa Kids magazine this month.  There is an article in it titled, "Twins Plus More, Giving Siblings Room to Grow" written by the very talented Holly Wall.  She interviewed me (yup, I feel like a star) and a picture of our family is in it! 

I was so excited to show my boys (ages 4 & 5) their picture in a magazine.  Unfortunately, they weren't to impressed.  In fact, they were a little jealous of the four children on the opposite page. 

"Hey, no fair!  They get to go swimming and play with bubbles."  Zander pointed out.

"Yeah.  We're just sitting in the yard."  Gavin added.

5

The single most annoying thing about babies growing up is going up a size in diapers!

Ugh. 

The twins just graduated from a size 4 to a size 5....that's 26 less diapers!!  Let me tell you, they aren't peeing any less.  Perhaps more now that they prefer a straw in there cup. 

Is this Pampers way to motivate parents to potty train? 

With Zander I pushed potty training.  We sat for hours in the bathroom reading books.  We had a chart with stickers, M&M's, and watched video's encouraging it.  With Gavin...well, lets just say he taught me the individual child will choose when to go in the toilet.  It's their decision. 

I've heard through the grapevine that girls are easier then boys to potty train.  I also swore that when summer got here I would let the girls go around nude and they would magically train themselves....because, after all, they are so much smarter then boys! Yeah, a couple of accidents squashed that dream.   

I've come to 2 conclusions. 

#1 I don't know a single kindergartner still in diapers...they will eventually be potty trained. 

#2 I've become lazy with 4 kids and just don't have the time or energy to sit for hours in the bathroom reading. 

Embrace the Camera!

OK.  I am totally ripping off a fellow mommy blogger today.  My good friend over at http://www.50stickyfingers.blogspot.com/ started an "embrace the camera" day.  The idea is to capture photos your children will cherish. 

Pictures of my mother and I are few and far between.  SOOOO here goes.  Embrace the camera....which can be hard because I am camera shy, PLUS who do you think takes all the pictures?? 

This picture just proves how out numbered I am!  HA!
(please ignore the unfinished baseboards....we've been remodeling)

love hate relationship

Oh play dough. 

How I love you....and hate you. 

You're a lifesaver on these hot summer days.  

The kids love you and play with you for hours.

But I find you all over the house....

in the rug,

on the bottom of shoes,

in pockets,

under fingernails,

and

in the dog's bowl.

Play dough is pretty cheap, but if your kids like it as much as mine, you may want to try making it yourself.  It's fun and super easy.  The kids will LOVE this recipes and there hands will smell good for hours!

What you need:

2 1/2 cups of flour

1 cup of salt

3 tbsp of veggie oil

2 cups of boiling water

2 packages of unsweetened kool-aid

Mix dry ingredients.  Add oil and water.  Wearing gloves knead for 10 minutes.  Store in ziplock or tuperware in refrigerator.

Have fun!

worms

I am never prepared for the conversations I have with my very grown up 5 year old, Zander.  Today at lunch we were talking about the worms they found earlier that morning.  The boys began to argue back and forth about the sex of a specific worm.  The largest fattest worm of the bunch.  Zander said it was a male because it was so big....Gavin said a female (fat and pregnant). 

They turned to me for the answer.  I don't like to just tell my kids what to believe and encourage them to find out for themselves...with every aspect of life....so I thought we would figure it out together.  We turned to google for the answer.  Here's what we read, "Worms are Hermaphrodites.  That means that each worm has male and female sex organs." 

I knew the answer to the question but had NO CLUE where our conversation was headed....

"Hmmm...Hermaphrodite?"  Zander said it over and over making sure he got the pronunciation correct.  The idea of something being both a girl and boy intrigued him....and cracked him up at the same time.

"Mom, can people be a hermaphrodite?" he asked me.

Uh-oh.  What should I tell him?!  Truth is best, right?

"Yes son.  There are some people born with both women and men parts." 

This sent him rolling on the floor with laughter.

I tried my best to explain to him that the way people are born is no laughing matter, hermaphrodites couldn't help the way they were born just like he couldn't help it if he has brown hair.  Thankfully he accepted this and stopped calling his little brother a hermaphrodite.

He begged me to look up pictures online and show him.  I refused, scared of the images I'd find if I googled the word. 

I am certain this conversation will backfire one day and he will ask a stranger at the the grocery store if they are a hermaphrodite.  Mark my words, he will not forget the word and embarrass the hell out of me.

doggie dog world

I'm not a dog person....or a cat person for that matter.  Never had one growing up.  Never wanted one as an adult. 

I know it's a weird hang up and I want my children to love animals....so we got a Boston Terrier puppy last year, Obi.  Surprisingly, I have really grown to love the little guy....but he still gets on my nerves a little. 

Obi

I had to give you a little background info for my current story.  I am dog sitting my sister's 8 month old boxer, Jupiter, for 8 days.  Me (the self proclaimed "not a dog person")  dog sitting a giant puppy for over a week....while we're remodeling our house. 

Let me make sure you understand.  2 puppies, 4 kids, living in construction chaos...and did I mention it's been raining?!

Yesterday morning the kids and I were on our way out to meet some friends for a playdate.  Before we left the boys let the dogs out to go potty.  Jupiter decided to roll in a mud puddle.  Ugh.  I wanted to just leave them in the backyard but they had been JUMPING the fence the entire day before.  I knew my sister would never forgive me if I lost her dog. So we dragged her giant crate outside to lock her up....I was dressed and didn't want to get dirty.  This way I could deal with the muddy dog later.  I thought my idea was brilliant. 

Jupiter

It wasn't.

It rained while I was gone.  Water collect in the poor dog's crate...she was standing in about 5 inches of water!  The night before I put a maroon colored blanket inside so she would be comfortable.  It colored the water hot pink and dyed her paws! 

I felt horrible.

I had to carry a giant wet hot pink boxer puppy to the bath and scrub her down.  Let me tell you, it was a sight to see.  I'm sure my boys learned a few choice words I spewed off during the ordeal. 

I will never be asked to dog sit again.

recycled dresses

I've been having so much fun "recycling" clothes.  I bought a giant skirt from goodwill, cut it up and made a few dresses.  Here are my 2 favorite....the first 3 were horrible.  Total cost of fabric and ribbon: $2.50! 

I love you butt...

Gavin has been the topic of most my latest blog entries.

I just can't help it...the kid cracks me up...even in times of frustration...

Without further adu...another Gavin story...

We're having dinner.

With a mouth full of food Gavin dazes off into space.  Daydreaming.  He then takes his dirty fork and starts brushing his hair with it...still in la la land.

"Gavin!  Wake up buddy!  That's gross!" 

Still looking out the window Gavin dips his fork back into his food and accidentally flings it up overhead.

*sigh*

"Gavin, I love you but...."

That's what my Weegie (my dad's mom) use to say to us kids when we would get in trouble.  I find myself saying it all the time.

"Mom, I love your eyes." Gavin responded, waking from his trance.