Laundry Room Revamp

Months ago I saw a Pin that I knew would be an easy-to-complete-organizing-project. No painting. No trips to the hardware store. No building. Just some bins, that I knew I had seen at Target and wanted for ::something::

Well, Brudder got me a FABULOUS Christmas present! The bins! Yesterday I started tackling the project during naps. The only bad part was the liquid detergent. It didn't flow out of the drink dispenser well, so I had to nix that from the plans. But other than that, I'm pretty much in love. Still a couple things left I want to do, but overall, 2 hours well spent.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

For months now, Lana has been bringing me things to "dress" her. It started with shoes, the boys' belt, a hair bow, jackets, whatever. She's just turning into such a little girl. (Much like the boys have turned into little boys with their trucks and climbing)

For Christmas Lana got a Minnie Mouse tea set, she's in love with it. So, I, in turn, am in love watching her. In less than a day she mastered carrying a cup and saucer in each hand across the room. It's adorable to see such intense concentration from such a little person. She also got her first Cabbage Patch Doll, a purse filled with purse type stuff and a bunch of play necklaces and jewelry.

Pictures really just don't do the cuteness justice.

Ice Cream Truck

A few weeks ago I heard the ice cream truck down the street. So Collin and I went on a walk and got some ice cream together.

This afternoon I put him down for a nap and started doing various things around the house. About an hour later, I heard the truck. It got louder and louder. The next thing I knew, Collin's door was opening and he was running downstairs yelling, "it's the ice cream truck mommy! Mommy! It's the ice cream truck!"

How do you say no to that?? So I scooped him up and we walked to the end of the driveway, where the truck was stopped. He decided he wanted the penguin. So I gave him the $2. We stepped to the window and Collin told the man, "I'd like the penguin please!" Then handed him the money. When he got his ice cream he said, completely unprompted, "Thank you! Merry Christmas!"

Sweetness!

Picture This

I'm changing diaper in the morning. I got Justin undressed and changed his diaper. During that time, Lana found her Thing Wig from Halloween and brought it to me to put on her. So, I did. She also brought me her purple jacket she had on the day before. Justin is now in just a diaper but Lana is in her pajamas, blue wig, and purple jacket. I got up to go get some clothes to dress them for the day and came back to find them both on the Thomas train. Neither really wanted the other one there. Lana was leaning backwards in effort to push Justin off. Justin was pushing forward in effort to get Lana off. While neither wanted the other on the train, neither was really upset by the fact the other was there, just didn't want to share. I reached for my phone to capture the picture. I leave you with this...

15 Months

Several weeks ago I took the twins for their well check. Justin is 21.5 pounds (25%) and 31 inches tall (50%) and Lana is 22.13 pounds (50%) and 31 inches tall (also 50%).

Both steal my heart more and more everyday with their emerging personalities. The more the days go by the more I feel like they are turning out like by original thoughts about them when I was pregnant. Lana was always more active and she's definitely higher maintenance,these days, than Justin. Justin, was always calm, is exhibiting the middle child qualities. Usually he is pretty chill, but he can have moments of defiance and tantrums.

My Baby Girl is just that: THE BABY GIRL. She is the baby, and knows it. She is THE girl, and knows it. She loves to dress up and accessorize. It doesn't need to be her stuff either. She will happily bring me Justin (and Collin's) shoes and hold up her foot for me to put it on her. She has been bringing me jackets and holding her arms out and hoodies and leaning her head forward. If she finds my hair tie on the ground it becomes a bracelet (but doesn't want to wear the ACTUAL bracelets I have for her) depending on the day, she will even tolerate a bow without yanking it out. Baby Girl loves her blanket too. Every morning she stands up and hands me her blanket before she puts her arms up to get out of bed. She loves cuddling with it, with any blanket really. It's one of those things that's got to be with us when we travel if I want her to sleep. Quite the little mommy and helper. She will take a wipe from the box or washcloth from me and wipe her face, the counter in the play kitchen, a toy doesn't matter just something to clean. She has taken more to baby doll type things lately too. Stuffed animals or Buzz, she likes to hug them, lay her head on it and say "aaaawww" :) Oh and dancing. Girl likes to dance whenever she hears music -even in her high hair or carseat. But just because she's Baby Girl doesn't mean she can't hang with the boys. She can hold her own against Justin and Collin and she loves and. Adorable to watch her fly it in the air and make the noise associated with the airplane.

Oh my Justin. My sweet sweet Justin. He gets sweeter each day. He's so generous with his love. The best hugs at just the right moments. A giggle that could cure cancer. He's got a current love for trains. The Thomas collection we have is one if his new favorite toys. It's very cute to see him push them Round and make the "ch-ch-ch" sound. He is sucked into the TV more so than Lana. He will sit and watch a good chunk of Toy Story (any of them) with Collin while Lana is off on her own. Their (Justin and Collin) new movie is The Lorax. They like the music and little bear. Justin also likes his blanket. Not as much as Lana, but it's a definite necessity when traveling in order to sleep. Climber! Oh my goodness Little Man can climb! He will get up onto the kitchen table faster than I can pour a glass of milk for him. It's cute to see him so proud of himself, but really frustrating to keep him on the ground. He's taken to building lately. The big brick blocks he loves and is really good at stacking and ultimately knocking down. His other new favorite obsession is Buzz and Woody. He's been taking Woody everywhere, being careful not to forget his hat of course.

Recently they battled. Nasty cold and pink eye in both eyes. Poor little guys would wake up with nasty crusty snot all of their faces and dried gunk in and around their eyes. One morning Lana's eyes were really puffy and one was completely shut. It was many mornings if a warm wet washcloth gently cleaning off their faces. It was like the summer quarantine when they had HFMD. We didn't go anywhere of see a home for weeks. ThT is both exhausting and trying on the kids and Mommy.

Both are fascinated with the Christmas tree. The bottom two feet are lights only again this year (just like when Collin was their age) because they kept pulling ornaments off.

They fight like brother and sister and love like they are twins. I love watching them grow and bond together. They really are amazing little guys. My babies aren't babies anymore, they are toddlers. Two of a kind yet completely individual at the same time. Definitely the blessing I didn't know I needed or wanted.

Collin is THREE

Talk about an emotional three years. This is kid is my heart and soul. I love him with every fiber of my being. And, once again, I can not believe another year has gone by and he is three years old.

• Weighing in at 31.6 pounds he is in the 50%
• Standing 38.25 inches tall, he’s in the 50-75%

POTTY TRAINED!!!! This has been an adventure all in itself. The whole “Potty Boot Camp” wasn’t happening and forget the famous “Potty Training in a Day” pah-ahahaha! It was a period of several months. But I’m so proud of him. Yes, he’s still in a pull-up at night, but he goes by himself when we are home. And I have to admit, it’s really adorable to see his little bare bottom standing at the toilet with his pants around his ankles :)

So independent. He will bring a chair to the fridge and fill a cup of water himself. He will can dress himself. He goes upstairs to get X,Y or Z when asked, he helps me with Justin and Lana. Oh my goodness does he LOVE Justin and Lana. I love watching them play together. He likes to help whenever he can, cooking, cleaning, making crafts. Such a smart little booger. He can count to 20, has known his ABCs for months and can identify all the letters anywhere. Just before his birthday he learned to write his name. I’m so proud of him. He also, this is probably my favorite, learned his first Bible verse! Ephesians 6:1. He is just such a little boy. He’s not a baby. And not even a toddler. He-is-a-BOY.

 

I really need to be better at noting the details of “normal” daily life. Just yesterday he wanted me to draw a pirate ship. I drew a dinky little boat with a small flag. He said to me, “that’s not a pirate ship Mommy. That’s just a boat.” I said “oh?” To which he proceeds to tell me the details of what a pirate ship actually needs. “Bigger than that, Mommy. It has bigger sails, a steering wheel, pirates, ropes, an anchor, and this” ::insert arms spread out indicating a mermaid or some other sculpture on the bow:: I couldn’t do anything but say, “oh. well, yeah, you are right. BOOGER!

 

 

We made his a REAL Big Boy Room which he LOVES! It’s been several months and he will still talk about his “new” room. I love that we can cuddle in bed before he goes to sleep.

 

Several months ago I was going to meet a friend at the mall. I got to the front of the neighborhood and out on the main road when I realized I left my purse on the table and had to turn around. I called my friend to tell her, ran in the house and went on our way. Later that same night we were going to meet my mom and grandad for dinner. All the kids are loaded in the car and I was backing out of the driveway and about to push the button to close the garage when a little voice from the back seat of the van says, “Mommy?” I looked back and said, “yes Boo Boo?” (My nickname I’ve called him since he was a baby) He, very courteously says, “Don’t forget your purse.” Then throws his head back and starts CRACKING UP LAUGHING! Oh. My. Word. Did my two year old just poke fun at me? Yes, yes I think he did. BOOGER!

One night it was just the two of us on our way home from church. He hadn’t really eaten well before we went so we went through the Chick-fil-a drive thru. As we were getting the food he reminds me, “don’t forget the Polynesian, Mommy.” Polynesian. Not ketchup. Not '”dip” but Polynesian. Ok, big boy! So I let him eat in the car on the way home. Ever since then he LOVES to eat in the car. It’s a rare occasion, but he loves to do it and asks all the time.

In the past couple months he’s developed an even greater bond and love with the pets. He’s absolutely in love with Carly. He likes to actually go outside and throw, well, attempt to throw, the ball with her. He love to pet Sammi and Cali. Ok, well, maybe Cali won’t let him, but he love to pet Sammi. (on very rare occasions he asks where Roxy is (she passed away in February and was 16 or 17 years old) and says he misses her.)

One of the things floating around on Pinterest has been interview questions for your kids. Asking them the same list of questions every year to see how they grow and change. Well, I thought this was the perfect time to start that. Collin’s vocabulary is ridiculous and he can communicate with anyone with no problem. So, these are the questions I asked him, and will hopefully be asking every year and will hopefully start with the twins when they turn three also. And no, I did not edit or prompt any of the answers. I asked him these things while he was laying on the couch next to me not napping today. I wrote down exactly how he answered me. Word. for Word.

What is your favorite color? Dark Blue

Who is your best friend? Gavin and Peyton

What is your favorite toy? Thomas

What is your favorite book? Bible

What do you want to be when you grow up? A People

What is your favorite movie? Incredibles

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy and Daddy? Making cupcakes

What do you want for Christmas? Jake’s pirate ship, Buckey.

What is your favorite thing to do outside? To play

What is your favorite food? Chicken

What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries

What is your favorite drink? Water

What is your favorite place to eat? Chick-fil-a

What is your favorite TV show? Team Umizoomi

What is your favorite game? Hungry Hungry Hippos

Where is Jesus? In the Bible

What do you like to sleep with? My blanket

What is your favorite snack? Fruit snack

What is your favorite song? Twinkle Twinkle

Where is your favorite place to go? To Disney World

Rather than doing a big birthday party like we did for his first and second birthday, Devin and I took him to Disney World. Just the three of us. (We went back in May with all five of us, but I’m a big fat slacker and never actually posted about it. So I figure I should include this trip in his birthday post or else I might never do it) We didn’t tell him where we were going, just that he was going with just Mommy and Daddy. Talk about an excited little boy when he figured out where we were. I was just as excited watching him. It really was a fantastic experience for all three of us. On his actual birthday we just had our family come over after church for cupcakes and ice cream. It was a great way to celebrate our little Boo Boo :)

 

A little excited about his first time going to Disney World

From his Birthday Trip

 

He really surprised me and was actually excited about his Halloween costume and wore all the pieces. ALL NIGHT!

He got a good chunk of money for his birthday, even for a teenager got a good chuck of money. So, I took him to the store to pick out his own toy. He has been stuck on Hungry Hungry Hippos since an episode of Doc McStuffins. Talk about an excited little boy, and brother and sister. It’s adorable to see them all playing a real game together. 

 

LOVE THESE KIDS!