On Balance (HAHAHAHA), a New School Year and Free Reign Chaos

I'm coming out of another work fog that makes me remember that I am a human and that there is life outside of work. It also makes me question how I am handling this Working From Home gig. It's hard, yo!


Then there was the day a few weeks ago that the house internet was down in the midst of a huge work deadline (of course it was!). In the afternoon we all trudged down to the neighborhood "free" wifi spot (Evil Fast Food Restaurant) where I was successfully able to download my much needed document. All was well that ended well there, but not without quote a bit of panic and stress on my part. I think it's clear from the "toasting" of sundaes (seen here) who the winners were that day.

It's all hard:

-Working at the office/commuting/not seeing the kids for ten hours/getting home and scrambling for all the different people begging for attention/feeling guilty because I don't spend enough time with them and the time I do spend isn't "quality" time and I often feel impatient and burned out
-Working from home/carving work in between all the other home responsibilities/seeing the kids for ten hours at a time/getting home and scrambling for all the different people begging for attention/feeling guilty because the time I spend with them isn't "quality" time and I often feel impatient and burned out

But the good thing about being ridiculously stressed and overwhelmed is that when you no longer feel stressed and overwhelmed, you feel Reborn!

After two days on and several days off (Hi, Jewish Holidays), we are officially Back in the Business of School (except for one day last week--Hi Another Jewish holiday). In fact this week, the last one of September, is actually the first full week of school!


Oh, Hiiiiiiiiiiii sixth grade. How's it going? (First day)

Leo is settling into middle school. After a few bumps (on the second week of school it rained. Leo has developed a severe phobia of rain and storms (?) and that day, I was on and off the phone all day with the school nurse, because Leo had come to her with a stomach ache. Several times). We have been talking and talking (and talking) about the importance of rain--to the planet, to the people, you name it. The other bump was that did you know that in middle school they serve pizza Every Day? Leo was confused on a Tuesday when he did not get pizza (because in fifth grade, pizza day was Friday). Sheesh, life is always throwing curve balls, isn't it? Next week he starts some extracurricular activities which I'm excited about (and so is he!): Art Club and Science Club. On the horizon is try-outs for the basketball team (gulp!).


Behold, third grade and Last Year of Preschool x 2

No big news on third grade (fine by me!). Ellie likes her teacher and is happy that one of her good friends is in her class (again). She's started soccer and is enjoying it and Girl Scouts (Brownies) starts again in a few weeks.

Lucy is excited to be in the "Big Kid" class in preschool. She has the teacher Ellie had her last year of Pre-K, which is fun and familiar. After a few relatively smooth months (it's all relative, not sure if smooth is the best word) Lucy seems to be entering another tricky phase. It seemed to kick off with the transition to big kid beds. Maybe it's too much change at once. I could just really do without the tantrums about television and the running away from me in the parking lot. And the driveway. This too shall pass, I know. The thing is, she can be SO SWEET. And mature! And sensitive. When Erin had some oral surgery recently, she came over to her and crawled into her lap and said, "Mama? Does your mouth hurt? I'll be extra sweet to you."

On the first chilly morning of fall I dug out my old beloved khaki trench coat which she complimented me on, calling it my "fancy" coat. When Harry is running around the bedroom without pants on at bedtime and she's quietly brushing her teeth with her legs folded crisscross applesauce, she asks me, "Mommy? Am I being a very good girl?" Jekyll. And. Hyde.


And just like that, we said goodbye to cribs (I know, four is old to be in a crib but if you have twins, you get it). Do not, I repeat DO NOT be fooled by their apparent calm. Cribs for everyone!


I was admiring Harry's Transformer "dollhouse" and "family." "It's NOT a dollhouse family," he replied, incredulous. "It's an ARMY!"

After a month with Lucy at her school, Harry was a little unhappy about having to go back to his other school (where he continues to get the speech therapy that he's happily growing out of the need for but I'm not arguing with free preschool!). His disappointment passed quickly--he now seems to really enjoy where he is--all last year he would ask in the morning, "Is it a school day?" And when he found out it was, his face would fall a little. But now, he has a little spring in his step in the morning and bounds off the bus in the late morning, talking about a handful of little boys he played Transformers with or a book they got to read in library.

And then there's me. Four years in and I'm STILL not accustomed to the chaos of having twins. One four year old is one thing. Two? Right now what I'm struggling most with is listening. As in, they don't listen to me. Or at least, not as much as I need them to.

I am a person who likes order. Routine. And did I mention quiet? OK, I have mostly accepted the fact that our house is the opposite of quiet, but that doesn't mean I don't find it all too much to take sometimes. It seems like for the most part, ever since we converted the cribs to toddler beds, bedtime, or more like, around 4pm every day, evolves into something out of an episode of "Super Nanny, "but BEFORE Super Nanny swoops in and makes everything OK. It just feels completely out of control. Jumping off beds. Ignoring simple, completely reasonable requests like, "Can you please go to the bathroom and put your pajamas on?"

We're trying a few things that are hopefully helping (awarding "coins" for good behavior that they collect to earn a small prize at the end of the week). I HATE material bribes but you do what you gotta do right? I'm also hoping that maybe the novelty of being "free reign" at bedtime will wear off soon.

And you know, there's the flipside of course. These two incredibly frustrating, challenging, adorable, interesting, smart hilarious people. Just as I did the day they were born, I still marvel at them. TWO of them.


To quote Harry, who said, right as I was taking this picture: "There are too many people in this pool!"





Well, four of them.

This too shall pass, and all that jazz.

The Kickoff to the Lead Up: Or, Hello Candy Corn

It's officially my favorite time of year. Not only because the weather is fantastic, glorious and inspiring (oh, hi there, golden and ruby red leaves dancing against a stunning backdrop of crystal clear, cornflower blue sky,) but because it's the kickoff to the lead up to the Holiday Seasons (HalloweenThanksgivingChristmasHanukkah).

Plus? ALL the children are in school. For at least a few hours a day (more on that in a minute).

***

For some reason this year I got the urge to cook for Rosh Hashana (I can't remember the last time I did this and I've never done it with/for the kids).



I dug out my mom's old kugel recipe (see above) knowing full well I'd be the only one to eat it. Harry and Leo did take a few bites before pronouncing it "Yucky."


Oh well, their loss.

One item I know would be a hit was the challah, which I'd planned to pick up the day before Rosh Hashana at a nearby bakery. Of course, even though this errand was at the top of my to do list, I forgot, thus necessitating I take all four children out in the rain on Rosh Hashana morning to another nearby bakery that was open.


The shlep was worth it for this beautiful baby, which ended up being the main course for most of the diners (along with apples and honey and the dessert):


The "traditional" Rosh Hashana yellow sheet cake with vanilla buttercream frosting and sprinkles. Because even though I attempted to get them to try the kugel I knew full well NO ONE would eat honey cake. Does anyone like honey cake?

Ellie (who appears to have inherited the family holiday celebration gene) dove headfirst into the Rosh Hashana festivities. While she dipped Gala apples into a ramekin of honey, she wanted to know if we could make Rosh Hashana decorations, and announced that she "loved Rosh Hashana." You really do have to love the enthusiasm of a seven year old.


Speaking of enthusiasm, how about this for an outfit? Puppy dog fleece, Eiffel Tower capris and (not seen) a Hello Kitty tunic. Oh, to be three.




The month of September marked Lucy's first month of preschool and last month of part-time preschool. Oh she's still only going half days but she's now going FIVE days a week (up from three). It became pretty clear when, upon asking if she had school on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and she burst into tears, wailing Yes I AM! that the girl was ready to be in school every day. I was equally ready.

Here's an example of a recent conversation with the ever-ebullient Lucy. It was Monday morning at the breakfast table and she was talking about the upcoming Halloween party (which she was convinced was taking place that afternoon).

Lucy: And later I have a Halloween party!
Ellie: No you don't. Halloween isn't until the end of the month.
Erin: Oh Ellie, why are you trying to ruin her day?
Lucy: Yeah! I LOVE my day!


We had a few, last "just Mommy and Lucy mornings."



On the weekends she asks what time school is and will often insist on eating her lunch from out of her lunch box. Safe to say, she's enjoying her academic life. And for those wondering about her behavior? She is carrying on the family tradition of being a Completely Different Kid at school (read: well behaved). So there you go.

***

Decorating season is in full swing.


And by Decorating I don't just mean interiors. Why should the festivities be limited to the house? (And yes, those are my knee socks thankyouverymuch).



Ellie took it upon herself to start the fall art/craft projects though I'm pretty sure it was just an excuse to get out the candy corn.


Speaking of candy corn, I finally fulfilled a lifetime dream of completing a candy corn wreath (seen above and of course, at the beginning of this post because really, you just can't have too much candy corn wreath). I have to also say that this was completed with lots of instruction and moral support from the fabulous Amy.

I usually wait until at least October to haul out the Halloween decor but Ms. Holiday (Ellie) begged me to "bring out just a couple things" last weekend, so out came the Rubbermaid containers, along with the rest of the Halloween paraphernalia.



"Is this ALL we have?" asked a non-plussed Ellie, registering her deep dissatisfaction in the volume of Halloween trinkets in our possession (there's plenty more than what you see above, trust me). Seriously this girl's middle name is More Is More. So we might have to make a pit stop at the local Goodwill (my secret weapon for holiday decorating) this weekend. And we may also need to pick up a few more bags of candy corn.

3

NOTE: Once upon a time I did birthday posts for each kid. I know it's pretty much only grandparents, some family members and the other three or four readers kicking around the cobwebs and tumbleweed here lately, but for posterity's sake, I like the "keepsake" quality of these little birthday posts. So I'll try to keep them up as best I can. I know that the "multiples" police would be on me about making this a single post. They should each have their own. Well, I'm the Mommy and I'm going to make the rules and for now, at age three they get a package post. Also, we won't talk about the fact that this one is sixty four days late. So in order of appearance, the first birthday of this year was Harry and Lucy's, in June.

I don't think I can find the words to convey how quickly the last three years of my life have gone by. Oh sure, the every-two-hours-tandem-breastfeeding-in-the-middle-of-the-night sure didn't fly, and neither did those dual scream fests when both Harry and Lucy had ear infections. In a hotel room. In the middle of a freak October snowstorm.

This Too Shall Pass.


June, 2011. One day old.

And did it ever.


June, 2014

It will get easier.

It will get fun.

They'll stop being two babies and they'll start being two little people!




That's what everyone told me, from the pediatrician, to the seasoned veteran moms of multiples that chatted up me and my giant double newborn stroller, everywhere we went.

 And you know something? They were right.

Anyone who's read this blog with any frequency will know that I haven't exactly kept it a secret: Newsflash: Having two babies isn't easy! But I've tried really hard to not wish Harry and Lucy's baby days away, to not pine too much for the times when they will be older and it will be "easier."



Because as cliche as it is, it's true. One day you turn around and your newborns are three year olds. (Yes, yes, I know, before I realize it they'll be slamming doors in my face before heading off to college--let's not get ahead of ourselves).





At age three, Harry is rough and tumble and cuddly at the same time. He'll run straight at you with his hard little light brown head and throw his arms around your legs. Then he'll look up and say, "You like that Mommy?" 

It seems like he can play for an hour by himself with the Holy Grail--the "Big Boy" Legos in Leo's room (shhh, don't tell Leo).



His language continues to explode. It's been such a joy to get to know him better and find out what he's thinking about and what's going on in that little brown head of his, these past few months. Preschool, which he started in June, has been wonderful, cracking his little world and mind, wide open. This summer he's marched off the school bus singing nursery rhymes that I didn't even know he knew. He's showing an interest in Broadway show tunes (Ellie got him hooked on "Annie"), could a mother be more proud?



He loves to make silly faces and takes great pleasure in making you laugh.



Harry is both strong and sensitive. The other night before bedtime, during what's become a nightly jumping fest (don't ask, let's just say I'm amazed the cribs are still standing), Harry bumped his elbow pretty hard on the side of his crib. A look of pain washed over his face and I asked him if he was ok.
"The crib hurt my feelings," he said.


First day of preschool, June, 2014.

At age three Harry loves:
-Trader Joe's dried (dehydrated) strawberries and strawberry bars (but not ACTUAL strawberries).
-Anything Batman.
-Legos.
-Legos.
-Legos.



At age three, Lucy continues to be a force. Her loquaciousness both impresses me and exhausts me. With the others in summer school and camp, I have spent quite a bit of time with just Lucy these last few months, which has been both a gift and a challenge.




The Queen oversees the opening of birthday gifts from Grandma Jerry.



I seem to recall having similar feelings about Ellie at age three. I was confounded by her witticisms and adorableness, yet often flattened by her ability to be so frequently downright unreasonable. Here's a perfect example of Lucy at age three:

"MOMMY!! Look at me! I'm going potty!"

[I look at her and even add in some positive reinforcement: "Great job, Lucy! Great pottying!"]

"MOMMY!! Stop looking at me! Leave me alone!"


This is what happens almost any time we try to take Lucy anywhere, outside of the house, for more than thirty minutes (photo taken at the Intrepid Museum in New York City).

To be fair, Lucy is also one of the funniest, silliest, most cheerful people I've ever met (cheerful as long as she is getting exactly what she wants, that is). She just has this, how shall I put it? Very demanding tone. And she likes to do things her way. Erin says she has NO idea where she gets this from (OK, I might be a tad bit of a control freak). Or maybe it's more like a shriek? I think school is going to help Lucy, a lot. I think she's bored. I mean, I try to do things to keep her stimulated and entertained. But I can only do so much. She's just, a force, who needs constant...something.


I had to document these pigtails AND this bow since she lets me "do" her hair about every six months. Also, why don't my curls look this good in the New Jersey humidity?

Lucy likes to know the name of every person and object she meets and sees. When we are out and about or reading a book she'll see a person (the checker at the grocery, a character in an illustration) and ask, "What's he name? What he name is?" The questions come rapid fire--sometimes I don't even have time to answer before she's moved on to the next one. I've even started making up names for inanimate objects since she doesn't like what I call things. (For instance, if I say it's a "piano" she'll say, "No it's not!" So I'll say, "It's Penelope Piano!" And that makes her happy. It's like she's so social and loves people so much that she thinks everyone should have a name.


Speaking of books, this is the work of Lucy. Destroying property to this extent? I have to say this was a parenting first, for me. Oh and of course she blamed Harry. (To be fair I'm sure Harry contributed to this project (based on the placement of the pages) but I am pretty sure Lucy was the instigator).


See? HAPPY. This was Ellie's last day of school. When I was snapping a shot of Ellie's last day of first grade, Lucy was right there and refused to be outdone by her big sister, demanding: "Take MY picture Mommy!" 

At age three Lucy likes:
-Anything My Little Pony
-Fairies
-Dressing up
-Chocolate (she got Ellie's sweet tooth, that is for sure).

To quote that old post of mine from when Ellie was three, 'I love three. I hate three.'





She is his "Loo-swee," he is her "How-rie."

They are hilarious, mischievous, clever, maddening, fascinating, frustrating, boisterous, impossible little balls of fun and love. They exhaust me and bring me and the whole family endless amounts of joy.

Happy birthday, dear Harry and Lucy!

Birthdaypalooza and Summer Status

Summer is birthday season around here.

And just like that:


Three.


Seven.


Ten.

Clearly there has been some mix-up because, I have twin toddlers, not preschoolers. And there's just no way I'm old enough to have a TEN YEAR OLD. I mean, really.


They play nicely like this ALL the time, I assure you.

It's amazing that summer is more than half over. In fact, I think school starts a week from tomorrow. Crazy.

Leo and Harry finished up their stints at summer school. Ellie has been enjoying various camps (town camp, gymnastics and to come are science and art). Leo started at his amazing camp last week and comes home every night flushed, smiling and exhausted, so clearly that camp is doing something right. This week Lucy finally gets her turn as she embarks on a mini ballet camp (a whole two hours a day). Speaking of Lucy's camp, you know you've had a couple of kids when, upon emailing your three year old's camp to find out if the TWO HOUR program is drop off and they reply: "If you'd be more comfortable staying that's fine but it is drop-off," your reaction is all YIPPEE!! See you in two hours, Cutie! 

Last Days Before Pre-K: Harry Edition

In a little over a month, I will do something I have never done before. I will spend my mornings with ONE three year old. (Hi, Lucy!).

Harry is starting preschool. That's right, cue the strings to "Sunrise, Sunset."


Taking pictures of my sleeping "babies." It just never gets old. But they do. SOB!

I won't bore you with the long drawn out story of why Harry is starting school this summer and Lucy is starting this fall. The short version is Harry will be going to a program through our town's school district geared toward encouraging language and speech articulation and it starts in June (as part of the academic year's "extended year program.") Ironically, his language has been exploding lately--I timed that well as it seemed to take off right after his evaluation--but the added stimulation of an early preschool program (bonus: separate from Lucy) will be amazing for him, I think.

The plan had always been to put Harry and Lucy into preschool in June but then I went and got laid off and, well, life happened. The urgency to get Lucy into school wasn't there anymore since I would be home to do things with her (Costco and Target=Super Education-ha ha-oops I mean, library toddler story time! And nature walks! And finger painting!). Plus, the big kids will be around some this summer and nobody but nobody knows how to play with and entertain Lucy better than Ellie, the World's Best Preschooler Wrangler. And, I'll admit it. I don't feel rushed about preschool. I'm suddenly getting nostalgic (shocking, I realize). About my almost-three-year olds. I KNOW.

I've spent the last almost four months plotting ways to get three, seven, nine minutes to myself and suddenly, the moment is upon me. The enormity of the fact that in a little over three months, for a few hours a day, ALL THE CHILDREN WILL BE IN SCHOOL.

It's the whole, be careful what you wish for phenomenon. Don't get me wrong. I have plenty to do. Namely, work! I am for now (knock on wood) working nicely and steadily from home these days.




It's barely three hours a day. But I'm going to miss my little Batman (he zooms around the house now and proclaims himself so). And I'm reminded of that strange transition and adjustment that occurs when your little one suddenly develops a life away from you. It happened early on with Leo and Ellie because I spent so much time away from home, working. But this time, it's different. And with two at the same time? It's really different.



Speaking of time: Harry and Lucy turn three on Sunday. THREE! Wasn't I just hugely pregnant? And then wasn't I just strapped to the loveseat breastfeeding two! babies! six hours a day?





And away, they go.

No Glasses and Non-Stop Lucy

Oh it's been the usual flurry of activity around here.


First Scrabble game with my daughter. I have dreamed about this day.

Did I tell you we got a composter?

We got a composter. I am a crazy composter now. Did you know you can compost match sticks? Human hair? String? Well now you do. It feeds the crazy animal in me that hates wasting anything. I swear in my former life I must have been a child of the depression (right now Erin is reading this and thinking about the fact that I have been known to save and freeze a single strawberry--for smoothies).

The big kids and I enjoyed a rare outing of just the three of us last week, as we concluded spring break (which must be the biggest misnomer in the history of ever). We explored a new playground and can I just say that taking two big kids to the park is my new version of a spa day? So relaxing (comparatively speaking).

I also got a sitter this week so I could take Leo to the opthomologist (no glasses needed--I'm a little surprised but relieved). Leo, on the other hand was bummed, and so disappointed he actually followed the doctor into his office asking, "Where are my glasses?" (Peter Parker wears glasses, you know). In spite of the crushing news that he did not need his vision corrected, Leo was his usual amazing self at the doctor (not even fussing when his eyes were dilated). When I returned home one baby was napping peacefully (cough, cough, Harry).

One, was not.

Why nap when you can eat Mommy's takeout lunch treat (thank you, Chipotle gift card). And she didn't even know she liked guacamole.

Lucy. Oh, Lucy. At some point you will read this and please know that I say this with all the love in my heart that when I put my head on my pillow at night, it's the not the waves I hear crashing (like after a day spent at the ocean)--it's the sound of your voice. The screeching, the squealing, the whining, and of course, yes, the laughter. It's you, with your unabashed loquaciousness, your 110 miles an hour way of being, it's your has-to-do-things-your-way-OR ELSE. It is your Force of Nature self, (yes, in all of its cliche glory, it fits you to a Capital T.)

But of course there is the flip side.

I was SHOCKED that she sat for a full dental cleaning last week.

She can also be incredibly agreeable and helpful. She looooves to help. "You got it!" is her response to almost every chore type of request (she loves to retrieve the broom from the mudroom, for example, or clear her dishes from the table). Recently I asked Ellie to get me the iPad from upstairs and a few minutes later, down padded Lucy, "Here you go Mommy!" she said, her face, beaming with pride. There was Ellie, a few feet away looking sheepish: "Well, she's very responsible!" she offered.

The hours between 6pm-6:30pm continue to be the most trying (dinner is over, babies are winding down by winding up, or so it seems).

Good thing I employ one of the best toddler yoga teachers around.

Bedtime does of course eventually come. Listening to Harry and Lucy chat in their cribs, as Lucy asks Harry "How old are you going to be on your birthday, Harry?" (We've been practicing this question with them for the upcoming big day). He replies, "Fwee!" And then she counts, "One, three, seben, nine, eleven, TWENTY!" 

And just like that, all the screeching and whining falls away. 

 

Thursday's List: Super Heroes, Captured Souls, the Energizer Bunny and Eiffel Tower(s) in New Jersey

1. Art and Photography:


Leo recently completed his best to date (in my humble opinion) family portrait. (Left to right): Mommy (Wonder Woman), Leo (Spider Man-OF COURSE), Lucy (Super Man), Harry (Bat Man), Ellie (The Flash Girl), Mama (Green Lantern) and flying high above is of course our dear, sweet, beloved Ruby the Super Dog.


Meanwhile Lucy mastered her very first face.

Ellie's first grade "spring portraits" came home. I never order these and consider them to be somewhat of a scam-- (I'm a traditionalist and normally just do fall).

But then then they had to go and CAPTURE HER SOUL. I mean, really.

2. Food:

The Nutella obsession continues. Every day, post-nap.

Is there anything better than Nutella? Well. No. And by the way, we are now the family that goes through three to four loaves of bread. A week. (Did I mention I finally realized in the midst of last Friday night's "pizza night" that we have officially graduated to needing two pizzas? Thanks Lucy who eats just the cheese off of three slices).

Speaking of Lucy and food, she and Harry have switched places when it comes to their eating habits. He used to be the "easy" voracious one, willing to try anything (Seasoned tofu! Dried seaweed!) and almost always cleaned his plate and asked for more. Now he pushes many of his former favorites away. You know what else is fun? Aside from macaroni and cheese, neither of them like to eat the same thing. Wait. Do Goldfish count?

This morning Lucy ate three pieces of toast and asked for more. Growth spurt? Perhaps. I mentioned this and Ellie piped up, "Maybe she's getting ready to hibernate! That would be relaxing for you, Mommy!"

3. Lucy:


Hello my name is Unadulterated Joy!

It's such a cliche but I have to use it. Lucy is the Energizer Bunny. She makes her presence known at all times, from the moment she awakes at 6:15, softly singing "Let It Go," (it quickly builds to an urgent, pressing crescendo of "MOMMYMOMMYGETMEOUTMOMMYMOMMY!"). Much of the time she is full volume, going 110 miles per hour while the rest of us are strolling along around at 25 (or if you're Harry it's closer to 15). She is insistent, demanding, unreasonably verbal and often hilarious. She does almost everything with a smile on her face, including pouring a cup of water on the floor or taking her pajamas off right before bedtime, making it difficult to get too angry with her, even if her behavior is ridiculous.



 The other day I overhead Harry and her playing together. She'd injured some body part and began pleading with Harry to "KISS IT! KISS IT! KISS IT!" That's when Harry piped up with "Relax."

I don't think any conversation in the history of conversations has better summarized the personality of two little people.

And yes, I MIGHT tell Lucy to Relax! oh, about 97 times a day.


I read something recently that said that said when you start to lose patience with your mind-numbingly impossible almost three year old (OK those were my words), you should look at their tiny feet, as a reminder that they aren't this small for very long. In short: Yes, I lose my patience every once in a while  And yes, I'm an incredible sap.

4. Harry:

Harry's speech continues to explode. He's starting to have little conversations (with himself and others) and it's SO nice that he's finally able to TELL us what he wants and needs and likes (no surprise there: Super Man, dump trucks, garbage trucks, police cars...) He repeats everything (See: "Relax!" and has picked up some adorable little expressions like "That was a close one!"



Harry and Lucy now mostly have free reign of the house. I've pretty much given up on keeping the upstairs gate closed because it never fails that right when I'm in the middle of making scrambled eggs, Harry decides he HAS TO HAVE HIS RACECAR, the one that's in his crib. Oh sure I could send a big kid up to open the gate but it's much easier to let them go up and down as they please. The same now goes for the basement playroom which is VERY EXCITING. Things can get a little too rambunctious sometimes when all four of them are down there but often during the day I send just the twins down while I make lunch or prep dinner. Invariably Lucy spends more time marching up and down the stairs to "Show me something" (Can you say Social Creature) but they still enjoy a bit of independence. As do I.


They love to "hide" in our bed. Or Ellie's. Or Leo's. And pretend to be "sleeping." Trust me they are SO not sleeping.

5. When the Past and the Present Come Crashing Together in a Beautiful and Heartbreaking Way:
A few days ago I drove into the city with the twins and as we sped along the New Jersey turnpike Harry kept pointing out the "Eiffel Tower" (also known as cell phone towers and verrrry tall utility-type towers? I guess?).  Poor kid. (By the way, he knows about the Eiffel Tower from books, "101 Dalmations" and a small Eiffel Tower pendant that I wear on a chain around my neck-he's not that well traveled yet).

Today on our way downstairs from nap, a photograph caught Harry's eye, it was one of my mom and me, almost fifteen years ago, standing in front of, yes, the Eiffel Tower. He'd never noticed it before but was immediately ecstatic and repeated "Eiffel Tower! Eiffel Tower!" over and over again. That's when I crouched down and pointed at my mom and said, "That's Grandma Eleanor. And that's Mommy." Again, Harry repeated. Lucy, standing just a step below Harry on the stairs, looked on with equal interest.


My mom and me, 1999. 

And then just like that the moment passed. Lucy took Harry's hand and said, "Come on Harry, I'll help you go downstairs." They proceeded to scoot down on their tushes as they are apt to do. But this time they were holding hands. Holding. Hands. "Here Harry, I'll help you," Lucy said.

And as I looked down at the backs of those two little heads, Lucy's a wild mess of untamed blonde curls and Harry's, a ruffled, chocolatey brown and growing out little boy haircut, that's when, just for a brief few seconds I felt so overcome with grief that it almost took my breathe away. I was once again reminded: She's missing this.

And then we had to get sweatshirts and shoes and a race car to hold and just the right My Little Pony to carry. It was time to pick Ellie up from school.

February Notes (So Far)

Yes, Harry. That's a lot of freaking snow.



Ellie, on Harry: "Mommy, I don't want Harry to grow up. He's too cute."

She may be a bit biased.


And Harry may have a slightly unorthodox approach to watercolors. Ahem.

It's been snow day, school day, snow day around here lately.

The kids even had school on President's Day, which is usually a school holiday. But we are evidently way out of snow days.


Somewhere in there, is our driveway.

But March is on the horizon and with it, spring will come. Or so I've heard.


Two weeks ago, I swear we woke up in Colorado.


Watching big sister build a snow man.


It is pretty.


"Mommy! I like eating!" Lucy announced the other day. I have NO idea where she gets that from.


Leo came home from school last week with music homework. He had to sing several verses from blues songs. He decided to illustrate his favorite (see above). Naturally it was "Hound Dog."


Ellie has introduced Lucy to the art of dress-up. These girls can entertain each other for a long while. Not going to lie. It's pretty awesome. And based on the garb and styling of these two, it probably comes as no surprise that the other day as Lucy (and Harry) and I strolled the aisles of our local Target, Lucy leaned over to me and said "Mommy, let's buy something fabulous!"

Never Alone and Who's Going to the Sing-A-Long?

I had a rare day at home with "just" the twins this week.


Hey Harry. Whatcha doin? Yougonnaeatthis?


FORTHELOVEOFALLTHATISGOODWOMAN,LEAVEMEALONE.

I mean, I can only imagine that's what Harry might be saying.

Lucy woke up from her nap before Harry (which is why he's eating his lunch in these pictures and she's already finished), so we had a rare thirty minutes just to ourselves.

Lucy spent most of that time walking around the house asking "Where's Harry?" and "Is it time to go pick up Ellie?"

She asked about Ellie all day long actually.

"Where's Ellie? I want Ellie."

These two. Oh my.


"Mommy! Look at us!" they called to me, from the living room. (Ellie took her shirt off. So Lucy did. Because, of course.)

At this moment, in these days, Ellie can do no wrong in Lucy's eyes.

"Where's Ellie? What's Ellie doing? I want to go see Ellie."

I look at them playing Barbie Fairies or dress up, I watch as Ellie gives Lucy "pony rides" around the kitchen table, knocking into the back of my legs as I slice carrots for dinner. Two little girls. In my house. And I still can't quite believe it, that I get to witness this all as it unfolds.

Ellie is phenomenally, unshakably patient with the twins but it's Lucy who tries her the most (wrinkling Ellie's drawings just as she completes them, overturning her perfectly placed tea set. And yet. Ellie is unflappably calm with both of them. They destroy, she shrugs and laughs: "Oh Lucy!"

These days Ellie is a key player in bedtime for the twins. They wait for her to "tuck them in."
"Ellie! Come give me a kiss," Lucy calls, as Ellie climbs the stairs.

Some of Ellie's techniques are more effective than others: "If you don't lie down I'm telling Mama, Grandma and everyone I know!"

I think that I spent my whole early childhood pining for a sister, wondering what that relationship would be like, that constant companion, the never ending play date (not that that word existed in 1978). Of course I completely idealized it--there was never any grief about sharing or resentment about who got more attention. It was just, fun. All fun, all the time. Because I knew with a sister I would never be lonely.

Sisters or brothers, you can certainly say that much about our house. No one is EVER Lonely.

***

We were brave and left the house with all four kids last weekend. We even went really nuts and took them to a restaurant, of all places! I know!

The food seemed to take forever.

So we passed the time making silly hats. Butter packages and mini creamers, of course.



Classy. That's us.



Luckily the hot chocolate (and my coffee) hit the table right away. Lucy has a newfound love for hot chocolate (and by hot chocolate I mean barely warmed chocolate milk topped with whipped cream).



I think it's fair to say she approves.



I like to call this look "Cocoa Drunk."

***

It's finally here!



I'd like to take the big kids this weekend. I mean, they can't stop talking about it. They won't leave me alone, it's just "When the Sing-A-Long Frozen, Mom?" All. The. Time. In reality they have no idea it's happening and it's really me that wants to sing all the songs from "Frozen" in a darkened theater, resting only to put away a large tub of popcorn with extra butter.

OK so I might be more excited than they are.


We showed Harry and Lucy some clips from "Frozen" last weekend and Lucy was completely riveted. Part of me thinks she might actually enjoy the sing-a-long version but another part of me is also afraid that she of the Many Opinions will not appreciate all the singing and will, in true Lucy "I'm The Boss Style" order the audience to "STOP SINGING!"

I've long been plotting to get the kids the "Frozen" plush dolls (damn you Disney store for being so close to my office and directly in my path every single day). Leo and Ellie were easy: they are both smitten with Elsa (did I tell you that Leo has decided he wants to be her when he grows up?). Lucy likes Anna. When I asked Harry who he liked, Anna or Elsa?


He answered, "Olaf."

I swear that Olaf is totally for Harry. Completely.

Stop It. And Some Wonderful Things (After Some Not So Wonderful).

An assortment, from years gone by. It doesn't get much better than that feather turkey wreath from Leo's (I think) first grade.


This weekend, down came the Halloween decor and up went theThanksgiving paraphernalia.

Then Amy pointed out to me that if it was time to decorate for Thanksgiving, then it was also time to acknowledge Hanukkah (which, for the first time in our lifetime happens to fall on the same day).

Hannuskiving?

Thanksgivingmacka?

I don't know what to call it or what to say except Stop This Year. Just Stop It. You are going by too fast. And Stop My Favorite Season From Rolling By.

I know that time is one of the most boring subjects but it's all so true, every single word of what "they" say about it. This is all just whizzing right by. This weekend I sat in the backyard with the twins while they burned off some late afternoon/time change crabbiness and we watched the planes fly overhead from the Newark airport. Harry flapped his little arms and ran around the driveway like a miniature 747, because really there is nothing more interesting than watching the planes fly overhead and then pretending to be a plane. These little people. Two years ago they were sitting on the deck strapped in infant seats and buried in little winter suits. And now?

Now I manage to get Harry to sleep a full hour later than Lucy (Hello, 5:15 a.m. on time change Sunday!). Lucy and I have a rare hour to ourselves as the house remains quiet with everyone else still asleep. And when I hear Harry stirring, go upstairs to get him and present him to Lucy, Look who I found! I joke to Lucy, who is drinking her morning milk and grazing on cheerios and pumpkin bread.

Oh thank you! I like Harry! Hi Harry! Lucy says, her face, an explosion of happiness and glee.

Of course, the irony is not lost on me that "Stop It" is also a phrase that has been coming out of my mouth quite a lot these days (and yes, it's pretty much always directed at the twins). Stop It! Stop stealing Harry's toys! Stop it! Stop screaming! Stop it! Stop throwing open the refrigerator doors and stealing apples and packages of string cheese and then running, celebratory through the house (Yes, this is my life).


I found this oldie but goodie this weekend. From last year: "A Turkey, in the Rain," by Leo.

***

A few weeks ago Leo had to get a tooth pulled. It was his first time (thank goodness!) and it was also a baby tooth (another thank goodness!). It was just a rotten little tooth that the dentist said hadn't been worth filling but it was finally in bad enough shape to pull. We all know Leo has finally overcome his dental issues, which is why it was perhaps even more traumatic to have to hold him down while he had that little tooth pulled (a parenting first that I hope to never repeat).

Oh he was medicated and numbed and even nitroused up. But he saw the tools and even without pain, I guess there is no mistaking the "force" of having a tooth extracted. Bless our dear Dr. F who was cool as a cucumber as he had to do some serious acrobatics during the procedure, practically turning himself upside to accomplish the task. But he could not have been more patient with Leo (or me). Did I mention his daughter has Down syndrome? He gets it.

And when it was all over, I felt teary, for Leo and for the fact that we are so fortunate to have some wonderful people in our little village, including our dentist.

As he always does, Leo recovered very quickly. There were no hard feelings toward Dr. F, only fist bumps and high fives. A hug may have been attempted too.


After the trauma (for both of us), I did what any guilt-ridden mother would do. I took Leo out for the biggest donut I could find.* And I bought myself the largest pumpkin flavored coffee available (I also may or may not have quickly eaten ten pumpkin Munchkins in the car).

I ran into Dr. F at Ellie's school Halloween parade (his kids go to the same school). There he was, in his Stay Puft Marshmallow Man costume. It was two weeks after the tooth pulling ordeal but all he could ask me was "How's Leo?"

It doesn't get much better than that.

*Don't worry. Leo brushed his teeth when we got home. :)

Brunch and the Loudest, Littlest One

We took the kids into the city to meet some friends for brunch this weekend. It's been a few months since we've done this and every time we go, it gets a little easier. And of course, a little more ridiculous.

Here's Lucy giving her famous "thumbs up." She particularly enjoyed the house-made vanilla ice cream. She particularly did not enjoy staying in her high chair.

Serious vanilla ice cream FOCUS.



Speaking of Lucy. Oh, Lucy. She is exploding into quite the little character. Such a Big Personality in such a small little person. She talks non-stop. About anything and everything. And she is insistent. When she is ready to get down from her high chair: "I want down Mommy, I want down Mommy, I'm done Mommy, I'm all done Mommy, I'm done, I want to get down now Mommy"--all in a span of about 3.9 seconds.  She does not quit.

She's shockingly observant. The other day I was cleaning up after the seventeenth meal of the day and I muttered something about needing to sweep the kitchen floors. A minute later, who skips into the kitchen but a gleeful Lucy, dragging the broom and dust pan: "Here you go Mommy!"  Oh, she was proud. If she wasn't so incredibly HAPPY about everything, it might be more frustrating. But she just bounds through her little life with so much exuberance, that the mind numbing repetition is excused (it also helps to remember that she's, you know, two).

Before we left for brunch on Sunday morning, I stuffed a few trains and cars in my purse for Harry to play with during the meal and reached for something to occupy Lucy-realizing Lucy doesn't play with toys as much as she plays with other people. She is by far the most social creature I know.

She and Harry do play together more and more. As Harry's language is beginning to take off, I see little conversations between them. But she still, shall we say, dominates her big brother. One of her favorite games? Screaming as loud as she can, which almost always makes Harry cry. She does it during meals. She does it in the car. She does it in the wee hours of the morning as I race to get dressed before freeing them from their room. Yeah. The screaming has become a little bit of a problem. The other day in the car, Lucy actually made Leo cry. That's how loud and insistent she can be. She roars, really.

However. She is also unbelievably empathetic. She's the first to rush to your side if you bump your knee or fall off your bike. At night when we read books before bed and she folded up in my lap on the green shag carpet in the twins' room, she surveys my hands for scratches. "You OK, Mommy? You have a boo-boo?" And then she kisses my hand, squeezes it and tucks it under her tiny chin.

That is, when she deigns to call me Mommy. Somehow she got wind of my first name and, well, let's just say she's not afraid to use it.


Please pay no mind to the cameos by Spider-Man and the (almost always) topless six year old.


Don't be fooled by that innocent look.

In Our Own Backyard

A few weeks ago when the kids and I were home enjoying our little end of summer togetherness, we took a walk over to a new park near our house.

If you look closely, you'll see a rainbow in the fountain in this shot. That pretty much blew Leo and Ellie's minds. That was a good ten minute conversation right there.

For years, this waterfront area--which is also a reservoir--lay dormant and inaccessible (with barbed wire and angry "Keep Out" signs). I always thought it was such a wasted space and would make such a perfect walkway or park or something. Well, developers must have heard my complaining because this summer, they finally turned this little corner of New Jersey into a perfectly lovely little oasis complete with a delightful walkway/path, park and paddle boats.

It reminded me a little of some parks of my youth: Laurelhurst, the Rhododendron Gardens.


It may not shock you to learn that in spite of my spirited sense of adventure, I did not brave paddle boats with four small children by myself. Of course Ellie was quite disappointed and couldn't figure out why we couldn't take a spin (check out the sweet swan boats!).

 It was hot. Leo, in spite of the smoothie we picked up on the way to the park, was thirsty and tired. In fact, after our walk along the water, he sat down right by the boat dock for a rest. But I have to give him credit. He was a trooper. I know he tends to tire easily and he walked the whole way (round trip was over a mile I'd bet) without too much grumbling.



We didn't stay too long at the park once we'd completed the walk along the water. Lucy started to get restless. I've taken to calling her Defcon Seven (not to her face of course). Because when she needs something? She needs it RIGHT NOW! And she repeats herself. Over and over and over: MOMMY! I want out of the stroller! I want out of the stroller Mommy! Mommy I want out of the stroller! It may not shock you to learn that she's growing more and more anti-stroller by the day, but still can't be trusted near large bodies of water. But I see many more outings in the future at this glorious park, which will be even more fun when we're out of the Two Toddlers Running In Opposite Directions Stage of Life that we're currently in.

Another Reason Big Brothers Rule

Because you're never too little


To learn


To sling webs.*

(With thanks to big brother Leo ("I'm not Leo! I'm Peter Parker!") for teaching Lucy to be an excellent web slinger at such a young age).

*You can see that Harry is terrified. Ha.

Remind Me Not to Take These Twins Out of State Again Until They're Four: Trip to Mystic, 2013

Oh, I kid. We all had a good time.


There may have been one small girl who spent much of the time a bit cranky.


Have I mentioned Lucy turned two? And now officially hates strollers and holding your hand when walking?


It's taken me a while to figure this out, but I've come to realize that when you have four kids, the odds that someone is going to be irritated about something or unhappy with a situation is almost inevitable. Of course when they're all happy At Once I feel especially proud and revelatory. And it does happen. At least, so I'm told.


See? Totally recovered.




Truthfully, our annual trip to Mystic, Connecticut was just fine. Fun, even! When we weren't fighting with Lucy to sit in the stroller or hold a hand when walking. And in spite of the Miniature-Time-Bombs-Off-Their-Nap-Schedule-Known-As-Two-Year-Old-Twins, we partook in the usual things we love about Mystic: boat climbing, beluga watching, lobster roll eating and hotel pool swimming. (Please note: I am choosing not to disclose what happened on Thursday, between the hours of midnight and 2 a.m. Let's just leave it at, I now know what it's like for someone to sleep with their body draped across your throat. And yes, I'm looking at  you, Lucy).




She's momentarily in control so of course, she's thrilled.


As the big kids like to say, Harry "blew his mind" looking at all the boats at the Mystic Seaport (although I think in this picture he was actually taken by the sound of a passing truck-that boy is in loooove with all things vehicle and mechanical).


What happens when Lucy is contained in the medieval torture device stroller. She kicks. Me. A lot.

This year we were lucky enough to have extended family along to join us: Grandma Jerry and niece/cousin Brandy.

I hope we didn't embarrass them too much.

After a long day of wrangling uncooperative toddlers exploring seaports and children's museums and aquariums and waterfronts, I can think of only one thing: All hail the intoxicating benefits of the hotel room television and Disney Jr. Room-service wine is also helpful (for the moms).

I can't think of a better end to a day with four kids on vacation a trip.


And as I like to say whenever we manage to leave the house: cue the theme to Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey!