One HOT Day

Some people say that once you've had kids its hard to imagine life before them.

I don't have that problem.

I remember late nights.

I remember going to movies and splurging on popcorn and candy.

I remember a spotless house.

I remember clean clothes, folded, and put away.

I remember vacations. Real vacations.

I remember restaurants.

I remember car rides with the windows down and music blaring.

I remember shopping trips for clothes and shoes and jewelry.

I remember having the time (and creativity) to plan birthdays, anniversaries, housewarming parties and other important events.

And while I really do miss those things (let's be honest, who wouldn't???) this is better. It really is.

I've been home two days since school's over for the summer.

I'd forgotten.

I'm busier now than when I was working and coming home to the kids. It's ridiculous.

I was so proud that I was able to clean the kitchen today...you know, with chemicals and everything; not just wipe whatever I saw and hope the rest was relatively unnoticeable. I was so ashamed of my fridge and floor!

The kids are amazing. We've read a dozen books today. They keep coming over to me, "Book? Book?" The phenomenal thing is that they do actually want to sit and read with you. For the most part, they play very well by themselves (and by themselves, I mean together without an adult). They do argue and cry and steal toys from each other, but when I compare this summer to last summer? WHEW.... whole different ball game.

We did try to go swimming at Steve's parent's house today. Umm...disaster. Despite an uncharacteristic 2 hour morning nap (in which I participated) they were extremely cranky and defiant (welcome self-independence). Lilly kept drinking the pool water, enough to drown herself, Josiah fell in the pool, and I kept chasing after them, sweaty and irritated. Not the experience I imagined. After an hour and a half I called it quits and went home. C'est la vie!

Random picture from my phone over the last couple days

Pulling Sissy in the cooler

Playing with the hose

Exhausted after Grannie's house

Loved this outfit on her.

Such a big kid.

Playing with the cookie cooling rack

Resting on mommy's leg

Kisses for brother because he was sad.

First Day of Summer

Kisses for Sissy

Playing with their old highchairs

Sleepy-eyes

Silly girl

"Ohhhhh, Mom!"

Reading with daddy

If You're Brave

In September, (when the twins were roughly 9 months old) we packed for Dingman's Ferry (Deleware Watergap area) for our first family camping trip.

In comparing this month's trip with the one in the fall, there differences are vast. They were equally as tricky and exhausting for Steve and I (and let's be honest, everyone else too) but there were lots of new and exciting thing to look back on.

From September's trip...

I don't know why, or where in particular it comes from, but there's a part of me that feels the need to prove that we can do this; camp with the twins. It's not that it's a horrible experience...truly it's not. It's just that everything about camping with Josiah and Lilly takes a lot of work. They're running all over and it's a constant chase to keep them away from the lighter, the bug spray, the campfire, the river, the hatchet.... it's endless. And while their curiosity is a marvel to watch (it's magic watching them discover new things) it just means that you're constantly on the move.

Thank goodness we camped with such awesome people! Everyone was so helpful not only in supervising or entertaining the kids, but also at being flexible when they woke up at 7 am crying...LOUDLY or when we couldn't prepare or clean up meals because we were feeding or looking after them. No one ever made us feel bad about anything.

If I had time, I'd add a caption to each picture but for the most part, they tell a story of their own.

Exploring the campsite

Umm, are we going in the car now?

One of my favorite picture of the two of them...

AHH! I'm so excited!

"Look! Look!"

Tim bought the kids a camping present...BUBBLES! A favorite for sure.

Hugs for Grannie B

Dad and his little man

Awesome trail in Bushkill Falls

Birds nest with little birdies!

Bushkill Falls

Evidence that Josiah rarely slept this weekend (you can imagine how that worked out).

Good memories.

Last day of work for the summer tomorrow!

Off to bed before I fall asleep at my computer....