Twins' Tales of Tails - 2

The boys enjoy their great-grandmother’s foxtail. I often think she must love watching over them.  I remember and now understand how much love our mothers had for their grandchildren.  Even the negatives were moments to be treasured as rites of passage.  It even included the time Ryan Joseph broke off the mirror of Gramma Lynch’s one month-old car, pulling our car out of the garage.  She only worried about him feeling upset over it.  When the boys start driving, I’m not going to bother replacing my car.  I remember Terry’s mother sitting on the floor playing “Little People” for an hour with her grandchildren.  I now know, it’s easier to stay on the floor than to try to get up.

I treasure the times their faces light up when you walk into a room.  Or the squeal of delight as Grampa chases them around the kitchen.  It’s worth cooking to have them sign “more, more” as they taste something new. 

Twins' Tales of Tails

I think the boys were type cast for their Halloween costumes.  Climber Nathan was at home in his monkey suit.  And although Andrew’s personality is way too sweet for a tiger, he certainly has a flamboyant style that pulls off loud orange and black stripes to perfection.  Gramma is proud of his developing sense of style. 

Nathan was most amused by Andrew’s Tiger tail.  Poor Andrew would be walking and all of a sudden be stopped by a sharp tug on his tail.  He didn’t realize there was a tail on his costume, so he couldn’t figure out what was happening.  He was pretty certain his brother had something to do with it, but could never catch him in the act.

Twin Tears

I have a different perspective on the expanding minds of children than I did with my own.  I remember telling Ryan Joseph to stop acting like he was 5 years old.  He responded, “but I am 5”  I answered, “I know.  Stop it.”  Now everything the boys do seems less a sign of developing an autonomous mind and an individual personality.  Grandchildren are a second opportunity to get it right. 

I wouldn’t want you to think everything goes perfectly at Gramma’s.  I have included a few pictures that show a different side of life as a twin.

Nathan loves the wand from his bubble bottle; the one that no longer has soap or a cap.  I cannot say exactly what preceded these pictures, but as near as I can tell Andrew somehow got a hold of the “magic wand.”  Of course, when Nathan discovered it, he corrected the situation (possession is 9/10ths of the law).  By the time I became aware of the crisis, the wand was back in Nathan’s hand and he was backing himself out of reach behind the piano quickly.  Andrew’s face registered indignation, but he hadn’t yet started his revenge plan.  Gramma decided to  move in quickly to cut them off at the pass.  Andrew was closing in on Nathan, so I suggested he use his magic word, “please.”  “Please, please, please,” Andrew began pitifully.  I could see his manners were falling on deaf ears with Nathan, who was now looking for a hiding place under the piano.  Gramma still had an illusion of bringing peace and harmony to the situation. Not soon enough, though.  Andrew took one look at Gramma’s lack of real results and threw himself onto the floor in despair of justice ever prevailing.  He is definitely a high soprano.

At that point, Nathan observed that Andrew had scored sympathy points with Gramma and came running out from behind the piano to also throw himself onto the floor; crying hysterically.  Not to be outdone, Grandpa threw himself on the floor and began howling.  The boys didn’t even notice Grandpa or the camera that Gramma was wielding.  

Nathan still has a stronghold on the “magic wand.”

The call “who wants a snack?” provided the necessary distraction and a pumpkin muffin changed everyone’s attitude. 

Pinball Wizards

They’re pinball wizards!  Andrew understands how to get the ball into play.  A pinball game is the perfect entertainment with the bells and lights.  This one is The Big Indian.  It was a favorite of Terry’s during his college years.  The boys’ father. Ryan Joseph, grew up with it, so it’s a family heirloom.  Their parents owe us quite a few quarters now.

Nathan’s bottle of bubbles broke (all over the kitchen floor), so he now has taken over Andrew’s bottle.  Possession is 9/10ths of the law.  He was struggling to carry all his favorite possessions at once, so he now has the perfect man bag for it.  Inside the bag is a tube of cocoa butter, a lip balm, a vibrating mouse, a golf ball and the wand from the old bubble bottle.

Nathan has artistic tendencies.  I’m not certain what artists explored the two-handed technique he favors, but the finished products tend toward the abstract.  Gramma bought an easel for the boys this week.  The boys are most amused that magnets can be stuck on the inside of the easel.  They don’t quite get the idea that they should stick to the paper, yet.  Nathan was very amused by coloring his own hands and his brother’s white sweater with the markers. 

The Great Outdoors

Andrew has learned a life lesson; stop and smell the flowers.  He can sniff in or blow out, which is handy since he constantly has a runny nose.  He still doesn’t know he needs a tissue, but at least it doesn’t take 3 men and a small boy to hold him down anymore to clean it.  To complete a diaper change, we give them Grandpa’s remote to the light and fan.  With Nathan, you have to be able to put on the diaper bun side up.  And at that, you better be really fast.

They just love the outdoors.  They’ve discovered sticks are really cool for pointing, waving or poking.  Leaves come in all shapes and sizes.  Andrew likes to clean up, but the outside is really a messy challenge right now.  Gramma can only hold so many of those dead leaves, wood chips and broken sticks.  And if you hit bushes with your sticks the leaves fall off.  Oh, the power!

They’ve learned to wag their fingers and say, “No, no, nooo!”  I thought that was perfect until I realized they just think it’s another cute thing for them to do.  When I told Nathan, “No, no, noooooo!” he gave out a big belly laugh, like I was the silliest one in the room.  Then he proceeded to do whatever he wanted to.

I’ve noticed that Nathan heads out of a room and waits just out of sight on the other side of the doorway, knowing Gramma will be along pronto.  It’s his way of getting my attention immediately.  He laughs at me every time I come racing around the corner.

They also enjoy using the phone that’s attached to the wall.  Their parents must only have cell phones.  I love the way they say, “Allo, allo!”  They love talking to the woman who comes on the line and says, “if you’re trying to make a call…”   I am trying to teach them to take turns, which is always more successful with the child presently using the phone.  It reminds me of the story of the mother trying to teach her children to let the others be first, as Jesus did.  The older child told his brother, “you be Jesus.”  I gave Andrew my cell phone to use while Nathan was busy placing a long distance call to his mother.  Of course, it ended up on the floor with the battery compartment open.  I tried unsuccessfully to put it back together.  Some bent metal pieces on the outside made closing the battery case impossible.  When Andrew saw that I was giving up on the repair he had this look of understanding on his face as he said, “Grandpa.”  They already think he can fix anything.

Twins trip to the pumpkin farm

#1 -  When the bubbles bottle is not available, a water bottle can substitute.  Nathan prefers us  to use Andrew’s bottle for us to blow the bubbles.  His has never been open, because he won’t give it up.  I may have convinced my sister, Becky, to go along with a similar idea, when we were young.  When he gets a chance, he carries Andrew’s bubbles, too. 

Andrew likes to keep his hands free for a mean rendition of “Wheels of the bus” and loves to stomp on bubbles from anyone’s bottle. 

#2 -  The clean spots on the pumpkin are where Andrew tried to bite it.  He was very busy trying to organize the pumpkins into stacks and groups.  He doesn’t like them spread all over.  I see signs of Uncle Matt emerging.  If someday he starts organizing and reorganizing his drawers, I’ll know for sure.  Thank heavens he’ll have Aunt Rebecca for therapy at some point.

#3 -  When you’re little, you don’t understand the word IMPOSSIBLE.  You think you can move mountains.  And you’re right.

Swinging in the Rain

Gramma’s at it again.  Her newest invention is a swing in the garage.  It works really well, but can be frightening to anyone who puts up the garage door to enter.  Seeing a child hanging in the garage can cause shortness of breath.  Nathan has taken to keeping both hands busy carrying something at all times.  He often attempts to have a third object, but it’s difficult.  His preference is for a bottle of bubbles.  He doesn’t want you to open the bottle, since that would mean you’d have to take it away from him.

Andrew seems a bit concerned about Gramma’s engineering abilities.  I think he’s worried her creative side may exceed her practical applications.  Did she really meet all the safety regulations required for approval. 

Then there’s the house that Gramma built.  It only looks like a timeout box.  Actually, it’s a wonderful space full of adventure, laughs and surprises.  Sometimes it contains two boys and a grandpa.  Sometimes, it just has a Gramma in it.  Notice the bubbles, always in hand.

All Dressed Up and No Place tto Go

We celebrated Ryan Joseph and Jeni’s 5^th anniversary.  The boys were dressed up for the occasion.  As my son would say, “they’ve been Ryan Josephed.”

The boys stayed overnight for their parents’ anniversary.   Nathan knows he’s not supposed to get to close to the fireplace.  Can you tell he knows and is wondering, “what are you going to do about it?”

Andrew is ready for bed.  I can remember the feel of my children's soft little bodies in those sleepers.  They fit so perfectly in our arms and our hearts at this age.

A Remote Discovery

 I wish you could hear the boys talk on the phone and answer, “Alo!”  Since Terry isn’t home to stop them, they can play with the phone.  Eventually the person on the other end tells them to “please hang up and try again.”  Did you know in those few minutes you can wipe their bibs and high chairs,  wash their dishes, and put the leftovers in the fridge?  You just have to work really fast.

The boys found their old swing and bouncy seat, when Gramma was in the wine cellar/storage area.  It seemed like they could remember them.  Is that possible?  I’m sure they’re confused about why they don’t fit in them the way they used to.  They seemed to be trying all day for that “old fit.”  I know the feeling… my old clothes don’t seem to have that same comfortable feeling anymore, either.

What is it about remotes?  The gender thing or the engineering mindset?  I now keep them still for a diaper change by handing them the light/fan remote.  Without Grandpa to stop me, I resort to far more creative measures.  How quickly those minds learn to “push the right buttons.”  I am totally baffled by the fact that we have 3 remotes in our bedroom and the bed doesn’t even vibrate.   

This is Nathan on the balcony outside our bedroom.  He loves to go outside and I love that there’s very limited space.  I promise you I never lock him out there.  Even Grandpa approves of the safety code.