Simple fun

Look what I made!  It doesn't light up, play music or need batteries.

Matchbox cars go back 3 generations in the Goedken family.  They are the ultimate collectible.

Twin slides.

One of the reasons the boys love eating at Gramma's.  

We allow them to do things their parents would be horrified by. And we top it off by laughing at their shenanigans. Our children were never allowed to eat like this. Terry could be driven crazy if they blew bubbles in their drinks. Our parenting style has mellowed since the twins. I notice that Terry will compliment the boys when they listen and do what he asks with, "Thank you for listening." He just took it for granted that our children would listen and do whatever he said. I remember Ryan Joseph's 10th birthday party, which was at a bowling alley. Terry came to me and said, "These boys aren't paying attention to anything I tell them." I wondered what planet he had been living on. At the same birthday party, we returned home and unloaded a car full of 10 year-old boys, only to realize one of them was still wearing his bowling shoes.

As the boys speak more clearly and with longer sentences, their expressions become more entertaining.  I heard Andrew come up behind Grampa and ask, "Whatcha doin' Grampa?"  I wondered how Grampa was going to explain that sometimes he just stands looking into the fridge to see if he's hungry.

I know Nathan and Andrew enjoy their time with us.  That's such a comfort when you feel yourself turning another corner of life.  It feels like the most significant things in life are aligned with a higher power.  From the moment the door opens and Nathan comes running into my arms, I know their lives are a gift to us.  Jeni told me they try to encourage the boys to eat by telling them Gramma or Grampa made it and sent it for them.  For Father's Day, Jeni prepared a breakfast in bed for Ryan Joseph; a rare treat for a mother or father of young twins.  Not to mention the difficulty of preparing a breakfast with the twins' help and distraction.  After Jeni finished the breakfast and presented it to Ryan Joseph, Andrew explained that Gramma and Grampa had made it.  I guess he wanted to be certain that his daddy ate it.

Party Hearty



The boys spent the weekend at Gramma's and Grampa's.  And it was party after party.  Gramma's choir celebrated on Friday evening.  They loved the appetizers.  Saturday we went to Cousin Michael's graduation party, where the boys experienced their first inflatable jumping house.  Once they got the idea of what to do they were hooked. 

Poor Gramma can't come in with us because of her high heels.

I want this for my next birthday party!

New tastes are a challenge for little people.  And most big people, as well.  But we all know a child's first experience with a delcious fruit or their first taste of birthday cake.  The look says. "Where have you been hiding this?"  Andrew and Nathan are developing a real sense of taste preferences.  Andrew loves almost any vegetable and Nathan likes simple carbs the best.  Despite their differences, they shared a passion for Grandma Kris's appetizer from the choir party.  It's so delicious, Andrew does hs party dance while eating it.  It's right up there with Gramma's smoothies.

When Ryan Joseph was their age, I used to tell him that our tastes change.  He had certain foods he didn't care for, but he would try them every time they were served.  Most of the time he said, "I still don't care for it."  I explained that his tastes just hadn't developed enough, yet. 



Daddy's Taking Us to the Zoo Tomorrow

A week ago, we thought the boys were going to the zoo with their parents.  We actually had the wrong week.  Grampa and I asked the boys about their trip to the zoo; what animals they saw, what they liked best, etc.  The boys told us about the monkeys and the elephants.  They told us they didn't see any birds or fish.  They demonstrated the antics and the sounds of the monkeys.  A week later, we got an email from Jeni with pictures of the children's museum they went to instead of the zoo, because of the hot weather.!?  I was amazed to think of the story they had created of a zoo trip for us.  Last Friday, when I told Ryan Joseph about our confusion he was surprised they would have been able to fabricate such a story.  I asked Andrew, in front of his father, what he saw at the zoo.  He started to tell us again about the monkeys.


Children love imitating others. Sometimes you recognize yourself in what they say or do. And other times you wonder who they learned that from. Andrew has learned to shrug his shoulder, as you will see in the video. We weren't certain if he was applying it with the intent of a shrug or if he just likes doing it. Nathan also tries to do it, but his shoulders just raise up to his ears and then stay there like they're stuck.

The boys LOVE the smoothies I make for them in my Vitamix. I make them with red cabbage, celery, carrots, cucumbers, strawberries, peaches and my own kefir or whatever fruits and vegetables I have on hand.

The boys still enjoy popping bubble wrap with Grampa.  They understand it's necessary to take turns,but as they get older and wiser, they look for a way around it.  When it was Nathan's turn he hesitated, held up two fingers and inqured, "Two?"  At his next turn he pushed it further, "Three?"  The next turn he decided to throw caution to the wind and asked, "Five?"  Nothing wrong with his math.

He put in his thumb and pulled out a raspberry and said, "What a cute boy, am I."

Nathan was wondering what book the girl in the wall is reading.

Andrew enjoys a spin with his friend, Linnea.  The boys are impressed with how she can play the piano.

Slip Slidin' Away

It was Gramma's first trip to the park with the boys.  My goal was to get Nathan to try something besides the swings.  I was a little too succesful.  I didn't know a two-year-old could scale up a slide or mountain climb.  Andrew loved the sand and dd his best to clean the sand pit of twigs, leaves and pine cones. Ten seconds on the swing was more than enough for hm.  I learned to push Andrew from the front, so you can recognize his face of distress.  From behind, it takes a little extra time to realize his mouth is open in a silent scream, which means terror.  Nathan, definitely not an identical twin begged Gramma to "push my butt high." 

The cry of pain was Andrew who bumped his back while getting ready for his turn.  The strange camera action at the end was Gramma dropping the camera.





I want you to know Nathan came down this slide six times and never got close to the end.  Andrew's extra three pounds must have given him extra speed.  Andrew didn't cry, but Gramma's heart skippd a beat.

I had packed kleenex, water, snacks, camera, diapers, wet wipes, sunglasses and sunscreen.  We managed to photograph key moments, put on the sunscreen, wipe noses, and drink the water.  I was afraid to bring out the snacks, because it became obvious Nathan wa never going home.  When I finally suggested we go home and have snack, he headed straight to the car.  Andrew was anxious to get home to check on Grampa.

At dinner this evening, I had made meatballs.  To accessorize the meatballs, Grampa served Cheetos and potato chips.  The boys obviously aren't served Cheetos at home.  Nathan became confused and told us he wanted a meatball.  Since the meatballs were on his plate, we became confused.  When he realized he wasn't going to get what he wanted his eyes instantly turned into a faucet.  I never knew tears could shoot out of your eyes.  We all tried to get him to tell us what was wrong.  I finally figured out that he thought the Cheetos were called meatballs.  When we explained he could have a Cheeto, he instantly regained his smile and appetite.  A moment later he showed his father a potato chip and asked, "What you call this one?" 

Andrew loved the meatballs and the bread Grampa sliced extra thin to go with it.  At the end of the meal, Andrew asked for more bread.  Grampa told him it was gone and Andrew told him to cut more bread.  There's a good problem solver.  Andrew removed his bib and said he was "all done," untill we mentioned there was apple/cherry pie for dessert.  He then tried to reattach his bib himself.

First Parade

The Lake Zurich Memorial Day Parade had the distinction of being the boys' first parade.  Gramma and Grampa went along, ignoring the 90 degree temperature, to witness another of the boys' firsts.  Andrew was looking forward to the fire trucks and Nathan was hoping for motorcycles.  We were no novices to parades.  Our children grew up in Schaumburg and had attended their two-and-a-half hour parades, just down the street from our home.  Terry and I sometimes went home in the middle and returned before the end.  The boys were seated in their new wagon that converts to a bench for better parade viewing.  It had an umbrella for in case the sun got too hot.  It was equipped with a cooler on the back.  We had packed snacks, diapers and ready for anythng.  The parade began promptly at 10:00 A.M. with a policeman on a motorcycle.  Nathan was on his feet in a flash, ready to ignore the earlier warnings of not stepping over the yellow line.  Then came a fire truck.  Andrew froze in awe.  Next were the scouts followed by the sound of drums.  Nathan's feet were marching; only slightly over the yellow line.  Then came a police car as we waited in antiipation.  Slowly reality set in and we all realized it was over.  We never found out what was in the cooler.  Ryan Joeph checked his watch; it was 10:07 A.M.  I realize this is the perfect kind of parade for many.  I know the story of this parade will be told at every future parade we attend.



Following the parade, we checked out Lake Zurich.  The boys enjoyed the boats, especially the one with the man hanging on by a rope.  The boy putting a worm on his hook was interesting, too.  We ignored Nathan's pleas that he NEEDED to get in the water.  Gramma asked him to hold her hand, so whe wouldn't be afraid near the water.  Fortunately, Nathan doesn't want Gramma to be afraid.

We finished our adventure at The Coffee Cup for brunch.  There the boys explored the sour taste of lemonade.  When we left, Nathan discovered three motorcycles parked in front of the cafe.  He told Grampa, "I NEED to ride that." 

You Can't See Me, If I Can't See You

I heard the crackling of a cellophane bag, so went quickly to investigate.  The pantry door was slightly ajar and the lights were off.  I thought I would find Grampa, but was surprised to find a smaller version of him.  Upon realizing he had been discovered, Nathan broke into his best, "Do you love me?" smile.  I laughed and went for the camera.  By the time I got back, I couldn't fnd him.  I looked behind the door and discovered a guilty boy, who thinks he can make himself invisible. 

The boys have figured out the agenda of the wagon rides.  Upon loading the boys into the wagon, I discovered Andrew had already drunk his cup of water.   Pulling out of the driveway, Andrew requested, "snack?"  I reminded him ten times that snacks were for on the way back.  Nathan told me he NEEDED to see the water.  Upon returning home, both boys are at least still awake and all snacks are gone.

The boys find ways to seek new heights.  BTW, neither boy fell.