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.





I need you,Gramma

My heart lifted when I heard, "I need you, Gramma."  When I got to him, Nathan explained he needed to go outside.  Later in the day, while swinging in the hammock, he told me, "I don't need help" and pushed my hand away.  It was then that fear gripped my heart.  "Up in the sky" was the request from Nathan, while Andrew was quick to tell me, "Not high in the sky."  On the way to Gramma's house, Ryan Joseph said Andrew was listing the RULES his mother tells him each morning in the car; 1. No hitting, 2. No biting, 3. Share, and 4. Eat your food. Twins are their own system of checks and balances.  At least, I'm hoping one of them will check the other one's curiosity.  Kind of like a conscience you can see.

The boys' abilities are growing and they know it.  They're so anxious to try a new challenge.  Nathan can now buckle and unbuckle the seat buckles on his high chair, stroller and car seat.  I don't mind waiting for him to buckle up, but when I realized he also unbuckles I told him he was getting too smart to be safe. 

 I can make it.

Almost there.

Now, it's your turn.

The boys know Friday is Gramma and Grampa's day.  Andrew thinks Tuesdays are 2's Days.  I often think how strange and confusing our language is, as I witness the boys learning it.  I'm amazed any of us could have figured it out, much less at the warp speed they're doing it. When Nathan walked into the house on his own, as his father was getting Andrew out of the car, he ran to me to be picked up and said, "Let the brother in."

Nathan was watching the Bulls play basketball.  I was entertained to hear him shouting, "You did it!" and "Almost."  He's showing coaching abilities.  I think he may have heard these from his Daddy as he practices his own free throws.  He was so excited to watch those big boys play HIS game.

I need more blueberries.

I love blueberries, but they're SO sour!



Ring Around the Rosie

At snack time, Nathan said, "I NEED more blackberries."  At lunch he said, "I NEED more meat."  I wondered where that came from, until I could recall my own voice telling him, "Just tell me what you need" and "Show me what you need."

When he asks me to do something, like pick him up, I usually have to take a second to free up my hands or my time.  Nathan will repeat his request a bit louder, as if I didn't hear him.  I assure him by saying, "I know, I need to finish this and then I can do what you want.  He then says, "I know," with my exact inflection.  I have to smile at our little parrot.

I find him responding to my statements like "the alligator is cute" with, "me, too."  I stop and ponder, does he mean he's cute, too or he does he also think the alligator is cute. 

Andrew now points to a picture of Ryan Joseph and says, "My Daddy."  Clearly their language development is marching on. 

Sometimes with children their clearest way to communicate is through their body language.  Andrew is clearly letting us know "I'm happy to see MY DADDY."

Naptime has evolved.  The boys loved it.  And no one cried when they woke up.  Not even Gramma. 

This activity is for the trained professionals. DO NOT try this at home. Notice the manly grunts. Those are imitations of Grampa doing manly work.  He's singing "Ring Around the Rosie" and ends with "all fall down."

It's Not Daddy's Birthday

We're ready to send him out to do Birthday-grams.  We celebrated Nathan and Andrew's birthday two weeks ago.  Nathan got the song down very well.  He stops once and awhile to think and remember.  Like in the video when he seems to consider that it's not Daddy's birthday.  He'll sit very quietly and out of the blue say, "Easter Bunny." After the boys have gone Grampa and Gramma sit and relive all the Friday moments we've shared. It's nice to know we were part of HIS memborable moments.

Uncle "Myaatt" (the boys say his name with a smile, so it affects the pronunciation) is just the greatest!  He's going to make a good Daddy someday.  But until then, he can practice on me.

Grampa's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nathan and Andrew love the chocolate chip cookies Grampa bakes for them.  It was late afternoon, past snack time and getting closer to dinner.  Nathan spotted a container of cookies Grampa had prepared earlier sitting on the counter.  He pointed them out to me, as if I mustn't know they were available.  Grampa and I decided that the boys could split a cookie without destroying their appetites.  We got out the plates and the boys rushed to their snack table.  Nathan hurried through his cookie so quickly that he finished before Andrew.  Upon finishing, he asked for more cookies.  I told Grampa he was asking for another.  Nathan's face waited in rapt expectation.  Grampa said he'd have to wait until after dinner for another cookie.  His face hung in sorrow.  He looked at his plate and used his finger to scoop up two remaining crumbs.  Then he looked over at Andrew holding the last of his cookie.  Andrew seeing him coming and reading his mind slipped what was left into his mouth.  Nathan was wise to him and certain he was just holding it in his cheek.  Andrew was trying to keep very mum about it.  Nathan continued to probe the situation. 

Andrew swallowed his success.

Gramma loves the way the boys say, "yes."  It's so unexpected.  I think of two-year-olds as loving the word, "NO" and all the power it gives them.  I have spent the last two weeks gushing over them for it.  I thought it might make it last longer. One should never press their luck with a child.  It's usually very humbling and not for the child.

We continue to watch our birdies in the window.  The babies are filling out the nest, leaving little room for Mother Bird.  Andrew is also trying to stretch his wings a bit, becoming more and more daring.  This rocking chair was handmade by my Great-grandfather for my mother.  It has lasted and bore children safely for four generations.  Andrew may change all that, if he has his way.

The chair Nathan is sitting is was made by his grandfather for his father.