One of those days ...

It's hard to sum up what a day with these two is like right now.  There are such high highs and low lows when you share your life and your days with two toddlers.  So many moments of such joy and exploration and excitement.  And so many moments of irrational tantrum throwing craziness.  We were THAT family today -- you know, the frazzled looking mom carrying two screaming kids to the car and creating quite a scene.  The kids had a great time at their tumbling class and it's right by a playground so it made sense (because packing kids up is half the battle) to let them run around for awhile and play while it wasn't raining.  Apparently I overshot the window (such a delicate window it is) and ended up with two overly tired and hungry kids (guess the bunny crackers weren't enough to make it to lunch time).  The problem is that they're SO STRONG anymore that it's almost impossible for me to carry them both (with a purse and dance bag) to the van when they're in full on tantrum mode.  So I was half dragging, half carrying them across the park.  Yep, Mom-of-the-year.  This is why my advice to new moms is this:  don't do it alone.  It's the most meaningful, difficult, amazing, crazy, beautiful, exhausting thing you will ever do and you NEED other mamas to walk through it with.  I feel so blessed to have the preschool co-op we're a part of.  It makes me realize that much of what I both enjoy and struggle with in parenting is NOT JUST ME.  We all have good phases and bad phases, we all show up some days wearing one step (barely) above our PJs because it was all we could do to get ourselves AND our children ready, we've taken turns crying, we've gotten to watch one another's kids piece together new concepts and learn new ideas ... We have loved each other's children and that is a precious gift.  I am thankful -- especially after days like today.  I am not alone on this crazy journey called motherhood.

Because every 3-year old boy needs a leotard :)

Tumbling class!

When Valentines Day explodes (in the form of stickers) all over your table!

Excited to garden with these two this year!  They LOVE watching their seeds grow.

Fun to watch them take responsibility of their plants (well, in a 3-year old sort of way)

The week in pictures!

The kids have been a bit sick this week so it has saved my sanity that it's been nice enough outside that we can be out for much of the day :)  There are so many hilarious things that they're saying these days that I really need to write down before I forget them ... 

Luke:  "Dad, I love when we wrestle but the sprinkles on your face are too ouchie!  Maybe you should shave?"

Amelia loves to chase Luke around for his check-up time (she pins him down and uses her flashlight and stethoscope to assess him -- they just had their 3 year check-ups so they're very interested in doctors and going in for check-ups.  It's hilarious though because she'll be running him down (she's quite a bit faster than him) yelling, "Wukey Baby (Lukey Baby) come back -- it's okay!  I just need to do your check-up, okay?  Then you can have your stickers!"  As she's tackling him to the ground for the check-up.  Haha!

Boys + mud + trucks  =  Happy toddler!

Favorite moment of the whole week -- she hasn't fallen asleep on me in well over two years.
Love it.  The only perk to sick kiddos is the extra snuggle time.

Love these three!

Bonding time with Daddy!  (Plus the living room is almost painted ... finally!)

When both your parents are nurses ... this might happen :)

Rock painting, anyone?

We had the same idea as every other family in the Portland Metro area,
to spend the holiday at the zoo

It's always a good day to ride a lion :)

Dance!

There are very few things cuter than a dozen toddlers in their "tumbling tots" dance class.  So darn cute!  I asked Amelia about a month ago if she'd like to do a dance class and she gasped and said, "Oh, please?  Please?!  Please?!  Can I?"  So I guess that was a yes!  So to dance class we go ... always gracefully, of course :)  Because this girl of mine is spunky!  Luke also has really enjoyed the last two classes!  He's the only boy (The teacher always says, "Now, Luke and the Ladies, look on over this way ..." or whatever!  Oh the joys of having a twin sister.   He absolutely insists on wearing his "leotarget" (leotard) to class.  Thankfully we had a plain back one so that photos won't become blackmail material in a matter of years.  This is an age that I really love.  So inquisitive and curious.  Forever asking questions (but I don't usually mind because I love how their wheels are spinning and ideas are being connected) and just plain fun!

Almost three?!

Happy (almost!) birthday to my sweet Lukey and Sissy!  We had so much fun celebrating you both tonight!  We kept it super simple -- just family and a few friends ... pizza, ice cream cake and lots of running around laughing and playing.  It was perfect.  You two have brought us so much joy, laughter, growth and love in these three years ...