High highs and low lows ...

I've decided that living with toddlers means learning to navigate a world that is full of high highs and low lows  -- this is true of many stages of life, I know.  I think toddlerhood just brings it to light more than other phases.  Take this morning, for example, when I was crying in the bathroom an hour after they woke up.  The morning started well, with great intentions-- I got up a few minutes before the kids, had my coffee and even some prayer time.  But within a few minutes of them getting up we'd already begun the first round of time-outs and corrections about not hitting each other and why we share toys.  An hour into the day I thought I might scream if I had to hear myself say, "These are your two options right now -- you can choose which you'd like ..." (To all you Love and Logic parents out there!) one more time!  And then came the meltdown in the bathroom (after Amelia hit me!  What happened to my sweet children?!).  Scott and I have both realized in the last few weeks that the TWOS have arrived.  The actual age is different for each kid and family but we've hit the I-must-be-independent-of-you-and-must-test-every-limit-you-even-think-about-setting! stage.  It is exhausting.  We're reading multiple books on discipline and getting ideas from people to try to come up with some combination of methods that works well for our kiddos.
Thankfully, the low lows give way quickly to high highs (God's grace to parents of toddlers!) -- just a few minutes after the bathroom meltdown we were heading to a little neighborhood parade with Martha and the kids loved it! (On a side note:  Perhaps the best advice I've gotten on toddlers (from many different parenting books and anyone who has ever parented a toddler) is to get outside whenever possible.  Hence the reason the kids are in the yard at least 75% of their waking hours if it's not pouring down rain!)  The kids thought that the bands, horses, flags, people, excitement ... were pretty cool!
Later this evening we showed them their brand new bikes!  We got them 50% off (after a tip from Dani!  There are some great clearance websites for kids items!) ... They loved them!  They've started to notice people biking around a lot more and have been very curious about them so they were so excited to wear their helmets (yes, I'm a pediatric neuro nurse, they got heavy duty helmets!) and ride their new bikes.  The looks on their faces were truly priceless.
And that is this season of life:  joy-filled and draining and constant and lovely and difficult and challenging and full of laughter and snuggles.  I find myself face to face with my own sin and impatience far too often and need for His help and grace constantly.  This parenting thing is hard work.
Now for pictures of a few of the highs recently (I think that's part of why i love pictures and going thru them at night when it's finally quiet -- it helps me reflect and remember the beautiful moments that occur all day long while I'm too busy doing other things to stop and remember them and soak them up) ...

New bikes!!!

Parade season has begun :)

Meeting Baby Eden!  So thankful these three will get to grow up together!

Instagram ...

Okay, so maybe I've recently discovered Instagram (an iphone app for taking pictures on your phone) and maybe I've gone a little overboard and maybe I've realized that camera phones + motherhood = a dangerous combo since all moms think their kiddos are the cutest things ever and maybe I'll have to post a few of my favorites from the last week here ...

Family project!  (Don't worry, it had no power source!)

Baby girl got soaked when it rained on us halfway through my run!

Play date with Aven and Baby Henri (the kids insist on calling him "Baby Henri")

Trampoline time with Aven and Henri!

Hanging out with Dani and Eden Rose :)

Art ...

Two little artists hard at work ...

Life with toddlers ...

Had a wonderful Saturday morning with these two ... Park and coffee date with my old and dear friend, Christina.  Minus the header Amelia took off the chair right after this picture was taken it was a great morning ... Just keeping it real so no one gets confused and thinks that life with two toddlers is calm or anything :)  I have to laugh about situations that happen when we're out in public because laughing seems better than either losing my temper or getting overwhelmed.  Like last week when I had the kids at the coffee shop near our house (one of our favorite outings because it has an outdoor sandbox which the kids are currently obsessed with) -- Amelia had a major diaper situation and as I'm trying to get her cleaned up (I had to turn my back to Luke because of where the changing table was) I hear Luke start laughing and saying, "Look Mommy, I'm splashing!"  Yep -- two hands all the way in the toilet bowl and splashing water everywhere.  Awesome.  Made me decide that even if the kids are ready soon to potty train (which they probably will be) I'm not sure that I am!  I can't imagine what it'll be like to run with two kids to every bathroom nearby every time someone needs to go.  Yikes.  Anyway -- now for the cute pictures ... 

Wagon rides ...

For at least six months the kids have stopped tolerating any sort of wagon or stroller ride that lasts more than about fifteen minutes.  They're just too active anymore and hate to be strapped in which leads to them picking at each other (hair pulling and other general sibling tormenting).  Gone are the days of taking them jogging!  For errands and grocery store trips it's been working really well to have one ride in the ergo and the other in the cart (On a side note I LOVE my ergo baby carrier and it would probably be my #1 recommendation to a new mama in terms of baby gear.  I waiting way too long to get one and wish I'd had it two years ago!).  For walks around the neighborhood our babysitter came up with the brilliant idea in the stroller of letting them take turns being the "pusher" which also works really well in the wagon.  Amelia is a strong (and very determined) little girl and pulled Luke for quite awhile today ... So very thankful always that these two have each other.  Parenting a twin is the closest thing I can imagine to actually being one and it is a blessing and an amazing experience to watch their relationship.  In many ways it doesn't feel any different than parenting stair step children ... but there is something undeniably unique and beautiful about their bond.  Love those two little people so much!

Cousins!

My cousin, Lexie and her family were in town from Holland this weekend -- it was so sweet to see the young cousins (second cousins?) -- all playing together!  Thomas won them all over with his rough housing.  Scott and I both feel like just in the last few weeks Amelia has been opening up so much more with people and joining into situations that she may have found overwhelming before.  Love watching new sides of her personality develop.  One of my favorite things about her right now is how mothering she is.  She loves taking care of Luke.  She wants to brush his hair, wash him in the tub, put on his lotion after bath time.  She is such a little mama hen to him and they both love it!  It's so sweet to watch :)  One of my favorite things that I want to remember about Lukey right now is his constant broadcasting.  He's a really verbal kid and he will follow me from room to room all day giving me the run down on the situation:  "Look Mama, Molly is really thirsty.  Mama, what are you cooking?  Mama, I'm really hungry ..."  He points out everything going on around the house, the neighborhood, his sister:  "Mama, Sissy's really stinky!"  He points out when neighbors leave or get home -- don't worry, we aren't stalking people intentionally -- Luke just loves to point these things out and keep us all up to date :)  He also gets to broadcast WITH an eye patch on!  We started noticing around 6 months old that his L eye was lazy and would turn outward when he was tired.  It's become more noticeable as he's aged so now he gets to wear his eye patch for two hours a day.  Thankfully he tolerates it quite well!

Four cousins under four!  I love the faces that Amelia and Quinn are making here!

Luke and Aiden playing at OMSI!