Facebook Vacation

I'm taking a vacation from Facebook.  It sucks up way too much of my time and mental energy.

I realized this when I saw that a "friend" checked into a certain restaurant for lunch and then a different restaurant for dinner. I thought, what a hungry hippo.  Wait, that's rude!  Why am I thinking that?  Why do I care what that person eats? 

Then I saw that a certain person "said" something to someone else and I thought, why did that person say that?  Why do I care?  It's between them, not me!

Long ago, I "hid" farmland and gangster wars and bejeweled and other games because I truly, truly DON'T care what your scores are.

Then I started "hiding" some people altogether because I couldn't stand to read the ridiculousness of their posts, such as, "Ugh, it's Monday," and "Hooray, it's Friday," among other inane thoughts.

Worst of all, I didn't call someone that I should have - the person had been on my mind, but I looked up the person's status and decided that I already knew what was going on.  

Then yesterday I was involved in a conversation about setting boundaries on your kids' computer time.  My guys are too little, so I just listened.  I thought about the discussion throughout the day, then when I read about the aforementioned person's restaurant choices, I realized I need to set some boundaries on myself. 

So, I'm taking a Facebook vacation.  I'm not sure when I'll be back.

I'll keep blogging, you just won't see the updates on facebook - I know some of my readers rely on it for updates, but I hope you'll understand and come back via other means: your favorites list or your blog readers lists.

Oh, and please don't think I'm talking about you or dissing you for liking facebook.  I like it.  A lot.  But I think I like it a little too much and need to spend my time a little more wisely.  That's all.  
 
 

 

Fly Babies

We fly so often that I sometimes forget that it's not "normal" to take your twins on an airplane - on a regular basis, anyway.  I'll be talking to a friend in general who asks, "What are you doing this weekend?" and I'll say, "We're going to Michigan to visit the grandparents."  If the person is a new friend - or unaware of our flight benefits - the person says,

"You're driving?!"  The drive from our home to our parents' homes is about 14 hours.

"No, we're flying," I say.

"You're FLYING!?" the new, or forgetful, friend repeats in disbelief. 

This is where it gets a little awkward.  I, of course, think we're perfectly normal to do this.  What sane person would drive 14 hours if they could fly 1.5?  But I also don't want to launch into detailed description of our flight benefits, so I try to say something general like, "Yeah, we can do it because of Hubs' work,"

Then, of course, the person says, "Oh, he's a pilot?!"  Because wouldn't that be something?

"No, he's not," I say and try to ask the person what SHE'S doing this weekend because I'm starting to feel like some sort of weirdo!

Daddy and N share a snack on the plane

Mommy and M sat right behind them

However, when we fly, I think of you, my readers, who ask me sometimes, "How do you do it?"  So when I remember (and my hair looks good) I snap a few shots to show you.  On our last trip to MI, we got seats behind each other.  M and I were together in the back row behind Daddy and N.  This arrangement is not my favorite, because we have to carry the carseats to the back of the plane, carry the boys and purses and backpacks, trying not to hit anyone all the way (if we aren't the first to board).

I like it best when we're in the bulkhead, the first row behind first class.  The plane we fly to MI is small enough that there is no first class and we get 1A-1D sometimes.  That's the best because it's the easiest to install the carseats.  And the guys get to wave and say, "Hi!" to everyone as they board.  And I get to talk to the flight attendants who are very helpful with spillage problems and tell me stories about how her daughters are only 11 months apart, so it's like she had twins.  (I disagree, but that's a different blog for a different day.)

The guys watch our luggage being loaded onto the plane

Mommy and N walk the jetbridge together

I wish I could take a picture of us going through the security checkpoint at MSP.  We are quite a scene, unloading two carseats, a backpack and its liquid contents (you can fly with full sippy cups - you just have to declare them and they'll screen them, but check to make sure they put the lid on right or you'll have aforementioned spillage), a purse, our shoes, the boys' shoes (mental note-wear pj's home), and the two umbrella strollers - that takes up the ENTIRE belt.  As we each were picking up a baby to go through the magnetometer, a man said to us, "That was really something to see!  I have one two-and-a-half-year old. That was impressive!"  We laughed and thanked him- we had no idea we were being watched so closely!

These are our fly babies.  I guess our fly toddlers.  I can't deny it anymore, especially when I see that last pic.  He looks like such a big boy, walking the jetbridge with his backpack! 

We're just a normal family that flies.

First Halloween Party

I haven't had this much Halloween fun since 1987, when I had to make my own costume.  I made a blue-construction-paper "sticker," dressed in yellow from head to toe and went as a chiquita banana!  Oh, boy, would you have a laugh if my scanner worked and I could show you THAT pic! 

Our "official" Halloween pic

Seriously, though, dressing the fellas up in their panda costumes is just a HOOT!  We did it again on Saturday when we attended the MVMOM Halloween Party.  The best part is seeing what other parents dress their twins as.  I think "monkeys" was the most popular costume there.  Bees, princesses, ladybugs, superheroes, dogs, lions, cowgirls, Mickey and Minnie (so cute!) - they were all there!

Mr. J, G the dog, A the Lion, Papa bear and our panda cubs

M was on a mission to eat as much Chex Mix as possible

Getting ready to roll in!

Coloring Frankenstein for a special person.  Watch your mailbox!

Eat this Chex Mix, Daddy!  It's delicious!

What a silly little bear!

Me and N with M and one of her pink leopards

These events are just a riot for the kids - okay, mine just wanted to eat Chex Mix because there were m&m's in it - but we MVMOM's get to meet each other's kids and hubbies, too.  Above, you met my dear friend E's hub, J.  I'm sure you recognized her little animals.  I'm including the pic below not because it's a great shot of me or the boys but because one of our members is married to SuperDad. He's taking a pic of his SuperFamily, who is following behind the Panda family in the Parade.  Yes, I said Parade.   

We've got another costume party this week with some mulitples friends and of course, the big day!  What in the world I'll do with the candy, I don't know, but I'm looking forward to trick-or-treating with the boys in our neighborhood next Sunday.  We've got to squeeze all the cuteness out these panda suits before we hang them up next Monday!

Made with Love...and Terror

The boys and I are making a care package for Uncle A, who is away at college for the first time this fall.  We haven't done much coloring, but I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to try again.  I taped the paper on the floor and gave them each a crayon. 

These don't taste so good, Mommy.

I had to help them and they kind of  got it, but I won't post the finished product so the pictures are a surprise for Uncle A.  See how N is sticking his tongue out?  That's because he bit the tip off of a purple crayon and chewed it up!  I gave him some milk and I'll watch for the end results.  (Pun intended.  I found a piece of toy yesterday.  Yeah. Nice.)

I put on Sesame Street so they could learn about octagons this morning while I baked Uncle A some cookies.  I hope that one day they can help me in the kitchen baking cookies, but it just doesn't work that way quite yet!  Well, I had all the ingredients out on the counter, then took out the electric hand mixer, plugged it in...and stopped.  Matthew was hanging on to my legs, sobbing!  And not the kind of sob like he just slammed his finger in the drawer (which I suspected at first)- the kind in which he's trembling and frightened.  What in the world? 

He buried his head in my shoulder as I inadvertently brought him nearer to the dreaded object, attempting to console him by letting him pour the sugar into the bowl.  He cried harder and clung to me tighter!  What's going on? 

Uh, oh...the hand mixer.

He's terrified of it.

So I stopped the baking and took him back to Sesame Street and tried to calm him down.  It took several minutes until he was composed enough to look at me with sad, wet eyes, pat the side of his head, (sign language) and beg, "Nigh, nigh?"

He wanted to go to bed!  So I took him upstairs, N following because he refused to be left out, and he immediately curled up with his lovie and binky and closed his eyes.

Poor fella!  I haven't used the hand mixer with him in the room for a long time: okay, I don't do much baking, and didn't even think of it.  Even if I had, I would have assumed that he'd be okay with it because he finally acclimated to the coffee grinder.  Remember - I never even turned it on!

So Uncle A, enjoy your cookies, because they were made with much love...and terror.

Counting My Blessings

The boys and I were driving this afternoon on a sunshiny country road, pointing out tractors, cows, and horses on our way to family in our congregation.  Three boys lost both parents in just a week's time last month and are living with their grandfather.  We were taking a meal to them - chili and cornbread, one of my favorite comfort foods.  

Since I know my boys are inputting more than they're outputting, I'm trying harder these days to explain things to them.  So I told them we were taking a meal to bless a family whose mommy and daddy died.  Even though I don't know this family, the words were still hard to say and I choked up.  That was the whole conversation.  It lasted just a few seconds.  M said "Neigh" once when we saw a horse and N laughed.  I wonder how I'll explain these types of things in a year or two when they are in the "why?" stage.  I want to be truthful, especially when I'm showing them how to care for others. 

So I'm counting my blessings tonight.  The thought of three boys, ages 18, 12, and 9, growing up without parents brings tears to my eyes.  And if I think about it too much...*sigh*...I think I'll go eat some chili.

2 med. Onions, coarsely chopped

1-1.5 lbs. ground beef, browned and drained

2 garlic cloves, minced

¾ c. finely diced green peppers

2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes

30-32 oz beans (kidney and/or pinto)

8 oz can tomato sauce

1 tsp. ground cumin

½ tsp. pepper

1 tsp. seasoned salt

1 Tbs. or more chili powder

1 tsp. dried basil

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.  Cover, cook on low 8-12 hours or high 5-6 hours.  I serve it with cornbread muffins and shredded cheese.

 

Playing in the Leaves

Daddy rakes, we wreck.  Got it!

Yesterday I showed you the professional shot of the boys' first romp in the leaves.  We also have an unprofessional amateur photographer, Aunt L, who took these adorable shots on Sunday, when we were playing in the leaves in MI.  N really "got" it this time, running into the piles his Daddy was raking and scattering them everywhere!  He was having a grand old time, as you can see!

Hey, this is fun!

I love this!

Whee!  I love making a mess!

Mama calls this "ham and cheese"

P.S. For those of you who were worried about me frightening the children with the vacuum, I have good news: the food-throwing activities are abating.  My new tactic is to end the meal and make them clean up their mess when they throw food (thanks for the tip, sis!).  It keeps my blood pressure (somewhat) level! 

Bonus Pic: Uncle A gave the boys their first piggy back rides!

bcfotos shoot

My twin mom friend of bcfotos (you can see more of her work on "bcfotos" Facebook page) shot our family pictures last Friday.  I cannot BELIEVE how incredible they turned out!  And I've only seen these 5 "sneak peek" photos! 

We shot these at Ritter Farm Park.  It's a HUGE park used mainly, we think, for horseback riding, hiking, and archery.  The landscape there is phenomenal!  We have very little foliage in our neighborhood, so it was the first time the boys played in the leaves - they loved it, especially N!  M, who can be quite serious when it comes to photos, was in a fantastic mood and hammed it up with his brother.  And if you look close, you can see N has a HUGE rip-curl on top of his head!

I'm so excited to see the rest - my photographer is such a tease! By the way, her identical twin girls were born just 24 hours after my fellas!  They were the girls we met at the zoo recently girl friends blog post.