hmmm...

So we're walking through the christmas section at Menards... the one with all the hideous blow-up santa's mixed with the glow in the dark nativity scenes. As we pass a neon, illuminated baby Jesus with Joseph hovering over the manger, Sammi quickly bows her head, mumbles 3 words, and says 'Amen'. I burst out laughing, and see that Joseph's hands are folded. Yup, my baby is all growed up, but now we need to get started with the theology lessons... :)

Tender hearts

This dog met a pickup going 35 mph last week. I sat by his side, and when the girls wanted to say goodnight to their precious "Dzack", I was hesitant, fearful that in his pain and delerium he would react badly. So I explained to the girls that Jack was sick, and he wasn't feeling well so they could say goodnight, but they weren't allowed to touch him. Abruptly, they ran out of the room, and returned two minutes later with their blankets and soothers. They covered him with their blankets, and lay the soothers beside his mouth, and Emma said 'Dzack okay now'. Now that's sympathy!

Orchards

Yes, that IS Francis competing on the far left against two guys from church. One Monday, we headed to an orchard with several families from church. He even won a round, and was thoroughly exhausted at the end :) It didn't help that the track was muddy, and his legs were about 10 inches too long for the pedals.

Here the girls are hanging out with friends.

Pumpkin patch and apple picking

Sister Love

Yes, this is Jack's kennel. No, we didn't put them there. It has, however, become a favorite spot, particularly for reading books with a mid morning snack. This does become a temporary problem when Jack is choosing to nap here. However, with a quick, "Dzack, OUT!!" Emma quickly takes care of that problem :) He has also become quite adept at curling around doll beds, and princess castles when he needs to return to it!

Enjoying some time at an orchard.

Summer

Yes, the impish grin is Emma. Both girls have developed a love for the park, and we've been enjoying the last days of summer going down slides and having picnics in the park.

In September, Grand Rapids hosted 'Art Prize' which was the largest open air art competition in North America. The prize was $100,000, and the general public voted. 'Nessie' (the loch-ness monster' made it into the top 10 - definately a crowd pleaser!

Twin-vantages from today...

Advantage: learning to climb out of your crib
Twin-vantage: teaching your sister, so you can have a playmate during naptime

Advantage: forcing a rattle into the dogs mouth

Twin-vantage: your sister pinning him down so he can't move

Advantage: throwing apples off the deck (and when you get in trouble, yell "ball!!)
Twin-vantage: your sister runs to pick them up and bring them back for you

Advantage: once mom explains that apples are food, not balls, stack them in the dog kennel and
say 'jack eat'
Twin-vantage: have your sister put them in jack's mouth, so mom doesn't want them back anyways :)

And should I be worried? Francis is gone for the week, and the girls are convinced that the landscaper is daddy... and the meijer guy... and the gas station attendant.... and a little plastic figurine of a fireman :) hmmm...

Things I learned this week

• it IS possible to blow a fuse, a power bar, a treadmill engine and an electrical outlet all in 25 seconds
• I am not an electrician.
• it's also possible to wreck a sewing maching within the same hour
• Nor am I a washing machine repair-person
• blue playdough stains teeth blue
• rice is very tricky to wash out of hair, highchairs, walls, dog fur/AKA never use the washroom at mealtime
• if you burn your fingertips off, it could be adventagious in a bank robbery
• silence does not equal naps - occasionally it means that your daughter is stripping naked, then trying to clean up her own dirty diaper
• and the other one is dismantling the miniblinds
• kids/Sammi can get out of tights, jogging pants, onesies, jeans, and a sweater in less than 7 minutes
• things are always more fun when your sister does them too, so encourage her at all costs
• Sammi can climb out of a pack'n play
• date nights are always interrupted
• doing summersaults off the couch are more fun off the low part (the high part doesn't end well)
• the girls LOVE bible study fellowship, and did very well singing and cleaning up, and loved the leaders
• I have healthy daughters who are learning how to climb and potty train and do a host of new things, and are crazy over each other. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Goodbye

fair car, goodbye... and that's the end of an era, folks!

Entertainment, Exercise and Exhaustion

So, we headed to the park this morning, trying to get some of the grumps and energy out. The girls are teething, so napping is a little more difficult. My plan of attack? Wear them out! Then head home, and throw them in bed - so far it's working!

There were no swings, but a low fence provided a ton of entertainment...

playing peekaboo underneath

climbing over...

and using your sister for grip...

Now we're getting tired.. time to head home!

It's becoming a self-loading stroller! Much fun!

Seriously? Could you pass this up?

Okay, maybe it was a bit of a stretch from getting groceries (but strangely more connected than I'd like to think :)

25 blonds, 6 brunettes and 2 redheads...

So, what happens when Francis is out of town? Laura does a little shopping. At the feed store. And comes home with 33 chicks. Yup, times have changed!

The children's museum

Fran's been working a lot lately, so he took an hour off Friday morning, and we headed to the children's museum. For the first 15 minutes, they were in shock, and not sure what they were allowed to touch. After that? No holds barred!

Rain rain, go away!

While the pictures are silent, they most definately aren't! Emma was pointing out the robins to Sammi - imagine a running conversation of gibberish - but Sammi was saying "yeah? yeah!" so at least she gets it!

Spanish class

...muy loco!

How much do I love thee?

Let me count the ram! Yes, as a very special surprise, Francis bough new ram for the computer, and had it installed tonight! Woohoo! Photoshop, pictures... here I come!

Two girls, one chair