Take Me Away

A few weekends ago Chris and I got away for four days in Ruidoso. It was such a nice relaxing trip. Officially, it was for our 10th anniversary but that was back in December. When you get married in December, have kids in December, and are married to a game warden whose main work is in December then you don't get to go anywhere in December. Not to mention Christmas. So February it was, for our anniversary trip. It was so much fun, so relaxing. We ate very well. We skied. We slept late. Just what this exhausted Momma needed. The boys were in good hands with Mimi and Papa. I can't wait until the next special occasion so we can enjoy another trip like that.

San Antonio Stock Show

A few weekends ago the boys and I traveled to San Antonio with the family and went to the stock show. It was so much fun. I love the shopping, the food, and the family. Mimi and Papa took us to the Rainforest Cafe. The boys loved the setting but were a little scared of the gorillas and elephants. Also, this year we got to go to the rodeo and watch Owen compete in the calf scramble. And he actually caught one!! Talk about one super proud Aunt Crystal!

Beauty School Dropout

Last week, the babysitter had to go out of town for a doctor's appointment, so the backup babysitter was called in.  She is a very sweet lady that goes to our church.  She has been a sub for us on a few occasions and she does great with the boys.  Well, last week was no different, the boys were well cared for and she did a great job handling all the things that 3 little boys could throw at her.

And throw at her they did!

She sent me this picture during my lunch break.  Apparently the boys had gotten into her make up.  This is Heath covered in her mascera.

Now the other two were the first ones to run and tell her, but upon closer inspection, they had it on them too.  Just not as much as sweet little Heath.

The real trouble came when she noticed that under the mascera, he had on her 24 hour, long last lipstick stain.  It wouldn't come off.

 She seemed a little panicked when I picked him up that afternoon.  She let me know that she had already tried make-up remover and rubbing alcohol.  This is what he looked like when I picked him up 4 hours later.  At this point we were thinking that we were just going to have to wait the full 24 hours.

Knowing we had to go to the basketball games that night, when I got him home, I dug through my arsenal of beauty remover supplies.  After trying a mountain of items, I finally found that 100% acetone worked.  Poor baby.  It was a hard lesson learned.  I really hope our substitute baby sitter won't quit on us.

Learning the Basics

We've really been learning a lot around here.

Daddy is teaching us how to shave each night in the bathtub.

...and we've really been working on trying to write our names.  We've got the straight letters down, but the curved ones still give us a wee bit of trouble.

The Penguin Plop

Sheer Cuteness!

More Stories from the Babysitter

I'm sure that I have never mentioned how much I love my babysitter, but I just have to let you know that I do.  Very much.  She is wonderful.  She cries when I mention anything about the twins going to school next year (yes, they are that old....crazy huh!)  She cries even harder when I discuss class assignments and the possibility of splitting up the 3 amigos.  She has already made me promise that she can walk them into school on the first day of Pre-K and, to be honest, I don't think she will leave that day.  She is amazing.

It always makes my day when I get a text message from her and it's even better when she sends pictures.  Here are a few, excuse the poor photo quality, they are all cell phone pictures.




Hunter, using the vacuum clean cord as a microphone.  She said that all three had been taking turns singing.





Sorry, I can't get this picture to turn.  Heath with the boxing gloves on his feet.  It's a wonder he didn't break an ankle.





Every morning, first thing, the boys put their football jerseys on and build a "football field" out of the waffle blocks.  Every.  Single.  Morning.





The Trio cleaning the bathroom.  Recently one of their favorite pass times is to get a wet rag and "clean."  Momma couldn't be prouder.





Have dentist appointment...will travel.  Last week Mom had a dentist appointment, so she and Aunt Amy loaded up the group and traveled.  They stopped by Sonic as a reward for their behavior in the dentist office.  Brave Mimi!



And this is by far my favorite text message in a while.  Anyone who doesn't know our family probably thinks this is horrible, but we are country people and it's what we do.

From mom:

Heath is playing like he is daddy...Chris....hunting deer. And sometimes fox. He lays down and sleeps then gets up and hunts.
Now Heath is a deer. Hunter and K are hunting him.. Shot him and put him in back of truck. Lifting him onto couch. Driving truck ..couch..to barn....gutting him....eating him.

Boys

When I found out we were going to have twins, many years ago, I had a strong feeling that whatever they were (boys or girls),  they were the same.  I just knew from the moment I first saw two little heart beats that there was not one boy and one girl.  Call it mother's intuition or whatever you will, but every part of me knew they were the same.  Did you ever just know something about your babies?  I would love to hear the story.

As the pregnancy progressed, people would ask what I was hoping for (boys, girls, one of each).  Of course I replied that I was just hoping for two healthy babies in the end.  And that is the honest truth, but secretly, deep down.....I wanted boys.

I wanted boys that Chris could take hunting and fishing.  I wanted boys that would have me wrapped around their little fingers (which they totally do).  I wanted boys that would love being outside, love camping, and love their momma.  I also secretly wanted boys who could take the trash out and mow the grass.  I wanted low maintenance boys that didn't include costly hair bows and frilly dresses.  You see, my parents only had girls.  Three to be exact.  I know girls.  I know what all goes with girls.  I desperately wanted boys.

When the long awaited sonogram finally arrived, I could hardly contain my excitement. (I don't know how those people who don't find out can possibly manage.) With Chris by my side, the sonogram tech looked up at us and proudly announced that Baby A was a boy.  I grinned from ear to ear.  I told Chris that I knew we had two boys.  He was still a little skeptical -- not a firm believer in mother's intuition.  The sonogram tech quickly moved on to Baby B and confirmed that Baby B was also a boy.  Two boys...Just what I wanted.

Skip forward four years.  These boys are exactly what I wanted.  They love to hunt, fish, trap, camp.  They take out the trash (with a little help) and I haven't had to buy (nor will I) a single costly hair bow. And they definitely have me wrapped around their fingers.

What I didn't realize is with boys, I would also be getting constant tackling from playing football in my living room.  There would be body slamming each other down onto the floor and pouncing on brother until he cries "calf rope."  There is jumping head first from the top of the dresser to see if the batman cape really helps him fly.  I was unaware of the constant need to shoot anyone or anything that moves in our house with a Nerf gun. No one is safe.  Lego blocks become football fields and bathrooms become run through tunnels for the football team.  Toy hammers become weapons of mass destruction. I didn't realize my cherished knick-knacks would become shattered dust and that no picture is safe even if it hangs on the wall.  They don't do it on purpose, they are just rambunctious boys.

I didn't realize how exhausting boys are.

"Mother's of little boys work from son up until son down," or so the quote goes.  I'm not real sure about that.  The boys go to bed around 8pm and I am usually still gluing back the broken item of the day.  I awake at 5 am so I can do dishes, laundry, and clean the toilet (don't get me started on little boys and the toilet) because I don't dare take my eyes off of them while they are awake.  I go to work just to take a breather so I can do it all again when I get home.

...and just to let you in on another little secret...I wouldn't have it any other way.  My boys are adventurous and fun.  They are creative and hysterical.  I'm so glad that God gave me what I wanted.