17 months old

Sammy & Benny

The months are whizzing by.  It is fun to watch them learn and grow.  They are little buddies.  It's amazing how much they can communicate by not really saying much.  We have learned what some of their grunts, points and baby jabber mean.  For instance, "go-go" means food.  They got that phrase from yogurt. 

Each day or week can change.  They go back and forth being the more 'dramatic' one.  They are just regular old babies who seriously can't get any cuter!

We love love love them!  

Happy 38th birthday

 

Today was a true Father's birthday.  The kids sprayed him with silly string this morning.  They wrapped his presents.  Decorated the house.  Helped make the cake.  They ate his m&m's and gave him presents that they wanted.  

Paul is such a good sport.  

We love you Paul.  Your kids adore you.  I adore you.   

Paul is very good at appreciating the things he has.  He often looks at me and remarks, "look at our family" or "we have beautiful children" or "can you believe all these kids are ours?".

Happy Birthday to the man of the house! 

16 months

These rascals are 16 months.  We are starting to see more of their personalities.  

Sam is determined, he goes and gets what he wants, he is impatient, he throws food, he loves olives, he likes to wave bye, he is so darn cute I just love him. 

Ben is a cuddle bug, he loves yogurt,  he is easy going, he loves to run and go outside, he melts my heart everyday. 

Sam steals food off Ben's highchair and pulls his shirt but Ben doesn't seem to mind (as long as I give him more).  The other day I saw Sam give Ben something...they were actually sharing.  It was great!

Halloween 2013

 Trick or Treat

 chicken & duck

 

 All geared up.  It was rainy & windy but we were prepared.

Eden & Ruth at the trunk or treat.

Boiler Half Marathon

Today I did something grand.  I ran 13.1 miles.  It was cold.  Very cold.  It rained about the first 5 miles.  I stepped in a puddle at mile 7.  Wet feet = bad news.  Nothing got me down though.  In fact, my feet did surprisingly well.  Maybe there is something to be said about moisture-wicking fabric.

I trained and ran with two of my best friends.  I've had a great time training.  We were prepared.  I had a lot of fun.  I enjoy races.  I love being able to run and not worry about cars or stop lights.  I like the water.  I like people cheering.  I like watching other runners.  I like being a part of something.  I like accomplishing something physically hard. 

My body is not the shape I want.  I should say, it is a LARGER shape then I would like.  Today when I was running I thought about my children.  All 5 of them lived in my body and came out!  I am still alive and running for pete's sake.  That is pretty amazing.

    

Blue Man Group

Paul got tickets for Blue Man Group at Purdue this year.  We had never been and didn't know what the expect.  It was ok.  The kids enjoyed it.  Ruth was a little scared at the beginning but by the end was dancing along and cheering loud.  David liked when they poured cerceal on their faces.  Eden liked when they painted a man and imprinted him on a canvas. 

p.s.  Eden was trying to be serious like the blue man...she really did enjoy it. 

4 years old

Ruth Dawn is 4 years old today.  She wanted Millie and Claire to come over.  She wanted to pick out her own pink cupcakes at Sam's club.  She wanted a family party and to play on the McDonald's playground.  We accomplished them all.  Happy Birthday my girl.

Ruth loves her sister. 

David started the day off by making her breakfast in bed.  It consisted of: 1 kiwi, 1 knife, 1 string cheese, glass of water, 1 yogurt, 1 spoon.  He carried the tray to her room but Ruth did not want to wake up.  She is not a morning person.  David gave up and ate her breakfast on his bed :).  Ruthie woke up happy and I knew it was going to be a good day.

Ruth calls the twins "poop poop".

She loves carnation instant breakfast chocolate milk, sesame street, getting a donut from Target, helping me find a 2 cart at the grocery store, preschool, playing with friends, NOT combing her hair, swinging, shrimp, her baby doll Elizabeth, asking lots of questions, snap peas, jumping on the tramp with David and doing things herself.

Paul took her to the Purdue homecoming game last week.  Ruth loves to spend time with us.  She loves attention.  She was over the moon about going on a date with daddy. 

14 months

 The twins are both walking.  Ben started walking right at 13 months and Sam at about 13.5 months.  They both weigh 22 lbs.

 They also clap, wave, play peek-a-boo, pretend to talk on the phone, jump and fight over things.

They love balls.  I have learned that only one ball causes screaming, pinching, hitting, tackling and tears.  Usually Sam wins and Ben gives up and comes crying to me.  However, Ben has been known to hold his own.  My mother in law used to tell me, "they have to possessive before they can share."  Right now, we are in the possession phase.  They still put everything in their mouths.  Sand, grass, rocks, dirt, bugs, poop...you name it. 

They say: Dadda, Momma, Hi and Don't

One years old

The twins turned one in July!  ONE whole year.  365 days with these little guys. 

If I try really hard, I can remember a time without them.   That seems silly though because they are part of our family.  They have a permanent place in our hearts.  Everyone loves them.  They bring us so much joy.  Sam & Ben have twin boy cousins EXACTLY 6 years older than them, so it was super fun to be able to celebrate both sets of twins birthday together with family.

Ben Ben

Grandpa Ordyna

Grandma Ordyna

Papa & GiGi Garlock

Brigham & Benson turn 7!

I didn't get a picture of the whole crowd.  Darn. Paul said I could get a DNA test for the twins to end the discussion on whether they are identical or not.  Yes!  Best birthday present.  I'll keep you posted on the results.  

I love you babies.

Having 5 young kids stinks

I know they will grow up and I will miss these days.  I know these are priceless years.  I know, I do.  I do not mean to discount how blessed and truly bliss life is.  I love them, I really do.  However, seeing each day for what it really is keeps me grounded.  It increases my sympathy towards others.  I'm sorry to say that I can not look through rose colored glasses everyday.    

Let me be honest, each day with 5 small children is really hard.  The most overwhelming aspect of this whole motherhood thing is trying to keep an organize and tidy house.  You know what's funny?  I get the most frustrated on days when I am actually trying, really trying to keep my house in tact.  The days when I have been working hours organize toys, mopping, cleaning behind the toilet, washing walls, preparing dinner, folding laundry...those are the days when I feel like my house looks like a wreck!  It's crazy, haven't I been cleaning all day?

Today was one of those days.  I swear I cleaned the bathroom three times today (plus the twins had 2 baths).  Just now I walked past and it smelled like pee, 2 wet towels on the floor, a toilet paper unrolled and toothpaste on the counter.  That was one round of having the kids brush their teeth!

You are probably thinking, "Cyndi, you have a 7 year old and a 6 year old.  They can help you."  Yes, you are right.  They can and they do but it seems so minuscule.  Good gravy, it is so much work getting your kids to work.  It drains me. This is why I read parenting books....because I am not very efficient at managing my household.  Lately, all those parenting books (well, now I just read articles) have been stressing me out.  

I know I am in survival mode.

I remember when Eden was a baby and I struggled to keep the house tidy. One tiny little baby just sitting there doing nothing.  What was my problem?!  I have come a long ways though.

I miss being on vacation and not having to worry about if my ceiling fan is dusted.

Thanks.  I feel better now.

What a mess

The twins are so darn cute and so darn messy.    

First day of school

 Eden started 2nd grade.  She wanted her hair to look like Tinkerbell.  David started 1st grade.  He didn't care what he looked like, as long as he got to carry an umbrella in his backpack.

These silly kids are ready for school!

Happy Father's Day

Ruth has been difficult these past couple of weeks.  Paul is finally coming home today after 5 days of travel. He was also gone last weekend and really hasn't been around much since April.  Today when I hopelessly failed at trying to get her to do ANYTHING, I concluded that it is because Paul isn't here.  This is a girl who needs her dad.  He is always looking out for her.  He seems to know just what to do to earn her respect.  I think he spoils her but maybe she needs that.  We are all happy to have Dad home.  I think Ruth is the happiest.  

Happy Father's Day Paul.  

what 11 months look like

Oatmeal Analogy

Every morning Paul eats a big bowl of oatmeal with berries.  He puts a little sugar & skim milk in it.  That's good, right?  Oatmeal is good?  But it could be better.  So, I come in and suggest he tries steal cut oats.  Maybe some almond milk and nuts.  He would be eating less sugar, more fiber, feel better and probably lose weight.  So, he concedes to my petition and tries it.  He eats it.  I grill him about what he thinks about the steal cuts oats.  I want him to love it.  I want him to get excited about it.  I decide I will serve steal cut oats to the whole family every morning.  I share this with him and he nods at my new ambition.  I get defensive because I want more enthusiasm.  I'm frustrated that I was the one who even had to think this up.  How are we married, we are so different?  Doesn't he care about our children's health?  Doesn't he want to be healthier?

The next morning when I come in the kitchen he is eating frosted flakes.  I get flustered and rant about how different we are, how he doesn't support me, how he doesn't listen, how he is selfish, etc.

I throw my hands in the air and pout in my room.  No breakfast is made for my children.  They have frosted flakes too.  I give up.   

Let's stop here. 

He eats oatmeal every day.  Which is good.  Why did I disturb this? (because I saw room for improvement)

My husband is good.  My children are good.  I see the good.  I also see the bad.  Even though the voices in my head whisper, "you could be doing better" or "you're not trying hard enough".  I will try to silence them.  I know they can lead me down a path of never feeling good enough.  Of always striving for better and not enjoying the present for what it truly is.  

I am ok with oatmeal in the morning.  I think once I truly accept that, he will start eating steal cut oats.   

*This is just an analogy that may only make sense to me.  Although the oatmeal eating is true, some of the other embellished details aren't.  

10 months

Eden's dance recital

Beauty School drop out  video HERE

Buzz cut

 The twin's hair was getting long.  I wanted to trim the sides up but scissors and squirmy babies made me nervous.  So, I got out the buzzers.  

Here is Sam before...

now look at him.

Ruth was trying to get them to smile.  She has so much fun playing with the twins during the day.See Ben doesn't like his hair long...

 now that's better.

No more baby hair.  They look so much older and bigger!  It is much easier to clean them up. They love to feed themselves and food gets EVERYWHERE!

Accomplished

I feel accomplished today.

I cleaned the church, took the kids to a birthday party, dug up 3 small trees and a bush, swept the front porch, took the kids on a bike ride (which included Eden & Ruth in the trailer...sheesh), attended a stake activity, picked up a friend's son and babysat him, read scriptures, played a game, laid church clothes out and got them all to sleep by 8:30pm.

...and you thought this blog was all about those twins!


P.S.  I have to give credit to Paul.  He cleaned all the bathrooms in the church , pulled one tree out of the ground, bathed the twins (and basically took care of the twins all day), made dinner and did a load of laundry.

9 months

Ben 19 lbs & Sam 19 lbs 11.8oz

The babies are 9 months.  They are so adorable.  Everyday I squeeze and kiss them.  Their little hands, those little teeth, their open mouth smiles.  They are really good babies.  They follow me around the house and put everything in their mouths.   We love them so much.

Pulling up

Ben is pulling himself up and standing.  Yesterday I walked in the kitchen and saw this.

 

 So far, Ben has been the ringleader.  He was the first to roll over, sit up, crawl and now pull himself up. He also popped his two bottom teeth out first and currently has two top teeth popping out.

Evidently Sam follows along. Sam is taking the lead on weight though.  It is fun to watch these two boys.