Ooops! Wrong Video

Sorry, I posted the wrong video last time. I know it shouldn't be hard to get it right when there were only two videos to choose from. But what can I say? I'm talented.

One Picture OR 1,000 Words?

For some reason we only took one picture this week. I'm not sure why. We did get a couple of videos, but the lighting is really poor, so they are hard to see.

Hmmmm... when written like that it makes us (Janine and I) sound like slackers. Since it is a political season, I'll put some spin on what I just wrote.

In the short space of just under a week, we managed to document a thousand words on the boys lives. Furthermore, we preserved two video clips for future generations, and we did that with nothing but a camera and perseverance. That's why we're qualified to be the parents. Now, if you support our continued parenthood, I propose a 10,000 fund (*thinking in my head* "paid by the blog readers") to fund a new set of camera equipment, so that you the blog readers--the people--can get more documentation of the twins lives. Furthermore, I want to establish an oversight committee to ensure a continued stream of pictures, videos, and supporting text continues to be posted each week.

How was that as a spin? Well, maybe it only works for politicians.

Here's the pic of the boys relaxing on the couch.














Sumo wrestling.

Kisses

I think that this is a post title I've used before...

I'm trying to remember this past week, but the only thing that stands out is the terrible, awful, no-good day on Monday. And you probably don't want to hear about that.

Ha!

Too bad for you. Here's a quick run down: The electrician that Nick was waiting for showed up 45 minutes late and proceeded to chat all about his horrifying personal life while fixing our broken outlets, one of which immediately resumed its nonfunctional state. I got to hear about all this on the way from the gym, when Nick called me from the top of Highland Drive to say the purple car died. Luckily (bright spot!) Erik helped him get it towed to Big-O, where they replaced the distributor cap for $550. Fun. Meanwhile, I had a terrible Costco trip, came home & fed the boys, and put them down for their nap. Whew! Ah, not quite...seems that oh, an hour later (after repeated warnings from me--I didn't just not check on them ever) I peeked at them to discover two boys naked from the waist down, with gooey brown stuff smeared all over their cribs...uh oh...

So that was the end of nap time for Monday, and the start of bath time. I think something else terrible happened, but I probably blocked it out because at this point I was laughing-to-keep-from-crying, you know?

The rest of the week was much better, thanks.

Here is a cute pic of Sarah, who watched the boys for us on Weds so we could take yoga together. Fun.

And, the video is Reid giving the camera kisses. He's a sweetie.

5 Years

Five years and two kids later, Janine and I are still alive and in love. We are also more occupied than previously, which is why there are no pictures of our five year anniversary yesterday. Despite the lack of pictures, we had a fun day and have a little getaway planned on a different weekend.

We had a fun week with Michelle visiting from Phoenix, although we secretly resented the beautiful weather there and snowy weather here--yes it has already snowed here. Actually, I think we openly resented the weather. Anyway, she stayed with us from Wednesday until Saturday; we had a great time playing games and hanging out.

We took the boys to the zoo this last week. They seemed to really like it, although Reid had the attention of a fig newton. His longest look at any given animal was 1.325 seconds, which is as long as he does about anything "nondestructive."

Reid knows "hot" since the foot burn incident, and practices limited caution when assaulting the oven.














Janine and Reid checking out the animals at the zoo.














Gager-bear hugging his toy monkey.














Michellecula.














Gager says "bear."

Lovin'

I always compose lots of funny and interesting posts in my head during the week, but when it is my turn to finally sit down and type something, every clever anecdote I mentally created completely vanishes. Which is why the actual posts I write tend toward random weirdness. That and I usually post late at night after a long day of mind-sucking chaos. But really, I love my kids. Wait! I just remembered one. I was going to make a list of great things about being a stay-at-home mom. I tend to complain a lot, as do many moms I know, because this job is incredibly hard and--let's face it--unpaid. But, the truth is, most of us would fight to continue, and it is because underneath, we know it really is a pretty sweet deal. Here are a few reasons I came up with:
1. I can stay in my pajamas if I want to. Not that I recommend doing this on a regular basis--it is demoralizing. But, sometimes you've been up all night, or the kids get sick, or something happens to throw everything out of whack. And it is great that you don't have to call or make excuses to anyone, you can just relax and have a bummy day. Because even if you just make Mac 'n cheese and slim fast for dinner (I have never nor do I know anyone who may or may not have even thought of doing this)you are still there with your kids.
2. I can pick at projects. Meaning, except for essential stuff, if I have a project that consumes me, I can spend all my free time (currently 24 minutes and 11 seconds somewhere between 9:00 and 10:00 pm on nights with a full moon) working on it. Which is fun. Sure, there is always other stuff to do, but I don't have a deadline.
3. I see all the funny things my kids do. This is obviously a given, but seriously, I have the cutest kids in the world. The rest of you are just biased towards your own kids, and can't see clearly that mine are, in fact, the cutest. Reid will grab your face with both hands and pull you in for a kiss. Gage is trying so hard to speak that he delivers soliloquies in his little language all day long. He's probably making very deep philosophical comments--mostly about shoes, as far as I can tell.
4. I get to read books. Sometimes. Still, what a bonus.
5. I can go outside, take the kids for a walk, go shopping, etc. whenever the mood strikes. As long as I'm willing to pack around two toddlers who will in all likelihood bite and/or hit each other if placed adjacent for more than three minutes. It gets boring at Costco, but mommy and brother's reactions are funny. Violence=entertainment. Apparently.
6. I don't feel like I'm killing time waiting to get back to real life, which used to happen all the time. Not at my last job, but before that--even at school sometimes. This is real life.
7. Everyday something precious happens, something funny happens, something frustrating and something sweet.
8. I get to fill the boys heads with the things I think are important. Sure, they will stop listening soon (maybe they already have) but for now I am their #1 source for information. I am Google.
9. I get to drive a minivan, which may sound geeky to most of you, but that's only because you are still clinging to your coolness and haven't embraced the incredible utility that is a minivan. Seriously--a Swiss army knife on wheels. Try it.
10. My job performance isn't measured in statistics and reports. If you need any further proof of #'s 3 & 7 check out the stuff below. Feel free to add to my list--it was better before, when it was just in my head. Joel and Brittany came down for Conference. Reid loves them: Because Joel & Brittany where here, and graciously watched the boys for us quite a bit, Nick and I were able to lock ourselves in the boys room and paint while we listened to conference. Apparently I was channelling Grandma Skousen when I picked out the paint color--it reminds me of Grandpa's den. The plants (which I was painting, on my knees, until 2 am. Yes, I did it free hand. It's just curvy lines with footballs on the end. Don't be impressed with my artistic prowess) really help soften the abundant green. We like it. Reid seeing his room for the first time:
We love this video--but heed the warning: you might want twins after watching this. Don't be fooled.