Twin Girls?

Sunday we were invited to Aunt Susie and Uncle Pat's for a BBQ. The guests of honor were Steve's cousin, Jamie, her husband, and daughter Jovey, who flew in from Washington. Jovey is nine months old and outweighs Cassidy by a pound. The resemblance between the two babies is incredible! Everyone kept commenting on how the two girls looked more like twins than Patrick and Cassidy. We can't wait to see more of baby Jovey (and her parents!) this weekend.

Practice Makes Perfect

Jackson and Genevive (Jake and Viva) celebrated their first birthday today! Happy 1st Birthday twins!!! It is so wonderful to have friends so close in age, and the right genders too! Not only are the babies good friends but Kara and I are as well. This last year would not have been the same without the Altman gang. We look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with you!

Patrick had the opportunity to practice for his first birthday, and dug into a very talentedly (no this isn't a word but I like it!) decorated cupcake. He enjoyed getting dirty and made quite the mess! Cassidy ate animal crackers..........I'm still contemplating how we're going to make a cake without eggs. Cassidy was a little upset about not getting her own cupcake. She' s already perfecting the "I'm mad at you" glare.

I Remember You...........

We have an annual zoo pass. In my mind expenditures such as this need to be justified. If the pass cost x amount of dollars then we need to go at least x amount of times to break even. While we have definitely justified the zoo pass, today's visit confirmed my math. When we entered and gave the attendant our name she said, "I remember you, go ahead" and in we went. Ahhh, to feel like a VIP at the zoo!

BOB, as you already know, was a large expenditure that I continually try to justify as well. I try to use him at least once a day and more if the opportunity presents itself. Today in a combined effort to save gas, use BOB, get some exercise, and enjoy the sun we walked/jogged to the zoo. We were meeting Kara and the kids there. After setting out and walking for a few minutes it suddenly dawned on me that perhaps the zoo was farther than I had envisioned. A quick call to Kara to relay the message that we might be running late, followed by a "Are you crazy? The zoo is three miles away!" soon confirmed that we would be late. In an effort to hurry, I ran the straights and downhills and power walked the uphills. The zoo is three miles diagonally uphill so to say the least I was a bit tired when we finally arrived. We had fun and got to see the Siberian tigers, our newest arrivals. Going home was sheer downhill bliss.

Here are a few pictures of the babies during bath time tonight. They had an introduction to bubbles!

Conquering the Grass

We had sun again today! Naturally wanting to make the most of this short lived gift we headed off to find an adventure. Every Tuesday at noon, during the summer, the library has different live music playing. Today was Irish music. We decided going to library without actually going inside would be a wasted trip so we went to Lap-Sit sing-a-long. The twins were much more interested in the other children then the stories being read, but I think they had a good time. Mother Goose is more our speed.

We had quite the crew for our picnic. Count them, yes, 7 children!!!! Patrick and Cassidy were so wonderful. While the other mothers were running around trying to keep track of where their children had run off to, I thought about how lucky I was. My two little darling children stayed on the blanket and played with their toys and ate their snacks. They are (or at that point were) still afraid of grass. When we got home the sun was still shining. We decided to play outside! The twins were so good at lunch I envisioned weeding, watering the flowers, and putzing around the yard as they played. Ironically enough as soon as they were let loose on our lawn off they zoomed in opposite directions. Cassidy headed straight for the street and Patrick headed under the car.
Patrick and Cassidy sure were excited to see Daddy when he got home from work today!

Fish Please!

After a few weeks of family commitments Steve finally was able to head down to Homer. We packed up Friday morning and were on the highway by noon.......a new family record. The weather was gorgeous Friday night and Saturday, the boys caught their limit of Halibut, and Aunt Jenna and I took our cooking skills to a whole new level. Sunday we woke up to pouring rain and weren't sad to pack up and head home. Payton's friend, Chris, caught his first fish
Sissy stayed up until almost midnight for Solstice and enjoyed Daddy's hat.

Pate and Patchy snuggled in the rain
It's hard to sleep with your brother and sister crawling all over you, but Pate is the master of sleeping through anything.

Cassidy was in an exceptionally good snuggling mood. She sure loves her brother!

We had a wonderful weekend, and most importantly nothing imperative was forgotten, going down or coming back.

Summer Fun

It was sunny today! Two days of sun in a row; it hasn't happened yet this summer and we decided to make the most of it. First we headed to the zoo for story time. Today was goat day. We read the three bill goats gruff, another goat book, and sang goat songs. Then we got to go behind the scenes at the zoo and get a close look at the new baby mountain (surprise surprise) goat. We spent some time walking around the zoo and checking out the animals and then we headed home to refuel and change. An hour later we were back on the road and headed over to Lynn Ary Park. We played for an hour or so and then decided to go for a walk. Six miles later and a few hours we decided it was time to go home! As soon as we walked in the door it was refueling and changing time again and within an hour we were once more out the door. Next stop-baseball. Patrick was quite fussy and on the verge of a major meltdown so an hour and a half later we had to head home for bed. We all had fun and enjoyed as much of the sun as we possibly could squeeze in.

Two Too

Patrick joined the ranks of the two tooth crew yesterday. Now both babies have their two front bottom teeth. If only these teeth would become photogenic. Stay tuned and hopefully one day soon wonderful pictures will appear.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day Daddy!!!

Tooth number 2

Tooth number two goes to Cassidy. So far she just has to stay one step ahead of her brother. Pictures of these elusive teeth? Well my camera battery is dead and she isn't in a cooperative mood!

Patrick the Juggernaut

Juggernaut-a massive inexorable force, campaign, movement, or object that crushes whatever is in its path.

This is the lovely distinction Patrick was bestowed by his great grandmother. "Patrick is a juggernaut," she was heard saying multiple times during her stay. This quite accurately describes my son. Whatever is in his path he tries to shove out of the way (including me!). His sister suffers the brunt of his (how do I say this politely) show of strength. She is plowed down multiple times a day if she happens to be standing in the way of something Patrick wants. He loves to steal whatever toy is currently in her grasp, and he doesn't hesitate to shove her out of my lap when he considers it HIS turn to be the center of the universe. So Patrick the Juggernaut it is!

*As a side note we, as parents, we do not in any way shape or form condone this kind of behavior.

10 Months!

The twins are 10 months old today. It seems like every month that passes goes more quickly then the last. Sometimes I wish I could press pause and relish their current stage, the chubby fingers and legs, the adorable baby smiles, that look of recognition when I enter a room..........then screaming ensues and once again I come to my senses.

So what exciting things have happened this month? The twins both have their first tooth! As long as there is something to hold onto they can walk! They zoom around the L shaped couch, the fireplace hearth, and tall toys. They both have started to sit with one knee bent underneath their bottoms and the other leg in an upright position. As soon as they put some force into that downward foot they will learn how to stand on their own!
The differences between boys and girls have become more distinct this month. Patrick loves to bang things around. The cups in the bath tub, toys on the fireplace, and his latest favorite- his toy hammer against the wall. He has become very attached to this hammer and once I even let him take it to bed. Later, from downstairs, I heard banging on the wall coming from above. Knowing Patrick was the culprit I peaked in the nursery door to discover Patrick standing in his crib happily banging away on the wall. Was he trying to let me know he was NOT ready for a nap? He gave up eventually and fell asleep, chubby fingers still firmly clutching his green plastic hammer. Patrick also loves buttons, the TV and anything else electronic is wonderful. In a not so manly interest he has developed quite the shoe fetish this month. Who needs toys when there is an entire array of shoes by the door. His favorites? His daddy's black shiny work shoes and great grandmother's red shiny shoes. A pink blanket and a shoe fetish? Hmmmm...........

He also loves his dad's baseball hats. He will drag them around the entire house. Such determination is astounding to me. If there is a toy he wants he will get that very same toy. Don't try to distract him with something else. Once he sets his mind on something watch out world if he doesn't get it. I can already envision temper tantrums at the grocery store!

Cassidy seems so much more girly......and surprise surprise she is one. If she finds a toy that has particularly struck her fancy she will casually crawl away with it in her hand. Then she will sit, with her back to Patrick, and play with her treasure. She has learned that anything she has, he wants, and instead of fighting back she has devised her own clever way around her brother. When Patrick does possessively steal her toys away she crawls off and finds something new to play with. She never gets mad, or cries, or seems phased in the least.........that is unless he steals her pacifier! Cassidy loves bubbles, books, and her wooden activity cube. She studies the world, taking everything in. Those large cornflower blue eyes already seem so wise. I can already tell she will think before she acts, even now I feel like I can watch her thought process. Those eyes survey and size up whatever situation she finds herself in. She won't let just anybody hold her. She has to know the person, and not just know them, but like them. Patrick will leap to anyone with a smile, no second thoughts. She is so reserved and "proper".......can I use that word to describe a baby?

Next month may hold standing and possibly walking. No matter what happens it is sure to be exciting!

Great Grandmother is here!

The twins great grandmother flew into town on Saturday. We had a week of fun with her! Among our many adventures we drove down to Girdwood and had brunch at he Bakeshop, dined out nearly every day for lunch, visited the Native Hospital, and saw grandpa!

Patrick's First Tooth!

Patrick's first tooth finally poked through last night! He has suffered a very long time, drooling everywhere, chewing on anything he can fit in his mouth, and crying inconsolably when his swollen gums are hurting. It seems like he has been teething since he was a few months old. Steve and I could see those pearly white teeth just under his gums, but no matter how much pain he was in they didn't break through the gums. Today he can join his sister in the exclusive half a tooth club. Amazingly enough they both have the very same half a tooth; the bottom right. One day soon perhaps we will be able to capture these elusive teeth in a picture!

Garden Days

I have always loved flowers. They look gorgeous, they smell wonderful, and they add such personality to a home. Until today I admired flowers from afar; now we are very proud flower owners. While I had always admired flowers I never knew ANYTHING about them. Today our family went to Bell's Nursery and wandered around the greenhouse overflowing with every imaginable flower. My fellow shoppers seemed to walk those flower rows with such purpose and confidently filled their carts with mountains of color. Our family wandered around and I tentatively began to pick and fill our cart. My basis for choosing these flowers...........well they looked pretty.

When we got home I enthusiastically put the babies outside to play and began to plant my precious purchases. A few hours later, covered in dirt, I smiled at Steve and declared, "We have our very first garden!" He nodded, and not wanting to completely deflate me said, "The flowers look great, but I think you need some vegetables to constitute a garden." Well regardless of what we have; I love the added color and perhaps next year I'll throw in a few veggies so we will officially have a garden.