"Bums" Up!

Night time is going fabulously in the new toddler beds.

Nap time, not so much.

Lets just say the boys have gotten really bad at napping and really good at pulling every book, toy, outfit off their bookshelf and evenly distributing it on their bedroom floor.

Today is the first day in almost 2 weeks that the boys went right in after lunch, got real quiet and fell asleep with minimal playing, squealing, laughing.

...we're going on 3 hours now.  I kid you not.

Finally some "me time."

(...and by "me time" I mean "laundry, cleaning, dish washing time.")

I just couldn't help myself taking this photo.

Even if it meant possibly waking them up.

Total cuteness!

Don't you think?

Wanted: Desitin Delinquint

For those of you interested in knowing how our transition to toddler beds is going,  I'll be posting soon on the beds, nap time, etc.  For now, here's what I walked into this morning at 6:45:

The Crime Scene

The Evidence

The Guilty Party

(No need for a trial.  The paste on his face totally gives it away.)

Snuggles

Boys bed time: 7:30pm.

Andrew on mattress on floor.

Wesley in crib.

Minimal talking/giggling overheard on monitor.

Figured boys must be tired.

Checked in on them around 10:00pm.

Andrew not on mattress.

Andrew not on floor.

Both were in Wesley's crib.

Found him snuggled together with his brother.

Just like they were in my belly (only with less kicking!)

I left them right where they were.

They seemed quite happy.

And I was, too.

Monkey Blood

Andrew and Wesley both received several blood transfusions in the first few days of their lives.

I think there was a terrible mistake made in the hospital.

I believe Andrew was accidentally given monkey blood.

He literally climbs out and in (yes, in - found him in Wesley's crib several times now) in a matter of seconds.  28 to be exact.

Out of all these shots, I think my favorite one is his "ta-dah" shot.

He's pretty pleased with his dismount, don't you think.

The crib tent is working great at my parent's house, but I think we'll move right to the bed, here.

Andrew's mattress is now on the floor until we make his toddler bed.

It's in the works.

Most of the time, he falls asleep (after at least an hour of giggling) somewhere near the mattress.  If he's lucky, he gets half of his body on it by the time he finally passes out.

I wonder if he's dreaming about bananas...

{Way Back When-esday} Pregnancy Photo

April 02, 2009, 16 weeks pregnant with twins.

I just came across this photo and I'm remembering the joys, as well as the aches, pains and morning sickness of carrying twins.  I took this photograph of myself almost exactly 2 years ago to the day, when I was 16 weeks pregnant with Wesley and Andrew. 

When I took this photo...

1. The shock was still sinking in that I was having TWO babies

2  I wouldn't find out for another two weeks that they were both boys

3. I was morning/allday-sickness free for only about one week.

4. I was 22 weeks away from meeting my two favorite little men.

Have a warm memory from the past? Play along with Cheryl from Twinfatuation!

{Recipe} Mom's Almond Puff Pastry

Flickr Photo Credit: honesthappenstance

I wanted to share a recipe that my mom has been making for years.  I shared it with some friends this morning, and as usual, it was a crowd hit.  If you want to impress the in-laws this at Easter brunch with an easy homemade pastry, this recipe is for you!  Just click on the link:

Almond Puff Pastry

There are two recipes per page, so print it out, and give one to a friend!

This is my first time sharing via  Scribd, so if you have problems accessing the file, let me know in the comment section, leave me your email and I can send you the word document.

Enjoy!

Got Yardstick?

Toddler-proof.

This is my house.

Once, I used to grab a fork and knife and think nothing of it.

Now I have to think.

Struggle.

Curse.

This contraption was a last resort, and it works.

At first we just used a yardstick.

Perfect, until the twins learned how to slide it up out of the drawer handles.

Next, I put Ikea bag clips in between the handles, clipped around the yardstick. Again, it worked until they figured out the darn clips.

Here is the final product.   Totally twin-proof!!

Sure, it takes me 3 minutes to get a teaspoon, but the boys are safe, and my utensils stay off the floor.

Next is the entertainment center.

Looks pretty classy, eh?

(By classy, I mean trashy, but again...it works)

Cardboard, painters tape and plexiglass. Oh my!

As much as I'd love my boys to stay little forever, I can't wait until they are old enough to understand what don't touch means.

 What innovative twin-proofing ideas have you come up with?

Recycle, Reuse, Make Cash!

For the past few weeks, I have been very busy during the boys naps and after their bedtime.

Busy washing, sorting, scrubbing, hanging, ironing and tagging.

My bff got me hooked on participating in a huge children's consignment sale twice a year.

AMAZING and GENIUS.

This was my second sale.

I'm not going to lie, it's a lot of work to prepare for, but if you're done using your childrens' stuff (bottles, clothes, playpens, strollers, clothes, wagons, clothes, bikes, clothes, shoes, toys, clothes, books, ...and oh, did I mention clothes?) there is someone out there willing to buy it secondhand.

Garage sales are great, but people come looking for all sorts of things and personally, I can't stand someone asking me if I'd take a quarter for junk that's clearly worth fifty cents.

At the Mothertime Marketplace Consignment Sale, people are looking specifically for children's products and clothes.  They wait in a line to get inside the doors, and they wait in even longer lines to purchase the discounted goods; some stuff brand new with tags, and all items 50-75% (or more) off original retail value.

You set your own prices.

Awesome.

I underprice my items, but I bring very little home with me after the sale.

A mere $10 allows you to consign, and you keep 70% of your sales.

Wish I thought of this idea.

My bestie Melisa grabbed as many outfits for her 3 daughters as her arms could hold during the consignor pre-sale.

After assisting behind the registers for a second time, I've seen many people spend well over $400.  It's really not that unusual.  Some have to make several trips out to their cars, carrying bags and bags of gently used goodies.

 Being a mom of multiples, I've always taken whatever people have offered me secondhand.   I knew I couldn't afford all new things (especially in quantities of 2), nor did I need to have them.  There are definitely moms out there that want everything brand new, but that was never me. I was always glad (and still am) to reuse and help recycle.

Look for a sale like this in your area.

Invest the time and energy of being a consignor.

For those mommas that have trouble 'letting go', I'd suggest saving a few favorite outfits, and saying goodbye to the rest.  Cut that cord, girls! The check you'll get in the mail will make all the pain go away!