Allison's "smell"

So kids get attached to blankets, dolls, stuffed animals, etc.  I was told that as much as you want them to like a particular "lovie" or blanket they will decide on their own what their comfort item will be.  Allison chose her sleep sack.  The kids all slept in sleep sacks since they were babies.  Ben got out of his when he switched to the big boy bed so I thought it was time to do the same with Allison.  (Samantha ditched hers months ago, when she could get out of it even when zipped on backwards).  However, since the sleep sack is Allison's comfort item I couldn't just take it away all together.  I got out the scissors and cut the zipper and the bottom part off so she was left with a small blanket with arm holes....but more importantly the two shoulder seams that she likes to smell.  The two funny parts of the story are now that the bottom is cut off she can wear this thing around all day (not what I was going for) so we might need to figure out how to address that problem.  The second cute thing is sometimes she asks me "where's the smell?"......then I help her find the seams where her "smell" is.

Girls 2 year pictures

The girls were very excited to have their pictures taken but I couldn't get them to smile very much.  In any case the pictures turned out great because my friend and photographer is amazing :)

Girls move to big girl beds!!

The girls had started crawling out of their cribs and/or into each others cribs back in May.  I wanted to keep them in cribs as long as possible.....I heard many stories of the craziness that happened when twins  shared a room and moved to beds.  We scolded them for awhile, pulled their cribs apart but a few weeks ago we couldn't keep them in anymore, they were hopping out every morning and at night.  So, on to toddler beds we go.  It took all day to take down the cribs and assemble the new beds.  

Night 1 was not so good.  I told them to stay in their beds but no luck they were both out jumping on the beds, crawling into each others beds, pulling off all the covers, taking all the books out, taking clothes out of the drawers, flipping the lights on and off....mommy was stressed!  We went back in a few times and removed light bulbs, scolded them for pulling clothes out of the drawer, and told them to get back in bed, but they didn't end up going to sleep until around 10:30ish which was about 2 hours past when they usually fall asleep.  In the morning, up earlier than usual and causing the same chaos.  Allison my good sleeper looked exhausted and just sat in Grandma's lap all morning.  I felt so bad for her.  So the next day we separated the two girls.  Allison is in the new room (was the loft recently turned into a bedroom) which is where she had been napping since last March anyway.  

Night 2 was sooooo much better.  Allison stayed in bed and has every night since then, and stays in bed in the morning too until I come to get her.  Samantha we usually need to go in 1-3 times and make her get back in bed but she has gone to sleep well and even sleeps in later in the morning and seems to be taking better naps too!  I know from our experience with Ben that things might get more difficult later but for now, happy with how the transition is going!

Curious George at the Children's Museum

It was the last week of Curious George at the Children's Museum and we finally got the kids there.  Ben watches George every morning when he wakes up and crawls in bed with mommy and daddy.   The girls love George too.  Here are some pictures from our visit.

If you have ever watched George this is a mini remake of the lobby where the man in the yellow hat and George live.

They had a program with some songs, etc then George came out at the end.  Ben and Samantha were not afraid of him or the crowed, but Allison is in Daddy's arms.  She didn't want to get to close to him.

Rooftop activities

Samantha was running all over the place,  we had a hard time keeping track of her.  This time she was "washing the deck".

On the way out we saw George again and gave him some hugs :)

BIG playdate!

Chris's annual trip to Cragun's was recently and the gals and kids got together at our house for a huge playdate!  We had lunch and then got out the pool and water toys.  The kiddos had a blast and the mommy's had to get sitters and go out for dinner later that night so we can actually talk to each other.

Lunch table 1

Lunch table 2

Dessert...by the end this shirt was VERY stained and I am still trying to get them out! 

Samantha enjoying a fudge pop

Letting the air out of the pool

Then watching the water run out of the pool

Backyard Camping

The weather cooperated with our weekend plans finally :)  Chris and Ben had a camp out in the backyard.  We setup the tent in the afternoon and blew up the air mattress.  The kids loved jumping on the air mattress and then they would climb out the window, run around then tent and then go back in the door, and of course do it all over again.  We borrowed the neighbor's fire pit and so we could do a campfire and smores.  

Chris and Ben slept in the tent but apparently not well.  After going to bed late it took them awhile to fall asleep, after having to make a trip back into the house to use the bathroom of course.  Chris said it got pretty cold out and was a little windy.  Chris kept asking Ben if he wanted to go back in the house when he would wake up but he said no.  At 5 am when Chris couldn't sleep because of all the neighbors sprinklers going off (at least we remembered to turn of ours :) Chris finally told Ben it was time to go inside.  They slept on the couch together until the rest of us got up.  He had a great time but needed a day or so to catch up on his sleep!  Daddy needed a nap the next day too :)

Allison being silly

He loved the marshmallows!!

Snuggled up ready for bed!

Vacation!!

We took Ben on a vacation up north with some of the neighbors.  We were at Ruttgers on Bay Lake.  The kids played great together and the parents had a blast catching up and relaxing.  We swam in the pool, went for a pontoon ride, cooked brats and smores.  We even had an exciting evening when the power went out.

Dinner on Friday night

The whole crew

Saturday we rented a pontoon, Ben's first time on a boat!

Checking out the water

First time fishing!!

Docked the boat and went swimming!

Ben liked the water volleyball

Water volleyball

Driving the boat!

So much fun!

Trying to make a fire so we could make smores!!

First time roasting marshmallows.

Ben and Maddy playing ipad games together.

Lawn games!

The ladies and yummy evening drinks!

Eating smores

Good Friends :)