Four Car Seats, Three Moms: A Trip to the Zoo

A couple of weeks ago I went to the National Zoo with 2 friends and their babies. It was one of those days near 70 degrees and we just couldn't fathom staying inside. I love the National Zoo. They have a lot of animals I've never seen before. The monkeys are outside once in a while walking above the sidewalks between two parallel hanging ropes. Here are some highlights.

Have you ever seen a real, live panda? There are three at our zoo. A daddy, mommy, and baby, of course. They are great fun. Once we saw the baby up in a tree scratching its leg. I don't know how it was going to get down from there. This is the daddy panda eating some bamboo for lunch.

For the Sandra Boynton fans, here's "But not the Hippopotamus." They are enormous!


Our friends with the boys in front of the flamingos. It's getting a little harder to keep the boys happy in the stroller these days. Since they started walking they want to get out and go where they want to go - always 2 different directions, of course.


We got to see them feed the elephants before they went back out to enjoy the sunshine.

Michael Bear

Since I last posted I have been called to teach early morning seminary two days a week - just scripture mastery - and it's making me very, very tired. Imagine jet lag every Monday morning. I teach Mondays and Tuesdays and just about recover from feeling like I've been hit over the head with a 2"x4" in time for the weekend. Naps have taken on a renewed priority and blogging, well, not so much. Seminary is great, though. On the days when I am very prepared, I come home feeling so happy. I know it's important for me to study the scriptures more and the students really need to be spiritually fed before they go off to the great and spacious buildings they call high schools.

So, fair is fair and I took these pictures of Michael right after the ones of Sam, but haven't gotten around to posting them.That being said, here is the photo shoot of Michael! Josh did a better job that I did at capturing some of his classic moods.

This one is the adorabley sweet look he gives us when he is happy and content, which is most of the time. He was understandably pleased with himself for getting and eating a bite off of the fork.

This one is for Josh's family. You will all understand. A "chip off the old block" and Pepaw's kindred spirit with the ketchup bottle.Here's a shot where he looks like he's about 40 years old. Sometimes he gives me these looks and I cannot treat him like a baby. He's a grown up inside that little body.


Here he is growling like any one of a dozen animals who growl: dinosaur, lion, bear, giraffe (well, what does a giraffe say?)

Michael loves learning new things. Especially the names of things. I think he's going to be an early talker. He still likes to snuggle, be chased around, and eat potatoes in any form. He pats his brother on the head when they're in the stroller together and loves his stuffed animal monkey like a baby. He makes friends easily and flirts with abandon. He has learned to dance by walking backwards quickly and bobbing his head up and down like a head-banger. He loves reading books and dancing with me before he goes to sleep. He's our social "animal" and we couldn't love him more!

Mini Me

Here's a few pictures of our lovey-dovey Sammy. He looks so much like my baby pictures, he shares my food sensitivities, and he is and easily startled - all like me - so we call him "Mini-me." Here's his most recent photo-shoot.

Is that flash-thing going to go off? Oh! It did! It's soooo bright!


This face just begs to be kissed.

This is a little premature adolescence. No pun intended. He's pouting because I wouldn't give him the camera.

Close up with those expressive eyebrows.

And, that's a wrap. We found out just how long he would sit still and pose, but at least we can see his cute teeth in this one.

Christmas!

Christmas celebrations are made for kids. We are so tired but had so much fun with the boys. We managed to have the presents ready and a yummy breakfast of sausage, eggs, french toast and hot chocolate which the boys thoroughly enjoyed. They are just now exploring all of the new toys but the new sippie cups from cousin Linda were and instant hit.


Technicaly, it wasn't their first Christmas, but last year at 2 weeks old, they didn't react much to the activities. On Christmas Eve we went to Debbie and John's for a great of ham, citrus ginger sweet potatoes, homemade rolls, Amazing Salad, and Swedish rice pudding. It was all followed by a fun Christmas program. Michael and Sam loved dancing through the house singing "Nu Ar Det Yul Igen."

Last year Micahel was the baby Jesus, though but this year he made a dashing shepherd with a striking resemblance to a Jedi Youngling in his khaki gettup.








Sam and I were wise men. As this is possibly the worst picture of me EVER just look at Sam putting the crown on his own head. Way to go, Sammy!
The best part of Christmas was two Sundays before when Josh and I turned on all of the twinkle lights and wrapped the boys' gifts while we watched A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott. We opened one present that night - snowmen hot chocolate mugs with a frother and some Williams Sonoma peppermint hot chocolate from Dave and Liz. It really felt like Christmas. All month Michael has been pointing at the nativity sets and lights and tree and asking me "That?" I have loved showing them to him and explaining what Christmas is and why we have it. I tried to explain that without Jesus there would be no Christmas, no earth, no hope, no light, no . . . anything! All of this transpired while listening to Christmas music and feeling so grateful for the Savior and for children to teach about Him.

Another highlight was attending the local Lucia program on Saturday, December 15 at the Sweden House Swedish embassy in Washington. It turned out to be a performance for families only, no audience, and as I danced around the tree holding Sam, I cried with joy. He loved it and I was so happy to be passing on that tradition. We may be able to have the boys be star boys next year!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

So, because it was the first one with the boys aware of things and because I practically slept through it last year, this Christmas will be one I always remember.

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday!

Happy 1st Birthday(s)

Happy Birthday to Michael and Samuel! Although they were still recovering from the stomach flu, Michael and Sam were still able to enjoy their birthday.

The day was pretty low-key with the exception of several spontaneous performances of the Happy Birthday song by mommy, but as dinner time approached I decided that sick or not, you have to have a cake on your birthday. So I made a vanilla cake - two 9" rounds - and frosted one in blue for Michael and one in green for Sam. Those have become their colors for things like bath towels, sippy cups and toothbrushes.

Josh got home early and we all ate dinner together. The boys were thrilled with their birthday cards. They kicked and giggled and spend a long time looking at and comparing them. They liked Granny's the best with the little boy and his dog in a rocket. Granny knows boys!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

It has been the best and busiest year of our lives. The busy part doesn't even matter. We have had so many moments where we're just full of joy and awe that we have a little family. Christmas has been especially wonderful as I have explained almost daily what the nativity set and Christmas tree are for. I cry a lot and I laugh a lot and my heart has grown about a million sizes.

Michael ate his little piece of cake in bites like a big kid.
I love you Michael Bear!

Sam preferred the approach where you lick all of the frosting off the cake before you eat it.
I love you Sammy Angus!

They loved their new walkers, books, and jack in the box. They're really moving on to toddler toys and have been having fun with them since they opened them. Of course, opening them was enough fun in itself!

Here's a reminder of how they looked last December.


We can't wait to live each day of the next year with our sweethearts.

A Flu Christmas

I've been inside for almost 2 weeks straight and had time to write this little ditty to the tune of Elvis' "A Blue Christmas". I know it's too long but I had to record the whole experience.

We had the flu with two little babies.
If you've had it too, you know it gives you the crazies.
Plus their dad sure feels bad, it’s the worst flu he’s had
Yes, we had the flu and two babies.

On Monday night, little Sam didn’t feel right.
He couldn’t sleep and we heard a little peep.
Josh picked him up, he threw up, and I had to clean up
Then we had the flu and two babies.

Then Tuesday night, little Michael didn’t feel right.
He couldn’t sleep and we heard a familiar peep.
His bed and his head – it was all cover-ed!
Then he had the flu, my poor babies.

Then Thursday night, Daddy Josh didn’t feel right.
He stayed in bed and I said I can't handle this.
But the days all went by, and the flu passed me by

'Cause I never caught it from the babies.

I did my best to keep up with the mess.
Towels, sheets, and clothes, heaven knows, laundry woes.
Then what to feed? What do they need? When’s the last time they peed?
Now I have two dehydrated babies.

We watched TV, quietly, by the Christmas tree.
We drank sports drinks, looked up web links, used up the Lysol.
On the couch, my bed made, oh yes I sure prayed!
And I never caught it from the babies.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! We had a wonderful visit from Grandma and Grandpa. Within minutes of their arrival Dad was reading books to Michael and they became instant friends. Sam was teething and took a little longer to warm up but both boys loved the one on one attention.

Our table wasn't fit for royalty, but we had turkey, rolls, and all the fixin's and we listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing "Bless This House" as we ate, so it felt like home.


The boys became so attached that they crawled all around the house the day they left looking for them. We had fun just hanging out in our pajamas and eating meal after meal.

Grandpa did the dishes for me after every meal and Grandma helped with all of the cooking and even took the stroller out for a spin!

We watched "The Shop Around the Corner", got PF Chang's takeout, and Josh and I even got to go out and buy the boys birthday presents and go out on a date.

Now that they're gone we miss them as much as the boys do. Thanks for such a fun visit!