Best Friends

Yesterday I asked Garrett who his best friend was. Without hesitation he said, "daddy my friend". I asked him if I was his best friend too. He said, "no, you not my best friend". I had to laugh. One never has to worry about a child trying to be diplomatic. I'm glad that Garrett has such a good friend and daddy.

Garrett turned 3 this month and got some really cool toys.......here's a picture of one of them.

comparisons....

Everyone asks me about Jacob and John's personality differences. Their temperments are quite similar though, and until recently there were alot more similarities than differences. Here's a few new developments though:
*Jacob is our more aggressive twin when it comes to toys and food and basically anything he wants. As you know from a previous post, he's also our selective biter.
*John is hands down our cuddle bug. He loves to give hugs and kisses on demand.
*John is our fit thrower. And this is very recent. If he really wants something and things don't go his way he lays down and thrashes around for a bit before going on to his regular business. His temper is sparked more quickly than Jacobs. John also crys the loudest right off the bat when he is mad.
*Jacob is our messy eater. You'd be amazed at their different appearance after eating the same meal.
*John uses more words and sounds than Jacob and knows how to find an on/off switch on an electronic device quicker than you'd believe possible.
*Overall, Jacob gets into more mischeif than John.
*Both are just plain FUN!

Toe biting fetish?

I'm starting to wonder about Jacob. Does he have a toe biting fetish, or what? When we were in CA my sister was feeding her baby in her high chair while Jacob was standing up and playing by Sofia's feet. All of a sudden, Sofia starts crying and there's Jacob standing innocently by with her sock in his hand. I apologized for him and thought, "hum, I need to keep an eye on this". Today, new house, new baby. Baby is sitting in his high chair happily drinking his bottle when he starts to cry and Jacob is once again standing by with a sock in his hand. I go over and sure enough, there is a tooth mark in the babies toe. Fast forward. Floor play time. Again the baby starts crying, and there is Jacob with the babies sock in his hand and there is another bite mark. Are you kidding? The weird part is that he doesn't try to bite John's toes. Or his own.

Then I'd really start to worry.

Vacation bliss...

So, here we are, half way through our vacation. We've accomplished half of what we wanted to, and the rest has come to a standstill. Our 15 hour drive down turned into 17 and we rolled into town during the coldest week of the year. Despite the cold, we braved two days of Disneyland clad in coats, hats and gloves and the twins caught something pretty dreadful.....the last fews days have been spent cleaning up vomit, administering fever reducing medicine, and going through about 50 diapers each day....it's so sad to see the boys so sick. And, you should see my hands. Yikes!

the way it goes

When John started climbing the stairs I tried working with him to teach him to crawl back down. He would have none of the instruction. UP, UP, UP! I gave up. Then one day I'm watching John climb the stairs, he gets half way up and then starts climbing back done. Mission accomplished, although it wasn't my instruction that taught him to do it. A few weeks later, Jacob starts climbing the stairs. I try the climbing back down instruction with him. Nope! UP, UP, UP. Last night I see John climbing down the stairs. Jacob decided he wanted to go down too, so down he went. Hum!!!!! How do they learn these tricks?

My hands.....

I know this is random, but I've been paying a lot of attention to my hands in the past few days. I don't take very good care of my hands or feet for that matter, and in the winter they crack and bleed. I have cracks on all of my fingers and one particularly bad one on my pointer finger right where it bends. I've felt a dull throb in my hands for days, and many activities each day cause sharper pains that make me take notice. Because of this awareness of my hands that the pain brings me, I've been thinking about them A LOT. Where would I be if I didn't have my hands? I couldn't change diapers (one of the causes of the cracks-washing after diaper changes), I couldn't cook dinner, I couldn't clean my house, I couldn't do laundry or dress my children. I couldn't do any of the day to day tasks that are required of me. Most importantly though, my sense of touch as I know it would not exist. What would I do if I couldn't caress my children's faces with the tips of my fingers? What would it be like to not be able to feel my husband's stubble or baby soft skin after he shaves? How could I test the water temperature with one finger, type or do a million other things that I use my hands for? TODAY, I am thankful for my hands.......which begs the question.......if I'm so thankful for them, why don't I take better care of them? I could really get Jeff going on this one.......but that's a whole different post! :)

Ever wonder?

Ever wonder what 3 days worth of laundry looks like for a family of 7? Wonder no longer....and, in case you are thinking "that's not that much"......there are 3 more stacks behind the ones you see.

Note to self......

*Stop buying Charmin......although soft and thick, it clogs the toilets.
*keep Juanie (that would be baby B) away from all power switches on computers. Desktop, notebook, it's all the same. He can turn them off in an instant.
*even if you are tempted to let the kids eat a quick something in the car, don't do it. You'll pay later.

2007 is here!

Ok, Heather! This one is for me, but the credit goes to you.

Lists: 2006 & 2007

2006
*Grace: finished kindergarten in Oregon, met lots of new friends. Took a German class, started ballet and joined Brownies. Grew and grew and grew.

*Emma: started ballet, began Sunbeams, and had about 7 UTI's and a million doctors appointments. Kept a smile through it all.

*Garrett: started using his words and really developed his sense of humor.

Jacob and John: cut 6 teeth, learned to crawl, stand and climb stairs. Started eating table food and graduated to whole milk.

*Angie: settled into new home, met lots of new friends, became a blogger, and stayed active on monoamniotic.org.

*Jeff: began a new job with Target, honed his interpersonal and management skills.

2007:

*Grace: moving up to CTR 7, continuing ballet and brownies and learning to be a better reader. She will also begin 2nd grade this year.

*Emma: Will move up to CTR 5, continue with ballet, and start Kindergarten.

*Garrett: work on his speech and continue to be a bundle of energy.

*Jacob and John: learn to walk, run and TALK!

*Angie: (this is my hope list)
read my scriptures more, have FHE more frequently, make more diverse dinners, be more patient, and SERIOUSLY consider loosing a few pounds.

*Jeff: I'm assuming he'll continue doing all the great things he already is, but I'd have to ask him his New Years Resolutions! :)