Day of Decadence

On Thursday I took a Day of Decadence.

I've had a splitting headache for over a week now. I've never been one to have headaches unless it's part of getting the flu, so it's really a mystery why this one has been going on over a week and won't go away even with taking the maximum allowable Tylenol or ibuprofin.

At any rate, it woke me at 4:30 that morning. I asked Mom to take the twins to daycare, called my boss at 8, went back to bed and slept till 10:30am. Yes, I actually TOOK THE DAY OFF--not for appointments or to clean or to watch the kids. I DID IT FOR ME. Not since BC (before children) had I done something like this. It was tantamount to going sky diving for me--actually taking a day off FOR ME. It felt so daring! So crazy!

After I got out of bed at 10:30, I took a long bubble bath. Then I did nothing other than read People magazine and watch Judge Judy in the afternoon! It was so decadent, I really felt like someone must feel after they've committed some big crime and gotten away with it.

Now if I could get rid of this pounding, searing headache that has lasted a week...

Easter

Easter was tough on me this year despite the happy pictures. The night before I was so tired I could've wept. Saturday was the egg hunt, many loads of laundry, cleaning in preparation for guests, and at 11pm I had just thrown back the covers and was crawling into bed for some sweet sleep when Lm started screaming and crying loudly in his room. I ran to him immediately and he was inconsolable. I checked all the usual things, but there was no fever, his diaper was dry, and nothing seemed wrong in his room, so I guess it must have been a scary nightmare. He looked so terrified and was sobbing and shaking. Tears were pouring out of his eyes in streams. I held him close and sang him many cheerful lullabies, gave him juice and a cracker, even finally turned an Elmo DVD on for a bit, but it took a good hour before he'd go back to sleep. After that I was worried about him so add another hour of lost sleep there, although Lm slept soundly the rest of the night.

Next morning I was almost unmoveable with exhaustion but had planned to bring the twins to the 8am Easter Mass. I even wore a dress and got them into some nice outfits with their new coats. They held out alright but got crankier toward the end and were impatient having to stay still so long, with the service being an extra half hour than usual.

By lunch I was ready to collapse with fatigue, and that's when everyone came over. We had a great time with my dad's cousin and my aunt and uncle. I found out my mom and sister are planning a surprise party for my dad on 6/15. Last year it nearly killed me to do all the work for my mom's party. Dad's birthday's at the end of May anyway. After such an exhausting weekend I just shouldn't have heard about it when I did, maybe later I'll feel less upset over it.

All in all, my boys were troopers! They were on sugar highs all day (note to self: no more cotton candy until they turn 18...)

Picture of a twin "running" in my family.

They were quite handsome in their new coats from Grandma, their Gymboree corduroys from auntie Rita and their blue turtlenecks.

Lm has a Kit Kat bar in his mouth.

And on his face.

Grandma made a bunny cake.

Later in Grandma's kitchen, I decided to get some pics of Lm, the way he usually looks: laughing.

It's only when the camera comes out that he looks serious. Otherwise he's always giggling and smiling.

My sweet boy!

Easter Egg Hunt 2008

On Saturday my mom and I took the boys to the local Easter Egg Hunt. It's the one I used to go to when I was a kid. It's kind of neat to see my kids doing the same thing. Now it's held in the grade school gym rather than the park. It isn't easy to take them both anywhere. They are walking and running all over the place now. Here they are before the big hunt!

Lk's hat matted his hair. He looked like a punk rocker when he took it off.

Lm is ready with his basket! Before it started, he was really attracted to the brightly colored eggs and started running to the middle of the gym! I had to retrieve Mr. Eager Beaver.

They did a group picture. L&L wouldn't just sit still of course so I had to sit with them and hold on. Lke's hair was a riot.

Lm didn't mind letting go of my hand and running off to explore. Didn't bother him in the least if he lost me! Lk however had to have me or Grandma in his sight the whole time.

On the Ready-Set mark...

Lk chewed his basket handle in anticipation.

Mom guided Lm and I guided Lk. They each got about 10 eggs. I was so proud that they learned quickly how to pick up an egg and put it in the basket.

Afterward we retrieved their gifts from the lobby (each child got a gift bag). We emptied the candy from their eggs and put it in their baskets and left the plastic eggs for next year's hunt.

Our daycare lady helps head the local youth foundation. I don't know where she finds the time! But she is very committed to local youth and we're lucky to have her. Here she is going WAY above and beyond--she was the one dressed as the Easter Bunny this year. I didn't even know it until I tried to get a pic with my kids next to the bunny, and Lk was too afraid and cried. Lm did well though...

Lk cried his eyes out when I tried to get him in the photo. (Can't wait for Santa this year!) I had to hold him next to the bunny, and his daycare lady said, "Lk, it's me, _____!" He remained unconvinced.

Their loot...from me, their grandparents, and the egg hunt.

It was totally exhausting! But well worth it to give them some great childhood memories.

Flashback to Last Easter

Tomorrow my munchkins are going on their 2nd Easter Egg hunt. This year they are graduated to the 1-2 year old group of hunters. Last year they were only 9 months old and didn't really understand what was going on. I set them at the start line to crawl but really it was just us moms who went out there and grabbed a couple of eggs for our kids. Every child got an Easter basket with toys and plastic eggs from the Easter Bunny.

I brought the stroller and the whole thing was a real challenge, between trying to capture what I could on camcorder, camera, and letting them get out of it what they could. If my mom hadn't gone with me, I don't think I'd have made it! As it was, we dressed them in their bear/bunny outfits and they were adorable (if I say so myself) and didn't even cry when they sat on the Easter Bunny's lap.

Before the hunt, Lk in the stroller with his new basket.

Lm turned his over on his lap already. He was "wowed" by the whole thing.

They did well on the Easter Bunny's lap (and so did the poor Bunny--she had to be hot as hell in that furry outfit!) as their mom took many precious photos.

At home, they got MORE treats from Grandma, each another basket with mostly toys. Mom ate their candy, as they are too young. I also ate their candy they got at the summer parade in July, ha-ha! I don't want them to get addicted to sweets.

This year I bought them cotton candy and plan to let them try it for the first time in SMALL doses. At their 1st birthday party last July, they each got their own piece of frosted cake and were on such a sugar high! Alas, sweets only on special occasions.

Happy Belated St. Patty's Day

Recently my little Irishmen (actually they are Czech) received a package in the mail from their talented great aunt Nancy in Arizona. They are green hats with combines stitched on the front--not an applique that was sewed on, she actually created this from her special machine, then sewed the hats. Thank you, Aunt Nancy! My guys look pretty sprightly in them.

They've also gotten several other things from Nancy, including jean jackets with a tractor and a combine stitched on the back, blankets with their names and other designs, and even their baptismal blankets (scroll down for the pic of Liam sleeping in his car seat with the white blanket over him).

Maybe I should hire Nancy to do their scrapbooks....hmmmm...

P.S. Yes, they are still drinking from bottles. They do the sippy cups at daycare but whine about them at home and at the end of the night I just give in. Bad, I know!

Laundry Basket Ride

Trying to fold the laundry with these two around isn't easy. Last night I left them in the living room with a full basket of clothes and a Baby Einstein DVD so I could prepare their evening meal. They looked so rapt as they watched their show. But when I returned, all the clothes had been tossed onto the floor. Imagine that.

Lk was sitting in the basket. So I rode him around the room and he giggled nonstop. Lm was laughing just watching him. Next it was Lm's turn and I've never seen him laugh so hard in his life. Next I put them both in together and pushed them around the room until my back threatened to give out (we're talking 50 lbs with them both together!). They loved it! I'm thinking this summer I'll get one of those pull wagons and give them rides around the driveway.

Two Crazy Sleepers

Babies are so cute when they're sleeping. Sometimes at night when I check on them I get teary eyed thinking how God has entrusted me to these two precious lives. Granted, I'm not thinking those exact thoughts when my boys are unrolling toilet paper, eating dirt, or flinging my books off the shelves. But it's my general feeling, one that comes out most prominently when my little cherubs are in peaceful slumber. They have some crazy sleep positions! They'll sleep with their butt up in the air or buried under a blanket or in odd contortions. Here is a collection of some of my favorite sleep photos of them since they were born.


Lm in the NICU. He slept with his mouth open sometimes and Mom and I would get a lot of giggles from watching him.

Lk on his first day home August 4, 2006. That night he did not sleep at all (nor I, of course) but here he's so peaceful.

"Oh, please, no cameras right now," Lm is probably thinking.

One of my favorites of Lm. He was so tiny when I brought him home (around 6 lbs) that I had to borrow a preemie crib from a relative and make it up for him.

They were pretty tuckered after their baptism, at the reception...

For the first few months, Lm slept with his hands by his ears.

My little guys smiling after their nap around 9 months old...

Around a year old, Lk liked to hold onto his bumper for comfort.

Lm's so peaceful!

Lm does not like to be woken from his nap, he likes to get up naturally! Don't we all! At a year old or so, he's not happy with his Momma for waking him before he's good and ready.

Lk and his monkey tricks...

This is last night. My boys are 20 months old now but still look so sweet when sleeping.

Oh, Lk!

And this one has to be my all time favorite of Lk sleeping. He truly cracks me up.