Swing Set is Up!

I bought my boys a small swimming pool and a wooden swingset with part of my gov't rebate check, so they can be entertained this summer.

Putting it together was not easy, but my uncle and dad were a huge help. My aunt and uncle stayed over Memorial Day weekend. On Sunday evening, after my dad's birthday celebration, they started work on the set. L&L really loved playing with balloons from my dad's party.

They also wanted to help with the swing set. Lk kept lifting the beams of wood and saying "Thank you!" as he handed them to us.

It was not an easy job, as you can see from the bolts and screws here. Plus I had to buy $20 more worth so they could make sure it was sturdy. For $500 (on sale!) I would think we would have gotten ample parts.

Lm wanted to be one of the guys and help out.

Due to tornados and storms on Sunday night, they had to close up shop until the next day.

It took about 2 days, but they got it complete.

The tarp is on now, a temporary one, because with the storms, we want to save the good one that came with it until my boys are a little older and will be playing in the tree house. There's also room for a sand box in the square on the right, but I will not be filling it with sand this year. Maybe in a couple more years!

Last night, I showed them how to use the slide. They're too young to climb up themselves so I have to lift them to the top of it, but they loved it and were giggling with joy every time they went down. So sweet to watch.

Memorial Weekend Misery

This is a cursed weekend for me.

In '05, I had laser lap surgery and felt like I'd been run over by a truck all weekend.

In '06 I was in dire misery as that Friday I was shipped to a hospital an hour away (my local one had no ped surgeon for Lm) and hooked up to mag sulfate that made me sick that entire weekend, to try to prevent PTL.

Last year was my mom's big birthday party that we planned for weeks. My sister flew out (7 months pg) with her family to be there and we even ordered special table cloths, had a huge meal to pick up, special handmade invitations, you name it, 35 guests, etc. Everything was arranged just perfectly. Our biggest worry was whether the color of the napkins would clash with the color of the plates. Well, the day before (that Saturday) we all except my mom came down with the stomach flu and were puking for 2 days, with my dad having to be taken to the hospital and hooked up to an IV. My mom had to spend what was to have been her special day taking care of me, my dad, and my two sick twins.

This year as I was mowing on Saturday I wondered, what will befall me this time??That night I had a tickly throat and lost my voice entirely, followed by a NASTY virus that included: sharp shooting pains on the side of my head for which I had to get a shot in the ass of Toradol on Tuesday to stop, swollen sore throat and tonsils, up every night with violent coughing, a rash all over my back and front, pink eye in BOTH eyes, and pure misery. What's worse, I had to go to work Tuesday as we had a certification deadline with millions riding on it that was due. Yesterday I had to use my vacation time that I was supposed to use this July to go canoeing, to stay in bed all day. Today I dragged myself in to work, against my better judgement, and Liam is home with my mom today; he now has pink eye and daycare won't take him for 24 hrs. Beautiful!

WHAT NEXT YEAR, A PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS??

Anyway, before I got really sick, we celebrated my dad's birthday on Sunday with my aunt and uncle. The boys enjoyed their grandpa's cake...

My pics are backward for this blog entry, as I'm not thinking clearly enough in my sick state to have arranged them. So this is BEFORE the cake was cut...

My dad turned 75 yesterday. He was born at home in a 4-poster bed that is my bed now (not the same mattress, lol). When my grandma went into labor, she called Dr. Noys and he came for the delivery. My grandparents paid him $5 and some eggs from their chickens. Compared to my sister who last year had to pay about $14,000 to have her baby, and compared with $300,000 for my twins' delivery which included 10 weeks in the hospital for me and a month in the NICU for L&L.

I dressed my boys in their new Osh Kosh overalls for the day, and if I say so myself, they were adorable. For shirts they were still able to fit into their Born in the USA shirts that my sister gave them last year.

My guys are ready for the elements!

I took Friday off work and went with my mom to the local town garage sales. We got some unbelievable great deals and had a fun day. I bought the boys each summer hats, sunglasses, toys, and a toddler bed for Lm. Oh, and camoflage slippers for Lm (Lk's feet are too big for them already!).

Here they are in some of their new gear.

They love to pick up rocks and give them to me and say "dank-oo!"


In his new hat, Lm found his mom's sunglasses.

Lk, in the swing in his new dinosaur outfit.

This picture to me is a little uncanny. He looks JUST LIKE ME here, our smiles are identical.

Lm in his new train outfit and camo slippers!

Mr. Cool Dude in his new sunglasses, beach hat and sandals.

They are a ton of fun in the summer when we can all be outside.

Happy Belated Mother's Day

Especially to all the single mothers out there! It is a rewarding, but exhausting job. And thanks to all of the support (emotional or otherwise) that my family and other families in general give to single mothers. It truly does "take a village" to raise kids and I am so grateful for the people my sons have in their lives, even if they do not have a father.

Sometimes I will look at my babies after they are in their cribs at night and get teary-eyed watching them sleep, thinking how God has entrusted me with these two beautiful lives! Little old me! I have the beautiful gift of raising two gentle-hearted souls that truly do love me and life in general.

Then there are the rare times like Sunday morning when I brought Lk to church, and it makes me long for just a moment or two of my old life. I brought Lk to Mass with me on Mother's Day, as my mom pointed out to me that I take Lm a lot more places than Lk (ie, Houston, out to restaurants, etc) where I don't bring Lk as much. Sunday morning was a stark reminder why this is.

Here are a few highlights of our excursion: he kicked over the collection basket, tried to swallow a quarter, kept climbing up and down the stairs leading to the choir loft, then laid down in the middle of the aisle and did snow angels. He also played peek a boo with the little girl in the seat in front of us. I finally had to just take him downstairs and let him run amok there.

Mom and I drank a lot of wine together when I got home. I got take out Chinese so we wouldn't have to cook and we celebrated with lunch in her kitchen. My little angels discovered where she keeps her pan lids in the drawer below the stove and they had a ball with it. I swear, they ignore their own toys and just love regular household stuff best!

My Elmos in the Grass

My two Elmos are sure loving the nice spring weather! They love being outside. As soon as they've eaten their supper, they are twisting in their high chairs to be let out and run out! I have been blowing bubbles which they love to chase, then we have the swing, a wagon, and best of all, a vast green yard! Soon there will be a swimming pool up and a large wooden swingset as soon as we manage to pull that off (the assembly, I mean!). Last night they were frolicking in the yard.

Here they are with Grandma and Grandpa, hanging out while I took the pic.

They love to look out from the deck...

Grandpa gamely pulls Lk along.

He'll just climb in the wagon and say "Go!"

On Saturday I met up with my friend Heather! We have known each other since junior high and recently got back in touch, which is so cool. Here she is at the restaurant with her beautiful daughter Zoie, who just turned 2 a couple of weeks ago.

And Lm and I...I really need to get him his own pair of sunglasses so he does not keep taking mine.

I have an orator on my hands

I have a future orator in my household, yes indeed! Lke is talking up a storm. I can only understand about 25% of what he's saying but whatever it is, he certainly indicates that it is of grave importance. Complete with gestures, inflections, and earnestness, his speeches capture the attention of anyone nearby.

He'll actually empty out his toy box, turn it over (he does the same with a laundry basket) and hop on top, then he'll proceed to give a speech. All he needs is a lecturn and he's good to go! When he's finished, he abruptly says, "Well, bye!" and walks away.

Lm stares on, amused. He really gets a kick out of his brother!

They love Grandma's clothespins!

Twins running in the family...

Lk, contemplating his next speech perhaps.

Mr. Earnest!
We're so fortunate to be living on a farm and have such a vast yard and many acres surrounding us. They sure love running around!