We are home!

We had such a great time at the indoor waterpark. We drove to the Western side of Wisconsin (about a 3 hour drive). It is so pretty on that side! It seems more mountainous in a way with lots of evergreen trees. Since it is less populated it seems cleaner too.
The Resort was great. Our cabin was so nice! It had 2 bedrooms with Queen beds, 2 bathrooms, a loft, livingroom/diningroom and full kitchen and washer/dryer. Quite a nice way to travel having all the comforts of home right there and a indoor waterpark right nearby.


On Friday we got there at about 4:30ish, my Mom and Dad arrived at about 5ish?? By the time we had everything in and set-up I gave N&C a little dinner (which they weren't very hungry for) and we headed down to the water. The water was cool actually so before long N&C had blue lips and were shivering. Nicholas was very cautious in the water, but Celia even floated on her back with her life jacket on (of course Jason was right there). We ended up going in the hot tub to warm up and that was Nicholas' favorite thing to do.

Friday night all 4 of us slept in the loft (Grandma & Grandpa took a bedroom) because we couldn't fit the peapods in the bedrooms. Celia was crying so often at night, but at 2am I gave her some Motrin and it helped for the rest of the night. I was surprised she cried because she was the one that did so well in the peapods at home, so it must've been her teeth and the combination of a new place.

Saturday we got up at about 7:30, ate breakfast (homemade egg/bacon/cheese english muffins for the adults! yum!). We moved the Queen bed to the wall in one of the bedrooms to make room for the peapods, so for Sat and Sun they had a quiet room vs the loft with no doors. Had a nice morning and by 9am N&C were ready for a nap. They napped nicely- Celia woke up before Nicholas so she was playing with us.
Here she is looking so cute! My Mom bought her her first hairclips :).

My parents had some friends from the area pop in - so we visited with them and their granddaughter, ate lunch and then headed down to the water. The water was much warmer now so it was more enjoyable. Celia loved the toddler waterslides and went down over 10 times. Nicholas was so fearful.

Here is Grandma with Nicholas - don't you LOVE toddler tummies!

This is video of Celia (true to her 'Adventure Girl' name) and Jason (she giggles the whole time down) and then of me and Nicholas. He had a deathgrip on me and then of course he got splashed in the face and a kid hit us hard in the back! Poor Nicholas!




They did so well (but Nicholas still loves the hot tub) ha ha
We went back to the cabin and they napped. Had a quick snack and went back to the water. This second time they were less thrilled. I think they had had their fill by now, but we adults still tried to entertain them. :) we went on the Lazy River a couple times.
Celia was getting fussy at the end:

We dressed to leave at about 6:15pm (Grandpa stayed back at the cabin to put the lasagna Grandma made in the oven and make garlic bread and salad for dinner). On the way out N&C walked the ENTIRE way up this lonnnnngggggg hallway!

We had a yummy dinner together. Then I took N&C to take a bath to wash off chlorine and get calmed for bed. Nicholas thought the bathtub was a toilet and pooped a LOT in it in about 1 second (no time to transfer him to the real toilet). Jason had to get him out while I fished for poo, drained and washed the tub so I could refill it and finish his bath. Then washed up Celia. They had their bottles and were in such good moods they played until 8:30pm (that never happens! They are usually always in bed by 7:30 latest). Celia slept much better Saturday night (gave her motrin this time). Celia and Nicholas were in their peapods on the floor of the bedroom and Jason and I in the Queen bed.

We got up at 7:00am, had breakfast. Then at 9:00 N&C had a nap until about 10:30am. We packed up while they were sleeping since check-out was at 11:00. So they got up, changed their diapers and hopped in the cars.
Nicholas telling us it was time to go!

We stopped at a Culvers for lunch (I had made and cut up a PB&J at the cabin) . They ate their PB&J and yogurt and then they napped the rest of the way home. They are now in bed at 6:45pm. It was a great time!

Flashback Friday

Last week when we had the 'baby' things out for the little guy that comes to our house N&C were wanting to play with them. Things like the jumper, bumbo seat, and the floor gym.
Silly babies!


* When they were maybe 4 months old...
* 14 months old! Now they can stand up and get out of the bumbo seats!

* Celia in the baby's floor gym. She even had to do the infant curled-up legs!

A new idea....

I love photography and its always been an interest of mine. I've been thinking a lot about how in the future I would really enjoy being a child/baby photographer. So, I emailed Sylvia Laughrin (the photographer that we used Fall '07). I asked her what I would need to get started and any tips, etc. I was thinking maybe I could save up over the year and then with some of next year's tax returns I would have some money to put into a photography business. She was very helpful with her information. However, I think this is a pricey business to start!
I would need:
1. a SLR camera (looking at at least $1,000 each - many are much much more)
2. Also, she mentioned a back-up SLR camera is also needed in case you are at a shoot and something happens (another $1,000).
3. Photo editing software and a computer to run the programs (she uses 4gigs of Ram on her Macbook Pro). She uses Photoshop CS3 and lightroom. Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom would be about $900.
4. Which #3 then means I would need a computer to run the programs on since we bought a basic MAC for home. A MACbook pro is about $2,000, more for desktop I believe.
5. Light modifiers (umbrella or softbox) - unsure of cost, but we seem to be in the $1000s here...
6. Sellers permit, etc, business insurance. I recently heard of a simply business ins policy being $1,000 a year, but when you want to insure your equipment - probably more.
7. Probably taking some photography classes would be necessary and helpful.... so tuition there as well.

So, we are looking at maybe $10,000 easily. So, if anyone is a millionaire reading my blog, please email me and I can let you know how to donate to the Jill fund. lol
No wonder professional photographs are expensive!!!
I would still love to do this! It would be something I would really really enjoy and something I could do for years and years. I would probably never retire from something like this. So, it may take me longer than a year to save up, but it would be a great goal.
Jason and I are also really trying to start to save to finish our basement as well. We have a very small house and this would be an easy way to make a lot more room in our house. Maybe I could make a little studio down there too??

Forks

N&C have been practicing eating with spoons for breakfast when they have oatmeal. Yesterday I bought them some Toddler spoons and forks. They were having Mac n Cheese for dinner. I decided to let them try the forks. Nicholas did VERY well. I was so surprised. Celia wasn't as coordinated with the fork, but she had the idea.

Cabin Fever

We've been getting ready for our trip to the indoor water park! We bought 'Peapods' to travel with since they are outgrowing (and HATE with a passion) their pack and plays. To start out, we put the peapods IN their cribs so it wouldn't seem so different. They cried in the beginning, but once they were used to napping in them in their cribs, we moved them to the floor. And they have been doing very well napping in them on the floor. So the next step is trying them overnight. I'm a little nervous for over night in them, but we might try it before our trip.
They also play in the Peapods during the day so that they can associate them with having fun.



Our weather is bouncing between nice days in the 40s and winter weather! I think these pics show we are getting cabin fever!!!!
AND our Preschoolians shoes FINALLY arrived. They offer a 40% discount to people with twins, so we got the shoes for a great deal. Well, then I wrote an email to the company saying I was disappointed that shipping was taking so long (it was 2 1/2 weeks since I ordered them). They promptly refunded the entire purchase amount and the shoes came today. We will save the refund and use it to buy them sandals for the summer in a month or so.
They weren't sure of what to think with these new shoes at first. They just stood there and refused to walk. But now they are happily walking in them. :)

Nicholas Dancing

I am trying to get a video clip of Celia dancing, since her style is different. She is more likely to poke someone's eye out with her arm waving when dancing. Nicholas has a more smooth, relaxed movement. So funny how they are different!

Easter

Easter was so much fun this year with the twins! Way more fun than last year when they were only a few months old. I put eggs (filled with Cheese puffs, Cheerios, Goldfish Crackers, and Oyster Crackers) out on Grandma & Grandpa's patio. Of course they were not hid (but there were 2 in the Lavender potted plant), so it was easy for them.


Fishy Lips!!!
This is right before Adventure Girl stepped into the mud!








Nicholas & Celia trying to break out of the baby gate in Grandma/Grandpa's livingroom.
Nicholas was kissing his baby Cousin Lauren over and over. He certainly likes babies!
Grandma & Grandpa with their 3 Grandchildren!

Easter Church

We took the family to church. Grandma and Grandpa were there to help out! We weren't even into the sermon and they were walking in the back. Since our church is young, we still meet in the middle school's gymnasium, so they just walked in the back of the gym.
I will post more pictures of them at Easter - so stay tuned!
Here is Nicholas and Celia walking around after church. They love walking in the wide open area!

ADVENTURE GIRL!!!!

Today we went to take the kids sledding since we have to make the best of the snow. We got about 12 inches of snow.
*N&C watching the snow - and Daddy snow blowing Friday.

Today was blue skies, sunny and upper-30's.
*Driving to the sledding hill!

I started calling Celia adventure girl because she loved sledding and was fearless. Nicholas hated it and just wanted to be held. lol
Here is Jason taking Celia down the sledding hill. He said she was laughing the whole way down. Sorry it is side-ways - I forgot I couldn't rotate the video like I can pictures! Hope you don't get a sore neck!

Happy Easter to all of you in warmer climates!!

If you look back on my posts of Nicholas and Celia being outside, you will see we Wisconsinites were getting real excited about our 40's and sun.
Well, look whats happened today. We are getting lots of snow (double digits, like 9-12 inches already). Its blowing. :( You can hear the sweet calming sound of snow blowers - ha ha! BOOOOOOOO!!!!

Flashback Friday

Mommy and Nicholas (camera perched on the TV set on the timer)
Celia being cute during those tough colicky days!

They can Stack!

This weekend Nicholas, Celia and I stopped at my parents house. They have a pegboard with stacking cylinders. Nicholas and Celia haven't been very interested in it before, but that day Celia crawled over and picked up two of the cylinders and held them up to me. I showed her how they go together and then she was off. She was stacking those cylinders like she had been stacking them for weeks. Then on the other side of the living room Nicholas crawled by some wooden blocks and nonchalantly stacked 4 blocks!
We borrowed the Pegboard and Nicholas and Celia both are stacking with it. I tried to get pictures of Celia stacking, but so far I have only caught Nicholas.
Here he is with his tower from today. He did it all by himself. :)

And tonight they should sleep very well! After their afternoon nap they had a snack (turkey deli meat, cheese cubes and crackers with milk). Then they got their coats on (well, I put them on them, ha ha) and they walked around in the backyard, then we went on a walk. We stopped at the park in our neighborhood and they went on the baby swing together (they still fit in the same swing together :) ). Then we stopped and visited with Grandpa M. (Grandma & Grandpa live across the street) while they walked outside some more. We were outside for an hour and a half!!! It was so nice - sunny and at least 40 degrees. We will get snow tomorrow - BOOOO!
After some homemade pizza, some playing and bedtime bottles, they were in bed by 7:15pm. Nicholas has been waking up several times a night with teething pain so I hope he sleeps tonight (gave him Motrin too), because I need some sleep too! :)

Outside!!!!

It has been getting a little nicer out - hitting 40ish. So today I took a walk with all 3 babies. Nicholas and Celia in the stroller and the baby I babysit in the Bjorn. Let me say, its a workout going up hills pushing two toddlers and carrying a baby. lol But, its great to get outside finally. Nicholas and Celia get so excited when I say "Want to go bye-bye?".

Today before dinner, Jason and I took them outside on the grass in the backyard. We had to avoid the wet grass from the melting snow, but it was nice. This is the first time since last summer that they have actually stood outside (and last summer they were only sitting on blankets). They almost didn't know what to think of it. It was cute. You can tell from Celia's face that she was so excited. Once we came inside Nicholas started crying and pointing outside like he was telling us "I want to go back out!".
They really enjoyed it!

Fabulous Friends

My close friend, Julie, is such a great person. And she will be embaressed that I am posting this, but thats okay (he he he). She and I met in Chemistry class our freshman year in college and have been friends ever since. Through the good times and bad times.
Today I got a delivery of flowers. Jason joked that it better not be from a guy (ha ha!). It was a bouquet of Orchids from Julie. She and I both love orchids, so she was being such a dear sending them. She also sent a beautiful message with them as well.
I LOVE YOU TOO JULIE!!!

And thank you to my friends Joanna and Jen (TMMB) for your cards. And also to Jennifer in Tennesee for sending me uplifting emails and prayers. Sorry this is late, but you have all made a difference. :)

And last week, my friends from the Postpartum Board sent me a music box (called a worry box) with 3 angels inside. The angels represent Celia, Nicholas and the baby we lost recently.



People wonder about angels on earth, and I must say all of you have been mine. :)
Thanks friends! All of you are so dear to me!

Cabela's

I took the two babies to Cabela's today for something to do. I was intially looking for a Columbia fleece/jacket but after seeing their cost was $125 for one, I decided it might be best if I just took a picture of the jacket. lol
But Cabela's is a huge hunting/fishing/camping/general outdoors kind of store. It is huge. They have a great big freshwater fish aquarium and a mountain of mounted animals. So Celia and Nicholas had a great time seeing everything.
There were a lot of twin comments. The normal "double trouble", "you must be exhausted" comments (which I always try to say "actually they are just a lot of fun"). But there were 2 Grandpa type guys shopping for tree stands, and they were so excited to see Nicholas and Celia. And as I walked away I heard one of the 'Grandpas' say "She looks like she has so much fun with them". It was so nice to hear. :)


When we got back they were both hungry for lunch. Celia was eating her Peanut Butter and Jelly and got a look like "I just can't eat another bite!"

This was Nicholas trying to feed Gideon. It looks like Gideon is roaring, but he really is just yawning. lol
P.S. If you click on the photos they will show larger and then you just click your 'back' button.
I just noticed Nicholas is pointing in all these pictures. ha ha!