She thinks she's smarter than I

We were in and out and all over the place today. Walking, running, playing inside, playing outside, a pretty full day. During the kids' outside time, I ducked in from time to time to do some laundry, turn the oven on, whatever. The kids were having fun drawing with their sidewalk chalk, playing on the slide, playing in the sandbox. As dinner time approached, I was ducking into the house a little bit more. Once I had things set on the stove, I headed outside to play some more. Meghan was sitting on the edge of the sandbox digging (I had caught the two of them trying to fill their pool with sand five minutes earlier). She looked up at me and very sweetly said to me "Mommy, can you go back inside?" I saw the wheels turning in her head and said to her "Why? So you can misbehave?" She answered me, just as sweetly, "Yes, Mama."

Summer Kickoff

We began our summer adventures on Cape Cod this weekend. We had been down to open up before, but this was the first "big weekend" down here. We came down on Thursday night after a long day of "When's Daddy coming home" and "I wanna go to the Cape". We got out for a walk that night and tucked the kids into bed a little late that night.

Friday, things began early with a walk to the playground, a walk to the candy store, a walk to the other playground. Then on to the bike rides, the constant bike rides, the never-ending bike rides.

The kids have grown up so much since last year. They are doing so good on their bikes and can just zoom around this place. Liam is getting going, too. Ever on the run looking for a new adventure. We did a lot of digging at the beach as well. Nolan went into the water in his sneakers and long pants...several times. The kids have had an amazing weekend and it is going to be such a great summer for them!

A Day at the Farm

Today was fun. Julie and I planned earlier in the week that we would get together with the kids. Our plans were dependent on the weather and it actually cooperated with us this morning. The rain was expected to hold off until the afternoon so it was off to the farm for us.

The day was gray with a little bit of sun poking out here and there. We got there and the kids grabbed hands to hold and away we went. We were a little bit disappointed when we got to the chickens, turkeys and ducks. Last year we were able to feed the animals, but apparently there is a new rule and they have taken away the food dispensers. (And of course Julie and I had stocked up on quarters for the day.) The kids were still okay with it. We visited the chickens, a very nasty Tom Turkey (he was spitting at us and did scare the kids at one point, but I can't be sure that they didn't start it), and a family of ducks including many ducklings. They were so cute and fuzzy.

We moved on to the sheep and the goats. They had them back a bit from the fence this year in the main pen, so there was no petting the animals, but the kids still enjoyed seeing them. We moved over to the other pen and they got to pet a big old sheep which they enjoyed. A goat then joined us by the fence and Katherine was loving him.

We took a stroll on one of the trails. Good thing I had the jogger with me, because it was a bit uneven. The kids liked the "adventure" of going through the woods. We picked some flowers as we walked and then headed back to the picnic area. We had a snack and played around a bit there, did some more visiting with the birds and then headed back to Julie's house for lunch.

The kids got to play a bit more, have lunch and a cupcake together and then it was time to go! They love playing with their friends so much and can't wait until we see them again.

What was she thinking??

This morning I was getting some stuff done in the kitchen. Both boys were there, having their breakfast. Meghan had disappeared into the bathroom. She has become very independent about her potty going since she started so I didn't think anything of it.

A little while later, I heard her whimpering in the bathroom. I was worried that she might have a tummy ache or the perhaps she didn't make it and had an accident. So I knocked on the door and went in. There she stood with the potty seat around her neck. She couldn't get it off no matter how hard she tried! I am not sure what she was doing, why the potty seat was on her head, but I had to get it off. When I asked her she brushed my questions off. Oh, what a time to have a broken camera!!

The Twin Bond?

I love that my twins have a "best friend" built right in to their family. True, they can gang up on us from time to time. "Don't say that, he is my best friend" "Please don't be mad at Meggie" And they can also fight...a lot!! "You are not my best friend anymore!" "Leave me alone, I need privacy." But the times when they are just showing the genuine love that they have for each other just warm my heart.

When we go out in the car, Meghan will help to unbuckle Nolan's seatbelt in his car seat. Nolan will make sure that Meghan has whatever she needs, even if it's the toy he is holding in his hands. They sing together, they laugh together, they love together. When we are in a store or a mall, they will hold hands and giggle together. When music comes on they will sing or dance together.

But today I had a moment when I wondered..."Are they too close?" We were in the grocery store picking up some stuff when Meghan announced that she had to go potty (Meghan always has to go potty). We were in the bathroom and I was holding Liam because there are all kinds of things he can get into in there. I asked Nolan to get some toilet paper for Meghan, which he did, of course. Well, when she got up from the potty, she turned her bum to him and said "Okay, Nolie, wipe my bummy" which he did, of course.

A Different Kind of Day

So, today was a little different than my usual day. Doug decided that he wanted to head down to the Cape and bring the boys. Meghan and I would have a night together and the boys would all have a night together. Nolan was all excited, "The Boys are going to the Cape!" Meghan was excited "I am going to a party!" Then it hit them, they would not be together. Meghan told me she is going to miss her brothers. Nolan told me that he and Liam would miss their sister. It is the first time the twins have been apart for more than a couple of hours. It is also the first time I have been away from my Liam boy. So I kissed them goodbye with tears in my eyes. Meghan and Nolan gave each other big hugs and bid each other goodbye.

Meghan and I headed off to The Derby Shops. We did a little shopping for her, a little shopping for me and a little window shopping. We had a great time. She brought her "cell phone" with her and every now and then would whip it out and say "I have to call somebody" (it was usually Katherine). It was the sweetest thing seeing her walking along, shopping and chatting on the phone. I was having forward flashes to her teenage years!

We came home and got ready to go to Brendan's First Communion celebration. She was all about getting dressed, packing her back pack with necessities and preparing Jack's birthday present. When we got to the party, it took her a few minutes, but then she was playing with all the kids. She was having a blast. She enjoyed some alone time with Mommy and some playing without her brothers.

As we headed home from the party tonight, we called Daddy. He was out walking the boys for a final walk before bed. She talked to Daddy for a moment then gave the phone back to me. I asked to talk to Nolie. He took the phone, said "Hi Mama" and then immediately "Can I talk to Meggie?" So they spoke for a little bit, then she told him she loved him and handed me the phone. After we hung up, she said she missed Nolie and could we go to the Cape. It must be so hard being away from your best friend whom you have shared EVERYTHING in your entire life with. So now, we are just hanging out, watching a movie. Any thought of having the bed to myself tonight is long gone...It will continue to be girls night in the bed!!

Doctor, Doctor

My kids have such great imaginations. They are always making a game out of simple things, playing pretend and having fun. They play "Mommy and Baby", "Dora and Diego" and "Doctor".

So tonight after dinner, we got them into their jammies and then it was time to just hang out before bedtime. I grabbed a pillow and lay down on the floor. I will do this sometimes just to hang out with them or whatever. They get a kick out of it.

So we started off with some simple jumping on Mama. All 3 of them were just diving on me, on each other, everything. Each time Liam would get on top of me, he would start screaming "Dada, Dada" and then he would take off running around the house.

When the jumping slowed down, Nolan decided that he was the doctor and lucky me, I was the patient. So the two of them started examining me. They were pushing on my belly, my legs, etc. Nolan ran some sort of medical equipment (it was actually a toy drumstick, not sure what it was in Nolan's mind, though) up my arm. Then he decided he needed to do some more checking. He lifted my shirt a little and checked on my belly. Then he told me he was going to need to check my boobs (but he said it so it rhymed with books). I looked at him and said "You need to check what?" Again, he told me he needed to check my boobs. I then asked him what boobs are and yes, he pointed right where I thought he was going to point...not sure where he learned this one from...but I need to keep a better eye on him and the TV!

Overheard in the Halls....

So, I love to just listen to some of the conversations my children have. It's so funny getting a glimpse of what is going on in their little heads.

Today, I was in the kitchen while they were in my room watching a movie or so I thought. The next thing I hear is a garbled voice coming from down the hall. "Welcome to the Nolan and Meghan show! Take a seat!" They were talking into the fan and "performing". A little while later, they got bored in my room and headed out to the living room. Overheard "Well, Grandpa, what are you doing?" "I'm just going out, Grandma". After Liam got up from his nap, we headed on outside. Apparently on the trip out there, they were transformed. Meghan was now "Maggie" and Nolan was "Baby Shark"...I don't know where they get this stuff, but it keeps me entertained!

These are the rules....

Today I had a dentist appointment. The kids were all excited when I told them Grandma and Grandpa were coming over. They were eating their lunch, planning their afternoon and then they saw the car. A chorus of "Grandma! Grandpa! Hi! Hi! They are here!" rang out through the house. So they packed me off in the car and sent me off to my two hour appointment.

While I was out, they got to play bubbles...a favorite past time here. Then they went for a walk with Grandpa, and as Nolie informed me "Grandma had to stay with the baby." Then they went out to play in the back yard.

When I got home, Nolan was in the house trying to tell Grandma that the diapers in her hand were Liam's not his. Ummm.....they wear the same size. So, I got Nolan changed and Grandpa came in from the back yard. He told me Meghan was planting "beans", which means that she was digging holes and putting rocks in them. So Nolan was standing in the doorway leading to the backyard as we were all chatting. He looked around the room and noticed that I was there, Grandma and Grandpa. He asked "Where's Meghan?" I told him she was out in the backyard. He looked at the three of us again and said "Someone is supposed to be watching us!!!!!"

Could he be a genius?

Well, Liam is just not content to be a baby. He is constantly trying to do EVERYTHING that his siblings do. From climbing on the couch and jumping off onto the cushions to trying to climb the gigantic slide in our backyard to running down the street to "visit" the neighbors. I have been watching his physical abilities grow by leaps and bounds (literally) since he took his first steps at 10 months old.

Lately, I have also noticed that his verbal abilities are changing every day. He is constantly trying to communicate with everyone. He picks up any phone or phone type object (like a clicker, a toy, anything) and just starts talking into it. I'm not sure who it is he is talking to, or what language he is speaking. He starts off with a "Hello" and then it immediately turns into some jargon that whoever is on the other end of the phone understands.

He is repeating everything now and is saying sentences that we have been teaching him. He can say " I woooove ou" and "I'm cazy!" and it is just so cute coming out of his mouth...he says it with such determination. So today, I was very surprised by a new development. I went in to get him when he woke up and we were just talking back and forth and laughing. For some reason, I said "One". Liam answered me "Two". I couldn't believe it. So then I repeated "Two" and Liam said "Three". Wow!! Well, I thought we were on a roll. I said "Three" and Liam said "ENhe"...okay, I don't know what that means, but I kept going. I got to seven and he said it. Then he followed it with "eight, nine" and that was it for our numbers. So, he's got "1,2,3", has lost track of "4,5,6" and then grabs a hold of "7,8,9". Maybe he's not a genius in real terms, but in my little world he is!

She finally noticed!

Okay, so having boy/girl twins, there are obviously a lot of differences. Their readiness to do certain things like talking, walking, going on the potty. They each have certain things that draw them in, hold their interest and keep it (for as long as any three year old can be held captive). Meghan is drawn to princesses, baby dolls and pink. She loves her ponytails, loves flowers and butterflies. She's a "girly girl", most of the time. Nolan is drawn to trucks and cars, to dinosaurs and to sports, any sports. He likes baseball, football, hockey, golf, you name it, he likes it.

They have different ways of showing their affection and love. Nolan is sweet and loving, always with a hug or a kiss. There to boost Mommy's confidence when she needs it. The compliments just flow from his mouth. And a random "I love you" is not a surprise.

Meghan is a little more subtle with her love. She likes to cuddle, she likes to kiss, she likes to take care of people. She mothers her two brothers all the time. She gives hugs and kisses to them, tries to help them with things that they could just as easily do themselves. She is a little mother hen.

Both of them are very observant, most of the time. They notice if Daddy misses someone when he is kissing goodbye in the morning, they notice when the neighbor gets home from work and they greet her, they notice when Mommy puts on her makeup and does her hair. That is why I was surprised that it took so long for one of them to notice a major difference between the two of them. They get dressed in front of each other, they bathe together, they shower together. But it wasn't until this week, that Meghan noticed...

Nolan was getting changed and was standing on the changing table. He was "nakie" as we like to say around here. She looked up, pointed, and said "I got a peepee, too! But it doesn't look like that!! I like it!"

I know as they grow older, their differences will continue to multiply. I hope that one thing remains the same, their friendship and love are what amazes me every day and I hope that that grows over the years.

Nighty Night

So as all parents, we have a ritual at night when the kids go to bed. We both bring them in to their bedroom, sometimes with Liam in tow, sometimes he goes before them with multitudes of kisses and hugs from everyone. When he comes in with us, he climbs into both the twins' beds to say good-night to them, it is really sweet.

We each go to each of their beds to say good night, tuck the blankets around the kids and give them a good night kiss and a hug. Nolan always says "What about a hug?" As we leave the room, there is a chorus of "I love yous" and "Don't let the bed bugs bite", so sweet.

Well, lately, Nolan has added a little bit more to his evening questions. He asks me each night as we are doing kisses "Mama, how the sun gonna come up?" I answer him "The sun will come up in the morning" and he replies with "When the moon goes down, right?" It is just so cute!

I got my Sox on last night!

Well, last night was my first game of the year, and it was a good one. I went with Julie. Tricia rode in with us and we met John, Margo and Brian before the game. Julie an I headed to Yawkey way to check that out before the start of the game. And it was a good game!! Tied 1-1 in the 9th inning, Ortiz was walked, Manny was walked, no outs. Lowell came to the plate. Struck out. Brandon Moss hit one down the line to CF, Jed Lowry tried to round the bases and didn't make it home in time. So, two out, bottom of the ninth, men on first and second. Varitek steps to the plate and hit the ball to the same place. Manny rounded third and headed for home, beating the throw to the plate for a Red Sox WIN!!!

Of course, my day leading up to it wasn't quite that exciting! But it was another day with the kids. We hung out playing in the house. It was sunny, but still a bit chilly so we never made it outside. When Liam went in for his afternoon nap, the kids and I decided to make a treat together. They donned their aprons, each checking out what picture was on the other's apron. Chairs were pulled up to the counter leaving little room for me to get near the bowl. And we made our treats. They had to know what each ingredient was as we put it in. They were amazed by the mixer (we used the hand mixer this time) and then they helped to form the mixture into "balls". (Well, Meghan did, Nolan dropped one and gave up on us.) They have so much fun helping in the kitchen and Meghan was loving the treats.

So as I got things ready for Grandma's arrival, the kids wanted to know where I was going. I told them I was going to Fenway Park. Well, of course, they thought I was going to some kind of playground without them. So I explained to them that Fenway Park is where the Red Sox play. Well, Nolan, in typical Nolan logic, tells me that "Daddy goes to the Red Sox! Girls don't go to the Red Sox!!" Well, my little man, have I got news for you...