Summer Time!

We had a great summer vacation with Shara, Brian & kids and Sydney's cousin Allie. We stayed at a cabin on Lake Winnepocket in NH for a (mostly) restful week. The cabin was affectionately dubbed "Camp Damp" because, it seemed, nothing ever got totally dried out, even on sunny days.

One last retreat before we're joined by our little boy!

Baby Shrek Announcement

Baby #4 will be joining us at the end of September! Exciting, if not entirely anticipated.......

Apparently, the twins have noticed my "baby bump" and there have certainly been enough pregnant women in their young lives that they made the connection themselves and are not at all phased by the idea of another baby. (oh, to be 2 again.....)

The idea that a new baby would be joining us coincided with their obsessive interest in all things Shrek and thus, they have named this baby "Shrek."

I'm personally hoping for Fiona since I have so much girlie stuff!

Old enough to make connections........

Charlotte dropped her doll and the plastic crown broke.
"Just like Jack, mommy!"

more conversations........

Charlotte and Ella dumped out our bin of markers and crayons and were laughing maniacally while throwing them around. When I insisted on them picking them up Ella said, "Charlotte, mommy doesn't like laughing."

Later in the day I asked Charlotte to get her coat.
"I shall mommy!" Followed by total loss of body tone and giggles from both of them. For the rest of the day they have answered every request with "I shall, mommy.

Oh, and the dog has been renamed Aladdin.

words and conversations

The twins use the word "twin" interchangeably with the number "two" which I find very amusing.

For example, Charlotte said recently, "Mommy can I have twin cookies, Peas?"
Ella, when talking about blocks said, "CeCe (charlotte's nick name) has one but I have twins!"

The new hot word in our house is "Mys" which, of course, means "mine."
"that's mys mommy Ella!"

The twins talk for about 45 minutes at night before falling asleep and sometimes we'll sit and listen to the monitor. Here's what I heard the other night:

Both girls, , "Ahhhhh, Ahhhh, Ahhhh, Ahhhhhhh" (Think Ariel singing from the little mermaid which is a well loved music CD handed down by Sydney).

Charlotte, "No, Ella Ariel is mys princess!"
Ella continues singing, "Ahhhhh, Ahhhhh"
Charllotte (the alpha twin): "No, you be Ursula, I be Ariel!"
Ella: "but Ariel is on mys pajamas!!" (which is true).

Both twins (meaning I couldn't tell who): "Throw your pillow and blankies on the floor!"
Which they both did.

Picnic

The twins have always been poor eaters (hovering around the 5th percentile despite hard work on our part!).

Having a picnic with their favorite dolls was a great temporary fix - they wanted to show Jessie how they ate like big girls.

Two turn two!

They've learned so much in two years but still struggle with size discrepency.



People often ask how we tell them apart......thanks, Charlotte for making that so easy!
Seriously though. The girls were very engaged in making their own "red cake."



Ella and Mommy eat cake.



Sydney enjoyed the red velvet cake.



What did you get, Charlotte?



Party at Papa Ginos. Despite their look in this photo it was really fun!




Birthday cake ring toss



Pin the tail on the donkey, classic.



We had lots of helpers to open presents.

Christmas

Santa Pez dispensers!




Charlotte and Ella check out Santa's gifts.



Charlotte opens her new pajamas.



Ella opens her strawberry shortcake doll from Mike. Little did we know the fight that would ensue because Charlotte had received the lesser Lemon Merengue.



Mike said the cheeseballs were his best gift this year.



Sydney's "big gift," her first computer. I'm not sure I'm ready for this......



Ciara and Charlotte


Ella and Colin hit the Christmas appetizers


Christmas insanity at the Seymours. There will be 3 more granchildren next year and Sydney is missing from this photo.





We hope your Christmas was as wonderful as ours!

Golden Mustang!

Sydney was awarded the Golden Mustand award this week (each month of the school year 2 students receive this aware out of 280+)

"The Golden Mustang Award is presented to a student for putting her best foot forward in all aspects of the school day; getting involved in the school community; having a positive attitude about academics that is often conveyed to others; actively and thoughtfully participating in classes; being a good friend to all by being helpful, accepting, and resectful ; serving as a good role model for other students ; and behaving in a manner which promotes responsibliity, safety and respect."

She received a plaque, t-shirt and an actual mustang doll (to which when Charlotte saw it she said, "I don't want it" and Ella said, "That's scary")

"gettin' dizzy"

Halloween

For Halloween the twins were doggies (Sully, our dog & Rebel, Erin's dog).

Charlotte's criminal career

Please see the post below and visit our town's police log which is published in the Holden paper. Check out the entry at 4:09 on Monday the 8th.

http://www.thelandmark.com/news/2010-11-18/Fire_%28and%29_Police/Police_Notebook.html