Dragonflies

Thanks Nana D...

2012-01-31T21:32:00.000-05:00

...just what Mommy needed, another excuse to take photos!

First face drawings!

2012-01-30T21:16:00.000-05:00

Max has been writing "M"s for a while, and today he drew his first face.

And then he drew a few more. Check out that grip!

Vanh quickly drew a face too, as if to say, "If I'd known you were going to make this much fuss I would have done this before."

He sometimes uses his left hand for throwing and drawing, but we don't think he's left-handed.

It's a good thing I ran for the camera, as minutes after those photos were taken the original faces were disguised by the addition of "big teeth Mommy!"

Kinder Dragon for Tet

2012-01-25T21:57:00.000-05:00

Egg-carton Dragons

2012-01-16T22:10:00.000-05:00

Lay Your Bets...

2012-01-16T22:09:00.000-05:00

Stats update

2012-01-11T22:12:00.000-05:00

Visit to Dr. A, today; "She didn't need to check us, Daddy. It was just for a talk. And the Dr's office had stickers for us." At 3 1/2, Max is 35 pounds and Vanh is 34 pounds. Updated heights were not obtained due to the inability of heads and bodies to stay in position long enough to be measured, but they are within an inch of each other. And healthy as always! We are going ahead with genetic testing to find out if they are identical or fraternal twins, as there is still nothing physical to indicate one way or the other (Dr. A, like 75% of you, thinks they are identical).

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-26T15:38:00.000-05:00

Santa came...

and then MeMe came!

Max's haircut

2011-12-22T18:30:00.000-05:00

Ready to light the Advent Candle

2011-12-19T20:59:00.001-05:00

Van's haircut

2011-12-17T15:27:00.000-05:00

School photos

2011-12-09T16:57:00.001-05:00

Yeah I know I missed yesterday, but look what I have for you today!

(Earl Havlin Photography Ottawa)

Noodle song

2011-12-07T20:36:00.001-05:00

Max wrote a song

Delayed fontanelle closure

2011-12-06T21:24:00.000-05:00

The soft spot on the top of a baby's skull usually is not noticeable to the touch after age one, and closes completely by 26 months at the latest. So it's been a little nerve-wracking to wait and see why the boys still have open spots at 40 months. They were seen by the experts yesterday and pronounced normal in every way. Sometimes these things just happen, probably hereditary, they will close eventually. Hopefully this post will help reassure another mother using Dr. Google, I couldn't find another example.

Christmas Tree

2011-12-05T22:04:00.000-05:00

We did this on Sunday but I cleverly saved it for Monday's post... good thing because it is already Tuesday.

Advent Calendar

2011-12-04T21:44:00.001-05:00

Finally remembered, four days late. The boys were happy, they got extra chocolate.

Montreal

2011-12-03T20:38:00.001-05:00

Words from boys

2011-12-02T20:17:00.000-05:00

I wanted to post every day but it's already December 3rd and I'm just getting started. Luckily the boys gave me some quotes to backdate.

Max (rushing through on his way to the bathroom):Mommy Mommy! I need my toothbrush! Hurry! The candy-cane is eating my teeth!

From Vanh: I didn't hit him Mommy. My fingers were just going like a bee. (Me: Oh. Well, you need to say sorry.) "I'm sorry," said the bee. "I was on my way home."

And again (flipping his hair): Look! Vanh is getting lots of hairs like Daddy!

Post-a-Day in December

2011-12-01T20:15:00.000-05:00

I'm going to post every day in December! Who's with me?

Happy 3 1/3!

2011-11-19T19:59:00.000-05:00

Referraliversary

2011-11-12T13:47:00.000-05:00

Three years ago today we found out we were parents and saw photos of our children for the first time.

Click here to see what you said.

Click here for memories of that day.

Click here for more memories of referral day.

Trick or Treat!

2011-10-31T23:00:00.000-04:00

Remember last year?

And the year before?

Here are the final costume choices for 2011:

And they're off! (The big pumpkin is my mom)

Twas the Night Before Halloween...

2011-10-30T22:54:00.001-04:00

Best month ever

2011-10-30T22:02:00.000-04:00

Every day I think this can't get any more fun, and every day it does!

Stylin' Saturday

2011-10-29T22:09:00.000-04:00

Three years (and one day) ago...

2011-10-26T07:52:00.001-04:00

... you were proclaimed ready for adoption, and somebody pointed a camera at you, and took this photo for us, your Mommy and Daddy, so we could finally see what you look like.

2011-10-25T20:06:00.002-04:00

Here was tonight's conversation:
"Boys I need some more photos."
"What you got?"
"Me? I get nothing... Well, hopefully I get some good photos."
"No, what WE get. Vanh and Max."
"Oh, you think you should get something for the photos? Okay, well, what do you want?"
"Show! (specifically, There Goes a Dump Truck)
"I have some chocolate cake..." (Hoping to lure them away from TV with something I was going to give them anyway)
"Oooh, chocolate cake. I have chocolate cake. AND a show."
"Uh uh, you have to choose. Pick one - chocolate cake or a show."
(Pause for careful deliberation...)
"Okay, I want to go watch a show..."
"Okay, if that's your choice-"
"... and AFTER, I have chocolate cake."

I brought the chairs out and showed them how Vanh's chair goes here and Max's here. Vanh looked carefully at the picture and carefully placed his hands and feet. Max grabbed his chair and ran away giggling, holding the chair against his bottom. I confirmed that there would be a show, then supper, and then chocolate cake. He came back and arranged himself.

Here they are shouting "CHEESE!"

Darling boys, you are SO MUCH FUN. I love you!

Costume choices

2011-10-22T19:58:00.000-04:00

Happy Sunday!

2011-10-16T22:04:00.001-04:00

Stylin' Saturday #30

2011-10-15T19:51:00.001-04:00

There's Mommy!

2011-10-11T20:19:00.000-04:00

Because the boys keep asking where Mommy is when they look at this blog

Stylin' Saturday #29

2011-10-09T19:43:00.000-04:00

Three faces of Vanh

of Max

Stylin' Saturday #28

2011-10-01T19:52:00.000-04:00

Stylin' Saturday # 27

2011-09-18T20:01:00.000-04:00

Stylin' Saturday (boys' choice). Every inch well-fought-for. There would have been extra-large floral flip-flops (on the wrong feet) as well, but it was just too chilly to let that one go.

Autumn Moon Festival

2011-09-13T17:26:00.005-04:00

Happy Tet Trung Thu!

First day of school

2011-09-10T13:59:00.005-04:00

The boys have been attending a Family Literacy Centre in the room next door to their future kindergarten room since they were babies. Just like last year I captured a few shots of the night before just in case:

Vanh is our little hippie, while Max likes his hair short. It's easy to remember who is who - the name "Max" is also shorter than the name "Vanh".

Max is developing some fairly specialized skills. We're very proud.

For the record they own brand new back-to-school outfits, it was their choice to leave their pajama tops on. Not that I don't understand completely. They have capes!

World's Worst Guests

2011-08-21T10:13:00.002-04:00

What would you think if you invited guests for the weekend and they showed up with bags of cheap candy for your kids (but nothing resembling a hostess gift)? Not that gifts are important, but it's a nice gesture.

What about guests that break some of your furniture, and pee on the rest? Not on the crib mattress or cot they were given, but in your double guest bed? And at the supper table? And lord only knows where else in the house? With no mention made of replacement or cleaning costs.

What if one of their children actually dripped pee on your child's head? At a cottage with no shampoo or shower?

How about if they let their dog run loose - in the lake, the sand, the mud, the neighbour's properties - and never once cleaned up after him? They they let him and his muddy wet paws have the run of your house and furniture, even though you keep your dog downstairs and off the couch?

What would you think if they brought their own food, ate all of yours, then packed theirs up again to bring home? Complained all weekend? Never once did a dish? Refused to clean up their toys? Used all your bug spray? Left their bedroom a mess? Took a pair of your kid's underwear with them?

Would you ever invite them back?

Yet they say they want us to come again next summer...

Swimming

2011-08-14T13:39:00.002-04:00

Back to the Museum of Nature

2011-08-12T12:47:00.001-04:00

The boys find some of the dinosaur exhibit a little scary, but the eggs and babies are alright.

The bird exhibits and children's play areas on the fourth floor are more their speed.

Vanh told the lady running the bird exhibit that his brother was a bird (Max-bird). When she turned to Max he growled at her. Later (when she was out of hearing) he explained that he was a bear-bird.

Camping

2011-08-07T23:17:00.003-04:00

The boys didn't quite make it overnight.

An aggressive mosquito attack combined with too much James goes Buzz Buzz has led to a firm conviction that tents, and indeed anything to do with camping, is full of swarming bees. The (third? fifth?) time Vanh woke up screaming that he was being attacked we gave up.

Max got some bites too...

but Vanh got the worst of it.

PS Here he is less than a week later - good as new

Picnic

2011-07-31T21:04:00.005-04:00

Every year the Vietnamese Canadian Community of Ottawa hosts a fun family picnic.

This year it was at Andrew Hayden Park.

Did you know that balloon sticks work as straws?

Max asked for a giraffe

Vanh waited a long time. He was almost the last one when she said he couldn't have another, she had already made him one. Luckily I heard her and held up Max. What did she think, he put on a wig and changed clothes to get a second balloon?

(Twin parents - has this ever happened to your kids? That someone thought they were the same kid trying to do something twice? We also got "in trouble" once at the dentist; they had appointments on different days with different dentists, but at the same clinic. Dentist #1, who saw Max, was quite cross when he saw me visiting Dentist #2 with Vanh - he thought we were there for a second opinion.)

An accidental snap as Max flopped down unexpectedly into my lap

Something to remember

2011-07-30T20:54:00.000-04:00

I got spontaneously I love you'd today. First Max came up to me out of nowhere, hugged my leg and said, "I love you Mommy." Then later on Vanh looked me in the eye and said, "I wuve you." Absolutely heart melting.

As part of bedtime I whisper, "Love you" and they, "love you" right back, but this was the first time either of them thought of it on their own. Something to remember.

year three stats

2011-07-27T19:56:00.000-04:00

31 pounds
Just a smidge over 3 feet
Dr. A observed that you always have the same measurements, unusual even in identical twins

Matteo's first day

2011-07-27T19:48:00.002-04:00

Three's (good) Company

2011-07-24T20:06:00.001-04:00

Party in Greely

2011-07-23T20:53:00.003-04:00

(First and last waterslide photos by PL)

Aquazookas + water park = fun

2011-07-21T22:44:00.001-04:00

Happy Third Birthday!

2011-07-19T23:21:00.005-04:00

From Mommy and Daddy

MeMe & Gunmy, Auntie Taffy, Nana Diane, and birthday guests Oma, Matteo, and Ben also gave you special presents.

You thought this was your bowl (because it's blue) but you didn't mind sharing

Max was very concerned about the location of his cake while we were singing Happy Birthday to Vanh... we know because he asked, "But where's Max's cake?" quite loudly. And often.

Here's Max's cake!

All three candles with one blow, way to go Max!

With all the talk of "Max's cake" and "Vanh's cake" you didn't realize you were supposed to share, but you didn't object when we explained.

Happy Birthday to my wonderful little boys. You are such fun to be around!

BatVanh and SuperMax

2011-07-18T18:16:00.022-04:00

Introducing...
BATVANH and SUPERMAX (max-max-max...)

It's really hard to get good photos of superheros, they move so fast

Sometimes you get lucky and they stop for a cape check

Or to watch for signals

And of course there's that moment right before they take flight

But mostly it's this

With a little of this!

Down By the Station

2011-07-13T15:38:00.002-04:00

Sorry about the annoying quality - Max was dancing around with a Mylar balloon next to us. But isn't this just amazing?

Part 2:

Down by the airport, early in the morning
See the jumbo jet planes all in a row
See the airline pilot push the throttle forward
Roar, roar, whoosh, whoosh, off we go

Down by the water, early in the morning
See the bobbing sailboats all in a row
See the salty skipper pulling up the mainsail
Flap, flap, splash, splash, off we go

Down by the firehouse, early in the morning
See the shiny fire engines all in a row
See the firefighter, turning on the siren
Wee-ooo, wee-ooo, off we go

Down by the launchpad early in the morning
See the (solid) rocket boosters all in a row
See the launch director starting up the countdown
3, 2, 1, blast off we go

Down by the station, later in the evening
Everybody's sleepy at the end of the day
See the engine driver stop the locomotive
Shhhh - here we stay.

Stylin' Saturday #26

2011-07-09T12:58:00.005-04:00

Okay, so I sort of laid these out last night. But they WOULD pick Lightning if they knew he was clean, so all I really picked were the shorts. The hats and footwear are all them.

Calamine lotion is the latest accessory of choice. It is referred to around here as "da pink", as in "need some of da pink Mommy, got 'nudder 'skito bite."

Gymnastics

2011-07-07T13:39:00.002-04:00

Here they are waiting for their coach to call them in.

This was their second class "on their own" (no parents) and their first with this coach.

They do fine in situations like this - they enjoy being part of a group of kids, and seem to follow instructions fairly well. I guess they may be ready for full-day kindergarten by September 2012 after all!

Sidewalk chalk paint

2011-07-06T20:13:00.001-04:00

Once again I absorbed little more than the title from M3, so instead of her lovely pastel paint we ended up with this

by crushing little bits of coloured chalk into water. The resulting liquids are wonderfully vibrant in colour, but function like water when dripped/ spilled/ painted on the dolly. Everything dries up with less mess than when they use chalk alone. Fast, easy, cheap, toddler fun for hot days.

My gorgeous boys

2011-07-05T13:48:00.003-04:00

First movie theatre

2011-07-03T14:30:00.003-04:00

They were transfixed from the moment we sat down, though the ads, the previews, the short, and the feature film. Max wanted to "go back and see the rest" when we left before the credits finished.

I wasn't sure how much of the plot was going in, until Vanh covered his eyes when an explosion was imminent. He liked it when Mater got a tree on his head.
They were equally excited with the "very big juice" afterward.

Vanh didn't want to leave - he wanted to "go see the other Cars movie now". Having little frame of reference for the concept of "sequel", he had interpreted the "Cars 2" we had been talking about as "two Cars movies".

By the way Nana, you were right, these new shirts are size 3x. But the shorts are a small size 2.

First salon haircuts

2011-07-02T18:14:00.002-04:00

Before

During

After!

After the waterpark...

Happy Canada Day!

2011-07-01T20:39:00.004-04:00

We were planning berry picking this weekend, so I was pretty quick to invite ourselves along when I heard a photographer friend was heading out with her family this morning. I was hoping for that perfect "first time picking strawberries" photo and she didn't disappoint me:

At the last minute I invited my parents too - why not try for a family portrait?

Beautiful photographs to commemorate our day AND a vat of fresh strawberries to eat! What a great day!

Thank you so much Tracey (and family)

School's Out!!!

2011-06-30T20:43:00.001-04:00

It is 8:37 PM on June 30. which means that I am off for the summer. I feel a little guilty being so joyous about this. Well okay, not guilty exactly... It's not that I don't love and cherish my students, but we've had a really good year, and they've done what they were supposed to do with me. It's time for me to be a full-time mommy for a few months!

We're starting our vacation with some berry picking, a haircut in a salon(or two? or maybe none), and a new movie in a theater (can you guess which one?). All for the first time - expect lots of photos to come!

Stylin' Saturday #25

2011-06-25T17:24:00.003-04:00

Road trip

2011-06-21T19:45:00.017-04:00

Here is a map of our trip:

View Larger Map
At least, that was the plan. It seemed to take us a lot longer than 3 hours and 58 minutes to get there.

We went a little out of our way to cross on the ferry. As we approached Max decided he didn't want to go on the boat, but was appeased with the promise that he could stay in his car seat. Once aboard he found the courage to check out the view from the safety of Daddy

The boys quickly fell asleep after the excitement of a boat ride, and were refreshed and ready to play when we finally arrived at the beach (at 2:00 - just when everyone else was leaving)

They went right in until their clothes were soaked, then changed to their bathing suits.They were fearless in the waves. Vanh would have kept going if I hadn't called him back.

Now that they knew what to expect the boys were much more excited about the return ferry ride. As we approached Max announced that he wouldn't need to be up with Daddy this time

and they had fun trying to see the water

We stopped at one of many beach-like rest areas along beautiful Bath Road

After 6 or 7 hours of driving a little restlessness set in, but dfun challenges like drinking out of a bottle in a moving car...

... or a Timmie's cup!

helped to pass a little time

They packed their own backpacks for the trip

Max filled his with blocks, which he used to build this lovely tower

Vanh filled his with books

It was really fun to spend so much time together. The boys have no problem spending lots of time on the highway...

...something to do with views like this!

It was also fun just to hang out and chat.

Here we are already past their regular bedtime, and going fast to get to the next rest stop...

...ooops, a little too fast. If you look carefully you can see the (unmarked) police car who reminded us to drive carefully. Wasn't that nice of him?

We finally made it to the pulloff, where everything was made right again with popsicles, a few races, and a motorcycle viewing...

but we were ready for bed after that - almost 10 hours after we left (and 1.5 after bedtime) they started to get a little cranky...

... wouldn't you?

Overall they rocked. We had so much fun we're planning a two-week road trip for next summer!

A little break from report cards

2011-06-15T20:40:00.003-04:00

before

during

after

Height update

2011-06-09T21:35:00.001-04:00

Today was the first time both boys were willing to stand under the "funny hat" and be measured properly. They are somewhere around 90cm, I was too busy getting them to cooperate to really pay attention, but I remembered to ask, who is taller?
Vanh is - by one millimetre.

Back... with bathing suits

2011-06-06T18:06:00.002-04:00

Vanh has the green hat

Guess who walked home in their underwear?

2011-06-03T20:51:00.001-04:00

Really, it's not as horrible as it sounds

2011-06-01T20:03:00.001-04:00

It all started with the air-conditioner. It was hot and muggy, so I installed the portable in the boys' bedroom. They observed that it was "vewy wowud" and "don' need it mommy", so I uninstalled it and dragged it away. Then I opened the connecting door between their room and ours, as our window unit can manage both rooms in a pinch. I turned on their fan and left them to fall asleep.

A few hours later I checked in on them before we went to bed. The air from the open door didn't seem to be doing anything so I shut it - I thought they might be scared if they woke up in the middle of the night and saw it open.

2:00am. I wake up enough to hear crying, and to poke Daddy with my foot. Then I fall blissfully back to sleep. He heads in to find two very hot little boys. Apparently Mommy clicked on the heat instead of the fan. It was the lowest setting, but still... Lots of water, snuggling and cool facecloths later he tucked them back in and went back to bed, carefully closing the childproof door behind him.

They woke up again a short while later, dismantled the child-proof doorknob, and went downstairs. At this point their stories verge. Max says he was "goin' ouwside," thus providing an explanation for the half-unbolted front door. Vanh was "cweanin," as he found a broom, used it to hook down everything hung up out of reach, and emptied a storage bench. Eventually they headed back upstairs and passed out in their beds. I found them this morning, door wide open, sprawled out and sound asleep.

Okay, so, I understand why this is so bad. Especially after the first time. I would like to point out that the other situation occurred under completely different circumstances... and also to call your attention to the fact that if you analyze the above report you will note that those boys were checked on every two hours throughout the night. What I am concerned about, what makes me have those "Wouldn't a good mother be more upset about this?" feelings, is that imagining them getting the front door open at 3AM doesn't scare me. Maybe it's just that I know them, but I don't believe they would have come to any harm. There are no wild animals on our street. I believe humanity is such that even the sort of person wandering around at 3am would be kind to lost little babies, or at worst ignore them, although the likelihood of them even encountering anyone at that time would have been very small. We live on a very quiet side street, and the idea that they would go out into the middle of it and wait for a vehicle to come along is ridiculous. They would have poked about a bit and come back inside. Even if they had suddenly developed a wandering streak, I'm not even sure that the police would charge us, once they saw the trail of deconstructed child-proofing, and had a chance to learn that we are responsible parents...

Not to say I'm not very, very thankful that none of that happened - and there is a new hook-and-eye lock on the outside of their bedroom door.

And not to say that it wasn't a "bad parent" thing to do - but I feel a lot worse about the sunburns because I didn't follow the instructions on the sunscreen properly. Sigh. I read a mommy blog post a while ago about mommy guilt, and I was all excited until I realized she was talking about isolated examples, not the pretty much daily experiences I go through - anyone else?

Odds & ends

2011-05-29T15:35:00.004-04:00

I was reading along on a friend of a friend's blog, I don't know her at all but she's obviously a sweetie, and it was such a shock when this post about cancer followed this one, about a perfect day... I wanted to share to give everyone a chance to pray for this beautiful little girl and her family.

Makes one a little humbled by how well life is going, as long as we have our health and our loved ones around us. And very thankful, and content. And a little scared to post about one's own perfect days.

I was chatting with a Mom the other night whose baby is a month old. "You've made it through the hardest part - it gets better from here," assured the other moms at the table. I agree - it just gets better and better and better - and it was pretty amazing before. Curious little bundles of loud joy and shy cuddles, we love hanging out with you.

Vanh read his first words, other than "Vanh" and "Max". I brought home a new book he'd never seen before and he read the title "Mighty Machines". He recognized the words because he's seen them approximately 30,000 times - if you know the series you know they show the machines in a series of short clips, all of which are prefaced and concluded by the letters M-I-G-H-T-Y M-A-C-H-I-N-E-S dancing across the screen, so in 30 minutes of watching they see those words more than they see any actual vehicles. Still - he can read them, wherever they are written, in whatever font, without picture cues. I think that's pretty cool... for him. Kind of embarrassing for us. You remember, we were the new parents that gave our playroom TV away because our kids were never going to use it?

Max has given his brother the nickname Vanny. We think it's cute, although it may not last as he only allows Max to use it. Vanh occasionally calls Max Maxy, but we try to ignore/ discourage that, for obvious reasons.

People comment more often now how different the boys look from each other. We mix them up at least once a day if they are dressed the same (or in the bath). A few evenings ago I couldn't understand why Vanh wasn't letting me brush his teeth (he was Max and didn't want Vanh's toothbrush in his mouth). Then when we were putting them to bed, Daddy plopped Max into bed with a firm, "You're Max, and this is Max's bed," an indication of how often he gets one or the other mixed up. Trouble is he had Vanh. Do other parents of twins do this?

Finally... there is something else but I'll finish later...

Potty progress - one month later

2011-05-26T08:09:00.015-04:00

So, that went well. Here we are exactly one month later, and both boys are "toilet learned" to the point where they will independently go and use the potty when playing at home, and they will ask when we are out. They were pretty much trained right from the first week. They still wear pull-ups for nap (often dry) and diapers at night (not nearly as full as they used to be, no more accidents or leaks). I would definitely recommend our strategies!

At the fair

2011-05-22T10:21:00.001-04:00

(The fair last year - click here)

First ride

2011-05-20T20:58:00.000-04:00

34 months old

2011-05-19T20:58:00.008-04:00

3rd birthday presents - two months early.
(It's only fair - they got their 2nd birthday presents two months late)

Happy Bike-day baby boys!

Haircuts

2011-05-14T15:50:00.004-04:00

Max wanted his "with triangles" and "a little more off in the back please mommy" (his exact words) while Vanh requested "not (no cutting) over my ears" and went for more of a bowl cut.

I don't cut their "bangs"; that's just the way their hair has grown in in the front.

I keep telling myself that next time I will take them to a real kid's hairdresser, but I've stopped believing myself. There's just no way they would dare sit in the chair, or the airplane, or the little car, or whatever. They won't even touch the little mechanical tractor at the mall - let alone sit in it - although they are obviously entranced by it. TV and candy would entice them, but not enough to overcome their suspicions.

Maybe next time - but for now I think they look beautiful!

Home Unheard

2011-05-09T22:16:00.011-04:00

7:12PM Max and Vanh are tucked in for the night. Daddy heads out to pick up coffees. Mommy retires to the TV room; chats with Dave.

7:50PM Mommy remembers Daddy also doing some shopping. Coffees will be late.

8:22PM Mommy needs to use facilities. She opens door and is confused by the sound of running water, as sounds are generally magnified through the baby monitor. She glances at the monitor and flashes back to...

4:15PM Mommy is home alone when Shadow starts barking in response to some dogs he can hear through the baby monitor. She turns it off.

8:23PM Mommy navigates stairs to find Max and Vanh vigorously washing a giant candle, never seen previously. Correction: Vanh is washing the candle; Max is eating the styrafoam it apparently came in. Mommy asks where did the candle come from? Vanh responds from the shelf Mommy. No-one has any idea what shelf.

8:24PM Boys dressed in tops only. Night-time diapers discovered on upstairs bathroom floor, dry. Pants and beds also dry. Mommy comments on these observations and is informed the poop and pee went in the potty - flush! Mommy wonders what else may be gone flush.

8:25PM Mommy re-diapers Max and Vanh and tucks them back in. Excess candle-washing water is cleaned off floor. Candle remains puzzling.

8:28PM Mommy finally gets to use the facilities. She is ready for coffee now. She returns to tell Dave how nice it is to find just a small puddle of clean water after the kids have successfully used the toilet on their own. Monitor is on and kids are sleeping. Mommy wonders if Dave knows anything about a candle?

8:37PM Daddy returns home. Clean laundry is discovered all over first floor. Daddy wonders if Mommy was looking for something? Or the dog jumping around? He shrugs and brings in shopping.

8:39PM Shards of styrofoam are observed covering floor, couch; torn up box discovered.

8:41PM Daddy needs to use facilities. He enters downstairs bathroom and turns on light. Floor is wet with small brown lump.* Potties have been disassembled.

8:42PM Daddy proceeds to playroom. Every bin of toys has been dumped. Daddy is not happy. Daddy cleans first floor. Coffees get cold.

8:53PM Daddy recounts story of the first floor to Mommy and Dave. Mommy cannot stop laughing, even with cold coffee. Candle recognized as purloined from gift closet.

The end (we HOPE!)

* Upon analysis substances were determined likely to be water (75%) and cat food (55%)

I thought we settled this...

2011-05-09T20:06:00.003-04:00

Stylin' Saturday #24

2011-05-07T23:08:00.000-04:00

Stylin' Saturday #23

2011-04-30T14:16:00.004-04:00

A little unoriginal but I was glad Vanh finally picked these striped jeans from the pants drawer; I think they're adorable.

Vanh's been into his piglet jacket lately, while Max has a favourite blue vest

Max's monster truck hat - and his sweet smile

Perhaps the most significant item this week is what they are not wearing in any of these photos - diapers.

Happy Friday!

2011-04-29T21:11:00.005-04:00

Ah, look at them. I just love them to bits.

Any guesses who is who? (Vanh is usually in blue)

My twin, my translator

2011-04-28T20:56:00.000-04:00

Max: I need ceweal baow peese.
Mommy: Pardon? Can you say that again?
Max: Ceweal baow.
Daddy: You want a bowl of cereal?
Max: Nooooo! Ceweal baow!!
Vanh. Not ceweal baow Max. Ceweal baw.
Max: Ceweal baw peese.
Mommy: Oh! You want a cereal bar! He wants a cereal bar please, Daddy.
Daddy: We don't have any.

Peep peep

2011-04-27T22:09:00.007-04:00

Thanks to C & H for this idea!

I let them get smudgy on purpose to be more "chick like" but in retrospect I probably should have gone with clearer footprints at the expense of artistic realism...

How we did these (in response to Francesca's comment):
Bring your paint (we used this) and paper (remember to cut it to size first) into the bathroom (we used purple construction paper because that's all we had; light coloured good quality paper or cardstock would work best).

Round up your toddlers. Roll-up/ remove any long pants (unless already paint-covered). Have towels nearby.

Paint bottom of foot (it tickles!) and have child stand on paper. Place that child in bathtub. Repeat until bathtub is full of children. Begin second round. (Yes you could do two at once but what fun would that be?) As each child completes their second print, rinse and dry their foot and send them off.

Cut out eyes from black paper (we only had white) or use googly-eyes (you can get them at any dollar store). Cut out beaks from orange paper. You'll need some glue.

When the footprints are dry, have the children sit in your lap while you hold a black marker with them. "Help" them draw legs, etc. and write Peep peep. Have them either point to where they want the eye and beak or glue it on themselves.

Potty process... step by step

2011-04-26T23:21:00.007-04:00

Step 1: Preparation
Determine a week that you have more time. (We picked the 4-day Easter weekend as there was no free week coming up)
Prepare your child mentally (When it gets warm outside, you won't wear diapers anymore...).
Welcome them in the bathroom when you are going. (We didn't focus on this step, I think it happened naturally due to the layout of our house)
Go potty shopping together (avoid Cars 3-in-one!) and read potty books (Our favourite is Potty by Leslie Patricelli; we also like The Potty Book for Boys

Step 2: Go For It!
First week-end, have your child go on the toilet every half hour. They have to try. This is to determine their schedule. (At first our guys sometimes needed "incentives" just to sit - but once they sat, they went) Keep notes.

(Here are our notes:
Day 1 #1: Both boys went every half hour. One accident each.
Day 1 #2: Vanh went 7 times. Max didn't go at all.

Day 2 #1: Both boys went every hour. Max had one accident.
Day 2 #2: Neither boy went until after going to bed for the night (in their diapers).

Day 3 #1: Vanh went every 90 minutes. Max went every 2 hours. Can't remember who, maybe both had one accident?
Day 3 #2: Vanh went once. Max didn't go.

Day 4 #1: Both on an every 2 hour schedule. Vanh had one accident but we decided to move on to the next step (undie shopping) anyway...
Day 4 #2: Nothing again until well after bedtime diapers, at which point it was obvious there should have been a couple earlier.)

Step 3: You're A Big Boy Now.
When no accidents, go with your child to buy big boy underpants. Let them pick. (Note: Thomas size 2s are significantly larger than Cars size 2s. Also: Don't shop in any underwear aisles with carpets, just in case your child gets so overwhelmed with excitement he pees. Oh, and pull-ups don't always work for some reason, in fact they can leak enough to leave footprints on carpet if your child takes off his pee-covered flip-flops...)

Ongoing: When there is an accident, just tell your child that you know he/she can do it. When there is success, congratulate and make it a big deal (we used lots of praise and excitement, intermittent chocolate chips, a few toy motorcycles, and choice of video as rewards). Avoid food treats (especially if you pick Easter weekend when your kids are going to be eating chocolate and candy for all three meals already)

You can use pull-ups or diapers. You can even slip the underpants over the diaper to encourage them. You can also put the diaper over the undies if you are pretty sure they can do it but are going somewhere you can't afford an accident. (We didn't use any diapers unless we were going out. It didn't seem to influence the boys success rate whether they were wearing diapers or not. We collected a bunch of old cotton pajama bottoms for that first weekend - you can see some in the photos.)

This method is adapted from a friend of a friend, her blog is private so I won't say her name but thank you so much for sharing, seems to be going well so far! Hope this helps someone else as much as it helped us.

(PS I know I said I wasn't going to write any more until we were done but that was before I spent 4 days straight in the bathroom and ended up with nothing else to write about)

Easter egg hunt

2011-04-25T20:08:00.002-04:00

We invited a few friends to hunt with us...

What a happy hoppy day!

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T20:07:00.000-04:00

Did the boys make those?

2011-04-23T14:04:00.003-04:00

Mostly they helped. That is, they allowed their hands to be traced three times (each) and willingly chose appropriate colours for the different bunny bits. Then they played swordfighting with spare pipecleaners while mommy cut everything out, and dumped the dog's food in his water dish while mommy was gluing everything together. That's how (my) boys do crafts.

Flashback Friday

2011-04-22T06:21:00.005-04:00

Here is me when I was about the boys' age. My Dad built that slide in our backyard.

You can see what passed for "trees" where I grew up, in western Labrador. I remember being bewildered by the trees in our storybooks that looked so different from season to season. Our trees looked the same all year long... except sometimes they would have snow on them. I remember having to memorize which tree went with which season to get it right on science tests.

PS I'd love to read other people's flashbacks - let me know if you post one!

Sure, I can share our recipes...

2011-04-21T20:22:00.005-04:00

A current favourite:

Candy Carrots
1. Cook carrots, drain.
2. Pour on maple syrup.
3. Toss and serve.

I got it from M3's blog, sort of. I didn't read her recipe link, just the part where she mused about it being better with real maple syrup, then thought, "Maple syrup and carrots? That sounds yummy" and there it was. We eat the whole bag.

Another fave of the boys is also adapted from a twin blog, this time D's smoothie recipe. We've been using it for about a year and it has evolved into this:

Smoothies
1. Dump a handful (per person) of whatever-cut-up-leftover-fruit-is-in-the-freezer-from-yesterday's-snack into the blender. Banana is good if you have one.
2. Pour in a little milk and/ or a couple spoons yogurt. (If you don't have either, coffee cream and an ice cube will do in a pinch.)
3. Whir and serve.

Sometimes it's liquidy and sometimes it's more solid like ice cream, the boys don't seem to care. I add a blue freezie to Vanh's to make it blue (doesn't work but he sees it go in so it's blue enough for him), and just a few strawberries when Max orders red.

Finally, there is this classic:

Cereal in a Bowl with Milk
1. Offer choice of cereals
2. Pour choice(s) into individual bowls
3. Add milk

Be careful with that one - you don't want to take away its specialness...

Name games

2011-04-20T19:18:00.003-04:00

A while ago we discovered the name of the combine harvester in the Cars movie is the same as Vanh's middle name. "That's kind of neat," I said, "He has the same name as you - Vanh Frank."
"I Max Frank!" said Max. So I explained that no, he had a different middle name.

Today I brought home a new Cars book, and it mentions Frank. "I Vanh Frank!" remembered Vanh proudly. "I not Max Frank," explained Max, and he continued on to say his full name. I was happy he had remembered but couldn't quite hear him so I asked him to say it louder - "I Max Harvester!"

Bathrobes make us laugh

2011-04-19T21:01:00.001-04:00

33 months old

2011-04-19T15:51:00.003-04:00

Stylin' Saturday: Special Sunday Edition

2011-04-18T16:30:00.006-04:00

Every element of these outfits was carefully selected as just the thing to wear around the house this Sunday, so I thought they deserved a post of their own...
It's hard to tell from the photo but the orange on the collar of Max's onesie and the red in his firetrucks exactly match the orange and red flames on his monster truck shirt. I'm so proud.

PS A's baby sister was born today! Also Nana's first grand-daughter! Same weights, same hospital... Welcome to the world baby girls! So many people are so happy you are here!

Stop, no, it burns!

2011-04-17T14:42:00.002-04:00

I've seen this sort of photo often on other twin blogs and thought it would be cute to try with the boys. For some reason they found it torture to lay next to each other upside down. Especially Max - he would finally drum up the courage to lie down beside his brother, then spring away as if being burned by sulfuric acid when he got too close.

Daddy and I finally figured out that if we each pulled one boy around by his feet, we could make them laugh AND drag their heads together!

Stylin' Saturday #22

2011-04-16T19:31:00.004-04:00

First he dug out the size 6 shirt from the very back bottom corner of the drawer. Then, "Need dat party hat peese. Need red bag. Take a peeshur a me Mommy!"

Happy 2nd Birthday A!

2011-04-15T22:55:00.004-04:00

Birthday party today

Supposed to be over 5:15 but last guests left closer to 6:30.
Popped boys in front of videos a bit longer to clean up.
Just after 7... "Can we go for nap now?"

Darling little boys.
Extra long rocks tonight, and conversation....
The favourite part of the party?
"Cupcake" (Vanh).
"Cake" (Max)

And for me
a sudden understanding of why B writes like this.

March and shout

2011-04-14T20:21:00.006-04:00

(Daddy calls this "Stomp 'n Yell")

Can you guess what they are saying at the end?

Supper time

2011-04-13T19:25:00.006-04:00

Maybe it's not the most interesting photo ever, but I'm getting double value here- it answers M3's "What's for dinner?" (that's a grilled cheese on whole wheat peeking out and a Caesar salad in the bowl) and provides proof of vegetables for Nana Diane... Oh and you can see my feet, too.

(The boys ate the corn, a little grilled cheese, a ridiculous number of garlic sourdough croutons, and asked for peaches.)

Pssst! Wanna be on my list?

2011-04-12T19:48:00.001-04:00

If you have an adoption blog and are wondering why it isn't in either of my blog lists in the sidebar, please let me know - I'd love to add you!

Back to the park!

2011-04-11T16:39:00.000-04:00

Oh park, how we've missed you. It's been a long winter, even with three playrooms, an indoor playstructure, and a love of any and all all videos about vehicles or other machines.

Potty post

2011-04-10T06:21:00.027-04:00

I've heard many different stories about potty training (aka toilet learning), from the 14 month-olds who do it by themselves overnight to the 5 year-olds who are still battling after years of struggles. I thought to be fair I should contribute our experiences, but I am not going to go on and on about this. The next post on this topic will be when we are done - be it in months or years.

So, at the first signs of readiness I jumped in with some reinforcing incentives, but things quickly fell apart as one boy was simply not physiologically capable of doing what his brother could do, nor was he psychologically capable of understanding why his brother was getting ANYTHING (treat, sticker, praise) that he was incapable of earning. So we compromised with relaxed encouragement, and while they obviously understand what goes where and have shown they can do it, they have not been much interested in doing so.

I wonder how much my own feelings have to do with things. I mean, this is it, the last stage of babyhood. Once they are toilet trained they will be 100% little boys. We probably won't have any more babies of our own to diaper (our "daycare babies" will continue for a few years, no need for anyone to volunteer babies in diapers for us to change).

This was all a few months ago, and we since decided to try this strategy. We've been telling the boys for weeks that they will stop wearing diapers "when it gets warm out", and we are going to start the next step over the four day Easter weekend - but if it doesn't work it doesn't work.

Yesterday the boys picked out their own "potties" for the second bathroom. Vanh chose a trainer and we tried to get Max to pick something simple but he could not be distracted from the deluxe Cars model with real engine sounds. They have certainly been enjoying trying them out so far - and with some success too I might add!

You go boys!

Shopping

2011-04-09T20:12:00.002-04:00

Something's different...

2011-04-08T19:37:00.000-04:00

We have a young friend staying with us while he's between apartments, and he'd been growing his hair out for a year or so. Yesterday he came home with it all cut off. He looks great but the difference is quite startling. The boys noticed immediately that something was up as they greeted him with laughter and "Hey! Dave! Where's your sunglasses?"

Song interrupted

2011-04-07T19:36:00.003-04:00

Chase me Vanh!

2011-04-06T19:35:00.004-04:00

No nos here

2011-04-05T21:19:00.002-04:00

I hear a lot of parents talking about their child's fondness for the word no at this age. Well, I don't like to brag, but our guys never say no. Here is a sampling of questions we asked them just this evening:
- Do you want to stay outside forever?
- Is that cupcake all you want for dinner?
- Are you supposed to pour water out of the bathtub?
- Are beds for jumping on?
All of which were answered with a resounding, "Yes!" Perhaps the rest of you are just asking the wrong questions?