Apr 23
Everyone,
After 4 years, some things never change. 
Ahhh…Professor crying and Pirate looking un-bothered by the whole thing.
First there was THIS:
Now there is THIS:
Man I am SO lucky.
Safire
PS- For those interested parties, 4 year old stats on the boys.
Pirate: 47 inches tall, 48 lbs. 120th percentile for height and weight. He is as big as a 5 year old.
Professor: 41 inches tall, 33 3/4 lbs. 50th percentile for height and weight. He is now average instead of a tiny peanut. Way to go!
Safire2 boys-double trouble, Pirate and Professor, Pirate mile stones, Professor mile stones
Nov 10
Everyone,
I’m not sure I’ve mentioned it before but the boys and I go to a state based and run preschool every week. Meaning that we go to preschool paid by the state and run by some pretty awesome teachers.
The boys are learning a lot there. Not only do they get to play with toys (yay, someone else’s toys are super fun!) but they learn shapes, letters, colors, numbers, hear stories, and do a craft. They sit so well during circle and story time. They clap with everyone, can count to 10 in Spanish, and answer the teacher’s questions about the stories they are read.
They love their crafts. They made turkey feathers today and decorated them very nicely. Last week we made spider doughnuts. They are always very anxious to get their craft supplies and have at it!
One thing they don’t love? The music time. There is always about 10 minutes of music and dancing time after playing and before story time.
They boys DO NOT participate. They paw me to pick them up. They hang on my legs and scowl at the teachers. They scream and hide behind me when anyone tries to engage them during that time.
The teachers and I have brainstormed how to get them more involved. We’ve tried having me leave during that time (they just cried) or having me be really involved (they glared at me and tried to get me to stop).
I had decided to just grin and bear it and accept that the boys are probably not music lovers. They don’t mind the music at home and will dance with Butterfly but don’t dance on their own.
Then last week they started with instruments during music time. The boys were SUPER interested. They loved shaking the noise shakers. And then they participated during the rest of the music time.
The teachers and I were floored! They gave me a CD of all the songs to listen to at home. Today, I put in the CD in the car on the way to preschool.
They knew all the words.
And sang along.
And could keep the tune.
Just goes to show you that you have no idea what’s going on in these kids heads.
Ever.
Safire
Safire2 boys-double trouble Judy Center, music, Pirate, Professor
Oct 05
Everyone,
The boys and I have been potty training now for a little over a week. Both of them are doing great! I attribute that success to a few things. First of all, they are OLD. They are 3 and a half. Second, they asked to do it themselves (after much talking it up from me for a few weeks before.) And third, the proper equipment. There’s not a lot of equipment there, but what I have works for us.
- 2 small potties. My house boasts 3 toilets. But with two people potty training and the rest of us, sometimes all the bathrooms are occupied at the same time. We have two small potties where the boys can access them very fast.
I like the potties that have a back and a bowl that lifts out. I have two different colors and each boy has his OWN potty. This has also been a big help.
- Underwear. Batman Underwear!
I only put on batman underwear on in the morning. They get to put a marble in their behavior jar when they are still wearing their batman underwear at bedtime. We also have basic underwear for when they have an accident. 10 marbles in their jar gets them a batman toy!
- Pull-Ups. We’re still new at this. And sometimes we still have to leave the house. So I won’t have to worry about finding a bathroom at that exact moment, we have pull ups.
I could continue to use the diapers I have but they hate to lay down and have it taken off them. They want to stand up now like big boys! Pull ups are just so much easier.
- Skittles. I let the boys pick out their own rewards. Pirate picked Skittles
, Professor picked peanut butter M&Ms.
Slowly, both of them have wanted only Skittles.
- Baby Legs. It’s been cold here. In fact, this weekend, we had the coldest day on record! Only 50 degrees! And that’s just not a good temperature to be hanging out in a shirt and underwear all day. Enter baby legs!
They are really cute leg warmers that go up to mid thigh on them. They help with the potty training because now the boys don’t have to fight with pants AND underwear when they need to go in a hurry. And their legs stay warm. Bonus perk? They add another layer under their regular clothes and will help with keeping them warm as the temps just get colder!
We’re still working on no accidents (both had a perfect day yesterday!) and it hasn’t been too bad. But I am glad I waited SO long to start them. If only cleaning my living room carpet once is the only accident I have (and what an accident it was!!), I’ll call it great.
Safire
Safire2 boys-double trouble potty training, twins
Sep 27
Everyone,
Yesterday, out of the blue, Professor declared it was time for underwear. Batman underwear. He declared it was time for peanut butter M&Ms and Batman toys.
Yes, that’s right. It’s time to start potty training.
I did a lot of deep breathing yesterday. I did a lot of sitting next to the toilet, and a lot of cheering.
He had zero accidents yesterday.
None.
Zip.
And he even went #2 with no fuss.
I told him that he couldn’t wear his Batman underwear if he messed it. And he didn’t.
Today, he had one big accident in the morning. Then we went out to their new little school. And to the grocery store. Halfway through the grocery store, he declared that he had to go. And he did. (Shout out to very clean bathrooms at Trader Joes!) And his diaper was dry.
I am excited to not buy diapers anymore, but I really don’t like the first few months of potty training. It’s stressful. It’s kind of scary.
But I have never seen Batman look so cute.
Safire
Safire2 boys-double trouble, growing up, Professor mile stones Professor
Sep 18
Everyone,
This week at the Multiples and More site is their monthly installment of pictures.
All of them are REALLY cute.
But the cutest of all? MINE. (Of course.)
This is a picture of my boys and their cousin Cappy (who is in the middle). Cappy and my boys are about 6 weeks apart in age and LOVE to play with each other. Here, my dad caught them playing Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes during a family photo shoot.
They are just so dang cute together!
So can you pretty, pretty please go over to the Multiples and More site and vote for our picture? I don’t get anything but bragging rights and you don’t get anything other than being awesome. And prettier.
So vote. PLEASE!
Safire
Safire2 boys-double trouble, Cappy, Cousin Camp, cousins cousins, pictures, Utah
Sep 08
Everyone,
My boys fight over toys. A lot. They fight over who is playing with what. Pirate tends to destroy whatever Professor is working on if he’s frustrated. There’s been all out brawling over a specific train, or a Spiderman figurine.
To deal with the fighting, we’ve had some toy rules pop up. These rules are mostly for my own sanity, and I like to think that they are teaching the kids to share. Somewhat.
Our toys have 3 basic rules:
- Take turns. The toy in demand has to have a turn with each person. If I find them fighting over a toy, I assign whose turn it is, set my ipod to a fun ring 5 minutes away, and then they switch.
- Time Out. If they can’t take turns, the toy goes into time out and no one plays with it. Period. For at least 10 minutes. If a toy gets put in a second time out, then it is in time out for the rest of the day. Sometimes several days if it’s just too hard for them to deal with.
- Special Toy. We have several toys that are uniquely “mine” and no one else is allowed to play with them without permission. (This really helps Butterfly.) Butterfly keeps her toys on her bed or in a box downstairs seperate from the rest of the toys. Her special toys right now are Lemon (a stuffed dog she sleeps with), Misty (the stuffed pony she got in Assateague), and her Littlest Pet Shop toys. Pirate’s special thing is his blankie. Sometimes he attaches himself to a train or two, but it doesn’t last too long. Blankie is his one, true love. And Pirate, well, he is my toy hoarder. He has a backpack that he carries around with him all the time and he fills it with special toys to him at the moment. Sometimes he pulls them out to play with them, sometimes he just wants to carry them around everywhere.
Since we’ve started with these rules, the fighting has calmed down a lot in our house. Although there is still a lot of fighting, but it’s a little more managable for me.
How do you handle the toy fights?
Safire
Safire2 boys-double trouble, toy rules, toys toys
Apr 13
Everyone,
Because three years ago I was huge and on the couch, begging the boys to stay in and then GET OUT in the same breath…you guys get this picture!
I love those little burrito babies.
And the little boys they turned into!
Safire
Safire2 boys-double trouble birthdays, twins
Mar 09
Everyone,
Things the boys are into lately.
Pirate- He loves swords. He loves to play the ‘sword fight game’ on the Wii and asks to do it every single day. He cries when we do something else because he wants to play the ‘sword fight game’ all the time.
He also loves his blankie. Blankie has started joining in his games, and frequently walks around pretending to be a ghost. Ooo-ooo!
Professor- He loves his momma. So very much. Sometimes a little too much for my sanity. He is my little buddy. He cooks with me, cleans with me, and snuggles with me. My shadow!
He also loves his guns. We call them shooters. He went around shooting people in the grocery store with his imaginary gun the other day. I’m pretty sure the people didn’t care for it, but I thought it was adorable.
They are both obsessed with flashlights at night. We have gone through about 4 flashlights because they break them. I allow them to take the flashlights to bed with them. Sometimes they play, sometimes they don’t. But those flashlights get them excited to go to bed, since they are not allowed to have them anywhere else.
My boys are so adorable. Seriously, cutest 2 year olds ever!
Safire
Safire2 boys-double trouble Pirate and Professor
Feb 23
Everyone,
Lately the boys have been playing so cute together. They chase each other around the house squealing and laughing and falling down together in a heap. They take turns being the ‘mommy’ and the ‘baby’ or will race things around in a doll stroller, each pushing one handle. It’s so incredibly adorable I just don’t know how I got so lucky to see it every day.
Until it’s not adorable.
Like when I’m making lunch and Professor comes in to see me bawling and rubbing his side. A nice, Pirate sized mouth print is right under his arm pit. Or when Professor pushes Pirate off the couch and he smashes his face into a plastic toy and gets a black eye. Or when they hit each other on the head. Or lock each other in the bathroom. Or steal each other’s prized toys. Or sword fight with books. Or pretend to shoot each other with rail road pieces while running through the house, giggling.
Okay, it’s adorable again.
Safire
Safire2 boys-double trouble twins
Jan 31
Everyone,
We are so excited for you to join us at Camp I Do It Myself But Can You Help Me this year! Looking at our schedule, we can see that we are going to have a wonderful and meaningful time at Camp IDIMBCYHM (pronounced: i-do-it). We hope all you campers take advantage of our sessions, listed below.
Walking Across the Street: Our campers will be proficient at screaming and jello legs in the middle of the street while cars are bearing down upon their helpless bodies. Once that is mastered, the tuck-hands and run-from method will be introduced.
Walking In Crowds: We pride ourselves on two different methods for walking crowds. One, the bolt and flee method will teach our campers the joy of placing as many strangers between them and their parents as possible. Our signature “jello legs” will help when the crowds become too dense for proper bolting. Thus enabling campers to flop when trampling is most likely. Bonus for campers who are multiples: training in 2 methods at once!
Walking Anywhere: This session will teach campers how to keep their mind occupied on anything except what their caretakers need them to do. Scuffing shoes, jumping in puddles, and general lethargy will be discussed.
Food, good to eat hard to open: Campers will be masters of twisting hard to open packages away from helping adult hands. Proper timing for fiddling with said package and then handing it back, will ensure strongest demands on patience. If this is not enough, proper pitch of “NO!” will be taught, as well as our camp theme song, “I Do It!” in all screeching decibels.
Selecting your Utensils, it Really Does Matter: Think that silver goes with anything? Our campers will know the truth of that matter! Skills include, proper insistence on the utensils that will make the most mess and be the least effective, matching really does matter, and favoritism (when you will only eat with one spoon, ever.) Campers will quickly master the art of distinguishing between two seemingly identical items.
Self Medication: Even when our campers get sick, there are opportunities to learn. Come learn how to insist on pouring medication (cough syrup, liquid pain killers, and antibiotics) and holding the tiny cup they come in. Bonus will be given for spilling the last dose in the bottle or the whole bottle at the beginning of the dosage. Double bonuses for spilling prescription medication or non-dye free medicine.
Shoes: Are you sure our campers need them? Our toes don’t get THAT cold. Should 0ur campers decide that shoes are necessary, they will be taught lessons such as: finding the missing shoe without help (or looking), difficult buckle dexterity, and projectile usage. Siblings will be taught to aim at the most tender spots, ie: face, shins, and head.
Proper Vehicle Exit and Entry Procedures: It seems easy, but our campers will learn to make it complicated! A list of requisite steps provide opportunities to stop and scream should anything be overlooked. Our skilled camp advisers will guide our campers through changing the rules at a moments notice to maximise frustration. Avid participates will enjoy the face flop, the legs broken, the getting stuck and refusing assistance. Campers will excel at the redo, or how to force your care takers into starting from the very beginning.
As you can see, we are going to have a full time at Camp I-Do-It. You will thank us for the opportunity to partake in this rich and meaningful experience. We at Camp I-Do-It are looking forward to sharing this genuine sense of belonging and a safe, healthy, and happy camp experience with you!
Safire
Safire2 boys-double trouble toddlers
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