Nov 30
Everyone,
I hate going out shopping at the store during the holiday season. It seems that everyone is in a hurry and is not very friendly. I love to spend my time shopping online instead.
And what am I shopping for? Well, I won’t tell you what I got the kids since they might read this (hahahaha!) but I will tell you what Juice’s Christmas is going to be like. Because frankly, he knows what he’s getting. In fact, he is using one of his presents right now. What is it you ask?
A nice piece of luggage for all of his travels.
And what does Juice want in his luggage? It has to be a carry on size. It has to have wheels. And the pull handle has to be tall enough that he can take a full stride without clipping his heel. It has to have a pocket on the outside to hold his paperwork, and a quick access to his liquids. He wanted it big enough to fit a week’s worth of clothes, and be able to bring home his paraphernalia from conferences.
Not a big request, right? Right! And since we got it in September, he’s been making good use of his new suitcase.
If you’ve got someone who is hard to buy for this holiday season, I suggest some luggage! Always useful. Just keep in mind Juice’s requirements and you too can have a good holiday present.
Safire
SafireJuice's Travel Juice.
Nov 19
Everyone,
Juice does take pictures! Not very good ones! (Sorry Darling…it’s true.) Now you can see them! Aren’t you lucky?
Anyone know where this is?
Ah, it’s a beach. Very good. Elementary my dear Watson. But where is that beach? I’ll give you a hint. This is not the Atlantic Ocean.
Any other guesses? Since the Pacific Ocean only covers a few states…you can guess where this is.
Oregon? Nope.
Washington? Nope.
California? Very good!
But it wasn’t a vacation he went on. It was a business trip.
This is his view from his hotel room. Want to know what those white spires are?
This! Isn’t it beautiful?!
I’m thinking he didn’t get much work done in San Diego.
Safire
PS- He really did work hard when he went there. But I guess the temple and the ocean were very close to his hotel and work.
SafireJuice's job, Juice's Travel Juice.
Dec 03
Everyone,
Juice is back as of this evening. I’d love to say it’s been all roses and flitting fairies, but sadly…no. After a very late dinner (we waited to eat with Daddy), he took the kids upstairs to start the bedtime process. Or so I thought. About 5 minutes later, I heard a thump, a wail, and lots of yelling from Juice. I wisely stayed out of it. There was a lot more sobbing because he apparently got Butterfly crying too.
Once he announced at the top of the stairs that it was bed time, I figured that was my cue to come up. He told me that Butterfly had turned off all the lights upstairs and Professor had walked off of our bed. That would explain the thump and the wailing.
Still, we are all happy to have him home once more.
Safire
SafireJuice's Travel
Dec 02
Everyone,
I am tired. Not, tired of doing everything, just really really tired. How do I know this? My eye lids twitch when I get really tired. Not only are my lids twitching, my cheeks and my eyebrows are too. I’m that tired.
Why so tired you ask? Today I took the kids to the PRC after a few short hours of sleep. Pirate has a cold and can’t seem to lay down and suck his thumb. He does fine sucking it sitting up so I spent half the night propped up in my bed snuggled up to him. He was very happy in the morning to find himself in bed with me. It was also VERY early…about 6am. I kind of muddled through the morning and got to the PRC in time for some play. Of course, Pirate fell asleep before we got there and then only really wanted to be held. Or eat play dough. Still, we had a nice time and they all had great naps.
I did not nap (I should have) but I watched a movie.
After naps, I loaded everyone in the car to run some errands before my evening at the church. We stopped and got dinner (Butterfly’s choice…chicken nuggets!) and made it too the church on time. Tonight my girls that I’m in charge of (8-11 year olds) had to pass of some memorization that we’d been doing all year. Depending on what they knew, they got to build a big ice cream sundae. They had a great time and so did I. Butterfly helped with the sprinkles. The boys cried every single time I even got close to leaving them. I don’t think they are enjoying nursery. Poor guys.
Everyone was finally in bed by 9:30pm tonight and I should be there too. Good night!
Safire
Safireactivity day girls, church, Juice's Travel, nursery
Dec 01
Everyone,
I love Juice’s job. I just hate it when they send him away. Sure he’s working and earning money and all that jazz but he’s not up until almost midnight picking things up, then up with small children for HOURS in the night, then back up with them for the day and expected to function! He sleeps in a hotel. By himself. He eats every single meal out. He speaks to adults all day long and looks at cool toys. He comes home with swag. He gets to read his book for hours uninterrupted in the airplane.
Can I please have a business trip?!
Seriously, today was fine. We had school over here today so Butterfly had someone to play with. It’s F week and Butterfly and AJ played “Go Fish” for over an hour. Awesome education they are getting, let me tell you! 
They also colored firetrucks and fish. We read 3 F books, including one on Father Christmas. Then we had a very long question and answer session about Father Christmas and what he does and how parents are involved. Mostly I told them that parents are able to talk to Santa and let them know what the kids want. Butterfly really wanted to know if we stayed up to help Santa eat the doughnuts we leave him. I told her if we’re not tired, we might. By the end of the talk, they were both wide eyed and talking about the toys they want. Butterfly informed me today that she wants a Rainbow Bright doll. Do they even make those anymore?
I have 2 more presents to buy for Christmas and then I am done. Things are traveling to people as we speak. There is no Rainbow Bright doll in there though. I think she’ll hopefully be so happy with her presents that she won’t remember. I can dream, right?!
Tonight’s takeout for us was pizza. I could not convince Butterfly that we should have Chinese food. I was sad! I was also sad that Professor pulled the box off the table and dumped half the pizza on the floor. Soot pounced on some of it and ended up with 2 whole pieces…lucky dog.
I did have one crazy thing I did today. I’m enjoying getting some free rentals out of the DVD rental place here in town. I decided that I needed another movie to watch and took all 3 kids to the store at dinner time to get one. Mommy needs some pampering too. If it’s a free movie that she can only keep for a day, so be it!
I ended up talking to my Mom for the evening which was nice! She has to pick out her vacations for next year by next week so I’ve got some deciding to do. Plus, I’m going to be an aunt again! Cappy is going to be a big brother! Yay!
Safire
Safiredaily stuff, eating out, Juice's Travel, movies
Dec 01
Everyone,
So how did everyone like my 30 days of posting? Do remember that I challenged myself to write every day of December too so you won’t stop hearing from me yet!
Juice is in Chicago this week for his annual trip for some trade show. I get to get take out for a week while he’s gone. Tonight was Mexican food. Yum! Of course, I seemed to be the only one that ate it…the boys and Butterfly only ate apple sauce and then threw the rest around the kitchen. Not my idea of fun!
I ran about 10 errands today. Some early in the morning after I dropped Juice off at the train station. Some during Butterfly’s dance class. Some even after! It just seemed like I had a ton of little tiny things to do. Things that would have been easier without 3 little tag-a-longs. But we made it work. With a lot of bribing. My kids LOVE chocolate. I can get them to do anything with a promise of that stuff. Professor even knows how to say it.
Speaking of Professor, he is my little talker! He says several things now.
Shoes
Cracker
Mama
Chocolate
What’s that?
Noodles
Socks
Snowman
Tree
Lights
Pretty
Dog
Woof
Kitty
Meow
Roar
oh no!
No
Block
Baby
Pirate, on the other hand, is still stuck with “uh-oh”. He does now say, “uh-uh” when he wants to say no. But other than the few times he’s said Daddy, nothing else. I think we always knew at first that Professor would be the talker and Pirate the thinker. For a long time I wondered if I had named them correctly. I wonder if other mothers of twins worry about that. Sometimes I think of how their lives might be different with different names. I don’t regret the names they got, it’s just something I think about.
Safire
SafireJuice's Travel, NaBloPoMo, names, Pirate talks, Professor talks
Dec 02
Everyone,
I can write for 31 days before I run out of something to say. Because that’s what has happened today. Still, even now, nothing comes to mind. So one boring day to day list today.
We visited Vinny at his house today. It surprised me that Butterfly is taller than Vinny. He’s almost 2 years older than her. I guess her size shouldn’t surprise me much but it does. Both Juice and I are 6 feet or taller so really she has no choice but to be tall.
We then went to the mall to return some shoes I bought online. I don’t know why I insist on buying shoes online. I always end up returning them at least 3 times before I get the fit right.
Naps were short and smelly due to a diaper blow out that I (thankfully) caught before the boys decided to play in it. Butterfly, on the other hand, napped too long and woke up cross. We had a big fight about putting her pajamas on tonight. She kept telling me she wanted a time out. She got as many as she wanted. And the last time out, she said, “But I really didn’t want a time out!” I am desperately trying to understand her circular logic and not be frustrated with it.
Totally off topic but here is a cute story from yesterday. As I was trying to get through my email (which I did!), Butterfly said, “Ew. Gross.” That is my clue for someone has spit up. I glance at the boys to find Pirate painting Professor’s hair with it. His face was in deadly serious wonder of “what would happen if I put some here”. An exclamation from me brought their attention to me and I noticed that Pirate had had those wondering thoughts all over Professor’s face. Pirate is going to be my thinker. He is going to think things up, tell them to Professor, who is going to do them. And get caught. And then bawl because he got caught all the while it was really Pirate’s idea and he really should be in trouble too.
We had left over pizza for dinner (boring) and I watched An Ideal Husband which I had never seen before. Through the whole movie I kept picturing Cate Blanchett in Lord of the Rings and I couldn’t get into it because of that. Still, it was good. I am loving Netflix and I have maxed out my list of movies. Did you know that you can only have 500 on there? Me either. At this rate, I will not be able to add another movie on there for at least a year. Longer. Apparently I’ve been out of the movie scene for awhile. Probably since Butterfly was born. I can’t remember the last movie I saw in the theater was. I do remember it was me and Juice and one other guy who smoked through it. In a non-smoking theater! Juice complained, nothing happened. Kind of ruined the movie for me because obviously I don’t remember what it was. One movie I would love to see is Twilight.
Hey look, I get going and I do have something to say.
Safire
Safire2 boys-double trouble, Butterfly in trouble, Juice's Travel, movies
Nov 15
Everyone,
It rained SO hard today. Sheets and sheets were coming down. Of course, we were in the car. And had to go inside. It’s not easy to carry both boys in from the car (we do not have a garage or a drive way, only a parking lot) and getting Butterfly to actually walk to the house is always…interesting. Our neighbors must think we are crazy. There have been days when Butterfly is screaming/crying “I don’t want to go inside!” and I am pushing her along with one of the car seats. (Of course, this is always worse on the days that she pitches a fit for going outside. Fights on either side of the door.) More often than not, the boys are crying because they are hungry and I’ve pushed our outting just a little to long. There have been times when our neighbors will stop walking to their cars or whatever to watch us get to the door. There were a few college aged girls living in the house next to us who used to laugh whenever I would haul all three kids out the door. Just you wait girls, your day will come.
Anyway, back to the rain. Tons of it! I made Butterfly stay in the car with me in hopes that it would slow down. We could only stay so long since she had to go potty. Then it’s me running around trying to get everyone inside before the cold sheeting rain melts us. Butterfly and I were soaked, and the boys carseats were very wet and are now slightly mildewish. The house is smelling a little like wet dog. I do not like winter in the east.
JUICE IS HOME! Yay! I went to pick him up at the metro (this is after the huge rain storm but it was still drizzling so another dash to the car to avoid major soaking) and the first thing I thought was that he needs a hair cut. He was so happy to see us though and Butterfly was showing off all evening. Loud happy noises. I was able to leave Juice in the car with everyone and run into the grocery store on the way home for an essentials run. It was the first time I had been without kids in 4 days and it was nice. On the way out of the store, there was a beautiful rainbow. Why I don’t have my camera strapped to me 24/7 is a good question. This would have made a beautiful picture.
We bathed everyone tonight which is always tiring. The boys played with the bath cup and Professor tries to drink from it the whole time. Pirate turns it over and studies it but Professor knows what this is for and gets mad there is nothing coming out. The boys went down easy tonight.
Juice taught Butterfly how to play rock-paper-sissors. I let him put her to bed while I ran off to Lala’s house (BFF Vinny’s mom). We watched a series together and chatted. So fun! I love being able to have a small break.
When I got home, I planned out my next 3 weeks of meals. Thanksgiving is coming and I’m cooking for BFF Vinny’s family and ourselves. We plan on playing games all day, watching movies together, playing with babies and kids, and kicking the husbands out with the small ones to the park (weather permiting) so we can cook and chat. It’s nice having good friends around.
Anyway, I am gathering recipies for Thanksgiving and I need to know what I’m making for dinners so I can get all the turkey stuff too. So far on the menu is turkey, cranberry sauce, rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, butternut squash puree, cranberry fluff and steamed veggies. Lala is bringing over desert and drinks. My question is snacks. They will be coming over early (around 11am) and we probably won’t have dinner until 4pm or so. What snacky things can I have out so the children don’t starve and the husbands don’t haunt the kitchen? I want it to be easy because I think I will be cooking for a few days before and I don’t have all that much time on my hands. Any suggestions?
I love having Juice home. It’s like a huge weight has been lifted. At least for 2 weeks. He leaves for another week the first day of December. Sigh…
Safire
PS- Is it just me or did blogger get rid of spell check??
SafireJuice's Travel, Lala and Vinny, life with twins, NaBloPoMo, Thanksgiving 2008, weather
Nov 12
Everyone,
Isn’t that the most interesting question? A few months ago, I actually looked through my mail. I know, I’m not the best at getting let alone going through my mail. (E or otherwise.) But one day I did and I had a postcard from NIH. They were doing a study to see what babies were thinking. I did a language study at the University of Maryland with Butterfly a few times and I thought this would be fun.
We did our second session with them today. The first time, the boys sat and watched different pictures on a tv screen. They seemed to enjoy it and were good boys who didn’t cry or hardly even move. Boy they are easy going.
This time, they put sensors on their wrists and on their backs and gave them different weighted objects that look the same. The sensors are to measure their arm movement. It was interesting to see their different personalities come out during the tests.
Pirate was so interested. The researcher would give him a toy and he would study it, eat it, study it some more. And when the researcher tried to take it away from him to do the next toy, he would hold on for dear life. When she did get the toy, he would watch it all the way back to the box and kick his legs in excitement when the toy was coming towards him. So intent the whole time. His eyes miss nothing.
Professor was a little more annoyed by the toy taking. He kept up a steady stream of talking while he had the toy (yes, even with the toy in his mouth) and kept up a steady stream of crying when the researcher took the toy away. He would reach out to her, his blue eyes tearing up, lower lip quivering when she took it and by the time she put it in the box he was full fledged crying. Eyes closed, face red, hand dramatically up on his head. But the instant he saw the toy in front of him he would stop, grab it, and talk. So funny. She had a hard time getting him to take the last one. He kept reaching for it and then looking up at her suspiciously. It was very cute.
They are so unique in their personalities. I find it so interesting to see them together and see how well they compliment each other but are almost opposites. It’s interesting to see how Butterfly has an impact on their lives too with the whole toy taking away responses.
Anyone that has a baby 5-8 months old in the area can email me and I can put you in touch with the researcher at NIH. They pay you twenty dollars. Sweet!
Safire
PS- Almost didn’t post today. I started this early this afternoon and am now finishing it close to 11pm. Juice has gone away on business and I’m working it solo here for a bit. I miss him because there was a huge cricket in the living room. As much as I tried to ignore it, it was being stupid and kept jumping into the wall making a small thudding noise that was awful so I had to take care of it myself. The horror!
Safireinfant studies, Juice's Travel
Aug 23
Everyone,
Today we went to see my grandparents. It was so nice to spend some time at Nana’s house and just relax. She watches my nephew Cappy a few days a week so we were able to spend the morning/afternoon with him as well. Boy are there a lot of babies around! (And I do realize that I got the lions share of babies at the moment but still…there seem to be a lot of babies.)
Nana made yummy yummy chicken and I’m a little afraid I ate her out of house and home. (Hello nursing twins and can’t get enough to eat all the time.) But she made 2 different kinds of chicken that were awesome and potatoes and jello with Mandarin oranges in it and danishes and candy and little cakes. Yum! Butterfly had jello and ham for lunch, I had everything else.
We also got to see my cousins Bee and Brother Bee since they live right next door. They took Butterfly over to play and that was nice because I could just focus on the boys. I also watched a good movie with them that I can’t remember the name of. It had Cary Grant in it and was very cute. Nana says I need to rent Mrs. Millie (I think?) because she feels it’s a very good portrayal of England during WWII which was where she was during it. I’m excited to add it to my list!
I have pictures but it’s late and I’m tired so I’ll update this post in the morning with them. It’s fun to see my grandparents with their great grandchildren. I hope that I will be able to see my great grandchildren as well.
JUICE IS HERE! My mom picked him up at the airport and brought him to my Nana’s house. I love having him with me. I missed him and all the help he gives me, especially at night. Now that he’s had several days of uninterrupted sleep, he should be good to help me. And he’s off of work for 3 weeks too so this should be fun.
Safire
SafireGreat Grands, Juice's Travel, trips to Utah
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