Feeling mushy and time warpy

I was going through Flickr today and realized that a) I have an account there and b) I actually have photos and *gasp* a video up there.

I had tears in my eyes as I watched the video. Just one short year ago, our lives were drastically different. Daddy was in the hospital. We lived in a one bedroom apartment. And I wanted to cry everyday.

It's a good thing I had these two around to keep me happy.


Isn't it weird to see Gracie with a binky???

Happy Valentine's Day!

Where ever you are, no matter how far...

Happy Valentine's Day from Gracie!

Happy Valentine's Day from Lukie!

...and one more because I can't resist!

Hide and Seek

As I've mentioned before, Grandma and Grandpa have been teaching Gracie and Luke to play Hide and Seek. They love to play it and it has become our new thing to do after baths are done and jammies are on.

It is so much fun to listen to them count and then go looking for the hiders. Usually, they love to play. They aren't so sure when they can't find someone right away.

Can Gracie Catch a Break, Please?

The doctor told me Gracie's ear has so much puss in it, he can't see her ear drum.

I sat there speechless, looking at my little Whoville happily counting the bugs on the wallpaper.

Why can't these ear tubes actually do what they are supposed to?  Instead, we completed a full week of antibiotics and now she has to take oral antibiotics in addition to another round of ear drops.  What makes me even sadder than the fact that she has an ear infection is that the pain has become so normal for her that she hasn't even complained.

I really hope this round of antibiotics works.  I'm the one who can't take the pain of her ear infections.

Cheese!

Gracie and Luke never let me take pictures of them. They always turn away or hide when ever they see the camera coming. Thus, the lack of pictures recently.

Tonight, they had a special treat of McDonald's for dinner. When I approached with the camera, they actually let me take pictures! Yay!

They even smiled for me!

We spent the rest of time after dinner watching the original Ice Age movie and worrying about the baby and the Mommy and Daddy. Much conversation and reassurance seems to be required now a days when something scary happens in a movie or in real life. Daddy and I don't mind explaining things to Gracie and Luke. They are just trying to make sense of their worlds.

We ended the night with a round of Hide and Seek and a reminder that Lukie is "6!" Not 2.

Twinsie Crafts (Again without the Camera)

I know! I know! I'll bring the camera into the house. I promise!

Tonight when I got home, I asked Gracie and Luke if they wanted to make Valentines with me. I've mentioned Valentines before and they seem to know what they are. I thought it might be fun if I combined 2 of their favorite things: sitting at their little table and coloring with markers.

I've kept a pack of construction paper around for quite some time, so I took out many sheets (not caring what colors they were) and began cutting hearts. Gracie and Luke were beside themselves with excitement. "Heart! Mommy, it's a heart!"

I had Gracie and Luke tell me who they wanted to send Valentines too and I took 5 seconds to address each of the hearts and write a quick, "Happy Valentine's Day!" Then, they were passed off, a la assembly line mode, to each Twinsie to draw and color on. This kept us occupied for the better part of 45 whole minutes! Seriously! Forty-five minutes!

Gracie and Luke were extremely proud of their Valentines and kept getting up to run and show Daddy what they were creating. We had a bit of a battle when Gracie and Luke both wanted the purple marker, but other than that, everything was great.

Well, everything was great until I realized that my Crayola markers are so old that they aren't washable. Yep. Not washable. I know this because I left Gracie and Luke in the tub for 35 minutes and they still have marker on their hands.

I really need to be more careful than that!

So, keep your eyes open! Who knows? Maybe one of our Valentines will be coming your way!

A Twinterview (without a camera)

I haven't posted in over 2 weeks.  The primary reason is that I can never seem to have my camera anywhere near me when something happens.  It doesn't seem fair to post stories about Gracie and Luke without pictures.  I mean, what's the point??  The secondary reason is that we have been alternately sick and stressed out and I just haven't felt like posting.  I know I'll regret this some day.

On the way home from Abues' house tonight, I conducted a Twinterview with the sleepy kiddos in the backseat.  Here is the conversation that followed:

How old are you?
Gracie:  2!
Lukie:  6!

What's your favorite color?
Gracie:  Blue!
Lukie:  Crayons!

What's Daddy's name?
Gracie:  *silence*
Lukie:  Papa!

What's your favorite song?
Gracie:  Spider  (the Itsy Bitsy one)
Lukie: FooFoo (Little Bunny ...)

Who's in your family? (some of the responses include)
teacher
Papa
Nathan
Brannnon (Brandon)
Onca (Bianca)
Aunt Bec
Nana
Auntie Ten Ten
Baby Emmie
Baby Emmie
Baby Emmie
and....
Baby Emmie

(I think they like Baby Emmie).

That concluded the Twinterview.  When we pulled into the driveway, they both rushed inside to see Daddy.  Knowing they had played a new game with the abues tonight, I asked them:  "Gracie and Lukie, what did you play with Abue tonight?"

"Hide and SSS.." Lukie started.
"Hide and Seek?" I asked.
"Hide and Seek!" he shouted.

Suddenly, Gracie ran over to the TV stand and put her face up against it. "One, two, free, four!" She turned around and came running to me. "It!"

"Yup!  I'm it!" I said.  Then Lukie ran over to the TV stand and counted in his own way.

"Six, semmon, eight, nine!"