Hives

My house is a MESS.  Not dirty, but cluttered, especially with toys.  It's driving me insane.  I can't take all of it anymore.  The playroom is the worst.

Bad, huh?

It's not like I don't clean it.... I clean up and minutes later it looks like a tornado came through.  Tonight I asked Max and Claire to help clean up the den and Max just took some toys and tossed them in the playroom.

We do have a lot of bigger toys - the trampoline, bus, table, art easel, and kitchen set.  I would like a toy bench or some type of storage system...but just don't know where it would go.  Our house looks like Christmas morning with all the bday presents and trying to find the space!

Ideas? What do you use to organize play spaces?

Mini Me

If you follow me on instagram (kfredrick), then you have already seen this picture.  Justin (and a few others) have always said Claire is a "mini me".  Not necessarily in looks, but in actions and facial expressions.  Well, it's true and even more evident this week.

We were playing outside yesterday and Claire came and sat next to me in the same position I was sitting. ha!  She really is a piece of work.  She does this a lot.  Today, I was sitting with my legs crossed on the sofa and she did her best to get in the same position!

I do need to be careful.  In the winter, Justin grows out his facial hair.  I am not a big fan and very much dislike kissing a scruffy face.  Apparently Claire has been watching my reaction if he tries to kiss me and tonight she told him he needed to shave! - and wouldn't give him a kiss tonight!  ....funny thing is, he just shaved yesterday!  Little rascal!

Still need to do my 24 mo post... maybe tomorrow......maybe if I don't get woken up at 4:45am again

Trucks and Tiaras

Saturday was our big birthday party.  We celebrated with a Trucks and Tiaras theme at The Little Gym.  We had 18 kids including Max and Claire!  The kids played for an hour, then had pizza and cake.
The party did not start until 5:30 and ended at 7.  I would have liked an earlier party, but this is all they had available.  Claire was very tired and clingy towards the end.  Besides the time, they had a blast.  I think they were the most excited to be with all of their friends!

One of the only pics of them together

It was kind of chaotic at the beginning.  They had them sit in a circle and say all their names.  It took a while, especially for 1-3 year olds who just wanted to be out playing on all the equipment.

Claire with her good buddy, Jack!

The Buds

Trevor

 I had bought Claire both of these party hats and brought Max's crown from school....although he wanted to wear one of Claire's!

That was one of the hard things about a truck themed party.  the only truck item I found was a truck balloon.  The rest of the decorations were either cars, trains or fire trucks.

I wasn't thrilled with their cakes.  They were too decorative for me.  We had so much cake left over. I was worried we wouldn't have enough so I made two batches of cupcakes as well....Max's cake was never touched and is still in our refrigerator! 

The Little Gym only gives you an hour and a half.  That includes play, cake, presents, etc.  Since we did a night party, we had pizza as well.  This did not leave any time for presents, so we saved those to open at home.  Max and Claire were exhausted, but not too tired to open a few presents!

 new capes from Nanny!

 Max was obsessed with this Car.  We haven't bought any Disney movies yet, but have a feeling Cars will be our first one!

 Claire is obsessed with this Apptivity monkey.  She takes it everywhere and has been sleeping with it!

rain boots were another big hit!

 BLOCKS.  They love these....but they take up so much room.  Our playroom is overflowing so we put these in the living room... need to find a way to organize their toys and maximize the space we have.

What a great bday week they had!  They received so many thoughtful gifts, but were the most excited to be with all the people they love!

Off the charts!

I had all intentions on doing their two year post, but I have frogged around too long.  BUT I can do a quick update on their two year stats!

Buds: BIG BOY!
38.5 inches - off the charts!!
33 lbs - 97%

I knew he was tall, but I was not expecting, "off the chart"!

Bear Bear:
35.5 inches - 85%
28 lb 2 oz - 80%

Our dr was very happy with their development, especially Claire's vocabulary.  They have started telling people they are two and hold up a finger from each hand....I'm still having a hard time believing my babies are TWO!

We are expecting some snow/ice tomorrow afternoon so our schools are on a three hour early dismissal - meaning Max and Claire will only go to school 9-11. That's better than nothing, but I was really needing that time to get everything ready for their birthday party on Saturday!  Nothing like waiting til the last minute :)

We are two!

Today is Max and Claire's "happy day".  That is how they say 'Happy Birthday'.  Lucky me, our day started at 4:55 am.  Yep, you read that right.  Justin had already left for work, so I tried to put them in bed with me in hopes they would fall back asleep... but after 20 min. of convincing them it was still night night time, we got up and started our day.
I wanted them to be surprised when the woke up, so last night I went and got some balloons.  I got a few plain latex balloons and this big Elmo balloon.  It sings Happy Birthday!  They loved it!

My mom sent in their picture to our local news station.  They're famous!

I had a hair appointment scheduled thinking they were in school today not realizing it was a workday.  Thankfully I have wonderful friends who offered to keep them.  They were thrilled to spend three hours with their buddy, Trevor.

As I have said previously, their sleep patterns haven't been so great - especially Max.  I took him to the doctor this afternoon and I as I thought, he has an ear infection. Poor guy!

Nanny and Poppy came over for pizza, cake and presents.

They have their 2 year check up on Thursday so I'll do their 2 year stats post then!  Just a few more days til their Birthday Party!!!!!

Happy Birthday to my babies.  Love you so much :)

Through the years....

days before their arrival

1-22-2011 first family picture

 One year old!

2 years old and best friends!

Getting out

After numerous days of being cooped up in the house due to the nasty stomach bug, we got out of the house...and we didn't let the snow stop us!  Thursday night we had a big (2-4inches) snow, which meant no school Friday.  I wasn't prepared, but that didn't stop us from having fun!  We may get one snow a year, sometimes two and they are usually pretty small.  Max and Claire do not have snow boots, pants or jackets.  I ended up putting plastic bags over their shoes to keep them from getting wet.

I probably spent 20 minutes getting the dressed and only 15 outside!  They thought it was cool, but weren't sure about touching and playing in it.  I tried to show them how to make a snow angel, but they weren't too impressed!

 you can barely see my outline of an angel!

 It was such a pretty day.  I took this pic while doing my snow angel, that's why it's upside down!

Claire was ready to head in.  I think they would have had more fun if Justin had been home.  I'm sure he would have been more fun and built them a snowman or make a makeshift sled :)

More on our weekend tomorrow!  Still doing laundry to get all the stomach bug germs OUT of this house!

Adding to the numbers

Justin and I got the stomach bug.  UGH.  let me just tell you... it is/was awful.  I had a night planned with the girls last night to wine and design. I was so excited and have been looking forward to going.  My friends came to pick me up, we get there, and I realize there is no way I'm going to make it.  I had been feeling queasy, but tried to ignore it.  Got home and within an hour, I was getting sick.  

Thankfully my cousin and aunt were babysitting so they stayed until Max and Claire went to sleep.

I was sick 8-2:30 every hour.  Awful.  Justin texted me at 2:30am telling me he had just gotten sick (he was out of town)

Luckily, my mom came over this morning to help with breakfast and get them off to school.  I stayed in bed until 4:00 today.  I'm still in my pjs and plan to go hop in bed.  No more getting sick, just weak and bad headache.

Hopefully this is the end of the stomach bug in this house!