A new table - we can eat together!

So, so exciting!
This turned my mood around.
Our house is small, which has actually worked out to be a positive for us. When the babies were little we could quickly get to the kitchen to prepare the bottles. Probably about 10 steps from their room to the kitchen. I thought of this again one morning when Zoe and Roman were both howling to get out of their crib. I can pick them both up, but it's a bit harder to get them in the highchair when I'm holding both of them. So it's nice the kitchen is 10 steps away. I can bring one howler (usually the STARVING Roman) and run back to get kid #2.

The main draw back is the lack of dining space. A little corner in the kitchen. Up until Saturday we had a little outdoor patio table as our kitchen table. Over the years we've tried lots of things, but this was the most efficient. Until Saturday's trip to Ikea - finally the perfect table for us! It's a drop leaf table that folds down to about a foot wide. Awesome.



We tested it out with a dinner of mac and cheese (and chicken and avocado and peaches for the kids...I tell you...they could eat a horse).



Roman's reaction to the table (Where's my food?).




It was pretty nice to eat together as a family.



And Roman and Zoe got to sit next to each other. Not sure if this is good or bad. They like to sample each other's dinner. Zoe was taking as much of Roman's mac n' cheese as Roman was sampling hers. Neither was getting feisty about it.
Yet.


Sometime back around the twins first birthday we went out to eat pizza with Grandma Candy. We got two sippy cups with straws. We weren't sure how they'd deal with that. Roman put it in his mouth and waited. Zoe figured it out. That made Grandma Candy so proud she almost wanted to cry. So two months later (!) we picked up some sippy cups with straws. Zoe's got the hang of it, but she sometimes still tips it up to drink like a sippy cup. That doesn't work too well. But can we blame her? Those pesky parents, changing it up all the time.



The photo above illustrates why tipping a sippy cup with a straw doesn't work (for those of you who need the visual image). Out the window you can see one of the trees daddy put up for you to say "oh" to when we point it out.
"OOOOH". That's Zoe's reaction at least.

May you too have help in the kitchen on this day of thanks.

The other night in the kitchen the kiddos found another play spot.



They emptied the drawer of its contents and Zoe decided it was a good place to sit.

Apparently Roman was more fond of the camera this day

At least that's why I explain the high ratio of Roman:Zoe pictures. I have the whole week off (+ bonus day at the front end). It's Wednesday. It's been 5 days at home (Daddy was working Monday and Tuesday and part of today).



I get to see you in your morning jammies. I get to figure out the morning routine (your dad is in charge of that when I'm working). I don't know that I'm getting it.
No mama, I don't want my milk in a sippy cup (I'm spending this long stretch at home weaning them from everything but a nighttime bottle). Maybe that is what makes for crabby kids.



I spent this afternoon, Roman sleeping on my tummy, trying to remember to be thankful. Re-directing thoughts of a negative nature is a good thing.



Thank you for their health.



Thank you for their growth (which includes a little naughty behavior, they have to figure lots of stuff out).



What, mama? You didn't want me to throw my milk on the floor? (and say "uh oh" as I threw it?)
!!!

She walks!

Granted, it's a bit like a cute little Frankenstein, but Zoe walks.
She's been doing it over a week, but we still both have to grin when we see here meandering the house.



Usually she keeps here hands up, like above. I think it's because she's used to us holding her hands (parents as "training wheels"), Mike thinks it's because it helps her balance. Either way, she's getting really good at it!

What does Roman think about this?
Mwah ha ha....


He won't be far behind. We're acting as training wheels for him right now - they both get/got the biggest kick out of walking thru the house with us.

Roman helps organize

While momma was out of town on business, Daddy took a couple of pictures.
First and foremost, the re-org in the kitchen.



Sometimes having your "plastics" on the floor can be real handy.
No need to go looking, right Roman?



p.s. At first I encouraged them to do this kind of thing. Now, I still let them do it, but not without a little internal "oh crap". Apparently Dad has seen you get all this stuff back in the cabinet as well, so I shouldn't complain!

'mo Zoo

The other day we decided to make another trip to Como Zoo. We got there late afternoon and didn't have a lot of company. Unlike last time the zoo was not "a zoo" and the animals were out and very viewable. And unlike last time Zoe and Roman took actual notice of the animals. It was pretty darn cool. Going thru our animal books paid off :)


What did we see?



Lions, Tigers and hares, oh my! No Bears - the polar bear exhibit is being refurbished. But Monkeys galore (who doesn't love a monkey?), giraffes (a baby one!), wolves, reindeer, Seals, fishies, penguins...Lots to see. Like Daddy said - this is going to be a lot of fun next year. (Even with the 'zoo smell' - mommy like the good old city air)

Book time

Even though I'm out of town for work and missing you [ :( ], I still have the opportunity to visit you on the blog. And add new content! Woo hoo.

You guys love your books. I'm giving a lot of credit to Shawn, our part time daycare provider. She's been really good about getting Zoe and Roman interested. Zoe particularly I think goes for the books, although she's Miss Short Attention Span.



Above Daddy "reads" you a book. This consisted of opening the pages and silently letting you take it all in. I think Daddy's method is lacking something, but that's okay. He must have lost his voice that day.

You still love your Sesame Street books. When I get to the page with Zoe I always wonder what our Zoe thinks. The concept that she is Zoe and she is Zoe. There's so much to learn.

Still it's going to be better when you don't want to eat your books.

More fall

(the kind without bumps to the head)
Fun, fun, fun!


I decided I needed to jump right in there and demonstrate how to play in the leaves.

It's fun to make the leaves rain down on us.

Quick studies, you two.

And so sweet. You make me laugh, you make me smile.

Oh Buddy. I KNOW I'm going to miss you being this small.

Yes, Zoe. I thoroughly enjoy you guys. Don't look so disgusted! :)

We get to pick you up and hug and kiss you anytime we want.

I'm taking full advantage of that. One at a time, or both at once!

Mmmmmwah! xoxo
Grandma Candy likes to do the same.

She even helps you learn to walk (by the way Zoe was taking her first tentative steps last Friday).
Roman - he's going to practice a bit more. But I expect once he sees his sister toddling around he won't be far behind.

I survived Hurricaine RoZo

After the 'sketti we had bathtime (you nailed it Annie!).

I play Hurricaine with them. I got a little out of hand this time.

Wednesday is Prince Spaghetti Day

Okay, it was really Friday in the B household, but Grandma Candy reminded me that WEDNESDAY was spaghetti day. At least for the purposes of the marketing folks at Prince spaghetti.



Yes, it's easiest to feed the kids spaghetti without clothing, diaper NOT optional.

Although even the outside of the diaper was orange from the 'sketti sauce when we were done.

As you may have guessed, they did enjoy it.

The green stuff: a little avocado on the side. For good measure.

to see the Prince spaghetti commercial on YouTube

Stop the Press!

Apparently that photo of Grandpa Jon with his mom is not Grandpa Jon with his Mom. We're not sure who she is. Ha ha ha. No, that's his mom, it's just not him. It's his older sister Judy.
I blame your Grandpa for this one. He labelled that photo "Jon and Mom".



Jon and Judy. Judy and Jon.




Jannie called me at work to let me know. Here she is, a couple of years ago.



She's the youngest of 4, with a pretty good age spread from Jim, the oldest. Kind of like my family, with Dan as the oldest and Andy as the youngest. A trend. One I think we'll be stopping in this family - otherwise I'm going to be 50-something having a baby. Not gonna happen



Grandpa Jon's family, sans Jannie!

And below at the conservatory at Como Park. This particular spot is gone I guess. We went to the zoo and took a very quick stroll thru the conservatory yesterday. More on that later.