Weekend at the Lake

Rush, Sydney Frances, and I headed to the lake this weekend to spend some time with Gigi, Aunt Ivy, Kate, Aunt Julia, and Mundy (my Granddaddy). We call him Granddaddy, but the great grandkids are going to call him Mundy. This was a new decision that Aunt Julia and Mama made this weekend. :-) My two call Phil's dad "Granddaddy", so we felt like it was confusing for them to call my Granddaddy by the same name. I like Mundy. I love grandparent names, though. I always want to know what people call their grandparents. You can find out some interesting family stories just from hearing what someone calls a grandparent. It has been a while since the lake cabin has been "opened", so the babies don't remember going there. They had never been there to spend the night, so it was a new experience for everyone. It was my first time to spend the night there with kids. We all had so much fun. It is easy to be unplugged there. The phone doesn't ring much, cell phone service can be a little iffy, and there isn't a computer in sight. There is, however, a big deck which empties into a big yard that empties into a beautiful lake. There is a long porch full of rocking chairs just perfect for morning coffee and a kitchen with no shortage of good food for all three meals of the day. There are two floats that have been there for years. They are just perfect for two sisters to use to float in the middle of a small lake slew while talking away... just like old times. The only thing that has changed is that now instead of being the kids, Ivy and I are the kids' Mamas, and the floating takes place while those three kids are napping.

My two kids had so much fun playing outside, feeding the geese (aka ducks), enjoying all the playing room inside the cabin, reading books, sitting in laps, hugging and loving on Kate (in their own sweet way), and taking long naps. I felt like it was really good for them to be in a new place.

Weekend update

We have had a pretty big change around here! Last week, the twins made the big switch to their toddler beds. We converted the cribs to beds with toddler rails on the side. As usual, I worried myself sick over it, and they transitioned very easily. I always make their transitions into a huge deal, and they constantly remind me that they are ready. I think this was the case of Mama not being ready for the crib phase to end. Rush cried for just a couple of minutes, but overall, it was an easy switch. I put their crib bumper pads back in the bed to keep them feeling snug and secure for the next few weeks. We will eventually take those out. I also bought new bedding for them. I am going to do a nursery transition and change it into a room that is more appropriate for them now. It still has several things in it that are very "babyish". So, I will have to post some big kid room pictures once the transformation is complete. Right now, I am looking for rugs and lamps for each of them. I am going to basically divide the room in half and let each one have their own "side". Rush's side will have a sports theme, and Frannie's side will be cute owls, flowers, and trees. (They are pink girlie owls, not scary, middle of the night owls.) Rush has a awesome baseball print that we will use on his side. I can't wait to see it on the wall. It is really cool! So, each side will not match at all, but I am going to try to make the room symmetrical (if that makes sense). So, each will have a lamp, rug, table, bed, bedding, etc. on his/her side, but they won't match.
Rush... less than thrilled to be having his picture taken first thing in the morning.

Sissy sleeping in her toddler bed...They both sleep in their beds like this. Rather than sleeping with their bodies going down the length of the bed, they wedge themselves into the short side of the bed.

In other small changes.. we (aka Phil) rearranged the furniture in the den. We have had it this way before, but not since the twins were born. It is nice to have them both be able to pile in the chair and a half with us rather than the recliner. SF was getting selfish with "her" space in the recliner. The other day she said, "Move leg, Mama!" Apparently, I was in her way.

P.S. Do you like the new monkey pajamas? Also, notice the cars on the arm of the chair beside Rush? He is never without them. We have to pry them out of his hands before he goes to sleep at night.

We partied like TWO year olds!!

THE BIG DAY!!
I tried to get a few pictures of them before we left for daycare/work the morning of their birthday. It made me get all hot and sweaty before I left for work. Perhaps it was due to flashbacks to last year's countless attempts to get a Christmas picture with both of them facing the camera. Things aren't looking too good this year either.



See what I mean?



On their birthday, they had a party at Sue Sue's (daycare)! I was working, but it looks like they had a fun time!


Sue Sue also had a message for them on the chalkboard door!
Later, at home, we had Wendy's for supper. Why Wendy's you may ask? Because it was FAST and the kids don't really care either way! :-) But it also means Sydney Frances got her very own french fries. This was a special treat for her. She LOVES fries but usually just shares a few with me. Then, we had special cupcakes from a new gourmet cupcake place that opened here locally.













The next day, we invited our family to come over to celebrate the special occasion with us.

The cake... This year, we got the cake at Publix. It was REALLY good! I highly recommend them if you are looking for a good cake that doesn't break the birthday bank account. :-) (I am still recovering mentally from the amount we paid for our fancy cake from birthday party number one! Ha!!)


This was Sydney Frances standing below me as we sang "Happy Birthday" to them. I love her expression here.

Rush during the singing. He loved the candles and blew them out pretty much on his own.

Enjoying birthday cake


This is SF on her new four wheeler. It is battery-powered, so we are still really working on steering and problem-solving when coming into contact with a wall.


Rush on his new four wheeler (aka "Cycle")


My sweet little Fran feeling so grown up with her new stroller


Rush and I in the middle of ALL the presents


SF opening presents


My sweet Rush


Kate (with Aunt Julia's assistance) hanging out at the kiddie table with the big kids. In this case, sitting at the kids' table is a good thing! :-)



Papa (my Daddy) and Granddaddy's (Phil's Dad) joint project.. they put together the new basketball goal. We are looking forward to some fun family games with the kids. Currently our court is the dining room and foyer, and it works for now. :-)


We forgot to get someone to take a family picture, so we figured out how to use the timer. It only took three tries. :-)

Our two year olds

HAPPY BIRHTDAY, RUSH AND SYDNEY FRANCES!!!!! TWO YEARS OLD TODAY!!!


Two very sweet years ago, these little babies arrived to turn our world upside down in the most wonderful way ever.

Phillip Rush
6:46 p.m.

Holding Rush (He was a little over a week old.)

Sydney Frances
6:47 p.m.

Holding Sydney Frances (She was a few days old.)

Lots more fun pictures to come later this weekend!! They are having a cookies and juice party at Sue Sue's today and then their party here at home tomorrow! I really can't believe they are two. I am planning a "What they are up to.." post for later. But, that may be a day or two. I have to be able to focus for that, though, and right now, I have cakes to pick up and decals to put on new toys!
:-)

Almost here...

The big day is almost here. On Friday, it will be two years ago that these two little snuggle bugs came into this world. This is the two of them snuggled in Syd's bed in the NICU many months ago. Rush still had to wear his little red hat at this point because he couldn't quite keep his body temperature up. I think they are telling secrets here. There may be more "old photo" posts coming. I am feeling nostalgic. Two year olds! Where has the time gone?

Sunday afternoon fun

Do you see your favorite?

We had some fun this afternoon with Gram and Granddaddy! Phil happened to hear the ice cream truck while we were playing inside this afternoon, so we all threw on some shoes and ran out to greet the truck. Granddaddy made the ice cream truck driver's day because he bought plenty of ice cream! We all got something. We got orange dreamscicles, Drumsticks, Dora the Explorer Pops, etc. We all headed out to the back patio to have our ice cream. My two haven't really had much ice cream.. just a taste here and there. Rush enjoyed is Dora Pop, but SF preferred Gram's Drumstick. I think she ate at least half of it! It was a fun afternoon.




Rush was the more willing ice cream- eating participant this afternoon, so there are more pictures of him. Frantastic was having a drama queen moment,so she ran away for a little while. ;-)

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

I just happened to have my camera in the car with us on the way back home from picking up our takeout for dinner. Sydney Frances sang "Twinkle, Twinkle" for a while, and I caught the end of her version.



She loves to sing this song. Clearly, she gets her singing ability from her father. Please notice the barrette she has taken out of her hair. It will come into play at the end of Rush's video.


Rush also wanted to perform for the camera. He barely gets a chance to do that because Sassafrass doesn't care to share the spotlight.