Time to go inside

Parker and Jack love being outside.  They get mad when the garage or backdoor is opened if they can't go out.  We sometimes have to sneak out to run or cut the grass just to avoid a meltdown.  I should be happy that they love being out there so much and they aren't totally glued to the TV.  The flip side is that they break down in tears when we have to go inside.

Note: No twins were harmed in during this photo shoot.

Which one is that?

Owen is very good at telling his brothers apart.  He is on a short list of those able to tell apart Parker and Jack.  Understandably, it is difficult for others as Parker and Jack are identical twins but their differences are just so striking to us.  Their personalities and mannerisms are so distinct that it is just so obvious to Jen and I.  I wish that Owen would be able to voice to grandparents, loved ones, and perfect strangers how he is able to tell them apart, but I think it is just a function of time spent around each other.  Basically, if you don't take the time to tell them apart, they are definitely hard to distinguish from one another.  Occasionally, he has his moments when he is confused too.

 

In two different episodes, Owen has asked me who was who. The first time, I made him go around Jack and look at him in the face and then he told me who it was correctly, "oh, that's Jack." 

 

Then the other day, Owen was watching TV and comes running in the kitchen and he pointedo both of his brothers and asked me "Dad, Dad, Dad...which one is that?   I said "Who?" asking which twin he was referring to since they were standing next to each other.  Owen replied, "the one standing next to Jack."  He then answered his own question, realizing that he knew who Jack was and said "that's just Parker silly!!"  Even in his own confusion, he knows who is who!! 

B-e-a-utiful weather

For the past couple of weeks we have been enjoying crazy awesome weather. We take walks at night, mornings and afternoons are spent in the backyard, and lunch is served outside for the dudes.  We have really felt like we live in southern California.

Today from the backyard, I probably saw a dozen Jeeps with the top down and more convertibles than Parker can shake a stick at (he really does shake all the sticks he finds in the garden).

It got me thinking about our limo bus that will cart these guys around for years to come.  I haven't searched the interwebs, but I don't think anyone makes a 6 passenger convertible. The Swagger has a moonroof but come on, with todays advances in automotive technology, we can do better than that.  Have you seen the ridiculousness they configure on Pimp My Ride?  When I hit the big time (or when Xhibit comes knocking on my door) I'm custom building a Suburban with a removable hard top and waterproof DVD players.    This weather is so great, it needs to be enjoyed by dudes in car seats too!  We have to take advantage of it while we can...100% humidity and oppressive heat is just around the corner.

happiest baby ever award goes toooo...

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luckiest girl.

Its probably one of the most beautiful days of the year. And I would be so so miserable if my babies were stuck inside in a daycare somewhere. these are the hardest years and the best years of my life ...
I've had two dear friends say two different awful things to me since I've been a stay at home mom... One from a working friend without kids say, "I'm too driven to ever stay home". And another from a friend on maternity leave say, "I can't wait to go back to work so i'll have some meaning in my life".
These are the most heartbreaking words.
And I actually can't even find a way to respond tactfully without ripping apart their character as human beings.
Anyway... Thank you daddy. Thank you thank you thank you. I love our life!
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Mardi Gras Madness

We had big plans to take the big guys on Saturday and watch the Krewes of Iris and Tucks before the craziness that ensues for Endymion.  Last year, we made it out with O and he had a blast, but it was quite the experience leaving during all that with a 2.5 year old, a prego wife, and a ladder with a toolbox attached to it.  The weather didn't quite hold out for all that, so we had high hopes for the Sunday day parades.  That didn't quite work out for everyone either.  Long story short, Owen and I ended up heading out with T and Vincent, Josie, and Timmy. 

Well, to say it was crowded is like saying a few people go to Mardi Gras.  We had to manuever our way across the street to the "Sidewalk Side" where we actually could get a spot with Vincent's brother and his family.  This was no small feat but we made it happen.  

Approximately 15 minutes later, Owen was ready to go home.  Wonderful.  Distraction and marching bands and beads and cheering and PB&J sandwiches let him last a long time.  3 parades later, we were still there and not one of us thought we would ever last that long with two 3.5 year olds.  It came down to the fact that we couldn't leave.  There was Okeanos, then Mid-City, and then Thoth (followed later by Bacchus and Endymion back to back).  We misjudged it that Thoth was actually so big.  Float L came passing by and then we saw float #1.  Oh wow.  After asking around, there were 24+ more to come so we had to figure out a way to make our great escape.  Vincent found us an outlet to cross the street and make our way through then entire crowd gathering for Bacchus and a rescheduled Endymion.  Let me paint you a picture:

• Vincent carrying with our wagon on his head (filled with beads) leading the way.
• Timmy behind him with the ice chest on rollers.
• Antoinette behind him with Josie in one arm and Owen in the other.
• Me brining up the rear with a 6ft ladder  

We should have never attempted this.  It was terrible.  Once we made it through the neutral ground and into the street, lovely NOPD decide at that specific time, it was appropriate to blare their sirens forcing everyon to clear a path and get out of the way so they could make a right hand turn in the middle of a sea of people.  Turns out that Owen and Josie had just been put down with their ears basically on the NOPD siren...so both of them had to cover their ears.  Next, one of the bags of beads falls out of the wagon and breaks as Vincent is crossing the street and we are surrounded by people.  We then have to get O and J in the wagon to get the heck out of Dodge.  It was a sight for us, though I'm sure hardly anyone noticed, maybe only a select few who felt the wrath of the wagon, ice chest, or the ladder in their face.  Sorry everyone, and thanks for letting us through.  10 blocks later, we ended up at the car, still intact and ticketless so that was a win. 

After these shenanigans, Antoinette had a few choice looks that basically said...

• Was this really worth it?
• I can't believe we just did that.
• I'm not sure I ever want to do that again.
• Why oh why did we think this was a good idea?

All in all it was fun and the kids had a good time, but Mardi Gras is definitely an ordeal...