Twin Tales +1: The life and times of Ella and Aidan, and their baby sister, Lauren
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Entertainment
There is never a shortage of entertainment around here for little Miss Lauren!
For example, she loves her big brother and sister....
For example, she loves her big brother and sister....
....and of course, the ceiling fan....
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Wet Weekend
While it rained outside, we spent all weekend inside with runny noses. Ella and Aidan stayed home from school on Friday and we have spent the past three days inside doing everything we can to keep Lauren from getting sick.
So far, she seems to have a slight runny nose, but overall is ok. I am down for the count and miserable, while Mike (as usual) comes out unscathed!
At any rate, the weather was perfect for being sick - rainy and dreary all weekend!
We spent a lot of time coloring (Ella is pretending she is Cinderalla with the bandana on her head)....
.... playing games....
.... and watching cartoons from inside the tent....
... Ella and Aidan are back at school today, and hopefully we are officially on the mend!
So far, she seems to have a slight runny nose, but overall is ok. I am down for the count and miserable, while Mike (as usual) comes out unscathed!
At any rate, the weather was perfect for being sick - rainy and dreary all weekend!
We spent a lot of time coloring (Ella is pretending she is Cinderalla with the bandana on her head)....
.... playing games....
.... and watching cartoons from inside the tent....
... Ella and Aidan are back at school today, and hopefully we are officially on the mend!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Twin Talk Tuesday
Overheard in the playroom:
Ella: "Aidan, why did you just hug me?"
Aidan: "Because I love you."
Ella: "Well that sure is sweet, are you sick?"
Ella: "Aidan, why did you just hug me?"
Aidan: "Because I love you."
Ella: "Well that sure is sweet, are you sick?"
Monday, September 19, 2011
Weekend Fun
We kicked off the weekend on Friday evening by enjoying dinner with the boys:
Saturday was low key and filled with errands and chores around the house.....but Sunday brought about FUN! We packed up our trio and headed to Greenville for the day to meet up with Opa and Grandma Shushi!
It was Lauren's first trip to a new state, and her first car ride longer than about 45 minutes and she did great! We had a nice bagel breakfast and then loaded up and made the 2 hour drive in no time....without a single stop, making it there in time to play a bit while waiting for Opa and Grandma Shushi to arrive....
We had lunch at a little Mexican restaurant....
....shopped a bit in the cute little stores, took an ice cream break, and played in Falls Park....
...and concluded our day with dinner at a BBQ restaurant....
We headed home at around 7:15, making it back to Charlotte around 9PM with three sleeping kiddos!
What a wonderful weekend it was!
Saturday was low key and filled with errands and chores around the house.....but Sunday brought about FUN! We packed up our trio and headed to Greenville for the day to meet up with Opa and Grandma Shushi!
It was Lauren's first trip to a new state, and her first car ride longer than about 45 minutes and she did great! We had a nice bagel breakfast and then loaded up and made the 2 hour drive in no time....without a single stop, making it there in time to play a bit while waiting for Opa and Grandma Shushi to arrive....
We had lunch at a little Mexican restaurant....
....shopped a bit in the cute little stores, took an ice cream break, and played in Falls Park....
...and concluded our day with dinner at a BBQ restaurant....
We headed home at around 7:15, making it back to Charlotte around 9PM with three sleeping kiddos!
What a wonderful weekend it was!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Flashback Friday
In the wake of the 10th anniversary of September 11, I am still haunted by images and thoughts of the events from that fateful day. Wives left without husbands. Parents losing children. Children left without fathers or mothers. No child should ever be left without a mother or father.
This week I had quite a few times when I felt overwhelmed by my mothering duties. I began worrying about kindergarten for next year. I felt inadequate after I grew frustrated in the preschool frenzy/carpool/dinner prep. I fret for Lauren as she is dragged back and forth to carpool twice a day, typically in the middle of a nice nap or right when she needs to be fed.
Am I doing enough, being the mother I want to be? Can I embrace change in a healthy way, or will I always live with the sadness of letting my children go little by little? Do I have what it takes to make good decisions, and help my children make them as well?
And then I am reminded that this is life. Every day is precious whether it is spent with tissues, with preoccupation, with frustration, or with sadness.
I get to experience it all.
I get to figure it out, day by day, hour by hour.
I get to see my children grow and gain their independence, I get to do 100 things at once while someone calls "Mom, mom, mom" over and over again and my brain feels jumbled. I get to make endless lists, I get to drive carpool, I get to work through hard days juggling the needs of all three kids with a husband who is gone for days/nights at a time.
What would so many trade for just one more day whether it was hard or easy, happy or sad?
So this is what I am grateful for this week - every day I get to spend on earth witnessing and experiencing the little moments that make life so very precious.
This week I had quite a few times when I felt overwhelmed by my mothering duties. I began worrying about kindergarten for next year. I felt inadequate after I grew frustrated in the preschool frenzy/carpool/dinner prep. I fret for Lauren as she is dragged back and forth to carpool twice a day, typically in the middle of a nice nap or right when she needs to be fed.
Am I doing enough, being the mother I want to be? Can I embrace change in a healthy way, or will I always live with the sadness of letting my children go little by little? Do I have what it takes to make good decisions, and help my children make them as well?
And then I am reminded that this is life. Every day is precious whether it is spent with tissues, with preoccupation, with frustration, or with sadness.
I get to experience it all.
I get to figure it out, day by day, hour by hour.
I get to see my children grow and gain their independence, I get to do 100 things at once while someone calls "Mom, mom, mom" over and over again and my brain feels jumbled. I get to make endless lists, I get to drive carpool, I get to work through hard days juggling the needs of all three kids with a husband who is gone for days/nights at a time.
What would so many trade for just one more day whether it was hard or easy, happy or sad?
So this is what I am grateful for this week - every day I get to spend on earth witnessing and experiencing the little moments that make life so very precious.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Bug Walk
In our household, the hours from about 5 PM until 7 PM are the most chaotic.
I often find myself struggling to prepare dinner for Ella and Aidan while at the same time trying to feed Lauren her dinnertime bottle. Then it is upstairs for baths and bedtime for the big kids, typically with me balancing Lauren on my hip or trying to keep her happy in the bouncy seat.
There are often tears and whining...it is my least favorite time of the day.
On the days when Mike is home, I get a little relief and he will often take Lauren on what we have come to call a "bug walk". The cicadas are still out in full force around our neighborhood and they provide a chorus of sounds that put Lauren into a bit of a trance.
It works like a charm!
I often find myself struggling to prepare dinner for Ella and Aidan while at the same time trying to feed Lauren her dinnertime bottle. Then it is upstairs for baths and bedtime for the big kids, typically with me balancing Lauren on my hip or trying to keep her happy in the bouncy seat.
There are often tears and whining...it is my least favorite time of the day.
On the days when Mike is home, I get a little relief and he will often take Lauren on what we have come to call a "bug walk". The cicadas are still out in full force around our neighborhood and they provide a chorus of sounds that put Lauren into a bit of a trance.
It works like a charm!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Weekend Fun
Daddy time is so rare, and we certainly made the most of our time together this past weekend!
We spent Saturday morning hanging out at our local Greek Festival where Ella and Aidan rode a train....
....flew in a helicopter....
....and enjoyed lokoumades (or donuts)....
....while Lauren slept on me in the Ergo and took a break for a little lunch with Daddy....
Later that afternoon, Grandaddy and Grandmommy came over so that Mike and I could escape for a little time together....
All in all it was a fantastic day spent together as a family!
We spent Saturday morning hanging out at our local Greek Festival where Ella and Aidan rode a train....
....flew in a helicopter....
....and enjoyed lokoumades (or donuts)....
....while Lauren slept on me in the Ergo and took a break for a little lunch with Daddy....
Later that afternoon, Grandaddy and Grandmommy came over so that Mike and I could escape for a little time together....
All in all it was a fantastic day spent together as a family!
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