Tower Builder

Frances got a set of Mega blocks for her birthday last year. For the last month or so, she's really started stacking the blocks, but not much more. Yesterday, Desse and I sat down with her to show her how to build structures.


She of course, added her own "stacked" features.

The pics are not the greatest quality, being taken from Desse's cellphone, but she's still cute!

A Little Poop-Head

So on Thursday morning, last day of school for the teenagers, I got Frankie and Marshie up and changed their diapers, pulled off their pj's (which were damp from wet dipes) and left them on the familyroom floor while I went to the bathroom myself. When I came back out, about 2 minutes later, Alex (Desse's girlfriend) was holding Frankie out in front of her and "ewwwwing" at me.

Then she told me her story....

She came into the house, and while Desse put her bag for the pool party that was to happen after school back in his room, she went to the familyroom to see the babies. The first thing she noticed was that Frankie was naked and she wondered why he was naked but Marguerite had a diaper on. As she got closer to him, she could see his diaper sitting next to him (which was both clean and dry by the way). Also next to him was part of a big turd. The rest of said turd was being smeared into our hardwood floor!

Frankie was giggling his head off! So was Marshie! I don't know what the two of them found so funny about the situation, but I suppose that's what twins are for -- entertainment.

Needless to say, I ended up giving the poophead a bath while the teenagers went to school. Rob did come rescue Marguerite so she didn't get into the poop before I could get the room cleaned up, for which I was very thankful.

*skip forward a couple of days*

Today, I put the babies down for a nap, and what did Mr. Poophead do? He again pulled off his diaper!! This time he only wet his bed, but....ewwwww! Let me tell you, that child will have something covering his diaper from now on! Even if a pair of shorts is the only other thing he's wearing - rain or shine, sleet or snow. lol

Graduation Day!

I'm so proud of my step-daughter, Gwen. Yesterday she graduated from the Hockaday School. The young ladies were SO gorgeous in their white dresses and hats. I had not realized that, at 122 students, they were the largest graduating class from Hockaday.

It was an outdoor ceremony, and quite warm at that. The terrace was beautiful though, and we were under shade trees - so the breeze was wonderful as the sun went down.

I'm not going to post all the pictures, as we were sort of far away and Gwen ended up being tiny, but here's the one that counts. Yes, it's a little fuzzy, but she got her diploma!!!!



YAY GWEN!!! CONGRATS!!!!

(And just as one of those little side-notes, I admit it... I cried tears of joy when she received that little piece of paper. If/when she gets married, I think the flood control guys might have to be called! lol Guess that's what she gets for having an emotional step-mommy.)

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Of course, when you take a "thundering hoard" (Rob's name for us when we have ALL the kids with us), other cute stories are likely to arise. Frankie and Marguerite were big hits with everyone around us -- and invariably three people asked, "Are they twins?" I've learned to close my eyes, grin and bear it, but dang I hate that question! But all in all, those two were precious angels. They were hot outside, but they really didn't do a lot of crying.

Frances (pushy little thing that she is) realized I had a bandaid on my finger. (I broke my fingernail far enough down that it was bleeding profusely when I tried to put Frank's shoes on and he kicked just the tip of the nail. OWWW!) Of course, comical conversation with my not-quite-two-year-old ensues in the midst of graduation:

Frances asked me, "Sticker?"

"No, it's a band-aid." (I was still looking for Gwen to make her way through the procession.)

"Take it off." Yes, she did demand this with one hand on her hip (the other held the sippy cup), stomping that little left foot of hers.

I was a little startled at first, but said, "No, it's a bandaid for my hurt. I'm not taking it off." (I gave her the logical explanation, silly me, and looked back towards the chairs where the girls were making their way onto the terrace.)

"Mommy! Take it OFF! I want wear it!!" She yelled this definantly. There were quite a few snickers from the row behind us.

"No."

"Mommy, NOW!" More snickers, and a few people in the couple of rows around us turned to look at her commotion.... so what do I do?

I took her picture! And then, "Go bother Bubba Desse," I told her, and she quickly went over to see if HE had any "stickers" she could take off of him.

Hey, the distraction worked (sorta) though you can see in the picture that she's holding her hand out towards the camera (aka the finger with the band-aid). lol

First words and more twin comedy

Today Frankie said his first word, "DaDa." Both he and Marguerite have been experimenting with sounds (LOUDLY) for the last several weeks, but he was the first to use DaDa deliberately.


Rob was sitting on the couch reading and Frankie wanted his attention. He shouted, "DaDaDaDa" and got the attention he wanted. Still, he mostly clicks his tongue and tries out new sounds (aaaaahhhhh and eeeeeee are two of his favorites), but I did hear him say, "DaDaDaDa" again while watching his Daddy outside working. : ) I'm a proud Mama today.


Frankie found his older sister's LeapFrog laptop this week --- and fell in love!!




The little squirt really loves these wooden bead toys.



The kids were at the office with me this week, and on Friday I captured a few shots of them. They really played together nicely most of the day, and everything was fine until.....





....Frankie crawled under Marshie's feet!!

I also walked in on a fight one morning this week that was hysterical. I heard them clanking their bottles on the bedrails (sort of like the old westerns where the prisoners clank their tin cups on the cell bars), and I went to investigate. What I found was Frankie and Marguerite holding their bottles upside down and using them to "sword" fight. rotfl The clanking I heard was when they'd miss hitting the other bottle and clank into their crib railings. I couldn't help standing their laughing at them, even when they dropped their bottles and cried to be held.

DaDa's Motorcycle

Just for the record, Frances can say "daddy", but she prefers to call hers "DaDa". And Rob likes it better too!

So Monday we were waiting outside for Rob to arrive and his motorcycle was (and still is) parked on the front step. Crackers (one of our cats) was pawing around and sniffing around the cycle. Frances started yelling, "Cackers! Get Down!" and "Cackers! NO!!" Both of these comments were followed by her telling the cat, "DaDa's Motorcycle!" I kept snickering because the cat, being a cat, would just turn his head towards her and blink... very slowly. lol

Then later when Rob was leaving again, Frances told me, "DaDa Motorcycle." I told her, "No, DaDa's taking the truck, not the motorcycle." She promptly put her hands on her hips, stomped her little foot and told me, "DaDa taking motorcycle." Stupid me, I told her again, "No, DaDa's taking the truck." She stood there defiantly telling me, "DaDa taking motorcycle." Of course, being the adult in this situation, I strolled (heavily - ie almost stomping) over to the door and opened it. I pointed at the motorcycle and triumphantly said, "See, DaDa took the truck!"

Yes, I really am 37 years old, but there are days that I wonder about my sanity. I can't believe I was having this fight with my almost 2 year old. Rob, of course, finds this story of our very stubborn daughter totally hysterical!

Here are a couple of pictures of the little demon...er...angel and her DaDa on his motorcycle:

There is one thing I need to say though, she is very terrified of the motorcycle when it's running. She doesn't like loud noises, and of course it is loud (as a good motorcycle should be, right?) I have no fear of her running up to him while he's riding. She tends to run for the front door and try to get inside. : )

Mother's Day Outing

Today I asked to be taken to the zoo for Mother's Day. I know it sounds a little weird, but I love watching little eyes light up when they see animals, and Frances obliged. Of course, she didn't want to walk OR ride in the stroller, so Desse ended up carrying her all over the zoo. Whew! Poor kiddo. Thanks Desse!!!

Mostly this will be a "pictures" blog.


Mr Creepy Gorilla - the first animal we saw today

Frances riding on Desse's shoulders looking at Mr. Creepy Gorilla



Desse showing Frances some birds



Frances was not certain about riding on the chimps shoulders


Chimp!


Frankie and Marguerite outside the chimp cage - he just would NOT leave the hat on his head


duck! (No, I didn't see the sign that said what kind)



I love flamingoes (real ones anyway lol) and I couldn't resist this "train" of them



Frances and Desse riding a turtle (tortoise?)



The giraffe sees his shadow!

After the zoo, we went to eat lunch at the Flying Saucer. There the kiddos gave me three little carved stone frogs (one lapis, one brown & tan stone, one green soapstone). Frances handed me the lapis one, Desse gave me the little brown one and Rob gave Marguerite the green one -- which she promptly tried to eat! lol

Afterwards, I came home and took a much needed nap. I know, I'm getting old! That's what happens to pregnant women with three little ones under two.

On another note, I talked to Steven last night and told him I was pregnant. It's hard to get in touch with him when he lives in Houston. He was quite shocked, but in good spirits. Nothing like finding out your Mom is pregnant again I guess. lol He was the last of the kids that I needed to tell.

Twin Comedies

Today, like so many days, Frank and Marguerite kept me in stitches.

First they started fighting over a strand of brightly colored pony beads. It's a pretty secure strand, so I don't worry about it breaking. Marshie picked up the beads and started sucking on them. Frankie caught sight of them and very, very quickly crawled over to her. He reached out, grabbed the other end of the strand, and stuck it in his mouth. Marshie jerked it back, loudly squawking. He jerked it back, loudly protesting. It went back and forth for several moments until Frankie (with his end still in his mouth) grabbed Marshie's end and jerked it out of her hands. The hysterical part was the startled look on her face! You could almost see the words, "HOW DARE YOU!" written on her face. He gave her this look though, and she just looked up and me then crawled away.....

Later in the day ---

Frankie, still not feeling well, did not nap today, but Marguerite did. He was in his exersaucer playing (and watching Elmo's world with Frances) when Marshie awoke. Desse brought her out to her exersaucer next to Frank's. He gave her his, "What were you doing sleeping?" look, picked his half full bottle of his exersaucer, and chunked it at her head. Marshie, the future baseball catcher that she is, managed to smoothly catch the bottle and automatically put it in her mouth. Frankie's mouth fell open in this sort of "awe" while she sat in the saucer drinking his bottle.

This is of course in addition to their usual morning bout. Marshie wakes up first, and not wanting to be alone, stands in her bed and chunks her bottle at Frankie's head hoping to wake him up. And yes, it usually does. When he wakes, he tosses the bottle back into her bed, and adds his -- usually chunking it at her head in revenge! This morning, thankfully, they were happy with their fighting and many giggles came from the bedroom.

It's so cute the way the two of them go after each other now that they are in separate beds pushed up against one another. And it's adorable to watch their relationship as twins blossom these days. I wouldn't have it any other way.


A few pics of Frank and Marguerite ---

At the new office:

Another at the new office:

Frankie trying to climb into the rocking chair with his sister:

Frankie trying to get in, Marshie trying to get out, and GodMama Boo trying to help: