Vacation!!!

I remember being in Vegas for the first time and talking to an older couple.  We had told them that our almost 11 month old daughter was at home with my parents.  They told us that it was important to take a trip every year without the children.  At that point I figured it sounded like a good idea and it would be doable, even if it was just a weekend in Grand Forks.  I do believe that many people don't put enough time and energy into their relationship after children are born.  Once we found out we were having twins, I thought we would never be able to go anywhere again.  First of all, I thought no one would ever want to watch all of our kids and secondly I never thought we'd have any money to go.  Well, we went to Vegas again in April and I came back feeling refreshed and rejuvenated as a parent.  Not long after we got back, we had friends offer to use their Air Miles to fly us all to Toronto this coming weekend and go to a Bill's game in Buffalo.  I know that technically, we should have said no, but how do you turn down an almost free flight?  Neither Derrick or I have ever been to an NFL game, so we are quite excited.

When the offer came up, Derrick thought we should arrange for someone to watch our kids.  I'm not usually one to take this for granted, but I knew that because it was a weekend and such a short time, we could arrange people easily enough within our family.  I posted something on Facebook about having a trip booked and now just needing someone to watch our kids and my friend answered that they would watch them.  She has almost 8 year old triplets and two of them just love kids and will be super helpful.  I talked with her and she said she was serious.  I figured, why not?  If someone's offering, that's great.  Jayna is super excited for Melanie to come stay with her.  Thanks again Melanie.  You have no idea how thankful we are!!!!  For the last few days, when we go out, Jayna asks if we are going on a plane.

Here's to a weekend away from the kids with great friends!  I can't wait to experience my first NFL game (and see Tom Brady in person!).

Derrick and I are by no means perfect, but we are well aware of our ups and downs and we work hard to make sure our marriage stays strong.  We have just had a bit of a rough go the last couple of weeks with his back not being great.  Although it wasn't easy, I knew it would pass and we'd move on.  Thank goodness that is happening!  We may not always get out without the kids, but we make time for each other at home.  Sometimes this is just watching a show together or being an old married couple and playing cards, while sharing a bottle of wine of course!

In other news, Davin had his first hair cut on Tuesday.  It was just a little trim to get the hair out of his eyes, but it was successful.  He was quiet, and barely moved.  Here's a before and after shot.  I've also included some pictures of the twins' first experience with lasagna.  Thank goodness for bath night!

The before shot

The after shot

Still in disbelief

There are many times when I look at my two little ones and think.....really two?  I still can't believe we have twins.  They are changing so much and learning new things every day.

Mara and Davin are crawling everywhere, pulling themselves up constantly and Davin really wants to walk, but he's just not quite there.  Yesterday he did stand by himself for a few seconds and went back to holding onto a bin, didn't even fall down.  Mara likes to climb.  She has managed to do a few stairs and she lifts her leg like she's going to climb the couch, but it's still too high for her, thank goodness.  They are both starting to take steps along the couch, or while pushing one of the chairs.

I just can't believe how quickly this happened.  They are definitely busy and keeping us on our toes.

Today as I write, it's a great morning.  I've been able to get some work done and the twins have been playing very nicely.  The most heart melting thing is watching them interact and play together.  When Davin sees his sister in the morning, he just lights up (it's mutual).  The same goes for them and Jayna.  She can't wait to run into their room in the morning and entertain them (or "make them happy" because they're usually crying at that point).

I love watching them play with a toy.  If you watch, it looks as though they've learned to take turns, which means one will steal it and play for a bit, while the other watches and eventually steals it back.  Pretty good system for only 9 months old!

I'm also loving seeing their personalities come out.  Davin is the sweet charmer and when he gets fussy, music will make him happy.  He is the quiet chatty one and he is very much his father in terms of personality.  If we are out and about, he sits and takes it all in and looks very serious.  Mara is just like her mother.  She is more outgoing, more likely to give you a smile and a lot louder.  She tends to be happier, but she angers very quickly.  She is also our trouble maker.  I'm sure Mara and I will butt heads regularly for years to come.

The last week and a half have been a bit frustrating for me since Derrick threw his back out last week.  I've been left to take on even more than usual.  He's getting better and I can't wait till we're back to normal.  I've also started running a few times a week in the mornings.  I hate getting up at 5:45, but I feel great after.  It's been about a month and I've noticed a difference already.  I've taken advantage of the kids sleeping better and creating a habit before I go back to work.  Once I'm back at work, it'll be much easier to fit my workouts in. I don't have much of an excuse when the gym is 5 steps outside my office.  For now, while it's still decent in the mornings, the peace and quiet are enjoyed!

I'm looking forward to a good weekend and I will definitely have pictures to post after the Corn Maze on Sunday.  I'm sure that will be a gong show and a blast all at once, which is pretty much how our life is nowadays.  Derrick and I often have the conversation about trying to figure out when exactly our house became a gong show.  Was it right when the twins were born?  In the end it doesn't matter, but it makes us laugh.

Burned Out

I don't quite know what to say, but I realized yesterday that I'm feeling extremely burned out.  Not about everything, just about parenting.

Yes, the kids have gotten easier, but right now, I feel like all I do is think about what comes next.  I have to make sure there is food in the house for three meals (and those meals have to be suitable for five people, two of which can eat most things, but not everything), plus snacks, I am also the one who has to make sure there are diapers, wipes, clean clothes and all that fun stuff.  And somehow, I'm the one that's always having to plan when I'm going to fit shopping for it all into my schedule.  It sounds like it would make sense since I'm home all day, but running around with two kids isn't exactly ideal all the time.

Friday, I got a call from Jayna's daycare.  They couldn't find a main course in her lunch.  We had packed yogurt, a banana, and a granola bar.  I know it wasn't a lunch that would help me get nominated for Mother of the Year, but come on, it's not that bad is it?  I'll be honest that that phone call made me feel like a terrible parent and I felt like I was extremely judged.  When I picked Jayna up, one of the daycare workers (the only one that irks Derrick and I) said that they called because Jayna always has a main course and she was looking everywhere for it.  That made me feel a little better, but not really.  I'm pretty sure everyone has had a day when they go to make their kids lunch and realize that they need to hit the store.  

I haven't even factored in all of the stuff that has to get done around the house, while there are two or three kids home.

I don't feel like going on a huge rant, because life isn't all that terrible, but I had to share my burned out feeling, as I'm sure most parents have felt this at one point or another.  In the back of my mind I know it's a phase and it will pass, but right now it sucks.

On a happy note, Davin and Mara don't stop moving all day, even when you change them.  Davin pulled himself up for the first time Saturday and hasn't stopped since.  Now I think it's just a matter of time before the two of them walk......oh my.

Work

Today is the first day back to work for my fellow teachers.  I've had some weird emotions throughout the last week.  Last week, I felt like I should have gone into work a couple of times.  I woke up this morning and felt as though I was late for work (the worst feeling).  I remember feeling the same way when I was off with Jayna, but now I find it's even more weird.  I feel extreme guilt because I know I'm not going to be off ever again, since we are not having any more children.

I poured my cup of coffee into a mug that says "teacher have more class" on purpose today.  I think it was my way of reminding me that I'm still a teacher and it's not that long before I return.  I definitely don't want to wish the last two months away, but I am really looking forward to life moving to a new kind of crazy.  I was complaining about wanting to back to work the other day and Derrick told me that if I thought life was crazy now, it's only going to get worse.  I know that and I worry about how everything's going to get done, although I know it will (I'm also hoping to be able to hire the cleaners back so it's one less thing to do).  The main reason I look forward to returning to work is so that I can feel normal again.  When I go to work, it's about me and I don't have to worry about my family's needs for a little while.  I really look forward to laughing every day with my colleagues.  My kids make me smile, but they don't make me laugh like my PE department does.  I also really miss the students and the excitement of the building!

Aside from my disappointment of not returning to work, we had a great long weekend.  We hung out with family and friends, went to the park twice, the zoo, and Jayna got to go bowling for the first time.  She loved it and as we were walking out the doors, she said, "I come back here again one day!"  We went with Derrick's family including some aunts and we played pass the babies while we took turns bowling.  Since Jayna liked it so much, we will take her all by herself one day.

Jayna and I were leaving the house on Saturday and it stunk outside.  My comment was "oh it stinks".  Jayna responded with, "yeah Mommy, bunnies poop outside".  So random and cute!

Mara and Davin have been a joy to watch over the last few days.  They tend to play in the same areas and Davin has really sped up in the crawling department.  They are pretty much done with formula, we only give them formula in the their bottles at bed time since we may as well use what we have left.  They don't even get bottles during the day, their milk goes in sippy cups.  These kids also eat pretty much anything, which is a little more convenient!  I'm also happy to say that they are still messy eaters, but the mess has decreased significantly.  They are also crazy in the bath together and are quite chatty throughout the day.  It's a lot of fun to see their connection and their big smiles when they see the other one.  The same goes for Jayna who will greet them in their cribs in the morning and they get crazy excited.  

I will continue to enjoy the next two months, all the while looking forward to returning to work and living our new kind of crazy.