New Year's Resolutions!

As I was browsing the internet, I came across a New Year's Resolution printable and thought it would be a great idea to try and write some for myself.  If they're written down, I can come back and look at them and then revisit the list at the end of the year.  I've never made a list of resolutions before but there's no better time to do it than January 1! 
Here's the link to the printable where I got the idea. 
http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/2012/12/new_year_resolutions_printable/

Let’s Do This! 2013

One Word

 I found it very difficult to try and come up with one word to describe what I would like for my year.  I went through about five before I decided on ACTIVE!

This word popped into my head when I thought about having 2 very active toddlers.  Then I thought it applied to more of what I want for myself this year.  I want to be more active in pursuing activities with Jenna and Rachel.  I want to be more active in terms of exercising.  I want to be more active when it comes to cleaning, cooking, and organizing.  Using the computer less will allow me to be more active.  I think this will be my One Word for the year. 

Want

What I Really Want in 2013...

*To get out more with the girls: library, play dates and other activities.   It’s a great way to help them socialize with other children and good for me too!

*To create a budget and determine how to live on less money.  I’d like to stay at home with the girls for longer and this will help!

*To play piano again.  I got a new book for Christmas and I will learn at least one new piece.

Need

What I Really Need in 2013...

*To be more organized.  I would love to begin following a home maintenance/cleaning schedule so that I’m not overwhelmed with things that need to be done. 

*To have a least one date night with my husband!  We haven’t been out since November 2011!

 Share

What I Want to Share in 2013...

*More time with my husband and children: less time on the computer.  I’ve been working hard to not turn on the computer while the girls are awake.  I’d like to limit time during their naps and in the evening as well. 

*Try to be more outgoing, friendly and approachable.  This could be as easy as saying hello to someone during a walk or chatting with another mom at story time!

Succeed

In 2013 I Will Succeed At...

*To lose the 10 pounds I gained since having the twins.  I’d like to fit back into the jeans I wore pre-pregnancy. 

*Becoming a better cook.  I’m enjoying making dinner more and I would love to find some new recipes to try.  I need to boost my confidence in the kitchen.  

I hope that having this written on my blog will allow me to stay accountable and be able to achieve most of these goals for the year.  

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2013!

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit!

I wanted to add some photos of the time with my parents.  My mom had hand surgery in November and wasn't sure if she'd be up for traveling.  I'm SO glad they were able to come and spend 5 days with us!  They arrived on the 26th so they were here for Jenna and Rachel's birthday.  We celebrated Christmas the next night and enjoyed exchanging gifts.  I loved seeing the girls interact with their Grandma and Grandpa.  They loved playing with babies, blankets, books, and play food with their Grandma.  My dad is really silly with them and loves making them laugh.  We had such a good visit.  They left in the morning on the 31st. Even after living in Virginia for 6 years, I still get teary-eyed when they leave.  We're not sure now when we'll see them again.  Hopefully it's soon!

New seat/stool from Aunt Sandra

Rachel and Grandma watching "Mickey's Christmas Carol"

Playing babies with Grandma

  

Soft Kitty!!

Rachel with Grandpa

Goodbye Grandma and Grandpa!

Happy 2nd Birthday!

The morning started white, with snow and ice falling outside.  The girls kept running and looking out the window to yell "snowing!"  I was worried for most of the morning about my parents driving here.  They had spent the night, halfway, in Pennsylvania so they only had 4 hours to drive to get here.  The snow turned to rain, to sleet, to ice, and kept changing and the roads were getting icier.  They finally arrived 6 hours after they left their motel.  It was wonderful seeing them and Jenna ans Rachel were happy they were here.  
After nap time, we decided to open a few gifts because we would open more after dinner.  Sandra found step stools and had her mother-in-law paint them.  They are beautiful.  The back flips down so it's a seat and a step for the stool.  Jenna just wanted to step up and down (which was kind of tricky wearing tights).  They loved these and hopefully it will make it easier for me to wash their hands after meals...instead of me lifting them to the sink.  Sandra wanted a video but I need to find the cord to upload one.  We opened some for Grandma and Grandpa too.

 My friend and her parents came over for dinner to celebrate with us.  I made our favorite crockpot chicken but the girls really wanted cake. They loved opening their new presents and wanted to try out everything. 

 It was hard to get settled down when it was time for bed.  With lots of sugar and excitement and then playing with Grandma and Grandpa, I think it was probably an hour past their normal bedtime when they finally went to sleep.  It was OK though because they had had a fun day!  

Playing and being silly before bed.

Merry Christmas!

Today is December 25th.  Two years ago, we enjoyed Christmas breakfast with friends  came home relaxed, then went to bed not knowing that the next day we'd be new parents.  Tomorrow, Jenna and Rachel will be two.  Tonight at dinner, we taught them how to hold up two fingers and respond "TWO!!" when asked "how old are you?"  I know I've written it before, but I truly can't believe how fast the time has gone.  

Jenna's washing dishes at her kitchen

Playing with Slime!

A few days ago, we had some of Kenny's family here as they traveled to NY.  We exchanged presents and I realized that this was the first time the girls had opened presents since last year.  They quickly knew what to do and were so cute when they passed out the presents to everyone.  

Sorry it's blurry, they were busy passing out presents!

Saying Goodbye to Anne'

Even though they are both sick with terrible coughs and runny noses, we were still able to enjoy Christmas today.  This morning, they both went right to the biggest present and started tearing the paper.  It was fun to see them working together.  After opening presents, they explored and played with the new toys.  The favorite was the Fisher Price Wheelies Loops and Swoops Amusement park...a long name for a big toy!  We were disappointed though because it didn't come with 2 cars or 2 flags like the box said.  I'll try calling the company tomorrow and getting the missing pieces.  Still there was one car and two they already had worked fine.  Jenna and Rachel also loved the Fridge Phonics and played with that for a while.  The got some new phones, books, puzzles, Little People, and coloring books.    

Christmas!

Working to open a present

Rachel's new book!

Playing with the new Wheelies toy

Making cookies (actually tasting the dough)

Tomorrow my Mom and Dad will be coming and staying for a few days.  We'll have some friends over for a birthday dinner.  When you ask the girls "What does Birthday mean?"  They say, "Cake and Presents!!"  We'll definitely be taking more pictures tomorrow.  As for tonight, I will check on the girls on their last night as one-year-olds.  

What are they saying now??

Two weeks from today, I will have 2 two year olds.  I can't believe how quickly time flies!  I love looking back at old pictures and seeing how small they were.  Even last Christmas, they looked like babies and now they're definitely toddlers!  They are talking so much...really just to each other and to Mommy and Daddy.  They don't talk much around other people!

I wanted to write down some of the cute and funny things they say (not all are completely appropriate but funny anyway!) They are really beginning to talk in phrases and are starting to tell stories about things that have happened. 
Jenna calls herself "Nen-na" and calls Rachel "Ray-ray".  Rachel calls herself "Chay-chel" and calls Jenna "Che-na".  
At night: "Night, night Mommy.  I love you!"
When frustrated: "Mommy do-it!"
When flushing the toilet: "Bye bye poopy, I love you!" 
Trying to say Cranberry muffin: "Cran-booby mup-pin"
They're very polite and often use please.  They're starting to say Thank you too!  I love when they say "Up please" or "Shoes off please" 
Heard at naptime: "Lay down, Jenna" "Shhh, shhh" "Lie down Ray-ray."  Jenna is attached to her blankie and always makes usre she has her "Brown kitty, ba-ba."  I think blanket will always be ba-ba.  

Saying different names:
Mickey = "Mick-me"
Minnie = "Min-me"
Becky = "Beck-bee"
Monkey = "Monk-me"
Other names they love to say: Of course Mommy and Daddy, Aunt-Yan ra (Sandra) and Unc Steve!  Aunt Katie and Unc Tim!.  Amy, Oll-ver (Oliver) and Fe, fe- oh (Fiona). 

Both can count to 10 and think that it ends..."8, 9, 10, yay!"  They recognize both letters and sing a form of the ABC song.  Rachel's favorite song to sing is "Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty, little ball of fur.  Happy Kitty, Sleepy Kitty, purr, purr, purr."  Those that watch Big Bang Theory would smile at this!!  

Instead of just using nouns, both girls are using adjectives to describe things.  Mostly colors but sometimes sizes too.  They use color words often to tell me which cup or plate they want or which socks to wear.  It's so much fun to see them learning.  

Rachel is sorting pom poms by color.

A friend made slime for them to play with!

Halloween

I've been buying and selling on a Facebook page dedicated to Moms of Multiples.  I found a cat and mouse costume that were perfect for Jenna and Rachel.  We had plans to go to two Halloween parties but because of travel plans, we didn't make it.  I wanted to make sure they got to wear these costumes at least once.  Halloween night was SO cold but we dressed the girls in layers and visited about 5 or 6 neighbors.  They were so funny, walking right up and saying "Trick, treat!".  Kenny and I were cold so we headed home and then decided to go visit a friend where the girls got to wear their costumes for a little longer.  We had a fun night!

Our trip...Part 2

Thursday was kind of a "down day" for us.  We didn't plan to drive too far anywhere because we had been in the car so much!  We went to Eastview Mall in the morning.  I visited this mall so often as a teenager and then as a college student working at JCPenney.  It has changed so much in the past few years.  It really is a beautiful place and there is nothing like it around us back home. We felt a little out of our element when we are used to shopping at Target and Kohl's!  The girls still like riding in the double stroller so we wandered around for a while then headed home for lunch.  After their nap, we visited with some friends then decided to head to a nearby park.  It was almost 80 degrees!  Crazy weather for October in NY!  The park at great slides and climbers and of course 2 swings perfect for the girls.  

On Friday, we headed out to visit family.  We were meeting "Unc. Tim" for lunch but the weather was still nice so we went to another park for a little while before lunch.  We met Tim at DiBella's. DiBella's subs are delicious and something I miss from NY.  There are no subs like these around us in VA.  We went back to Katie and Tim's house and the girls napped in their cousin's room.  It was so nice to visit with everyone who came over.  After their nap, the girls and their cousins played outside in a HUGE pile of leaves.  This is the first time Jenna and Rachel had played in the leaves.  Our trees at home are too small to make a leave pile.  Homemade pizza, a movie, and visiting family made it a great day! 

Saturday afternoon was planned for Mom's side of the family and some friends to come over and visit and have desserts.  It's always so nice to being able to see so many people.  At times, I worry about the girls being a little overwhelmed, but they did great!  They loved seeing great-Aunts and Uncles and especially their Aunt Sandra and Uncle Steve again!!  

They LOVE their grandma and grandpa and had so much fun staying at their house.  My mom had some toys that were mine when I was little and it was cute seeing the girls play with these.  I get nervous thinking about a long road trip but they were good in the car (for the most part) and slept well in their pack-n-plays.  

Aunt Sandra teaching how to make picture on the glass door. 

Jenna loved the fridge letters

Rachel and Grandma

 We ended up driving straight home on Sunday instead of stopping and staying with family in PA because of the forcasted Hurricane Sandy.  We didn't want to be stuck in wind and rain.  That was a LONG drive back and like earlier in the week, the girls DID NOT sleep well in the car.  The 7 hour drive turned into 9 hours and I think they only slept for about 30 minutes.  We were happy were had bought a DVD player for the car!  

A rare moment when they were both sleeping in the car.

Because Kenny started a new job, we won't be traveling for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  It was nice to go to NY in the fall.  The drive was beautiful and the weather was pleasant. We were busy but it was so good to see so many people.