Harvest Party

SNOMOMS, my twin club, has a Harvest Party every year in October. It has always been a fun family event - there are usually kid crafts, food, and a costume parade at the end. It's so fun to see all the kids, and many of the parents, dressed up in costume!

Many of the parents are really good at coordinating their kids' costumes. My favorite this year was the whole family costumed for Alice in Wonderland - one of the three girls was Alice, another the Queen of Hearts, the next as the Rabbit, Mom was a playing card guard and Dad was the Mad Hatter! (Even better than that, they got all the costumes at GoodWill!)

The closest I've gotten to coordinating the girls is to have Marin and Silje as a bee and a ladybug. And the next year as a ladybug and a bee. They just switched costumes and never knew the difference!

For this year I had purchased Marin and Silje's costumes last year on clearance. Only as Halloween got closer did I almost regret that, knowing that they were getting to the age where they would know what they wanted to "be". Luckily I introduced the costumes before they were asked "What do you want to be for Halloween?" and they were really excited when I pulled out the purple flapper and the cowgirl costumes - AND they didn't even fight over them! (I'm sure I'll have to repay that luck sometime soon....)

Ailey has been saying she wants to be Ariel for months. She stuck to that, and we found a great Ariel costume. We even sprayed her hair with red glitter paint.

Making lollipop ghosts...

We're definitely going to add MORE red glitter spray to Ailey's hair when she puts on her costume next week!



There will be more pictures of the girls in costume in the next week. We have our usual Halloween night with Parker and Levi planned and can't wait to see their costumes too. Happy Halloween!

Changes

This is something I wrote for the SNOMOMS (my twin club) newsletter recently. I thought it was relevant here too....

In mid-September school had begun, the weather cooled, it seemed the windows would stay closed until spring and that we had no need for shorts or sandals anymore. So I put those things away, turned on the pilot light on the fire place, brought out the rain boots, and even considered some long-sleeved clothes for the girls.

Then just when I was settling into that "Fall Feeling" - you know, the cool, crisp morning walks to the bus stop, watching the wind blow the leaves out of our huge maple tree, feeling the need to wear socks and (gasp!) jeans - BAM! Mother Nature brought us some unusually gorgeous and WARM end-of-summer days. So I went in search of the shorts and sandals for the 80 degree day. I dug out the swim suits for one last trip to the Forest Park splash pad. And (aahhhh...) the windows were thrown open for one last hurrah of fresh air flowing through the house. (I turned off the pilot light too.)

Doesn't parenting feel a little like that sometimes? Okay ... MOST of the time? As soon as you figure one thing out and you're finally comfortable with it, the kids are moving on to something new. You finally figure out what "Ungh!" means ("apples, please") and he decides he wants pears. Your 3-year-old learns how to dress herself and for a few weeks you get a little relief in the morning, only to have her "need" your help again because she "forgot how!" You establish an evening homework routine ... and then basketball (or hockey!) season starts.

None of these changes are necessarily BAD - your baby is trying new things, your 3-year-old still WANTS YOU, you get to woot and holler and cheer on your happy little athlete. And of course, what Washingtonian in their right mind would complain about a little last minute summer weather?! As parents, especially of twins and trips, we just have to be a little flexible - sometimes with a sigh, sometimes with a grin, and almost always with a little extra work.

I have to admit that the growing-up and learning-new-things part of parenting is one of my favorites. It's so darn entertaining! (Someday you may need to remind me I said that.) And I don't mind the stop and go beginning of fall either. Heck, I'll take an 80 degree day in January if it's offered! So cheers to the changing season and to our growing kids ~ Happy Fall!

Ailey the Toothless

Ailey definitely looks the part of a 1st grader these days. She recently lost two teeth in two weeks, and has lost five altogether. (The first one was almost a year ago and I was so not ready for it. But we're prepared now!)

She lost her first top tooth the week before school started - it is quite the gap!

The second was on the bottom where she already has 3 permanent teeth.

I told her we were going to carve a Halloween pumpkin this year to look just like her smile. The idea stuck, and now whenever Ailey is telling someone about her gappy smile, Silje pipes in with "Ailey looks like a jack'o'lantern!"

Ailey is pretty proud of the holes in her smile. And I can understand why after visiting her classroom this past week: at least half of the kids in her class look just like her! The tell-tale sign of a 1st grader!

Helpful

Marin figured out how to pump herself on the swing over the summer (the same day Ailey did!). So Silje is now the only one who needs to be pushed on the swings. When Silje wants to swing and I am otherwise occupied, the girls have figured out a way to get her moving.

I do love these moments in parenting!

(video)

First Days of School

That "fall feeling" is here, with school starting for all three girls in the last couple weeks.

Ailey went back to school last week in 70 degree temps - it was nice to walk to the bus stop in the sun! She wore her favorite color pretty much from head to toe and was excited to see some of her friends again.

Silje and Marin had their first day of preschool today. They will go two days a week starting next week, but this first week 1/2 the class went each day to help Mrs. Crossen get to know them a little better. They will all be together next Thursday.

I feel so blessed to have them in Mrs. Crossen's class, where Ailey spent two years. She is a great teacher and great person and the girls already LOVE her. Marin was a little anxious about preschool on our way there this morning. But as soon as she saw Mrs. Crossen - and all the toys! - she warmed up and had a great time. She came out of class saying "Mom, I LOVE preschool!"

First day pictures:
Note that Silje's bangs are SLOWLY growing back in....

Marin

Ailey was excited for Marin and Silje's first day ... and I'm sure a little jealous that they got to go to Mrs. Crossen's class without her.

We walked Ailey to her bus...

...Then came back for their backpacks. Oh, they are SO EXCITED about their backpacks!!

I have big plans for my "free time" this year, but I have to keep reminding myself that Marin and Silje are only in preschool for 4 hours a week. With drop-off and pick-up time that doesn't leave me much! But it will allow me to volunteer (a very little) in Ailey's class and maybe get in a grocery shopping trip. Today I attended a, ahem, mandatory parent therapy class at Starbucks with a couple of my friends. I'm sure there will be other mandatory parenting classes throughout the year, and I have to say I am REALLY looking forward to them!

Happy Fall!