Well hello...Summer

Summer seems to start earlier every year, so we've been trying to make the most of May.  My step father is still fighting his cancer, and undergoing chemo and his clinical trial, but since he is still feeling ok (and his latest scan, the week of my sister's wedding, showed his aggressive tumors are shrinking), we decided we should all take a little trip together. 

We went over to Holland, Michigan for the final Tulip Festival weekend and had a great time.  The weather was amazing, which made up the many of the flowers being past prime (again those earlier summers).  Our twins found two random flowers all alone and we declared them the twins.

The kids finish up preschool (forever!) next week and then their fourth year of summer camp (now up to four hours/day, yay!) starts right away, which is great because I've been keeping busy with work (my biggest project yet, a repeat of one I did last spring, but this time I'm doing it mostly myself).  It should wrap up at the end of June and then we are headed back to the Hamptons for the week of the Fourth, since back to school (kindergarten!!) events in mid-August required a rescheduling of our usual vacation time.  No showhouse for me this year, as it starts in late July. :(

The kids are doing great and while it's been crazy, I'm so glad that they each got to go to their respective schools this year.  We've met tons of new friends and are super excited about our new school. They will be in different classes since they always separate sibs, but they are old pros and will have some things together, including the bus rides.  They will be 5 1/2 in a few shorts weeks.  The time does fly my friends.

I'm working on figuring out what to do with myself come September when the kids are in school full time (~9-3 plus bus time).  I may do contract work while we get used to the new schedule, or if something great full time comes along, I may do that.  Anything to avoid all the home projects that still don't get done with kids in school just over two hours a day.  Ack!  I'm really not looking forward to finding someone to come help us in the afternoons/evenings (see also: why I'm still a SAHM) for when the kids get home, making dinner, watching them until we get home.  Ugh, time to bit the bullet after I procrastinate most of the summer.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  Happy Summer!

New Schools and Year

It's been a hot and busy summer around here, so I've been off the blogs.  Living and loving real life.  Lots to update:

Marielle has already started at a new school, a local Catholic elementary, as it offers preschool for the same odd partial day that her brother will be in school.  It's her third and last year of preschool, though she'd be ready for kindergarten, if only she were a wee bit older.  It is also likely where she'd stay if we were living here and going private for elementary, but our public schools are crazy top notch (all their schools and others they could attend made this and all lists, which is another reason why we still haven't moved, our district is now amazeballs), so she is likely just going to the one down the street next fall.  This serious little girl is so big and just had to have her cardigan on and buttoned.  She just slays me sometimes.  You should have seen her dance recital, a total pro.

Alistair starts this week at yet another new preschool for his last year, the school district's, after I decided to get him assessed last spring.  He's always been a little slower than his sister (walking six plus months later, potty training a year later, etc.), though not behind his boy cousins, but she is a speedy one, so we weren't that concerned.  He's always been a leftie and sensitive (to sounds, bright light, temperature, feelings in general, etc.), and has had more trouble writing (switching back and forth/ambidexterous, less overall dexterity) and dealing with transitions.  I'd heard good things about the preschool, so we decided to give it a try.  They don't have stringent qualifications if they think they can benefit from help, so even though he has done fine in his other schools, we are hoping that some occupation therapy and extra help will get him really rocking and rolling to begin the all day kindergarten down the street arm in arm with his sister next fall.  He's also taking the bus, so that will be another exciting adventure.  My big brave boy is so excited!

After I put him on the bus, I felt jittery and thought I was really losing it (it's his first ride alone, but his third year of school).  But then I realized later when it didn't subside that I'd mistakenly had some caffeine, which totally wigs me out.  There should be some sort of disability program for mothers with low caffeine and alcohol tolerances like I have. 

My step-father's prognosis is sadly pretty grim.  He is doing well with his regimen of weekly chemo and daily radiation, but his surgery in a month or so to remove what they can of the very large tumor will be very debilitating and long term survival rates are low.  He is continuing to work as long as he can, as he wants to/can, and we are all just taking it as well as we can and we are spending lots of extra time up north to visit.

We just got back from visiting the Hamptons via NYC and Pittsburgh to beach it up and spend some time with my sister and her boyfriend (now officially fiancé, wedding date pending).  Lots of great fun, but enough for its own several posts...someday.

I've already completed a whole new project with my former CMO for the same client as the last.  And we have another international one for them on deck.  Working from home, on my own schedule, making bank with no overhead, using my brain and skills, not selling anything or abusing my social networks. Life is beautiful, so I'm riding this gravy train as long as it lasts.

We finally decided that we are in fact taking a trip sans twins for our tenth anniversary and my 40th birthday next month.  My mom will be busy travelling for her 50th high school reunion (though thankfully for us, my dad was opting out), so my dad and step-mother are coming down and taking on the kids for a long weekend, so we can get away.  We went back and forth about how far we were comfortable going (a few hour direct flight) and for how long (a few days) and also where (since we've been most everywhere within that proximity), but we settled on Savannah, since we've both never been and it's supposed to be fun.  We had such a great time with just an overnight away last year for DH's 40th, you'd think we'd do it more.  We can't wait!!

First Day of School 2015/Ninth Anni

The kids started at a new school last week, which they seem to like, but today was their first "full" day, since they did two hour/half days last week for their classmates who are new to school.  They are on year #3, so they are old pros.

 It's amazing how much personality (and attitude) can fit inside such little people...

Summer flew by too fast, as it always does.  And we packed in a lot of fun, but I'd be lying if I wasn't sort of wishing it away.  Grandma S goes home in three weeks and I get my house and husband back to myself. (call me terrible, I own it).  On a related note, we are celebrating our ninth wedding anniversary with a martini lunch tomorrow, so we can be home to watch the circus live, so that is exciting.  Here's on to double digits!

35 months old

We are rounding the final month to three, which is crazy...  Even though it has felt like winter for weeks, it's been a busy fall around here. 

Playing in the leaves at the rose garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden

It was 30 degrees (with 50 mph winds) and snowing, but the twins went trick or treating to a few of our neighbors for the first time this year.  They had three Halloween parties in one week, so of course we all came down with some sort of plague, that took a good two weeks to get everyone over and done with. 

We kind of glossed over Halloween prep last year (one of several fall slights due to our India trip prep), so this year we started planning early.  When I asked them over the summer what they wanted to be, they both answered, "ELSA!".  So yeah, that didn't happen (mean mommy), but we settled on Anna and Olaf (after some searching) instead.  But then Halloween week came and Alistair didn't want anything to do with his (admittedly cumbersome) costume.  So I went back to Party City the Tuesday before Halloween and exchanged it for Thomas.  Crisis almost averted...

As the doors to the preschool party open...

Somehow there were no other Frozen characters at any of our parties.  Yay for non-conformity!

Since the kids started school in January, they missed out on school pictures last fall.  Well, now they are in two preschools, so they had two sets of pictures done.  One was decidedly better (and correspondingly more expensive) than the other, but I'm just amazed they were able to get them to cooperate. 

Just a proof, but this pic is like seeing a unicorn...

 Yes, they look like an ad for Old Navy

At least one is smiling...

On that note, we had our very first parent/teacher conference recently and of course (as is typical) they are a dream at school.  Great at listening, helping, sharing...(ha ha!)  Still trying to figure out how to make that the norm at home...  It was interesting to see them interact at their one preschool Halloween party that was mom led/run.  They don't really interact with each other that much at school, which the teacher confirmed is kind of their norm.  They are all over each other at home, so I guess another of the many benefits of school is it gives them a well earned break from each other.

Somehow Thanksgiving is next week, so we're headed north to spend a few days with the family and another few lounging (and seeing Thomas) at the Grand Geneva.  DH is turning 39 (for the first time), and I'd hoped to squeeze in a birthday/Christmas beach trip this year, but right now we're just staying over in Chicago for a few nights and trying to plan something for spring. 

I'm trying to get our kitchen done by the end of the year (new buffet and FR built-ins are nearly done, kitchen is part way there).  When I couldn't find a new house I liked, I figured we might as well keep making this one what we want.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Mr. Independent

It's been quite the first month of preschool...  We've had two cold day (as in freezing) cancellations so far and last week Mari started the family on the cold (as in snot/sneeze) train.  No biggie, though I worried how Alistair would do on his own for four hours after only having been there three times before, but it was also a good test to see.  He's never been at home without at least one of the three of us there, not mention out of the house by himself.  But I guess since they are our children and Mari is Miss Independent I shouldn't have thought twice.  He did fabulous, my brave little man!

This is really something since, as DH so aptly puts it, he is a level three clinger.

It is a good sized class, about a dozen cutie two to three year olds, with three great teachers.  The teacher that I spoke with when I picked him up said that when they were playing with bikes (there is a huge separate indoor room for winter play) he looked around a little like he was looking for someone, but no tears.  Their first, and subsequent, drop offs have been uneventful, which was a welcome relief even though we knew they were ready to get out without us, and when we went to visit they took to the place like glue.  I'm so glad we found a place they (and I) really like, finally.

Now we are faced with what to do for fall.  I'm considering keeping them there or going to one closer to home.  And I'm thinking of going back to work, so I'm debating how many days they should go (and where) if we hire a nanny.  And of course, I've also got scenarios worked out for other changes that might be coming.  So complicated, if exciting.  Thankfully they don't have to worry about any of this stuff...  I'm looking at Montessori and Waldorf schools, does anyone have any experience with these?

On the bloggity blog note, we are now beginning year five.  As most people have probably noticed, it seems like I'm not the only one who has less time to blog now than ever.  Even "professional" bloggers, who make money off their blogs, are disappointing me lately, but don't get me started on them.  I follow friends, but generally am finding the whole genre less rewarding.  I try to keep up with updates on the kids because, while I obviously have all the pics on my computer, keeping track of all the little fun things they do are prone to get lost in the everyday craziness that is the life of a SAHM mom of twin toddlers.  How do you feel about blogging lately?  I feel like by killing Blog reader, Google put a stake in Blogger.  Maybe it's just me.  Pinterest, Instagram, etc. are just not the same.

25 months old

It's been a busy month since the kids' 2nd birthday, with Christmas, New Year's, starting school, restarting speech and their classes, converting to toddler beds, and generally trying to get through what is hopefully the worst of this already long winter.

The kids are worse than me when it comes to getting their picture taken.  They usually either run for the hills or act goofy.  Case in point, I have dozens of pics of them both with their entire hands in their mouths in front of the tree laughing, which I've never seen them do before.  What the heck? ;)

They love to play with my cameras and especially my phone (why is it that it takes pictures when it's locked?), taking selfies and other randoms, but they don't hold still when I try to get posed or even spontaneous pictures.  And it's not just because Mari got her first bad haircut.  Oh well, what are you going to do...

We had an especially pretty tree this year, which made me happy since it was the first one I looked at at the KOC, since we skipped the tree farm (again, for the third time) this year because of the cold.

The kids' first day of preschool was cancelled due to the extreme cold we had at the beginning of the month, but this is from their real first day (she somehow found a nuk just in time for pics, SMH...) 

 My chivalrous boy insisting on carrying both his and his sister's lunch bags.  Love them and they love school.

The kids are at the stage where she wants to do everything I am doing and he wants to do everything that she does (we're a great team at emptying the dishwasher), so taking them outside on a snowy day to play while I shoveled the walk results in all three of us shoveling.



Getting ready for Sochi, zoning out to PBS...

Back at class, thank goodness for indoor playgrounds





 One of Mari's more stylized pics, she's getting good... ;)

A New Big Year

Happy New Year! 

First of all, can I ask how the heck is it 2014?!  I've been out of college almost (ahem) 15 years, and HS nearly (cough) 20, and I can remember thinking about 2000 being so great, but honestly I don't think I thought much beyond that.  But here we are...

I'm really looking forward to this being a great year for us (no jinx, please).  The kids are doing well, and I know they are going to love preschool.  As you know, I hemmed and hawed on this forever (the when and where), but now that they are walking and talking, more independent, and craving more stimulation, and we found a school we like, they are starting next week.  At first, there was only room for them one day a week (it is four hours, from 9-1, which includes play, music, reading, and (a packed) snack and lunch), which I thought would be fine since the preschool that I'm looking at for fall is 2 days/9-11a (so also four hours total/wk).  But then space on the second day opened up and we decided to go for it. 

Eight whole hours a week to myself, can you even imagine?  I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around it honestly.

Other things on our radar this year for the kids are things like: potty training (Mari's already talking about it and sitting and trying), moving to big kid beds (w/new décor), losing the binks (Mari is down to sleeping only, though she'd use it all the time, if we'd let her), and continuing speech therapy.  Between therapy, preschool, and continuing our music and toddler class, we'll have just one week day completely off of any scheduled activities.

Me and Mari (on the left) selling everyone on the music class, from the cover of the latest park district catalogue... (A is wandering off screen)

With some time to myself, and more importantly the kids out of the house, I have some work to do.  On me and on the house.  Things that have been put off for a long time.  I joined a great gym last summer, after the kids dropped their second nap, and thankfully they really like the awesome childcare center, but I haven't gotten really serious about getting my strength back.  Fortunately for me, weight is not an issue (I somehow have every problem with pregnancy that is unusual, and almost none of the ones that are normal), but I'm still not very strong.  I'm still figuring out what I want to do on the work front, but that's a whole other post.  Hopefully I'll be doing more reading, other things I enjoy, and generally be less pressed for time to get things done.

And the house, our house.  We just marked eight years here, and after all that we've done we haven't been doing much lately besides maintenance, it just isn't worth it when so much else is going on and us all at home most days.  This year, we got a new steam clothes dryer (LOVE) when our old/new since we moved in one died and are finally getting a new garage door/opener (as we were planning), as it also recently bit the dust (during the worst weather of the year, of course.  Well, in keeping with the theme of the season (the kids got a lot of food/kitchen/shopping stuff for Christmas and DH (the cook in our family) got some new small appliances (since all our Cuisinarts from our wedding have been nothing but a disappointment over time), we are FINALLY planning our new kitchen.

Our kitchen is unfortunately small (a walk-through galley with an open side), which I've recently taken to calling a "take out" kitchen, so while the style has been fine (and one of the things I didn't need to change as soon as we moved in), we need to maximize our usable space by having cabinets to the ceiling and adding a larger china/storage wall (where we currently have a freestanding china cabinet).  The cottage style will remain basically the same: white cabinets/appliances, grey counters, with a tile backsplash (though the tan, blue, white mosaic will likely be replaced by a new blue only).  I'm hoping/planning for a reno at this point to not be totally disruptive to our lives, as that is the only way it can happen. 

Other smaller projects, like painting the mud/laundry room, an accent wall in the LR (and maybe in A's room) and all of Mari's room are also on tap.  We are still working on making our home office as usable a space as possible.  It, like our guest room, has unfortunately become a drop space for things, since the basement is yet to be refinished since the flooding in 2011.  We also plan to do more work on our bathroom this year.

We managed to squeeze a lot of travel in this year, NYC/the Hamptons, Boston, and India, among smaller trips.  But next year will likely be more low key.  A summer beach trip (to the Cape/Islands) and teaching the kids to ski.  It would be great to make it out to see family in SoCal, but that may be a next year trip.

I hope 2014 is your best year yet!! :)

14 months old

The kids turned 14 months old yesterday.  The months are really flying now.  The saying that the days are slow, but the years are fast is dead on.  One day I will wake up and they will be all grown up.

His sweet smiles just melt my heart.  And with his daddy's coloring, he can pull off wearing any color, especially bright ones, with ease.  It's funny, he's the super mellow one now.  Someone told me that they'd switch personalities at some point, but I didn't believe them or think it was possible.

This little girl is fun, but so mischievous, can you see that look on her face?  We're in big trouble.  That's from her dad (that and the curly hair). 

Did I ever mention that he waited until long after we were married to tell me that he'd been a really naughty kid?   Thanks hon.  He was a good student, but apparently going to a Catholic school for 15 years brings out the bad or something.  He said he and his co-conspirators friends had a policy that as long as their antics weren't illegal and didn't involve girls, they were golden.  He also somehow thought that telling me that he'd been his high school's prom king was somehow going to make up for this revelation.  (This is especially ironic because I didn't even go to mine.  I turned down the friend who asked me to go with him (how terrible is that?) and babysat for my math teacher instead.  But don't worry about the kid, he went with another friend, married a lovely girl he met at Cornell, and now is a rising star at Google.)

I had a great trip to NY last weekend.  I went on the cheap (FF miles and stayed in my sister Jen and her boyfriend's extra bedroom in Brooklyn) and also got to visit my friend (and old Chicago roomie) Shelby and her little Beto there too.  He's almost two and such a cutie pie.  I hadn't seen them since we went to NYC & the Hamptons 18 months ago, when things were going downhill with the twins, and he was just a little bug.  It is always so good to see her, she reminded me I don't need to be a mommy martyr and am allowed to go back to work.  And thankfully she has an awesome job, because her husband just lost his.

We went downtown and walked around too, but it was so cold (we saw Silver Linings Playbook, which I recommend and the season finale to Downton, which I'm not sure if I do...).  I'm so ready for spring (please let us have one this year?!)  I'm already thinking about the weather warming up and getting ready to order our new patio furniture.  Home Depot is doing a fun thing this year where you can mix and match/customize your sets.  I think we are getting the Fall River one, since it is just what I was looking for (metal w/cushions, six chairs, and no glass top).

Oh, and I finally found a preschool for emerging two year olds for the fall.  I am so excited! :)