Friday, August 26, 2011

First Day of Pre-K!

Well, I can't believe we are here! The kids are now the same age as the kids I taught when I was pregnant with them. I remember thinking back then how weird it would be when they got to that age...those kids just seemed so....old!

Thankfully I held up just fine though! Nothings a guarantee, being pregnant and all...but I was more than relieved to see them SOOO excited to start their new school. They were literally running up to the front door as we got close...and when we told them bye, it was just a wave. I had to ASK for a hug and kiss. I'm okay with that though. It means they are comfortable!

I wasn't sure how they'd take to it when I was researching Austin schools over the summer. They were pretty used to their other school in Houston. But after seeing this school in action, I have to say I think we made a great choice! They even get to eat their lunch in a lunch room so it will be great practice for the real deal next year. Their teacher is warm and inviting, and so is the aide (she is a labor/delivery nurse by trade so I'm sure the kids are in great hands with boo-boos and sick days)!

I picked them up after school and they couldn't tell me quick enough about their day...the volume of their voice going louder and louder! I think they had fun! The comment from Owen was "it was REALLY fun!" And both teachers were very impressed with them; their behavior, their participation...everything that impresses me about them, I'm sure! ;)

Here are some pictures from the "meet the teacher" day (the kids are wearing red and blue) and from today...the FIRST DAY OF PRE-K!!!

Meet the Teacher and First Day of School

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Cute from the kids...

Before I start this post, I just have to document something I overheard Owen say today as he was talking into his play phone: "A new baby is coming. I will have to learn him a lot of things because I'm a BIG BROTHER!"  He said that last part quite excitedly.  It makes me excited to see the kind of big brother he will be.  On that note, both of the kids have really been into making little things for the baby.  They will cut something or tape something and bring it to me and tell me it's for the baby.  They also ask to save things, like toys or crayons or whatever, so the baby will have one.  I'm glad they are thinking outside of themselves and their little "twin club" before the baby even gets here...it certainly gives me hope that once there is an actual baby, they will be all the more into it!

Now, onto my original reason for this post...

As a mom of identical twins, who are not only very similar in looks, but also in personality, it's hard to always remember (or recognize) the subtle differences in the things they do.  For example, who is the more artistic one?  Well, this is a hard question because they both love it.  And if one goes to the art table, or draws something particular on a kids menu, the other copies.  So it's hard to always remember if the same kid is the one initiating the art, or the soccer game, or the whatever.  And a lot of the time it's just me trying to remember who did what.  But because we are staying with my parents in Austin until we find a new home (and there are more people around the kids on a daily basis) my mom has been helpful in picking up on some of these subtle differences. Here are some things we have noticed:

Owen is very competitive, just like his mommy and daddy!.  He likes to play games and make up the rules to tip it in his favor.  He won't cheat, but he will middle-rule.  It's usually him who determines the path for the race, and if Mason is winning, he will tell everyone that the right path was whichever way he went.  We also hear him saying things like "the one wearing red gets to...(go first, be the leader, etc).  One day he needed a little Aquaphor on his cheek.  I put some on and off he went to play.  A few minutes later I heard him tell Mason "the one with the Aquaphor gets to..."  Mason doesn't seem to mind (most of the time) but he will certainly take the lead or press to go first when he feels like it.  Owen isn't a fan of this all the time, but I do hear him tell Mason "sure!" when Mason makes a point to ask if he can be first or be the leader.  Don't get me wrong, not all the time does Mason ask, and not all the time does Owen respond with "sure!" when he does ask.  There are a lot of squabbles over who washes their hands first or who is in front when driving their little cars around (and around and around) the sectional at my parents house!  Another place we notice Owen's competitive spirit is when playing games.  One of their favorite card games is Go Fish.  Mason likes to take a more laid back approach and if he happens to win, yay!  But Owen listens very carefully to each person as they ask someone for a card.  He remembers until it's his turn and then gets his match.  And if he doesn't win, he asks to play again so he can try harder.  The good news is that 99% of the time he is a good sport when he doesn't win.  We tell everyone "good game" and give high-fives at the end.  And we constantly remind everyone that "it's just a game!" 

Owen also likes to do what Mason does.  How this works out with the above "competitive" nature mentioned above (you know, making up the rules to fit his plan), I'm not sure.  But if Mason got to carry his book from the bookshelf to the couch, by golly Owen wants to carry his book from the same exact spot.  Or if Mason gets to the table for supper before Owen, Owen will get upset because he wanted Mason to wait for him.  Same with getting dressed for bed...if Mason is a little ahead of Owen in the process, Owen wants him to slow down and wait. (ah ha, it's the competitive spirit coming in to play).   A lot of the time it goes unnoticed by Owen or isn't a big deal for Owen to retrace his steps and start where Mason did, but sometimes it really gets Owen upset!  And when that happens, Mommy and Daddy have to put their foot down.  No, we do not let him throw a fit and get his way!

Mason has been very full of thought lately.  He has been asking some interesting and tough questions for a 4 year old.  Most recently, he asked us how the steering wheel makes the tires turn.  It was me and my mom in the car and we were both like...uhhhh?  "Ask Daddy!"  I could have told him something, but surely it would have partly been made up.  Another thing he said the other day was quite interesting.  I'm not sure what you call it when you take two separate thoughts and draw a conclusion between them (synthesis, I guess?), but that's what he did.  We headed out to the boat and Granddaddy was hosing some bird poo off the seats and floor before we all climbed in.  Mason watched for a while and then said "but I thought when you put water inside of a boat it will sink."  WOW!  Good thinking, Mason!

Another thing we have noticed about Mason lately is his artistic ability, mainly his drawing.  Both kids LOVE their art table and are constantly glueing, cutting, drawing maps, sticking stickers everywhere, etc.  But we have really noticed Mason's ability to think of something he wants to draw (mainly animals) and put a head, a body, some legs, ears, a face, and some details like spots or something, on paper.  This reminds me so much of what Aaron must have been like as a kid.  He always had an early ability to draw really well.  Both of us are "creative" people, and I see this streak in both of my kids.  But I was never so talented in the drawing department.  I'm quite interested in how this plays out for Mason.

Happy 40th Anniversary to Granna and Granddaddy

The boys gave a framed photo of this image to Granna and Granddaddy for their 40th anniversary!



All dressed up...may as well take some pictures!

Cute boys and best friends (O, M)

26 weeks

Mommy and the best boys in the world!
(M, O)

Handsome all around!
(M, O)

My favorite boys!
(M, O)

 Cute Owen

 Silly Mason

They always stick together
(O, M)

Mommy and Mason

Sweet Mason

Owen being snuggly 

Owen and Mommy

 Owen and Mason

Owen looking grown up and a bit like Daddy as a kid

 Mason being sweet with Numna

Owen and Mason with their Great Grandmother!

Owen, Mason, and Numna

 Me and Numna

 Looking at the waterfall and pond



Father's Day

We celebrated Father's Day in the middle of a hard couple of weeks of packing and staging our house to move!  It was a welcome break from all the chores we had been doing.  Yes, we still did some work on the house that day, but we made sure to take some time out to honor the dads in the family.  Granna and Granddaddy had been in Houston helping us pack and entertain the kids, so we got to celebrate with Granddaddy too!  We opened some presents and cards, went to eat at a yummy (but crowded) bar-b-que place, and Aaron had a chance to make (yes, make) his Father's Day gift with the kids. 

I don't think this was actually on Father's Day, but it sure is a fun way to hang out with Granddaddy!  (Mason is the caboose).


Giving Granddaddy his gift.

"It's a.........what is it?"  They had no idea!  It was an electric razor.



Granddaddy taking time to explain and show it to them.


Proud of the card they signed and colored for him. (O, M)



Mason giving Daddy his card.


Daddy reading his card in front of two proud lil boys.



Thank you hugs for Mason...

...and Owen


Group hug!

Daddy opening his gift they picked out for him...it was a set of 3 race cars to paint and race.  Perfect for just the 3 of them!



They also picked out "My Dad, My Hero" and signed it for him.


A picture of all the goodies and all the boys! (M, O)

Here's Owen working on his race car.



And Mason, with the concentrating tongue, just like his daddy!


Men hard at work on a new paint job.


Okay, everybody smile for Mommy! (M, O)


Picnic and Puppet Show

Back in May, we took a picnic lunch to the park!  Mommy was feeling ambitious and it must not have been too hot yet!  I certainly can't imagine doing that these days!  We walked all the way there, ate lunch, and played for about 10 minutes before somebody had to go #2.  OF COURSE!!  So, we walked all the way back home.  It was fun and relaxing while it lasted!  (O, M)



The kids made up a puppet show but unfortunately it's pretty hard to hear.  I posted anyway, because it's cute, and just so it doesn't get lost in all the other photos and videos we take!

Slime with Daddy

Back in May (yes, I know it's been a while since I've blogged) Aaron was feeling extra science-y and wanted to make slime with the kids.  He took them to the store in search of Borax and all the other ingredients.  They came home and got to work.

Owen pouring some water...

And Mason getting his ready too...

Add a little of this...(M)

Lots of glue...(O)

Add some color (M)

Stir...(O)

And stir...(O)

Looks pretty cool! (O)

Mason's pretty proud of his slime.

And he thinks it's pretty funny too!

Let's get slimy!

Owen's not too sure...

He looks over to Mason for affirmation that it's okay to touch...

Still not sure...

But Mason loves it!

Okay, maybe just ONE finger...

A whole hand...but it still feels weird...

Not so bad after all!

Yeah!  Getting dirty!

Mason cutting it and serving it like ice cream