A Perfect Day

Well, not obnoxiously perfect, but this is how I'd love to spend every Saturday.

In the morning we went to the library (also known as the "book house") and the kids were happily entertained until time for lunch/nap.




Gracie even picked out two books by herself. Not my taste, but at least she's reading.

Then after a period when all three napped (and I got to read on the couch while drinking a cup of coffee while it was still hot!)
we went to the waterfront to look at boats and play in the sandbox behind one of our favorite restaurants. Yes, it was only 48 degrees out, but in Seattle you bundle up and take the sun when you can get it.


We capped off the day by sharing hot clam chowder and fish and chips. The twins both used the potty (on time!) and Benny ate until his belly bulged. He was saying "mmmmm mmmmm mmm" for about 20 min straight.

It's days like these that make up for days like these

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Sunday

Today is a picking play-doh out of the baby's teeth kind of morning.

Spider!

That's what we heard at 12:38am last night. Not sure if it was imagined, a nightmare, a wayward fuzz, or the real deal, but Grace Noel was terrified. She keeps finding them all over the house, which is impressive since this isn't really the season. I'm starting to think she has inherited my curse. The curse being my uncanny ability to sense and spot a spider in any given location, any given moment. It truly is a 'spidey sense'! The other day one almost landed on her hand as she hit a light switch. That so would happen to me. She also imagines every black fuzz, crumb, and piece of lint in the house is a spider until proven otherwise and is instantly afraid. I'm the same way! It's pathetic when she calls for help and both of us tip toe around leaning close, but not too close to see if it moves. If I don't have my glasses on, forget it, it's a spider and we yell for daddy. Better be safe than sorry.

I felt for her last night thinking one was in her bed. That's the worst! I have a very vivid memory as a child of one landing on my face in the dark. I was paralyzed for what felt like eons until I ran from my room screaming. Could have been my own hair for all I know, but the alternative was horrifying.

Sean, having spent 7 years calming my spider phobia, was a pro with our little girl last night. He checked every corner and sheet and showed her how every inch was clean. I was glad he took over. I was still glancing nervously around the floor.

Sadly, more sleep was stolen from us about 5-6:30 am because Benny started screaming. Pretty sure he just wanted waffles, though. Sorry buddy, Fear of starvation without breakfast foods is really more daddy's thing.

Brothers

Just some random pics of my little guys, or as Gracie and I call them "The boys".
As in, "What are those boys doing?"
"You better check on the boys, mama! "
"Boys, clean up that mess! You naughty boys!"

Sigh.

We are working with her on not calling them naughty, but mischievous and rambunctious doesn't roll off the tongue as easily when you're two.

Speechless

While riding in the Car

Gracie: You marry mama? (married)
Me: Yep, I married daddy
Gracie: I not marry. I keep my pants and shirt on.
Me: Ummm...
Sean: Uhhh...
Me: Hmmmm...
Sean: Yeeeeeah.

Lockdown

The problem started the day Tate figured out how to unlatch the safety knobs we have on all the door sin the house.

We have had one on the inside of their bedroom door since we put them into toddler beds. The first week was crazy early mornings exploring their new found freedom, but things returned to normal after that. Currently, we go to bed at 6:45 ish and wake up around 7ish. If they wake up too early (they usually being Grace, who then wakes up the rest of us), we leave them in their room to play with stuffed animals or get undressed and sing until it is a decent hour.

Well, now that he could undo the knobs we knew our days were numbered. A few mornings ago he unlocked it and they waltzed right into our bedroom at 7am. They were giddy, it was sort of funny. No big deal. The next night Sean put tape all around it to keep the knob on. The next morning was Saturday and I already posted about the madness that ensued after they slowly peeled off the tape. The next night we put the tape on the knob and the gate on the outside of the door so even if they got it open, they couldn't get out. This worked for one day. But they still were up hollering at 6am. Yesterday morning Tate scaled the gate using all of their pillows as a booster. First order of business was to very slowly close my bedroom door (sneaky little guy!) and run down the hall. Of course I heard them at 5:30 am when they started plotting. See the trend here? Wake up time has gone from 7am to 5:30 am over the last week!

People keep suggesting perhaps they aren't needing that much sleep anymore, but I find it suspicious since the morning escapes have become SO exciting as of late. So last night we did a controversial thing by locking the bedroom door from the outside. We reversed the knob. I have conflicting feelings about this for safety reasons, but they couldn't let themselves out of the room (in theory) with a safety knob anyway, so why is a lock any different? Really, I feel more nervous about them getting out at night and getting into the knife drawer, laundry detergent, or even worse, unlocking the front door and disappearing!

The other piece of the puzzle is Benny. If this was just disrupting my sleep I might suck it up, but all the noise has been jarring Benny awake way too early and creating a cranky, cling monster until nap time. It seems unfair to him too!

So this morning we heard them at 5:30am ignored them until 7am. I think we got maybe 20 minutes of sleep while we just lie in bed listening. It reminded me of the stressful nights 2 years ago letting them cry it out for the first time. It was more about training than sleep at that moment. My hope is that over the next few mornings they see the party is indeed OVER and start sleeping in again. This also involves a lot of negotiation at bed time where we remind Gracie that "yelling in the morning wakes up Benny and makes him SO sad, so will you please, please talk quietly until mommy comes to the door?" She responded with a lispy "Yeth mommy!" We also give Tate a pep talk, "If Gracie wants you to wake up its ok to say no thank you sissy, I'm still sleeping." Heh, It's worth a shot.