Ooocy...

My little honey bunches of oats called out his twin sister's name for the first time today. Luke woke up from his nap first, so after a quick diaper change, I said, "Let's go get Lucy. Let's wake her up." Luke loved that idea and ran off to her room. He gently pushed on the door, peeked in and softly called out "Ooocy... Oooocy". It was so cute and adorable that I melted into a puddle on the floor right then. That was enough to keep my heart full for days - But wait - there was more cuteness to witness! Shortly after calling to her, he went over to the side of her crib, put his little arm through the bars and started petting her adorable head. And she loved it. And she giggled. And she snuggled up to his hand.

Let's all pause for a moment and let out a blogging community wide "awwwwww"... 

Good Crafting Mojo

Finally get a decent picture of the family and there's a giant, blue trash can in the background. oh well... It's so hard to get everyone to:

A: Sit down 

B: Not make funky faces (Jack)

C: Smile

Thanks, Dad... for taking the photo.  I'm glad to have it! Photos like this one are rare in my library.

There's a sleeping Luke on my shoulder.  I'm not sure how much longer he'll let me type... or how much longer I can hold my neck tilted like this.. He's burrowed up into the side of my neck so I'm kind-of craning to the right.  

I've actually finished the CKU Digital album and uploaded it to Shutterfly! Yay! I cried as I was viewing it in its entirety. It's such an amazing tribute and microscopic look at how our lives are lived right now, in the spring and summer of 2008. Here's a little sample page for your viewing enjoyment...

My large format scanner behaved this morning and I was finally able to scan in 12 completed layouts before it broke on me once again. So maybe... just maybe... I can work on some magazine submissions tonight when everyone goes to bed.  

I'm also nearly finished with a pretty little acrylic album I began at CKU. I'll take some close-up photos once I put the jump rings into the sides.

Luke has now emptied the entire 64 count box of crayons on my office floor and has commenced coloring the wood floor. Screw the many coloring books I've placed in front of him... I suppose it's my queue to finish up. I'm off to change diapers and fix lunch for the wee ones.  Wishing you all crafty mojo...

Wishing for the start of school

I rarely allow myself to rant here, but if I have another day like the one that began at 7am yesterday and ended with me telling mouthy, disobedient Jack I was going to make him run the yard like a dog at 9:30pm then I am going to run away screaming. I literally never sat down yesterday.  

I wish the problem could be solved with playgroups like it was when Jack was little, but Jack at 5 has his own set of friends, and would truly be miserable at a toddler's playgroup for the twins. I'm constantly planning different activities for each 'set' of kids. I hate this. It's hard to do and it sucks.

Hurry up end of August... 

I can't thank you enough...

to the one I still call "Daddy"... My protector and champion and the one I can count on for sound advice and loving support... I love you, Daddy!

and to my husband... the man whose arms and heart are always full. I love you Mark. I love you more everyday. You rock the house.

I hope everyone had a blessed Father's Day!

Blister in the Sun

New running shoes: $80

Pre-run nutrition bar and Gatorade: $2

Supporting brain-injured American soldiers in a local 5K run? $20

Watching Governor Rick Perry's tushie shake to and fro for 1 mile (that was as long as I could keep up with him): Priceless

Not that I like Rick Perry's tushie. Seriously. I'm a Democrat. I don't bat for the other team. But - it was a nicely shaped tushie. And he's definitely a runner. And I was kinda proud of myself for keeping up with him even if I couldn't do it once we turned east into the very, very hot morning sun.

By mile 2 I felt a burning sensation on both my heels.  Blister's were forming, but why look down and access the damage? There was nothing I could do at that point but run through the burn. That's what I get for switching from Brooks to Saucony. I never should'a worn a new brand pair of shoes on race day. Duh. 

I crossed the finish line at a poorly 31:13 absolutely drenched from head to toe. Did you see me on the news? I had a camera from K-EYE pointing at me as I finished. I'm sure I looked lovely. But still - given the heat and humidity and blisters, I've taken a deep breath and let that pathetic time go. I grabbed a fake HEB gatorade and a bottle of water and found myself a bench in the shade to check out my feet. Wow. So much for blisters. I had rubbed the skin completely off and had a nice covering of blood over the back of my new shoes (sorry...) I guess there is some truth to the idea that endorphins and adrenaline block out pain. Worked for me - until I got in the shower and the water hit it and it felt like tiny fires were being lit on both heels. Hail Mary Full of Grace the Lord is with Me... Fricka Fricka... OW Ow Ow OW!

I'll heal in time, but those brain-injury victims may never heal. They need all the support the community can muster together. This is why I plunk down $20 for each charity 5K race on weekend mornings. These races make the causes more real to me. I get a greater sense of satisfaction and feel like I am truly helping. And that's way cool.

Looks are so deceiving

You'd never know from this sweet photo that this girl is capable of throwing absolutely whopper-sized tantrums. In fact she's having one right now in her crib because *gasp* she woke up less than 5 minutes ago, and I'm not there to retrieve her. Aside from that, isn't the little blue, felt bird just darling?

Summer is here bringing with it all kinds of horrid changes to the babies' schedules. No longer are they up by 6:30am and down for a nice, 2 hour nap by 10am. They wake up sometime around 8:30am, but because of Jack's summer camp schedule, I can't get them down for nap until sometime after 1pm. They don't like this. By then, the over-tired, super-whiney, ultra-cranky, high-pitched demon monster 'tude kicks in and they won't sleep. It's terrible. I hate this. Hurry up August.

Oh - and on top of that, someone is jackhammering across the street. Yes, I said jackhammering. It started around 10am and hasn't stopped. It's loud. It's annoying. And I'm sure it's a contributer to L & L's lack of sleep. 

*growl* until next time... 

Fricka... Fricka...

"I'm out of time and I'll I've got is 4 minutes... Fricka... Fricka... Fricka ... Hey..." Let me just declare "4 Minutes" by Madonna and Justin Timberlake the theme song for CKU 2008. Oh my god. My 3 friends and I made quite the scene during the final crop of CKU with our rendition of "Fricka Frickas" as we sung unaccompanied to this song and others- mostly from the 70s.  And we weren't intoxicated. I swear.

Despite my many Fricka Frickas, I did manage to get some really cool things completed. Here's a little sample:

This is the opening page of the digital album I am currently scurrying about trying to finish. The theme, Beautiful Evidence, will highlight all the beautiful and cool things going on in my life and the life of my family right now.

I managed to complete this layout while laughing hysterically. No easy feat I tell you... 

And finally.. a picture with my idol, Ali Edwards. She rocks.

This is the Good Stuff

These are the moments that make changing diapers, dealing with high-pitched squeals, "grass-is-greener" complex, and temper tantrums worth it. Luke and Lucy absolutely love washing up in the kitchen sink after a tasty meal of 4-cheese ravioli (Luke is still wearing some on his chinny-chin-chin.) And don't worry - (for all you hyper-sensitive safety types), Daddy is just out of camera shot ready to catch a potential fall. Twin-hood is proving to be way cool. I highly recommend it.

Almost ready for CKU! I leave to go meet my idols late tomorrow morning. I just need to finish planning one more layout, download a font for my digital class, and pack up!  *mwah* to my gal pals. I can't wait!

Yesterday's Horoscope

"Concentrate on feeling positive and joyful instead of trying to sweat out all of the little details."

Luke and Lucy start school tomorrow. I'm so seriously nervous about this. I never hesitated starting Jack. He was 17 months when he started, and even though he cried at every single drop-off, he cheered up immediately and wound up loving school. With L & L, I'm more weary. How will nap time work? Will they eat their lunch? Will they be ok with someone else taking care of them for hours at a time somewhere other than their own home? Perhaps I should simply take my horoscope's advice and focus on making this a joyful transition rather than one filled with trepidation. 

Graduation

Jack and his best girl, Avery

Jack celebrated his past 3 years of pre-school last Thursday at his Pre-K graduation. Parents elbowed each other for the top spots for pictures up front while the kids performed "Bop 'til you Drop", and I cried big, fat alligator tears to the following poem:

"You were six months old and full of fun,

with the blink of my eye, you were suddenly one.

There were so many things we were going to do,

but I turned my head and you were two.

At two you were very dependent on me,

but independence took over when you turned three.

Your third birthday, another year I tried to ignore,

but when I lit the candles, there weren't three, but four!

Four was the year that you really strived.

Why, look at you now, you're already five!

Now you are ready for books and for rules.

This is the year that you go to school.

The big day came, you were anxious to go.

We walked to the bus, going oh, so slow.

As you climbed aboard and waved goodbye,

I felt a lump in my throat and tears stung my eyes.

Time goes so fast, it's hard to believe

that yesterday you were home here with me.

And tomorrow when the bus brings you home

and you jump to the ground,

You'll be wearing your cap and graduation gown.

So I'm holding to these moments as hard as I can,

because the next time I look,

I'll be seeing a grown man..."

~ Author Unknown

*sniff*sniff* dammit. There I go again.  This has been a week of changing tides. Yesterday my niece graduated from high school. She was only 3 when Mark and I met. And now, she's an adult - ready to head off to college. My own high school graduation still feels incredibly recent in my own mind, yet I earned my diploma 16 years ago. I feel like I'm in a Salvidor Dali painting where time is simply melting around me. I need to go and hug my big kid now before he falls asleep and wakes up as a 16-year-old.