Word of the Week

is CUP.

I will take "up" or "jus" or "meelk."

Just not "ahhhhheeehhhhhaaaa"

Twins typically run a higher risk of needing speech therapy. Boy twins run even a higher risk of needing therapy. Ever since I read this right about the time they were born, I have been very observant and concerned about their speech development. (Well, really I have been concerned about all the stats since we were born a little petite...) Each time we visit the Dr. I ask about it.

This time we went for a visit he was finally concerned.He suggested we start with the really familiar words from day to day life starting with cup. I think next week we will choose a word with b,d,m,-earlier developed sounds.

So for the next few months we will continue Mommy's Language Lab. If things are still progressing at this speed we will begin therapy at 2. After many years in the education world, I know how important this is to their academic and social success. We will continue to be very proactive in our interventions and patient for the right time for these words to start flowing.

CUP MUCH?

* We have pics of their cups taped up around the house*

*Cups are integrated in all of our "centers." I hid them in the playroom, SOLO cups in the sand table and Bathtub, ect. *

*Lots of discussion of Mommy's cup, Daddy's cup, Dylan's cup, Brody's cup...*

*A special treat of Hot Wheels when the word is spoken!*

*Lots of playtime with our Big Kid friends!*

*What other suggestions do you have?

**************

Most importantly, they were made in HIS IMAGE

and are absolutely PERFECT in my eyes!

Funcation Pt. 2: San Antonio, watch out, Here we come!

VIVA SAN ANTONIO!

We had a wonderful time doing all things San Antonio!

We stayed at the Gunter Hotel right across from the Majestic Theatre. I was sad there wasn't anything playing right then. Everyone was EXTREMELY nice and helpful. We got an AWESOME corner room on the 11th floor. It was bigger (so there was lots of extra room for 2 pack and plays and room to play) and it was at the end of the hall so we didn't disturb too many folks. We looked right out to Houston St. and were in great walking distance to the Children's Museum, Riverwalk, and Alamo. Just Perfect!

We ate our way through the town...

We had breakfast at the Gunther House. Michael and I love the Gunther House! I wish I could have had lunch there, too. I love the Chicken Salad! We ate at one of Michael and I's other San Antonio favorites La Paloma Blanca . It has a fabulous tres' leche cake-Michael's FAVE! We met one of my dearest college friends, Jill and her hubby Justin at one of their local faves El Chaparral. So Yummy!!!! If you can't tell, we tried to eat Mexican at almost every meal. Hey, it is a FUNCATION. No waistline worries. We had a few more places we never made it too.

A Ride on the River

The Today show was filming down there the morning we rode. They had the boats decorated and we rode by the taping finishing. The slight hum of the boats had Brody out within 5 min and Dylan snoozed the last 15 min. The FUNCATION had worn them out!


The boys favorite thing we did outside of Sea World was the Children's Museum.

They had lots of fun being "independent" (That is a BIG deal for them right now.) and getting to explore the different exhibits. Their favorite stop (and mine when I was a kid) was the grocery store. STAY OUT of their way because nothing was going to stop their shopping carts.



We quickly shopped around at La Cantera and hopped back on the road. Mommy would have liked more time to look and shop, but the boys overruled. I did squeeze in some time at Sephora for some new makeup!

Great Funcation! Everyone had lots of fun and we are ready to go back again!

Funcation Pt. 1: Time to SEA the WORLD

Let the Funcation Begin!

We drove down to Sea World in San Antonio. Our first day was spent enjoying all the things that don't require a swimsuit.

The boys loved the pit of blocks.
2 of their favorite things for sure.

They love to dogpile anything right now.

We sat in the splash zone at the Shamu show. I didn't expect to get wet...but expect the unexpected with Shamu and friends. Brody and I:SOAKED but Michael and Dylan didn't even get a drop. The water was salty and nasty. Brody was having his "popcorn" while he watched the show. He had his rice cake ready to go when we got splashed. You would think a saltwater soaked rice cake would be discarded, but my boys leave no food untouched. G-ross!


Their favorite time was time spent in the WATER!

This was their most favorite part of all of Sea World.

No fear.

They ran all around this area, ran right up to all the water, and stuck their faces in it. I wish I could have captured their little expressions. The first second was a moment of surprise and then lots of laughter!

After 2 days of Sea World...

Funcation Part 2: San Antonio up next

The Quiz Show

How many boys do you see?

More from the 1st Annual Funcation coming soon!

I miss before

Before Kids...

* I miss the clothing budget-shoes, make-up, nice clothes.

* I miss the cute little body all those nice clothes went on.

* I miss all the extra time I had.

* I miss the freedom.

Before Birth...

20 wks

28 wks

36 wks...8 days to go

* I miss the 2 excuses I had for having a belly.

* I miss knowing they were fed and rocked to sleep in the safest place ever.

* I miss the endless supply of clothing and diapers from sweet friends.

Before Toddlers...

* I miss the hours of cuddles.

* I miss the naps together.

* I miss the free meals for the boys.

* I miss the boo-boo free heads and knees.

But now I love...

* I love the hugs and kisses.

* I love the sweet singing and precious words.

* I love the awesome dance moves.

* I love Dylan.

*I love Brody.

*I love Daddy.

Extreme Makeover: Blog Edition

It's Coming Soon courtesy of Red Bud Designs.

I Heart SYTYCD!

I love it, love it, love it!

This year has lived up to all my expectations and more!

My favorite dances this season so far have been...

1. The Addiction piece with Kayla and Kupono

2. Cancer piece with Ade and Melissa

Any Fans...Your Faves?

Hot off the Grill

Summertime is when I love to live, play, and cook outside.

I was tired of all my indoor recipes so Michael and I spent a week having all meals "a la grill!"

This Disney fave became one of my faves:

Roasted Tomatoes

Stuffed with Grilled Ratatouille

Ingredients:

4 large tomatoes

Ratatouille

1 med. red onion-cut crosswise into 1/3 " slices

1 med. red bell pepper-cut into flat pieces

1 med. zucchini-cut lengthwise in 1/3" slices

EVOO

black pepper

2/3 c grated mozzarella

1tbs freshly chopped basil

1ts balsamic vinegar

1. Prepare the tomatoes:

Cut 1/2 " slice off the top and cut round the fleshy inside. Scoop out the flesh leaving about 1/2" border of tomato goodies. Lightly salt the inside, turn them upside down to rest on a paper-towel lined plate.

2. Grab your "Little Chef" and put him under your hat. It is time to prep the Ratatouille!

Brush the onions, peppers, and zucchini with your EVOO. Salt and Pepper to taste.

Place the yummies on the grill over Direct Med. Heat for 8-12 min.

Once the are kissed by the fire, cut into 1/3" pieces. Add the veggies to a bowl with the cheese, basil, and vinegar. Give it a good mix.

Spoon Ratatouille into tomatoes.

3. Grill tomatoes over Indirect Med. heat for 8-12 min. until the cheese is melted.

Voila!

Little Chef Returns with a delish summer dish!

Mama's In and Out List

Brody and Mama

Dylan and Mama



The boys are now 17 months old! Yikes!! I am loving this stage for a lot of reasons: napping (finally!!!) independence, family outings, their personalities are developing more and more...I could go on forever. Personally-because of these things I am begininng to find myself outside of mama again and it is nice after being on hiatus for 2 years.

What's IN

* Hot Wheels

* Books

* PUZZLES!

* "Shu, SHHHu" Shoes!

* coloring

* building with blocks and clipos

* climbing and wrestling

* hugs and kisses ...and fighting and hitting :(

* balls

* riding toys

* singing and dancing

What's OUT

* soft spout sippy cups

* size 3 shoes

*12-18 mo. clothes

*crawling

Brody's Top 5:

Food: Broccoli and Cauliflower

Object: Snack Cups

Activity: Yo Gabba Gabba Dances

Song: If you're Happy and You Know it

Special Talent: The best straight line throw out there

Dylan's Top 5:

Food:Fruit-lots and lots of it

Object: Shu, Shu, Shu...Shoes!

Activity: Petting Zeke

Song: I've Been Working on the Railroad

Special Talent: a puzzle wiz

It has taken us a while to catch up with our weight and size, but I feel we are rounding the corner!

While the Cat is Away

these mice will play!

Let the games BEGIN!

Brody dumped his blocks out and brought his tub to the living room. Very proud!

In our house-Monkey See, Monkey Do.

So Dylan had to have a tub, too.But as the saying goes...

The grass is always greener on the other side.

Dylan is going to try out Brody's tub.

But it is a little crowded in there.

SO back to their own spaces. It is time for f-u-n.

Cause we are living in an Complicated world

And I am a complicated girl.

BPA Free, Organic, Nitrate-Free, No High Corn Fructose Syrup...

My head spins and my brain hurts trying to stay on top of these things and keep my boys healthy.

(Bad pic of mommy and sweet pic of Brody)

(Dylan and Mommy)

Someone please pass the aspirin b/c the headache grows as I am very limited to my resources living in a small town.

Wish our town had this...

or this...

and I had some more of this.

This is one of those reasons why I HATE grocery shopping!!!

How do you eat healthy and on a budget?

So Not Cool

I wish you could still blog without a picture. It takes so much time to upload the pics and that is one thing I don't have a lot of these days. So I am going to be uncool for the 1st time in my life (ha!) and blog without a pic.

Summer is on us-hot, sweaty days! The boys and I are having a great time. It took us awhile to get off the school schedule and make a new one. I have got to have a schedule. I am a teacher and that is really the only way I know how to function.

Everyone has been healthy-Yea! Only the minor accidents from Dylan-of course. He is my little dare devil- no fear. He actually has had these bumps on his face for almost 2 weeks. The Dr. thinks its drool, but it is around his eyes and forehead too. I don't think he is drooling up there. I am suspicious of the sunscreen. We have used Water Babies. Any other suggestions for the sensitive skin?

We are about to try cows milk. I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo tired of buying formula and I have slowly been introducing the dairy products into our diet again. I am praying this is something we have almost grown out of. At 20 bucks a can every 5 days it is an expensive allergy. MOOOOOve over Soy there's a new Cow in town.

Goals for the summer:
*Clean out closet and get rid of all clothes that will never fit again. It is time.
*Language Lab-The boys really need to be adding more vocabulary to their books. I have read that male twins have language delays and I have been very conscience of this. Not to mention that teaching background. We do communicate non-verbally and in "twin speak." However, Mommy is trying to stress the importance of using verbal language to communicate our needs.
*Could I please, please, please, please lose these last 10 lbs? I go to the gym at least 3 days a week, eat healthy (minus those weak moments with the chocolate chip cookies-dang it!), and it will not budge. I am soooo FRUSTRATED with this post baby bod I could SCREAM. I have lots of leftover skin from the glory days of stretching beyond belief. maybe it weighs 10 lbs????
*Get my garden in order.
*Read more than a magazine. I already have 2 books under my belt.
*Blog more. I have crossed over to the dark side and Facebook a lot. But, I have neglected the blog. I set this goal a lot and always come up short.

Hope I can be back on the So Cool list soon.