Proud Parents... We Think?

Chris and I had to substitute "teach" in the boys' class last Sunday at church. They ended up combining 2 classes, so we had 10 toddlers ranging from 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 years old. It didn't take long for me to realize that teaching toddlers with a Christ-like manner is not my forte.

Because the boys have never been in any organized program like daycare or Mother's Day Out, I never really knew if they were well-behaved kids. Like every parent, I struggle with discipline and we have some good days and some really bad days. I never thought Matt and Will were "bad" kids, but I did not realize how well-behaved they were until I witnessed them in a group setting.

While the other boys were chasing each other, hitting, shoving, and tackling one another to the ground, Matt and Will were quietly entertaining themselves. When we read the Bible story, did our craft project, sang songs and prayed, Matt and Will sat, listened and participated. They did not cut in line, they did not interrupt, they did not wander off. For a moment I was incredibly proud of them, and then I came to a few realizations:
1. Matt and Will are shy. What looks like "well-behaved" to others could really just be timidness in an unfamiliar situation.
2. The worst offenders in the class were the older boys. Perhaps I just got a horrible glimpse of our future.
3. It may be a really good thing if we don't get Matt and Will into a preschool. I certainly don't need them picking up any more bad habits than the ones they already have.

Chris and I would normally leave the boys in their class for a second hour so we could attend church, but we were both ready to bolt. It's just too bad that at 9:30 on a Sunday morning you can't find a good margarita. We really could have used one.

In the Kitchen

I am so fortunate to be able to spend so much time at home with the boys. I wouldn't trade it for the world, because we get to do things like this.



















Lately the boys have been all about making their own breakfast. Today we made banana-blueberry-flax-bran muffins. I'd tell you they were scrumptious, but they didn't leave any leftovers for mommy. Note Will's overflowing batter in the photo below. He likes to try to fit all the batter in one spot.





















The final photo was taken by our budding photographer. Will loves taking pictures with our phones and cameras, and he's actually getting pretty good. He captured a great action shot of Chris and Matt. I only had a crop out half of the photo- Will's fingers.
If you're thinking to yourself what a lovely peaceful home we have, let me just tell you that things went downhill fast after muffin making. Don't let those innocent faces fool you.

Video

Blood!

It's no secret that Matt and Will have some crazy fears- dogs, cats, insects (especially flying ones), wind- just to name a few. I don't understand where these came from. We have 2 dogs for goodness sake! And wind? I don't even know what to say about that. But one thing they are not afraid of? Blood! They love it. They love to talk about it, see it, talk about it some more and then talk about it again.
Last week I listened to them on the monitor when they woke up. Here's the gist of the conversation.
Will: Will have bloody nose! Will have bloody nose! It's all over mine's shirt!
Matt: Matt want see! Matt want see!
Will: Matt see it?
Matt: No, Matt no see it? Will have bloody nose?
Will: Will have bloody nose! It's all over mine's shirt!
Matt: Matt see it?
Turns out there was no need to try to see Will's gore when Matt suffered the same fate. Then we had to call daddy to give him the news. I just love how thrilled Chris seems to be to get a call about a runny nose.

Just Like Mommy

I'd be a happy camper if I could wear turtlenecks 365 days a year, so it's a treat to see Matt and Will sporting them too. They were perfect for today's cold snap and kept them warm as they got in and out of the van to tour preschools. We checked out our 4th and 5th schools today and are hopeful that we'll get the boys into one of them. I'm still incredulous that they are actually going to be 3 years old next month.
As I was filling out the 4-page registration form today for our #1 choice in round 3, I came across questions like "when did your child begin to talk?" "and walk?" Ummmm, apparently this is when I should be able to turn to page 76 in my keepsake baby book and see that why sure, they started to talk at 14 months and 3 days. Right after they got their 6th tooth and ate organic peanut butter for the first time. I thought about putting "no clue, but they apparently picked it up somewhere- both can talk and walk!" Instead I'll just have to google the approximate age for talking and walking and go with that.

Is Anyone Out There?

In our house we've been stuck in the D&D phase of twin toddlerhood- demanding and destructive boys! Matt and Will do not ask for things, they shout commands. As in "mommy, I want milk RIGHT NOW!" In addition to this, they can also destroy a house in 2.2 seconds flat. I might need to start hiring them out as a demolition crew. Needless to say, we've been a little busy over the last few months. But for all the moments that I've been pulling my hair out (only the silver ones for now), we've had just as many hilariously funny times. Chris and I both agree that each month Matt and Will are even more fun than the last. So here are a few highlights off the top of my memory challenged head:
- We sing songs every night before bedtime. They're not sold on traditional lullabies, so right now the #1 requested song is "So What" by Pink. They know every word of the chorus.
- We took them to an alumni event last week and Matt insisted on bringing along "The Potty Book." In the middle of the video presentation, Will started flipping through the book and occasionally exclaiming, "he NAKED!"
- Their birthday has been a hot topic lately. Asked what they want for the big day, and they both respond "chocolate dobash cake." I guess they still have nightmares from their first birthday cake.
- We learned this week that it's really hard to get a child into the right preschool, much less two children. These boys could use a structured program, so we'll keep trying.
- Chris and I aren't much into big birthday celebrations for little kids, so we're going to take them somewhere special on their big day. They love to watch animals on TV (hunting shows are a favorite in our house) and read about them in books, but they are scared to death of animals in the flesh. I've even asked Matt if he'd like to go to the zoo. His reply? "Matt want to see little elephants. Matt don't like big elephants." And would Will like to go to the aquarium? "Will no like big fish. Will want to see little fish." Looks like we might be visiting a local pet store instead.
- My boys love to be naked. They spend entire mornings sans clothes and diapers working at the tool bench, reading books, having snacks. It's crazy butt apparently normal.

Top photo- Matt and Will modeling their new underwear. They rarely stay in them longer than 3 seconds.
Middle photo- Will and Matt on top of their Christmas gift. They don't actually play with trains on the train table. The first few weeks they discovered that they could take all the pieces apart. Since then, all the pieces have been glued and nailed down... twice!
Bottom photo- Matt on top of table apparently begging for animal crackers.