Blueberry Picking

We took the kiddos to pick blueberries last weekend. We got them up early (6:30am!) and took off to the blueberry patch.


This wasn't their first time to the pick blueberries. Last year, we strapped them in the Baby Bjorn's and picked. Needless to say, they weren't very thrilled with that and we didn't get very many berries.

But this year was a different story. We took their wagon and wheeled them out to the bushes. We let them pick the low hanging fruit while we picked. They each got their own bucket and thought they were big helps!

I was worried that they would be sick from eathing green berries but there were not any tummy upsets. We picked 9 pounds of berries! If they weighed R & C before & after we picked, we would have probably had to purchase another pound.

I made blueberry pancakes on Sunday morning. And a blueberry pie that was fabulous! I then froze the rest of them to use over the next few months. Lots of recipes with blueberries!

Summertime Fun

It's summer time indeed! The kiddos are enjoying spending alot of time in the water. And just being outdoors. Even though it is HOT! We've gone bike riding, swinging at the park or just for a walk early in the morning before it gets too sticky and hot.

C & R playing in the pool at Grandmama and Poppa's house

Reilly is really testing her limits with us. We have to tell her not to do something several times before she listens. More likely, she hears us all the time but chooses only to "listen" when she knows she's pushed us too far. Campbell listens pretty well most of the time. Of course, when you correct him or tell him no, he flails himself on the ground and throws a fit. I thought they were called the Terrible Two's - his tantrums started at 9 months!

Reilly playing with her baby doll

Funny story about Miss Reilly - I took her to church on Saturday evening by myself. She's the one that usually acts the best at church. But that was not the case this night! We made it through to the homily but that was it - she was wiggling away and starting to throw a fit. So I picked her up, the diaper bag and my purse and walk down the aisle to the back of the church. When I go to set her down, I realize that she had been holding my dress open and I was flashing my bra to the whole congregation. I was mortified!! Had I been somewhere else besides church, I may have just received a round of applause.

We toughed it out through the end of Mass at the back of the church but Reilly acted awful. I suppose that I jinxed myself by thinking that she would be the "good one" at church. Needless to say, it will probably be a while before I attempt that on my own again.

Looking over the gate

Campbell "smiling" for the camera

So I have a biter!!

Campbell has decided to start channeling his temper tantrums into biting his sister. Most of the time, poor Reilly is an innocent bystander. C has been throwing temper tantrums since he was about 9 months old. We really have been trying to ignore him but I guess he decided that was unacceptable. He now gets mad and immediately goes for the jugular.

We've tried biting him back - I honestly think that he started biting more after we did that. I've tried popping him on the hand, sternly telling him "NO", popped him on the mouth, harshly telling him "NO". Have I mentioned telling him "NO!"? To no avail! He bit me 4 times last night!

I realize that he's only 13 months old and it's so hard to determine if he understands reasoning. But he HAS TO realize that he cannot bite - Reilly, Momma or Daddy.

Any suggestions?

Be Careful HOW You Say It

As a general rule, Campbell takes toys from Reilly more than vice versa. And most of the time, Reilly lets him do it. She doesn't fight him or cry to get it back. If she does take it back, Campbell throws a temper tantrum about it.

But this time was a little different. Campbell took Reilly's cup from her. And she cried and looked at momma. I told her that she needed to get it back on her own. I said "You have to stand up for yourself" - my words exactly!

What does Reilly do? She takes the maracca that she has in her hand and starts to beat Campbell over the head with it! Not exactly what I meant by standing up for yourself, Reilly.

I took the weapon from her tiny hands and calmly gave her the cup back. Campbell then started to cry.

Such is the life....

Don't Use Wire Hangers

Reilly apparently has my personality and attitude. I've heard it for years and it's been wished upon me that I have "one that is just like you were". My parents got their wish, I'm afraid.

I needed to take a shower so I brought both babies into the bathroom with me. They were playing with their toys and not paying any attention to me at all. Reilly was walking by a bench that had a hanger sticking out from behind it - yep I should have noticed that prior to getting into the shower. I saw her glance at it and I just started to say to say something along the lines of "no Reilly" but she had blown by it without a care. Oh but I was wrong!

I was shampooing my hair when I heard the wire hanger banging on the shower glass. Apparently, she had seen the hanger AND noticed that I saw her do it. Judging from my reaction, she deduced that she wasn't supposed to have it so it was her goal to get it.

I simply got out of the shower, took the hanger from her and cursed my mother under my breath.

Intro to our life

We are a family of four! That's a statement that I never thought I'd get to say. After 6 years of trying to have a baby, we were blessed with twins in January 2009. A boy and a girl - they just turned a year old and the absolute light of our lives.

I suppose that this blog will be a diary of our journey with C & R. It's also a means for our family and friends to keep up with them to see them grow up and hear the crazy stories they create each day.