Embracing Life

Last night, during dinner, I asked the kids how school was. Connor:  I can't know. Colin:  Good! Keira:  I play and nap and have lunch and toast (breakfast) and have snack and go potty and wash hands and get m n m (reward for going potty) and wear my underwear and wake up from nap and turn on lights and sing songs. At least I get information from one of them. Last chance to enter my giveaway - it ends tonight! It's been quite awhile, but I thought I'd do a blog hop and meet some new people!

Forgive me for using an old picture, but it fits with the post about happiness..... Connor, 1 day old Last night at dinner, we were enjoying some of Aunt Diana's banana chocolate chip cookies.  I finished mine first, and Connor asked what happened to my cookie.  Me: It's in my tummy.  Connor: But that is where Keira and Colin were, remember?  Me: That's right, Keira and Colin were in my tummy together. Connor: But I was there first, right? I am your first baby. Me: Yes baby, you are my first baby. This conversation makes me tear up a little, both from joy and sadness.  Joy as I remember the tiny little baby that I held so preciously in my arms four and a half years ago.  Sadness as I think to next fall when my first baby starts kindergarten.  Where has the time gone?  Where is my little baby?  Ah yes, he has grown into the sweet "big" boy, who still loves to give his mommy a kiss on the nose before bed, enjoys...

Yesterday I took the twins on a playdate.  It was the first time with this particular family, so before we left, I said to the twins, "Listen to me, remember....." and I listed out some good behavior reminders.  They are only 2.5 so I wasn't sure how much would actually stick. Last night, the twins were in bed.  I heard Keira say, "Colin. Listen to my words. Ok guys? Don't stand on my bed. You hear me?" I have to say, she sounded a lot stricter than I did. Don't forget to check out my giveaway !

A couple of weeks ago, Purex sent me a bottle of their new Purex Complete Crystals Softener to try.  I was a little leery because I have never used a softener before, and wasn't sure what to expect.  Well let me tell you.... I love it!  I love the smell of our towels, even a day after they've first been used.  Purex Complete Crystals Softener is even safe to use on kids' clothing, which I think is awesome because I do at least one load of laundry a day for those cute little monsters of mine. Now here's the part you've all been waiting for... the giveaway!  As a Purex Insider, I received 3 coupons to give away to 3 lucky readers! They are for a FREE 28 oz bottle of Purex Complete Crystals - $5.50 retail value! Entering is easy - Become a follower of this blog or subscribe through to this blog through Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs and leave a comment that you are doing so below (if you already follow/subscribe, just tell me ...

I was just given the honor of my first blog award, from my good friend Tima !  Thank you!!! But wait, there are rules to this award.  I thought it was just something pretty and shiny I could put on my sidebar, but I've actually got to do some work to keep it! ;) Rule #1:  Thank my giver.  Stop on over at Living in Dar  and see what great book Tima is reading or just to enjoy the pretty pictures of Dar. Rule #2: Share 7 things the readers might not know about me.  Let's see...... I was my high school's valedictorian. I majored in college in deaf education, but junior year changed to history.  Ended up getting my M.A. I have a mark on my back in the shape of an "S", it popped up sometime when I was in grade school.  Kind of weird, since my name is Sarah....... I hate to exercise, or do any sort of activity that leads to sweating, but I am signed up for a 5K in May. Weird things happen to me - I got attacked by a goose one time on cam...

Napping on a pile of clean laundry Our cat, Mina, (named after Mina Harker - anyone know who she is?) loves to nap in the most bizarre places.  Lately, she can be found sleeping on our DVR box or on the couch if there is a laundry basket that might be overflowing with unfolded clothes (not like that would ever happen in my house!) on it.

That I would get "new mom's tendonitis" (de Quervain's tenosynovitis) 2 and a half years after the babies were born. Treatment: Steroid shot in thumb - check Immobolizing wrist splint - check Physical Therapy - next week Frustration with not being able to do simple things with my dominant hand - check Getting out of doing household chores and bathtime - CHECK!

Happiness is taking your kids to a place filled with bouncy things..... And having just as much fun as your kids did!

Come on kids, let's take a picture in your St. Patrick's Day shirts! Obviously, the photo shoot did not go well.  I don't know where their pants are.  Apparently let's take a picture translates to take off most of your clothes and put on random footwear. And yes, that is a plastic bag on Keira's foot.  When asked why she is wearing it, she responded with, "Because I wear a bag on my foot."  Thanks for clearing that up.

Remember when you could just lock your kids up in a crib or rocker or something and go on with your day???   Since the twins moved from cribs to toddler beds (about a month ago), this is no longer an option.  There is nowhere to lock them up  place them out of harm's way.  This is our typical night: Children jumping on the bed. No jumping on the bed. Children jumping faster on the bed before Mommy gets to them. They jump off the bed and run away. Chasing them, pjs in hand. Hold one down, change the diaper of a screaming child, who is upset she can no longer run around. That one gets up, runs back to the bed, jumps again. The other one is perched precariously on the edge of the bed, reaching onto the dresser to turn off the lamp. Because this is so much more fun in the dark. One child has her pajamas on, one child is naked. The clothed child takes off her pants because she doesn't want Dora, she wants Tinkerbell. Suddenly she has to go p...

It's Fat Tuesday, so I've got my beads on.  And not just any old beads, but ones that came directly from New Orleams.  (For the record, I didn't get them the old-fashioned way one gets beads in New Orleans.  I'm just saying...) It's not just the beads, it's the city.  It's the sense of calm I get when I think of a place, so far away from me.  It's the quiet that comes when I picture myself sitting at the Cafe du Monde, having beignets and cafe au lait.  It's the memory of Keith and I trekking to the water's edge early one morning to watch the sunrise.  It's the total happiness I feel when I'm having a bad day, and imagine that I'm really sitting here:

My blog has been suffering the past few weeks - but hopefully that will change and everyone will stay healthy and I will win the lottery.  Although 2 out of 3 would be okay too.... ;) Conversations this week include: Keira-isms: To her teacher: "My mommy is so happy when I go potty on the potty chair!" Me: I don't want to see a note from Miss Connie tomorrow saying you were not nice to your brother. Keira: Ok, Miss Lisa send a note! I burp in my butt. (when she passes gas) I tooted (when she burps) Connor-isms: (I can't believe I am writing this out for the world to see.) After getting over a horrible case of the stomach flu, Connor told me he had to go to the bathroom.  He called me in the room with excitement, told me to close my eyes, then told me to open them. Ta-Da!  Look Mommy! I got my old poop back! Colin-isms: Daddy tell me no fruity pebbles.  (as we were trying to leave for school, and Colin decided he just had to have a bowl...

Three years ago today, I was giddy with the excitement of finding out whether my second pregnancy would bless us with a boy or a girl.  Anxiously I lay on the table, waiting for the tech to get a good view of the baby.  My husband stood by my side, and my mother sat on a chair across the room.  I still remember, with a flutter in my heart, looking at the screen and seeing that something was not quite right.  What were those two round things, floating on the screen?  Even I knew that wasn't what a normal ultrasound should look like. A moment later, the ultrasound tech spoke those heart-stopping words: There are the two heads . Of course, she didn't mean I was having a two-headed baby (although, in the panic, the thought spent a fleeting moment in my mind.)  Rather, it was our first introduction to the lives of twins. Two heads.              Two babies.      ...

....... fondue, and strawberries, and date night, and time spent playing skee ball with my husband.