Carpe Rain

otherwise entitled "Things That Wouldn't Happen if The Clean One Daddy Was Home."


It's the Tuesday before Christmas. I promised Owen we would play outside when we got home from errands, but then it started raining, and when it stopped, it was nap time. I LOVE nap time.

Maybe it's because I finally got to the bottom of my laundry hamper and I can handle a few more dirty clothes. Maybe it's just the magic of the season. But whatever it is, sometimes it's just nice to take a break from being a mom, and take time to be a kid. And to see sheer joy in my childrens' eyes.

"Look Lilly, another puddle!"

And now it's practice time for my Idol audition.

And bow.

And now the twins are down for a late nap, Baby Ginger is awake from her nap, and I've got a disaster of a house to clean, and naughty dogs to beat.

Christmastime

If you come to our house in the near future, you will likely be asked by self-named "santa Owie" to sit in his lap. He is always wearing his santa hat, and often has ornaments swiped from our Christmas tree, hidden in it. After he asks you what you want for Christmas, he will remove his hat and give you a gift, usually a candy-cane ornament, or for Lilly, her purse-ornament, since that's what she usually asks for. After you have sat in his lap, he will often invite you to ride in his sleigh (aka Pauls arm chair) and let you ride into the sky with his reindeer. I asked his teacher at school, Ms Debbie, if he asked her to sit in his lap, and she said "oh yes!". I know in a few years this will probably be inappropriate, but right now it is really stinking cute! If Owen doesn't grow up to be a rock star, he will surely find employment at the neighborhood mall come winter.



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The twins day school had a Christmas program last Thursday morning. You would have thought Celine Dion was in town the way that Sanctuary was packed in the middle of the day to see all those kids. It was so sweet, and I have to say, my kids totally rocked it. I know the picture is blurry, but those are MY kids dancing and singing like they're supposed to. Oh yes, my kids know how to sing and dance, and I was a proud momma that day! I was in tears by the time the kindergartners did their part...many of them had solos and there is nothing more adorable than a 5 yr old singing a solo in a Christmas program.

Wow! One week until Christmas! It has been an incredible month! I think this has been my favorite Christmas in a long, long time. I love how the twins are SO excited about everything. They love the music, the tree, the lights, the ornaments, the cookies, everything! They really don't go into stores that often, I usually try to go alone. Anyways, last Saturday, I decided to take Owen with me to Target and Kroger ( a 4 hour trip when you're with me). We had some great mommy-son time, and he was in awe of everything he saw. I love seeing everything from his eyes, it's all so new and fun!

Before we left, I wondered out loud to Paul how Owen would be with just me. Paul remarked that he'd probably surprise me by being really quiet and calm - he's really LOUD most of the time. Well, from the moment we left the driveway, that kid never stopped talking. It's hard to have a voice in this loud house sometimes, so I think he decided to take advantage of it. He was a good, sweet boy and I really enjoyed all of our "conversations", and he was definitely ready for a nap by the time we got home. He mentioned Daddy, Lilly, and Baby Ginger several times while we were gone, and even said he missed them. I don't know why it's so hard to get away with just one child, but it rarely happens around here. I hope it happens more often.

Surfacing.

Wow! Where did November go...did you see it? Life is great in the Brown Household. Christmas is in the air and I am loving every bit of it. This is the first year that the twins kind of understand what is going on, and seeing the fun and magic of the season through a child's eyes just makes me so happy, and reminds me what it is all about.

We have seen the man with the red hat - couldn't get Owen off his lap. We have the tree up, we've seen the pretty lights, we've had our candy canes, I've started on my baking, we had a snowy day, life is good! Tomorrow the kids have their Christmas program at school. I'm hoping to be able to post a video of their "performance" later in the week.

We got all dressed up and the whole family went in to get a family shot since Ginger was having her 6 month pictures done. Paul took some shots of the kids in front of the tree, they turned out great!

My happy girl!

Handsome Buddy!

Big Sister Big Brother

My Big Girl loves her new dress!

Oh, and what did they ask Santa for? Well I don't think they actually spoke to him (Owen was just starstruck). But, Lilly tells me Santa is bringing her princess gloves, and magic wand (old one broke), and just recently added a crown to the list. Owen is still hoping for a candy cane and "toys." I love my kids :)

Halloween!

My little "Ginger"bread girl

The kids had a fun Halloween! We went to the inlaws since they live in a neighborhood conducive to trick-or-treating, and we don't. The old people spoiled them rotten so by the time we hit about 5 houses, we called it a night. Luckily our tots don't know any better. I think the trio looked pretty darn cute. Lilly refused to wear her tutu, I'm not sure why. She has a ballet book she loves, and all the girls in it don't wear tutus, just leotard and tights, so I think that's where it's coming from. I thought she would go nuts when I bought her a big frilly bright pink tutu, but I think she's worn it a total of about 2 minutes, oh well.

We had our first mommy and me ballet class on Halloween as well. It was fun and cute to see all the little ones. I had to snicker at the one mommy who actually showed up in her own ballet gear, but she was actually pretty good at all the moves, so maybe I shouldn't laugh. Lilly has been working on first position, where you put your heels together...this is pretty tricky for a 2 yr old, so it's pretty cute to watch her try and get those heels together.

The twins have started conversing with each other just recently, and I love hearing their "conversations." They go mostly like this:

Lilly: "Nice shirt Owen"
Owen: "Thank you"
Lilly: "You're welcome"

Lilly: "Ummmm...strawberries, I love strawberries! Do you like strawberries Owen?"
Owen: "uh huh"



We are headed to Dallas this weekend to see friends and my parents. Planning a big trip to the zoo, should be great weather and lots of fun!

Thanks for the comments, ladies....I was feeling a little needy I guess :)

Loving Fall!

We have been having a great couple of weeks around here! Enjoying the weather and lots of things to do! This picture above is of us before we took Lilly & Owen to their open house at the "school" they go to on Tuesdays. Paul got to meet their teachers and see where they go to school. I think the kids had fun showing daddy around. We got dressed up and went to dinner first while Baby Ginger stayed home. It was a fun evening!



These pictures are totally out of order, sorry. Today Paul and the twins carved their jack-o-lantern. This is the first time we've done this with the kids, they had fun. Actually I don't remember the last time we ever had a jack-o-lantern...we don't get trick-or-treaters where we live but it's fun for the kids. Owen wanted a scary face on the jack-o-lanter, and Lilly wanted a happy face....so Paul came up with this.

I got the kids some popcorn balls from the store, that was definitely a hit. We sat outside and enjoyed the morning while Daddy mowed.

I impromptu-ly (not a word, huh) gave Baby Ginger her first food yesterday! I saw these things at the store that I used to give Lilly & Owen. They are called Baby Mum Mums - they are rice rusks that dissolve very easily in your mouth. Ginger gummed on it and had a FIT when I tried to take it from her to adjust it in her hand. She loved it I think and in fact I gave her another one today which she polished off as well. Traditionally most pediatricians want you to wait until babies are 6 months old to start solids. Ginger is almost 5 months but I think she's ready for a little something more. I bought the rice cereal and baby oatmeal at the store today, so I think we'll start having a little fun with that. I'm pretty sure Ginger's gonna wonder why we've been holding out on her once she start's solids!

This is Owen and Miss Debbie, his teacher. Such a sweet picture! We love Miss Debbie!

These adorable pumpkins were a gift from Paul's parents' neighbors at their summer cottage in New York. Janet and John love the kids and have got to see the twins each summer for a few weeks for the past 3 summers. They have a huge garden which I love to wander in when I'm there. They carved these names into the pumpkins when they were still green, and this is how they turned out. Unfortunately, Baby Ginger's pumpkin didn't make it... The kids had lots of fun picking (not ripe) apples from Janet and John's apple trees this summer. Janet kept telling them they were going to get a stomach ache from eating unripe apples, but it didn't phase them.

Paul's company had their annual BBQ cook off last weekend. We got to go on Saturday and enjoy the fruits of their labor. My kids love BBQ, especially ribs. I'm pretty sure that Owen thinks this is what Daddy is doing when he goes to work now..making BBQ. He mentioned it more than once this week when we mentioned Daddy being at work...

Fingers or toes, fingers or toes. My big girl is loving putting everything in her mouth now!


In other news, I survived (with much help) 3 days and nights without Paul last week. This was the first time he's had to be gone since Ginger was born. I have to say it went much better than expected. Thankfully Aunt LaLa, and Gma and Gpa Brown each took a night to help get everyone fed and to bed, so I was really only alone on my own one night. Even so, it really makes you appreciate what single moms or moms who's hubbys are deployed or gone a lot, must go through. I am very thankful Paul is rarely gone for work!

We have lots of fun planned this week, and of course, are looking forward to Halloween! The kids get to wear their costumes to school and to story time this week, so it should be lots of fun. Oh, and I can't wait to post pics of Baby Ginger's costume next week....SO ADORABLE! Can you guess what she's going to be???? We did a trial run yesterday and there were many tears so hopefully she will be happier next time around!

That's whats going on with the Browns. So I hate to beg, but I will...haha. If you are reading my blog, leave me a comment! I'm not too good about leaving comments on other people's blog either, but it sure makes you feel good to know someone besides the grandparents (no offense) are reading it :)

Say it with pictures...

Typical weekday morning...my kids LOVE dressing up, and I think it's great too!

I've been catching Owen being sweet on Baby Ginger quite a bit lately, it's so sweet. He wanted to hold her the other night...

We have MUCH sibling rivalry over these heels.

Made Lilly and her friend matching "pillowcase" dresses. They turned out really cute...after ripping out many, many seams. Next ones will be a cinch. Lilly put it on, said it was pretty, then said she wanted a purple one instead.

Ms mellow Baby Ginger, always happy as long as the scenery is changing..wonder where she gets that from?

Owen created his cowboy outfit all by himself. Took me a few days to realize Lilly's easter hat was his cowboy hat..until he asked me to take the ribbons off his cowboy hat...oh. And those would be his cowboy pants...aka mouse costume pants. Don't worry, I made him a REAL cowboy outfit since, that he loves! Still wearing that easter hat though...

Heard Owen yelling from the dining room "I'm a cheerleader!" No idea where he picked that up from but I love his creativitiy!

Funny girl with her funnies

A great big bro.

Grape stomping at the Montgomery food and wine festival...no food or wine for us, just hot, and the grapes felt great on my feet. If it was 20 degrees cooler and we didn't have 3 kids with us..oh what a day!

Train ride at the wine festival.

BABY GINGER!

Activity has picked up in our household. We just re-joined the YMCA and are having fun going there during the week. I like the exercise and the kids are doing pretty well in the child watch - I think they like getting out of the house too. I signed Lilly and I up for a mommy & me ballet class so we're looking forward to that! She literally screamed out of joy when I told her about it!

The twins are doing good at school and Owen is taking it much better and I think he really likes it because he really doesn't put up much of a fight anymore and it is short-lived.

We are still doing good on our no TV thing and getting stuff done. We do watch some TV, but don't have cable and it is probably only on a few nights a week, usually the weekend. I've been sewing, cleaning out closets and cabinets, and working on a long-overdue photo album. I haven't done a photo album since the twins were born...or really ever :( I decided doing it on Shutterfly was the way to go and am making progress. Hopefully I'll get caught up until now, and then I can be better about putting new pictures in regularly, rather than scrounging for three years worth of digital photos.

We've moved Ginger from our room into her crib finally, and she seems to be sleeping a little better, although definitely not great. She is still up SEVERAL times a night but this too shall pass. I end up sleeping in the bed in her room, but Paul at least is getting great sleep now! That's OK because he lets me sleep in every weekend :)

Ginger had her 4 month appointment last week and she is 26 inches long...that's the 95% for height! Guess she is going to take after her Daddy. She is doing great and big and healthy. She really is a mellow baby and pretty happy most of the time. I've figured out that she likes to see what's going on...one of those girls who doesn't want to miss anything. As long as she has something to watch, she's pretty happy. I plop her down on the floor for the twin's story time at the library and she is happy as can be watching everything going on.

We are doing great, and still waiting on that fall weather...grrr...It was 97 with a heat index of 104 today...so much for my plans to make banana bread....just doesn't feel right!