My How Things Have Changed!

When the twins were little, we would put them in the baby swing together.  I decided, now that they are 2 1/2 to see how they fit.

About 7 months old

About 7 months old

About 15 months old

2 years 8 months old

WHAT A CHANGE!

Amy

Way Back When-esday: Football Season 2009

When the twins were just about 2 1/2 months old I started taking pictures on opening day of our sports teams new seasons.  I haven't been good about lately, but here is the start to the Patriot's Season 2009.

September 20, 2009 Michael just 18months and Eva Rose and Thomas 8 1/2 months

I should get out the football shirts and do more pictures for 2011!

Amy

Makes My Monday: Where's Michael?

I went to check on the kids last night and what I saw was the following:

The twins were asleep in their bed

Michael's bed was empty

A little panic set in, but I kept reminding myself that he had to be in the house (even though I did check the window).  For the life of me, I couldn't figure out where Michael was.  I checked under the bed.  I tried to see if maybe he had gotten up and was out with daddy with out me knowing.  Then I checked the last place I could think of.

There he was, fast asleep in the toy box!

Amy

Toys, Toys, Toys!

School has started!  The weather is getting cooler. Christmas will be here before I know it.  I have actually started a list of things that I want for gifts for the kids.  This year, I am hoping that we don't wait to the last minute and end up not really getting the things we want.  I think I want to get some more car toys and some older doll house toys as well as some duplo blocks.  The twins are playing with some toy doll house pieces with EI and they seem to really like it.  I am also thinking that I want to get a few more dolls.  I had gone out looking for a Barbie doll for my daughter and even though I got so many thoughts about Barbie not being an issue for girls, when I looked them they were just so skanky and I couldn't spend $20 on a barbie for a 2 1/2 year old.  As I looked for something that I felt was more appropriate, I found a small doll that was bigger than a barbie, but still small enough for a 2 1/2 year old to carry around.  It came with a couple of changes of clothes that snap on to the doll and there are a few different dolls to choose from.  The kids love this doll and it was such a good choice.

Now, with Christmas approaching faster than I care to admit, I really need to weed through a lot of their toys and get rid of things that they wither don't want to play with, or that seem too young for them.  That way I can make room for new toys and hopefully keep a cleaner more organized house.

I am really looking for toys that are going to have a developmental benefit to the kids.  I am not crazed about the type of toys that they get, but I do want to make sure that they actually do stimulate some learning.  One of my goals is to also make a few gifts for them.  I am hoping that I can make some things to go along with toys that they will potentially get for Christmas.  A friend of mine made a great map quilt for her kids to play with their cars.  I am thinking of something like that, or maybe even just a simple case for the kids to carry their cars in.  I want to make a doll or 2 or 3, their quilts, and on and on and on.  I have way to many thoughts and not enough time to complete them.  I am hoping to have a few travel projects so that I can take them with me, for example when there is down time at work.  Right now, I need to utilize what ever time I can find to complete my projects!

Amy

New Camera

I have been wanting a new point and shoot camera for some time now.  I have a really nice little olympus, but it is literally a  point and shoot.  There is nothing creative that you can do with the camera only after the picture is taken.  That being said,  as much as I love to think of my self as really creative and a photographer, I know that I am such an amateur when it comes to creating and taking creative photos.  I now have 4 digital cameras and 1 film camera.  When I bought my first SLR film camera, I decided to get a Canon Elan 2E.  My husband was into Canon's and a friend of mine also recommended Canon's.  I then moved on to a 7E, also film.  Later I got a very cheap Canon that did me well, but it was sloooowwww!  My husband bought me one of the first Canon Rebels SLR.  I then went on to buy a 20D SLR.  After My older son was born, I decided I needed a new point and shoot and bought the Olympus.  3 1/2 years later it is still going strong, but I wanted something that I could do more with the settings of the camera.  This weekend I was at a wedding and was talking to a table mate that my husband had worked with and he recommended the Canon s95.  The next day, I went out to the camera store with my husband and bought it.  I really didn't want to spend the money, but I really liked the camera.  We took the kids to the park and I played with the camera while they played at the park.  The best part was that I actually used the manual setting and never once used the programmable settings that I had always found myself using.  These are just a few of the pictures I've taken since yesterday!

Michael

Eva Rose

Thomas

Michael, Daddy, and Thomas

Rose at the park on Macro setting

Thomas

Michael and Thomas

Eva Rose

3 across in the car

Playing in the driver's seat

Michael

Oh, and I played with taking black and white, sepia, and color photos too!  I had lots of fun with my new toy and got to get some cute pictures of the kids!  Now I just need to learn more about photography and take better pictures!

Amy

Summer Pictures!!!!!!

It's Labor Day, the unofficial end to summer.  Although I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my family this summer, I am ready to have fall here.  I am not a hot weather person and am really looking forward to fall.  I am also looking forward to having a schedule again.  We have really been kind of flying by the seat of our pants with our schedule.  The only real schedule we had was Michael going to school the month of July, but after that, we just did what ever we felt like.  As wonderful as it was to not really have to do anything at any specific time, I am really looking forward to being on a routine.  We really did much more, but these are just a few of our pictures from the summer.

Tomorrow, the twins start a drop off group at EI and then we have orientation for Michael in the afternoon.  Wednesday, Michael starts pre-school every day for 5 hours.  It sounds like a lot, but he handles it so well and I really think he has benefitted from this extra school time!  I am trying to set up play dates for the twins.  I am thinking that it will help them socialize and maybe even learn to talk more! 

Michael Kennebunk Beach

Eva Rose Kennebunk Beach

Thomas Kennebunk Beach

Swinging in big kid swings

Thomas in the fire truck at touch a truck

Eva Rose in the fire truck at touch a truck

Michael in the fire truck at touch a truck

Hurricane Irene (thankfully we missed a lot of damage.  These were boats in Swampscott Beach) 

Date night at Fenway Park

Hiking in Breakheart Reservation after Eva Rose fell and went to the ER for stitches

Eva Rose after stitches

Swinging after stitches

Our newest baby cousin, Hannah

It's been a busy summer!

Amy