Boston

Yesterday, it was a week since the bombings at the Marathon. My husband and I have gone to the Boston Marathon for years, and then we had kids and haven't gone since.  Our favorite spot to stand and watch and cheer on the runners was just as the runners come out of the bridge on Comm Ave.  After the elite runners come by, we would wander over to the finish line on Boylston St.  This year the kids are 4 and 5 and as we were watching the marathon on TV we talked about when we could go back in to Boston and watch.  I actually had mentioned going in to Boston later in the afternoon and just hang around with the kids.  We ended up watching it on TV and hanging out at home.  Later that afternoon, I got an alert on my phone about an explosion in Boston.  I didn't think anything of it thinking it was something little, not realizing that the explosion was actually 2 homemade bombs that had exploded near the finish line.

Once I realized that it was actually a bombing and not an accidental explosion, my husband and I were glued to the TV.  As the week went on and we got more info, it became more and more emotional for me.  Anytime I heard something or saw something on the TV, I would cry.  I would think about how we always went to the marathon and how we were always in that area at the times the bombs went off. I would think about how I wanted to head into Boston later the day the bombs exploded and how horrible it could have been.  I would think about the people who died because of the crazy people who put bombs at this wonderful international event.  I would think about the injured and those that either ran the race or were spectators at the race and how this would affect them for the rest of their life.

Then Friday, when Boston and the surrounding towns were under lockdown as officials we after the two suspected bombers, I was an emotional wreck again.  When they spoke about how young the bombers were, I couldn't help wondering what made these kids do something so horrible.  How does the 19 year old, who had others say nothing but positive things about him, change to the point that he was able to carryout these horrific acts of terror?  I am always intrigued by what makes people do the things they do.  This does not mean that I even remotely think that there is an excuse for the horrific act these 2 people carried out.  I believe that the 19 year old (the 26 year old died during the chase) should be punished to the fullest extent possible.  There is no excuse for what they did no matter what the reason.  It is completely crazy and sick that people can do something like that to others.

Yesterday,  1 week after the bombing, I found out I knew the person that was holding the 8 year old boy that died.  I felt horrible that this person I knew had to lie with this experience.  She is a nurse that was helping out at the medical tent for the runners and she ends up trying to save this little boys life, only to have him die in her arms.  This is something that would be hard for even the strongest person to handle emotionally, but she is not.  I can't imagine how horrible this must be for her.  I am crazy emotional even now, and I wasn't even there!

I hope that our country never has to go through another horrific thing like this.  If there was one positive, it is how our community came together came together and helped out, either by helping the wounded, giving blood, donating money, doing fundraisers, and just banding together for support.  We are Boston strong!

Amy

Ideas To Do With Kids

I am terrible at coming up with creative things to do with the kids.  They don't really like to sit still for long, so reading a book, doing a craft, anything that requires sitting for a period of time is tough.  I am looking forward to the warmer weather so that we can go to the park and they can get some of their energy out and maybe then we can do some sitting activities.  One of my friends over at http://thedoublescoop.com/ has some really great creative ideas that I really need to try out.  I am hoping that she will share some of her sources for these creative ideas.  One of my goals is to spark my kids creative imagination and help to maintain it.  I also want to provide educational things for them and make it a fun way to learn.  I'm still getting used to Michael's new schedule with pre-school , but I think that once i get used to his schedule, I will be making  up a schedule for us so that we can have fun, do some educational things, and get these kids to do more than jus trun amd jump and climb and move.  Maybe while Michael is at pre-school I can go to the book store with just the twins, though I have to say I took just the twins grocery shopping today and it wasn't that much easier.  I am going to pick up the book "Rainbow Fish" and attempt to do an activity from http://thedoublescoop.com/.

Any suggestion for fun things to do with active toddlers/preschoolers are more than welcome.  Any ideas on how to get them to sit and listen to a story are very much needed!

Amy

Pictures!

I feel like I haven't put many pictures up lately, so I figured I would just post a bunch of pictures that we recently took!

Waiting for ice cream

Michael enjoying his ice cream cone!

The kids' new lawn chairs that they absolutely love!

Thomas sitting at the Basin Franconia Notch NH

Eva Rose sitting at the Basin Franconia Notch NH

Michael sitting at the Basin Franconia Notch NH

Mom with her 3 babies at the Basin Franconia Notch NH

Just a few of our pictures from our recent summer outings!

Amy

Makes My Monday: Beach

Yesterday we went to my sister in laws in Kennebunk ME.  It was our first trip to the beach this year.  I was amazed at how much Michael loved the ocean.  He didn't want to leave the water, even after he fell face first a couple of times after losing his balance!  It totally solidified the fact that me and my husband need more than the 2 of us if we want to take them to the beach!

Thomas kissing Daddy!

Michael and Eva Rose with their cousins.

Taking the kids to the beach for the first time this year makes my Monday!

Amy

16 month check up

Yesterday the twins went for their 15 month check up which was really a 16 month checkup.  Overall, they are doing great.  They are on the smaller side of the growth curve, but are following their own curve.  A few Mothers Of Twins confirmed what I kind of thought: I just have small kids.  Like one MOT said, they have energy, they don't seem like they are hungry and if they do they get food, they are meeting developmental milestones and they are following their growth curve.  I just need to get over my insecurities about making sure that I am doing the right things as a mom.

Here are the twins stats from their visit:

Eva Rose-weight 20 pounds (6-7%)
                 height 30.5 inches (which may be off since she was not cooperative) (38-39%)
                 head circumference 18.7 inches (85-87%)

Thomas-weight 21 pounds (5%)
              height 30.5 inches (20%)
              head circumference 19 inches (75%)

All 3 kids had blood work completed and overall it looks good.  The boys have Thalassemia (mediterranean anemia) and have a little low iron and may either end up with a multi-vitamin supplement/iron supplement or increase in iron rich foods.  Eva Rose's white count was a little high but better than it was at her last visit when she actually was sick.  It's just a little something that we will keep an eye on.

All this being said, I am going to let go of my issues with their weight, since they are following their growth curve.  But, I am interested in getting cookbooks for kids.  I would love a book on how to get kids to eat food that is good for them and make it fun and that the parents will enjoy also (if there is any such cookbook).  I am getting board with what I am making and would love to branch out.

Along the same lines, is there any good craft sites or books for the 16-26 month+ age range.  And, does anyone have any good suggestions for activities for kids who love to be active (climbing, always moving etc.)?  A MOT suggested gymnastics at local gym that I am going to check into.

That is our latest stats and goals.

Amy

Getting Crafty

For years before I had kids, and pretty much all while growing up (except for my teen years) I was pretty into arts and crafts.  Before I had kids, my favorite stores to go into were AC Moore and Michaels.  I loved to learn new crafts and if you saw all my craft supplies and most of my books, you'd think I owned a store.  Now that I have kids, I don't have any where near the time or the energy to work on the multiple unfinished projects that I have already started.  I have the desire to work on things, but just can't seem to get myself moving to create.  I'm sure that once the kids get older, I will get back into being the creative person that I love to be.  Because I love to be creative, I use any excuse to do so.  Since I often have to send out cards, usually thank you's, I try to make them myself.  It's a good excuse to make sure that I do something I love an d not put it off.

Now that my son is 2 and the twins are 13.5 months, I am starting to think about getting the kiddos involved in arts and crafts projects.  I am trying to find something that i think is age appropriate, but I'm just not sure where to begin.  I know that the twins are probably a little young, but I would love to find something that would get the ball rolling.  I know that Michael could do a few things and I would love to put together a craft kit for kids.

Given that I love crafting and doing anything creative and that my husband is a shop teacher/woodworker, I really hope that our kids have an interest in doing something creative.  I would love to start offering things to them and expose them to creativity at a young age.  So, any of my readers, if you have any suggestions, please let me know.  If and when I get things rolling I will be sure to post what we are doing and how it is going!

Amy