Twin Talk Vol. 15

*Stella woke up this morning yelling on the monitor, “Daddy, the poop is eating my butt, daddy hurry you need to change me!”

*Stella eating her dinner looks at the fridge and comments about the two baby announcements we have hanging there. “Daddy, the naked chicken bird baby is so cute.”

*We have a 2 hour drive from Fort Loramie and the girls are really so good when we make the drive. We don't have a DVD player and they really only have a book each or look out the window and it is never a problem. We talk and sing a lot too. On our trip home this last weekend Mya told us an interesting story. She said “My finger is going to Imagination Station!” We said “Just your finger?” She said “Yup!”. I asked how her finger was going to get there and she told me “It is going to get a ride. Lisa is going to pick it up.” Hmmmmmmmmm! LOL

*Ever since Nana baked cookies with the girlies on their “Nana day” Mya won't stop talking about “jangerbread cookies”.

*The girls loved watching The Letter Factory by Leap Frog so when we saw The Talking Words Factory we snatched up. It helps them learn to blend sounds together to make words. I hadn't watched it with them yet so when Mya came to me asking to watch the “sticky icky letters” I had no idea what she was talking about. She said “Yeah, Mommy, the sticky icky letters. You know, the bowels!” I realized she was talking about vowels and I put it all together. They call them the sticky icky letters because they hold the words together. Genius!

*Daddy called me one night when I was out Christmas shopping and told me there was new legislation in the Rethman house – no more blankies or babies until they poop and pee on the potty. He put them up in their closet and it was pretty dramatic for them. They ask for them randomly but it hasn't had the effect he wanted. However, when Mya fell into the bookcase and got a really deep cut on her face and we had to head to the ER Daddy went to get her special comforts for her. Stella stayed at the house with our friends and when we got back and Mya was carrying her blankie and baby around Stella was very confused and asking her “How'd you get your stripes and baby? You didn't poop or pee! I want mine! I pooped on the potty tonight!” She really did and so Daddy thought it was only fair. She followed him in to the bedroom and said “I want my polka dots, my Joey Reds, my monkey blankie and my baby. I want it ALL!!!!” :)

*Stella wanted to get out of her high chair one morning after breakfast before she had eaten all of her food and we told her she wasn't done. She said “But I'm done! My back is full.” We tried to explain that that doesn't make sense and in fact she usually tells us her belly is full, but today she just wasn't having it. LOL

*Stella: “My underwear says that I have the best Mommy in the world! Mommy, you're my best girl!”

*I was telling Stella that Papa was going to come over in the morning to babysit them while Wes and I ran an errand, but I was doing something while I was talking and was a little distracted so I didn't finish my thought. I said “Papa is going to come over and …..” Stella looked at me and said “join us?” It seemed so grown up to me!

* As mentioned before we are getting SUPER annoyed with potty training. It seems like a losing battle and anyone who has done it knows that it is exhausting......then times that by 2 and that is what is going on here! Anyways, we decided to just strip them naked one day and just told them they had to tell us when they had to go or they would have to pee and poop on themselves. We were getting ready to eat supper and I told them to try so they could put a pull-up or underwear on so they didn't have to sit naked in their high chair. Mya tells me “Yeah, cause that would be disgustin' to put my booty and my who-ha on my high chair! Gross!”

*Mya was crying after I put them in bed because she wanted a blanket that we couldn't find. Stella told her “No crying on Christmas!” Mya snapped back “Christmas is over, so I can cry!” It was December 27^th so she was right!

*Mya was telling Stella "You're not my best friend anymore!" Stella: "Why, Sissy?" (very sad sounding) I thought I was your best friend". Mya: "Well, you're not so don't cry!" Poor Stella! Mya sure dangles that best friend card often.

Twin Talk Vol. 14

*Stella took her diaper off and ran out of the bathroom and told me “I farted on your floor, Mommy!”

*At dinner one night Mya announces “I love you, Mommy! And I love you, Daddy! And I love you, Stella!” Stella chimes in “Yeah we love Mommy and Daddy and Mya and Milo and Elvis! I love my FAMILY!!! And I love Lindsay and Payne too!”

*Mya has recently been calling Dora – Dorda. I asked her why she was saying it like that and she said “Because that's how Mami and Papi say it”. Dora's parents have a strong accent and they do say it like that. :)

*Stella was pushing Mya around in the doll stroller and Mya was pretending to be a baby. She asked Stella for her stripes blankie. Stella told her “Ok, baby I will find it”. She walked over to the couch where Wes and I were sitting, crossed her arms and leaned on the coffee table and said “Um, guys Mya needs her stripes blankie because she's a baby and she needs it but I can't look for it because I'm too busy”.

*Stella was sitting with me snuggled up on the couch watching Dora, which she was totally entranced in. I asked her to go to the bathroom and try to go potty since she hadn't since she woke up from nap and she told me “No, thank you, Mommy. Maybe when it's over.” LOL

*Both girls marching around the house carrying a laundry basket and singing “What's gonna work? Teamwork!” over and over.

*Stella: Before she was done eating she announces loudly “Mommy, I'm DONE!” I told her no she still had a few bites of pork chops left. She screamed with an angry look on her face “No, I am done! I need to get down and watch Dora!” Wes told her “I don't think so, Tim! (from Home Improvement) and she said “I'm not Tim, I''m Stella”......all with the most horrible scowl on her face!! Sassy for sure, but we both had to turn away because it was pretty funny!

*Every morning Wes takes the girls to the sitter's house and I pick them up after school. Our routine in the morning is basically the same. I lay out their clothes the night before and when they wake up Wes goes in the bathroom with them and also helps them get dressed. They come to me when I get out of the shower to put on shoes and socks, get their hair done and put coats on. Then they come and kiss and hug me and we say good bye. One morning, Mya came back to tell me something else after she was supposed to be going out to the car with Daddy. Stella come walking back to get Mya and tells her super sweetly “Mya, fweetie, you're my best friend! Let's go, girl!” and reaches out her hand to Mya. Mya wrinkles up her nose and tells her rather rudely “Mommy is my best friend” and breezes right past poor Stellie.

*I had a killer headache one day after school so I ran through McDonald's before going home so I could get my caffeine and fountain pop fix. Stella asks me “Mommy are you getting a fweet tea or a diet macoke?” Wes drinks diet Mountain Dew which they call “Diet ma dew or diet monna dew” so I think she just mixed them up. LOL

*We are getting a bit frustrated with the potty training situation. We are basically at a stand still. They will go pee when we ask and sometimes they will ask me to take them but not often. They never poop on the potty. I'm so sick of it and I know Lisa, our sitter, is too. She is working with 5 two year olds. My girls and Sophie are not getting it, but the other two toddlers are. Lisa told my girls and Sophie today that they won't be able to go to Nana's school next year if they don't poop on the potty. She told them that Jax and Teagan will be going and sitting on Nana's lap, but they won't. They did NOT like hearing this. We've told them this before but maybe coming from someone else it helps. Lisa said they had all sorts of things to say about this but Stella just gave her a horrible look and said “No, you don't talk to me!” and stomped away.

*Wes and I usually work on school stuff after they go to bed but if we ever have anything out when they are up they ask us “Is that for your kiddos at cool?”

*The girls like to hide and ask us to find them. One day in the car Mya decided to play......by herself! She covered her eyes and said “Mya, where are you myself?” She then answered herself with “I'm under here, silly!” Hahahahahaha

*Daddy came in the house after a run and was talking to the girls in their high chairs. They made a comment and he said “You better watch yourself” to which Stella replied “Wow, he's really grumpy!” He said “No, I'm not!” and she said “Uh, yeah you are!”.

A Little Splurge

I don't usually splurge and shop at Gymboree because I just think it is ridiculous to spend that much money on little kids' clothes that they will wear for a few months and then grow out of them. I know their stuff is really well made but still! However, the other day I was at the mall and they had a sign in the window that all regular priced tops were 50% off and then I also had a 20% coupon, so I thought I'd just check it out. I found these most adorable penguin shirts that were normally $24.95 a piece. Mind you they are adorable, but they are just cotton long sleeve t-shirts. Well, after the discounts they were $9.98. That I can manage! :) They looked absolutely adorable in it too! :)

First Christmas Family Gathering

Last Sunday we attended the Wasserman family reunion. My grandma is the baby of 12 so her extended family is HUGE! In fact there were 200 people there this year and I think that it was smaller than normal. We have gone to this every year since well, forever! There is a smaller gathering in the summer, as well.

At the Christmas reunion one of the male family members always dresses up as Santa and passes out candy canes to the kids. Mya and Stella were sooooo excited to meet "Santa". They were all smiles on his lap. When he asked what they wanted for Christmas they said "a present". Well, that's easy. They won't be disappointed this year! LOLI only took two pictures while were there but I am so thrilled with how the picture of my grandparents holding all four grandkids turned out! We love them so much!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

*An interview with Mya Alyse – 2 years old.

1. Who's birthday is it today? “Grandpa's birthday!”

2. What is Grandpa's real name? “Grandpa Mike”

3. Who are Grandpa's kids? “I don't know” Who is Daddy's daddy? “Grandpa” Does he have any other kids? “Yeah, Zach” No, who lives at Grandpa's House? “Morgie!” (Sorry, Kacie and Kayla!)

4. What is Grandpa's favorite thing to do? “I don't know”

5. What is your favorite thing to do with Grandpa? “Hold him”

6. What is Grandpa's favorite color? “Orange” Why? “Because he do like orange. He loves yellow”

7. What team does Grandpa love to watch? “Soccer ball”

8. What is Grandpa's job? “I don't know” What does he always bring you? “Yogurt!!!”

9. Who does Grandpa love the most? “Grandpa Mike”

10. How old do you think Grandpa is today? “5”

11. What do you think he wants for his birthday? “Cake and a present!”

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

*An interview with Stella Grace – A very distracted 2 year old.

1. Who's birthday is it today? “Jesus”. No, Jesus's birthday is coming up soon. Who's birthday is it in our family? “I don't know.”

2. What is Grandpa's real name? “Grandpa” Mya told her “Grandpa Mike”

3. Who are Grandpa's kids? “kiddos” Who are they? “Genoa” (???) Who is Daddy's Daddy? “Nana is Daddy and Mommy's Nana Peggy”.

4. What is Grandpa's favorite thing to do? “Love Mya and Stella”

5. What is your favorite thing to do with Grandpa? “Go in the basement and play”

6. What is Grandpa's favorite color? “Purple” Why? “Blue and Green make purple” (Not quite but we're just learning this.)

7. What team does Grandpa love to watch? “Soccer” No, not soccer. What baseball team? “The boys baseball team”

8. What is Grandpa's job? “I don't know” What does Grandpa bring you? “I don't remember, Mama......ummmm grapes.”

9. Who does Grandpa love the most? “Mya and Stella”

10. How old do you think Grandpa is today? “I don't remember!” Stella just guess, please! “Ok, ok relax, Mama......how about 4”

11. What do you think he wants for his birthday? “Um, a remote.”

Haircuts!

My little blonde beauties got their hair cut today. This was Mya's second hair cut and Stella's first. They both have really fine hair that has grown in as a mullet. Mya's first cut was to even out scraggly hair and give it some shape. It grew back fast but still in that dreadful mullet. I try really hard not to put piggies or clips in her hair too much because I feel like that adds to the breakage that she has on top but I really can't handle the mullet! So back to the salon we went. This time we went uptown to Shear Delight and had Rachael cut it. She has cut both Wes and I's hair several times and she is a family friend. They both did so good and she was really impressed with them. She said she wished all kids would behave so well! She had awesome pink leopard and zebra print capes! The girls loved that. She also had a zebra print blow dryer and pink combs and hair clips so they thought she was super cool! Mya got her stacked little bob back from the summer and she cut about an inch off of Stella's hair. It is still a mullet but it is less noticeable and clips and piggies can hide that no problem.