fearful symmetry...

tiger, tiger, burning bright
in the forests of the night,
what immortal hand or eye
dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

-william blake, "the tiger"

we go to the zoo a lot...the boyz love it...they both cease to amaze me...my fearless, very active ewie, ran from the polar bear and chose to spend 20 minutes on the (thankfully) metal "alligator"...i would pay money to know what he was thinking, laying here watching manatees and sting rays...my sometimes overwhelmed, hanging out cam, could not get enough of the polar bear swimming...and then right next to the manatees and sting rays swimming...i have always worried more about ewie from day one...but he just started talking clearly and fluently this week...now he is the most popular kid in his class...now i think i should have always been worried about my sensitive, active imagination, says he is the "king" child, cam...but i guess i shouldn't, since i was the sensitive, active imagination, said, i was going to be a "wealthy widow with lots of power" child : )

what a difference a year makes...

today, i spring cleaned my kitchen...i cleaned my windows and washed my drapes in the living room and dining room...this did not happen on one day last year...the boyz were outside twice today with andrew...they still want to play in the mud and eat it...but it is different...there is a plot, a plan, some sort of organized play...i was so busy cleaning i did not get pictures of today...but i remember last year clearly...

mirror images...

sometimes i feel outside looking in...seeing two sides, to two boyz...one side is who they want me to see...the other side is who they truly are...it is both frustrating and fascinating...but i have realized if i can still see both sides, i am one step ahead of the game : )

lessons learned...

we went on a road trip vacation with with boyz...i return relaxed but i feel it is because i have not been cooking and cleaning up after them for a week...i have to say, i had a lot more fun then i planned...we tagged along on a business trip with andrew and i knew i would be by myself with the boyz when he had obligations...i have amazing boyz...they are ornery but they are good, respectful and loving for two almost 3 year olds...these are the lessons i learned...
10.  cam may tell you to "take a deep breath" when you are yelling...since he has been told that a time or two...
9.  sometimes you have to alter your plan when you have two 2 year olds...
8.  a zero entry pool leading to a lazy river can be confusing to two 2 year olds with swimming vests       on...fortunately i ran into the pool with my coverall on...it all worked out : )
7.  treat bags filled with anything can save the moment and maybe even the day...
6.  the behavior of my parents on road trips/traveling makes a lot more sense...
5.  portable dvd players are the greatest invention in car travel since highways...
4.  children in diapers are so much easier to travel with : )
3.  i still love a road map...
2.  when you embrace the moment by roaring when the meteor shower happens...life seems so much less complicated...
1.  traveling with twins is like traveling with rock stars...everyone seems to notice them : )

road trip...the beginning...

there are no pictures...it was not pretty...the electric went out just at bedtime on the night before we left...andrew was at a work function and thankfully caitlin wss there to help...fortunately, i was able to put one boy down...eventually the other went down...after telling us the electric was broken...so the time we would have packed was taken up by dealing with the lack of electricity...a rough morning...no coffee, no heat, no plan...at one point, i lost it...a breakdown, the boyz rarely hear...but they scurried to the living room to hear my very loud voice...i finally came downstairs as ewie went up the stairs, i turned the corner and cameron looked right at me and said, "take a deep breath mommy"...words i have used with him too many times in his few years of life...and he used them on me...my head cleared and all was good...we eventually headed south...we did not make it very far the first night...but made great time the next day...the boyz have been amazing and we make it to orlando, safely and soundly...i have a lot more respect for my parents after this trip...

marshmallow world...

empathy...

empathy is the capacity to recognize and, to some extent, share feelings (such as sadness or happiness) that are being experienced by another semi-sentient being. Someone may need to have a certain amount of empathy before they are able to feel compassion.


how do you teach your child empathy?! see, i know i have it but am not sure how i got it but i am pretty sure it was directly related to linda sue sisler zarnoch, who rest in peace, is watching over us...baby girl of too many brothers and sisters : ) and daughter of pappy dan and grandma ida...someone on that sisler farm had it...pretty sure it was ida...but then i realized it is modeling behavior...we were sad today our nephew dog duke, aka "the wolf," is now in doggy heaven, i have been sad for my friend who has been on a rough road the past few weeks...but we are happy the boyz spent friday night with great examples of empathy...