Class of 2013

My twin daughters graduated from kindergarten. Their school did it up big, with caps and gowns and diplomas . . . an actual ceremony!

Too bad they didn't select a valedictorian, because my kid really likes talking into the microphone. Due to her mumbling lisp (or is it a lisping mumble?), you can't understand a word she utters—but if you could make out what she was saying, I'm sure you'd agree with my objective opinion that she is super smart and very interesting.

B is For Blah Blah Blah

Here's her sister waiting nervously to receive her diploma. The girl behind her looks less excited.

Accept with the left, shake with the right . . .

One of the twins loved going to school every day. The other complained each morning that she wanted to stay home. I'll let you guess which one is my Pollyanna.






In all seriousness, I was a weepy mess. These sweet girls are my babies. AND THEY JUST GRADUATED FROM KINDERGARTEN.



Dinner last night: spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic toast

Exactly one year ago:

Time Keeps On Slippin'

Exactly three years ago:

Just When I Thought I Was Out, They Pull Me Back In

Exactly four years ago:

Summer Evening

Exactly five years ago:

My Daughter, the Intimidator

My Babies are Growing Up

My twin daughters celebrated their birthday on Friday.

Since they still had to attend kindergarten, we baked and frosted cupcakes to share with the rest of the class. The girls wore their favorite dresses with special HAPPY BIRTHDAY ribbons.

That evening, their ballet class performed in the spring recital.

 Needless to say, I bawled my eyes out.




Dinner last night: barbecue chicken, potato salad, watermelon

Exactly four years ago:

Stopping to Smell the Roses

Exactly five years ago:

Sharp, Pointy Things Are Our Friends

Add Two More to the List

I've known for awhile that my twin daughters are not scared of much. They're not afraid to get their hands dirty, they're not afraid of heights, they're not afraid of the cold, and they're not afraid of dogs.

On our trip to Disneyland, I discovered two more things that do not faze them one tiny bit:

Rollercoasters, and . . . 

. . . Frankenstein.

Dinner last night: baked ziti with meatballs

Exactly one year ago:

That's Affirmatory

Exactly two years ago:

Snuggle Bunnies

We've Got Spirit, Yes, We Do

This week is "Spirit Week" at my daughters' school; each day has a theme so the kids can dress up. Monday was Lumberjack Day and Tuesday was Mismatch Day.

Today is Twin Day.

Dinner: chicken parmesan bundles, zucchini

Exactly one year ago:

Don't Be a Dummy Like Me

Exactly four years ago:

Friday's Five: Lisa

Do I Get Some Kind of Award?

School started today. I now have kids in each category:

One daughter in high school,

one daughter in middle school,

and two starting elementary school!

Dinner last night: wedge salad with blue cheese, baked salmon and halibut, and baby potatoes

Exactly three years ago:

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

End of Summer

Per our family's annual tradition, we attended the Alaska State Fair over the weekend. I didn't take my good camera because it was raining, so pardon the blurry shots from my phone.

Our eldest daughter is proving herself to be a gaming genius. Or as George Costanzo would pronounce, jeen-ee-us.You know those carnival games that are impossible to win? She wins them. We thought it was a freak instance of luck when at age 6 she beat all the adults who were shooting at moving ducks, but she's continued to dominate as she's grown.

The rest of us plop down our money, miss the target, and walk away empty-handed. My daughter plops down her money, flings darts at balloons, and walks away with a huge yellow monkey.

The twins were obsessed with the farm animals, particularly the baby chicks.

I finally had to drag them away from the tub, so some of the other kids could have a chance to ooh and aah over the little cheepers.

As our husband led us over to look at the four-wheelers and R/V campers, we happened upon a booth containing a small group of face painting jeen-ee-us-es. The twins asked for the Jewel Princess look . . .

What an awesome job the make-up artists did (in about half the time and price as the other place we've used in the past). We'll be back to this booth next year!



Dinner last night: corn dogs, gyro sandwiches, cotton candy, kettle corn

Exactly two years ago:

Friday's Five: Karen

What to Do With an Old Wedding Dress

I've been wanting to take a picture of each of my twin girls sitting in my wedding dress while they're still small enough that it looks cute and not weird.

I pulled out my dress box which had been heirloomed and sealed shortly after my wedding—I literally had not laid eyes on my dress since I got it cleaned and packed. I was afraid of what I might find . . . moths? water stains? dingy lace? But the dress was in pristine condition. Heirlooming is worth every penny! I can't remember exactly how much it cost way back then, but I do know it was over $100 and seemed like an absolute fortune to my poor, newlywed self.

I was married during the month of August, and since this past weekend not only ushered in August but some nice weather as well, I thought it would be a good time to go outside and snap some pictures.

My 12-year-old daughter felt left out and wanted me to take her picture in the dress. I told her that she was too big, that she would look more like a hillbilly teenage bride in an ill-fitting frock than a cute kid dressing up in her mother's gown, but she insisted.

Kind of weird, I admit, but posing in my old dress made her happy.

Then the bee showed up . . .

Now that's weird.

Dinner last night: pork loin roast, roasted veggies and gravy

Exactly two years ago:

Friday's Five: Stephanie

Exactly three years ago:

Aaargh and Double Aaargh

Exactly four years ago:

Garbage Day

Slipsliding

We had three sunny days in a row. Temperatures reached 72°, people! That's probably parka-wearing weather for some of you, but for us, it's time to put on the swimsuits and go play in the sprinklers.

 We Alaskans have learned to enjoy the sun while we've got it. Yesterday: 72°. Today: 52°. I wish I was joking. We woke up this morning to rain. Oh, well . . . there's always storytime at the library.



Dinner last night: carnitas

Exactly four years ago:

Things to Do with Your Kids This Weekend

Bishop's Beach

When we set out for the beach, the sun was shining brightly. We were ready for a tropical morning at the Alaskan shore.

By the time we arrived, clouds had settled in and the sky was solidly overcast. But chilly weather doesn't stop us from enjoying the outdoors. What are we? Texans?

The girls were ready to go wading, but I convinced them to stay out of the water.

They decided to dig in the wet sand, instead.

Is there anything cuter than a kid missing her front tooth?

The dirty hands, not so much.

Dinner last night: spaghetti and meatballs, garlic toast, green salad, corn

Exactly two years ago:

View from a Kitchen

Exactly three years ago:

Alaska Zoo

Exactly four years ago:

The Kindness of Neighbors

Hint of the Summer to Come

The twins received a big box of sidewalk chalk from their Grandma. You get three guesses to figure out what the girls did all weekend . . .

In case you haven't earned a degree in Art Appreciation, 

the genius works of art pictured above

depict colorful SWORDS in various shapes and sizes.

Dinner last night: steak, baked potato

Exactly two years ago:

Summertime . . . and the Livin's Easy

Exactly three years ago:

Epic Playground Fail

Exactly four years ago:

How Does a Busy Woman Cook Every Night?

And the Oscar for Best Cowlick Goes to . . .

Thank you so much. What an incredible honor. I'd like to thank my parents, especially my mom, who despite her hysterical tendencies still loves me and supports me. I'd also like to thank my wonderful fans—you've always been there for me and never fail to stop me and my mother in the grocery store to point out the section of hair strangely sprouting from my head.

I share this award with my twin sister for giving me the cowlick of a lifetime. When I was playing under my bed and caught my long hair in the springs, I never dreamed that she would be the one to come to my rescue with a pair of scissors. So, thanks, sis. This is for you.

Dinner last night: cheese enchiladas, Spanish rice, refried beans

That's Affirmatory

Whenever I'm out and about with my youngest daughters, people ask, "Are they twins?" From now on, I think I'll just whip out my cell phone and show them this picture that I snapped this morning.

Two little peas-in-a-pod sitting at the breakfast table.

Dinner last night: grilled chicken breasts, risotto, steamed carrots

Exactly one year ago:

Snuggle Bunnies

Snow Fairies

We took the twins trick-or-treating, despite the blizzard that hit last night. I bundled up the girls, slapped some wings on their backs, and called them costumes. I don't know what it is about my kids and crazy teeth, but one daughter insisted on wearing purple plastic fangs that she refers to as her "bat teeth."

Dinner last night: candy

Exactly one year ago:

The Bat and the Butterfly

A Helpful Tip

I am often asked about how I am able to tell my identical twin daughters apart. Differentiating the girls is very difficult, as they are freakishly similar in looks, but if you carefully study their mouths, you can see a difference.

Dinner last night: turkey burgers

Exactly three years ago:

Public Service Announcement

Art Reflects Life

Back in February, I shared with you the artwork of my youngest twin. If I'm not mistaken, you were amazed and declared her a prodigy. Here we are, six months later, and she's still drawing colorful portraits. She sketched this fellow in green and blue:

His blue nose is fairly obvious, but 

you may be wondering what the blue object above his eyes could be . . . 

His brain, of course!

Did you learn nothing from your study of Untitled, Mommy with Teeth?

Here's a bald guy rendered in blue and pink, with his brain intact.

And here, we have a subject with a cold or possibly a pierced nose. And a brain.

Finally! Someone without a brain. Look how carefree he is!

A brainless man with crazy eyes and buck teeth. But happy!

Dinner last night: pot roast, veggies

Exactly two years ago:

Back to Normal

Exactly three years ago:

Brace Face? Tin Grin? PFD Mouth?

Welcome to My Laryngitis

When people used to notice my infant twins, they'd often chuckle, "You've sure got your hands full, don'tcha?!" They didn't know the half of it. The girls' boundless energy combined with my husband's NO FEAR policy has turned me into a screaming ninny.

Upon entering the Alaska State Fair, my husband noticed a 30' rock climbing wall 

and sent the girls right on up. "Be careful!" I yelled.

Next, he bought them lunch . . .

Corn dogs and cotton candy. "Gross! Don't get ketchup on your shirt!" I shrieked.

My husband is delighted by the fact that although they are young, our daughters are tall enough to meet the height requirement on a lot of the big rides. No carousel ponies for them. Oh, no. They wanted to go for a spin on the swinging chairs . . .

which seemed innocent enough, until . . .

one giddy girl decided to reach for her sister. The lady next to me did not appreciate
the damage to her ear drum when I bellowed, "Sit RIGHT!"

We spent the remainder of our day in the kiddie ride section so my heart palpitations could stabilize.

Dinner last night: Parmesan and herb Panko chicken breasts, pasta

Exactly two years ago:

Alaska State Fair

Milestone

I don't know what it is about our family and monkeybars, but each of my four girls has been determined from a very young age to master them. We're talking 2 years old, trying to reach for the rings! This summer, the twins finally figured out how to keep their grip while swinging ALL BY THEMSELVES.





They're getting so big! And, no, the irony is not lost on me that my brave playground soldiers are still sucking their thumbs.



Dinner last night: chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn on the cob

Exactly three years ago:

Things to Do with Your Kids This Weekend 13

Dash of Bouncy House, Sprinkle of Water Slide, Deluge of Fun

I reside in Alaska, which means I live in an igloo where snow blizzards rage year-round; however, yesterday was a gorgeous summer day up in the 70s, so our neighbors busted out their waterslide.

The kids got into a romping game of "Aliens," which involved chasing and shooting and lots of screaming in delight.

My 5-year-old daughters thought these twin babies were pretty cool and screeched, "They're twins, too! They'll grow up to be just like us!" I do believe I detected shudders of horror rippling through the shoulders of the other adults standing around in the yard. Yeah, well, enjoy the gentle splashing and matching swimsuits while you can, people. Your time for "Aliens" is coming.

Dinner last night: teriyaki steak, potato salad

Exactly one year ago:

Bound to Happen

Exactly two years ago:

Things I Learned Over the 4th of July

Different Strokes for Different Folks

The twins recently turned five and received their first bicycles, which were their only gifts from us. Oh, wait. Except for the umbrellas that my husband purchased on a whim. Don't ask me why they need umbrellas on a cloudless summer day, but they sure do love playing with them.

Dinner last night: baked salmon with mango salsa over cous cous

Exactly two years ago:

Small Peeve

Exactly three years ago:

With a Spring in My Step

Happy Days Are Here Again

According to the calendar, spring began in March. We've still got snow on the ground, BUT the driveway is clear, so the girls have been riding their bikes in circles and drawing lots of pictures with sidewalk chalk.

I outline their bodies on the ground, and they color them in. 

Look at what my little eye spied . . . 

. . . a bud on the lilac tree! Maybe the calendar is right. Spring IS here!

On second thought . . . 

something tells me we won't be hunting Easter eggs in the backyard this year. 

Dinner last night: homemade chicken noodle soup, cornbread muffins

Exactly two years ago:

Rising from the Ashes