Iconic Pics: Double Take!

Here is another one of those classic photos I came across recently.

When you have identical twins, you often spend an inordinate amount of time trying to dress and pose them just alike so that you can have a classic identical-twin picture. They very rarely turn out without lots of screaming and yelling. Usually, you wind up with both kids crying and screaming just alike, tears streaming and shrill sobs hurting your ears. Not exactly the classic image you were hoping for.

But then sometimes, they just happen.

Its even hard to tell which kid is which in this photo. THEY LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME. I mean, I THINK I know who is who. But really, that’s not the point.

I recently showed this to Maryssa and she asked, “How did you get us to wear matching bathing suits?” A perfectly normal question for one of two kids who REFUSES to look anything like her sister. So I told her, “Neither of you ever cared what you wore back then. I put clothes on you and off you went. Most of your clothes matched because it was just easier that way.”

She looked at me in total disbelief. “Seriously?” she said. “That’s just crazy.”

The twins go to 7th grade!

I'm not quite sure how we got here, but I sent my girls off to the 7th grade this morning:

Yes, its dark in the picture. We go to the bus stop a O'Dark-Thirty. Also, this is the picture where I forced Alex to smile. Previously, she was wearing a frown that looked like a cross between a sneer and that face you make right before you start crying.

I'm excited to hear about the first day, and what their classes will be like. Much more excited than I was on my first day of 7th grade! I don't remember those times very fondly, so to try and bring them some joy, I think I'll pick up some cupcakes on the way home!

Babysitting Class

Today the girls took the American Red Cross babysitter training course. It cost me $85 each. So they had better start babysitting so they can pay me back.

And I know they learned something, because Alex just demonstrated to me how to remove the rubber gloves after changing a diaper without getting any poopie on your hands.

Shoes: fashion or comfort?

Its time to buy new shoes AGAIN, because Alex's toes are sticking out of a hole in the end of her running shoes and Maryssa practically cries when she has to wear her church shoes for more than half an hour.

Buying shoes for twin girls used to not be all that bad. For one, I never let them pick out what they wanted. I just came home with two pairs of cheap shoes that had velcro on them, or something Target had just put on clearance. They'd wear whatever I got them and not care about it. The shoes were dirty within 6 minutes of putting them on, so I figured the cheaper the better, right?

Of course, that was when the girls were only 2 or 3 years old. Not a lot of questions about shoes or clothes or anything back then. But these days, its all about the fashion and the bling. And now they have informed me that the shoes have to be comfortable, too.

How long do you think I should let this crazy charade go on? Before I break it to them that they're feet will hurt forever now, because you just can't have looks and comfort at the same time.

And by the way, that pretty much goes for every piece of clothing, for ever. Think about it: sweat pants = comfortable, but no one looks good in sweat pants. Little Black Dress = really good looking, but not likely to be very comfortable.

I guess it will take a few trips to the shoe store for them to figure out that shoes are the epitome of cute vs. comfort. I'll try to get a picture, or at least an audio recording, the day one of them finally sacrifices a foot to the blister gods so that she can wear cute shoes to finish that perfect outfit. I'm sure its coming.

Iconic Pics: Sleeping Babies

I’ve recently gone through a number of photos from over the years. In doing that, just a few stand out as those classic images that stay with you. The ones that - even years later - you remember and tell people about. This is one of them.

These are two babies asleep in their port-a-crib. They are surrounded by toys and have literally just passed out in the middle of whatever-it-was-they-were-doing.

I personally don't remember what they were doing at the time, right before they passed out, but I’m pretty sure it was either yelling, singing or screaming at the other one. That's how these port-a-crib sessions usually went.

And I’ll tell you – those kids were in there for a reason. Namely to keep them contained so that I could have a moment of peace. And when they got quiet, I knew to check on them because they were either up to something or asleep. And seeing these two sleeping peacefully isn’t something my eyes were able to behold very often.

So if you’re raising twins, or young kids of any age, remember that there are some cute, peaceful moments. And if you can, try to record them. Because you’ll need proof later on that there actually WAS a peaceful moment.

Still growing...

I was pretty sure that the girls were taller. I mean, they can practically look me in the eye. But a whole 2+ inches taller? I wasn't ready for that!

Yes, the girls have grown 2-1/8" since we last measured them 6 months ago.

If you haven't seen my girls in the last 6 weeks, I don't think you'll recognize them. They were only gone for the weekend and I can hardly believe they're the same people they were when they left. The kids who needed "just one more hug" and actually said "I'll miss you!" in front of other people, came back at least 4 years older.

But I guess there are things that change more slowly. Like this morning, when I had to call them downstairs 4 times (an improvement over most mornings) or the fact that it was pouring down rain and I had to mention to Alex that maybe she'd want a rain coat.

I suppose its nice to know that they still need their mom part of the time (although they may not admit that to anyone!)