Naked baby dinnertime

Well, they're wearing diapers and bibs. Close enough. Also notice the foot thing.

Human powered vehicle

Laundry helpers

Phin the climber

So Phin climbed into granny's chair this week. He also really likes to ride the tricycle while standing. You're doing it wrong, buddy.

Back in action!

Whew, so thankful to be done with last week. This week is still busy, but the summit has been overcome. Memorial Day weekend was fun at the cottage, where the boys were introduced to sand (must.throw.everywhere.), enjoyed some baby pool time, hanging out with Vogels and Albrights and Grandma, chasing the dog, and playing with new old toys.

Phin and Micah enjoyed having Mikael to play with (Susanne's nephew)- he's just a few months younger and so smiley. We went to some outlet stores yesterday, just missing Andrew, and get a few more summer items for the boys. We also swayed David and Thea over to the realm of butter bells, so they got one there as well. More pool time for babies, then [I think] their first sampling of dad's pulled pork for supper.

Sanne has taken lots of pictures I hope to add to the album soon. Stay tuned.

Visitors and police.

I wasn't kidding about the busy schedule, I think Andrew and I might die before we get to the weekend. Will be taking a short hiatus from the blog I think.

Susanne's sister, brother in law, and nephew Mikael are here, fun!

We got stopped TWICE by police on the way to a restaurant tonight for a lapsed emissions test associated with our license. Not too terrible, good to know (we just plumb forgot), but UGH.

Busy week, summer begins!

Got the new pool out this weekend- we were mean and neglectful to the last inflatable baby pool. The boys were very interested in the bike pump I used to inflate, and couldn't wait for us to add water heated up on the stove- they crawled right into the ice cold pool in their onesies. And kind of regretted it, but it was hysterical.

This week we're busy with Sanne's sister, brother in law, and nephew coming to visit, big work projects, and the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Excited to see how much the boys enjoy the cottage this summer.

Phin just got his eighth tooth and is walking more frequently, although it's still so drunken-sailor and brief it's impossible to get a video. We're working on clapping and he does it super slo mo.

Micah is still at four teeth but is getting adorable curls in the humidity and is really into cuddling and open mouthed "kissing." He mostly just claps with one hand.

Qtips and cuties

The great outdoors

Time to get a new toy organizing system...

Moustachios

Took a while for them to have any interest in the moustachifiers... but at long last!

He looks so grown up!

Trip to Ikea

Mother's day and more

Greetings!

We have certainly been getting toasty weather these days- I think we'll be setting up the AC units this week. Other news for yous:

• The Vogels- Nancy, Brant and Sarah, visited us this past Saturday for Andrew's birthday. He got a T. Rex lamp and new kindle, and dinner at Gringoes and Mariachis. The boys got a wheelbarrow and giant lincoln logs, because every grandparent visit is basically Christmas:-).
• Sanne went camping in Shenandoah with friends this weekend, and seems like they had a great time.
• We have chosen our au pair for next year- Sarah Jonas, 18, from northwest Germany. Hooray! She will be joining us in mid-July.
• [I think] for Mother's Day, we got the raised beds set up, filled, and planted. Andrew got the compost from Brookside with the help of a co-worker, while I shopped for plants with a friend. I'm trying to go simple this year but it's a slippery slope. Veggies for marinara and salsa, but then I saw a fig. And a co-worker is bringing me strawberry starts. Slippery slope.

Yogurt babies.

Pj boys

Busy, busy

I finally missed a day, gosh.

It's been busy here lately... after much ado we had gotten permission to a)rip out blighted boxwoods and b)build some raised beds. Andrew's been working like a demon on both of these. Tuesday night he arrived home at 8pm after being stuck in traffic for ages, and immediately went down to the basement to finish the second raised bed, cajoling me to help. Assuming they'll fit through the doorway, we'll put them in an evening this week. Trying very hard to finalize our au pair choice for next year, gosh it's hard. The boys had a playdate with a little girl from church this week. I think I found a good source of fancy fancy eggs, milk and meat- local, hormone free stuff. That's about it for now!

Happy Birthday to Andrew!

This 33 year old has survived Crohn's, the first year of twins and leaving the house at 5:30am every morning! Laud him! Shower him with gifts!

Hot time in the old attic

What a weird title, you might think. It's a play on a real song, I swear. And also it's not creepy, bear with me.

It's been getting very summery of late- highs in the 80's all week. Our box fan in the window upstairs is not cutting it. I think it's probably in the 70's up there at the boys' bedtime. Considering we've been doing fleece footed pajamas for ages, a change of nightwear was in order. We've switched from footed pj to long sleeve onesie to short sleeve onesie. Today during the nap we're down to just a t-shirt. I'm going to draw the line at the diaper though.

Beaned

Andrew got beaned pretty good by Micah this weekend- he was waving around a plastic cup and got him just to the side of his left eye. Near miss.

It was a beautiful weekend so we spot lots of time outdoors...
Susanne and I took the boys to a farmer's market Saturday morning and got some spring vegetable "ephemerals" (baby greens, asparagus, ramps), as well as investigating the dairy and meat options there. One stall has all things pickled- we got ramp kraut and pickled salsa verde... amazing. Andrew and I hoped to test out our hiking carriers Sunday but ripped out shrubs to make way for raised beds instead. Andrew is a beast- I couldn't lift one of the rootballs whatsoever, it was maybe 100 pounds? Thinking about what to plant and how to deer proof. The boys love hanging out in the shade, mostly tearing up grass and trying to eat bark but hey works for me.

Swinging

It's especially nice this time of year to have a park in your backyard. The swings are becoming quite an attraction...

Mealtime

We've been using forks lately at breakfast- I spear a piece of toast or fruit or cheerio, then hand the utensil over to one of the boys who promptly pops it in his mouth then gives me back the fork for another bite to be loaded. They enjoy the newness of the experience, we'll see how long it lasts...

Also have been trying sign language- particularly mom, dad, and eat.

Laundry day

The grass has finally been deemed a safe surface to explore... by the way, Susanne is taking all these pictures during the day. I just see them eating and sleeping for the most part, so it's really nice to see their day for us, too! More highlights on the new album... figure I'll do one new album a year.