22 Month Video Meltdown

Last night, Aaron was looking for an old video of the kids watching Jimmy Kimmel and screaming "Jimmy!" with glee...because you know, we believe in getting our kids hooked on late night talk shows from a really early age. :-) But we always DVR Jimmy, and watch it early in the evening. The kids have always really loved the house band, and Jimmy, and the other musical guests. Anyways, he finally found the video.

Then, I started looking through all the other "22 months" videos that were on the laptop. And I literally was overcome with joy and pain all at the same time. They were (and still are) so darn cute! Look at how short their hair was. It was just barely starting to curl. Look at how baby like their features still were. Look at their little diaper laden behinds. And I started crying. Because my babies are, and will be on a continual course to "growing up." And I felt guilty.

Guilty because a lot of the first few years with the twins just felt like survival. They were wonderful and filled with joy, but I would be lying if I said that there weren't times when I would consciously think, "oh, it's just going to be so much easier when we're out of this phase, or they're older, or they can do blank, or blah blah blah."

I have tried to be careful to savor the baby years with Alec and Emma, but I still feel like I could have cherished them more. And I don't know if there will be another baby in our future or not.

But I'm glad that I watched the videos, because every now and then, God gently reminds me that every day and every season, with its unique challenges and joys, is truly a gift. Time goes by way too quickly.

So, today...when Alec pooped on the potty, and I didn't hear him calling for me because Emma was trying to do the same in the other bathroom...and he was running around bare bottomed in the living room before getting cleaned up...I just laughed it off. Because that was a silly, childlike thing to do. And I was actually happy that my baby boy still acts like a baby sometimes. (Luckily, I didn't have to clean up anything but him. The carpet and the furniture were fine. Otherwise, this would probably be an altogether different story. ;-)) Hey, I'm still human!

Here's the link to the video Aaron edited:
Young Jimmy Kimmel Fans

Whirlwind Weekend

This last weekend, we were supposed to have several different things going on. We had a get-together to attend, I was supposed to teach a workshop, then I was supposed to teach another class...well, everything ended up being postponed.

Then, we got all that awesome rain last week, and cooler temperatures moved in. Now, I've been wanting to take the kids to Silver Dollar City all summer, but we've been waiting for the right weekend to do it...right meaning nothing else going on and not 110 degrees outside. Well, all of a sudden it looked like last weekend was our chance. So, it was a bit spur of the moment (if you know Aaron very well, you know that with most things, he needs to have a while to wrap his brain around the plan and prepare mentally,) but I ran it by the boss man, and he said that it was cool.

So, Friday I ordered season passes for Aaron and I (they're cheaper than two day passes, and the kids get in free till they're 4), and booked us a ridiculously cheap hotel on the strip in Branson. Like so ridiculously cheap that the last time I paid so little for a hotel room, he slept "on top" of the bed, and we didn't use the bathroom. hahaha. Saturday I was supposed to teach a modern class, but it got cancelled and we took off.

We got to SDC about 12:30 and played till 6 when they closed. Alec and Emma basically thought they were in heaven. They thought the teacups, the elephants, the racing regatta...everything at the Grand Exposition, was like the best thing EVER. They got to check out the new Half Dollar Hollar tree house play area for little kids that just opened this season, and we rode the train. Saturday was awesome. They did really well for walking all over (we decided not to do the strollers.)

When we left to go check into the hotel, the Garmin sent us on a wild goose chase because I couldn't get it to register W Hwy 76, and we ended up stuck in Branson strip traffic for like an hour because of a stupid car show. Blah! We stopped to eat at Shoney's and finally made it to the Melody Lane Inn. I was pleased to find that our room was totally adequate and clean. For what I paid, that's all I cared about. Plus breakfast was included. We played in the pool a little while before heading off to bed.

The next morning, the dang Garmin messed up again on the way to SDC, but we finally got on the right track (I think it's time for a new nav system). Got into the park, and it became clear pretty quick that the kids were a little more moody that day. They didn't want to walk, and they were tired and cranky. We managed to make it to all of their favorite rides again. We timed the lines really well Sunday. We also got to visit the Gyser Gulch, where they got to shoot little foam balls out of air guns. They would have stayed there for hours. We stayed till 3pm, and then headed home because Daddy needed some down time before work on Monday.

It was exhausting, but a really fun weekend. I'm so glad we finally got to take the kids there. They're already asking to go back. :-)

Second Flower Girl/ First Day of Dance Class

This weekend, Emma was in her second wedding. The first was at 22months, in Titi V's and Dr. Dan's wedding. This wedding was for some friends at our church. Let me just say...it is MUCH EASIER for a child to be in a wedding at nearly 3 1/2 yrs old than at 22 months. (Just sayin, V.)
However, Veronica says that our children screaming bloody murder in the church foyer is one of her favorite memories of her wedding.

Emma did really well this time, even though the timing of the wedding was such that we had to completely skip naptime. We were really proud of her. She loved looking like a princess, and she took her job of placing the flower petals REALLY seriously. We should have taken a picture of the aisle, because it looked like there was one petal every 18 inches exactly!

Not really digging picture time.

Paying very close attention to her flowers.

Mommy hanging on to Emma and Jase until just the right moment.

And then, today, Alec and Emma attended their first dance (creative movement) class. They are able to take lessons for free at either of the studios where I teach. The studio where they took class today is called Adonai Ballet Academy in Springdale. It is owned/directed by a good friend and former student of mine, Rachel Staff. She is Royal Academy trained and teaches RAD syllabus. Her studio is a Christian based studio...meaning that her main focus is to equip students with excellent classical technique, in a modest and appropriate environment, where dancers can use their art to the glory of God. I think its awesome.

They had a great time in class. I know they are really looking forward to going again. Here's our first class picture.

Alec and Emma with Ms. Rachel