Catching up in photos

July passed by in a blurr! I can't remember the last time summer buzzed by so quickly! The month started out with my 30th birthday and was filled with lots of day trips to the aquarium, zoo, beach, etc and tons of fun....

We went to the aquarium & the Pop Shop with our twin friends, Nora & Paige!

 I love getting the kids cute matching 4th of July outfits!

 Pool party at Nonna's (Aunt Patti's) for 4th of July

                       Cole & Summer                                                     Hannah (my 3 year old niece) & Summer

We've been making lots of day trips to Sea Isle City, where Jim's Aunt Sis & Uncle Len have a house where they graciously let us stay.  This picture was from the amusement park there.  Summer & Cole were ringing their little bell to their heart's content!  And the poor little boy sitting in front of them was none too pleased by the noise!

Here's silly Summie showing me that she can fit 2 pacis in her mouth!

Cole attended his first movie, Cars 2 a few weeks ago for his friend Joey's 4th birthday!  He was so excited about his special little snack box with the popcorn & slushie drink.  He made it through about an hour of the movie and then got up and decided it was time to go.  He fell asleep as soon as we got in the car.

Summer and Cole's daycare is having "Camp Splash" for the summer with weekly themes and tons of extra fun activities! A few weeks ago was holiday week, complete with Halloween dress-up day.  I dug out a hand me down dress up summery Tinkerbell outfit for Summer to wear (you wouldn't believe the this pink only wearing girl would be in love with GREEN Tinkerbell, but she IS!).  I had trouble at first thinking of what to dress Cole up as that would be ok for the hot summer temperatures, until my aunt said you need to get him a Superman t-shirt for him to wear.  For those of you who don't know... Cole believes that his name is Superman Hazlett and will tell you if you ask him!

This past week was pirate week and the kids made pirate hats, eye patches, treasure maps, etc.  Then on Friday they had a treasure hunt.  The kids were SO excited by this.  Here's how they looked...



Work ethic...

I so can't believe that I have not posted in almost a month or that it is already AUGUST!!!! I was just installed at the beginning of July as treasurer for the club that I belong to, South Jersey Mothers of Multiples.  Learning those ropes this month has taken a lot of my "spare" time.  The weekends have been filled with birthday parties, trips to the zoo, trips to the beach and some pool time thrown in there as well.  This past weekend, we went up to my sister's farm to see some family from New York and Las Vegas that were visiting and Sunday/Monday we went to Lancaster to visit Dutch Wonderland (among other things.). We have just been having so much fun that I don't know where to be begin.  I will do a catch up post with pictures, but let me take this time to tell you about a little conversation that we had in the car today with Summer.  Jim and I had the day off and were taking the kids to dinner with his mom. 

Summer: We are going to dinner with Mom-mom and Pop-pop
Us: Just Mom-mom is going to dinner with us, Pop-pop is still working
Summer: Pop-pop is working? He has to make the money?
Jim: Yes, he has to make the money.  One day you will work and make the money
Summer: No Daddy, I'm too little to work!

I just love how that girl's mind works.  Very observant!

the book store

This weekend for the first time ever, we took the kids to the book store and let them each pick out one book for new Baby Owen and one book for themselves.  Summer was really excited and picked up the first brightly colored book that was displayed upright on the table as we walked into the section.  We walked around with her carrying the book in search of books that Cole would like and other possible choices for Summie.  Cole found a few possibilities and we should Summie a few too, she shook her head and proudly held up the book in her hands and declared "Colwey!  I'm getting Chick n da boom boom (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom)!"  Here I had been trying to talk her out of the book because I never read it and she had been reading it at school.  Needless to say, I did not make another attempt to deter her from her selection.  After scouring the children's section we finally found some Toy Story books that were age appropriate (Cole actually got 2 of these since they were smaller than Summer's).  We also made a stop by the infant books and they each were proud to pick out a gift and later give them to their new cousin, Baby Owen!

We have now been reading these books quite regularly.  They seem even more excited to read these books that they picked themselves.  They are trying to recite the words along with me.  Summer grabs her "Piggy" (Ham) stuffed animal to show him that he is in the Toy Story books and Cole tells me all about what is happening in the pictures.  They love identifying the alphabet in Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (if you haven't seen this book yet and have small children you should definitely get it!).  Summer also likes to read as if she is the teacher.  She pulls up a chair and holds the book in front of her so we can see it and "reads" the book to us.... SO CUTE!

Does anyone have any great children's book suggestions for me??

Ringing in my 30th... a bit early

We've been trying to spend more time down the shore this year because the kids have been loving it.  Jim's Aunt Sis has a house nicely situated about 2 blocks from the beach and 2 blocks from a very nice playground.  I grew up in a town where you could literally walk to everything and coming to visit a place that is like that is so refreshing.  We were supposed to come last weekend, but Cole got a virus and was pretty sick all week so we bagged the trip.  This week we decided to get an early start and leave as soon as Jim got home from work Friday night at around 8pm so that we would hopefully hit as little traffic as possible and we'd be able to put the kids right in bed when we got here. 

After a lazy morning and breakfast, Jim and I took the kids to the playground.  The kids got hot quick so after they ate their picnic lunch we went to head home and Jim suggested we take the long way home.  I liked this idea, but if you know Jim you understand why I thought this a bit strange but just went along with it anyway.  Cole fell asleep in the stroller of course as he always does and Summie chattered the entire way.  When we got back I was shocked to see that my in-laws had all arrived and decorated the house to surprise me for my birthday.  My wonderful hubby had arranged for this nice little party at the beach with lots of good food after I had said that I didn't want anything big. And what party for me would be complete without my favorite cake from McMillans... yum!  (yellow cake with chocolate fudge icing if anyone is interested to know... it is to die for!)  After lunch, presents (the Wii, a few games to go with it, Margaritas, fancy glasses and some gift cards) and a failed attempt to get the kids to take a nap... the whole  family headed to the beach.  So far this year, Summer has not ventured into the ocean... not even a toe!  Today you would have never been able to tell that.  She was jumping in the waves and was absolutely fearless today!  And Cole had tons of fun throwing his new Cars football around on the beach with the boys!   It was really a great way to spend an early birthday (I won't really be 30 until July 4th).
Thanks to Jim, Summer, Cole, Mom & Dad Haz, Chris, Michele, Aunt Sis, Uncle Len, Aunt Judy & Uncle Bob for such an awesome day! 

Tales from the bounce house...

We live in a townhouse and do have a yard, but are not allowed to leave anything out on it or put anything permanent on it.  I've been looking at different options to keep the kids occupied outside that can be easily removed from the yard when we are finished.  We do have a few playgrounds nearby, but they are not a walkable distance away and they tend to get overcrowded with bigger kids which kind of freaks me out when I'm by myself.  Oh and the fact that the swings which Summer likes and the slides which Cole likes are no where near each other.  I finally decided on a bounce house and was able to purchase a slightly used one from a member of my multiple's club.  Jim and I decided we would get it as an early birthday present for the kids and then be able to use it for their party.  I set it up when I got home from picking the kids up from daycare last night and boy was it a SMASH HIT!  It was so beautiful outside that I let them bounce until way after their bedtime.  In total, they bounced with virtually no fighting for over 2 1/2 hours!! I was really happy that I was able to set it up myself, which is a big bonus since Jim doesn't get home until 8pm usually during the week.  I really think that we will get a lot of use out of it and hope to entertain some of our friends' children in it as well.  My favorite part of the night was when Cole decided to take a break and sit by me and Summer beckoned in from inside the bouncer by calling... "Coley Boley wanna play bouncie house with me?" ... breaks my heart! 

A fabulous 3 day weekend...

We had a great Saturday night spent BBQing at our friends' house.   The kids played outside in the baby pool and on the swing set and had such a great time together.  It's so nice to be able to spend time with our friends and their kids. 

Sunday morning we got up and headed for our annual trip to Sea Isle City to celebrate Aunt Sis' birthday (Jim's aunt).  We got down first thing and the morning and the kids had fun coloring with markers with Aunt Sis and Aunt Judy.  After a bit, we walked down to the beach.  Cole was first into the water and it was rather chilly, but I happily accompanied him.  Summer decided that she would sit on the blanket with Daddy instead of running in the ocean with us.  We ran and splashed in the tiny waves and finally Summer was interested enough to join us. However she did not actually want to enter the water (she had already tested it out before sitting on the blanket).  She stood by the water's edge and handed me her water can to repeatedly fill up for her so that she could pour it into the hole she had found.  We were soon joined by Uncle Len, Aunt Kate, Jay, & Mom-mom.  Cole & Summer happily splashed and poured in the hole in the sand.  Do you remember when you could be entertained so easily for such a long period of time?!?  Cole would run to the water to fill up his bucket, Summer would hand hers to Mommy and then the water was poured in the hole and the whole process repeated, over and over again. 

We started getting hungry, so we headed back for the birthday lunch.  After lunch we had delicious strawberry shortcake and sang Happy Birthday to Sissy, as the kids call her.  They were so excited to blow out the candles, that you would have thought it was their birthday!

We headed back in the early evening so that I could visit with my Pop-pop who is not doing so well, so please keep him in your prayers.  

 Today when we woke up, I decided that I wanted to take the kids strawberry picking.  The season will be finished in a few weeks and I've been wanting to go.  Jim probably thought I was nuts, planning such an impromptu field trip for our morning but I guess he's learned never to be surprised with me.  We drove to Johnson's Farm which is about 30 minutes away and boy was it hot outside (about 90).  The kids were very excited when we told them because like me, they LOVE strawberries... Jimmy... not so much!  I was happy to see when we arrived that it was not crowded at all.  We took our hayride back to the strawberry fields and the kids each took their little basket in hand.  We gave them quick little demonstration of how to pick the berries and to only pick the RED ones.  Now mind you, I haven't been picking since I was a kid and Jim has never gone.  (I used to go with my Mom-mom, Mom, aunt, sisters, cousins.  It was a yearly tradition and we would get loads of them and make a huge batch of jam... maybe that will be my goal for next year).  The kids did great.  Summer would tell me as she dropped hers in the basket... "that's beautiful mommy!".  We didn't stay long, but they each filled their basket and I filled 2.  They were so proud and wanted to carry their basket out!  

It was a great morning... I've had a rough week watching my grandfather teeter at the end of his life and I just needed to do something to bring back those happy memories from my childhood.  Strawberry picking definitely fit the bill.  And the bonus is that the kids really enjoyed themselves and behaved so well.  The trotted up and down the rows and didn't squash any or try to eat them in the field.  And I actually think that my husband enjoyed himself as well doing something that he had never done.  It was so nice to bring an old tradition from my family, into our family. 

We ended the weekend with a BBQ at Jim's parents' and the kids had a great time playing in their baby pool.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family.  I love you all!

A typical afternoon at the pediatrician's office (well for us anyway!)...

Most you were blessed enough to miss our winter saga of weekly at the very least, pediatrician's visits for either one or both of the twins that nearly sent me over the edge.  I actually found it to be one of my toughest feats thus far in my battle of balancing motherhood and my job, especially since both mine and Jim's jobs are nearly 40 miles in the opposite directions of home and daycare.  You are in the middle of your day of work, and the dreaded daycare phone number pops up on your cell phone and one of the children is sick and needs to be picked up.  As soon as we got one child better, the other was sick and funny enough not the same illness even!  I have been assured by the doctor, daycare director and many friends with children that this should be the worst winter as it was our first in daycare, so hopefully next year will be better.  We have happily reduced our doctor's visits to about a once a month frequency, from the once a week of Dec-Feb (and I am really not at all exaggerating). 
Cole started coughing/wheezing a bit on Sunday.  Monday he seemed to be doing better in the morning, but by Monday night and Tuesday morning it was getting worse.  No other symptoms, but was complaining that his back was bothering him.  Since he's had pneumonia twice so far this year, I called the doctor right away for him to be seen.  I often feel like I may be overreacting and have often referenced when Rachel was asked not to return the the pediatrician's office after she continually called the doctor during off hours on Friends.  However, I have found that  usually my panicy instincts have been correct and on the occasion that nothing is wrong... I feel better knowing that I have nothing to worry about. 
Since his appointment was at 4:30, I picked up both kids early from school and off to the doctor's we went since I didn't think I'd be back in time to get Summer before daycare closed.  This is something that I had stopped doing for awhile because of an incident where one of the doctor's (who I try now to avoid seeing at all costs) wouldn't give Summer at turn.  I really understand where she was coming from, as Summer did not have an appointment and all.  However, she is 2 years old and was finally grasping taking turns and asked nicely for the doctor to look in her ears too.  I told her that she wasn't getting a turn today, but every other doctor that we have seen there has at least pretended to look in her ears if not actually fully examined her.   As a result when it was time to leave, she was attemping to crawl back to the exam room on her hands and knees screaming at the top of her lungs, "MY TURN!". 
Today, I'm happy to say went much more smoothly.  We rode my fabulous new stroller up to the office and the kids played until it was our turn to go back.  We got to the scale and the nurse asked Cole to take off his shoes and step on it to be weighed.  Of course, Miss Summer had to take hers off too but since she had hers off before Cole did she just went ahead of him.  Then we were into the exam room to wait for the Physician's Assistant that we typically see... the kids just LOVE her!  They have the entire exam memorized now after our frequent visits.  They practically attack her when she enters the room.  They they tell her what she needs to do after I explain our most recent issues.  They stand like baby birds around her waiting for their turn as they ask her to listen to their hearts and check their ears (and Summer was given a turn even though it was not her day - another reason I love this PA).  Then comes their favorite time when they get to take turns playing with her stethoscope while she tells me what is going on with them.  I asked her if she has any other patients that are as eager to see her as mine are.  It makes me happy that they love seeing her so much, since I grew up deathly afraid of the doctor.  Today it turns out that Cole has the very beginnings of an ear infection and definitely wheezing in his chest as well.  We were sent home with our very own nebulizer to keep and an antibiotic, the last 2 times we needed it we just borrowed one from the office.  Since they were out of loaners and this is the 3rd time needing it, they did the paperwork for us to keep one.  The happy side of this for me is that we caught everything early and that Summer's tubes are still in place and not infected!  I also had a successful trip with both kids on my own with no major tantrums or meltdowns.  Oh and did I mention that Cole kept his underwear DRY in a public place!  Does anyone else's kids act like this at the doctor's??