iPhone Misc.

Every once in a while, I like to post a bunch of pictures from my phone. They seem to upload in no particular order.  These are more representative of our day to day activities because I always have my phone handy and don't usually have my big camera.

The babies have been dying to climb up on the swingset.  The platform is about 5 feet off the ground and WIDE open on either side.  We got this playset when Malloy was two and I was nervous about her falling off, but there was always a 1:1 parent to child ratio during playtime.  With two kids (and sometimes three) climbing and sliding, it just was not manageable.  I had to supervise the babies as they climbed the ladder, but couldn't possibly run around to the other side to make sure they didn't take a tumble as they tried to get on the slide.  90 feet of rope later, I have a pretty effective and safe solution.  I completely closed off the rock wall side of the playset and made the opening on the near side smaller.  The babies love, love, love to climb and slide!

I decided to paint one of the small walls in the playroom with chalkboard paint.  It has been entertaining so far and not too messy.  The babies have decided to write on the tables and chairs too, but fortunately it wipes right off.

Kyle found some other interesting uses for the chalkboard.

We had some relatively mild weather last week.  We spent lots of time outside.  The babies enjoyed dining alfresco at their picnic table and used they forks.  So big!

Maisey coming down the slide.  She has a love/hate relationship with these sunglasses.  She wants to wear them, but she doesn't have a big enough nose for them to rest on.  She is often found crying and pushing them on her face, but she won't let me help her.

Yesterday, we went to the bank.  When the teller saw Gardner and Maisey in the back seat, she sent some lollipops through the tube.  I had never given them any suckers, but I thought it seemed like an okay idea.  They really enjoyed them, until I heard Gardner fussing in the back seat.  I figured he had dropped it on the floor, but nope, it was stuck to his head.  I pulled on to a side street, took this picture, and yanked it out of his hair.

Gardner put himself in Time Out.  I am not sure why.  He looked so cute and innocent, I had to take a picture.  He and Maisey also found their jackets from last winter and decided to wear them around the house.

First Day Of Kingergarten

Friday was the BIG day we had been waiting for all summer.  Malloy's first day of Kindergarten was a success.  She was excited to start at her new school and to be in a class some with familiar faces from St. Paul's.  Malloy is now at South Highlands Elementary Magnet and her teacher is Mrs. Greene.

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Waiting in the auditorium with her class to go to their classroom.  

Malloy and her friend Claire with their matching backpacks. 

The children all waited in the auditorium with their parents, and then the teachers lead the children to their classrooms.  It was probably a good technique to avoid the parent/child separation drama that some people go through.  The parents didn't have to "leave" their kids.   Instead, the kids left us!  Malloy's friend, Mary, shed a few tears and was sad to leave her parents, but Malloy held her hand and they walked to their classroom together.

Once the kids departed, the parents had a "Boo Hoo Breakfast" in the libary.  We got to mix and mingle with the other parents.  After school, Malloy reported that  she had a great day.  She ate everything that we packed in her lunchbox (pepperoni stick, strawberries, Doritos, cheese and a juice box.  They eat lunch at 10:30, so maybe I should start packing breakfast instead.  She did not fall asleep during nap time, but rested quietly for 30 minutes.  Monday night the parents go to school to meet the teacher and see the classroom.

Twin Love

The twins are finally starting to show each other some love.  It is so cute when you tell them to hug each other.  They also bring each other their blankets when one has fall down or is crying.  It's very, very sweet.

Sometimes they are very good at sharing and taking turns.  Other times, a pushing, screaming, eye gouging fight ensues.  This Sonic cup was filled with water for anyone who might be concerned that they are sharing a 44 oz Coke.

Malloy was pretending to be a mom - complete with the purse, sunglasses, Baby Bjorn, and shopping cart.  She put on these grey stretch pants and asked if the made her look like a real mommy because "a lot of mommies wear these kind of pants".  Yes, Malloy.  Unfortunately we do.  They are called yoga pants and we wear them even though we don't do yoga.

Daddy decided that EACH of his children needed his/her own Bulldog pillow pet.  I think the kids were more excited about the box in which they arrived.

I Heart Ikea!

Can I just say I am SOOOOOOO glad we decided to add a second floor to our house??  We spend most of our days up there taking refuge from the 100 degree temps outside.  Without the playroom, the downstairs of our house would be a disaster.  Now we are virtually toy-less on the main floor, and if the upstairs is a mess, I don't care because no one has to look at it!

After our big trip to Ikea in May, Kyle and I got busy with our little Allen wrenches and put together all kinds of furniture.  We had an entire entertainment center, a couch (yes! you have to put the couch together!), little tables and chairs, toy storage units, a dresser and a nightstand to assemble.

Voila!  Here's the (almost) completed playroom.  The bookshelves are made from vinyl rain gutters and the magnetic board is a $12 oil drip pan from WalMart (thanks Pinterest!).  The big red couch with the chaise lounge came from... you guessed it, Ikea!  I am not sure if any other couch this size would have fit up our stairway.  Fortunately for us, it came it about 5 different pieces that could be carried up one at a time.

Behind the couch, we have some soft floor tiles and a great toy storage unit from Ikea.  It has evenly spaced rails and you can customize it with plastic drawers of whatever size and color you desire.  There is a little reading nook next to the book shelves.  Maisey and Gardner love that green chair and are often seen physically fighting for a seat on it.

Here's the entertainment center with lots of storage for toys, DVDs, etc.  I have been super happy with the cork flooring too.  It is quiet, softer to sit and stand on than wood, and not slippery.

I opted for two small tables pushed together to make one larger workspace.  I have a feeling Malloy will enjoy playing school in a few years and these little tables can become desks for her pupils, Gardner and Maisey.  On the wall above the table, I plan to do some sort of dry erase or chalkboard and find a cute way to display all of the kids' works of art.

The playroom would not be complete with a life size Hairy Dawg Fathead.  He stands guard next to the mini fridge, which fortunately has a lock on it.  Otherwise the children would be helping themselves to Capri Suns and Diet Dr. Peppers all day.  We also love having a microwave in the kitchenette.  We make popcorn every afternoon for a snack and for entertainment.  The babies love watching it pop.