Zane loves basketball

My favorite part of this video are Zane's delays. He will hold the ball just above the rim waiting and making sure everyone is paying attention, then, at the right moment, he will drop it in. I also like the hug that Lily gives her daddy at the end.

Fairchild Tropical Gardens

On Sunday, we trekked out to Fairchild Tropical Garden. They were having free admission, and since it's normally 20 dollars a person we decided to take advantage of the offer. It's a beautiful place and I tried to explain to Zane and Lily that it was a "plant zoo". With no trees roaring back at them, they were altogether bored but enjoyed getting out with mom and dad nonetheless. It was also hot. I mean, steamy nasty Miami tropical climate hot.

Daddy and Lily. Daddy sweating and Lily bored.

What a gorgeous flower. I have no idea the name of it but it made me do a double take as I passed this plant.

To help try and cool off there was a little stand selling Lemonade and Lemon ices. We got a Lemon ice, one of daddy's favorites.

Lily wanted a taste but soon regretted it.

Since Zane will eat anything, he, of course, enjoyed it immensely and whined for more for the next 20 minutes.

I didn't take many pictures because, well it was so hot all I was concerned about was finding shade. I did have to stop and take a picture of this tree though. It is called a rainbow eucalyptus. It's bark is naturally these amazing shades of color. Fantastic.

Play Doh

What do you mean I can't eat it (pic taken after I had to forcefully remove a huge chunk from his mouth)

..what...is...that...

ew. ew. ew.

Lunch time

"I like spaghetti..."

"...as well as whatever Lily's eating"

"Lord, give me the strength not to harm my brother."

The Itsy Bitsy Spider....

...went SPLAT.

Ode to my husband:

Thank you, my dear, my sweet, for pummeling this would be predator. You fearlessly trucked outside smashing its hairy body with only brute strength and flip-flops. If it weren't for you, she might have crawled on my head or ended up in the mouth of our son, who likes to eat anything in sight. She was a squishy one; thanks for washing off my shoes.

Busy week y'all

ahh, the weekend....time to catch up on chores and enjoy some playtime of our own.

You might have noticed a lack of postings, a lot has been transpiring so the time to take pictures and sit down at the computer has been limited. Jason was out of town all week and Zane, Lily, and myself all caught colds this week. However, the runny noses are slowly drying up and the coughs are subsiding. We went to a birthday party Tuesday (where we caught the cold), Nana came in town on Wednesday, we visited the splash pad on Thursday, and Friday, daddy came home (hooray!). We spent Saturday recovering and catching up on chores while enjoying the crazy thunderstorm outside. A lighting bolt hit so close to the house that the sound was deafening, made mama scream and the babies cry. Love the tropics. Sunday, Jason and I went to see Inglorious Basterds, (Excellent movie, highly recommend it) and came home to take the twins to the park.

Below are a few snapshots from the park, as well as, a video showing Zane and Lily's love of fresh clean sheets. Most of the time I have to fold them during naptime because it truly is one of their favorite things, and they won't get out of the middle of them.

He doesn't appear to be very happy at the park, but I promise deep down inside he was

I shall crack this code!

Come on Lily, you'll love it

...and she did!

Dad tries to point to Zane an easier way to get to the top of the slide while Lily points to daddy that he's doing it all wrong.

Too cool for you 14 months old

Please excuse the quality of these pics, my camera is going haywire at the moment...The "babies" were 14 months old yesterday and were having quite a time playing with their sunglasses before their bath

Ready for afternoon tea

See the difference is, I make this look good...

Let's see, shirtless, slobbery, sponsers, I'm ready for NASCAR!

oh...and my redneck baseball cap too

Hanging out in the backyard

Mommy's little helpers, now if I could only get them to pull weeds

Can't... quite... make... it

My little monkey scrambles to the top

...and slides down all by herself, making Zane very jealous

HAH HA!

postings coming I promise!

Yes, it's Monday morning and I'm sorry I have nothing for you. I promise to take out my camera today, last week was a "challenging" week. Well, so is this week, daddy's out of town and mom's running solo, BUT I shall get some pictures up shortly

Discipline: An Editiorial

"Parents should be wary that their children's boundaries don't turn into bondage"

This is hard task.  Anyone who has a toddler knows that it can be the most frustrating part of child rearing.   Sure the first few months of having a newborn are difficult but that is normally a cause of sleep depravation and too high expectations.  Toddlerhood is a whole new ball game.  A newborn may have difficulty eating, but it doesn't take the food you've spent all day preparing crumple it in their hand and throw it back at you, screaming NO!  

I'm having a difficult time with both Mr. Zane and Miss Lily regarding behavior.  As many of  you know we have recently eliminated my daytime helper who used to come for a few hours a day to give mom a break.  I loved the help, but I am now paying the price.  

Being a paid employee, she believed it was her job to entertain the twosome non-stop.  For the past 8 months, both of them got accustomed to constant directed activity.  A brief "eegh" was met with being picked up and toys changed out.  Mama doesn't play these games.  While of course I interact with them all day long, I do expect some independent playtime so I can scrub a toilet or two.  

This past week, both Z&L have retaliated, demanding that the show must go on.  If I say, NO!, it is met with a smile and increased enthusiasm for the trespass.  Walking into the next room causes an uproar, complete with red-faced tantrums screaming for encores.  Our daytime helper used to sing songs during lunch time, providing an endless lunchtime melody.  Mom's voice doesn't want to sing during lunch (I'm eating my own), yet the twins now require a performance to chow down.

It is not my wish or intention to neglect my little ones, I just do not want to be a director of their musings.  I have always had a hard time with discipline because I do not want to create clones that unknowingly follow each command.  I know there is a huge movement out there to limit choices but I do not agree and want my children to have free will.  If I can't think of a genuine reason for them not to do something, then I think they should be able to do it.  When they can pick out their clothes, I don't care if they look ridiculous in polka-dot pants and a striped shirt, it's what they chose and I'm for it.  

So here comes the difficult part, setting boundaries in a mind that doesn't understand the difference between running with a stuffed animal versus a fork.  Picking up a leaf versus picking up a sharp pointy stick.  One day at a time, someday they'll get it.  I don't want monsters, but I don't want robots either.

What are they up to?

You may ask yourself, what are the babies up to these days, well here's a snapshot of current events taken today

Good Ol' Fashioned Fun

"Hey what's that!"

"That looks like fun Lily!"

"AAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH"

"Run Zane Run...heh heh"

The ridiculous cuteness that is Lily

Oh, and by the way, Lily has been a bit ill this week, she is doing all of this while running a 101.5 fever...that is how good spirited this child is...

Making messes

Not much going on this week...just chugging along. 

Zane is trying desperately to use his spoon during meal times

But eventually he gives up and just crams it in his mouth with his hand instead

oh and just an example of what two toddlers can do in least than 10 minutes

ok ok kids I'll get on it

I swear mom, if you don't put the other swing up, I'm just going to have to do it myself.

(do you like Zane's head?  Ya, it's been introduced to the concrete a few times this week)

Philips Park

On Saturday we visited the park in Downtown Coral Gables.  It had just rained making it a perfect time to head out because there weren't that many people there.

I'm actually having fun!

Peek a boo :)

They seriously could have played on this bike rack for hours...

It's hard bein' a baby in tha penitentiary....

Lily get that flower out of your mouth!!!!

Go get daddy!

Look what I found!  A stick!  WOOHOO