HOME BOUND

The first year and a half of the twins life I was stuck at home. I found not even a minute of freedom. That was because they were too small and no one wanted to watch 3 children let alone two being babies.

I am under house arrest again. With the tantrum stage comes no certainty when or where the next one will occur. It is tough to go out with 3 children but when one is throwing a fit...I cannot do it. I cannot hold them all.

The first time I realized this I had just gotten done telling the UPS lady that I was lucky and that my twins were good-natured and easy. I should have never said that out loud. Within 2 minutes, I was out of control and it was not pretty. Carrying a child by the overalls is not something you should do in public. I think I will just stay home until this stage passes.

HOUSE CALLS

Our house has been on the market for a little under two weeks. We have had 4 people walk through it. The first two were within the first two days that it was on the market and then the last two were within the last few days.

In the beginning I was AMAZING at keeping my house PERFECT just in case someone called at the last minute. A law in the house viewing world is that they can call and leave a message saying that they are coming but unless you reply and say it is a bad time...they just come.

So far they have called with enough notice...until this morning. I was in the bathtub and I could hear my phone reminding me that I had a message. I kept thinking that I should get out and check it ASAP but I was really enjoying my bath.

When I finally did get out, there was a message that said that they would be there around 1200. To my HORROR it was 1150!!! I ran out in my towel and told Shane. Within 15 minutes our house was "presentable" and we were out the door.

AIR SOFT

Shane comes up with a new "hobbie" about every holiday season. Since he drives around all over town with his job, he comes across new places that he did not know existed. A few months ago it was an indoor air soft arena. We got 10 men from the war and went and played.

It was painful, but a blast. The battle wounds were eraser sized open wounds with a quarter sized bruise surrounding it. Playing with 9 men I quickly realized it was more fun to be a snipper. I hid in the back and picked them off for my teammates.

Shane decided that he LOVED it. He is very sneaky. It began with, "we are going to go the Fred Meyer and pick up 20 dollar air soft guns...we will be able to play in the yard after the kids go to bed...we RARELY get to have fun anymore." I ate it up.

I put my guard down a little and was overrun before I recognized it. Pretty soon he is the proud owner of a professional air soft pistol and coveting all the gear to go with it.

PUSHING THE LIMITS

We have begun the war. The battle to figure out who will give in first. Usually this is tough with just one kid but I have to do it with 3 at once.

With Landon it is climbing across the food storage end table, onto the counter, to the sink, to splash in the water. I spent the first part of the morning flicking his finger. After 15 times I switched to putting him in his crib for a few minutes. He still went to his crib about 10 times, but it seemed to be more effective.

Jackson is obedient. He listens when I say no, or at least after the first punishment. But he does get confused if he sees Landon still doing it.

Brenna thinks that she is the boss. If I ask her to do something so says "maybe not" or just a matter-of-fact "no". She goes to time out too if she doesn't listen.

ONCE UPON A BEDTIME...

As we were putting the kids to bed Shane called me into their room excitedly, just in time to see Jackson climbing OUT OF HIS CRIB!!! With quick thinking we decided to undo a few screws so that the bottom of the crib rested on the floor and the mattress would be 4 inches lower.

Right when we were done with Jacksons crib then Landon climbed out of his. I decided to do Landon's also but Shane sighed regretting ever telling me about it. I pulled Landon's crib away from the wall for better access only to find the source of the sour smell Shane had been complaining of for a few weeks. VOMIT!!!!

So of course we cleaned that up. Lowered Landon's crib only in time for Jackson to climb out of his already lowered crib.

Oh life!!! Oh the different phases of child rearing!!! Oh the battle that will ensue at each and every bedtime for the next few weeks.

THE GREAT ESCAPE

I have been DREADING this day. We had the brothers sleeping in pack n plays at grandma's house after church. I heard Landon cry shortly after I put him to bed but just let it ride. He quickly stopped crying so I figured that he went back to sleep.

About 15 minutes later we heard the phone sounding. It was off the hook in the room they were sleeping. Little Ashley went to check on it and found that the brothers had escaped their pack n plays and had terrorized Grandma Frans room.

They cannot yet get out of their cribs, thank goodness. But I have NO idea how I am going to get them to sleep at Grandma Karen's house again. It is going to be a lot of putting them back to bed over and over.

NINE LIVES

If Landon was a cat...he would be on his fourth out of nine lives. The latest situation I have a hard time thinking about without cringing.

I was doing the dishes at Papa's house and Shane called me downstairs to help him with the kids. I left the dishwasher open thinking that I would be back in a a few minutes to finish. I closed the basement door behind me but Landon snuck up and opened it himself. I had no idea he knew how to do this.

A few minutes later he came tumbling down the stairs. No big deal, he has survived it before. But when I went to go pick him up I realized that he had a steak knife in his hand and their was another one midway down the stairs.

This child is meant for greatness and has angels watching over him. His only battle wound was two tiny pinprick sites from the knife above his top lip.

TANTRUMS

My little Jackson has discovered how to throw a fit. He whips it out without notice and as often as he chooses. It is usually full on. He drops himself on the floor. Rolls around. Tosses away what is in his hand.

The best part is that the last two times he has gone to a store, he gets the tantrum gimmes. He does not know what it is but he wants it. It could be a frozen turkey or a box of tampons but he throws a fit to get it.

I think life is hard for an almost 2 year old that has to share everything with his twin brother.

ON THE MARKET

It is on the market. I love how the pictures turned out. 1060 sqft, 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths.

BUSY DANCE

Something we have done for awhile is the busy dance. For example, I woke up after a BUSY night shift and my house was trashed. I got a call for someone to come view the property in 30 minutes. I girded my loins and went to work but the children wanted my attention at the same time. To end the madness I begin the "busy dance" and then they occupied rest of the hour doing it together.

I got it from Veggie Tales: Love Your Neighbor. It is the Good Samaritan story except...it is a pickle that gets his head stuck in a hole along the road. The mayor and a doctor stop as they walk by but they spend all their time explaining how busy they are instead of helping the poor pickle. And they sing this song while they do it.

We're busy, busy, dreadfully busy
You've no idea what we have to do.
Busy, busy, shockingly busy
Much, much too busy for you.

'Cause we're busy, busy, frightfully busy
More than a bumblebee, more than an ant.
Busy, busy, horribly busy
We'd love to help, but we can't!

I grab one child's hands and we dance around the room with fast feet. They LOVE it.

DISPOSAL

Shane's Philosophy: A garbage disposal is there not to put food down but to break up anything that might accidentally go down the drain.

My Philosophy: Why put food in the trash can that will just stink up the house? The disposal is there to put most things down except grease, potato skins, onions. I also find comfort in knowing that my husband is a drain cleaner and can fix any mistakes ;) I have not had to use him in 5 years of marriage (as I cross my fingers).

BRUTAL

I really should not have written the last blog post. I think Satan heard me and threw all that he had my way. I think that the last two weeks have been the worst two weeks of my life.

Three kids with constant vomit and diarrhea kept the washing machine -and me- running all day.

The kids were whinny and all wanted to be held at once. They were hungry but would vomit up all they ate. They had a low tolerance and would fight over everything.

Movie...movie...movie...only creates monsters. They watched movies so that would stay in one place and vomit on the blanket instead the floors. Since getting better they have forgotten how to play and just cry to watch movies.

I was borderline sick all week and just moments from vomiting myself. It is not easy to do the extra tasks when you are sick.

It was a busy week with meetings and appointments.

Thank goodness for people who offered help or else I would have not made it. It was BRUTAL!!!

OPERATION SPIRITUAL RECOVERY

I have done what I thought I was not capable of physically and temporally but I severely lack spiritually. I have a rock solid testimony from the past that keeps me grounded but I desire to be anxiously engaged.

September goals: Small and simple

Sing a hymn daily.
Prayer on my knees and alone daily.
Read a chapter in the BofM daily.

RUNNING UPDATE

I am still running. The goal for August was 12 miles a week and a small workout 3 days a week. I have done it. Sometimes I felt on top of the world, as if my body finally knew what it was doing, and other times it took all I had to run just a few miles.

My PR for 3 miles is 25:30. 9 minute mile is the slowest my body will let me go anymore.

I realized PMS, sick children, and work schedule can really frustrate my running goals but I am determined.