be a good mother

It was delicious. Isak and I spent the afternoon carving our pumpkin (I tried my best to follow his design then added a few touches of my own) and getting ready for the trick-or-treat fest. We did a Morticia and Gomez dance around the living room and made up silly ghost ditties.

All the weather reports insisted we were in for foul weather, but it was beautiful – clear, with a fat moon and a sprinkling of stars. It was a wonderful surprise, I was picturing a very wet frog making it about a block and a half before wanting to turn back, but there wasn’t a drop to be seen and it was very mild.

Isak really wanted to wear his froggy costume again, and it still fits, so off we went into the night. We went all around the area, zigzagging up and down the hill, meeting friendly neighbors, looking down at the city lights garnished with bursts of random fireworks, stocking his rapidly growing bag of treats, admiring the other costumes, singing Halloween songs…

We got home after a couple of hours and had a late dinner before sorting (and sampling) treats by pumpkin light and playing with some spooky lego daddy bought in case we got rained out.

We all had a great, great, night, although I don’t know if we’re ever going to get him to put the frog costume away. He even had me “interview” him in character, which I’ll have to post sometime – it was hilarious.

I hope everyone else had a great night too!

or Wednesday – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs :)

Parents: Fathers and Mmothers ~ our kids are only young once! We need to cherish, nurture, guide and love our children in every possible way. Possibly the greatest virtue a parent can have is patience.

My son is 21 now. Josh and Nat have gifted mme mmy first Grandchild – Aidan Neo on June 28 2009. They are both wonderful, loving and caring parents!

If I only knew then what I know now. I love you, Josh!

^{Lately one of my very favorite things to do together is to trade bedtime stories. First I’ll read a book he’s chosen, then we each make up our own. Last night he went on at length and I did my best to take it down afterward. What a marvelous imagination…}

Isak’s bedtime story (as told to Mommy October 13, 2009)

Once upon a time Isak found a garbage can with a bad cake inside. Isak took a bite, spat it out and said “ewww, that’s gross. And stinky. P.U.”. Then he met a worm. It was a talking worm with little closed eyes. Isak took the worm to the playground and the worm said “ow, the ground hurts my tummy” so Isak made some jello like a ball and the worm crawled inside. A snail came and said “hello” and they all played together.

Then Isak found a dump truck in the road and drove it home. Mommy and Daddy were there and said “oh Isak, we love your dump truck!” so Isak went to the dump truck store and got one for Mommy and Daddy. A purple and silver one.

Mommy and Daddy were so happy and drove their dump truck and Isak drove with Bob and they went to the coca cola store and bought coca cola in cups. Mommy and Daddy put their cups in the cup holes but they flew out the window and Bob and Astara drank them (Silly guys!). Mommy and Daddy got more coca cola and they drove to the train tracks.

The train tracks were blue and the wheels were blue and the train was blue too. We drank our coca cola and the bubbles went into our noses and the noses jumped off and ran away. We chased the noses but they ran up the wall and hid in a vent.

There was a door and the lock on the door stopped working. There was a sticky bug on the door, and a sticky jellyfish. Then Isak said “I have a good idea!” and asked the door to open nicely and went looking for Star Bear and Baby Bear. They were in the recycling bin and Isak fell in and went into a garbage truck and got squashed and looked like this [squeezes side of face with hands] and popped his head off and then he couldn’t talk.

Then Isak got a robot tongue and could talk and turned into a bat and flapped and threw bad snakes at people for Halloween and it was a party and we had good cakes and we were there just in time. The end.

...I was in full blown labour!

I can’t believe a year has passed since I went into labour at my friend’s daughter’s 5th birthday party and after denying I was in labour for several hours eventually conceeded that I probably should go to the hospital.

Stinky Pinkleton was born at 1.04am so most of my labour actually happened on the 11th. This photo was taken exactly one year ago!!

Beautiful Boy by John Lennon
(substituted a few words)

Close your eyes,
Have no fear,
The monsters gone,
He’s on the run and your mommy’s here,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way,
It’s getting better and better,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Out on the ocean sailing away,
I can hardly wait
To see you to come of age,
But I guess we’ll both,
Just have to be patient,
Yes it’s a long way to go,
But in the meantime,

Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you,
While your busy making other plans,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,
Darling,
Darling,
Darling Gabriel.

Juniper star and Samantha star are one!!! We spend the weekend at our family cabin. A place of pure magic and awe. Prefect place to celebrate the joy these girls have brought us! We then had a big family dinner with everyone on Monday. Good times.

Ok, I know I’m being silly… or at least I think I’m being silly. Yesterday was the bugs one year check up. Boo for shots! And poor Sam has an ear infection. It took her a really long time for her to clam down… I don’t think I have ever seen her that upset. : (

Anyway on the little questionnaire thingy they asked if they where using the words “Mama” and “Dada” accordingly. They have made those noises and they really are quite partial to “Dada” but it’s never directed towards my husband. I wasn’t worried, I think that their development is coming along swimmingly. But should I be worried? It’s hard to admit this, because of my background (early childhood professional) and my deep love of books, but I don’t read to them as much as I should. Some days we are lucky if we get enough food in both of them and that they are bathed and happy. I KNOW I should read to them more, and when I do they love it. But, I mean… give me a break I have two one year olds! Early exposure to reading does help with language. I know that. But we do a ton of playing, singing, and talking to them. Twins do tend to develop a little slower than singletons, but so far my stars have been ahead of schedule.

So yea, silly… right?

Anyway, besides all that Samantha has decided her first word is going to be, “Hello” She will repeat it back to you if she’s in a really happy talkative mood, usually early in the morning. It’s so fun to hear her little, “EERRllo” : )

This is the only place I can really be honest about this. Truthfully, part of me wants to have a baby now. However, I know that my boyfriend and I are not ready yet. We have only been together for 6 months and we are both working on our careers. Lastly, I really want to be married beore I have children….I just wanted to vent and express myself, but no worries, I can wait!

To listen to them,to love them..yes..unconditionally. To teach them something new everyday and not forget that you are learning too. I’m never too far away that they should miss me for too long. I’m willing to let them feel independent in some ways but always step in when they need to be guided.
I remind them that we all make mistakes and that it’s always the best thing to say “I’m sorry”. I have developed a trust and a bond that cements our hearts together forever.

The weather is slowly deciding to cool it’s heels as summer draws to it’s close. I spend everyday of my life doing the same thing so I don’t feel the time as it flies by. I really can’t believe that in just 2 weeks my little bugs will be One. It’s amazing to think back, at this time last year I had yet to meet them, see their faces. I had yet know the Beauty of being a mother.

For the big day, (September 6th) we will be at the cabin and on Monday we will have a family dinner. Very small and simple. Beautiful and just the way I would want to have it for them.

I love my parents, my brothers, sisters, husband, and all the people who have funneled love into these two little stars – it’s because of you that Juniper and Samantha are so happy and healthy. Thank you.