Twins Pet Works Field Trip

Watching a hermit crab, Ava was backing away, just in case

 The pre-school field trip to the pet store was kind of traumatic for Ava.  She was freaked out by a snake first, but then settled down as the lady showed them other animals.  She even took a good look at a lizard, and really liked the parrots.  But later when she got too close to an open box of crickets  she was suddenly holding on to my leg with tears in her eyes saying she wanted to go home! 

 Ava looking at the turtle, they both said that was their favorite animal, it was a girl turtle.

Oh, and the stuffed animal toys, they thought it was weird that they didn't have eyes, but would have taken one anyway. 

Play fort accomplishments

No pictures or video, but big news from the play fort.  Rielee taught Harper to pump on the swings yesterday, and Ava made it all the way across the monkey bars.  They both did it again today, too, and were super proud of themselves. 

Luke, Parker basketball

Ava was so proud that she could lift Harper

As sad as we all feel after losing Grandma Barb, having Ava and Harper around lifts our spirits.  Their love for each other, innocence, silliness, and energy are a wonderful distraction.  I feel guilty writing anything right now but I realize that Barb would be the first to say to keep going.

 Luke driving and making a lay up during his last 7th grade school game Tuesday, they beat Liberty by a bunch, more than 30 points.

 Monday-Parker was trying to block out that 6'5" Monticello player, they were both chuckling about it and Parker said he is a really nice guy.  Coweeman won.

In loving memory of Grandma Barb

Writing this blog seemed impossible once Barb got so sick that she could no longer take care of the twins.  It seemed cruel for me to be writing about my experiences with them, knowing she was reading it, knowing her heart must be breaking with the pain of wishing she could be taking care of them herself.  Here she hit the Grandma lottery and has twin granddaughters and she can't help care for them anymore, what a terrible twist of fate.  I wanted to quit writing about them, but she asked me not to.  I don't know how many times she thanked me for doing it, saying how much it meant to her to know that the girls were loved and taken care of, and that she and other family members enjoyed reading about what they had been doing.  This past Thanksgiving and Christmas were the worst, when she missed the twin's school programs, I didn't want to mention it for fear of hurting her,  I couldn't imagine what she felt having to stay home, but Kelly said to go ahead, she would understand. 
I often wondered if I could be as gracious as she was if the situation was reversed.  I doubt it.
She was a good friend to me, my "partner Grandma" is how I thought of her.  We had many conversations about the kids and in the last months she worried that the twins would forget her.  She had me promise her I would never let them.  Never, ever Barb.  How could anyone ever forget her?  She was a gem of a person, a wonderful Grandma, strong, kind, loving, she made me, and I imagine everyone else in her life, feel special.  What a gift.  And funny, she had a great sense of humor, one thing she said that cracked us up was when we were transferring the girls from our car to hers a couple of years ago in LaCenter.  They were acting up, as only they can, and she said "don't you just want to drop-kick them sometimes?!"  Oh my gosh, she was down-to-earth and funny, and yes, that sure put everything in perspective. 
She has the sweetest grandchildren you can imagine in Rachelle, Adrianna, Dale, Mikey, Lexi, Luke, Ava, and Harper.  That she had to leave them so soon is just beyond unfair. 

Rest in peace Grandma Barb
Love,
Grandma Jennifer
 

Ukuleles

Papa got Rielee a new ukulele in Hawaii and gave it to her this morning.  Rielee got out Ava and Harper's old toy ukes, too, so they could play along with her.  They actually had forgotten those ukes and thought Papa brought them from Hawaii, too.  Harper watched Papa tune Rielee's ukulele and then she had to tune hers.  Neither she or Ava wanted instruction on how to hold a ukulele, preferring to hold it on their laps.

After school, Rielee played and sang songs while Harper held her music and Ava played along.  After watching Rielee play and sing, Harper wanted to try it.  She said she was going to write a song and went into the playroom for a few minutes.   She came out (with makeup on) and was shy at first, singing quietly, but after a few tries she was really belting it out.  She sang several versions and they were all about Rose, a fairy princess who liked the color blue, lived in the forest with her family and lost her glasses.  Funny. Here is a link to video:     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkT0QDEfR4Y  

Headbands

 Ava and Harper were feeling very cute this morning, Mom bought them new shirts to wear to their Valentine Party at school today, and they had on their new boots, too.  They also decided to wear headbands so they would match Rielee.

The twins bedtime excuses

The twins can come up with a lot of excuses at bedtime, this is what I heard tonight:
  1.  they were hungry
  2.  and scared
  3.  Harper developed a cough, both wanted some medicine, "the purple kind, do you have any?"
  4.  Ava had to go potty
  5.  Ava heard the bathroom sink running, had to check it out
  6.  they were thirsty
  7.  Ava had a hangnail
  8.  Harper complained that Ava was talking
  9.  they both had to show me how they could make a butterfly with their hands
10.  Ava asked about the possibility of making cupcakes again tomorrow
11.  Harper had a "little owie" on her left pinkie, it really hurt bad
12.  Ava reported that Harper was talking
13.  Harper said her bed was too small
14.  so both tried sleeping on the floor until I put them back in bed
15.  both heard a sound (rain on the roof)- wanted explanation of why rain gets on the roof
Out of excuses, they finally fell asleep.

And more snow

The kids had fun on the snow tube today.

  Rielee, Parker, Auna and even Des tried it out,

 then they got out the 4-wheeler and the bunbuster and started giving each other rides.   Rielee got to play some snow tetherball with Dan, too, she got a kick out of that.

Rielee getting a ride from Parker with Dan riding on the back for weight. 

Auna had the funniest ride-she was headed for a small tree in the yard and she stayed on and went right over it and then fell off.   Des was on the back with Parker driving and she was howling with laughter, then they came up over the driveway and Des fell off !   Auna had several rides and when she finally got off,  she looked very funny and cold with her face, hair and scarf caked with snow. 
Des and Gabe had everyone over for cards in the evening.  It was a Dolan sweep with Emmy finally taking out Parker to win at 31 and Auna beat out Des to win the poker game.  Oh, and I beat Rielee at a game of checkers.  Fun day.

More snow play

 The girls were out in the snow first thing this morning.  Harper didn't last very long, though, after cleaning off the car and going for a little walk, she was cold and wanted to go inside.

Ava stayed out much longer, walking around the yard cleaning snow off of plants.  She also tried out the snow tube and really liked riding on it, and  came back out a little later for a few more rides. She didn't know what to think when I got on it and took off down the driveway past the woodshed, she was running along side of me and cracked up when I went out of control down the shop driveway and had to stop myself from flying into a rhododendron.

Snow!

  The girls played in the snow a couple of times today but since they didn't have their snow gloves they couldn't stay out very long.  They had fun making snow angels and cleaning the snow off the cars.  Rielee got out early so she came over to play, too, and in the evening they played at her house and then sledded back.  That was an adventure for them in the dark. 

Super Bowl half-time birthday party

 14 yr. old Parker and I (social security age, yikes!) had a quick birthday party at Gabe and Des' during half-time, it was fun, everybody was happy since the Seahawks were winning big time.  Note that Parker is now taller than me. 

 The older cousins posed for a picture, the little girls were busy playing in Rielee's room.

Trying to rearrange the girl's room last week at one point I had their beds close together and Harper just went crazy, excited with the thought that we could keep them that way and then if Ava woke up scared she could hold her hand.  I said we could try it and they happily went to bed last night and proceeded to play and giggle for a half an hour before I gave up and brought them out with me. Though once asleep and back in their beds, they did sleep through the night.