October activities

This weekend was filled with October activities. we've already watched hocus pocus quite a few times so far, and we finally made it to the pumpkin patch.. 

(definitely not our last trip of the season)

On Friday, the girls had their first real field trip with their pre-k class.. at the pumpkin patch -- one of our favorite places to go in the Fall. Old Mcdonald's has everything from animals, corn maze, hay ride, pretty decent sized play ground + a huge black tunnel slide .. the kind you use a sack to go down. I can't remember what they're called.. help?  
hashtag -> serious mom brain.

anyway. it was a scheduled field trip so everything went perfectly + according to plan.

after lunch at 11:30, we were free to go, but I stayed and let the girls play until around 12:30 with the rest of those who stayed after lunch.

 by the time we left, the girls were covered in sweat, dirt, and sand.

they were grumpy and tired.. it was a very successful first field trip.

 

Pumpkin' Patch Photo Dump. 

their daddy had a follow up doctors appointment after the field trip so, as dirty and sweaty as they were.. we still strolled around toys r us while waiting on him to get done, and then hit up zaxbys afterwards. we took the risk of taking two very, over tired toddlers into a restaurant...#yolo

On Saturday, we went outside to paint the pumpkins they picked out from the day before at the pumpkin patch. talk about a fun, messy, experience.. but overall it was absolutely hilarious listening to these two talk.

Kaylee: I've been waiting for this moment"

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 Kylee: mom, you need to take her a bath.  

(repeated at least 10x because her sister was covered in paint)

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Kylee: I've cut a pumpkin before, but never painted one.

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Kylee: goodness girl... what the heck?? yours is creepy. mine is not.

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Kylee: when you're done, don't leave me out here.

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any time they say something funny I always jot it down in my notes on my phone so I don't forget.

you never know what they're going to say... and I can't keep up.

here's how our pumpkin' painting went...

in pictures.

Fall is my absolute favorite.

all the leaves changing/falling.

pumpkin carvin' / paintin'

hay rides. scary movies. 

let's not forget all the pumpkin spice.

here's to the start of the Fall season with my big girls.

x0 brooke

Update on the big girls

We're due for an update on the twins. SO much has changed.. SO much in just 4 weeks since starting preschool. we've upgraded to bunk beds, Kaylee can spell her name ( I taught her within one day), and they've learned routine.

They've picked up on the good and the bad.. they've learned new (bad) attitudes, but also learned how to memorize a few books/songs. Sending them into the real world comes with pro's and con's... this phase they're going through, I sure hope is short lived but some days I really wonder how I'm going to make it through the evening with them when they've back talked me a million times, or refused to do something I ask of them. The four year old stage is by far the worst stage yet, but I know soon enough it'll be over and although I know there is always a new phase to go through with each age.. I'm going to remain positive in the situation and just say this is just a four year old stage and they're learning a ton of new emotions + learning how to listen/follow rules.

They're both so, very smart. I can't begin to tell you how many times a day they're counting to 10, saying the alphabet, singing songs, + "reading" books they have memorized. They learn something new every single day. Last week they were being taught about feelings, and knowing how to react in a situation of someone doing something they don't like, or if they see a friend who is sad - what they're suppose to do to help.

I couldn't be happier with the girls' school that was chosen. Their teachers are wonderful, the girls' miss them over the weekend while they're at home, and they've made a ton of new friends who they talk about daily.

The girls have been hit with every sickness possible since starting school.

When one gets better, the other one is down for the day or two.

Kaylee was sent home by the nurse yesterday when she called me saying there has been a bad case of "hand, foot, and mouth" going around the classroom and it looks as if Kaylee has caught it. To the school I went to pick her up... just two days after I picked Kylee up from school due to throwing up.

The past few days have been hard.. keeping the girls separated into two separate rooms is difficult. Although, 90% of the time they're fighting and act as if they hate each other... these two can't stand being separated. It's been a nightmare, but now that they're in school.. we don't want them missing any more days than they have to. So... when one child is ok, and the other is sick.. separate rooms it is. Kaylee has a doctors appointment in the morning as soon as I drop Kylee off at school. I'm hoping the doctor confirms that she can go back to school, that way she can also be free to love on her sister again.. because these two are driving us crazy wanting to be together 24/7 when they just can't be.

Kay bug;

girlfriend. you're a hot mess.

moody is the best word to describe you.

one minute, you're happy and laughing.. cracking jokes.

the next minute, you're screaming/yelling at us or your sister for whatever reason.

handling you can be tough, and it's easy to get frustrated with you for being so mean when you're in a mood. you are most definitely the funniest kid in this house.. you always have the best come backs for a four year old. some days I wonder how you're as smart as you are for your age.

you love to help when you're not asked to, but if you're asked to it's an argument before you do it.

you can get mad at us, but in return when we get irritated right back towards you.. you instantly cry, or sometimes get even more angry. for the most part, you hate for us to be upset with you. you want to cuddle right away if you think we're upset with you. however, the temperament lately has been out of control. you love to hit and kick recently, and we can't wait for this part to pass.

you still love the color pink, you love your puppy dog pals + paw patrol. #animallover

you love for me to pretend to put makeup on you. and you love your nails painted.

you love to sing, and you love to dance.

you do hate to eat. anything and everything.

it's normally a process to get you to sit down for dinner when we sit at the table the night's your daddy is home... 90% of the time when we make you try things, you throw a fit for a few minutes over wanting a snack instead before finally eating what I've made.. 10% of the time you actually eat without a fit.. normally on taco night, or on nights when I give up and say eat cereal. you love your tacos and cheese pizza, but you hate chicken nuggets.

you're an odd one, kid.

love you though ;)

example of how hilarious she is below..

a conversation between her and I this morning..

 (after dropping kylee off around 8)

Me: I'm taking a nap.. I just feel exhausted. 

Her: Well, you act like you didn't just sleep at sleep 30'oclock.

oh.. that's a new one for me.

starbucks had one job.

KAYLEE.

her name is KAYLEE. #faceslapemojihere

Ky Morgan;

so sweet. so sassy.

our sour patch kid.

you act so mature for your age.

you're just as lovable now as you were as a baby.

you have your moments, but every kid does.

for a while, you went through this crazy phase of screaming at me when it was time for bed.

screaming at the top of your lungs. it was awful.

I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel on that one. shew. never been so happy.

fingers crossed it doesn't come back.

you're the more shy one, but since starting school you've come out of your shell a ton. your teacher even said so.

you still love the color blue, your sister is still your very best friend along with the new friends you've made at school.

you're a momma's girl through and through.

you love, love, love Goldie and Bear on disney.

every day after school you ask for a snack and if you can watch Goldie.

being a momma to your baby dolls is your favorite thing. your baby dolls are mainly all you play with and care for.

your personality is oh, so serious most days.. which is hilarious when you're telling a story.

you're very friendly, but I've realized since starting school you won't put up up with other kids being mean to somebody else, because you have stepped in and I can't say how proud I am of you for that.

Mommy and Daddy tell you both daily, never let anyone be mean to you or to anybody else.

you love to eat. you love anything I make... literally anything.

you ask me daily "what's for dinner?" and I hope that never changes because it is the cutest thing ever.

love you, sassy pants. always + forever.

x0x0 Brooke.

Mommin' ain't easy

Life lately. 

Being a mom is hard, being a twin mom can be even harder.. emotionally.

Most look at it as "well I have four.. you only have two" or "well mine are a year apart"

.... I have two who needed diaper changes at the same time, potty trained at the same time, learning to walk/crawl at the same time, and now as toddlers.. they both go to school at the same time.. one isn't older than the other so they go through the same emotional stages together, one isn't more mature than the other as other children who are a year apart.. physically we all may feed our kids of all ages at the same time, and bedtime may be at the same time.. however, emotionally/mentally my children are on the same level which makes it hard at times when trying to teach them basic life rules, trying to get them up and motivated for school.. so yes, your four kids and children with a one year gap -- I'm sure are hard, I don't doubt it one bit, but twins are on a completely different level than children who have a one year gap between them. 

If you're a twin momma, you get me. 

Our schedule looks like this. 

I wake up around 5:30am / the girls at 6:00am.

They eat breakfast (unless they choose to eat at school that day)

Kaylee gets a bath every morning before school, Kylee gets a bath every night before school.

In the meantime, I'm getting myself ready. Normally it's hair up from the day before, or I'll just throw it up with a hat on for the day with very minimum makeup. 

7:20 -- we are out the door and headed to school.

7:40 -- the girls go in

8:00-- I'm at work

1:20 -- I leave work to pick the girls up.

1:40 -- the girls are out of school

2:00-3:00pm -- cooking for dinner already

 (depending on their daddy's work schedule for the day) 

3:00-4:00 -- picking up the house normally from the day before + in between the girls playing if they aren't cleaning their room at the time.

5:15-5:30 -- girls eat dinner 

I try to rest in between, normally it doesn't happen. I'm usually on my feet from 5:30 on. 

6:00 -- Kylee is in the bath

6:45-7:00 -- girls are heading to bed

By 7:00pm they are normally out.. if they don't get a full night of sleep.. it isn't pretty.

And by that time, I'm dead to the world: I'm normally out by 7:30 every night besides weekends.

Being a stay at home mom was no different other than school and work is thrown into the mix now which does make it a tad bit crazier since they have to get up and get ready daily instead of staying in pj's all day, but we're getting the hang of things. Getting two (girl) toddlers ready at the same, isn't fun.

Behavior lately. 

Tv has been cut back to 30 minutes before school and maybe an hour after depending on if they play on their tablets. You call other parents "strict" growing up, until you become one and quickly realize you have to limit your child, and you also have to make it known who's the one with the rules. Kaylee tests us often, almost every day now.. she tries to hit/kick at times, she cries/gets mean when you take the tablet away (another reason why we limit them with electronics) 

 As a parent, you want nothing more than to always be the nice parent, the one who gives their child everything  and constantly smiles/laughs with her kids.. but, it's more than that. Being a parent is crying in the bedroom when you've had enough in one day, arguing with your child to eat dinner unless you want your child eating donuts and cookies, of course.. - it's telling them a million times to "go to sleep" at night due to school the next morning.. it isn't always sunshine and rainbows as I always say.

Kylee's behavior has been the usual.. she's usually full of smiles, but at times even she likes to give attitude because she sees her sister doing so but she quickly realizes who is and who isn't the boss.

Not every day is going to be perfect, and I get that. They're growing and learning as we had to do.

Kaylee's temper does get the best of her, and lately it's been at an all time high. Just yesterday morning, JD had to take the tablet and put it up until she decides to cool it a little with her attitude/hitting. I'm not sure if it's the brand new schedule, or if she's just going through a different phase.. regardless, it isn't okay, and surely isn't acceptable to treat others that way so the tablet is ours until he says otherwise. We're not ones who believe in making your toddler do chores, but when I'm sweeping up your mess and you look me dead in the face and purposely throw your lunch meat down on the floor for me to clean.. I do not think so. Kaylee learned her lesson when she threw a piece of ham down while I was already cleaning up her mess. she thought she would get away with doing so.. she thought wrong when I handed her the broom and made her clean up her own mess. it didn't phase her much.. due to the fact that even though she's the one who gives us the most fit, she's also the one who's the most helpful and will help me load the dishwasher (without me asking), and she'll help me put clothes away. she's a great kid, just a bad attitude problem at times.

Sleep lately.

Sleep has been better than normal. Usually bed time was one of the worst times of the day, and at times it still can be. I saw another twin mom use the "sleep coupon" theory.. so we tried it and it's worked. I printed mine out on Pinterest and illuminated them so they can be kid friendly without giving a paper cut if the girls were to carry them around. As long as they sleep all night without getting up, they receive a sleep coupon the next morning. If they get up in the middle of the night other than to go to the bathroom, one gets taken away. Every couple of sleep coupons they receive, they earn a reward in return. If they turn in 2, they receive a small reward.. if they wait to turn in 8, they receive a bigger reward.. and so on. 

It's helped, we had a few setbacks with Kaylee on sleep, but for the most part she's been in her bed every night with no fits.

School lately.
school is school. nothing new.
they go monday-friday.. with some fridays off.
they've made a few new friends.
for right now, the teachers are getting the hang of things for the new school year and getting to know their new kids.
 The girls love it, and so far nothing negative has been sent to me through the app we have set up with the classroom/teacher which is all that matters to me.. as long as they're doing great.
Kylee was sick and missed a day aleady, but now she's better and right back to school with her sister.
it's a four day weekend coming up and I'm excited to spend it with my girls.





I believe that's it for the update on how our life is lately (:

If I don't respond to a pm, or I don't respond to a text. More than likely I'm asleep, or my phone really isn't in my hands. That saying for teenagers -- "more than likely I'm ignoring you, my phone is always in my hands" 

Well, clearly I'm not a teenager anymore because unless it's slow at work with no one to talk to or nothing to do, and as long as I'm home cleaning/cooking, taking care of my girls... my phone is back in my room or on silent so I don't even have to deal with hearing the notifications go crazy. 

Life is too hectic to be on 5 different social media outlets at once. I like snapchat because it's a snap of a picture and that's it. I love, love, LOVE instagram because of how many other twin mommies / mommies in general I can connect with. I love seeing all of the pictures, and so much positivity. 

Facebook and twitter have become my least favorite social media. It's full of negativity and drama. I use it for Younique, which i'm keeping at part time/a hobby and I use it to update family members with pictures of the girls due to them being far away. 

Other than that, I try to minimize my time spent on Facebook.

I don't need to update my life daily through Facebook, I blog because it's my favorite outlet and I know reading other mommy blogs, helps me a ton so in return -- I do the same.

I use my social media mainly for pictures, and pictures only.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blogs.

And for keeping up with our crazy hectic life.

Would I throw another baby into the mix? Yep. Sure would and will one day soon. 

No matter how crazy/hectic it gets, this is the life I chose and the life I love.

Stay tuned through out the year because we have plenty of fun, and exciting changes coming our way. 

Xoxo Brooke