Rub a Dub Dub, 2 Turds in a Tub

Maybe one of my favorite pictures ever.

How fun to be a twin.

Gymnastics

The twins have started gymnastics. 

 Also swimming + soccer.  

Phew.  

We chose to wait one more year on preschool so instead we have been hitting up all kinds of fun activities.  

Here is the first day.  

Lila in here special leotard and Lincoln in his (self-chosen) regular gymnastics apparel.  

(The Dawgs shirt + Jordan shorts.)

Here is just a normal picture these days for our 3 year old stud.

 And the Pearl.

Awwww, don't they look so precious??? 

 They are of course taking each other out, but they look so very sweet so let's go with that idea.

Coach Billie is their favorite.  

Sometimes they cry when it's over. 

 I like it because this lady is amazing with little ones.  

And so very patient.  

But structured.

Man, I love structure.

It's very fun to watch your children try and learn new things.  

Very, very fun.

Conversations with a Stud

Me:          'I sure do LOVE watching you play buddy.'

Linc:         'I sure do LOVE watching you clean mama.'

Truer words have probably never been spoken.

Excuse Me While My Heart Explodes...

Tonight I tucked our children into bed listening to Little House in the Big Woods.  

I need a moment.

Alright.  I think I'm good.

It's just that my heart is bursting with pride that our kids, our THREE year olds, are intently 

listening to a piece of actual literature.  

There are dozens and dozens of books that I just can't wait to read with the twins someday.  

And this book was certainly on the list.

I used to read it to my kindergarten classes each year.

We have been listening to the story together during play times throughout the last couple of days, 

talking about the story, the characters, the woods....  

They love it.

I just adore books.  

Always have.  

And I'm just ever-so-proud to be sharing these kind of treasures 

and a love of reading with Lincoln + Lila.

Summer...so far!

Summer is exhausting.  And ever-so-fun.

Summer is so short here in the NW that we seem to jam-pack everything into a very small amount of time. 

Here are way too manysome pics from my iPhone.  After going through these, I now understand why I feel so spent.  

Summer is...

...portrait-taking...

...collar popping...

...train riding...

...parade watching...

...new bark...

...list making...

...lots of reading...

...new big-kid! bikes...

...tide-pooling...

...jam making...

...crashing...

...car washing...

...playing with dad...

...camping...

...the beach...

...sand castles...

..swimming... 

...fire-booms...

...chalk-painting...

...sunglass wearing...

...celebrating 11 years... 

...table making... 

...friends with cool slides...

...ballerina camp...

...superhero toys...

...cousins...

...knee-healing...

...big boys...

....mmmmmmmm...

...california cousins...

...tubs full of dirt...

...air shows...

...spiderman...

...lipstick...

...hitching a ride..

...bunny whispering...

...birthday-ing...

...dance partying...

I mean, we are just barely into August right?!
Bring it!
I just love summer.

FREEZE

I realize I haven't blogged forever.  These 3 year olds sure do keep me busy.  I have avoided blogging because where do I start when I've been gone so long???  My thoughts...ignore the absence and start with what's now.

I want time to stop.

For real.

I know I've said it, blogged about it and said it some more.  It's old news.  And yet it's on my mind always.  

Life is just sweet.  And I love sharing my (exhausting) days with the most precious turds there ever were.  

Please, for the love, don't think it's perfect.  It's so not perfect.  

It's perfectly imperfect.

It might be perfect however if I thrived under the most whiniest conditions.  

If you like the sound of whiny children, come on over.  

I'll let you enjoy it for a while.  

For the record, whiny-ness doesn't fly with me.   Or Brian.  

Not. At. All. 

 But they continue to try.  

Boy oh boy do they try.  

Also it might be a perfect little life if I enjoyed the occasional 3 year-old melt down.  

Today....well, it's still a little too fresh to discuss but here are a few details--  

Screaming.  I mean SCREAMING.  Kicking, thrashing, yelling, shouting--you get my drift.  

At the grocery store.  

During the entire check out and loading process.  

Can you imagine how many people were looking at me?  Let me just say...A LOT!  

It was absolutely not okay. 

 And there were certainly repercussions for this behavior.  

Can I just say discipline is so not fun?!  

Necessary for sure, but one of the hardest parts of the job.

But the precious moments, well, they are mighty perfect.  

And Brian + I  would have 10 more Lincoln + Lilas.  

Maybe more. 

They just rule that much.

Last summer.  Look how much they've grown!

Last weekend...

My silly lady. Looking 8 years old.

Ferrying to Seattle.

Ferry riding with my crew back home.