Sixth Birthday, Third (and Final) Installment

As our last birthday-update installment will reveal, the duo opted for another jump party, held the Saturday after their birthday.  We started off by picking up the cake, and you will see that Gracie is in full party mode -- donning both the headband that goes with her birthday outfit and her birthday crown.  Gracie, more than any other member of her household, loves a party. 

After a brief photo op, Lauren and Gracie (and friends) were ready to play.  William George attempted a jumper or two before making himself at home in the toddler room.

After some good play time, we ate, sang and had some scrumptious cake. 

George loves birthdays... especially the cake part. 

Soon it was time for the rock wall and arcade.  Lauren and her sweet friend C scaled the wall. 

Everyone enjoyed the arcade...

...and I had a Las Vegas hangover the next day, wherein I could still hear the sounds of the arcade ringing in my ears. 

At home, we had a few more presents. 

Caroline and Kit have joined the collection, courtesy of Gran and Poppa. 

You're never too young for iTunes credit. 

George had no idea what was going on, but as long as there was singing and cake he was happy. 

The girls had a happy, HAPPY birthday.  Thanks so much to our family and friends for celebrating with us. 

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The Trio, May 2012

 

Look how small (and compliant) George is!

Sixth Birthday, Second Installment

At the duo's school, birthday cakes/cupcakes and the like are not allowed.  The school lunch room does have various frozen ice cream novelties, and those may be purchased for the class in lieu of cake.  We learned of this policy during orientation, and I immediately saw myself dodging the experience of carrying in a rather large sheet cake... of precariously balancing the cake on top of the stroller, all the while William George would be swatting and hitting at the box.  Needless to say, I was WAY on board with ice cream from the freezer case in the lunch room. 

We sent a note to school indicating that we would love to treat the class to ice cream and that we would be popping in for a surprise lunch date as well.  Their teacher said she announced the ice cream party that morning, and the class erupted into squeals and cheers. 

"Hey everybody, ice cream on us!  It's our birthday!" 

What could possibly be better than that? 

I will tell you what's better. The only thing that could top the magnanimous ice cream provision would be having Daddy appear for lunch.  We arrived, went through the line and ate lunch with the duo and two of their friends.  (If a student has a lunch guest, s/he may choose one friend to join them at the visitor's table.)  The duo choose "V" and "V," the other set of twins.  We had Mexican pizza, carrots, milk and ice cream.  Skip asked if he could regularly pick up lunch, but the kind lunch ladies seemed to discourage regular, repeat business, although we did have fun and will probably do it again soon. 

Sixth Birthday, First Installment

Back on the 3rd, we celebrated the duo's sixth birthday at home.  They did not let the fact that their birthday fell on a school day slow their celebration down at all.  They put on their new birthday outfit and celebratory headband, and went to school. 

After school, they had piano lessons, and they enjoyed the extra attention from their teachers. 

But then it was time to celebrate at home. 

After their favorite dinner (spaghetti), we lit the cake. 

We sang...

...and celebrated.

And then, because we were having so much fun, we sang "Happy Birthday" and blew out candles again...

...and again. 

 

Because, really, having a cake presented to you while everyone sings is the very best part of the entire birthday experience.

 

After cake, we opened a few presents. 

 

 

The girls are at an unusual place, where it seems like they have accumulated every toy in their age group.

 

Instead of a "big" present, we picked up a few trinkets and goodies. 

 

 

 

A new purse, a new Cinderella doll...

 

 

...and lots of Hello Kitty.

 

 

We had a great celebration at home. 

 

 

 

Next up, our lunch at school and birthday party. 

WGL, 15 Months

William George,

You turned 15 months last Friday, and, as cliched as it sounds, we truly cannot believe it.  We feel like you are skating right past the toddler phase and are choosing to establish yourself as a preschool boy.  From the moment you wake up until I catch you for naps, you are in constant motion, and that means you are almost always in an all-out run.  You occasionally stop briefly to jump -- your new favorite activity. 

You love being outside, and there is a major protest when the time has come for you to go inside.  You acquired your first real pair of tennis shoes last month, and you have definitely broken them in.  You still like to throw balls, but your favorite new activity is exploring anything you can get in your hands.  (We refer to this as the destruction phase). 

You are talking more, and your vocabulary includes:  momma, dadda, Gay-cie, YuYu (for LuLu, our nickname for Lauren), no, hot, cold, dink, tink, "ogurt," cracker, bot-bot, tea and 'ecial tea*.  There are so many others.  Your absolute favorite two words on earth are "go bye-bye".  You are ready to go anywhere, anytime.  You still love music and dance to songs that have a good rhythm.  I like your discernment because you stand stock still during some of the more questionable music selections that appear during the iPod shuffle. 

We went to your well check-up this morning, and Dr. W opined that you are a developmental superstar.  You have awesome balance and flexibility and you are very social and verbal.  You are 31 inches long (85th%) and weigh 21 pounds and 9 1/2 ounces (50-75%). 

George, you are awesome, and you are more fun every single day.  We cannot wait to see you climb the Christmas tree during the holidays! 

Love,
Mommy

*Special tea.  I don't even know where to begin on this one.  This is a very long story, but the girls refer to Diet Coke as special tea, and the significance to them is that they cannot have any sips of special tea -- only regular tea. 

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Team Lindsey

Friday's Quote

Holašovice Historical Village Reservation on Heritage

 

It isn't what you know that counts, it's what you think of in time.

-Benjamin Franklin

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Consumer Complaints

While I am busily sorting through last week's photos, I thought I would share something with you -- something I stumbled upon yesterday in Skip's office. 


By way of back story, illness plagued our family over the summer.  Skip returned home from a business trip with some type of infection (approaching walking pneumonia); Lauren developed a cough for approximately eight weeks; Gracie had strep; finally, my mom had a super bug that ultimately required rhinoplasty* to drain her infected sinuses.  At the start of our illness cycle, Skip agreed to seek medical treatment at a local doc-in-the-box type facility. 

Skip was the first patient to arrive at 8:00am when the doors opened, but still had to wait approximately 25 minutes for the physician to arrive.  When he finally pressed office staff on the wait time (because he was the only patient there), they explained that the physician had taken his children to school (presumably a summer program?) and would arrive in a few minutes.  Upon arrival, Skip was called back and met with the physician for literally five minutes (during which time the tardiness was discussed). 

While recounting this scenario to me later at home, we pondered what type of premium would be placed on those precious five minutes.  We received our answer this week, and I found Skip's responsive correspondence last night. 


October 8, 2012


Ubiquitous Urgent Care Facility**
Attention: Dr. John Smith
Dept XYZ 2
P. O. Box 12345
Everywhere USA  12345-6789


RE:  Account Number: 1234
        Patient ID: 5678


Dear Dr. Smith:

On June 15, 2012, I visited the Ubiquitous Urgent Care facility and had a work-up for
acute bronchitis and a brief visit with Dr. Smith (no more than 5 minutes with the
physician). Many of the measures taken were helpful, and the visit was appreciated.
Over the last couple of days, I received a bill for this item, and I want to ask that the
amount you are requesting (an additional $161.13) – in addition to the $25.00 copay I
have submitted, and the $193.37 my insurer has submitted – be reconsidered.
Simply, I think asking for an additional $161.63 is unwarranted, too much, and should be
reduced.


In other words, you’ve received $218.37 for taking what was a look at a throat and sinus
problem. Is another $161.13 really justified? Do you really believe that $318.00 is a fair
overall price for the services rendered?


Obviously, I do not. I think what you’ve received is sufficient. Please review this matter
and let me know your thoughts. While you do, please notate your system that I consider
this matter in dispute, and please do not send me repeated bills marked past due while we
discuss.


With Best Regards,


Ralph Lindsey
9876 Main Street
Anywhere USA  11111
123.456.7899

*Apologies for just now mentioning this procedure and her subsequent recuperation at our home.  However, she declined my offers to 1) photograph the pre-op numbing procedure and 2) update her social media statuses. 

**All identifying information has been changed.  Obviously.

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Not shown:  The telephone in William George's right hand.  He is making calls.

Reading About Cats

William George's favorite book is about animals.

 

He will bring the book to me, and patiently find his favorite page.

 

Once he gets to his favorite page, the page about kittens, he waits for me to "meow".

 

Then he laughs -- every single time.

 

Enumerated Update

How is your Monday?  Since yesterday and today are the first cool days of fall (yay!), we are starting the week feeling cocooned -- wearing sweaters, enjoying the crisp air and glimpsing the first hints of foliage. 

Otherwise, here is the skinny. 

1)  Party:  We survived birthday weekend.  In reality, we have been celebrating the duo's sixth birthday since last Wednesday, but the party was Saturday.  We enjoyed celebrating with family and friends and will post an update soon. 

2)  Football:  We attended cousin Lexy's football game Friday night and got to see the full, pre-game show, as well as the homecoming events at half time.  There is one last home game, and we are hoping to make that as well - as a final farewell - since Lexy will be graduating this year and moving on. 

Onward and upward. 

3)  DFW:  I finally started reading The Pale King, David Foster Wallace's posthumous work.  I selected this book a year and a half ago for Skip, who has not been able to bring himself to read DFW's last work.  Once we read this book, there will be no more DFW novels on the horizon, although we hope for some additional material from the papers he left behind. 

4)   I Got Nothing:  Since we have been focused on cakes, jump parties and all things birthday-related, I am running low on observations. 

Actually, I have a mean-spirited observation from our lunch out yesterday, but will hold off on posting.  I'll simply ask this:  Why are we always seated next to the LOUD table? 

What is happening with you?  How was your weekend?  Do tell...

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Lauren with her binoculars (turned backward)

Bent and Dent

Finally... Friday is here!  We have had a busy birthday week (updates soon) and have a party this weekend.  While we are celebrating the joys of turning six, I wanted to leave you with a final thought about shopping with boys -- William George, specifically. 

When Skip read my case against George, he casually said, "He couldn't possibly dent cans."

"Really?" I asked.  Then I retrieved exhibits A and B from the pantry. 

I have no idea how he manages to dent the canned goods.  My guess is that he steps on them when he is climbing around in the cart.  Like a good magician, I don't see how he performs the trick, and am amazed by the "big reveal" during checkout. 

Have a great weekend!

Friday's Quote

Charles Bridge on Heritage

Always accept good fortune with grace and humility.

-Mark L. Mika

Sixth Birthday

BIRTH

 

Six years ago today we welcomed Lauren and Grace into our family. We watched them sleep, eat, grow, discover one another and become fascinated with life. 

 

ONE

 

By the time they turned one, we had fully established our routine to accommodate twins, and we were enjoying the wonder of the toddler years.  We had survived the sleepless nights, and the real fun was beginning, as we watched Gracie and Lauren build their friendship, play with one another and communicate in their special language (we denied their "twin talk" until their communication was so obvious that we no longer could). 

TWO

 

We thought  we loved them at birth and most certainly by their first birthday, but we were not prepared for how much we would love them more deeply at two.  With their personalities formed and emerging communication, we loved them all over again. 

THREE

 

By three, they had the world by the tail. They were attending preschool, making friends and learning by leaps and bounds.  Lauren and Gracie had formed opinions and preferences, and we loved getting to know them. 

 

 

FOUR

 

Turning four was simple fun, and the four's were a blast.  Preschool continued, and we also started some extracurricular activities, such as dance and choir. 

 

 

 

FIVE

 

Turning five seemed official, although certainly it did not seem possible.  Lauren and Gracie, you were suddenly looking less like preschoolers and more like children.  Although Kindergarten would not start until next year, turning five ushered in a new era.  Preschool and your friendships with teachers and peers became more serious. 

You also grew into your roles as big sisters.  You have loved and nurtured George, and you always include him in your activities.   
 

SIX

 

Gracie, Lauren, we wish you the very best for the next year. We know you are going to continue to take Kindergarten by storm. Ever interested in reading, your love of books has recently reached new heights, and you have an insatiable love of reading.  We look forward to watching you learn over the next year. 

 

While you each adore George, you also have tremendous love for each other, and your friendship is awesome to watch.  Being a twin has never seemed special to you because that is your reality, what you have known.  Since starting school, you have had an increased awareness of your special relationship and how blessed and fortunate you are to have one another.   We love you immensely, are incredibly proud of you and look forward to watching you grow over the next year. 

 

Happy Birthday!

 

Love,

 

Mom, Dad & William George

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William George asks, "What?  I wasn't doing anything.  Why are you looking at me like that?"

Scenes From Wal-Mart

William George may or may not* have done the following during this morning's trip to Wal-Mart:

1)  Neatly snapped off each Goody's clip from the pack purchased for his sisters and nonchalantly tossed them out of the cart.  The pack of 12 covered the entire length of an aisle. 

2)  Insisted the lettuce was a ball and tossed it out of the cart repeatedly. 

3)  Gnawed on a box of Cheezit crackers and then angrily jumped up and down on the box when he realized he could not get the box opened. 

4)  Became fascinated with the egg container and kept trying to smash the lid. 

5)  Removed all of the yogurt from the flimsy cardboard containers, creating havoc during check out. 

6)  Unrolled the plastic bags in the produce department and then screamed when he had to wait while I was rolling the bags back around the dispenser. 

7)  Destroyed the bread by repeatedly grabbing the loaf in the center and smashing it. 

8)  Became frustrated when he realized a new thermos we were purchasing was empty (i.e., no "dink").  After spending 10 minutes willing the container to be filled with refreshing ice water (no, he was not hungry or thirsty; we had just had breakfast), he yelled and kept throwing the thermos around in the cart. 

9)  Once restrained in the upper cart, yelled "NOOOO!" throughout the store and wrestled frantically to get free.  He was successful on a dozen or so occasions.

10)  Scowled at a nice lady from church who then responded, "Look at that face! I've never seen him look like that." 

Remember this face?  That was the look he was giving to anyone who tried to talk with him. 

*Except he totally DID do all of those things -- and more.  Our groceries look like they were purchased at a bent/dent store.  I have no idea how he dents the cans, but he does -- he SO does. 

Amazon

Since a certain family member (we're looking at you, William George) does not like to shop, we are frequent users of Amazon.com.

 

Most of the time, the UPS ground service delivers at least a package each week.  The girls love when they look out and see the familiar brown truck stopped in the cul-de-sac.  They always exclaim, "The PBS man is here!!!!!" 

"Can we open the door? Can we?! It's the PBS man!!!!"
 

 

Then everyone charges for the door to see what arrived.  Most of the time, the experience is anti-climactic because we are usually ordering things in the "need" category more so than the "want" category. 

 

William George, on the other hand, always wins because he still prefers the box over its contents.

Daily Photo

 

Dr. Gracie, obtaining her patient's length measurement prior to establishing where the patient is on the growth chart. 

Enumerated Update

Hello and happy Monday.  The great news about today is that we have cracked into October, the month that really ushers in fall.  I cannot wait to get out the pumpkins. 

How was your weekend?  What's happening with you? 

Here's what's going on with us.

1)  We have pulled the ultimate parenting coup.  The back story is that Skip and I were picky eaters as children.  We were definitely lunchbox kids.  I would have carried my lunch through twelfth grade, but I think I finally caved to peer pressure in fifth or sixth grade, when I reluctantly starting buying a school lunch.  Skip took his lunch daily until third or fourth grade.  Our girls, on the other hand, are really good eaters.  They have great appetites, like a variety of foods and like to have fruits/veggies with each meal.  They are slightly exacting about how their food is prepared, however.  Given that fact, we thought we were destined to pack lunches for years. 

Not so.  The duo have decided that they like having a "lunch choice" from the school's lunch room.  They check the menu each night and decide if they will carry their lunch or have a "lunch choice" depending on tomorrow's menu.  Over the last couple of weeks, they have purchased their lunch 80% of the time.  Since the menu consists of much healthier foods these days, we are totally fine with the purchase. 

2)  This week is birthday week, with the duo turning six.  SIX!  We cannot believe it.  We are in full swing with preparations and last minute to-do items.  They are beyond excited. 

3)  Gracie lost her second tooth yesterday afternoon during a Sunday afternoon nap.  We were unable to locate the tooth.  After checking her bed thoroughly, we can only assume the tooth is lost in her sheets or was possibly swallowed.  She prefers to go with the former possibility.  Letters were written to the tooth fairy, and she made a second appearance last night. 

Gracie's letter:

Dear Tooth Fairy,

 

Sorry my tooth is lost. 

 

What kind of castle do you have?  I lost a tooth today, but we could not find it.  My sister Lauren will lose a tooth  soon. 

 

Thank you for coming to my home. 

 

Love, Gracie

 

4)  The Tooth Fairy came!!!  She also explained that she lives in an lovely castle far away.  Tooth Fairy money is currently burning a hole in someone's pocket. 

 

5)  We attended Alexandria's football game Friday night.  To clarify, my niece doesn't actually play football, but she is the band's drum major.  To us, it is her game.  Anyrate, the trio had a wonderful time watching the game and especially watching Lexy (LEXY!!!) lead the band.  In fact, the duo probably enjoyed the high school game about as well as they enjoy watching the Crimson Tide -- with considerably less effort and expense. 

 

 At the Tide's games?  No Lexy.  Case closed. 
 

6)  We also went to the mall, en familia, this weekend.  Our town's newest shopping center is a large, outdoor mall, but we opted for the old school, indoor mall due to rainy weather.  It's been a couple of years since our last venture to the indoor mall, and the people watching did not disappoint. 

 

7)  During another outing, I finally got my hands on the iPhone 5, and y'all, I love it.  I played with the camera's panorama tool, and it's really awesome.

 

Speaking of Apple,  I know all about the issues with the map, but here's the thing: I never use the map on my phone.  Since I never embraced Google maps, I have continued to use the Mapquest application.  There are two things I cannot abide.  The first is Google documents, and the second is Google maps. 

Still, I expect more from your software, Apple.  Also, I am betting the ghost of Steve Jobs is haunting Tim Cook for his excessive apology.  There is probably a lot of yelling involved.

 

8)  It has been raining here for the last 24 hours.  Mostly the rain was steady but, at times, very hard.  This morning's rain reminded me of the rainy couple of weeks before William George was born.  This morning we sat quietly in the keeping room, and he played while I watched the rain fall.  Now he is taking a rain-inspired power nap. 

 

That's about it for us. 

 

Your turn. What's going on?