The Twins are 8

Last month, the Cort and Reid turned 8.  Some of you have been reading about them on this blog since they were four months old!  Most of the time, they get along well (like in this picture, they were listening to some music together).  It's Cort and Pierce that do all the arguing in our house.

Cort and Reid are often up to some sort of antics.  Here, they were banished outside because of the brass instruments that they truly cannot play.  This is my uncle's old trumpet and Paul's old saxophone.  Instruments of torture for this mom's ears!

The week after they turned 8, it was back to school.  The only thing Cort requested for his birthday was blue hair.  So we made that happen.  He loved it, and couple of weeks later he was back to normal. 

Cort and Reid are in 3rd grade this year.  Pierce is in 5th.  I can't believe we'll have a middle schooler next year!

Cort and Reid Make Great Pyramids

If you have a truly excellent memory, you may recall when Pierce made a pyramid from Legos for Social Studies in second grade.  Cort and Reid have reached that point in their studies.  Both of them were eager to start their pyramid project.  The only guideline was that it had to have a square base and four sides.  I think they each wanted to do something unique.

Reid decided to work with Sculpey clay.  He created a little scene with two pyramids, including lots of pots and treasure.  He even made the Nile river.  We baked it in the oven and then after it cooled he painted it with acrylic paints.  On the base piece he painted Elmers glue and then sprinkled sand from his sand box over it.  He spent a long Saturday creating his scene to perfection. 

Cort is really into rocks and gems, so he decided to build his pyramid from cardboard and then hot glue "gems" to it.  He also glued a layer of bright patterned paper before putting on the gems (which I got from the dollar store).  He made a pyramid that really POPS.

They were both really pleased with the results, and couldn't wait to present them in school. 
Readers, how would you make a pyramid?

Garfield Cake

A few months ago when Pierce left for a week of camp, I slipped a Garfield comic strip collection book into his bag.  I remembered reading Garfield as a kid.  Apparently, Pierce found this book in his suitcase and then stayed up all night reading it over and over by flashlight, snickering along the way.  All that midnight giggling caused the camp to create a new 'flashlights out' policy.  And in our house, it started a Garfield craze - we've been checking out books and movies of Garfield nonstop.  I have to admit, even as an adult, Garfield is pretty funny.

Next thing I knew, the twins wanted a Garfield cake for their birthday.  I did a vanilla cake with lemon curd filling and a coconut rum frosting.

I decided just to freehand this one.  Considering the frosting wasn't completely smooth, I think it turned out alright. 

This cake didn't stick around for very long! 

Readers, do you like Garfield?

Happy 7th Birthday

Cort and Reid are celebrating 7 today.  Here's a recent picture from when I took them to get back to school haircuts.  They both wanted mohawks and crazy colors dyed in.  Fortunately, we were at a place that didn't do dye.  But they did get mohawks.  Happily, under all that hair glue, their hair is fairly clean cut. 

Throughout the year I do their haircuts myself to save money, so they always enjoy getting to have a professional cut right before school.  And I confess I like having a break from doing the haircuts myself.

Second grade, here they come!

Puzzled

I found an unopened 3D puzzle at a thrift store for $2.  The twins started working on it and became obsessed.  So much so that they couldn't go to bed.  Luckily it was a weekend night.  But after being told to go to bed several times, eventually the puzzle had to be removed from the room so they could sleep.

The next morning?  They were up bright and early to keep working on the puzzle.  They got Big Ben put together, and were so excited about it.

I think I need to find more of these!  What fun.

Catacombs and Basement Ghosts

Over the winter break we made a couple of trips to the library.  The boys enjoy it and I can always use another stack of books to read.  I was in the children's section on the computer when Reid came up with these two books.  I don't know where he found them, but they did look rather interesting.

In fact, I wanted to read them myself.  Reid said that I could, after he read them first.  Afterwards, he started talking about ghosts all the time, and he talked his twin brother Cort into reading these.  Next thing I knew, the boys spent a whole day in the basement hunting for ghosts.

But at 4 am the next morning, Paul and I were awakened by some yelling.  Upon investigation, it was Cort.  Screaming over the ghost in his room.  The face, trying to get him.  He said it wasn't a dream, that it was real, and he was terrified. 

I told him that newer houses don't have ghosts.  Only very old houses.  That worked for a night.  Then again, two nights later, more crying at 4 am. 

Meanwhile, Reid has ordered the entire 'Scariest Places on Earth' series from the library system.  There are about eight other books.

I'm thinking Cort doesn't need to read these books when they come in.  Reid will just have to keep them to himself!

Readers, what scared you as a child?

Six Years Old

On the eight Cort and Reid turned six years old.  Hard to believe - they have grown up on the blog.  Sometimes I go back and read posts from the early days, when they were infants.  Sometimes I even have trouble telling which is which, although when they were born I had no trouble at all, because they were (and always have been) so different.

When we were at the beach the twins fell in love with a show on Nickelodeon called Teen Titans Go.  We don't have a television at home, so they had never seen it before.  They wanted a cake for their birthday.

I don't like fondant ice cream, so I always attempt to make a cake with traditional buttercream.  An added complication this year is that Cort is on a modified diet as we attempt to find ways to help his psoriasis.  But I managed to make a cake, and they were delighted.

We had a very fun day with family, and two days later the twins went off to first grade.

Readers, do you have any memories from first grade?

 

Kindergarten Graduation for the Twins

Cort and Reid had their kindergarten graduation a couple of weeks ago.  They did a musical which was really cute.  Reid was the Little Boy Blue.

Cort was the doctor from No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.

Afterwards, they gave out candy awards.  Cort got the Jolly Rancher award for always having a positive attitude.  Reid got the Whoppers award for always telling great stories and having big ideas. 

 

How is it that these two are going to be first graders next year?!

Hunting for 900 Eggs

I had an opening in my schedule recently, and I filled it with some volunteering at the boys' school - hiding Easter eggs for the twins' spring party.  We had 900 eggs to hide, and not many places to hide them, so they were pretty much in plain sight.  You can't tell from the picture, but the grass was just full of eggs!

Cort and Reid had a fantastic time hunting for eggs.  And afterwards there was a big ice cream sundae party in the cafeteria.

Perfect weather for it too!  The twins even shared their Reeses cups with me from the eggs - they know those are my weakness. 

Readers, do you have a favorite candy?

Turkeys and Indians

For Thanksgiving, the twins had a special performance at school.  I got to go eat lunch with them and watch them sing.

 The pictures aren't the greatest, because I was in the far back and had to zoom a lot, plus the room was a bit dark.  But you can see they were both really into it.

They were both so excited to have me there.  And we snuck Pierce out of his class so he could watch too.  Pierce was delighted to play hookey.  And to snag a treat off the dessert table.

Look at those happy faces! 

Somehow, I had thought I'd get to eat lunch with my boys more often this year, but with working two jobs it hasn't worked out that way.

So this day was extra special to me.

Spy Cows

We're driving down the road and Reid says, "Those are Mom's cows," as he points to a herd of cows in a pasture.  We often play this game. 

Cort says, "No, those are my cows."

Me: "Cort, maybe we can share the cows."

Cort: "Okay, but mine are spy cows."

Me:  "Mine are spy cows too.  My cow wears special spy glasses that lets him see far through the woods."

Cort: "My cow wears spy glasses too.  He can swim and jump over this car."

Reid, "WHAT?!?"

Cort: "Yeah, my cow wears a spy vest full of spy equipment.  He can swim and do karate moves.  My cow can jump over skyscrapers."

Reid:  "WHAT?!?"

(Insert giggles from Cort).

Me: "Wow, Cort.  Your cows are way cooler than mine."

Readers, seen any cool cows lately?

Cort and Reid, doing the hay bike maze at GoFest.

Kindergarten Bound

It's hard for me to believe, but in a couple of weeks, Cort and Reid will have their preschool graduation.  Some of you have seen them grow up on this blog, as I started writing when they were a mere four months old.

Over Spring Break, I took them to their future elementary school and did their assessment tests.  We registered for riding the bus.  I filled out all their paperwork. 

In a minute, I will blink again, and they will be climbing up the bus steps, backpacks thumping along the way.  August will be here in no time.   My sweet baby boys.  How did they ever get so big?

The Monster of Walnut Grove

I've blogged before about how much we love watching old episodes of Little House on the Prairie.  For Christmas this year, Santa brought the boys Season 3.  Now we have the first three seasons.  The only problem is, we can't get past first episode on the second disk.  It's the only one my boys want to watch now.

Perhaps you remember too.  I had forgotten about the episode titled The Monster of Walnut Grove.  Until I started watching it.  Then I remembered what an impression it made on me as a kid.  In it, Laura sees Nels cut off Mrs. Oleson's head with a sword. 

 Google Image

 



Laura is terrified and tells a few folks, and Nellie and Willie realize she is mistaken (what she actually saw was Nels cutting the head off a mannequin), and take advantage of the situation by terrorizing Laura, in typical Nellie/Willie style.  Never fear, though. Laura gets her revenge in the end. 

Google Image

 

The first time we watched, the twins were so scared they had to come sit on my lap and snuggle.  But then once they knew that none of it was real, they were delighted.  Now they want to watch nothing else.  But the snuggling is still required.  After all, it's still one creepy episode.

 

How about you readers?  Do you remember any deliciously scary shows that you loved as a kid?

Thing 1 and Thing 2 - A Balancing Act

A milder than usual winter's day (week before last, it's much to cold for this right now!) led to a walk in the woods.  There, I found Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Thing 1 and Thing 2 found a fallen log.

Nature's Playground

 

Yes, we were thankful for a milder day or two.

While waiting for Spring to come.

Readers, are you doing any balancing acts lately?

More Red Barn Goodness

Another shot of the huge red barn at the Jeter Farm pumpkin patch.  You can just see the twins on the tractor. 

I was going to link with Barn Charm Monday, but it seems it is no more.  Sad, isn't it, when blogs dissolve.  I still have blogs from several years ago that I miss, and wonder how their families are doing. 

Besties

The twins can be so competitive.  About every thing.  Some days we start the day with tears, "He woke up before me and I wanted to wake up FIRST!".  Other days, we end the day in tears, "But I wanted to finish my dinner first!" 

Thankfully, in between all that competition, there are many moments when they are side by side, heads bent together in whispered secrets, the best of friends.  I love those moments.

It must be nice to have a twin.

First Day of Preschool

The twins started preschool after Labor Day.  They go three mornings a week, and are in the Fours class this year. 

I giddily celebrated their first day back at school with a seven mile run through parks and hills on a perfectly sunny but cool morning.  Then I headed to Starbucks for some quiet computer time, with a Frappuccino by my side.  I didn't run a single errand on that first day - I greedily enjoyed my down time.  I'd venture to say that it was well-earned this once! 

And as for the twins, well, so far they seem to be loving it - I think they were so happy to see their old friends again.

Side by Side - Random Friday

1.  It didn't matter where we were.  Every time I took a picture of the twins, they were side by side, playing.  They really put their bucket of pirates to good use on our trip.  I am fascinated by how much their bond has deepened this summer.

2.  During our trip I passed through the territory of so many blogging friends.  I was disappointed that I didn't have time for any meet ups.  It's hard when you are covering so much distance in such a short amount of time.

3.  These pictures were taken at our campsite at Natural Bridge in Kentucky.  While it rained both of the nights we were there, our tent held strong and did not leak.  And -- even better -- the weather was nice during the day!  We really lucked out.

4.  While we were gone, my garden was completely overtaken by weeds.  Deluges of rain wiped out parts of it.  I came back and my rows of onions and potatoes had both completely disappeared.  My broccoli, cabbage, and brussel sprouts were demolished by bugs.  Aside from tomatoes, kale, beets, and carrots, my garden was pretty much a lost cause. 

5.  I had planned to start a new spot for some fall crops, but our tiller, which was in the shop for over a month, wasn't fixed in time.  I did manage to plant some kale, lettuce, and spinach.  I hope 2014 turns out to be a better gardening year for me.

Readers, do you have any fall garden plans? 

Linked with Nancy's Random Friday at A Rural Journal. 

Dinosaur Cake and Turning Four

Cort and Reid turned four years old week before last.  Cort wanted a pirate cake and Reid wanted a dinosaur cake, but we decided to do a dinosaur cake because in the end, both Cort and Reid love dinosaurs.

We don't have huge kid parties, but we do invite a few family members over to eat lunch and have some cake. 

There were a number of really cute dinosaur cakes on Pinterest, but most of them were made with fondant.  I don't like working with fondant (plus, it's not so tasty in my opinion) so I did the best I could with buttercream. 

It's not perfect by any means, but the twins were thrilled.  Between the chocolate buttercream frosting and the wineberry jam in the middle layer, everyone said it was delicious.

All I have to say is - thank goodness I have two months to recover before I have to create a truck cake for Pierce's birthday! 

My Children Are Such Monsters

One minute I'm busy fixing dinner, and the next minute I hear a ruckus.  I look up to see the house has been invaded by little monsters.

I don't know which monster is scarier - the one with the hook or the one with the light saber. 

Somehow, I don't think I'd like to tangle with either one of them. 

Even though they looked so ferocious, the monsters kept giggling as they battled on.

Eventually, I decided to let the monsters have their fun, and I returned to the stove.  Readers, have you seen any good monster fights lately?