S and A’s Craziest Late Night Shenanigan to Date

May 2, 2015 by
Cast of characters: Super Dad, Crazy Twin 1, Crazy Twin 2, Tired Mom
The scene: After reading ten-ish bedtime stories and acquiescing to dozens of requests for “Just ONE more drink,” a tall and handsome Super Dad sighs in relief as his two very hyperactive two-year-olds (Crazy Twin 1 and 2) finally seem to be sleeping in their beds.  Needing to complete a few manly projects around the house, Super Dad runs out to Home Depot for supplies.
Assuming Crazy Twins are peacefully sleeping in their beds, Tired Mom plops into bed at 8:30 and falls fast asleep. 
When Super Dad returns around 9 p.m., his heart skips a beat as he pulls into the driveway and sees the light on in the twins’ room. 
Stealthily climbing the stairs, he hears the faint noise of pitter patter across the floor and stifled giggles. He listens for a moment and, fearing the worst, breaks down the barricaded door. 
Being the amazing husband he is, he doesn’t wake up Tired Mom and simply lets the evidence speak for itself as she reviews her phone’s Photostream in the morning. 

Yes, that is floss. No idea how that even got there. 
So many more questions than answers. 

Every. Single. Item. Pulled. Out. 

I have no more words. 
Lots of love, 

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Our week beating the heat

May 1, 2015 by
90+ degree temperatures all week = first trip of the season to the splash pad and pool. Jake’s been taking care of afternoon pool duty while I’ve been handling Operation Stay Cool in the mornings. 
Summer– bring it on!
The girls and I went to the splash pad this week with Jodi, Maliyah and Baby Allie. That Allie has absolutely no fear! She was hanging out in the water with the best of them. 
Blast from the past: I looked back at a post from almost this exact week last year when Jodi and I took the girls to the splash pad (it also happened to be super hot that week). Samantha was not loving it!

Hard to believe this exact week last year, Jodi and I had planned on taking the girls to the splash pad again later, but she ended up calling me to cancel because she was going into labor with Allie.

Time flies– Allie is so big now!
Not as outgoing in the water as Baby Allie, but still having fun. 
Amelia the gymnast. 

Concentrating on an epic match of Tic Tac Toe. 

Jodi’s sister has an embroidery machine and Jodi commissioned these adorable Elmo towels for the girls for their birthday. Love them!

Summer girls. 

Can’t take their solemn faces seriously with those towels on. 

When it’s been too hot to play outside (a.k.a. mommy is sick of being scorched to death), we’ve been playing inside, reading and sitting around chatting. Samantha loves to shell and eat edamame– this kept her occupied for a good 20 minutes when she woke up from her nap and Amelia was still sleeping.  

We haven’t been to the park much as it’s been way too hot, but we met up with a bunch of friends for a park picnic dinner date last evening when the temperatures cooled off. It was the perfect “summer” evening. 
Hmmmmm….what to choose? 

Bandit eagerly awaits for Samantha to sneak him a bite. 

Slide jam with Amelia, Parker, Leighton, Ashley and Samantha.

 Love this picture that Michael took. It just evokes childhood memories of staying out late in the summer evenings playing!

Two great things about dinners at the park: not having to heat up my kitchen and quick bedtimes for two tired out little girls. 
Lots of love, 
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Dinner at Restaurant Kagel

May 1, 2015 by

Dinner out at Restaurant Kagel is always a treat– thanks Great Auntie Lynn for a yummy meal and for entertaining us, as always!

Samantha and Amelia were pretty disappointed Baby Noah wasn’t in town this time, but they still had fun playing with all his toys without him.

Amelia shows Great Auntie Lynn her puzzle skills. 

The girls now call Great Grandpa, “Great Papa.”

The girls couldn’t decide what they loved more– wolfing down ravioli, seeing Great Uncle Steve’s cool train room for Noah, or lounging outside by the spa (they think it’s a miniature pool specifically designed for themselves).

It’s always an adventure at the Kagel’s!

Lots of love,

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I’m Sammy!

April 30, 2015 by
I think the heat is getting to me, because I completely forgot to post about a big milestone that happened for Samantha last week!
The girls have been going to their My Gym class for almost a year now, and have come a long way as far as being less shy with the teachers and doing all the activities. Several people even today commented to me at how much more outgoing the girls appear– hooray for my shy girls! It always shocks people to hear that the girls are totally crazy at home because they are so quiet and “dainty” in class. 
Anyway, at the beginning of class every week, Mr. Kevin asks everyone to introduce themselves. Most of the two-year-olds will say their own name, but Samantha and Amelia always turn away and hide in my lap when it’s their turn. This, despite the fact that they are constantly saying their own names and talking about each other at home. 
Last week, out of the blue, when it was Samantha’s turn, she busted out with a very loud and proud, “I’M SAMMY!” 
It was like she had been bottling it up for months. 
I think the other parents and teachers were more shocked than I was and everyone burst out in applause. Amelia sort of gave a muffled version of her name, but I couldn’t tell if she was trying to introduce herself or if she was just saying “No!” so I won’t count it for purposes of a milestone. I think she’s close, though. 
It was an exciting day and Samantha seemed very proud of herself– especially when we told Daddy. It was nice to see how excited the other moms and teachers were too. Just to illustrate how big of a deal it was, I got a text the next day from my friend from class, Susan, who said she had been smiling thinking about Samantha introducing herself. Her son asked her why she was randomly smiling and she recounted the story to him. So sweet. 
                           
We had class again today and Samantha didn’t introduce herself this time, but when it was Amelia’s turn, Amelia said, “I’m Sammy!” and then Samantha pointed to Amelia and said, “Ba!” 
I think we have a case of identity confusion! This is all after we had practiced at home the whole week in the hopes that the girls would give a repeat performance. So funny, but we’ll try again next week. 
The girls usually like to sit and observe the teacher during warm ups, but last week and this week, they’ve started doing the arm stretches and toe touches themselves, which has been another big deal. They love practicing everything at home, but for some reason, in class, they get really embarrassed and prefer to be wallflowers. Ditto with dance and music class. Until it’s time to get up and run around the gym, that is. Once circle time is over, they transform into crazy monkeys!
                       
I love remembering all these little things, and had to put this one down so I can smile at my overly proud mama moments in the future 🙂 
Lots of love, 
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