I'm still here

Yes, I'm still alive.  It's been a busy, busy 2 weeks.

We got home from vacation on Saturday.  I had every intention of working on my new private blog during vacation but it just never happened.  So, for the time being, I'll keep this one up and running.

Vacation was good.  And different.  I went to the Outer Banks (NC) with my family which consists of my mom, stepfather, sister, BIL and my 2 year-old niece.  Believe it or not, it was our first time vacationing together in several years. 

And, our first vacation with the twins.  DH couldn't stay the entire week because he just hasn't accrued the vacation time yet (started a new job in January) so unfortunately, it wasn't the first family vacation that I had always envisioned.  It made me sad that he couldn't be there to see the twins' faces the first time they saw the ocean or touched the sand.  I know we will have many, many more vacations but you can't get back the first one.

My family was a huge help with the kids but it was still exhausting.  If I wasn't handling one of the kids, I was giving instructions or answering questions about what they needed to do.

"I think he needs a diaper change"
"She sounds like she's still hungry"

I didn't expect a lot of "me" time but I thought that maybe I'd get an hour or two during the day while the kids napped.  I could not get them to nap at the same time to save my life.  If they did both fall asleep, it would only be for 15-30 minutes and then someone would wake up. 

Mid-week, my BIL said to me, "I don't know how you do it.  You never get a break."  Tell me about it.  By Thursday, I was exhausted and burned out. 

And ready to come home.  I love my kids dearly but 2 of them 24/7 is just exhausting.

I haven't even mentioned my family.  It has been confirmed.  The same things that annoyed me about my mother when I was a teenager still annoy me.

She asks the same question over and over again.  I don't know if she's early Alzheimers or trying to make conversation or doesn't listen or what.  I'll answer twice and by the third time, I get snippy.  For the love of God woman!  I don't know what the weather forecast is for today!!

And my stepfather is just weird.  He treats my mother like gold and that's what matters most.  But, he's still weird.  I honestly think there's a chance he has a social disorder. He tries to crack jokes but they are in such poor taste or downright stupid that he never gets laughs.  And, he thinks he's a know-it-all but half of the time, he's an idiot.

He also thinks he's a tour guide.  It was raining one of the days so we all went to the aquarium.  The kids and I rode with them and the entire ride, to and from, he was pointing out landmarks and random facts.

That restaurant used to be owned by Gerken Flerkenherken and now Bob Smith owns it.
And, that store used to have a red roof and now it's blue.
Every time we drive along this marsh, we always see rabbits along the road.

Anyway, it's good to be home.

The kids are growing up so fast.  Kendall started saying "Da Da" last week.  She doesn't know what it means yet but it's still cute.  Christopher is a rolling fool and that is his main mode of transportation these days.  He's trying to figure out the crawling thing.  He pushes up on his hands and tries to scoot his knees under him but he can't quite get it yet. He's also a stomach sleeper.  We put him on his back and within 30 seconds, he's flipped over.

I'm going to break my rule and post some recent pics from the beach.  Enjoy!

I feel so warm and fuzzy...

I am completely blown away.  I have received so many requests to keep reading my blog and I had no idea that so many people were following.

Thank you.   Thank you for listening.  Thank you for following my story.  Thank you for thinking that what I say even matters. 

And, well.  For putting up with my corny humor.  I know, I know.  It's asking alot.

I'm still in the process of gathering email addresses and figuring out how I want to set up the private blog so I'm going to keep this one up and running for a little while longer.  If you sent me an email or left a message on this blog, I plan to respond to each of you personally. I still have spots available so please let me know if you want to have access to the new site.

(I did want to clarify one thing.  Nothing specific happened that made me decide to go private.  I didn't receive a crazy or threatening comment.  I guess the best way to describe it is that I just started to get the "Creep Factor".  They are getting older and I don't know who sees this or reads this.  I've tried to maintain some anonymity by not posting my last name or city but still.  You just don't know).

Quick Update:
Christopher is getting close to crawling.  He's doing push-ups and scooting with his feet.  He has also mastered The Great Escape.  They've been in sleep positioners to keep them on their backs and Christopher can now kick his way out.  He insists on sleeping on his stomach.  It just started this week and it's still freaking me out.  I wake up at least 5 times every night to look at the monitor.  The doctor said if he can get there on his own, he can make it back and not to worry but how can I not?  The kid sleeps with his face buried in the mattress!

Kendall is still as sweet as ever.  I think she's going to be a little ham.  She loves attention and loves to giggle. They've been eating solids for about 4 weeks now and she hasn't met a food she doesn't like.  When you stick the spoon in her mouth, she says, "Mmmmmm" and squeezes her lips together.  We've taken the kids to the indoor pool twice and she's quite the little swimmer.  She can float on her back and stomach (head supported, of course).  She loves it.  No teeth yet but I think she's working on them.

We're taking our first vacation in about 10 days and I can't wait.  Unfortunately, DH can't come for the whole week since he just started his new job in January and doesn't have any vacation time yet.  He's driving us down on Saturday and driving back home Sunday and then doing the same thing the following weekend.  I'm bummed that we won't be together as a family but keeping his job is more important.  I'll have my mom and sister to help me with the twins.

Oh, and can I just say.... holy crap!  I started making a list of stuff that I need to pack and OH MY GAWD.  It is insane!  I don't know how we're going to get it down there.  DH has a super duper manly pick-up truck but I'm seriously doubting whether that thing can hold it all.   It's just crazy, I tell ya!

I'm still checking in and reading everyone's blogs (even if I suck at commenting).