Breakfast of Champions

Early Sunday morning, after Sarah's triumphant performance as a wave in the school musical, Pinocchio, she climbed into bed for an additive full-family snooze. After about an hour of alternately dozing and soaking in her sweetly snoozing face, she roused....

Mommy: "Good Morning, Punkin. You want to go downstairs and have some juice (a fairly rare treat for us)?"

Sarah: [***indecipherable mumbling***]

Mommy: "Do you want to go downstairs and get some orange juice, Hon?"

Sarah (clear as a bell): "No, FUDGE!"

(Not so rare a treat for us.)

A Square Peg in a Round Hole...

Wouldn't be near as problematic as what we've got going on...

Darren (excitedly, but with a wee bit of just apprehension) :
"Mommy, Mommy! You won't believe this, but when I bounced the SuperBall on the bathroom floor, it went straight down the drain!"
The photograph might lead one to believe there is room a'plenty surrounding the orb easing the extraction process. Be not deceived. It's a tight fit. Suggestions? (We'll also entertain ideas on how to alleviate the rust encircling our 1929 sink drain...)


PS - Since we mentioned "Square Pegs," a huge congratulations and best wishes to newly expecting twin parents Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick (and their surrogate) for a healthy, happy pregnancy and meeting with their twin girls this summer.

Way Back When-esday: Not-So-Welcome Wagon

Dateline: 2002
Twins' Age: Under a year

Seriously, this is one of my favorite early images (long overdue on the scan and the feature) of our twosome...

An semi-impromptu visit to the in-mall Picture People (coupons'll do that to a mom) and this was the result. The framed 8 x 10" is on our table by the couch and at least once a week, we look over at what's become known as Sarah's "Wagon Face," and erupt into giggles. Darren's onboard excitement and seeming "nudge"--alerting Sarah to the fun factor--never ceases to charm me.

Why don't you take this Wednesday to go "Way Back?" Dive into those digital files and expose an image--or story--from days gone by. Be sure and link back to Twinfatuation and share in the web-wide reverie.

Pop around and visit other participants, and when you do, be sure to leave a comment and let 'em know you're playing along, too!

First, Kelly Clarkson. Then, Susan Boyle...

...and then Sarah---who's ardently working the in-house karaoke tangle (seriously, check that knot out) and singing along to the McDonald's bestowed KidzBop sampler. "Since You've Been Gone" seems to be the selection of choice du jour, with "Superstar" running a close second.

Just another post-homework Tuesday afternoon Chez Lage...now with live entertainment.

PS - Way Back When-esday is tomorrow! Dive into those digital files and get ready to play along!

Mama Cama-raderie!

Is there anything quite like a room full of twin (and triplet, and quad...) mamas?

I don't think so! Had the great opportunity this weekend to meet over 200 women at the Mid-Atlantic Parents of Multiples annual convention, and it was incredible. Lively. Lovely. Energetic, all.
Came home with no less than four (count 'em, four) tee shirts touting my twin-mom status...just enough to last me until next year's convention....

Many thanks to Stacey and all the amazing coordinators of host club, FAMOM (the Fredericksburg Area Moms of Multiples) for the warmest of welcomes and a wonderful, wonderful time.

Makes My Monday: Just Ducky

...and goose-y, and turtle-y and koi-y, and heron-y and beaver-y. Such are all the creatures in the water feature alongside our local Panera Bread. What an inexpensive way to enjoy an afternoon and re-purpose the slightly stale saltines, tortilla chips and baguette bits.

What is brightening your week's beginning? Pick a picture, tell a tale, and play along with the web-wide Monday making.
Be sure and pop in on other participants to share in the cheer...and leave a comment while you're there!

Through the Eyes of a Child---er, uh...Children

Back when Twinfatuation began, we did a little weekly feature called "Tuesday Twinterview" wherein I quizzed our duo on various topics. When this li'l Mommy-meme started popping up, knew it'd be a must do...

1. What is something your mom always says to you?
Sarah-That you love me
Darren-Do your homework

2.What makes your mom happy?
Sarah-When I behave
Darren-When I'm the best listener

3. What makes your mom sad?
Sarah-When I misbehave
Darren-When I go to Mr. H.'s (the principal)

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Sarah-She doesn't really make me laugh. No! Don't write that! When she does this. (Makes face.)

Darren-When she tickles me.

5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?
Sarah-Being nice
Darren-Fly a kite

6. How old is your mom?
Sarah-44
Darren-44

7. How tall is your mom?
Sarah-Tall.
Darren-Maybe 40" tall

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Sarah-Hug me!
Darren-Play with us

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Sarah-Work
Darren-Work, work, work!

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Sarah-For Mommy's book that she wrote
Darren-Having the best kid, me!

11. What is your mom really good at?
Sarah-Loving me
Darren-Working

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Sarah-Juggling
Darren-Burping! (he's right, I cannot do it!)

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Sarah-Help make WalMart commercials
Darren-Helps with commercials

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Sarah-What are those green things you like that I hate? [Wasabi peanuts]
Darren-wine

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Sarah-I have not thought about that
Darren-When she's nice to me

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Sarah-Patrick from Spongebob
Darren- Huckleberry Hound

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Sarah-Go to places and have fun
Darren-Get Slurpees...no! I take that back. Go to Great Wolf Lodge

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Sarah-We are fun!
Darren-We both have brown hair

19. How are you and your mom different?
Sarah-You like wasabi peanuts; I don't
Darren-Mom has green eyes

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Sarah-'Cuz you hug me and you say you do
Darren-Because she tucks me in every night before bed

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Sarah-He's funny
Darren-Mmmmm, his moustache?

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Sarah-Home
Darren-Northside Grille

Know many of you have already done this one, but if you haven't, consider yourself tagged!

PS - Don't forget, tomorrow is Makes My Monday. Find a photo or a story to share that brightens your week's beginning, and tune in and link up then!

Bad Haiku: Nosey

Dress rehearsal's done

The players are all ready
Yay, Pinocchio!

Sarah is appearing in the annual school musical tonight...as one of the waves that buffets Gepetto and Pinocchio about prior to the whale going all Jonah on them. (Darren elected not to try out this year.)

Last year, when the twins were clouds dancing around Jasmine and Aladdin in the 2008 musical, I was weepy. Care to wager on maternal tears this year? (All signs point to yes...)

Be sure to go visit Laura of Catholic Teacher Musings for Bad Haiku Friday...especially if you are a syllable counter!

Bad Haiku: Aid for the Ancestors

Help the Grandparents

With tips from Mommy Bloggers

Grandparents dot com

If you have had some less-than-ideal issues with grandparental "input" and "intervention," be sure to check out the collected advice the amazing crew at Grandparents.com coalesced to share with their huge readership of enthusiastic G'Parents.

While you're there, feel free to chime in on the discussion---sharing the good (and not-so-good) experiences you've had with your parents in relation to your role as parent of their grandbabies.

And of course while you're hopping about the web, be sure to check in on Laura of Catholic Teacher Musings Bad Haiku Friday. 5-7-5, Friends. Jump on in!

On the Ropes

Talking about her participation in the school's "Jump for the Heart" jumprope-athon for the American Heart Association...

Mommy: "With the number of sponsors you have, you'll get a free jumprope as a gift. Since you already have one, maybe you can give this one to me. I could exercise with one, too."

Sarah: "No, Mom. It's a kids' one. You would need a longer one."

Mommy: "Because I am so tall and lovely?"

Sarah: "When you put some makeup on you are."

Way Back When-esday: Sitting in the Sun

Dateline: April 2004
Sarah's Age: 2 Years Old
Daddy's Age: 36 Years Old


Resting in the barnyard area of our local zoo, life doesn't get much better for a Daddy and his daughter. (Or the mom who mists over at the memory....)

Why don't you take this Wednesday to go "Way Back?" Dive into those digital files and expose an image--or story--from days gone by. Be sure and link back to Twinfatuation and share in the web-wide reverie.

Relax with a morning coffee or a lunch time lemonade--maybe even a Wednesday night wine--and pop around to visit other participants. Be sure to leave a comment and let 'em know you're playing along, too!

Two for TWO-sday: Pages by the Pool

This weekend's weather was wondrous. Nothing like a good book and some cool water in which to dip your toes.

What Two-fer do you want to share this week? Play along with Deanna at Eight is Great's Two for TWO-sday!

Makes My Monday: Finding the Prince

Sarah has long been obsessed with HBO's Happily Ever After, particularly the episode "The Princess and the Pea." Presidential history is also a subject of great fascination. Behold her book that Makes My Monday.. [Title text: The Princess and the Peace]

[Text: Once upon a time a verry long time ago, a princess was sad.]

[Text: Women could not vote.]

[Text: Woodrow Willson stoped it.]

[Text: The princess maryed Woodrow Willson.]

Here's to men that do right by their women! They--and my daughter's seven-year-old appreciation of them--Make My Monday! (As does the fact that Sarah knew--when I didn't--the 19th amendment was ratified under Woodrow Wilson's presidency.)

What is brightening your week's beginning? Pick a picture, tell a tale, and play along with the web-wide Monday making.

Be sure and pop in on other participants to share in the cheer...and leave a comment while you're there!

It may be rainy. It may be Monday. Down? No way!

From Pariah to Perfection

Pollen: It's all in how you look at it.

Buck up, Little Sneezy Soldiers. Take some Zyrtec, and seek out some things worth savoring this spring Sunday. For specific activities to help your kids appreciate the loveliness all around, visit FishfulThinking.com.

Thanks from Thing 1 & Thing 2

Our neighbors, Mrs. Laura and Mr. Steve, lavish affection---and gifts---upon Sarah and Darren. Yesterday, when opening the front door to run errands, on the doorstep were huge Easter bags, complete with chocolate bunnies and precious summer togs for our two.

Before heading out for afternoon fun today, I tasked the twins to compose their own thanks without dictation or wording suggestions (and to share the space afforded them) in the card below.

Sarah's determination to spell her gratitude without asking for assistance, plus Darren's "Ms. Lora + Mr. Steve = Happy Darren" have thoroughly warmed my heart cockles this Saturday.

Think the good Dr. Seuss (and Hallmark) would be pretty pleased as well.