2010 has been a whirlwind......having twins has changed our lives completely and I thought things would get easier as they got older and more independent........but I will say some things have become easier while other things more challenging and thus exhausting! Two two year olds is CRAZY! It is constant monkey see- monkey do in our house with one kid getting in trouble while the other one follows the lead and joins in the fun, or someone is always asking "why?" (particularly Alex), and then there is Olivia who likes to tattle on Alex when he is getting in trouble..."Look at him mommy! Look at Alex doin'" With all of the challenges does bring so much happiness and excitement to listen to what the kids say on a daily basis and listen to the sentences that they put together and the things they tell us. In fact the other day Olivia and I had the following conversation:
Jackie: "what did you have for lunch today?"
Olivia: "mommy me no like fish sticks" (I sent fish sticks in with them for lunch)
Jackie: "oh, you didn't like the fish sticks?"
Olivia: "Ms. Darla eat my fish sticks!" (Ms. Darla is one of her teachers! - - yep her teacher got ratted out by a 2 year old!)
Olivia: "Ms. Darla give me some more yogurt" (Apparently they traded lunches!)
Anyway, this year has seemed busier than most, and I am not sure if it is because we have been doing a lot more or if it is just from having 2 two year olds....Here are some highlights of the year:
In January, Uncle Dave came to visit for the weekend, and he took us to a local kids museum and Alex and Olivia had so much fun!
In March, we all got zapped with a NASTY stomach bug that was going through day care. Olivia fell victim first, then Alex two days later, then Ben got sick the day he stayed home with Alex, and then I was the last victim that got sick on my birthday! We cleaned more vomit and did more laundry in one week then I ever cared to do. This literally all took place during one week with Olivia getting sick on Monday morning, and me being the last to get sick on Thursday night. By Friday morning luckily both kids were healthy enough to go to day care, so Ben and I essentially drew straws to figure out who was going to take them in since we both felt so awful.Luckily we all felt much better in time for Alex and Olivia's 2nd Birthday which they celebrated with friends and family with a Sesame Street Theme!
At the beginning of April, Alex and Olivia enjoyed their first easter egg hunt! They had lots of fun! Alex was not too into picking up eggs once he realized there were things inside. He would just get one, sit on the ground and eat the candy (with the wrapper still on!)....he has a sweet tooth!
We also took a vacation to stay with my parents in Michigan in April. The week was very busy spending time with family. We went to the zoo with my mom and my brother.
We went to a bounce house with Uncle Dave.
Hung out with my parents.
We also got to spend some good quality time with my grandma.
In May, we decided to make a big change in our lives.....I decided to accept a job in Louisville, Kentucky so that we could move closer to family. I have been out in Connecticut for 10 years and Ben for 9, and after raising 2 children for the last 2 years we decided that we really want to be closer to family so Alex and Olivia get spend more time with their grandparents and great-grandparents. In addition, we wanted them to be able to experience some of the same things we did growing up. This was a very difficult decision, as we are very sad to leave Connecticut, leave all of our friends that we have made out here, and the memories we have made in Connecticut. However, we think this is the best decision for our family and we are super excited to be so much closer to family and friends that we haven't see that much over the last 9 - 10 years.
At the end of May, Ben and I spent the weekend in Louisville looking for a house. We had a fabulous realtor who took us around for 4 days looking at houses and we found one on the second to last day. We are in love with our new house and can't wait to move in and enjoy all the extra space. We close on June 30th.
In the meantime we put our house in CT up on the market, and are happy to announce that we have accepted an offer on the house. We are set to close on our Granby house on July 23rd. Even though we are excited to have extra space, a wonderful backyard, and central air-conditioning, we are very sad to leave our current house. We have made so many memories in this house between bringing Dudley home, to bringing Alex and Olivia home.
And then I will miss the fireplace surround that we designed.........
But now, we just have new space to decorate and call our own, all with family much closer. We couldn't be more excited!That's the update for 2010, and hopefully once we get settled in Louisville, we will have more regular updates.....and finally, through all these months.....Olivia's hair has gone WILD!!!!!
