Um, where did my babies go?

So, I was just doing dishes and turned my back for a moment and the girls were gone. The mystery deepens . . .

Some Random Stuff for the record

Ok, so what do you do with a biter?? This afternoon Kate and Clara were playing NICELY in the living room. Suddenly I hear Clara screaming like she fell off the couch. I check on her, and she is just standing in front of her toy. Not on her head. No blood. What was the problem? I surmised it was the vampire child I spawned-i.e. Kate-- had struck again, but I didn't find the four little bite marks on Clara's thigh until later. Poor Clara. . . . Don't worry too much, Clara's sharpening her fangs for revenge.

Ok, this is just for bribery when he's 16. Just for the record HE insisted on wearing the pink bib and using the pink pacifier.
Here are some pics from our trip to Seaside last Saturday with my side of the fam. Has somebody already patented a diet detox involved sand?? Because Kate has demonstrated quite aptly that eating significant amounts of sand does wonders cleaning out the bowels. Mixed with blueberries . . . I"ll let your imagination take over here.

Ok, so anyone taking babies to the beach, here's a tip: Keep at least one sippy cup or bottle in the car so you have something not covered with sand for the drive home!

And what is it with people who want to have conversation you while you're pushing a twin stroller with two lawn chairs and a cooler balanced on top, with two beach bags over your shoulders, and a toddler who insisted on holding your hand? "Yes, mam, I can see that I have a flat tire, in fact two flat tires, can't do much about it now can I? OH, thank you for pointing out how far we parked from the beach. I wasn't quite sure. Let me run back to my car and drive around in a few more circles to end up in the same spot. No, no, PLEASE go around us, Honestly. I INSIST. Yes, they are twins. Thank you, they are cute. That's my son there, he's cute as well. Yes, my hands are full. Yep, I'm a busy mom. Please, I INSIST, you can pass us. Please?!"

Here's the kiddos first carousel ride. As you can see we had mixed results. Kate did pretty well, James liked it for awhile but then started to freak out once he realized that we moved. Clara didn't even want to give it a try.

Mt. St. Helens Climb 2009

My Uncle Stan put together a climb up Mt. St. Helens. As a native of S.W. Washington, and someone who remembers the blast, I thought it was a crime that I had never made it to the top! So I joined the group, and man did that climb kick my patootie. We hiked 2 miles up to the tree line and slept there. Stan had us up at 5:30 am and we were on the road by 6:00. It's 3 miles to the summit. A very hard, rocky, dusty, rocky, hot, rocky 3 miles. But the view from the top is AMAZING. I'm so glad I did it, and have no plans to do it again for a long time! I was definitely out of my comfort zone sitting on the rim with an 800 foot drop to the bottom!

Nephews Jacob & Alex

Me at the summit. This photo has Mt. Adams in the background. From the top we could see Mt. Rainer, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, & Mt. Jefferson.
Here's the climbing group. Alex (#63), Gracie (green shirt), Laurie? (white cap), Stan (red shirt), Casey(kid in front), Me, Jacob (eating), Joanie (in pink)

Posing in the first light of the day.

Bright and early on the day of the hike.

12:34:56 07/08/09

Here is a little documentary of what I was doing at 12:34:56 on 07/08/09. Thanks to Aunt Debbie--James, Kate, and I remembered to capture the moment (Clara was napping--yes it was one of those dreaded days when the twins wouldn't nap at the same time. No break for mommy. I spent the day making 8 pizzas, 3 lasagnas, 5 freezer jams, & 2 chicken & wild rice casseroles. I still have to clean ;(

Using spoons . . .or your face.

Here is what happens when you decide to give your twins "using a spoon" lesson and they don't play along.