I talked a bit last week about being in a holding pattern and making a more conscious effort to find the good in each and every day.  Today the Twinkies are 4 years old and although there are many descriptive words I could use when talking about them and what they have brought into our lives, there are two that stand out most… amazing and funny.

We are forever amazed by the things that these two little boys are capable of.  This amazement isn’t anything new though, they have been shocking us with their minds and abilities since before they turned one, it is simply incredible. But as they get older, their thoughts are so much more amazing even.

Each and every day they say or do things that are worthy of a true ROFL (roll on the floor laughing).  From the incredible dreams that they have to the random thoughts that they share, they keep us on our toes.  Even though I’m describing them basically as a pair, they are very much individuals and proud of who they each are.

Yes, life is extremely chaotic sometimes and they tend to have more than their fair share of complaints in life a lot of the time. They are stubborn, strong willed, opinionated and even mouthy.  But through all of that they have also brought so much joy and laughter and they love hard.

They get offended if they don’t get a hug and blow kiss from Daddy before he leaves for work each morning.  They get upset if their big brothers are gone for too long and especially if CJ is spending too many nights with grandparents.

Through everything, we are thankful for these little bundles of energy that keep us on our toes and bring us amazed laughter every day.

The twins are quickly approaching age 4 and their latest love, especially Bug is to cut their hair. Bug did this twice within about a month and I did what I could with his hair buzz cutting it and trying to still keep it looking cute.

Then about 2 weeks ago Monkey decided to do it as well but instead of cutting a reverse mohawk as Bug has Monkey cut it straight across the front close to his head. Equally terrible looking lol, but Icould work with that a little more… until yesterday.

As most of you know, I have been cutting all my guys’ hair since shortly after my husband and I got married.  This has saved us a ton of money and headaches over the years and it’s a quick job to do at home.

I had cut my husband’s and 3of the other boys’ hair the day before and apparently I had left the clippers box on the counter. Yes you guessed it, in their infinite wisdom, the twins found that box (though the height of the counter is at forehead level) opened it up and proceeded to clip hair.

Now, the crazy part is that, as usual, they were only in there for a few moments before Salesman and I heard and registered the noise in the kitchen. As we investigated, sure enough we found that Monkey had taken the clippers to the front middle of his head and had a crazy looking front only reverse mohawk look going. Bugs had only a tiny section cut out of the front as well, but it was enough to require a full shaving.

As CJ begged to shave them it is the first time that I’ve ever been able to say yes lol. After all what more could he do to them, they already looked terrible. So excitedly CJ prepared the clippers and a twin and began shaving. The twins weren’t thrilled with the process, but they hated afterward when they saw themselves completely sheared down to the scalp.

They kept asking for us to put the hair back on (which we all fell on the floor laughing over of course) and informed me that CJ is never to cut their hair again. To which I replied that as long as they did not cut their hair again I would make sure CJ didn’t have the opportunity to cut their hair again.

This turned into an excellent way to try and keep them from cutting their hair again. Knowing that they would look as they do now and endure another haircut by big brother may very well be my ticket out of the crazy haircut stage.

We will see……

Yesterday as we walked across the parking lot to enter church, Bug stopped and picked a flower. When his Dad asked him what he was doing, he replied very matter-of-factly…

“This is a flower for God, I’m going to give it to him!”

He carried that flower in with him and excitedly showed it to his teacher.

Later that day, as we sat at the table eating dinner, he was playing with the bracelet he had made in his class at church that morning…

Bug: “See this bracelet?”
Me: “Yes buddy, it’s a very nice bracelet”
Bug: “Yeah, God gived it to me”

Well then, he is a very blessed little boy!

Ok, so I’ll admit that there is one show that the entire family (including myself and hubby) loves to watch…Phineas and Ferb!  From hubby to the twins, it is a show that everyone enjoys, it’s funny and simple and just so boy!  They get to do (and think of to do) anything and everything that any boy would love to.

Shockingly though, for reasons beyond my understanding, not one of my boys has attempted to do anything they have seen on the show.   But, being boys they can fully appreciate the creativity and imagination that Phineas and Ferb put into every project…of course on the flip side it just reinforces their opinion that sisters are evil and makes them ever so much more glad they do not have one LOL!

Anyway, yesterday the boys were all playing outside and Bug kept disappearing behind the Pine tree next to the garage.  It isn’t super big compared to all the other mammoth trees on our property, but it’s big enough to completely hide him (and give me heart palpatations in the process if I didn’t see him disappear back there).  Unsure of what he was up to, I sent Salesman (age 10) back to keep an eye on him and he soon returned to me laughing.

Salesman: (hahahaha) Mom (hahaha) you know what he’s doing back there? (hahahaha)

Me: Uh, no (at this point the laughter is contagious)

Salesman: (hahaha) He  says he’s looking for Perry the Platypus and he’s searching for his secret hideout opening. (hahahaha)

Me: (practically ROFL) Oh, well then…..

Like hubby always says…”No one can say our life is boring.”   The scene still made Salesman (ok, and me) laugh last night when he recounted it to his Dad!

Oh and for those of you who are wondering….no, he didn’t find Perry the Platypus, so I’m sure he’ll be in search of him again today.  I did overhear Bug talking on a pretend phone behind that tree a little while later.  He was conspiring with whatever imaginary person he had on the other line to discover the secrets of Perry the Platypus another day.

You would think that since I’ve already potty trained 4 boys, training the twins would be a walk in the park…but it’s not. They are now officially my latest-to-train kiddos and there is no more putting it off. So when I was introduced to Potty Tots and their unique program I was definitely intrigued, so they sent a kit for boys my way.

The little ones were so excited when I began opening the kit! They knew it was for them, with all the little people all over the box. Then, to find a letter addressed to each of them inside, they were in heaven. The process is simple with Potty Tots and while you still need to endure the process of potty training, this program gives your little trainee some extra tools for the journey so that they can feel like they are in control.

As a potty training mom alumni, I do know all the basics, I also know that it is important not to have a ton of failed attempts at potty training. The last two kiddos I trained had a unique way of doing it…I introduced it, they rebelled against it, I finally stated (to my husband, not to them) that I was giving up and they suddenly decided to do it on their own the second I stopped “training”. All of that to say that with every child the process will likely look a little different.

I really do recommend Potty Tots for parents who are ready to begin the process – or maybe you’re not completely ready but your child is showing signs of being ready…yup, you should get this too! You choose the kit for a boy or girl. The boy’s kit comes complete with a letter addressed to your child and…

• A story/guide book
• Animated DVD -featuring three original Potty Tots songs and 2 bonus music videos
• One 11″X17″ Illustrated potty chart (easily wipes clean with damp cloth)
• One 11″X17″ Toilet Bowl” progress/reward game with clings (easily wipes clean with damp cloth)

My boys loved every aspect of this kit. We started by watching the DVD. They loved the songs (and were singing them the rest of the day) and also loved watching the little one in the DVD learn how to go potty by himself. As soon as that was over I pulled out the Illustrated potty chart and we talked about how it was the same process they had just seen in the movie…which was very exciting for them! So we went and hung it on the wall next to the toilet. Then came explaining the “Toilet Bowl” game to them.

My boys were super excited to give it all a try and the potty chart for the bathroom is genius! Not only do they totally understand the process, but since it’s next to the toilet, they like to look at it while they’re “trying” to go.

For those of you who have been putting it off, I’m sorry to say that I have just eliminated your last excuse to avoid potty training your little one. Once you order one of these kits, take your little one on an adventure to the store to purchase their new undies and a potty seat of their very own (of course, my twins have to share).

Potty Tots is also offering one lucky commenter the opportunity to win a Potty Tots kit for the little one in your life. To enter, simply visit the Potty Tots website to see their products, you’ll also want to take a minute to sit down with your little one and watch the video! Either way, when you are done come back here and leave a comment telling me about any of your potty training experiences and/or who you want to win this for.

Remember to take advantage of all the great ways to earn extra entries, just leave another comment for each extra: the favorites are to tweet with a link to this giveaway, submit the giveaway to Kirtsy or Stumble Upon!! This giveaway is open to US addresses and will end on May 27th.

Today’s segment of “Conversations with a Two Year Old” has been modified a bit to explain a little bit about a day in our life with twins … particularly naptime.

You’d think that naptime would be a peaceful and wonderful event.  Well, once they are actually asleep it’s fine, but getting them there, is quite a challenge.  You see, naptime is an absolute sanity necessity.  Unfortunately Bugs and Monkey don’t see it this way so they drag the event out as long as they possibly can turning naptime into an “Adventure”.  Here’s a run down of how it goes …

Crib Hopping: They are (for the moment) still in cribs, but the cribs are side by side, so with little effort they can propel themselves from their own crib into their brothers.  They each know which crib is theirs, but this “crib hopping” ritual is a daily Nap requirement apparently.

Chatting: Many conversations take place as they are supposed to be going to sleep.  Monday is a good example where they were each standing at the side of their own cribs talking.  Suddenly you hear something like this:

Monkey: “Pinky Swear? No really, you need to Pinky Swear!”
Bugs: “I not Pinky Swear!”
Monkey: “But you have to Pinky Swear”

Where do they hear these things.  I honestly haven’t heard that out of one of the older boys for months.  It’s like they glean all this information and verbage and just store it away, waiting for an opportunity to bring it all out and use it.  Let me just say that it’s a very good thing that they have never heard profanity!

Argument: At some point, they will get tired of the other one climbing into their crib and taking blankets and pillows and some sort of fracus will ensue.  Typically it isn’t anything major, but just part of the progression.

Sleep: Eventually, one will fall asleep leaving the other on his own … he will talk to himself, yell at his twin to wake up (what does he think he’s doing going to sleep during naptime) and at some point fall asleep himself.

There are always variations on this lovely ritual.  The other day, Monkey moved all of his things into Bugs’ crib … blankets, pillows and all!

Ok, so it’s a NOT so wordless Wednesday here at A Frog In My Soup, but what was I to do when I had a picture of these two cute little Flu Shot Poster boys of mine but needed to write a post reminding everyone to get a flu shot???  Voila, combo post!!

Just Cuz You Need to Know (LOL)! According to my 10 year old know-it-all (seriously, he thinks he knows it all!) … and I quote VERBATIM …..

“I always thought that flu shots were so you don’t get fleas.”

With that bit of wisdom you can discontinue reading the rest of this post and go on with life understanding everything …. and nothing all, at the same time!

When Monkey went to see the pediatrician for a totally unrelated skin thing on Monday, their wonderful doctor asked me out of the blue at the end of the appointment …. “sooo, do we need any shots today?” HUH?  Man I sure don’t think so LOL.  Then she told us that they had the flu shot in for the twins right now. Amazing since for the last two years (when they REALLY needed it), they didn’t ever have it in when I needed it.

You want to know what’s scary …. Monkey didn’t cry – not a PEEP!  Bugs only cried a teensy bit and was happy again very quickly.  Of course they were very proud of their lovely red (matching I might add) bandaids and walked around the rest of the day (once we got home) with no shirt on and telling everyone that, “Somebody POKED me!”  It was actually quite amusing … some found it downright hilarious!  But I digress …..

Latest info …. it is recommended that all children under the age of 18 and anyone caring for them get a flu vaccine!  Even though much of the healthcare profession is still sticking to the under 5 crowd rule, this is the latest and greatest – yup, you heard it here!

Want all the info on the flu vaccine, why you should get it and who shouldn’t???  Be sure to visit the CDC website setup just for flu facts!  Oh, and if you’re a blogger, get informed, grab some buttons, listen to some podcasts and spread the word on your own blog!  December 8-14 is National Influenza Vaccination week.

Sunday morning Monkey was climbing onto his Daddy’s chair with the usual ten million questions.  We had done a bit of work around the house over the weekend and tools have been the hot topic.

Suddenly he asked, “Where’s my screw?”

To which my husband brilliantly replied, “It’s right there…” (pointing to Monkey’s head) “… and I think it’s loose!”

Gotta Love It!!!

A conversation with the twins can go just about anywhere, with absolutely no explanation or warning. Soon after Hubby got home last night he found a seat on the couch so that the Twinkies could proceed with their evening ritual of crawling all over him and either talking a mile a minute or asking a zillion questions.

Here’s a little conversation they had with their Daddy last night:

Monkey: “Daddy, where’s your rocketship? Did you come home in your rocketship?”
Daddy: “My Rocketship?” looking at me in bewilderment.
Monkey: “Yes, Daddy, your rocketship!”
Daddy: deciding to play along, “It goes very fast”
Monkey & Bugs: getting excited, “Very Fast?”
Daddy: “Yes, rocketships go very fast.”
Monkey: “Oh” (his eyes were huge)
Bugs: “Daddy, where’s your airplane?”

You get the idea!  It was such a funny conversation, both of them with their faces right in front of his and their hands on his cheeks much of the time as they held this exciting conversation.  As the conversation progressed, from rocketships to airplanes and even on to helicopters we enjoyed the moment.

Their wide-eyed innocence and their excitement about things that are pure fantasy to the adult world is always refreshing.   To a two year old, anything is possible …. even Daddy going to and from work in a Rocketship!

I have tried every recommended method (that I know of) to get them to go to class. This has included the “say goodbye and leave” technique, the “hand over and run” technique, the “walk into class and say goodbye” technique and the “don’t leave class at all” technique.

They do semi-ok with the “don’t leave class at all” technique, and more recently I have even been able to start sneaking out after they finally unglue themselves and get distracted for a moment. This can be challenging since there are two of them and they are ONLY alright if they DON’T see me leave!

As a mom that, for the most part, has “been there done that” without issues with the older kids (except for one short lived stint with Son 4 when he was 2 1/2), this particular challenge has left me baffled. If it was short lived or consistency related, that would be fine, but the thing is …. this has been going on since they were old enough to be aware of their surroundings.

In other words, from the moment they were about 6 months old – the age when most of my kiddos begin going to the nursery, they were traumatized with leaving me. They are ok staying at my parents’ house without me and they are also ok if certain people come here to watch them and I leave. But other than that …. nope!

So here I am waiting for either the light to go on in my head about how to resolve this issue, or for the twins to get old enough to move beyond this problem!