Barber Shop Open for Business

Just after Thanksgiving, I realized Laith needed a haircut.  I figured I would tackle that as well and did some researching on how to cut boy's hair and tricks to get the ever moving Laith to hold still.  I was determined to cut his hair in early December, so it wouldn't look weird at Christmas, but time ran away from me and it was the new year.  No better time than for a new beginning.  I strapped Laith up in his high chair, slung a towel over the back, so I wouldn't snip the chair's fabric, and started spraying water all over his head.  At this point, Vivienne decided it was unfair she wasn't getting the same treatment and went into a spastic fit.  She lays on her back and sets her feet on the ground so she can scoot herself along the floor backwards, while screaming like a banshee.  I got Vivienne strapped up too and peace reigned again...until I started snipping.  Then Laith decided he was done and wouldn't sit forward for anything.  The ending hair cut wasn't too bad, until the next day, when it was dry.  Then I started to notice all the stray long hairs I missed around his ears and on his neck.  And how the sides of his hair were still long, so when he woke up, they poked straight out.  I've spent all week, snipping here and there, getting it to a more respectable look.  Not too shabby for a first time, especially with a squirmy worm of a kid, but not the Hollywood A-list look I had intended.

Maybe next time, when he's older, and squirms even more.

Crimson's Theory of Twin Relativity

Introduction

Twins A and B closely scrutinized for 9 months

Findings

• Whatever action A takes, B should do also
• If A wants to, does not mean B does too
• Time must be divided between A and B, therefore love is multiplied

Conclusion

A is unique so therefore B is unique which means life is full and complicated

Baby Talk

Covered Bridges in Oregon

We went for a drive today and found a couple covered bridges, While taking the pics the kids went into meltdown so we had to cut it short...

Christmas 2012

The decision to drive to Utah was a tough one.  The drive per Google is 11+ hours, but really takes about 13 hours, and the trip would be even longer, knowing we'd have to stop several times for the babies.  Flying would've made travel time about 2 hours each way (then add in getting to the airport, going through security and waiting to board), but then there was the dilemma of a stroller with two car carriers, an extra huge bag for the babies with all the gear I thought I might need, the many presents that would have to be shipped, holding a baby on each of our laps on a tiny airplane, perhaps having to listen to a baby (or babies) scream, traveling through an airport to grab our many bags both carrying a baby and our carry on items, then needing to borrow a large car that would fit all of us.  In the end, driving would just be easier, besides much cheaper.  Plus the G8 hadn't done a true street vacation yet.  It was time.

We took several pictures on our way to Utah.  First was the pit stop, then over the wide river, through the snowy woods, and then across the long stretch of Oregon-Idaho.  Our first stop was in LeGrande, Oregon.  It was extremely windy and cold, and the babies had to have diaper changes done in the car.  Then we gave them bottles to hold, which turned into us holding, as the new surrounding threw them off.  By late afternoon, we were wiped out and got lucky with a stop that allowed us to all get out of the car and stretch our legs.  We visited my cousin Jason in Jerome, Idaho.  Although it was a quick hour, it was wonderful to see something that was not framed with a car window.  I haven't seen my cousin in several years...actually worked out it's probably been around seven!  It was great to see him, Stefanie and their family.  We then got back on the road and arrived at the final destination, Grammie and Poppa Garrett's house well into the late evening.  The babies were really great on the entire trip.  The fussiest they got was just before seeing Jason, so our arranged stop worked out great.

 

 

 

 

The babies did really great on our trip.  Considering their lives consist of interaction with each other, mommy and daddy, they were (on most occasions) happy to go to anyone and kept to a pretty consistent 'vacation' routine.  However, by the end of the week, they were ready to be home, but wanted to get there in a fashion that did not involve their car seats.  Too bad for them.

Here we are with Great-Grandma Davis.  Unfortunately, Great-Grandpa Davis wasn't able to hold the babies, as they weighed too much (Grandpa had surgery earlier in the year that had limited him to how much he could lift/carry)!  Never thought we'd hear that particular statement for preemies.

Christmas morning was laid back.  It was an off year at my mom's, meaning all my married sisters were at their husband's extended families for Christmas morning festivities.  We 'slept in' until the babies woke up — the last time for probably the next 10-12 Christmases — and were able to get cleaned up and ready, since wake up time is usually 7 am in our household, whether on Washington time or Utah time.  Laith wasn't big into ripping paper or uncovering presents.  All the noise was overwhelming for him, and he had several meltdowns.  Vivienne absolutely loved ripping the paper, and was ready for each new gift, not caring what the opened package was until Elmo was found.

By the time we arrived at Grandma and Grandpa Sadler's, the babies were exhausted and took naps while we ate breakfast.  When they woke up, Bryan set up his iPad with Elmo for them to watch.  Alex dove in between them to join in.

We tried to get some pictures of the twins with Katelyn, Melanie's little girl, but Vivienne was done...although this particular picture looks as though she's ready to bounce off the couch laughing.

My grandma likes to get a generation photo with each of her great grandkids.  It's kind of fun to see a 4 generation photo...with two babies as the 4th generation.

We were able to get a 4 generation photo with Bryan's grandparents as well.  We lived here at Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Sadler's house when we were first married.  It's hard to believe that's been almost 13 years ago now.

On our way home, we took a few pictures of the road, but the only one that was worth showing is this one.  This is the pass over to Pendleton, Oregon.  This section of I-84 is scary on a good day.  The first time we went over it was after the truck had lost a right rear tire at the ID-OR border.  All I could think as we drove down the snowy pass was how grateful I was the tire had let go several hundred miles back and not at this particular location.  This time, I was going to get pictures of how scary it is, but the fog hides all that scariness.  You wouldn't know that the guard rail is the only safety net between you and a several hundred feet drop off.  I was very happy once we were at the bottom of the mountain.

Last shot is all the items we had somehow squeezed and shoved into the G8.  The trunk was jam packed.  The kind of full where you quickly shut the trunk lid and pray you don't forget and push the unlock button, because if you do, a mountain of baby paraphernalia is going to explode.

Tumwater Falls