Bluebonnet Pics 2013

Before I show you this year's bluebonnet pictures, let me share the lesson I learned from this experience:

When you take your two toddlers out into a grassy field to take their picture, HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS. Don't expect that they will stand together and be still, smiling, and looking so adorable while surrounded by the beautiful Texas flowers.  Especially if they might be hungry.  Or tired.  Or sweaty.  Oh, and make sure the grass is not touching them in any way because they might hate that.  And if it is windy they will hate that too.  No expectations, I tell ya.  Yep, lesson learned.

Okay, so I know the only reason you are on this blog is to see the pictures.  Let's start off with the best picture from the whole day.

Yes, that is "Oink" sitting on a quilt in the bluebonnets.  Doing exactly what I had hoped my children would do.  After we got home and started looking at all the pictures Tim took, we thought it was hilarious.

So, here we go.  Rhys had "Oink" (refused to get out of the van without it) and Rhett wanted it.

She said "no" and ran off.  Rhett cried.

Being the cool mom that I am, I ran to the van and pulled out "Baa" for Rhett.  Unfortunately, this did not work.

While Rhett had a complete melt down, Rhys did pose for a couple pictures.

As the crying got louder, Tim got distracted and started taking pictures of the flowers.  Pretty, huh?

Back to work.  Rhys does not want to take a picture.

Now she is ready for a picture.  As long as she can show off her belly button.

"Do we have to take pictures?"

This picture just sums it up.

Hey, at least they are in the same picture here.

Rhys needed a little break.

Rhett got a break from Sugar.  A very fun break!

We found the sunglasses in the van.  Yes!

But then Rhys was done.

And Rhett was ready to smile!

Next year?  :)

If You Give a Twin a Box...

If you give some twins a box, they will want to get inside.

After they are inside, they will want you to close the top.

Once the top is closed, they will want to peek through the side hole.

 Rhys peeking

Rhett peeking

After a bit of peeking, they will want to open the box a little.

They will think this is hilarious.

It is so hilarious that they will fall down in the box laughing.

They will hug and kiss and laugh really loud.

This will cause one twin to get out of the box.

Once he is out of the box, he will want to get back in.

Once the twins are in the box, they will want you to close the top.

If you give some twins a box...they will play with it for over an hour.

Blue Bell Fun Run

The Blue Bell Fun Run is something that my family has been a part of for many years.  My dad loved competing in races, but the Blue Bell Run was one of his favorites.  Before he got sick, we always ran this race together.  After he passed away, our family decided that we would continue to get together each spring and race together.  

Ready for the gun to start the race!  The weather was absolutely gorgeous!

Here is a little comparison photo....this one was taken a year ago, April 2012, at the same starting line!  Look how their little feet don't even hit the bottom of the stroller yet!

Daddy and Sugar decided that they would walk with R&R in the stroller so that my sister, Caydee, and I could run.

Yay!  We made it!

 R&R pose with Sugar at the finish line

My sister Caydee and her hubby, Sean at the finish line

After the race, you walk around the corner to see the famous Blue Bell Ice Cream Truck!

This is the only race I know of that lets you eat as much ice cream as you want after you run! R&R were very excited to hear about this!

Rhys happy to have her own strawberry bar

love at first bite!

 Rhys and Uncle Sean

 YUM!

 "Here, Rhys, try mine"

my favorite people

 happy boy

 Rhys and Sugar going back for more

Sugar letting Rhys pick anything she wants....SPOILED!

Rhys enjoying her second ice cream of the morning

 better sit down for a break....this is hard work!

After our ice cream treats, we headed to the airport in Brenham to eat at the diner there.  It is so much fun!  First we looked at all the private planes.

Mommy, R&R, and Uncle Sean 

Mommy, Rhett, Sugar & Rhys 

 Daddy and Rhett pose in front of a cool plane

Sugar and Rhett watching the planes fly in

 Aunt Caydee plays with Rhett while we wait for our table

Uncle Sean keeps Rhys busy with her purse 

I didn't get any really good pictures inside the restaurant, but this diner is so cute!  The waitresses wear poodle skirts, there is a jukebox playing, and the burgers and milkshakes were delicious.

 We had such a great day and look forward to continuing our Blue Bell Run tradition each year.

The Things They Say...

As we were driving home from church yesterday, Tim and I were laughing because Rhett did not stop talking the whole way home!  When Rhys had something to add, she would shout her thoughts so that she could be heard over Rhett's constant chatter.  It sounded something like this:

Rhett:  "Car, big car, bus, car"

Rhys:  "Mom, car!"

Rhett:  "Doggie, big doggie, car, doggie, ruff ruff, ruff ruff"

Rhys:  "Mooooommmm, big car!"

Rhett:  "Dada, Mama, big big car!"

Rhett:  "Outside, car, doggie, ruff ruff, eat, apples, cracker?"

Rhys:  "Moooommm!!! Cracker?"

And this continued for 30 more minutes.

About 8 months ago the twins were not talking AT ALL.  They were tested for speech therapy, qualified, and both started receiving weekly services.  We just love our current therapist, Kathleen, or "Lee" as Rhett calls her.  I don't think they will continue to have therapy for very much longer.

I have been really fascinated watching their language skills develop these past few months.  It seems like they are learning new words every day, and really starting to be able to put together a couple words at a time.  Sometimes it is cute because Rhys will sign some words, say some words, and act out some words all at the same time to try to get her point across.  

I wanted to make note of some of the cute things they say so I don't forget.  It is interesting to me that they use the same pronunciation for most words, even if it is wrong.  There are only a few words that they say differently.

The things we are hearing these days (at 2 years old):

"On-yo" - orange

"In-yo" - inside

"Beto" - Caleb

"Baby Anna" - Savannah

"Ry Ry" - Ryland

"Guger" - Sugar

"outsi" - outside

"oink" - the name Rhys has given her pig

"baa" - the name Rhys has given her sheep

animals

car

"coo coo" - choo choo trains

baby

table

books

bike

"wa-on" - wagon

"side" - slide (after this word is spoken it is always followed by a "wheeee")

shoes

socks

ready go

cracker

"froo" - fruit

apples

"nana" - banana

"neck-ace" - necklace

"bace-let" - bracelet

"tee" - tree

"wing" - swing

"dis" - this, also meaning anything they want at the moment (I think because we say "you want this?"

ball

"pay" - play

eat

milk

"wah wah" - water

up

ice

bowl

"bork" - fork

cookie - which may be a cookie or a cupcake

"bock" - block

"bish" - fish

dip - which may be hummus, ketchup, mustard, tomato sauce 

"nak" - snack
bubbles - cheerios
"mun-nuh" - monkey

They are also very much into labeling things that belong to people.  "dada cup, dada shoes, etc."  They label things that belong to each other and mama and dada.  Rhett is using mostly 2 word phrases, and occasionally 3 words together.  Rhys uses one word most of the time, but is starting to put 2 words together.

My favorite thing that Rhys says right now is "sick" which means sit.  I hear "Sick, Mom, sick" many times a day.

My favorite thing that Rhett says is "nofe" for nose and "tofe" for toes.  I also love that he calls Rhys, "Mees."  He also calls himself "Bubba."

The funniest thing of all is that they both started calling me "Mom."  Rhys does it more consistently than Rhett, but he will say Mom when he is really wanting my attention.  We are not sure where they got this from, since all of their friends still stay "mama" or "mommy."

I love listening to them talk to each other, too, although I usually have no idea what they are saying.  Rhys will say something to Rhett and he will laugh and laugh.  Too bad I don't get the joke!  :)   

Lots of blog posts to catch up on....stay tuned for posts on Easter, 2nd Birthday and more!