Dance Steps

The kindergartners are taking dance class in school and Timo and Cameron were showing off their new moves the other night...
20131121_192059.mp4 from Sara ko on Vimeo.

Build a Bear

We have yet to enter the world that is Build a Bear.  I feel lucky that we made it almost 6 years before our first trip but we finally took the leap a few weeks ago.  Young had to work and I needed to take the kids down to the mall for their annual holiday pictures.  Based on our experience last year, and not a good one, I decided to sweeten the deal for the kids if they would just smile, not be silly and listen to the photographer. Knowing that the last thing they want to do is smile when being told where to stand and what to do in uncomfortable clothes, I played the bribery card before we left.  What actually worked in my favor was they had no idea what BAB was.  The more I explained it, the more excited they became.  They were so excited in fact, they did everything they were told at the photo session, we were done in record time so they could go Build their Bear!

When I was explaining the whole process to them on the way to the mall, Timo asked if there was a soldier bear.  I wasn't sure if they still had the little camo bear but they did!  Only three left!!  He was so excited. Cameron picked out Rudolf's little girlfriend, Clarice.  We went in with the understanding that we were only picking out the animals, no accessories...but the sales lady got to them before me and talked up the sound you could add.  So Clarice sings a lullaby and Camo bear plays Star Wars!  They loved the stuffing and hug test...

We got the free hearts that were included, did the hold in the air, spin around, give a kiss and make a wish routine...the kids loved it!  Smiles, laughs and giggles all around.  I have to give props for the workers there, they really know how to make it extra exciting for the kids.

Next was the washing.  Each got a good scrub from head to toes.  I was laughing at how serious the kids were taking it...their bears had to be all brushed and looking fresh.

Making the birth certificates on the computer by far took the longest time and was the most fun for them. They each got to type in all their information and name their bears.  Our kids have yet to be allowed to play on our computer/and or tablets except under supervision, so being able to type by themselves was a real treat.

Introducing Furry, the Camo Bear and Shinny, Clarice the Reindeer. (Cameron gave her another name on her birth certificate because her heart lights up.  We made it out with just the bears, no accessories, so it didn't cost an arm and a leg.  Plus, we got a free gift of Christmas baking sets (cookie cutter, rolling pin and Santa plate), score!  We didn't spend enough to get two sets but the sales lady was SO NICE and gave us two.  It's been a few weeks now and these new additions still go everywhere with them...guess we have some new best friends!

Imagination

This is what I love about being a kid...just looking at the world a whole new way every day and not being inhibited...just letting your imagination go wild. And I think being a twin or multiple is something special in that you always have a playmate the same age, the same maturity level and the same understanding of your crazy ideas.  When the kids get together and have uninterrupted play, I'm amazed at the silly, crazy, creative things they come up with.

Making their own rocking chairs...leaning back on the legs but having the sofa to stop them.  They rocked back and forth playing the "word game" (I give them a word and they spell it).

Timo saves ever little bit of trash we have and can find something for it.  He made glasses out of this plastic piece by punching holes in the side, threading string and tying it in the back.  His own pair of Minion glasses.

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I love it when they work together.  Putting on a puppet show or playing veterinarian.  They carried the horsey out on the blanket and proceeded examine her to find she was allergic to cats (a diagnosis in the wake of Timo's allergy test).

Given an hour or so and Timo can come up with one amazing battle plan.  His army of legos, dinos and soldiers were protecting the crystal wand...it's hard to see but it's made of legos by his foot.  I'm amazed of the detail he goes through in building and setting everything up.

Cameron loves to dress up and become someone new...One day she is Cinderella, the next she is Batman. She just has to have the turkey hat and can always find a mask she needs.  Anything and any way to recreate herself.

Given a little time to themselves and they can create their own entertainment...a Bible movie theater. Cameron came up with this one night using her Bible matching game.  Her theology isn't exactly correct but it all comes from a sweet place in her heart.

20131016_185637.mp4 from Sara ko on Vimeo.

Cheetah Girl

Can you see the cheetah in the tree?  Cameron has a strange affection for cheetahs and when she saw the "cheetah" print cloths in Gymboree a few weeks ago she just begged to have them.  Being that they were 60% off, it was a no brainer for me.  My hope is that she wouldn't wear the pants and shirt together but I honestly knew better.  She climbed up this tree in the park last week and becoming one with her inner cheetah.

Sorry for slacking in posts lately.  I see why they say time flies once the kids start school...it really does!  I honestly don't know how working mom's do it all.  I'm a stay home mom with kids in school and still fall behind on my chores.  I'll try to catch you all up this week, my schedule seems a little more calm the next few day...just before the onset of the Thanksgiving holiday...

Halloween Parties/Halloween

One thing I learned about Argonne Elementary School, Halloween is a big deal.  The whole school decorates, all the teachers dress up, each class has a party, there is a costume parade, dance party and early dismissal from after school programs so the littles can go trick or treating.  Wow, it's a much bigger deal than we've ever made Halloween out to be...but it was fun.

I split my time between the two class parties, helping Cameron find and decorate her pumpkin and gobbled up the goodies for lunch.

Timo's class had a little carnaval theme for their party with face painting, games and prizes. Timo had beginners luck at bingo...he won four times!  Now he thinks he's really good at Bingo and is asking to play all the time...ha, ha, ha.

Then it was time to change into costumes for the parade and dance party.  Mrs. Dere's Class!

We chose different costumes for school than for our trick or treating costume...we didn't want to mess up our real costumes so we rummaged around the house and pulled together some costumes of things we already had.  Timo was a SF Giants baseball player and Cameron was butterfly fairy.  Ms. Marshia class!

Getting ready, lining up for the parade and hanging with our new friends!

Parade time!  We walked all the way around the block with lots of cars stopping to say hi and honking horns.  I had to leave after the parade but the children went back for a little dance party, which according to Cameron's teacher, she was standing on the stage showing everyone how to dance!

After school we hurried home to change into Superheros!  Timo was a Navy Seal soldier and Cameron was Wonder Woman.  We hit the our usual neighborhood with our buddies Lucia, Caleb and Evan again this year and it was crazy busy.  I didn't get may pics of the candy gathering...way too many kids and chaos.  But we had so much fun!

Once we got home it was time to check out our loot!  Our children's personality really comes out when it come to the candy.  Cameron just wanted to start eating all her candy while Timo divided all his up and only picked out a few pieces he wanted to keep...who child is this??  Our dentist "buys back" candy so the children can bring in their candy and get a prize out of the treasure chest.  Timo had his all bagged up and ready to give back the next day...you can tell he values toys over sweets!

Carving Pumpkins

Our pumpkin carving moved to a whole new level this year....using power tools.  I made the mistake of showing Young something on Pintrest...a really cool pumpkin decorated using a drill.  Being our carving artist, he took that photo and ran with it.  Next thing I knew he was surfing Youtube for tutorials on how to use power tools to carve pumpkins.  We did a quick trip to Target and came home with some new drill bits and a new jig saw.  He and Timo were on cloud nine carving our pumpkins.

A few days later Timo's teacher contacted me about coming to the class to carve a pumpkin for the children and then bring the pumpkin home to use to make the pumpkin cupcakes, which I was making for the class Halloween party later that week.  The whole circle of life thing.  Well, one thing lead to another, Young took over and ended up carving pumpkins for both Timo's and Cameorn's class.  The kids LOVED it...and so did Young!

He started out step by step in carving and got the most reaction from pulling the "guts" out.  Both classes went crazy silly when they saw the insides.

He used both tools as well as some other carving tools I picked up at Target for him, carving a silly/scary face on one side and letting the children use the power drill to make the class number on the the other side.

Young then moved on to Cameron's class with equal response of excitement from the kids.  We were kinda running out of time by the end of their class so I don't have lit version or the backside but here is room 102's pumpkin.

Two nights later I find Timo and Cameron doing this with their tools on our little sugar pie pumpkin...like father, like son...

Young already has a list of tools he's gonna need for the job next year...