Cameron Reading

This book is Cameron's favorite book...Blue Hat, Green Hat. She loves the "oops" parts where the turkey is wearing the item wrong. She knows her colors so it's almost like she is reading...

Sorry for so many videos these days but the kids are just so animated and I feel pictures just don't do justice sometimes.

Making Their Own Music

Cameron loves to sing and will just walk around the house belting out songs that don't really have words or meaning...just kinda singing notes. On occasion Timo will join in with his own melody...

2 1/2 year Check Up

We just had our 2 1/2 year check up and the twins are looking great! Cameron weighed in at a whopping 21lb, 32 1/2" tall...she moved from the .7% to the 1%! And Timo came in at 26lb and 35" tall...7%. The kids love their pediatrician...Dr. B. She is so great with the kids and they love her. She has two children of her own, a 3 and 1 year old, so we always have lot's to talk about and swap stories.

We did discuss a few issues, like Timo's snoring and heavy breathing. We might need to removed tonsils and adenoids but still waiting/thinking on that. We also talked about the huge bruise on Timo's head and bruises that cover most of his body! She says some boys and just clumsier that others and Timo is definitely in the most clumsy category!And Cameron has some poo poo issues we need to work out before we start potty training full on. Poor baby, it's prunes for her everyday for the next two weeks...yum!

Marching Hat

I'm not sure where Cameron learned that marching band members wear big hats (maybe she's been looking at my marching band pics from high school???)but she popped this bucket on her head and started marching around, making her own music!

The kids know when I'm video taping or taking pictures...and of course they want to see themselves right away. I like how Cameron just kept on marching even though she wanted to see herself.

A few Sundays before we left for Florida we had "family Sunday" in church which means all the kids stay in church for the music/worship time. They have shakers, streamers, bells...all sorts of items down from for the kids to come play while we all sing. (these were taken with my phone camera and the kids were constantly moving so they are all blurry)

They also have any children/youth participate in worship on stage either by reading scripture, praying, singing or playing a musical insturment. We had one youth on stage playing the violin, which at time I didn't really think much of...until the next morning when Timo asked for a chop stick. He typically plays with with the chopsticks as drums so I gave him a pair. Then I turned around and he was trying to play his guitar like a violin...even if it was the wrong way! I can't believe he picked that up all on his own...we might have a future violinist on our hands...

Big Beds!

We reached another milestone for Timo and Cameron...big boy and big girl beds! We moved them into their new twin beds this past weekend. I got them each special bedding and we made a big deal out of being a big boy and big girl sleeping in their big boy/girls bed. We also moved them into the big bedroom so now they actually have a bedroom...not a converted office. Their room is still a work in progress, I have a lot of decorating to do, but at least we've made the big leap!

Cameron was super excited right away and has had no problem sleeping in her new bed...night time or nap time. She looks so small in such a big bed!

Timo, on the other hand, is having a little more trouble adjusting. The first night he wanted to go back to his "little bed." This was the first night in their little lives that they have slept in separate rooms. I don't think I got much sleep that first night #1 because Cameron was in her big bed and #2 I kept thinking about one waking up and not seeing the other. Timo woke up the next morning crying and asking for Cameron...so sweet.

But Daddy put the kids to bed the next night and Timo slept in his big bed...not sure how Daddy did it?? And nap time has been pretty smooth as well.

He is still having a little trouble adjusting. He continues to wake up at night asking for his little bed. I'm wondering if it's the bars on his bed, maybe makes him fell too closed in? We're going to take them off this and see if that helps...

Food!

I'm wrapping up our Florida visit today with our adventures in food! Anytime I'm in the south, I try to make it to all my favorite restaurants and/or types of food...ie, southern BBQ. And I'm so glad I don't have extremely picky eaters (Cameron more so than Timo) so they too can enjoy the array of food cultures from down home.

We hit our local BBQ spot, Sonny's, for some yummy ribs, corn and sweet potatoes!

I think I mentioned pizza is a new favorite of the kids, so we had pizza a few times at the cafe in the Flamingo RV Park.

Ice cream was BIG while we were there. The old fashion ice cream truck came by my Grandmother's house each day so Granny treated the kids to Dora Popsicles one day. This is the aftermath and Cameron wasn't very happy that hers melted before she could finish.

And my little extra neat son wouldn't eat his ice cream sandwich with his fingers because they got dirty...he had to eat it with a fork!

But out of all the culinary treats they had...the biggest was their first visit to Chick-Fli-A! I know, I know, how did they get by the first 2 1/2 years with now Chick-Fli-A?? Well, we don't have one in the bay area. I think we have to trek an hour plus to get to the closest one. The kids loved the chicken bites and the indoor playground. I loved that their kid's meal came with a BOOK instead of some cheap plastic useless toy. Now why can't every fast food place put a book in the kids meals??

Hand On Children's Museum

Our last day in Jacksonville was spent at the Hand On Children's Museum where everything is kid sized. The mini grocery store was the biggest hit. They loaded and unloaded their carts, put their groceries on the counter and Timo even rang up his purchases!

I've seen the little firetrucks at children's museums before but never a mini sized police car!
And this was the first time I've seen a handicap basketball court. I'm don't think the kids understood the purpose but they sure did have fun in the rolling in the wheelchair and walker...
Timo spent time cooking in the kitchen...he made me eggs, while Cameron tried to rescue all the animals in the Animal Doctor area.
And of course we had to hit the ball pit, super slide, pirate ship area.

We were there for over two hours and didn't even touch the face painting part, puppet show stage or restaurant/cafe section. So much to do and so little time. This place will be at the top of our To-Do list on our next visit!

Bug Bites!

I forgot...the one draw back to playing outside so much...mosquito bites and fire ants! Poor little Cameron got eaten up by ants playing in the sandbox. She had over 20 bites on her legs but Timo hardly had any...guess Cameron tasted a little sweeter!

Flamingo RV Resort

We were lucky enough to be able to stay in a family RV resort while in Florida. My parents were staying at my late Grandmother's house, working, painting and cleaning out so we stayed in my parent's "house" in the RV Park. In case you didn't know, my parents live full time on the road in their 5th Wheel RV trailer...this is home sweet home for Granny and Grandpa!

We had a bit of down time to explore the park and enjoy the amenities. I grew up camping with my family but had forgotten how fun it is being a kid and just "exploring" the campground...so much wide open space to run around. We would walk around the lake at night with our flashlights, looking for "crik-criks" and frogs or just picking up sticks for fun. And the sunsets were so beautiful over the lake...

Just next to the pool was a great little playground that was all on sand. We didn't have our sand toys with us so we raided Granny's tupperware drawer and found suitable substitute.

But the best was playing at the park at night! It was so hot there, we could stay out till 9 or 10pm just swing in the warm summer night...
The resident turtles got frequent visits from us as we walked down the little pier...
Thank you Granny and Grandpa for giving us such a great place to stay...it was so much fun!

Close Sleeping Quarters

While in Florida, the kids and I shared a bed...which I loved, most of the time...

Often times they went to bed before me and this is what I would find when I was ready to go to bed...where am I supposed to sleep??

I did really enjoy sleeping with the kids. We had so much snuggle time that we don't get to do at home. I also learned that Timo is typically the first to fall asleep, which I always thought Cameron was the first. Another tidbit...Cameron seemed to be the trouble maker in bed, sneaking little girl. But I have to say it's nice to be back in my own bed without arms and knees in my back or the occasional sleepy hand slapping me in the nose!

Mud Puddle Madness

Afternoon thunder storms, or "under torms" as the kids call them, are a regular occurrence in Florida. We had a huge one a few days ago that lasted over an hour. We were couped up while the storm was going on so as soon as it was over we headed outside. My intention was to let the kids run around, throw some rocks in mud puddles, maybe see some frogs or something...but not jumping in the puddles! Oh well...

We started off nice, Timo took his flashlight to look for bugs and frogs and Cameron just admired the masses of water...just calling her name.

It started raining again and we were getting all wet...so why not take a jump in a puddle. Timo slipped and sat right down in a puddle and got soaked. Guess that's what baths are for!