Focus

People may become introspective as the year draws to a close, focusing on what is most important to them.

When the A-team watches television, their focus is clear:  Daniel Tiger and his neighborhood of friends.

Adam is so into it that he doesn't even realize how cute his crossed legs are:

As Karla pointed out, all he needs is a newspaper.  Then he'll look like an adult!

So whether it's Daniel Tiger or a more serious philosophy, the crew here at Mystic Lake wishes you and your families happiness and health in 2014.

A-Team takes on Widener

On Saturday we visited Harvard Yard.  Turned out to be highly entertaining for the wee folks:

This next clip is rather long, but I was so excited to see the kids climb the steps on their own that I just kept recording.  Besides, I wanted to see if Adam would open up the door and go in to Widener Library, y'know, to take a nap in the stacks like his Daddy once did.

Playing in the Snow (?)

The kids really wanted to go outside and play.  The snow was melting, but that didn't stop them.  It was more like puddle stomping.  I later learned that snow boots are snowproof, not waterproof.  Rookie mommy mistake!

Visit to the deCordova Museum

We visited the deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA recently.  There was a fantastic children's event.  We read books about boats, saw an art piece about boats, and then the kids built (and floated!) their own boats.  

In these clips, Adam is interested in getting back to nature.  His boat is in the stroller.  Ashley, on the other hand, is very proud of her boat and won't give it up.

Rody Rodeo

Now that the kids are learning how to bounce, the Rodys in our home have a new lease on life:

Yogibo

A few weeks ago I participated in a silent auction to benefit the United Way.  The kids wound up with a Yogibo.  They love it!

Hot Cocoa

It was cold outside and the citizens just came in from playing in the snow.  Hot cocoa is the perfect way to warm up!

A Walk on the Fancy Side

Ashley and Karla were practicing how to walk like fancy ladies.  As soon as the camera started rolling, the antics began:

Talking 001

Now that Adam and Ashley are much chattier, it's time to start sharing some of their pearls of wisdom, demands, or jokes.  These posts probably won't have photos, but they're (almost) guaranteed to make you smile.

So without further ado, here's what I heard this morning as I was getting dressed:

..... out of nowhere, Ashley exclaims:  I want bacon when we get there.
Me:  Where are we going?  [note:  I was getting dressed for work.   We weren't going out for breakfast.]
Adam:  To da ress-tah-rant.
Me:  Oh!  That makes sense.
Ashley:  I want Daddy's bacon too!
Daddy:  OK, I'll share.
Ashley:  smiles
Me:  Ashley, if you eat Daddy's bacon, what will he eat?
Ashley:  Eggies!

Cat in the Hat Bathtime

The sun did not shine.
It was too wet to play.
So we sat in the house
All that cold, cold, wet day.

I sat there with Ashley
We sat there we two
And I said, 
"How I wish we had something to do." 

To wet to go out
And too cold to play ball
So we sat in the house
And we did nothing at all.

And then... 

Something went splash!
How that splash made us giggle!
Mommy threw us into the bathtub.
In our wet clothing we wiggled!

(Yes, this is what happens to a blogging Mommy who is stuck inside with two toddlers on a wet, cold day.  She dreams up photo ops based on the books they are reading.  For those who haven't read it in a while, this poem is based on the famous Cat In the Hat by Dr. Seuss)

Who knows which toddler story will appear next in our blog?

Sharing the Sit and Spin

The citizens are starting to play together.  The other day, they even managed to share nicely:

To be honest, this toy doesn't go as fast as the one I remember from my childhood.  I'm now officially old enough to start to wonder how we ever survived our childhood with "dangerous" toys like these, hahaha!  Perhaps we should save this one for Adam or Ashley's kids?  At the rate this toy is slowing down (in the name of safety), it will eventually be called a "Sit and Wish You Could Spin".

Thanksgivukkah Part 2

Thanksgivukkah finally arrived, turkeys, latkes and all.  Before we gave out the Hanukkah gifts, we tried to get the kids to settle down for one quick photo. 

I told you it was quick.  Anyway, the kids had a blast.  They especially liked the coloring train:

We hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!

Raining Cats and Dogs

Every now and then I like to take a detour and poke some fun at Daddy.  This time, it wasn't entirely his fault.  My jacket was closest.  Besides, this is how my mother trained Lambie to go in the rain:

Congratulations Karla!

Congratulations Karla!  After coordinating an international Skype session, it's final:  Karla has graduated!  Papa Marty thought an ice cream cake would be the perfect way to celebrate.  All of the cousins agree:

Yeah Karla!

Adam can't sit still.  He wants the ice cream!

You don't see concentration like this very often....!

Sugar High

Adam and Ashley are the first to admit that one of the best things about visiting Grandma and Papa is the abundance of sugar in all of it's glorious forms:  cookies, ice cream, and cake.  Lately bathtime has been a bit of a struggle, so we promised ice cream cones to the participants.  

Ashley prefers the chomping on the cone without any ice cream.  Adam slowly savors the ice cream as it drips down his face, not as interested in the cone.  What a team!

Singing Star?

We visited Grandma and Papa in NY for Thanksgiving.  Just before the holiday, Grandma and Karla took Ashley, Adam and Samantha to the library to see Mr. Kurt perform.  Ashley was so moved by his performance that she volunteered to sing the ABC's with him.  Grandma acted quickly enough to take a photo with her delightful new phone!

Arlington Center

Found another set of clips on Daddy's smaht-phone today.  Although to be honest, if the phone was so wicked smaht, it would remind me to upload them to the blog.  That's probably a feature undergoing beta testing as I type.  

  

Dancing Lessons

While Ashley was soaking in the tub, Daddy gave Adam dance lessons:

Post-Halloween wrap up

Every now and then I find photos on our phones that I forgot to download.  So today we get to relive the excitement of Halloween once again.  I know.  First Thanksgivukkah is early on our blog and now Halloween is too late.  That's life with toddler twins!

Why the A-team wanted to play in the flowers instead of creating toilet paper mummies I'm not sure, especially since they love unrolling the toilet paper at home, but they had lots of fun.

What Really Happens...

... when Mommy isn't home?  Daddy lets the kids have all sorts of fun!

Winchester Park

MLM and MLD decided to branch out and try a new park in Winchester.  Results were much the same:  two happy toddlers.

Big Shoes to Fill

Literally.  I'm not joking:

Thanksgivukkah

Hanukkah falls very early this year.  The start of Hanukkah coincides with Thanksgiving, prompting one wicked smaht Bahstin woman to trademark the phrase "Thanksgivukkah".  Only in America, right? 

Well, here on our homestead we started the celebration even earlier.  A big box arrived via UPS.  The kids looked at it for days, convinced it was for them.  When we asked Ashley why she thought it was for her, she pointed to the "babies" on the box.  Kid had a point.

After the kids went to sleep we assembled the gift, all 120 pieces of it.  Took a while, and we went to bed pretty late.  The next morning, as the camera rolled, I finally understood why parents stay up late at night to do these sorts of crazy things.

Adam was the first one to see it:

Ashley wasn't far behind:

When I tried to get some final comments for the camera, this is all they could muster:

Wow!  

Day Trippin': Part 2

What's a day trip without pizza for lunch?  Ashley decided she didn't want pizza.  Instead she ate most of Daddy's chicken wings.  In this clip she's polishing off the celery and carrot sticks.

Day Trippin': Part 1

We went to Newburyport last weekend.  Why?  Well, we were planning to go to Costco, but the citizens fell asleep in the car.  Rather than wake them up, we pointed the van north and headed for this lovely seaside town.  It was a beautiful day.  In the center of the square (a phrase you can only say in Massachusetts) is a fun place for the kids to play.

Shannon Beach

MLM's computer has been on the fritz recently, so we're a bit behind in the postings.  A few weeks ago we went to Shannon Beach which is very close to our home.  They have a beautiful park which the kids really enjoy:

Crunch and Munch

The carrot harvest wasn't exactly bountiful this year.  The citizens devoured all of them, except the big one, in short order:

Carrots are tasty.  Just keep the big carrot away from me.

Ashley liked the carrots, but soon lost interest and went off to play.  Adam, on the other hand, couldn't get enough of them:

My orange shirt matches the carrots!

Did you know you can munch on them from the side?

What is that over there?  Is that a carrot?

That is one obscene carrot.

Wondering about the big carrot?  The photo doesn't really do it justice.  I placed the ponytail holder in the photo just to give a sense of scale.  It's BIG.  And the other ones?  they are teensy-tiny. I think the big one took all of the soil nutrients away from the other carrots:

We're actually somewhat afraid to eat it.

Mangia!

Happy Halloween!

The A-Team was on the move, helping MLM get ready for the trick-or-treaters we're expecting today.  This long video was taped yesterday.  If you lose interest, I understand.  Skip ahead to the end.  Ashley says something very special to me!

We also send our love to Grandma Witch.  Today is her birthday!

Leaf Peeping in Concord, MA

What fun!  Playing in the leaves at Bob and Camie's home was lots of fun.  And there were two dogs to play with!  It doesn't get any better than this:

Sydney loves to give kisses!

Want some leaves, Mommy?

Everyone is in the leaf pile.

Mommy's gone.  Now we can really have fun!

Wish we could do this more often...

Camie doesn't agree with the age minimum for tractor driving.  Here she gives Ashley some pointers.

Camie and Boomer

Many thanks to Bob and his superb leaf raking skills.  His leaf piles kept the kids busy for a long time!

Bedtime Routine

I'll be honest.  Our bedtime routine worked like a charm, except for one step:  tooth brushing.  We tried an Elmo tooth brushing video.  We tried a laughing cat app.  We tried using what child development experts call a system of "stars and rewards" (formerly known as "bribes").  Nothing worked.

Until....

Behold the magic of the spinning toothbrush:

Pudding Play

Ashley and Adam have distinctly different approaches to eating chocolate pudding.  Watch:

All in a Day's Work

It's all in a day's work, isn't it?  Whether it's prepping for a car nap:

Mommy!  Please put away your camera!  I'm trying to nap!

Ah.  Deedee is in the right spot.  

Or carrying the drinks:

Wind in my hair and TWO cups of milk.  Life is good!

The citizens are always busy!

Digging in the Dirt

Ain't nothin' finer than diggin' in the dirt.

Because if you're lucky, you'll strike gold!

Dare Devils

As the A-team grows and learns new skills, they are starting to take on new adventures.  Below is a series of short video clips showing their latest achievements:

As you can see, this took a while so I stopped recording for a bit.   But her persistence paid off:

Eventually, Adam got in on the action:

And although it took some doing, we managed to get a shot of them together:

Co-Pilots

Ashley and Adam make a great co-pilot team.  They practice their skills at McClennan Park.

CSA delivery

Our neighbors went on a vacation and gave us their CSA share for the week.  Adam and Ashley thoughtfully offered to return the basket.

To Sleep or Not To Sleep

Here's another long-lost (hahaha!) video.  The kids keep saying they want to go to sleep, but it's clear that it is not going to happen.  At least not soon, anyway:

Beginning to Potty Train

Every now and then I find a video on my phone that I forgot to download.  Today's post is one of them!  We still haven't started the actual training process yet, but all of the resources out there say you're supposed to "acclimate the child to understanding what the potty looks like."  Right.  So we have been doing this diligently.  Here are the results:

Coffee Cravings

The other day Ilya and I were on a walk with the kids and we stopped into a well-known chain for a cup of coffee.  "Stah-buck!" shouted Adam.  He was absolutely right;  that's where we were. 

I've got to drink less coffee.  

Despite this resolution, the kids are determined to help Ilya enjoy his morning cup:

Statler and Waldorf?

The other day we were hanging out on Mass Ave, chompin' on apples and having a generally dandy afternoon.  Although it wasn't fully captured on the video, the citizens' commentaries reminded me of Statler and Waldorf (see image at the bottom) -- but without the biting sarcasm.  

Statler and Waldorf

Merry-Go-Round

The kids love visiting the merry go round when they travel to NY:

Eek!  What's wrong with this horse?  It's got a handle sticking out of its neck!

Ashley, is your horse OK?

I don't think so.  It's crooked!