Toliver Ten on Tuesday

1) It's late, but I'm up working anyway so I thought I'd go ahead and publish my Ten on Tuesday.
2)We watched The Voice again tonight. I like it but don't LOVE it like I'd like to. KT actually left in the middle to run to the store. Now I'm really lookin forward to So You Think You Can Dance.
3)I got the girls their first pair of flip flops.  Nala liked holding them but didn't like the way they felt on.  I could tell that Nia felt cute in hers.  We stopped by my mom's and she got to show them off.  I got them at Babies R Us for only $3.99 each.  While there I also scored a couple of camera tees...not as cute as some of the ones I've seen online, but cute still. 

4)If I thought it would help, I'd love to make fun Bento Lunches  for my girls.  Nia and Nala always get "ate some" on their take home papers.  I'm just not sure what to pack them because they can't have warm ups...
5)MacKenzie wrapped up her school year on Monday.  It was a short day.  They just had field day and were dismissed at 1:00.  I can't believ how fast this year went by.  I think I've just about gotten her summer schedule set.  Before the twins, I'd always have this done by early March. 
6)MacKenzie's teacher for next year gave them summer homework. She has to read and critique 5 books for a minimum total of 500 pages.  This is no problem for her.  She loves to read and I'm requiring her to read 100 pages a day anyway.  Speaking of books, We spent a lot of time at Barnes and Noble this weekend. I used to take MacKenzie to the bookstore all the time. It's just a bit harder with the girlies. I have to keep them in their stroller because I have runners (this week, we had running episodes at Target and at Food Pyramid). I got Mammarazzi: Every Mom's Guide to Photographing Kids, NiNa got Marvin K. Mooney (one of MacK's favs when she was little), and MacKenzie chose Four Truths and Lie and Sounder.
7) My cell phone whacked out on me last Thursday.  I called customer service and they want me to do a master reset. When I realized I'd lose all 718 (yes...for real) pictures that I had on my phone, I told the rep, I just wasn't ready.  I'm not.  I'm so mad at myself for not backing those pics up... In the meantime, while I mourn (yes, it is that serious) I am left using my HTC HD2 phone that I had before getting the Samsung Vibrant.  I remember why I switched!
8) The girls and I also went to my two nieces' piano recital...UNFORTUNATELY, we had to step out almost as soon as we walked in because a)Nala decided whining was appropriate in a quiet auditorium and b) Nia wanted to loudly greet her Nana.  We spent the rest of the recital in the noise proof cry room...those girls!
9) My sister wants to go to the Katy Perry concert and I told her I 'd go with her...but the truth is I've only heard one of her songs...I'm so out of touch and I'm largely ok with this.  I just looked because of course I had no idea...it's in September so I guess I have a little bit more time to get more familar.

10)Cue the orchestra!  Pomp and Circumstance would be appropriate.  Nia graduated from her fingerguard and I'm all done talking about it here...LOL.  I'm just loving seeing her put better use to those chubby lil fingers.

Have a great rest of the week!

Happy 2nd Birthday to Nia & Nala

It happened faster than I ever would have guessed, hoped, or dreamed...but today...I have two year olds!  We celebrated with a party at the Little Gym...not much went quite as planned (cake collasped in the heat, Nia's dressed was stained because her cousin thought she could drink out of a gatorade bottle, I left the favors at home, etc, etc), but I'm learning to roll with life as it comes.  And what matters most is that my girls had fun.

Happy Birthday Nia & Nala!!  Love you both to the moon and back!

Seeing Double

A few months ago I reconnected with one of my childhood bestfriends.  April and I had EVERYTHING in common growing up...well not everything, but a lot.  I was born and partially raised in Lousiana, she'd lived in Louisiana, we both only had sisters (two for me - four for her), we both found faith early in baptist churches, loved math, had dad's with engineering careers, played clarinet and were the top two "chairs", etc etc.  April and I met in sixth grade at Byrd Middle School here in Tulsa.  We were truly inseperable.  On the weekends we were generally either at my house or hers and my sister Charmaine and I joined her family at their church on Wednesday nights. 

When I made the decision to choose our local magnet program highschool, it was easier because I knew April (and my other besties Regina and Sia) would be there too.  We were family.  Her mom was a second mom to me - Mama Bev.  One of the coolest moms ever - to this day I think so!  She was so good to all of us.  When April's parents separated and later divorced in highschool, my heart hurt.  It was a tough time for everyone and as strong a person as April is and was, for her that was life changing as anyone can imagine. 

When the time came to make a decision for college, I thought April would be heading to OU with me.  She didn't. And for the first time after seven years together we were headed in separate directions.  Over the course of my college-career I only saw April once.  It seemed and still seems unreal to me.  I hate the way time and distance gets in the way of life long bonds...

Late last year I received an email from April.  As it turns out, we live just a few miles apart and once again as things have turned out we still have a great deal in common.  April has three kiddos as well.  She's a fellow MOST (Mom of Single and Twins) except she has three beautiful...or I guess I should say "handsome" boys.  When we got together for the first time, it was truly like old times.  Laughing, giggling, and the occasional stab at old school mates (lol).  We have gotten to hang out together a few times now and have committed to together get involved with our local Mothers of Multiples Club.  I'm excited about that because I'd been wanting to for a while. 

Today, I met them all at the park and snapped a few pics.  I'm so glad to have my sister friend back and I truly hope that we can do right this time and commit to keeping in touch. 

Warning

Considered yourself warned.  If ever you are nice enough to watch the babies for me, consider this post your fair warning.  YOU CAN'T LEAVE THEM ALONE IN THE BATHROOM!  Within the last week they have done the following on separate occasions:

Exhibit A  - Found laundry in a tub of bath water
Exhibit B - Found nearly a whole roll of tissue in the tiniest of pieces ALL over the floor
Exhibit C - Emptied a full bottle of shampoo into their bath water
Exhibit D - Put one of their potty seats in the tub of bath water.

I mean they are USUALLY good girls, but their bathroom etiquette is wearing me out!

You were warned...

20 Months Old

December 3 marked my girls 20 month birthday.  That sounds so "grown up" and close to "2".  Over the last month, I noticed that the girls are working harder on their communication.  FINALLY FINALLY, Nala is saying Nia's name.  But guess what? Now Nia isn't...or not very much anyway.  Nala repeats over and over "Nawla, EEa" (Nala, Nia).  The girls spend just about as much time getting along as they do pushing, shoving, sitting on one another (Nala), and biting (Nia)...all in love though :)  I think that even if they weren't mine and I didn't know them, I'd know that they were sisters, only sisters  fight like that and then love on eachother as bestfriends all in the same breath. 

I'm excited about Christmas for them.  I think it will be fun, though they still won't fully understand.  I don't plan to get them very much, but I know they'll enjoy ripping the paper apart.  I'm a little sad that we can't put up the tree as my big girl loves that part of the holiday, but in truth, I don't trust these girls to not knock it over and/or rip into the goodies.  They get into EVERYTHING.  NOTHING is safe.

Still no good shots of them together this month...which is too bad, I'd love to have had one for a Christmas card.  But doesn't seem like it's going to happen this year...I could probably convince my oldest to model for me...would that be bad to just have her??  Decisions decisions when you have multiple children...

Nala has now made her bed blanket her lovey...as if we need another habit...I actually bought minature matching lovies that are sized as lovies...no they don't do the job...only this full size blanket will do.  GREAT!

18 Months!

Nia & Nala:

Today you are 18 months old and know I sound like a broken record, but I really honestly can't believe how big you girls are now.  Where are my little babies??

In Music:
You are both now loving to sing along to "Happy & Know You It!", "Itsy Bitsy Spider", "I'm a Little Teapot", and "Mr. Sun".  You know all the moves and motions too...You guys are all about the "motions!"  You also can't get enough of big sissy putting on Black Eyed Peas "I got a Feeling" (thanks YouTube).  In the car with Daddy, you love to groove to the "Chocolate Train" cd that Miss Melissa at BAWS made for you.  Nia you love to dance and Nala, you like to nod your head and seem really interested in the music. 

ABCs/123s
Your ABCs are currently just mumbles, but you can both count to 5.  Of the two of you, Nala you show more interest in reading right now.  You LOVE books and can entertain yourself reading all by yourself!  Nia, you generally just pick up a book after you see that Nala has one! :) 

Body Parts
You both know your nose, eyes, ears, arms, feet,hands, head, and belly button.  I love to hear you repeat belly button!  (Super cute!!)

Words
You are saying quite a few words these days including Mama or per Nala "MaMUH", Dada, Pot Pot (for potty), Belly Button, Stop That, No!, Sissy or "Thissy" per Nia, Ball, Up, Down, Yay!, Shoes, I, Nose, Mine, Thank You, Love You, Hi, Uh Oh, you both say Nala, and Nia you say Nia too, but we haven't heard Nala call your name yet Nia.  Funniest of all, most recently Bye Bye Girl (yep, we are now calling everybody girl)!  In First Sentences - Nia has started saying "Here You Go."

Interaction
You are both still a little cautious of strangers, but are generally friendly.  Nala you still have a thing for men...we'll give you 6 more months and then we're putting a stop to that!  :)  You have finally stopped crying when being dropped off at church, now that it will be time to switch classes in a month from now!  At school, they say you are both happy, but pretty quiet.  It's still new, so I'm sure you'll eventually show em how crazy/wild you two really are!

You're growing up girls!

WE LOVE YOU

These two little girls who have absolutely no interest in being photographed, are now 18 months. I so do not have the patience to try to get both of them to smile for a pic...so this is as good as it gets...this is how their 18 mos bday will be remembered.

Complete Enjoyment

Usually on Sundays while at church I learn so much more about God, oftentimes more about myself, but this past Sunday I also  learned more about my little Nia.  The title of the sermon was "Just Ask" - a message delivered by Ethan Vanse.  In the illustration of his point that we need to move beyond asking in general to being specific in our invitations to have people join us at church he told about how he went on an awesome trip to Disneyworld with fellow church staff members and they went to a really nice restaurant with a view of the parks and super yummy food - his favorite food.  He noted that being there was magical, but he snuck away realizing that something was missing - his wife and kids.  He snuck away to call his wife and told her that as soon as he got home he wanted to schedule a trip for all of them to go. He realized that his personal enjoyment wasn't  complete because he wasn't sharing it with the people he loved most.

If you been around me lately and we got to talking about the girls, you've probably heard me say that every morning when Nia wakes up, the first thing she does is yell for "Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaa"

If I hand her a treat, she turns and looks back and yells for
"Naaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

When it's time to go and she makes it to the door first, she yells back for
"Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaa"

I wouldn't describe Nia as the "sweetest" baby in the world, BUT one thing is for certain - she LOVES her Nala.  She is always looking out for her, but as I sat in service on Sunday, I realized it might be more to it.  I think right now, Nala is the person she loves the most and knows the most intimately, more than anyone else in the world.  Because of this, it is only natural that she wants to share her enjoyment with her sister. 

I sincerely hope that my girls are always close - and always find joy in sharing with one another...

Wordless Wednesday - A Little Mix-up at School for So NOT Identical Twins