Monkey See, Monkey Do

"Mask! Mask! Puckin!" These are the editorials we have been receiving from T&V for the last month. Tonight we heard it much, much more. For the most part the twins thought the costumes were funny. Only a few times were they intimidated by face masks.



It has been cold up until today, so we had been getting used to our Bumble Bee and Lady Bug outfits (see previous posts). However it was a GORGEOUS, warm day today. Fortunately, we have very generous friends and had an alternative costume set... Monkey See and Monkey Do. Quite appropriate if you ask me, and both costumes were appropriate for both children.



We got dressed up as monkeys... minus the hat for Thomas, he never quite took to it. (on anyone, but apparently it was OK with him if Veronica wore hers.) We did the rounds on our closest neighbors and got flashing pumpkin wands to carry from Richard and Paula. After the neighbor tour, we walked to church to see their party. First face we saw... "BOB!" After many hugs to our favorite priest we went upstairs to see a few friends dressed in costume.



Earlier in the night we tried our first candy - some Hershey's kisses. Quite a hit with Veronica. Thomas wanted to just try a bit of each different piece to make sure he wasn't missing anything.



Our little monkeys are now tucked in bed, fast asleep... ooo ooo, eee eee, zzzzzzzzzz.........

Always kiss me goodnight

Our bedtime routine has been pretty consistent for sometime now. Before they could talk we start with the prayer "Angel of God." Then they knew it was bedtime... In the beginning it got some complaints because they wouldn't want to go to bed. However, now it's accepted and they participate. At the end of the prayer we always add, "Good night, Jesus. Good night, Julianne. Good night David. We love you." Then we give kisses all around.

Before they could talk, they started waving at the picture of Julianne and David that we keep on our mantel. This was amazing to us as we had never really pointed the picture out to them. They just seem to know Julianne and David.

We also keep a picture of Jesus with four lambs (Julianne, David, Thomas, and Veronica) next to the picture of Julianne and David on the mantel. Judson bought this for me after Julianne and David were born. We always find Jesus holding His lambs comforting. We took it to the hospital for the 4 months I was there prior to Veronica and Thomas's birth.

Thomas is one to say when it's time to go to bed and is READY when he is ready. So as he began to talk and he wanted to go to bed, he would go toward the pictures of Julianne, David and Jesus and say, "Jeez." He wanted to say goodnight to Jesus.

It progressed to a "Nite, Sissy," from Thomas while waving at the picture. Now they insist on kissing the picture after (or during) the prayer, along with a picture of Jesus. They are also very generous with kissing us and each other goodnight. Veronica even likes to pull everyone in together for a sort of group hug!

Tonight, I was not home for the bedtime routine. Judson got both twins ready for bed (he's a pro... it's a little harder to stick to the routine when you are doing it solo - believe me!). He put Veronica in bed and then was getting ready to lay Thomas down when Thomas said, "Sissy!" and lunged toward her bed. Veronica knew what he meant and immediately stood up so she could accept a kiss from him.

Judson and I extend the routine past their bedtime. We go in together to check on Thomas and Veronica. (...and often giggle on the positions they've put themselves in in bed.) Then, when we are in bed, we say our good nights to Julianne and David. We do these things even when we are not in the same town... thanks to cell phones!

I cannot thank God enough for such a loving family.

Angel of God, my guardian dear

To whom God's love commits me here.

Ever this night be at my side

To light and guard, to rule and guide.

Good night, Jesus.

Good night, Julianne.

Good night, David.

We love you.

Amen.

"I rode the train at the zoo..."

This is what Thomas told Daddy last night when he asked what he did that day. Well, Thomas DID ride the train at the zoo... four days prior to that.

Thomas eagerly awaiting the train.

Veronica is not so sure, but she ended up having a good time.

They also still say they ate chips with Danny... This they did on Friday as well, but had a fabulous time.

Gotta start somewhere, right?

So, I always thought I'd be that super-mom who kept track of all the babies first, maybe record them on video, put together a nice scrap book. Uh, well, that has not happened. I love my kids so much, but I just haven't been on top of that. I've relished it all though!!

So, let's start now.

Veronica and Thomas are 22 months old. We are a few days away from Halloween. We had a fabulous weekend palling around with Daddy. We went to the Zoo Boo in our Bee and Lady Bug outfits on Friday. We followed that up with a visit to the nurses on 2 South who helped us get through our pregnancies (and a quick ride on the monorail!).

On Saturday we went to a very cold Irvington Halloween Festival (in our costumes, compliments of our friend Carolyn). Lots of festivities... and dogs... "ffff..." ... that's what a dog says. After EVERYONE napped, we ate some sloppy joes with jack-o-lantern faces cut out of melted cheese. They were a lot more entertaining to V&T than they were dinner.

We still hear where EVERY pumpkin is when we are out - they have pumpkin radar. That, and peecee (police) car radar - they even get the unmarked cars every time! :)