11 Months Ago - Halloween NY (rest of it)

A long, long time ago . . . eleven months ago to be exact, we visited Grandpa and Grandma Boespflug's house for Halloween ('09). And here is the rest of that story.

The twins and Mommy spent the night in Aunt Manda's groovy downtown apartment.

CHANCE ANECDOTE: while riding in the backseat of Grandpa's car on the way to Manda's, he looked out of the window and started naming the colors of the houses--"brown . . . blue . . . pink . . . STUFF!" Not sure where that last one came from, but I cracked up. He's just an entertainer to the core.

Manda gathered toys and games for the twins' visit, but small plastic cups were the favored toy at bathtime.


The next morning, Grandpa joined us for a concert by Farmer Jason in downtown Albany. We, of course, bought the DVD and asked him to sign it. The twins wore their "Farmer" outfits, and Grandpa dressed as a pirate. (Naw, his eye was scratched, so he wore the patch while it healed.)



Grandpa took us to NYSUT to see Aunt Manda and meet folks. When Chance spied the granite fountain, Grandpa decided Chance could stand beside it and touch the water . . . Of course, Chance T-storm didn't want to get out.


The twins check out Grandpa's Harley Davidson Screaming Eagle Fat Boy motorcycle. We need "thought balloons" over their heads -- any suggestions?

Grandpa in his ridin' duds!

And Grandma made "green eggs and ham" - per Chance's favorite book.

Grace gladly partook of the delicacy. Chance mostly observed. (Apparently, the rhymes and pictures made a stronger impact on Chance than the message in the story.)

Chance the Artiste

I couldn't believe it when I picked up this paper and saw that Chance had actually drawn a recognizeable figure for Grace -- he told her he drew her "a princess"! At 3 yrs, 3 mos, I happen to think it's pretty great . . . but I'm biased. :-)

Both kiddos were writing the first letter of their names in June. In fact, on Grammy Sharon's birthday card, Gracie wrote her very first "G."

Oh, how they love to "write notes" and "draw pictures" for us these days. Chance regularly draws faces -- two eyes, nose, mouth. His fine motor skills rock . . . but I'm biased.

Floats for Swimming!

Pic/video: 6/26/2010. About a week prior to this pic, Daddy bought the swimmies/floats, and after a bit of coaxing, the twins put them on and adored their new-found freedom in our neighborhood pool. Chance--definitely part fish and a novice stunt man. Grace--hesitant at first but a little mermaid soon enough.

When the twins started summer camp at the YMCA in June (T/W/Th 9-12), Thursdays included swimming. On the first Thurs., the twins only watched the other kids--and cried profusely as Mommy left them. (Quite dreadful, though they were happy campers when I picked them up.)

Kind of an understandable reaction, given that previously, they only liked being in the pool if held in Mommy or Daddy's arms--or were jumping into our arms from the side of the pool. Intertubes (etc.) were too unstable for them, and the "Life Guard approved" life jackets we bought, per YMCA rules, were NOT a hit. Too bulky. But on that MMO morning, Mommy noticed Christopher's (same-age friend from St. Luke's MMO) "life jacket" looked more like a fun float, and it allowed him to kick around by himself. The twins noticed him in it too, Daddy found the floats at Dick's sporting goods, and lo and behold, the twins now love that they can swim "by themselves"!!!

By July, the twins moved to the intertube--Chance especially, looking for the next thrill. :-) Daddy is pulling his feet in this picture, and Chance is squealing and laughing.

They beg to go to the pool EVERY DAY -- EVERY SINGLE DAY -- now.

Halloween Party in NY - Oct. 2009

A blast from the past (since it's June 2010 now) . . .

Last Oct., Mommy and the twins flew to NY to see the Boespflugs. Grandma and Grandpa had a Halloween party at their condo for the kiddos--Cousin Shayne and a couple of her friends too--where we christened the new basement/rec room.
Silly cousins: Chance, Shayne, Grace goofing while eating at their new table.

Aunt Susan, pregnant with Kayla Rose, came too!

Aunt Manda holds the twin train engineers before the party begins.

Mommy piled the cousins into the bathtub together one nite. Ahh, bribery when they're teens.

And we went to Uncle Matt and Aunt Jessie's one day and played with Cousin Shayne's toys -- or are they Uncle Matt's? (SEE VIDEO!)
The girls eatin' cheese and chillin' in Shayne's comfy chair.
Grandpa read the grandkids lots of bedtime stories.

Grace and Chance's first time in the basement.

Uncle Matt shows off his toys . . . er, Shayne's toys.

Preschool Grads!

Our laptop's hard drive completely crashed, and we've been waiting for Mommy's check to arrive so we can buy a new one . . . In the meantime, a tiny netbook will have to do for an occasional and slow-making post.

Recording in this baby book: At about 8 am this Sat morn, the twins played in Chance's room when they first woke up. Listening to them via the monitor was so cute -- apparently, Grace went into Chance's room to see if he was awake. Then they both came to wake up Mommy and Daddy in our bed! Aww! It's a first for them.

The Baum Twins graduated from 2-year-old preschool on Thursday! Mommy joined them for a school carnival at 10:30 am (jump castles, Rita's ice cream, hot dogs, chips, playing on playground). That evening, they showed off their t-shirts to Daddy -- all 10 kids in their class put a handprint on it, and the teachers (Miss Chris and Miss Kelly) put theirs on the back/hiney. ha! (We're outside having watermelon after dinner in this pic.)

May 8, 2010: Sprinkler park at Wannamaker, followed by sprinkler at home . . . then yogurt on the couch (hence, white stuff on lip) while watching cartoons. Mommy called his name, then snapped this pic. Notice the "third lip"/tongue. Grandpa calls him a "natural comic." He loves to make us laugh! :)

Halloween 09 (posted late)

Well, faithful blog followers, beginning again feels a bit painful, but this mommy is determined to dust off this scrapblog and forge ahead. Numerous glitches kept us off-line for a while. But here's more. Some of Halloween '09:Cuter twin train engineers you'll never see. Outside the aquarium here.

Tongues. (Grace holding Chance's basket. Mommy holds Grace's orange one. The bag? Who knows.)A train chugs down the tracks about 100 yds from the aquarium. An exhuberant Chance points it out to Mommy, who tries to pass on the excitement to picture-taking Daddy.

Turtle puppet inside the aquarium. Checking out the fishies after playing various games and getting lots of candy.

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We visited the Baumgartner grandparents in early October. Chance snuggles with Grandmother, very briefly.

Grace goes out to help Mommy retrieve some things from the car, only to be distracted by playing with Chance's toy truck in the gorgeous weather.

A wheelchair ride with Grandad. See VIDEO too.

Grace wheelin' with Grandad. Chance walking in front and Daddy bringing up the rear with the "diaper bag" backpack.

Grace looking for those kitties outside of the apartments at the Lowman Home.

Grand Help in Aug

Grandpa and the Baum Twins, August 09

On the same Sunday (8-23) that Grammy Sharon left, Grandpa Boespflug arrived to help us during Mommy's recovery from nose surgery. On Monday, Daddy went to work, and Mommy had to rest, so Grandpa took the twins, alone, to the aquarium. Yes, our 69-yr-old, brave-and-able Grandpa took his 2.5-yr-old grandchildren to the aquarium all by himself--a feat that only Mommy or Daddy have dared in the past, sometimes regretting it afterward!

About mid-week, the SC heat led them to the backyard. My new favorite pic of Grace Lily, so happy in the summer warmth, wearing a pink dress and orange "pearls," a bit wet from the hose and kiddie pool.

Chance and Grandpa, two of a kind, created a new game in which Chance runs to Grandpa and Grandpa sprays him with the hose . . . over and over and over. Note the cute airplane that Chance is holding, a gift from Grandpa from the airport. SEE VIDEO too.


The Game is ON!

Who needs a water park? Grace Lily took a break and was watching from the porch--then runs over to Mommy.

Lovin' the slide into the pool.

Bubble Time with Grandpa and Daddy.

The twins can blow bubbles by themselves. Grandpa is very impressed by Gracie's bubble talent. Chance loves chasin' 'em as much as blowin' 'em.

On the way to a dr appt for the twins, we ate at Dunkin Donuts, where Grace fed Grandpa a donut hole.

Grandma Boespflug arrived by the end of the week, making pancakes in the shapes of airplanes, trucks, flowers, and hearts (because Mommy just can't get those molds to work right)!

Thanks so much for your help, guys! :)

Jump ahead to MID-NOVEMBER: About 2 weeks ago, the twins--yes, both of them, at the same time--started calling us "Dad" and "Mom" regularly. Why? They won't say.

Here's yesterday's (11-27) example of the differences between the twins' personalities (at 2.5 yrs old):
Aunt Carla has been giving the twins collectible, stuffed Starbucks bears, which they love. Carla gave Mommy two more bears when we saw her at Thanksgiving. "Safe" inside a grocery bag, I set them on the counter back at home and walked away to do something, only to find that the twins had "found" the bag, opened it, and each chosen one Xmas bear. I said, "Oh no! Aunt Carla wanted you to have those at Christmas! She's gonna be mad at Mommy for letting you have them so early." (Shortened expl. here.) Neither responded at first, and I explained again. Chance then looked worried and held his bear out to me, "Here, Mommy. Aunt Carla will be mad at you?" (heartbreaking compassion!) Grace grinned and hugged her bear, "I like my bear!" (Ahh, the enthusiasm and strong will!)

Will Aunt Carla forgive Mommy for not hiding those bears better?