Gingerbread Cookies

I bought a 'just add water' gingerbread cookie mix this Christmas.  We decided to make cookies since cookies are always delicious and it was a way to keep the boys occupied.

I told the boys we had to give most of the cookies away (since I'm the one who ends up eating everything!).  I gave them each a plate and said they could keep what was on their plate.
Cache had 3 medium sized cookies on his plate.  Easton had, well, look for yourself!  I was quite impressed with his ability to precariously balance each cookie on the very edge of the plate.  Technically, he did exactly what I told him, so I let him keep all of them!

Thank you.

I must say we have very polite babies.  They love to hand us EVERYTHING.  Everytime they hand us something, they say, 'thank you'!

Red Robin

We did it!  We ventured out with all 4 kids to a restaurant.  This was our second attempt and it went quite well.  Declan broke the square sugar container and we went through about 50 napkins, but definitely no disasters.  I can't say that it inspired me to try it again anytime soon, but score 1 for team Svir today!

The Great Outdoors

We have had a very unusual winter...by late afternoon, we are often in the 50's (which is good!)  In fear that our good luck is going to end (and in fear that we may all go crazy), we try to get outside every afternoon.

Sticks and Stones...

The twins LOVE the boys scooters.  They are probably tired of watching their brothers have all the fun while they get pushed around.  Both twins will stand on the scooter for 20 minutes while we push them around the yard.

If the babies get to ride the scooters, then Cache is going to take his turn getting pushed on the baby car!

The baby swings have been a hit.  I only wish I had 4 instead of 2!

Kickball

Our family has taken up the sport of kickball.  Aside from the few times Easton has tripped on the ball and his head has hit the pavement, it has been quite fun!

We always have great cheerleaders...

Tired

The twins are transitioning from 2 naps to 1 nap.  Although the babies can't say many words yet, I think Xander has figured out a way to express he is tired!

Marshmallow Madness

I'm not quite sure how this happened.  Cache likes to sneak things from the pantry...like marshmallows, suckers, and gum.  The result was some type of smore-like creation!

Easton decided to get in on the action too!

Lego Army

Easton and Cache love lego minifigures.  They spend hours building 'armies' and seconds to destroy them.
Here is Easton's latest army, complete with a description for each one!

Get comfortable, this is LONG!

Return of the Declan!

Declan is pretty funny.  He loves to bite people's noses.  Well, he likes to bite, period.  Poor Xander is usually his victim.

Here he is being himself!

Beware of his open-mouth!

Going for the ultimate kill-shot...the nose!

K'nex

I have bought a couple sets of K'nex at garage sales (for a grand total of $2).  The boys love them.  Even the babies love them.

Here are a few of Easton's recent creations...

Baby want a cookie?

We made some delicious chocolate chip cookies today.  Cache decided to be a nice big brother and give one to Declan...on the floor...unsupervised.  A few minutes later, Declan came crawling to me with hands and mouth dripping with cookie.  Every place he had crawled was covered in cookie goop from his hands!

Snow!

Our first snow this year was before Halloween!  We've had many afternoon where snowflakes have come down from the sky...even 1 inch of accumulation...but not much to play with.  Today we actually had enough to do a little sledding.  We are still waiting for a big storm so we can go true sledding, but until then, the backyard will have to do!

Easton staying warm in is $180 Obermeyer snow suit purchased at a garage sale for $3!

Easton and our neighbor, Carter.

Homemade Bread

Once in a while, the inner-baker in me comes out and makes something delicious.  Within the last 2 weeks, I've made 3 batches of homemade bread.  Each batch makes 4 loaves (and as I was taught by a friend, we give away a loaf every time we make it.)  I've discovered the recipe is quite easy, quick, and absolutely delicious.  All the boys want to eat all day long is bread with some type of topping (combinations of butter, jelly, and peanut butter).  David and I have found it to be awesome in a tuna melt.  I also tried a batch with 1/2 white and 1/2 wheat flour and it was delicious too!

Nose-Plugging

Cache decided he didn't like grapefruit unless he plugged his nose!

Super Cache

Cache is really into climbing all around things lately.  He is also into wearing nothing but underwear.  Put the two together, and this is what you get!

Big Man in a Little Jacket!

Easton is always trying to be funny.  I told him to get his jacket on and instead he put on Xanders.  What's truly amazing is that he actually got it to zip!

#1 Question:

The most frequently asked question in our house is....
Will you play legos with me?

Here are two of the most recent creations...

Easton made this great tower all by himself!

Cache made this ship by himself!  This is a very big step for Cache.  He typically spends the whole day creating lego people and armies.  I love that he created a ship...and he was very excited too!

Water Water Everywhere!

I discovered the twins' highchairs make a great place for holding water.  I needed to clean the floors anyway, so I decided a little water everywhere wasn't going to hurt anything!

Boys in a Box

We recently bought a large desk configuration and ended up with tons of boxes.  They boys used all the boxes and styrofoam to make an excellent fort!

Cache decided the fort needed some 'windows' so he got a few kid-safe (if there is such a thing) knives and made windows (which consisted of stabbing the boxes repeatedly).  Easton was happy to help...

Baby Power

The twins still love Baby Einstein.  They both know how to turn the tv on with the remote.  When I pick up the remote, Xander races to the tv and laughs!  Should I be proud of this?  Probably not.  But I think I am!

Publish Post

Book time!  Xander especially loves books.  They will grab a book and climb into their chairs and 'read'.  The books of choice these days are touch n' feel books and flap books.

Thanks to my budding new photographer, Easton, a picture of me feeding the twins...

They love climbing on each other.  Declan tends to attack by biting while Xander uses his brute size.

Both babies love playing with my phone...

One of the many times I've caught them trying to get into legoland!

Declan LOVES climbing in and out of boxes...

I love Declan's smug expression.  He climbed up on the train table all by himself.  The table comes up to his chest...I'm not quite sure how he did it, but he was very proud of himself!

Other twin updates...both can stand unassisted and take a couple steps, Xander has 6 teeth while Declan has 10 going on 12!  Xander is a talker.  He can repeat a million words and 'sing' happy birthday.   Declan enjoys  screaming.  If there is something he wants and can't have, he screams!  Both are completely proficient going up and down stairs and love bathtime and the outdoors!