Summer’s Almost Here! (ugh)

Warning: slightly cynical post to follow…

Elsa’s last day of school is Friday and then it’s the dreaded summertime! No school and activity routines makes Elsa a cranky girl (that lesson was learned the hard way during spring break). Thank goodness we live in a neighborhood with lots of kids Elsa’s age. I’m hoping the long summer months go quickly (but not too quickly) with neighborhood play-dates, a few camps (soccer, art, and gymnastics), a trip to Lake Wenatchee, and time with her cousins who will be visiting from Africa.

The other day we set up the tot pool in the front yard. After a little while, it was the place to be for the “4 and under” crowd in our neighborhood! Fun times for the kids.

First Camp Out

Brian took all of the kids camping last night. 

Yes, you read that right.

It was a beautiful high-70′s degree Monday and he decided to pack up the car and take the kids on a camp-out at Fay Bainbridge park. A campground on the beach with a playground and all of the basic amenities isn’t too bad for a first try.

The kids had a blast playing in the tent, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, and exploring the beach and hillsides. Because it was a Monday in May, we had the run of the place. My favorite moment was watching Elsa read a book to the boys inside the tent, everyone all snuggled up with their blankies.

I stayed up until bedtime for the kids (granted, it took Brian about an hour and a half until all kids were finally asleep). Then I went home to a quiet house – yes, you read the right again. A house. All. To. Myself. 

The boys were a bit tired the next morning but, all in all, the night went pretty well for Brian. We’re now looking into getting a tent that would accommodate all of us (think, 2 “rooms”) so that I can join in on the fun. The first of many fun camping experiences for the Wetzler troupe!

Happy Mother’s Day

I just got back from a bachelorette weekend in San Francisco which means I didn’t spend Mother’s Day with my kids. Sleeping in, brunch at a French bakery, priority boarding for all moms on my flight, and a pick up at the ferry – with all kids ready for bed in their pajamas – makes for a pretty nice day (shhhhh… don’t tell them).

As cheesy as this day is, it always makes me appreciative of the hardworking, loving, and supportive moms in my life.

Grateful

Today I am feeling grateful.

Grateful for supportive family. Grateful for healthy children. Grateful for dependable babysitters. Grateful for husbands that jump right into the childcare duties when they get home from work.

Brian’s been home a total of 4 days so far this April. Our amazing babysitters, Margie and Rebecca helped me out a lot this month. Nancy, Harry, and Amy also put in their fair share of time for the kids. Amy just left after a week of helping me out – even watching the kids for a day so that I could work one day. 

I am so grateful for these people that keep me sane during these crazy years!

Iggy the Flamingo

Elsa has an official imaginary friend. Honestly, I find it kind of creepy but I have to keep telling myself that plenty of kids have had imaginary friends and been perfectly sane human beings.

Iggy is a flamingo and has bright pink feathers that she leaves around the house. She doesn’t like it when Henry cries. Iggy likes to go in Henry and Olin’s room and wake everybody up. It takes her a long time to get to sleep. Iggy burps a lot. These are the things I know about her so far.

Iggy actually used to be a woodpecker. For a few days Elsa would talk about Iggy the woodpecker but I figured it was a small toy she had acquired that I didn’t know about. I asked Elsa what happened to the woodpecker? Her response:

“She kept playing hide and seek and I couldn’t find her anymore.”

I guess a bright pink flamingo is easier to keep track of.

Easter 2012

What an Easter weekend! The sun was shining, Brian was home, the kids were healthy…a lot to be grateful for. The weekend started off with a fun-filled egg hunt for the kids. Bainbridge Parks did a great job sectioning off different hunting areas for different age groups. Elsa ended up with a basket full of eggs. Olin did pretty well, picking up a few choice eggs in his usual meticulous way. Henry really had a hard time concentrating on the task at hand but ended up with a few treasures to take home as well.

 

Easter day was one to remember. After church, we all headed over to Fay Bainbridge for a picnic. Nancy and Harry had rented the shelter there (completely unknowing what the weather would be). We all enjoyed yummy brats and watched the kids play on the beach and playground. Except for the-biggest-poop-in-the-world made by Mr O, the afternoon went off without a hitch. No naps for the kids but we made it though. Oh, and did I mention the sunshine and low 60s’s weather? Amazing.

Is This Really MY Child?

I wonder that a lot. Sometimes, with a bit of envy, I wish that I could be as social, outgoing, and fearless as Elsa. She wears her heart on her sleeve and (when it’s her idea, granted) usually tries new things without hesitation. I know some of this is just being four but I also believe that more of it is just her extroverted personality. It’ll be so fun to see how her personality changes throughout the years!

Case in point: her pals across the street have a snake. A python, that is. The other day, Elsa enjoyed watching the snake eat a live mouse. She asked our neighbor, “where does it poop out its friends?” Christina had to explain to her that nobody poops out friends and that the mouse was the snake’s prey. It helps to have a naturalist living across the street for these important life lessons!

All About Elsa

Elsa is growing up. While she still has her “bad” days (don’t we all?) I’ve definitely started to notice a difference in her maturity and independence.

She now swims across the pool with little or no assistance. Elsa has really blossomed and has gone from Kinder 1 to Kinder 3 in a matter of a couple months. It doesn’t hurt that she has two buddies from school in her class. Every morning she asks if she gets to go swimming that day – music to this swimmer’s ear.

She recently went to the dentist and got a glowing report. Not just on her teeth but on on her behavior! She sat in the chair by herself, allowed the dentist to examine her teeth, and sat still while they flossed (even I can’t do that!).

Her artwork is also starting to develop. Her pictures are becoming more detailed and they even tell a story most of the time. This picture is titled “Feel Better Olin,” You can probably guess what happened at our house that day. Yuck.

A Pause in Life

Brian and I were talking about the blog today. He pointed out that I hadn’t written in a while and, to be interesting, a blog must be updated continuously. I absolutely agree with that but, in a way, I don’t really consider this to be so much as a blog but a place to post pictures for our family and friends (rather than posting to Facebook or emailing) and a journal of memorable moments for the kids. Something to look back on, you know?

That said, this post will have no pictures, just a reflection on the idea of having twins.

My thoughts really started swirling when I ran into the mom of twins who I graduated high school with. It was pretty crazy to tell her, while catching up on major life moments, that I, too, was a mother of twins. It was like some sort of “club” that only a few could be apart of. Such a small moment in time but a big one at the same time.

It got me thinking to when I first found out we were going to have twins. I remember walking into the ultrasound at 7 weeks thinking – praying – that there was only one baby in there. I had been so sick that my concern for multiples was growing. I feel so guilty remembering those thoughts. Not just because I can’t imagine life without both of my guys but also for the people who have trouble conceiving. And there I was – hoping that I only had one in there.

When we found out the big news – yes, there were two – life was such a whirlwind. Everyone had questions. How are you going to do it? was the big one. I remember going through the motions but on the inside I was devastated and scared. My dream of a little family of four had been ripped away. At the time, I felt like I could barely manage one – let alone three. I went through a period of mourning for the life I thought I’d have.

There’s that guilt again.

And here it is again. I remember the day we found out we were having two boys. Boys. I didn’t know anything about boys! Your husband must be so excited – I got that one a lot. Another period of mourning followed. For the sister that Elsa would never have. For the cute girl clothes I’d never use again. For the sheer idea of having to raise two crazy, climb-on-everything, hell-raiser boys.

Or at least that’s what I thought.

Because, in reality, things really work themselves out the way they’re supposed to. I look at those boys now and I think, I can’t believe I have these THREE healthy, happy, unique children. So far the boys are completely unique individuals. Yes, one is a climber/hell-raiser/crazy boy (we sure love him!) but the other is cautious, curious, and calm. Having twins allowed us to move to Bainbridge Island earlier than expected and we couldn’t be happier here. Having twins allowed me to get help the first year – Miriam was such a blessing for us. Having twins gave me the confidence in my parenting that I never had with Elsa in the first two years. And having twins bought us a ticket into this amazingly special niche in parenthood that only parents of multiples have the pleasure (and sometimes displeasure) of knowing.

A lot has changed since that life-altering moment we found out that twins were coming our way. And I wouldn’t change anything for the world.