{ the twin weekend: cumberland }

It's the true story of 8 adults and 8 one year olds, asked to head to Little Sand Lake, play together and have their pictures taken, to find out what happens when 4 sets of twins stop sleeping....and start sharing energy. The twin weekend: Cumberland.

The idea came about back when I headed to Palm Springs with three other twin moms. We thought a gathering at the lake would be a fun idea for summer, only this time not solo but with husbands and babies. As time came closer, we started wondering if we were crazy. It was indeed a crazy weekend but in a good way.

4 sets of twins = 8 babies. Because getting a picture of all 8 of them together was literally impossible, here is the lineup:

Natasha & Cameron

Ivy & Jack

Luke & Zach

Stella & Oliver

We were welcomed to the Lodge by the Caretaker (aka Grandpa).

The twins made themselves at home and picked their favorite spot to play: the entryway. Go figure, the least baby proofed area. Why play in a living room full of toys when there are stairs and a gate?

Another favorite indoor activity - eating! And let me tell you, it was quite the production to get eight babies fed (I could only fit 7 in the camera view!).

We set-up an efficient assembly line to keep them happy. It was truly a feeding frenzy!

We did manage to corral them all out to the deck where we spent most of the time playing. Though much of that time was spent battling for sippy cups and snacks. Many germs were shared.

Another super fun game: standing by the door and seeing how many hand prints could be put on the glass in one weekend.

While the kids chased down sippy cups, the adults enjoyed their own beverage of choice. 20 limes + 60 mint leaves + rum = yummy mint mojitos.

Swinging (and watching swingees) quickly became a favorite.

We attempted pool time and quickly realized that 8 babies do not like to be contained.

In the end, Cam was the last man standing.

Everyone else preferred to run around.

While there was a lot of fun. Ivy & Stella demonstrated that tantrums can be thrown face up or face down.

So after long days of avoiding meltdowns and chasing around one year olds, the adults were finally able to sit back and relax.

And enjoy the sound of loons on the lake....and static on the monitors.

To cap the weekend, an attempt at getting a picture of everyone. "A" for effort.

It was a great weekend getting to know each of the other twins' personalities and sharing stories and advice with the other parents. We are just left wondering: If we go on an adventure like this next summer, will it be easier or harder?

{ wordless wednesday: pretty peas? }

{ shenanigans }

It seems that on more days than not, O & S are up to new shenanigans. To say the least, they are keeping us on our toes. To demonstrate this point........

For awhile now, Stella has loved to stand in her wagon, along with dance and rock back and forth.  There have been a few missteps and tumbles, but nothing compared to the latest incident. With Chop only a few feet away, she literally did a front-flip over the handle-bars, landing forehead first directly on the wood floor. To top it off, her feet kept going over and basically bent her into a pretzel. The  experience left her with a good bruise and goose egg on her forehead but only kept her out of the wagon for all of 3 minutes or so!

Oliver has been taking steps (more on that in another post) but is MUCH more wobbly than what Stella was when she started walking. This led to a tumble, a bumped chin on the toy bin, and a fair amount of blood. We consider ourselves lucky that we made it to 13 months before seeing blood from one of their mouths!

Stella has energy. The girl can't get enough of being chased, sliding, laughing, and running. Over and over and over and over. You get the idea.

A cabinet left open for one minute and I find this. I literally walked into the room and was thinking to myself "Where is Oliver?".

They have turned into monkeys. Their favorite thing? Climbing on everything. Especially the adirondack chairs we have in the front yard.

Please pray for us, we've got our hands full!

{ wordless wednesday: pigtails }

{ up north }

We spent another beautiful weekend at Little Sand Lake last weekend. I think we are making up for all the lost time last summer since we didn't make the trek at all in the months before my delivery date, or once O & S were born. It's fun to have a house full of five little kiddos running around, though probably not quite as relaxing or peaceful for Grandpa & Grandma C!

My highlight was finally being able to get O & S in what I think are the cutest darn swim cover-ups. You be the judge.

Chop's highlight was trying to come up with a name for them. The best was a "polka dotted, Shrek looking, bear cub monster".

{ going to the zoo }

Now that the weather isn't so darn hot, we finally made it to the zoo to walk around outdoors. Uncle Jeremy was visiting this last week from LA and he tagged along to help keep track of our little monkeys!

O & S lasted a short time cruising around in the stroller looking at the animals.

But go figure the highlight of the visit wasn't what most people go for, it was the slide and water fountains!

{ boys club }

We had a play date with our twin friend's Carson and Coleman and their mom Megan last week. For once, Stella was outnumbered by boys, unlike the day before when we got together with the Maechler twin's Lily and Lucy and Oliver was outnumbered by girls (which unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of)!

This boy's club only accepts members wearing plaid shorts.

But Stella didn't let the boys totally rule the play date (though I think she might have scared Carson a little!).

Little Carson LOVES getting his picture taken!

{ forty }

Forty years ago today, Grandpa & Grandma C were married. This is one milestone that we couldn't let go uncelebrated so we gathered at the Christensen's last night to celebrate!

The little kids had a lot of fun playing while the "big" kids got the food ready.

And I spent a little time chasing them around to get pictures. I could photograph this little guy all day long - and the best part, he lets me!

We worked a little to get them ready to follow in their dad's footsteps and become hockey players.

And the slide is always a hit with O & S. Though I think the adults got more worn out from lifting and catching!

We treated Grandpa & Grandma to delicious crab legs, steak, champagne, and cupcakes. Oh, and bad table manners.

Cheers to 40 years & many more!

{ baptism }

7.24.2010
Birthday Weekend Day 3: The Baptism

Our crazy birthday weekend ended on Sunday with the perfect celebration - the twin's baptism. It was a beautiful, sunny morning and they were baptized at the same church that Chop & I were married at, Knox Presbyterian Church, in South Minneapolis.

We selected two readings that Chop & I each read during the ceremony.

2 Peter 1:5-9
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

The highlight for Stella was walking up and down the aisle. Oh, and sitting on the floor under the pew with her snack trap.

We were blessed to have both sets of grandparents here for the special occasion, along with aunts/uncles and cousins.

It was the perfect ending to the weekend and a wonderful reminder of just how blessed we are to have them!