Zoo and Toy store freak out

Since the last post. We went to the zoo. We let them walk around and for some reason they kept getting too excited and fall down. We had some scrapped knees.

I was really excited to show the animals. We have been naming the animals on their bedroom wall and I was really excited to see their reaction in person. Jacob said "giraffe" at one point last week. I was so proud of him.

However, the boys were more interested in rocks than animals! Hehe. They have been going through a rock thing lately. They have been picking up rocks to take home. I think we will have a rock collection soon!

We took the boys to Target to get manga doodles. Joy thought it would be a good toy for them. I picked up the manga doodles and showed them. I then went down the "Toy Story" aisle. There I experienced the first toy store freak out. Joy was looking around else where in the store. When we met, she saw the boys freaking. She took Jasper out of the cart and they walked back to the toys. Jacob helped me push cart back. In the end, we put the magma doodles back, we picked up two Buzz Lighyears, and all was right with the world.

Last Friday, Jasper started exploding with words. We were in their playroom upstairs and he handed me a magnetic letter "E." He responded by saying "E." Then we went around the room naming things and he repeated. It was awesome.

Jacob is big into the word "no." If you ask him anything his response is usually "um, no!" or just "no!" I make him laugh when I respond with "yesss!"



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Happy Birthday Jasper and Jacob!!

Happy birthday to our boys!!! Two years old!! We celebrated by taking the boys to the zoo with Heather, who is staying with us. The zoo was a lot of fun and boys got to do a lot of walking.



We started with the northern trek this time at the Cleveland zoo because we rarely make it up all the way there. The boys loved the giraffes, bears, and birds.




On the way out, we stopped at the gift shop and Heather bought the boys lollipops. Jacob's got broken before we opened it, so he had his in pieces on the ride home. Jasper was determined to eat it all. He worked on it on the ride home and long after we got home.





To get the boys to nap, I tried give them a walk in their stroller. We walked for an hour and half. Jasper eventually went to sleep but Jacob did not.

After we got home, we let Jasper sleep in stroller a little bit. Then went for ice cream. Jasper woke up but fell back asleep in car along with Jacob. They missed out on ice cream but Heather bought them a pint to take home.




When we got home, we had cake and they had their ice cream with. We then went outside and they played in the water ball sprinkler.




Needless to stay they had an an action packed birthday!!!

We all chased them around the table when we got back in. Right now, I'm trying to put them to bed.



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Zoo

Saturday we went to the zoo with Joy's friend Zita. It was pretty cold, so we ended up going to rainforest and then aquatic/ape building and also saw the elephants.

Joy had promised Jacob birds but the bird area in the zoo was closed. We did see regular birds flying around, which he loved.

Jacob mostly wanted to do his own thing, so it was hard to keep him holding hands and moving. He eventually got better when we saw the elephants. I think he was amazed at their size. Jasper stayed with Zita playing with some of the fun fact things on the wall.

They both fall asleep on the ride home.


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Cleveland Zoo

Joy got us a family pass for the Cleveland Zoo. Sunday, we met my parents there. The boys got walk with holding hands. They walked really good with them, holding hands. Maybe because they weren't us.

The zoo was a lot of fun. I really think the boys are going to enjoy it more and more as the summer goes on. They really liked the bears and the giraffe from a distance.

I think they mostly like walking around. They picked grass along the path. We had a picnic at some benches. They got more freedom to walk around.

There weren't a lot of people at zoo, so it wasn't crowded at all. The weather was perfect!!

We ended up walking about four miles! They napped as soon as we got back in the car. We drove through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park on the way home to give them more time to nap in the car.

--photo by my dad


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Painting! Reading! Playing!

This week Joy made the boys pudding paints to play with. They are just pudding and food coloring so it's totally safe for them to eat. We didn't get to see them the first time they played with them. She left them with her mom as she watched them while we did a bikeathon. Luckily Joy's mom took pictures.

One night this week though, Joy gave them the paints after dinner. They loved it!! Jasper put them in his hair and Jacob spread them all over his tray and even wall. They both had a blast and even smiled for pictures.



This week, we also had our first broken window. Luckily, Jasper wasn't hurt as he was protected by the curtains. When we got the window fixed we had them put in plexiglass. It was a little more pricey but worth it. My mom said she had to do that for us because we were always pounding on the windows.

Today, we took the boys to the zoo and let them walk around themselves. They did really good! They didn't even complain when it was time to go.

Their favorite book right now is What Will Fat Cat Sit On. They crack up when I read it because there is emphasis on the word "no" and I shake my head. They have been getting into night time stories. Sometimes they're sit right next to for them. Other times they run off but I read anyway.



Joy is working hard upstairs on the boys play room. She is painting/drawing now. It's going to be Canadian themed. We bought a play house and play grill for it. Last Saturday we both insulated it better. It was crazy but it should help keep it warmer up there during the winter. This is going to be there Christmas present, so shhh!

Right now, I'm in the boys room hoping they will nap.

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Vacation!

I had a great vacation at home with the boys, though we didn't stay home too much but we kinda treated it like we were tourists in the our city.

Friday night, Joy's mom watched the boys so we could have a date night. We went to beaver marsh where we rode our bikes and waited till dark to see the beavers. Blossom music center is on the other side, so we hears Neil Diamond.

Saturday, we went to summit county fair. It was so-so. It was really hot. We caught the end of a circus act and then wandered around.

Sunday, we took the boys to a jungle gym in Fairlawn. The playground was empty so the boys had free range. We put them in our laps and went down the slides. After that we went for a walk at the nature realm.

Monday, we went to the Cleveland zoo. we thought it would be empty but instead was packed! Turns out zoo is free for cuyahoga county residents on Monday. We had fun though. The boys seemed more aware of the animals and pointed. At night, we caught the concert in the park.

Tuesday, joy's mom came over so we could go to the eye doctor. Afterwards we worked on cutting down a tree.

Wednesday, we took the boys in the bike trailer and went biking on the towpath. The boys loved it. They were singing and having a great time.



Thursday, we did some grocery shopping and then stayed in most of the day.


Friday, we visited my grandma in the nursing home. She was feeling depressed in the nursing home. She had been in the hospital. The boys cheered her up greatly and just about everyone else in the nursing home. After that, we went to my parents house for pizza and to let the boys swing on their jungle gym.



Saturday, we went to twins day in twinsburg. That was a lot of fun!! It was really neat seeing all the twins for newborns to twins in the seventies.

The boys had a Popsicle and got it all over themselves. It was really cute. Can't wait to take them again next year.

Today, we just taking it easy.



It was great being home! Joy said the boys treat me the way they treat her during the day. They are a handful. The most challenging though is keeping them off the coffee table. Hope Monday isn't too bad for her.


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The boys' first birthday!

Friday the boys turned one year old! It is really hard to believe that the boys are already one. It is crazy to see much they have grown and all they do now in just a year's time. Both of them used to sit nicely next to each other on a single couch cushion. Now they are sleeping in their own cribs. They're walking, Jacob is mastering running, they are talking, laughing, mimicking.

I took the day off work and we all headed to the Akron zoo in the morning. I had thought we'd have the place to ourselves but instead it seemed every school district was having a field trip to the zoo. The place was packed!! We ended up doing a quick run through.

After the zoo, we headed to toys r us to get two new convertible car seats for our ever growing boys. They have so much more room in their new seats and eventually will have a cup holder added.

After dinner, they each had their own cake to dig in to. Joy had made little cakes with strawberry shorting. They both loved it and made giant messes.

After cake, they opened their presents. We got them a xylophone, cars, and stuffed animals (Kermit, animal, and where the wild things are.)

Their birthday concluded with a viewing of their favorite movie, Mary Poppins.

The Beginning of a Busy Month!

May is a big busy month for us. The weather is finally nice and we are spending a lot of time outside. The boys are getting sun. They're going to bed tired and sleeping through the night.

We started the first weekend of May by going to Cleveland zoo with my parents. The morning greeted us with a thunderstorm and almost seemed unlikely that we were gonna go. However, by the time we got to the zoo the sun was shining! We didn't think to bring sunblock, so Joy stopped at the gift shop and picked some up for the boys and us.

The zoo was packed because it was the opening weekend for the new elephant exhibit. We got to see the elephants but we did not go into the gates.

The boys enjoyed being pushed around in their wagon. They more into people watching and eating animal crackers.

When we got the giraffes, there was one really close to the gate being feed grass by other people at the zoo. We got the boys out of the wagons so they could see up close and personal.

At that point, my parents held the boys instead of putting them into the wagon. The boys enjoyed being held. My dad was goofing with Jacob and making him laugh. My mom held Jasper who was really into her necklace.

Later on they switched but soon it was time for lunch. So we ate on a picnic table outside of the Ben and Jerry's. They ate really good and then Joy got us ice cream. We shared our cones.

After lunch, the boys fell asleep while being held. My parents held them till they couldn't anymore and handed them to us for rest of the zoo.

It was a lot of fun!! I can't wait to go back.

Sunday was mother's day! Joy was got to sleep in. I was gonna take both boys to grocery store to get donuts before she woke up but Jacob slept past Joy getting up. So Jasper and I went and got donuts.

We then all went to the green house to get flowers for our garden. When we got back, Joy busted out the bubble maker and we played in the back yard. The boys love being outside and in the grass.

Joy then planted the new flowers and I watched/played with the boys in the yard.

Nap time wasn't really happening so Joy suggested a bike ride with our new trailer for the boys. Jasper fell asleep on way to the park.

Jacob loved being in the bike trailer. He was laughing up a storm as they were rocking while going up hills. Jasper enjoyed watching. The trailer only fits on Joy's bike so she got to take them first. I rode them back to the car. I rode really slow and they both fell asleep.

It's so great it's nice and warm now. During the week after work, we were able to go the park, play in the bike yard, and even go on another bike ride.

Yesterday, it stormed all day so it was first day the boys got a break from being outside.

This weekend we're having the boys first birthday party!!! Can't believe they are a week away from bring one year olds!!!!!!!

first nice day

Sunday we had big plans for the first fully nice day. We started off by heading to the zoo. This time we brought the wagon. The boys got a big kick out of being wheeled around and plus getting to see each other as they're facing each other in the wagon.

We had been to the zoo a couple weeks earlier so we just did a quick walk through. It's really nice having member passes.

Joy suggested we go quickly and start at the far end of the zoo so there aren't as many people. It was a lot of fun. It is also fun spotting other twins. It's so weird how many are out there if you look.

We stopped at the penguins and got a ton of really cool pictures of the penguins swimming by the boys in their wagon.

After the zoo, we headed home for lunch and nap time. We hoped to take the boys out on a bike ride. We got a bike trailer for them that fits on the back of my bike. I've been dying to try it out.

However, the boys weren't having it with nap time. They fell asleep on the ride home. We got them in their cribs all successfully.

Joy and I were outside and I made the mistake of putting our dog on the chain. He barked and I quickly went to get him but it was too late. He woke up the boys. So we had lunch and I was unable to get the boys to nap.

Totally giving up on trying to get them to nap, we set the playpen outside. The boys loved being outside. Joy and I planted trees that we had gotten and also berries. The boys loved watching. They also played with their toys in their playpen.

Around 3pm, we tried to give nap another try. Jacob fell asleep but Jasper did not. Joy went out to work in the yard. I stayed in and tried to get Jasper to sleep. I put on the tv and put on an making off documentary for the Exorcist. He eventually fell asleep and I joined Joy.

Then Jacob woke up and I went back inside and did the same for Jacob. Eventually after falling asleep and then waking to a fire engine going down the street. I got him back to sleep and joined Joy.

Joy and I worked in the garden; cutting down a large tree branch and tilling the ground. We are going to have a huge garden this summer.

The boys woke up around six for dinner. They played till after 10.

At the Zoo

Sunday, we took the boys to their second zoo visit. Joy purchased a groupon for a family membership to the zoo and we had to redeem by the end of this month.

The weather was nice! We left after a failed attempt at a morning nap. So we fed the boys lunch and tried to give the boys a nap in the car while Joy and I ate lunch at the park. Jacob fell asleep and Jasper took several mini-naps on the way to the park.

We finally got the zoo and the place was packed! More packed than we'd ever seen the Akron zoo. I got out of the car to purchase the zoo membership, while Joy parked the car and got the boys in the stroller.

Jacob woke up when Joy put him in the stroller. Jasper stayed asleep. We thought he would wake up after we got into the zoo, but nope! I said his name and rubbed his head gently but he stayed asleep.

Jacob was in awe of all the people. He was just quietly looking around. We tried to show him some of the animals but wanted to people watch instead.

Jasper eventually woke up. Joy got him out of the stroller and showed him a goose. She put him back into the stroller, where he joined Jacob in people watching.

After we left the zoo, being that the weather was warm. We headed off to another park. The park had a wooden path that went into the woods.

The boys loved being at the park more than the zoo. They were more vocal, talking and singing. I think because there was less people around.

I'm wondering if the Akron zoo is normally that busy or because it was one of the first nice days of the year. Either way, we need to work on the boys being more social. Joy and I are both not very social and we don't want the boys to be that way.

teething and the zoo

I started writing this blog Monday and then got distracted... Here is what I wrote:

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We thought they were teething before and thought our doctor was lying because she didn't even check to see. Well, time has come by and no sign of teeth. Until last week. We've had extra grumpy babies. Joy felt around in Jasper's mouth and felt the bumps of teeth.

We were really hoping they would just pop out during the weekend but no luck. Both the boys have been extra clingy. Although, we haven't felt the bumps on Jacob's gums he's been waking up about every hour. Oral gel seems to work for the most part. We have been bringing them to bed with us.

On Saturday, we decided to take the boys to the zoo for the first time. We thought maybe being outside would help keep their minds off their teeth. Also we thought it would be fun.

They really loved the jelly fish exhibit. They were both putting their hands on the glass trying to touch the jellies also I think they really loved the moving colors. They tuckered out pretty quick afterwards. They both fell asleep in the stroller and slept on the ride home.

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Today is Thursday and last night we noticed Jasper has a tooth poking out! He's been a totally trooper the last couple of days.

Jacob now has bumps on his gums! I think he is feeling the pain. They've both been night owls but around 5 in the morning he stated freaking the other day. I tried to hold him in bed but that was a no go. We ended up going to living room and I held him on the couch. I turned on the news and we both passed out.

This weekend, we're having thanksgiving at my parents' house. I'm hoping the boys feel well enough. Last time we were over everyone rushed to hold them. That freaked them out. This time Joy and I will make sure they are cool before handing them off.