So Behind!

Well, I am again behind on posting - I think this time I'll blame it on the snow :)! It has been crazy around here weatherwise - well above the average amount of snowfall - but fun. I am glad that it happened this year, instead of last. The kids are able to get out and enjoy it (yesterday was more sledding) and it wears them out to take good naps (still very rare for Katie). We've had lots of fun in the last couple of weeks - the trip to the mountains, playing in the snow, the kids spent time with Liz while we got to go to a birthday party (the next day they couldn't stop asking - "where's Liz" - they don't seem to understand that everyone doesn't just live at our house and hang around for their entertainment), and THE CIRCUS! We weren't able to get great pictures at the circus, but we had fun. Luckily it was six adults manning the two kids, so when they got restless (they did good but it was a pretty long show) we were able to hand off! Katie has been "reading" her circus book (the program) to Tyler every night telling him about the tigers, the baby elephant, and "lotta, all the dancers." I loved it (and haven't been in a long time), and it was fun to watch what caught the kids attention, and now to hear what they still remember. I didn't really think they noticed the baby elephant, but they have talked about him since we left.

The kids are the last ones in their class to be potty trained (which is just crazy because the average age is 3, and 2.5 is when our pediatrician said we should even start), and they are really encouraging us to work with the kids more to get them fully trained. They are doing good - but I definitely don't think they are there yet. We did let them wear underwear yesterday and they thought it was the greatest thing ever. Katie was dancing around the house, and twirling and jumping and she kept telling me that she was not going to "go" in them, but she did just a little. Maybe wearing underwear will help them realize that they need to tell me when they have to go - that is the big hang-up right now - they go when you put them on the potty, but they won't tell when they have to go and we haven't stepped it up yet to spending all of our time in the bathroom putting them on, taking them off, and trying to get them to hurry just a bit while not discouraging the progress! Katie has gotten kind of "shy" all of a sudden and won't talk to people when they visit, and gets really silly trying to hide from new people and pretty embarrassed if she thinks you are laughing at her or are watching her. Tyler is the opposite, he has started being real social and trying to engage everyone - way different than just a few months ago when he would cling and refuse to look at anyone if we were in a strange environment, or had friends over. It is crazy how different they are, and how often it changes, but if it has taught me anything it is not to make predictions or think I have everything figured out, so despite what the teachers hope I am going to follow the kids lead on the whole potty training thing for a bit. I really do think they are doing good and just don't quite have it down yet! Oh, and we have not made the switch to toddler or twin beds yet either. After talking to a lot of people the main advice was that if they aren't jumping out, you might as well keep them in. They aren't (knock on wood) and I recently read that twins usually don't make a habit of jumping out (even if they do it once) because they have each other and have no reason to get out. We WILL change them soon - but for now they are definitely nowhere near night potty training and we don't have to worry about them getting in and out of bed on their own or deciding that wake-up time is a lot earlier so we aren't going to mess with a good thing until we have to. The other deciding factor for moving them is if the crib gets too small and that is not an issue at all either - in fact, I am getting pretty tired of everyone talking about how "tiny" they are and the guesses of how old they are - in Gatlinburg we got 18, and 16(!) months, but they are still munchkins and the cribs are on the larger side so all is good. They are growing, too! Since it turned cold the kids have been in mostly 24 month stuff, and even some 18 month pants for Katie, but just recently the 24 month pants especially are too short and a little snug so they ARE getting taller :)!