Today is Lexi's birthday. Yesterday we spent the day together as a (partial) family. The twins, Mikey, Dad and I went down to San Antonio to pick up Lexi from Especially For Youth. On the way back we stopped at the Outlet Malls in San Marcos. We allotted two hours for ourselves so that we could get home at a decent hour. We had a good time together except that the babies do not like shopping. They like going to shoe stores if they are allowed to try them all on. Other than that, they fuss and scream a lot.

I have not been working out that much since summer started because if I have not been on the road I have been trying to catch up on housework while keeping the babies occupied or I have started on household projects. I have painted the kitchen and the babies' bedroom as well as the half-bath downstairs. Mike has requested that I not paint anything else until I have done our bathroom because somebody started on it and did not finish. This indicates a change in Mike's opinion of me, as for a long time he has not believed me capable of a good paint job. My recent projects have consistently proven otherwise. Yea!

It changes the dynamic so much to not have the other kids around. They are with their dad for mostly the rest of the summer. I really miss having helpers for the babies, but I still manage to get stuff done--and there are things that I don't have to do when the big kids are not around.

I don't know if I said anything about last Saturday's Karate Tournament. Mike posted some video of Mikey at his competition in Tyler. The babies saw the sparring matches and kept saying, "That's mean!" Andrew has been wanting to take Karate for a long time. I have just not gotten around to setting it up. I have made some calls to get that set up for him and any other kids who want to do it. Who knows, I might even join up. (Doubtful since I already have a gym membership and am under-utilizing it right now.)

Look at that. Two weeks in a row. BAM!

Trained

While I was in Nevada I started to notice how well Anastasia and Amelia were doing with potty training. Since then they have nearly perfected it. Amelia does not even seem to be having a problem at night--to the point that when she asked to wear panties to sleep last night I let her. No problem.

I usually use the handicapped stall because it it the party stall--suitable for a party (potty, whatever) of three. Do you often get the privilege of being in a bathroom stall next to a toddler and parent? The things they say are fantastic. What if we as adults just started talking really loudly in the public restroom: "It's coming." Or "I let the poop down!" Or "It stinky, huh?"

I am so thankful for my older children. All of them, unfortunately, have been with other parents since I got back, so I have been alone with babies a lot. It makes me appreciate how genuinely helpful they are. They still make work for me in their own right, but the babies miss them so much. They talk about their siblings all the time.

They are also still talking about the relatives we visited. A couple of times now Anastasia has started talking out of the blue about how Uncle LeeJoe drove mommy's car and took them swimming. They love to talk on the phone to the people they now know as well (but most of you already knew that).

It is amazing how much they retain and explain. They are starting to understand family relationships (beyond mom and dad) and speak in those terms. They are learning time concepts and talk about "yesterday" and "Sunday" and "tomorrow" and can tell me what happens or will happen or has happened. Their awareness of humor is developing. They love to be silly for attention. They are coming to terms with their identity. Dad calls them "monkey" a lot and they correct him. "I'm not a monkey, I'm Anastasia." "I'm not a baby, I'm Amelia." At the same time they are starting to play roles. "I'm a monkey!" "I'm a baby!"

They have started trying to trick people by telling them they are the twin they are not, but I am never fooled--especially since they say it with that mischievous smile. Amelia loves texting and screams when I have the audacity to use my own phone. Anastasia has turned everything into a camera since we got back from vacation because of all the family reunion pictures we tried to take. She holds any semi-rectangular thing at arms distance and says " 'Mile!"

I had my 38th birthday and because I really needed one, I got a new car for it. It is a 2006 gold Honda Odyssey with DVD, leather, sunroof, and automatic everything. For the first time ever, I have a van with passenger and driver sliding doors--4 vans and 15 years after they started making them. My husband likes it better than his BMW (in some ways).

Life seems to have an openness and a vitality for me today, which is a nice change from the blocked and lifeless feeling that has been creeping up lately.

Falling asleep at the keyboard. I am by myself again because Mike is driving back from SanAntonio where he dropped Lexi off at Especially for Youth. I hope it is a good experience for her.

Yeah, I'm going to sleep now. Love y'all.