Salt Springs

It's funny..I always start these things and then it takes me a week and sometimes even two weeks to actually get them done.

Another first this last weekend included Parker and Sydney's first boat ride.

We met up with some extended family....Aunt Brandi, Uncle Johnny, Mee Maw, Pop Pop, and dogs, Levi, Rosco, and Maggie for a day on the river. We met them at the Salt Springs marina in the Ocala National Forest. More great times.

On the first boat ride, Parker had a blast feeling the wind blow through his hair. Sydney wasn't so sure at first. The kids loved swimming in the spring. After swimming, we went for a second boat ride and seconds in they were both sleeping like babies. Oh yea, they are babies!

Chuck-E-Cheese

So, last weekend Parker and Sydney had their first experience at Chuck-E-Cheese(or known to Grandma Truty as Chunky Cheese). I have to be honest....I was frightened. I am not a germ-a-phobe but all I could think about was that germ and urine infested ballpit that I as a child thought was so much fun. Patrick had some crazy idea that I would be OK with the kids being in there. I tried to explain that they weren't even big enough for that yet. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that those ballpits are no longer in existence(I am sure for the very reason I was against it in the first place). There was actually a toddler specific area.

It was Chloe's 3rd birthday party and it ended up being great family fun. Grandma and Grandpa Schmidt, Uncle Jimmy, Heather, Chloe, Uncle Eric, Aunt Danielle, Desiree, and Uncle Joe were all there. Parker and Sydney got to ride their first rides. As you can see in the first video, Parker kept his same "Mr. Serious" face. Not sure he was impressed with the Teletubbies. I can't blame him....what are those weird things anyway???? Hey, it was the first one we saw.

In the next video, you will see Sydney on her first ride(also those creepy Teletubbies). You can see she was a little more excited...then you can see Parker on his second ride which he LOVED...someone more familiar....Barney.

Parker and Sydney got to meet their first costumed character, Chuck-E-Cheese. Sydney was so excited to see him but as soon as he reached out his furry paw to touch her, she started to cry. Parker wasn't bothered a bit and smiled at him.

Fun in the Sun!!

Mee Maw and Papa bought the kids this Elmo sprinkler toy. They had so much fun playing with it this last weekend. Sydney was full of giggles and couldn't get enough.
Thanks to this gift...Parker's new favorite word is Elmo. Sydney our resident copy-cat loves to say Elmo now too!
If you listen to the second video you can here them both say it! Sooooo cute!!!

Fourth Of July weekend continued

Ok....so it took me a little longer to get this next update in.

Better late than never.

Bryce and Aunt Erica were down in Florida the weekend of the 4th of July.(no Uncle Dwight this time). They were down to visit family and celebrate Bryces's 4th birthday.

On July 5th, we went to Jacksonville to attend Bryce's 4th birthday party. It was a pool party and Parker and Sydney were in the height of their glory. Kids splashing and playing all around them. They also had their first experience with water balloons. They weren't so sure what to do with them. Unlike our pool, this pool has a ledge so they really enjoyed scooting off the edge and into our arms.

Thanks to Erica's friends, Alison and Ryan, we had our very own townhouse to stay in while we were there. This was nice because we tend to take up a lot of room.

On July 6th, we went to St. Augustine for the day. When we first arrived in St. Augustine, the babies were sleeping, so Bryce, Erica and I found a really cool playground where Bryce could spend some energy while Patrick waited for the kids to catch up on some much needed zzzzzzzzzzzzzz's. When Parker and Sydney woke up they got to play for a little bit too. Then we went to Old St. Augustine where we were on a mission. Bryce has a sterling silver bracelet engraved with her name. Patrick and I have always admired it and wanted to have one made for Sydney. So that's what we did. Then we had some lunch. Finally we headed to the beach for some more fun in the sun. We were able to drive onto the beach which made things much easier than hauling all that gear. We didn't stay too long, just long enough to get pummelled by some waves and eat some sand, then it was time to say our goodbyes. So sad, I can't stand goodbyes.

I am trying to get a video on here of the kids playing at the playground.

Fourth of July

This year, like last year, our Fourth of July kicked off at the second annual Remington Park Fourth of July Parade. Last year the babies were bald and much fatter. We were still getting adjusted to life with twins. Boy has life changed. What an exciting journey each new day brings. New laughs, new smiles, new tears from all. But if you look closely you can see that some things have not changed...look at the serious expression on Parker's face this year and last year. I promise he shares plenty of smiles, just not on command. He does things on his terms.

The Remington Park Fourth Of July Parade is where the neighborhood kids and their families get together dressed in red white and blue. Everyone is encouraged to decorate their strollers, wagons, bikes, and dogs. We then make our trek around the streets of the neighborhood led and followed by a police car.

In the afternoon, we were invited to the other Schmidt's(Christina's parents) house for a BBQ! Yum, yum! Good times. We left around 7:30pm to return home and catch some neighborhood fireworks at the lake. Sydney loved them. Parker was a little apprehensive of the noise at first but once he realized the noise was not going to hurt him, he relaxed and enjoyed.

Below is a video of the wagon ride down to the park to meet for the parade. The kids were so cute waving their flags! Proud to be Americans!!!

Parker and Sydney update

Ok, so life these days is much busier than I ever imagined it would be. Whew!

Although as the kids get older they eat less often and they sleep for longer periods of time...their energy level is non-stop. I don't realize until after we get them in bed just how tired I really am. Thank God for a GREAT husband(Daddy) and a GREAT mom(Nana). Thank you both so much! GO TEAM!!!

Parker and Sydney are running and climbing and dancing all the time! They love music and Nana plays it a lot through out the day. They continue to show a love for books which we encourage on a regular basis. The dancing is so cute to watch. The more attention they get when they do it, the more they do it. I will try to catch some video of them dancing. They are speaking more words that you can actually understand. Parker's favorite word is "up". If he wants in, out, up, or down it is "up" and he really enunciates the "p" sound in "up". It is so cute. Their comprehension level is amazing these days and Sydney really enjoys showing this off. She follows directions so well. She also really helps when it is time to clean up, Parker cleans up sometimes too. As you can see from the video, Parker's new favorite thing to do is crawl inside boxes. He thinks it is his little fort. This is actually this morning. This is the few minutes of TV they get to watch while Nana finishes getting breakfast ready and I get ready to walk out the door. They clammed up after they saw the camera.

We have started to introduce them to the potty. They each visit the potty a couple times a day. Their pottys play music when they go in the potty. Parker makes it happen more than Sydney so far.

Sydney and Nana have a favorite song these days..."If You're Happy and You Know It". Nana pointed out today that Sydney does all the motions along with her. When it says "clap your hands", she claps her hands, when it says "stomp your feet" she sits down and stomps her feet. She even points to her mouth for the part where it says, "your face will surely show it".

Coming home to them is the best feeling in the world. They just run to you and give you the biggest hug and lots of kisses. They are these little people now.