Lake Billy Chinook Camping trip 2011

It's hard to believe that we pulled off another week long camping trip with seven kids without any problems.   I thought it was going to be a nightmare with 23 month old twins trying to run away from us but they were amazing!   Being outdoors is truly the ticket to entertaining the entire family and keeping everyone happy.   It's cost effective, fun, entertaining and great for the kids to reconnect with the basics and nature.  

We took two cars again and split up the twins for the drive to Perry South Campground.   The difference this time is they kept asking where the other twin was and seem confused.   Last time they couldn't talk so it's clear they notice when each other is not present.    Once we arrived, we set them loose in the campsites.   Luckily, we were able to reserve 4 sites together so they had plenty of room to play freely.   There were four families that went so we took turns cooking dinner and breakfast.    This is the way to go and made it so much easier and less stress!     After the boys passed out around 7pm each night we had great campfires.   They slept great from playing so hard all day outside.  

The highlight of the trip was renting a party barge at Cove Palisades.   It was a beautiful day and even the youngest of kids did great on the boat. 

Cole and Tygh loving the water

This trip was really neat watching the twins as they really never fought with one another.   I think because they had so much space and kept to themselves playing with things, they left each other alone.   At night, I would sit outside the trailer and listen to them laugh hysterically at each other.   Their portacribs were right next to each other so that was their time to share their adventures from the day.    The other highlight was having my twin brother Jim join us on this trip with his kids.   He is so much fun to have around and I truly miss him when he goes home to Idaho. 

Twin Brother Jim

With five kids all at different ages, I see camping being what we do for vacations for the next several years.   It's way to difficult and expensive to fly anywhere with 7 people and camping is relatively easy to do and so much fun.    There are no electronic devices (due to no coverage), no Facebook, no TV, only the great outdoors to enjoy.  Swimming, skiing, sailing, games, biking, hiking, fishing, boating, campfires....the list goes on and on.   Personally, I felt like I got more relaxation being on vacation with these kids then at home.  

Dad with Twins

Oldest daughter Kylie

Captain Cole on upper deck

Growing Interaction between Tygh and Cole

The twins second Birthday is quickly approaching in a few weeks.   It seems we just celebrated their first Birthday not to long ago but it flew by so fast.   The growing interaction between Tygh and Cole has both been a blessing and a curse.    They share lots more laughs with each other now but also lots more fighting over things.   We must have two of everything in order to prevent full on tackles between them.  

The two biggest changes with them this last year has been their increase in verbal communication and there ability to show affection to others.   From the moment they wake up to bedtime, they are chatting with one another.    The other day Tygh was able to tell me his ears hurt so I took him to the doctor and sure enough he had two terrible ear infections.   It is much easier now on us that they both can talk pretty well.    It probably helps that they have three older siblings to listen to all day especially Brooklyn (age 4) who never stops talking.   

Secondly, is there increased display of affection.   This past year has been fun coming home to all kids running up to the car with open arms, hugs and kisses.  What a great way to come home from a long day at work!   Leaving in the morning is always done with verbal good-byes and kisses from the boys.   The other day at the beach , Cole displayed his affection by kissing his girl friend.   It was the cutest thing in the world!!!  He is such a lover.  

Cole and Tygh giving each other kisses.

Next up on my list this week is preparing for another camping trip with family and friends.   We leave on Saturday and will be gone almost a week with all the kids.    This time it's Central Oregon so the drive won't be near as long as Montana.   This trip will be interesting considering the boys are now mobil and won't sit still.   I'm hoping we won't be chasing them non-stop.   Stay tune for updates on the camping trip and then the boys second Birthday!!!

Separation Anxiety

     It turns out the Twins separation anxiety is not from leaving Mom and Dad but from leaving each other.   Now that they are getting older, they notice when each other is missing.    Cole was the bigger twin at birth (6 lbs) vs. Tygh (3 lbs) and seems to have taken on the big brother role.   He will always call out for "Tygh, Tygh" when he doesn't see him.  
     Occassionally, Cole will wake up before Tygh so I will take him downstairs.    He will constantly be calling out for Tygh until we go get him.   Then once we have him, he gets this huge smile on his face like everything is perfect again in his life.   I wonder now if I need to start separating them more so they can develop their own personalities and get along without each other.   I'll have to ask my Mother how she did this with us growing up in the younger years.   This year we have decided to do more things individually with them to see what happens.  
     The first strange occurance happened when Tygh was outside playing and Cole with inside with me.   All of a sudden Cole started crying and calling out for "Tygh, Tygh".   He was very upset so I took him outside to find Tygh.    In turned out the Tygh had fallen and put a big knot on his head and was also crying.    I initially thought that Cole was upset because he notice Tygh was gone but I am now thinking it was because Tygh got hurt and he could sense something was wrong with him.  
    Being a twin myself, I can truly relate to those feelings betweens twins.  I had become deathly ill in my early 20's with spinal meningitus.   When they found me, I was told I only had about an hour to live.  I remember laying there calling out to my twin brother in my head to come help in hopes he could hear me.    Jim (my twin Brother) was at work and he said cold chills ran through his body.  He stopped dead in his tracks because he felt something was really wrong.   A minute later, Jim was being paged at work and he knew it was because of me.   So I do believe that twins share a very close internal bond that goes really deep.    I can only imagine that the bond between identical twins are even stronger.



Twin Brother Jim and myself - peope say he got the looks and I got the brains:)



Twins turn one!!!

     I remember waking up on the morning of their first Birthday to sounds of jumping and laughter in their bedroom.    I quietly cracked open their door and watched them jump up and down in their cribs while cracking each other up.   They were talking, laughing and copying each other moves.   It was quite cute to watch this interaction between the boys.    This was the first time I really noticed this close bondness between the two.   It was almost like turning one was the turning point in their lives and the fun was about to begin for them.     

     The boys have taken naps religiously since they were born every day.   Why is it the day of their Birthday party they decide not to nap.    By the time we did cake at 5:30, both of them were falling asleep in their chairs and staring tiredly at the cake.    It was such a non-event that we ended up putting them to bed and had the party without them.    The cake was excellent!

     Turning one is one of many major milestones in their lives.  This past year the boys have really grown attached to one another.  I don't think they have ever been separated as of yet.    Cole is walking now and Tygh is not far behind him.   Both seem to be having conversations with each other in a language that only they can understand.    I marvel at how well they seem to be in tune to one another.    I am really looking forward to this next year and how things progress with the twins.   Happy First Birthday Tygh and Cole!

Is Vacation Possible with 11 month old twins???

     We were all tired of being couped up in the house and decided it was time to go on vacation.     Was it possible with 5 kids and 3 of them two and younger.   I had survived through the first 11 months of sleepless nights, breastfeeding two babies, changing multiple diapers, bath times and many more challenges that comes with newborns.   And YES you will survive it.    Now it was time to utilize my planning skills and try to put together a family vacation with the 7 of us. 
     It was decided to join the rest of my brother's and go camping at Flathead Lake, Montana.   It was a 12 hour drive taking two vehicles.  One to pull the trailer and one to pull the Hobicat.   The best advice I can give to make it less stressful is to plan everything out ahead of time.   One week before departure date, I did all the shopping and put all the camping gear in the trailer.   Four days before, I prepared meals ahead of time.    Below are some great recipes to freeze ahead of time for camping trips even the twins could eat:

• Homemade Minnestroni Soup   -  1lb sausage, (2) 14 1/2oz cans diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, (2) 14 1/2oz cans beef broth, 1 can cannelini beans, 1 can red kidney beans, 1 cup thinly sliced carrots, 1 medium yellow summer squash sliced and 1 cup bow tie pasta.   Cook the sausage.   Throw all ingrediants except pasta in a slow cooker on low setting for 8 hours and cover.   45 minutes before it's done throw in pasta.   Serve and top with parmesan cheese.   DELICIOUS EVEN WITH THE KIDS! 
• Baked Beans with Polish sausage - 1 to 2 lbs polish sausage sliced, 1 can kidney beans, 1 can northern beans, 1 can black beans, 1 15oz can tomato sauce, 1 onion sliced, 1/2 cup red wine (drink the rest while making), 2 Tablespoons brown sugar and 2 garlic cloves.   Cook in crock pot for 70 minutes.   YUMMY!
• Other make ahead dishes is chili, breakfast burritoes, lasagna.   

This made the trip much more enjoyable because I knew what was for dinner every night and only had to heat it up.    Two days before the trip everything was packed so I could actually relax before our big travel day.   We split up the twins and put one in each car.   This worked out great because they slept most of the way without having each other to entertain.   We finally arrived and all kids survived the car ride.  

Everyone thought we were crazy to take the twins camping at 11 months.   I agree but with some tools it can be done.  We set up a huge playpen and let them crawl all over in it.   Having the trailer helped because we could open up the back, gate it and let them run around with toys.   It turned out to be easier going camping with all the kids then having them at home.   They were so entertained by the new surroundings and usually ready for bed by 6:30pm.   It left the rest of the evening for us adults to be adults and relax around the campfire.   

In looking back at this trip, it was one of my greatest memories so far with the kids.    All it took was a little planning ahead and a few lists to make it work.   YES, it is possible to do trips with infant twins, a toddler, pre-teen and a teenager and SURVIVE it with a smile.   



Tygh and Cole playing in trailer





Brooklyn age 2





Son Ryan age 10



Play pen outside for twins

Oldest daughter with Tygh age 14

Surprise of a Lifetime

I decided to start this blog because of my unique situation in being a twin myself and having identical twin boys.  It should have been started when they were born 22 months ago but as a Mother of five children, I find myself just now having time to write.   This blog will be about all of the interesting dynamics of raising twins and offer tips on how Mothers can successfully manage a very busy lifestyle.  

It started by going in for a routine ultrasound in the 4 month of pregnancy, looking at the monitor and seeing two heads moving around.   This is after the doctor told me on three other occassions that I was only having one baby.   It turns out that one of them was hiding under my ribs and decided to show himself in my 4th month.    It was our surprise of a lifetime.   I was always told that being a twin myself that I would not have twins.    NOT TRUE!   All I could think about was how was I going to raise my 3 other children (14, 10 and 2 at the time), work full-time, continue volunteering, be a good wife and get some time for myself.    Now I had to throw twins into my all ready packed life. 

Now, 22 months later it has been a roller coaster ride that I wouldn't have missed for anything.   Yes, it is extremely challenging to do it all of this but it's so amazing watching these kids all at different milestones especially the identical twin boys.