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They've tried banana and avocado and, so far, like both. Netta. Bailey.

This is a wonderful toy Bubbe found at Value Village. A toy Jessica and her sister grew up with and loved. It's a 'record player' you have to manually wind up and then it actually plays little plastic records. This photo is of Jessica singing along to one of the songs as the boys (and babies) listen. I love Jessica's voice by the way.

This is from when the girls were onold a few hours old. Ben didn't post it because it's such a bad picture. But still worth sharing. Allow me to explain what is happening here. The girls are tandem nursing for the first time, both lying in the same direction. So here you see the head of one sister (bottom right) who is grabbing the butt of the other sister. Things that only happen with twins.

I was just looking through old photos and found this from last year. Love it.

The boys have been at each other's throats lately, taunting and egging each other on in a constant battle for equal attention, equal toys, equal food, equal fun and/or misery!  It has been exhausting!  Yesterday was especially terrible and I realized that they probably needed to get outside.  A lot.  So we did a full-family Nature Day at our neighborhood nature center, Woodlake.  Here we are "enjoying" our walk.  Actually we did have a nice, if not short, nature walk searching for signs of Spring and just getting some general fresh air. Unfortunately the paths were still icy and we all did get a little cold so we ended up back inside the interpretive building yet again, but just in time to pet a snake!  Score! When we got home it took a whole of about 60 seconds for the boys to find a reason battle with each other.

Recently we were lamenting with our friends Erin and Mike how anytime we get together it's so difficult to actually have a conversation. So yesterday we stuck the kids in front of a full length movie (Arthur and Lewis' first). Mary Poppins. I had never seen it and its really fun! In one scene when Mary Poppins first arrives she cleans up the house by snapping her fingers. Things fly around while silly music is being sung, and at one point a little boy can't get out of the closet cause it keeps closing. It's sorta funny, but Lewis thought it was very VERY funny. Here's a photo of it after we rewinded and played it again so more adults could appreciate Lewis' belly laugh. Arthur had great difficulty peeling Evva away from the the babies to play. And here's Erin with Bailey.

Bailey was the B position baby in utero, which means she was the one on top, furthest away from the birth canal, and she conitues to be the B baby to this day. It's uncanny! Bailey was born breech and Bailey was bigger. Bailey has a birthmark on her back. Bailey is balding (but the new hair is growing back.) Bailey has broad shoulders. (Netta has narrow shoulders.) Bailey has blue eyes. Bailey seems to look best in the black onsie. She's a beatnik. Bailey balked at eating banana. Bailey babbles more. It's true. It's a battle to get Bailey to bed. If you can think of any other Bailey B-isms let us know.

"I scored TWO points, Papa!" said Art after playing Josh. Taking a break after a hard workout. Lewis is always good for a hug.

My dear cousin, Cait, has been coming over to help with dinner and bedtime on Fridays since the girls were only a few weeks old and now Cait is cooking her own baby! Oh, it has been wonderful to have an excuse to have Cait over every week, especially now that she's pregnant! I love hanging out with her and the kids do, too. Here is a classic picture of Cait in action, having just fed a fussy baby a bottle after trying to distract that baby with a toy Cait attempts to eat her pizza while Art tries to get her attention. I love you, Cait! I have more cute baby pants for you!

Today we went to watch uncle Josh play raquetball (photos coming later). And on our way out we noticed this incredibly huge pile of snow. That really is the top of tree poking out.

Netta, left, and Bailey.

Before: After:

"She is amazing Ben, she is amazing. Every time I come over there I'm just amazed. I mean, like, fuck."

Bailey. Bailey, left, nursing Netta's fingers.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CUchAQtqM4?rel=0&w=640&h=390]

My brother josh teaches Latin at Nova Classical Academy in St. Paul. I've posted this video a while back (it's from a couple years ago when our father was in town visiting) but I just watched it again and was reminded of how proud of Josh I am. He's a superstar at Nova. And in the eyes of Arthur and Lewis, who are both sleeping with the little matchbox cars Josh gave them on his way home from school today. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnSXiR_9Btw?rel=0&w=640&h=390]

Spring is on the verge of springing, and today we took a walk. Art on his bike (with training wheels which in my view will likely be coming off really soon), Lewis on his tricycle and Jess and I strolling with the babies. I realize a small outing like this may seem like not that big of a deal, but put it in context and it gains importance. It's the first day the sidewalks have been clear enough for MONTHS to ride bikes. And getting everyone ready (winter proof, babies/boys fed, etc) is quite a feat.

Unfortunately I was working late the night this was consumed, but I heard from a number of people in my family (Jessica, Arthur, Bubbe) that it was one of the best pizzas Jessica has ever made.

We had a family outing, all of us, to the grocery store--an outing that proved surprisingly fun and fulfilling for just about everyone. Jessica and Bailey in the noodle isle.

...like a giraffe perpendicularly arranged on a floor lamp. When Lewis noticed that I wanted to take a picture of his giraffe placement he added the second one.

Jessica laughed as she came in the room and saw this scene. I was reading a book to Art. She immediately went to get a camera.

Jess was having fun just now looking through old blog posts and laughed out loud when reading this. Follow Art: The DRAMA!