like i was saying in the last post...The Zs want nothing to do with crazy big weirdos dressed up in character...Jamie and I are thinking about solving our current discipline problems by taking them to Disney and then making them stand to take one of those corny pictures with every Disney character there ever was...I know I know for those Disney lovers the pictures of them crying hysterically while standing near Goofy will be something they will cherish forever even if they are corny...
my wonderful sister in law sent this card to me and it sums up life, doesn't it...even for those people who feel as though everything they do is fit to print..it's not -but we'll read about your dirty laundry anyway..just as long as it isn't the kind that gets put in the washing machine and hung to dry.

It has been way too long since our last entry..like the rest of my life I tend to do things in waves and blogging went to shore for a bit. The wave I am sure will roll by again. We have been loving preschool I have been loving the little break. The wave that I am currently riding is nonfiction books and I have to say that two MUST reads are "Deep Survival: Who Lives Who Dies and Why" absolutely great book and a must for everyone. The second is my current obsession that I feel the need to share with everyone, especially every fellow American and it is "Where Men Win Glory." It is more than just about Pat Tillman. It is for anyone who has ever wondered about the war we are currently fighting or the wars fought in the last eight years. yikes eight years.. really really amazing.
As for the characters, Pablo and Uniqua, we can stand in line for an hour to see them but it really won't matter Zeb and Zane want not

hey zane whatcha doin out here, did you go pee off the deck? Look poop, I pooped? What, off the deck? How did you even do that? I just did I pooped outside. hmm that is interesting I don't know about that Zane. Is that a good idea? I don't necessarily think that that was a good idea. Yah I don't sink that was such a good idea. I will not do that again mama that was not such a good idea.
I am still shocked when I think of him doing such a feat. I am sad to say I only saw him and his bare bum getting down off the rail of the deck after the deed had been done. I still cannot imagine that my life would have evr been so full of shock and surprises..where did these little people come from?.

Happy Halloween 2009....Halloween in New York brought out the spooky skeleton with the ever frightening purple skeleton mask and (not shown here but picture to be posted shortly) the ever "naughty" cowboy Zeb. We trekked in the rain around Jamie's old stomping ground...visiting the house he grew up in and meeting the classic Bronx-native neighbor who still lives in the neighborhood...it was priceless. Zane proceeded to refuse to say "trick or treat" and in exchange yelled "BOO!" Zeb was Mr. Grumpy Cowboy and declared he was not sleepy or grumpy he was "naughty cowboy." They both fell asleep no problem tonight which has not been the norm for several weeks which leads me to want to go trick or treating every night despite the cavities that might come of such a bed time ritual. Now to go through the loot and take my favorites before the skeleton and the cowboy wake up and take a better
inventory of the evening's work.

It has been so long most have probably given up by now but now that I am better adapted to life after the start of our first preschool which entails a lot of work by me of course as the person who volunteers first and asks questions later is now the treasurer for the school, so yippee my synapses are firing and my brain is coming back to life maybe sometimes overwhelmingly so. The boys gave me the best birthday present ever. They stayed at school "all by theirselves" and had fun doing it, first time in almost four years that I was able to come back from leaving them somewhere and not have two hysterically crying little people knocking me down at the door, they were smiling and proud. We are currantly preparing for Halloween 2009, found the rockinest pair of chaps for Zeb, they would make even the toughest of cowboys jealous and Zane will be seen in the darkest of nights with his glow in
the dark bones. Happy Fall! We will be heading to NY on thursday to catch fall in the northeast.

Zane started the pantless trend. he is just hoping the trend will catch on...anyone want to join us at the nude beach of carkeek we'd love to have you...pants optional.

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what a beautiful day on the beach...when the blattsteins have their pants off life is fabulous!! all i can say is it was early in the summer and the swim shorts just didn't feel right wet and we are a free lovin family...

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Zeb says to Zane as we shop for ring bear attire "I am going to wear this all day long, Zane lets be silly guys." They just might be shoppers afterall...doubt it....

A weekend camping on vashon island and we are in love. Could we really deal with being at the mercy of a ferry? or well a boat would have to be bought in order to get to the mainland from the island whenever we got a wild hair (which we tend to get a lot) and wanted to go on a road trip. hmm the sunset was beautiful I think we'll just visit for now!

Is the bus coming yet?

From buses to boats

We have a little friend and his name is Logan. They are like having triplets and sometimes getting out of the house saves many arguments about who gets to play with the big, the little and the even smaller garbage truck first or who gets what dump truck to race around the house. Even walking a half mile to the bus stop, taking our first bus ride, finding ourselves at the ferry terminal, getting on the ferry, riding the ferry across the sound and back, catching the bus back to the bus stop and then walking back home which was a slightly longer walk than the first because mom got off at the wrong stop (oops) all proving tiring, yes indeed, however less tiring than staying home. Three cheers to three adventurous boys and their chaperone.

Dad and grandpa Joel guess where we are...running across the Narrows Bridge...you should see the view from here...thinking it would be fun, Zeb and Zane wanted to jump in and go for a swim. You'll be happy to note that I told them no they would have to wait till they were older to do that sort of thing!

What shall we pick out for dinner?

Road Tripping with 3 year old twin boys...Pass me some more coffee, candy and chips

Hmmm...10 hours 30 minutes strapped in seat belts in the truck with two 3 year olds, 1 dog, 1 dad and 1 mom....sound delightful, well I'll say extremely exciting (at times), very fun (at times) and completely exhausting (at times). I sit here wondering why I'm so tired the night after....to the point where I can't even imagine going running, which is my usual after the boys go to their bedroom for the evening. It pains me to even think about such a crazy act.

Being able to hang out with a super great aunt, an uncle we are lucky and blessed to be able to play with, an awesome cousin and his girlfriend and acres and acres of land that truly is "God county" is totally worth every butt sour and every pound (thank you mucho candy and chips) that was acquired along the way.

We arrived Friday afternoon and were in awe of such a great part of the U.S. This beauty and sick ability to play in the woods within minutes has prompted Jamie to start working out the details with his boss of his future telecommuting ability. We put our hands in God's when on Sunday Zane, Zeb and I piled onto Uncle Brian's thrillbilly with dad as the pilot. We made it up to Rat Lake and back with only some minor mom as the back seat driver and dad getting mad at mom for opening her mouth and telling him how to drive the all too powerful 4 wheeler. We then were able to witness some amazing thunder and lighting storms from the comfort of Aunt Tami and Uncle Brian's home instead of in a miserably uncomfortable wet tent...we'll have to try our luck as campers next trip. On Tuesday we headed back onto the open road....620 miles west. Destination home - Tacoma, Washington. How sweet it is to go.... and then make it home.

Zane, "I'm having a hard time carrying this baby in my belly." hmmm I really hope he remembers this when he is older and can then empathize.

Zeb, "Put this baby in my belly."

As one can see we have many friends who are pregnant or have recently had babies and the experimentation is ever so funny to watch.

A tired worn out cowboy. I am seriously excited to see if this guy is a funny big person as he is a little person. I really admire witty and funny people and what a delight to have one living with me. I won't even go into what was going on with him and his guitar when he awoke...oh to be three and a boy!

Always an Adventure

Trekking through the great unknown-at least to us it was unknown territory. I am constantly surprised by the amount of walking the boys can do- if they want to that is!

Yee-haw

First Camp Trip of 2009

Fun camping trip this weekend.

Highlighted quotes:

Zeb: "Our whole family is camping."

Zane: "Dad, does the forest get dark?"

Lisa: "Zeb, hand me some more marshmallows."

Dad: "Guys, stop rolling all over my sleeping bag and go to bed already."

Bear: "Grrrrrrr..." (he spotted a deer in the distance)

Funniest moment in the tent - Zeb, eyes closed, yet fully awake, and pretending to be snoring (loudly).

Our Hero

Hours ago I heard about an incident that was both tragic and miraculous. After hearing about the accident I stood dumbfounded, tears in my eye, sad, mad, concerned for the future well being of those involved. Thousands are affected by incidences like this all the time. Mostly I stood there wondering why. Why does this go on? Why do human beings do this to other human beings, why do some die and others live, why my brother in law and not someone else's? Karma? Fate? Luck? God (okay if it was God why not spare other lives that were taken unfairly)? I've cried out with bitter sweet emotion. My brother in law's life was spared but not someone else's. Mostly it leaves me a little empty and in wonder. My sister gets her husband back, my nephews get their dad back, his mom and dad get their son back, my sons get their uncle back and I get my brother in law back. These things I am thankful for. I realize this is not a unique story, this happens in war and in wars past. Some come back (albeit changed but they come back to join their friends and family), some don't and why is that? When I look at the bigger picture I think, yes this is just how it is, death happens in war. When I think of the personal stories (the tragedy, the miracle, the reason for someone fighting and working in a land that is on high alert nearly all of the time and upon departure, finally after a year, two years when one is starting to smell the smells of home their lives are taken, en route to the final journey home) I say why and how. With this heavy heart and mind I go further in my wonderment and think about why some are born into poverty stricken, war stricken lands. I was born into a land that I can with no level of threat go running outside and play softball at night. I do not know if this war is justified, right or wrong, if it should end or go on but I do know I am thankful for those who do risk their lives and long term mental and physical health for the greater good. Is this war really being fought for "our freedoms," I don't know and neither do many others. Sad and somewhat embarrassed to say but I've lost track of what is going on in the war and why we are still fighting. Why haven't we come up with a good plan that allows the people of those nations to sort their problems out, to build their own democracy and fight for their own freedoms. I do realize their problems (terrorists groups oragnizing in their lands) are also our problem. This much I have not lost sight of.

I am forever grateful to those who belong to a story that is both tragic and miraculous. You are my heroes.

This is a link to the particular miracle and tragedy that I write about. May those lives lost rest in peace and those lives spared flourish.

http://www.alqimmah.net/showthread.php?t=6086

Asleep in the car once again. I question why i have no back up reading material on hand for as many hours that i have been stuck in the car with passed out little people. How can two little people be the sleepingest car sleepers ever, makes for great long trips but come on we were only going to the grocery store!

Hey now!

Thank god today is friday. Not functioning at full capacity after several glasses of wine and too little sleep...sorry boys

Testing can not figure this out testing

From home in Washington to Idaho to Oregon to Florida

Okay maybe my traveling plans were a little over zealous as we went from Idaho to Oregon to Florida in a few weeks. After week one of traveling one of us got sick and that started a free fall that got a little out of control -as most free falls tend to- and we all then proceeded to get sick and wound up with ear infections, hearing loss that has not been restored, and snot still pour out of our noses. We spent a week in Idaho playing in the mud and hunting for Easter eggs and then we had a very good visit with our Bubbe and Grandpa from New York. We played on the beach in Cannon Beach, Oregon despite Zane's constant low grade fever (oops, since having one myself I now realize how miserable he must have been lying around on the beach) and then we traveled on to Florida to visit Aunt Tami and Grandma and Aunt Jeanie. It was me and the boys and I do not know how I actually got them on and off a plane by myself to finally land in Florida where I nearly dropped dead (or would have liked to considering I had a low grade fever myself and felt like I got ran over by a bus). En route to Aunt Tami's in central Florida Zane proceeded to put putty in his hair which ended up hardening over night like any good Rubbermaid product does, I'm sure! I'm talking rubber!! Stuck literally to his head. My sister's very resourceful step son, Travis (a current, on his toes college student) came home and suggested we google suggested putty removal techniques, hmm brilliant! It worked and believe it or not it is all about the hand sanitizer, it must be worked into the putty and the hair straight out of the bottle. After nearly two hours it was out and all was well-- no crew cut necessary.

I proceeded to lay around my sister's home, mostly quarantined to my sister's bedroom, as she said that would be easier for her to fumigate after my departure. It was after several days that I decided to go to the local urgent care to get some drugs that if nothing else might have a placebo effect and therefore allow me to actually enjoy the rest of the "vacation." Turns out an ear infection was to blame for the endless low grade fever and drugs just might help. Several hours after taking the antibiotic I was having some very tasty shrimp and soon thereafter I had some sort of allergic reaction (I refuse to believe it was the shrimp as the antibiotic gave me an itchy rash the next day, yes I did get a different antibiotic) my lips started swelling and itching and my butt started itching (that's right) and then I started shivering uncontrollably, meh, off to the emergency room as I just could not stop this uncontrolled annoying shiver to the point my teeth were chattering and I couldn't make them stop. Of course it took hours to see a doctor and of course I was fine by the time I saw someone so yes that was much wasted time. Zeb visited that same urgent care and he also was full of infection in his ears but did not react to any antibiotic and after one really bad night all was well.

Anyway the boys saw Mickey, Donald and Pluto shortly thereafter and all was fine, the Dumbo ride was questionably worth the wait and the Small World Afterall was undoubtedly the best ride for two three year olds. Florida was hot and sunny and we all got some MUCH NEEDED vitamin D and, with a little luck, I got us all back to Tacoma safe and sound.

Zeb and Zane's Music Box

Zeb and Zane and porcelain music boxes do not coexist without someone getting decapitated. This music box has been with us since the beginning of Zeb's and Zane's time here on this earth (yes it is still with us as I think it is still a vital part of putting the little people to bed, even though it has probably never lulled the boys and it makes not a bit of difference in whether they fall asleep at a reasonable hour or not). I will forever think that it should be twisted on for bedtime, so until Jamie decides enough of the annoying repetitive tune and throws it away it will be with us. The music box started its journey in one piece- it was lovely and plays a sweet tune. Its first encounter ended with a toe and a bird's wing missing, the next was a slightly more fatal mishap with one of the angels being decapitated. The third accident is a mystery and resulted in a very wobbly base, another decapitated angel and a completely broken drum. Zeb and Zane thought this somewhat sad and somewhat funny. The music box played on with its wobbly self and even though it was not as aesthetically pleasing it still had its place in our bedtime routine. The fourth and final straw occurred on dad's watch (maybe he did it, I'll never know). It resulted in a completely broken porcelain upper and the only thing that remained was the sweet little tune. So even though the tune probably annoys even the little people the music plays on!

Naked Party Potty Time

Why is it that one little person getting naked causes such a chain reaction among three year olds? Like that first glass of red wine...one naked toddler means there will be many more to follow. Then as nature would have it all the little people need to go to the "potty" and just like a bunch of females they swarm into the bathroom together-one little person on the little "potty" another one standing at the big "potty" yet another one spraying half on the rug and half on whatever "potty" he can get to and the supervising adult trying her hardest to assist so that as much pee as possible goes in the appropriate toilet bowl and NOT all over the floor, the toilet, the pants that hang down around the ankles which on a three year old is way too close for comfort and everywhere else pee somehow ends up (yes-all little people spoken about are boys and yes I've come to terms with the fact that pee is going to be everywhere forever and ever and although I'm trying my damnedest to teach the little people mad aiming skills I have grasped the fact that there is a hugely valid reason for the pee shooting male hydrant who can't get all the pee in the toilet bowl stereotype). After the last toilet training child is fresh out of pee (or so I thought) another decides he feels the need to try once more to squeeze yet a little more pee out. Of course, there is a reason the one wants to try to squeeze more out because instantly they all start asking for their "treat" or in the case of the boy who peed twice two treats and stickers to go on their "I peed in the appropriate place and now I get a sticker" chart. I look over to see that they are expecting not just one little jelly bean or m&m but a girl scout cookie which were recently discovered to be the favorite and the only real reason not to pee all over the floor (face it- boys really just don't care where they go, yep there I go stereotyping again, I'm telling you there is a reason for the stereotypes and I will never again buy into the idea they are only stereotypes and hold no validity). Umm I don't know who bought those but they need to be given a talking to. In all the mass chaos and nakedness I realize our naked little friend's mom is about to arrive and I'm sure she'll be wondering who exactly is running the show---and well I can tell her and anyone else who wonders the same question---they are!!
All for the sake of being diaper free!!!

Happy Birthday Uncle Brian

We love you and soooo miss you. We think of you and pray for you daily!!

Here is a little birthday wish from all of us, can't wait to sing to you in person. love to you!

Leavenworth March 2009

There was cake decorating (thanks to Ava's brave mom who gave them all their own sprinkle containers to "decorate" the cake with).














There was snow play.

Yeah the snow fell and we actually got to do some sledding and build a snowman (the snow was perfect)! Living in a rainforest we don't see a lot of good snow and even though I'm sure most are absolutely sick of the white stuff we were loving it!

And there was a whole lot of playing in the Bear Mountain Lodge that had an endless amount of everything Bears......

Thanks Maggie and Lisa

To all my pregnant friends I must thank you. I've been forced to prematurely explain the anatomy of a female to Zeb and Zane.... or did I really need to.....hey sat there looking at me dumbfounded, hmmm not sure if that was necessary but curious minds seemed confused therefore it only seemed right to, at least get somethings cleared up (even though I think my explanation just made things a little foggier in their minds). Zeb and Zane groping me has happened before. It didn't last long, they just seemed confused and just somewhat interested, you could almost hear them thinking, hmm that's different (yes okay when Zeb looked down my bathing suit top last summer and said "that mamma's penis" I had to address the inaccuracy but until now nothing else has had to be said). I thought the accidental groping was probably normal and not something I should make a big deal of however today was a little different. The comment went something like "do you have a baby in your farm?" Umm "No, I do not have a baby in my belly or in my farm! but thanks for asking those are boobs." ....again dumbfounded stares...okay maybe I said too much.

Currently we have some good friends who are both pregnant, one is very pregnant and the other is pregnant so I believe I have them to thank for the 3 year old anatomy class:)

Happy Birthday to our best buddy Ava

Birthday message to our Gramps!

Awwww

Bring on Spring!!! Here is to our annual February break from gloom and its absolute necessity to our sanity. These little things are the best looking flowers that ever were. You can just here them shouting "hallelujah."

And we will all take full advantage.....

Aww the sound of Silence

Really is there anything better than the sound of silence sometimes? I am a huge fan of music, a huge fan of controlled chaos, a huge fan of craziness with crazy noise to go along with all that craziness, a huge fan of people who talk (as leading a conversation is something I find difficult, hmm, my mind just goes blank, this I will blame on my self-diagnosed ADHD or my loss of brain cells after spending the last 3 years with two very little people who are stimulating but not so much for my synapses apparently make one's brain mush), a huge fan of loud diesel engines (that is my Idaho coming out, but I LOVE that sound), a huge fan of a revved up Harley provided it goes away in seconds, a huge fan of a whistle (yup, in the gym, in music wherever I love it) and a huge fan of complete silence.......
Yes you guessed it the little people are napping!!!!

Say what. Zeb

So the comment went something like this...

I come down the stairs yesterday morning and Zeb looks at me...he takes a double take...and keeps looking at me this time... then he proceeds to say,

"I like that hair mama"

I say, (just so I know I am not hearing things) "you what"

He says, "You changed that bigger hair and now you have that hair, I like that hair mommy"

okay okay I did not have big hair for the record..I do know that "big hair" went out with the 80s (although the 80s is back so maybe I'm actually back in)

Who says ponytails aren't hot, apparently they are according to Zeb and why not take his experienced advise.

tub stories

Imaginations run wild in the bathtub. It's a conglomeration of days of events, boiled down into one-sentence snippets between brothers: "shark coming".."watch a show?"..."marbles"..."here comes the mama"...."the horse is swimming". We have some idea, while at the same time have no idea, what these two are saying.

Three days off and COMPLETELY thrown off our axis of rotation!

How could it be that a three day weekend would mean three weeks of getting back to where we were when we left....and that place is really not that far from total chaos itself. Jamie and I are still mourning the desert sun of Palm Springs. Thinking seriously about how nice California is regardless of its bad reputation for being riddled with arrogance and mudslides and fires. hello sun!!!!!! Nuf said.

Grandma and Aunt Meme (the heroes for coming to keep the little people alive during our hiatus) succeeded at spoiling Zeb and Zane to no end. "Can I have more crackers, can I have sugar on my toast, can I have some more blueberry cereal, can I have more gummie vitamins?" "Sure, sure, sure, and sure!" The word no not being in the air at all over our hiatus leads to completely angels. "Oh Lisa, they don't whine with me!!!" Oh No, trying saying no and here eat some vegetables or fruit before your fifth bowl of cereal. Really mom this is all very tongue and check we don't care what you feed them just as long as you're willing to come and play while we head for some sun. Thanks!!!

Here is a little taste of reality while mom and dad are away:

All is good though, as here is our reality as we take in the sun:

Now that we are hated by all who are knee deep in winter we love you and hope for summer to come sooner rather than 6 weeks from now or that you will be able to fly away to some warmer weather.

Coffee

I AM CONVINCED THAT IN A LAND WHERE THE SUN DOESN'T SHINE COFFEE IS A NECESSARY EVIL!

Little People out of Wack

No Pacifiers equals no sleep which, of course, equals no sleep for anyone and a very angry household. It is currently 10:40 pm and Jamie and I still hear little feet making very loud noises upstairs. Zane has resorted to saying he is pooping (of course playing me...I don't know when he took up pooping at nearly 11pm, but he says he is - going so far as grunting and pushing, that a boy) really who knows if he is but I'll leave him alone to "poop" just for props for his cleverness.

I'll be honest, they have almost broke me, I'm so close to waving the white flag to surrender and thus giving their plugs, their beloved (my beloved) soothers, the things that fix everything, the things that act as Tylenol PM for toddlers, the things that I was totally against and after weeks and weeks of using my fingers to pacify them became my savior, the things that I am figuring out helped me keep my sanity for so long. Meh, after being EXTREMELY whiny and ready to melt down at any stink eye one might shoot them I am thinking maybe cold turkey was not the way to go.

Around 11 pm when Lost finally ended and the partying finally stopped two little people were found face to face with sleep!