Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!

Hello everyone! Ok... so here is one more pleading post to help out with the March for Babies to benefit the March of Dimes. This time you even get dinner out of the deal! I am selling homemade frozen pizzas and all proceeds go to the March for Babies. We're even donating the ingredients so EVERY dollar you donate is going to help babies.

Just fill out the order form here: Pizza Order Form

It's that simple! Fill it out and I will get to work in the kitchen building your perfect pizza.

Maddy's Photo Op

Last Saturday we headed downtown to check out some LaughFest activities. LaughFest is described as A Festival of Laughs. Celebrating laughter for the health of it — a festival of comedy, performance, film, and a variety of seriously funny stuff that makes us laugh. All proceeds will benefit the cancer, grief and support programs offered through Gilda's Club. Such a great idea!
So on Saturday we went to the "doggie look alike contest" haha. Trying to figure out which one of us looks like Charlie? Well, we really went to see the girls say "dog" "woof-woof" 100 times and have some fun. Maddy really liked the fluffy dogs and the Grand Rapids Press caught her and I checking one out here: GR Press

Butterfly Gardens 2011

This weekend we combated the gloomy doldrums of winter by visiting the beautiful butterflies at Meijer Gardens. I love walking into the exhibit because it's like a mini-oasis. Warm, tropical and beautiful. I even learned how to (hopefully) keep an orchid plant alive from a helpful volunteer.
We ditched the stroller and the girls had a chance to roam free (well almost) and explore the gardens.







I think I need to start being a little friendlier to the creepy crawlies. We came across a butterfly on the walkway and the girls were a little bit frigthened of them.




I tried to get a photo of the girls sitting on the rocks. Didn't work out so well, Maddy did point out some pretty leaves to me though.





Thank you butterflies for beautifying our weekend :)

Painting Personalities

As most of you already know I studied psychology in college. Most of you also know that I LOVE to people watch and subsequently analyze behaviors. Yes, I have probably analyzed you. The girls are not immune to this, they are actually my favorite subjects! I love to watch them gain awareness of the world around them in, each in their own way.

We have been doing a lot of painting lately. It's quick, easy and washable and keeps them entertained for a decent amount of time. The other day I cut paper plates into shamrock shapes to add a little St. Patty's day flair to our home decor. Well, they immediately ripped said shapes so I gave them the entire paper plate instead.

Anyway, this is how Georgia paints:

Georgia dives in with both hands. She doesn't hesitate to spread her fingers wide as she mixes all the colors. She laughs and screams as she plays in the paint and then smiles as she hands me her completed plate and waits patiently for another to begin again. She is always smiling as if proud of her creation and is ready to forge ahead. It is as if she has no fear, she follows her gut and creates what she feels. She is almost always bursting at the seams with emotion, good and bad. When things aren't going her way she makes you not only hear her pain but feel it too, and when she is happy she shakes with giddiness and laughter. I LOVE her excitement and energy. It's so contagious.

This is how Maddy paints:

Maddy likes the colors and usually spends a minute or two just looking at her paper/plate, canvas. It's almost as if she is just taking it all in, making a plan. She'll touch them a little and move the plate around as she looks at it but when she gets down to business she slowly moves the paint around with one finger. She is never done. She never hands me her plate as if to say "I'm finished" and is always going back to tweak her art, spread a little, mix a little more. I am in awe of her focus, seriously - she's a toddler who makes a mental plan, really??? I LOVE watching her eyes as she takes in the world around us. I can almost see the wheels turning as she learns and grows. Wherever we go people always comment on her serious expression but by the time we are leaving she is sharing her great big smile with everyone.

Yes, they are amazing and yes they are creative and thoughtful.... but they are also toddlers, and apparently it was close to dinnertime.... I am so thankful for non-toxic finger paint but, yuck!



Indoor Cookie Sheet Sledding

 So after playdough but before eating paint (ewww, right?) we had a little opening in our schedule and the girls decided they would like to participate in some indoor cookie sheet sledding. Basically, that is a fancy way of saying I pushed them around the house on cookie sheets while Charlie followed us barking excitedly.



We momentarily tried to share a pan. That didn't last long.




I loved how they felt contained on their pan and needed to stay there. Oh how envious I am of their carefree happiness. I want to find that much joy in a cookie sheet!

March of Dimes - March for Babies

I know (hope) I have already flooded you all with information on the March for Babies to support March of Dimes with my emails and facebook posts. In case I missed someone...

The March of Dimes walk is April 30th this year. Last year with the support of friends and family our team raised over $1000 to help babies! Thank you again to everyone involved. It seems like forever ago that we were visiting the hospital daily and watching the girls struggle and persevere to grow. Oh how things have changed, we now spend our days running and laughing and listening to the girls chatter. They are such joyful little girls and we are so thankful for them. Not a day goes by that I do not mentally thank God as well as the doctors, nurses and all of the research and equipment that supported our girls. I never want to forget how different our lives could be had that support not existed, which is why we are continuing to support the March of Dimes.


I know times are tough and money is tight for everyone so if all you can give is to forward this information on to spread the word it is more than enough. If you are interested in giving financially you can find our fundraising site here: March for Babies - douglass847  Every little bit counts, and no donation is too small.
 
I'll be sure to keep everyone updated as the walk gets closer and follow up with lots of pictures from the event. A fun aspect of the event is getting to see some of the families, doctors and nurses from the NICU. It feels like a mini reunion to celebrate how far we have all come.

Homemade Playdough

Georgia woke up this morning a little cranky and in need of some extra entertainment. So we decided to make some homemade playdough. While the store bought stuff is ok it's a little too greasy and smells weird. Plus homemade is just more fun.

Here is the recipe we chose to use:

2 C flour

2 C warm water

1 C salt

2 T veg. oil

1 T cream of tartar

First you combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan. The girls love dumping and stirring. I can't get the flour out without some very adamant helpers climbing my legs.

Next, you cook everything on low heat until it pulls away from the sides and loses most of it's stickiness.

That's it! Wait for it to cool and then add your favorite colors and even scents. I had some "fresh rain" scented oil leftover from making candles so I threw that in.

Georgia wasn't impressed at first....

The idea grew on her after I added in some cookie cutters.

Maddy LOVES ripping.... mail, magazines, books, paper - you name it. So of course she was content to just rip her playdough into pieces and then wait patiently for it to be squished back together again.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!



Is it Spring Yet?

Ok... so I think I was more than gracious to the snow but it has worn out it's welcome. It's like that annoying house guest crashing on your couch that won't just move on. In anticipation of Spring and warmer weather I pulled out the water table today. Also, can anyone translate squealing twins? If so, have I got a job for you!

Book Wars... Learning to Share?