Cool Kids

Not much else to say at the moment, but that I'm loving this age and these little men.

Inspiration from Abroad

Did anyone ever watch Jamie Olivers' Food Revolution? I was obsessed, and I think the dire state of our school lunches is a real concern to the health of the next generation. Apparently, a little girl on the other side of the pond agrees. This blog is pretty cool.  She has taken it upon herself to take photos of her primary school lunches and rate them based on a system she created which includes how many bites the whole meal took (portion control), the yummy factor, the health rating, the price, and if she found a hair in the meal or not. Highly important factor. I think this little girl is hella cool, so check her out. Did I mention she also raises money for a non profit in Africa? Amazing. Here is her profile for starters:

"My dad says I should call myself Veritas Ex Gustu, truth from tasting in Latin but who knows Latin? 

You can call me Veg."

That First Week

I started this post several months ago, two weeks into both of us working full time without full time childcare. Because of this and the craziness that is our lives, Im just now getting around to finishing the post and sharing the insanity of that first week.

 Hectic isnt the right word to describe the events of that week. Luckily, the boys have some very accommodating grandmommas, so we survived. Many random and crazy things happened that week, but one of them topped the others. On tuesday of that week I had lunch with a coworker and on the way decided since it was such a pretty day, I would roll down my back windows and enjoy the breeze. Unfortunately for me, one of them would not roll back up. I dont use my back windows often, so I guess it was severely out of practice. Since I haul the boys around daily, I couldnt have them exposed to the elements in the back seat. I quickly called my amazing mechanic (shameless plus for Duffy's Garage) and they fit me in after lunch. It just needed a new motor, but they would have to order it. In the meantime, they took the car door apart to find the fallen window, raised it up, and duck taped the hell out of it to get it to stay. This took some time, so in the meanwhile, I chilled out in their office. For a while, I just surfed facebook and minded my own business, until another one of garage's clients came in. He's was an older man, probably 6 foot 6, and at least 300 pounds. He looked like he hadn't bathed in days, and was wearing an over-sized grey t-shirt and flannel pj camo pants. He's also driving a Mercedes. If there is anything ive learned in over five years in the personal finance industry, it's that looks are deceiving, and the millionaire next door doesnt always look like they stepped out of a Brooks Brothers catalog. (See Duck Dynasty)

So, as redneck santa talks about the work done on his car, I step out to call J and let him know where I am. As the phone starts ringing, I glance over at my car and see some reddish looking oil on the ground underneath my door. Then I see a mechanic grabbing his leg, and I quickly realize that there is not oil, but a whole lot of blood not only on the floor, but also all over the inside of my car. WTF. I'm comprehending all of this while starting a conversation with J that quickly ended with, "I'm gonna have to call you back." I ask the guy if he needs some help and he said yes right away. So, I run into the office and let the owner know that some medical attention is definitely needed in the shop. The next thing I know, there are two firetrucks and an ambulance blocking in my car. Apparently, while trying to get my window un-jammed, this guy has accidentally stabbed himself in the leg with his tool. He had to have about 10 staples, but ended up being ok. Things finally calm down and they take the guy to the hospital. Someone else starts working on my car so I can get out of there (its been over an hour at this point).

I went back into the office and sit across from redneck santa as he proceeds to pay for his car repairs. Instead of taking out a wallet he reaches into his pj pants and produces a brown lunch bag full of stacked $100 bills. But he doesnt stop there. For some reason, he also very nonchalantly pulls out a flask and a pistol. WHAT IN THE WORLD. I am now staring down the owner with a "What in the hell is going on" look on my face. He gives me a reassuring nod that this is normal, not to dont panic. I'm pretending to surf facebook now, but all my attention is on this crazy guy and these items. He pays with the cash, and the stuffs the other effects back into the big ass pockets. Wow. That was a first. (was the highlighted for you? it wasn't meant to be, but i cant figure out why its doing this. I digress)

My car finally gets done, and by now three hours have gone by since I left the office for lunch. I get back and unbeknownst to me, the staff had thrown me a "Five years in the business" party (that day was my work anniversary). However, by the time I got there, it had been long over. They told me it was fun and that there were ice cream sandwiches in the fridge. Go figure.

That week we also found our amazing nanny (thank God, I couldn't deal with anymore over the top crazy) that is not allowed to get married or have kids of her own, because I want to keep her forever. So, our weeks are slightly less hectic thanks to her and to our mothers being there for us. Luckily for you, our life is always slightly manic, so good stories are just around the corner...

Important piece of advice

DO NOT WATCH 

"WE BOUGHT A ZOO!"  

These instructions are especially important if you are hormonal, in an isolated place (like a plane), are without napkins or tissues, and for some reason dont like Matt Damon. All of those were true of me last week when I watched this flick. I was envisioning a heart warming tale of a goofy family who loved animals. This is not the case people. It is sad, emotional, and certainly not PG (with some above age 13 language, and frequent parent-children argument scenes that made me cringe). Not that I care about language, but if I had a child over the age of 5 and under 13, they would prob want to watch it, and it was just too mature. The main themes of the movie are: dealing with the death of a parent/wife, coaching a child through depression, and putting down large animals. Not. Ok. It is also the only movie where Scarlett Jo is just not a good actress. That was unfortunate, bc im a fan. Then, at the end of this roller coaster of emotion, you find out this is all a true story (although it was advertised as such, I just didnt know that) and the faucets start all over again. I have not been this disappointed in a movie since the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. (More true to the book, but much less entertaining- mad props to Roald Dahl though)

Even this add is deceiving. They look so happy....

Consider yourself warned. 

Operation take back my house

Take one.

Ever since the babies arrived, we have been fighting an uphill battle with our German Shepard. She is really a very smart pup, but channels that intelligence in unfortunate activities like eating the siding off my house, taking very dirty diapers out of the trash can, or ripping up the carpet from my front stairs. That last action was more than a deviant behavior problem, it was a cry for help. Control me! Discipline me! Well, today she got her wish. After some Internet research, I came across a Swedish guy who breeds and trains german bloodline German Shepard (yes there is an American German Shepard, big difference apparently in temperament and drive. Basically they are lazier) Luckily our girl fit the German mold so we got in to see him, and double lucky for us, he lives just a few miles from our house.

In just an hours time he had me thinking completely differently. It didn't take fancy equipment or medieval methods. He taught us how to regain control of the pack. He also thought she had great nerves, temperament, and drive to learn, and that with some work she will be an ideal pet. So, we are working on power usurping from the all mighty Mia. By the time we got home she was either too tired to bother fighting with Mac, or she's finally realizing that her reign is ending. Either way, I know it will take a lot more work, but I can envision that light at the end of the tunnel.

I'll link his website once I access this site from my laptop and not my phone. The website doesn't look like its been updated since 1998, but he does good work. Or you can google Kennel Seeblick.

Six months?!?!

I cant believe that Monday these rugrats will be six months old. People tell you that time flies, and that is partially true. A friend of a friend with twins told me recently that the first three months with twins is hell, and the next three is purgatory. Truer words have never been spoken. So, with that said, we are slowly coming out of purgatory and seeing the light. I know I have a baby blog for these kinds of posts, but since six months is a great milestone, I decided to share on here. 

The boys are happy, healthy and full of spirit. They are almost sitting up, but would much rather be in their johnny jump ups all day long. It certainly makes caring for them much easier. Some days they stay in them a little too long.

We put them down in their cribs around 8:00pm and they put themselves to sleep until about 2am when we have to move them to the cradles till 7am. Almost there. This week we are exploring green beans (homemade of course, this time by BB) and next we are moving onto sweet pots. Hayes does not like the beans, and I dont blame him, they smell terrible. They are starting to babble and are into this coughing phase. They cough at each other, or just cough for attention. Its not a sick cough, just a way of communicating until they find their voice. 

Last Friday we visited the amazing Olivia for their six month pics. She did an incredible job, as always. Here is a quick preview. 

 Hayes Samuel

Graham Bailey

These pics are so formal feeling, I felt middle names should be involved. Fancy! I cant wait to see the rest and finally get some pics printed and on the walls (one of the many things I need to do). 

This weekend is a huge Burns family reunion. Part 1 is tonight at my parents house, and Part 2 is tomorrow at Oak Mountain state park (unfortunately we dont have t-shirts made, trust me, i tried). So im sure there will be a post about that. Extended family always makes for good blogging.

Happy six months Graham & Hayes!

Foodies

I'm trying really hard to eat better in order to drop these baby lbs. However, our schedule gets so crazy, it's hard to plan for healthy. Most meals are spent standing up in our kitchen, scarfing down whatever we can find before the boys decide its their turn to eat. Tuesday and Thursday are easier to make a meal bc my nanny is there when I get home and can sit with them a bit longer while I throw something together. Tonight we actually got to sit and enjoy salmon, pecan and garlic grains and pear and Gorgonzola salad with vinaigrette dressing. Delicious. Before you start thinking I'm channeling a 50's housewife (wait, you would never think that) let me tell you some tricks. First, the grains cook themselves on the stove, that just simmers the whole time. The salad came pre-packaged and happened to catch my eye at publix bc it was on sale. The salmon I cooked in my toaster oven cause we are in the process of getting a new oven. Despite the random way of cooking it, the dish was amazing. A little olive oil, garlic, capers and Greek seasoning and twenty minutes later in 350 it's done. Some friends and I are thinking of starting a cooking club and this will certainly be included. Ok I really digress. While that was cooking, I made some hard boiled eggs and boiled carrots for the boys. The eggs are part of my high protein snacking plan. Also I'm trying to recreate Starbuck's protein box which is yum but is like $6 a box. This includes a half of a raisin English muffin, two slices of sharp cheddar cheese and a hard boiled egg. The carrots will be their first foray into the world of taste and texture. Not my first choice of food but hopefully they'll like it. So after one night of prepping, lets hope i have a little less crazy of a day tomorrow. Happy eating!