Friday, October 29, 2010

I'm still debating. . .

For the past 15 months I have been wondering if having 3 older kids makes having twins easier or harder. I have gone back and forth - it is extemely hard at times to get the boys piano/cello practicing done when trying to keep an eye on what the babies are destroying. Watching soccer/football games is impossible - I end up chasing babies the entire time (and it is a lot harder to contain them outside than in my house) - but the boys think I am watching them and thats what is important - right? We are the entertainment at church (and there are some who would rather not be entertained by us - I know, hard to believe) - and it is not entirely the twins fault - the older kids (Abby mainly) try to wind them up so we end up in the hall. On the other hand - we would not be eating if I didn't have older kids - they are great at entertaining the babies while I fix dinner. I can even have the big kids tend while I mow the lawn (sometimes Miles will even decide it is easier to mow the lawn then tend the girls and offer to mow for me :). Well, up until now - I have always thought that Abby made twins harder - today I found one way she really helps me. She is a great tattletale - she will either come tell me when the twins are into something - or - as what happens most often, she will bring the "mischief maker" to me (and that twin is not usually happy about Abby "carrying" her). The kids are all gone this weekend with their dad to Disneyland - so it is just the twins and me here. I decided that I would get all the sheets washed this morning and went into the girls room to grab them off the beds. The twins followed me down the hall and I thought went into my room. I was wrong - I had just stripped both the cribs when I heard a splash. I can swear that the bathroom door was closed, but I dropped everything and ran anyway. Paige loves to play in the toilet (I have had to run more than one toy through the dishwasher to sterilize it) - so I just assumed that it would be her that I found by the toilet. Well, Paige was right next to the toilet, but Piper was IN the toilet. Yep, somehow she had managed to get into the toilet - and I wasn't even upset, just glad she went in feet first, not head first (I was also very glad that the bathroom had just been cleaned last night).
So - maybe the big kids make it easier to have twins? Maybe? All I know, is I thought I would get a lot more done this weekend, but it seems that new messes are being made twice as fast as I can clean them up. I also know that as soon as the twins got out of the bathtub they were immediately dressed and the "squeaky shoes" were put on - that way I can at least hear when they are up to something. At least I have two naptime and bedtime to get something done:)

4 comments:

The Hojnackes said...

I have a theory on the kids at church. They love to get in "trouble" and be taken out to the halls/foyer. I mean, what child wants to sit still and be quiet in the chapel when they can go run the halls? I understand that with three little ones, you can't really make them all sit still in the foyer, let alone the chapel. My parents NEVER let us touch the floor if we were taken out of sacrament meeting. I have tried to do that with my children. Being taken out is worse than being in the chapel because they have to sit with their arms folded and don't get anything to color. I've only ever had one little one, though, and now I have Jeff to help me with the others in the chapel while I go out. I used to just leave the older ones. My sister recommended talking to the children and explaining that we sit in sacrament meeting and that if they are taken out the will have to sit. If they can't do that then we can go 1/2 - 1 hour early to church and practice sitting in the chapel. (I haven't had to do that yet- thank goodness!) Do you have anyone who can sit with Abby while you take the twins out? Or even with Abby in the lobby while you handle the twins? It probably wouldn't continue for a long time once Abby sees that riling up the twins doesn't really benefit her so much. I don't know what the church situation is, or if you have anyone who could help with that, but it might be worth looking in to. I remember how hard it was to wrestle with the little kids at church all by myself. It wasn't fun. I hope this helps.

Apryl said...

Oh babies! They're just so darn cute when they're naughty!

Riley and Brittney said...

I don't care who you are - that is just way too adorable!! You can send your kids to Logan with me. I need a good laugh every now and again. And you could probably use a big nap:)

ibshell said...

I say-take Riley and Brittney up on that offer! I have often wondered the same thing...do the older children help make things easier with younger children or not? In some ways yes, and in some ways, not so much! I'm sure of this though, without the 2 teenagers I have, there is no way I could have seven children! You are doing awesome!! I can't even keep up with Alyssa. I'm just glad Justin isn't the ring leader the way Jeremy was with Michael. SINK ME!!!