#60. Playground Paparazzi

Look at these two having a 'tubular' time on the playground!

Despite the unpredictable spring we've had, there have been enough rain-free days lately to get the twins back out to their favorite spot...the playground!

We've had enough Sesame Street, dad!

This patio's great and all,

but it's not enough!!

Even Trig's ready to leave the confines of our residence.

The sun is out (showing off their preferred method for wearing sunglasses),

so load us up, 

and let's go!!

The playground is a lot more fun this spring. 

Last summer was more about spectating, 

crawling and reaching, 

and pulling on objects to stand up.

Now that Clare and Luke can both walk and climb, they are much more active on the playground.

Clare showing who's boss

Luke plots his next move

What goes up...

must come...

DOWN!!  Thank you gravity (and that tongue hanging out that must be helping somehow)!

Our two happy (well, maybe one for this picture) sliders

The playground is more than just the slides.

There's tic-tac-toe practice

and pink cars to ride.

Thanks for the push, brother!

There are big tires to play in, 

and math problems to solve (atta boy!!).

These round things that used to dwarf the twins

are now fun to stand on and look down upon.

The swings that were a big hit last summer...

remain a draw today.  Though, the bodies swinging in them sure have changed!

About the only thing bad about the playground is how Daddy follows us around like the paparazzi

Who invented the selfie anyway?!?

Daddy calls it 'snack time', but we both know it's really a soon-to-be-failed attempt at getting us to pose for a tandem shot!

Here are some of the 'failed attempts'...Upper left: Nobody's excited in this one; Upper right:  Let's both smile but not at the camera; Middle left: He's happy, she's not; Middle right: She's happy, he's not; Lower left and right:  Show your belly...but only one at a time!

Even though he sometimes gets on our nerves, we know Daddy's just trying to take pictures capturing happy moments while we have a GREAT time playin' around.

Clare clearly enjoys being outdoors

Luke loves to run free

Who doesn't like hanging out in a tube?!?

Speaking of hanging, Clare is in her element hanging out at the playground

There may be no wheels in the back, but sitting in this car is about as fun as it gets!

All good things must come to an end...two sad, 'played-out' twins prepare to head home

Don't worry, you two.  It may be raining today, but we'll be back at the playground soon enough!

#59. Life's A Beach

The post is a little off the timeline, but has pictures from our winter vacation that I wanted to make sure to post to the blog.  It marked the first trip for the twins on an airplane since we left (more like escaped) Thailand in August, 2014, and it also was the twins' first trip to the beach (at Daytona Beach).  

The twin's get their first taste of American airline security...yep, get used to waitin'

We hit up our usual spot for a pre-flight snack...Chili's at O'Hare

The last time these two flew,

they slept most of the trip...

Not so much this time around!

There were many more distractions,

including, thankfully, Papa's cell phone,

and Dad's never-ending desire to take selfies

Despite a handful of 'epic' moments, two dads were rewarded with sweet slumber for a few minutes of the flight

 Soon we were in Charlotte for what turned out to be a regrettable 3-hour layover.

We only look excited to be at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport for 3 hours. Who needs a nap anyway?!?

Luke enjoyed saying hi to everyone in the gate area and pointing at airplanes,

while Clare 'rocked out' to pass the time during the painful layover.

Soon, it was time to board (as in walk out to the plane on the tarmac...a process that put Clare to sleep for a 2 minute nap that resulted in an angry 45 minute outburst before we finally went wheels up) our flight for Daytona.

As mentioned in a previous post, we enjoyed spending the holidays with family while in Daytona.  One afternoon, we hit Daytona Beach.

Luke didn't seem too sure about the beach at first

Since it was the day after Christmas, we decided to let Luke stroll the beach 'Santa Style'

Clare initially clung to Grandma Steffie,

but warmed up soon enough and even took her first steps in ocean water

Papa tries to explain how the tide works

It's easier just to sit on Papa's lap

Eventually, both got used to their surroundings and enjoyed using their short legs to stroll along the beach (and point at unknown things...Luke).

The most exciting activity at the beach was, of course, building sand castles!!

These two took their work seriously, 

but did take a second to pose for a quick photo (thanks you two!)

Did I say sand castles??  I meant burying Papa's foot

Two twins all tuckered out from a day at the beach

First family beach photo, Daytona Beach, December, 2015