First Ballet Recital

Erika is on the right. The far right.

She and her pals were flowers. Erika had no interest in clumping with the other flowers and did a surprisingly good job given the chaos of the situation.

The Fairy Strikes Again.

Catie suspects something.

First Birthday: Part 2

Now that Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Keith have arrived, we can complete the birthday event.

Catie was very serious this whole weekend.

She's saving her enthusiasm for the candle.

Miranda knows exactly what to do with the cake. I think she is starting to tell jokes actually. The centerpiece being that things on one's head are funny.

Catie and Miranda's 1st Birthday - part 1

Auntie Jayne and Uncle Mark both stopped by to mark one year of Catherine and Miranda.

Unlike Erika's December Birthday, we can get some wading pool action - while wearing our birthday outfits too. Sorry mommy! We had to get dried off for cupcake time and presents.


We didn't have a big cake, since our party is somewhat fractured around the Memorial day weekend. Their birthday is Wednesday, so we are having party part 1 today, and part 2 with Kathy and Keith next weekend.


Miranda uses her foot for almost anything inappropriate for a foot.


Catie dives into her cupcake and actually manages to eat some. Then it's back to the pool for some serious splashing.

dual usage

This toy is great; so easy to share! Or is it?

Catie is in the dots and stripes with the Look.

Sisters and fingerpaints

A sunny day is a good thing. What better time to strip down to your diaper and/or panties and do some finger-painting? Catie shows off her first art project as big sister Erika looks on. Miranda had decided to have a long nap.


Dual walking practice. When you have twins that insist on walking, you do anything to help them. The speck under Catie's nose is just some dirt she was eating.

Beep!

Catie and Miranda have mastered the art of Beeping.

Figure 1. Classic Nose-Beep. Arm straight, index finger rigid and extended.
Catie dips her finger in baby-food to really test how tolerant her parents are.


Figure 2. Triple Beep (aka, the Flux Capacitor). A highly advanced maneuver. Scholarship potential. Go Miranda go.
Mommy's finger makes an appearance.


Figure 3. Self-feeding. Almost all Wetzels are now self-feeding. Catie can even manage the spoon sometimes.

Misc. pictures

Well, we haven't been posting as often this month. Blame a series of colds and jumps in development for that. So here are two pictures to tide you over.



Erika and Miranda have fun the the Pack and Play



Jason finds the only spot in the house where he can get some rest. Yes, that is under the dining room table.

Weird week at the Wetzels

Being four means that you are fully capable art-wise. (clothing optional)


Miranda has clearly heard enough.


Catie gets some very good stuff in that sippy cup.


Can't quiet walk yet, but they can do this. (Miranda is holding the Tagret receipt)

Twig

The wind blew briefly earlier this week and this twig was found in the yard.
This is a 3.5-in diameter branch which fortunatly missed our roof. There is simply no mowing over it.

Carter's Birthday bash

Erika's buddy Carter celebrated his birthday on April 5th. Erika went and enjoyed hanging out with her pals. Here Erika, Madeleine, and Carter await the Thomas the train cake.



This is the only other picture of Erika that came out. She is playing a toss the bean bag game and was too busy concentrating to look at the camera.

High chairs and the beginning of teeth.

The sound quality is low, but there is nothing really to hear anyway.

Which twin is which, I think Miranda is the one with the teeth talking, and Catie is on the right, Jackie feels it's the opposite.

3.14.2009

Erika has a shorter haircut now. She also dresses herself , combs her hair, and puts on lip gloss before coming down for breakfast.

Miranda really wants to walk. Catie is not quite as driven at this point, but she is not far behind.

Erika loves primroses. They are just as fun as dolls, and it takes some work to get them out of her hands and into the ground.
Her favorite primrose, named Tweemy, is the blue/purple one on the left.

mid march

Grandma Hayatsu and Miranda

Welcome to March

How the twins sleep. Miranda and Catie have a unique way of sleeping. They have to have their arms tucked behind them and their legs bent or they won't sleep. Actually, as long as they are comfortable and sleeping, I'm happy. Now, brownie points for anyone who can tell which one is which.


Erika grants us a rare photo op, while Miranda does her imitation of a pole. If there is any chance of standing, Miranda will arch her back and refuse to bend her legs. Standing is big in our house right now. Sitting in high chairs, strollers, and car seats is so 2008.

Catie show us how to relax in the stroller while Miranda eats her rice cookie thing.

All I want for my 1st birthday is my two front teeth and a driver's license. Miranda says "only fifteen more years" Beep - beep.

A new member of our household

Your eyes do not deceive you. That is a cat sleeping in our glider. Our friends, Bethany, Takara, and Dan, are visiting Arizona for about a month and asked us to take care of their cat, Aphrodite. Unfortunately, Aphrodite is not living up to her goddess of love moniker. She is a bit nervous around toddlers and is not showing any love to Erika. Erika is now asking when Aphrodite will leave. I think Erika is worried that the cat is here to stay like the twins.



Erika is still interested in Katamari and will pretend to be one of the many Katamari Cousins. Here a party hat and some Hello Kitty socks and she is transformed into June, one of her favorite cousins.


Miranda shows off her flexibility by chewing on her toe while lying on her back. No yoga lessons needed here.


Finally, a picture of the whole gang. Erika organized and built the train. She then insisted that everyone join her in her great adventure. Aphrodite stayed as long as the cat treats lasted. Catie is on the left and Miranda is on the right.

Close up with Catie

Catie has something to add...

Anyone have any captions for this photo?
I was thinking something like:

Excuse me, waiter! Teddy and I ordered a G&T like forever ago!?

Zany times at the Wetzels

I dare you not to laugh. Miranda shows her zany side by wearing a plastic bowl for a hat. Such a delight. (Also note the new teeth that have popped through over the past couple of weeks. Both twins have their canine teeth before their top center teeth. Yes, it looks like I have little vampires for babies. )

 
Catie joins in the tomfoolery by donning Erika's headphones. (Erika wears these to the symphony's Tiny Tots concerts to lower the noise level)

And finally, more fun and craziness at the Wetzels.

High chairs, some extortion perhaps involving a small construction worker, and Boba Fett

Before we get to our exciting news, the twins have started feeding themselves with various degrees of success. Miranda shows how much fun pureed carrots can be when applied by a baby, and Catie shows the after picture. That thing she is holding is her bib; she managed to take it off all by herself.

We also have been socializing. Stevie and Lisa come over last Thursday. Lisa bought a tasty pizza and Stevie fixed the stove, the fridge, several chairs, and the couch. Fortunately, they all just needed something from his trusty toolbox -- a plastic hammer, wrench, and pliers. After dinner Stevie looks for more broken objects while Erika has some fun sitting on Daddy's lap. (Although I may have interrupted a shakedown. Look where Erika's hand is and how she has her 'muscle' with her. Hmmmmmm)

And finally, your eyes do not deceive you. Erika is indeed holding Bobba Fett. He had been on a top-secret mission with some cars and is only now able to return safely to this universe. We are glad to have him back, but sad he missed his place in the creche with Hello Kitty and the Lucky Cat figures along side the more traditional Mary, Joseph, shepherds, etc. Maybe next year. For now, we are happy that the prodigal action figure has returned.