Sunglasses.

The girls yesterday with their new sunglasses.  I found both for under 5 dollars total.  At heat reaching 120 to 125 degrees, I decided maybe we need sunglasses?  I got K barbie ones and B lady bug ones.  Aren't they cute?  B's glasses fit over her eye glasses if you look closely.  Ha ha.  We keep them in the car so at all times they can at least block the sun from their eyes.

Katie

Thoughts.

My girls were singing "Jesus Loves Me" (kids version) last night during bath time.   I was in the bathroom but not listening completely, kinda day dreaming like I tend to do.  I can get distracted easily.  Then I heard them singing the words as I focused more.  At that moment, I thought... they are listening to me at night. They understand or they just like the song.  We started singing this song this week.  I try to do a new song each week (((well we are starting))).  Mostly with meaning connected to the bible.  I teach them about God and my Mom often and all their family up in Heaven.  How important Jesus is and what he does for our family.  Hearing them sing how much Jesus loves them made me tear up a little.  Just a song but with so much meaning for this Mommy. 

Something to remember.

Kirra asks me often if I miss my Mommy?  Some would say it's too much for a 3 yr old to know and why would I talk about something like that?  Some have never had their Mom pass away.  Some don't understand we can't go to Grandma Ruthi's for a homemade dinner.  I tell her she is with us right now watching over us.  She looks up at me and says, "I want her to come down here."  Hard to explain to a 3 yr old but she is understanding.  

I try to teach my girls to live a humble life here on Earth and to be thankful for what we have here on Earth.  Some would say not to talk about it.  Some don't understand that we can't go to Grandma's house and play or do Christmas with her.  So I teach my children about my Mom and how wonderful she was and that she loves them a lot.  Some would say teaching about death is a bad thing.  I guess I believe that we are here on Earth temporarily and Heaven is for eternity.  I love that my children know a lot about their Grandma Ruthi and my twin brothers their uncles, James and John.  Some don't understand what it's like to have their brothers pass away as a kid.  I believe in teaching the cycle of life and to teach my girls to be thankful for what we have each day.

Kirra saw a little boy yesterday with no legs.  That was a whole other little life lesson.  Another thing to be thankful for like legs and fingers which this little boy didn't have about her age.  She showed me her legs and fingers and said, "look Mommy I have legs and fingers."  I said yes you do and look at that little boy he was smiling.  Is he happy?  She said yes.  We are all different and I do believe in teaching kids the "tough lessons" in life.  I guess I'd rather my girls learn lessons from me before they see it in our big world.  

God is first in our little family and my children are so happy when we talk about him and our family up there.

Love,

Mommy

My Girls are Growing to Fast!!!!

Kirra now at age 3 years 8 months.

 Kirra at maybe 4 months.

Baili at age 3 years, 8 months drinking creamer half and half.

 Baili at home so at least 4 months.  She came home at 4 months.  This was a picture I took when she pulled out her ng tube (she did that a lot).  I tried to capture pics without the tube when I could...

WOW time flies.  Savor the moments. :P

Katie

PB Pier.

Pacific Beach Pier.  Yes I am missing San Diego.

Preschool.

This is the first full year my girls will be in Preschool well part-time.  It's scary but also very exciting to see their progress from age 3 to 4 yrs old this year.

Kirra will be going to a private Christian Preschool. She will be going 2 days a week, full, full days.  So about 22 hours a week (two days).  I am so excited for Kirra.  It is a very small, calm, organized little church preschool.  In a nice area too.  The teachers are so nice and there is only ten kids in a class to two teachers at the max.  I like it because they only have ages 3 to 5 yrs old and a few classes.  It's preschool with after care (meaning playtime and naps, etc).  They teach curriculum, play, socialization, about God, and many more things. Her school starts on August 20.  I think Kirra is going to grow so much this year in academics!

Baili will be going to Sunkids Preschool again this year through the school district it is a developmental preschool.   I think Baili is going to develop so much this year!!  It's at a new location but the same teacher.  Her teacher has many credentials (3 Masters to name a few).... Baili had her for summer school too.  Baili is where she belongs and we are blessed to have Miss Tina.  She goes 4 days a week, 2.5 hours a day and rides the bus.  She has an OT, PT, and SP there along with all of her teachers.  Then she has PT, OT, SP, and MT at home for home therapies.  Baili is progressing so much and learning so much.  Her preschool starts on August 13.  Today was her orientation.

It is so nice to be comfortable and happy about both girls preschools.

I am typing this on my blog, so I can remember the twins first real year in Preschool as 3 yr olds. :-)  I know Kindergarten is only two years away!


Love,
Mommy

Bug

Baili Julia Ideker

Twin B:

To my Baili Bug:

I love you Baili more than anything in the world.  I want you to know this from the day you were born to a million days later to eternity.  This is your Mommy talking to you.  Everyone is so proud of you.  You were my second born.  My angel.  In my tummy you were always measured as the bigger twin, weighs more, etc.  Than when you were born you were my little preemie.  You were only 3 pounds and 15 inches you cried one small cry and I actually got to see you for 1 sec the nurse held you up to my face.  Then you were raced off to the NICU with more doctors and nurses that I have ever seen in one room in real life.  They literally ran you at FULL speed and you were gone.  Daddy already raced after Kirra and was gone but Baili you were raced in there running down the halls in full speed too whipping down the halls so my family said.  I can still hear it now (ADMIT, ADMIT, ADMIT...).  To this day I still get teared eyed if I hear that word.  In the NICU that is NOT a good word.  Some admits don't make it.  You did.  Kirra did.  I don't know what happened next, I was in the surgery room with other people.  Daddy and you and Kirra were together.  I do know that much.  I was out of it and very sick to see you.  You went down to 2 pounds and to make a long story short you beat every odd.  They said one thing and you did the other.  You were there for 16 weeks straight and finally you got out.  3 million dollars later.  You are a fighter, an old soul, and I love you.  You work hard everyday at walking, talking, running, playing, and catching up to your age.  You are a sweetheart, nice, angel baby.  You have fought every odd and you are my angel.  You will be back in Preschool 4 days a week with 3 hours a day.  You love school, kids, learning, playing, listening, observing, and riding the bus!  You have so many friends at school.  Kids are drawn to your sweet behavior and demeanor.  I am so happy you love school so much and I can't wait for you to develop and grow this year tons!!  You are talking lots and such a good little girl.  I love you Baili and you are such a great little sister to your twin.  Your twin is a better person because of you --always remember that as you are because of her.

Age: 3 yrs, 8 months
Size: Petite, short?
Clothes: 2T
Shoes: 5 1/2
Weight: 27.2

Love,
Mommy

Bear

Kirra Ruthi Ideker:
Twin A:

To My Little Bear for you to read one day:

Mommy wants to write to you so one day you can see how much I love you--- the day you were born and more and more each day if that is possible.  You didn't cry when you were born.  We were so scared.  Daddy raced after you and all the doctors all the way to the NICU in full speed while Mommy was still having Baili.  You were only 3 pounds and totally silent.  You are my miracle and I love you so much.  You are my princess Kirra.  Mommy's princess.  You are my leader.  You will always be my first born.  My best friend.  You love to shower now instead of bathe with Baili.  You do it almost all by yourself too with my help.  I think I was ten when I showered?  You are 3.  However the whole time you are worried about if Baili is okay.  Your number one concern is Baili and that is not only compassionate but so caring.  You really are becoming my little big girl now from toddler to well 3 yrs old.  I love you so much it's beyond words.  You are so smart and I am so excited to see how much you grow in Preschool this year.  This is your real first Preschool experience.  You will be going two days a week long days, like 10 to 12 hours because Mommy works far away.  I am sorry but I think you will like it though.  You love kids, learning, socializing, playing, drawing, art, stimulation, and to be challenged.  So I put you in the older kids class.  You will be with the older 3's and 4's.  You are so ready and you start on August 13.  I am so excited for you.  They will be starting all the fun stuff like learning how to write your name and letters and numbers and many other things like phonics.  Kirra you are such a big sister and I am so happy God gave you to me and your whole family.  We all love you so much.  God is good.

Age: 3 years, 8 months.
Size:  TALL
Weight: 40.0 pounds
Clothes: 6T 
Shoes: 9 or 10

Love,
Mommy 

Las Vegas, Nevada.

 Lobster soup.

 Lobster Ice Cream in Vegas??

 Yum.  What a yum salad.

Some pictures from visiting my sister Courtney in Las Vegas.  Definitely a city I would only visit but it was fun.

Mission Beach, San Diego.

 My Dad paddle boarding.  Also known as "Papa" to his grand daughters. He's been going to Mission Beach for over 40 years.  Where we grew up going to during the summers.

 My older sister Courtney in San Diego, Mission Beach.

 Brian kayaking.  A New Yorker from Queens in the ocean.

Some friends at the beach house.

Some friends at Mission Bay.


Katie

Some days I really miss living in Mission Beach. :)

Twins.

Baili helping Mommy baking brownies.  

Ice Cream (frozen yogurt) addict.

Dunkin' Donuts.

Girls had their first trip to Dunkin' Donuts.  They had a donut each and I had a coffee.  So cute to see them devour their donuts.  Kirra had a vanilla one with colored sprinkles.  The whole time she said she wanted a chocolate one on the ride there.  Then she saw the sprinkles....  Baili said "strawberry" so she had a strawberry one.  What a nice donut trip.  The girls loved it.  This was their first trip and this is a treat but they had fun.  Yum!

Katie