Maine Pics (Ok, Hempstead Lake)

We didn’t go to Maine. Hempstead Lake Park is 1 mile from our house, but I have to say these photos LOOK like MAINE! Ask any Long Islander about this park, and they will tell you we shouldn’t be hanging out there (Genesee Valley Park comparable?). Pretty deserted, not near the nicest places, but how will we stay away? I hear there is even a merry-go-round somewhere in its depths. Yay!

Summer Catch-Up Fast

Whoa, here are some pictures I must post before I can move on.

The lovely Duffy ladies, thanks for a wonderful visit to Ridgewood!

Must be summer, these teachers look so relaxed and happy! Can you spot the bride to be? The Birthday Girl?

Notice the stalking tiger in the back, I agree she is delicious.

Leo is in LOOOOVVE.  Me too.

Special visits with Gigi, can never get enough.

And now for some other special visits we had . . .

Marnie & Quinten!

Biffy & Asher!

Kat & Natalia!

And if you couldn’t spot the bride before, here she is with her beau, happy marriage Carrie & Rob!

Long Island Secession

No, not me. Did you catch The Daily Show on the latest not-topic around here? If not, you should. Here you go!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
Long Island Wants to Secede
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Spinal Tap Performance

Rush, thanks for helping me embed video!!

And now what you really came for . . .

We’re spending a lot of time poolside these days. M&L love the water and the heat has finally turned on. We swim every afternoon in the shadow of our neighbors’ house. Good thing since we don’t have a bathtub that fits anymore!

We think we’re ready for cereal!

This first time was our cleanest by far. All downhill from here. To be followed by swim in the pool!

We spent a gorgeous week on the shores of Lake Ontario.

Everyone had their favorite vacation activities.

Baby Maggie knows twins are used to getting bopped in the head!

We returned home to Colorado Buddies!!! How did THESE boys get so big?

How cute are the newlyweds?

Our first dip in the big pond – we all loved it!

And if I’m crazy enough to put a picture of my postpartum self in a bathing suit, I can catch these pretties in their pj’s. Thanks for a great visit to the shore Shah family!

Rockville Centre Fireworks

Like most holidays in Rockville Centre, the 4th is celebrated 1 week AFTER the event. Perhaps they think nobody will come? We live about 1 mile from Mill River, the site of the fireworks show, which is plenty close for us! M&L had a wonderful time with their family before heading to bed long before the festivities. The rest of us enjoyed the show over the rooftops, some from inside (loud-bang free), some from the front lawn (loud-bang-bring-it-on!).

Same time, same place, see y’all next year!

Drew Gooden and Doc Brown

What do these two have in common? Each has a Keegan twin with similar hair patterns.

Drew Gooden, power forward for the San Antonio Spurs, with the reverse “soul patch.”

Leo, power forward for the Keegan family, and his reverse ” soul patch.”

Doc Brown, brilliant (if mad) scientist from “Back to the Future” and his creative styling.

Matt, who although you can’t see it well here, gets the whisps flying in just that certain way.

Soon this too will fly away with the rest of that long black hair I worked so hard on in utero, but for now we enjoy these strange patterns of male baldness, and I promise, boys, not to take the lint roller I use to clean your play areas to your heads, although it has been tempting.

Softshell Crab Season

They’re here! It’s time to suspend all sensitivity to small lovely creatures and eat the WHOLE THING. Every succulent bite.

If your fishmonger doesn’t get them, he isn’t worth a lick. Pay anything. Dip it in egg wash, flour, and fry in butter – salty, salty butter. Oh yum yum yum!

And for more yums:

I hope they never show up smothered in salty, salty butter or I will surely eat them!!!

Road Tripping!

And what a journey it was! Babies are great company on the road. They occupied us just enough to make us feel useful, and were peacefully sleeping the rest of the time. We must treasure the days before “The License Plate Game” and other diversions are necessary.

1 stop on the way down . . . isn’t it lovely?

I guess “No Services” means “Not even a freaking picnic table for you!!”

What you can’t see here – the flies, ew. Bad parents, bad bad bad.

Made up for this on the way home when we stopped in Monticello and found the greenest lawn we could find. Just so happens it was in front of the county courthouse/ jail. Bad parents, bad bad bad.

As usual, the fellas are no worse for wear, the best babies we have ever had!!

Both the guys got to have a bottle with their GiGi – Great Grandmother! Such special days!

We think Gaga was a little shocked at how big they have gotten since he saw them last! Thanks for all the bottles and good lovin’ Gaga, Netnet and Juice! We think their lovin’ arms are the ones that encouraged them they can start sleeping through the night. Score? 2 to 2, and never on the same night, but who is counting? We are soo proud – and getting more rested every day.

Aunt Julie, the biggest sucker for babies around!

Matt matt matty matt, matty matty matt matt (and cousins – yum yum!).

Cousin Maggie could be the third twin (triplet?!), at ~12lbs. she is probably right between Matt & Leo. Notice she is the only one cooperative enough to look at the camera. Love you Mags!

And the first golf balls of the year were hit WAAAYYYY into the lake. Must be summer – so where is the sun?!

First Days at Home

We arrived home to our house – done! Beautiful! We are so comfortable and Mom & Julia civilize it more each day. We are getting to open our wedding gifts all over again – what a treat! These chairs are where they boys hang out downstairs. We love the chairs and get to gaze at the boys all day long.

Matt’s first bath!

And into some cozy booties knit by Aunt Julia, we think they look like moon boots on those chicken legs!

Leo’s turn!

More moon boots.

The view from my bedside. This cosleeper (kind of like a pack n play but up higher and converts to a pack n play later) is perfect for the twins. (And c-section recovery). They stay close through the night always turn their heads toward each other (Doc says I have to shift them to avoid FLAT HEAD – yikes, who knew about that?!).

We are the happiest family! Check out our cloud chair – we are gliding the days away! Thank you Daddy!

Hospital Days

The proud Grandmothers!

And Grandfathers!

Dr. King worked hard to get these babies into this world  healthy, big, and strong!

Leo, up close and personal.

NetNet & GaGa looking proud.

A tired and proud papa!

It’s time to go home, we had a great stay, learned a lot, and met so many nice people.  We are thankful to everyone who took such great care of us!

Having a Kitchen . . . I Mean, Babies.

Okay, here it is, but I’m not wearing a very tight shirt. Maybe next week when I feel truly pitiful, which I am certainly closing in on.

Going off the anti-contraction medication (Terbutaline) as of tomorrow if all measures well with the babies. Their size, if the weight I am carrying up and down these stairs is any indication, is significant. I foresee no problems in that department.

Which is why I guess we need this very big crib?

A very special thanks to all the Keegans for this, and its twin, which all measurements indicate will also fit into this room. Dan is becoming more impressive and handy by the minute in this crazy house in these crazy times.

Meanwhile, I have found the advantage to having a huge belly. The contractors are terrified of me and have worked ahead of schedule to finish the kitchen. No, I’m sweet and I serve them coffee and lunch, and they are still terrified of me and probably some movie-version scene-to-come of my water breaking and giving birth in the back of one of their vans.

The granite is gorgeous – nice job Mom!

The “It Works” list? Everything! We are picking backsplash and paint.

Meanwhile, up in the bat cave -

Notice we even have matching bedspreads for all our nannies to come! Practically paradise!

Tomorrow I will also test our new Flip Video camcorder – stay tuned to see if I can actually upload video. Right now I’m a little disappointed it is not automatically downloading to my ivideo but to their provided software. Otherwise seems like a nice handy little thing that will NOT be in the birthing room, but around to capture smiles, giggles, etc.