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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: May 19 2008 at 2:39pm | IP Logged
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Hello all moms!!
I have two adorable and very lovely 2 year old twins girls. I am having a very difficult time lately figuring out just what to DO with them though!!! I am a mom of 8, so I should know what to do with and how to "deal with" with toddlers by this point in time. Yet, I cannot seem to break them of the bottle. I cannot seem to potty train them. I cannot seem to even find toys that will occupy them for more than a little while. WHY, oh WHY, are they so different/more difficult than the other kids were? My husband even said they seemed like little ferral children!!! Can you imagine??? Then, what is a mother to think? It is my fault obviously that they are so wild and silly. Part of me just wants to "ride it out" and hope that they will turn into nice young ladies, but part of me wonders if they will just keep being "wild".  They really are so much more energetic than the other kids.
An example would be their "nap" they took today which involved them jumping in and out of their beds, playing in their room etc. Then, I brought them downstairs to sleep on the couch. No, no nap still. Then I separated them in different rooms and on different couches. No, no nap. So, I let them loose outside, and they ran off squealing together.
The toy problem as I see it comes into play with twins because there isn't as much "independent play" as there was with all my single toddlers. Most of the kids would get lost in imaginative play and play WITH something for at least a little while. Their play involves each other, which is beautiful of course, but mostly it involves them getting into some mischief like finding a crayon in our finished basement school room and proceeding to write all over half the walls before I notice. That happens a lot and I should take up stock in Magic Eraser!!! I would be rich!
So, any ideas as to what to do with these little angels? I have noticed that they LOVE being outdoors and that goes well, but I can't do school outside all the time! I begged my husband to fence in a large part of the yard behind our house so that I could set up a magical land for twins that would be enclosed with a lot of toys that I could have them safely roam about in while I did school. (and there would be fairies out there to baby-sit and it would never rain and candy would fall from the heavens every day at noon.  ) He looked at me as if I had really lost it, thinking of how much all that would cost, and alas, it only exists in my head at this point. So, since that is out of the question, what should I do?
The "schoolroom" seems to be getting smaller and smaller for them, although it is really half the size of our house. (Since it is in the basement) I don't have many "toys" anymore besides an odd doll or stuffed animals (i.e. junk in my opinion) since they seem to lose everything I ever buy them. (The girls have been really bad about this, whereas my boys have most of the toys from over the years. The girls seem to wander around playing for some reason. )
So, I just need some fresh ideas on how to busy my VERY ENERGETIC ladies. Can anyone give me some ideas????? I don't have a bunch of $$ to invest in fun things, unfortunately, and my husband is against buying a whole lot of stuff that they will just lose and destroy anyway. (in his opinion.) Since that does seem to be their track record thus far, I can't really blame him. &n bsp;
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: May 19 2008 at 4:18pm | IP Logged
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have you tried dress up? it's the one thing that usually keeps even my energetic girls occupied.. and is rather hard to really destroy.. don't look at the frilly fairy dresses at the toy store.. go to the used clothing stores and look at older girl or small adult dresses.. the gaudier the better  and realize you'll probably be tossing them in the washer at some point (I ignore tags on dress up)
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: May 19 2008 at 4:22pm | IP Logged
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Jodie,
It is interesting that you should mention that because I JUST had that idea about a week or so ago and went to our local thrift shop, you know, the one that ALWAYS has cheap costume jewlery and party purses, scarves etc. and that particular time, they didn't have anything like that!!!  Maybe I will give it another try and try to get that going. They really love dressing up and always say, Boo-i-ful, boo-i-ful (beautiful) about themselves etc. Might be an easy, low cost way to have fun!
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: May 19 2008 at 4:24pm | IP Logged
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Jodie,
So funny! I just noticed you live in Oregon. I have wanted to move there ever since my husband has been faithfully watching that Discovery Channel show "Ax Men" (about those logging men) . It really looks like a beautiful state! 
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: May 19 2008 at 4:35pm | IP Logged
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It is.. we just moved here 7 years ago.. and so much more diverse than it's usually given credit for. We actually live in what's considered a "cold desert" climate.. they did logging over here too but it was in the higher elevations. Low precipitiation mainly makes it desert.. dirt and grasses and sagebrush (not sand and cacti)
But we're not near the coast where they did all the logging with the giant redwoods and such.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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juststartn
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| Posted: May 19 2008 at 5:32pm | IP Logged
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I dunno, but I've got 1 yr old twin boys, and after three girls, I don't know what to expect--it would have been hard enough with twin GIRLS...but boys? And TWINS?
Goodness knows how I will handle it in a years time.
We're still unpacking from our move and I am dealing with the lovely "getting into everything" stage with those two...
Gotta love'em, but man, I wish that they could be occupied for a little while (I am thinking a screen door put in their doorway for a means of keeping them in there and safe, but NOT in the middle of everything...but who knows?)
Rachel
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Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
Helena(Layna) 5/23/02
Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: May 19 2008 at 7:37pm | IP Logged
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Rachel,
I think boys might be easier to be honest. My boys were nothing compared with these two! I JUST put them down to bed. Whew! What a day!
I also have never had so many gates, locks and things of that nature prior to the twins. When they were little and just crawling, my husband made a homemade baby wall or gate if you will all the way across the family room. We have a lot of pics with them pulling themselves up beside that little half wall (half wall to them, so it was very short) but BOY was that helpful in those early days. Then, my oldest twin, Isabelle tends to get into toothpaste and all that stuff she shouldn't get into, even when I put it up IN my bathroom closet!!!, so I put a lock on the OUTSIDE of my bedroom door!! (and the boys doors since they had tiny toy pieces on their floors off and on and it was easier than going all over the place each morning and having to baby proof bedrooms too!
In the early years, it would often take me an hour or more to baby proof the house up to my specks for them. (All floors swept, vacuumed and looked over for small things that the bigger kids always seemed to leave behind, or under tables or couches.
Anyway, I still have a crawling baby, and now with the two twins, it STILL takes a while to go over everything in the morning. I must be making it harder than it is. My girls also liked playing in a port a crib nearby too. They (twins) are SOOOOO sweet at one. Hold them close!!!  I can't imagine life without my two year old twins, and will miss this age when they get older. Even if they have me runnning ragged most days. It is all worth it. I keep thinking I can SOMEHOW get ahead of them and entertain them, but that is what I am hoping some of you all can help me come up with; NEW ACTIVITIES!!! I must be having a lack of creativity or something, and it is hard to get out to obtain toys and to be honest, they play with them for a bit and then lose them or toss them aside, bored with them. ) I had thought of investing in Playmobile since I think they are so cute, but worry about them losing all the pieces.
Are there any toys that are worth the investment that anyone can share with me? (the idea, not the toys ) What are the tried and true toys for girls? Boys were so easy with dinosaurs and trucks and leggos etc., and my first girl was SUCH a girly-girl that she was easy. My last three (not including the baby) have been harder. My tom-boyish girl doesn't seem to play with much of anything except her siblings, which is good too. Then the twins just sort of play at wrecking things! Anyway, seems like a silly question, but when you are out of the loop as far as stores etc. it is nice to have someone else do the shopping so to speak.
But, good luck with unpacking!! I think the screen door would be a great idea!!! Neccesity is the mother of invention, as they say.
__________________
Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: May 20 2008 at 3:22pm | IP Logged
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Maybe it's just the age. I've started referring to our two-year-old as Destructo. I've had to remove all writing utensils unless used under direct supervision. I have to be super conscious about leaving out food items or they will end up crushed, thrown, or generally used to make as big of a mess as possible.
She used to be the calm and docile child. Now she is wild and destructive (thankfully not towards the baby). We don't know if it's the new baby, a developmental stage, or both. Even her Granny considered putting her in time out. (Which is a big thing for my MIL to even consider, she usually lets the kids walk all over her.)
I noticed there are certain times of day, though, when my girls tend to set each other off. Even though they are not twins, they become like a lit match and dynamite mixed together. They egg each other on to be wilder and wilder. I have to physically separate them to calm them down. So some separate time each day might be worth considering in your case.
My two-year-old really enjoys Candyland Castle. At first I thought it would be too simple for her because she already knows all her shapes, but she likes having a game that she can understand the rules of. Your twins could probably play it together after a few practice games. Both my girls also enjoy "sponge skating" I de-clutter and sweep the kitchen, then I give them wet scrub brushes and let them have fun.
I wish you luck!!
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
Box of Chocolates
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Lisbet
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| Posted: May 20 2008 at 3:32pm | IP Logged
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....hey, can you two throw some of them twin vibes over here...
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Jess
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| Posted: May 20 2008 at 4:48pm | IP Logged
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Over here too
Do they like dolls? Maybe if you have some soft dolls they can dress and undress. Or do they like to glue? You could set them down in the school room and give them lots of pictures to glue to paper (with glue sticks, maybe less messy), or stickers? I don't know... just trying to think of things to keep their little hands busy for a little bit. Do they like playdough? You could make some homemade playdough and let them play with that with some cookie cutters. Or watercolors on the back porch (in clothes you don't mind them getting messy). I just saw this idea on here somewhere I think...give them a small bucket of water and a couple of big paintbrushs and let them paint the back porch. I don't have twins but I hope you are able to find something that will help you keep them busy.
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God bless,
Jess
+JMJ+
wife to dh('96)
mama to dd(13), dd(11), ds(9), dd(6), and dd (2), and baby girl born Sept 14!
star cottage
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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: May 20 2008 at 9:32pm | IP Logged
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All very good ideas Jess. Thank you for taking the time to think about it for me. I was thinking about it as I went to bed last night and felt sort of silly for even asking about it. Sort of an, "I know, it seems like a no-brainer, have them play" sort of feeling, but they are unique in that they just seem to like to get into things I deem "mischief" and don't "play" like other kids. (singles). They are great outside, where they can explore and roam, so I try to go outside with them on numerous breaks.
They are so cute though. Just earlier Izzie, with flowery dress and tea party hat, had a shell and was blowing into it and it was making noise etc. Then, Sophia was right behind her, flowery dress, fabric veil and a "Jesus" book singing, "Joy to the World" in a procession beind Izzie. Absolutely hysterical since they were very serious about it. (I don't even wear a veil either, so they must have picked that up from the ladies at church.) Their other favorite pastime is antagonizing, er, um I mean "playing", right?" with their poor little sister who is 8 months old and still crawling. Not quite old enough to run away or keep up with them. Poor Baby!
I DID come across a very interesting gold-mine on the forum that a moderator mentioned last week and that is the "search" function. I just put in "toddler activities" and came up with all sorts of ideas from the moms from way back to the present, so I have A LOT of sorting and reading to do! Thank you again for whoever brought that "search" feature to my attention. I had never noticed it before. 
I really appreciate everyone's help and input. Sometimes the most simple thing can become very important in the smooth running of the school day for the older children, and I really want the twins to have a stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and thrive. And yes, to preserve my walls and sanity I admit!!
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
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Pamin OZ
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| Posted: May 21 2008 at 12:52am | IP Logged
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Hmm, two year old here, too.
Here are some things she loves:
"dreff ups";
gluing with a glue stick;
making pictures with book covering plastic. This one is endlessly adaptable- just cut some of that self -sticking clear plastic that comes in rolls and put it face up on the table. Then press down whatever you want. We've used autumn leaves, little pom-pom bobbles, feathers, beans, torn up bits of paper, rocks and leaves and flowers from the garden (go on a nature walk first to collect them), paper cut in different shapes, bits of wool etc. Then you get a piece of photocopy paper or whatever and "squash, squash" down and turn it over. The more expensive stuff is easier to get apart and worth it, in my opinion. You can always pull stuff off again and re-use it.
Little round stickers you put on book spines. And the slightly bigger ones. Cheaper than the fancy stickers and apparently just as much fun.
Would a gentle routine help? I'm not much of a routine person in some ways but I'm trying to edge towards more of a routine so that some activities could be easier to accomplish. For me this would be hanging the washing on the line and doing some cooking and reading aloud to my older boys. So I'm trying to work some in gradually.
Same with cleaning. I've decided we're going to clean the same thing every day until cleaning becomes part of the routine and then I can branch out a bit. I haven't done this yet, so I hope it works.
I'm about to write a post begging for ideas of how to get through this "survival mode" time. I'm finding it so hard atm and the only reason I can type this is that a dear friend took three of my children for me to have a break.
If you want to see what can happen with the little stickers, click on my blog and scroll down a bit!
All the best,
hope some more ideas roll in!
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Pam in Sydney
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paminoz/
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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: May 21 2008 at 6:17am | IP Logged
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Pam,
I do think a gentle routine would be a good idea. I actually had one going for awhile, and had come up with a "survival" list as to what to do with the gals instead of just trying to pacify them all the time. (Which leads to bad habits like bottles or watching Dumbo or Mary Poppins which I used for several weeks for some reason??? ) Anyway, the list gave me something stimulating or enriching for them to do, or fun, or relaxing but it was more planned and therefore not on the fly. Why do I always make "helps" for myself, including a daily schedule, and then drop it since I find it to be a bit confining??? Thank you for reminding me of that list, and I have numerous new ideas that I can add to my list of helps. It is in my Mom's planner that I SHOULD be using too!!! Maybe I will force myself to get back in gear with all that asap. Thanks for the tips, and I will check out the sitckers at your blog.
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
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Marybeth
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| Posted: May 21 2008 at 11:40am | IP Logged
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My girlfriend had some advice for you...
signing time dvds as when the older kids watch them too they are also learning as well
a playhouse set up indoors not outdoors-keeps kids contained and regardless of the weather they can use it
a set schedule of outdoors time
separate for nap time as much as possible
set a time for older ones to read to them each day (they are being read to and the older ones are practicing their skills)
bigger cardboard blocks (she purchased through Lillian Vernon)
God bless,
Marybeth
PS I know Cay and Natalia had something about KISS...Cay linked on her blog to a great article stating we need to plan our day around our toddlers b/c when they are occupied and content life is smoother. I think you are wise to get back to a gentle routine.
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Marybeth (Mb)
http://held-together.blogspot.com
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: I need some new ideas, moms
