The Gray Effect

Twin Tuesday: Aloha

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:37:00 +0000

Today in 1898 Hawaii was annexed to the United States.

19th century American imperialism or benefitting the common good?

Hmmm...

Discuss amongst yourselves.

THIS is our favorite treat to bring back from the islands.

4th of July Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:09:00 +0000

For the long weekend we went up to Folsom to see the grandparents and go to great-nana's house for a bbq.

Matthew is getting ready to walk and great grandma helps out.

Swimming with the cousins.

Music time with Melody.

Newest cousin Sophia and great-Nana.

Story time with Grandpa

Swinging together is fun!!

Twin Tuesday: Happy 4th of July

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:15:00 +0000

Matthew is overcome with patriotism.

"I have this overwhelming desire to sing God Bless America.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:15:00 +0000

One of Blog Man's Father's Day gifts was a date night to see SpamALot. Wednesday we drove to SF to enjoy the show. Very funny! I highly recommend it. Not for those who get offended easily by anything.

I still don't understand why Blog Man refused to get one of these for the twinners:

What child wouldn't want a Killer Rabbit puppet?

How I Know I'm Old

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:03:00 +0000

So I'm sitting in my summer school class today. With all the drastic budget cuts in the CSU system the history department cancelled all its summer school and I'm having the take an undergraduate, upper division class in the American Studies department to substitute as one of my electives. Me and all the twenty one year olds. The professor is talking about the civil rights movement and the sit ins at the Woolworth's lunch counters by college students.

Student asks,"What's a Woolworth?"

Professor: "Like a dimestore."

Student: "A what?"

Professor: "Low budget Target."

Next question: "What's a lunch counter?"

Maybe the engineering majors are in this class for the GE credit?

Then the professor goes on to talk about Bobby Kennedy.

Student: "Was Bobby Kennedy related to JFK?"

How did this person get to be a senior in college?

Then you can hear everyone's cell phone vibrating on the desks all at once and people start checking and text messaging. Apparently all their friends needed to let them know Michael Jackson had died. (The joke here is that the professor and myself were the only ones alive when Thriller was released.)

My phone, of course, remained silent.

Excuse me while I pluck the gray hairs and botox my wrinkles.

Twin Tuesday: One Year Old, June 20, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:52:00 +0000

Happy Birthday!!!

We can not believe Sarah and Matthew are one. Where did the time go? Weren't we just holding our newborns yesterday? We are so lucky to have you as our children. We love you and thank God for the blessings your presence has brought to our lives.

love,

Mom and Dad

Two Birthdays and a Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:00:00 +0000

We spent the weekend in San Diego for the wedding of Blog Man's cousin Ken. Although the weather wasn't perfect it was a great convergence of family from both sides of the country. It was fun to see everyone and catch up. There are still pictures on Louis' camera he hasn't sent me yet. Here are some I took. I realized it's hard to take pictures when you always have at least one baby in your arms. I didn't take many during the reception because I did not have a pocket and got sick of dragging around the diaper bag. Here is the best I could do.

Waiting for the plane in San Jose

We arrive in San Diego. Why didn't we take a stroller?

Matthew's opinion of his first taste of nachos.

"Hey Ladies, the Matthew Man is in town."

"For some reason this bottle thing isn't working."

Ready for the big event.

Thanks K & K for letting us borrow the tux for Matthew.

The sword ceremony after the wedding. Ken is a Marine officer. Go HERE for the youtube video.

Louis' sister Malinda and cousins Andrew and Melody. Aren't they cute? Andy is waiting for his mission call.

( I did take more pictures of family but certain people tend to close their eyes (every time) and would not be pleased if I posted the pics.)

The Happy Couple, Ken and Nicole

All Partied Out

"I'm the Birthday Boy!"

We celebrated the twinners 1st birthday the next morning at brunch.

Pinky, the Birthday Girl!

"I'm not sure this hat is the right "look" for me."

Tweet, Tweet, Tweet

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:52:00 +0000

If 10,000 people follow you husband on Twitter and you're not one of them, does that make you a bad wife?

It's not like I don't know what he is up to.

Twin Tuesday: She's a Grand Old Flag

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:25:00 +0000

Flag Day was this Sunday, June 14th.

It commemorates the adoption of the U.S. flag in 1777.

It's not your fault

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:24:00 +0000

Blog Man returned last night from his trip to Philadelphia (ok, western New Jersey) to see our dear friend DREW! (You can't just say Drew, it has to be DREW! Meet him and you will know why.) Luckily the twins didn't forget what their father looked like and gave him big smiles upon waking this morning.

DREW! just started his chemo for Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Louis felt a trip out there to take him to a Phillies/Red Sox game was in order. You can see from DREW's! website that they had pretty good seats. My only request was a Philly Phanatic to add to our collection and of course Blog Man delivered.

Isn't he cute?

Thanks to DREW's! cancer we don't have to be responsible for anything anymore. You can blame his cancer on every little thing that goes wrong. Consequences? nah. Bad luck? It's all the cancer's fault. And you can tell the world on Twitter. Go to blamedrewscancer.com

to blame whatever you want. You'll be helping the American Cancer Society and Make a Wish Foundation. So what are you waiting for? Blame Away!!

We love you DREW!

I Love Yoshi!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:46:00 +0000

Blog Man received Mario Kart from his mother for his birthday this past April. It has become the latest obsession here at the Gray house. I'm NOT a video game person at all but for some reason I really like MK. Almost nightly we battle it out over a different circuit. In fact, the wi fi remotes were burning up batteries like crazy that we went ahead and got the rechargeable kind. We care about about being green here and all those batteries in the landfill were keeping me up at night.
Louis always convinces me that a day just won't be complete without a game of Mario Kart. He usually waits until about 11:30 at night when I'm ready to go to bed and being weak, I give in. I think he knows he has a better chance at beating me when I'm tired.

In fact, we're thinking of using it to settle all disagreements. Who wants to communicate and compromise when you can battle it out between Toad and Luigi?

Whose going to change the next diaper?

Whoever wins the Flower circuit of course!

Different vacation ideas?

Have a showdown at the Mario Speedway!

This just might be the key to world peace. India and Pakistan? Have Bowser and Baby Peach settle it out over Mario's Gold Mine.

Israel and Palestine? Waluigi vs. Koopa Troopa at Yoshi Falls!

How simple is that!

I love this guy!

Twin Tuesday: Podcasting

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:17:00 +0000

After watching Dad, the twins decide to try podcasting on their own.

Today's topic: Tweeting for Toddlers

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:51:00 +0000

Sorry about the lack of posts. We haven't been off on some awesome vacation (unfortunately), but last week was all about sickness.

Sarah and Matthew both had runny noses. Sarah then managed to get an ear infection and didn't sleep very well for several nights. Which of course means that I didn't sleep very well and she managed to give me her cold. (Stop the breast feeding and of course they get sick for the first time.)

Then I started summer school, which means reading instead of doing laundry, cleaning, and Mario Kart. And then a quick trip to the grandparents for some spoiling. So we are on the mend and I'll have energy and time to blog. Twin Tuesday coming soon.

Twin Tuesday: A Baseball Discussion

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:00:00 +0000

"I think we really have a chance at the pennant this year."

You're out!!!!

"Sarah, you really need to understand the intricacies of the infield fly rule."

"Holy Cow! That ball is going....going...GONE!"

Because Jon & Kate turned out so well

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:47:00 +0000

Octo Mom Gets Own T.V. Show

Pleeeeeeeeeeze, give me a break already!

Long Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Sun, 31 May 2009 06:27:00 +0000

Our Memorial Day weekend consisted of the following:

Attending the wedding of two colleagues. Congrats Andrew and Michelle!

Where we:

Ate grass.

Played lawn games.

And spent time with friends.

We also learned about democracy.

Tried to nap but got attacked by numbers. (thanks Louis!)

And just hung out.

Hope you had fun too!

When Swine Flu Paranoia Goes Too Far

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Thu, 28 May 2009 07:05:00 +0000

Play Date

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:14:00 +0000

This Saturday two colleagues and myself are putting on a professional development seminar so today after work they came over to discuss last minute details. All of us had babies last summer. Lexie was born the day before the twins and Minna was born one month later on the twins actual due date. I made sure to have Louis on hand to be "The Manny" while we worked. Of course Louis loved it and is trying to convince me that having quads would be fun. (Maybe with his new wife!)

The Gang-All four never hold still at the same time!

Matthew likes hanging out with "the ladies."

Sarah and Minna

Miss Lexie

Playing together

Even though they have seen each other since they were a few weeks old, this is the second time they've been old enough to really play with each other. It's good for Matthew and Sarah since they will be in day care part time in the fall.

Twin Tuesday: Welcome Sophia

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:46:00 +0000

Blog Man and I are an aunt and uncle. His youngest brother and wife had a baby girl last night. At 9 lbs 11 oz she weighs more than the twins combined at their birth. But then, she waited 42 weeks while Matthew and Sarah made their appearance at barely 36 weeks. Welcome Sophia!

Happy Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Mon, 25 May 2009 07:06:00 +0000

Memorial Day was originally called Dedication Day. It was a time set aside to decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers, both North and South. Through the years it became a day to honor all American soldiers who had died in war. It was not a national holiday until 1971.

Everything has a history, even holidays!

Yuck

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Mon, 25 May 2009 03:47:00 +0000

Is it just me or does anyone else think Elmo is creepy? Barney and dancing vegetables are annoying, but something about that bright orangish/reddish creature talking in the third person just gives me the creeps. Elmo wasn't such a prominent character back in the day when I watched it.

The only TV the twins have watched so far is MLB baseball. We might just stick with that for awhile.

Blast to the Past

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Thu, 21 May 2009 02:01:00 +0000

Last Friday we took a spur of the moment trip up to the area where Louis spent 3rd through 7th grade. He had wanted to show me for awhile and since I was in between projects for school and before the weather got too hot, we decided to make the trip last Friday. We drove up and stayed in Marysville Friday night. We walked around Ellis Lake where Louis remembers going as a kid.

I just want to say that geese and ducks are only cute in children's books and from afar. After all, they swim in bacteria infested water, poop a lot every 10 minutes and attack toddlers who hold on to the bread too long. Here are some pictures of the little darlings.

Duck twins

Three dudes staking out their corner waiting for a deal to go down.

And I thought twins were hard.

Saturday we headed up the hill to the middle of no...um, I mean Brownsville. Louis visited his old haunts including his old house and neighborhood.
The school bus stop.

His elementary school.

The small local market. The closet supermarket was an hour away in Marysville. I don't know how my mother-in-law did that with 5 kids.

Matthew snoozing in the heat.
The scenery was gorgeous and it was fun to see the five acres where Louis lived. On the way home we stopped in Folsom for dinner and swimming with Louis' parents and then back to Sunnyvale. The twins were champs the whole time.

Twin Tuesday: Matthew & Sarah Share a Joke

louisgray@gmail.com (Louis Gray) — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:20:00 +0000

Matthew and Sarah, as you know, are inseparable. Thank goodness their sleep schedule is the same way. We put them to bed at the same time, and wake them up at the same time. That leads to happy, healthy, rested babies (and parents).

This afternoon, as with many afternoons, the two of them were sharing some kind of inside joke, laughing up a storm. We investigate the situation on film.

Kaari and Jenni beware

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:05:00 +0000

Matthew has decided to try online dating. Sarah is still weighing her options.

Twin Tuesday: Twin Speedway

noreply@blogger.com (Kristine Gray) — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:08:00 +0000

Since Mario Kart has become the new obsession here at the Gray House we bring you our own live version of Twin Speedway. Vegas is laying down the odds for the next race. Who's in?