It’s dizzying, but a fun window into the boy’s life.

This post is almost a month late, but we did make it to Utah in time for Pioneer Day. We caught the parade and fireworks in Mapleton. The kids had a blast and, although he’s not pictured here, I can assure you that Asher was present.

Brooke and I had been planning a big surprise for the kids (updates to follow) and had worked all Monday and into Tuesday getting things ready for the event. I was at the computer in the basement when I heard a thud, followed by Brooke’s trademark “Omigosh.”

I got to the stairs to see her lift Isaac from a step about halfway down. I saw blood on the carpet, so we took a closer look. He was missing one of his two bottom teeth, and had blood gushing from the middle of his tongue. Our doctor advised us to take him to the ER.

Of course, Ben and Miles had friends over, so we had to call their parents. Then one of us – me – had to stay behind and Isaac had to ride to the hospital without someone attending him in the backseat. Oh, yeah, his car seat had to moved too.

Asher was visibly upset to find Isaac’s car seat missing when I drove them to the McNeeseses (thanks, Carol). Before I went into the ER, I called Brooke’s parents, then mine (talked to my dad), and my brother the pediatrician (who didn’t answer). When I finally got to Brooke and Isaac, here’s what I saw:

Isaac was just fine, sleeping, and the physician said there was no use stitching the wound. I snapped that shot and sent it to my brother with the text, “We’re fine.” I decided to send it to my parents as well.

Little did I know that my mom was not with my dad, and that he hadn’t called her to tell her what had happened. So, my mom got that pic out of the blue, and thought someone had died.

Since Tuesday Isaac’s mouth has almost totally healed, but we’ll have to wait a few years for a new tooth to come in. Until then, you can tell which twin is Isaac by his curly hair, his outtie belly button, and his goofy single bottom tooth.

Before: Note the two bottom teeth.

After

Our Museum of Play memberships expired, and we thought we should look for something a little more twin-friendly this year. (It’s not that there isn’t anything for the twins to do at the museum, it’s that it’s too hard to keep track of them there.) We told the older boys we had a surprise for them and headed out last Saturday.

Miles was the first one to figure out where we were going. When we pulled into the parking lot he shouted out, “Ben! The zoo’s the surprise!” We asked him how he knew, and he said he saw a sign that said “Zoo.”

“Ok,” I probed, “Miles, how do you spell zoo?”

“Z-O-O.”

Boy, his kindergarten teacher is in for a surprise.

Anyway, the zoo was great, and the twins really couldn’t get enough. We could have left them at any one exhibit all day and they would have been happy.

Here are the twins watching the sea lions swim by.

The twins have been thinking vertically for a while. They’re just a little too short to climb on the couch or look out the windows unaided, but they’re quickly learning that a toy, book, or pillow can give the necessary boost. Of course, it doesn’t always work out.

Here's Asher using the sugar bin to find some treats in the kitchen.

And here he is perched precariously on a folded chair.

Isaac and Asher have a new technique for eating: Anything we feed them in their highchairs winds up on the floor. They fuss, squirm, and cry, but they won’t eat. Then, when everyone’s done and they’re free to go, they climb up on the table and have at the leftovers.

Forgive the Harry Potter reference, but this was too good to pass up.

Brooke was out picking berries this morning, with the twins running around near by. Asher came up to her with dirt on his face and gagging. “Ghof, glaff, ghloog!”

And up came a huge slug. She didn’t get a picture, but it looked something like this:

Asher and Isaac went down for their naps, but Asher woke up very soon. He fell back asleep watching his brothers play Wii. When Isaac woke up, he couldn’t figure out what was wrong with his twin.

PS – The day Frank Schleck crashed out on the cobbles, my Facebook status said I hoped Andy Schleck wins. I’m standing by it.