twins

Yesterday, the kids called me at work.

"Mom, I don't know if this is an emergency, but Tayler and I smell gas."

I did all the wrong things. I told her I'd call her back and was going to call Columbia Gas. Then once I had reached Columbia Gas they told me I couldn't call back with out significant risk of igniting the natural gas in the house.

I called my father in law and asked him to drive over and get the kids out of the house.

I drove home as fast as I could, feeling extremely anxious.

When I got home, everyone seemed very calm and they were all in the house. But so was the Columbia gas technician so I figured it was safe. There was indeed a gas leak. With all of the gas valves off, there was still a leak so they shut off our gas.

Crap. No hot water, no stove, no dryer.

I stayed home today to have the gas repair men come and fix everything. They were down in the basement 2 and a 1/2 hours making a lot of noise.

Now we wait for the Columbia gas technician to come back and check again for leaks, and put the gas on.

The kids were quoting Jason from Home Movies in the episode where he talks about cheese making him constipated, and that sometimes he has to help himself go while making a hand gesture towards his bottom.

"Jason is gross," Tyler said.

"I would not want to shake hands with him," Tayler said.

"Well, you wouldn't have to because he isn't real," Tyler said.

"You can't vote for McCain because of that! You're a racist! I don't know you!"

- Tayler, in a heated argument with Bill about the best candidate for the presidency

Within a few seconds we will have 10 excited kids in this house celebrating the twins' birthday.

Did you order cookies from us? They are in!

This is also your last chance to order Girl Scout cookies from the twins! Email me at carina@upsoclose.com!

The kids thought it would be fun to open Tayler's window and wave down to me. I was annoyed because it was a cold day, and because I was in the middle of talking with the neighbor.

They shouted HI! and MOM! LOOK UP HERE!

I was busy staring at the broken downspout, hanging by a screw from the house, trying to figure out how I would fix it as Scott had suggested and listening to the neighbor tell me about a handyman who could take care of the problem.

The downspout detached itself from the house during a particularly windy evening this week. Scott and I were watching a movie. The kids had just gone to bed. We heard something hit the house, and the kids came running downstairs yelling that someone was trying to get in the house.

We sent them back up telling them it was fine, and thinking that the neighbors had picked an interesting time to start some handy work - because the sound didn't actually seem to be coming from our house, but from the neighbors.

The kids came down several more times. Scott went to bed, and curiosity finally got the best of me and I found the downspout broken.

As I was listening to the neighbor the next day, the kids yelling at me, I looked up at them and told them to shut the window.

So the kids have a knack for getting things for free. I've seen it in action only a handful of times, but that's enough to impress me. When I was growing up, I don't recall ever getting anything for free, as a gift, from a retailer.

Twice, at two different Panera locations, my daughters have received free goodies. The first was in Dublin, where I was meeting with a client. I didn't have any cash and didn't want to interrupt the meeting, so when the kids asked if they could have a sweet, I said no. The client gave the kids five dollars and they walked up to the counter, not believing their luck. A few moments later, they returned with the five dollars and a tray of cookies and sweets. They gave the five dollars back, and explained that the man at the counter had given them the food for free. I am assuming this was because it was close to closing time, but maybe it's just that my kids are charming and cute, to other adults.

I woke up to the kids at the door. I was really exhausted this morning so I was still sleeping when they left for the bus.

The doorbell was ringing over and over. They had locked themselves out.

All I saw was Tayler's face in a sad face exaggerated like a cartoon.

When I opened the door both kids started shouting at me, and Tayler moaned she had been kicked in the butt by Tyler.

This was all because Tayler was using the bigger umbrella, and Tyler wanted a turn.

I looked outside.

I said, Hey, stay there kids, let me check if there is school.

I checked and school was cancelled. I had them take their shoes off and let them come inside.

"Mom, I checked to see if there was school and the website said 'No Closings.'"

I looked at her computer. She was looking at the wrong news station. It was for D.C. and Maryland.

The twins have their friends over who happen to be twins as well.

They're playing Apples to Apples.

The card is Religious.

The kids put in

• Republicans
• Muhammad Ali
• French Wines

The whole table of girls exploded into laughter. And not about the french wines.

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I love that the kids spontaneously break into song all at the same time. Having twins over is fun for the twins.