JUNE 22- HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY!

It's official, last Wednesday our babies turned THREE!  You guys, I'm so behind, but coming your way, is a post about what we did on their actual birthday, then one for their birthday party, then I have some fun SWIMMING pictures I want to share in another post! 

Ok- so I took off work again this year, since their birthday fell on a Wednesday.  Since Brian was working an evening shift, we decided to break out our presents (from us, and also the ones from grandparents, aunts and uncles from Colorado) in the morning and let them unwrap. 

We had been talking about their birthday for a while so they were very excited.  This is the first year that they understood it was all about them.  It was AWESOME!  They tore into their presents and were dying to play with everything!  We got some cute outfits from Aunt Pam and family, and they had to rip off their pajamas and put the outfits on right then!  (Me-Ma and Papa, they loved your outfits too, but were way too excited about the new ones they had already put on to change again!!)  After presents, we took them down the street to a McDonald's with a huge playroom and let them play after we ate.  They finally made it to the top of this huge jungle gym thing, and they were having so much fun until a few older kids came up there.  I guess they felt trapped, so they were freaking out.  Yours truly finally had to climb up (Holy Claustrophobia, Batman!) and get them.  I digress..

That evening, my mom and my aunt who was visiting, came over to hang out and watch them open MORE presents from them!  We opened more awesome new toys and then went outside to blow some bubbles.  (No cake and ice cream yet- that is coming later!)

After the kids not having a nap, having WAY too much sugar, and being very overstimulated all day, we were all more than ready to go to bed that night!!!  I can't believe my sweet babies have been on this earth 3 years!  I will do another post soon on all of the new and cute (and no-so-cute) things they have been up to.

Here are a few pictures from their actual BIG DAY.  Colorado family- I will be sending you all the pics of present opening on Shutterfly SOON I promise! 

Telling Daddy how old he is..

Cute new outfits!!

Yay for coloring books!!!

We play with this watering can at the pool now- so much fun for both of them!

Loves his new tractor!!

Cool new outside toys!

 

 They even got new Scentsy Buddies!  They had been telling me they wanted the froggy and piggy.

 Fun stuff to play with in their little kitchen!

 Had to put on our cute new outfits!!

" See- I got a baseball!"

 Being goofy, eating Popsicles after McDonald's..

 So sleepy that she could hardly be forced to open more presents..

 But she was glad she did!  A new baby that makes real baby noises and motions!

 BUZZ!! 

Blowing bubbles from Aunt Patty.. They came with 3D glasses, which the adults were having more fun with than the kids were!

More posts coming SOON! 

A Father's Love

It's funny sometimes.. how God works in our lives.  When I met Brian on my 22nd birthday, I wasn't thinking about the criteria I needed and wanted in a life time partner.  It was more like, "He's pretty cute, I hope he gets my number!"  As we went on dating the next few months though,  I could tell he was a good, honest, loyal, hard working guy.  My instinct always told me he would be a good family man.  I remember sitting with Brian's Mom after we had given up on a round of golf and Brian and his Dad were still playing, and telling her that I had never really wanted kids until I met Brian.  Not that I absolutely did not want kids, but I just hadn't really thought about it.  But the more I got to know Brian, the more I thought about having a life with him, and starting a family with him. 

After we got married, we knew we needed to wait until we got into a house, and both had stable jobs.  We reached that point about a year after we were married, and away we went trying to start our family.  It wasn't so easy for us, and over the next three years we went through quite a lot to be parents.  Brian wasn't one of those husbands who was just going along with the whole "kid" thing to appease his wife.  He wanted a family as badly as I did, and I knew that. 

When we finally had our miracle twin babies, it was clear I was right about him.  Not only does he help with the "dirty" work of being a parent, he has always been a loving and expressive father, something that I never had, which brings me to my point about the way God works in our lives. To see Brian with our kids heals my heart in so many ways.  To know that there is nothing on this earth that would keep him from taking care of, and loving his kids, really brings me a peace that I didn't expect.  I am so grateful that my daughter will always have a Dad who thinks she hangs the moon.  Every once in a while, I'll see him loving on her, or reading her a book, in a very animated, non-Brian, sort of way.  As she is giggling her little head off and cuddled in a perfect little spot against his chest, the moment seems to slow down for me, and in that moment I wonder if she'll ever know how extremely lucky she is to have a Dad who loves her that much.  I feel like God makes me pay attention in those little glimpses I get, and I realize how lucky I am to be able to see what a Father's love for his children really looks like. 

I'll always make sure she knows.. and Nate too.. because I know they certainly are some lucky kids.. :) 

So this day, that never meant much except to serve as a reminder of hurt, is now truly a happy day.  Happy Father's Day, Brian.. and thank you for healing my heart.. even if you didn't know that's what you were doing. I love you.

Sweet babies

Miss Priss and her face paint!

Lilly was TOO CUTE today at my company picnic. She saw one of her little friends had his arm painted and off she went to get her paint on! She stood in line so patiently, mesmerized watching the other little boys and girls get their faces painted. I asked her if she wanted a butterfly and that was IT! I was afraid that after all that waiting in line, she would decide she didn't want to do it. I was WRONG! She was so sweet and did exactly what the face painter told her to do. I was so proud of her and thought it turned out so pretty! She kept staring at me in my face because she could see herself in my sunglasses.

She was loving it!

Nighty Night

Look at these sweet sleepy babies..

Every night, I go back and forth from room to room until they are both satisfied that they have gotten enough hugs and kisses.  We say night night prayer (they call it "Dear God").  Lilly always wants me to say "good night, Sunshine.. I love you, Sunshine" and she repeats it back to me. Lately she wants to give me big hugs where she puts her arms around my neck and squeezes.  Those are the best- I love those!! 

Look at all of this junk in her bed!  You would think you could take one or two things out, but if so much as a hair on Dolly's head goes missing.. SHE KNOWS IT!

Yep, that's her Dora backpack tucked in behind her matress.  We have to have that close by at night!

Nate has a few things in his bed too!

Love these toes!!!

SWEET DREAMS!

Topping this weekend's news.. POOPY and PEE PEE!

Big steps in the potty training world this weekend, guys!!  For the last few weeks, Lilly has been in panties off and on, but still having accidents every now and then.  We were still putting her in diapers for nap time and night time.  BUT THIS WEEKEND.. she went all weekend night and day with no diapers and NO PEE ACCIDENTS!  She also actually went #2 in the potty for the first time!!! THIS IS HUGE! She says "I need my panties.. I'm a big gowl!" Still had one accident after that though.. the poopy is a littler harder for her to understand at this point!! 

Ok, so that's enough about bodily functions!! 

Here are some pictures of them out in the front yard riding their bicycles.  I'm using the term "riding" pretty loosely.  They usually just push with their feet on the ground.  :) 

Black and White sweetness..

I took these  one night while playing with the black and white setting on my camera for my photography class.  This is the only one I got of Nate.  He was playing with his "choo-choos" so I caught one of his hand.  I LOVE his little chubby hands and feet so much.  I never want to forget how sweet they are!

Of course I got some close ups of my beautiful girl.  She loves the camera and loves having her picture taken.  I love this pretty smile.

 Still sucking on those darn fingers..

 Lilly and Mommy's hands