Huggies!

Nate and Lilly have been so sweet giving hugs and kisses to each other and to us lately. Lilly will wrap her arms all the way around Nate and then they kind of give each other a little smooch. After that, Lilly usually pushes him down and they both giggle like crazy! It's so cute!

Happy Birthday Me-Maw!!

Dear Me-Maw,

We are sorry we had to do your birthday dinner so early tonight, but we get hungry and cranky if we are not stuffing our faces by 6pm sharp!

We just wanted to tell you how very much we love you and love when you come over and play with us. You are so much fun!! You let us climb all over you and you teach us fun new songs and games. Every time we hear the door bell ring we run over to the door looking for you!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Happy Birthday Mom! Thank you for being You. I love you!

So much stuff..

I haven't written in forever and there has just been too much going on, so this post will be very chaotic and unorganized just so I can get everything out!

On a very sad note, my Grandfather passed away Tuesday, June 29. He was 92 and lived a wonderfully blessed long life. We are happy to know he is at peace with Jesus and is no longer in any pain, but we miss him so much. He was such an honorable, gentle man. A loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. I feel so blessed to have had in my life. I love and miss him, my sweet Gramps..

When my Grandfather passed away I had to go out of town for two days without the kids (they stayed at home with Dad)! I felt like limbs were missing, but I got through it and everyone did just fine. Thanks for watching the kids, Brian! I knew you would be fine :)

The day after we got back in town was July 4th. My mom came over and we grilled hamburgers. Since the last two years we were lame and watched the fireworks on TV, we were determined to see the real thing this year. And we did.. right from our front yard! Since there aren't too many houses in our neighborhood yet, we were able to see the fireworks show that was put on over the lake not too far from us. It would have been more fun had we been right underneath them, but the kids would have freaked out so this was perfect for their first fireworks experience!

Lilly seemed interested once Grandma showed her where to watch to see the fireworks..

Are you surprised that Nate was scared?

July 5th, Brian and I were both off work so we drove down to my sister's. We took them out to a splash park and all the cousins had a great time playing except.. you guessed it! The Fun-Ruiner! Lilly had a BLAST in the water but Nate stood on the outside and watched as usual, fussing every time we tried to get him in the water.

My sweet boy watching from the side lines..

I started an email about two weeks ago that was supposed to be a letter to Nate and Lilly on their second birthday (like the one I did on their first). It was going to be about all they have accomplished in the last year and all of the new things they are learning, but I kept getting so emotional it is taking me FOREVER to finish, so all of that will be coming in another post!

Happy (Belated) Father's Day!

Cuddling with Daddy after his back surgery..
Dad with his new grill!

To a Dad who wipes runny noses, changes poopy diapers, makes pb & j sandwiches, watches Elmo repeatedly.. a Dad who truly appreciates his children as blessings..

Happy Father's Day!!! :)

How far we've come..

Sweet babies, I can't believe you have been on this earth 2 whole years. It seems like yesterday we were driving home with you for the first time. We left the hospital late at night and it seems like we drove ten MPH the whole way home. I was getting so anxious that we couldn't see you from the front seat, but I couldn't fit between you in the back! You were so tiny then, the buckles on the car seats covered your whole bodies! I remember that first night we brought you in, layed you both in the pack 'n' play and just stared at you while you slept. Finally we brought you both in the bedroom with us and I had the pack 'n' play so close to me I could touch you from where I was laying. I remember I left the lamp on so I could see you and I layed facing you and propped my head up high so all I had to do was open my eyes and there you both were, in perfect eye shot.

After that it gets a little blurry for a while. Mommy's sorry, but I was very tired and half way to Crazy-ville. Some day you'll understand. I do remember the first full night of sleep I got, and being able to actually sleep in my bed again. I remember the first smiles, the first belly laughs, I remember the first time you ate baby food. I remember rocking you both to sleep and smelling your sweet baby breath while you layed on my chest. I remember we used to read a book, give you one last bed time bottle and then put you both in your cribs. I do remember all of these awesome things about your first year.

There have been more milestones in your second year of life, and those are just as special to me. I remember the first steps you both took. We thought Lilly would never walk but she actually took off before Nate! I remember moments this year when all of a sudden it seemed like you understood what I was saying. You both surprised me when you started taking direction and I realized I wasn't just talking to myself anymore! You are like sponges, learning new things every day.

Nate, you are my big boy.. and I mean BIG! You eat almost as much as I do!

(not finished but wanted to publish anyway!!) 

Lilly and Nate's Sesame Street birthday party!

This post has taken me forever- sorry! I have been having problems getting pictures on my posts for a long time now, which is especially tricky with posts like these where I want to add tons of pictures.

We had an Elmo/Sesame Street birthday party to celebrate turning TWO! We had it at our house, which is something I don't think I will ever do again. It was fun, but a little crowded. I would love to have done something outside but it was SO HOT. Maybe next summer we will do something outside with water, or some other fun (bigger) place! I wish I would have gotten more good pictures, but you know how hectic these things can be! Thanks again to my friend Lindsay for the pictures we DID get!

Some pictures I took before the party..

Elmo cupcakes!

Now let's get this party started with some socializing!

Lilly and Aiden (he's a twin too!)

Lilly and cute little Logan

In case you're wondering, YES, ALL of our friends have BOYS!

Here is Aiden's twin brother, Tyler!

We got to unwrap LOTS of cool presents!
Happy Birthday to YOU!

Time to blow out the candles on our cupcakes!


Lilly having fun with some new toys..

And trying to test the strength of some other ones..

We can not thank our friends and family enough for coming to the birthday party for our sweet ones. I hate that I didn't get any pictures of the cousins- I think they were having a good time playing back in the bed rooms! We love all of you!