All About Us...

2012-01-27T19:19:00.000-06:00

More Birthday shots...

2011-10-19T15:47:00.000-05:00

Birthday #2...

2011-10-19T15:38:00.000-05:00

Wow a little slow on the post here, and now doing so great on getting caught up either! The twins had their second birthday party at the same place we held their 1st, at a beautiful camping area with lots of wide open space for all to run! We had the party on May 8, and I was so worried of it being cold or raining, um it was almost 90 degrees. As you can see in the picture the boys were warm and rosy cheeked, as was everybody else. I had a camping theme all drummed up, but I didn't get the supplies ordered in time, and we didn't get our camper ready in time either; a common occurrence around here for the last two years, things going undone!!! But the boys were so into Toy Story (watched it more times a day than I can count) so that was our theme, we still did the campfire, which wasn't as appealing as I had planned for 60 or 70 degree weather but still fun, we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, played sand volleyball, did some fishing, and had a great afternoon and evening with the family playing games and getting caught up. I am one to take advantage of family time, if I have everybody gathered for a birthday party, I'm going to do all I can to make it fun for everybody, because we don't all gather near as much as we should. I love getting all the cousins together and letting them spend a day together, it's all about the kids for me.

May...

2011-09-08T21:33:00.000-05:00

We love May, gorgeous weather and BIRTHDAY time!!! Digging in flower pot fun and fishing fun pictures with daddy!!! Birthday post to come next!

Easter...

2011-09-08T21:16:00.000-05:00

Here is my Easter update! Just some pictures of the twins hunting eggs. We do a big family hunt with plastic eggs and candy, but then we did a little hunt with just mommy, daddy, and big brother with real eggs that we dyed. Oh my they smashed them as fast as they hunted them, and the dog was right there below them to snab up all the egg crumbs. Short and sweet once again, just getting caught up here.

Strike a Pose...

2011-09-07T21:55:00.000-05:00

Just a couple of close-ups I found. Funny you can see their personalities shine through in pictures. Dylan (top) is such a serious lil' guy, and Ashton is such a flirt.

Getting Caught Up...

2011-09-07T21:46:00.000-05:00

Where oh where do I begin? I guess I will pick up in March with a few of the pictures I found. Here March is the beginning of nice weather so we try to get out as much as we can, getting out comes with running wild toddlers so we are limited on where we can go. Near us there is a historical site that is nothing but trees and grass with lots of open space to run and explore. There are tons of wild turkeys and peacock wandering around so one of our games is feather hunting. Silly little game but it keeps them from just running off, and they seem to like it, and it keeps them close to me so I LOVE it! I just have to wander what they think while they are exploring, all the things they see and touch, all new and fun things for them. They pick up everything and we usually end up with several feathers and flowers and weeds that just have to come home with us. When I think back to these pictures I remember that this was one of the first times that they really showed an interest in picking everything up and seemed to be such curious little boys scavenging around in the great outdoors. I am going to keep this short and sweet and head back to the picture disaster and start working on finding my next post. So keep reading, hopefully I will get caught up on 2011 before 2012 rolls in.

WTH how did time fly so damn fast...

2011-09-02T23:03:00.001-05:00

So here I am for the first time in months, ugh. I've told myself I need to get to my blog and my pictures, but ya see I have these two little guys that take up all my day and at times my nights as well, and I just have no energy for things past the have to do's like cooking, laundry, and cleaning. Well I am making the time!!! I have months of stories and pictures to share, and how in the hell am I ever going to get caught back up?!? I guess just jump in!!! So the boys are a little over two, we had our "camping" birthday party, yearly camping trip, lots of lake fun this summer, I am moving from assistant registrar to head registrar for our soccer region faster than expected, and now are just in the back to school swing of things. Ethan has started Jr. High football, which I was really nervous about, but he is loving it and seems to be doing great. I guess you just always think of you kids and "little" and things like football just scare a mama :(. Oh and he has to ride the bus each morning, holy freaking hell I am petrified of buses, they scare me and there are no seat belts!!! I know they say they are built to be safe without the seat belts but I tell ya I'm really liking the newer ones that have them. Hmmmm what else...well there is tons, I just have no idea where to start without spending hours at this laptop. I guess I could give a update on my photography, ugh busy mama + busy children =very little photography time. Really that is the saddest thing to me. The last few months I just haven't allowed myself time for what I love to do. I think about it each day, I tell myself I will make time, and then I go all day chasing toddlers, dealing with pre-teen drama, and realize I'm just to tired to attempt doing anything extra, oh and the twins do not stop running long enough for me to capture a decent shot! I do have hundreds of pictures of the kids, and tons of things we have done to share, and a few decent photographs to share, it will take me a little time to get it all caught up! So stick around because I am back to blogging and I swear my photography needs a part in my life, no matter how hard it is to find the time, I just love and miss it so much!

More Snow Fun...

2011-01-26T19:30:00.000-06:00

Breaking out the sled this snow! Dylan loved it, he just giggled the entire time, where Ashton wanted daddy to hold him most the time. Playing in the sled or being held by daddy, either way, I think I have two of the cutest lil' snow babies ever!!!

No...

2011-01-18T21:01:00.000-06:00

It would seem it is only natural they would catch on to "no" beings they hear it more than anything else throughout each day, but oh dear I am not ready for this. So I have just accepted that each day brings something new and "interesting", for lack of a better word, but this cute but aggravating new trick could just drive this mama insane. I tell them "no", and they look at me and say "no" and keep doing what ever it is they are doing. Awww come on boys, lets sing a different tune just one day, and listen to what mama has to say, really it is important! So now not only do I have two, very adorable but very naughty lil' boys, getting into everything they shouldn't, but now when I tell them no, they think they need to tell me no. Oh geesh life just gets more and more interesting as the days go on. I know you all think this is funny and have surly got a chuckle out of this story already, but living this is sure to be a nightmare, frustration levels run high anyway because they refuse to listen to me, and get into everything imaginable and several things you can't even begin to imagine. I still think nobody can even begin to understand what a day is like in my shoes, really do other kids act like this?.?.?.? No way, it isn't possible *laugh*. I never imagined anything like this, such wild, active, naughty, not listening lil' toddlers. I guess I was spoiled with Ethan and his good happy go lucky behavior. I guess one thing is for sure, I can't say I am bored, life never has a dull moment for me, heck I pray for dull moments! These are things all children do, but with two it just seems to be a little crazier to deal with. Some people look at me like what is the big deal, yeah those people have never had two toddlers at one time, but no lie dealing with two is crazy difficult, even the simplest things are difficult. Loading up to go somewhere, no biggy with one, now with two different story; A baby on each hip (they would run off in separate directions otherwise) a bag full of "just in case"(I over pack, but when I don't it always ends in disaster!), not the grab a baby and throw a bag over your shoulder you would imagine with just one. Oh and don't forget the actual car seat fiasco, ugh one fights you, while the other climbs throughout the car, and don't dare put a cup of coffee in the front because the second one to be buckled in will surely find that and spill in on the gray carpet on mama's Suburban for sure. Just the moments of my life that people have no clue about, but they are my moments and no matter how crazy they are, or how much I may seem to complain, I love every single moment!

Winter Wonders...

2011-01-13T19:59:00.000-06:00

Finally Snow...

2011-01-13T19:55:00.000-06:00

Mid-January and FINALLY some snow to go explore!! Dylan took one step out and plopped on his back and just smiled, Ashton dove right into shoveling. They had tons and tons of fun with big brother Ethan, while Ethan and a friend dug tunnles in the yard. Now Ethan and his friend lasted for over an hour, the twins on the other had had about 20 minutes of snow fun and had rosey cheeks so mama made them come in. And we can all guess what that led to...TANTRUM! More snow fun was what they thought they needed, ugh another day boys. I was really looking forward to sledding with the boys this year, but with the below zero temps we are not able to go out in search of that perfect hill, hopefully we will have a warmer day with daddy home before it melts away.

Times Two...

2011-01-07T19:55:00.000-06:00

Why do I take as many photographs as I do? Simple I have an obsession with letting a single moment slip by unrecorded. Here is a sample of one of those moments, one that years from now I may have forgotten, but by taking this photo I will always remember just how precious the twins were on there first ride out on their new tricycles they got for Christmas! All the craziness that has poured into my life the last couple of years will not easily be forgotten, but moments like these are ones that should be remembered forever. Each day something new for them, so many undiscovered things, that something as simple as taking a ride on their trikes filled their minds with wonder as they explored one of the new fun things of toddler hood. So I guess I can take all the guff that I get when I say just wait I want one more shot, I know once laid out in print they always understand and appreciate the moment that I have captured. And as look through my photos and begin to do the hours of sorting, saving, and backing up, I get to relive the precious moments and the chaos of the day seems to fade from my mind as it is filled with awe and amazement on just how precious and wonderful my life is.

Where to go from here...

2011-01-04T20:45:00.000-06:00

Many of times I have heard so many twin moms say they have "lost" themselves along this crazy journey of twin motherhood, it is understandable and so very saddening. I think I have covered this before, but it is something that pops in and out of our minds frequently, so what the hell here we go again. What makes this ugly lil' monster rear its head today? Hmm where do I start? First you have the holiday stress, then you have the New Year...New beginnings, then do I dare admit this.... ugh turning 30 soon! Needless to say my mind has not stopped for months now, and really it is doing me no good thinking about it, but I just can't shut it off. So here I am rambling on my blog to my fellow twin mama readers, because they are sure to know just what I am talking about. First no I am not "lost", as I said I have covered this before in one fine quote, "Life is not about finding yourself, Life is about creating yourself". My new motto, and what gets my mind back into positive mode, amazing how one sentence can be so empowering. Here it is all laid out, first off all holidays are just crazy stressful, enough said there. New Year...New beginnings, ugh now that is depressing because last year wasn't that great and we are only into this year four days and it seems as though it is running pretty much parallel to the last. I know, I know, it could be worse, I am grateful, I know I have it pretty good, and not much I should really complain about, minus all the damn stress and craziness that goes in and out of all my days! I am hoping this year is better, or I guess, different would be a better term. Less stress with the twinadoes would be great, Jeff having better hours would really help tremendously, and a move would be great! I am no loven' where I am at, no feeling the hours Jeff works, and the twins...holy crap they are wearing this mama down FAST! I don't get where they come up with the things they do, I find myself saying "NO" a million times a day, followed by "Things would be so much simpler if you would just be nice to brother, and listen to mama". Really simple concept, they just haven't caught on yet. *ugh, soon hopefully* Okay time to the big bomb!!! TURNING 30 in just over a month. For those who know me would know I have been dreading this day since I turned 23, yes 23 was my wake up call that those years are just gonna keep rolling at me. I am not ready to say I am *gulp* 30. All these things are just a reminder that time passes, and with passing time there is always wasted time. Time that could have been better spent and more opportunities that I let pass me by. Funny how it all works now that I look back on it all, it is like that commercial for college that says "I don't have any money because I don't have a job, I don't have a job, because I never went to college, I can't go to college because I don't have any money." So what did I do, work, then I finally realized that was getting me nowhere so I went back to school, then had twins, and still nowhere. Okay it isn't as bad as that sounds but still there is regret. I wish I would have asked myself what I wanted out of life, what direction I wanted it to go. Really come on what was I thinking? Clearly I wasn't thinking much beyond the end of that week, stupid me! Had I just asked myself that I could have totally redirected my path to a much brighter present. Now this is all sounding pretty gloom, it isn't that bad. Life is good, family is great, but my dreams have been long lost and now I am turning 30 and all I can do is blame myself, and think of what could have been with some better planning. My family now no way I would change that, but I can tell you this mama would have a photography business, and would have moved from this area years ago. No sense in dwelling on it, though I find it hard not to, just need to move on and make up for lost time! I guess even at 30 a mama can reach out for her dreams, it is much harder, but hey I have twins...NOTHING SCARES ME, well except for turning 30. Really not much to change just relocate and a hobby to pursue, easy huh. Thankful that I have a wonderful husband beside me, and three amazing and healthy sons right there with us! Really what more do I need, nothing but me standing in my way, so this New years new beginnings are about seizing every opprotunity and not letting one precious moment pass me by!

Each day brings something new...

2010-12-22T12:27:00.000-06:00

During my journey of being a twin mom I have had many new lessons to motherhood. Ethan was never this much work, never so destructive and into everything. With these two I have had to completely rearrange my life and my house, nothings is left untouched. I have put things away, I have packed things and put them into storage, I have moved, stacked, put up high, ugh I swear I am so sick of moving things from here to there just for them to find them in the end anyways. So what is our newest of frustrations...Mr. Dylan climbing out of his crib. Oh my word what next!?!? I am at a total loss, I do not think they are ready for toddler beds, and I know I AM NOT! They are far from listening, and now my one days moment of peace is gone, I can no longer put them in bed and just relax, I am on edge scared he will fall out to the point I swear I woke up over a dozen times last night. Now I have to toddler proof one more room... theirs, shelves need to be acred to the walls, and the top of the shelf cleared. I know who doesn't toddler proof their room, well me I guess they never play in there, and we don't keep their toys in there, just cribs and clothes. One more thing for this mama to do, and one more thing to frazzle me. I swear they have aged me 10 years at least, ugh TWINS YA GOT TO LOVE EM'!

Almost Christmas...

2010-12-12T19:23:00.000-06:00

We are almost there...CHRISTMAS 2010!!! I can't wait to watch all my boys open their presents this year! Christmas is my favorite time of year, decorating the tree, the house, baking, and eagerly waiting to see the kids open their presents. This year it feels a bit different though, no presents under the tree, no baking going on, and no snow. Here we are mid December and only a touch of snow on the ground, only a couple days of cold weather, and we don't dare put presents under the tree because the twinadoes would shred the paper worse than they are shredding mamas Christmas tree!!! We are going through a tough time here with the twins not listening and getting into everything. It takes every ounce of energy I have just to keep them from knocking the tree over, they will NOT leave it alone. Time out after time out and still they do not listen to LEAVE THE TREE ALONE. Funny thing, okay soooooo NOT FUNNY, but there is no ornaments left towards the bottom of my tree, there are several ornaments that have not survived. I have spent most of the last couple of weeks enforcing time outs, I can not even count the amount of time outs that we have been through...in one day...it has been a crazy few weeks. This is so beyond terrible twos, I had no idea two little boys could be so very naughty! It is starting to pay off, they are beginning to grasp the concept of time out, but the battle is not over yet. I never would have guessed that having twins would be quite so tasking, exhausting, and so very stressful. I now have two pack n' plays in my dining room, because one time out spot was just not enough, baby gates get shuffled to block the kitchen, and doors must remain closed. I am so ready for this stage to end, my days are crazy, my nights are exhausting, and my mind is FRAZZLED. "Twin brain" is not even the words for it, I forget things, misplace things, and swear I do things that I don't, stress is an everyday occurrence but this too shall pass just like the sleepless nights...I HOPE SOONER than later. Still I love being a twin mama, but never would I have dreamed my life would change so much. I spend most my day cooking, cleaning, and chasing them out of all the things they can't get in to. There is so little time to just spend and enjoy with them, or big brother Ethan. I try to take every moment that I can just playing with them, or just hanging out with Ethan, but I am truly spread way to thin. I just tell myself someday I will look back on this and laugh, and maybe even miss it a bit, crazy I know but surly I will. Right now I just can't wait for soccer to start in a few months so I get to have some much needed one on one time with Ethan. I am looking forward to coaching his team and having that time to just do something fun with him, he loves soccer, and loves that mom gets to coach him. We have such great conversations on the way to practices and games!!! So I am waiting for Christmas to come and go, waiting for spring sports, and waiting for more fun times to come!!!

Snow!!!

2010-12-01T22:40:00.000-06:00

SNOW!!!

2010-12-01T22:36:00.001-06:00

It finally snowed!!!

Well, maybe not snowed, as much as flurried, but it was fun to play in!!!

Breakfast...

2010-12-01T22:12:00.000-06:00

I felt like getting a little creative with breakfast, two scoops of Tin Roof ice cream topped off with a bit of syrup! They loved it, though I did try to make shapes with the pancake batter, that turned out as a disaster!!!

Christmas Crafts...

2010-12-01T22:00:00.000-06:00

Ornament Making Fun..

2010-12-01T21:57:00.000-06:00

Getting Messy...

2010-12-01T21:50:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it but I forgot to do the boys' hand prints when they turned a year!!! We decided to have them do it now and decorate them for Christmas ornaments, and the boys' loved it. They helped mix, smash, shape, and somehow managed to resist eating the dough *laugh*. They had so much fun, and with daddy's time off work we had lots of time to do many fun crafts and make neat Christmas things. We did hand prints, let them finger paint on Christmas bulbs, and they also painted pine cones, they enjoyed the extra time with daddy, and it makes it so much easier to do all that fun stuff with an extra set of hands to help out.

Do We Dare...

2010-11-22T21:26:00.000-06:00

Some may think I am crazy, some may even say it to me...but yes I am putting my huge Christmas tree up with all of the gorgeous ornaments too!!! I have a bit of an obsession with my tree, it must go up before Thanksgiving, we must decorate it as a family, each child must place the star on top with assistance of daddy, so yes we do it three times and of course we get a picture of each time, and it must look just so! Okay I will give on it looking perfect because I am not completely naive to think that my lil' twinadoes are going to look not touch, but it will go up and it will be fantastically beautiful. So this is my plan of attack...STAGES! I will put it up in stages and maybe they will let it be. I put it up yesterday during nap time, they woke up midway through and scattered all the parts about the house, but it got up and they didn't disturb it much. Today during nap I thought gee they did so good I last night and today so I will add a few lights, hmmm maybe I jumped the gun. So the lights did make it a bit more tempting, but still I am impressed they aren't completely taring it apart. I think I will wait a few days to put the second batch of lights and the ornaments on, so as much as it is bugging the heck out of me, my tree will sit unfinished for a few more days. It may not be done before Thanksgiving, but it is up and we will get there and you can bet I will be posting pictures of it!!! YEAH FOR FAMILY HOLIDAY FUN!!!

18 Months Already...

2010-11-10T15:17:00.000-06:00

Smell of cupcakes and cake in the air, lots of extra looks of amazement, the twins will be 18-months-old tomorrow!!! Every month older they get, and every milestone they hit is a constant reminder of how fast time goes, and how the little babies are dissapearing and growing into little boys so fast. Dylan and Ashton have went from two tiny babies to crazy busy toddlers, that are walking, climbing, gabbing away, and exploring everything in this last year and a half, and I can't help but wonder what the next year and a half have in store for us. What they will learn, what they will like or not like, just amazing how much they have changed and grown in such short time. So there are a few people who think that I am a bit over the top when I made a cake and we even had party hats when they turned 6-months-old, then we did a huge party when they turned a year, and now we are having another little party for them turning 18-months. Just a fun thing to do to celebrate and I will jump at any reason to have a little party fun!!! So today the preparation, tomorrow the cake and candle fun just the five of us!!! Pictures will come tomorrow!

My Boys and Me...

2010-11-03T18:18:00.000-05:00

Halloween Party 2010...

2010-10-25T21:39:00.000-05:00

The party was a hit, once again!!! A great day of family fun and pumpkin carving...oh and a little HUSKER watching, was had by all. All the kids had so much fun, and it is getting a bit easier now that the majority of the kids are old enough to do their own pumpkins now, but the twins still need help from mama and daddy as you can see in the pictures I added. This day mama was not behind the camera much I was way to busy getting my hands dirty with Ashton Cole on his Jack O' Lantern, and daddy was helping Dylan. Dylan picked a skeleton and called it a "puppy" and Ashton picked a dragon and called it a "kitty", and Ethan did a scary flame face!!! And bad mom/photographer moment I forgot to take a picture of them next to their pumpkins. It was a busy busy day and it was enough work just to get all the pumpkin slime picked up and all the pumpkins gathered together for a shot of them all in the dark. Oh and to keep everybody safe from crashing into something with all the lights off in the garage, and not to mention the disaster of a mess that was in the house after a day of munching from 16 people and a puppy!!! But it was worth it to see all the kids having fun and all the cool Jack O' Lanterns!!! I am so in the Halloween spirit now for sure! And I will catch a shot of the boys in front of their pumpkins SOON!!!! So once again the party was a hit, and all the work was worth it for all the kiddos! This is one family tradition that won't die soon, it is way to much fun!

Pirates in the Park...

2010-10-20T21:29:00.000-05:00

More Pirates...

2010-10-20T21:25:00.002-05:00

More Pirates...

2010-10-20T21:24:00.002-05:00

More Pirates...

2010-10-20T21:22:00.002-05:00

And More Pirates in the Park...

2010-10-20T21:20:00.002-05:00

Cute in Fall...

2010-10-20T21:18:00.000-05:00

Dylan...

2010-10-20T21:13:00.000-05:00

Ashton...

2010-10-20T21:08:00.000-05:00

Strike

pose!!!

Twin Fun...

2010-10-18T13:23:00.001-05:00

A fall Wagon Ride...

2010-10-18T13:15:00.001-05:00

A Cool Fall Morning of Play

2010-10-17T21:04:00.000-05:00

An Evening at the Park...

2010-10-17T20:57:00.002-05:00

Fall Fun...

2010-10-17T20:50:00.001-05:00

A trip to the park

on a fall afternoon

to play in the water,

only with grandma there!
We took a trip to the park to play and we found the water, and brrr it was cold. Grandma let them play in it and mama got some cute shots in. Now I can only imagine how each trip to the park will be, straight off to the water they will surley go.

Twin Fun...

2010-10-17T20:42:00.001-05:00

Oh what fun it is to be a TWIN!!!

Winter We Are Ready...

2010-10-12T22:36:00.000-05:00

Ashton

Dylan

Ready for winter!

Ready for snow fun!

Pumpkin Patch Cuties...

2010-10-11T19:13:00.001-05:00

Pumpkin Patch Fun...

2010-10-11T19:12:00.000-05:00

We made our way to the pumpkin patch this weekend and oh how much different is was from last year. Our stroller bound boys are no more!! Off and running full speed in seporate directions was how we roll now. Mommy's favorite was Charlie Brown patch... big fenced in area. Ethan liked the zip-line, and the twins liked... well everything. The only thing that stopped them was the duck race because there was water and rubber ducks LOL. No great pictures were taken because nobody stood still long enough, sad mama on that one. There was a big pirate ship they really had fun running in and out of...daddy really needs to build us one of those!!! Oh and the goats captured their attention for a few minutes, well puppys as they called them. So here are few snapshots of our day.

Park Snaps...

2010-10-06T19:39:00.001-05:00

Our Memorable Walk...

2010-10-06T19:36:00.001-05:00

What a walk...

2010-10-06T19:34:00.001-05:00

It was such a nice fall day today so we decided to take the boys for a walk. We left the stroller at home and Jeff and I each took a hand and off we went to the park. The boys made it about two blocks then they wanted to sit and play with the rocks in the road hehehe. We picked the lil' goofs up and carried them the rest of the way, and then off the went running as soon as we entered the park. The first discovery was pine cones grabbing up as many as they could then handing them off to mama and daddy, then a pile of dirt, then off to the new favorite park thing...THE SLIDE weeeeeeeeeeeeee. Dylan being my lil' goof that he is likes to go down head first on his tummy, Ashton is a bit scared of the big slide but still insists on going down. Each time he goes he get scared halfway down and tries to put the breaks on, which is so funny to watch until he decided to try to turn over to crawl up in midway down and bonked his poor head on the side of it. Poor poor Ashn' Co Co. He soon got over that bonk and was up and running full speed after puppy Kong. He grabbed him by the leash and walked him around and around the ball fields...SO CUTE! It is just amazing how little things like a pile of pine cones and a dog leash can be so fascinating and fun. After a hour of climbing, sliding, and running it was time to go home...sad babies. We get about half way home and discover a HUGE caterpillar in the middle of the road, of course we have to stop to explore (good thing we live in a small town with NO traffic with all this interest in the roads). So the boys want to see it, I want to snap a pic of it on something other than the ugly road, so daddy scoops it up and we start off home once again. Then *laughing* Jeff drops the poor caterpillar and says "ooo it is getting me and I don't like it". I have never laughed so hard, I swear I laughed all the way home. This coming from a man that will touch or pick up anything, and fears pretty much nothing. This big fat juicy caterpillar is freaking him out, I am still laughing at this soooooooooooooo darn funny daddy. So here we are walking home, Jeff squirming holding this thing, twins are laughing just as hard as mama, and the dog is wondering what the heck all the commotion is about. What I site we must have been. A few drops later, Dylan trying to carry it but Jeff insisting it is going to "honk" him one ( I am laughing writing this), and Ashton reaching for it, gets it, and squeezes the thing half to death. We are all NO NO NO NO Ashton, so he drops it and looks confused, like huh, what, I got this daddy!!! We finally make it home, put in on my flowers and I have a dog in one hand a baby on the other arm, and fumbling my camera trying to get a shot of the biggest, fattest, most beautiful caterpillar I have ever saw, needless to say I did not get the shots I wanted. Not only was I juggling way to many things, this thing was fast, he was off and running, okay not running but crawling FAST! Who can blame this poor thing that saw his life flash before his eyes at least 10 time on this 4 block journey. I got a couple of shots, then poor he disappears into, well, I don't know where, I am assuming in my flowers somewhere. So our caterpillar journey end here, but we will remember this walk for a long time to come, just sad Ethan was in school and missed this one, he would have carried it no problem.

Paint fun...

2010-09-27T23:42:00.000-05:00

I bought a bag of small pumpkins to place in a cute autumn basket on the dining room table, then it came to me what a crazy idea that would be. They would NEVER stay there, the twins would be crawling onto the table trying to get them all the time. So change of plans, I thought I would let them paint on them in stead, now that was a CRAZY idea!!! Actually daddy started it by painting a blue D on Dylan's chest, then putting blue wiskers on his face, well of course Ashton couldn't be left out of the goofy fun, so I put a red A on him and a brown dot on his nose, that he later smeared acoss his entire face!!! Then the fun really began as they decided that they would also paint on each other. What a disaster that was, and all done after bedtime bath, mama was really not thinking on this one at all. The mess was made, fun was had, so all is well! Things like this is what I love, crazy messed, awesome pics, and fantastic family fun and memories made! I think this is something that I will not forget, the first time the boys painted...pumpkins...and themselves...and everything else they could reach with the paint brush. Oh what fun, double the cuteness and double the mess, and double the fun!

Just for fun...

2010-09-27T23:25:00.000-05:00

Nice fall day, what to do??? Load up drive on down to that wonderful open space we love and shoot some photos. I had two great helpers to point out all the great little things to shoot. I found a great place early this spring to take the twins out to run and explore, and at the same time this mama can get some photos taken. Well I think I have decided to take the next step and get my photos out there for others to see...as well as buy...HOPEFULLY. I have put this off and never thought I could do it for way to long, now it is time. I stumbled along this quote, and it gave me the boost I needed "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sale away from the safe harbor. Catch the winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~ Mark Twain So now I am off to catch more and more shots to put out there for the world and behind me I have a wonderful and encouraging husband, and all my boys, and what more does a person need to reach that goal and be successful. Here are my latest photos taken with the help of Dylan and Ashton leading the way!!!

Latest...

2010-09-23T23:39:00.000-05:00

Been falling

behind on

taking photos.

But here's a few.

Best Thing About Being Me...

2010-09-23T23:06:00.000-05:00

HAVING ALL OF THIS!!!

I want...he wants...

2010-09-08T19:04:00.001-05:00

Bath time today made me stop and think about the simple things that the twins have to share, and the things they just don't get to do like singleton babies...or toddlers I guess would be more appropriate. So here we are splishing and splashing away and a fight breaks out, Dylan is playing in the water from the faucet just having fun, then Ashton pushes his way in wanting to play in the running water. Ugh way to simple just to take turns, well at this age they just don't grasp that concept. So I am playing referee, a new job description for me since toddler hood, trying to get them to share and take turns having time to play in the faucet. Yeah right it turns to pushing and shoving, then crying and pinching, then Dylan being the calm one gives in, getting forced to the side he finds a new bath toy to play with. Before you know it Ashton has had enough and is climbing over the edge of the tub to get out, oh here we go again. Dylan is contently playing and protest getting out of the tub, and beings there is only one of me, if one goes they both have to get out. So I have Ashton trying to escape the bathroom, and Dylan screaming and clinging to his bath toy, such a simple thing that seems like no biggy, but they are 16 months old it is big deal and total meltdown worthy!!! Now should I feel such guilt I can't give them both what they want? Probably not, but I do, geesh they Dylan just wanted to play in the water, then being such a nice brother gives in to a more force full and over dramatic twin brother Ashton, then gets forced out of bath time fun all together when brother Ashton decides he has had enough bath fun. Ya know it is always something with these two, and this just made me realize it always will be, yeah being a twin is a special thing, but in so many ways they to often pay the price to the other twins behavior or are unable to do what they really want to do at the moment due to the other twins actions. So poor poor Mr. Dylan today, and sure there will be many more of these he wants, I want battles to come!

Discover...

2010-08-25T23:06:00.001-05:00

I feel so bad that I can't...or don't take the boys out more, it is just so hard on my own when they run in opposite directions from me. Besides it being hard it is down right scary, really I can not be in two places at once no matter how hard I try. Anyways, the point of this blog is I have been wanting to take the twins here with daddy for months at it has been extremely hot, or the mosquitoes would eat you alive so we haven't made it. One time this spring we went with big brother and one of his friends, which met the last thing brother wanted to do was help chase babies...excuse me toddlers *laugh*, I did get some amazing photos last time, which is hard to believe with all the chasing that was going on. We finally had a cool, breezy, mosquitoe-less day and we hit the spot!!! It is just a wide open area of trees, flowers, and some wild turkeys and a peacock and it is gorgeous. We unloaded out of the Suburban and it was instant woo we are free, and the chase was on for this mama and Dada. It was sweet to see, I have had a rough few days, well months but the last few days have been non to be desired with all the attitude and tantrums going on and daddy at work. Grrrrr damn that night shift!! So babies off and running through the tall grass and weaving in and out of the trees, not knowing which way to go next, so much to see and explore, they picked up leaves, sticks, and feathers, well Dylan did anyways heehee. So there is a story behind these pictures of the feathers that I swear I will never forget. I am following Ashton (in the green) and daddy has Dylan (in the navy), Ashton and I come across this feather, bends down, reaches............and a breeze blows the feather and it completely flips in the air, that was that NO WAY was he touching it. Ashton takes a couple of steps back, does his (impossible to explain how cute this is) oh no...ah...what... how...gasp...(pic 2)telling you something with hes blah goo aha blabs and has this look of shock and wonder on his face then walks around the feather. This has to go down as one of the most precious, cute, and funny moments, and so I picked up the feather and we walked on to find daddy and Dylan. We walk and come across daddy and Dylan and they too have found a wild turkey feather, daddy points it out and Dylan could really care less just looks and starts pointing at the log (pic 1)and "talking" about who knows what, but me as the complete photo taking junkie I am has to get a photo with Dylan and his feather too I pick up the feather and show them both and set it back down and they both just stare at it like what is that silly thing and why on earth does mama want us to see it so badly (pic 3). Really it was simple chain of events but I found it to be so sweet and just what I needed after a weekend of stress-filled days with daddy at work and me on my own. I seem like they just know...okay we have been terribly hard on mama now we need to have some moments of sweetness to balance it all out and make her think awwww. I know that is a bit far fetched but that is the way it works every time, I get to that how in the hell can I do this moment and then it just becomes clear that this is just life, and all the rough times pass and lead up to these sweet moments that hold a dear place in this mamas heart and will forever be in my memories. I loved having the boys out and watching their minds just go all over with wonder and exploring every leaf, tree, and even stickers *OUCH*. I just have to tell myself these hard times shall pass, but with it will be all these first and new discoveries.

We survived it...

2010-08-22T00:03:00.000-05:00

We had our big week long camping trip and we survived!!! Okay to be honest the twins stayed at grandma and granpa's for two nights, and that gave us some time for some much needed relaxation, time with Ethan one night, and one night with just Jeff and I. I was expecting more out of the trip, but I guess I really should have know a trip with the twins would be difficult to say the least. I had a list of things that I wanted to accomplish and for the most part I got to most everything, the list was a day on my "big ass" floaty" with Ethan and Jeff, a night of fishing with Jeff, and roasting marshmallows with all the boys. Well we had an evening to fish just Jeff and I, but it wasn't how I envisioned it but still was nice to have the night alone. Really I should have known you don't just sit, talk, and fish, but we still had a chance to talk and hang out childless which is always nice. One night we just had Ethan with us and that was the night I was most looking forward to... just the three of us, like old times, well Ethan got a stomach ache and spent most the night in the camper while Jeff and I sat by the campfire *I GOT SOME AWESOME PICTURES OF THAT*, I really hate that Ethan wasn't feeling better to enjoy some time with us. Now the "big ass" floaty, oh hell yeah that was the best part of it all!!! I was a carefree sun loven' mama for a few hours, I have literally been looking forward to that since the twins were born. I have no clue what it is but if I could choose to do most anything in would be sit on my floaty, in the sun, on a beautiful lake, and just chill watching Ethan and Jeff do what ever it is they may decide to do in between chilln' with me and swimming. This trip they were catching shad with the throw net, what a sight. It was one of those moments for the father son scrapbook!!! Ugh which reminds me we have two more sons to add, geesh I barely got the one son done in it. *laugh* So if I had to rate the trip I would say, minus all the stress I really didn't need to put on myself, it was an eight!!! Now the saddest part is it was the last trip in our lil' camper *sad*, we have outgrown it to say the least! Two beds for the five of us is way way way cramped, and there was no where near the storage we needed, but we had it for five years and sold it for more than we bought it for so I would say we came out on top. I know it was what we needed and we will end up with a nicer camper, but it was sad to see it get pulled away, and it is so odd to come home and see no camper parked out back. Oh I hope we find a new one before next May, I am hoping for a Daddy BDay camping trip!!! So really the summer has ended for this family and we just have to look forward to next year and the new and fun things that will come for us, and hope that next summer is less stressful and a bit more fun that this one was.

Hit me like a wall...

2010-08-04T14:33:00.000-05:00

While I was looking for a picture that I had taken of them last summer, and ended up taking some time looking through months of pictures. I came across pictures of them when they were little with their fuzzy lil' heads and cute baby faces, and it hit me like a wall... I didn't get to enjoy it like I could have. I feel so damn stupid for feeling sorry for myself and always being so sad and stressed out. I wish I would have just sucked it up asked for some help so I could have got some sleep and enjoyed my babies more. Time went so fast, and back then I swore I would NEVER miss that stage of their life, what was I crazy, how could I not miss them adorable cuties and all their firsts. What I don't miss is all the sleepless nights and sitting home alone with no support while Jeff was at work. I am lucky he was as amazing as he was when he was able to be with us or I have no idea how I would have coped with it all. I also found a group of amazing twin moms on-line who were really great and in about the same shape I was at the time. I could have made more of it all though, I could have reached out for help rather than sit here and and struggle, I am just no good at that. I think that if people want to be there they will be, I hate asking for help! I am a stay-at-home mom, and I guess I felt like asking for help would be like me admitting defeat, and that I had failed at doing my "job". I know there is nothing I can do now but live for today and enjoy every moment, which I have been doing the last few months. I have had enough with sitting here waiting for Jeff to be home, just to sit here and have him be awake for a few hours then off to work. Hell no I have parents that love me to visit, and live in a beautiful part of the country with so much for the boys to see and experience.. A part of me feels guilty for leaving and doing things like that while Jeff is stuck here working, but you know I think it is more important for this mama to stay saine and get her kids out of the house, they hate sitting here as much as I do. I am just really disappointed with myself at the moment, and can't believe there was so much of that first six months that were a blur because I was so damn tired with no sleep, I was so frustrated with how hard things were I know there were times I didn't stop to take the time to "enjoy" things like I should have.

Can't Wait...

2010-08-03T22:08:00.000-05:00

I am preparing for our third, but biggest camping trip with the twins! Last year we did take them twice, but they were just weeks old the first trip, and then a couple months the second trip, so really we didn't do a lot besides give bottles and change diapers hehehe. This year I have taken the boys to the lake several times, and they LOVE it, but we have yet to take them camping this year. I will be packing up the boys and heading west in a couple days and we will stay with grandma and grandpa and have some fun in the sun at the lake and in their nice big backyard, then four days later I will be making the drive back to get daddy and the camper and then the real fun begins!!! We will have a week camping and the boys will be surrounded by nothing but family and the beautiful hills and lake, I can't imagine a better place to be for a week. There are so many things I want to experience with the boys while we are there, but so little time. I want to take them swimming, have campfires, take walks, build sand castles, and look at the stars and moon. You can see so many more stars and they are so bright there just amazing to sit and see so many falling stars in one night. Ohhh so many wishes to make with my three handsome boys!!! This will also be our last trip in our camper, sadly we have outgrown it and it is time for an upgrade, and it will be supporting a for sale sign come tomorrow. Don't get me wrong I am excited to get something bigger and better, this camper is our first and just carries lots of fun memories. So time to go and finish packing and preparing for the fun weeks ahead!!!

Sometimes you have to put the camera down...

2010-07-30T00:08:00.000-05:00

Being home all the time is really driving me crazy, so I have been trying to get away more now that all of Ethan's sports are done for a bit. With the twins it is hard to get away, and I feel like a huge burden where ever I go, they are soooooooo much work. I know I am always welcome at my parents and they don't mind the craziness that comes with our visits, so we pack up and head west 110 miles. The packing sucks, the drive sucks more, but it is so worth it to have a little help and company, oh and be less than 10 miles from a gorgeous lake! I have been going to that lake my entire life and love it, I love sharing the beauties of it with my boys and hope that they grow and appreciate it as I have. I always say I can't wait until I have to get four camp sites, one for us and one for each of our boys and their families, oh I hope that is how it all works out for us!!! Well a typical day for us while we are there is go in and out all day and swim, run through the sprinkler, and play in the yard, then in the evening load up and head out to the lake and play in the sand and splash in the lake. I have a huge addiction to taking photographs, and I always scared I am going to sit my camera down and miss the cutest shot, but sometimes I just have to put the camera down and have fun and play. Each time I go I come home with 300 to 500 photographs to sort through, I can't help myself they are such cuties *laugh*. I couldn't pick just one or two pictures to share on my blog so I made a slide show of a few of my favorites. I can't wait for our next trip there in a week and a half. YEAH our big camping trip of the year, a week all together!!! This will be our first trip of the year and I am a bit nervous on how this is going to work out with the twins sleeping without their cribs. I know they will have fun, they love it there, they even got to the point that as soon as they see the beach and water they squirm and want down to take of and run and play. They have it all figured out now!!! I have so much planned and I can't even imagine the amount of photos I will come home with after this trip!

Finally Some Us...

2010-07-19T21:17:00.001-05:00

I have thought about changing the name of this blog so many times, because really at times it just doesn't seem to fit, All About Us... and the things we love to do together. Then I think it is about "us", we are just aren't always able to all the things "we love to do together" like we use to. Jeff and I had a wonderful opportunity to go do something that we love to do together on our aanniversary, we took a night to camp and fish just us, with no kids. It was the most fun I have had for what seems like forever, it was so nice just to relax and fish and spend some time together like we use to. We even got to watch a thunderstorm roll in and I got my shots of lightening I have been wanting to get, it was an amazing time and it was great to enjoy taking some pictures and having Jeff there with me too. I definitely think this is something we need to do more of, I am thinking at least once a month we need to get out just us and do something to get our minds off the craziness of having three kids, and Jeff's schedule that leaves him tired, and me on my own way to much and one step from insanity!!! I know how lucky we are to be blesses with such a great and healthy family, but there are times you just need a break and get back to the basics of "just us". We have a week long camping trip planned coming up in August and I am looking forward to spending a night fishing and enjoying some one on one time, I will be counting the days.

Fun Fun...

2010-07-14T22:13:00.001-05:00

Finally we got daddy's car out and went for a cruise! The boys are now 15-months-old, and this was their very first time in the Nova, and they loved it. The last two years have been busy, for obvious reasons, so we have not even had the car out, but it was time. Daddy stayed up late the night before getting it all ready and even though it was HOT HOT HOT out we rolled down the windows and let the wind cool them babies, they weren't missing out on the fun. The wind was blowing their fuzzy hair and they were all smiles, and man did they jam out to Fuel (Metallica) when daddy turned the stereo on. (Got that cute moment on video if I could ever figure out how to share the video off my new camera on my blog Grrrrrr totally drives me up the wall just load damn it!!!) Here they are at the end of their trip playing in the drivers seat, and looking pretty comfortable there, better watch out daddy with three boys you might wanna hide those keys. Ashton had figured out where the keys were and how to honk the horn within minutes, and Dylan watched and learned. MONKEY SEE MONKEY DO!! To bad it was so darn hot I really wanted to get some better pictures of my boys and daddy with the car, well that will be left for another day I guess. But I did get thinking hmmm three boys and only two hot rods to be passed down...for now. Grandpa's goes to Ethan, and then the Nova for one of the twins...somebody better get building. Having three boys is awesome, but I can see all sorts of craziness and stress coming in the future, and daddy better have a big garage I can sense lots of repairs will be needed. Having three boys ROCKS!!! I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us.

Precious Moments...

2010-07-09T12:22:00.002-05:00

There are moments that may seem so trivial to some, but to a mother are monumental and totally unforgettable. Just a few hours ago I had one of those precious moments with the twins, I was preparing to dress them for the day just as I do each day, lay out the outfits and say "which one you want" and watch them come and grab an outfit. Really it is just funny because here they are 14 months old and I am asking which one they want *laugh*, well basically I started doing this because I couldn't decide who should wear what, silly I know, but it stuck and they seem to like it and they usually pick the same outfits each time so they apparently do have a preference, and amazingly enough they rarely pick the same so we have little arguments, but it is a first come first served type of thing :) So here I am sitting on the floor with a blue outfit with airplanes and a orange outfit with race cars in front of me and I say "which one you want" and here comes my Mr. Dylan all smiles (he has the most precious smile and voice) and he looks right at me and says "mama" then gives me a hug, then sits on my lap and grabbed for the blue top with the airplanes on it and just sits there so sweetly. Just as Dylan has chosen his outfit here comes my Ashton Cole with is cute little facial expressions and his hot shot walk (he has this walk he does when he is trying to be cute, as if he has to "try") and he plops down on my lap and leans his head onto my shoulder and reached for the orange top with the race cars. So here I sit two lil' boys sitting on my lap snuggling me up and giving me love. And what is so funny about the choice of outfits was that Ashton is my crazy run all over boy so race cars are rather fitting for him, and Dylan is my thinker. Wow if that wasn't enough to just make my day, and even now after 14 months there are times where it is still like REALLY there are TWO of them!!! It is a crazy feeling that I can't begin to explain, just a special feeling to have twins. And we can't forget about Ethan, he has his moments too. There are so many times that he walks up to me, out of the blue, and gives me a hug and says, "you are the best mom in the whole world". AWW for a boy that is nearly 11 to do that, I must have done something right he is such a sweet boy sometimes. Then there are the moments I hear him playing with his brothers, tickling and hugging them saying "why you got to be so cute brothers". How sweet is that???!!! Then there is the time that just cracked me up, he said to me, mom you know how some people think their babies are cute...but ....they aren't really, well my brothers ARE really cute right?!?! It was so damn funny the way he said it like he didn't want to be rude and say babies aren't cute but like he really was genuinely wandering. Got to love the questions kids come up with. He is such a great big brother!!! I LOVE ALL MY BOYS!!! And even though there are times I feel like I could very well go crazy, I know I am so blessed to have them all, and such a great hubby to go with it!

...

2010-06-16T21:22:00.001-05:00

I guess that there is just something about turning 29 and having twins in the same year that will make you stop and think where am I and where the hell am I going??? If you would have asked me if I had it all figured out a few years ago I would have said yes, but now, hmmm not so sure, I never would have imagined myself here with three kids, where I am living now. We had a home which I swore we would live in forever, and I had my oldest son which I swore would be my only!!! WOW how things change, now I am not in that house and I have three sons! *SHOCK* I am not sure what happen but life went all crazy on me and I didn't even really realize it until a year after it happened. We moved from our first "home" and we added not one...but two lil' boys to our family all within the same year, oh and I graduated from college. Doesn't really seem like that big of deal right, well to me I guess it is. I am glad that I finally came around and agreed with Jeff that we should have "just one more", it doesn't even feel like I really accomplished school at all, and I miss our "home" like non other!!! So maybe it is just that it all happen so close together and I didn't get to ease into any of it or absorb what the hell hit me, or maybe I just feel like for all that has changed I should have more answers as for what is to come. Now yes our house was nice but I really think it was more the feeling of it being "home" that I miss the most. I absolutely hate the feeling of not being home, which is how I feel now, I know I will not live here forever so I just seems like I am hanging here in limbo waiting to make a move... but where.?. Well, I have no idea where, and that is what drives me crazy! And as for the twins, I have discussed that before, world turned upside down, crazy busy, exhausted, ya know all that same ole stuff I have blogged before, but it really is an amazing and wonderful experience even though it did come with some damn hard challenges. And getting to me graduating college, I don't even know how I feel about that. I should be proud, happy, and a sense of accomplishment. I do feel like I accomplished something, something I can tell my kids that see I did it you can too, but it was something I think I sold myself short on, and something I could have done better with. I graduated with a diploma in Business Tech./Medical Transcription from a local community college, and it is something that I look forward to starting. The thing about it that leaves me feeling like I sold myself short is that it was not at all a dream for me, I guess I would be prouder saying I wanted this so bad and I finally made it. A dream for me would have been photography and journalism...which I guess I just gave up on years ago for lack of confidence of being able to make a career of it, another dream would have been a Accounting which I dropped classes for before I even started for the lack of confidence that I could do it and made so many excuses as for why I couldn't do it. So yeah I am proud I can tell my kids I graduated college, but a bit ashamed that I tell and will tell them they can be anything they want to be and I didn't have the guts to go for it myself. So why the confusion, feelings of being lost, and fear of no idea where the hell I will end up??? Here I am 29, married, family of 5 and living in a town I really don't care to stay in, in a house that does not feel like "home", and I feel like I should have it all figured out, I should know just where I am headed. But I do believe that everything happens for a reason, and that all the decisions we make will lead us to where we are met to be, but I just thought I would have the answers by now. I guess I just will keep telling myself that it doesn't really matter where we are it is that we are here together as a family and that really is all that matters, and someday all this chaos will make sense, and I will someday look back and think how silly it was that all this drove me so crazy.

I Use To...

2010-05-29T10:29:00.001-05:00

One thing that I have struggled with since this crazy journey of being a twin mom started is being something other than just a mom of twins. I love being mother of twins it is both the most amazing and difficult thing I have ever done in my life, but I am more than just a mom of twins. I am a wife to the best husband a person could ever dream of having, I am a mother of a fantastic son that is almost 11, I am a person who loves to get outdoors and do anything, fish, camp, take pictures, or just get out and mess around. Nothing drives me more crazy than being stuck in the house!!! It has been hard to be the person I use to be, I have been stuck in the house, well I could have got out, but leaving the house comes with so many sorts of craziness only a mother of twins could begin to understand, and by the time I have the twins ready and loaded in the car seats I sit there in the driver's seat and take a deep breathe and am exhausted and just think to myself... why do I do this to myself it would be so much easier to stay home. If I do stay home I feel guilty that I am not getting all my boys out in the world to experience things and have fun, I feel like a person that is not allowing my kids to get out because it may be a little, well maybe more like VERY, difficult for me. I do not work outside the house, but damn I work hard inside this home to keep this family happy. I want all my children to have great memories of things that their mom and dad took them to do, I want then to learn from it and do the same with their families. One thing that keeps coming to mind though is I use to... there is so many things that follow that, and I think that is my main struggle. I used to... load up and go where ever, when ever with ease, go fishing with my hubby, at the last minute decide lets load up and go camping, sit and watch each of Ethan's games without interruptions or feeling guilty that dad couldn't come because he stayed home with the twins so I wouldn't miss out, coach his soccer team without worry of who was going to watch the twins for me, go hang out at the lake and just sit and relax with no worries, be lazy on days when I didn't feel the best, sit and watch and entire movie with the family without interruptions, have time to myself to sew, scrapbook, or just think, and so many more. So here I am no longer able to do so many of those things with the ease I use to, but I have more. I have two more sons to love, and make a huge impression on who they will become. So I need to get over the past and all the things I gave up or lost, stop worrying about the future and how and if I will get them back, and focus on the more important, the here and now of it all. The fact is I am here, and so lucky to have my three sons and my husband, and that is where I need to put my energy. I need to strive to be the best, not mother of twins, but mother and wife that I can be. So yes I am a mother of twins, I am a mother of three sons, I am a wife, and I am a person who loves so much and I USE TO DO so much, but now I WILL DO so much more!!!

Exploring...

2010-05-25T22:33:00.005-05:00

Amazing that we have lived just a few miles from this spot for years now and never stopped to check it out. Why??? My guess would be we thought we were to busy, or would do it another day. Well now the boys and me are always up for an adventure. What more do we have to do??? This place was so beautiful, these pictures don't even begin to show it, I had a baby in my arms for most of the walk so I didn't get near as many pictures as I wanted, but we WILL go back for more. So previously I had school work, or something to keep me busy all day, now I have the twins and Ethan, and the twins get very bored just sitting around the house, as does mama, so we get out as much as we can. We go for walks, to the park, and now good ole google is showing us some history is in the area so...LETS GO EXPLORE!!! This place is part of the Mormon Trail, it is a gorgeous park with a pond, well several if they fill the rest of them, big pretty trees, flowers, and clay sculptures. There was wide open spaces to run and play so the boys were off, all four of them, Ethan brought a friend, and then of course the twins, and ya know they all went in separate directions, ugh this mama was sore the next day from carrying these lunkers all over. It is so hard to take the twins places, but I will continue to do it, for them as well as for me!!! We need to get out, and there is so much for us to see, and it is worth all the trouble just to see them smile and run and have fun where ever we go. And for me, well it gives me great things to take pictures of, and then play around with later. Oh if I only had more time I would do way more edits on my pictures, but dang I sit down and sort through my pics and before I know it it is 11:00 pm, and the boys get up around 6:00 am so much later than that and I would be hurting the next day. I keep taking them and editing a few here and there, one day I will take some time and do something really grand with them!!! Something about having twins and turning 29 that gets you back into 'a much loved hobby, call it a mid-life semi crisis. Not so much a full crisis, but you realize what time you wasted, and how much more I really could have accomplished before the twins. Now I am pretty tied down with them, and I wish I would have done more for myself when I had the chance. Ethan was in school all day, I had my school work, but I had extra time as well, I could have been out taking all sorts of pictures, I could have been at the gym each day, I could have done so much!!! But I didn't so here I am balancing the twins and doing things for myself, and am crazy busy trying to balance it all. But what I have found is in the beginning I took not time for myself, it was all about the boys 24/7 and I was a wreck of a mama, and now I take time a few mornings a week to hit the gym, and I get out with the boys to walk, go to the park, or take some snapshots, and a hour or so each night to sort through my pictures, learn more about them, and play around with a bit of editing here and there. And you know I am a much better mama for it, and I would say wife too, I was getting a bit grumpy...poor hubby!!!

My lil' goofs...

2010-05-25T21:58:00.004-05:00

Fishing for puppy...

I see you brother...

We are rocking these hats...

Just messing...

2010-05-19T23:02:00.000-05:00

I have been waiting for a sunny day to go to the park and get some good pictures of the boys, finally it came. We didn't have much time to play and explore, but we the boys had fun, and mama got tons of pictures. We went to the rose garden in the park, to bad the roses weren't all bloomed yet, but it was still so pretty and there were lots of things for the boys to see and they even got a sniff of a rose, and Dylan got to feel the rose bush. I had daddy line them up under a trellis walkway to have them walk towards me so I could get a really sweet shot of them, well Mr. Dylan tripped and grabbed a hold of a rose bush, YIKES. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, and he didn't fuss to much, but the poor thing got a couple of scrapes. The picture that I am sharing with you is of them walking along, and thinking of climbing, a fountain. The reason I chose this spot is not only because it is a really beautiful place, but when Ethan was little we took him here for a day of picture taking. I have some cute pictures of him sitting on top of this very fountain, and playing in this area. It is to bad I don't have them on digital to share them as well, they are so similar.

I loved watching the boys run and play here, I hate our yard and the park where we live is far from pretty. So it was really great to just let them run and play and get awesome pics from every angle, with no ugliness in the background.

The Big Party...

2010-05-12T00:08:00.000-05:00

I planned and planned for months this great big party with tons of guest and lots of fun. Now the party has come and gone, and as the night goes on Dylan and Ashton's Birthday is coming to an end as well. It was a great party with great decorations, cake, family and friends, and lots of presents, but most important two babies that have grown into little boys in this short time. Why such a big celebration??? Well there are many reasons, one is that it is a big deal to turn 1, another it was a great reason to get the family together and meet the twins and share this day of celebration with them *the more the merrier*, and really in a way it was just to celebrate that we made it and how far we have come. The sleepless nights of being up with two crying babies, not knowing what they wanted or needed, and now I have to little boys who play and "talk", and walk and run, and show so much love and it has all been worth it!!! It has been hard, it has been wonderful, it has been stressful, and it has been amazing to watch these two learn and grow in leaps and bounds. It is so qleche, but it seems like only yesterday they were propped up in their Boppy's drinking bottles every two hours, and now they are walking all over and sitting at the table having meals with the family. I swore I would not miss the baby stages, and I am not sure I would like to revisit those crazy first few months but I do wish that they weren't such a blur *exhaustion*, but I did find myself having a hard time with the thought of today ending, as if tomorrow will be any different, but it's just one more milestone that has come and gone. Silly really but it is as if they were babies yesterday but now they are 1 and are little boys. So as I kissed my boys goodnight I told them night night my birthday boys and tucked them in, knowing that there will be no more birthday planning, no more singing and cake, and now more birthday kisses for an entire year, I am sure it will be here before I know it. But we had a great day, it was lots of fun, and the party turned out great, and the year is over, we made it!! It is hard for people who don't have twins to understand just how it is (twin moms refer to the first year as survival year), and how everything instantly becomes so much more complicated, how hard it is to care for both of them AT THE SAME TIME, and how at times it felt like I couldn't give them both the amount of attention they deserve so for me a big party was in order. My boys are growing and though still things are very complicated at times I don't feel stretched so thin, they aren't as needy so I can just sit and play or read a book with them and give them each a little one on one time, which is something I struggled with in the early months. It seemed impossible one of them wanted something all the time, and at the same time, it seemed like there was no time to just sit and play, read, or sit and snuggle. So here is to the next year being even better, more fun times, more family fun times!!! I love all my boys and am really looking forward to this next year, and this summer, and being able to do more and get out more and take Ethan more places again.

My lil' Thing 1 & Thing 2

2010-05-11T23:15:00.001-05:00

Cake Time...

2010-05-11T23:09:00.000-05:00

My Cake Smashers...

2010-05-11T23:05:00.000-05:00

Ashton...

Dylan...

What A Big Day...

2010-05-11T22:48:00.000-05:00

Lots of cake, presents, and fun made these little boys very tired. As we sat and opened presents they sat on mommy and daddy's lap and watched, they played in the paper and with the toys even though they were ready for a nap. They even put their cool new shades on show off how cute they were!!!

A year ago tonight...

2010-05-10T22:08:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is the big day for the twins...1st Birthday!!! It is 10:00 pm, and exactly one year ago we were on the way to the hospital. I have been thinking all day about what we were doing a year ago, and how we went along the entire day with no idea what events would follow that night. I can't remember what we did that day, but I can remember that night very well. We were doing what we did most nights when Jeff was home, laying in bed watching TV, that is about all I could do at that point, and even that was uncomfortable. I could not stay awake for anything so I was dozing off and then I jumped a bit, Jeff asked me why I did that. I told him one of the babies kicked me really funny and it woke me up, well come to find out it wasn't a kick. Ready or not they were on their way!!! Jeff got Ethan out of bed and carried him to the Suburban and we off, off so fast we forgot to grab Ethan shoes*oops*. Ethan stayed at grandma's while we were waiting for his new brothers to arrive. We got to the hospital and I was a bit nervous to say the least, I had no idea what was going to happen, when, or how long it was going to take. I got in a room and got settled in and from there it just seemed like no time at all and next thing I new there we were it was time to finally meet our 2 little monkeys. I was hoping and kind of expecting things to go smoothly and there was no way anybody was sticking a needle into my spine, yeah that was a bad idea. Dylan came to meet the us at 3:31 am he oh what a cutie he was and what a relief it was to see him, but then we got the news that Ashton had flipped and they were going to have to put me under for an emergency Cesarean. I was petrified of having a Cesarean but at this point I was so tired, and the anesthesiologist kept telling me they were going to put me out, I remember at one point telling her I was ready. I was tired, in major pain, and ready to be knocked out. Ashton came at 3:46 am, but the poor boy wasn't met by his mama or his daddy who got kicked out of the operating room for the procedure *sad*. I am not sure what time it was when I finally woke up to meet them, but I remember being half awake and having Jeff put them next to me I couldn't even hold them but it was wonderful just to see them. So that is what this family was up to a year ago tonight!

Another One of Ethan...

2010-05-02T18:57:00.000-05:00

Every time I blog I look for some shots of Ethan, but have a hard time finding them due to him being off with the guys most the time. Today I got a good one!!! We went to the Camp Pawnee to check out the place again before the twins' birthday party to see what all we need to decorate, and while we were there we took some time to play around and shoot some pictures. I had my nieces with me as well, so they were running around and hiding behind the trees, I knew if I shot enough I would catch an AWESOME shot of Ethan, and I did, and some of my nieces as well. A little background on me and my picture taking is in order I think. Well I take tons of pictures at ever event, or place we go. We go on a walk and I grab my camera, we go in the backyard to play, yup the camera goes too. I have so many pictures I take literally hundreds, some times thousands in a month, depending on what we do in a month. Oh and if we go camping or fishing there may be a hundred in one day. Anyways I have always loved taking pictures, if I could pick a dream job... photography would be it. Now I have tons and tons of pictures on my computer and what to do with them??? I started this blog to share pictures and stories of things that we do as a family, and plan to print it into a hardbound book each year, which this year has been more about surviving with the twins, but I just started photo editing. So far I am loving playing around with my pictures to make them more original and be a little more exciting.

SLURP...

2010-05-02T18:13:00.001-05:00

We have now learned that food is also fun!!! First came learning to slurp, oh yeah that was funny to watch brother and laugh, then it was even funnier to slurp it and then spit it out and re-slurp it. And wow do they think each other is so funny. They giggle and giggle it is the cutest thing. But now meals have taken on an entire new dynamic...PLAYTIME!!!

Ethan...

2010-05-01T22:32:00.000-05:00

Ethan does not have many pictures on here so I will throw this one in. Why you ask, well he is 10 and has way more important things to do than hang around letting mom get cute pics of him. He is usually off playing football or baseball with his friends while the babies are posing for pics in the park. One day they will play with each other more, I can't wait. He is a great big brother to his little brothers. I am so proud of the way he is with them and the sweet things he says. The best thing ever he has said was a conversation we had about when they all get older and the relationship that they will have. I told him that I hope that they would be the best of friends and do lots of things together, even after they all have families ( I know so many years away), he looked at me and said "oh we will mom", like duh mom how else would it be. I can only hope that is how it all works out for my three wonderful boys.

The Best Part...

2010-05-01T22:13:00.000-05:00

We have made many trips to that park. We walk in the park, we go down the slide at the park, we play in the grass at the park... but the best part it always the same, SWINGS!!! When pushed they laugh, when you stop they just look around at each other and all that is around them, and they smile and "talk" to each other. It really is one of the sweetest things you could ever see.

The Little Things...

2010-05-01T21:43:00.003-05:00

It just amazes me to watch them learn and explore!!!

Everything is such a wander in their eyes!!!

Oh really...

2010-04-28T21:22:00.000-05:00

Mom and Dad bought this

to give us something

to climb other than the couch!!
But we actually have little interest in playing on it, we just play around it and try to eat stuff on the ground.

My lil' Monkeys...

2010-04-28T21:17:00.000-05:00

Monkey See...

Monkey Do...

Awww...

2010-04-28T21:06:00.000-05:00

When you have twins you do everything times 2...even stopping to smell the pretty spring flowers. Dylan wanted to pick them off the tree and take them home, or well, maybe eat them on the way. *smile*

Awwwww....

2010-04-28T21:04:00.000-05:00

Always time to stop and smell the flowers with my boys!!! This is Ashton and me at the park, we had lots of fun with brothers, and grandma and grandpa. I even braved the big slide with the boys weeeeeeeeeeeeee it was a fast one.

Score...

2010-04-28T20:59:00.000-05:00

Soccer time is here!!! Dad and Ethan warming up before the game.

MINE...

2010-04-28T20:56:00.000-05:00

No matter if there is two of the same thing they want the one the other one has! They spit their binky out, and then take brothers. This game can go on for a few minutes :)

Boys will be boys...

2010-04-15T21:32:00.000-05:00

First time holding a worm!

My turn brother ...

Should have saw this coming...

Right in the mouth Ewww...

Look at us go...

2010-04-15T21:27:00.000-05:00

Both boys are up on their feet and walking and running around. Also they have learned to climb, I am not so sure this is a good thing. The new trick is to climb on the couch and run up and down in, and climb onto the back of it and take a dive off the side of it to the floor YIKES boys you are scaring you mom!!!

Peek-a-boo!!!

2010-04-15T21:24:00.000-05:00

Dylan and Ashton are the best of buddies, and this is the best part of being a mom of twins. It is such an amazing and beautiful thing to see the way the play with each other, and they communicate with each other without saying a word, I swear they have their own language. They chase each other around and laugh and giggle, and they wrestle and dive on each other too.

More park fun...

2010-04-15T21:18:00.000-05:00

Enough time in the house, now that it is nice out we go!!!

Easter...

2010-04-15T20:55:00.001-05:00

The boys have had a year full of first, and recently we just celebrated the boys' first Easter. The weekend before we had the cousins over and we had a lunch and a big hunt at the park. But on Easter we got up bright and early and headed off to church with grandpa and grandma, then we came home and had a little egg hunt and the boys got their Easter baskets. For the twins the best part of Easter was their chocolate bunnies, and don't dare take them away, because just like Valentines day they cry when you take the chocolate away *laugh*

Fun at the park...

2010-04-15T20:46:00.000-05:00

Soon the twins will be 1, and we went to the park to get some pictures of them for the invites. Big brother Ethan came along to help with baby brothers, but then he saw a friend at the park, so things got a bit hurried. We did get a few cute ones, but not exactly what mom had in mind.

It is amazing to think that it has been a year since our world has been turned upside down by this twinsanity!!! It has went so fast and it has been crazy, but things are getting a bit easier and no matter how hard it is and will be we are so lucky to have these two additions to our family. So why not have a HUGE party to celebrate the boys 1st birthday!!! We are planning a party and hoping that we have many friends and family there to celebrate this day with us.

Spring is here...

2010-04-15T20:30:00.001-05:00

We had to get a new stroller that was more suitable for our family camping, fishing and other fun outdoor adventures. The plan this day was to get out do a little walking by the lake and then sit and watch daddy and mommy fish a little, well can you guess what really happen??? We walked a bit, then nobody got to fish without the help of lil' Dylan and Ashton. Ashton wouldn't sit still, and Dylan wouldn't stop reeling the line in. So needless to say nothing was caught this day, oh well maybe next time.

Just goofing...

2010-04-12T23:14:00.000-05:00

Silly boys crawled around then discovered the picnic table to play and climb on.

SPRING...

2010-04-12T23:12:00.000-05:00

Spring is here and we have been enjoying our time at the park and walking. We got a noe jogging stroller, and have been getting some great use out of it. Every nice day we are out walking and going to the park. The swings are their favorite part of the park. After the swings the twins get down and explore. The have learned to pull the weeds and grass and pick up dirt balls and try to eat them, what silly boys!!!

Easter...

2010-04-12T23:08:00.000-05:00

The twins had their first Easter!!! They weren't to much into hunting but loved to play with the plastic eggs, and the walk to and from the park.

SPRING...

2010-04-12T23:05:00.000-05:00

Spring is here and we are enjoying our time outside. The boys and I have been gong outside on the nice days and they have been enjoying the time at the park, and exploring the backyard!!!

First real trip to the park...

2010-03-18T20:53:00.000-05:00

I have been so eager for a nice day so I could do this.....put the twins in one swing. We woke up this morning and the sun was shining so we packed right up and went to the park for the day, then we went to another park. We got to the park and the first place we went was the swings, I said lets put them both in one. Jeff though oh my *laugh*, but they both fit just fine. As soon as we put them in and gave them a small push, it was instant giggles. They loved it, they laughed and laughed, and when we put them in seprate swings they would laugh as they passed each other. We also took them down the slides a few times, but the swings were by far their favorite. We had a great day it was so fun, and the twins had a blast as well, and I don't think they have ever laughed so much!!! This photo is just one more reminder that twins ROCK!!!

Ashton...

2010-03-18T20:43:00.000-05:00

Just had to pick a picture of each of them to show just how happy the swings made them.

Dylan...

2010-03-18T20:42:00.000-05:00

I just had to pick a picture of each of them to show just how happy the swings made them!

Park number two...

2010-03-18T20:39:00.000-05:00

The boys had so much fun at the first park we decided to go to another one!

Oh come on brother...

2010-03-18T20:36:00.000-05:00

Dylan was ready to climb and explore, while Ashton would rather sit and look at the dirt some more.

Dirt...

2010-03-18T20:35:00.000-05:00

Today was the first time that I can think of that the twins have played in the dirt. They really didn't know what to think, just sat there and looked at it and touched it. At least nobody tried to eat it. *surprised*

Splashing...

2010-03-10T22:43:00.000-06:00

The last months has brought on so many changes! It seems like they are just learning so much each day. They are interacting with each other so much, and they play together so cute. Not always do they play nice, we do have stealing of toys, pinching, hitting, and pushing. They love to splash and play with their toys, and the new trick is dump water on the floor!!!

Our first zoo trip...

2010-03-10T22:28:00.000-06:00

We had so much fun on our first trip to the zoo. The boys were so good and really seemed like they enjoyed it. It is so great to get them out into the world and give them something else to look at beside home. Ethan's favorite is the aquarium tunnel with all the sharks and sting rays, and the twins really seemed into it as well. They would just follow all the fish with their eyes as they swam right past them. We had a GREAT day!!!