Christmas 2009

Christmas time came and went - a flurry of doctors visits, pharmacy runs, and drive-thru window passes. We've been sick each week since Thanksgiving, so we've spent the majority of our time huddled up at home, drinking tea and listening to Christmas music. We were scared we weren't going to be able to drive to Houston for the Deming Family Christmas, but we finally felt well enough to make the trip and we were so glad we did!

The boys had so much fun running around and wrestling with their cousins - Caleb, Bethany, and Joshua - and hanging all over anyone else who would hold them - Aunt Kay Kay, Aunt Kar Kar, and Nana! We enjoyed spending time together and having a special home church service led by Papooh on Sunday morning.

We chose to do gift giving a little different this year and it was a huge success! Instead of drawing names, we did a gift exchange. Each family brought 1 gift and then each family drew numbers and we selected gifts like a White Elephant party (stealing included). We also did a second gift exchange that was complelely White Elephant and I got to unload the Twilight Poster that I stole at our church party. Trust me gals...it was stolen a time or two at the Deming household too! ha! We had so much fun with the gift exchange - I hope we do it again next year!

Enjoy some of our pics!

Thanksgiving 09

Since it is almost 2010, I figured I better shape up and post some of our Thanksgiving pictures. Jonathan and I and the boys flew to Wake Forest, NC to spend the holiday with my family. My two sisters and their families came as well, so it was like a giant family reunion - and we loved every second of it!

Here are the highlights:

--an awesome dinner and table setting

--smores and outdoor fires!

--playing in Grammy and Grandaddy's backyard and their tent!

--lounging around the house

--lots and lots of eating

--reigndeer antlers courtesy of Targets dollar section

We had so much fun Grammy and Grandaddy - thank you for all your hospitality and love!

Random Twins Update

Playing and lounging around the house....

Happy Halloween

We're a bunch of sickies this halloween. Boo, literally. But despite missing our friends and parties, we decided to dress the boys up in their halloween costumes and let them run around our subdivision for a few minutes. So, fun was had by all.

My favorite pics in the slideshow are of Jonathan trying to wrangle the boys into taking a picture together by our pumpkin. But our little monkeys weren't going to have any of that! They had tasted freedom in the open air. Next thing you know they'll be hanging off of trees...

That's Bananas!

Pumpkin Patch

Here are some pics from our recent trip to the pumpkin patch! Enjoy!

So Long Love!

Goodbye sweet morning,
You've been such a good friend to me the past 16 months, and I hate to see you go. I'll miss your quiet moments. I'll miss your offerings of coffee and solitude. Now that the boys have dropped their morning naps, I won't be seeing you around much anymore. But I won't have time to mourn you. Your presence will soon be replaced with Veggie Tales, story time, wrestling matches, and sticky hugs and kisses.

But please know, you've truly been the white space in my life. And so it is with a heavy heart that I bid you adieu!

Warmest Regards,
theMOM

Credits: Frame by PYSB "Jurassic" kit.

Wrestlemania 2009

it's all fun 'n games 'till someone gets hurt.......

Books it is...

The boys love to read. As far as I can tell, it is the only good trait that they have inherited from me. But just as often as I find them sitting by themselves with a book in their lap, I find them doing this:

As soon as Jonathan sits on the rug, they bring him a book, put it in his hands, and promptly settle in his lap for a good story.

Sometimes there is a little jockeying for position. But mostly, they're content as can be, going through many books in their story setting.

Snuggling close together and laughing at dada's funny voices and animal growls.So books it is...until they are replaced by dirt bikes and video games.

Credits: Kristin Aagard's Trick or Treat Sampler

Cranky Critters & Aunt Kay Kay

Last weekend, Jon's little sister Katherine, came to visit us - and when I say "us" I mean "the twins." The day Aunt Kay Kay was slated to arrive, wouldn't you know the little critters would come down with runny noses? So, for the majority of her visit they cried and cranked and yanked and screamed. Wasn't that fun, Aunt Kay Kay? Don't you want to come back? Huh? Huh? Do ya????

As it turns out, they both had ear infections, which explained a lot, like when my usually energetic boys stopped roaming the living room and suddently kept to themselves in the kitchen. Look at poor Jonah, he looks about "done-in" (name that movie).

And yes, I know there is a pile of unfolded laundry in the background. Just so you know, there will always be a pile of unfolded laundry in the background of my photos - you can count on it.But since we went to the doctor and got the boys on some antibodics (which I confused 1 ml with 1 tsp on the first few doses - sorry boys), we are happy to report that things are lookin' up.

Jonah is smiling once more...And has hit the books once again...

And Zach is back to his usual activities - wrestling with the "dada." Ouch dada - that looks a little uncomfortable!And the mom? Well, she's around here somewhere. A few friends commented that I'm never in any shots. Well, it's because when others handle the camera this is what happens.... (just kidding 'dada'!)
So come back soon Aunt Kay Kay! We promise not to wipe our runny noses on you on your next visit! We love you and miss you!

XOXOXOXXO

Zach & Jonah

Walking 101

We're walking! And we never stop! The boys started walking about a month ago. And those 30 days have been full speed ahead. It seems they only have two settings: "on" and "off." There is no middle speed. The "off" setting occurs when they are in their cribs, strapped into their high chairs, or when one bumps into the other (which is quite often).

My vocabulary consists of consoling and congratulating the whole day through! "You did it! Yeay!" or "I'm so proud of you!" On the other hand, I do spend a lot of time saying things like: "I'm sorry you bumped your head on brother, but I don't think he meant to plow you over" or "I know brother walked over your back and head, but I'm not sure he knew you were sitting there." It seems our day is a series of near misses and collisions. :)

I stopped following them around long ago. Because inevitably they always go in the opposite directions. You can see from the photos below that they circle the house through the kitchen. Usually running into each other around corners.

Fall is here...I have no plants.

Fall is officially here. I usually take note of the seasons by measuring the level of "deadness" of my potted plants. Somewhere between the end of the scortching Texas summers and the beginning of fall, my enthusiasm for watering my potted planes wanes. And so, I often look out on the porch only to discover withered leaves, cracked potting soil, and bare branches.

However, it seems my plants have met a different fate this year. Oh, the plants are still dead alright, but instead of me being the perpetrator, I recently caught two little critters red-handed de-potting my precious plants.

Oh, they look innocent enough in their critter-sized GAP sweatshirts (ps - thanks Nana).

But these critters are dangerous! Especially the one on the left.

I mean, there he is - in broad daylight - pawing through my pots!

...throwing them around like a wild animal!

And here he is eating the dirt - now that's definitely "critter" behavior!

Well, offering to share the dirt with Dad is sort of nice...

Aww...he's really upset.

Dada to the rescue. Sometimes even plant-robbing critters need a little help.

Hat, Hat, Hat...

Hat is said three times...by patting your head three times. At least that's the way Zach says it. We are teaching the boys baby sign language. They are picking up all the phrases that have to do with food ("more" is their favorite - go figure). But recently, Zach picked up the word hat and now he goes around patting his head all the time. For months we've tried to get them to wear baseball caps as a way to protect them from the sun. But no - they would rip them off the second we put them on. No, all the sudden, Zach can't get enough of his. He likes to wear it sideways, frontways, backerds (backwards), and any which way he plops it on. He also likes for mom and dad to wear it although we look a little silly with a child's cap on. I'm pumped about what his means for winter..cute little stocking caps here we come. Now if we can just get sweet Jonah to jump on board, we'll be all set...



Credits: Golden Afternoon kit by Sugarplum Paperie

Pool Days

You gotta love HEB. A couple of weeks ago, I bought a kiddie pool for 9 bucks on sale! It came with all these cute colored balls. Jonathan and I were so excited. We promptly filled it up, added the balls, and plopped the boys inside. We were sure they were going to love it. Bathtime is always a hit, so why not an outside bath?

Well, the pool wasn't quite a hit. The water was freezing (duh, mom and dad!), and so they lasted about 2 seconds. Long enough for me to get a picture. We haven't used it since. I'm not sure the 9 dollar photo was worth it, but the boys are still enjoying the colored balls!

Credits: Vera Lim "Gift" freebie. Pioneer Woman "Soft and Faded" photo shop action.

Kids Day Out

At 9:00 am this morning, I dropped the boys off for Kids Day Out. At 9:20 am I began think this wasn't such a bright idea. But we all survived! And when I picked them up 2:00 this afternoon they seemed to be happy, having enjoyed a day of playing with new friends and learning new things. Every Tuesday, we'll repeat the schedule. I'll try to include some pics, but we left our camera in Houston after a recent trip this weekend.

What did mom do on her day off? She had planned to spend the whole day writing her Bible study and working on some campaign stuff for church. But instead she ran about a zillion errands and had a delicious lunch with good bud Amanda. Work can wait! Right?

Here's a recent pic of the boys destroying our window blinds. :)

Unexpected Gift

Something happened to me this week. I received an unexpected gift from one of my favorite digital scrapbooking designers - Ellie Lash - by leaving a comment on her blog. I received a coupon to use in her store and bought her "Shabby Spice" kit. I love it so much and can't wait to scrap more pages of the boys with their dad. The kit has warm tones and masculine colors, so it is perfect for warm summer days and the beginning of fall. Thank you Ellie! You made my week!

Credits: Ellie Lash "Shabby Spice" kit; Font - Desyrel.

Summer Fun

Today was a good day. We walked around our neighborhood in our wagon. We played. We napped. We snacked. Before dinner, Dad treated us to Bluebell popcicles. We loved them. But, we loved the popcicle stick even more!

My Sweet Ones

Credits: Kristin Aagard's Lil Bakery kit (now retired) and Template; fonts: jailbird jenna; photos by DearCharli Photography.

1,2....1

Zach is into counting these days. Whenever we start counting 1-10, he pulls out his fingers and tries to follow along.

{One}
{Two}

{Three...I mean One!}

Okay, Okay, so we're still working on it....