It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

 Guess what we've been doing at our house?

Abbey and Luke are sooooo into all things Christmas this year...I think it's gonna be a fun one!!

Thankful

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving with our families. It was a wonderful weekend. The twins did great and LOVED being showered with so much attention, so many fun people to play with, and so many new toys and books to see at our grandparents houses.

As I look through these pictures, I can't help but be humbled by how generous our God has been to me. Two and half years later, I still can hardly believe I have twins. We have twins. I have an amazing husband, who loves me so completely and encourages me every day, and together we have these two beautiful, smart, funny, healthy children. We even added a sweet dog this year! We have a cozy home...it may be small, but it forces us to be a close family =). Both David and I have good, stable jobs. We have so much extended family, that it's impossible to see them all in one weekend - what a blessing. 

It's good to stop and focus on all the amazing things in our life. I'm always grateful for my family, but sometimes I get so stuck in (and overwhelmed by) the day to day grind of things that I can forget just how grateful I truly am. 

Money is tight right now - but we have enough.

Our house is messier than I'd prefer it to be - but we have a home.

My kids are in a very busy season right now - but I'm so, so grateful they are healthy enough to keep me on my toes.

I work at a Children's Hospital, and I see sick and terminally ill children every single shift. One year in and it has yet to become routine to me.

I pray it never does.

Each and every single time I see a family pushing their child in a wheelchair, or a bald little baby toddling around with IV's in her arm, I am nearly forced to bow my head and say a prayer for strength for that family, and for thanks for the health of mine.

It's a good reminder that sometimes the very things that overwhelm me the most are the things I should be the most grateful for...

Like these two busy little turkeys...

\

We stayed at GrandDad and Grannie Annie's house, and so did Auntie Mem!

 

 Auntie Nessa came over to hang out too...

My Dad and Ann's birthdays fall over Thanksgiving weekend, so we got to watch them open their presents, which is almost as fun as opening them ourselves...almost. 

That night before bedtime, the Aunties and GrandDad snuggled in to watch "Ice Age, Christmas" with Luke and Abbey...

 

The next morning, we got up and climbed Auntie Mem like a jungle gym...

 

And posed for some pictures...

 

Then we headed over to Grammie and BopBops for a big Thanksgiving meal!

Our little family...

 

My attempt at a picture with my babies...did I mention we are busy these days?

 

 The cousins at the little table...

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!

Spaghetti Girl!

 Abigail love, love, looovvveeesss Spaghetti. She always has seconds and often thirds when I serve it. The other night, she had two of her own plates, and then went ahead and finished off Brother's plate too...

 This was back in Feb of 2011...

Quotable

Driving to the store this afternoon, the following conversation ensued...

 

Luke: "Momma, I see trees!"

Abbey: "Yes! Lot's of them!!"

Me: "And who made the trees?
Luke: "God made the trees"

Me: "Right!! Good job!"

Luke: "Yes. He used his hammer"

 

 

Yes, son, He probably did.

 



Two little monkeys jumping on the bed...

This past week we made the transition from cribs to toddler beds.

Some might liken this to a transition from Babies to Toddlers, but it my mind that's more of a personality and ability kind of thing. And Luke and Abbey have been Toddlers for quite some time now.

I'd planned on keeping them in their cribs for much longer - simply because it's much more convenient for us to be able to have a contained spot for them, as they share a room. But Luke kept climbing out. He figured it out one day, and climbed out every time after. I guess I just figured I'd rather have him climbing out of a toddler bed then hurling himself -albeit deftly- over a high crib railing.

Since our "conversion" consisted of simply removing one side off their crib, it was done without much pomp and fanfare. In fact, in an unprecedented rookie-like move, I did it on a night Dave had a late work meeting and wouldn't be home until well after bedtime. This was a stupid choice for a lot of reasons, but the main one is the kids go down wayyyyy better for him than they ever do for me.

But whatever, we made it. I laid on their floor while they drifted off, and then snuck out of their room. Abbey woke up a few times during the night, but was quickly oriented and fell back to sleep. They woke up at their normal time Friday morning (around 7:30ish) and called out from their beds. 

I'd call that a success!!

Nap time yesterday and today have been a little more difficult, as the freedom has proved too tempting for Luke. He keeps climbing out and playing with toys. A few stern warnings and he makes his way back to his bed. 

Last night when Dave and I went to check on them before we went to sleep, we found several toys in each of their beds... =). But hey, they fell asleep eventually, right?

Over the River and through the Woods...

...to grandmother's house we go!

Actually, to all three sets of granparents houses we went!

  

Last Friday afternoon, the twins and I loaded up our backpacks and went on a road trippin' adventure!

We are so lucky that all our grandparents live in the same city, and it's only about an hour away.

First, we stopped in to see Poppa Bruce and Gaga Donna. (the kids came up with Gaga all on their own, and it's totally stuck.)

 

We had so much fun playing with their toys!!

 

Then we stopped at Grammie and BopBop's house. I forgot my camera in the van, so I didn't capture any pictures. But we had a nice visit!

Our final stop was at GrandDad and Grannie Annie's house. This was the main part of our Adventure. We were going to stay the night there!

A few days before our trip, Luke and Abbey got this special book in the mail...

 

...it was SO cute. It showed us lots of pictures of where we were going and what fun things we could do during our stay.

We loved playing with all the toys, like the camera...

...and dress up clothes...

 

After dinner we took a bath and got ready for bed. All three of us were planning on sleeping in the same bed. It took us sweet forever to settle in, but eventually we all fell asleep. 

The next morning, Grannie Annie had new toys out!

 Sweet boy looovveess his boots!

Grannie Annie and Sis made a tent =)

 

After awhile we got dressed and headed to the park!

 

I think the park may have been the highlight of our trip! The kids had so much fun, and their favorite part was collecting chestnuts. They were so excited to bring them home and they still enjoy them today...

 

(Abbey's are on the chair in a pile=-) )

Thanks so much to all the grandparents for letting us come  destroy play in your homes! We are so lucky to have you!!!

Lately...

Abigail is soooo into soccer lately!

 

Can't let a little rain stop us!

Music lessons with Daddy...

So lucky to have a Daddy that takes us puddle jumping!!

Momma's little helper...

Family Movie Night!!

So, as you can see...we've been very busy...=)