Celebrating a Miracle (or two)

It is amazing that a year has already passed. What a year it has been. I maintain that having twins is the funnest yet hardest blessing. They have brought so much joy into our lives. They have taught me to just go with the flow. They have helped us feel our Heavenly Father's love and trust in our family. This year has been full of what we call "twin moments". Twin moments are as simple as walking in the door from getting the mail, seeing both of them enjoying lunch in their high chair and having the overwhelming awe of realizing that there are TWO of them. Twin moments also include two babies up in the night, two babies each crawling in a different direction, two babies wanting to be held, two babies laughing, to babies babbling, two babies splashing in the bath...oh I could go on forever. All the joy of one baby--doubled.

Then and Now...


Justin and Megan's birthday was a celebration for all of us. We survived the first year! With the help of the kids, we decided on a circus theme, complete with cotton candy, popcorn, face painting, a bounce house, and pony rides. There are many angels on earth who have been so good to us this year and it was important that they celebrate with us too.

I love that my lap is still big enough for the both of them!

Jake the magician and Emma the clown!

Double Trouble

I keep threatening to place a bell of one tone around his neck and another of a different tone around hers. We just never know what these two will be into next, and they team up on us! The mess in the pantry was actually quite productive for me. They played long enough in the instant oatmeal and granola bars that I was able to finish up my canning project of the day. Justin seems to be very close to walking, he barely holds on to things as he toddles around. Watch out world! I can't imagine what it will be like to have TWO toddlers--probably like everything else over the past year...crazy, fun, and wonderful.

Preschool!

It was with mixed emotions that we sent Jake to preschool today. It is going to be so good for him but it is SO quiet around here without him. Jake gets excited about just about anything, but there are few things he looks forward to with a lot of anticipation. Preschool has been one of those events. He has really been looking forward to today. He came upstairs this morning still half asleep, but sporting his backpack. We love Teacher Erica and know she loves Jake. It will be really interesting to see what stories she will have to tell...you just never know with our Jake!

A New Tradition

We really wanted to get away before the kids started school and decided to go camping. So, for those of you who are experienced in the outdoors, you may not think what we did qualifies as camping. My only camping experiences are a few times up to girls camp and a couple of bad hotels. So, to me a fifth wheel and a tent with the occasional use of a cabin bathroom totally counts! We all had so much fun in the four days we were up there that we decided to do it every year. Shoot, maybe we will get brave and go more often than that. Watch out Grandma Jo, we are thinking of kidnapping you and having you come too (hee hee)!

"The Exodus"

Travis was so embarrassed by the massive amount of gear we require that he refused to drive through town. We had to take the back way.

Jake thought we were in heaven. He couldn't wait to go to bed every night in the tent with his Dad.

The poor babies had to spend a lot of time in the stroller. The really tested what was and what was not baby proof at our camp site.

Picking "buckle harrys"

I found this really neat hot springs while researching the area online. We drove up first thing Tuesday, and they are CLOSED every Tuesday. Once we were back in cell phone range we called Jenny and she googled another hot spring. We ended up coming back to Gold Fork another day. The other hot spring we went to was in a ghost town and the pool is the same as it was in the late 1800's. We will NEVER forget the "friendly" turkeys that greeted us. We are still laughing

Our camp site

Our chef

Travis had me take a picture of every piece of meat he cooked. Here is the bacon! We borrowed this pan. As soon as we were home we purchased one for him. He seasoned it that very night.

Before heading home we had breakfast at the pancake house in McCall. As you can see by looking at Travis, it was the end of a long week away. :)

Headed home

Back to School

Please don't tell the girls, but the first day of school is my least favorite of the entire year. The day was made easier knowing how excited Annie and Emma were to go back to school. They were up at 6:00 this morning ready to eat and get dressed. It really will be nice to get back into a routine, but it is pretty lonely around here without them. They have even decided to ride the bus home together this year and decided to start today! Please pass the tissues.

Emma's teacher is Mrs Doyle. Here she is at her desk ready for her first full day of school!

Annie has Mrs. Parker. It is going to be an interesting year for Annie. Her best friend Mackenzie moved to Wyoming and they have been together since kindergarten. She is very optimistic about making new friends and we are very proud of her for being so easy going!

Looking at this picture I can see why people are always asking me if these two are twins! Wow.

Happy First Day of School to Annie and Emma!

Crooked Day

Megan has had a few crooked days this week, but with plenty of stretching and a few other interventions she is looking better already. This picture is of her on day two of her helmet being off--wouldn't you know the big bow was next in line to the pig tails? She is so precious!

97 Days of Helmet Hair

After 97 days in her helmet Meg is all done!!! It is amazing how her head has changed shape and how quickly she has progressed. We are SO excited to be able to kiss the top of her head and cuddle in without that darn helmet in the way. Seeing her without the helmet is more of an adjustment than we thought it would be--it seems like I have forgotten to do something and she looks so different. Megan also has some adjusting to do as she learns that it really does hurt to fall on her head!

This is Amy our helmet hero and magician

After we got home we decided to celebrate. It is as big of an accomplishment as a birthday so we sang and had cake.

No surprise Meg took dainty little bites...

And Justin tackled the cake like it would disappear if he didn't hurry!

Big shock--I couldn't wait to get two pony tails in her wild locks :)