Which one? Opinions please...

I am trying to pick a dresser for the girls. One of these I am leaning towards and probably won't change my mind because I like the matching night stand better. But... I still want opinions. One is cheaper because it can be purchased at the local costco. The other goes off sale on August 31st so I have to decide before then. I am keeping all that info to myself so I get unbiased opinions. So please post a opinion. Click on comments at the bottom, you do not need to have a blogger account.


These top two go together...

This is a view of the nightstand, ignore the bed.

* To clarify there are two dressers. I am only buying one. I do not know what those boxes are. They might go together but I do not have room for two. Well I do but I want the room less crowded.

Gone are the lazy days...

Of summer! Lindsey started school monday and its been busy.

Not so much that she started school either. Wasn't sure I should share this, too many twin moms who read still have to embark on potty training. Potty training any child is a grueling process and potty training two is torture. After we dropped Lindsey to school we went to the mall. I took them straight to the baby potties. Hailey went with success. Sydney tried and it flushed (love that auto flush) while she was sitting which scared her and she fell in, UGH! She was never going to sit on that toilet or go anywhere near it again. So... I knew we had to go because she was on borrowed time. As we leave Hailey has an accident, which was really shocking since she just went. SO we headed home. They are doing about average and as long as I stay home they mostly have success but if I leave forget it. So we are stuck home doing nothing else but watching them. Diapers are underated. I would recommend waiting and enjoying them as long as possible. Right now it feels like life will never be the same. I know it will get better, right?
Oh and if you put a piece of toilet paper over the sensor it won't auto flush! Next time (not sure there will be a next time) I will have the potty seat in the car. Live and learn.

Jacob starts school next Tuesday. This week is kindergarten testing. Good thing too, since he threw up last night!

Princess beds...

This is what Sydney and Hailey got for their birthday. I ordered them today. I don't think I will move them into them right away but they will be ready and waiting...

Birthday Bash...

Sydney

HaileyHailey

Sydney

The girls had a great birthday! Loved watching them enjoy everything its like doing everything for the first time!

Happy Birthday Sydney and Hailey

Happy Birthday to my sweet twins. Three years ago today I felt more joy than I have ever known when I held you safe in my arms. After so many months of worry and agony you were born safely. During my pregnancy I never dared hope for such a joyous outcome. Spending so many dark moments believing you may never be mine was the hardest experience I have ever known... but without it I would not have known the joy that I have felt being your mother. Every moment of every day we all enjoy both of you. Your spirits have brought so much happiness to our family. May you always know how desperately we fought to get your here, how precious your lives are to us! You have changed the lives of all who know you! I love you my miracle babies!Safe in my arms (holding the girls for the first time).

First day home from the NICY (29 days).

More later...

Being that Person...

It constantly amazes me that no matter how bad my day has been, or how stressful things are, that a simple thing can refill my tank.
Yesterday after I put everyone to bed I was heading out to the gym. As I was walking out the door I heard a little voice. It was Jacob, he had escaped from his bed and asked me in his sweet voice, with his lower lip shaking, if I could come in and give him one more hug when I got home. He was on the verge of tears. It's amazing to be loved back like that. These children are my world, and I give up everything for them. It's nice to get to be that person. The person that makes them feel safe, warm and loved. It is also a big deal to be that person. Making sure you provide the proper amounts of cuddling, encouragement, and teaching needed. Being patient enough. You never know if what your doing is right or enough. My mom is still that person for me. It doesn't matter how old I get I still need her too. She understand the demands of mothering.

Potty training Day 1.5

I started potty training last night. It's well past time. The girls will be three on Saturday. I am a big believer in waiting till closer to three for an easier time. I do believe you can potty train earlier but when I did that with Lindsey we spent 6 months on the process. I trained Jacob late because I had 8 month old twins and he learned in one day and never looked back. Sydney and Hailey have been ready for this all summer, I have not! I selfishly wanted to wait till the end of the summer till we were done being out and about (not around potty seats). Anyway, they turn three saturday and I just could not wait anymore. It's late already, LOL!

Day one:
So I started last night. Sydney immediately went on the potty and was thrilled. Hailey was heartbroken she could not do it too. A half hour later Sydney ran across the kitchen and told me she needed to go and did it again. Hailey kept looking in her potty upset. So sad. She sat on the potty seat dutifully all night, still no results.

Day two:
Hailey went on her own and was totally amazed and thrilled. Both have now gone twice this morning. Still no accidents. I know they will come but none of my children have been this successfully this fast. I know they were VERY ready. It really is a lot easier to wait till they get to this point.

Big girls in our house today. After nearly 8.5 yrs of diapers without a break, it will be quite different to not have them around. Good different I am sure.

Top five reasons that eating meals is overated...

1- You can eat ice cream again. Previous to this I had not had ice cream since January! It's good stuff.
2-You can loose weight.
3-Over time you won't be as hungry.
4-You really learn to appreciate food.
5- Eating takes time! When you are out running errands, you don't have to eat. Again saves time and money!

Ha ha ha. I still can only eat soft soft foods and I am really really sick of it! Me and my Yoplait light and fits are getting to be really old. That is my main staple these days. I guess eating lots of yogurt and only yogurt will help with the 3 x a day antibiotics, LOL!

I am already planning a nice dinner out, when I can eat again!

Who else ?

Who else is living with High School Musical Mania 2? We have seen the entire show many many times. My mom recorded it too and told me sunday, " Did you know High School Musical 2 was on this Friday, we recorded it for Lindsey". Did I know? How could we not know around here, LOL!

I have to admit it was a lot of fun. Totally silly, cute, fun! Did anyone else see Hannah Montana's-Miley Cyrus in the pool scene at the end dancing? Lindsey swears she sees her. I have to agree it does look like her.

From the mouths of babes...

Please forgive my blog absence. I am still trying to recover from my wisdom teeth, ugh!

Conversation on the way home from the gym:
Me- I am so tired.
Lindsey- Is it from working so hard at the gym and not eating much (still can't eat )?
Me-Yes
Lindsey- How skinny are you going to get, you are already skinny.
Jacob- No Lindsey. She is not as skinny as Diana, Diana is skinny!

Lindsey did not hear Jacob so he forcefully repeated his lovely statement over and over loudly till we all agreed to the truth of his opinion! Diana (my sister) is a size 2 (maybe even 0) so yes she is much smaller than me and forever will be! Love ya Diana!

Thanks guys!

Happy Anniversary...

I didn't feel much like posting, but I had to post this. Today is our ten year anniversary! We are spending it apart, as I had my all four of my wisdom teeth removed and am not feeling well at all. He took all the kids to dinner alone. We are planning a nice get away weekend alone together in a few weeks. In ten years of marriage we have not done that.one of our engagement photos (not the one for the invitation)...

Outside our reception. It was in a beautiful Japanese garden.
*These the only pictures I have scanned sorry!

I am so amazed at where our lives have gone and what a wonderful family we have. Happy ten year anniversary, honey! I could never have dreamed of such happiness! We were so young and clueless back then! I feel lucky to have found such a great husband and father! I love you!

Family Fun...

Warning ... lots of pictures!!!
Saturday was a wildly busy and fun day. Our neighborhood always has a parade followed by a carnival. The kids were thrilled out of their minds! The twins loved riding in the Barbie jeep and managed to make it through the parade with some help from Alan (they don't really know how to steer or drive yet).

Always in motion...

First time in a bounce house.

Then at night I was helping at our NICU reunion. I really did not take many pictures (too busy). It is so fun for me to see all the families and babies I meet in my volunteering (doing great). It is also very fun to show of the girls, their progress, and see all the memories!

The girls doing the crafy I was helping with...

Alan. the girls, and our favorite nurse Denise.

The face painter was VERY talented!

Closer to crazy...

It's those little things that push you over the edge...

You know what I mean, right? You are having a normal busy day and then something happens that just pushes you over the edge. Makes you know your life is crazy, undpredictable, frustrating?

Like...

Your trying to go to Costco. As you are getting the cart, twins split and run both trying to escape going in the cart. People watch, are even annoyed that they cut them off while they are running.

You need a new costco card. You wait in a short line, only one person in front of you, seems o.k right? NOPE! He is crazy and spends 15 minutes trying to get the Costco guy to help him pay his American Express card and refund his late fees. He cannot understand why this is not possible! The Costco worker can't/won't call another person to help me with all my children, waiting for a simple card so I can get in the store! 15 minutes!

You out and about, both babies are stinky, changing two babies in a public restroom, one is on the changing area, the other running around up to no good. She turns on the water to the sink, fills up your purse full!

You are loading your car, you have two babies to buckle up and two older kids. Someone begins waiting for your spot right when you arrive to unload, they begin to honk and get annoyed at your slow speed... SERIOUSLY! I am not the best person to wait for!

You decide to have spaghetti for dinner, huge mess follows.

All four kids need a bath!!!!

Your bathing all four kids, while washing hair, one of them turns on the shower, you get completely soaked.


I hope you had a good laugh with me. Please share your little crazy moments in the comments. We all have them, and we all live through them every day! Who knows I am sure I will remember more of mine, and laugh too! Top on my memory list was my diaper disasters that used to happen almost daily! Those are still not funny!

Shopping....

Today I told the twins we needed to go Shopping (to costco). So we did and after we were done and were going to the parking lot Sydney started having a fit. It went like this...

S-I want to go Shoppin shoppin
me- We did go shopping already, now we are done.
S-No shoppin clothes and shoes, shoppin mall. No costco.

UH oh we are in trouble already, not quite three and she already knows about the shopping mall!

Tuesdays Tip...

For those of you out there who need dresses or other cute things like shirts. I have a few websites to share that I love.
Shabby Apple
I have two dresses from Shabby Apple and they are great. My favorite is a blue shirt dress that wear with a red bed, and red shoes! So fun!
Down East Basics
They have great shirts that are longer, and their dresses are cute too.
Layers clothing
Last one is Layers. I discovered layers a long time ago. What I love about layers is they are new and "in". They are comfy and they wash great. Back in May my sister, Lindsey and I headed over to their warehouse. Typically layers sells through 1)website 2)through consultants/parties... but I read online you could go to the warehouse and try stuff on etc... I prefer a store atmosphere. Anyway, we headed over there. First look and we were not sure about the styles and we about to leave with just a few items. Just as we were about to take off a darling girl came in and helped us out. She was grabbing shirts, offering advice, helping me realize I was trying them on two sizes too big, etc... She had great ideas and she got us to try stuff out of the box. She was giving us amazing service, running and grabbing sizes and colors, she even went and got three other equally darling girls who served us hand and foot. They gabbed and were just sweeties. After a moment I asked the girl at the reception who she was, afterall she deserved a real positive review from me right? She whispers that she was the designer and owner and the girls were her sister/partners. As time went on ( we were there forever) they allowed Lindsey to play with their children. Lindsey was allowed all over the site, back in the rooms, played hide and seek, etc... She was in heaven and thought she had been given star treatment. We ended up spending a lot on the shirts, which were all darling. I was so impressed with the service we received from someone who likely doesn't do that part much anymore. She had great taste and style and I really just loved all of them. So check out layers and buy them, she is so wonderful! It's a memory we all won't soon forget! They also sell cute swim suits, of which I own two. I have a lot of their shirts too.

Yellow car...

Finding yellow cars when we are out and about is a game the was started with the Grandparents. Until recently Lindsey was the champ and Jacob close behind. Until Hailey became interested in the whole game it's become an obsession with Hailey. It never ceases to amaze me where/how she finds them far away, tucked into a driveway, behind other cars. She must spend every moment in her car seat alert and searching for those yellow cars. She beats everyone! She has to get them, they must be hers! The twins world is all about colors. There is no such thing as just a dress its a pink dress, everything they interact with has a color and they love to point it out. They are so amazing to me! The world is full of colors, many I have forgotten to notice until lately.

Home show...

One of my favorite traditions is to attend the home shows they do in my area. They build between 20-30 homes and decorate them and you can tour them. There are two a year I go to. I love getting the decorating ideas and just having fun. It's my "girls night out" at its best!

Alan's mom, Lisa, and me

I want to get the twins rod iron beds...

This backyard had a pool, basketball court, outdoor kitchen etc...

Just some nice views...

My shoes...

This post if for Angie who shared her shoe collection on her blog a few weeks ago, with the premise, what do your shoes say about you? These are my summer shoes. Up until this summer I was not a shoe person. I bought what I needed and not a pair more. I had one pair of brown summer sandals, one pairs of black, and a dress shoe for church. This summer something has happened to me, not sure what because as you can see I have a lot of summer shoes. I obviously have not totally learned my lesson (with my terrible and still somewhat painful) ankle sprain since I still wear very high shoes. I have learned to be more careful and to never walk on grass in them though. Two pair are missing: a pair of brown ones just like the black, and a pair of brown ones I cannot wear because of my weak ankle. I also cannot wear the cute black strappy ones either (total waste) because I cannot walk and care for my children in them and my ankle is still too weak. I probably wear my flip flops the most, of course I wear my gym shoes almost daily too. The four in the front row are my favorites! I have to admit I am loving buying and wearing shoes. My new favorite store is DSW shoe store, so wonderful, and so full of cute shoes! Maybe thats what happened to me this summer or shopping with my sisters Diana/Holly who are both shoe freaks!