December review...

I just didn't have enough time to post all the pictures from December. December is such a busy month and I often found myself feeling stressed and grinchy. I am so glad I overcame those feelings and enjoyed the season. I Welcome January and say goodbye to all that craziness for another year!

Visiting Santa (Grand kids)All the grandchildren at my Grandpa's would be 100th birthday party. When my Grandpa turned 80 a birthday party was held at the Lion House. To celebrate his 100th birthday we all met and recreated the party. It was a very special night where we shared memories, good food. The most amazing part was that all of us attended, every child and Grandchild. I plan to share some of the very special things I learned about him (that I did not know) from that party later.

Hailey and I

Christmas Parties

Dessert at a fancy restaurant (La Caille)

Kids all dressed up for dessert...

Night in bethlehem, we all dressed up...
Alan and Jacob were the wise men in the live nativity. Jacob was so reverent.

Christmas dresses (they were promised a big treat if they smiled big and so they did)

Lindsey and her BFF at the nutcracker

Lindsey and I at the nutcracker

There are so many more but these were my favorites!

My Plan...

My plan is to work harder to spend more time with each kid. In this case I wanted to make Lindsey feel special. With younger sisters and brothers I think she often gets lost in the shuffle and I often put a lot of pressure on her to be grown up. I don't think I take the time to give her positive praise or spend time with her. Most of my attention on her is not positive. So today I picked her up from school and took her out to lunch. The little girls joined us because they are always with me but she knew this was just for her. She told me that when she heard them call her name to check out she was shocked and it was the best surprise ever! I kept telling her I did it because I wanted her to feel special and know I loved her. She was truly happy. I don't get to see her as often as the other kids because she is in school all day so this was a nice opportunity to be with her and have it be positive. I find it hard to find the time to do this but watching her face light up today reminded me how important it is. I had so much cleaning and errands to do but this time was used most wisely.

He melts my heart...

Today was the twins first day in the big girl part of church (out of the baby nursery). It's called Primary (for those who don't know). The girls were very apprehensive to go and sit with their teacher and would not let go of me. Suddenly Jacob sitting several rows behind with his class came to the front put his arms around the girls and sat down in the middle of them. They settled down. I left the room and peeked through the door and saw him with his arms around the girls. It was so sweet to see him take care of them that way and to see how much they trust him. I am so blessed he came right before the girls. He loves and protects them all the time! They are so lucky to have him for their big brother.

Welcome 2008...

I think I am in denial. I haven't been out much this week so I keep thinking its still 2007. It's not. So here is my post from last year... Welcome 2007

I love goal making, not just at the new year all year. I love list making and spending time to think and improve yourself. I really believe if you do not change what you are doing you will just keep getting the same things you were always getting. To get change YOU have to create it. You have to become what you want, you create your own destiny. My last post already reviewed 2007 and so does this whole blog so I will focus on the one post from last year (above) and those goals.

Out of my list of goals the following were noted:
I joined a gym and plan to start an exercise routine, read more scriptures, get up earlier, go to bed earlier, be more patient and kind, be a better friend, continue my work on Monoamniotic.org and continue the rest of my fun from last year.


I completed the exercising. I surpassed my expectations and have many more with that one. I have not been reading my scriptures, I get up earlier but I still go to bed late maybe later than last year, I still volunteer both at the hospital and on the computer. So out of all my goals I think I have done okay but have room for improvement.

This year:
*I want to loose the last bit of weight and continue exercising.
*I want to read my scriptures, go to bed by 12:30am.
* Be more cheerful and resist complaining (thats a big one).
* I want to cook better dinners (something I always make myself feel bad about).
*More scrapbooking. There once was a time that I had so many pages is was overflowing, I was *scrapbooking to a fault (all the time). I need to find the time to get going again. I have not scrapbooked for 6 months.
*spend more one on one time with each child.

My Loves 2007...

Things I don't want to forget about 2007 and my loves...

Alan
Our trip to San Francisco, a weeks vacation at the beach, many many nights with the kids for my girls nights, supporting my hospital volunteering and constant typing on my internet things, watching you serve at church, movies, working so hard for our family, you loving your Christmas present. 10yrs of marriage and four beautiful kids (a little biased about the kids part).

Lindsey
Watching you get baptized and take it very seriously you were glowing that day and I will never forget it, watching you swim in the ocean without a bit of fear, your overflowing joy over vacations and outings, you writing me that card that said, "Thank you for all you do", The way you hugged me and treated me the day I found out my Grandpa died and the way you behaved so nicely at the funeral, sending you off on the ski bus with fear in your eyes, you buckling your sisters for me, you telling the babysitter you will take care of all potty trips while we were gone,Your face on Christmas morning.

Jacob

Your overflowing heart filled with kindness, watching you on your first day of kindergarten, running to my arms freely anytime I pick you up from school, you still wanting to cuddle, watching you learn to ride a bike (you were so proud of yourself!). You taking care of your sisters, you loving to be with your daddy, your face when you saw me come to watch you snowboard, you always opening the doors for me everywhere we go (the stroller needs it) you buckling the girls in their carseats ALL THE TIME! You offering to give away your coat to your cousin who lost his and was crying... always doing the kind thing.

Hailey

Snuggling you, you saying, "Hold you hold you", the questions you have learned to ask "do you have the stroller? Your face when you see me when you have snuck out of bed, the way you act when your sister in crying, your love for pink and for princess stuff, it makes you feel like a million bucks, watching you in the pool- head back floating, your love for anything sweet, you singing LA LA LA is the sweetest voice ever ALL. THE . TIME, you loving your long hair.

Sydney
You sucking your two fingers with your bare arm over it. You saying "hold you hold you", Always being the first one to share, your impish smile, your sneaky nature, snuggling you, the way you act when you feel pretty, your love for candy, your very obvious attempts to sneak stuff... holding scissors and looking at me and telling to "please go away", the way you say "very" in front of everything you really want, staying in bed with you all day long when we were sick, your many unique facial expressions.

So many wonderful things have happened this year, so many moments I will never have back, so many things I hope to never forget... Ready for more!

2007 tag...

2007... What was your year like?

An unexpected blessing - Getting to spend our first weekend away as just a couple (since we had Lindsey) We went to San Francisco. Going on another girls trip to Boston!

Feeling Important - I cannot really think of anything good for this one. A Mother's job is not very glamorous! Going on my girls trip to Boston and realizing I am pretty fast when I just get myself ready and I am not actually late all the time.

Craziest thing I did - Drop my brand new Canon Rebel Camera and break the lens (or so I thought it was just the lens filter). I was absolutely physically ill till I got to the camera shop and found out it was going to be okay. In my defense I had hooked the strap on wrong and when I picked it up by the strap it launched it across the room on the floor.

Smartest thing I did - join the gym and get healthier.

Sentimental Moment - Loosing my Grandfather this last September.

Most enjoyable gift - My Canon Rebel and my Ipod!

Craziest purchase turnabout - My ipod. I bought it in February and it went missing and was replaced( by my Dad who wanted an ipod and was sure it would turn up). I am sure he thought it would happen fast but it did not... months later when all hope of recovery was lost it was found hidden by one of the twins in a play purse!

Moments of Maturity - Sydney and Hailey potty trained and became big girls in so many ways :(

Huge Answers to prayer - I have no had huge answers to prayer this year, but I feel I have the quiet reassurance that he hears me, he knows my needs, and he helps me everyday! That is huge to always have!

TAG - I want to hear what you did too!
Happy New Year! I am a big goal setter. I can't wait to set some new goals and review last years and see what I acomplished!

Cousins...

,The girls and Cali (their real cousin)

Yesterday at the mall Sydney and Hailey met two girls they really liked, they were cousins. After that the twins told everyone they saw that they were cousins. It caused quite a stir and made everyone (including me) laugh! They could not understand why no one believed them! It went like this
twins:Hi were cousins.
lady: no your not I can tell.
twins: YES we are!
Lady: I think your sisters, twins sisters, identical twin sisters...
twins: No were just cousins...

Let's just say no one was fooled. LOL!

Christmas favorites...

Lots of white snow, beautiful (made roads bad bad for Christmas Eve dinner though).
Excited Children!
Good food
Surprises
The twins wanted Santa to come but they wanted to be sure he knew they did NOT want to see him at all. Drop the presents and DO NOT COME UPSTAIRS!
Grateful children
Time with family

We had a great day, we received many presents and enjoyed it all! We left the house Christmas morning at 9:30 am and did not return till 10:30pm! I went to bed at 2am the night before and was exhausted. The twins took a nap at 5:30 at my moms and nothing would wake them up till 9:30pm. Amazingly they went to bed right when we got home and slept all night! Hope your Christmas was Merry and Bright! Thanks for all the well wishes... the stomach flu stayed away!inside the pop up princess castle (a big hit)!

Relentless...

4 down and 2 to go. Please oh please stay away on Christmas day!
Jacob was sick all night but was much improved by morning. It's a miserable but fast moving bug!
*Update: Alan is now sick too! Only one more left. Please no Christmas Eve or Christmas Day sickies.

Flash back Friday...

I am cheating a little and sharing the twins photo montage. I can watch it a million times and still never be tired of it (well I am the mom). Some of you have seen it already...

Sydney and Hailey -Our True Miracle

Checking things off...

My list is getting smaller...

Christmas Cards done and mailed (monday)



Neighbor Gifts done and teacher gifts (not all passed out)


Gifts bought (one more left)
This is the only homemade gift I did this year. It's a little tin filled with homemade cards (for my sister in law). I do have some coasters (forgot those). I normally do a lot of homemade gifts but decided to simplify. I will do them again someday but for now I just can't.

Treats made and enjoyed

Andes Mint Cookies

Peanut Kiss Cookies (our favorite)

Carmel pretzels (tried for the first time). So yummy!

I am beginning to feel better about Christmas. Still need to get it all ready though!
Merry Christmas! Christmas Vacation has started. My kids are thrilled!

"I very don't need you"...

We are feeling SO much better today. Thanks for the get well wishes! My to do list is getting smaller, slowly.

Today when I was in the bathroom (Hailey followed me in) I was dealing with Sydney screaming on the other end! Nothing I could do about that... Suddenly she got quiet and said, "I very don't need you to come out". So... I hurried out as fast as possible to discover I had avoided a near disaster.

Put a smile on my face...

Alan sent this to me today and it made me smile. It's not very long! Enjoy!

Don't send a lame Holiday eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

I was wrong...

I "thought" my stomach felt off because of the few french fries I had sampled (I don't eat many of those) or the perfume I had tried from Sephora, maybe it was drinking too much water? After several hours and worsening symptoms I knew why my stomach was sick! I spent the early hours of the night sick to my stomach with body aches and the chills. I sent Alan downstairs so I could keep the light on and suffer without waking him. That was not the best choice because at 3am Sydney woke up throwing up too. If I thought waking up in the night to throw up was bad on a normal night it was MUCH worse when I was feeling that sick too. I thought I could barley walk but somehow I took care of her too. It was awful! I decided to not get Alan to try and keep him from getting sick too. I found Hailey this morning on her floor crying "My Sydney My Sydney" because Sydney was sleeping in my room. I spent the day in bed with Sydney by my side feeling awful. Jacob tried to help out with Hailey,he was a pretty good babysitter. It was very surprising how much easier Hailey was without Sydney to help cause trouble. I somehow managed to feed the kids and do the laundry it's been a hard day and Alan works late... No sick days for moms.

Rolling with the punches...

Saturday Jacob had snowboarding lessons all day. Friday night I was awakened at 2am by a sudden scream to find Hailey throwing up everywhere. This continued all night every 20 minutes till about 7am. At that point I got up and got Jacob ready to head off to his lessons with Alan. I was looking forward to going up w/the girls to get pictures and watch him for a bit but was disapointed because of Hailey's illness. After they had left for about an hour I received a frantic call from Alan telling me Jacob had left without his coat. Thats an BIG problem. So I packed all three girls in the car with warm coats and we headed up the mountain. I'm so glad I got to go and see him. He was adorable and I love the pictures! I will never forget his face as he saw me when he was heading down the hill or his lip quivering when I had to go. It's moments like this I don't want to miss and won't forget. This is why I love being the mommy. Hailey is on the mend and Sydney wanted to sleep with a bowl tonight. She must be worried she will get sick too!

Flashback Friday...

Santa visits...

So I have tried to find many of our Santa visits through the years. Some are before my digital camera and have been scrapbooked already. I am missing 2003 here but its in an album.

2001 Lindsey was 2.5 yrs old and an only child. She was never scared of Santa

Jacob 9 months old 2002

Lindsey 3.5 yrs old 2002

2004 Hard to see pics but the twins were just a few months old here.
2005

2006

2007

As you can see the twins opinion of Santa has remained fairly consistent, they do not care for him at all.

Tuesdays Tip...

on Wednesday (ha ha). I am behind on everything right now so why not this too.

Did you know shaving your legs with conditioner totally works? A bunch of girlfriends I volunteer with at the NICU shared it with me like everyone knew this, but I didn't. I like it better than shave gel. It seems like I get less itchy. I just bought a cheap conditioner. No more running out of shave gel when I am wet. I never could tell when it was almost empty.

Merry Christmas...

Melissa over at Are you Serious redid my blog with this new holiday look (which is also my Christmas card for those of you who get that too). She did another lay out for after Christmas too. Thanks so much. If you would like her to help you out she is great and prices are reasonable!

The perfect gift...

Cleaning!

Yes my house is clean, several closets & rooms organized too! It's amazing. I cleaned with the cleaning girls (who are amazing) the 2 hrs they were here and every second after and for the first time I see real progress. I feel like I have acomplished something. The twinados are still undoing it as fast as possilble but I am way ahead of them for now.

Laundry count for the last three days... 14 loads.

Sometimes...

My greatest joy is also my greatest challenge.

*photos from our vacation in California in October (missing that weather now).


When I turned off a show playing in my room (the girls were in their room next door in bed) I heard Sydney say, "We better cry now Hailey".

The girls have become painfully early risers. First it was 5:50am, then 5:30am, and last night it was 3am! This will have to be stopped, I just have not figured out how. When I discovered Hailey (at 3am) she had turned her light on and was in the middle of the room playing. Seriously...

They can get into things in two minutes flat- don't turn your head for a minute. Teamwork is really a very amazing thing!

We really need to learn the art of combining your bathroom trips. Four trips to the bathroom (all successful) in an hour is excessive.

They charm everyone who meets them with their winning smiles and impish little personalities. They can frustrate me more than any two people and I love them with my entire being and don't know what I would do without them.

The things kids say...

Today in the midst of errands and millions of things needing to be done I had lunch with some family at my favorite restaurant- The Cheesecake Factory (it only opened a month ago).

We had sat down and were eating (already made one potty trip) when Sydney announced at the top of her lungs... "I need to VERY poop". Who am I to argue with someone who needs to VERY do anything, especially poop! So off we went.

Flashback Friday...

Will return next week. I am swamped!

Covering more ground faster than ever...

I could not help but post this...
Dear UPS guy,
I am sorry for ordering so much online so I can avoid driving to malls and stores and being out in the cold. I am sorry for forcing you to deliver all my packages on a bike! Whatever they are paying you is just not enough and that $5.95 flat rate shipping was sure a steal too!

O.k. this picture was taken by someone I know after her UPS man made his delivery in Maine with a lot of snow on the ground. I have yet to spot one in my neighborhood but if I do I will feel very sorry indeed!

Tuesday's Tip...

Know your limits!

I have been going the gym for almost a year and I consider myself in o.k. shape. So I asked around and went to my first class*. I was told it was a hard level but that did not worry me. I have been working out and weight lifting I was fine.

*I probably should not have done everything they did my very first time.
*I probably should not have used some of the heaviest weights.
*When my body told me it could not do more... I should have stopped.
*I should have skipped the 30 min cardio work out I added at the end.
*It should have worried me that I was hurting right after the work out- that my legs were shaking.
*It should have been a big warning sign when I noticed that lifting my glass to my mouth seemed hard, my hands were shaking like crazy.

The class works out every muscle in your body. So can you guess how I am feeling today? I can barley walk... seriously barley walk. The kids are running circles around me and I can do nothing about it. I feel like a total cripple and its so silly.

On a good note I do love this class and I will go back but I have learned a very valuable thing, know your limits. What was I thinking?! A year at the gym and I have NEVER damaged myself like this. UGH!

*24LIFT™:
One of our most popular classes, this highly efficient, full-body 24 Hour Fitness signature workout utilizes barbells and hand weights to strengthen and sculpt all muscle groups.

Things that really annoy me...

It's been one of those days where I am noticing the annoying stuff way too much, do you have those too? Where for some reason you can find something bad about everything thats going on, you can make it all seem bleak? Hopefully tomorrow will be better... Here is my list of things that annoy me... some of them.
1-Short cars that make you think the parking space is open.
2-texting on your cell phone in movies or crying babies in movies.
3-being awakened from a deep sleep by a screaming child (even worse when you can smell something bad before you go in).
4-sick kids who's parents spread germs everywhere and don't keep them home!
5-Almost everyone else at the Gym (ha ha).
6-fans blowing on me in the winter.
7-sales calls during nap time (we covered this one before I know).
8-Self check out (need I say more).
9-whining, crying.
10-credit card machines that all have a different way to swipe and the buttons are never the same.
11-rude sales people
12-selfish people
13-construction zones and construction workers (sorry).
14-drive thru's who leave something out of your bag (lets face it all of them do it).
15-Lines at the post office.
16-people who do not say thank you or notice good.
17- barking dogs and owners who let them bark for hours on end (for the 5 yrs I have lived here).
18-Lost stuff.
19-talking on your cell phone loudly or while checking out, ordering at the drive thru, back out of a parking spot. This applies to talking loudly in public on your blue tooth (very weird).
20-My neighbors cars parked directly behind my driveway so its hard to get out ALL THE TIME and even worse it's dangerous to get out when it snows. The same neighbors who accuse you, rudely, of calling the police to have them ticketed and won't believe anything else. Suffer in silence for years never complaining and get that- now that annoys me the most!

I hope you can laugh with me or even at me. I am still a happy person, still see the good in the world... tomorrow will be a better day. So what annoys you?