How can it be?

How can it be that my BABIES are 4?! It seems like I was just lying on the couch, huge as a house, pregnant. There is no way, they just turned 4! I must be having one of my scary dreams that I often had while on bedrest. I'm just dreaming, right???! I guess not.... I have pictures to prove it and I am oh so sad they are no longer babies. I know, I'm that psycho-crazy mom that cries at every milestone. I am just so grateful to have them. I try to cherish every second and take my time with them so I can savor every moment. I want this to last forever. I know I say this a lot, but I really wish life had a pause button, because I would pause it right here, right now. How can it be?

January 3, 2011

Singing to Luke:

Singing to Ashley:

She blew out the candles too quick for a picture...

Birthday party at preschool

Birthday party at Bounce U

And of course the Hurricane Machine before we went home:

We had a great time celebrating their birthday all week. I hope they felt special, because they are. I just love them so much.

I am thankful for Luke and Ashley.

I'm Baaaack....

I know, it's January 13th (this originally said, January 4th!)and I haven't even posted about the twins 4th birthday, let alone Christmas!! Thank you to those of you who emailed, text messaged and called asking for a new entry. I never realized how many people followed and cared about this blog! I promise I will do my best to keep it up better now that Christmas is over. Since I am so far behind, I will cram the whole month of December into this one post. Feel free to turn away now, as this is going to be picture and information overload!

This by far was the best Christmas we have ever had. Luke and Ashley really understood what was going on this year and we had a blast! Stinky Winky came back to visit us when we arrived home from my parents house after Thanksgiving. (for those of you who do not have little ones and are asking yourself, "who is Stinky Winky"? He's an elf that magically appears around Thanksgiving time and watches over the kids every day until Christmas. While they are sleeping, he flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa Claus how they did that day. Before they wake up in the morning, he flies back into the house and hides. When they wake up, they have to find where he is, but they are not aloud to touch him, or he'll lose his magical powers. He gains his magical powers when he is given a name, hence: Stinky Winky.) The kids have so much fun with him, especially in the morning when they run around the house looking for him. One of the best places he hid was on our fan, he wanted to go for a ride I guess.....

We all met up with my sister's family at Disney World for Mickey's Christmas. We had a great time, even though it was FREEZING! We stayed out way passed our bedtime and by the time we got back to the resort, Ashley was sound asleep. And if you know baby girl, you know SHE CAN SLEEP! Brent had to carry her about a mile to our room!

Luke and Ashley had a Christmas program at school that was incredibly cute. They sang Christmas carols and provided punch and cookies for the parents. There were only a few kids that cried, Luke and Ashley loved it. This is what preschool's all about, right? The cute programs and projects they do? They really love Christmas carols. Ashley was even singing them this morning. I love them too, however, I told them that the "Chipmunks Christmas" CD had to be packed with all our decorations. There's only so much chipmunk voices I can take. Until next year, See ya Alvin!

This is Luke's very best friend, Phoenix. They are absolutely crazy together. Aren't they cute??

The next day at school we celebrated Phoenix's birthday. Notice in this picture, the whole class is in the background doing some sort of an activity, but Ashley preferred to eat ANOTHER cupcake. I thought it was funny and so typical of Ashley. Baby Girl LOVES her cupcakes!

We also went to a Christmas parade and decorated our tree. All our ornaments were on the bottom third of the tree, but Luke and Ashley were very proud, I thought it was perfect!

With Christmas getting closer and closer, the kids got more and more excited. Especially when the P.U.S. (UPS) man would drop off the package. They especially had fun with the Styrofoam peanuts. At first it was cute, until they started sticking to EVERYthing!

On Christmas Eve, we all got dressed up and went to church. In hindsight, we shouldn't have let Luke and Ashley open a gift before church, it was tough to get them to put it down... Oh well, live and learn.

Here's our horrible annual Christmas picture in front of the tree. I look like I'm disgusted about something. ha!

We then came home from church and opened our traditional Christmas Eve pajamas and got into them. This is one of my favorite Christmas traditions that my Mom started for us when we were little. She still buys all of us Christmas pajamas that we open on Christmas Eve and my brother, sister and I now do it for our own kids.

Christmas morning was the best! I think Brent and I were more excited then they were. We were up way before them, just waiting for them to get up! When they finally did, the house was destroyed with wrapping paper and boxes. I loved every second of it! They were so excited! I think I love Christmas more now, than I did as a kid. There's something about seeing the excitement in your children's eyes on Christmas morning.

After having Christmas breakfast (which included another tradition of sausage balls that Ashley made this year)

we all loaded up in the car (even Jackson) and began our drive to Thomasville to Brent's parents' house. We spent a few days there. Luke and Ashley actually got to see snow flurries for the first time. They weren't all that impressed though.

However, they were impressed with their new baby cousin, Hadley. I can not believe I don't have ONE picture of them!

We then came home and started planning their 4th birthday celebration! See what I mean? It's been a whirlwind month! I'll save all the birthday stuff for the next entry so you're not too too bored! If you've read this far, bless you! I'm sure you need a drink about now.... Can I interest you in some egg nog in a Christmas Vacation Moose Mug?

I will post more soon, plus a new fun recipe to try with your kids this winter!

I am thankful for a wonderful Christmas season and even more for my precious little family.