Sweet Boogery Babies

So... as a pre-mom (you know, a woman that isn't a mom yet with lots of opinions on how to be a mom) I said I would NEVER let my kids have snotty, boogery faces... well here is some proof on how all that pre-mom stuff goes down that drain once you actually become a REAL mom! :)

Cheese!!!!!

See... the thing about the pre-mom thing, you have the best of intentions. And I think it's so good to have those thoughts and opinions. In many ways it shaped the kind of mom I have become. But wow, the booooger thing. I was just off on that! Ha! Trying to keep two little FAST men snot free... is really hard! Ha ha! The other problem is that as their mom I think they are still so cute with all the snot included. But it's when you are a pre-mom and see someone else's kid with a boogery nose that makes you vow against it!

My models above!

Above is a picture of Luke, Max and Gavin. Three buds. Gavin is a son to a childhood friend of Caleb's. They grew up together here in Hayward and Weston has since moved out East. It was so nice to see his family and to have the kids play together. I so enjoy his wife too and it's one of those relationships where you just pick up where you left off... as if no time has passed. However, we have had the boys and they have had a little girl since we saw them last! Crazy how fast time flies! (Side note, another perk of twins, it sounds impressive to say... Yes, I've had two kids since the last time I saw you... yes, two in a year!?)
Well, I don't know about you, but I think I'm getting better at this blog thing... two posts in less than a week!?! Now... to keep it up! The problem is I have less and less pictures anymore. They move too fast now! Speaking of moving fast... I found Max on the kitchen table this morning with Luke on the chair below on his way up too! Yikes! I was really looking forward to putting a Christmas centerpiece on my table... oh well! :)

My Little Elves

My little "helpers" were so kindly sweeping up my dirt pile in the kitchen! They sure are cute at least! :)

And the elves continue with their helpful chores!

Auntie Rach comforting Luke... he seems to have butt rash a lot. Not sure if I have mentioned it on here before but he cannot tolerate lactose. So we have him on lactose free whole milk right now, but he still has a sensitive stomach and if anything has any dairy in it (which is a lot of things, especially a lot of toddler friendly things) he gets diarrhea and immediate butt rash. Poor guy!!

And... the ham! He found my hat and got it on himself. He was so proud and wouldn't take it off!

I know that I keep saying this, but the boys are just so fun right now. But sometimes, they are as naughty and destructive as they are fun. It's just that age, and BOYS! They are getting into everything and saying NO! about 99 times a day gets old. We are now experimenting with time-outs and other patience trying discipline routines. They are really good for the most part, it is all normal toddler stuff. Oh... and about all the help they are... some of the best is reorganizing all of my kitchen cabinets. They prefer to start by emptying everything out first! Then... what a help they are with diaper changes. As I have mentioned before... they really shine during this time. Whether it's helping me wipe the other, or smearing poop on the other, or taking ALL the wipes out of the container as I am changing the other, either way, they know that they can push my buttons at diaper time. Lastly, my elves are gearing up for Christmas. I decorated my mantle last night and this morning I put them both on the couch and turned the lights on. They gasped with delight. It was great! And then they proceeded to pull the string of lights that hang from the mantle to the wall, almost completely "redecorating" the whole thing! :) But... now I have my lights strategically nailed to the wall. Not so sure my husband will be happy with me.

So about a tree??? Anyone have any toddler-proof Christmas tree ideas for me? One thought we had was putting a tree outside in front of our big picture window. You get the feel without the mess. But that seemed so lame... so not sure yet? I was thinking of just doing a tree for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and then taking it down... but that is just not worth it. So we'll see!

This is my Turkey Day Veggie Tray I made to take to my Dad's family for Thanksgiving. It was SO easy to make, and rather impressive looking for how easy it was! Have I mentioned that I love pinterest... because I LOVE PINTEREST! ahha! Happy Friday!

So I've Been Thinkin'

No, I'm not pregnant and I won't be really any time soon. But I can say... with excitement... that I do want to be pregnant again. Well, more like I do want to have another baby someday! And... thinking of another baby makes me think... I would like A girl, if I got my choice. However, this thought FREAKS my husband out because he is afraid of having to pick up the pieces... of me... if I don't have a girl. But I told him I really would not be crushed to find out we are having a boy, or even a boy and a girl... but I might have a hard time adjusting if I find out I'm having two boys again. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE my boys and ADORE having twin boys... but I'm just not sure if another set of boys would be my first choice.

So with all of that being said... our good friends from out east are visiting for a while and they spent the night last night. They have two darling children... one being chubby a 5 month old... you guessed it... LITTLE GIRL! And, I fell in love... and have been dreaming. Here are some of the things I have been dreaming about...

Sweet girly clothes!

Seriously?! Grandma Cookie is going to be busy knitting!!

How fun is this?! That is the thing about being a mom with a little girl. Just like a dad with his son, you kind of get to re-live your childhood with them! :)

Isn't she sweet?! And how fun to have TWO older brothers to protect you!?

So... this might be going a little far when it comes to the re-living your childhood thing. But so fun!

I mean... come on!

So, that is what I have been thinking! But don't worry. I am not baby crazy... yet! :) I am just so happy to be ready-ish. I praise God that He has seen me through the past year and a half and the seasons of doubt and longing. I was scared before, and I am happy to say my fear is gone, and for that reason alone I am happy. There are many things I desire the second time around... that I may never get... natural birth, being able to see and touch my baby after birth, nursing in the first three months, going home with my baby and not leaving them at the hospital, etc, etc... but more than anything I am so thankful that I have TWO happy, healthy, strong babies already?! So really, what more could I ask for?! But... I am excited... and hopeful. And that is fun! :)

Sorry...

So I apologize for not updating lately and for not having many new pictures... I just haven't taken any new pictures lately! But I will soon hopefully. So here are some from Grandma Cookie's camera to tide you over!

Who knew? A dog kennel is a great toy!

Max

Luke

These boys sure keep us busy... but they are so much fun!!

Etc... Etc...

Here is a little peak at hour home... we have been under construction, well since the moment we moved in last December of 2009. The house we bought is a foreclosure on Lake Hayward, and needed lots of work. But it has been a really fun project to work on. Here is a little before and after of part of the backside that faces the lake. (We used to call it the A&W house... brown with BRIGHT orange shutters and doors!)

And after! It still needs lots more work. We are thinking of redoing the roof with black shingles and then we need to paint the facia white and finish the deck and railing. But there is a difference as far as before and after still! :)

I have lots more of before and afters of the inside I should put up!

Moving on to current updates on the boys...

They are so busy! And so fun! Have I mentioned that I LOVE being a mom? Well... I do!!! They are so fun to be around and just are hilarious to watch together. Here are a few pics of the boys helping Dad work!

Luke and Dad above and Max and Dad below!

Monkey! We didn't really do the Halloween thing, but I did have this costume in our closet and had to just try it one them! So cute!!!

YODER FALL FLING!

Caleb's dad side of the family does a reunion every October in Indiana. We had missed it the last two year and were so looking forward to seeing everyone this year!!! It was so fun to have the boys finally meet everyone and to be able to catch up on life with all the family. Unfortunately I below are the only pictures I got! The boys riding horses with thier cousins! I'm hoping to get some pictures from the other family members!

It was so great to see everyone! We really miss them and wish we could see them all more often. It is such a unique and special bond between that family and it is just amazing to spend time with everyone! I feel so blessed to be apart of their family. Now... MY family too!

Also, I have to mention that the boys did amazingly well traveling! I could not believe it! We took the 12 hour trip in two chunks both ways. We just thought it would be better on us and the boys. So both on the way down and back we left in the afternoon, drove 6 hours, stopped and got a hotel, and then traveled the other 6 hours the following day. Made it fun and felt more like a vacation! (Couldn't believe I got my husband to splurge on a hotel twice!) But I still could not get over the fact that the boys never really cried or fussed. They slept quite a bit and if they weren't sleeping they would look at books, play with toys and sing with their Dad to some crazy songs we found on satalite radio! I was about ready to go crazy, but they were having fun! Overall, it was a wonderful trip and I'm happy to know that my boys can travel if they really have to!

Ok... sorry... have more new pictures to get up soon but I'm in a hurry and I knew I had to get a post up quick before I got any more threats from Aunt Kathy and Sue! :) (he he!) I will even try to get a picture of me on here in my cute new hat from my aunt!

Things Above...

Instead of CONTINUING to lay in bed for the second or third hour without being able to really fall asleep I decided to do what I do as I lay in bed and try to fall asleep... blog. I can come up with the best things as I lay in bed... they usually evolve from a prayer I'm in the middle of and before I know it I'm thinking... I HAVE to remember this and put it on my blog. But, nope, rarely happens anymore. So, as I am still feeling like crap I decided to write out my feelings and then hopefully fall into a restful slumber.

Like I said before... many of my best thoughts come as I am still praying, well should be at least. Tonight I was laying in bed and thinking about a main theme of the message that came from our bible study last Monday night; focus your eyes, or minds rather, on things above. Caleb and I started going to a church study a few weeks ago. I was so excited (to say the least) to have an opportunity to get back into a small group environment. It wasn't exactly what I had been dreaming up over the past year of want... much of my dreams and thoughts were focused on an all women's study that would be incredibly deep and committed. One where we would share, cry, pray and grow together. One where we would all be so close, our bonds would be so tight that we could say anything, ask whatever, and be vulnerable. This group was not that. Instead it was a much different, much more organic and God lead group really. A complete MIX of opinions, personalities, philosophies, ages, ideas, and pasts. So why would God throw together such an eclectic mix? Because it isn't ideal, because it isn't perfect, because it isn't MY plan. And that is exactly where he works. And, frankly, I love it!

Just as I mentioned earlier, I was mulling over the idea of what Pastor Heath was talking about... focus our minds on things above. I am trying to figure out WHAT that means. What does that really look like and how in my thoughts, actions and flesh can I accomplish that focus. I think maybe it means that I understand situations like our small group BEFORE it happens... meaning, I don't idolize the thought of a perfect group, but understand the power of God's perfect will to work in every situation. Knowing that my ideas and preconceived notions just get in the way. And that me being so fixed on things like that can make me miss so many great opportunities to grow! Maybe (well I know it really would help) being in the Word more often, more committed and more intentional would bring me to that focus.

But really, I know it will just be a journey. Unfortunately our minds are not preprogrammed to think on things above, they are programmed to think on things ahead... as long as they are in the mirror. Yes, they are programmed to think on OURSELVES. Why? I can get so frustrated with this. Heath brought up so many good insights, one of his focuses was on common vs. true virtue. On one hand we automatically use self-preservation (fear) and self-promotion (pride) to motivate us to do good, or anything really. But what we should be using for motivation is a LOVE FOR CHRIST. Seems like a very logical, practical and obvious motivation source, however, it is not our nature and in turn we fight it and must be conscious of our thoughts. Or in other words... our focus... ON THINGS ABOVE.

So I really should be sleeping. Resting, yes mother I can hear you in my head for the 200th time... get some REST! I am off to bed... hopefully asleep this time. I am feeling better but not really good yet. This pneumonia thing is the pits. Where is my energy?! That's all I wanna know!
I promise the next time I blog it won't be a disorganized rant, it will be full of pictures and (hopefully) detailed updates of my boys... before I forget all they are doing right now!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4: 4-8

Good night all!

Quick Update

I am trying to stick to my promise to update a couple times this week, but it is going to be a quick update. I have been not feeling so great for a couple weeks, and then I thought I was getting better and all of sudden yesterday I just immediatly felt horrible. I went to the doctor this morning and found out that I have pneumonia. It all makes lots of sense now. Really, really can't wait to feel better. I am on a strong antibiotic and should start to feel a little better in a few days. It just breaks my heart to have other people have to pick up all my slack when I am sick and care for my boys because I cannot. I pray this will pass quickly.

Eating apples...

Riding double...

Playing with one of our best buddies, Tyler!

Nothing sweeter than little half naked boys...

Messy dinner, notice how dirty Max gets compared to Luke?!

Will update soon with more pictures and with (hopefully) an update on improved health!