How can a year go by so quickly?

Wow, there is a lot to catch up on. 

Thanksgiving was wonderful. We spent it with the fam up on the mountain. The weather was lovely. The kids were crazy. The food was delicious.

Toddler.

It became sort of my mission to get a good pic of this one.

The three yahoos. 

That's a "microphone" and he is singing his little heart out. 

The fudgesicle. 

It's sort of become an institution around here. 

As has this guy's messy mug. He's so...messy. :)

Digging in the dirt.

I told him I wanted a good picture, He did the rest. Strike a pose!

Enjoying the weather and the weeds.

We had a great time. We sort of celebrated the babies' birthday. Well, I did everyone else was kind of caught by surprise. I made a cake with homemade strawberry icing. It was tasty. Moon pie enjoyed it. Doodle wouldn't eat it. She doesn't eat anything. She thinks icing is disgusting based on the face I got when I managed to get some in her mouth. 

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since that day our lives were flipped around. It's hard to imagine that we were there in the hospital for four months. That's a third of this year, and it's already over. It's amazing that our babies are so healthy and doing so well. Doodle bug even ate pears tonight. You don't even realize what a big deal that is for us. It's huge! I can't help but have a full heart tonight as I think of the people who's prayers and help were there with us through it all. I think of all the nurses and doctors working so hard to keep our babies growing healthy and strong. The wonderful volunteers at the Ronald McDonald house and the staff that made us feel at home as best as they could. They were amazing. I think of how scared I was when my water broke and I realized there was no other option but to have these babies three months early and without Jason with me. I remember my sister speeding down the highway, and getting pulled over, and the obscenities that came out of her mouth. I remember she was with me the whole time. I see their tiny bodies in the medical transport, a glare from the light blocking my view, still not fully realizing what was happening as I was coming out of the anesthesia. I remember the sound of the helicopter as it faded in the distance with my babies in it, without me. Three excruciating days of waiting to be discharged so I could go see them, praying the whole time they would at least make it long enough for me to see them. Days and day of sitting by my tiny babies, wishing there were more I could do for them. 

 It feels like a dream now. It's hard to believe it all happened the way it happened.

It all comes flooding back. 

We are truly blessed and have seen miracles.

We can never repay

Blessed. So very blessed. 

Happy Birthday Doodlebugs. I love you.

Added bonus Doodle face for the win!

Happy Halloween...

We had a great Halloween. The cousins carnival bash was a great time to be had by all. I didn't get to visit with people as much as I would've liked, but it was great to see everyone.

I was able to pull off a family costume. It was awesome! Behold! The family circus!

J is the ring leader, I am a gypsy, Moon pie is the lion tamer, Doodle bug is the animal acrobat, (you know the girl who rides the horses and the elephants, does she have a name?), and  the Boy is a sword swallowing pirate.

We went trick or treating. It was kind of fun to take my kids in the same neighborhood that I grew up trick or treating in. It's also nice to know many of the people who's houses we went to. We went to the chili dinner, which was a madhouse, and then hit the pavement.

My new super deluxe giant stroller came just in time for the festivities. It was really nice to have. It seats two and has a sit and stand for the toddler. Yay for that!

 Headed due West.

   The limo

The tired octopus. 

I didn't get a picture of Dora. Darn it.

Alpine and mysterious ways...

At the last minute we decided to go to Alpine for Labor day. One thing I am finding is the last minute is not the best strategy when you have small children. It worked great when it was just us two, but not a life strategy I suggest for when you multiply. I give myself very good advice, but we very seldom follow it. Also, a long drive for two becomes a crazy long and tedious drive with children and holiday traffic. That being said, I am so glad we went. It was so beautiful. It was green and lush and full of flowers. This is the first we had been up since the big fire and it was kind of scary to see how close it came to the property. It was also neat to see an area where the trees were burned out and the lovely colors of green grass and yellow and purple and red flowers under them. It looked like gold spilling out into the meadow. It was still so pretty.

Quote of the trip: 
Me: That was so pretty, this part, not as much.
J: Yeah, it's like the awkward teenage part of AZ.

Things I learned from this trip:
1. The boy needs to sit closer to the front. Can we say, car sick? Twice?
2. Never buy tires in Payson. Get them checked before you leave. Talk about an expensive trip.
3 I am so happy my parents have a place on the way. It was so nice to have a place to be comfortable with all the babies while the tires were being fixed.  And a washing machine, see 1.
4. I love the Mountains. I think I could live there very happily. It always feels like coming home when I go there.
5. The squirrel living in the cabin goes to bed at 11, after a rigorous lap or two around the room.
6. Babies will get sunburned even in the shade.
7. If you haven't seen the sun in over a year, you will get sunburned super quick.
8. Remember your pillows.
9. Take time to make smores with your son.
10. Apparently going anywhere makes us sick. Wheeee!

This morning I awoke battling a horrendous sore throat. Doodles is a little wheezy, and Mr .Moon is grumpy and sneezy. Three of the dwarfs right here. Moonpie didn't let me sleep the first night. He was up every hour screaming. The boy decided we needed to have a long chat the next night and kept me company all night until he finally crashed out and doodle awoke for her breakfast and morning snuggles, last night
moonpie woke up a few more times, and I felt horrible. This morning my wonderful neighbor called to see if she could bring something by. She came over with some spinach dip and crackers, she told me someone must have been thinking about me because she just couldn't get it out of her mind that someone over here needed spinach dip and crackers. So funny. I, of course, was trying to "figure it out" and then I just started laughing. I felt so loved and totally amused by the fact that spinach dip and crackers could bring so much joy. God does indeed work in mysterious ways and I am thankful for a wonderful neighbor (who is our fairy godmother) who was willing to follow the prompting. I had a much more positive outlook on the day as I ate my spinach dip and crackers. The breakfast of champions.

The wonder of nature. :)

Breakfast on the patio...

He calls the camera "cheese".

Could he be any sweeter?

Yes he can.

Twice the blessings...

The twinkies were blessed the beginning of this month. I am really sorry I didn't let everybody know. It's been crazy busy and honestly, just immediate family was a crowd. A loving and fun and wonderful crowd, but on a hot August day, a crowd, and my mom was stressing. Mom's have enough stress. So we kept it to immediate family. Also, the kids came down with something like two nights before and we were sick and I was stressing so thinking was not happening much at all. Hence, not getting any pictures of the kiddos in their super cool outfits, until today. The motto for the twin's life together may be the old adage, "Better late than never", it seems to be what I say most often these days. It makes me feel better about all the dropped balls laying at my feet anyway. I can pick one up here and there, shrug my shoulders, and say "Better late than never" and throw it into the rotation.

Moonpie, is a chunk monkey. I seriously had my doubts about getting him back into his outfit. I even washed it and didn't dry it. I pulled it out of the washer and pulled on it to stretch it out. It still was hard to button up. Doodle hates her dress. I think it is itchy and unpleasant for her, and the princess doesn't like anything unpleasant. She wasn't too bad, but she was hungry and the light was terrible. I just keep telling myself if I get one or two it's a success.

Success! 

 She's always got a grip on his ear.

I made the bow tie, and Doodle did wear red, I know, we are living on the edge without a helmet around here!

I got Moonpie's onesie at TJ Maxx for $7, add The boy's vest from his sealing, and my awesome bow tie. I think it worked out nicely. 

 Hey, we caught a smile!

This last pic is the hat that came with the dress. She loves it. It needed to be documented though.

Better late than never.

Oh and on that note, some wonderful women in our ward are throwing us a baby shower. I need your addresses if you would like to come. Please send them through my email if you please. I am really excited to celebrate their arrival with you.

Dapper Dan Man...

Because when you are as awesome as I am, you have to give your kids a reason to resent you. I figure, get it over earlier rather than later. Am I right?

Plus once they get older they just run from the camera. You really only have so much time to do these things. It's cloudy, the light was bad but I had to try. I am going to try to get them both in their outfits for a double shoot sometime, I need reinforcements to help keep babies from rolling off couches and things. That will take more planning.

For now, sir chubs a lot is as charming as ever.

I promise he did smile. Lots! They just all came out fuzzy. Smiling babies smile with their whole bodies and the light just wasn't good enough to get a sharp pictures of a happy baby, next time.