Cheese!!!

These two woke up in such good moods this morning ... LOVE when that happens :)  Amelia would point to Luke and say, "Smile Ookey!" (Her version of "Lukey") and he would break out a cheesy grin.  Then he'd point to her and yell, "Smile Sissy!" and she'd do the same.  Had to break out the camera because that's what moms do!

A zoo ...

Because life with two toddlers sometimes feels like we live in a zoo ...

It's totally normal to let your kids play in the dog's kennel, right?!  These two survived their first round of croup last week (not terribly surprising since they were on four planes in the middle of cold/flu season) and we were looking for anything/everything to keep them entertained in the house :)  Overall it's been a much better winter for them than last year when someone was sick for a good five months straight!  They had their two year appointment last week and other than finding out our pediatrician is leaving (very very sad for us!) -- it was a great appointment.  Luke is 3 feet tall (92%) and 32 lbs (88%) and Amelia is  also 3 feet tall (96%) and 30lbs (84%).  Luke and Amelia are becoming preschoolers more and more every day.  I put Luke's shoes on the other day and he says to me, "Oh no Mama ...  Shoes too tight!"  When did my kids start telling me things like that?!  They've also started tattling on each other (Luke tonight:  "Mama!  Sissy color on table.  No-no Sissy!  Mess!")  They're definitely connecting ideas and concepts and remembering things from days (or weeks) before.  Pretty amazing to watch their little minds and hearts developing (and always a reminder too of the crazy responsibility of parenting) ... They are little sponges!  Amelia has almost completely stopped napping.  Sigh.  I've been rather grumpy about this change in our daily schedule.  I'm looking on the bright side -- I want to be spending more one-on-one time with her so here's my chance :)  But I miss having an hour to myself in the afternoons.  I can't complain though because they both sleep from 7pm-7am and almost never wake up anymore.  NEVER thought that would happen!  Over the last few weeks she's just spent the whole nap time talking and singing to herself -- which isn't bad but she ends up waking him up earlier and then he is NOT happy for the rest of the afternoon.  It was pretty cute though to hear her singing, "E-I-E-I-O!" from her room.  That girl loves her songs :)  Being a mom of toddlers means that you have Old MacDonald stuck in your head all.the.time!

A few more ...

Just a few more pictures from the week ... These were taken on my phone so not super great quality but fun memories!

Feeding the giraffes!  The kids thought this was pretty cool :)

My three loves!  They fed the ducks several days!
Gotta love all the fresh air in January!

This girl knows how to ride in style!

Two!!!

Last night we flew back home from a week in Arizona.  Tucson will always have a special place in my heart since it's where Scott and I met and fell in love.  We also spent the first year and a half of our marriage there so it's fun to revisit some of our favorite parks, restaurants, etc.  The fact that it was sunny every day is also a huge perk!  The kids LOVED getting to play outside every day.  Grammy and Gramps spoiled them with fun toys and lots of quality one-on-one attention. They also planned a very sweet birthday party for the kids at a nearby park.  The day after we got to town was Luke and Amelia's second birthday -- a bittersweet day for their mama!  My heart is so very thankful that they are healthy and thriving and that God truly sustained them (and all four of us) through an intense pregnancy and beginning of their lives.  But there is always this twinge of sadness that they're growing up too fast.  I've often heard it said that the days can go by so slowly but the years too quickly.   I've found that to be very true with parenting.  These two have added an incredible amount of JOY to our home over the last two years!  Happy birthday Luke and Amelia!

Playing with the Honeycutt kids ... Luke would love to be able to
keep up with John and David!

GG Edna helping set up!

Of course the balloons were a huge hit with the twins :)

Yummy!!

They looked so old to me here ... Just hanging out with all the kids!

 I was hoping one of them wouldn't sneeze or cough all over it :)

Grammy getting the cake ready ...

And Scott helping too!

Had to do a back profile

Yep, they like cake!

... a LOT

Gramps showing the kids the pinata

Warming up :)

Luke's turn!

Sissy's turn!

They loved it!

Havilah Joy! 

Happy New Year!

Happy 2013!!  Scott and I both spent New Year's Eve day and New Year's Day working so the holiday came and went quickly and uneventfully (while the kids played with Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie, Uncle Joe and Caroline) ... We had a great week with family ... Luke has a new BFF, Uncle "Joe-Joe" ... He would wake up in the morning asking for "Elmo" (how these two found out about Elmo I have no clue but they're obsessed!) and "Joe-Joe" -- He was so sad today when we told him that  Joe-Joe had to go back home to Idaho.  I did a terrible job of getting pictures this go around but one of the highlights was taking the kids to ZooLights ... The combo of lights, animals and trains is perfect for three toddlers!

And yes, Lukey is wearing one blue and one pink glove.  Why?  Because you get to wear whatever mama can find! :)  Happy New Year!