Cousins and Birthdays!

This probably should have been 4 different posts, but here we go.....  I got to work in the girls' classroom on their actual birthday.  Ms. Jenny  made them B-day crowns and they got to blow out their own candles.  It was all very exciting!  WE LOVE MS JENNY! 

Dani and her B-day treats and cake.

Ms. Jenny and Ellie

My Mom's B-day is on March 17th, so we got to celebrate her while Kalin and Leila were here!

I got a smokin' deal on The Deal Planet in Spokane.  The girls got to go to 4 hours of gymnastics for $12 each.  It worked out perfectly because it was on a morning where I had to work and my baby-sitter cancelled.  Thanks to Auntie Sarah for driving them to and from!  They had a blast with their cousins and learned LOTS of new skills.

Next up, cousins, Hunter and Noah came to town for their Spring Break.  We visited the YMCA and they did the climbing wall.  You have to be 4 years old, so it was the girls' first time! 

Dani was hesitant, but I was very proud that she got up there and tried!  She did great!

The girls; Ellie, Ally and Dani

Waiting their turns; Brayden, Ally, Dani, Noah and Ellie.

 This is my monkey, Ellie Bella.  Can you believe it?  First time up she climbed to the top.  What's next for her....?  I am going to have to keep this girl busy and active!

THEN, it was onto Grandma Phillips' and Hunter's B-day party!  Too much fun and WAY TOO much cake in this belly for a weeks time....I don't even want to think about it.

Great- G & G (Kent's Grandparents) partying it up!

The next week we had a hibernation party at the girls' pre-school.  I was the lucky mom that got to work that day!  :)  This is a HORRIBLE pic. Brayden was nice enough to take it.  Ignore the massive mess in the background, I guess we were playing hard that morning.  I felt pretty cool wearing these matching pajamas out and about.  Luckily, I drove straight to school, after standing at the bus stop with B, then straight home.  :)  It was a fun party, we made caves for our teddy bears, bear masks, and had a teddy bear picnic at snack time.  Pre-schoolers are so fun and happy (most of the time)!

Yesterday we had this little guys' B-day.  This is Emmett and he is just adorable!  He turned 4 and had a Super Mario Brothers party.  It was quite fun, the best part were the mustaches that were in the treat boxes, we ALL had lots of fun with them!

Ellie, Ally and Dani

I hope/think we are done with parties for a while.  March did me in!  My poor belly needs to see the gym hard core this week!  :(  But it was all worth it, so much fun!

We made it!

The girls are 4!  They are both quite excited.  Ellie makes sure that she lets everyone know.  I have to say, things might be easier ?!?  There seems to be alot of arguing going on.  For example:

Ellie:  "If you don't give me that, I am not going to play with you anymore.  I won't be your sister anymore!"

Dani:  "I won't share my room with you anymore.  You will have to sleep by yourself.  I won't be your friend!"    Good tmes, then they are instantly best friends again.  It's amazing that they NEVER hold a grudge and they never seem to be mad for more than a minute.  I wish I could let things go that easily!

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY to my beautiful girls!

                                                                          Danielle

                                                                     Elizabeth

  

                                                                     Ellie, Brayden and Dani

                                              Brayden; six and a half!  Happy half birthday Goo!

Birthdays galore!

                                                              

My baby girls turned 4 on March 14th!  It is hard to believe that 4 years have gone by. I was in tears the second I found out that I had two beautiful girls (Tears for many different reasons).  It has been an emotional, trying, exhilarating four years.  These girls have brought so much happiness into our lives, it still seems surreal to me. 

They have reached the landmark, 4 years!  Everyone says it is smooth sailing from here on out, at least until the teenage years.  I am waiting anxiously for that flip to switch.  As I type this, they are tearing through the house with their cousins.  Doors are slamming, voices are screaming and laughter is surrounding me (with occasional tears).  Here is to smooth sailing.........

Here is a little montage of the last 4 years.  I pick up their 4 year pics. next week and will post them then, I just couldn't hold myself back from memory lane with these little ones.   :)

  

Elizabeth Mackenzie ~ 1 year

Danielle Claire ~ 1 year

                                                                    Ellie Mack  ~ 2 years

                                                                    Claire Bear  ~ 2 years

                                                                  Dani Claire ~ 2.5 years

 Ellie Bella ~ 2.5 years

                                                                 Best Friends ~ 2.5 years

                                                             Ellie Beth ~ 3.5 years

Dani who yells!  ~ 3.5 years

Feeling it.

On Saturday, Kent, my SIL, Sarah and I went skiing at Mt. Spokane (Kelly didn't want to go).  My MIL was so kind and watched our kids for us.  It turned out to be a beautiful day on the mtn.  We all used our groupon tickets that we bought in the Fall and it included equipment rentals.  This was a huge treat for me because I have never used shaped skis.  That's right folks, my equipment is straight from 1990, or before, I can't really remember.  I am talking straight skis with little pointed tips.  The last time I skied (which was before the girls were born, 4 years ago) the lift operators actually laughed OUT LOUD and pointed at me.  They would look for me to return to the lift so they could point out my antique equipment.  It truly was mortifying.  Needless to say, I was super psyched to use modern day equipment! 

The skis were great but the boots were horrible.  I think I have permanent damage in my toes.  It truly was a great day that was full of fun memories and brought back lots of memories from when I was a kid.  I took the first fall and it was a doozy.  I caught an edge, crossed my skis, flipped head over skis (they didn't pop off) and was bent all crazy and things were in places where they weren't supposed to be.  It wasn't pretty and I am suffering today.  My neck is so sore, I could barely turn my head while driving.  When you have to refer to your toddlers to see if the road is clear to go, it's NOT a good thing.  I have definitely been feeling old lately, did I mention my babies are turning FOUR in a week?

And my oldest baby woke up like this today:


For some reason he had a hard time keeping his eyes open.  Doesn't he look goofy? He doesn't even look like my boy with that face.  He has a huge hole in his mouth, but it looks so much better than the tooth that has been dangling there for a month.  I am so glad it finally fell out!

The girls wanted to be in the pic. too.  Can't seem to get a decent picture of all of them.

When I was looking through our party decoration collection, I found this number six candle that we forgot to use for B.  He suggested we use it for his half  B-day (this boy is always thinking).  His half B-day was the next day so we made cupcakes and sang "Happy Half  B-day to you."  The kids thought it was hilarious.  We ate cupcakes and then headed to the YMCA for a family night swim.

TMI

Before you read ahead, let me give you fair warning: This may be too much information for most of you......

This morning we (the three children and I) headed out at the crack of dawn to get my labs done.  Every few months (it seems) I have to get blood drawn to make sure everything in me is working properly (at least, the parts of me that a blood test can read) because of my diabetes.  I have to fast in order for the tests to work properly.  Just the idea of not being able to eat makes me a little edgy.  Last time my blood sugar was running low, but I was determined to have my labs done that day, and didn't want to mess up the results.  As soon as I got into the lab room the phlebotomy lady gave me an orange juice, apparently when it's that close to the blood draw it's ok to drink.....anywho, not my favorite thing to do.

We waited patiently for 20 minutes then I got called back.  Today the phlebotomy lady was very friendly, not always the case.  We chatted, she drew blood and told me the Dr. also wanted a urine sample.  Perfect!  That makes so much sense, since I have not eaten or drank a drop in the last 12+ hours.  Whatever, ALL of us traipse back to the bathroom with lots of shouting and questioning surrounding me. 

MOM, what are you doing with that cup?  Are we done yet?  Was that owies?  Where is the bathroom?

We manage to get into the bathroom and Brayden instantly starts giggling.  This kid's memory is amazing, he knew exactly what was happening next and he thought it was hilarious!  So much so, that he started laughing harder and harder and louder and louder. 

"MOM is going to tinkle in that little cup!  Hahahahahaha"

Girls:  "What?  Why?  Why are you tinkling in that cup?  I  have to go potty!!  Why are all these other cups  full of tinkles?   (after opening the handy, dandy secret cupboard).

I don't know about you, but tinkling in a small cup is not my greatest talent.  It brings back HORRIBLE memories of when I was pregnant with the girls, as big around as I am tall and trying to balance, hold a cup and tinkle, without making a gigantic mess.....This reminds me, I think pregnant ladies should be given a BUCKET, especially ladies pregnant with twins!

I have digressed......eventually with much concentration and anxiety I was able to tinkle in my little cup with a full-on audience.  What am I going to do in a few years when all of these little  people are in school full time?  Tinkle by myself?  What a crazy idea.