Parenting Tip

Here's your parenting tip for the day.

Get a head lamp.

It's perfect for clipping little fingernails in the dark!

And maybe you should get some of these awesome Willy Wonka safety goggles to dodge those flying nails.

Happy Birthday Dad

{B}                                 {I}

Despite their blank stares, I know they love their grandpa. 

My dad is an amazing piano player, hard worker, fun grandpa, highly educated, says jokes that are too advanced for anyone else to understand, and always full of advice which we roll our eyes at but usually appreciate later.

He taught me to work hard, play hard, educate myself, and love my family.

I'm blessed to have him as my dad.

And we were lucky to have him come to town for a full week over Thanksgiving and he just scooped up my boys and did everything they needed from bathing to feeding to changing to playing. Plus a constant stream of laundry and dishes. He was a lifesaver.

{I}                  {B}

Love you Dad. Happy Birthday! I hope it was a good one!

The Weather Outside is Frightful

We were skeptical at how bad this "Winter Weather Warning" could possibly be, afterall we lived in northern Utah for many years and faired just fine. We found the encouragement to leave your water dripping and make sure your thermostat is above 60, comical. {One time, Someone may have turned off the heat before we left for the weekend and we came back to a 45 degree apartment...Which reckon, wasn't smart, but thankfully it all turned out ok.}

And we've laughed many times about the signs "watch for ice on bridge." 

But now I have seen it.

Ice storms. 

Cars frozen shut, roads solid ice (especially on the bridges), and parades, activities, and even church canceled.

Many of the nurses I work with were even staying the night (or day) at the hospital so they wouldn't have to drive home in between shifts.  

Looks can be deceiving. It doesn't look too bad but boy is it slippery!   

{Ian}

 {Briggs}

We are looking forward to snuggling up in our pajamas, drinking hot chocolate, and staying inside.

Date Night: Gondola Style

This handsome husband of mine planned a whole romantic date for us and surprised me with it.

It was awesome.

We started our evening at our special occasion restaurant, The Keg. We enjoyed hearty steaks, grilled mushrooms, twice baked potatoes, and good conversation. 

Afterward, we hopped in the car and Jesse started driving to an undisclosed location.

We parked, and were greeted by a nice man who would be our gondolier.

We walked down the lit harbor and on to our love boat.

Our gondolier brought me a rose and chocolates and warmed us with hot chocolate. 

And then our adventure around the riverway began.

It was so romantic.

I loved snuggling up with Jesse and enjoying the view.

Twenty-Nine

This man is turning twenty-nine today.

Yes, you read right. 2-9. He may or may not be approaching old-man-dom.

And I sure love him.

He is a wonderful father. 

I can't imagine a better man to raise our children with. 

Nor a better man to grow old with.  

 He is my everything.

Happy Birthday Love!

30 Days of Gratitude: Catch Up

Ironically enough, once I declared a 30 day gratitude challenge I suddenly struggled to find things I was grateful for. I would sit down at the computer and my mind would freeze. And the few things I found myself most grateful for (including my sweet husband and kiddos) were pushing me to my limit. I saw the irony but plugged along thinking it would get better, easier, and I would feel the joy of it.

Instead, due to some last minute travel I fell behind, and then got super busy and have yet to catch up. 

So here goes nothing.

#19

I'm grateful for airplanes. 

It is truly amazing that such big heavy machines can get off the ground and fly us to Utah in about 2 1/2 hours. Awesome.

{Briggs}

{Ian} 

#20

I'm grateful for the Plan of Happiness. 

Our inpromptu trip to Utah was due to the passing of Jesse's grandmother. She was such a sweet lady and I know she was missing her husband who passed away a couple of years ago. It really was a happy funeral. We celebrated her wonderful life, remembered all the great things she had done, and rejoiced in the knowledge we have that she is now with her sweetheart and we will see her again.

#21

I'm grateful Grandpa could come for a few extra days before Thanksgiving and watch the boys so I could work.
I'm sure they had the time of their life. And hopefully he didn't feed them too much ice cream!

#22

I'm grateful for our apartment.

We live in a place that is perfect for our needs, and also can expand to house nine of us for a week. It has gigantic bedrooms, tons of storage, two bathrooms, a kitchen big enough for four adults to work on Thanksgiving dinner, and a large front room. Honestly, perfect.

#23

I'm grateful for laughter.

There are a lot of days I wouldn't get through if it wasn't for laughter. Like the day I'm trying to put several boxes out on the patio while the boys are awake. I pretty much take a box, move two babies, take a box, move two babies, take a box, move two babies. It was funny.

#24

I'm grateful for date nights with my sweetheart.

We have been on very few official dates by ourselves since the boys arrived and when we do go out I cherish that time. I honestly have so much fun with my man. 

Jesse planned an amazing date for us while my dad was in town to watch the boys and I still get excited when I reflect on it. It will require it's own post, so be on the lookout.

#25

I'm grateful for Fall. (Which finally happened about mid-Nov)

The leaves changing, the 70 degree weather instead of 100, and the thought that maybe someday we'll be able to wear sweaters again. It's delightful.

#26

I'm grateful for long warm showers.

These days I am usually squeezing showers in during nap time and am crossing my fingers that there are still two sleeping babies when I get out so I don't get to enjoy nice long showers as much any more. But when I do, oh boy is it nice.

#27

I'm grateful my family came to Texas for Thanksgiving.

I know it was tricky to coordinate all the various schedules, pack up, drive to airports, and take the time to come but it was such a fun week! We played, ate, and had way too much fun.

#28

I'm grateful for delicious treats.

We ate many good desserts over Thanksgiving week. Talk about party in my mouth. Yum.

#29

I'm grateful I am able to stay home most of the time with my kiddos.

I work because need to keep up nursing skills, we need a little supplemental income, and because it is good for me to get out of the house, but oh my goodness do I love being home with my boys. I adore these boys and do not want to miss a single thing. My work asks me occasionally when I'll be coming back to full time or they call at 5 am to see if I can work that day, and while I feel bad saying "no" I have two cute reminders why I do that. Sure I could make more money working full time (and still only be gone for 3 days a week) but I do not see my kids AT ALL the days I work. They are asleep when I leave and when I come home and I miss them. I'm so glad Jesse works hard so I only need to work my one or two days a week. It's perfect.

#30

I'm grateful for Christmas!

I LOVE Christmas. Just ask Jesse. 

I love everything about it. Putting up the tree, singing loudly to the Pandora Christmas Station, seeing our stockings hung by the fireplace, the cooler weather, the lights, the feeling in the air, the generosity, the gifts, the shopping, and especially celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. I tell the boys about Christmas and read them stories about the Christmas Story and cannot wait to instill a love of Christmas in them.

And I may or may not have splurged and bought a new BIG tree this year.
Or more accurately, my mom bought us a new big tree.
I am SO EXCITED about it!
We have these big tall ceilings so we needed a bigger tree.
Wish Granted. (Thanks again Mom! You're the best)

And of course, now that we have a new tree, we needed new ornaments.
I'm in love.

Twin Mom Problems: Diaper Changes

As if diaper changes of one wiggly baby aren't challenging enough, let's factor in another baby. This second baby appears to be patiently sitting next to you while you wrangle his noncompliant brother, but unfortunately that is not the case. 

Instead, I look over and find said second baby eating wet wipes out of the poopy diaper carelessly set on the floor within reach. While I'm ripping those out of his hand, the naked baby is crawling away, grateful for the break in attention. I try bribery to get naked baby to lay still enough to cover that booty with a diaper but to no avail. 

Then I'm grabbing wet wipes from grabby second baby again. (You'd think I would learn and move the diaper, but obviously not) I now try to scoop up naked baby, place him sitting in the diaper with hopes he'll sit long enough to do up the velcro. I get one side fastened when I find second baby with a handful of poop.

Really?! EWW.

I let out a holler to Jesse as I felt I needed his help right now with one baby half diapered and another baby with a handful of poop. My tone was obviously panicked because Jesse whipped out of bed and came racing downstairs thinking there was a fire or something seriously wrong with a baby. Sorry Honey. Just a diaper changing emergency.

And of course naked baby laid still for Jesse to put on his diaper.

I know it's hard to believe these adorable children could ever do something like this, but apparently they're not quite perfect ALL the time.

{B}

{I}