Snow Day

Today the kids and I got to go out and enjoy the snow.  They ate some snow, attempted a snowman and took turns pulling each other on sleids.  What a great snow day!

 

 

Our Christmas Celebrations

This year Payton understood the meaning of Christmas and loved sharing that it was Jesus birthday.  She sounded so grown up saying such sweet prayers thanking God for Jesus being born.  The boys loved the lights and of course Polar Express.  We watched that movie plenty of time over the month of December.  They love "choo choos"! It is amazing that Christmas has come and gone.  The kids decorated cookies to leave out for Santa.  They had a great time doing it but the boys were very unhappy when we only let them eat one and then put the rest in containers. 

 

 

We celebrated our first Christmas with the Lymans on the 22nd.  Our car broke down first thing in the morning when Mitch went to the grocery store but other than that small hiccup we had a great day.  Uncle Sean came home and brought his girl friend Jodi to celebrate with us.  The kids enjoyed opening their presents, of course.  The boys got their bed spreads for their new big boy room.  They will be moving into that next week.  (I am sure there will be fun stories along with that).  Payton got a new doll and she was so excited and has hardly put her down.  She named her Jesse, probably because Toy Story is the boys favorite movie at the moment. 

 

Boys opening bedding, they loved the box

 Payton and Jesse

 Jesse again with Payton and Uncle Sean

 cuddle time with Mommy after waking up from short naps



Next on the list was Christmas at the Blanton's on Christmas Eve.  We enjoyed yummy food and the kids playing with their new toys.  The main attraction was the train track my parents had gotten a couple of days before, all the kids spent most of the day playing with trains.  They had a great time playing with their cousins and running in circles.

 



 Papa has just as much fun as the boys

 the girls

 present time

Christmas Eve we always go to church and then to my grandparents house.  The Blanton side of the family get together and have a little dessert and do a gift exchange. 

sibling love



 Payton got a hippo

 

Christmas morning we enjoyed our traditional monkey bread and egg casserole for breakfast.  Then got to dive into our stockings to see what Santa brought us and unwrapped gifts.  The kids got to stay in their p.js all day long since we didn't have to take them anywhere.  It was very relaxed and we enjoyed a wonderful family dinner that night just the 5 of us.  (this is a special treat for us because Mitch isn't always home from work in time for dinner)

 we always get a family game, this year hungry hungry hippos

Santa left a doll bed for Payton

 Santa left a train table for the boys

 loving the train 

 Payton loves her new stroller ( the boys even like it to push their trains in it)



My Boys Are Two Today!

 I can remember like it was yesterday being in the hospital and having our family blessed with 2 precious bouncing baby boys.  I never realized how much love I can have for 3 beautiful children.  Oh.. how they have grown over the last two years and how different they are.

 

Cooper you are such a passionate child.  You go from one extreme to the next, extremely happy and laughing or extremely upset and temper exploding.  You are so bright and intelligent you love electronics and have work them surprisingly well.  You don't mind playing on your own and are good at sharing most of the time.  You have such determination and you were blessed with the Blanton stubbornness.  I pray God helps me to learn how to guide you.  Quality time is your language of love, spending time alone with me you love most. 

 

Cohen you are my mommas lover boy.  You look like your Daddy but no matter who else is around you always want your Mommy.  You are so sweet and loving and you love to look for your "sis sis".  You are a monkey boy and love to climb on anything and everything.  You have no fear and will try anything.  You love to take things apart and see how thing work.  Your little engineering mind just wants to get into everything.  Physical Touch is your love language because you love hugs and give them for a long time. 

 

 

My boys the day we came home

 

We had their birthday party today and had our wonderful family and friends with us to celebrate. 

 

You both are all boy and love wrestling and showing your muscles. You love trains, cars, of course balls.  We have wrestle time every night your Daddy gets home and you try to wrestle with your sister.  I love seeing the 3 of you play together and run around the kitchen laughing and chasing each other.  I laugh to hearing you laugh.

 name puzzles

 more boy fun a work bench

 train birthday cakes

 My Cohen

 My Cooper

 blowing out the candles

 today we have 2, two year olds, and a 4 year old and bun in the oven!

 Cohen and his new toy!

20 weeks

This is my first pregnancy picture I have taken.  I am not on top of it this go around.  This has been different and harder in different ways than the other two.  I am not as physically sick as the other two pregnancies.  Thank goodness I prayed everyday that would not last the entire 9 months.  I am not sure I could have handled that again.    I feel much more run down and tired this time.  I am sure that it has nothing to do with the fact that I am older than before.  I am not sure which is more exhausting carrying twins, or taking care of twins while pregnant.  I think it's a toss up.  I still feel so tired and worn out most of the time, my various veins are the worst they have ever been, so it is painful to be on my feet for very long.  I remember thinking I felt good during the second trimester.  Haven't had many of those thoughts this time. 

I am trying to enjoy every part of this, knowing it will be the last time I get to carry a baby.  I am loving that he is kicking now all the time.  I love being able to feel that.  The fact that God can allow us to have this privilege is amazing, even when you feel run down some days.  I know as the process continues and once our little bouncing baby boy arrives, I will be savoring every little thing.  To know this is my last baby for sure makes it feel so different.  The baby stage went by WAY to fast with the twins I am glad I can have one to hold and feed and cuddle with before he is to big too.

The new born stage is one of my favorite.  I can sit and hold a new born baby all day long, if time allowed.  A friend of ours just had her twins and I got to hold them last week in the hospital and there is nothing else much sweeter to me. 

20 weeks

Payton's Christmas Program

Friday evening Payton had her preschool Christmas program.  We learned from last year to get there early to get a decent seat.  The boys and I saved good seats and dropped Payton off with her class.  We were fully packed with treats, drinks and games for the boys.  The hard part was it started at 5 and usually kids eat dinner around 5:30.  Luckily the snacks held up well.  Payton was so excited, she has been practicing singing her songs all around the house. The kids did great singing wonderful Christmas songs and dressed up in their holiday best.  

My pretty girl!

singing her heart out

so sweet

our attempted family pic

a little better 

Our Last Addition is......

Today we had our ultrasound and check up on baby #4.  Mitch came so we could enjoy seeing our baby together.  Such a cute little peanut, we can't wait to meet.  Everything looks great, all measurements are right on track.  I will be 20 weeks on Monday.  Currently I have placenta previa but it still has time to migrate up and get out of the way.  I also have been told to rest and keep my feet up as much as possible.  I have had a little spotting so just want to make sure that doesn't increase.  Sometimes the placenta pulls away from c-section scar tissue.  We are praying that doesn't happen so I don't end up on bed rest.  I know that both of us are in good hands and God will keep us both safe.  If it comes down to that then we will deal with that when the time comes.  There is no need to worry about it just pray God keeps us safe. 

 

Our little peanut

 the bigger question is what is it???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A BOY!!!!

 

Yes I know 3 boys, can't heardly believe it.  We can't wait to welcome this precious little boy into our family.  Wonder who this one will look like???

Start of Christmas Season

 I love Christmas! Everything about it from Christmas lights everywhere, Christmas music the entire 25 of December, shopping to share gifts with all the people that I love.   We also have an elf that visits our house and loves to get himself into trouble.  He has hung Mitch's underwear in place of our stockings.  He was on top of the dining room hutch today in one of the boys cars.( they didn't like that much, they wanted their car back).  Payton runs down the stairs every morning so eager to find out where Bernard is hiding or what trouble he has gotten himself into.  Then it gives us good opportunity to discuss what he did wrong, why and what would have been a better choice.  Fun and learning all at once, I love it. 
On Thursday we went for a day of fun.  We took a trip to Union Station to look at their train exhibit.  The boys are obsessed with trains right now so I knew they would love it.  They got to ride the train they had set up.  Cohen was not thrilled that you then had to get off the train when the ride was over.  Once we got around behind it so they could see all the trains, they loved it.  They so many all different sizes they were "cho cho-ing" every direction.  They were so excited they didn't know what to do.  Payton found the Polar Express train and all the Thomas trains and pointed them out to the boys.  We were lucky enough to have my grandparents accompany us and lend me a hand.  After seeing all the train fun we walked the overpass( which was an adventure all itself.) We had lunch at Frtizs at Crown Center.  Mitch got to join us over his lunch and surprise the kids.  It was such a fun day. 

If that wasn't enough fun for one day we meet Mitch at Bass Pro Shop after work so we could see
Santa. We always go there to visit Santa and we love it. The kids all ran up and gave Santa hugs which was so cute. Of course I didn't capture any cute pictures. Really 3 kids all doing what you want at the same time, never. Can't wait to try 4 next year. The kids enjoyed many fun activities. They even found a 4 wheeler they thought we should bring home. Payton thought it was a great idea. ( I am sure Daddy would love that along with the land to ride it on).   What kid isn't excited to see fish, bears and all those fun animals. We had to about drag them out of there to get home and go to bed.  I love it!

Tonight Payton got to make her count down Christmas chain.  That way she can pull one chain off each morning and know how many more days until Christmas.  That helps from her asking how many days until Santa comes.  I love all the fun little things they get so excited about.  We will have to take turns of course as to who gets to pull one of the rings off each morning. ( that should be fun)