He Has Risen!!!

Happy Easter! We had a great time celebrating this year. Thank the Lord He has risen!! The kids did very well this weekend with the crazy schedule and spending time with both families. Payton loved the Easter egg hunts. Payton and her cousins ran around the back yard crazy. She doesn't run as fast as her older cousins do, but they left eggs for her to find also. The boys napped during the hunt. We had the pleasure of having brunch, twice. Once on Saturday morning and then again after church on Sunday morning.

It was a little chilly but we avoided the rain. The Easter bunny brought the kids sun hats for summer and Payton some new sun glasses to wear by the pool. They all got watering cans to play with outside or in the baby pool. That bunny was thinkin!! Overall I think the boys did good for their first major holiday.

Cooper with his basket

Cohen with his basket She loves her big puffy dress, that was all she wanted Cooper and big sis Cohen and big sis brotherly love Payton loves her cousins getting as many eggs as she canshe loves to say "cheeeze" as loud as possible twin boys

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3 year old

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mom and dad

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best photo opp.

What a Week

Last weekend started off fun and exciting. They boys are moving around more and more, well Cohen anyways. Cooper does also but not as much as Cohen. When I lay them on their tummy Cohen goes up immediately just like the picture and Cooper usually thinks that means nap time. He just likes to lay his head down and chill. Cohen has rolled over but Cooper hasn't had the desire to do that yet. They are doing great and it is crazy how fast they are growing.

Payton having a tea party

Saturday morning we had our Easter Egg hunt at our church. The kids had a great time. Payton loved running up and hugging the bunny. My nieces were also there for the celebration and the three girls had a ball. Mitch and I each had a boy strapped to our chest. Of course I didn't capture a picture of that. They found eggs and played games, they even had face painting. What kid wouldn't love getting paint all over their face!!!

picking her eggs
the girls

Yesterday morning I attended my friends son's funeral. Over the weekend after their Easter Egg hunt there was a terrible accident and her kids were in a tragic accident with their grandparents. Her 5 year old son was killed and her 23 month old has a C2 neck fracture. Yesterday was one of the hardest things I have had to do. There were people bursting at the seems of this funeral home to show their love and support to Ali and Tommy. They have a long rode ahead of them. Watching them deal with this tragic event was so hard, I can't imagine how they must feel. The survive was done a well as it could have been and knowing that Cainen will be waiting for them in heaven I hope helps them move on the best they can. Courtlyn was acting just like her old self talking and being ornery. I pray they can pull together and help each other through and be strong for their little girl who still needs her mommy and daddy. No parent should ever have to out live their child. We all love you and will miss you Cainen

After attending something like that it just makes you never want to let go of your children. I smoothered them since Saturday. We spent the evening together just enjoying each other company and loving every minute with them not knowing when that might end. We decorated eggs this year for the first time. Payton thought that was pretty awesome. We made a dozen for the Easter bunny. She did very good being patient for the eggs to come out of the cups. We had a great Mother daughter time, while the boys napped.

Cohen and Mommy

Payton with her baby brother Cohen

She loves them to pieces, Cooper wasn't into lovin right then

My 3 babies

Coloring our eggs

our finished product

Why Mom's Rock!

Those of you that read my last post know that I returned to work last week. Let me tell you it was the hardest week yet. I was barely functioning on hardly any sleep and by Wednesday I was dying. No kiddos at my house was sleeping through the night all week. I had worked a couple nights and not really slept during the day. I didn't know what to do, so when all else fails, cry. I was so tired that was all I could manage. My mom knew what a hard week I had. She kept calling to check up on me. This is the part that gets good!

Mom walked over to my house on Friday and showed up at around 4:30, right when I was finishing feeding the boys. She timed that on purpose of course. She walked in and said," Are you finishing up with the boys? Good change and enjoy this beautiful day and walk or run all by yourself." She said she was trying to help with my sanity and give me a little "ME" time. Now how wonderful is that? I was so excited, she knew my schedule, knew I would love to be outside, knew I would love to workout( because like that ever happens with babies and a 3yr old), and thought I needed just a little break.

That is one of the perks about being mom, you know your kids almost as well as they know themselves. I don't like to ask for help, if it is offered that is one thing but I pretty much won't ask for it otherwise. She knows this wonderful fact of course and just came and told me to leave. That is exactly what I need sometimes, or else I would just keep on pushin through.

Today I got another wonderful mother surprise. I had made a comment that I need some play clothes for Payton that she can play hard in and ruin and I won't care about it. Mom had payed attention to that comment. Children's Orchard was having a sale she knew about that play clothes were on sale for $1 per item. She just showed up at my house with play outfits and shorts for Payton. They are even really cute mostly name brand even. I don't care, it was wonderful because now if any of it gets ruined it's no big deal.

It is so great to have a mom that knows you so well. I know that I would love to do similar things for Payton one day. Know her well enough to do wonderful sweet little gestures that mean the world at the time. I will of course do the same for my future fabulous daughter-in-laws. It might take a little while know how they work but I am sure I will figure it out quick and treat them as my own. What a wonderful gift to get the privilege of being a mother.

HI-HO, HI-HO

It's off to work I go.... yes this weekend was my return back to reality and the working world. Sadly to say my wonderful, treasured maternity leave has come to an end. Saturday was my first night back to work. I will have to admit it was so difficult to leave. I was feeding the boys before I left and was staring down at them eating. Large crocodile tears welled up in my eyes and there I went. I didn't want to have to leave and miss any second. I know that they are in wonderful hands, because they couldn't ask for a better Daddy. Knowing that still doesn't mean that I ( mommy) want to miss out on anything. I made it through my first night, had to do a little refreshing on protocols. I am proud to say that I stayed awake pretty easily. I am sure all the late night feedings had nothing to do with it. I made it home with plenty of time to change for church and help Mitch get the boys loaded up in their seats. Payton got to enjoy a special fun filled evening with Nana and Papa. My mom insisted that Payton stay the night so Mitch could just have to boys his first night alone. Payton went to church with mom and dad and we were able to make it on time also. We came home after service was over and I was able to take a nap before getting up to feed the boys before heading off to work again. I am here now for my 2nd night. It is a little more difficult tonight, starting to feel how heavy my eyes actually are. I am hoping the boys take really good naps today so I get to sleep as well. It is time to start adjusting to our new schedule. In no time at all it will seem just like normal.

Smiles

I think the days actually got shorter with day light savings, not longer. I am not sure why time seems to be sneaking away quicker lately. Well this is Mitch's favorite shirt. We only have 1 and Cohen got to be our model first. I am not sure how often Mitch actually uses this saying but it is a lot. I knew that he would get a kick out the this t-shirt. I think that Cohen enjoyed modeling it.
Happy St. Patty's Day!! I know I am a little late, but better late than never. The kids got to be all decked out with their St. Patty's Day attire. Payton loved getting to wear her " beautiful green shirt", so she told me. She liked the idea that everyone should all wear green on the same day. We celebrated the holiday with green oatmeal for breakfast and taking the kids to the park. We celebrate big!!

the boys weren't as excited to wear their green

look at those faces, just what you want to kiss huh?Such a good big sister, holding them even while they are crying.

My cute boys sharing their crib together.

Here is where the smiles title comes true. We got to actually catch a smile on film. I have been trying for the last 2 weeks to get the boys to smile at me while I am holding the camera. Bingo, it finally worked. I caught Cooper yesterday and Cohen today.

Cooper

Cohen

This morning Mitch went with me and we took the boys to the hospital to get their hips ultrasound. Both the boys were breach and they like to make sure there is nothing wrong with their hips as a precaution. There was no reason to believe there was a problem, just because of how they were in my belly we double checked. They did great, held very still and no one peed on the Dr. It is hard to believe they will be 12 weeks next week. This is my last week home, I start work this weekend. We will be adjusting to our new normal. I will be working on trying to smile when I have to leave them this weekend.

Lollipop

Yesterday was the big day. What big day you might ask. YES it was time for all 3 children have a doctor's appointment at the same time. That in itself was hard to schedual. They don't like schedualing 3 kids at once. I had to get permission from the doctor to allow that to happen. Are you kidding me? I told them there was no way I was making 2 trips to the office. Luckily permission granted. I had some back up, Mitch left work early to meet me at the office to help with the check ups. Thank goodness for that. Have you ever tried stripping down a 3 year old to her panties and 2 babies to their diapers? I hadn't either until yesterday. Not to terrible the hardest part was keeping a 3 year old in panities in the exam room. It was a little more difficult considering how large those exam rooms are.
Payton went first. She was so excitied to go to the doctor's office. She talked about it all morning. I don't know many 3 year old's that are excitied to see a doctor. She followed instructions well and loved watching them use all the instruments to check her eyes, ears, and mouth. She talks exceptionally well for her age, can do draw a circle, knows her colors, and ABC's.
She is measuring height: 40"8 >%95
weight: 37 lbs >%95
once all the measuring was done it was time for her shot. We told her it was coming and that it would sting a bit. My strong brave girl, no tears, she just told the nurse" hey that hurts me". After being so brave she of course got a lollipop, which was the highlight of the trip. We now have her paper work all filled out and she is ready for pre-school in the fall. It is so hard to believe that ornery little girl will be in pre-school. God bless that teacher, she will have to figure out how to keep her quite so she will be able to teach.
This is the best invention in the entire world for a mom with twins. The twin breast feeding pillow. It is amazing, both boys can lay on each side without me having to hold them up and then when it is time to burp (like the picture is showing) I can just prop them on my chest with their bottoms on the pillow to burp together. It works wonders and saves so much time versus feeding one at a time. Love this pillow!!!
We have come to the conclusion that I must produce breast cream, not breast milk. I know you are all jealous. My boys are chunkin up. Just what I love to see big o'l cheeks and chunky thighs!!! They did great at their check ups. Here are a few developments they have mastered:

• lifting their head while lying on their stomach
• smiles socially, knows the presence of your voice
• little coo's and blowing bubbles
• going 8 hrs. at night between feedings
• sleeping together in a crib

Cohen is measuring: Height: 23" %50

Weight: 10lbs 12.8oz %27

Head: 15 3/4" %50

There is that cute little man that I love so much! Haven't captured the smile yet.

Cooper is measuring: Height: 22 3/4" %50

Weight: 10lbs 3.2oz %20

Head: 16" %52

There is my other little man that I love so much, my boys look so serious in these pics.

The boys did well with their shots. They didn't receive a lollipop but they had mom and dad to hold them and calm them down. They only cried for about 15-30sec. Once they were dressed and back in their seats they went right back to sleep. Such good little boys, I don't think they liked their nap time interrupted. I know that I don't like my nap interrupted either.

The greatest gift of all is being the mother of these 3 beautiful children. I could not ask for anything more. I have been trying so hard to soak up every minute of feeding and burping knowing that this will not last long and soon they will be just as big as Payton and there won't be anymore cuddling and rocking(unless they don't feel good). It goes by so fast but I am loving it now!

Elmer Fudd

I know that you have all seen the adorable Elmer Fudd hats that I got the boys. They really are the best hats ever. They really are extremely helpful. They keep their heads and ears warm, besides they are just to darn cute. They have warn them since they where born, but now they actually fit their heads. These are the pictures that they will get to look back on and say " mom what the heck where you thinking making us where those ugly hats?" I will be able to show their girlfriends just how cute they where when they were born with their cute as can be "Elmer Fudd" hats. I had searched for those hats once I found out that I was having 2 boys and low and behold I actually found them. The best part was that Mitch also has an Elmer Fudd hat that he has had for a couple of years, so of course his boys needed to look just as handsome as daddy does. The boys kept their cute little heads nice and warm on their first Bob adventure. They loved their stroller ride and slept most of it. Mommy got some quite time while the boys slept on our walk.

Yes here they are, the cute boys and their hats. Cohen is not really thrilled to be sitting for pictures for mommy.

Still not loving picture time,

just wait it gets better, add one more kid and you get the best picture ever!!! Thank you God for such a wonderful clan, who all look great in their hats I might add.