Father's Day 09

For a while, I've told the kids we can take Daddy breakfast in bed on Father's Day and they've been super excited about it! When we went to the mall to get his gift last week, Piper said..."I hope they have that big bed with food on it"! So, I had to then explain "breakfast in bed" more clearly. I told them to keep it a secret, but Porter said "Daddy, what breakfast that you like has icing on it?" and Tyler of course guessed our fav, cinnamon rolls. Porter came and told me Daddy knew what his breakfast would be. I said it was supposed to be a surprise, but Porter explained that Daddy just guessed, he didn't tell him! Oh well--it was fun!

My mom has the privilege of working for a company that has season tickets to everything. Amazingly, no one was using their Royals tickets on Father's Day, so we got them!! Great seats, but one of the hottest days of the summer. Because our seats were down so close to field...no shade and no breeze. we could barely sit down because the seats burned our butts! So, with sweat dripping from each of us and the kids with beet red faces, we decided to leave our awesome seats and walk around. It's a great ball park and lots of fun for the kids, but still...the HEAT! So, we left for the pool:)! Aaaaahhhh.

I had the best dad growing up. He adored me and was my best friend. I cherish the 17 years I had to spend with him. Now, of course, I think my kids have the best dad ever, too. I love seeing them interact and share a special bond and love. Tyler is the most loving person I know and he freely and un-selfishly gives his love to us....

He is our comic relief, he is responsible, he's the nightly bath giver, he is a disciplinarian, he is a wrestler, and he is a protector. Most of all, he loves Jesus and makes sure our kids know how important that is...that Jesus loves all of us so much and desires us to follow Him.

Happy Father's Day, Tyler!

No Boys, Day 1

I haven't felt like blogging lately. Maybe too much to blog about and so I get too overwhelmed? Oh, the pressure. So, here we go - girls' weekend!...

Tyler and Porter have had a guys fishing weekend in TX planned for quite sometime and it just snuck up on me. They enthusiastically left this morning and had a great road trip from what I hear. Piper and I started the day with story time at Park Place...a cute area near us - outside under a gazeebo with a sweet lady, Ms. Dee Dee, reading about Fancy Nancy. Piper got to go up and sit on Ms. Dee Dee's lap and tell her name, age, brother's name, she's a twin, etc. So cute. Next, we played in Pottery Barn Kids, ate lunch outside, and Piper rode her bike while I attempted to walk Daisy. This afternoon she went to gymnastics without Porter...so weird, but she did great. Tonight, she chose Dean and Deluca for dinner (the girl likes soup and dessert), so we ate outside there with Nana. The sad part of the day just occured after I put Piper to bed. In between all our activities today she's been playing with a new birthday present...a Polly Pocket pool set from Aunt Jerri. Well, Daisy just chewed Polly. Pool set with no Polly is going to make Piper so sad in the morning:( I think we'll be heading to Target bright and early to replace it. Then, we'll be off to the pool ourselves. It's open for the season! It will be freezing since our weather has barely made it to 80 this Spring, but in our pale skin, we are facing the cold waters anyway and hoping to soak up some sun!

We miss those boys, but I always treasure special time I can spend alone with just one child...my boy or my girl. Not only is it SO easy (usually), but it's important for them to have one on one time that they otherwise NEVER get. Twins are awesome - God is so creative and I am so thankful...for two miracles, and for the time I'm spending with one this weekend.

The Dentist

For a while, I knew I needed to take the twins to the dentist. I was just dreading taking both of them on my own, having no idea how they would react. We like to "practice" things before we do them and talk about it a lot, so for the past few months, knowing an appt. was coming up, that's what we've been doing. We were all as prepared as possible. The office was so nice and kid-friendly as were the people working there. In fact, the hygienist had TWO set of twins herself, so she knew our situation:) Piper decided to go first. Porter held her hand and asked her if she was going to be brave. So sweet. She got special sunglasses, to watch tv, hold the toothpaste and a hand mirror, and of course get a goodie bag when it was all over. Porter didn't get his hand held by his sweet sister. She was busy playing with toys around the room and putting on her new strawberry chapstick. He was just fine, though, and did amazingly well. I was pretty sure at least Porter had a cavity--you can see it. For a while I've been telling him he has a hole in his tooth so we need to brush extra well. He proceeded to tell the dentist about his "hole" which the dentist confirmed and also found one in Piper's back molar. So, we will go back for fillings. Porter was pretty bummed that he wasn't getting his hole fixed right away. He was ready!!! I always get overly concerned about how my precious children will behave in certain scenarios and I had no reason for concern this time. They did awesome! So, we got bagels for lunch afterwards (that's ok for the teeth, right?!?!). Wish I could say they were also well behaved at Einstein's, but whatever. I'll take what I can get:)

Spring Break

I am blessed by many amazing friendships... and 4 of them came to see us this week. We all met in college (HPU, baby!) and all got married within a year or two of each other...10+ years ago! So, 6 adults and 7 kids, under one roof, for 3 nights = a barrel of laughs dipped in crumbs, screams, sleepless nights, and a bit of toilet water. Yes, one on the loose loves the potty pool:) BUT...I would do it all again and I hope to soon...every year...twice a year! I love these people and am SO overwhelmed that we got so lucky to have them and keep them forever no matter where we live. Tarrah remarked when she was here, that growing up, she didn't know people did that--stay in touch across the miles. Once you left, you left. But, we are beyond the point where anything will break us apart. Bound by God who placed us all uniquely together. Like family and maybe even deeper. As we decided this week, we're all in it together and would give up our kidneys for one another...Kip already only having one - this really may happen one day, so we're serious:)! We laughed until tears, "dug deep", and watched our children play around us. So, with the theme of thankfulness, I individually thank...

Angi : for my beautiful necklace (you're the gold and I'm the silver!)

Tarrah : for teaching a yoga class in my bedroom, keeping me in stitches, and singing with me

Kip : for being Joseph if only for a moment, and answering our curious questions honestly

Adam : for being the quiet observer I admire you for, and letting us in on a little "__ more" work

Tyler : for being my best friend that never leaves, doing dishes, and unstopping toilets

Maddox : for keeping us smiling even when you are removing spindles from the banister

Myla : for noticing your mom's best friends call her "Ang"

Sage : for being Piper's hero

London : for being so cool and laid back

Mason : for being Porter's new buddy

I love you all and can't wait for our next reunion...July 4th?!?! FIREPROOF!

Longing for Spring

It's storming outside, Tyler's in Denver, and I'm sick of taking Daisy out in the rain and cleaning her paws afterwards. The 2 or 3 "warm" days we had last week when the kids could get outside and play and we could go to the park were such a tease. Sandwiched in between snow and rain. March is the time I really miss Texas...it's already t-shirt and flip flop weather there. I bet the bluebonnets will be out soon. We still have a month or two of coolness left here in KC. Oh well--that's the price we pay for getting 4 seasons and a beautiful Fall, I guess. I'm sure August will be here before I know it and I'll be complaining about the heat. Which reminds me...I should complain less. So hard to do. I'll attempt a list of thankfulness, instead...

*A dry roof over my head

*A new high powered working sump pump

*Tyler's only gone one night a week and has a JOB

*Daisy has never pooped or peed inside or in her kennel...I could be cleaning that up!

*An extra hour of daylight

*Children that went right to sleep in their beds tonight with no complaints

There...that's better. Thank you, God, that in all things, we can give thanks to you. You are the maker of the rain and the many rainbows that follow.

Book Worm

Maybe it's the winter blues, maybe I'm getting boring in my old age, or maybe I'm just getting smart. In the past month and a half, I've read 7 books and am working on my 8th. Since college I've loved reading--before that it was the opposite story. But...I've never craved books like now. I started with the Twilight Saga (4 books) which I couldn't read fast enough. Next, on to some non-fiction because it was short, sweet, and highly recommended, The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller. Read it! Then, because I never had, I read To Kill a Mockingbird. I liked it, but it was not what I was hoping for after hearing everyone rave over it. Last night, I finished another Stephanie Meyer book just because I was interested, The Host. OK, but no Twilight:) Now, I'm reading the true story, Three Cups of Tea and I think it's going to be a good one. Not neglecting the best book, which is sadly, easy to do, I'm reading the gospel of John...trying to grasp the beauty and person of Jesus. We'll see how long I can keep up this pace. I guess as long as I can't go to sleep at night and my kids keep napping during the day? Any recommendations...let me know!

I have been tagged by my friend Tarrah:) Here are the rules:

1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer.

2) Select the 4th picture in the folder.

3) Explain the picture.

4) Tag 4 people to do the same. No cheating (cropping, editing, etc.)

And this is the result!

This is a picture Tyler and I obviously took of ourselves at the American Idol Tour concert this past September. It was for my bday and it was awesome! We had a blast...don't we look like it?!?!

I now tag Kristi Tollison, Angi Young, Julie B., and Julie L.!