Through the years...

Our first visit trip with the twins in Guatemala, Christmas 2006

They were 8 months old (wearing size 3 months at 11lbs and 12 lbs)

One year later, Gary and I discovered the twins dressed almost the same as the previous year.

Christmas 2007, by my father's bedside during his final days.

I couldn't resist keeping the stripes alive!

Christmas 2008, giggles and rough housing, as always!

My, how they've grown!

Christmas 2009, 3 1/2 years old!  Most days they don't stand/sit long enough for me to "see" them.  So, a picture like this just warms my heart!  I love their little expessions!

And being the clothes whore that I am, I did indeed try for actual "stripes" this year, but the boys wouldn't forego their "Prep and Landing" (or as they refer to it, "Perfect Landing") gear for a decent picture:

They take their Elf duties VERY seriously!

I "made" them smile anyway!  hee hee hee!

Christmas 2009!

Wow - we had such a wonderful and "relaxed" Christmas!

Christmas Eve service, our two little shepherds (representing Guatemala) were in the Christmas Pageant!

Two little angels or two little wild ones?  You deide. 

If you guessed "wild" you'ld be correct!  Despite suggesting that the boys be separated on stage, they still stuck together an diperformed their usual slap fest on each other while giggling non-stop.  They almost toppled the entire nativity scene.  And Logan kept running up to peak in on Baby Jesus.  Mary was quite beside herself with fret over these two active little shepherds.  Howeverm since the majoirty of the cast members were between 2 and 8 - noone else really seem to notice my two wild ones!

Back at home, we fed the reindeer magic reindeer food.

Set Santa's cookies out - "Is Santa gonna eat these cookies, Mom?"

We sang Happy Birthday to baby Jesus and put him in his manger. 

Nonnie came to spend the night to add to the Christmas Eve excitement!   So she took the boys upstairs to bed.  As Austin was cuddling up to Nonnie, he declared this, "The best Chrsitmas Eve EVAH!"

The next morning, at the top of the stairs waiting for the "OK" to descend.

Santa DID deliver!  LOOK - a soccer ball, a soccer net AND a soccer field!!  We knew Santa has scored a great deal on the net, we just had no idea he was delivering a regulation size net!  lol

Mason and Lory made it over early to ccatch all the excitement!

Bwah hahahahahaha! Yes, Austin got his roller coaster, too!  Bless his little heart, he spent all Christmas morning waiting for it to be completed so he could see it in action.  He was a real trooper and waited as patiently as any 3 1/12 year old could! ;-) 

We got to spend the whole day at home.  Nice and easy.  We grazed all day long, too!  The kids got lots of wonderful toys and Mom and Dad got plenty of sleep by the end of the day - bed at 8:30pm for ALL!

Tidbits and more snow!

Last Saturday, I was exhausted and overly-spent after taking care of my over active, wild -not-listening- more-than-usual children.  I prayed for patience.  The next day....I woke up with laryngitis. 

I spent the whole day walking around and "patiently" listening to the children as I couldn't do anything else - well except for a few hand gestures!  hee hee 

As one friend told me, "Don't you know when you pray for something, God just gives you more opportunity to practice!"  How true!!

~~~
As soon as the first snowflakes fell last week, Austin looked up at me, grabbed ahold of my face (for clearer and direct attention) and very, very excitedly asked:  "NOW Santa can come. Mommy??" 

;-(      "...awww.  No baby, not quite yet!"  

~~~
Over at our neighbors one night, Ryan (4 1/2 years old), stated, "Austin is my BEST friend."  Austin: "Yep!"

Ryan, "Best friends forever, right?"   Austin:  "No."

Ryan looked crestfallen!   Me: "Austin, why don't you want to be Ryan's best friend forever?"

Austin:  "Oh.  Well.  Because, I gotta home."  (I can't stay here forever!)   teeheehee!

~~~ 
One morning, Gary and I were talking and Logan suddenly asked, "Mom you got your talk back to Daddy?"  huh?  "Your talk, it's back?"  Oh, my talk?  Yes, baby Momma's finally got her talk back, a little.  "Mommy, your throat's not oweee anymore?"  No baby, Momma's all ok, you sweet little thing!
~~~

In the car the other day, I suddenly realized it was quiet,  Extremely quiet.  "You guys are awfully quiet.  You doing alright back there?"  Austin replies, "Well....we didn't want to make you mad, Mommy."

Hilarious!  Yeah, it's been that kind of week or two!  Poor little things, "I guess if we're quiet, maybe she won't yell at us."   
~~~

The morning after the big snowstorm, Logan woke up and say, "Mommy, is the snow still here?"  Yep, baby it's still here and lots more, too!     He wrapped his little arms around me, kissed me and said, "Oh thank you, Mommy!  Thank you, Mommy!"    hee hee - Me Snow Princess!  I make Snow! I make lot of good snow! 

~~~

Speaking of, here's more pictures of My snow! 

Austin and his "motorcycle."

Logan and his saucer!

Then, he ditched the saucer and went down solo:

Crazy boy!

Big Bro, Evan and Austin

Mommy and Austin

Daddy and Logan

Daddy's snow....

So - my dad has been on my mind a LOT for like the last 10 days or so. I have felt his precense more and more. It was kind of a mixture of happiness and love and then sadness for missing him.  Two days ago, I all but felt him sitting in the car with me.  His presence was SO intense.  I started crying.  I just couldn't figure out why he was here.  Did he have a message for me or something?  Was something about to happen?

Then, WHAM! 

SNOW!  Snow, snow and more snow!  More snow than we've ever seen in December since 1908, I think!

To say my father loved snow is about as big of an under-statement as you can make.  It's like saying he "enjoyed breathing" - snow was essential to him!   In fact, when Global Warming hit and we stopped getting as much snow as we used to, we were all surprised that he didn't pickup and move north! 

Dad was the best meterologist (by hobby) there was. He was ususally darn right, too!   And as soon as the first flakes were on the way, he'ld be gone!  Out in his jeep "storm chasing" the snow! 

Since his passing (2 years ago), we have had three snow storms!  We all knew he was "working things on the other side!"  Then, BAM - this weeks snow hit with an awesome force! 

The snow started accumulating right away!

Impromptu snowball fight in the front yard.

Large snowball aiming for Austin's head!

Logan ridiculously under dressed!

The next morning!!!!!!

Family portrait of my olderst baby, Mason, his girlfriend Lory and their baby, Nic'ko's FIRST snow!!

Daddy and his boys!

Beautiful Logan!

LOVE this little face!

And I'm in heaven with all this snow!  Love it, love it, love it!

LOVE YOU, Daddy!  Thanks for riding in the storm with me....just like we used to!

Let the fun continue!!

Ice Skating!

Tracey and I took the boys for their first Ice Skating experience.  Of course on the way there, I found out Tracey's a professional ice skater.   Whatevah!  ;-)

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