It's been awhile!

Well, seeing as how my last entry was about the boys turning ONE I'd say a new entry is way overdue. 

Because they're nearly FOUR.  And I'm nearly FOUR-OH.  Oh yes, I'm about 2 weeks away from turning 40.  And we've moved.  OK, that was about 18 months ago, but nevertheless, it happened.  Lots has happened since that last entry! 

Let's see, let me try and get you up to speed.  
With pictures, because they just make it more fun.

- Shortly after the boys turned 1, I quit my job to become a stay at home mom.

- We found a church that we absolutely fell in love with from our first visit.  

- Not long after joining said church, Brandon took a job transfer to East Texas.  Leaving our home, friends and church was one of the hardest things I've ever done.  The boys were 2 and M had just started 2nd grade.

- We're now 45 minutes from my parents and the kids get to see GDaddy and Grandma on a regular basis which is awesome.

- A month after we moved I got pregnant with #4 but it was a tubal and had to be terminated (that sucked). 

- On our way back from our vacation in Florida last summer, we stopped in West Monroe, Louisiana and McKenna got to meet Willie and Korie from Duck Dynasty.  She was on cloud 9 for a week.

- I cried every day for the first 6 months of being in our new town.  Needless to say, it wasn't love at first sight.  

- M decided that cheer wasn't for her but she found soccer which she loves.

- The boys started Mothers Day Out 2 days a week and they are having a great time!

     

- I discovered Young Living essential oils and now I'm like a mad scientist making up different concoctions from our own deodorant to sunscreen, facial moisturizer and bug repellant.  I'm a nerd.  You'll be seeing lots of my oily obsession on the blog I'm sure.

- I had another nephew, Titus Jonathan!  One word: CHEEKS.

- I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue and Hashimoto's which explains why I am constantly exhausted, achy and can't lose weight to save my life.  Now I'm just trying to help heal it naturally.  It's hard.  But I got this.

- I joined It Works! Global as a distributor.  I'm having a blast and have discovered some amazing products that help me feel so. much. better.  Not to mention I've met some great, encouraging ladies!

- I've realized how much I miss HEB and Costco!

- The boys started Blast Ball which is like t-ball junior.  It's super adorable and they all look like little bobbleheads out on the field in their huge helmets.  It's awesome. 

- After 18 months of living here, I still cry at least once a week.  

It's just not working out, man (but I promise... it's not you, it's me!)

So there you have it.  Life's just been chugging along and we are blessed to be healthy (mostly) and happy (mostly).  But at the end of the day, we're all together which is what matters the most.  

Now I'm going to try and keep the ol' blog a little more up to date!  

The boys turn ONE!

Oh my word, where does the time go?!  It seemed like yesterday I was counting the days until they were both home from the NICU and now they are 1!

Since the day we found out we were having twins I vowed not to do the "matchy match twin" thing.  I didn't give them names that rhymed, started with the same letter or even sounded alike (they are unique after all) and I don't match their clothes.  Just not my thing.  They have totally different dispositions and personalities and I love that they do!

So when I came up with the Thing 1 & Thing 2 theme for their 1st birthday my husband was a little surprised I was going for the "matchy" thing.  But I love Dr. Seuss and thought this was a perfect theme for a twin birthday.  Thanks to my introduction to Pinterest, I got to work on all of the details!

If you don't already know this about me, I seriously LOVE planning parties. I. Love. It.  Some people think it's silly that I go into such detail for a kid's party but I absolutely don't do it for show or to be "that mom" trying to one-up other moms.  I do it because I love it.  And I want to do it for my kids.  Even though they will never remember it, they can look back at pictures.  And because I enjoy making everything (or most everything) myself, I spend very little on their parties.  

I was so happy that all of our family got to come and celebrate the boys on their special day.  

As the guests arrived, the signed The Birthday Book by Dr Seuss

What's a Dr. Seuss themed party without green eggs and ham??

Thing cupcakes (the hair eventually wilted in the Texas humidity, boo!)

The calm before the storm

CAKE TIME!!  Note to self:  red icing makes the kitchen look like a murder scene.  Don't do that again.

Coop!  He already makes funny faces and is so sweet.  He came such a long way this year.  Happy Birthday Michael Cooper!!

G-Man.  He loves to cuddle and so far is a Momma's boy.  Happy Birthday William Garrett!!

The "1" picture collage.  It was crazy to see how much they've grown in 12 short months!

Leave it to me to think "How hard can a fondant cake be to make myself?"  The result:  stupid looking homemade cakes.  Mommy fail.

What 1-year old doesn't need a motorized F-150?  Their gift from the "guncles", our neighbors-turned-adopted-family Stan & Michael

Helmet head

Well, Mr. C is in a helmet.  He was diagnosed with plagiocephaly which is basically a wonky head.  Since he was laying in the NICU for five weeks without many position changes, his little head is a bit misshapen.  However, he should only be in the helmet 4-5 months since it's not a bad case. 

And how cute is it now that we got it airbrushed? You know he couldn't very well rock a plain white one!  I think it's fitting since he will be in it through baseball season.  But a note to the airbrush people in the mall:  When I say "Texas Rangers colors" that means royal blue, not the darkest navy you can conjure up.  If I'd picked it up I would have insisted the redo it, but Brandon is a bit nicer than I am.  :)  Moving right along....

 

Cute huh??

 

 



 





Happy Birthday M!

 

Six years ago, I became a mom...it was the best and scariest day ever!  My sweet princess came into the world at nearly 41 weeks weighing in at 8 lbs 3 ozs.  Here are a few pics from her family birthday party.  No, I didn't get any pictures from her party with her friends...and I feel horrible.  But trying to get 7 little squealing girls still enough to get a picture is a challenge and I was having too much fun with them to remember to grab the camera.  Anyway...drum roll please....

 

My big SIX year old girl!

 

 

 

Miss M

In all of the new baby haze, I can't forget about the big sister!  She is in her 2nd season of Pee Wee cheer and she's loving it.  They just got done with their competition and they took first place again!  She's had such a good time cheering and has made lots of new friends in the process (and so has mom!) - here's a little peek at her season. 

Ready to cheer at Cowboys Stadium!

She's a pro

On the star

Founder's Day parade



Ooh! Look at my trophy!

Homecoming

 

End of the year cheer party

 

 

In the midst of it all, she started Kindergarten!  She's had a lot going on in the past couple of months, not one but TWO new babies in the house, starting school and cheer...but as usual, she takes it all in stride.  I'm so happy to be back home with my girl!

 

My big girl!!