Fall is All Up on Us!

We have had A Great couple of weeks enjoying all the fall activities going on around us. We have visited Pumpkinville at the Myriad's Botanical Gardens.. It was a lot of fun, but it was 89 the Saturday we were out there.. which is ridiculous for Late October! Only $3 to get in there.. But the girls like walking around, picking up gourds and climbing on stuff. They are at the stage now where just being free, running around, and climbing on and off things is like the best day ever. 

We Also went to TG farms in Newcastle. Its a BIG place, and its pretty pricey ($10 per person, even if you are a newborn) But its worth it.. a TON of stuff for kids to do. The girls went into the petting Zoo and hung out with the Goats. Cross would laugh when the goats jumped up on top of their shed. She thought that was hilarious. LL didn't like the goats as much. She liked going up and down the hay slide. They put a cattle ramp up to a slide where the girls could climb up the ramp and then slide down the slide. They LOVE all slides at this stage. Its hilarious.. they will go up and down it 324 times and not get tired! 

They also have pig races, a haybale maze, corn maze, a duck pond, and a TON of places to pose for Fall pictures. 

Cross loved the mini pumpkins. She took two of them and carried them around with her as she was walking. For some reason the pumpkins made her laugh with joy. 

Londyn really just liked walking around. She would go over a little bridge and liked to hear the sound of her shoes on top of it. Everything is a new sound and a new adventure. She liked going out on the deck and looking at the ducks in the duck pond. She also liked climbing on the haybales and sliding. 

We are going to go to another Pumpkin Patch this weekend with Mom & Steve. They are coming up to Trick or treat with the girls, so we are going to go to Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch in Arcadia. Everyone says its so much fun. I think Cross will want to ride a Pony there.. And LL will enjoy the Fort. She loves squeezing her little body into places. We always look up and she is hiding behind a chair or something funny like that. 

Everyone thinks Cross looks like me in this picture.. Well obviously, because she has huge, giant, sunglasses on.. lol. But you can tell she is obviously a fan of herself, and hey, I can't blame her for that. She is the happiest girl! After the Pumpkin Patch we went and met GT & Nana for awhile. The girls went upstairs in the Theatre Room and watched a GIANT version of Peppa Pig, so they thought that was fun! Then we all went to dinner. We chose Cracker Barrel and Cross fell in love with a giant Toad there.. I tried to put it back and she started to Cry, so GT got it for her, lol

She carried him all around that night.. and brings him to the living room to play each morning.

As you can see, she's still carrying that Owl.(JO).. yup, she loves loves him. We went to the farm a few weeks ago and forgot him and turned around and drove back to get him. Its THAT bad. If you put her in her bed without him she makes the saddest little cry.. Pretty much the same cry I would make if you put me to bed without my blanket.. lol.. So I can't judge her, because she gets it from me. She also has a freakish love for weird things. I have an old Wooden Indian Man that my dad gave me. I keep him on the porch of whatever house I live in because I swear he is a protector.. MJ is creeped out by him and insisted he live outside, because he was INSIDE the house.. I introduced Cross to him one day and she loved him.. Everyday now when she see's him outside, she goes up and gives him a hug, and pets him. 

See, its weird.. but she loves him. She also has befriended a Gargoyle named "Hans" in my bedroom. She goes to him and pets him everyday.. MJ just says "Man, she's so weird like you" Lol.. So I can't say much.. 

 We have been spending a LOT of time at the Church Playground these days. Its SO perfect for Toddlers. First, its gated, so they can't escape, and second they have a "little' playground that is perfect for Toddlers.. Its not too high off the ground and its hard for them to fall off of it. My girls LOVE it.. They climb and slide and run and crawl. We try to go there a couple of times a week.. after church and then before Small group on Wednesdays. They LOVE their time there.. We went last night and I was shocked at how they don't get tired! Cross just kept going and going up and down and down the slide and running.. Endless amounts of energy!

Last weekend we went to Cousin Joe's 2nd birthday in Weatherford at my Sister Lexi's house. The girls had a great time because we just let them run free in the backyard. They loved going up and down his slide..and there was a trampoline, so they loved that.. Then Lexi served Fajitas, so of course they were IN on that! They love Mexican food! It was all fun and games till Cousin Joe drew on Crosslee's face with a purple marker, lol.. You can tell by her face that she is shocked that this has just happened! 

We all had a great time. The girls got to see everyone and eat some birthday cake. They also loved coloring with giant crayons so we had to get them some of those when we got back. Life is so much fun for us right now. Each day is a new adventure with the girls, and if you have seen their pics, or been around them much, you know that they are just endless barrels of energy and SO much fun right now. Cross is saying all kinds of things now.. She is a little Parrot. LL is starting to stay more each day. Cross has learned how to jump. She doesn't get very far off the ground, but in her mind she is jumping to the sky! They are climbing into chairs now and sitting in 'big' seats.. They still love the farm and playing. They could stay outside all day. Leslie (The nanny) has finally just succumb to the fact that they want to stay outside ALL the time. So we just let them go out there and play. They like their backyard, and Banks and Payslee are good babysitters!

They both still love walking in the Cow Pasture.. and the Cows like them too. Its truly such a blessing to have so many fantastic places they can visit and enjoy. They have so many people that love them, and so many places to visit! They have a great life, and so do we.. So blessed!

We have been reading a book in our Small Group called "Changes that Heal" by Dr. Henry Cloud. Last night MJ and I taught the class, and it was really fun. Its a really good book about setting boundaries around toxic people. Its been an eye opening experience to read, but very helpful. MJ is also a part of a Mens Bible study that meets early on Wednesdays and he has really been enjoying that as well. WE just love our church!

I know I'm partial because they are mine.. but man, My girls are beautiful! Londyn looks like a living doll, and Crosslee's spirit matches her joyful face! So Thankful they are healthy and happy babies.. Now 17 months old!

Happy Birthday To Me

Well today is my birthday.. and I have realized one important thing in the past year and a half since the girls were born.. If you are going to have twins, do it in your 20s! lol.. I know that sounds ridiculous..but when MJ and I decided to try for a baby, we were thinking "Oh no problem, we can certainly handle one between the two of us!".. but now we have TWO and we are starting to get worried.. lol

We have both started going to the gym, and losing weight. He's being forced into eating healthier because I'm cooking more at home for the girls and I.. After 5 weeks on Weight Watchers, I'm down 19lbs.. Not terrible.. But also pretty boring.. But I suppose doing it the right way takes longer, and since I'm committed to doing this for a year, I've only got time right??

So as another year of my life has gone by I've realized a few things..
1) I'm a dang good Mom. 
Contrary to what other people THOUGHT I would be.. I'm a pretty great mom. I have never been a 'kid' person per say.. I didn't even know if I would have kids, so I think when I told my close friends I was pregnant.. with twins.. they were scared.. Like for real. I know Brandon worried about my sanity..and the girls sanity as well.. Last year on my birthday they were only about 4 months old, and still not that fun.. but this year, they are awesome, and a TON of fun. I encourage them to learn, build, stay outside, explore and be creative. At 16 months they can't really do all of that.. but every day I try to make it count. Even if its something as small as a trip to Sams, I do it because I know they are going to see someone new, or find a new treasure. They are like little sponges right now, so I love getting them out of the house to be curious. I don't spend as much time as I'd like to with them, but every second I'm with them counts, and we make it count.

I read constantly about the best parenting tips, what kids like to play with, what 'wonder week leap' they are going through, and how to best teach them. I cook.. LOTS of great stuff..and thankfully (Partially thanks to Baby Led Weaning) my girls EAT lots of great stuff. They love everything I make..with garlic, with chia seeds, with flaxseed, with spinach.. Its great, and I love how much they enjoy it.

I don't let other people bother me when they try to convince me that their child is a prodigy.. Thankfully I have a pretty good BS meter, so I just laugh it off and move on... and then point and laugh later when thinking about it. I don't worry about doing what 'everyone else is doing'.. I do what works for us, and if you ever look at my girls, you will see immediately that they are truly full of joy. Thats what for sure lets me know that MJ and I are doing a great job. The girls are full. of. joy. So blessed for that.

2) I'm always going to want to be on the radio.  
I have a great job. I work with great people.. I'm super grateful that I have been able to find a good career after leaving radio.. but just like a singer who always wants to sing.. I'm always going to be an entertainer who always wants to entertain. Its my passion, my love, and what I'm supposed to do in this world.. I'll get back to it in some capacity eventually. But in the meanwhile I'm super thankful for my "row" of folks I work with, and the fact that I have an amazing boss, working for a great company.

3) I'm capable of more than I thought I was. 
Twins are double the blessings. Twins are double the fun. Twins are hard. Now that the girls are walking, they are walking in 2 different directions and MJ and I are always chasing them. I don't even WANT to think about the terrible 2's.. It scares me.. My girls are the best babies in the world, but there are still two of them, and being a parent is CONSTANT. I would have never thought I was capable of getting two nekkid toddlers in a bathtub, or carrying both of them when they want to be picked up.. Or getting them both dressed to the 9's for church every Sunday.. But I am. People constantly ask MJ and I? "How did you do it with two?" Well.. what was the alternative? lol.. Giving one back? Shipping one off? God never gives you more than you can handle and I'm happy and proud to see what we have accomplished in this past year.


4) I have great people around me. 
First, I have an amazing husband. Men that have twins, do NOT get any breaks.. When I' was feeding one baby, he was feeding the other.. and as they have gotten older, its still constant. Londyn Lucille is a daddies girl, and there is rarely a time when he doesn't have a baby on his lap, or I'm asking him to help me with something. I think dads that have ONE baby get off a little easier because the baby is predominantly dependent on the mom for everything.. but with two babies, you gotta have 2 sets of hands. No rest for the Weary. I'm so thankful I married the right man and that God built him just for me.

MJ and I are so thankful for our family and our church. These people have babysat, brought over meals, prayed for us, and eased our minds when we thought we were for sure losing them. Having our parents around us always willing to help and our church praying for us, and strengthening our walk with the Lord has been such a blessing to us. Its also been amazing watching our parents form relationships with our kids that are going to last a lifetime. Watching their eyes get excited when one of their grandparents come over has been such a joy to both of us. There is nothing better than watching someone you Love, Love your kids. And knowing we are raising them in a community of awesome church people who love them, help us take care of them, and build them up makes us really proud as parents. We are also super thankful for Uncle Brandon and Uncle Chant who make the girls laugh every time we see them. We have some great friends too!

5)  Happiness & Positivism is a Choice.. 
Everyday we wake up we can choose to be happy, or choose to be miserable. We can choose to focus on the negative things our spouse does that irritate us, or we can choose to focus on the positive. ITs a choice.. You teach people how to treat you, and you train your brain how to think. So if you don't want to be around negative thoughts, you shouldn't hang out with negative people that constantly drain your energy or bring you down.. Everybody has bad days, and everyone has issues.. but the way you choose to handle them is up to you. I have chosen to give my problems to the Lord, and know that we can work through them together, and good or bad, I know and trust that he is going to take care of me. Life is not all rainbows and unicorns.. But through Trials Comes Grace.  I choose to be positive for my marriage, and my children. I choose to focus on the blessings of my life than everything I don't have, because my blessings are over flowing, and my troubles are pretty meaningless compared to others.

So as another year goes by I can only get excited about the possibilities of greatness. Fun with my girls, Quality time with my Husband, and spending time with those people who are near and dear to my heart. I can't beleive the Holidays are already approaching! This is going to be such a fun season!

We are headed to the farm this weekend to take the girls to the Fall Festival.. Then we will let them visit Pops and Grammy, and we are going to try to take some pics of them with twin baby calves that Papa had on the farm. We are bottle feeding them, so it will be perfect. My life is never perfect, but I could not ask for more.