The Fabulous Five

I keep telling everyone that I'm using the word "moved in" very loosely! ha ha We are all in, we're unpacking, and we're trying to get settled. This move has probably been the hardest thing PHYSICALLY I have ever had to do. My mind keeps telling me what I want to keep doing, but unfortunately my body just won't do it. So, we're just going to have to take it little by little, decorating and organizing will probably take some time. The moving company came on Dec. 29 and quickly got our NINE CRATES off the two trucks (SHEEZ!).

As we brought the kiddos in for the first time, they ran around laughing and just having a grand old time. They love climbing up their new stairs and running up and down the hall that leads from the playroom to their bedrooms. That's right, we now have a boy room and a girl's room. Until we get a new crib for Pete, he unfortunately is going to be in the pink room for awhile. He doesn't seem to mind that much, though. They are so good, and seem to be making the transition really well, better than their mom!!! Our first night to stay at the new house as a family was Dec. 31, so we felt as if it was a great way to ring in the new year!

On the one of days that we moved, Miss Avery rode forward facing in the car for the first time. She seemed fairly unimpressed with the whole thing. Unfortunately we are so preoccupied right now with everything going on - but we did manage to get some pics and a video just like her brother!

What would we do without good family to help us out? Unfortunately with this move I'm not going to be much of a help since my stomach is protruding quite nicely. So luckily we live close enough to have people come to us! We closed on our house Dec. 23 . . . what a Christmas present! So a few days later, Ashley and Bobby came out to help clean bathrooms and toliets and to help paint! I'm sure it is just what they wanted to do! But now we have beautiful blue and pink bedrooms just waiting for the kiddos. Brandi, Dave and the boys came out to visit and of course we put them to work too. Brandi helped unpack the guest room and get everything extra into the closet! We made a "game" for the boys and had them run around and see who could find the most stickers on our stuff (the movers put numbered stickers on EVERYTHING) to keep track of it). What a help to get all those off!



My mom came on Saturday and did so much. I didn't even know how to thank her. She basically unpacked the upstairs for me and got it all organized. The kids rooms, closets, bathrooms and playrooms. I'm so sore and achy all the time, so it was great to be able to JUST watch the kids and let her work on everything else that needed to be done! Moving with kids is like a 10 person job!

Thank you so much to everyone that helped!!!

Christmas afternoon and night we spent with Pete's family and of course like before, these babies are so spoiled! Grandma and Grandpa, and their cousins, got them lots of clothes, bath toys, and more toys (boy is our playroom going to be full!) Avery and Pete got to visit with their Aunt and Uncle plus their cousins, who they had a great time with (like always!) Those boys know just how to play with this little ones!

On Christmas morning we woke up at Nana and Grandpa's and the kiddos got their first taste of Santa! The funny thing is that they love to open the FIRST present, but then get preoccupied and don't really care about the rest. Needless to say, our present opening lasted all morning long! Nana and Grandpa got them lots of clothes, toys, books, a kitchen and a tool kit (among many other things . . .they are so spoiled!) My sister, Ashley, and her boyfriend Bobby spent Christmas morning with us and we were so glad that they were there! The babies love them both very much and always get in a good cuddle. I, of course!, had them in their cute coordinating pajamas! They looked so sweet and so big . . .I keep looking at the pictures of them from last year when they were 12 days old on Christmas! It is truly amazing how watching children grow makes the passage of time even more visible. Running to see what Santa had brought for them!

For some reason sitting on the presents was more appealing than the actual presents themselves.

We all got dressed up and went to church together. The babies did remarkably well. Avery lasted about 45 minutes and Pete lasted about 30 minutes. When I went to find them Pete and his daddy were outside playing with all the other little boys and their daddies! The funniest thing was that little Pete just could not resist the temptation of this lovely young girl's hair that was sitting in front of us. Nana had him in her lap, and somehow before she realized it, Little Pete had given a tug on the girl's hair. I only saw her reaction and didn't see the actual incident, but at least she was sweet about it!

The babes didn't seem too interested in the presents until yesterday. It's like they just figured out all of the sudden that they were there! Avery kept trying to get Pete to get in on the fun, but he KNEW not to touch those presents. Well, later that afternoon, it got really quiet as I was doing the dishes so I went to check on the kiddos. I got a few shots of them before they realized I was there. So sweet!



Caught ya! Does the look on Avery's face tell you she has been caught before???

After weeks of trying to get to go see Santa we finally made it today. I made Grandpa Jack go with me and he stood in line with us for an hour. I think we kinda wore him out and I don't think he would have done it if he didn't love those kiddos so much. I kept asking him to go sit down but luckily we made it through the line! Avery and Pete were all smiles in the line and made friends with all the kiddos around them. But, of course I chose to go close to naptime so Pete fell asleep and Avery start to get a bit cranky. But what little troopers!

I woke Pete up as we were next in line and he kept rubbing his eyes. As I plopped him into Santa's lap, I turned around quickly to grab Avery and I could hear Pete start to cry! By the time I got Avery into Santa's lap too, Pete had quieted down, I guess he just needed the reinforcement of his big sister sitting close by. So, we didn't getting a crying pic, but the look on their faces is priceless. I wish I knew what they were thinking!!!

One year ago, my sweet, precious babies were born very early in the morning. We had waited all the previous day and all during the night for our little miracles to join this world. I wondered and pondered for months "What would they be like?" "How is my life going to be different?" "What will it like to have TWO babies at once?" I am in awe today how quickly a year can go by. It is such a cliche, but what a blur! Those first few months are something I can barely remember because I was so busy and tired and trying my hardest to be such a good mommy.







This blog has been in a way a lifeline for me. At first, I started it as a way to easily download pictures for my family. Then it seemed to take a life of its own as I started to use it to chronicle our daily lives, milestones and accomplishments. This has been a way for me to "write" everything down so I can go back and reminisce. My birthday gift to the babies is that I am taking this blog over the past year and having it made into books. That way, some day they can go back and see what how I felt about them and how they have and always will enrich my life. www.blurb.com

We had their actual western themed birthday party a few weeks ago, but Pete and I had our own little birthday party again tonight. I made them their little cakes again, but this time: NO ICING! They ate and ate! We spent the day fairly calmly just hanging out and playing together as a family. Like Pete said, that is probably what these kiddos would want the most.

Pete loves sitting forward in his carseat now. I have to admit I love it to because I can turn around so much easier and see him! Now, his sister on the other hand, seems a bit jealous of his newfound freedom. She's not quite ready for her big girl seat yet.

My dad is doing well after surgery. The surgery went very good and they were able to accomplish what they wanted to. He is having pain and nauseousness right now, but they have him up and trying to move around to get his strength back. We are thankful that everything went so well! We are hoping that he will be coming home by Saturday.

Nobody wants the "C" word to affect their family. Cancer, that is. Unfortunately, we found out at the end of the summer that Grandpa (my dad) cancer. Just like you don't want your kids to hurt, you don't ever want your parents to hurt either.

We, as are the doctors, are very optimisic. We are all keeping good thoughts and prayers going because we know that everything will come out ok. We are thankful that the cancer was found, that we are working to get rid of it, and that we are so close to MD Anderson.

As always I am thankful for my parent's friends and our extended family who have already called, sent cards, food, and well wishes. One of my dad's best friends even came into town to join my mom, me and my sister at the hospital tomorrow morning. So we appreciate how well loved we all feel right now.

Please keep my dad, my mom, and the rest of our family in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow.

We have a closing date and a moving date SET! Everytime we go see the new house we get more excited to see all the things that have been done! We are closing on Dec. 23rd and then the movers are set to move us in on Dec. 29, 30, and 31st! It sounds silly but I miss certain things from our house . . .like our couch or our plates! It's going to be like Christmas opening everything up!

I'm sitting here with my protruding belly and my aching back thinking of how lucky I am because of this precious picture . . .



It won't be too long before our three little bambinos are in the tub together! What a picture that will be!

They LOVE turkey! My kids ate turkey like it was the best thing ever. I'm not sure how Avery eats it since she just has that one little tooth!








On Thursday morning we went to GG and Gramps (my grandparents) house for lunch. The babies played outside, got to visit some other family, and were so sweet at the dinner table. They both just laughed and thought it was so funny. They weren't as into the sweet potatoes which is so funny since they love them all pureed up! They loved GG's stuffing (which is my favorite too!)

That afternoon we drove back to Houston to their Grandma and Grandpa's house (Pete's parents) for another Thanksgiving dinner. This time they got to play with all their cousins . . .what a group! With the 8 kiddos it sure is a houseful. They did the same at dinner and were so super sweet. They ate more turkey and stuffing and just were very happy with the whole day!