Easter Weekend 2011

We had a ton of fun Easter weekend! That Saturday I took Arden and Jasmine to an Easter egg hunt sponsored by a local church. We were thirty minutes late to the event, but we got there just minutes before the egg hunt began. Perfect timing! I didn't get any pictures during the actual hunt, because I was too busy helping Arden. She totally got the idea of picking up eggs and putting them in her basket. She scored a bunch! After the hunt, I dragged the kids back to the van to put their eggs away. Arden was crying, because she thought we were going home...even though I kept telling her we were just putting the eggs in the van. Poor thing! Then the real fun began!

Arden and Jasmine loved the bounce house! I think Arden was a little overwhelmed by all the kids inside, though. She had trouble climbing the ladder to get to the slide. She cried a few times...but as soon as she slid down the slide, she wanted to go back in for more!

There was a craft table set up. For some reason they were all Christmas crafts. Jasmine made a bead snowflake (which I still have in my diaper bag,) and I made a bracelet for Arden. Check out Arden's cute bow...I totally made it!

The girls got into some foam stickers from another craft. They are too silly!

Arden looked like a little doll on Easter Sunday.

I got a few pics in before we headed to church! The church choir was amazing. I don't think I've heard a choir sing more beautifully.

After church, we sent Arden on an Easter egg hunt! She was totally into it and really didn't need any help finding the eggs. This is so different from last year. I was hugely pregnant, and we lived in an apartment. I spread a few eggs out in hopes she'd pick them up and put them in the basket. She was easily distracted, though, and kept running away from me. Almost every picture I have is of her running away!

The loot! Except there actually isn't anything in the eggs.

The boys' first Easter! They chilled in the play yard while Arden search for eggs.

Ah, the real loot! (I won the doll and bows!)

Arden discovering her Easter goodies.

Happy Easter!

Friday the 13th

The boys turned 13 months old today...on Friday the 13th! Freaky deaky, my friends...freaky deaky! Ok, maybe not so much.

Today has actually been a great day! My mom was able to leave work early today so I could have a break. During that break, I had the best job interview ever! (Yep, that's right, I have to get a job.) I was a bit upset at first, but I'm over it. To be honest, it'll be nice to have a break from the kids everyday. If it all works out, it'll be part-time but 30 hours/week. I'm excited! I'll fill you in on the details once they're all worked out.

Anywho, to celebrate the boys' 13-month birthday, I thought I should get around to posting the pics from their birthday party. We had their party on my birthday, April 16th! Fun stuff! We went with a Thing 1/Thing 2 theme from Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat. I baked the cakes, and Adam decorated them. A lot of family came over to celebrate. We all had fun!

Enjoy!

Grayson

Rogan

Adam made me a "Better Than Johnny Depp" cake. Yum-o!

Arden prefers frosting over cake.

Mission: Cupcake Destruction

As with Arden, we bought mini cupcakes to enjoy on the boys' actual birthday. Arden didn't "go to town" on hers, so I was curious to see what the boys would do. I was pleased with the result!

I used to feed them side-by-side. This was the first time they'd been this way in a long time. They just wanted to reach out to each other and hold hands. Too sweet!

A yellow cupcake for Grayson, blue for Rogan.

Not sure if Rogan wanted to still hold Grayson's hand or to try his cupcake.

What is this on my hand?!

Obviously, both boys really enjoyed their cupcakes!

As Little Einsteins would put it: "Mission Completion!"

Love Came Early...

A year ago today...at this very moment and one moment after, Grayson and Rogan entered this world nearly 11 weeks early.

Grayson Lear

April 13, 2010

8:33 a.m.

3 lbs 8 oz

15.5"

Rogan Emerson

April 13, 2010

8:34 a.m.

3 lbs 10 oz

16.5"

Their birth caught everyone off guard. If you'd like to read their birth story, click here. Everytime I think about that day, I feel guilty and tears well up in my eyes. They should've stayed safe inside me for much longer. Instead, they spent eight weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU.)

I actually don't regret the NICU experience. I learned so much. The doctors and nurses in the NICU at Women's Hospital are some of the best people I've ever met. When the boys came early, I knew there wasn't a better place they could've been.

They came home on June 8, 2010. That feels like their birthday to me.

The boys have come so far this past year! You can't even tell they were preemies. They don't have any health problems and are doing great!

This first year has been rough, though. Life with twins isn't easy! It's easier than it used to be. However, I still have days where their screaming drives me insane! They always want to be picked up at the same time. If you walk past them without picking them up, they scream like banshees! At least now they can sit up and crawl. They're able to entertain themselves...even if it means getting into mischief!

Rogan has always done everything first. Once Grayson does it, however, he perfects it. Rogan rolled from his back to his tummy a couple of months before Grayson did. Once Grayson finally rolled from his back to his tummy, he was rolling everywhere! Rogan still just laid there. Rogan cut his first tooth before Grayson did. Once Grayson did, he cut two teeth at once. (Rogan currently has 2.5 teeth, and Grayson has 4!) Rogan was able to sit unsupported for a few days before Grayson did. Once Grayson was able to, he had perfect posture. Rogan slouched and had bad posture. Rogan began crawling one day before Grayson. They both had no trouble perfecting that skill! Rogan has been pulling himself up for a couple of weeks now. Grayson hasn't done that yet...but I'm sure he will soon...and do it better. ;o)

This picture is so typical of their personalities. Grayson is screaming and scrunching his nose. Rogan is sitting contently.

Grayson Lear

April 8, 2011

16 lbs 14.5 oz

25.5"

Rogan Emerson

April 8, 2011

16 lbs 9.5 oz

25.5"

Happy Birthday, baby boys! Mommy, Daddy, and Big Sis love you so much!

Rubba Dub Dub...

Three Kiddos in the Tub!

Just before Arden joined the excitement...

They LOVE bath time!

27 Years!

Happy Birthday Chris and Catie! Thanks for being such a great uncle and aunt to my little ones. They each love you so much...as do I!

And so the April birthdays begin. It's going to be a busy week!

To celebrate, a picture of the twins...holding the twins! :)

Meet Graygan!

A few weeks ago I entered a contest by Just Be Happy. Alessandra is so amazingly talented! She makes the cutest crocheted creations! The contest was to design your own monster hat. She would pick two winners. The winners would get their monster hat in whatever size they wanted and be able to name it. Well, the contest ended yesterday, and I'm proud to say I was one of the winners!

It took me awhile to come with a name, so I decided to combine the names of my boys (since they were my inspiration.)

Grayson + Rogan = Graygan!

The hat looks AMAZING! I can't wait to get it and put it on one of the boys. Of course, I'll have to order another one...;o)

Click here to read the winning post!

Bumper Jumpers!

I bought a great deal through Groupon.com: $8 for three bounce sessions at Bumper Jumpers! It's normally $8.50 per session for kids over 1 year old (parents are free.) We'd never taken Arden to a bounce house place before, but I was pretty sure she'd love it. She loves to jump!

Well, we've gone 2 out of the 3 sessions. The first time, she was a bit wary. We had to help her climb the ladders and then slide down with her on the slides. The second time...completely opposite! She climbed all the ladders and slid down all the slides with little help out all. She was born to play at this place!

Right now the boys are free, but they won't be once they turn 1. That is so ridiculous to me. I think it should be 18 months. I guess one of us will have to stay home with the boys while the other one takes Arden to Bumper Jumpers. I think we both want to take her, though...because it's pretty dang fun!

Grayson

Arden

Rogan

She loves this castle jumper. She kept hugging all the characters!

Big kid slide!

Climbing and sliding with daddy...no fear!

Arden's "Big Girl" Bike

I scored this really cute Radio Flyer tricycle at a consignment sale. It was only $4! It was dirty, a little rusty, and definitely faded...but it drove like a dream. I cleaned it up a bit. Not exactly sure what to do about the rusty spots. Adam suggested covering them up with duct tape. Anywho, Arden wants to ride it whenever she sees it. She doesn't quite "get it" yet, but she's learning. I think I need to get her a helmet...

Country Park

I love it when Adam's night off of work coincides with a beautiful day. We took advantage of the beautiful weather on March 18th and took the kids to Country Park. We'd never taken them there before. Arden LOVED the geese and ducks! I, however, was not a huge fan of the huge crowds of children and lack of baby swings.

I think the kids had a pretty good time...until lunchtime rolled around. We attempted a picnic in a gazebo. Arden wasn't very cooperative. She'd rather be playing. The boys were screaming until we gave them each a cracker. Then the wind blew everything to the ground. We headed home shortly thereafter. :)

This was the boys' first time in the wagon. They did great! Oh, and Rogan's in blue, Grayson's in green.

Arden really wanted to join the geese and ducks in the pond.

Big Girl Swing!

Such a good daddy! :)

Aunt Becky

My Aunt Becky passed away this morning. From what I understand, she went peacefully in her sleep. She had been fighting ovarian cancer for the past year. It was already in stage 4 when it was discovered, so we all knew she wouldn't recover from it. We were lucky enough to celebrate her 72nd birthday with her last weekend. I'm just so glad she was able to meet my children and that we were able to spend lots of time with her in the end.

Adam's sister, Amy, came with us to Hospice about a month ago. She took some wonderful pictures of Becky with the kids. You can check out her other work here: Simple Moments Photography.

Becky's Portrait

She loved stuffed animals!

I'm in LOVE with this picture!

Talking to Grayson

Kissing Rogan

Thanksgiving 2010

Meeting Grayson for the first time.

Meeting Rogan for the first time.

Christmas 2009

Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving 2008

Meeting Arden for the first time.

I know my kids won't remember her, but I hope these pictures are a testament to them of her love.

We love you, Becky! Give grandma and grandpa a hug for me. Rest in peace.