Too Funny not to Post

I was just suctioning the kids' noses, because it's allergy season, and in our house, the snot abounds. As I was doing Emma's, she exclaimed "WOW! That's a lot of boogies!" Totally cracked me up!

Yes, Jesus Loves Me!

So, usually on Wednesday nights, we meet Daddy at church after the guitar lessons that he gives, and we go to Bible study from 7-8. Tonight, though, we're taking a break because a) the kids have been snotty and coughing with the "allergy junk" for several days now, b) we're going to Norman for Kyle's wedding and to go to the zoo with Mimi, Papa James and Kylie this weekend and I haven't packed anything and I have some cleaning to do, and c) we haven't been home all together as a family at all this week (Monday, I taught, Tuesday, I had a MOMC meeting) and we won't tomorrow because Aaron has a double-header with softball. Soooo, back to my original reason for writing this post. I was finishing up dinner with the kids, cutting up some kiwi fruit and oranges for them...and I heard the most delightful sound come from Emma's mouth. She was singing "Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!" I sing "Jesus Loves Me" to the kids with the hand signs all the time, but I've never heard them repeat it before. She sounded like a little angel, and it made my night. I almost cried. Anyways, I was thinking that even though we're not making church tonight, we're having worship here at home, and my daughter is leading it. :-)

A Couple of Random Things

Here are some random things, since I didn't really get to post last week. The reason is that I was totally inundated with our Mothers of Multiples Club consignment sale. It was well worth my time, however, because I made over $250!

As I'm writing this, Blue's Clues is ending and Emma is saying "oh, dear!" They are saying some funny things lately: "Gadzooks!" "Hey, come back here!" "What're you doin'?" "What's happening?!" "Freeze!" and some things that aren't funny but wonderful like: "Thank you, Mommy" and "I love you." I love that I can "conversate" with my kids now.

Okay, house update: the redo of our stupid leak wall is 99.9% finished. They finished the work in a week proper, but Aaron noticed something about the work that he wasn't totally pleased with, aesthetically speaking. Above the roof eyebrows, they left a space that looks like it's missing a brick on each side, because those tiny little ledges have shingles on them, and generally they won't put a brick right there because later on if you need to replace your shingles, you don't have to worry about pulling brick too. I can see why it bothers Monk, I mean Aaron (just kidding, honey- I really do understand). It looks unfinished and a little odd. The main guy in charge of the work/ company said that they would be happy to do whatever our preference dictated. So, sometime in the next week, we'll have two little bricks filled in above the eyebrows...and then it'll be 100% finished. Now we (by we, I mean Aaron and Will and whoever else) can get to fixing the sheetrock in our dining room. And then we can paint and lay our laminate. I can't wait to get the new floor.

Speaking of new floor...apparently I didn't express exactly what I was envisioning in terms of where all the wood (laminate) flooring would go. Marital Communication 101: don't expect your spouse to read your mind...and don't assume you're reading theirs. :-) Aaron was rather surprised when I mentioned tearing up the tile in our foyer because I want the entire foyer, dining, living room, and hallway to be done. He was planning to leave the foyer tiled. When it comes to home projects, I have to give him a "heads up" so that he can "mentally prepare himself." So, I'm glad that this little conversation came up before, you know, I started taking a hammer to the tile just for fun. I played the "this will make the whole area look much bigger" and "the demo will be so much fun" card. I'm pretty sure he's playing the "taking up carpet alone is so much easier" and the "you're not even going to be doing this" card. I guess we'll see what happens! :-)

Here are some random video footage and photos:

The snow fountain's first spring blooms in our front yard.

These three are the Oklahoma bombing memorial in OKC.

We stopped in the city after the reunion at OU
to visit my dad, and to finally pay homage at the memorial.

We had never been before. It still hurts to think about the death and destruction.

Emma decided that every toy in the living room needed to be used to bury Daddy!

Alec doing the splits!

2-Year Checkup

On Monday, we took the kids to their two year well visit at the pediatrician's office. Everything went great. They got two shots each, but we went to go get ice cream after, and of course, that makes it all better. They got MMR (if you are gasping- please try to be calm...we waited until they were two, plus they recanted on the main study that supposedly linked MMR vaccine to autism) and Hib. Then they napped for like 2.5 hrs. Yay!

Alec weighed in at 27#, and is 50th percentile for weight and 95th for height at 36.5 inches tall. They wrote Emma down as 23# (but she was squirming and didn't want anything to do with the scale...we think she's 24#). She's 5th percentile for weight and 60th for height at 34.5 inches tall. Oh well, girls don't mind being tall and skinny, right? Believe me, she eats...a lot!

But the BEST thing about the Dr's visit was the report from the pediatrician. Alec and Emma really "performed" for her. There was a shape sorter out and several books they were looking at, and they talked a lot for her, counted, identified shapes, sorted, stacked, etc. She said that she was amazed. She said that she'd be happy with them if they were at their 3 yr. checkup! Apparently, their verbal, motor and cognitive skills are pretty advanced. She couldn't believe some of the things that they were doing. (advanced shape, color recognition, and their communication skills)

So, of course, Aaron and I had to try to keep the huge smile off of our faces. And we had big heads all day yesterday. Dr. Froman wanted to know what daycare/preschool program they were in that they were learning so much. I said "it's just me." I guess sometimes stay-at-home kids don't develop some skills as quickly because they aren't in an environment with a curriculum and where they're socializing as much. But we read a TON, and we do a lot of learning activities. Anyways, sorry if this parental gloating session has annoyed you. But, hey we're super proud. And I can say for sure that a lot of the kiddos A & E socialize with are very intelligent as well. We know we don't have the only superbabies!

OU School of Dance Alumni Reunion

Here I am with a bunch of my favorite people from the OU School of Dance. We were in Norman for the alumni reunion last weekend, and had a blast. Gosh, I miss these guys!

Holy Smokes! MM is on my blog!

Me and my Char Char

Lots of buddies that made lots of wonderful memories together!

My Mexican Babies

Emmita

Alejandro
(I kinda feel like he needs a black mustache and a sombrero)

So, Titi V and Dr. Dan decided to send the kids some traditional Mexican apparel for their birthday, and it was requested that I take pictures of them wearing their embroidered dress and poncho. Obviously, my children don't look very Mexican, (they're quite pale like their mom)...but they are 1/4 Mexican. These are fun!

Easter Sunday

Easter was a busy and fun day! We went to church, of course, and dressed up in our

nice outfits from Titi V's wedding. Apparently, Emma's feet have grown, because we couldn't get her little fuschia ballet slippers on her. So, she just wore her black dress shoes instead. She did, however, fall in love with her floral headband (which she would NOT wear for the wedding)...and wore it all day at church! When we took pictures in the morning, she was acting tired, and so she doesn't look happy...she looks sad and forlorn! We had lunch with our friends, Josue, Audrey, Zeke and Zoe, and then our first Easter egg hunt. Then we came home, had a nap, and then spent some time playing in the backyard with our new bubblesticks that we got for our birthday. So much fun! Bubbles!
Gotta love Alec's pose!

Emma and her beloved Cookie (and brother's hat).

Wow, Mom...you are really good at that!

Yes, I know I exude cuteness!

The little forlorn princess.

Alec is happy!

On their tuffet.

Chasing Cookie!

Birthday Party on Saturday

On Saturday evening, we had some friends over for Alec and Emma's birthday party. We had pizza and I made cupcakes. The kids are crazy about Blue's Clues...so I made paw print cupcakes along with sprinkles cupcakes. They had a lot of fun with their friends, and got so many nice gifts. They are very fortunate little people! We all had a blast!

Mrs. Orenda, Emily and Ethan

Our new friends, Lundyn (above) and Casey (below). Also twins!

Zeke helped us open some presents. This is our Talking Backpack (from Dora).

A guitar! Now we can be just like Daddy!

Bubble Sticks!

Elmo book!

A drum...we'll have a whole family band!

I got Emma a baby doll. This is her first one. We've shown them to her before and she could care less, but for some reason it was really bothering me that my daughter had no baby dolls. So, I got her an inexpensive one to see if she'd come around. This one blows kisses and says "I love you."

Bring on the cupcakes!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Alec & Emma!!!

Two years ago, on April 4th, 2008, at 4:32 and 4:33 pm respectively...Alec Layne and Emma Rose entered the world. Today, my life is infinitely more blessed than it has ever been. Today, I celebrate two very special birthdays, and the day of my Lord's resurrection. I cannot think of two events that I could be more thrilled to remember! (Pictures to come.)

Thank you, Jesus, for coming to this earth, fully God and fully man, the Holy One, the spotless Lamb. Upon a cross you suffered and died, conquered sin and death, and reconciled us to the Father. Because of the blood you shed, I have forgiveness, healing and the hope of an eternity in heaven.

He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our sins. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him. And by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-6