~ pulling through ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Though with a happier and more balanced momma,

 we're doing a bit better than 'pulling through' these days.

Here's to more backyard wagon rides.

Here's to more giggle parties in the kitchen.

Here's to more genuine smiles and laughs.

~carrie~

~ early december and birthdays ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

***

I offer no explanation for my absence

other than I have enjoyed not being on the computer.

***

December was busy and fun.

We really wanted to make this holiday time 

beautiful and special for the girls.

Every year since we've been together, 

we have traveled to be with extended family.

(Unless you count the year I had 2 week old twins.)

Making the decision to stay home was difficult,

but we made the right choice.

We had a great month,

and our family celebration was truly magical.

We put up our tree.

This sweet picture of Daddy and the girls

was taken after the first of the decorations were up.

We also attempted a family picture.

(Sorry folks, I have Photoshop but don't feel like using it tonight!)

Blogger feels it knows better than I the proper orientation for pictures.

Ahem.

But here we have a toilet paper tube snowflake.

We discovered that many of our holiday decorations molded in the attic.

A helpful child decided that fresh arrangement needed to go into storage as well.

Another ahem.

Sweet picture of Lela and Laurel

Saint Nikolaus came to visit!

He left the girls some slippers, a holiday mug, a peppermint cane and booster seat.

Thank you St. Nikolaus - those booster seats were desperately needed!

This is a very, very special picture of me and Santa Claus.

Do you know why?

Since many decorations had to be thrown away,

we had no choice (heehee!) but to craft, craft, craft!

We made wrapping paper with potato stamps (in the background)

and here the family is preparing to make felt ornaments by wet felting in a form.

Here are our sweet ornaments!

(Thanks again Blogger!)

And in the middle of all that crafting and family fun,

a few days before the Winter Solstice,

came the 4th birthday of my twin babies!

Daddy made them each a set of walking blocks.

Aunt Bec sent them a lovely photograph (she took!)

Their GG sent a sweet version of The Night Before Christmas,

illustrated by Jan Brett.

I needle felted them a tiny doll with a "4" on the front, and a heart on the back.

Happy Birthday Olivia!

Happy Birthday Laurel!

Lela's gift - a calendar for each of her sisters.

Laurel and Liv requested a catfish dinner, with pea and mashed sweet potatoes.

The catfish was locally caught, an added bonus.

Happy Birthday my sweet babies!

You are growing up so fast!

I still have pictures to share of our Winter Solstice lantern walk with our Waldorf families, and pictures from our family celebration.

~carrie~

~ up on two wheels ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My little Liv is getting so big!

She's not even 4 years old yet

but on Thursday.....

.....she decided that she was ready.

 No more balance bike for her.

By the weekend she was getting herself going,

and today she rode all over the park.

These moments are flying by so quickly!

Just 3 years and 10 months ago 

she weighed less than a bag of flour.

Happy Tears,

~carrie~

~ life with twins ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had to laugh when I saw 

these sequence of pictures 

from our third day in Virginia.

It pretty much sums up 

what life can be like 

with two 3 1/2 year olds.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Here, you can see Olivia strategically placing 

the bowl of potpourri in Laurel's lap.

Laurel positions her legs just so.

~ "Hmmm, Laurel, you hold this bowl of Gran's potpourri." ~

Now, they coordinate their movements so that,

to the untrained eye (or gullible parent),

it looks like the bowl tips right over.

Don't believe me? 

Look at the excitement on their faces!

~ "How did THAT happen Olivia?" ~

Now, each twin reaps the reward

of picking through the pile for treasured bits.

~ "We are so clever! ~ 

I love these girls!  

Having twins is a lot of fun!

~carrie~

Beautiful Pictures

Please, please visit my friend Lora's website to see these beautiful pictures of the girls!

Lora Denton Photography

This link is actually to my post along, but be sure to check out her other beautiful pictures of families and births.

Great job Lora, thanks so much! :)


And also a quick note to say that I cannot be sure when I will post here again. We have all been sick since Wednesday and remain that way today, with no end in sight. I hope to be back to posting around the New Year.

Happy Birthday Olivia and Laurel!

Three years old today!

~ Laurel (left) and Olivia ~

~ Olivia (left) and Laurel ~

My, how you two have grown and grown up.

~ Laurel Marie AKA Baby B~

~ Olivia Kathryn AKA Baby A ~

Big belly, bigger surprise
Long nights, nursing around the clock

Tiny babies, one month old and no weight gain

Finding our rhythm, babywearing twins

Washing diapers, washing clothes

Getting muddy, playing outside

Climbing, crying, laughing, living

We love you so much!

birthday crafting and preparations

Last night I finished up Liv and Laurel's 3rd birthday gifts - teeny Waldorf babies.

~ Livvy's doll ~

Their outfits are made out of their own worn-out-and-outgrown stretch pants. I do believe that they will recognize that little detail.

The only thing left to do is make them a little diaper, and of course, create their birthday tables. This year I think I'm just going to give them each an end of the hearth. At any rate, Mike and I have a fun night of getting ready!

~ Laurel's doll ~

They have requested a birthday breakfast of French toast and a birthday dinner of pizza! Luckily I made bread so breakfast will be simple, and Mike makes the best French toast. I need to mix up the pizza dough today so it is ready to cook tomorrow.








I'm so excited for them to wake up tomorrow morning and receive their gifts, from us as well as their grandparents and aunt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Of course, a brief look back at birthdays past is in order!

~ Birth Day ~

~ First Birthday ~

~ Second Birthday~

I have one more day to enjoy two year old twins!
Peace,
Carrie