In the meantime...

Where have we been? Well...mostly just right here living our lives and having a blast doing it. I spend my days chasing after, entertaining, cooking for, disciplining, and comforting two absolutely enjoyable and exhausting girls. Hide and seek is a daily game and it never gets tiring...for the girls.
Here is just a little update, however late it may be. We had a marvelous Christmas. The girls were absolutely delightful. Christmas gets more fun with each year they grow older. Bryan and I just found restraining ourselves difficult. Everything you see in the store you can imagine your child loving and playing with forever, even though we all know and have proven time and time again, the boxes can be much more interesting. But we eventually did make our decisions and did pretty well not getting too crazy.
We have had snow, then snow, then more snow. It is quite a chore to bundle up both girls so tight they gave barely move, herd them out the door and into the cold snow, and then try to get them to move and play. But Emma truly enjoyed it! She wanted to just walk and walk in the snow. The only thing that convinced her to move toward the door was the promise of hot chocolate, which we all know is the best part about playing in the snow.
Erin didn't care much for the snow, but the hot chocolate was a different story. The picture above is the reason sippy cups were invented. I don't believe this shirt has been the same since its exposure to large amounts of chocolate.

I am always looking for new ideas to keep these active and growing minds learning and entertained. We try to do a little project or craft each day. The girls love to paint, but my nerves can't handle too much of it. However, I am very grateful for all washable materials. We have made thrones out of boxes, beanbags out of a little duct tape and material, kites out of contact paper, tissue paper,and ribbon, and color our fair share of Curious George pictures.

(I have no idea why this is underlined, by the way! Small technical difficulty)

Of course, the mundane has to interrupt the fun occasionally. The girls are generally patient and depend on each other for comfort and entertainment and sometimes just a good fight.

Dress up of any kind seems to reign supreme most of the time. Princess dresses, Daddy's hats, and Mommy's shoes all make life at home a little more exciting.

At the end of the day, it sure is nice to lean back, relax, and stop moving for the first time since you woke up...and I am sure the girls feel the same way!

Thankful hearts

Last week as I stared out at the ocean stretching farther than I could see, I was amazed at God's creativity and love for us that He would give us such a beautiful and majestic expression of His glory and goodness. However, when I am at home playing with my girls or singing to a sleeping child I am filled with the same wonder.
My heart overflows with thankfulness to a God that would enrich my life with the fun and the challenges of raising two such beautiful expressions of God's creativeness and love.

This week we had the opportunity to visit some family and have had a great time. I am so thankful for family that loves and supports us.
The girls have new and fun experiences all the time. I am grateful that God has filled our lives with fun memories. My days are full of laughter as I watch the girls explore and try to figure out the world around them. Just the other day, Bryan and I were saying that we had two girls just so they could chase each other around the house.
Sweet moments...I couldn't take enough pictures to capture the sweet moments that fill my days!
I would be lying if I said that every time I saw their curiosity displayed, my heart leaped for joy. I have realized how much I grunt or groan in frustration now that I hear Emma making the same noise in frustration. However, I am glad that God gave them curious minds and able bodies that allow them to explore and discover things even though it may cause extra work or momentary frustration. God gives me every bit of energy I need in order to do the job He has given me to do.
Thank you God for sacrificing your one and only Son to bring joy to my life! I am most thankful for my Savior who gave His life in place of mine so that I can experience the blessings of God that this sinful child doesn't deserve.

Oh, Happy Fall!!!

WE LOVE FALL!!!! Mommy says this is her favorite time of year and now I understand why! There are so many fun things about fall. Erin and I have really had fun playing in the leaves. Mommy piles up all the leaves and says it is o.k. for us to run and jump and sit in them. It took us a while to get used to it, but now we understand why Mommy likes to sit and play in the leaves so much.
There are so many of them!
My favorite part is eating the pears that fall off of our tree. I am sad that they are almost all gone. I like to hunt for the perfect pear and sit outside and nibble until the bees drive me back inside.
Erin likes the pears too. I am teaching her to do everything I do; she can even say "mine." See, I am a very good teacher.
We also looooove to swing. Mommy and Daddy really need to get another swing so we don't have to share so much, but we are learning to be good sharers. Mommy sets the timer when we get in and when the timer goes off, we know it is time to switch.
See, I told you, Erin likes it too....a bunch. That is something else I guess I taught her.
The thing I like the best won't even go away when winter comes. The leaves are nice, the pears are yummy, the swing is fun, but my absolute favorite is my sister, Erin. She is always there. She laughs at all my jokes, even when Mommy and Daddy don't get them. She even makes me laugh when things get a little boring.
The wagon is so much more fun with two!
Who would I talk to if she weren't here? Mommy says I like to boss, but Erin knows I am just encouraging!
We share lots of stories. She is a really good listener, and becoming a better talker. Like I said, I am a good teacher.
Singing is always fun. Mommy teaches us all kinds of songs. We like "The Itsy, Bitsy Spider" and "The wise man built his house upon a rock." Mommy's not a bad teacher either, I guess. We also like to make things together when we have to stay in the house. We play with noodles, toilet paper tubes, boxes, finger paint, and anything else Mommy can think of.
Adventures are more fun with someone to share them with. Fall is great, but any season will be perfect with my sister! Oh, she feels the same way, too!