I LOVE these monkey snowsuits

I am willing to go out and buy new carseats just so our twins can wear these adorable monkey snow suits! (Because the babies don't fit very well in their car seats with the suits on.) My husband, not so much... on the buying new car seats part. He thinks the suits are cute, too.

Daniel didn't think they were all that great, but I think Dennis knew he was a cutie pie!

Kynzie's Ready for a Winter Wonderland

Yesterday when we left for my Grandma's Thanksgiving dinner, it was snowing heavy, wet flakes. Kynzie was more than thrilled to see the snow. But by the time we arrived back home, she was crying. I asked why, and she said because the snow was all gone already. She didn't even get to play in it. I was so sad for her!

This morning when I saw snow on the ground, however thin a layer, I turned into a giddy little girl! I wasn't as excited about the snow as I was about telling Kynzie it was outside. And she was beyond excited to see it. She started making plans. "I'll wear my gloves, and... Mommy can I taste it when we go outside? How long will it stay today?" And on and on for quite dome time.

Max followed her excitement cautiously. I don't think he remembers much of the snow. Or maybe he does remember and doesn't care for it as much. We'll see.

It is really funny that she loves the snow so much. Scott, of course, despises cold weather and snow and all that goes with it. I don't hate snow; I think it can be beautiful. I would like it much better if it wasn't so cold. We haven't done extensive snow playing or anything, but she has fond memories of what we have done I guess.

Scott usually puts aside his winter disdain and builds a snowman with the kids at least once a winter. I should say snow giants because he tries to build them taller than himself. He has taken Delainey sledding, but has yet to do that with Kynzie. Delainey or I have played in the snow with Kynzie, carrying on the traditions from my childhood - snowball fights, attempts at snow forts, snow angels, and Kynzie's favorite, snow ice cream. Here is last year's post about snow ice cream.

Satuday Evening at Our House

Tonight was a good night for the most part...

Daniel figured out how to go from tummy to sitting upright all by himself tonight. So, I can leave the room with Daniel on his belly. Then come back into the room and he is sitting up all by his little self. It is quite a sight to get used to. I had to rethink whether I really left him on his tummy the first time I came back and he was upright.

The twins are 7 months old now. Dennis isn't sitting up yet, but he does enjoy clapping these days. Both boys enjoyed some sweet potatoes again this evening. This is the 2nd time they have eaten store bought baby food, as opposed to home made.

Dad and Mom came here after out Thanksgiving at my Grandma's, and they brought the turkey and some other leftovers that made for a yummy dinner for us. They invited us to eat turkey and noodles with them after church tomorrow. Yum Yum!

Max just asked if it was time for bed, and I said it's almost time. He said, "I miss Daddy." Isn't that sweet? The girls are watching Veggie Tales "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything", but he isn't interested. Most movies just aren't his thing. He will sit through Blue's Clues most of the time. He is too active. Music often catches his attention, though. He went back to the TV when the "music videos" came on at the end of the movie.

I told the kids they could have a little ice cream before bed; he said he wants pears instead. Delainey bought some mint chocolate chip ice cream flavored chewy candy and ate one in the car. I had one too, and didn't care for it one bit. Kynzie smelled the candy smell - "What's that smell? It smells like candy, like chocolate candy." So, Delainey shared one with Max and one with Kynzie. Kynzie loved it. Max spit out the one tiny bite he took and said it tasted like ice cream.

The Twins Are Here!

Our twins were born Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 38 weeks! It was a wonderful birth and I can't wait to write about the beautiful story sometime soon. There are so many precious and perfect details I don't want to forget! To say the least, God allowed us the natural birth experience we desired, and I couldn't have planned it better myself. He orchestrated the details right down to the staff present at the hospital! Awesome!

Dennis Aaron was born at 7:40 am weighing 7 lbs 13 oz, 19.5 in long. Daniel Justus was born 24 minutes later at 8:04 am weighing 6 lbs 11 oz, 19 in long. Healthy, beautiful babies! We were able to leave the hospital Sunday afternoon!

Dennis is on the right with the yellow hat, and Daniel is in the green hat on the left.

Thank you to everyone who carried us in prayer throughout this pregnancy! We felt the prayer support and now the evidence of it is here in our arms! Thank you also to everyone who has brought/made us meals so far, cleaned something at our home, visited us, encouraged us, loved us, gave us a gift, paid for something for us, brought us diapers, brought us groceries, watched our kids, shared their baby items with us, sent us flowers, and helped in the many other ways we have received. What a wonderful family and community we have! We are so blessed!

Our new dog

We brought home our new Lhasa Apso today. Her name is Misty, and she is white with a little brown here and there. We adopted her from the "pound". She only weighs 12 pounds. Here she is a little tired from her surgery today, but she looks so adorable with her fresh hair cut.

The kids are very excited to have her, and I hope we made the right choice with this breed. Since we finalized the adoption on Saturday, we have had more than one person tell us a full-bred Lhasa is not the way to go. But she is so calm and easy-going, and she has let the kids bother her to no end without batting an eye.

I think she will be great! Kynzie wanted to share her own cuddle blankie with Misty to make her feel more welcome. Isn't that sweet? Look at her here posing next to her new friend.

Birthdays are the Best

Max had a monkey cake to go with his Fisher Price animal train we bought him. I used the Wilton animal crackers pan and moved the ears down on the head a little to change it to a monkey. Scott helped me decorate the monkey. He did the dark brown stars for me. (That little brown blob near the monkey's ear is a cupcake for Max.)

Kynzie's request for her birthday cake has been for a David and Goliath (one of her favorite Bible stories) birthday cake. I have searched for about a month for ideas and premade possibilites but to no avail. So, since I am still a newbie and limited in my creativity in cake decorating, this is what I came up with. I found stickers in right size for the cake (I had all but given up until two days before the party when I found them by chance at the dollar store), cut them out, and taped toothpicks to the back to keep them in place on the cake. I did buttercream icing for the green grass, the little blue river, and the 5 smooth stones (yes, those are supposed to be stones).

It isn't the most exciting cake I have ever made, but she was nearly thrilled to see the cake when I showed it to her yesterday morning. And, that is why I did it.

I will post more pictures and such later. It was a fantastic day with all our family to celebrate with us.