On Our Way to Church

The girls looked really cute this morning for church. They had pig tails and boots. What could be better!

My sweeties and I

Wes and the girls

Lizzie Jane

Grace Kathleen

The girls wanted to squat for their pictures.

Lunch Out

Yesterday, the girls and I had lunch with my friend and yoga teacher Shanon. The lunch started off normal. We ordered our food and drinks. The food came and we all ate and talked.

The girls did pretty good. Then they finished their food. So to entertain themselves, the crunched up all the chips left in the bowl. Broken chips were all over the table and floor. After the girls were done with that, they started to get whiny so I decided to let them out of the high chairs.

In the mean time, the restaurant started filling up and a couple of women dressed in business attire sat down next to us. We were pretty close together. Anyway, I could feel the women staring at us. Usually, we get the covert smiles and looks that the girls are cute. This was not the looks we were getting from these two.

Anyway, I let the girls out of the high chairs and put them on the booth next to us. The girls played there for a bit and then started crawling under the table and running around the table. Not too bad, but they weren't sitting quietly anymore. I gave the girls a wipe to wash their face and hands and my girls being the cleaners started wiping off the high chair and floor. The waiter came by and thought it was funny. However, the two women sitting next to me did not. They especially didn't like it when Lizzie decided to be nice and clean their table too (with the same wipe that was on the floor). She then left the wipe on their table. One of the women made a comment (a not polite one either). I grabbed the wipe and tried to ignore the looks.

Finally, we got up to leave and I noticed that the table next to us was empty. Then I noticed that the two women had gotten up and MOVED to another table farther away. Anyway, I decided I was glad that Lizzie put that gross wipe on their table.

Trouble

They look sweet, don't they?

For the last two days, these little cuties have tried everything they can get away with. Yesterday started off normal enough, we got up, we had breakfast and we got dressed. I had planned on going shopping to pick up a few things. So, I was getting everything ready to go and the girls were eerily quite and I should have known. They dumped an entire bottle of bubbles on their play kitchen and the floor. So, I had to clean it up before we left.

Our first stop was the Dollar Tree (because we are that fancy), it went ok. Gracie only grabbed a couple of things off the shelves. We then headed over to Target. This is were it got crazy. I found a double cart, but one of the buckles on the bottom was broken so I put Lizzie in the basket. With in the first few isles, Lizzie had kicked Gracie in the face. So Gracie started crying. I got her settled down so we moved a little further. I looked away at something and then back, Gracie had taken OFF her shirt. She was completely topless. A few isle later, Lizzie decided to try it herself. Fortunately, I caught her in the nick of time. We move to the clothes section, this is were Gracie got kicked in the face again and then TOOK OFF Lizzie's shoes and tried to throw them out of the cart. We finally get everything we need and head out the door.

So they may look cute, but sometimes they can be stinks......

Sleepy Time and a Big Girl

For the last three weeks my good little nappers and sleepers have turned naughty. They use to stay in their own bed but now they want to sleep together in one of the beds. I don't mind that they want to be together, I mind that they don't sleep. They usually pile all their friends (stuffed animals) in one of the beds. I have removed all the toys out of the room because one day I went in and they had flower headbands on and were playing with the toys. I tried not to laugh but it was funny. They have been some sleepy girls lately.

On an unrelated note, Gracie has decided that she is now a big girl because she can poop and pee on the potty. This means that she can now do everything adults do, like climb on her play kitchen to turn on the light and fan (which sucked up some balloons that Wes had to use a ladder to get down), serve herself at dinner (she stands up in her chair and reaches across with her fork into a hot pot) and gets herself water from the fridge (then pours the water on the floor). She tells us that she is not a baby and is now a big girl.

These girls are constantly changing on us. We never know what is coming next.

Snow! Snow!

Last night through this morning it snowed, we received about 6 inches. This is after the 3 days of being iced in. Finally, it was slightly warm enough to go outside. The girls love it! They liked picking up the snow, making snow balls and throwing them at daddy!

Lizzie in the snow

Gracie

Gracie trying to make a snowball

It's Potty Time!

It's been the cloud hanging over our heads for a while. Potty training two kids at the same time. We decided that this week we would tackle it. Since this weekend, we switched to training pants and asking if the girls want to sit on the potty.

Gracie has really taken to it and has even wore big girl panties for the last two days while we were snowed it. Lizzie is still happy going in the pull up and only sits on the potty when she feels like it.

Last night Gracie had a success in the potty and we were all congratulating her and Lizzie said "Yea, Gracie". She was jumping up and down and clapping. These girls are always happy for each other and their successes. I just would like Lizzie to actually go in the potty.

The Madest I Have Ever Been......For Now

Today, I was really angry with the girls. We went to church for my women's group. The girls stayed in the nursery and while I was in my group. I picked the girls up, Gracie beg for her sucker and they took forever to put on their coats.

We walked out of the nursery area and I stopped to talk to some of the women. The girls ran off to pay in the drinking fountain. I talked for a bit and then went to get them. They stalled to leave (a good tactic they have been perfecting) and of course I was begging them to leave. Finally, I picked up Gracie and Lizzie soon followed.

We finally get out of the church and are walking to the car. I have them both by the hand and finally get to the car. I put Gracie in and Lizzie starts going around the car and onto the curb. She starts running to the busy street. So, I'm dragging Gracie and my purse. Then I see a big SUV that wants to park. I panic drop Gracie in the dirt and finally catch Lizzie. At this point my adrenaline and embarrassment are flowing.

I drag both girls back to the car, give Lizzie and Gracie a stern talking to and deny them their sucker. I call Wes and tell him that he needs to come home for lunch because I am so angry. I lecture them the whole way home while Gracie is crying because she wants her sucker. Finally, she gets that the sucker is a no go.

When we get home, the girls act as good as they can. They know that mommy is very upset. Lizzie at lunch was trying to do all her cute faces to make mommy happy (ironically the face she was giving me was the mean face).

On another note, the girls are perfecting their silly faces. Lizzie has the mean face and Gracie has the surprise face.

The "Mean Face"

The "Surprise Face"

Playing and Changes

This weekend was crazy busy for us. On Friday, I started an in-depth yoga training. That lasted Friday night and Saturday and Sunday afternoon. I have committed to a regular practice and about 1 weekend a month of training. It will last for about 9 months. I have done yoga for many years and have wanted to do this for a long time. I was nervous the first night because I haven't had a regular practice since I was put on no exercise while I was pregnant with the girls (almost 3 years ago). This is also the first thing that I have done for myself since they were born.

I really enjoyed the class but wrestled with the "mommy guilt" of leaving the girls. Wes is really supportive of this and has been really sweet. He told me not to look at it as leaving them but as giving him time with them.

Anyway, on to the rest of the weekend. On Saturday morning, we met up with our twin club to have our Annual Snowflake Festival at Paradise Pond in Grapevine. Amy and I planned it as the children's social chairs. We had around 15 families show up with twins, triplets and siblings. It was great. The girls played pretty independently and even bounced in the bounce house! Then we grabbed lunch, I changed and ran out of the house.

On Sunday, we went to church and then ran home for me to eat and change. By Sunday night, I was exhausted!

Picture, Momma, Picture

Lizzie demands I take pictures of her and Gracie. She says, "Picture,
Momma, picture" and then they pose and say cheese.

Night night

The girls decided to play night night. Gracie pulled the sheets off
their beds and brought them to the living room. After they were all
settled, Lizzie demanded to have their picture taken.

Do we shop too much?

The other night, Wes and I went grocery shopping with the girls. When both of us go shopping, we put the girls in separate carts and push each around. The girls really love this because they get to see new sights and get one-on-one time with us. Anyway, I was pushing Lizzie and she was cracking me up. She kept pointing at different things and telling me to "buy it momma".

She has figured out what she likes. Both girls have figured out that it doesn't belong to them until we pay for it. They will pick up something and say "buy it".

Tales from the Potty

Tonight during dinner, Gracie told Wes that she wanted to go potty (I was at church at a meeting). She sat down on her potty for a little bit and tried. After awhile, she told Wes that her poo poo was broken and got up.

Our Christmas Vacation

Our Christmas vacation has been quite an adventure. We spent most of it in Oklahoma with my family. Christmas eve we spent getting the last of our presents and wrapping them up. We saw lots of family, except we didn't get to see my Grandma. She was sick and so we postponed our time with her.

Christmas morning, the girls opened presents and had a blast. They loved everything they got. The girls slept later than normal and everyone accused me of waking them up (I get really excited about Christmas morning). Later, cousin Sydney and Sam, with aunt Laura and uncle Paul, came over and gave them more presents. We then went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Potter. The girls had so much fun.

The girls opening presents with me.

The big sack of presents from Grandma and Papa.

The day after Christmas we spent with my cousins, Chris, Angie, Kassidy and Katlin. It was a great time! The girls loved playing and they even got cute little monkeys. Gracie was too excited at lunch and fell out of her chair and bumped her head. She was crying so hard she threw up all over me. That really cleared the kid table. It's a new Christmas tradition because last year, the day after Christmas she got sick all over me. I personally do not like this tradition and would like it to stop. She is better now, just a little bruised but still as active as ever.

Gracie with monkey and bruise. Lizzie with monkey

The next day Lizzie decides to catch some virus and had a fever. That lead to a trip to the urgent care because we thought it could be an ear infection. Fortunately, it was just a cold that we had to let run its course.

Wes and I did get a night out on the town. As part of our Christmas present, my cousin gave us a gift card for dinner. It was really nice to get out.

We did get to take the girls to look at Christmas lights. They were so cute, they would say "wow", "pretty lights" and "white lights". Lizzie talked the whole time and Gracie just looked.

Our last Christmas activity was over New Years. My dad's family has the tradition of meeting in a hotel, spending the night, eating dinner and playing dirty Santa. It is the family reunion that meets every year. My dad has 4 living siblings and all of them made it. Most of my cousins made it with their kids. All total it was around 35 people. It is always a fun time. This year it was in Wichita Kansas during a cold spell that the highs were only in the 20s. This Texas gal was cold!

The girls loved it and played, but that nasty fever came back on Lizzie. She was pretty yucky the first night but got better. Gracie tried to see how many laps and hugs she could get. Lizzie was herself and watched people from afar and made them work for her attention.

We finally came home after 10 days way and have to get back to reality. Most nights the girls went to sleep around 10:00 and woke up at 8:00!

Our Christmas Card

Well, here is our Christmas card for this year. Like last year, I decided to not print and mail the cards and just email them to my friends and family. Call it lazy or green, I'm fine either way because it is a little of both.

This year has had it's ups and downs but ended well for us. Wes is working, I am not and that's the way I like it. Since I quit my job back in July, I have loved my "new job" so much. Being home with the girls is so rewarding. They teach me so much and stress me out all at the same time!

Wes loves his job. He works with some great people. I know he misses being home with his girls, but he works 10 minutes from the house so we can see him at lunch (if we aren't out and about).

The girls are growing fast and learning so much. It's amazing what they pick up and say and do. I am still noticing what they picked up while staying with Grandma and Papa.

Hope everyone has a great holiday season!

Merry Christmas!

Visit with Santa

Today the girls met Santa. We have gone to see him the last two years but they haven't really liked it too much. But, today's adventure with Amy was to go see Santa with all the girls. There were four of us moms and six kids! It was crazy all the kids did really well.

A Little Break

Last week, the girls spent the entire week with Grandma and Papa. We left them on Sunday after Thanksgiving and then picked them up Saturday. We met half way to pick them up.

The girls had a blast while in Oklahoma. My sister and her kids would visit daily to "help" out. The girls were spoiled rotten. Now, they think they are too big for high chairs or bibs. Thanks Grandma! My aunt and uncle from Tulsa even made the drive to see the girls. They also got to visit Aunt Betty and go to movie night at her house with the big kids.

What did Wes and I do while they were gone? Absolutely nothing! Wes had to work, but I got to sleep in everyday, shop and craft. It was wonderful. I did meet Karla for lunch one day and shopped with Amy another. This was the first time that the girls and I had been apart since I was pregnant and they were born (not counting NICU time but that's different). It was a needed break but I missed them a lot. I got a little sad on Thursday because I missed them so much.

The girls came back taller and with longer hair! We felt like they had grown a foot! They seemed like they had changed so much and were big girls. They have more words and are now saying stuff like their Grandma and Papa. Gracie now says "hi guys", which is something my dad has always said. They tell me that they miss everyone everyday but they seem happy to be home with us and all their stuff. I think they got a little home sick too.

Been Crafting this week!

I had a busy craft week this week. I made fabric flowers, clay flowers and photo necklaces. The clay flowers are new to me. I just started that one this week. I really like it!

Fabric Flowers

Making photo necklaces, what a mess!

Clay flowers, I love them!

A Great Idea!

My friend Amy asked me to donate something for her sister Leah's auction going on right now! I donated a button necklace and a flower headband. There are tons of other items up for bid! What's so awesome about this auction is that it's to raise funds to adopt a baby! This is such a great idea and so creative. Please click on over to the site to see all the great stuff.

Thanksgiving

We are home from our Thanksgiving with family in Oklahoma. We had a great time. We saw tons of family and ate tons of food. It was fabulous!

On Thursday, we had a low key day with lunch and naps (even me). We even got the traditional paper with Black Friday ads. We poured over them to decide where we were going to go. Thursday evening, we went over to Grandma and Grandpa Potter's to eat and visit some more. The girls love playing with their great grandparents.

On Friday, my sister, mom and brother-in-law were out of the house by 3:30 am to go to the mall. We waited in the cold for 30 minutes for the mall to open. We shopped there until 7:00 am and then picked up my niece and nephew. My kids were smart and were still asleep. We shopped with them more and then went home and napped. Then out again to buy cowboy boots for the girls. Then lunch and then out again! We really shopped!

On Saturday, we had lunch with my cousins. It was a great lunch and then on to watch the OSU vs OU game.

On Sunday, we traveled to see my grandma and have lunch. She lives out in the country and the girls loved playing with her kitty and doggie. They also loved playing outside with Sydney and Sam.

Of course, I forget to bring out the camera until the very last day and only get these pictures of the kids on the swing. I tried to take enough until I got the right one.

The Cough

Well, its that time of year for us to battle the cough for little Gracie. Last year, we discovered that she took after her daddy for respiratory issues. The doctor diagnosed it as Reactive Airway Disease which is similar to asthma. Last year, we had about 4 ER visits to help her through some attacks.

This year, we started seeing a pediatric pulminologist. He is a great doctor and has put her on some great medicine that seems to control her breathing. He also switched us to a puffer (inhaler). Which is great because that means no more 30 minute breathing treatments! Now she and Wes are on most of the same medicine!

Now, we just have this yucky sounding cough. She is breathing fine, she just gets the old lady hacker cough. It sounds terrible but she is still fine and running around! We have figured out the difference between the ok cough and the gotta do something quick cough.

The thing that I have learned the most from these little girls is that everything is trial and error. Nothing is a given and if it's not broke don't try and fix it!

Dinner Conversation

While we were eating our spaghetti dinner tonight, I thought we had a really funny conversation. Before dinner, I turned off the TV. I told the girls after dinner we would watch Sesame Street (one of their favorite shows along with Olivia and Wonder Pets). Spaghetti is one of their favorite meals. So after a couple of helpings, Gracie is ready to get down. Then the conversation goes like this.

G: Want down. Sesame Street
Me: You can get down but you have to wait for L to finish before we can watch
G: Hurry up L! (with arm gestures)
L: (Silently stuffing her face with spaghetti and the sauce is all over her face)
G: I go over to L. (she was on the other side of the table from L)
Me: OK
G: (with shocked expression) L FACE!
Me: It's dirty isn't it?
G: Yes, napkin please.
Me: Are you going to clean her up?
G: Yes. (She then proceeds to wipe L down with her napkin while G's face still has sauce on it.)
G: (When finished) All done-Sesame Street!
Me: L are you done.
L: (Still eating) No.
G: GET UP!
(L keeps eating and her face keeps getting dirty. G gets mad and keeps wiping L's face.)
L: All done!

At this point, we all head to the bathroom to wash up. Then we sit down and turn on Sesame Street. All is well in the Potter house.

Announcing....

My new Etsy shop Monkeybee Designs. I've actually had it for a while but have let it sit for too long. I finally got updated pictures (thanks to LiaLezon Photography). Allison came out to the house and took pictures for me. She is so awesome.

As some of you may know, I've been beading for several years now and have sold stuff off and on for awhile. Most of what I do, I give as gifts. I make stuff but then don't wear a lot of it because I feel self conscious. Do people tell me it's nice because it is or because they know I made it. Now, other people can enjoy my work!

Some of the stuff on the site.

Beaded Jewelry

Custom Photo Necklaces

Glass Pendants

Come check out my shop, Monkeybee Designs!

Our Busy Weekend

Every weekend, I tell Wes that we are going to take it easy and then it becomes a whirl wind of activities. On Friday night, we went to the circus. It was the first time the girls have been and they really liked it. They stayed up late and weren't fussy at all. They really loved the animals. It was a bit chilly and there weren't many people there.

The girls are playing at McDonald's with their friend Lauren.

On Saturday, we got up really early to have our pictures taken Allison at Lia Lezon Photography. She took AWESOME pictures. Because it was chilly, the girls wore their hats and coats the whole time. I decided to make their hats cuter by making a flower on each. It turned out really well.

That night, we had a Sunday school pot luck dinner. It was really fun and the girls loved playing with all the kids!

Sunday, we went to church and then celebrated our friend Chandler's 3rd birthday at the Children's Museum. The girls had a blast playing. Here they are going down the slide in their own way. For people who ask me if the girls are starting to show different personalities, this is a good representation of how they are different. Lizzie goes down face first and Gracie doesn't.

Lizzie going down the slide

Gracie going down the slide

Happy Halloween

What a busy week we had ending with a busy Halloween weekend. First Gracie came down with croup and Wes had to leave town. That meant my next call was to Grandma and Papa to come for a visit. They happily came. We had a busy week with Daddy coming home on Friday.

We picked him up from the airport and headed straight to a Halloween Party. Our wonderful friends from our Sunday school class invited tons of kids to eat, decorate cookies and play. Here are the girls decorating cookies.

On Saturday, Wes went to the FC Dallas playoff game and I stayed with the girls. After the game, we met up with friends for dinner. It was a crazy night with 6 kids and 6 adults. It was the second night in a row to be up way past their bed time.

On Sunday (Halloween), we went trick or treating with the Shers, the Halsteads, and the Popes. We first ate dinner and then headed out in search of candy. It was quite a quest. We had to travel a couple of streets over to find anyone giving it out.

Here is a group shot of course no one co-operates.

This is Gracie running down the side walk to the next house. The wised up to us trying to skip a house or two.

This is Lizzie with "hands in pockets". She didn't want to hold my hand because she discovered her pocket. She kept them in there most the night.


The girls and I walking down the street. Wes took the pictures that's why my head is cut off. I'm not even that tall.....

Trying to get the girls to take a good picture with me. It didn't work out as planned.

The girls really loved Halloween this year. They are starting to get it. They loved their costumes and getting candy. Now for the third night in a row they are up really late. I hope this next week goes well for me... The nice thing about staying home with them is I don't have to worry about getting them up early for school.

Twins at the Zoo!

On Friday, Amy invited us to the zoo to meet up with some other twin mommies. It was a crazy time. The girls loved to see the animals. They saw almost all the animals in the book Good Night Gorilla, including the Gorilla! They got a close up view and loved it. They kept saying "good night gorilla". They would wave and say hi to all the other animals. It was so much fun to watch them. It was the first time they understood all the animals.

It was fun to meet all the other women and kids. They were all really sweet.

My sweeties

The whole gang

Playing Dress Up!

The girls love their dress up clothes. They love hats, shoes, socks or anything. They put on my high heels and walk better than me. They put on Wes' cowboy boots stomp around.

Here are some pictures of dress up.

Lizzie with sunglasses and fire helmet

Lizzie

Gracie with her glasses and hat

Gracie and her bracelets.