Fire Station

Today, the girls and I met up with our twin group to tour the fire station. We had a great time and all the firemen were really nice. Our tour guide was Fireman Brian, who luckily has a 3 year old and knows their attention span. They really scaled the tour for a bunch of 3 and 4 year olds. We saw the kitchen, where they slept, where they watched TV and the trucks. The first truck he showed us was the ambulance. Both girls must remember their scary ride when Gracie had her seizure because they both were scared and freaked a little. 

Next, we moved on to the big trucks and they let the kids look in and walk around it. After all the kids went through, Brian put on all his gear to show the kids that firemen are not scary. He was really sweet with all the kids. He is also one of the first people to get Lizzie and Gracie's names right immediately.

Hugs in the fire station

Lots of twins at the fire station

Fireman Brian letting the girls hold a hose

Ready to go out and fight some fires!

We had a really fun time and will have to go back next year!

Getting Our Nails Done

The girls have been asking to have their nails painted ever since they saw their cousin, Sydney, paint hers. Finally, I got the courage to paint theirs for them. I make them put their feet on wax paper and splay their fingers out while they let their nails dry. They love it!

When they have their nails painted, they hold everything so dainty. Its so funny!

Waiting for their nails to dry

Watching TV and looking around me while I take their picture.

September 2010 vs September 2011

 I was looking through my cell phone pictures and was completely surprised by how much these little cuties have grow and change! Wow!

The girls on their "stage", a couple of step stools

Gracie with her pout

Lizzie's pout face

Cheesy faces. I love how Gracie is looking at Lizzie. Sister love!

Gracie September 2010

Lizzie in September 2010

The girls in September 2010, 2 years 3 months

Whew, I'm Tired!

It has been a busy week and a half! We started out a week ago preparing for Grandma and Papa to come for a visit. Monday they arrived and that night Wes caught a flight to Las Vegas to stay for 8 days. On Tuesday, I caught a flight to Las Vegas to have a mini vacation and stayed until Thursday. It was nice to get away but I missed the girls a lot. I spent the days by myself and the evenings with Wes. I shopped, play $1 in the slots and lost, walked A TON and shopped some more! It was nice to have the time to myself and do whatever I wanted. 
While I was away, the girls were having a blast with Grandma and Papa. I think they hardly missed us. Not only were my parents taking care of the girls, but also converting my dining room into a play room. My mom decided our toys had gotten out of hand and she and my dad worked really hard to organize them!
I arrived back home on Thursday. Then Friday started my final weekend for my yoga training. Friday was the written test, Saturday was my practice teaching and Sunday was the graduation party. I passed everything and have just a couple of things to finish up and then I'll be certified to teach! Yay for me!

My wonderful parents with Lizzie and Gracie

So for about a week, I was running non-stop! I'm ready for a break!

Fun Lunch and a New Experience

Today was a great day for the Potters. The girls woke us up this morning around 7:00. Unfortunately, they have learned how to open doors which means they get to get us up instead of the other way around. Wes made breakfast while I worked a couple of hours.

After I was done working and we got cleaned up, we met one of my best friends, Candace, for lunch. She moved about 2 years ago to Waco. So, I don't get to see her very often. We have been friends since 2001 when both of us moved here. We had so much fun at lunch catching up. The girls at first were shy and then the both crawled into her lap and ate her crackers.

Candace and the girls

After lunch, we split up. I had my yoga training and Wes took the girls to a birthday party. This is the next to last weekend for my yoga training. Anyway, after my yoga training we had dinner with my yoga friends as the girls called them. And then attended our first Kirtan. A Kirtan is a sort of a "yoga concert". Its chanting with instruments.  We went to Om on The Mat in Grapevine. It was a lovely place and the people were so friendly. We were greeted by the sweetest little boy. He told us all about where to put our shoes and where to sit. As we were waiting for the Kirtan to start, an elderly man and young women walked in. He needed help walking in and everyone was trying to offer a chair, but before we knew it he was sitting cross legged on the floor. Turns out he was 96 and probably been practicing yoga for much of his life!

The girls were so great through the entire thing and they loved it! We stayed for about an hour and a half. Everyone was so sweet about the girls, one man let them play his drum. The girls danced and played! At one point Gracie was sitting in a friends lap and the lady leading the Kirtan made a comment because she had a note book and sun glasses on at night. Gracie being the diva started blowing kisses to her "audience".  We left before it was over and were putting on our shoes, a women came up to us and told us how good the girls were. First time for everything!

As we were driving home, Lizzie said "momma I had fun with your yoga friends, we sang and danced!". Yes Lizzie, we all had fun!

First Day of Preschool

Today the girls started Preschool. Last night, Wes and I were frantically getting their stuff all together to take this morning. Wes went into work late so he could help get them ready and to school. They were both really excited but nervous too. When I told them that mommy and daddy were not staying Gracie said her tummy hurt and she couldn't go. After that, she was a little obstinate about getting ready and out the door. They both decided to ride in daddy's car, so they helped him put their backpacks in the car.

 Gracie not wanting to get her picture taken

 Lizzie helping daddy put her backpack in the car

 Wes with the girls.

Gracie wanted daddy so the girls were not as cooperative for the picture with mommy.

 Love this shot of them with daddy walking in to school.

 Lizzie walked right over and started playing with play doh.

Gracie required a little more coaxing so Ms Ashley their teacher sat with her. Wes and I were trying to sneak out and the little stinker ran after us. Wes walked her back and she stayed.

When I went to pick them up, they were so happy. They had a blast. Lizzie was happy because she got to paint AND play on the playground. "School Gracie" has decided to play shy.Which I find funny, because this kid has never been shy. We got home and I put them in bed and they were asleep in no time! They are ready to go back Thursday!

So Much Family, So Little Time

 We had a very busy Labor Day weekend. Half of the weekend we spent celebrating birthdays and the other we spent with family. On Friday night, we celebrated with our friends, Greg and Sarah, for their daughter Caroline's 5th birthday. Then we got up Saturday and celebrated Reese and Riley's 3rd birthday. I can't believe how old on these kids are getting. Time really flies.

After the party on Saturday, we loaded up the car and headed to Oklahoma City to see family. Instead of staying with my mom like we normally do, we stayed the first night with Wes's grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa Potter, and the second night with my sister. Both we very happy to have us and we were happy to stay.

We did have a little drama, we woke up at the Potters in the middle of the night to hear Gracie crying. Wes leaped out of bed to see what was wrong. He found her with a bloody nose. So we were up for about an hour dealing with that. Then later that next day, she had another bloody nose. It was so weird.

Sunday morning after breakfast, we headed to my mom and dad's house to get ready to have lunch with my sister's family and cousins' family. We had a great time. We ate, the kids all played, the men slept/watched TV and the women talked. 

Sweet Kassidy and Sydney. I am so thankful for the cousins that the girls have. They are all so sweet and patient with the girls even though they are all big kids.

Gracie playing with the Barbie that Kassidy gave them. She brought two of her Barbies to give to the girls. So sweet.

Lizzie busy sticking whatever she can find in her purse. Grandma has so many toys (even ones from when my sister and I were little).

For dinner that night, we all went over to my sister's where Paul, my brother-in-law, made Philly cheese steaks. They were really good.

Because we were staying with my sister, she asked if Kassidy could spend the night too. So, we had 5 little monkeys in jumping on the bed, literally. I think around 10:00 pm they all went to sleep. They girls had a blast and thought they were so cool because they got to stay with the big kids.

For lunch on Monday, It was back to my mom and dad's. Again, we ate, the kids played, the men slept/watched TV and the women talked.

Then, it was time for everyone to go home and get ready for Tuesday. We headed home. On the way home, we stopped for a bathroom break and at the gas station was an big cat rescue mission set up. They had two Bengal tigers out for people to see. We got out because the girls love the episode of the Wonder Pets where they save the Bengal Tiger.  We loaded back up and watched the episode the rest of the way home on the DVD player.

At the Library

The girls and I were suppose to meet up with Reese and Riley and Anna,
Isaac and EJ for story time. Through various missteps (and one sick
boy) we missed the earlier story time and had to go to a later one
with only Reese and Riley. All the girls loved it and they got to pet
a fake stuffed animal tiger.

Will That Be For Here Or To Go

We went to the mall earlier this week to play. After playing we went
to the food court for lunch. While we were waiting to get our order
taken, the girls climbed into the tray spot and sat down. I snapped
this with my phone.

Put on Your Big Girl Pants

Lizzie put on her big girl underwear this week. I decided I was really going to start working hard to get Lizzie to use the potty. Last Sunday, we had a big talk with her about how she was starting big girl Sunday School and big girls don't wear pull ups. So, Monday morning we started wearing underwear.

Monday and Tuesday had me rethinking this whole thing, but by Wednesday she got the hang of it! Something clicked (like it always does with her). On Friday, we went to the mall to play and she went in the potty there! We are so proud of both the girls and I am so relieved.

To get ready for potty training and big girl Sunday School, I went to the Dollar Store. I wanted to get stuff to put in a bag to play with during church. For fun, I found foam fairy wands that could be decorated. Lizzie is intently decorating hers.

Apparently, fairy wands can also double as swords as some of you saw on Facebook. Gracie is decorating her weapon, I mean wand.

As I mentioned before, this was "promotion Sunday" at church. Which means, the three year olds move from the nursery to Sunday School and big church. They also blessed the kids backpacks for the start of school. As you can see, Gracie did not want her picture taken.

Lizzie was all ready to have her picture taken. We had donuts for breakfast and then headed to church. She got a little nervous going in saying she wanted to go to the nursery not big girl Sunday School. Once we got in the classroom and one of their favorite VBS teacher showed up, they were done with us!

When I say they went to big church, it was really only for about 10 minutes. They stay for a little bit then after children's time they go to Wee Worship. They both got upset, not because they were leaving their parents, but because they were leaving Sarah. She's the sweet big girl in this pic with her cute little brother Kyle. They are the girls "Big Sister" and "Big Brother" at church. The girls love Sarah and Kyle a lot and we are so thankful for them (and their wonderful parents).

So today went well, no accidents at church and a momma that got a little emotional because her little babies are growing up!

Closing My Etsy Shop

I have decided to close my Etsy store. I still like to craft and make stuff, but the store was not successful because I didn't promote like I should. All that to say, I have all the inventory for the shop in my house and I want to get rid of it. If you want anything, just make me an offer.

Below is a link to the jewelry album, there are two pictures for everything. Just one item of each.

https://picasaweb.google.com/116239684975797877659/Jewelry#

Just leave a comment with what you want!

Fun Road Trip to Great-Grandma's

On Saturday, we made a quick trip to Oklahoma for the day to see my grandma. We got there right before lunch and we ate at our favorite Italian restaurant. It is really yummy and the girls ate so good. We then went back to grandma's and the girls played while we talked. My grandma really loved seeing the girls and they were really great with her. Gracie had lots of things to tell her.

The most expensive toy, the massage/chair lift. All the great-grandchildren love to play in this chair. They will get in it and push the buttons to go up and down.

Lizzie sitting and looking cute. Grandma has an ottoman that the lid lifts off of and the girls loved to put stuff in it.

The girls with great-grandma.

No trip to great-grandma's is complete with out a ride in the walker. Lizzie liked to push and Gracie likes to ride.

Museum of Nature and Science

Because its been so hot and we haven't really got to take the girls anywhere, we decided to go to the Museum of Nature and Science. The girls loved it. I told them we were going to see dinosaurs and they were thrilled! It was so fun to see them run from one display to another and loving it! The pure joy these girls have can't help but make you smile.

Wes or I would try to show them something and they would run off in another direction. It reminded me of going to science museums with my parents when I was a kid. Being the kid of a scientist, you get to see LOTS of science museums.

My sweet girls hugging.

"Digging" for dinosaurs

Lizzie going down the slide from the fire truck.

Gracie on the slide

Lizzie riding the "tractor"

Gracie riding the "tractor"

Potty Training Update

Well, we have been having some success with potty training. This past weekend, we started a sticker chart and it going well. We've actually got Lizzie to poop and pee in the potty. She is better at pooping in the potty than peeing. So right now, I've got one that will poop in the potty but not pee and another one that will pee in the potty but not poop.

While the mice are away....

So, this cat has been free for a few days. The girls spent some time with Grandma and Papa. Momma got a much needed break from potty training, the terrible 3s and temper tantrums.

So what did I do while they were away?

Day 1
I got up and decided I was going to go to a couple of thrift stores. I keep reading blogs about people who get really cute stuff for really cheap. So, I found a couple of places to try. The first place I went, I found a couple of things but nothing I loved. The entire time, I keep thinking about where these clothes might have been before they found their way into the store. The longer I was in the store, the more I thought about it and got grossed out. I left that store and went to another one that wasn't as nice. I then decided to head to Grapevine Mills and found some really cute jeans.

That night, I went to yoga and then met Wes at the movies to see the last Harry Potter movie. It was a fun date night!

Day 2
I slept in until almost 9 am! I haven't slept in for a long time. Then I made a discovery. I don't normally flat iron my hair, but just started recently. I have been using this huge flat iron and burning my fingers in the process. I thought I had another smaller one but couldn't find it until I followed a cable and there it was! YAY! No more burned fingers. These are things you can do while your children are away.

Needless to say, I was pretty lazy the rest of the day. I did a little cleaning and a little laundry. That night, we went to a lecture from a yogi on fear.

Day 3
I headed to OKC to pick up the girls and spend a couple of days. We napped and had a fun dinner with the family.

Day 4
I met my cousin downtown at her office so she could train me for a part time job I am starting. It is so awesome, I can work from home on my own time! Yay for me! Love her!

While I was being trained, grandma, papa and the kids went to see Winnie the Pooh. The girls pigged out on popcorn (Gracie told me she ate so much it made her knee hurt, ha ha). That evening we went to see Grandma and Grandpa Potter where the girls laughed and played which made the Potters laugh! So much fun!

Day 5
The girls and I went home. Wes was sick almost the entire time we were gone so he was really happy to see us!

What's New?

Notice something new in this picture? Lizzie is sporting a pony tail! Her hair is now long enough for a pony! So exciting.

The girls are "playing checkers" at Grandma and Papa.

Good Things About Being 3

So, I blogged a couple posts ago about the terrible 3s, but there are some good things about being 3. I thought I would write them down to help me through the tougher times.

• The girls are more independent. They are able to dress themselves, shorts may be on backward, panties may be on sideways (yes sideways not just backward) and shoes may or may not be on the right feet but they can do it them selves.
  
• Their imagination is so wild, anything can instantly become a phone or microphone. Just yesterday, they took turns playing with the garden hose using it as a mic while the other sat in a chair and watched the "performance".
• They also share fairly well. Most of the time when there is a disagreement, we can get them to agree and take turns.
• They tell us sweet things all the time like, "love you mommy/daddy", "you look cute", "thank you mommy/daddy" and when we run out of anything they say "daddy go buy it". That's because Wes does most of the grocery shopping, so he usually does "go buy it".

We have our good times and our more challenging times. I try to spend my time thinking more of the positive times than the frustrating times.

Third Anniversary

Today is a special anniversary for us. Its the third anniversary of bringing the girls home from the NICU. They were there 5 1/2 weeks (40 days). We spent the night before terrified "rooming in" at the hospital with the girls. That means we spent the entire night awake in a room next to the NICU on a pull out couch. We would take turns every couple of hours to watch them because we were too freaked out to sleep! They were born at 4 lbs 10 oz (Lizzie) and 3lbs 10oz (Gracie). They left at 6lbs 5oz and 5lbs 1.5oz (when they are that small every tenth counts).

The other crazy thing about this date is it was my second due date. I had two due dates. A forty week due date (August 11) and 36 week due date (July 21). The goal was to get to the 36 week due date, the girls and my body had other ideas about goal setting.


It was 100 degrees out that day and they are wearing long sleeve onsies with 2 hats on. They were still working on keeping themselves warm.

This when we got home. Who would have thought then that these tiny burritos would turn into.......

These crazy girls! If anyone had told me what kind of ride we were in for, I would never believe them! They are so funny and keep us so busy but we love them so much and wouldn't trade any of it!

The Hardware Store

This weekend we went to the hardware store. The aisle we were in was next to the kitchen cabinets. The girls loved running from kitchen to kitchen and opening drawers and doors. It was so funny because they kept saying, "another kitchen" or "I found it". It was so funny!

The Terrible 3s

Well, we thought we were through the worst but 3 has started off worse than 2 ever was. It seems that the minute they turned 3 they became more difficult. We started with whining and throwing huge fits.

A couple of weeks ago, Wes and I went to Target to get some stuff. We all went in, got one cart and put the girls in the basket. The girls acted up a little while we shopped but when it came time to check out the girls melted down and were screaming while we walked out. Wes and I pretended not to notice that it was our kids screaming.

Because we are stupid people and don't learn our lessons, we head back to Target a week or so later. This time, the girls want to "walk" and not sit in the cart. They both start running in opposite directions and Lizzie pushes the limit and LAYS on the NASTY Target floor (laying on the floor and throwing fits is her new thing, lovely). Wes takes both of them out of the store for a time out. They all come back in and we go to check out again. Lizzie is messing with the end of the cashier stand and TURNS ON the conveyer belt. I quickly turn it off but not before the cashier notices and gives me the DIRTIEST look. I think I better get use to that.

Today was no exception. We were suppose to meet friends at the mall to play. I try 3 times to get Gracie to pee and poop in the potty. No luck on either which means I could get a surprise at any moment. I finally get the Gracie dressed and her hair fixed. Then its Lizzie's turn. I get her dressed but when it comes time to fix her hair she flips out and won't let me. I end up putting her in time out, shut the door and tell her we are leaving. Finally I get her hair done. We are now 20 minutes late to our play date. I know, I know, I should have let the hair go. The problem was that it was half fixed. She only had one pig tail.

To end the day the same as it started, we took the girls up to Wes's work for a party. Lizzie throws a temper tantrum about 10 minutes after we get there. Wes takes her to time out and she calms down. In the 2 hours that we are there, the girls spill 2 glasses of water, run around crazy and Lizzie throws another fit over dessert. She has 3 choices and wants all of them and none of them at the same time. To time out again she goes, when she comes back she is still whiny but finally picks one and eats it. At this point, I'm terribly embarrassed for myself and Wes. As we leave, everyone tells us how sweet the girls were. HA HA!