After dinner tonight, we went for a walk. First, we loaded up with bug
spray because all of us Potters are notorious for attracting mosquitoes.
The poor girls have bites up and down them.
So, we set off all smelling
of citronella. The girls and the dog were excited. Its nice now, the girls can
walk without a stroller or holding our hands the entire time. We have to
remind them when crossing streets to hold hands.
Running down the sidewalk hand in hand
Funny how they are looking in different directions
Hurry up mom and dad (notice Grace's band aids - for mosquito bites)
It was nice to be out and a fun walk for us. The entire walk, Gracie was telling me she was thirsty and needed ice cream when she got home. Lizzie told us we needed to get home because the "mosquito bites" were out. Funny, how their little minds work.
We have had a busy week. On Monday, we had lunch with my friend Stephanie. We met for tacos with the girls. It was really fun to see her! After nap, we went over to Amy's, Reese and Riley's house. She was sweet enough to have us to play and make us dinner. It was really fun. The girls love Reese and Riley's new house.
Tuesday, we were lucky enough to have Grandma and Papa stay with us for a few days. Grandma worked hard to get the toy room cleaned up.While we were cleaning, Papa was busy keeping the girls entertained so they wouldn't want to keep all their toys. The room looks great now. Lizzie got mad at Gracie for messing it up. So silly.
Thursday was Muffins for Moms at the girls school. Gracie has been telling me for about a week that she has a surprise for me but can't tell me. She has been busting at the seams to tell me about it. It turns out the girls made some special stuff for me, a letter, a picture and a painted tea pot. Lizzie and Gracie were so excited to go to school today that they were not too upset that Grandma and Papa were leaving.
Gracie - the band aids are for mosquito bites
Lizzie holding her flower pictures
The class after they performed their two songs
The girls filled in the blanks - Lizzie's
Gracie's responses
It was fun to see what the girls had to say about their momma and their excitement to share. So excited, they couldn't eat their muffins until after they sang their songs. They are getting to be such big girls.
This weekend, we went to Oklahoma to help celebrate my cousin Chris's graduation. He graduated with a PhD. We missed the actual ceremony, but was able to celebrate anyway. We stayed one night with my sister and one with my mom.
Yesterday, we had a big family day. We got to see my aunts and uncles. My uncle Tony has been busy scanning in tons and tons of family pictures and shared the files with me. He had some pictures that my grandfather had taken of Oklahoma State University back in the 1920s. So fun to see the changes. We made a stop at Grandma and Grandpa Potter's house for a visit and the girls showed off (like always).
OSU Campus and City of Stillwater, OK
OSU Campus buildings. Recognize any?
Today, we celebrated with my cousin and met baby Dawson. Such a sweet baby! So glad we finally got to meet him. Soon, he will be playing with the big kids (can't believe the girls will be the big kids).
The big kids
Silly Lizzie
Sweet Gracie (she doesn't always look this sweet)
In other news, we have been having a battle over bed time. Both girls are fighting it like crazy. Yesterday, they both SCREAMED at my parents house for nap time. Mom finally went in and laid with them until they fell asleep. I'm hoping that they will soon return to my good nappers and sweet girls.
Today was the Spring Program at the girls school. They sang two songs. This morning, I wasn't sure if we would make it to school. Lizzie kept having melt downs and I never thought I would get her to stop crying. I was exhausted by the time I dropped them off.
Sitting in the pew waiting for their turn for pictures
Still patiently waiting
The class with the teacher
The girls did really well and did a lot of the sign language with the songs and sang. It makes me really excited for the girls to join choir next year.
Also, I thought I would throw in this video. I haven't posted a video in a while.
Today was a busy day for us. In the morning, we had a play day with our twin group, MPOM. I was hosting so I ran to the store this morning to get the snacks. We had a great time and the girls played well.
The girls waiting patiently
Each time we have a big play date, we try and get a picture of the whole group. This is always a challenge because at least one kid isn't in the mood to get a picture taken.
Its a little blurry.
After the play date, we had lunch and all of us took a nap. After nap, we had dinner and then ran out the door again to a concert at church.
The concert was a benefit for Imagine No Malaria. It's an organization from the United Methodist Church that wants to eliminate malaria in Africa. Its a great organization and is already making huge progress in just a year or two. Emily Elbert, who grew up in our church, played an amazing concert. She has such talent and such passion. She has traveled the world and experienced much in a short time. At one point, she had her dad come up on stage and play the keyboard while she sang. It was so beautiful.
The girls were in the nursery and the workers brought them in to hear a couple of songs. Gracie was mesmerized. After it was over, she wanted to meet Emily. Emily was so sweet to her.
Emily Elbert
Emily with Wes and the kiddos
She was so kind and sharing. It was an awesome concert. So glad that my job allows me to do such fun stuff!
Since the girls started playing with baby dolls, they have always put two to a stroller or two to a bed. I've always found it interesting. Sometimes they will even say something like, look mommy I'm just like you or it's like me and sissy.
I'm not sure if singletons play the same way or not. But I think it still shows the special bond that these two little girls have. It's like I've always said, raising twins is like a social and science experiment.
Each spring, I am reminded my babies are closer to another birthday. Because the girls were so premature, spring was the time we were able to breath a little easier with less illness going around. We tried until that time to minimize the amount of time that girls were really in public.
Anyway, we've recenty done a couple of things to remind me of that time three years ago when the girls were about 10 months old. First was the butterfly chair at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. The first time, the girls were so little that I had to hold them. The other was our annual bluebonnet picture. This year we took the pictures in the same location as we did three years ago.
The butterfly chair - Gracie on the left and Lizzie on the right
Sweet little babies. Lizzie on the left and Gracie on the right
Three years later - Lizzie on the left and Gracie on the right
The bluebonnet spot - Lizzie, left and Gracie, right
I can't believe how far we have come. I thought we would never get through that first rough year, little to no sleep, Wes' layoff and caring for two premature babies with all their difficulties. We survived and have two sweet little girls.
