So cool!

While the Corynn and I were in GI town last weekend, John and the twins hung out at home. He took them out on Saturday and brought cold bottled water and trail mix to homeless people. They went to the city mission, tent city and a few other popular spots for the homeless. I am so proud of them. They did it because it was hot and they thought the less fortunate my appreciate a cool drink. They did it just because it was the right thing to do. It was such a lovely experience and memories that the girls will always have. A life lesson and interactions that will serve them well. Another lesson in giving back and helping our fellow man. One of my life philosophies is to be generous of yourself, your time, your talents and your position. I'm so thankful that John reinforces and shares those beliefs. We want our children to always give back and share. to help where they can and to know that no act of kindness is too small. A smile, holding the door for someone, a kind sentiment or a bottle of water.

They are pretty amazing in my book! 

busy little bees

We have been moving all week long! Lots going on around here. My best friend's boys were in town visiting grandparents, so I picked them up and brought them to our house for a few days. Corynn is five months older than TJ and they are pretty close. Thunder is my little buddy...a least he was when he was 3. He's now 8 which is just craziness! And the little one Phoenix had a heck of a time escaping the loving clutches of Evie. She was quite smitten. We went fishing and swimming. It was a full house with  7 kids and John and I, but fun!

Then on Friday, we headed back to GI town. Dropped the boys back with their grandparents and helped with preparations for Marion's birthday party. Marion is Kristina's dad and the boys grandpa. I've know him basically my whole life and he is a one of kind jewel of a man! It was so much fun getting everyone together to celebrate his 80th bday! Lots of family and close family friends. I made the cake...for 150 people! Now that was a little nuts. But it was yummy and got rave recviews. A big thanks to my mom for teaching me the frosting recipe.

I had a bit of extra time while I was in GI town before the party- so I helped my mom around the house. She always has a little list for me to do when I'm in town. The list includes everything from hanging a shelf to decorating to pedicure services to wardrobe assistance. I changed an light switch, fixed and outlet, helped decorate a few rooms, hung a pot rack, painted a door, installed a few door stops, put up a piece of trim on the back door, installed a door knob and other things. I'm sure we had item left on the to do list...but there is always next time!

It was a fun weekend and we got so much done!

Finally! Project complete!

Here's the BEFORE:

and here's the AFTER:

Not bad! Not bad! I'm really liking it and am so impressed by what a difference a little paint can make! 

Happy Birthday to you

Wishing the happiest of birthdays to our twinners! They are 16! Holy COW! I still remember the day they were born.

After months of them trying to come early and multiple hospital visits to try and stop them from coming too early- I was finally given the go ahead. An amino confirmed their lungs were ready and they were both head down and in position.

John, my mom, Sandi and I head to the hospital and I'm checked into a room. (Well, we are finally put in a room after I refused to leave the waiting room. They were full and didn't have any available birthing rooms for my induction. And they wanted me to come back the next day. Ummmm no.)

So finally around 11pm I was hooked up to the induction drugs. The night was pretty uneventful. My mom and little brother had chair races to entertain me. The next day was pretty good too until about 4pm. I pretty much thought I was going to die. I begged for an epidural but the anesthesiologist was gone and it would be about 30 or so minutes for him to get there. The concern was that I would have progressed too far by the time he got there for me to even get one.

After about 10 minutes I told the nurses to wheel me out to the doors and I would wait for him. Lucky for me, he must of have raced to the hospital because he arrived a few minutes later. Once the epidural was in, I was wheeled into the c-section room. It was precautionary just incase Kwynn (baby B) decided to come out breach.

I crawled up on the c-section table and got situated. The steel metal table was killing my back and the room was filled with people. Each baby had her own team of 3 nurses, and two doctors. Plus my mom, John, Sandi and Kristina were in there. Quite the party. The fact I was able to crawl up on the table and move my legs should have been an indication that the epidural wasn't working. But I had never been through this before and didn't know. Apparently when I was moving to the operation room the epidural slid out and wasn't really working.  I never loss feeling of my legs and was able to move around and go straight to the nursery after being cleaned up.

The operating room was chaotic. McKynna was born 5 pounds 10 ounces and needed forceps to help her birth. Kwynn decided to be complicated and came out feet first. The doctors were actually contemplating pushing her back in, turning her around and delivering her head first. UMMMMM NO! That SO wasn't happening and I told them as much. I delivered her breach 17 minutes after her sister. She was 4 pounds 13 ounces.  They were welcomed into the world by friends and family. The waiting room was filled with John's parents, uncle KC, aunt Sheila, and friends from church.

They were great babies and kids. I think the hardest part of raising twins is taking them to the grocery store while they are babies. The car seats take up one whole cart so you need two... one for babies and one for food. Also people/strangers stop you and ask a million questions. Multiples attract attention. John and I never felt overwhelmed with the girls and I think that is because they were our first and we didn't know any different. I do know when Corynn came...I remember thinking singletons are the easiest thing ever!

The girls have grown into such lovely young ladies! We are so blessed to have them in our family!