November 2010

November started to be a little bit more low key for us as I took more time to slow down and to rest. My doctor recommended that I limit myself somewhat so that she wouldn't have to, but I still feel like we got to do a lot of our regular activities this month. The Braxton Hicks contractions started up almost nightly towards the end of this month, so we started spending a lot more evenings at home together, which I love any way.

November 17th: There's a new VAN in my life! Yes, we made the purchase that everyone has asked me about since we found out we were having twins. Daniel and his Dad went to North Carolina to look at a used Honda Odyssey and came home with it that night. It was a huge item to get checked off our list in preparation for the twins' arrival. I have thoroughly enjoyed the convenience of clicking a button to have the kids' doors open and the option to have the kids watch a DVD while I enjoy a little quiet! Rivers says that the van is "magic," and I have to agree!

November 23rd: My brother, Eric, turned 33! We had a yummy meal at Yamato's (although my pregnant tummy wasn't too sure about it) and then headed back to Mom's for some German chocolate cake. Rivers was so silly that night, but we all had a great time together celebrating! Happy Birthday Uncle E!

November 24th: We started a new tradition last year of having the kids' Santa picture taken the night before Thanksgiving. So, we headed out to Columbiana to eat supper then stood in line behind ONE other family (yeah!) to have their picture taken. Rivers asked for some games for the computer, and Jackson asked for candy. Santa was super sweet, and the kids were mesmerized!

How can we not include a picture of the dreaded nebulizer in use from some time in November through late December? It seems to have taken root on my side table, and depending on the week, either Rivers, Jackson, or both of them could be using it! They would both rather use the penguin than take medicine orally any day of the week!

October 2010

October is always one of my favorite months out of this year, and this one was no exception. With the weather turning cooler, we spent many days outside having picnic lunches and playing on the driveway or in the backyard. Then, there's all of our favorite activities to look forward to: Country Adventures, the fair, and the Fall Festival at church. October 8th: One very special activity that was a highlight of this month was meeting my cousin, Jenny, and her boys, Ryan and Miles, at the Greenville Zoo. Jenny and I are almost exactly one year in apart in age: 364 days to be exact. We grew up writing to each other frequently and sharing major holidays together. She was my matron of honor, and prior to that, I was her maid of honor. She has always been one of those heart friends in that we connect immediately when we get together as if no time had passed at all. We spent the morning and afternoon enjoying the beautiful fall weather while the kids looked at the animals, ate lunch in the shade, and played on some pretty terrific playground equipment. I had the chance to admire sweet baby Miles as he contentedly went along for the ride. It was a great day! October 12th: Happy 3rd Birthday Jackson! I just cannot believe that our baby (as of yet) is three! As you can see, he took a little bite of his blue frosting before we could grab a picture. It's so hard to wait for butter cream frosting...I understand completely!


October 15th: We had some of Jackson's little friends over for a belated birthday play date. We had some breakfast treats inside and then went outside for the kids to play on the driveway with their ride-on toys. I have definitely been in a phase of "less is more" lately, but the children didn't seem to notice one bit. Ultimately, all they want to do is play! (One little guy missing from these pictures is Jackson's friend Forbes. It's hard to catch him sitting still!)

We also went out to Country Adventures on the 12th. We always look forward to going for a hayride, picking out a pumpkin from the barn, petting the animals, and eating hot dogs and S'Mores by the camp fire. It just feels like we're ushering in the autumn!
October 22nd: As you can see, we didn't have fun at the fair this year. Oh my gracious! We always have fun at the fair! Rivers and Jackson both loved going down the slide with Daniel and riding the bumble bee and the carousel. I joined them for the Ferris wheel and to eat some yummy food together. We even bumped into our friends the McCatherns, so Hodges and Rivers rode the motorcycles together. In total, the kids went to the fair three times including their trips with each set of grandparents. They are already asking when the fair will come again!
October 13th and 28th:

Rivers enjoyed two special days at preschool this month: Western Day and her fall party. For Western Day, Jackson and I went to see Rivers parade in on her stick horse at the assembly, sing and dance with her friends in music class, and then we all went outside to enjoy time together at the various activities they had set up for the children. Just kidding! Rivers had other plans. She really wanted to spend the morning with her friend Eden going through the bouncy castles and eating snacks while Jackson and I wandered around aimlessly looking to see where she had gotten to. I finally had to give her a little pep talk to let her know that we came to Western Day to be with her and she needed to spend some time with her brother...and her Mom! I much more enjoy to pop into her little class parties to watch the kids playing games together and enjoying a craft and snack!


October 31st: The First Baptist Fall Festival was wonderful this year! It's always great, but the kids really enjoyed the games especially for the preschoolers. Rivers was contented to sit and draw, while Jackson simply wanted to sit on his Nanny's lap and eat. Despite my last minute dash to the store to pick up Halloween candy, we ended up staying at the festival the entire time and making it home just in time to hand out Halloween candy to about 10 trick-or-treaters. Hey, more Twix bars for us this year!

Jackson and his buddy Forbes: truly a pirate and Spiderman at heart!

Here are my sister-in-law Hannah and I both pregnant! This picture was taken on Jackson's birthday when I was one day shy of being 22 weeks, and her due date is just 12 days after mine on February 28th. It's so neat to me that Daniel and I are wrapping up our family with the pregnancy of these twins, and Hannah and Owen are just starting their family! There is something so special about that first pregnancy. It has been a really sweet time!

September 2010

September was a month of getting back in the groove of preschool and church activities. Rivers is in Mrs. Debbie's and Mrs. Kim's class Monday through Thursday, and Jackson is in Mrs. Renee's and Mrs. Kim's class for "mother's morning out" on Thursdays. I enjoyed feeling much better with my pregnancy this month and even getting out of town at the end of the month for a beach trip with friends which included a first trip to P.F. Chang's and outlet shopping. It was unfortunately cut short by my grandfather falling ill and then passing away on the 27th, however. Losing FaFa was very sudden and very sad. He was a wonderful grandfather, and I'll never forget all of the fun times we had through the years as he pretended with us and took us on bike rides or to see the trains in town and always sprinkled bits of encouragement in every visit we had with him.

On September 10th, we all helped Pop-Pop celebrate another blessed birthday. Rivers and Jackson are always close at hand to help blow out the candles! Happy Birthday Dad!

On September 17th, we celebrated a belated birthday for Rivers with a friend party at My Gym. It was a very special birthday to celebrate with Rivers having been released from physical therapy this year and thinking back on her 4th birthday which she spent in a cast last year. We feel so blessed that this year she got to run, jump, climb and swing with her friends! Happy Birthday Sweetie Pie! Rivers and Jackson have really enjoyed playing together lately. Their big thing right now is to go into Jackson's room, shut the door, and line up all of his small cars across the room. Then they ask to leave it until Daddy gets home so that they can show him. I love it!

Announcing...

It's been FOREVER since I've blogged, so I've got some catching up to do! The biggest change in our life is that Daniel and I are expecting identical TWINS! We found out the unexpected news at the beginning of July at my 7 week appointment. Furthermore, we found out yesterday at my 16 week ultrasound that the twins are GIRLS! Rivers is so excited to be having sisters! She jumped up and down and just kept saying, "Sissy! Sissy! Sissy!" Of course, she is calling them "Kate and Kate" until the blessed day arrives. When I told Jackson that he was going to have sisters, he simply asked me for another cracker and moved right on. Little does he know that this will rock his world!

The babies are due February 16th, but the hope is to deliver them at 36 weeks (the 20s of January.) The ultrasound was amazing yesterday! The sonographer spent over an hour scanning and had the doctor come in at the end to check everything over. I was able to see one of the babies sucking her thumb, which was adorable. We're so blessed! I can say that now that we have gotten over the initial SHOCK of finding out this news! Please be in prayer that these little ones will arrive safely and uneventfully!

Hilton Head 2010

Hilton Head was a lot of fun this year with both kids able to kick around in the pool by themselves with their float vests on. They loved getting into the pool every morning.It is always such a treat to spend a week with my family relaxing and enjoying time together!
On the last night there, we went to eat at The Crazy Crab in Harbour Town and to listen to Greg Russell sing under the oak tree. Rivers said she wanted to sing, so we made her a sign that said, "I may be 'Itsy Bitsy' but I LOVE to sing!" Sure enough, she got chosen to sing! We were so surprised and excited for her! She sang the softest, most shy version of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" that you've ever heard!

Disney World

What a wonderful treat to have the opportunity to go to Disney World! Mr. and Mrs. Crowson (Nanny and Grandaddy) gave us this trip just after Mr. Crowson left for Iraq, and we just couldn't have been more thrilled! The very first morning, Rivers had breakfast with the princesses in Epcot.Within 30 minutes of arriving in the Magic Kingdom, a parade started up! It was so magical, and Rivers and Daniel just danced and joined right in. The Magic Kingdom was definitely the crowd favorite! You just feel like a little child when you're there.Rivers loved Minnie's house! Mrs. C had purchased three Minnie Mouse outfits for the trip.

Rivers and Nanny posed in front of Cinderella's Castle on the way to the front of the castle to see the fireworks. They were just amazing!
We road It's a Small World three or four times! Rivers sang the song the whole way and was mesmerized by the all of the little people!

Mrs. C and Daniel were as competitive as ever on the Buzz Lightyear ride. It was such a joy to be in the "happiest place on earth!"

Tea for Two

Rivers and her friend Lindsay had a little tea party last week. They were adorable preparing their tea with lots of sugar and a small wedge of lemon. They enjoyed being little ladies together but did not enjoy the tea! Next time: hot chocolate!

Preschool Christmas Party

On Rivers' last day of preschool for 2009, her class had a Christmas party which included a game of musical chairs. I'm sure that Mrs. Dunlap and Mrs. Boyd had no idea that the children would be emotionally attached to the chair with their name on the back that they sit in during class time. Many of the children thought that they were supposed to sit in THEIR chair and got upset when another child sat in it. It was truly adorable! Rivers did really well and made it to the top five. She loves the children in her class, and it is so sweet to watch them interact.