These pictures were taken at Kelsie's preschool and I think they turned out cute, despite the kids all with their deer in headlights look. Oh well, can't complain too much especially when the pictures were free. Each family received a free package of pictures that included 1 8x10, 2 5x7's, 8 wallets, and some cute Christmas cards.

Speaking of pictures, we have none on our computer. All was lost after we got our computer back. I try not to think about it because it just makes me sick thinking about it. I am grateful that at least I will be able to print off some pictures from our blog, and from some other companies who I have ordered pictures from in the past. What a precious thing to lose though.

We are looking forward to a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow. Hopefully it will go better than last year. Kevin has Thanksgiving off, and it will be great spending some time together as a family.

I'm back..... but not for long

You don't realize how much you use a computer until you are forced to go without one for weeks on end. It's so frustrating! It's especially frustrating when the person fixing your computer thinks that they didn't back up your computer before having to rebuild a new one. Not really a great thing when you have all of your children's lives in pictures stored on the computer. Sadly to admit, we also didn't make any backup disks. I am really holding out for hope that all is not lost.

I am borrowing a friends laptop as we speak, and hopefully one day we will be the owners of our own computer.

On a more positive note, my wonderful Mother was here visiting again and was able to be here for 10 days. She is so amazing, and I am grateful that she comes to visit often. In talking to some of my friends who have also moved away for residencies, I realized that I am really spoiled by how often our family members come to visit us. It's so great being able to see our family so often.

My Mom spoiled us, and we just had a wonderful time together. I am already counting down the days until her next visit.

As soon as I have a computer again, I will post some pictures.

Happy Birthday

Leah enjoying her cake

Audrey looking confused

The cake that took a long time to make

Smile girls, it's your birthdat

Thanks to my wonderful friends Liz and Rachel for helping me with these invitations

I can't believe that these two little girls are now one year old. What an adventure raising twins has been. I have learned a lot, and have grown a lot. Life with these two is beyond busy. I didn't know a lot in raising twins, but there was one thing I knew for certain. That being that when they turned one we were going to have a huge celebration. Making it through the first year of raising twins is quite an accomplishment if I don't say so myself, and we survived. Our hair might be turning gray now but we did it, that's the most important part. We had an open house Candy Land themed birthday party with lots of food, and lots of people. I got too busy hosting the party and don't really have a whole lot of pictures from the party. Just imagine lots of people, lots of food, and lots of presents. It was so fun. Leah and Audrey enjoyed their cake, and enjoyed their visit with Grandma who was also here to celebrate their first birthday.

Kelsie-ism's

I sure do love this little girl, and as always she makes me laugh so hard. Other times she about brings me to tears. Here are some of her recent ramblings.

This week one of her pet frogs died. With tears in her eyes she told me that the frogs heart had run out of pumps.

Kelsie went to McDonald's today and as she was playing in the play land, some little boys about her age told her that they were going to kill her. As she was re-telling this story to Alyssa she said that she had the worstest day in her life because some mean guys told her that they were going to kill her and if they didn't kill her then they were going to bite her.

On the night of Halloween Kelsie told Alyssa that if she didn't want to go trick-or treating then she would just go for her and would give her all of her candy.

While working on a coloring contest for a local pet store, I explained to the girls that if they won then they would get a $30 gift certificate and asked them what they would buy. Alyssa said that she would probably buy a ferret until Kevin told her that those were way more than $30.00. Kelsie then pipes up and says, " Alyssa, when we get older if you still want a ferret then I will buy you one with my money okay?"

Kelsie has been asking about her Great-Grandma Wheeler. Grandma Wheeler died before Kelsie was born but we have a book about Grandma's life, and we often read through the book together. In the book, it talks about Grandma Wheeler's love of the Christmas holiday. She often made dolls and other homemade gifts that she would pass out at the family parties which Kelsie thought was awesome. In talking to my girls one night about the reason why we celebrate Christmas, Alyssa answered first and said that we celebrate Christmas because of the birth of Jesus. Kelsie was quick to tell Alyssa that she was wrong and that the reason why we celebrate Christmas was because of Grandma Wheeler.

I have never seen a more caring, giving, selfless child than Kelsie. She has a heart of gold, and some of the things that come out of that little girl's mouth are just beyond touching. She is constantly thinking of others and puts the needs of others before her own. If you ask me that's pretty impressive for a four year old.

Halloween 2009

Alyssa the karate master

Kelsie the witch

Leah the butterfly and Audrey the white tiger

Audrey made the cutest tiger cub

kids say the darndest things

As I was sitting in the living room one night, Alyssa popped in looking like this. She says to me, "Mom, I look like you did when you were having the twins." Pretty close if you ask me