A Reason for Blogging

As I lay in bed late one night, just trying to wind down after another day of chaos (not from any particular instance of chaos, but just that every day around here lately is chaos), I had already scanned Facebook 10 times, there was nothing new on Instagram...and I had already spent at least 30 minutes perusing Pinterest. So I wandered over here to our blog...and started reading old posts about pre-Nugget life, and about the adventure it was to be pregnant with them.

And I have to tell you, it was highly entertaining.

At least for me.

It was great to relive some of the excitement, to remember details I have already forgotten. I smiled. I laughed. And then, I was sad. Sad for all the time I have missed out on blogging about the boys. I haven't kept up on them nearly as much as I had hoped to. I don't have all of those details stashed away that I can conveniently come back to a couple years later (because yes, TWO years ago we found out we were expecting!!) and relive all the wonderful moments of chaos.  

So I would love to say that from here on out, be prepared for posts galore on the daily happenings and goings on here around the O Abode. Unfortunately, however, I'm just too much of a realist to know there is just no way that is going to happen! Ha. Because I'm lucky to brush my teeth and put deodorant on most days. A shower is a bonus. Anything above and beyond that, it's like Christmas came early!

These two not-so-little boys are B.U.S.Y.

Constantly.

And their happenings just get higher and more risky. I am telling you, apparently I gave birth to circus acrobats!! There is nothing that is safe from being climbed on, no safe surface to stash Momma's treasures upon, no container safe from being used as as step-stool...you get the idea!

On the other hand, there is never a dull moment at our house - and these two are highly entertaining.  Every day is a new adventure.

Whether it is playing together under the table...

...Or pausing their fun to say "cheese"...

(Holy crap they look a lot alike here! It is always in pictures I notice they really are pretty similar!)

...Or just hanging out watching a movie...

...these two are fantastic!

They amaze me everyday with something new they've learned or figured out. Even when it threatens to give me a heart attack.  Like the crib diving escapades of last week (I will post that video on here shortly). So my hope is that I will start blogging more about those new adventures at the O Abode, even if it is for my own selfish reasons. And it may not all be noteworthy news to anybody but me, but maybe, just maybe, we can share some of our adventures with all of you! Adventures like new words learned, new attitude developed, a new favorite toy for the day, and maybe occasionally the big milestones - like moving them to toddler beds!  

And just in case I don't get to post about that one as soon as I'd like...yes, I cried!  Multpile times. It was a much bigger deal for this momma than it was for either of the two boys. Beckett took right to jumping in his new bed like old times, and Everett learned how to say "Bi Boyyyy" right away!

So until our next adventure...this momma is getting some sleep! Because those sweet little faces will be all too eager to see me at 6:30 in the morning...if I'm lucky to sleep in that long.

Birthday Bash

Okay, so I know I said I was most likely not going to get you all caught up on our happenings from the past six months...and for the most part that will be very true I'm sure! BUT, I would feel like a horrendously bad mom if I didn't at least do a birthday post for these munchkins!

SO, without further ado...You're all invited to a birthday bash!!

Except, not really because it was already almost a month ago. Sorry about that. You got to see the awesome invites Tadd made though!

Uhm, for those of you who know me, you'll know just how much I stressed out about this party. And mostly I stressed out about it because I didn't want to stress out about it! Ha. Make sense? Nope, I know it doesn't, welcome to my brain.

I knew we should throw an enormous bash, I mean, they are TWINS after all. And we ALL survived the first year - DEFINITELY something to celebrate.

But I also knew that they were ONE, and would have absolutely no recollection of the happenings. So it seemed a little silly to go completely crazy. And do you plan games for this thing? Or have a theme? Who decides these things?! Oh wait, we're the parents now, WE are supposed to decide...Meltdown #1.

Another thing for us to figure out was the WHEN of the party. September was a crazy month for us. We moved to a new place, I worked, it was just crazy. And then people couldn't make it on the day we had planned for, so do we change it? Do we keep it the same? BAH!...Meltdown #2.

The date was set. My wonderful hubby came up with a great idea for a party - lunch at an all you can eat pizza place here in Logan. I didn't have to cook or clean for anyone, and it didn't matter if my house was unpacked from moving the week before. DEAL.

Next on the list of decisions...a cake. Where do you order from? And then the realization, what if these nuggets have allergies like their momma? Do I really want to find that out at their birthday party? No. Definitely not. SO, guess I will make their cakes! Eggless cakes. Oh wait, what kind of cake? How do I decorate it? Crap! We didn't make a theme for the party, so how am I supposed to decide on a cake?!...Meltdown #3.

Oh, and let's not forget what will the boys wear to their party?! A thought that hadn't really even crossed my mind until oh, you know two days before. And then it just hit me, it's their special day! They should have a special shirt or something, right?!

Word to the wise...as much as I love Pinterest...whatever you do, do NOT jump on two days before your child's birthday party to get a last minute idea...I immediately felt like a failure as a mom. I hadn't planned the boys perfect outfits and made them cute onesies that said something catchy about being the birthday boy. I had no idea what to do for a cake, and let's not even begin about decorations or festivities. Meltdowns # 4-6.

And then the day of the party was here! We decided to make a whole day of it - we deserved to celebrate just as much as the boys! So a guys golfing trip in the morning, boys' party for lunch, and a girls shopping trip after! 

We got to the restaurant and don't worry folks...they lost our reservation. Kind of a big deal when you're expecting about 25-30 people. But, ultimately it was okay that we had to wait, because the guys did not get done golfing until 2:00! Yep, Tadd was over an hour late for his own sons' birthday party...and SURPRISE, no meltdown! Ha. I wasn't even all that mad. Mostly just starving.

Once everyone got there and we got into the actual restaurant, the day was PERFECT. We have the greatest family and friends!! Hands down the best. We are completely blessed to have such amazing people in our lives that support us and love our boys.

So, on to the good stuff...the real reason you folks come to read our blog...the PICTURES!!!

These two got SPOILED! As my brother put it, they got more for their birthday than most kids get for Christmas! :) 

They loved opening their presents! 

Or at least we thought they did...Check out Everett's stink eye. HA!

We bought the boys this crazy toy thingamagig - and they LOVED it! WIN!!!

And all that worrying for nothing. The cakes turned out pretty AWESOME! (if I do say so myself!)

It was a cake smashing good time! But with more frosting mushing and not so much cake smashing...

All in all, a birthday bash SUCCESS!! No meltdowns necessary. Ha! Then again, such is my life. I'm great at stressing over the crazy stuff! Lucky for you guys, it makes for good stories. So stay tuned!

Time Flies When You're...BUSY!

The past six months have been a blur. Heck, the past year has been a blur. And what I really can’t believe even more than the fact the boys are one, is how much they have grown!

And I know every parent says that. But maybe I’m just a little extra blown away because they started out so extra tiny.

Beckett

Everett

Or maybe what's really blowing my mind the most is how not-so-tiny they are now!

Beckett

Everett

Crazy, right?! That's what has really been blowing my mind lately is to look at pictures we took from one year ago today (or on that given day), and compare them to where we are now. The boys were still in the NICU last year around this time. In fact they wouldn’t come home for two more weeks. Boggles my mind! 

Time moves differently once you have children. It becomes much more measured. I have always had an idea of what happened in a past year…but never something so measurable or memorable to compare it to. 

For example, last year at this time...

Everett had just been moved to his own open crib. And that was a BIG deal! 

See how tiny he was?!

Beckett had given oxygen the finger.  

Their first outfits from family – Nana and Granddad bought these for them

Beckett

Everett

The boys first Halloween outfits!

Beckett

Everett

Our first family photo!

AND NOW...

Fast forward a year!

Family photo at the boys' birthday party

And this week the boys are:

Walking all over creation! And reading books, making animal sounds! Talking like crazy!

I have videos, but they won't upload. Of course. But here are a couple of pictures at least to get you by until the videos will work.

Beckett

Everett

And plenty more pictures to come!

I just don’t know where the time has gone. I do know that we love these two more than life.