Beach Babies

The last two days, I had to take off since our daycare was closed. I tried to pack as much as I could in. We ended up taking the babies to the beach late yesterday afternoon. We enjoyed a picnic before going down to the water. Little Girl of COURSE loved it, but Juice Man wanted nothing to do with it. The only thing he wanted to do was to sit on our towels and eat the sand. (He really hates anything touching his feet. He won't step off the back porch because of the grass and he hated the feel of the sand and water on his feet.) After the beach, we headed to Coldstone for a delicious ice cream treat. Then we drove over to some friends' house to drop by and say hello. It was a fun afternoon. We'll have to do it again soon.

Those Were the Days

Traveling the country and Canada with our family. Some of these pictures were taken in Canada's Waterton Lake National Park, some in Alberton, Montana, some in Fort Worth, Texas at the water Gardens. I think I was about 5 years old and my sister was 6. This was right before we moved to Florida. If you notice the picture of us sitting on a stump (our whole family) you can see haze in the background. This was actually ash from Mt. St. Helen when it blew it's top. We were like 500 miles away and yet the air was still filled with ash. Crazy! Would love to go back to some of these places now as an adult. They are stunning!
(You can click on the pictures and they will get much larger. In some of them, I think Jade resembles me. She must be a good mix since most think she looks like Rhett.)

Easter Sunday

Started Easter off early...before dawn...and we wouldn't have it any other way. Jude got a Tonka truck loaded with trucks and cars and a new outfit. Jade got her Easter basket loaded with books about insects, a butterfly headband, a bug net, a magnifying glass, crayons, and a chocolate bunny. They both got a Bible video that included the Easter story. Jude was up first...before 6 and had time to explore his basket and play with it. He was trying to get into Jade's stuff too. She woke up before 7 and sorted through her things.
After baskets were opened, we put on the Bible video of the Easter story while I cooked breakfast. I made Jade a Easter basket pancake with a chick hatching from an egg...of course she loved it! I also made rabbit shaped blueberry muffins that she devoured.
When breakfast was over, we went out back for an egg hunt. Jude found all the ones on the back porch and Jade hunted for the ones in the yard. Some eggs had M&M's and others had hair things for Jade. Jade thought all the eggs were for her and didn't want brother to get her eggs. Later, we'll dye eggs.

They

They are best friends...
He follows her around everywhere she goes and gets upset when she leaves the room.
He lays his head against her's when I'm rocking them both.
She can't keep her hands off him. She smothers him with kisses.
She brings him whatever he needs. Like tonight we were in the living room and I told Rhett that Jude was out of milk. She went to the refrigerator and brought me the carton of Silk so I could refill his bottle.
They make each other mad. They make each other laugh.
They share toys and drinks. They read books together and wrestle Daddy.
Yes, they love each other very much.
And I'm so blessed to have these precious little ones in my life.

You at Bedtime

Bedtime...quite a process lately. It all starts at clean up time. If you are overly tired, then you have several meltdowns during this time...on bath night, we bribe you with a color tablet to throw into the tub if you clean up nicely. Many nights you do clean up nicely, but then some nights, it's all fits and spankings.
Bath time is usually O.K. You like to soap yourself up and hate to lay down to get your hair washed. You usually say, "Mommy has you?" and want Mommy to put her hand under your head to make you feel more secure. You like play for a while and slide in the tub as the water goes out. You help clean up the tub toys and hop out of the towel usually saying, "I'm cold!" I wrap you in a towel with a hood and dry you off then dress you in pajamas that often are ones you've chosen for the night.
We brush your teeth. I always sing you the happy teeth song while I scrub the bottom row. You spit and then we repeat the song on the top row. You ALWAYS want a turn. And you ALWAYS want the toothpaste you got at the dentist. Next we go to your room for worship. We read a story out of your little Bible for you and brother. You enjoy the stories and often will ask for a second. Sometimes if you are very tired, you have a hard time sitting still and it ends in tears. Mommy says a prayer for you and Jude and then you say your own prayer. You thank God for the good day and sometimes as him to help you be a better listener.
Once prayers are said, everyone gets hugs and kisses. We make a quick run for the bathroom for one last chance to go. During the bathroom trip, you also want lotion for your hands and chapstick for your lips. Then it's to the bedroom. We turn on Scout (your singing dog). We usually rock and talk while Scout plays three lullabies. Then I give you a swirly-whirly. Sometimes you want a big one and sometimes a little one. You ALWAYS want your Daddy's blanket...which happens to be your favorite one and one from Daddy's baby days...spread out over your pillow so you can feel it on your face. Next comes the blankets...everyone that is visible to you MUST be piled on top despite the temperature...usually it's about four of them. Then after I tuck you in, you want another prayer. You want me to ask for Jesus to put his arms around you. As I'm getting ready to head out, you ALWAYS want a tissue to blow your nose.
I give you some more kisses and tell you I love you. You say, "Close your eyes? Mom come back check on you? Mommy come faster?" I always say yes. And you say, "Tell Daddy!" (You want him to come check on you to.) Usually, Daddy and I take turns making several trips up and down stairs to "check" on you. Sometimes we hear you calling, singing, clapping, or crying. Sometimes you snuggle right down and drift off to dreamland, making bedtime super easy and fun. Those are my favorite kinds of nights.

A Fun Day

We had a fun time with the babies at Sea World. (But boy was it a scorcher!) Baby Girl's favorite was the Elmo and Abby show Even though she kept asking if they were going to get her.
She also really enjoyed the dog and cat show, as did her little brother. The liked watching the different animals and we were on our way to see the polar bear and ride some of the rides in the kid's section, but by the time we got over there, Baby Girl was sound asleep. We ended up going out to the car and heading home.