The twins

"the twins" are growing up so fast! Camden is now 18 months old, starting to talk and into everything! While Brynlee is now 6 months old, eating baby food, and rolling all over the place! I can't believe that we have made it half way through our first year!!!! Who would have thought that it would come and go sooo quickly. These 2 babies have been such a blessing to our lives, we don't know what we would do without them. Our lives changed completley around between the 2 of them. I was always someone who when asked how close our kids would be, the response was always "at least 2-3 years apart, I couldn't handle them any closer." 

Looking back at when I was pregnant with Brynlee, I was so scared. I was scared at how I would handle everything, if I could handle everything, or if our lives would just fall apart for awhile and slowly we would put it back together. I am happy to say that I feel as though we have done a pretty good job. I mean, I NEVER leave the house; which in the beginning was hard, but then you just get used to it, or you try and go out, and realize how hard it is and decide to just stay home because it is so much easier. But life is good. We are happy, the girls are happy, and the "twins" are happy. They love each other so much already, I can hardly wait to see how close they are as they grow!

 Here they are playing together. Whenever Brynlee sees Camden, she lights right up and smiles. He loves to give her hugs and hold her and is always trying to play with her. These pictures crack me up because this is about the order that things usually happen when they play....He sits right next to her (sometimes he misses and ends up sitting on her), she looks at him, watches him, smiles at him...and them he drops one of his toys on her and she looses it and starts to scream for me to come and rescue her.

Backyard Fun

The weather has been perfect lately. A beautiful Spring before the torture called Summer sets in. We have been doing a LOT of playing outside trying to enjoy it before it gets to hot to play outside. The girls like to go in the backyard and explore. These days, Camden likes to follow them. He loves to be outside so whenever possible, we let him.
One night last week as I was making dinner, the kids were all out playing. Geoff came in at one point saying he needed to take some pictures. I didn't think anything of it...until today, when I finally downloaded them and looked at them. All I can is, I am sooo glad that he did.

 Macie is exploring behind the tree, while Camden is yelling talking to her, and Addie is giving Macie pointers.

 And this, This is why I am glad that Geoff got the camera out. WOW! A leotard, with rain boots. Classic. Lookin' good Addie.

 a crazy pose

 She laid down and was telling Geoff how soft the grass was.

The little man. He is getting so big. He can now get on and off of the trampoline all by himself. You can definitely tell that he is a 3rd child. Ha. Macie and Addie would have never done these things at this age!

A little puke

Geoff was holding Brynlee the other day. He was playing with her when I hear the words "help"....(usually when he yells "help" it is because he is changing a poopy diaper and just wants to be dramatic about it and the girls will ALWAYS come running)...So I wait a minute before responding, then I hear it again and I come into the living room to find this: A huge pukey mess. 

 Brynlee had puked all over Geoff. Poor guy. And naturally, before I get him a rag and help him, I grab the camera for a picture! True Love! This is his reaction....

 Her reaction! She thought that it was pretty funny!

The puke mess. The joys of having a baby.

A day in the life

After school, if the weather is nice, you will find us outside 99% of the time. If it is cold (in Texas, cold means anything below 55 degrees) then you will find us inside hanging out and playing. In a typical week, you will find the kids at least once, doing the following....

Camden climbing onto the chair so he can pound on the mirror. Macie patiently being his anchor.

The kids "wrestling" for the toy...which I am sure Macie had. But when Camden saw it he decided that he needed it to be his. This boy has an AMAZING grip. At this point, Macie is trying to ungrip him from said toy, while he just lays there and holds on. Turkey.

Camden FINALLY leaving the girls alone and exploring. Here he has discovered the holes under the table. They are the perfect size for little fingers.

The girls playing dog. Addie is currently getting tied up by her owner. After she has her leash on, she will crawl around the house barking while Macie tells her what to do. SOOO fun!

Each of the kids poses when I said their name.

Cracker Mess

My parents were town a few weeks ago. While they were here and we were making dinner, this little man got into the crackers. He is constantly "surprising" me with the things that he can reach and figure out how to get into.

Checking out the mess on his leg

hmmm... that one looks good

Searching for his next bite

Messy, messy, messy.

A Sunday Afternoon

We have church at 9 AM. Which means we get home at noon and have all afternoon to be as a family. When we get home, we usually feed the kids and start preparing dinner so it can cook all afternoon and be ready by dinner time. Following lunch, we usually will hang out a bit and spend some time together before the babies go down for their naps. Here are a few pictures of our after church life.

Sweet little Brynlee swinging away. She is such a good baby. Love her.

Camden reaching up to Geoff wanting to be held while Geoff is getting someone's lunch ready.

 It worked!! Begging at dads feet and he picked me up!!

Tired little man. So ready for a nap. LOVE this picture! Love my boys!

The girls reading while they wait for lunch. Macie is reading the book out loud to Addie. Macie looks very concerned....while Addie looks as though she could care less....sooo their personalities!!!

Macie's Birthday

 Macie had a birthday on Sunday, May 5th. She turned 7 years old. She could not wait for her birthday! Grandma and Grandpa Bradley were going to be here for it and we were going to get to see aunt Nana do some gymnastics at her competition. She was so excited! Macie wanted us to bring treats to her class, so we  took in a cookie cake on Thursday. I bought some Hello Kitty napkins and the kids loved it all! It was so cute to sit and watch her hand everything out to all of her little friends and to watch her face as they all sang her happy birthday!
Macie is growing up to fast for us! Geoff is always telling her that she has to stop growing and that she can't have a birthday. Here is a little about Macie at the age of 7:
She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to read! And is pretty good at it to. Just yesterday I turned on some music while she was reading and she left the room and went into the bathroom where it would nice and quiet! HA! She is a great big sister. She loves Addie and loves to play school with her....she is a great teacher!  She loves Camden and Brynlee and enjoys holding them and making them laugh. She is so kind to all of the kids in school and really tries to include everyone. We just love this sweet girl and don't know what we would do without her!

We hid her presents again this year and did a treasure hunt for her to find them. Here they go looking for clues!! They sure love this tradition. She kept asking me if we were going to do it....so, we did.

Opening her Presents. This year was funny because as I would be out shopping, if she was with me and saw something that she wanted, she would ask me if she could get it for her birthday. And since most of the things she wanted were on clearance, I had to buy them right then when she was with me. All of the gifts that she had picked out were bought at least 3-4 months ago, but she has such a great memory that I was sure she would remember each one....wrong! She didn't remember any of them! Score!!
She got some fun gifts this year including a $10 gift card to half price books-this was by far her favorite one! This girl LOVES to read!

Blowing out the candles. This year Macie chose to have a cookie cake. She doesn't really enjoy the real deal, so this is what she chose! She was so excited and it was quite delicious!
Happy Birthday Macie!! We sure love you!

The month of April

The month of April according to my phone.

 Our friends the Januzzi's came in to town. We went on a date. While on this date it looked like people would try and "sled" down a hill with this cardboard. So, the boys tried it....let's just say that it doesn't really work. Here is Geoff trying it out.

 Camden found this sucker and is thoroughly enjoying it.

 Geoff and I went on a date for his 30th birthday. I must say he looks pretty darn good for being 30!!

 A little baby with her jelly shoes. So cute!

 The Twins. Camden is freaking out because Brynlee is touching him, while Brynlee is just enjoying sitting up.

 Playing outside tracing each others body's to see how big everyone is.

Going on a walk with my babies and this is the view I get the whole time. I am one lucky mom.

Worm in the house?

A few weeks ago it was raining here nonstop. For about a week. I walked through the kitchen to grab something and happen to look by the back door, and that is when I saw it....a worm. Yes, a real, living worm had somehow found its way into our house. Remembering how much I loved worms as a kid (yes, I was that kid that would pick up the worms and play with them) I quickly called the kids to come and take a look. Within seconds I was surrounded and the poor little worm was now a pet. The girls both took turns holding him and poking at him with a stick. I think even Camden got a turn with him. I am not so sure the worm was alive when we returned him to the lawn, but just think of the memories. :)

After they were done playing the worm, the girls asked if they could head outside to play in the rain. I told them of course! I used to be the mom that didn't want their kids to go out and get wet and play in the rain, but one time, I had had enough, and I let them do it, and they stayed happy and busy for an hour out in that rain...and that is when I realized it was totally worth the wetness. Plus...think of the memories!! They kept telling me how much fun it was to jump on the trampoline when it is wet, and how much higher you can bounce. In the top right picture, of the trampoline ones, you see Macie laughing so hard. She kept falling and thought that it was the.funniest.thing.ever!!!

4 months old

This little girl is 5 months old!! Crazy! She is such a joy to have in our home. We couldn't imagine life without her! She is starting to make some really fun noises. She enjoys playing on her floor mat and talking to herself in the mirror. She loves to sit in the bumbo and be wherever everyone else is. She rolled over for the first time a few days ago. She is chubby. She weighed in at her 4 month checkup at 14 lbs 13 oz.  (56%). She in wearing 6 month old clothes and is in the 54% for her height. Over the past few weeks, she has lost almost all of her hair. She is seriously balding for some reason at the age of 5 months old. Poor thing.

 Falling asleep in the swing.

 Hanging out with Dad while he reads the paper.

Here she is trying cereal for the first time. I love all of the faces she makes!