What will they look like, these snowy days?

I think of winter and immediately feel overwhelmed. Our time outdoors shrinking from hours of play a day to minutes (mittens fall off, noses get cold, babies get wet.) Putting on snowsuits and mittens and hats and boots is...not fun to say the least. Anyway, I won't go on and on. I'll just say that today was a good reminder that yes, it will be a challenge, but there will be beauty as well.

Beauty in feeling warm and cozy inside while the weather whirls and twirls outside.


Beauty in finding indoor activities that the babes like, such as smooshy homemade play-doh that smells like pumpkin spice--mmm mmm. )


Beauty in the fact that our friends come and keep us company no matter what the weather:)



Beauty in the outdoor play. Even though it was short, and there were a few falls while getting used to wearing boots, seeing them squeal and crunch through the snow was so much fun. It will be a challenge for me to stay content in this area for sure. But don't they look cute in their winter wear? :)



Beauty in a little girl staying up to see her daddy. Poor Sam, he tried so hard. He was the one crying "dada, dada" when he went to sleep but he just couldn't make himself stay awake. Amelia didn't last long once she was in her Papa bear's arms:)



And so our days will go. And I'll try and stay focused on the beauty. And I'll try to be thankful for each new day. All for tonight, Jen

A little video of Melia giving the camera a smackeroo (she kisses EVERYTHING these days:), Sam furiously saying and signing "Papa, Papa" (meaning Auntie Tara:), and a little interview with Amelia at the end. I would try to have Sam say his new words for the camera but a) he does not like to perform and b) he thinks the video camera looks like an airplane and just signs airplane over and over again and can not be distracted! I'll have to get Joelie to do some secret footage when Sam isn't aware some day soon.

Anyhow, life is floating along. Joel started his new job last week at a homeless clinic downtown. I can't believe I haven't posted about the job switch. You may remember me saying that he'd be starting a surgery position. Well, long story short, the clinic called out of "nowhere" and asked if he would still be interested in working there as they were having a provider leave. He hated to tell the surgery group that he had to decline their offer, but the other is pretty much a dream job for him AND it has loan repayment. He is learning a ton already and you can read all about it on his new blog here. Make sure to scroll down to the bottom to start from the very beginning.

All is well on the home front. Amelia continues to crack us up with her antics and affection. Sammy is starting to be quite a little worker and spends his days moving sticks from one spot in the yard to another, filling up his dump truck with rocks and then taking them all out..... so cute!

Must go for now and get lunch ready. Have I told you that I cook now? Yep, I even planned our menu for this week. How did this happen, you ask? One word: Budget. We are going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and it is whipping us into shape. We are SO thankful for it--painful as it is! So, computer time has decreased and kitchen time has increased...hopefully soon I'll be able to "do it all" and catch up with my blogging. Love, Jen

Play silks (that we dyed with kool-aid:) tied as capes around their necks by their whimsical Auntie.

Sam and Echo sharing a laugh (and space--which was a sweet sight to see as Sammy was having major "your in my space issues" with Echo D for most of their time here.)

We are going to miss you girls. Our Coco (as Amelia calls Echo) and Papa (as Sam calls Tara:). We'll miss Echo's little owl hoots and sweet smiles and laughs.Kissing those chubby cheeks.Her strong desire to be with the "big kids". Tara, I'll miss your companionship and shared passion for all things mothering. I'll miss your guidance in the kitchen department of my life:) and all of your yummy creations and "Nacks!" Seeing you whip around stirring and chopping and cleaning with Echo happily in a sling or on your back. I so want to be more like you in the nourishing foods area. We'll think of you both daily and miss your calm, happy presence. Love to you sweet girls. Thanks for making our home a better place while you were in it. Jen

Hard at play (which is, of course, their work).

Love to you as I fall into bed, Jen

Every time, it makes my heart melt.

Here's to affection from the ones you love, Jen

We had a beautiful morning at the farm today. The babies all wore cute overalls but, alas, Amelia fell/ran into the duck pond and got all wet before we could get a picture:) Anne, did I thank you for saving her from going head first into the freezing water? Thanks friend for always having your eyes on my children too! Here are the pictures we did get before Mrs. Quack, quack, quack tried to go splash with her duck friends.

A hayride around the land. Sam's favorite part of our morning for sure. "Truck! Truck! Truck!" as he stared at the tractor pulling us around.



Echo loved the baby pigs. How could you not, really? They were almost as squishy and yummy as she is.


The ducks. Sam and Amelia adore them and apparently are not afraid of them AT ALL.



As you can imagine, there was much nieghing, quacking, meowing, and mooing from our little ones:) Though we had to make a hasty retreat due to Amelia's soaking wet clothes, it was a wonderful first visit to a farm and I look SO forward to going back.

There are so many things to catch you up on, but they'll have to wait. Our time with Tara and Echo is flying by way too quickly!! I am so loving their company. When Tara comes it seems as if she just belongs here...like she should always be coming up from the basement to walk to the park or to Whole Foods or to work in the kitchen together. One of my favorite companions of all time for sure.
Did I mention that Joelie is away? He was given the awesome opportunity to go here and grabbed the chance before work begins and time away during the week isn't possible. Can't wait to hear all that he learns!!!

Really must go. Hope you all are doing well, Jenny

Little moments...

We were in the kitchen, little Sammy and I. It had been a rough day for him. It has been a rough couple of weeks for him really. Lots of crying. Lots of tantrums. Lots of emotion. So, I've been trying to spend some alone time with him as much as possible. After all, he is my little one that has always needed more touch and time....sleeping with us through his first year, loving the sling....sometimes I forget this. His ways of showing his need for touch are more subtle these days. He'll just casually walk over and lean on you until you swoop him up into your lap. Or he'll fuss when someone else is in my lap and finally it'll dawn on me that he wants me all to himself sometimes. A twin doesn't often get mama all to themselves you know.

Anyhow, he and I were in the kitchen. He was on my back in the Beco carrier while I was making this yummy squash lasagna for friends who were coming over. As I stood at the counter peeling and stirring and feeling him playing with my hair and happily babbeling away, it was just one of those moments I wanted to tuck away. Tuck away to pull out and dwell on when the next rough patch comes. Just as I was thinking all of this, I felt his little lips kiss the back of my head. My heart just melted. How I need those little moments as much as he does. Little moments that make the emotionally draining times fade away.

Oh Sam, my little spirited boy.....I love you with all of my heart. I long to know how to love you better and it is ever the prayer of my heart these days that God will give me wisdom on how to train and guide and love you most effectively. As I continue to learn, little kisses on the back of my head, or happy babbeling in my ear or sitting contentedly snuggled in my arms are the little moments that remind me how precious this journey really is. Keep them coming, Sammers, keep them coming.

It's a fun thing to do, to go to the zoo...

Here are Sam and Amelia with a very "ferocious" cat. It was a favorite for sure. And yes, Sam wore Echo's cape all day today. Amelia followed him around saying "moon.moon" :)

Love these girls...

She stood and stared at this Lion for a very long time...

Sammy loved the fox.

Longing for a ride...

One of my favorite things about the zoo is hearing the way parents talk to children while they're there. We are all so excited to see our children see the animals that they look at in books and sign about and talk about. It is a place of awe, of delight, of total amazement to their little eyes. To see mamas and dads and grandmas and grandpas talking so excitedly to their babes as they point at the owls and foxes and birds and monkeys--it just makes me happy. To see Sam walk up and down the width up the cage with the fox and Amelia meow at all of the cat type animals--that just makes me teary:)

Here's to Fall family fun, Jen

I've been distracted.

The lack of posts have been due to a squishy, cuddly creature that has invaded our home and heart. She bears a striking resemblence to my cabbage patch doll and is just pure joy to be around. Oh Echo, how we love you so! Sam and Amelia give her kisses and think she is funny and fun as long as they aren't expected to share their toy or their mama! It is so much fun having she and Tara here with us.
Tara cooking up big pots of bean soup for dinner, oats and apples for breakfast. Long talks while the babies nap, walks to the park, crafting plans, backyard fun...







We'll try and keep you updated on our fun:) Jen

Amelia and I had some fun with the Mac photo booth while Sammy snoozed a bit late this afternoon. While I was going through the pics tonight I found this one when she was a chubby little babe, and the one of my mom and I during her last visit. Mamas and their girls. It made me sniff, sniff a little to think that in a blink of an eye that last picture will be Amelia and I.







Then, my little boy awoke and I was lucky enough to get some kisses from him as well:)

Love to you, Jen

Hello there moon.

Tonight Amelia "saw" the moon for the first time. She was up later than usual and we went outside to chat with Joel while he worked in the yard. The moon was shining bright and I said, "Amelia, look. That's the moon. " Well, that's all it took. She has a new love. I think she must have pointed at it and said "moo,moo" about 50 times. Even as I finally put her in bed she pulled her bottle out of her mouth and said one last, "Moo." And with that, all of the fussiness and frustration of the day faded away. All that will be remembered of this day is a fabulous family bike ride and Amelia saying hello to the moon. Here is a little taste of her newest vocabulary--the little bit that I have captured: