Playdate With Daddy and Other Fun Stuff

*Two posts today!  Had to catch up :)!

Last week Davin was gone M-Th with work stuff so he took off on Friday to spend time with us.  I love when he is able to do this.  It was still a busy day though.  My cousin and her husband were coming up to stay the weekend with us and since I was gone all week, I had to spend most of my time getting the house cleaned and doing some cooking.  So Davin and the girls had some play time while I cleaned the house!  The girls LOVE to be outside and so Davin filled up their little pool his mom got them and they played in that, ran through the sprinkler, chased the dog, and did a little swinging until they were worn out! 

 I mean, how cute are those pig tails?!

 Parker is my little water baby!

Yes, our grass needed to be mowed, and Davin did that afternoon!  And those diapers soon came off and the bare bottoms made the slide super slippery :)!
Later that day, Rachel and Drew made it to our house and we took the girls to FNO while the 4 of us adults went out to dinner and then to play putt-putt.  I wish I had taken some pictures.  The next day the guys went golfing early and us girls went shopping.  Rach and Drew headed home that afternoon.  We were glad they came to visit.
Sunday our church had it's annual Fall Kick-off and promotion Sunday.  The girls moved to the other side of the hallway, but thankfully have the same SS hour teachers that we love!  They ask that you wear your favorite team clothing, which means Razorback up here :)!  The girls looked so cute, but of course we were running around like crazy in the morning and then chasing after them at the picnic/tailgate lunch that I only snapped 2 pictures :(!  It was fun, but SO hot so we headed home shortly after eating to get the girls down for their nap and cool off.

 Payton running around.

Parker and 'dada'!

We ended our weekend having dinner over at Adam and Helga's!  They are some of our good friends, but we hadn't seen them in a while.  Having dinner together was long overdue!  Noah and the girls had fun running around.  I think I even brought my camera and just didn't take a picture.  I guess I was just too busy visiting and catching up.



A Week Back At Home, And Girl Time

Last week on Monday Davin had to be somewhere 6hrs from us for work.  So to make the trip shorter, we went down to my parents Sunday night.  I was staying almost the whole week b/c Davin had to make another short trip for work to Canada.  And I was going to get to meet our friends new baby girl, Mollie Kate!!
My friend Crystal had planned to come up the same week to stay with her parents so that we could meet Mollie.  I was so glad that it worked out.  So a couple of weeks before, we decided that we needed and wanted to have a girls night!
I have known Crystal since I was in 3rd grade, or sometime around then.  We grew up together at the same church.  I have known Amberley since about the same time.  We played on the same softball team for a few years growing up. Her mom was my coach a couple years :)!  We were all in different grades, so we didn't hang out that much until college really where we all went to the same church, and same college for me and Crystal.  We were all in each other's weddings too.
After we all got married, we moved away from each other and so I think this may have been the first time that just the 3 of us, with no kids or hubby's, got to hang out.  And it was so much fun!

 Me, Crystal,and Amberley after dinner at a good little local place.

Had to end the night with some FroYo, and lots of laughs!  Love these girls!

 The next day we had a little play time.  We had to get the girls all together for a picture! 

Macie and Mollie (Crystal's sweet girls), Parker and Payton, and Elsy (Amberley's little one).

I just think this picture is so cute.  It looks like Payton is telling Elsy something.

And of course they got spoiled by the grandparents and had lots of fun!

 Payton playing in the new car that Grandma and Grandpa got the girls.

 Payton enjoying the slide and Grandpa pushing Parker in the swing.  That child could swing ALL day :)!

 Parker riding the other car Grandma and Grandpa got the girls.

Playing with bubbles in the backyard.

It was a great week, but we missed Daddy!  I also got in a couple runs with Amberley.  Oh how I miss my running partner.  We used to run together a lot before I got married and moved.  The girls and I headed back home on Thursday, and daddy made it home that night.  What a fun week we had!



Visitors

Two weeks ago our good friends, the Futterers, came up for the day so that Joe could go to a job interview.  That meant that Amberley and Elsy got to hang out with me and the girls!! 
We met up with some other sweet friends, Meg and Jax, at Chick-fil-a for lunch.  I did not get one picture, but I so wish I had!  That place was so packed that when we first got there there were no seats at all.  So here I am with a big diaper bag and holding one child while trying to hold the other child's hand so she won't run off, and Ams carrying Elsy in her carrier.  It was wild in that place and so after searching for a table to find nothing, we just stood there with our kids and 'stuff', looking helpless I'm sure.  Finally a lady whispered to me that they were leaving and asked if we wanted her table...umm YES please :)!  It was a crazy lunch, but fun.  It was also the girls first time to climb all the way to the top of the play set and slide down.  There were some crazy bigger kids in there and I was a little nervous for my girls, but they had fun.  So big!
That night we went out to eat at one of Joe and Ams favorite places, Chipotle, and then they headed home and so did we.  It was a fun day.
The next morning, Davin's parents came up for Brunch and to visit.  I did not get any pictures, again.  They headed out that afternoon, but I know they enjoyed their time with the grandbabies.

Bye Bye Paci

Let me start from the beginning :)! 
When the girls were born at 35 wks, they had to stay in the NICU for 10 days.  While in the NICU they were given a pacifier (which I was fine with).  I don't know if the nurses just gave it to them or if they were upset and it calmed them down??  I really don't know?  I say this b/c once we got them home they weren't that interested in them.  I think I just gave it to them b/c I thought they wanted it b/c that's what the nurses did in the NICU.  But after a week they just did not want them. 
Then when they were probably 2 or 3 months old (i can't really remember)  I was working on getting them on a consistent nap schedule.  I would put them in their crib awake so they could learn how to fall asleep on their own (well without me always having to rock them or be in the swing first.  I know not everyone agrees with this, but that's what worked for us.)  Anyway it was tough at first and although I didn't want them to depend on a paci, I was desperate (or so I felt) and I tried to 'force' it on them.  Parker didn't want anything to do with ANY paci.  And after a few tries Payton decided she liked it (only the soothie kind).  So at the time I was thankful, but knew I might be in trouble later on.  I only let her use it for naps and bedtime.  Thankfully my girls were good babies, and happy most of the time so during the day they really didn't need one anyway. 

So I thought that I wanted to get rid of it when they turned 1yr.  Well that time came and I just wasn't ready :)!  I know I probably sound silly, but the paci still made her seem like a baby and part of me was not ready to let that go.  I thought she looked so cute with that green paci.  I still do and honestly I kind of miss it. 

Then they turned 18 months and I just thought I better do it now before she gets too attached.  And she had started waking up occasionally during nap time or at night and couldn't find her paci so I'd have to go in there and find it for her.  I didn't really care for that ;).  So, Wednesday, August 10th, I decided right before nap time that this would be the day.  I cut the tip off the paci and gave it to her.  I accidentally cut too much off so she couldn't really even keep it in (I felt bad, I wasn't planning to quit cold turkey).  Well that did the trick as far as not wanting that paci.  BUT, it took her about 30min to fall asleep.  I had to go in and pat her little bottom and console her a few times.  That night it took about an hour, but she didn't wake up once in the night.  The next day was a little better but kind of the same.  By day 2 she was pretty much over it!!  Success!  I'm sure the fact that she only used it to fall asleep as opposed to throughout the day, made it a little easier. I did replace the paci with a lovie (i'm sure that's a parenting no-no, but I'm fine with it).  She doesn't really need it either though, she usually just throws it out of the crib, ha!

I'm happy to be past the paci stage, but sad that my babies are growing up so fast.

Payton in the NICU. 

 Parker and Payton.  Those paci's were SO big when they were 4 and 5lbs.

It's so hard for me to remember them being so tiny, yet it seems like just yesterday we were at the hospital.

 Payton in the swing

 Payton in the bouncy seat.

Payton in the pack n play while in Destin.

 This is the day we got rid of the paci. She had just tried to suck on the paci with the tip cut off.

 Then she threw it :)

My last picture of her with a paci :(.  This is the cut one so this lasted long enough for me to get one last picture before she threw it out of the crib.
Bye bye paci.

What a fun weekend!

We started the weekend off with a date night on Friday!  The girls went to church for FNO (again, so thankful for this ministry our church does!) and Davin and I headed to the tennis courts.  I had not played tennis since before I was pregnant.  Davin and I used to play  when we were dating and before we had the twins.  We love it!  I told Davin that I felt like we were back in college with the kind of date we had :)!  We played tennis, then went to taco bell, and then walked next door to Braums for dessert :)!  I still love these kinds of date nights.  After we picked up the girls and put them to bed, we watched a movie.  Great way to start the weekend.

Saturday morning Davin went to help with a church service opportunity while I stayed home with the girls and cleaned the house.  That afternoon while the girls napped, we detailed both of our cars.  We were probably a little crazy since it was so hot, but thankfully there was a breeze!  That evening we went to a birthday party for some of our friends little girl that turned 1! 

On our way to Micah's birthday party.

Payton, Parker, Micah, and Ava. Parker was a little clingy this weekend (so not like her).

Sunday we went to church and then some of our friends from out of town sent me a text to let me know they were up and wanted to meet for lunch.  So after church we met up with them.  It was good to visit with them.  Late afternoon I met up with Mandy at the gym and then Davin and the girls joined me to swim at the club with Mandy, Andrew, and Hunter.  The girls are really enjoying the pools this year.  After some splashing around we all went and got a smoothie then headed home.

Drew and Parker at lunch, so sweet they are holding hands!

Monday night our church had our annual Family fun night at the Aquatic park.  The girls had lots of fun, but after about 40min the fun was put on 'hold' b/c there was lightning.  We ended up leaving by the time we were allowed to get back in so that we could get the girls their bath and put them to bed.  I didn't get many pics, and they were running from one place to the next so I couldn't get a good pic b/c they did not want to stand still!

 Payton and Westin

 Parker and Adeline

Payton

We had a fun filled weekend and start to our week!

Side note for me:
We had to get rid of our diaper champ b/c even after the multiple times of cleaning and bleaching the smell just would not go away, and I have yet to get a replacement.  So wet diapers we just throw away in the trash can and poopy ones we tie up and put in the garage trash can.  So I guess Payton had just caught on to me taking them from the changing table to the trash can.  One afternoon about a month ago I was putting some laundry in the dryer and next thing I know, Payton is getting the diapers and taking them to the trash can in the kitchen to throw away. I was so surprised and proud :)!  Everyday, she will get the diapers walk them to the kitchen, open the pantry door, throw the diaper away, and close the door.  Such a big girl.  Parker has done it a few times, but is not as interested.  Maybe Payton will be like me and like to clean?!

For a few months now the girls have been really into giving hugs and kisses. It is the sweetest thing ever!  I cannot get enough of those hugs and kisses!  If I am in the floor playing with them, out of the blue one will just get a big smile on their face and run to me with arms open wide and wrap their little arms around my neck and give me a big hug (the kind where their arms wrap tightly around your neck) and then give me kisses.  Melts my heart every single time.  I hope this last for a LONG time. 
Thank you Lord for allowing me to be their mommy and for blessing me abundantly.

"How priceless is your unfailing love o God!.." Ps. 36:7

Fun Summer Days With Friends

I can't believe that it is already August!!  The weather here has been crazy hot!  It's crazy to me that in the same year we have set records for the amount of snow fall (over 2 feet in one day) and records for amount of days we have had with record breaking heat (in the 100 degrees)!  I would take warm weather over cold weather any day, but honestly it's even been a little hot for me :)!
Last weekend we had our garage sale with some friends.  We all did really well and I was thankful for that and thankful to get my house cleaned out and have all that stuff gone!
My parents came up on Saturday to visit.  I was sad it was a quick visit, but my mom had been in DC the week before and was scheduled to have carpal tunnel surgery on her right hand the following Monday, so she wanted to squeeze in a quick trip so she could hold the girls since she won't be able to lift anything for a few weeks.  I'm thankful they got to come, it was a fun day!
Sunday evening after the girls nap, we decided to finally take the girls to the pool at the gym.  I can't believe we've gone all summer without doing this!! They have a couple pools, but one is a kiddie pool that's a little over a foot deep with a mushroom fountain in it and the Parker just walked all around it.  Payton isn't as adventurous as Parker, but she had fun just playing in her same spot!  They really enjoyed it, and so did we!  We will be going back before it closes.
Monday we had fam night over at Mandy's and a few extra family members were up so it was good to see them. 
Wed night was a 'first' for us.  We used actual babysitters ha!  We've left the girls at nursery, the gym, and with family, but never with a sitter.  Thankfully 2 of the girls that work in Payton and Parker's Sunday school nursery class like to babysit and so they are now our sitters!  I love these girls, they are so sweet and love P&P!  So I wasn't afraid to leave the girls b/c I knew they were in good hands! We went out to dinner with some of our friends, Brett and Jodi, and had a great time.  We love our babies, but it's nice and refreshing to have a break! We had a great night!

Thursday morning we met up with some friends, Meg and Jax, and Abby and Ava to play at a splash park!  It wasn't very crowded (I think b/c it was a little cloudy) and the kids had a lot of fun!  Parker was on the move the entire time, just running through the water and playing, our miss independent! She and Jax loved it.  Payton didn't like the sprinklers, fountains, etc as much, but had fun walking/running around (away from the water) with Ava. Ava didn't like the water either so they stuck together. 

You can't tell very good in this picture, but Parker has the biggest smile ever! Sweet girl having fun!

This week has flown by, but I'm glad it's Friday!  Davin and I are going to use FNO for the girls and go play some tennis.  I haven't played since before I had the girls, so we'll see how it goes :)!
Just for me to remember: my girls have developed a love for strollers (their size ones)!  Payton likes to put babies in it and stroll them around.  Parker doesn't want anything to be in the stroller haha!  They first discovered them at Ava's house and so I had to go get them one!  They push that thing around all day!  I'll be getting a second one very soon :)!

 Parker pushing the baby around.  She soon realized that Payton put the baby there and she took it out :)!

Payton putting the babies in.  (It's been rather hot here so a few days when we didn't have to go anywhere I just let them play in their diapers ha!)