Happy Halloween!!

Today is Halloween and we're on our way home!  YAHOO!

Hannah woke up this morning yelling.."TRICK OR TREAT...TRICK OR TREAT, SMELL MY FEET..."  It was SOO cute! 

I'm excited to be home and go trick or treating in our own neighborhood.  OOO..I can't wait.  Then we have two days or down time..then Monday and THEN Tuesday, Pauls parents are going to be down for a few days on their way down to S. Texas for the winter. 

 

At the first hotel all 3 girls sleeping together!

Mom & the girls at Chuck E. Cheese!

The girls sleeping at the hotel.  In the SAME bed for the VERY FIRST TIME!  Not too bad..Sarah ended up sleeping on the floor(B/C she fell out of the bed) ..BUT, Sam & Hannah slept together all night.  SOO SWEET! 

Hannah chasing butterflies & Lady bugs(that we later found out were chinese beetles that actually bite)!  YIKES!  Considering we let a few loose in gma & gpa's house!  OOPS!

The girls playing in the wonderful backyard..with lovely weather!

 Horsey, horsey! 

 More fun pics...in the backyard!

  Love this pic of Hannah..LOVE the BOW's in her hair too!

SOO SWEET! 

 Such busy bodies...the girls had a blast picking flowers at gma & gpa's house..we miss them already! 

 A action shot of Hannah getting ready to chase a butterfly!

 Everyone had such a wonderful time and so relaxing!  It was worth the long drive..FOR SURE!

Lovely pic of the girls picking glowers..so peaceful!

Gma & Hannah..soo sweet.  She just LOVES her gma.  She was asking about her for hours before we actually arrived.  The minute she saw the house she was ready to jump out of her car seat!

 Dad & Sam sleeping on his lap.  They were soo tired.  They did soo well the entire time we were gone! 

 Gpa & Hannah..such a happy little girl!

 Mom, Dad & Sam sleeping.

 Uncle Steve..I swear he grew another foot between xmas & this past weekend!

 Hannah was being the family photographer for the day..YES,  i did let her use my big camera..she did such a great job!

 Gma & Sarah sleeping!  Soo sweet!

 Sarah sleeping.

 Hannah smiling for the camera!

 Family shot...as we were gathering for family pics!

 Uncle Steve reading Hannah a book!

Gma With a baby at the church! 

  I think this is Sarah...

Gathering for the funeral.

  More family action shots. 

And more family shots..

And more shots...

 Yes, i was a bit camera happy!

Family shot...FINALLY!

 Ahh..did you really think everyone would look the same way at the very same time?  LOL!! 

Family shot...less Brooke & Nicole.   They were missed dearly and i don't mean, just to baby sit the girls..although that would have been nice!  Of course we did have Jeff's little girls who were loving on our girls and helping them climb up and down the stairs..thanks Abagail & Rebecca! 

  Uh, i'm not sure who the other sweet little girl was, helping the girls..I'm pretty sure it was Linda & Kurts daughter..i'd love to know her name so i can add it to my pics & thank her!  She was soo sweet...but i didn't even get to thank her for helping out.

Another pic of Abagail helping one of the twins.

 They were all so sweet!

 Here is a pic of grandpa's old house..

 The old bank building that pauls gpa owned.

  The new bank...

This is the house Pauls mom was born in...

 This was what i saw in the back seat on the way back to the hotel..Sam ripped her stockings up her leg...LOL!!

Hannah being silly!

One more silly shot..

At the hotel...snuggling in the second pull out couch..Much nicer!

Another shot of me and my girls!

Sleeping beauties...SO SWEET!

On the way BACK TO H-TOWN!!!

We are on the way back home..but decided to make this trip a 2 day ordeal both ways..so right now we are in Norman, OK at a very nice FANCY Embassy Suites! Talking about living the high life..this place is NICE! Just as nice as the hotel we stayed at in SA back when the babies were BABIES and we needed to take our first family vaca last year! YE-HAW...it's 2 weeks old and everything is crispy clean and you don't have to even think about any dirty anything. LOVE IT! BUT, the real reason i'm writing is b/c i've had a few funnies that i'd like to write about.

ONE, WHAT WOULD A TEN DOLLAR BILL REALLY MEAN TO YOU??? Here's a VERY VERY FUNNY STORY.. Hannah had to go to the potty while ago. #2..and this DOES acutally mean something. We were down at the MANAGERS reception, which included gold fish, gardettos, pretzels and a few other cracker type appetizers..that i don't really consider to actually be APPETIZERS. BUT, either way, they had FREE DRINKS! NOW, who could pass up free drinks after being in the car for 4-5 hours and ready to pull my hair out, on top of having a horrific sinus infection, which entailed lots of snot, plugged up ears and lots of stuffiness!!??? SO, we went and enjoyed the gold fish, FREE drinks and ordered some dinner to go along with all that. We were having a great time and Hannah had to potty. SO, i walked her on over to the potty, which was BRAND NEW! Anyway, she pottied and the toilet had one of those automatic flush toilets. WELL, as you would have it, i was wiping her butt, holding a 10.00 dollar bill(b/c i was getting ready to get MORE drinks and needed money for a tip) and low and behold, the toilet flushed and my $10.00 bill went slushing around in the pot..as i quickly( i mean one second) decided whether it was REALLY worth grabbing the darn thing that had fallen into the poop laced toilet..or just let it go DOWN!? Needless to say we aren't that rich..not even close...so I grabbed the poopy 10.00 bill and ran to the sink with it. YEP, my hand WAS laced in poo...but what was my other option...let the darn thing flush down the toilet. I mean talking about literally flushing money down the toilet!!!!! LOL! SO, it's now in our bathroom on the counter washed with soap and hot water. I wonder if i could NUKE it and not actually BURN the money??? Yeah, i'm STILL laughing and giggling b/c i truly stuck my hand in some poo..but what were my other options??? SO, take that you rich people...I STUCK MY HAND IN POOP TO SAVE MY 10.00 bill! AND, NOPE, we're NOT RICH..and NOT EVEN CLOSE! Back in the old days...pre-kids...i'm pretty sure i would have literally flushed it down the pooper. BUT, fast foward 10 years...i wouldn't dream of flushing a 10.00 bill. That's a LOT of money..a few starbucks drinks, a cute dress for one of my children, a cute toy, some lipstick OR TEN ITEMS at the dollar bins at TARGET! :)

NOW, one other funny, since i'm really in a funny/happy mood. The other day i was on the way to pick Hannah up from school. I had the girls ready to go and i was talking to melody on the phone. BUT, for some crazy reason my brain just wasn't functioning...and i seriously loaded up the girls and back out of the driveway but couldn't find the CELL phone i was actually talking on.. YES, i'm not kidding. I had the phone UP TO MY EAR..but for some reason it didn't click and i was searching feverently for my cell phone!(I'm seriously still giggling about this one too). I FINALLY pulled back into the house..went inside and couldn't find it. I think wisper to melody..i'm loosing it and just had a blonde moment. I was searching for the cell phone that i actually had ON MY EAR! Yep, i'm LOOSING IT! :) Luckily i found it and didn't search TOO LONG! :) SO, that's my other funny for the day..i'm still trying to figure out how in the world i couldn't find the phone i was talking ON...LOL!

In other news, Pauls grandfathers funeral was very nice. I was so sad that he is gone..and so sad that the girls didn't actually ever get to meet him. BUT, as i said earlier, i know he's in a better place. He was such a sweet man..loved his solatire and loved being catholic. I have a ton of pics of family i need to add..but i'm exhausted tonight so i'll try to do it on my LIVE writer tomorrow, while we're on the road and then actually post them tomorrow when we get home.

Hope all is going well for everyone. Goodness...it's been a long week. I have so much to say and all sorts of stories. BUT, my sinuses are killing me..my ears are plugged and we're tired! SO, have a great FRIDAY/HALLOWEEN and i'll update with pics later!

Brenda

Pauls Grandfather is in a better place now...

I'm sad to say Pauls grandfather passed away today at 1030a!  We are very sad but i know it was just his time to go.  We all know he had lived a very fulfilled life and enjoyed every bit of it.  NINETY FIVE & A HALF..is a LONG LONG TIME TO LIVE!  So, we are all selfishly sad..but know he's happy and well now.  Please pray for his family & for us as we make the trip up to KS to be with all his family for the first time.  It's always sad to get together with family at such a sad time..but it's also always nice to see all of Pauls family.  We don't look forward to meeting at times like this...but we're all so far away that it's always a wedding or funeral when we all meet up.  So, please keep us all in your prayers.  On top of this sad time, the girls have been very sick the past few days.  They are all 3 on Z-pacs, Hannah missed school Thursday & Friday and is now going to miss all of this up-coming week except from Monday.  It seems like today, the coughing has finally slowed down some..but i can still hear the congestion in everyone's cough.  On top of that, I tried to get Hannah to take some cough medicine a few nights ago and she decided to projectile vomit all over both of us before the medicine even touched her lips!  YUCK!  Then, today, Sam was coughing so bad she somehow got her fingers in her mouth and projectile vomited all over the floor!  YEAH, it's really been one of those weeks.  We still did have a good weekend.  In fact the weekend weather was GEORGOUS!  I mean soo nice.  We planted some flowers, at outside on a blanket for lunch both days and rode the battery powered cars more than ever!  Hmmm...those battery powered cars are really cool...i wonder if SANTA would buy me my very own 4 wheeler so i can ride with the little girls??!!  LOL!  Ok, maybe not, but it WAS worth a try! 

 

Anyway, i hope everyone had a fun, safe, nice weekend!  Hopefully i'll have wireless at the hotel on the way up and the way back and can update how our trip is going. 

 

Brenda

Gavin Alexander Born October 20th, 2008...

Gavin was born yesterday at 5:29pm.  He weighted in at 7.28 and was 18.5 inches.  He is ONE CUTE PRECIOUS Little baby!  I was so excited to get to see him today..goodness he's sweet and quite.  I didn't hear one peep the entire time I was there!  Everything about sweet little Gavin is perfect.  I just wanted to hold him ALL day long!  I can't wait to see him again.  I was sad the rest of the kidos didn't get to see him..but they'll get to see him soon! 

Baby Gavin Is here!

I didn't get to talk to my sister, but Baby Gavin IS HERE! He's safe and sound and everything is going just fine. I THINK he was born around 530p this afternoon. I didn't get all the specifics..but he's
18.5 inches
7.3 lbs

and i forgot to ask if he had any hair??? OMG, a baby boy to add to our family! POOR BABY...has no idea what's in store for him... 4 girls and HIM! LOL! I laugh just thinking about what my girls and Allison are going to do to that poor baby boy. He's going to end up in dress up clothes and lots of make-up! LOL! OK, so hopefully NOT, but we'll see!

Other than that, i don't have many details. Jeff called around 6pish to tell us the exciting news! I'm headed down there tomorrow after Hannah's jump rope for heart fund raiser at school! I can't WAIT to see him and hold him...and you know, give him back to his MAMA when he cries! LOL!!!

CONGRATS to my sweet sister & her wonderful husband Jeff and of course, my precious little Niece Allison! We are soo excited for ya'll & so happy he's healthy and everything went well! It's been roller coaster for them and we're glad it's over and baby Gavin is here and doing well! I will have lots of pics tomorrow after i go visit.

COUNT DOWN TO OUR NEW NEPHEW!

Gavin Alexander should be here TODAY! We're soo excited! My sister may be a bit more excited b/c i think she's ready to have the baby! Of course, we are so ready for another baby in the family..and of course a boy makes it so exciting!

P.S. i just snooped(called the hospital b/c she wouldn't answer her phone)...something ONLY a sister can do..and she is actually IN THE HOSPITAL! SO THAT MEANS...it should be ANY time now! OOOO I CANT WAIT!

Fall Festival/Halloween Festival 2008!

There are lots of differences in a year. I'm sure i'll say it 1000 times this year. Last year, we had the girls in the wagon. This year, we let the girls roam. They had a blast. I had to go early to work a booth for an hour..and then Paul brought the girls up to hang out and play all the games. We ate, played, danced, jumped in the jumpy thing, and i bid on some things in a silent auction(a first for me)! Of course it was like ebay and everyone went running one minute before the end to bid on the auction prizes! DARN! Either way, you can tell the girls had a blast, despite NOT having a nap today at ALL! :) Ahh...the fun of children missing naps x's 2! You don't really think about THAT when you think of having twins.

The little stage where everyone was dancing

The man sitting on the edge in the black is Father Clint...he was dressed as Elvis. Too funny! Hannah is dressed as the candy corn..but had to wear a t-shirt underneath b/c it was itching her neck.

Mommy and the twins on the dance floor. I was in the usual position. This floor is where i sit, every Mon, We & Fri with the girls while Hannah prays with the rest of the kidos at school. I try to keep the girls calm for the whole 5 minutes..sometimes i end up walking out carrying 2 kids however i can. Sometimes that involves carrying them as they are hanging & screaming from my arms, just to make it out the door w/o too much embarassment!

Hannah's best friend Lilly! She's so cute and very sweet!

This is my favorite pic below. Pauls behind didn't fit in the train...LOL! I was rolling the entire time. I don't think there were many men that actually brought themselves to get in this make shift train...but Paul did! HA HA!

Happy 4th Birthday Allison!!!

Today was my sweet little niece's 4th Birthday Party!  We had a blast.  We went to the MAD POTTER, which is a place where you paint pottery.  It was so much fun and the girls all had a blast.  I have lots of things to post...I had one of the busiest weeks ever.  From the march of Dimes luncheon to our meeting with Hannah's teacher, etc.  But, right now i'm  exhausted beyond belief. so i'll leave you with some fun pics from our day today. 

I'll write more tomorrow when i'm not so tired!

P.S. Please keep Praying for Pauls grandfather.  He had been on a roller coaster ride of being sick, then getting better.  We hope and pray that he's on his way out of his illness and doesn't go down hill again.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. 

 

The Pool in the Middle of My Kitchen

This morning was crazy.  The girls are all a bit on the sick side.  Not horribly sick, but a bit snotty along with a small cough.  SO, this morning i was rushing to get everyone up and ready.  As i was getting Sarah's hair fixed my sneaky middle daughter(because she IS technically my first born twin, which would make her my middle daughter) was having a pool party in the middle of my kitchen.  As i came around the corner of the kitchen i knew something just wasn't right.  She was standing there crying and soaking wet.  Here is what i found:

Just in case you were wondering what my kitchen looked like(you can't tell because it's slate..but the entire kitchen was pretty much wet and i was very thankful for the fact that we have rough floor that aren't slippery and definitely NOT wood):

This is what my children do as soon as i accidentally forget to LOCK the fridge water button for TWO MINUTES down pat.  I swear they sit there and wait for the second i forget to lock the fridge and turn my head.  I WILL catch those little sneakers in the midst of un-organized water play sooner or later...and someone will be punished(and sit in time out for two whole minutes). 

On the funny side of things..the sweet baby really was trying to help out.  This is what i found as she ran to the table crying, as she was soo proud of herself for getting everyone a glass of water:

Wasn't my baby sweet?  To get in trouble for making sure her and her sisters all had a nice big glass of water! :)  And what was really funny...she didn't actually make that big of a mess getting the water out of the fridge since she is already such a pro.  She got drenched as she walked all the way over to the table to put the water on top of the table all organized in a row.  She makes me so proud!  :) 

 

On another note: please pray for Pauls grandfather.  He has been moved over to a new nursing facility and has pneumonia.  He just wasn't acting right yesterday and they took him over to the hospital for some x-rays.  He is doing better this morning, thank goodness.  We are all praying that he gets better and gets over his pneumonia quickly. 

My little dirty secrets...

Barbara's sister recently found a book called Dirty Little Secrets from Otherwise Perfect Moms by Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile. The general premise of the book is: "...Every good mom has a few Dirty Little Secrets that help her...get by....the indulgences we rely on in times of need, the shortcuts we take when no one's looking (showers are overrated!), and our real, honest thoughts about motherhood and family... know you're not alone." . I have not read this book myself...but now i'm definitely going to have to go check on amazon and see if i can find it. It sounds like a funny book that i'd enjoy reading...although i have yet to finish "Ready or not, there we go", just yet. Yeah, that's how much time I HAVE these days. SO, with all that being said, here are just a few of my DIRTY SECRETS...GO AHEAD AND Giggle...i'm not bashful.

1. Sometimes, when i get lazy, i throw all my clothes into the washer together...don't seperate a thing. Sometimes it's OK, sometimes i end up ruining something.

2. My girls get a bath every few nights..i make sure they get a bath the night before the twins go to MDO...Poor Hannah has to go to school dirty every other day. Now, if THAT'S not a dirty little secret, i don't know WHAT is! LOL!

3. There are days i'd like to crawl in a hole and just sleep all day. Most of those days are the days i just can't make the girls happy for the life of me. These days normally include a LOT of crying and stress. On those days i dream about working a normal job. Of course there are days that make THOSE DAYS worth while...those days include lots of giggling, hugging, kissing and NO BITING!

4. Since Paul gets up so early in the morning naturally. Sometimes when the girls get up and i hear them crying for me...i cover my head with my pillow and let him get them out of bed while i lay there for a extra few minutes before i get up to start the day.

5. I always have one little pile of "STUFF" on the counter..and when we have company i shove it in any drawer i can find that it will fit into. I don't think Pauls ever known me NOT to have that pile. Why i can't find a drawer to put it in..i'm not sure. Perhaps b/c if i put it in a drawer, i'd forget about it and the things i NEEDED to do that were in that pile, would NEVER get done.

Ok, now that i've confessed a FEW of my little dirty secrets...it's your turn.

I'm tagging a few of my blogging buddies...but the more that play, the better. AND, if you are as bad as me and don't get around to doing it...no big deal. I'm REALLY BAD at doing tags most of the time...Maybe that's another dirty secret i should have revealed. :)

JAMIE
DEBI
ANNIE
ALYSSA
BRIANNE

THERE YOU GO. SO go have some fun and tag more friends who can air some dirty secrets! :) I FEEL MUCH BETTER NOW THAT I'VE AIRED MINE!

BRENDA