The Big Day!

OK, I have got to blog about the boys birthday, mainly so I can get my huge belly picture to the "older posts" section. I can't look at it anymore! Warning: This is picture overload like you've never seen it before! We really had such a fun day that I couldn't leave anything out!

Tanner and Reid's first birthday was almost everything I wanted it to be! The only thing that could have made it better would have been grandmas and grandpas or some aunts and uncles stopping by to give birthday kisses. We really miss having family aorund. Luckily, we have great friends who were willing to celebrated with us.

Mike has been begging me to cut the little boys hair, but I just couldn't do it until they were one! I feel like they grow up so much once they have the first haircut. Here they are the night before. Too bad you can't see the beginnings of Reid's mullet in this picture.

Each little guy got a popsicle to distract them from the cutting. Tanner was much more patient and willing than his brother. He LOVED getting his own popsicle, usually he has to share with me and Reid. Reid was soooo wiggly, but in the end we got the job done!

We opened a few gifts before morning naps and the boys (Andrew included) were in heaven with all the balloons, wrapping paper, and the excitement. This is before the bounce house was packed with kids. I don't think Andrew's feet touched the ground during the entire party. He was having a great time too.

We were having a "backyard celebration", so I had a great time making cupcakes that were spiders, bees, butterflies, and ladybugs. We had bug crackers and gummy worms and other yummy foods.

Both Tanner and Reid had a great time eating their cakes! Afterward, we tossed them in the sink and washed them down. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pics of our friends who came. I guess I was enjoying myself too much, but I think we had about 40 people here. It made me smile to look around the room at all our freinds who have helped us out during such a busy time of our lives. It meant so much to me that they came to celebrate this first year of our home full of little people.

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing with new toys, reading new books, and watching BYU football. It was such a fun day, I didn't want it to end!

One fish two fish red fish blue fish

Tonight Mike came home and informed me he was going for a run after kids were in bed. It doesn't happen nearly enough for him. He gets stuck behind a desk much too often and it leaves little time for him to keep up with hobbies. Anyway, after the kids were in bed we were doing dishes together and I asked him if he'd go running to the mall and pick something up for me. He looked at me like I must be senseless for asking such a thing, then this conversation ensued.

me: You wouldn't have been a very good pioneer.
Mike: How do you know that?
me: Pioneers didn't need to go "running"-- they got their workout during every day life. I'm just trying to encourage you to get your exercise during everyday life. (Note: We live a five minute walk from church, but Mike ALWAYS drives to meetings!! He's never once walked! It's become a joke between us because I walk to church whenever I possibly can.)
Mike: Whatever, I would have been a great pioneer!
me: Actually, you're right, because you're so stinkin' hard working!

Mike leaves the room and returns with One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

Mike: Maybe you haven't read this book. "We like our bike. It is made for three. Our Mike sits up in back, you see. We like our Mike and this is why: Mike does all the work when the hills get high."

I laughed so hard! I laughed because it's so true! Mike works harder than anyone I know, and isn't he clever too? So, no I didnt' make Mike go to Bath and Body Works on his run. I figured he deserved a little time of his own.

Nostalgia

This week I have been busy getting ready for Tanner and Reid's first birthday! Can you believe it, they're one today?! I have reminisced so much about what this last year has been like for our family and there are times I giggle, want to cry, or I'm just plain old sappy about my boys!

This morning they woke up around 6 a.m. I couldn't help myself! I pulled them both into bed with us and reminisced what this day was like one year ago. They must have sensed my need to hold them close, because they both snuggled up and lay so sweetly.

One year ago I was huge as a house and had been in labor for three weeks! Mother Teresa had come to take care of our little, yet growing, family, and what relief she brought. My goal of 36 weeks had finally come, and I woke up with such excitement to finally have these babies!

If my smile doesn't seem as radiant as usual, it's because I'm dialated to about a seven! This is moments before we walked out the door to the hospital.

I love this picture! It's the first time we were together after Tanner and Reid were born. Even though I was so drugged up and in so much pain, this one of my favorite moments ever! This picture hangs on the side of my refrigerator and I look at it every day! Ah, coming home! I was so happy to be home and to hold Tanner and Reid in my arms, not my belly!

Soon we were on our own, and I think Mike has quite a few pictures of me like this at the end of the day. This is reality! Life with newborn twins and a 20 month old! I wondered how I would do it all- nursing twins, grocery shopping, church, social life, etc. But somehow we did it! Thankfully, babies get bigger, moms get smarter, dads work harder, and good neighbors, friends, and family help out! We learn how to carry two babies in one arm, how to pick things up with our toes, which grocery stores have the carts we need, and that concealer under the eyes is a must! Dinners are a little less impressive, our garden is an eyesore, and my home is only picked up once a day, but we did it! We not only survived the first year, but I like to think that we did it well. We had fun, we had vacations, and we are still sound in the mind- that has to count for something, right?

Tonight I put all three boys in the bathtub together and the sappiness I referred to earlier set in. I LOVE MY BOYS!!! I'm truly living my dream!

Birthday pics will be coming soon!

Twins

Have you ever seen the movie Big Business? Bette Midler amd Lily Tomlin play two sets of twins who are mixed up at birth and then their lives cross pathes 30+ years later. For some reason I love this movie! When I've got a project to work on and Mike's gone, I'll rent it and enjoy a good laugh from the 80's.


As you know, Mike is a twin, but sometimes we wonder if there is a little Big Business going on. Ryan Meikle is a friend of ours and people in our church are always confusing Mike for Ryan and Ryan for Mike! It didn't help that they were both YM presidents and scout masters at the same time. I've always just laughed about it, but now I'm getting a little concerned. I've noticed that not only do they look alike, they dress alike, talk alike, stand alike, and use the same jokes! They also have very similar interestes.


Last night the Meikles stopped by to bring us dessert and I couldn't help but snap a few pictures of these "twins" chatting on our deck. They were even dressed alike- as they often are!

Mike and Ryan-- they're even standing alike!

Here we are on an outing a couple of weeks ago. Do you see what I mean?

Matt, we don't want to leave you hanging. We thought about it and only came up with one possiblity. Ha ha! Matt- we're excited to see you and Cam in Nov. for your big 30th birthday celebration!!! Perhaps we should invite Ryan and Chris Farley to come along as well. Afterall, it might be their birthdays as well!

It Begins

I remember going to my first BYU football game. There was such excitement in the air! I went with my dad and I think one of my sisters. It started out as a hot afternoon, but when we left it was dark and there was a chill in the air. The stadium awed me and it was such a thrill. Of course BYU won, but they could have lost and I would have been just as happy. I've been a BYU fan since I can remember. Maybe I was born with it. It's where my parents met and fell in love. I was a BYU cheerleader for many Halloweens, it's where my parents always told me I'd go to college, it's where my cousins (whom I adored) went, it's the only place I applied to when graduating from high school! I had no doubt it was where I wanted to be. I'm sure Mike had those same feelings about our beloved alma mater.

So, it is with tradition, spirit, and honor that we finally threw away the bunny ears that adorned our television for seven years and made the bold move to Direct TV! It's time to indoctrinate our children with a love and passion for BYU. Already, Andrew runs throughout the house and chants, "BYU Footbal!" Saturday's game (a win for the Cougs, might I mention) was exciting for many reasons, but I had this giddy feeling as I thought of it as our first of many BYU football games for our family of little boys! No, they didn't sit attentively for 3+ hours, but the tradition begins!
Thanks uncle Adam for hooking us up with our new BYU T's!