Snow Days

Our weathermen completely missed the mark on the snow storm (by 125 miles to be exact).  We were supposed to get a "dusting" Tuesday.  By 10:30 a.m. the roads were icing over and everything was shutting down.  Luckily, we had stayed home from MMO because I was scared Elizabeth Magee was getting sick.  I'm so glad we did.  Some of the children are spending their SECOND night at the church!  I wouldn't be able to handle that!  We are very blessed that Oliver made it home from work last night.  He said about 300 people spent the night in the Regions building.  Many had their children with them -- can you imagine?????  Oliver and our neighbor rode home together but had to leave the car at the bottom of the hill and walk the last part home!  I've heard crazy stories all day about people walking 10 miles to schools, daycare, and home!

I spent 30 minutes bundling everyone up to go outside on Tuesday mid-day.  We lasted outside less than 5 minutes.

The advantage to living in Mountain Brook is there are lots of hills for sledding (but not so great when you can't drive up or down your street)! We had so much fun sledding with your neighbors today!

The twins were not impressed yesterday or today with the snow…..maybe tomorrow they'll like it a little better!

Life Lately

We had a sort of holiday week last week.  Oliver went on a guy's ski trip with his high school and college best friends.  Even though we "got left behind" we played pretty hard last week.  Mom and Net came for two nights.  I went to Bistro 218 for Caron's birthday and didn't have to worry about my babies :)

These two…..Elizabeth Magee ate that entire bag of Skittles over a two hour period….and didn't eat dinner!  I wonder if Skittles will always be her favorite candy.  When I was tucking her in the other night she asked me if I still wore bows.  I told her no but that I used to wear them when I was little.  She said, "But I still wear bows and I'm a lady."  So precious.  Anytime her sisters cried this week she said, "I think she wants her daddy."

Leigh Allyn and Audrey came for a quick visit.  I think we overwhelmed Audrey (and maybe Leigh Allyn).  She remarked that I'm in survival mode all day.  That about sums it up….especially with everyone on the move.  Mary Thorne loves to climb…especially out of the tub and in chairs….she was trying so hard to get in with Audrey!

Our sweet friend Ticer had his 3rd Birthday party!  I love this sweet age.  When I asked Elizabeth Magee what her favorite part of the party was she said, "the candy."  She has a serious sweet tooth.

On Sunday morning, I finally got a cute picture of the twins in their bonnets!  Notice Mary Thorne's big bruise on her head….she slipped and fell and it just looks awful!

These girls were so happy to see their daddy.  Elizabeth Magee kept exclaiming, "My daddy's home."  Mary Thorne gave him a big smile right away….it took Poppy a few hours to warm up and then she just wouldn't stop hugging him!

Silly Faces

We've seen some silly faces around here this weekend.  I could kick myself for not taking pictures of the girls before church last weekend.  The twins wore spring bonnets and the dress EM is wearing my great-aunt smocked for me…..how special is that?

It fits their little 10 month old personalities to a "T" that Mary Thorne wouldn't touch spaghetti and that Poppy made a MESS and loved it.  Once I took the noodles away and gave her little meatballs, Mary Thorne ate it all.  

I'm Growin Up Right Now

We've been talking a lot about birthdays.  Balloons on mailboxes make Elizabeth Magee's day.  She says, "It's somebody's birthday!"  Lately, we've been talking about her upcoming birthday and she says "After Jesus's birthday, it's my birthday."  I think balloons are going to be the theme for her birthday party……what did we do before Pinterest for ideas????  Her other favorite phrase right now that makes me what to laugh and cry all at the same time is, "I'm growing up right now."  Breaks my heart and makes my day all at the same time.  In some ways she is still a little baby and in others she is growing up so fast.  When you tuck her in she wants to snuggle and put her arm around you.  I love her so and can't believe she'll be three in a month!

Our newest obsession is "mama's fancy purse."  If she eats her dinner she gets to play with "mama's fancy purse" before bed -- it's pretty cute.  Last night she told Oliver that when he buys mama another purse the fancy purse will be hers.  I think he about died.  I had garden club this week and as I was pulling out some Tory Burch flats she said,"those are the same as your fancy purse.  I like those."  We are also still obsessed with "bobbies" for about year she has had this obsession…..anyway I won't let her play with them when the twins are up so their morning nap time is her wine cork time!

 I told a friend right now that I'm a little shocked at how much fun the twins have become.  They are everywhere and into everything.  Mary Thorne is not as independent as Poppy.  She wants to be held all the time…..she does not want to be left out.  They are both loving to "flop" with Daddy at night…especially Poppy.  Mary Thorne is into everything….she loves to climb into a chair or the kitchen cabinets.  She was saying "mama" but now she is only saying "dada"…..both of the twins love to wave!

Hello January

Is January really almost half way over?  It hasn't been a typical January where it is that after Christmas slump….we maybe had one day of that around here and then we were all smiles because life is good!  Last week we had a slow start because it was so cold that school and bible study were cancelled.  But no snow or ice…just really cold…and then by the end of the week the weather was beautiful!  We've had several sunshine filled days and gotten to go on walks and to the tot lot more than expected!

These two still loving to swing…although Poppy stood up in her swing about 5 minutes after this picture so I made her get out and sit on the ground…….my heart literally stopped because I was about 20 feet away and looked over and she was standing straight up.

Sunday I slipped away at 6:00 a.m. to Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta.  It was a quick trip -- we were home by 3:00 p.m.  It was such a great experience.  One of my New Years Resolutions was to have more fun (Oliver says that makes his resolution to have less money :) )…..anyway, I had never been to Scott's and it was fabulous!  So many pretty pretty things….I've I win the lottery I'm going to go buy a whole houseful of furniture.  I did buy the girls some silver spoons….the dealer was selling them for weight and said he was melting down every piece he had left at the end of the day --- that makes me so sad!  I wish I could have bought it all!

The biggest change with these two is that they've started to really play with each other.  It's hard to tell in this picture, but Poppy is playing peek-a-boo (with my dirty kitchen rag…I'm not sure how she got it but that's kinda gross!).  They love to sort of "pounce" on each other and giggle giggle…..Mary Thorne thinks it is really fun to take whatever Poppy is playing with away but it makes Poppy cry.  It's so fun to watch them in the baby monitor playing in bed before they to sleep and when they wake up…..I'm so glad we kept them in the same crib!

A Look at 2013

Before I start to document 2014, I wanted to take a look back at 2013.  In January, I think this is the ONLY picture we took with our real camera…..when I think back to last January I remember how miserable I felt!  It was such a sweet time, knowing that we didn't have a lot of time left just me and Elizabeth Magee…..I tried to do so many special things with just her and enjoy every single day.

Elizabeth Magee's second birthday was such a celebration.  I was beyond thankful that she turned two before the twins arrived!  Our family and friends came to celebrate her.  She received her baby doll which would soon get the name Baby Reese and become a big part of our family!

The twins arrived on a Saturday morning.  My water broke in the middle of the night and we could get NO ONE to answer the phone to watch Elizabeth Magee…..so she went to the hospital with us!  I remember carrying her up the stairs to the car and thinking to myself that this was the last time I would hold her thinking she was such little girl and that she was my only child…..holding my tiny twins a few hours later was wonderful….and being amazed at how your heart can grow instantly to have room for three babies!

In April, the twins came home from the NICU and we celebrated Easter.  Elizabeth Magee learned the best part of living in Birmingham is Easter Egg Hunting at Aunt Cindy's house…..her obsession with candy and all things Easter began -- we've been reading our Peter Rabbit Easter Book all year!

We went to the beach with my parents when the twins were 8 weeks old.  It was not exactly the most relaxing beach vacation…..but we had some family bonding and learned that a good picture of our family of 5 will probably not happen in 2013 or 2014!

We did a lot of walking, swimming, and hanging out in June.  Elizabeth Magee started to care for her baby dolls as I cared for the twins (in this picture: Baby Reese, Uncle Thomas, and Tub Doll).  Oliver and I spent every evening forcing the twins to take that last bottle…..they began sleeping through the night (from about 10 P to 5:30 A) around 10 weeks.  By 14 weeks, it was 7 P to 5:30 A).  I know that sounds wonderful….and it was….but there were about 8 weeks of solid screaming from 6P to 9P….it was the most trying time of the year!  But I guess what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!  We also started treatments for Poppy's hemangioma.  Three babies, two hemangiomas -- I know if your baby is going to have a "problem" this is a nice one but I still hate it -- luckily Poppy's hasn't raised up and we have our last treatment tomorrow!

In July, we finally found a church home and joined IPC.  We missed the Neshoba County Fair….hopefully for the last time :)

In August, Oliver and I went to NYC….what a great trip.  Siggi and Mama Jean kept the girls and I will be forever grateful for the fun trip away!  Seeing Sue's apartment in Gramercy Park and a sailboat ride around the Statue of Liberty were the highlights for me!

In September we had trips to Greenwood and Oxford.  The twins had their first Grove experience!

In October, we had more football games.  Crestline celebrates Halloween like no place on earth.  We wore our costumes about four days in a row!

 Sometime between October and November, Mary Thorne's personality changed.  She was such a serious infant….almost never smiling or laughing….then it was like a button got pushed and she is the most giggly little baby now…she is constantly laughing and singing and loves to clap!

In November, we had more football games and a week in Senatobia.  We got to spend some time in Memphis with friends.

In December, we had lots of Christmas fun.  Elizabeth Magee reached 2 years, 10 months.  Someone had told me that was the magical month.  They were right.  Elizabeth Magee started going potty all my herself, proved she can go without a pullup at night (still working out the details of that), started having full conversations with us, and in general just grew up so much!

Poppy took her first steps at the very end of December -- December 29th.  I screamed so loud it scared her!  She's taken a few more and it's adorable to see this little bitty girl to walk!  We are very excited about all 2014 is going to bring!

Wine & Dine

While we were in Greenwood, we visited the Winery at Williams Landing.  It's the newest thing in town and we had a blast.  All the wines are made from 51% of fruit grown in Mississippi.  

Dee took us and we had a blast….I"m not sure he'll be drinking his bottle of blueberry wine he took home :)

Mr. Bailey was kind of enough to indulge us in a tour of his "kitchen" --I told him I was afraid that I knew what my basement was going to look like soon!

Poppy and Biscuit gave me probably the best Christmas present -- a night away :)  I went to Nashville with Oliver and Garner for the bowl game…it was cold but we had a blast.  I was a little skeptical about the first bar they took me to because I ordered wine and the waitress said they didn't have any.  After a vodka tonic I didn't care.

 Between drinks and dinner, we went into a boot store that was running a "buy 1, get 2 free" sale….so me and two strangers bought boots together!  This new friend from Chicago and I got same pair!

We had a fabulous meal at the Southern Steak and Oyster…..a must go to if you are in Nashville.