Blue Bonnets

So I got the big idea to take the kids out to get some blue bonnet pics. I talked my mom in to coming with me, and thank goodness I did. It would have been even more of a disaster if I had tried to go that alone. But we headed out to this nice spot in Grapevine and we were going to get some great photos! Well right off the bat I started to sense this was not going to be the effortless photo shoot I'd imagined. The blue bonnets were tall and thick - and I think it just scared them. They did not like being in those flowers! We got a few cute shots, none the less, but effortless, it was not.

hunting for Easter eggs!

April 4 the kids participated in their first egg hunt! It was a beautiful day - over 80 degrees, which was a bit unexpected for the beginning of April! And of course that meant that all the chocolate I had put in the eggs turned in to a melty mess! But the kids got their baskets and loaded them up with eggs. I was surprised they caught on so quickly and so well! I mean they did it, but I think they were not really sure what was so great about it. They've still not had candy, so when they opened the eggs and found candy I just let them think it was something to play with and eventually to throw away. Mean, I know. I am planning to save the candy to bribe them to use the potty! They are so funny though - their favorite thing (apparently) is Capri-Sun. They love them. Once Charis got a hold of one she kept a death grip on it long past the point of it being all gone. She has the Capri-Sun to her face in every picture!

yay for Spring Break!!

Spring break was last week and it was a blast! We had play dates almost every day and the weather cooperated fabulously! Monday, we played with Adley and Nicole (on Adley's new swing set). Tuesday, St. Patty's Day, we were supposed to go to the zoo, but got the heads-up that it was WAY too crazy there, so we just went to the park. Wednesday, Gwen and Hannah came over (which Charis, really she is like a little foreigner from her pretty blonde hair and blue eyes down to the way she pronounces things - she calls Hannah "honn-nah"). Thursday we went to a new park with Adley and Nicole, and Friday, we went to Boomerang's with Amy & Rilee and Liz & Reed - and Charis began to address her fear of the bounce "hoooouse". I know the kids loved it and starting this week it was a hard dose of reality. As much as they love our sitter, they cried when she got there Tuesday, and of course that just broke my heart. But kids are so resiliant - they were excited to see her by the time they saw her today (just a day later). I think it's a whole new post, but the kids, while doing some things that make life easier, seem to be entering a new phase that makes lots of things much harder...more to come...

Okay a word about the pics - I dressed them in all the green we owned for St. Patty's - even though they totally clashed. The next one, they love each other a ton, but sometimes are totally not interested in hugging for the camera, but this one's okay! The last, yes, his shirt says "Beaner" and has an outline of a bean - he's 1/4, what can I say??

a fabulous February

February was a fun and busy month. Not everything was such a big event as our trip to the ER, but there were some memorable moments none the less. Chris has gone back to school to pursue a masters degree (in accounting, no less!) and is taking 9 hours this semester - that's full-time for grad school. And that's on top of working full time, oh and having twins! But we have managed this all pretty well. The kids really just continue to develop. Price is talking better - I'd guess he's about 2 months behind Charis. She's making some basic sentences like "the toy...I want it" or "I wanna go outside" or "I want more cake...peeeze". They have learned the magic word and finish most sentences or phrases with it. "Mommmy, peeeze" There's a lot of whining - and apparently we say "stop whining" enough that Charis will walk around saying it. Another thing she mimics is when Chris tells them if they don't stop (or start) doing something they're going to get a spanking and then he claps his hands together. So now whenever I am getting on them about anything they clap their hands together and say "spank" - it's hard not to laugh. But of course I think oh great - they are going to do that at Church or something and people will think we beat the kids. On a final note for February, (thanks to Facebook most of our friends and family already know this) but we had 2 remaining embryos frozen from when we had done IVF with Charis and Price. Well we decided to go ahead and pursue the frozen embryo transfer. Only one embryo made the thaw and so we transfered that one, but it did not take. So I was hoping to make a fun announcement, but unfortunately it was not to be. But we feel very peaceful with the whole thing, and know that it's the Lord's will for us.

uhhh ohhh

Seems ages since I last posted - so much has happened, but the biggest, most blog-worthy occurance was our first trip to the ER. The kids go to bed at 7pm (yes, we are very lucky). But Chris was playing with them during their last 10-15 minutes before bedtime and somehow Price tripped over Charis' foot and landed with his forehead on the floor molding, which is beveled. It made for a nasty cut and a lot of blood. We called my mom, who made it over in a flash and we headed out the door. Fortunately, once we got some pressure on the cut and put a bandaid over it, it quit gushing. When we walked in to the mid-cities Cook Children's ER there must have been 40 people in there - I thought really? Are there this many emergencies on a Monday night at 7pm? But you know, one kid had a rash, and one kid had a fever, and one kid barfed all over the entry way - nice. I thought we ought to just get out of here - he's not even bleeding anymore! But I talked to the nurse who informed me that you can only do stitches within 12 hours of the fall (who knew?) and decided to stick it out. Thankfully you get seen in order of urgency, and we were considered urgent. Really the cut was way worse than I even realized and it was a good thing we stayed. Price was pretty tough but he was not a happy camper. He finally fell asleep in my arms and managed to sleep through about the first 3 stitches - and he only got 4. It was a long, hard night, but I am sure it is not our last trip to the ER. He is a rough and tumble boy afterall. And poor little Charis just walked around for an hour or so after we left saying "It's okay Pricey" "Don't cry Pricey" "Pricey hurt" - doesn't that just melt your heart?!

Look at that face!

I love this little picture of Price! Too bad for the little scar on his face - we hope it goes away or else Chris will have to explain to him that he got it when Chris went running for a water bottle to spray the blood from Charis mouth (as she'd just busted her mouth on a chair) and hip-checked Price into the corner of the cabinet. This particular moment, not funny at all at the time, was like a comedy of errors. Both children crying, at least one bleeding - and us with a realtor at our house. She was like "ummm I might have to call CPS". Anyway, just thought I'd give another update on my precious babies. I feel like their personalities are starting to shine! Charis is just talking more and more and has learned to ask for "help" when she needs it and to say "hurt" when something hurts. These phrases have proven very helpful! Price is my little helper. He will get a rag and clean and clean. He has learned to put the laundry down the laundry shoot. He is in love with the vaccuum. The other day, Charis went through 3 pairs of shoes before she found just the right pair - is she a girlie girl or what?! She likes to play pretend with her doll - pretending to feed her with a little play spoon. While Price seemed to think that exercise was foolish since there was quite obviously not any real food on the spoon - he instead found an activity which involved a shovel. Oh and Charis can say her A,B,C's - well okay, she just says ABCB, but she is on her way! Price says BBBB. And then Charis laughs. I could go on and on, but as Charis told us earlier "I unna go bed".

the driver on the bus says

shhh shhh shhh! I just thought this was cute of the kids enjoying "The Wheels on the Bus" with their Nana. They get to see Nana several times a week and get so excited when she comes over. She was the first to hear them say "I wub you" but she did call me so I could at least hear them say it over the phone. We are so lucky to have grandparents so close!