Highchair Photos.

Maggie and Madison today at almost 16 months!!

Maggie and Madison when they were born! @ barely 5lbs each!


Quick update on M & M (aka Maggie & Madison)! As of Feb 6th they will be 16 months! Maggie is weighing in at 22.6lbs, and Madison at 22.9lbs!
Both girls are running around EVERYWHERE. And yes I mean running. They go from rolling over to sitting up to scooting to crawling to walking to RUNNING. lol. They both are talking up a storm as well. Everything starts with "Momma" but they are Daddy girls at heart. They light up when he is around and insist on sitting on top of him whenever possible! I can't believe 18 months is just around the corner :( Where has the time gone??
I realized after going through alot (as in 5,000) pictures that I have taken SEVERAL pictures of M&M in their highchairs. It is the best way to get pics of them together, I guess! Seeing that nowadays it almost never happens anymore. So I thought it would be cute to do a blog from the 1st highchair photos to the present!
Enjoy!

Babies having their cereal for the 1st time in their seats! @4 months!

Getting used to eating Vegetables @ 5 months!

FINALLY in real highchairs for 1st time!!! @5 months!

Hey high chairs are good for toy time too! @5months

Madison enjoying some sweet potatoes! @5 months

Maggie not enjoying them @5 months

Starting to sit up like big girls @ 7 months!

Who doesn't love a baby who fell asleep in their highchair??

Madison @ 9 months

Maggie trying to steal food, their first time eating real finger foods!!

@ 9 months!

First time eating speghetti!!! Score! lol @ almost 8 months!

Maggie not so sure about it!

BIRTHDAY cake!!! @ 12 months!

And big smiles @ 13 months

Turning into such big girls, eating at table, and drinking from their cups

@ 15 months

Stuffing faces with pancakes! Their favorite breakfast! @ 13 months

LOL Love that face!

Speghetti nights are still fun @ 15 months!

AND @ almost 16 months, they think it is funny to put their

feet on the table too.. lol

Snowed In 2011

(FYI- I was planning on putting pictures in order to tell my story of the week, but babies ate dinner too fast.. lol.. and I don't have time for the extra work. So you can read the story first, and see pictures that follow the timeline after!!)

Being in Lawrenceville, Georgia, born and raised and still here, in is rare we get snow. If we are lucky around February to March we might have a few flurries right before Spring kicks in, but that is usually it. I remember when I was pregnant with Aaliyah, in late March, one weekend it was 70 deg. we all pulled out our flip flops ready for Spring, and the next weekend we had 2 inch in snow and ice everywhere! lol GA weather has always been a little 'off'. But this year the 'off' weather started out a little early. Christmas we got snow? Yes, Christmas night we got s a little snow! Almost never heard of in Georgia. I had never remembered ever having snow in December! And it is only January and we are seeing temps in the teens and snow? Kind of scary, but still we must make the best out of the worst, right?

When ever the weather man mentions snow, us Georgians first reaction is, "psst, yeah right" Then when the weather men get serious and say "GEORGIA you ARE getting 4-10 inches!" We freak the heck out. The day of, there will be lines to the gas stations around the block. The grocery stores will sell out of every gallon of milk, loaf of bread, and carton of eggs. lol. It is just what we do. Well this year was no exception.

Through out the 1st week of Jan, I remember hearing them say Ga has a 'chance' of seeing some snow towards the beginning of the next week. I was one of the ones to say "Psst yeah right". Well then the weekend came around and they really started talking about accumulations, and inches of snow, followed by rain, and freezing temperatures. While I still was thinking "psst" about the snow part, I did know rain + freezing temps is never a good thing. So I decided to go ahead and go grocery shopping. THANK GOD. I just bought my normal stuff for the week, maybe a few extras, but definitely didn't go nuts like some. Kind of wished later that I had!

Sunday January 9th, my mother and I headed out to clean the 2 credit unions that we clean every weekend. It was about 5pm when we left. While we both agreed it was FREEZING cold outside, we both also agreed that we saw no signs of snow and was beginning to think those weather guys were really full of it. We did our cleaning and finished up about 8:30, and headed home. The entire ride home we conversated on how we really hoped to get snow, but doubted it would be as 'bad' as they say it was going to be. BOY oh BOY, were we wrong. We pulled up to my house about 8:45. I noticed it was maybe starting to sprinkle a little. We walked in, my aunt was over keeping kids for me. We talked for a few min and then my mom and aunt got ready to leave. That is when it started to snow. 9pm Jan 9th, 2011. I, still being skeptical, figured it would probably turn to rain soon, or stop. So I closed up door, got babies down to bed, and big girls ready for bed. About 9:30 I looked outside. HOLY CRAP. In 30 min it had already snowed at least an inch, and was coming down HARD. It was beautiful! The prettiest scene ever! So I got big girls back up out of bed, we threw on our jackets and went out side to snap some pics and play!!! I wanted to get before and after pics. I think I did a pretty good job!

This was just the beginning. After girls went to bed. I stayed up in the living room, by 10pm we had 2 1/2 inches. I was beginning to worry about Michael. He works night shift so he wouldn't have been coming home till 5 am. Who knows how bad it would be then! I also had to convince him we had snow. LOL. He was working inside, I assume where he couldn't see outside. The whole time I was texting him about what was going on, and the almost 3 inch of snow.. he thought I was exaggerating, and believed none of it. Got to love him. He knows me well. But this time I was for real. I measured it!!!

I put my fireplace dvd on, lit a candle, and fixed some apple cider and watched it snow. Beautiful. So relaxing a peaceful. I was hoping to stay awake until I knew Michael was on his way home. That didn't work out so well. BUT I wasn't TOO worried, the man is from Michigan, and drives a 4 wheel drive truck. He would be/ and WAS just fine. He even stopped at Walmart trying to find the girls better snow gloves!

DAY 1-

When I woke up the next morning, it was SOOO Beautiful. Michael said it has snowed all night and there were 6-7 inches. I jumped out of bed like it was Christmas morning and I was 6 again! lol Ran the the front door. WOW. It was a sight. EVERYTHING was white. So clean and beautiful =o) I couldn't wait for girls to get up and see it too! And when they did their reactions were nothing less than expected. They were in shock!

I made a big home made breakfast! (Usually I don't get to cook big bfast anymore, girls in school and stuff)

Pancakes, bacon, and eggs! We ate and then pulled out ALL our gloves, scarfs, and hats. Put together some 'snow' outfits and went out to enjoy! The enjoyment didn't last TOO long, it was too cold!! Our cheeks and noses were frozen. We walked a little bit and snapped some pictures and went right back inside! But we did go back out later to play again. This time Michael joined us. lol. with a 4 wheel drive truck, rope, plastic container, ice and children, you have no idea the fun you can create! I left Michael to this one. He thought he was going to have to work, but ended up not having to. So I stayed in with the babies and started cooking a big dinner. (got to take advantage of him being home for dinner!!) I cooked a big honey glazed ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls. I figured the ham would be perfect for the next couple days for sandwiches and stuff! And it was! Dinner was delish! After dinner around 5ish we decided it was time for babies to play in the snow for their first time!!! IT TAKES FOREVER GETTING BABIES READY IN 3 LAYERS OF CLOTHES AND JACKETS. Then if you aren't moving in time when they are ready they get hot and irritated in the house. lol.

They didn't know what to think at first. Maggie stood there pretty happy. Madison screamed. lol. She didn't like it at all.

Michael thought it would be better idea to put them on the trampoline covered in snow with the net around it so they could play! They did! And loved it! Eating snow balls was their favorite thing to do!! Madison did get a little fussy again, so she went inside with Dad, and I stayed with Maggie and big girls. They had a blast. Maggie wasn't too happy when it was time to go inside. She is definitely a snow baby. We warmed everyone up, got in PJ's and enjoyed watching some movies and staying up late, knowing we weren't going anywhere the next day either!

DAY 2-

No school, obviously. but during night the snow developed a layer of ice on top of it. Which makes for alot of fun watching a dog trying to go outside to potty. lol. Poor Newman. Not so much fun for those who were attempting to go to work driving on 3 inch of ice and snow! I left the news on most of the morning, until I was just plain tired of hearing about it.

I made another big home made breakfast/brunch (we slept in a little!!). This time Belgian waffles (with my new waffle maker! thx Di!!), and fried ham!

Yum yum.

We went out to play again, and again. And by now I am starting to wish the snow away. Every time you go outside and come back in, there is another load of clothes to be washed, shoes to be dried, and floors to dry. NO FUN.

I spent alot of the day cleaning house and doing those little things you don't have time to normally do! But it seemed like most of the day was filled with washing clothes and cooking, putting up clothes, and cooking, fixing drinks, snacks, putting on movies, pulling out games, cleaning up games, sweeping, vacuuming, coloring, cooking, cooking, and more cooking. 6 people in a house can eat alot! lol 3 meals, and at least 2 snacks a day. On just day 2 I felt like a live in maid!

DAY 3-

Kill me now. No school, again. Not that I expected them to make my kids find a way to school in ice and snow. But it was really disappointing to know that our county/state is SO un-prepared for snow. This being the 3rd day of no one going to school and no one working. Nothing is open, and the places that are open might as well be closed because they are sold out of everything! I had now missed 2 days work. When I don't work, I don't get paid (pooo!) Michael was off again. The biggest upside to this was getting to spend family time together. No one really drove anyone nuts. We made it work. We played, and played and played. Outside and Inside. We did manicures, pedicures, makeovers, played dress up, cooked, and baked cookies. Cabin fever was on the breaking point.

DAY 4-

Michael had to go to work. =o( and had to work a 18hr day! The trucks finally made it there and were waiting to be unloaded. He works for a food distribution center. SO the food had to be put up and orders HAD to go to out. It took him about 2 hours to get there. Normally takes 30min.

The girls and I continued what we had been doing. Playing, eating, watching movies. Teaching babies to sing! lol

GOING CRAZY. Starting to run out of food, and needing to desperately get out of the house!!

DAY 5-

Seriously is it over YET?? No school. No work for me. Work opened for dinner, first time that week, but I don't work nights, SO no work at all for me that whole week! =o( I finally made it to the store. Roads were starting to melt due to some traffic on them, finally!!! Starting to look like it is finally almost done! No more playing outside. Snow is now brown and no longer as fun as it was before! My house is spotless from all the cleaning all week long, and I am truly just bored at this point.

It is OVER! The weekend is here, the ice is melted, the snow is slowly going away! We are going to the mall! lol. And we did! And it was great! We SURVIVED!

And I learned a few things...

1. You can never know for sure you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, until you are snowed in together for a week, and get along PERFECT. =o) Score!

2. As much as I love my kids, and enjoy spending time with them, there is only SO much you can do to keep them occupied and happy. At some point they just do not shut up talking and images of duck tape start floating in your head. lol. I have alot of work to do before Summer gets here!

3. As much as I love visiting Michigan (where Michael is from), I could NEVER live some where where it snows ALL winter. I love snow. For like a day or two. That is all.

4. I will never wish for snow again.

5. Thank god for Facebook.

Where is the snow mommy?

9pm- it begins!

Big girls excited!!

My car, before...

Newman checking out the 'white stuff'!

Back porch, before...

My car, morning after!!

Back yard.. after!

Looking down my street!

Mailbox, pretty in white!

Girls 1st time outside to play in the snow!! Brrrrrr!

Babies wondering what the white stuff is!!

Snow Angels!!

Michael knows how to have fun!

Mommy is having no part of it! lol



Maggie LOVES it!!

Real Snow Angels!!

Trying to walk in snow, lol =o) Needed Daddy's help!

Aaliyah being silly!!

Abby is a snow girl! She loves it, and NEVER complains of being cold!



YUMMY- Snowballs!!



We made homemade snow ice cream! Yummy =o)

Last day of playing in the snow..

We survived the SNOW!! Now if only the Falcons did.

CHRISTMAS '10!

So I figure better late than never! And since it is almost middle of January and we are snowed in, I should probably do my Christmas blog! =o)

Christmas this year was awesome! It was very relaxing and non-stressful! Which I know most of you reading might be thinking stressful?? Unfortunately Christmas had become a holiday when you go broke, stress about what you want to buy, then finding it, hitting sales, and doing last minute shopping! Well this year was so mostly none of that! I started shopping in October, a lot of Ebay and early sales at Target! Target just may have been my favorite place to shop this year. They had great sales EVERY week! Ebay is still on top of the list though. I had a few items I couldn't get to the right stores for good sales, and then they were sold out! So I found those things brand new on ebay, all with FREE shipping! =o) What is better than that! Shop from home, for free! Plus I ended up saving money on ebay, which left my budget bigger! Woo hoo, always a plus!!
Every Christmas Eve, we spend it at my sister Kathleen's house. She is married with a daughter who is 11! It became a tradition years ago and we have stuck to it even now! I love it! I don't get to see my sister so much during the year, b/c we both have such busy lives! So this is always a guaranteed visit! She cooks dinner and we exchange presents between the kids! This is actually the 1st year Michael got to join us! Normally he has to work Christmas Eve :( But luckily this year it all fell on his off days! That meant a lot to me, b/c I always like having Michael with me, I hate going places with all the kids without him. Usually b/c he has to work. I feel guilty having a good time while he is slaving away at work! So that made it extra special to have him there this year! Dinner was delicious as usual! And kids enjoyed their gifts, as usual!


There was a moment when I could have taken Abigail out back and beat her (just a figure of speech! wouldn't actually do it) Abigail has this problem with always wanting to the be the best, and have the most. At some point while opening gifts she had convinced herself Aaliyah had gotten 1 more gift than she had. (which she did NOT) SO OF COURSE she had to ask. I hate that she is like that. I know she is spoiled and has ALWAYS been, and I know she is only a child. But I wish she would be more understanding of the true meaning. Makes me feel like a bad mommy! We talk about it all the time. I tell the story of Christmas ALL the time. I explain how we give gifts to show love to one another and it doesn't matter what you get or how much that we should be appreciative of what we have, and pray for those who have less. BUT Somehow she doesn't seem to get it. But I am determined to teach her. I like that I am able to get my kids nice things, but I do not like that it teaches them the gimme gimme gimme attitude! That is actually one of my goals this year. To make my kids earn things, instead of giving them everything!! Well I went WAY off subject! Anyhoo, Christmas Eve was a success as always! Girls got changed into their new pj's and slippers (SO funny, I bought my niece pj's and slippers, and they got my girls the same!!) we took a few photos, but Maggie was getting sleepy and did not cooperate! But I have to share them anyway!



And so Santa and Mrs. Claus get to work!
Mrs. Claus was not so smart in one department. WRAPPING! I did not remember to wrap anything! I had to do it ALL on Christmas Eve! Was up to 3 am, wrapping and putting things together with Michael. But it was 'kinda' fun. Just exhausting!
This year the girls had small list, seeing that they have just about everything under the sun already! But they did NOT have a game system. At first they wanted a Wii, but I kind of talked them into not asking for one, b/c Abby also wanted a Nintendo DSi, and Aaliyah wanted a Leapster Explorer. I thought a Wii would be TOO much. I want them to appreciate what they have, and too many big items like that would be spoiling them sour! I did really good finding DSi on sale at Target for $109..or $119? idk.. lol I forget, but I know it was one of those. Which is really good, bc they retail normally for $169. I also found a great deal on Leapster at Kmart. $54.99 which was the lowest price I had seen anywhere! With both of those they also got cases for them, cases for games, extra pens, decals, and 2 games a piece! That is what SANTA brought them =o) (Oh yeah and Santa *cough*nana*cough* also got them a 13ft x 10ft TENT. It fits 2 queen size mattresses in it! And Mommy was super excited about this *sarcastic* except it is December and cold outside, and everyday I hear about wanting to put the tent up!!! lol whew, ok back to subject) Mom and Dad got them lots of goodies, including everything on their list (dang it, like usual, they get everything they ask for!)! Plus pj's, and clothes!
The babies were quite easy! Seeing that they are only 1, they did not have a wish list for me. Mommy knew what they wanted! We bought them 2 activity learning tables. Which I also got a superb deal on! Found at K-mart, got both for like $50, and they are originally like $39 a piece! They also got a variety of toys and clothes, and baby books!
Christmas morning, Abigail and Aaliyah woke up about 8:30 and came creeping into the living room (Michael and I slept on couch in case anyone tried to peek) They were very excited to see Santa's gifts, and I let them open one gift each while waiting for babies to get up.



I didn't want to wake them up, b/c I didn't want them to be ill all day! They ended up waking up about 9:15! Actually ended up perfect b/c girls had time to open their games and get them set up before babies woke up and were into everything!! The best part of Christmas is definitely the smiles on their faces!

!!

And on mine! Michael and I originally were not going to exchange gifts, BUT he changed his mind last min. I got him the set of cologne he had been wanting, and a gift card for his xbox live, and a bag full of all his favorite candy! Anyone who knows Michael, knows he loves candy more than a child!
And he got me a HP Photosmart printer! So I can print off all of own pictures!! Last year he bought me a new camera, so this was just perfect!


After all the fun of opening gifts and cleaning up mess, we relaxed a little while, ate breakfast, and got ready to go to Nana's.
Anyone who knows my mother, knows she does WAY too much for Christmas! Going to her house is like waking up to Santa all over again! WHICH is ANOTHER reason my kids are SO spoiled!!
I will not list ALL of their gifts, but her main ones are worth the list! Abigail got the Green Machine, which is a bike, hard to describe see pic below!, Aaliyah a mp3 player, and the babies a radio flyer wagon with canopy! FUN! We always stay and eat Christmas dinner with my mom! This year was no different. And it was delish!! Then after visiting awhile we packed it all up, in 2 trips, and headed home!




While I was exhausted, and the babies desperately needed a nap, the big girls other grandparents wanted to see them too! So I took everyone home, Aaliyah started feeling ill again (we ALL had flu week before Christmas, and lele was still getting over it I guess) She wanted to take a nap too. SO I took Abby over to see her Papa and Nana, I usually stay and visit, but I def didn't feel comfortable with their father there (of whom I had not spoken to since July at this time) SO I left her there a hour or so to spend some time with them and I came back to get the rest of stuff organized! My house looked like Toys-r-us itself. There was so much stuff everywhere. While I was SO happy, everyone had a great day, I also couldn't help but think of all of the little children in the world who don't get anything on Christmas. As I looked around the 100 presents scattered on the floor and packed in boxes and bags, I know my kids could never appreciate these things as much as another child who doesn't have anything could. SO another goal for this year is to do the adopt a child for Christmas from Salvation Army. I want to buy for at least 2 kids other than my own, and then every year try to do another and another. =o)
So after picking Abby back up, and their huge shipment of toys, boots, and clothes from Nana and Papa, we headed back home before roads got bad. Because yes. this Christmas it SNOWED! We went home, snuggled up on couch with everyone, watched it snow, and watched movies! Till we all were in bed at an early hour! Such an exhausting day! But a great one!!! =o)
Hope you guys ALL had Merry Christmas's too!

Oooooh yeah, did I mention I am still nicotine free?? 62 days to be exact!! The urge and want has FINALLY gone away! And the thought of one makes me want to puke! I am so proud of myself!