Valentine's Day!

The girls were luckily feeling better for Valentine's day! They had school that day and lots of fun at Valentine's  day parties! I took all these with my Iphone so pictures are lacking :/

The girls have been practicing their letters. So I had them write their names...well I wrote in pencil and they traced it with marker. 

Kinley writing her name!

 Madelyn writing away...

Since we have had lots of issues due to the girls "preemie teeth" I didn't want to send candy, I figured they would get enough at their party. We went with Goldfish..."I'm glad we are in the same school"

Thank you Pinterest for the fun idea but that was a lot of of Valentines for two classes!

I had a blast at their parties getting to see them interact with all their friends away from their sister. I'm sure I have said this before but it has been an ABSOLUTE blessing to have our girls in two classes. I am SOOO glad we did it from the beginning, they don't know any different.

Sweet Madelyn.

 My girls out on the playground together for a spilt second. Their teachers say they LIGHT up when they see each other...Every one in Madelyn's class call Kinley "Sissy". I think they think that is her real name. Madelyn pretty much only calls her that. 

Kinley! 

All their LOOT...

Don't worry mommy didn't get left out! 

Big 4 year old room!

Ok, so I am way behind...but what else is new. I'm going to stop feeling guilty and get done what I can. ;)

  So since the girls were sick on their actual birthday I had to flip my ideas around a bit. I had decided to not have a HUGE party this year already (but DO NOT worry I actually think the girls got more partying in this way) I wanted to redo their room instead and we are planning a big Disney trip this year. We sent the girls to school to celebrate with their classes while we did all the hard work ;).

My BIG girls!

My awesome cousin made this cookies for them to take...THEY LOOKED AND TASTED AMAZING!

I didn't tell the girls ANYTHING about getting a new room while they were gone. We were having a little party with grandparents, cousins, aunts and Uncles. I locked their door so everyone could watch them see it for the first time. Our parents all chipped in some too for their big girl room. I have video of the girls but I have no idea where it is...They actually didn't react the way I expected at first. They seemed scared but quickly warmed up and asked us to leave so they could go to sleep...yeah that part wore off! 

All Finished! I love the way it turned out! 

 It was cuter when they were in cribs but here was the toddler room

 I had this great idea I didn't want closet doors...ha, that was until they were bigger. They were constantly into everything!

I painted their dresser.

 Kinley's Bed

Madelyn's Bed

I made the letters and my college friend Amber made that sign when the girls were born. 

The girls first night in their big girl beds! They look tiny in their big beds!

The girls still love their new room and love to make their beds! It is still surreal walking into their room and realizing that we now have girls that are big enough for twin beds! It was a little hard for mama to get rid of the last bit of baby we had left...tear!

February 7th

A couple of days before the girls birthday, Kinley woke up with a fever. Thinking it must be another ear infection her Daddy took her to the doctor. It was taking FOREVER and so I finally texted him...his answer: flu test came back positive. UGH, since having preemies born in flu season I have ALWAYS been so scared of the flu (yes she had her flu shot) and it finally got us. We had spent the last couple of days hanging with our good friend's the Steeces. About 5 minutes before I got the Flu positive text, Ben started running a fever. Always fun to text Joe and Suz and say "um, Ben started running a fever and Kinley just tested positive for the flu. Awesome...Guess friends who get the flu together stay together, RIGHT?! So needless to say the girls were sick on their actual birthday!

Luckily Daddy took off on their birthday. (thank goodness this momma was going crazy!)

Daddy went and got fun donuts!

Seriously the girls thought these were sooooo cool! 

They are such Cheesy picture takers all the sudden...My Sweet 4 year olds!

Joys of having a twin...When you are sick you can still have a friend to play with! They were playing birthday party! 

One of my younger cousins and the girls favorite babysitter ;) left the girls presents and snacks on our front porch...The girls thought it was so neat to get a surprise present!

Good sick snacks! 

Being annoyed that I made them take a picture before opening 

The girls and their new dolls! 

They got hours of entertainment from these things! 

We let each girl pick what they wanted for dinner...K:Fuzzy's Taco, M: Mac & Cheese. Chris and I ate what Kinley wanted ;)

Fake Smile! 

Sweet sickie Kinley hanging out on the couch most of the day though...

How old are you??? 4 years old! 

Their big present had to be postponed till the next week..but mommy had to get something! 

Opening their new Doc McStuffins! 

Madelyn and Kinley, I can not believe you are 4. In some ways it seems like you have been here forever and in other ways it seems like yesterday. You have taught me so much about life and myself (not always good) but most of all how much I LOVE being your mommy. It not always easy having twins but I wouldn't have it ANY OTHER way. Its a joy watching you bond with each other, even though you both fight your fair share too. I know you love each other like no one understands except other multiples. It's been fun seeing you grow in school being apart too. This year has been so full of new things and LOTS of new learning has been happening. I love you and hope the 4's are a little easier on mommy!

Love,
MOMMY


For stats...Madelyn weighs 27 pounds and are 34 inches tall. Kinley is 26.13 and is 37 inches tall. Still itty bitty for their age but did well gaining weight this year!

Pre Birthday Partying!

Ok, so if you know me you know that I USUALLY have parties for the girls and usually LOVE planning them. Well this year I decided to scale back, for a couple reasons. 1. Kids parties can be a lot of work and drama. LOL 2. they are expensive, and we are wanting to take our first official family Vaca to Disney this year!!! We went on a cruise but that was with 50 other people! (side note, it was the same boat that was left stranded eeekk!!) Anyways so trying to save a little green! But don't worry I think this way the girls actually got more partying in...

Our church is sooo small and more like family we did a little mini party with their bible class. 

I also let them pick a "theme" my friends are laughing because they know this was hard no matter how small..;)

 They only have little girls in their class so Minnie mouse was PERFECT!!!

So four years ago when I was pregnant with the girls I was supposed to have a shower on the 7th (Ended up being the girls bday) but things changed. My college roommate was supposed to come up to celebrate with me at the shower but when I was admitted to the hospital she just came up for the day to visit. She left around 4 and about 6 it was decided that the girls were coming that night. She always says she hates that she didn't stay or come back once she found out they were coming. She lives about 4 hours away. Basically she has come every year since on or around their birthday to make up for it!!

 Minnie mouse cupcakes with Oreos!!!

This is Dan, he is our officially birthday guy at our church. His grandkids call him DanDad and he loves my girls so much they get to call him that too! We love our DanDad! I grew up with his kids. They were my second family! 

Great Grandparents!

We had Christmas in January with my grandparents. It was nice to have everyone together even if it was only for a night! 

Great grandmommy Kay, Uncle James, Poppy and Aunt Cathy chatting! 

 My Sweet Granddaddy and Mimi 

 The girls get sooo excited any time Elayna comes to visit...I don't know what we would do if she ever moved far away!!! ;)

 me, Kinley and Elayna

The girls started to think they were supposed to get presents every couple days...SPOILED! 

 My grandparents just bought a farm (like with animals :) and my Grandfather who is over 80 works with animals, builds barns, fences and takes care of everything! My mom found this hat and thought he may like it...Our little Indiana Jones!!!

LOVE this picture!

 The girls with their great grandparents!

 No family get together would be complete without Jakie! We LOVE Elayna's dog!