It was a HOOT!!!

So the first birthday I planned when the girls were like 6 months old…this birthday I didn’t really start until about a month and a half ago. I had been thinking about it but no actual concert planning. I don’t know why I choose owls but I have been seeing a lot of really cute owl stuff lately so I am sure that helped. I started off by finding the perfect invitation. Bear with me I like party planning! If you are ever in the market for invites/birth announcements/thank you notes, look no further! Mellissa from MJ Corder Designs is your girl! I guess I had something in mind when I went out looking she made two wonderful invites and I got to choose. Completely happy with my decision I went back to her website one day soon after and she had made a new owl invite (separate from the ones she had made me) I fell in love with it. It was perfect, and after seeing it I knew this was it! She also made our Christmas cards!

the invite

I also need to say that Texas had a blizzard/ice storm the week of the party and we weren’t always sure we were going to be able to have it. In the end we decided that the weather was good enough and everyone’s kids were going crazy being stuck in the house a whole week…hey we are from TX, we aren’t used to this! Some of our friends weren’t able to come and we missed you all!!!! You know who you are!

This is picture overload. Chris knows I like a TON of pictures and he sure delivered at this party…it was so hard to pick!

Let’s start with the details…

The food table

I got all the printable decor at Dimple prints…

The Favor table…the sign says…Look whoooo’s grown so much. There are pictures from the girls first two years!

Centerpieces and the piñata

Ok, so when my Mom heard I was doing a owl theme we quickly decided that we needed a tree for the owls…I know it is a little much for a two year old party but hey, oh well! My Mom and Dad were pretty much the ones behind the making of the tree.

This was taken after the party. I love the way it turned out!

We had pictures for the kids to color…Kinley was testing it out before the party.

Playing with Playdoh!

One of my best friends and maker of ALL K and M bows made their very cute outfits. Amber I don’t know what I would do without you! I helped cut a few things but that was it regarding the outfits!

The party!

I wish I would have gotten pictures of people with the girls but they were having too much fun playing to stop for pictures! I mean it is their party…

Madelyn with her Great Uncle Ray

The Activity tables…(all the little kids were bouncing!)

Face Painting…of course the girls got owls…lol!

The bounce house…Originally we had gotten a big bounce house but with snow on the ground we decided that a indoor bounce house would be perfect. Luckily our good friends the Steece quads just happen to have one and they let us borrow it! Thanks guys, we were SOOOO sad that you couldn’t come to the party though!

A few of the kids bouncing! I think the bounce house was a hit…everyone was so tired of being stuck inside their houses because of the ice.

Collin and Carter…One of the girls future boyfriends I am sure! He and Madelyn tend to be little partners in crime!

The girls ask about Emmy ALL the time! They just LOVE her!

Richey, Riley and Reese! Sweet girls! Sweet little Sammy! The girls call him bubba, another potential boyfriend!

Kinley laughing with Grandma and Aunt Andrea.

Sweet Emery! I just love this girl!

The Twin Mama’s! Where to start! I have a bond with them that is so special. Yes, we all pretty much met through our blogs but you would never know it. I have some of the best friends because of this blog and from having twins. They drove in bad weather conditions to come to my girls birthday party. They live at least 45 to 1 hour and a half away! You have NO idea what that meant to me! Melissa, Me, Shelley and Amy!

The real life picture!

Our family! We lost a bow for a little while!

My right hands during this party! My mom should be in this picture too. She is always right beside me when I plan a party willing to do whatever. Like build a tree! I couldn’t do it with out you mom! SO mad I didn’t get any pictures with the girls and my parents at the party! Elayna, my cousin (to the right of me) she is the baker and we have been practicing all the recipes for about three weeks. I can’t even tell you how much butter and sugar we used to put this party on! I love you girl and miss having you around all the time! Aunt Becca, she drove up from Houston in the ice to be at the girl’s party a day early. She is always there and helping with anything and everything! We love Aunt “bucket” as K calls her!

One of my besties! Ashley! Love her and can’t wait to love on that new little baby in a few months.

Piñata time!

Sweet Lizzie and Gracie getting ready to pull!

Issac and Gavin

Yes that is ALL candy! Silly boy!

Singing Happy Birthday! Look how tired they are!!! Kinley at one point looked like she was going to cry when people were singing. She is scared of everything.

Opening gifts!

The girls were spoiled and got so many things! They got two VERY sweet scrapbooks from their older cousins that will be such a special thing to them when they are older! Both of the scrapbooks brought tears to my eyes, knowing they have such sweet cousins that love them BOTH so much! Madelyn and Kinley love you all too!

Madelyn got more into the unwrapping. Kinley just wanted to play with the first thing she opened.

Grandma,(chris’s mom) got the girls tricycles this birthday! They really like them and had lots of fun getting pushed around by everyone. Not to much longer and they will reach the pedals and playing in the driveway! Aren’t they so Cute!?

WOW, if you are still here I applaud you! I had NO idea it would be this long when I started. I was blown away with all the people that came out in the conditions that we had that day. Makes me happy to know how many people LOVE my girls, and us. We love you all and are so thankful to each and everyone of you! Happy Birthday girls!

Happy 2nd Birthday girls!

I went back and read the post from the day they were born. It made me tear up seeing how far they have come. This is from that night from my dear friend Suz!

Happy birthday girls, I love you so much! This is the post from that night!



(Dad jotting down their weights/lengths in the OR...who needs paper, right?!)

Baby A, Kinley Margaret
8:45p
3 lbs 13 oz
17 1/4"
room air

Baby B, Madelyn Clare
8:47p
4 lb 9.3 oz
17 3/4"
CPAP



The girls came into this world kicking and crying! Mom did GREAT during the delivery and was recovering like a champ! I'm so proud of Liz! and Chris was adorable!!! Just beaming from ear to ear...such a proud Papa!

Liz was able to hold Kinley for a second in the OR, and she glanced at Madelyn as they wheeled them away to the NICU. Both girls are stable and doing well. Madelyn needed a small amount of oxygen via nasal cannula. Liz has yet to visit the girls in the NICU, so I turned down the request to see them in person. I want Liz to be able to see her precious little miracles before I do (just doesn't seem right!)...so, I promise to have MANY more pictures tomorrow!

Thank you so much for the prayers! Chris and Liz appreciate you more than you know!
(Suz) for Liz

Girl's first surgery

The girls both got tubes in their ears last week. We had to be there around 8, am, in jammies. Luckily my mom had taken off to be there with me, and then my Dad decided to go too. I felt guilty because the girls had NO idea what was going to happen. I guess that was better but I felt bad.

They got to play in the waiting room for a while when we first got there. They started to ask for snacks and wawa (water) but they couldn’t have anything till after the surgery. Woody (our preacher) stopped by to see the girls before too.

Madelyn in the waiting room

Kinley The nurses at the surgery center was amazing and made the girls feel completely comfortable. They had stickers, toys and books. The way to Kinley’s heart…dorda (dora) and me mouse (minnie mouse)

The day before the girls went in, my cousins knew how much the girls LOVE minnie mouse right now and got them stuffed ones. They were great for them that day.

After they took Kinley back for her surgery I realized that we had taken a book from the lobby. I walked out to return it and found Auntie Suz! She stopped by after taking the quads to school to check on us. Thanks girl! I love you and it meant so much!

Auntie Suz reading a book to Maddie!

About ten minutes after taking Kinley back the doc was back and told us she was headed to recovery. She had mucus and fluid on her both her ears he had to suck out before placing the tubes. In about 5 minutes we started to hear her cry and they let my parents go back there while I was waiting with Madelyn.

Kinley in recovery

I headed over to Kinley once they took Madelyn back. She was SOOOO upset and was having a rough time coming out of it. She was completely irrational. She kept asking for things she already had. She switched back from Poppy, Mommy and Mimi a few hundred times!!!

Kinley with Mimi

In just a little we saw them roll Maddie by. Once she woke up we were able to see her. She also had fluid and mucus on her ears. She cried for about a sec and asked for me and said up please. That was about it! She did great!!! Especially when they gave her a popsicle. Kinley however was still crying.

Poppy with Madelyn

Kinley with her popsicle.

The popsicles was great until they melted off the sticks and both girls were very upset about it. The nurses were very sweet and gave both girls new ones.

Overall it was a pretty easy thing! We were in and out in about 4 hours total. Kinley cried through her recovery and Madelyn’s and finally they just let us go! Daddy got there about the time we were walking out to the car. At home they ate a good lunch and took a good nap. They were completely normal when they woke up!

I can see a difference in the girls. It is not a HUGE drastic difference but some. They both seem less whiny then they have been. Madelyn is a little more vocal and attempting more words. She is laughing more also. Both girls seem to have colds and normally this would turn into a ear infection…we go back to the ear nose throat doctor this week so we will see how they look!

Skiing Part Two

I have to start off by saying a HUGE thank you to my good friend Brinti for letting us borrow their girl’s ski stuff for our trip! It was truly amazing and meant so much to me! I am getting ready to box it up Britni and send it back! We actually used them today, during this HUGE ice storm we are having!

Our second skiing day Chris decided to stay home with the girls so I could get some more practice in. Ha, that didn’t so much happen, I got a HORRIBLE cramp in my leg coming down the mountain (bunny slope) and didn’t get a whole lot of skiing in.

Daddy took them out in the snow!

Kinley

Madelyn checking it out

They weren’t always too sure about it.

Issac decided he didn’t much like skiing and opted to stay with Chris and the girls.

It was SUPER cold so the girls didn’t stay out for long periods of time.

I got home while the girls were playing in the snow and helped bring them in. The girls were in great moods and were playing so well together. They were going down the stairs and Madelyn fell and landed on her head. I was so close and turned around and Madelyn was laying on her back. (Madelyn is a PRO at stairs too) I picked her up and Uncle Shane came and got Kinley. About the time I got up the stairs she started coughing and choking. I started to say “isn’t it bad when they…. and she did. She threw up EVERYWHERE!!! Knowing that wasn’t a good sign, I calmly cleaned everything up and called Auntie Suz! Sorry Suz, you are a nurse and I am sure everyone calls you about that kind of stuff. She agreed that we should take her in somewhere and have her looked at.

Madelyn on the way to the ER

The ER was next to a doctor’s office and they let us go there since it was during office hours. They were very nice and got us in very fast. They checked her out and decided she was fine. We were just supposed to keep her awake for a few hours and watch her.

Madelyn at the doctor’s office

So nice that this place was down the road

The next day the temp was –20 but with a wind chill of –40!!! That is WAY too cold for me and luckily most of our group agreed and stayed home. We had a great day hanging out with everyone, relaxing.

The girls with their BFF, River looking out at all the snow.

I finally got the girls dressed and took them out once it warmed up a bit…you know –5!

Madelyn

Kinley’s Evil look

(aunt nell spoiled them all week and let them have Capri suns!)

Kinley wanted to lay in the snow, Silly girl!

The next pictures speak for themselves…(madelyn)

After this she was not a fan of the sled. I tried it with her but she still didn’t like.

Poppy giving it a shot

The girls exploring the front yard.

I LOVE this picture! Madelyn is quite the poppy girl!

I have to tell you about this snowman…this snowman has caused Kinley to be scared of ANY and EVERYTHING snowmen. I have a mug at home with a snowman on it and she will point to the cabinet and say “scary snowman” and talk about it FOREVER! Like today she is still doing this!

So we of course had to get her picture in front of it…this was the best we could do. That snow was WAY to high for them, over their heads!

ahh, a better picture! (Kinley on the left, Madelyn right)

Then it was back inside in the heater and more staring out the window! (Kinley, Madelyn, River)

Kinley decided she liked Matt and Paige!

Matthew looked at this whole magazine with her. Kinley LOVES magazines.

Chris and Steven were the only ones CRAZY enough to go out in –20 degree weather to ski and snowboard, when there was a frostbite warning. They decided it would be funny to cover their fingers in black marker when they came home to scare us…uh, we weren’t scared just sad they thought that was funny!

The next day,our last skiing day and it was much nicer weather (only –8 when we started) I actually started liking it a little more. I got off the ski lift with out falling…a huge thing for me! I made it all day only falling twice. Trust me that was an improvement.

My Skiing buddy for the afternoon, Christopher!

My Dad and I

We left the next day and were sad to say goodbye to this place! We had a WONDERFUL time with everyone and can’t wait to go back!