Three and a half!

M and K are now 3.5 years old...SERIOUSLY were has the time gone! I just can't believe it.  Here are a few things I want to remember about this age!

The girls have started preschool and LOVE it. I mean LOVE it. They ask everyday if they can go! 

They are in different classes and we already see the advantages! The other day Madelyn was trying to tell me something and I wasn't really hearing her and Kinley started to tell me what Madelyn was saying. Madelyn responded to Kinley and said "stop talking, I'm talking" this is HUGE! 

They are so into imaginative play. They are constantly playing Mommy and Baby, Princess and Bad guys. It cracks me up. They have fought so much less since they are in different classes...Although I feel this honeymoon period of no fighting is beginning to end.  

They LOVE their teachers. Each girl has two teachers and actually each of them has one with long hair and short hair...that is what they call them. The one with the short hair or the one with the long hair 

Madelyn

Wears some 18 month to 2T clothes.

Wears size 6 and 7 shoes 

sleeping through the night without pull ups!!! 

sleeps from about 8-8 except on school days. 

Asks for me to cuddle her every night to prolong sleeping...it gets me most nights for a couple mins!! 

Her and  Kinley weigh the same about 24 or 25 pounds but Madelyn is about two inches shorter. 

She has to have her "pinkie" (her pink blanket) and one of several stuffed animals she favors (pony, alligator, bunny, lambie...just to name a few.) 

Her new thing is baby dolls...she LOVES playing babies. Such a sweet little mommy! She is CONSTANTLY asking me to change baby clothes. 

One of her favorite things she says over and over...in a minute? When you tell her something, like we are going to do such and such...M:in a minute? or Maddie can you do _____? M; in a minute?

She has also picked Thursday to be the day for everything...When are we doing that...Thursday!

She is such a sweet heart! She can have such a tender heart.

Quite the mama's girl

LOVES ANYTHING SWEET

Kinley

Wears anywhere from 18 months to 3T (having to wear 3t in dresses because she is LONG)

Wears 7 shoes 

Sleeping through the night without pull ups 

sleeps from 8 to 8 except school days 

Wakes almost every night and comes into our room to tell us she is cold. We are working on that. 

When she is falling asleep or hurt she asks for her "soft church blanket" we have NO idea where she came up with that. She currently is stuck on a alligator she just got and HAS to have it at night. 

She is having a rougher time about the girls being in different classes. The teachers say that if Kinley sees Madelyn in the hallway or wherever she tears up...sweet sisters!!! 

Kinley is a bit of a copy cat...she will copy any of her friends. Good, bad and in between! 

She adds the K sound to several words. I swear she knows that isn't how the word sounds but she doesnt care! Kazoo (zoo) Keserrt (dessert) Silly Girl!

Kinley is such a cuddle bug...when she wants to be. 

They hold hands most days walking into school. So neat to see their bond. 

Madelyn LOVES to dress up. She loves to try on shoes and dresses from her own closet. Mommy doesn't love this! 

My sweet girls.

They are all girls right now but LOVE to go play outside. They don't mind getting dirty but want to be clean very soon. 

Madelyn

Madelyn

Kinley

The girls are at a interesting age. They are so much fun to do things with right now but can totally wear you down at the same time. Oh man. They are very much testing my patience lately and I am fairly certain they know it. We are really trying to work on that and the whining...oh geez!! 

Party till ya drop!

Last weekend we were invited a wedding and party. We were lucky enough to get a kid free night to go to the wedding of some GOOD friends! Congrats Tom and Jill, it was beautiful! I really NEVER get to actually go to a wedding with Chris, usually he is working them. (taking pictures) It was so nice to have someone to sit by ;) I have no other pictures of the wedding but they had photo booth (LOVE THAT) and people drawing caricatures. SO FUN. 

nice to have someone to be a dork with!

 The photo booth keep me away for all the food so I wouldn't cheat on my diet! ;)

I don't even know how to comment about this picture!!! Chris is a bit of a creeper!

The next morning the girls and I headed to our dear good friends REESE and RILEY'S birthday party! I mean how can you pass up a pinkalious and purplelious birthday party!!!

Amy always throws a good party...LOVE YOU Soul sista!

Hanging with some of our favorite sets of twins and their families! 

 Madelyn playing with her friends and R and R's daddy! 

They even had Pink and Purple popcorn...

 HOW CUTE!!!

 Playing in the "photo booth" 

We had a blast partying it up last weekend!! We also got to dog sit that weekend and the girls are CONSTANTLY begging for a dog now.  We have decided we will just became official dog sitters because that way the girls never get tired of playing with the dog!!! That will work, right?!?!?!

First Day of School!

The long awaited first day of school!!! I have been a little afraid of getting all of us ready and out the door in time. Since the girls are late sleepers usually, I worried about them waking up. I did have to wake them up but they JUMPED out of bed because they were so excited! They could barely even eat breakfast they were so pumped!!

My Sweet girls, where has the time gone.

Kinley

I know someday they will seem tiny in these pictures when they are older but today they seem so big!

Madelyn

Walking in with their stuff. They are so proud!

Waiting for the teachers to let us in!

They look so little carrying their backback (lunch box inside) and napmats. 

We are so lucky to be going to school with some of our besties...So GLAD we run into them to get this picture!

Savannah, Kinley, Drew, Ethan, Madelyn, and Ben! Love those kids!

The teachers wanted us to drop off the kids at the door and leave. I know it helps with separation but this was the only pictures I got of the girls. Kinley's classroom was first!

Madelyn was next!

The verdict...THEY DID SO GOOD, walking in. I had been warned that at least one would melt down. Neither girl did. They walked in like champs. I was so proud of my little 3 year olds! 

I was off to enjoy Target all my myself! Seriously people I can probably count on one maybe two hands that I have been able to do that!! Especially on a week day in the middle of the day. Awww, so quiet! Wonderful! Then off for a little pampering with Auntie Suz! Perfection! 

I was feeling SOOOO proud of my big girls they got a prize for the car when I got them...Thank god for the dollar spot at Target!!

They were excited for me to pick them up but seemed very excited about school! Each teacher said they did great!!! Kinley's teacher said she was very outgoing (which she is but not at first and I was worried since Madelyn wasn't there) Madelyn's teacher said she was so sweet and you wouldn't know she was even a twin! I was so happy that they did well.

Might be my favorite picture of the day...After school hugs!

Kinley after school by her classroom...so blurry. Wish Daddy could have come for pictures!

 Madelyn

The girls at school. I asked them each questions about the first day. I wrote down exactly what they said. I might do this every year. 

Madelyn

Kinley

The girls are more than ready to go back! Such a blessing that everything went so well. This school seems perfect for us!

Meet the teachers!

Ok, I am really trying to stay current...Im behind but thought I would just start fresh and work in a few past things when I can!

The girls are starting SCHOOL!!! We are so excited about it and about all the new things the they will learn. They are over the top excited, both girls talk about it DAILY. Madelyn asks EVERY morning if school is open yet!

We had meet the teacher on this Tuesday, we decided we wanted the girls in different classes. It is going to be hard I think at first but know it's the best thing for them.

At Meet the Teachers

Playing in Madelyn's Classroom

Madelyn has two sets of other twins in her class and one is actually named Madeleine. She is so excited about all the fun toys in her class. 

Kinley jumping right into all the fun things to do!

After we left meet the teacher the girls and I went shopping for a back to school gift for their teachers. Each girl has two teachers. So with a little bit of creativity, help from pinterest, and Suz(she is walking me through all this new school stuff. Thanks girl!) We came up with a Back to school survival kit...I think it turned out cute!

I got the boxes at Wal-Mart in the bead section for CHEAP and hello dollar spot at Target!

Cute Sayings for each thing...Some of them I had to STRECH

The girls were SOOO proud to be making something for their teachers. Madelyn kept bringing me pictures she would draw for her teacher.

All ready for the first day!!!

Sweet Blogging friends!

WOW! Is all I can say about all the blog love I got on the last post! Seriously guys I was COMPLETELY overwhelmed with the sweet sweet comments I got. I was really down about blogging and you guys have made me feel glad I have a blog! Here is to starting over! The girls are about to start something new and we are sooooo excited about it!!! More details to come :)

My Beautiful girls!

This is from the girls 3.5 pictures

I have struggled with writing this post several times before and always decided that it wasn't the right thing to do. I was going to be the bigger person and figured that some of the mean comments I got were just from stupid people and that I some how I had almost asked for them having a public blog. I have thought about going private but have several older family members who read that may or may not be able to figure out the private thing.  But enough is enough, and this mama has had ENOUGH. I thought I would just repost the two comments I have gotten lately (have gotten SEVERAL just like this in the past) and address them in the open. Since I have so many (figuring its actually really just one or two people who aren't brave enough to post an actual link to their blog) people that are so concerned with the physical appearance and the differences between my children.

Comment One

 Sandra said...

I visited your blog a few weeks ago and there are a thing that i don't understand. Why one of your twins (Kinley, i think) have more thin face, her face is more thin too, is more high, more pretty, and have more beautiful smile than the other twin. The weight and height is understandable. But the face? :s
It's so strange o_O

THIS IS COPIED AND PASTED FROM THE COMMENTS. IT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS COMMENTER WROTE.

Well Sandra, let me clear a few things up for you that you don't understand. "why does one of your twins (Kinley, I think) have more thin face, her face is more thin too..." Well I believe one of my twins has a more thin face because she has a more thin face than her sister. She isn't Madelyn and they aren't even identical twins. But even in identical twins the weight in their face may be different at any given time. Im sorry that their faces aren't exactly the same for you. Since they are fraternal twins their DNA is like normal siblings, is your face the exact same size as your siblings?

"is more high, more pretty, and have more beautiful smile than the other twin." I don't even know what to say here. I don't agree with ANY OF THIS question/statement. They are babies and who are you to judge them. 

"The Weight and height is understandable. But the face." This doesn't make sense how is it ok for their weight to be different but not show it in their face? Actually my twins are the EXACT same weight. Yes, Kinley is taller than Madelyn so yes sometimes she looks thinner. Gosh how dare they be different? Both girls weigh about 24 or so pounds. They are underweight for their age and barely on the chart for height. They are small petite girls. BOTH OF THEM. 

Sandra, I don't understand a few things. Why does it matter to you why my twins look different? We get asked all the time if they are identical, even though their faces are different sizes. Why do you feel the need to comment that one is prettier than the other? I personally don't share your opinion. I know both of our girls are beautiful and not that this matters but we get told how pretty they both are by strangers all the time. 

COMMENT TWO

Kendall said...

I think Kinlee looks like her mom, and has her mom's gummy smile. Also, she may have a shunt in her head for the hydrocephalus, that could be why her forehead and head is so much larger than other girl. So yeah, a medical condition is nothing to make fun of. Either way, they both are adorable girls and very much loved by their parents

ok, so this comment is almost like the person is defending my girls...SORT OF. "I think Kinlee looks like her mom, and has her mom's gummy smile." So not sure who this person is talking about about because it SEEMS like she is talking about a different child than the previous comment but whatever. Yes, both girls look like me and their Dad. At any given time I can see both of us in them...funny how that works. ;) Yep sorry for the girls they did get my gummy smile...sorry you can't pick and choose what DNA gets passed on. Hey if that is the only bad thing that happens to them I think they will be ok, I have had to deal with a gummy smile all my life and I have managed somehow...

"Also, she may have a shunt in her head for the hydrocephalus, that could be why her forehead and head is so much larger than other girl. So yeah, a medical condition is nothing to make fun of."

ok, here is where this comment is so strange. While I agree that a medical condition is NOTHING to make fun of...neither of my children have hydrocephalus nor a shunt. Also just in case you are so worried about them having this medical condition my cousin is a Neurologist and pretty sure he would have said something. I could get a statement if you would like ;) Pretty sure if they did I would post it on THEIR blog. As for one of their foreheads being larger than the other...it just is larger. Again siblings don't all look EXACTLY alike and neither do my children. I believe with all my heart that NO ONE would ever say anything about large foreheads or different size faces to my girls if they weren't twins. always having someone the same age right beside them at all times. No one says to a mother of two different aged children..."wow, your 9 year olds head was SOO much larger than their sisters when they were their age"  I constantly worry about having girls that are similar getting compared...thanks for bringing this fear to life while they are so young. That's awesome! 

"Either way, they both are adorable girls and very much loved by their parents"

Not that I need your approval but yes both girls are adorable and VERY MUCH LOVED by their parents...and others. 

Ok, rant over. If you can't say anything nice, please not say anything at all. 

Also I will be erasing this post before my girls are able to read. I wouldn't want them to read any of these comments. This blog was continued to be a baby book for them.

Family forever!

I know I have not blogged in FOREVER. I have no excuse other than we have been busy. ;) So I bet you are wondering what would bring me out of hiding...must be pretty important, huh? Ha, well it is something CLOSE to my heart. A while ago Chris's brother and his wife told us they were going to adopt. They realized that this was the way they were going to become a family.

Some of you know and some don't, I was adopted. I was two days old when my parents got me. Its all I have ever known and my parents have always been open and honest about it all with me. I had a closed adoption and have never really felt the need to find out more. All that being said I mainly wrote this blog because I always want my girls to know where I come from, and this blog is for them. Also they are getting a new cousin hopefully soon as well!!!

We are super super excited for them and are excited to watch all this unfold! They are currently having a fundraiser going to raise money for the initial process of their adoption. Here is the link, again I didn't write this blog for you to donate (although I am sure they would appreciate any help) I really felt like this was the perfect time for me to tell my story to my girls to explain to them what a loving thing their Mimi and Poppy did for me all those years ago. Now while I am sure I would have gone to another loving family had it not been my parents that got me. I am SURE I am with the right family.

only picture of all of us that I had on this computer!

 God, has a funny way of doing that. I can't even count how many times I get told how much I look like my brother (who they had biologically) and my mom. Just the other day I walked into the bank and the clerk said..."are you Debi and Alfred's daughter'? I said yes, she immediately said, of course I can see it in your eyes...Um, ok! I love it!  Also I was placed in a family that had twins too! How cool is that?! I love that I have that bond with them too!

I know that I will have a special bond with my new niece and nephew, and I so look forward to that. They will be in the right family as well!

If you want to check  out their story click here! I am sure they would love any kind of support you can give whether financial or just thoughts and prayers!