Dana's Baby Shower

Nikki and I have waited 11 years to throw this shower! It finally came and it was so fun to do! Dana said I went a little crazy, but I loved it (and when it comes to food and parties I always go overboard).

We had so much fun. Dana is so happy and it makes me happy to see her this happy. This was her third shower (brat.. hehe). Can you tell that how many people love her and have waited for this as well. She got pretty hooked up, and rightly so. They are going to need it! I cant even imagine how much money it is going to take for the formula and diaper bill alone.

It was so fun to see all the former Louisianian's here. There were around 35 people. I made 64 cupcakes (one for the shower and one for everyone to take home) and all I had were 6 left over.
I was so pleased with the way the cupcakes turned out and they tasted so good too.. if I can say so myself. I made chocolate nutella with creamy nutella filling, poppy seed almond with vanilla filling and almond icing, pina colada with creamy coconut filling, and my favorite was the Rasperry cream filled with cream cheese icing. I am going to post the recipes on my recipe blog. Seasoneverythingwithlove.blogspot.com

Ellie and Jamie were sweet enough to come early and help. I would have gone insane if they had shown up 10 mins later! I always come close to losing my mind about 2 hours before hosting a big party. But then it is all worth it and everyone has fun. Eating good food with great friends is heaven on earth.

Christmas Morning 2010

Christmas Morning 2010
Carma woke us up around 5:30... she was so excited. We told her to try not to wake up before the sun came out. When I asked her why she was awake so early she said "I kept looking outside and it was dark, and dark and dark. Then SUDDENLY there were presents! It's CHRISTMAS!"

She is so cute, no one has better reactions than she does. Judson reluctantly let me take pictures of him. Wyatt got lots of Buzz things, so he was super excited.

Judson already knew most of what he was getting. He got a pair of Healy's, he knew he was getting Healy's but I told him they were going to be pink and black and that we could just paint over the pink..haha He believe me and was pleasantly surprised when they were black, red and grey. He got the coolest remote control helicopter, charcoal pencil and drawing set, and "Masters of Deception" book focusing on Esher. I love that he loves art! It is something we share a love of.

Carma got a tag reading system. I can't believe how much her reading has improved in just a week. I made her the apron she is wearing in this page. She loves it and loves helping me cook. She got some play food, but Wyatt loves it more that she does. He loves pretending to eat it. She lots of other little toys, most of which have lost the fun already. ( I don't like toys for this reason).

Wyatt got a Tag Jr, but we are sending it back b/c he like the Tag books better. The Tag jr books are too babyish for him. He got a Buzz costume, Toy Story games, drawing board, bowling sets and lot of other toys, also which have lost their zeal. (Did I mention that I don't like toys).

But we had fun. We were able to invite an elderly lady in our neighborhood, Katina over for She for both Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. I think we overwhelmed her b/c she only stayed 3 hours Christmas morning..hahaha. Poor Katina.

Luke 2

One of our families traditions are Christmas Eve PJ's. They open them right before bed. Thanks Juddy for the awesome face. NICE.

Here are a few of the grandchildren reenacting Luke 2. I wish I could have
captured them all, but DANG there are a LOT of grand-kids and it is
so difficult to get them all together. Of course I Photoshopped this one and
added some into this shot that weren't originally in this shot.
There are 25 grandchildren now, and congratulations Rachelle
who will be adding TWO more to the batch in 6 months. :) Yep,
Twins AGAIN!! That will make 7 for her!

I haven't posted any pictures of Christmas because I am still working on the pages. Here is the first one I have completed.
I have never really written about what we do at the T's house every Christmas Eve and I don't know why I haven't b/c I LOVE it. We have a candle light dinner followed by Luke 2 reenactment, read by Grandpa and played by the kids. Michael and I's first Christmas he was the donkey and I was Mary (I was really pregnant with Juddy). I laughed so hard as I rode on top of Michael's back into the livingroom. I look forward to Christmas Eve every year because of these traditions. We then end it by the gift exchange. This year we drew family names and the theme was board games. For years we used to draw individual names and get socks, which I like. But I really like the family board game idea. It was really fun and who can have too many board games?!

My new Camera

I got a new Canon Rebel Christmas!! I have been having so much fun with it. I want to take pictures all day now! This Camera is AWESOME! Thanks Michael.. YOU ARE SO NICE!

Here are some pictures of Amiee and her family. I was able to stop by and see them on the way home yesterday. She lives too far away from the interstate and was nice enough to meet me at McDonalds. It was so fun to hang out and spend time with her! Her kids are BEAUTIFUL and so cute. Jase was so cute and sweet. He said "I love you too Kiki" when I was leaving. AWWWW!

Congratulations Mommy Dana and Daddy Jared!!

My sister Dana has been waiting to be a mother for 11 years now. That is all she has ever really wanted to be, but it wasn't to be... until NOW! 7 months ago Jared's cousin, Katie, called them and said she knew the Lord wanted them to be the parents of her unborn child. Much to everyone's surprise, two weeks later they found out Katie was expecting twins. Double the joy!

Last week I recieved a call from Dana saying that Katie was in the hospital and that they would try to keep the babies in for as long as possible. The next day she was told they were going to take the babies on Dec 20 due to Baby A's water breaking and being distressed. Dana took the first plane out, unfortunately missing the birth by 2 hours.

Avery Marie was born near 10:00 weighing 3 lbs 15 oz and Makenna Marie weighing 4 lbs 7 oz.

The babies were immediately taken to the NICU, but only after 2 hours Avery, was breathing on her own. A little while later both were. Avery has learned to eat on her own pretty quickly, Makenna is a little slower, but still both babies are healthy and getting stronger. They seem to still be overstimulated very easily, so must only be held only at feedings every 3 hours.

I was able to go up for a couple of days. It was beautiful to see them. You can't even imagine how stinking cute these babies are!!!! They are teeeennnnyy tiny. I have never held babies this small. I felt as if I might break them as I burped them.

I am AMAZED at how calm Dana is about it all. She looks as if she has been a mother forever. She is just a natural. I am so happy for her!!!!!! You can see the contentment and joy on her face. She glows... AND... WHO THE HECK looks this beautiful after having twins???

2010 Christmas Letter

Princess of Love

Carma and Silas at Chuck-E-Cheese Nov 24, 2010. Yes, that is my gorilla hand holding their in the right place for the Chuck-E-cheese camera.

Carma has a boyfriend named Silas. They are in the same class. Her teacher says they are inseparable and when I volunteer at the school it is pretty evident. They are like Ice Skaters who can only be apart for seconds. It is so cute. They are both so innocent and beautiful. I don't know which one is prettier... Silas could pass as a girl he is so pretty.

Carma rides the bus home with the other kindergartners (she is half day). A couple of boys from her class told them to kiss on the lips. She comes home and tells me that she kissed Silas on the lips; I then learn that the boys on the bus told her to. I said "Carma you are too young to kiss boys on the lips, that is for married people to do, not little kids. And besides you don't do something just because other people tell us to, especially when it involves your body." Carma replied "But mom I WANTED to kiss him."... hahaha Should I be worried?

A few days later I ask her what she would do if Kale and Gabe tell her to kiss Silas again. She said, very firmly with her hands out as if to say STOP, "I would say NO!!!! My mom says I am too young to kiss."

I said "Carma what would you do it Silas asks you to kiss him on the lips". She gets these flirty eyes, shakes her finger and says very sweetly and flirtatiously, "Nooooo Siiiiiilaaaas." Michael and I about died laughing. It was top 25 funniest things she has ever said. This girl cracks me up!

She is SUCH a romantic. She LOVES the kissing parts of movies and gets so excited when people kiss and get married. She told me last night "Love is the greatest thing in all of the earth." Very true! and wise... she is only five and she already figured this out. I told her of all the people I know she is the best at love. And it is true, she just loves with all of her heart. Even when Judson is being mean we tell her to tease him back or be firm. She says "no, that will hurt his feelings".
Don't get me wrong, she isn't perfect, but she sure is sweet!