My Mom

Yesterday my mom would have celebrated her 65th birthday.  And this Friday it will be 12 years since her passing.  She has missed so much from not being here.......my high school graduation, both my brother and I's college graduations, my wedding, my babies, my brother's career........it truly SUCKS! 

When someone close to you passes people always say, "It gets easier with time."  THEY ARE LYING!  I was 18 when my mom passed and it didn't even hit me until a year or two later, at which time I was distracted with the fun parts of college and it always felt like I was just away from home and she would still be there when I was done.

Having babies made it really hit home.....there are so many things a mother does for her daughter when she gives birth.  There isn't a book out there that can tell you what your mom can.

My mom was amazing!  She just made everything FUN and never wanted to dwell on the negative.  She lived as if every day was important and as a mother she simply ROCKED!

She was involved in everything.....making my breakfast, driving carpools, packing my lunch with a sweet note inside......a card every week I was at boarding school......too many things to name. 

I hope I can be as dedicated to my kids as my mom was to us. 

I have to say I am very thankful for my mother-in-law, Kristi.  She has been so incredibly involved in my kids' lives and was such a huge help when they were born.  I can call her every day, ten times  a day if needed, to ask any question I may have.  I'm 100% positive God put her in my life since my mom is not here.

Our New House

March 16 is now the day we will get to move into our dream house!!!!  That is if weather cooperates.  We've already been delayed from Blizzard 2011. 

We stumbled across this model home about 3 years ago while out looking at some neighborhoods.  We were home visiting from Kansas City and trying to figure out what area we would like to move into once Jason was done with Chiropractic College.  We LOVED this house!!!  LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!  The floor plan is perfect for us and our kiddos, it has every single feature we would want/need in a home without a lot of wasted space.  Plus, moving from KC our home prices were so much more reasonable.  If we would have built this house in KC it would have cost twice as much.

We will have on the first floor: entry, big den, formal dining, kitchen nook, nice open kitchen with butler's pantry, guest room with own bathroom and walk-in closet, master with sitting area, walk-in closet that connects to laundry room, study, half bath and the big framed windows.  :)
Upstairs we have a game room with wet bar (for juice boxes), two bedrooms, a large double vanity bathroom for the boys and an unfinished theater room, which we will do on our own down the road.
Best part - THREE CAR GARAGE!! :)

Let's hope we don't have any bad weather and March 16 is the day!  Or I'll take sooner if they can make it work.  :)

My Guys

These guys are my world. Plain and simple.
My husband is such an amazing guy. I know most wives say that about their husbands but those words don't begin to explain how I feel.
Jason is so caring and compassionate. He will lift anyone's spirits. He rarely lets much bother him or bring him down and always sees the big picture in difficult circumstances. He always keeps a positive attitude and encourages others to do so.
In the 11 1/2 years we have been together we have shared so many experiences together - some amazing and others not so much.
Through everything life has put us through he has always been my best friend and encouraged me through it all.
I'm not saying he is perfect....no one is. He may forget things from time to time. He may not love to clean and do dishes or laundry. He may like certain shows that I find annoying. He may get annoyed in traffic. And yes we may have a disagreement from time to time.....

BUT..........

That's about as bad as it gets. He simply rocks and I just want the blog world to know.

Pirate Party

no longer babies....

My boys are 1. How can this already be here?! It seems like just a few days ago I went in for my routine appointment at 3:00 p.m. and then rushed over to the hospital for them to be born. My life changed forever that day. Granted, it changed when we got pregnant and changed again when we found out it was twins but January 19, 2010 was the day that started our forever.

Fynn Stevens was born first at 6:14 p.m. weighing in at 5 lbs 6 oz. He looked like a cute, little old man. He was soooo loud when he cried and definitely let us all know he had arrived.

Sutton Eric was born second at 6:16 p.m. weighing in at 5 lbs 12 oz. He had mama's big lips and they were quivering. He cried too but not as much and not as loud.

That feeling of seeing your child for the first time is something that a parent NEVER forgets. It makes me tear up even right now. This overwhelming sense of pride, love, fear, hope all at one time.

All I wanted was to be a mother and in one day I got two gorgeous amazing sons.

Fynn has always made silly faces and has always been the entertainment. He was pretty feisty as a newborn but at the age of one he is my sweet, obeying, gentle, happy boy that makes me laugh and smile all day, every day.

Sutton was the most laid-back newborn I have ever been around. He slept through his first 3 months and was so quiet and peaceful. Now at age one he is my busy body that loves to get into everything and bash and smash and destroy everything! He is ornery and silly and loves to talk up a storm. He too makes me laugh and smile all day, every day.

For their first birthday I made them sugar free pancakes with some fruit, we played, napped and then went to Kiki & Pappy's for the afternoon so we could work. W had dinner at the house with Kiki & Pappy & Auntie Nai (Jason's mom, dad and little sister) as well as with Papa O (my stepdad). Then it was time for CUPCAKES!!!! Their first sugar!!! I've been dreading this day for a year! I want my kids to be healthy eaters so I was hesitant.

Fynn just started in on his but he was very proper and ate it like every other thing he eats.....one piece at a time. But the boy polished it off and loved every crumb.

Sutton cried. He was not sure what to do and didn't like having an audience. But Pappy, Mommy and Daddy all helped and he ended up loving it and he too polished it off....just not as clean as his brother.

The boys are learning new things all the time.....they love to clap and wave "bye bye." They have said "mama," "dada," "up," "bubba" so we are working on forming actual words but man, they love to jibber jabber!!!!

The birthday party is Saturday and I cannot wait!! I've had shirts made for them, custom banners, hats for them, their cakes will be so cute!!!

11 months old

My babies are 11 months old today!!!

We went to meet Santa Friday and Fynn lost it right after this picture was taken. But at least we got this one!

The boys are everywhere!! We got their first pair of shoes Friday and they are trying to get the courage to let go and walk to grab something. Fynn gets really giddy but Sutton just gives up and crawls.

They are so much fun! Every morning after breakfast they play and laugh and wrestle mommy!! Afternoons we try to get out and about running errands.

I'm now working for Jason's chiropractic office two afternoons a week. Kiki is keeping them and I have to say it is nice to get out of the house for a bit.

The boys' first Christmas is Saturday!! I'm sooooo excited!!!!

Goodbye Sweet Meg

We lost our sweet Meg dog to lymphoma on November 6, 2010. She gave us 11 years of gentle, unconditional love.

As a puppy she saw us through our college years when we dated. She attended college parties, lounged at the Phi Delt house and caught the hearts of everyone that met her.

She snuggled with me during sad times. She could always bring a smile to my face with her goofy frolicking - her big ears flopping all around.

She never licked anyone but gave me a kiss once!!

When we lived in Kansas she discovered a nest of baby bunnies in our backyard. She never wanted to come in and would lay by their nest all day and night. One morning she went out to find them and they were gone! The mother had moved them. She sat and just stared at the empty nest so sad they were gone.

She was so very gentle. She had the sweetest eyes. She had the biggest paws. She had the cutest freckles on her nose. She had the stinkiest farts. She was so lazy she would sprinkle food throughout the house so it would be close by when she wanted to eat.

Goodbye our sweet Meg. You made life so much better and we miss you every day!