Easter 2008

Easter was a busy, busy day for us! After going to church with my family, we went to my mamaws for lunch! Everyone loved seeing & loving on Jonas & Nolan! We ate way too much and daddy & the boys even took a short nap while mommy sat at the table with all the girls and caught up! After almost 4 hours of family time, it was time for us to head on to Chris' aunt Phyllis' house for Easter dinner! I felt like I had just ate! We ate again and the boys played with Emery, Kinley, Avery, & Brock! This side of the family has little ones crawling everywhere and another one on the way in July! We had a good time visiting, but were so ready to get home and rest! When we finally got home, Chris wanted my daddy to come by and see the boys! ( I did too and I'm blessed to have a husband who makes sure that everyone gets to see the boys! Chris & my dad have a great respect for one another and I'm blessed to have them in my life) So Pops & Barbara came over for a lil bit! Thanks Mimi for the boys Easter outfits! You shouldn't have! The boys were too cute for words! They are blessed to have such an amazing mimi!! Thanks Dad & Barb for the easter baskets- they are cute beyond words! And thanks Nana & Papaw for their baskets, dvd's, and trucks! Click the pics to make them larger...
Our family

My family- L to R- Davis, Cindy, Mom, Greg, Me, Jonas, Chris, & Nolan

Daddy & Nolan walking

Nolan wrestling with uncle Davis- he's soooo cool!

Nolan, Jonas, & BrockMommy & her boys!!

Nolan says- Mommy, I'm tired! No more pictures! Pops came by but the boys were just too tired! Jonas' fameous crying face! Jonas & Nolan playing with the trucks from Nana & Papaw

Easter Baskets!!

Most of those who know me well, know how much I LOVE to shop. Now that I've become a mom, I rarely shop for myself. I am always shopping for the boys & Chris! When the Easter Pottery Barn Kids catalog arrived, I fell in love with the easter baskets! I really just loved EVERYTHING they have in the catalog! I kept going back and forth, should I order them or not...do the boys really need them or not? Well, of course they needed them, but buying 2 of everything adds up, so I decided to ask my stepmom, Barbara if she thought she could make them instead. After all, she is ALWAYS monogramming something new for the boys! I couldn't tell you how many shirts, bibs, blankets, and burpcloths we have with their names on them! Barbara said she could make them and took the picture from the catalog with her. These 2 adorable baskets were the result! I LOVE them! Since the boys have been born, I have always put Nolan in blue and Jonas in green- so these baskets couldn't be more perfect! Thanks Barb- we LOVE them!

Nolan playing with his basket...
Happy to be IN the basket :)

Jonas with his basket... Yes!!! Something new to crawl in!! (Until mommy took them and put in our room where we can't reach them!)

Who's coming to visit?!?

Nolan looking out the window... Jonas coming to watch too...but Nolan didn't want to share!

Jonas, Anna Grace, & Nolan
Since the boys have learned to crawl, they always have to check out the window next to the front door. They will sit there for what seems like forever watching the cars go by. Sometimes, they are even suprised to see people walking up to the door. They always start laughing and clapping and I always know why! Friday and Saturday, I took the boys shopping with mom and I. These were ALL DAY trips to the mall, grocery store, etc. and the boys did great. They love rolling around in their stroller, watching all the people and grabbing things along the way. Saturday evening when we finally got home, Brad & Maribeth brought Anna Grace over to play for a little while! I am sooo glad they are moving back so I finally have a mommy around to do things with! Here are some pictures....it was hard to get some of all 3 of them due to them crawling in different directions and on top of each other!

I LOVE my boys!!!

I just wanted to share this precious picture that I took this afternoon... Since Jonas & Nolan have learned to crawl (and crawl fast!), they are everywhere! They have found the steps and love to crawl over to them and beat on them like drums! They don't do anything without the other one! I swear, I couldn't imagine having only 1 baby! Jonas and Nolan are my miracles and everyday I realize how many blessings the Lord has given me! Becoming a mother has changed my life! They are my sunshine in the morning and my stars at night! Update: Nolan is now letting go after he pulls up! He has tried to take a couple steps, but he is falling. Chris and I are both amazed that he is so close to walking and not even 9 months old! Jonas is pulling up but he knows he can't walk yet! They both say "bite" now when they are wanting to eat! Though they have accomplished so much, my favorite thing is when they say "mama"....I don't think that will ever get old!

I had to share this picture of Nolan too! I had brought him in from the car and had went back to get Jonas...when I came back in, I realized that he had crawled across the room, pulled up on the lounge chair, pulled the basket off, and was playing with the hand sanitizer! My lil monkey!

Happy early Birthday to Me!!

Sunday night, Chris' family took me to Connors (my FAVORITE restaurant) for my birthday dinner. My birthday is still a month away, but Leann is leaving to go back to Jordan to be with Moe and she didn't want to miss my birthday! ( I love you Leann) I have to say that having a birthday dinner a month early was fabulous! My sweet mother in law got me the best gifts ever! I got a Martha Stewart Wedding Cakes book and a series of Cake designing classes to take in Knoxville! If you know me, you know I cried and wouldn't let Chris take my picture. On top of that, I got a couple more cook books and a gift card with strict orders to spend it on myself and not the boys! (I guess you can see what I spend all my money on- I think becoming a mom does that to you!) My love of cooking is so obvious and I'm blessed to have such a supportive family to help me reach my dreams! The Sugar Shack....its going to be amazing!!!

Chris' family- L to R- Bethanie, Robert, Jot, Brenda, Leann, & my fabulous husband!
Jonas and Nolan eating some toast at Connors

My plate- Lobster and a Filet....and hands down, this was the best lobster I've ever eaten! Bethanie & Jonas playing with the paper from my presents...his favorite part Our 2 dessert plates, just scraps left!

Thanks Jot & Brenda for the amazing dinner! I love you both so much! Bessy & Neenan- I couldn't ask for better sisters. You both mean the world to me and I'm lucky to have 2 more best friends! Love you!

Happy Birthday Brock!!

What a busy weekend we had! Saturday, Brock turned 1! Its so hard to believe that he is already 1!!! Brock is the son of Matt & Leighann, Chris' cousin. I guess its so hard to believe because I can still remember when we found out Leighann was pregnant, and how we were only 3 months behind her! So Brock turning 1 was a little sad because I know my boys are 3 months away- and that just doesn't seem real!
Leighann did an awesome job with Brocks birthday party. She had rented some blow up toys for the kids to play in. Jonas & Nolan weren't sure about it all at first, but before long, they were loving the ball pit! The food was great and Brock was as handsome as ever! Enjoy the pictures...

Jonas peeking out of the balls!
Nolan busy playing

They loved the ball pit!

Brock riding the "roller coaster"

Brock opening presents with his mommy- Leighann. Yes- she's pregnant again- expecting a girl this summer!He dove in the cake & got it all over daddy!

After leaving Brocks party, we stopped by my moms to visit for a little bit! The boys love mimi...and her dogs! This is Jonas chasing Beast around the table! Jonas eating my necklace. Love his heart Nolan was so tired, so mimi rocked him to sleep...

It was a busy day and we were all wore out! The boys enjoyed their first birthday party and even slept late on Sunday morning!

Quotes & more...

"You are educated when you have the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or self-confidence." - Robert Frost

"The recipe for perpetual ignorance is to be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge." - Elbert Hubbard

2 quotes because I got a week behind :)

Yes- this is my dad! I had to put a funny picture to go along with the 2 quotes. My dad is, hands down, the smartest person I know. If he has any down time, which is rare between working, working out, his hobby of building houses, and calling himself "pops", he is reading. He can tell you about every religion and its background, he is a genius at finances, and he NEVER stops learning! His wisdom amazes me! My sister and I didn't have a choice but to go to college (not that we wouldn't have) and were expected to keep our grades high! We both graduated from our undergrad programs with honors and are both currently working on our masters- and my daddy couldn't be prouder of us. He is also, hands down again, the most involved father that I know of. I look at some people I know who's fathers are there but they don't have a relationship with him nor does he take interest in things they like to do and I can't imagine. I feel so blessed to have a daddy that still calls me everynight to ask me how my day was and tell me that he loves me. (No, I'm not playing- He has called me everynight since my mom & him divorced- thru college and even now that I've been married over 2 years, he still calls) He's the most nonjudgemental person you'll ever meet and would give you the shirt off his back. Cindy, Russ, and I are blessed to have such a wonderful daddy!

My alarm clocks :)

I have told you before how happy the boys are in the mornings when they wake up. I decided the other night that I was going to video what I find each morning when my alarm clocks (ie Jonas & Nolan) go off. They have both started pulling up, which is how I found them this morning! They stand there and laugh and talk to each other until I come in, sing a song to them, and then take them to their high chairs for breakfast! As a mother of twins, I cannot imagine having only 1 child! My boys babble and laugh constantly to each other! I promise- their bond would melt your heart! Chris & I have been blessed with 2 wonderful lil boys who amaze us everyday! They are our worlds & more...enjoy the video...and keep your eye on Jonas (he is on the right)- he gets a lil off balance and tumbles over! I promise he didn't hit his head and he whined for a second and was back to babbling with Nolan in no time!

Where is Nolan!!

Now that the boys are crawling, they are exploring the house like never before! I had them in the basement in their playroom while I was working on a paper. Nolan must have decided that he had saw all of that room that he could, because he came on out into the den! I quickly got the video camera on and this is where he went! Under the sofa table, then onto the stairs where he latched onto a shoe! Nolan is so curious and loves to explore! He has become Mr. I do it by myself! Hope you get a smile out of the video!

My lil Crawlers!!

Its been a couple weeks since the boys started crawling, but now they've pretty much mastered it! They are everywhere and into everything! This video is one of my favorites yet! Pops was visiting and decided to lay his watch in the floor to see who could get to it first! Jonas won, but Nolan was right behind him and took the watch away! They are so funny! Enjoy!

Messy Messy!!!!

So I'm aware that I've been a little camera happy lately, but I don't want to miss a minute of Jonas & Nolan growing and this seems to be the only way for me to keep them small! I know I've told you how much I love staying at home with them. Each day is a new adventure- especially now that they are crawling, pulling up, and trying to walk! I filmed this video yesterday morning...I had leftover noodles from dinner the previous night and decided to let the boys play in them! It was a mess! Nolan tossed noodles all over the place which made the cleanup extra work- but it was worth it! Jonas had noodles everywhere, including his hair! Here is a short version of the video- enjoy!

Finding Aunt Cindy

2 weekends ago, we had a full house on Saturday night. Mom & Greg, Cindy & Davis all stayed overnight with us! We had a fabulous dinner (thanks to Mimi), played games, and watched the Vols win in an awesome game! Mimi got up Sunday morning with the boys and let Chris & I sleep in which was amazing!! We had a wonderful time and are looking forward to the next time we can all do it again! Here is a video of Jonas & Aunt Cindy playing peek-a-boo in the kitchen after dinner! Isn't he so precious!!! He is always so happy :) :)

Nolan Crawling!!

Here is a video of Nolan crawling! He is everywhere and into everything! It took me forever to finally get it on tape- him & Jonas both think that when the video comes out, they are suppose to sit and smile! With the help of pops- we finally got Nolan. Jonas didn't feel like performing so I'll try to get him another time! Enjoy!

Camping!!

Most of you know how much Chris & I LOVE the lake! We love to set out at noon and come in at dark. Last year, we found a new love for camping- on the lake! This couldn't be anymore perfect for us. Most of you have made the comment "Oh, I can't see Mandy camping" so I wanted to assure you that I do. However, its not the camping that comes to many peoples minds. We have an annual spot at the RV Resort. Last year, we bought a 5th wheel- I promise you, everyone could camp "my style" :) Here are some pictures of our camper and our spot- as Chris says'- Its our Lakefront Property :) Our dream is to buy a lake lot and build a house, but for now, this is all we could ever want and more! We love living here in the summer- in fact, we didn't come back to our house until late October last year! We went yesterday to make sure its ready for us to move back in- so in a couple weeks- we'll be RVing it again!! Here are the pictures I took yesterday!

Our 5th Wheel and our lot at the RV ResortOur camper & my car- the picnic table has been replaced with patio furniture.

The entertainment center- complete with flatscreen and DVD playerThe fridge, convection oven, and gas cook top
A view looking down from the stairs The bathroom...with a garden tub, toilet, and linen closet King size bed! The boys room...I couldn't fit it all in but there are 2 bunk beds and and 2 full size beds, a closet, and entertainment center...its big enough to store all their toys too! Our patio & firepit....while I was big & prego- Chris laid each brick by hand and made this patio so beautiful! Lakefront! The clubhouse...there are tables, a fireplace, and a big screen on top and a eatery below

The pools- isn't this beautiful (in the summer)...the adult pool continues out of the picture and the kiddy pool is to the right. Its a silverback...but Chris calls it the "sexy back!"We have come a long ways from camping in a pop up with no running water or bathroom at Talladega- fun times, but I won't do that again!
Next time, its our 5th wheel in the infield!