Two peas in a pod

Time has never gone faster than since the twins were born. They have brought a whole new meaning to "busy" in my life. Now that they are 2 1/2 and beginning to do much more for themselves (get a snack from the pantry, putting on shoes, etc) I'm able to sit back more and see what fun little miracles they are in our family. They make me laugh every day as they chat with each other about Nanny and Papaw, Duke or poops.

I've realized lately how much they've changed me as a mother, too. With my first two I was so worried about doing everything right on time. Bottle gone by 1 year old; Potty trained by 2 years old; Getting rid of the binkie by 2 years old. With the twins and hang on to any and everything that makes life a little simpler and easier. Binkies? Still got 'em. Diapers? Still wearing them. And I don't feel the slightest bit of guilt over either. Sometimes you just do what keeps you and your family sane and don't feel the need to offer apologies. We, women, need to realize that life is just too fast and too short to load ourselves down with guilt for all the petty things in life. Just live. Just enjoy. Just relax.

Fall has arrived

I love this time of year. I'm always reminded of my youth when I walk to the mailbox and feel the light breeze, hear the rustling of the leaves and feel the slight chill in the air. It reminds of school supplies, football games, apple pies and home. I miss home all the time, but especially in the fall. Before the girls started school we had a ritual of going home every October for an entire month while Craig was off hunting. I've missed that trip terribly the past two years. Maybe next year the babies will be big enough that I will attempt to fly with all of them. But for now we'll pass the time with making caramel apples, burning cinnamon candles and cuddling up with my 4 cozy kiddos for movies and hot chocolate. Doesn't get much better than this.

Utah Relay Marathon

Our new neighbor organizes a few runs a year. This year he gave a portion of the proceeds from the Utah Relay Marathon to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It was a great day. We are so grateful to have such a loyal group of supporters for everything CF related. (We'd be so lonely at these events without you guys!!) Our five man team consisted of Jenny, Brooke, Doug, Dave and Josh who each ran 5.2 miles, together completing a marathon!



There was also a 1 mile fun run that the kids and I did. I was really proud of the girls in their first run. They only had to walk for a couple of minutes out of the mile. Good job, kiddos!!



We raised a total of $1,800 for CF that day. Thanks to everyone that helped out!!

Check out my new site!

My new site is complete. Hallelujah. You can visit is at www.loraelizabethstampedjewelry.com You can also see us on one of my favorite sites for the next few weeks. If you've never been to this site. GO NOW! www.giveawaytoday.com

Lessons in life

Today we got a phone call from the gym the girls take gymnastics from. The lady said that Lizzie was advancing to the next level. Happy. Gracie, however, wasn't quite ready and would need to stay in her current level until she could pass off all the skills. Sad.

When the girls came home from school I told Lizzie the news. She was ecstatic at first, but upon seeing Gracie drop to the floor and sob, her own face fell. She dropped to her knees and hugged her little sis and told her to work hard so they could be together again.

Gracie laid on the floor crying for a while. Nothing we could say or do was helping. She was determined to never go back. We were determined to teach her that we don't just "quit" when we get discouraged. It was so heart-breaking to see her so sad. Having the girls so close has been a blessing in many ways but hard to see the younger compare herself to the older in their school work, activities and whatever else.

How do YOU handle to situation when one sibling achieves and another doesn't and it causes hard feelings? I could use some advice, here.

Funny, funny girls.

Today we were driving down the freeway. Babies were content in the back seat, I was singing along to the music in the front seat and the big girls were talking each other's ears off in the way-back seat. As I turned on the air to cool them off, I overheard their random conversation and turned down my music to eavesdrop a little easier.

Lizzie: "Oooh. That cool air feels so good."

Gracie: "Yeah it does. It is drying my sweaty armpits right up."

Lizzie: "I saw a girl throw-up on the playground today. It looked like peanut butter."

Gracie: "Mmmmm....My armpits smell like hot chicken nuggets."

So happy that those sweaty little girls are mine. Love 'em to pieces.

Life

I can't believe another summer has come and gone. The kids are all a few inches taller and I have a few more gray hairs. I'm always amazed when it hits me....how fleeting childhood is.

Lizzie is now a mature "2nd grader" who keeps giving Gracie pointers on where to go and what to do. My responsible, helpful Lizzie. She amazes me. (Except when she gets a little sassy which she does more lately....I guess that comes with getting older but we're hoping it's a phase that time-outs and chores might help cure.) She is a blessing to us all.

Gracie, an-all-day-going 1st grader. Her first day was so hard. Not for her, but for me. Throughout the day I would think about her and tear up over and over. "What if they forget her enzymes. What if she gets a tummy ache. What if she doesn't eat her lunch...What if...What if?" Seeing her all-consuming smile as she ran through the door that afternoon really helped. She is happy so I will try to be, too.

Still I worry.

So it's me and the twins all day now. Did my big girls get into this many messes?? I can't really remember. All I know is that if I leave the babies out of site for more than 5 minutes, I'm in big trouble! I was on the phone with my sister for 10 minutes a few days ago. In that time they managed to dump a bag of chips and jump up and down in them, shuck a few ears of corn in the corner and leave the mess on the floor and empty an entire container of wipes.

Normal? You tell me. It seems like they've been replaced with "thing 1" and "thing 2."

In all my "spare time" (from napping hours of 1-4pm and evening hours of 9-12) I've decided to start a new business and I'm in LOVE! It began suddenly and I realized how much I loved it and how much my friends and family wanted it and it sort-of evolved into a little business over about 3 weeks time! You can check out my initial website (I will get a real one when I get the moolah) at http://www.loraelizabethstampedjewelry.com/ I will be coming up with new stuff every week or two so check back.

So here's to new beginnings! Back-to-school and mommies letting go....Potty-training and life without binkies.....And hammering away at midnight!