A Few...

I am slowely learning how this camera works--tried a few black and whites this afternoon. The kids were actually cooperating and WANTING their picture taken! Gotta love that.
 

Ode To My Girls

As I begin to write this, I think of that cheezy, overused Michael W. Smith song, "Friends Are Friends Forever". I think every graduating class in the 90's had this as their "class song", but the words are still so true.
Last night, we had "coffee night" with the girls. This group of girls, has become very dear to my heart over the last....8 years or so. We all went to high school together, some even as early as elementary school. (Nat, your addition has been a blessing). Some of us hung out on a regular basis back then, some did not. There are 8 of us--one has moved on to New York--www.citygrace.blogspot.com. Combined we have a total of 17 kids, and 3 more on the way. The kids ranging from age 7, down to 1. At one point--up until a year ago, there was not a point in 8 years that one of us was NOT pregnant. It got to be a running joke, that as the pregnant one started ending her pregnancy, we all looked to someone to " take the batton" and continue the tradition. (I have ran my race girls--no more looking to me!!--I will watch from the stands). We don't necessarily see eachother outside of these "coffee nights", but we have all become so close over the last 8-10 years. I love these women for the meer fact that I feel "normal" everytime I talk to them. We share all of our kids stories, husband quirks, day to day battles, and just laugh. As I was driving home last night from coffee, I realized that these girls are complete gems in my life. I think I am getting more and more sappy as I age. I find myself tearing up A LOT more, and reflecting on things A LOT more. Last night, I truely thanked GOD for his faithfulness in giving me such great friends-- examples and great mentors. As a total of 8, we have gone through many things together and lifted eachother up in many ways. I KNOW without a doubt, that these women will be "Friends Forever", and our friendships are only at its beginning stages---God willing, I pray that we have MANY, MANY more years to grow, laugh, cry, and enjoy eachother. Thank you all for your friendship!!

I GOT IT!!!

Dean surprised me last night with "the camera of my dreams". I guess he couldn't wait any longer to give me his Christmas gift. I am now the proud owner of the Canon Digital Rebel XTi. Thys thought that he should be the first one to get his picture taken with it--like the eyesockets? Now the fun begins in figuring out how to work this thing. If anyone is willing to let me "expierement" on their kids, let me know--I need to at least show Dean that I am going to make this thing worth the money!! 

More Pics

Here are a few I took of Thys and Tessa the other day. Taken on Tessa's 1st birthday--cannot believe she is 1 already!! (And not walking yet by the way).

 

Family Photos

It has been forever since I have blogged. I have been filling my time shopping, shopping and more shopping. It seems like shopping takes 10x more time when you have 4 kids 4 and under grabbing and whining all around you. I seem to think that "the next time out will go better". And for some reason, it does not!!
Anyway, I also have a new passion. Soduko has now taken second fiddle. I have been engrossed in photography and trying (I emphasise trying) to learn Photoshop. I am still a complete rookie, but I am starting to get addicted to this photography stuff. Here are a few pics that my neighbor took for us last Sunday. He also is in photography, and I thought we needed an updated picture of the family. He was nice enough to deal with Josie (you like her smile!!) she was in rare form that day. I am saving the bucks to get a professional camera. Just for the meer fact of taking my own kids pics will save me booko bucks.

Preschool Report

Elli came home today with her Preschool Assessment Report. I am having a hard time right now not taking things personally, and it is bugging me. Ever since Elli was born, she has always hit every milestone early--rolling over, crawling, walking, TALKING, etc... I don't say this to brag... Anyway, this assessment that was brought home today, lists Elli as completely "average" for a 4 year old. She is right where she should be at this point in preschool. She of course has some areas she is advanced in--hopping, skipping, turns around without falling, stikes a moving object (all things Dean will contribute to his DNA I am sure), sustaining a conversation (another one I think she got from her daddy), sorting similiar objects, and counting. But, the ones I am having a hard time swallowing are the ones that she is delayed in a bit--expressing emotion, moving or placing an object as requested, identifying words in her environment (stop, exit, etc..), and understanding position words (behind, in front of, under, ect...). I am taking this personally. Why? Does any other mother have this problem? I feel like I have let Elli down, by not teaching her these things, or not recognizing that she didn't do these things. And I know that she is SO COMPLETELY NORMAL., but then why is it bugging me? I found myself, at lunch today, quizing Elli on these things--I know, why? I asked her to tell me if the sun was under us or over us. She got it right!! I asked her what she felt like when someone says not so nice things to her---she said sad. She got it right!! I asked her to take her plate to the sink--She got it right!! I wrote 3 words on a piece of paper (exit, stop, fire). I asked her to point to the word "stop". She didn't know this one!! I stopped myself from doing more, b/c I new this was silly. Why was I thinking that my daughter needed to excel in all the areas? Why was I shocked to read that she was "very average"? Wouldn't a lot of parents be thrilled to learn that their child was average. UGGG!! Anyways, just a little venting today, and a little "self-checking" on my part. And a little lesson in humility. Thank you God!

Umm, A little privacy here...

I guess when you are a twin, you just don't expect to get any privacy. This picture was taken last year while the twins were potty training--I just happened to come across it in my mass array of photos and thought it was too funny. They would do this all the time, and would clap and scream for eachother when "anything came out". Oh how I am glad to have that accomplished.