Feeding Table, Grandparents, and Halloween!

WOW! I can't believe it has been two weeks since my last post. I won't go into lengthy details, but we've had a crazy last few weeks that included both sides of grandparents visiting (yeah!), sinus infection #1 (Ella), a trip to the ER at 1:00 am for a 104 fever and what turned out to be a bad ear infection (Ruby), and sinus infection #2 (Molly). You are jealous, I know. However, I can't forget to mention that we did have a few good days in the mix of all that fun.

Papa and Molly

Nana and Ella cooking dinner

My parents, Nina (how Ella says Nana) and Papa, came to visit for a few days and it was so nice to have them here. A few months ago I was reading the blog of a mom of triplets and her husband had built a feeding table for their kids. Well, my dad is a gifted carpenter, and he built a triple feeding table for the girls. It is so great! Now that the twins are almost sitting up on their own, they LOVE to sit and play with their toys, and of course eat (which I must say they are really enjoying). Ella really likes sitting at the table as well. They have a table very similar at her MDO that seats 6 kids. When the twins get a little bigger we will insert larger seats like the one for Ella. This should last us at least a few years and will be great for feeding time, craft time, and Mommy needs a few minutes to herself time (ha ha!). My dad also crafted it so that we can disassemble very easily for traveling and when we no longer need the triple top with seats, he can easily replace the top to be a regular table. My dad did an awesome job. Anyone interested in one, let me know!! Thanks, Dad!

Triple feeding table

3 ducks in a row - there were a few eye poking moments, poor Ruby!

Ruby after sweet potatoes

Molly after sweet potatoes

Then Wes's parents, Grandma and Grandpa (Ella says ma-ga for grandma, we are working on it) came to visit. It was a great visit. Grandpa Rick works a month on and a month off in China right now and he literally got off the plane and got on another plane to come see us. I know he was tired, but the girls loved playing with him. We got spoiled during their visit. They babysat for us one night so Wes and I could get dinner together. It's amazing how just an hour of alone time can help you reconnect. Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!

Grandma and Molly

Grandma feeding a baby and Ella playing with her house

Ella loves this house. Nana picked it up at a resale shop back home. It came with a family and furniture.

And of course, I must post pics of the girls in their Halloween costumes. We went trick-or-treating on the square downtown.

My butterfly

Ella enjoyed trick or treating...at first she didn't understand why everyone was putting candy in her bucket, but she got the hang of it.

Ella and Daddy

First lollipop...uh oh!!

Ruby the Flower

Molly the Flower

They are soooo funny!

Halloween tees and bows

Molly

Ruby

We have an eventful week coming up. Keep us in your prayers. Ella has surgery this Friday to put tubes in her ears and have her adenoids removed. We need to get through this week without any sickness.

I hope you all had a fun Halloween! I can't believe Thanksgiving is knocking on the door!!

Happy Halloween!

Keep the Faith,

Marquee Monday

Have there ever been times in your life that you haven't been able to devote time each day to the Lord? Well, for probably the last three years, I have not consistently devoted quiet time each day or sometimes weeks to be still and focus my attention on God. Ok, I'm not proud ya'll, but it's the truth. Many times these days, the only time I spend talking to God is in my car driving somewhere or while I'm taking a shower. Well, funny thing, as I think back about 3 years....that's when I started to take a different route to work, and just about everywhere else (no coincidence).

There are two churches on this route that change their marquee every week. One week it may be a bible verse, the next a fun play on words, but always a profound statement that really speaks to me and ALWAYS what I needed to see/hear that day or week. So, no matter how far I feel from God, He is NEVER far from me. I am so glad that I am ALWAYS important to Him. So are you.

So, I thought each Monday, I would post the marquee signs from these churches, and any others I may see...

I thought I would also share another picture of God showing His love to us...in the beauty all around us. I can't get over how awesome the trees are right now...even the trees are "blazing" with His glory!! WOW!

Happy Monday, Ya'll!!

Keep the Faith,

Chili and Cupcakes plus more...

Well, where have I been for almost two weeks?? It has been crazy in our household to say the least! Check out what we've been up to...

Nana Becky came for a quick unplanned visit which was SOOOO wonderful!! Wes took a road trip with some friends to Dallas for the A&M vs Arkansas game and it just so happened Continental had a special from Houston for $119!! It was such an answered prayer, because my mom was able to help with girls while Wes was gone. We had so much fun. She helped me stock my freezer with some yummy meals. My mom is an AWESOME cook!! When I was about 5 yrs old, she and a partner opened a restaurant, Two Friends Tearoom. They served lunch everyday as well as catered tons of events. ALL of the food was homemade as well as the desserts. Of course, I worked there pretty much every weekend and over the summer when I was growing up. Probably why I love food so much and why I myself love to cook. Wes and I live far from family, and it's funny how cooking helps me feel close to my Mom and family. So, when I get a chance, I will create a recipe blog and post some yummy recipes. We made Manicotti, Chicken Enchiladas, Stromboli, Meatloaf, and Twice Baked Potatoes.

While Nana was visiting we also took a trip to McGarrah Farms Pumpkin Patch down the road. It had been raining all day and was REALLY chilly, but there was a break in the weather so we bundled up the girls and headed out. It was a lot of fun, but we couldn't stay that long. I bought some of the most perfect pumpkins and gourds I have ever seen. They also have great areas for photo ops, so we tried to catch a few pics. Of course, Ella decided to be a whinny pants, but the twins were hamming it up.

This was our first time to visit the Pumpkin Patch, and I am SOOO excited about it! It's sure to become a tradition for us every year from now on.

The Fall arrangement I put together on our front porch...I love Fall!

Getting all bundled up

The only happy picture I got of Ella

Molly and Ruby were too funny! They really are such happy smiley babies.

Now, Ella was a different story...she was a little nervous about the scarecrow sitting behind Nana.

Ella was not too happy about this, but when Nana and I stuck our heads through she decided it was ok. They also have one that is the three little pigs...I have to go back so I can get all three of the girls. It was SO cute! Maybe Ella would be better the second time around.

Nana was able to stay Monday, so she helped me take the twins for their 6 month check up. Oh boy, what fun we had. They both did really well, of course until the shots rolled around. The next couple of days were pretty rough. They both had fevers because of the shots, but Ruby's fever got pretty high. So we stayed around the house a lot last week, BUT they seem to be back to normal. Yeah!!

AND, then on Saturday night my best friend Emily brought a b-day party to me. We had planned to get a sitter for the girls and get out with Emily and her husband, Jay, as well as another good friend of mine, Elaine, and her husband, Adam.

Emily and Jay

Elaine and Adam - Elaine is the talented photographer who has taken many wonderful pictures of our family. She is so gifted! You can check out her blog and website here at

Elaine Melinda Studios. She just finished editing our family photo session, so I will post some photos next time.

Me and Wes

BUT, that wasn't going to happen, so Emily made YUMMY chili and SUPER SUPER YUMMY cupcakes!

Holy Cow were they delicious. Has anyone ever heard of Magnolia Bakery in NYC?? Well, every time Emily and I would go to NYC for work, we would visit a different cupcake bakery. We never got to go to Magnolia Bakery together, but each of us did get to go on different occasions. Well, they have THE BEST cupcakes and Emily made their icing to put on the cupcakes she brought. They were sooooo good!! She gave the leftovers to Wes and I, and let me tell you...they didn't stay leftover for long! Thanks so much Emily and Elaine for such a wonderful evening!! We had so much fun!

Which brings me to...heading back to the gym after a LONG time. Today was my first time back to the gym in let's say...2 years (at least). So, one day down...wish me luck!

Hope everyone is doing well...Happy Monday!!

Keep the Faith,

6 Month old Cupcakes

So, my precious cupcakes were 6 months old on Wednesday. I would say, "where has the time gone", BUT as hard as it is to believe the twins are 6 months old, I didn't think we would ever get here!! The last 6 months have been the most exhausting in my life, AND although we are not sleeping through the night yet, I'm hopeful that milestone is just around the bend. Everyone asks me if it has gotten easier. My answer is a resounding "No!", but I will say it has gotten better simply because we have a routine and we are able to get out of the house for an hour here and there. Now if I only had a Jetson's kitchen that magically cleaned itself and a laundry room that folded laundry...THEN I would say things had gotten easier.

They love to look at each other and smile...laugh...it's soooo sweet!

Every once in a while you will catch one chewing on the other's hand - I scratch your back you scratch mine mentality.

Molly

Ruby wouldn't look at the camera, she was too interested in chewing on her toys. They both LOVE the exersaucer...I have to say, so do I!

Wednesday was also my Birthday. That is our MDO day and I was so excited. I ran some errands and met Wes for lunch at Table Mesa (YUMMO!!!). Soon after we finished lunch MDO called to tell me Molly had a fever...so, I had to pick up the girls. Not sure what the problem was (I think the twins are teething), but all seems to better now. Wes brought home dinner from Copeland's and I got a small cake so we could celebrate. Ella was SO excited about the cake...she takes after her Mom for sure. I'm convinced cake is the perfect food.

I have a busy day ahead. Continental had a ticket special and Nana is coming to visit for the weekend. I am SUPER excited! I need to clean house, not like it will do a bit of good due to Hurricane Ella. When Nana comes to visit we always do some kind of cute project, usually for the girls...I'm thinking this time I need to replenish my freezer meals...whatever it may be I will do a post.

Have an awesome weekend!