Weekly Wrap-up: Video Edition

January is in full swing! School has started up along with Madi's tennis and swim lessons, my weekly Bible study, etc. But the most fun has definitely been watching the three of these girls. They are so joyful (I know, broken record here) and they entertain us nightly. So enjoy some laughter and a glimpse into the start of 2017 for us. :-)

First up - the scooter. The twins have decided that they are big enough for any activity that Madi does. Including, but not limited to standing on chairs, climbing the cat tower, and riding the scooter. They will stand patiently on it while Madi or one of us pulls them around the living room. Makes perfect sense.

1. "Mommy, take a picture of me upside down!"
2. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse entrancement...
3. Evy playing
4. Lazy cats
5. Lots of laughs on the mini trampoline!
6. Liv snuggles
7. Selfie with the Little Sisters
8. We tried a new restaurant by our house, but the girls were not in the mood. YouTube for the win.
9. Evy and Madi earning their keep by helping unload the dishwasher


Puzzles are all the rage in the house right now. And shape sorters. Really anything along those lines. Evy especially has taken to matching shapes. She loves this Mellissa and Doug animal puzzle she got for Christmas and can finish it pretty quickly. Jason thought it would be funny to turn it upside down on her and sure enough, the first time he did she went straight for the usual places and animals. After a second she stopped trying and flipped the board! So quick. I wanted to capture it on video, but by this point she knew our game.

1. Madi learning how to play Skip Bo during sisters' naptime.
2. Daily afternoon dose of Mickey
3. Cat. She has destroyed multiple toilet paper rolls this month. She's free to a good home.
4. Stylin' Liv
5. Trampoline tickles
6. Bedtime is still shot. Now they've stolen our chairs and just sit here with these looks on their faces while we dance and sing like monkeys for them.
7. Salads - we found amazing lettuce (a true rarity here) and now order weekly and love having them back!
8. Sweet bedtime snuggles
9. Madi is an amazing big sister and the twins love her so very much. Evy's eye say it all in this picture - she makes them laugh, smile, and they look up to her. So precious!


So remember when we went to the circus in December? Did we forget to tell you about the obnoxious noisemakers that Grandma purchased? Well here, don't let us deprive you of the wonderful experience. (Can anyone actually figure out what they toy is saying??)

And just in case you didn't believe me when I said that evenings were entertaining around here, I've got three more videos of spinning in circles until your dizzy and fall down, laughter when being smothered, and races with walkers.

And finally my favorite of the month so far - the best Daddy in the world balances all three of his amazing girls. We sure are blessed to have him!

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Evelyn and Olivia: 18 Months

You'll notice it's gotten exponentially challenging to get a good, non-blurry picture of either girl. They are constantly on the move and keeping up with them is tiresome! They are both starting to understand basic directions and help with things like cleaning up, bringing us stuff, and coming when we ask. If they are in the mood. We are also starting to get quite a bit of sass from both of them.

Both of you love to dance! You love music and keep "singing" at bedtime. Speaking of bedtime, apparently us holding you for a couple praise and worship songs and snuggles are in the past. Now you just want to run laps across the bedroom floor and turn the lights off and on. I think this age was around the same time Madi threw out the bedtime routine also so we probably should have seen it coming. You do however give Madi and one another hugs and kisses and it has got to be the most precious thing ever. We need to capture it on video while we still have a chance - ha!

There is a new (old) favorite show in the house - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I say new (old) because Madi was enthralled with it for the longest time, but since her attention span lengthened to actual movies we haven't done as many TV shows. However, a Mickey Mouse was brought and quickly snagged by Evelyn who will now ask for "Me-mee" and start bobbing her head (called dancing for her - ha!) and saying "dit dah dit dit dah" like the song at the end "Hot dog hot dog hot diggety dog". Evy will also clap and raise both her hands in the air when they sing that song at the end of each episode. If this trend sticks I'm thinking an "Oh Two-doodles" birthday theme will be in order. ;-)

Apparently I am now Daddy as both of you have started calling me that rather than any variation of Mommy. Evy won't switch back to Mommy at all, but if I say "Who am I?" silly to Liv then she will smile and say "Mommy!" So you are playing me. That is obvious.

This month you've both started "riding" Madi's scooter. You'll put both feet on the base and hold on while one of us walks you around the living room. During this exercise the other parent is pushing the other one or two in the small car or tricycle or balance bike. This has become our nightly exercises.

Once we move from the bottom floor (with the modes of transportation) up to the third floor in an attempt to settle down before bedtime, we find all three of you spinning in circles. All of you, but especially Evy, make yourselves so dizzy that you stumble around falling over and occasionally hitting the floor. It's a futile attempt to wind down before bedtime.

- Evy is starting to say "Pease" for "Please" regularly. She's also started saying "Yeah" in the cutest voice that she doesn't realize will cause Daddy to give her anything she asks for it's so adorable. She also says "Toodles", "Bubble", and quite a few others that I'm blanking on now.
- We thought you were the cautious one, but apparently that does not extend to people since you've walked up to and opened your arms to be picked up by all of the following strangers: workmen in the house, salad delivery person, giant turtle costume person, and giant bunny person. We obviously need to work on your stranger-danger scenarios.
- You've got 16 teeth and just need your back four molars (2 top, 2 bottom) for a complete set.

- While your sister has mastered "Please" and "Yeah", you my dear have mastered "No" And let's just say you like to shake your head and use it regularly even if we are offering something you want. It takes you a second and then you nod your head yes or motion with your hand to give it to you.
- You've had your first two-word sentences and regularly say "Hi Daddy", "Bye Daddy", "Hi Mommy", and "Bye Mommy"
- You are our little diva still and love necklaces and any bag that you can put things in and carry around with you.
- You remain more hesitant with strangers and family until you've been around them for a little while. Quite the opposite of your sister!
- You've got 14 teeth and just need your back four molars (2 top, 2 bottom) plus 2 additional top teeth for a complete set.


Both of you love to laugh (something I think I mention every month, but am so grateful about). You love to play with one another and your big sister. We are so blessed to be your parents and love you! ♥

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Battling Distraction

I've realized a problem in my mothering that I'm consciously working to correct. It's a common mistake amongst women today and I fear the habits and consequences that will result of action isn't taken now to rectify the behavior. What's my problem? Distraction.

I'm distracted by my phone- the girls are playing around me and begging for my attention.

I'm distracted by my own agenda- I have something I want to get done and so my patience is non existent and my temper quick to reprimand when my attention is broken.

I'm distracted by the daily tasks of running a household- grocery shopping, meal planning and execution, laundry, etc.

Some of these distractions are necessary. There are places we have to go and things that have to be done. But how much am I missing by not focusing on what really matters? By not connecting with my family in the mundane every day things? Like not putting down my phone to play with them? Or not giving five more minutes of cuddles rather than hurrying to finish the dishes? These are the things I'm worried about missing because I'm distracted.

This past Sunday we went to the indoor play area. We are at a stage where outings are hit or miss depending on moods and we move slow as molasses trying to get anywhere. However, it was a magical afternoon. My phone put away (except for a couple minutes of pictures, baby steps), the girls played for hours, and smiles were everywhere.

I want to remember the way Madi scampered up to go down the huge blue side all by herself shouting for us to watch her. She barreled down with glee and happiness at her accomplishment. I want to remember the way she bounced on the trampoline laughing and hair flying wildly.

I want to remember the way Evy stood with me at the bottom of the slide, pointing at her big sister coming down, laughing with her and shouting "ma-mee" I want to remember how she got so excited to see the turtle and bunny characters. How she ran to them and put her arms open for them to pick her up. How she gave them high fives, blew kisses, and said "buh-bye" when it was time to go.

I want to remember the way Liv climbed over to the slide, sat down, and then slid into my arms smiling and laughing. I want to remember how when I tried to pick her up after the slide she became limp and lay on her back flat smiling to be tickled and laughing with glee.

These are the memories that I want to remember with my precious girls. I'm so thankful I put my phone away for most of the visit and connected with them. I'm making a conscious effort to be present daily and build the relationships I have with my precious blessings.

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