About the House

For the past few weeks, we've been putting things away from Christmas and organizing as much as possible.

For Christmas from Mimi and Grandpa, a new kitchen for Alden and Carson! David and I finally put it together after New Years and the boys LOVE it!!
After careful thought, I decided to put it in our kitchen area instead of the playroom. Maybe....(just maybe) I can try to become a bit more of a cook in 2011 if the boys can play in their kitchen while I "play" in mine :) I love our playroom, but it doesn't allow me to cook at all because I can't see them from the kitchen. So, this is resolution number one for me for 2011 - Be more creative in the kitchen!! and thanks to Mimi and Grandpa, hopefully it will be a bit easier.

Next goal - to find a way for Maggie to stop eating all of the boys' kitchen toys!

One day while I had some laundry to do, Carson and Alden decided to help me. I caught this cute shot of them in the basket.

Carson decided one day to help clean out Maggie's crate too - good thing it was just before bathtime!!!

Also, the boys started going to a Mother's Morning Out one morning a week. In an attempt for me to get more errands completed, possibly clean up the house a bit, and work a little more (yes I also have a new {old} venture I haven't even discussed - more to come soon), I decided on this MMO program to benefit the boys and myself.

This was my best attempt at a shot of Alden and Carson on their first day of "school". After I dropped them off (and called Kimberly to fret at the thought that I left them for the first time without family), I was amazed at how much I could accomplish on my own. I was able to run 3 or 4 errands in the time it would take me to run 1 with them in tow! I was very worried about leaving them, but they really enjoyed it!

Seems we have spent a lot of time in our pjs lately as well. After our MMO the first week, inevitably the boys got sick and we spent the next VERY cold week in pjs and at the house a lot.

Mandy came to visit and the boys, as always, were super happy to play with her!

Grandma Kathy and I have been on a mission to get a shot of the boys hugging......no such luck so far.

On my camera, this is the best shot we have to date. They love to lean into each other and hug, I'm so happy that they love each other so much. How blessed we are with this sweet family!

And I MUST leave you with this. My good friend Rian is a mother of three precious children, who just happen to be triplets. Her husband, Chris, has the most hysterical blog and this is his latest post. All I have to say is "Amen Brother" - I cannot tell you how many times I have had a ridiculous conversation very close to this one in the past year and a half!!!

18 Months Old!!

We can't believe it but the boys are 18 months old today! They are growing and changing every day and we are just amazed by their little brains - they're like sponges!! Learning new things every day makes for lots of fun around here! Here is a look back at where we were a year ago, and then a few more pics from the holidays.

Carson One Year Ago Today

Alden One Year Ago Today

The other day, I thought it was awfully quiet in their room where they were playing. I walked in (camera in hand) and saw this - a pic of them in their dresser drawer. They pulled out all of the clothes to fit in it. Unfortunately, I guess they thought the camera meant I liked it - they have continued to empty the dresser daily.

A few days before Christmas, we started a new tradition. Cookie making with the grandmothers. We went to Grandma Kathy's house and she had everything all organized for an afternoon of treats!Alden and Carson using the cookie cutters to cut the sugar cookies.

Then making icing for decorations

Then, a bit of a sugar high after a FEW too many sweets!

And on the other side.....a sugar low...............

This was by far more sugar than they have consumed since their first birthday cakes.

Then, on Christmas Eve, Rachel, Jeff, Grandma Kathy and Pops came over for a brunch - of what else - The Bacon Explosion! If you're a fan of my blog, you'll remember this from last year. This year, David decided to make it au natural - no bbq sauce or rub at all....Just. Pure. Pork.

Kathy has all of the pictures from our Weiss Family Christmas time together - I will make sure to put on our blog once I have them.

Christmas morning at our house - the boys received from Santa this new Easel - I love this shot of them checking it out - including crawling under and behind it.

They also loved their new Curious George books from Mommy and Daddy.

On New Year's Eve, we celebrated Christmas with the Tharpe Fam. LA and Mike, and Scott and Logan were all in town and it was a fabulous time!

Loving this pic of Alden and Aunt Logan reading a book together.

The boys received many more gifts and enjoyed playing with them, as well as the bows from the gift boxes!

On New Years Day, we watched the Gators play and had a nice meal of BBQ, Hoppin' John and Greens - a great time to gather with family for our first day of 2011!

Carson and Grandpa enjoying the game.

And today, when Grandma Kathy and Pops got back in town - the cutest shot on their 18 Month Birthday - reading with Pops!