Sunday, December 20, 2015

Gender Reveal!

I literally have no idea how people wait to find out the gender of their babies! I can barely wait long enough not to go to Fetal Photo and find out a couple weeks earlier!
But I made it to 20 weeks and waited somewhat patiently.

The night before our Dr appointment I had one of those dreams that seem SO real! I dreamt I was having identical twin GIRLS.
I called Russ who was already at work and told him that I just knew they were going to be girls. My mothers instinct!
He told me I was probably right.
I got Lila and myself all ready and was planning on meeting Russ at the appointment.
As I got in the car, Russ called me and said he couldn't go. I of course thought he was joking, and he told me he was super sick to his stomach and had already left work early.
Worst wife award here- I told him I was going anyway and I would meet him at home. I couldn't wait another minute!
I got to the appointment and he was downstairs in the their lobby bathroom sick :( Poor guy still made an effort and drove to our Dr office.
I went up to my appointment and we just text back and forth his status. For the first time ever, I walked right in to the appointment. Since there were 2 babies, they always require extra time for the appointment so she just started looking at everything else, in hopes russ would make it!
She asked if I wanted to know the genders, and just then, Russ summoned up the energy to come upstairs and find out just in time.
She went over baby A.....BOY!
I literally couldn't even believe it. It didn't even feel like she was talking to me because I was so sure it was a girl!
She started on baby B and I thought, how fun, a boy and a girl!. Baby B- BOY!

TWO BOYS!!
Never.Ever.Ever.Ever. crossed my mind that I would be having 2 boys!!!!
I made her double check and give me a percentage on how sure she was it was 2 boys!
She said 99% sure- that was pretty sure I thought.
I think I was almost as much shocked that it was 2 boys as I was learning there were 2 of them in the first place!

After the shock wore off, I was so excited and even more anxious now that I knew.
I couldn't find the actual files to this picture so I had to pull it off from the ol trusty Instagram.
Such a fun day, and poor Russ was able to go home and be sick at home after that.
Sick, but happy to have 2 little hunting buddies to come!
 


Big Sister- she just comes for the suckers.
 
 

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Christmas 2014

I love the holidays!
I love them even more with kids.
Parties, Christmas music, family time, baking, shopping, lights...its all so fun.
I just realized that I have a dilemma with the holidays. I hate celebrating Christmas without having Thanksgiving first, but I hate that the build up to Christmas is to short and goes too fast!
For Lilas first Christmas, I took her to Fotofly to have her pictures taken with "Santa" which was really Russ dressed up. I wanted to do that again, but Russ or my sister couldn't come, so I went by myself with Lila and dressed the part.
She is the most photogenic little girl...until you get her behind a professional. From the very moment she was born she does NOT like to cooperate with a professional photographer, even with us right there with her.
It was still fun to dress up and get a grumpy face to remember 2014 by :)


They had a plate of cookies that was a prop for photos. They were really cookies and had me hold them out to her to see if we could get a good shot. By the time she finished getting her cookies she beat an all time record by a child in that studio and grabbed SEVEN cookies in one hand. I was proud.

 
Russ and I made caramel apples for our neighbors, and I made hot cocoa packets for friends and misc gifts!
Lila and I also made a gingerbread house one night, although it was mostly me and a bunch of kid handled leftover candy.
 
 
 
We started celebrating Christmas with my side of the family a week early.
That way my brother can be in town to celebrate with us, and be back home to do their own family Christmas morning in Idaho.
 
 

My awesome parents gave us this amazing bike attachment for the twins.
 
My crazy sisters and the Christmas miracle of getting that vest zipped up over 2 babies.
 
 
My favorite part of the night was when I overheard my nephew reading to Lila, "Twas the night before Christmas, and all through house, the kids were sleeping, hoping they had been good! But don't worry little girl, you've been good."
 
Russ's family does their big Christmas party on Christmas Eve.
They have a big dinner, nativity and talent show.
Lila was a lamb. And her talent was knowing where the garbage can was and throwing things away.
 
After the talent show, Russ's mom continues her Swedish tradtion of Santa Lucia and comes out with a crown of lit candles and hands out gifts.
 
 
I love that tradition.
We headed home after all of us opened our Christmas jammies. I had asked for a nice silk robe to wear after giving birth to the twins. Russ did a good job of picking it out.
Lila went to bed and we waited for Santa to come :)
 
*CHRISTMAS MORNING*
He came! And he brought lila a toy kitchen! She has loved that thing and plays on it daily!
A new tea party set!
 
I think it was a success.
 
 
After, we head back to the Nelsons...my favorite part...in our PAJAMAS!
I love not having to hurry and get ready and spend part of your Christmas in the bathroom and fighting a child to get dressed. Nope, brush your teeth, and you're out the door!
 
We spent most of the day there, and headed back to my parents to wish them a merry Christmas and sit by the fire...and take selfies.
 
 
 

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Thanksgiving 2014

We rotate Thanksgiving every other year with each family.
Its nice not to have to worry about cutting one family short, and trying to eat at both places.
2014 was the year of the Nelsons.
Russ has a big family- 8 kids total, but this was a quiet thanksgiving at his parents which was still really nice.
One of his siblings and his wife was in Italy for a much deserved getaway, so we got the enjoy their cute kids while they were away, along with his youngest brother.

I made my traditional rolls while Russ and Lila watched the parade.

 
Its crazy how much Lila has changed.
Russ's parents have a really great place. It sits on 9 (I think ) acres in a beautiful litte town against the mountains. Their house has very much a rustic farm house feel, and is so warm and inviting.
The top play room floor has a slide that comes down just outside of the kitchen with a pile of blankets at the bottom to cushion the landing :)
Lila up in the playroom waiting for dinner:
 
 
 
Because they do live on a farm with lots of fun animals, there are almost always kittens!
Or crazy cat Griffin is from their barn, and if those cats are anything like her, they are a tad on crazy side.
 
 
 
Russ showing Lila is elk he shot a few years back. Im grateful to my inlaws for keeping it at their house so I don't have to keep it in mine :)
 
 
I love the tradition the family has to go around during dinner and say what you are thankful for. Its slightly embarrassing that I am the only one that cried, but I have so much to be thankful for, and there is something about just saying it aloud in front of those you love.
 
 
 
In just a few shorts we were about to meet our 2 new additions to the family!