I wonder if when they get older if they will grow to resent being called "The Twins". It just seems like they are one person when referred to that way, when in fact they are 2 very different people. Ah well, we'll deal with that when the time comes. For right now, they are "The Twins" for all intents and purposes.
Jason had this past weekend off so I asked...wait, that should be "badgered, picked, nagged, and never relented until he did it"....him to take some new posed photos of our bon bebes. He complied. Not surprising the tactics I used.
We started with doing some on Wednesday night after the kids had gone to bed. That didn't go too well. The babies didn't like it one bit! Jason did manage to get some pretty cute pics out of all the ones of them crying and screaming. Even some of the crying ones were pretty cute!
Here they are when they were first set down on the couch.
and within a few seconds this is what resulted.
However, Jason persevered. Through his frustrations and my insistence he kept on going. He did manage to catch some really memorable shots.
I thought that maybe having the two of them together would calm them down. It kind of did. It didn't cheer them up any, but, for the most part, they stopped crying. In these two, Abbey looks quite a bit smaller than Jack, however that isn't actually the case. While she may be a couple of pounds lighter (and at this age, a couple of pounds is quite a bit) they are almost exactly the same height, with Abbey about a quarter of an inch shorter. Abbey was leaning on Jack's shoulder and I was propping her up at that angle with my hand behind her back.
So we tried again on Sunday afternoon. We set it up in our bedroom with gorgeous all natural light streaming through our big bedroom windows. Jack was first because he was awake and calm and rather cooperative, well, kind of cooperative.
Then I changed Jack's clothes. He didn't really care for that and became less cooperative. I really was hoping to catch a smile, but he was not forthcoming.
Abbey woke up at about that time. I didn't have any clothes for her pulled because she had been sleeping, so while I got up to get those, Jason took a few shots of Abbey. One of them turned out pretty well I think.
Between each change of clothes Abbey wanted to be held tight to calm down. She really likes being held so close you almost feel like you will squish her tiny body. We didn't have that with any of the other kids.
Once again I wanted pics of the two of them together. I had always thought that I wouldn't dress my twins alike. After all, with them being boy/girl, you'd think it would be hard to do. Amazingly, it's not that hard at all! I admit that I do it frequently even. I will see one thing I like for one of them and then go looking for the counter part in the opposite sex. Sometimes I find it, sometimes I don't. If I don't, that may sway me to not buy the original one I liked.
When we had it confirmed that Jack and Abbey were in fact boy and girl, I went to The Children's Place to pick up some cute clothes. I had a coupon and lots of stuff was on sale, as is usual for there. This is one of the dresses that I bought.
Those are all of the pics I have of the babies right now. I have some that I need to edit that are rather recent candid shots of the older kids and I'll post those later this week.
Prayers and blessings everyone, I hope your week finds you well.
Yes, I know this post is a week late. Sorry about that. Things were pretty crazy this past week. We had something going on every day through Friday. So Saturday was a day to relax. I got the photos edited, just not posted yet. Well, they are posted on Facebook. However, it's easier to post on Facebook. I don't have to edit them a 2nd time to make them fit within the space that I'm alotted due to formatting.
From what I'm told, the party was deemed a success. If you were there, and you thought otherwise, please let me know so that when Thanksgiving comes around, I can fix that!
Personally, I think the food was good, the company great, the children pretty well behaved. People brought gifts and they were all lovely and wonderful. I don't have any thank you cards *note to self, pick up thank you cards on Monday* or I'd send them out.
There were more people who attended that aren't pictured. Jason only kept his camera out for a short time. I'm trying to collect photos from at least my sister. I'd like to get the ones my mom has too, however I know her computer is super slow so I'm not too worried about that. After everyone ate, the kids were outside so the smokers went out to sit and keep an eye on them. Oddly it worked out that it was basically my family outside and Jason's family inside. Jason stayed inside and I went out, though Jason smokes and I don't. It's why there are pics of stuff inside but not out. I honestly didn't think to take the camera outside with me.
The food was wonderful. I made baked bbq pork rib chunks, grilled chicken, ham and pineapple pasta salad, and cheesecake brownies. Audra brought 7 layer salad with no peas, so I guess it's actually 6 layer salad. She makes it with no peas just for me, she knows I won't touch them with a 7 foot pole. My sister asked Tim to make the cake, and she chose the decs for it. My mom brought taco dip, which I really liked. Rhonda brought a peanut butter pie, which I was told was really good. I don't like peanut butter so I didn't have any. Jack brought green bean casserole. dad brought a big sheet of brownies (that Izzy kept putting his hands in to), baked beans, and deviled eggs. Audra also brought the paper plates, utensils, cups, and 2 coolers of drinks - lemonade and iced tea.
This is the cake that Tim made. Katie called me no less than 3 times from Hobby Lobby to talk about the decorations. I think she chose well. They are definately my style and the colors are good for having a party for boy/girl twins.
This is what the kids did for everyone who came. They all ran outside to greet them. This is the only pic I can find that has James in it. I think for the rest of the time he was off playing with his cousins or something like that.
My mom, Vicki, and Abbey.
A nice profile shot of Abbey.
Audra and Jack.
DJ is the sullen teen. Jack had just puked on Audra's arm and Donnie is helping her out by cleaning her up.
Izzy eating. It's what he did the entire time.
Jayden. I'm pretty sure she was just inside to get a drink. We hardly saw the kids unless we were outside.
This is Sue, my dad's wife. They were married the same year Jason and I were. And Jack and Christina were. 2005 was a big year for weddings in my family. Sue said she wore this shirt because it was the only one she owned that has both blue and pink in it.
Katy Beth. I'm not sure where the little girl went and how this teenager was left in her place.
Audra's other son Matthew. He loves little kids. He always wanted to be a big brother, so he really dotes on the kids when they go down there to visit or when he comes up here.
The red head is Jason's Aunt Mikki (Mickey?). She is Marian's sister. I don't know if she is older or younger, I *think* older. From the pictures I've seen, she was quite the looker when she was younger.
Sue and Abbey.
Our dads. My dad, Jim, has the beard. Jason's dad, Dave, is the guy who always seems to be smiling. The dads seem to get along well. Whenever they are together (Thanksgiving along with other family gatherings I organize) they talk for quite a long time with each other about pretty much everything.
Jason's mom, Marian, and Jack. To me, it looks like she's playing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" with him, though I'm not really sure what it was, I was in the kitchen cooking or something like that.
Jason's mom, Aunt Mikki, and Jack.
Aunt Mikki
Jason's dad, Dave.
Aunt Mikki and Jack.
Katie Ann and I in the office/baby room. Jason was going around taking pics and while he was doing that, he was taking pics of the clean rooms. He followed us in to the office to take a pic of the clean office. He told me that was why he was in there, just to have proof it was clean at some point in history, so I flipped him off. Trust me, while the office looks rather cluttered and messy, it's been known to be MUCH worse, however with the babies now sleeping in there (well, here cause it's where I'm at right now) full time, it'll be staying cleaner.
Audra helping Izzy get in to the brownies. We ended up bringing 1/2 the brownies to our homeschool group's "Not Back to School Party" on Tuesday. We apologized for all of the 3 year old hand prints in the frosting. The moms understood.
Jack sizing Jack up. I'm looking forward to when I'll be able to get pics of the two of them full grown sizing each other up. I have a feeling they'll be looking pretty close eye to eye with one another.
Jason's mom, Marian, and Abbey.
Jason's dad, Dave, and Jack.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Remember to take some time and spend it with your family, even if you just shoot off a quick email or call and leave a message on their phone.
