Cupcakes PLEASE???

We had a pretty laid back Saturday and the girls kept asking what we were going to do.  They wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese, but I wasn't about to go there on a Saturday.  So instead I gave them free reign of the kitchen.  I gave them a cake box and a tub of frosting and let them work their magic.  They mixed them, baked them, and decorated them ALL BY THEMSELVES.  I even cheated on my diet to try one and either they are really good bakers or I forgot how good sweet's can be.  Now I just need to teach them how to cook dinner:)

I don't want to go to SCHOOL

 Maycie came out of the bathroom this morning looking like this!  When I asked her what she was doing she said, "I just pulled my tooth out" 

She was pretty impressed with herself...until she looked in the mirror.  Big tears started rolling down her face and she said, "I can't go to school today, I look so weird!!!"  This was how upset she was.  Her excitement was quickly washed away:(

It took a lot of convincing to finally get her to agree to go to school and that it is normal to look a little "weird" when you loose a lot of teeth.

Daddy Daughter Dance

Brilynn was positive she didn't want to go to the Daddy Daughter dance because she didn't want to have to slow dance, whereas Maycie was really excited to go.  John said once they got there, Maycie was totally embarassed and didn't want anything to do with him.  She just wanted to run around and play with her friends.  Brilynn ended up staying with John the whole night and danced the fast songs and SLOW songs.  These girls are complete opposites of each other and  we love them both!!!

Bri bri

So tonight I got a phone call from Brilynn's teacher, Mrs. Forest.  Some of you may know that she is known as a strict teacher at Bluffridge and I think sometimes gets a bad rep. for being "mean."  However, I really felt strong that she would be a good teacher for Brilynn.  I am so glad that I chose her for Brilynn's teacher.  She really has been so good to Brilynn and has really encouraged her to do her best.  So when I got the phone call for her tonight I was a little worried at first.  My heart jumped a little when she told me who she was.  I had a split second where a million things ran through my head of WHY she would be calling me out of nowhere. For those of you who know Brilynn, you know that she has quite a bit of "spunk" to her and I never really know what to expect.   Thank Heavens, it was a good phone call.  Mrs. Forrest said she was just calling to tell me that Brilynn is "kicking butt" at school and thought I would appreciate knowing that.  She said she is the 2nd furthest on her multiplication and the first one to reach all of her AR goals.  It makes a parent feel good to know that their child is doing well at school, but what made me feel even better is that her teacher would take the time (at 7:00 in the evening, after school hours) to make a phone call to a students parent just to tell them what a good student they have.  That is pure dedication in my book and something I truely appreciate.  I am so grateful for both Brilynn and Maycie's school teacher and all that they have done for them this year.  Keep up the hard work girls:) 

Piano Recital

Brilynn and Maycie have been taking piano lessons for about 11 months.  So far, they have enjoyed it and it's just part of their early morning routine to practice.  On Saturday the girls had their Valentine recital.  Brilynn played Beauty and the Beast and Maycie played Valentine Boogie.  Beauty and the Beast had a lot of parts that are similar but still different.  While she was playing she got a little confused and you can tell in her video she kept looking at me.  I knew she wasn't sure where she was in the song but she just kept playing and I don't think anyone else really knew that she actually skipped about a line and a half of her song.   I also am putting up a video of Maycie playing If I lived under the sea.  This is a song that she is going to be using for festival.  Brilynn hasn't started her festival song yet, but is in the process of picking one out. 

Brilynn Piano

Maycie Piano

Maycie Festival

Are you SLEEPING????

We have had many different sleeping arrangements for the twins since they were born.  They first started out in our bedroom in their own basinets.  Once they were about 6 weeks old, they would sleep in their carseats in their bedroom.  As soon as they started getting big enough to wiggle around we transfered them to a crib.  From what I had read...twins do best sleeping together.  Well this wasn't the case for Preslee and Payge.  I got tired of them waking each other up during naps and in the middle of the night.  We set up a porta crib for Payge in our closet and this was her sleeping quarters for the next 3-4 months.  I then decided I would try to put them in the same room but just in different beds.  This worked out very well and worked for about 18 months.  Once the twins were about 2-2 1/2 one day they discovered that they could climb out of their cribs.  I wasn't sure how they were getting out so I decided to spy on them. I found that Preslee was using the dresser to help climb out but Payge was just able to climb out completely on her own.  I rearranged the beds so that there was nothing around Preslee's crib.  This worked and she was no longer able to get out.  I decided to watch and listen one day after laying them down for a nap.  They were quiet for quite some time and then all of a sudden I heard Preslee say to Payge.  "dit out, Payge, dit out!!!"  Payge sat up quickly and responded by saying "Otay Pesse, Otay."  She preceded to climb out of her crib and ran over to play with Preslee who was still trapped in her crib.  This really made me laugh but at the same time, I was not ready to give up nap times.  Once again I knew it was time to rearrange bedrooms.  This time I felt she was to big to be put in the closet.  I didn't want her in Brilynn and Maycie's bedroom or downstairs in the spare bedroom or craft room.  The only other option was to move her crib to the classroom.  Once she didn't have Preslee convincing her to be naughty,  she was content with staying in her crib.  Well the twins will be 3 next month.  I would love to get them both out of their cribs and into their day bed.  We have tried this a couple of times at night and it hasn't been succesful.  They end up talking and playing.  One night John and I thought they had gone to sleep.  When I went up to go to bed I found them in my room watching Aristocats.  I couldn't believe it.  Last night we decided to try it again.  We laid Preslee on the bed and Payge on the pull out trundle.  We explained that if they didn't go to sleep they would each have to go their cribs.  I checked on them a few times and they were really quiet and not moving.  I had high hopes.  However when I went in about 30 minutes later Preslee had moved down to lay by Payge and this is how I found them...PRETENDING THEY WERE ASLEEP!!!  These 2 really do bring much laughter into our home.  Every night Brilynn and Maycie thank Heavenly Father that they are blessed to have Preslee and Payge in our family because they are always making us laugh.  Maybe someday...before they graduate...we will be able to rid our house of cribs.  As for now, they continue to sleep in seperate cribs in seperate rooms. 

Twinny Bopps

Preslee knows her ABC's...ALMOST:)

And Payge learned sign Language...hahaha

TOFW

I must say the "Time Out form Women" could have been a total flop and it would have still been worth the money just to spend a few days with friends. We were spiritually fed and well nurished with lots of laughter and good food.   

 We had quite a bit of waiting time before the program began...thank goodness Stacie had her camera to keep us entertained!!!

 Fishy Faces:)

 Chubby Faces:(

 Stretchy Faces:}

 Not quite sure face????

 Amber and I were supposed to be doing sad faces.  However, I looked so ridiculous...Amber was having a very hard time!

 Ohhhh...SWEET faces.

 Thanks girls for a great weekend.  An even bigger thanks to my "AMAZING" husband for keeping the kids and allowing me to be gone for the whole weekend.  The house was even clean when I got home on Saturday.  What more could a woman ask for.  I am so BLESSED!!!

Tooth #2

Maycie had a tooth that had been pretty loose for a few weeks.  We finally called my Aunt Linda to come over and pull her tooth.  This was the 2nd tooth that she pulled for Maycie. 

 Preslee wanted to see Maycie's tooth.  Her response was "Eww...dats gwoss."

 The only bad thing about this whole experience was that the toothfairy forgot to come...not once, but twice:(  Who is this "Toothfairy???"

Back to LIFE...Back to REALITY

This was our last day before the girls went back on track. Laying in bed watching "Dispicable Me."  We had been off track for 4 weeks and we LOVED it.  Now it's back to homework, schedules, getting up early, getting to bed early, getting dressed EVERYDAY, combing everyone's hair EVERY MORNING...and the list goes on and on.  We look forward to our next break in 6 weeks!!!

Where's all the SNOW???

The girls had been begging for us to go sledding.  I don't remember the last time we didn't have snow on the ground in January.  A few weeks ago we decided to head over to the park even though there wasn't very much snow.  Once I started getting everyone "bundled up" I was quickly reminded how much work it is to get everyone's snow clothes on.  Then the one her gets dressed first gets really hot and starts complaining while I am trying to dress the other 3.  Anyway...

The twins loved their new snow hats.  The "princess flowers" were their favorites!!!   

 You can tell we were really pressing our luck with the snow.  There was enough to keep them entertained though.

 Payge was waiting so patiently for someone to give her a push down the hill.

 Brilynn and Maycie really do take care of the twins.  They feel very lucky to have twin sisters!

 Payge loved going down the hills with Brilynn

 Brilynn was determined that she wasn't to BIG for the twins sled:)

 Poor Preslee had such a hard time bringing the sled back up the hill.

 Good thing Dad was there to come to the rescue!

 Maycie also helped Preslee get up the hill.  What a sweatheart!

 Since the hills were pretty small and like I said before...not a lot of snow, the playground quickly grabbed the girls attention.  It's been a while since we have able to play on the playground. 

My feelings are that if it's going to be cold...we might as well have snow.  We are axiously awaiting the next snow fall and hoping that we can get some "real" sledding in before spring arrives!