1st Zoo Trip

While Shawn was on his spring break, we took the girls for the their first trip to the zoo. The loved it! Until they realized they couldn't touch the animals, then there was a lot of frustration and crying.

It's hard to get good pictures of 2 babies, but 2 babies AND animals was nearly impossible, but here are some.

The Easter display at the zoo

Flamingos

Turtles

Giraffes

Peacock (Parker was a little afraid and didn't like the Peacock coming near the gate)

Olive's new thing is to drag this bunny everywhere, I feel sorry for the beating he takes!

This is a classic Olive face of "What's happening?"

Zebras

EGG HUNT

I know it's a bit early, but the girls went to their first Easter egg hunt this weekend with the ward primary, and I had to post these cute pictures. The "hunt" was really more putting eggs in the grass, but they totally understood what to do!

High-Fives

Lately, Parker thinks giving high-fives is the funniest thing around. Here is some video right before the girls were getting ready for bed and having some high-five time. (And yes, that is Tone Loc's "Wild Thing" in the background, we were also having a dance party).

Photo with Santa

The Girls' first one! We did not have high expectations, since they both are in a "freak out around strangers" phase. Much less keeping it cool while on an old guy with a beards lap. But they did fine! They were a little leery, but by the time they figured out that they didn't want to do it - it was over and....success!

Looking back on the first year

Now that I have posted all the fun pics, I wanted to blog about looking back on the first year with the girls. Just a way to remember how I felt one year into it...

First - I am just glad we all survived! It has been a tiny bit crazy. Remebering getting wheeled out of the hospital with 2 babies in my arms and thinking "What the heck am I suppose to do now!" I felt like Shawn and I got thrown into the deep end of parenting with no swim lessons!

Being a new mom must be overwhelming for anyone, but trying to do everything times 2 seemed pretty much impossible at the beginning. But we always have said we will just take it one day at a time, and just try to get to the next bedtime :)

And here we are 1 year later...several bedtimes later...

I can't believe how much we have learned. I definitely would not say we have this parenting thing down, but I am so proud of us and how far we have come. I think we make a great team.

The things I have been most surprised with in the first year:

1. The sleep deprivation! I know everyone says you don't get much sleep, but I never would have imagined this! With 2 babies taking turns getting teeth, getting colds, having an off night - whatever - one of them is basically always awake. It seems like sleep is a distant memory. I feel pretty excited if I get 4 hours in a row. I can't believe I can function most days.

2. Being a mom is painful - I mean physically painful - I get bit, scratched, head butted in the face, hit in tantrums. I trip on stuff and stub my toes in the dark in the middle of the night. I sometimes feel so beat up with bruises and marks all over!

3. As a mom you never have alone time, but sometimes you feel really lonely. I am with the girls all day (I would not have it any other way) but this means I have very little adult interaction and I don't get out as much as I want to. My mom uniform has been yoga pants and t-shirts and the most conversation I get a day is usually by facebook! It can be very isolating, which is very different for me.

4. The days are long but the years are short - someone at church said this to me, and I think of it often. Some days are so hard and so long that I am just counting the minutes until Shawn gets home to help me. But then it feels like a blink of an eye and my girls are so big.

5. Lastly, I have figured out in the past year, that I was destined to be a mom...I love this role, it is everything I hoped, wished, dreamed and waited so long for. I love to see my girls each morning (even on no sleep) I love to hold and kiss them (even when they are biting me) and I love our time just the 3 of us girls to play, sing songs and laugh. I have never felt so much joy, and I am so blessed by my Heavenly Father to get to be a mom to Olive & Parker...

I often say to myself, "Everyday may not be great, but I am grateful for everyday"

Love you girls - my whole heart full!

FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY!

The girls turned 1 on Nov 30th and we had a big party to celebrate. We were planning to have it at our local park but it was too cold and windy so we had it in our church gym, which turned out great.
Shawn and I probably went a little bit overboard, but we had so much fun planning it! The theme was all their favorite things. So we did their favorite foods, games and toys. We had taken them to a party a few months ago that had a bouncy house and I was surprised that they loved it - so we couldn't resist.
Here are A LOT of pics - it was such a fun day!!

Getting ready for cake
O was a little bit scared about all the singing

P was a little more excited

making caramel apples

Grandpa & Olive

Shawn made the girls sugar free applesauce cakes - healthy yes...yummy, not so much...

Their favorite foods - Pirates Booty, Raisins, Grapes and String Cheese

Favorite toys and games

Literally a room full of boxes and beach balls and it was a HUGE hit with the girls and all the kids!!

First Halloween!

Here are some pictures from our weekend. Parker was a monkey and Olive was an elephant. They looked so cute in their costumes, and they thought it was hilarious to see each other in them.

In preparation for the big day, we got the girls dressed up in their Bronco Cheerleader outfits that Marcia's co-worker Ashley got them - SO CUTE!

Parker with our pumpkin before carving.

And both girls after Dad carved it

And finally, the costumes...

Animal Tails


One mischievous looking monkey!