Christmas Recap

Our Christmas celebrations started the weekend before Christmas in Springfield with my extended family. We spent the day with both sets of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was alot of fun but a very full day. We drove there and back the same day. Home around midnight.

Great Grandpa Doyle with boys

Cousin Preston & Madi

Bows & Boxes are more fun than gifts.

Lots of stockings

Uncle Bubba helping Madi

Aunt Ally

Cousin Kennice & Madi

For Christmas Eve we went to Matt's parents for lunch and gifts with his brother and sister in law.


Photo by Madison
Grandma Dolly

Papa John

Christmas Day we started out at home to open our gifts to each other and then went to my parents for the rest of the day. Matt and my siblings spent most of the afternoon playing Wii.

Princessed out! She got lots of dress up stuff from us.

Micah is sitting Big...

and so is Mason.

Haley, Nana, & Poppi with the kids.

And finally a family photo.

It was a wonderful holiday spent with all the important people in our lives.
We hope you had a wonderful one as well.

Blog name contest- I need your help!

Christmas photos are coming soon, but first I have a little contest for you. As many of you know I have started collecting many crafting supplies over the last few months. I got my cricut and since then have quite a supply of paper, stamps, etc. My plan is to start card making and many other projects I am sure. I would like to have a blog dedicated just to my crafts. Here is where your help comes in. I would like to have a contest for the blog name. The winner will get a $5 Starbucks card.

So get your creative juices flowing and leave a comment with your idea. It could have something to do with any of the following: crafts, M's (all of our M names/M&M's), craft mom, Marteney, Stamping, Paper, Etc. There are some really cute blog names out there but this is sooo not my strength. Help me out!

I cannot wait to see what you come up with.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! May you have a blessed holiday and New Year.

First Christmas Memories!

From this:

To This:

A very shy Madi (I had to tickle her for the smile), Smiley Micah (he liked the beard), and a very unsure Mason.




When Santa asked what Madison wanted for Christmas she told him a doll. Santa asked if she wanted a baby doll or a dress up doll. What is a dress up doll? Of course that is what she answered. Well hopefully princess barbies from Santa will qualilfy. We left with candy canes in hand and a cute picture to put in everyone's photo albums. First Christmas memory completed. The last time Madison saw Santa was actually her first Christmas at 2 weeks old. I have a feeling I won't get away with that again next year though.

We start our first Christmas celebration on Saturday with my grandparents and extended family. Madison's 3rd of 4 weekends with presents. December is a good month for her. {grin}
I am almost ready. I have one gift left to purchase. Actually Matt does. Lots of peppermint biscotti to make tomorrow, and lots of wrapping to finish. I cannot believe Christmas is actually almost here. Where did 2009 go? Having 2 babies will do that I guess.
I cannot wait to see what fun memories we will make this year.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

3 years ago today my journey into Motherhood began. I had no idea what an amazing journey it would be. A mix of pure joy and exhaustion. Amazingly sometimes at the same time. Madison's first year taught me so much about myself as a person and as a mom. I truly believe it was preparation for an even bigger test. Twins! I feel so blessed to have 3 healthy happy children and the best job in the world!

I will be 3 on my next birthday is what Madison has been saying for weeks. Well today she is officially 3 years old, 36lbs, and 37inches. How did my beautiful little girl grow up so fast? She has really become a little girl rather than a toddler. She has always been quite advanced in her vocabulary, but now she just doesn't stop talking. I love it. She has come up with some funny sayings lately like, "Are you kidding me!", and "What's the big idea?". She has also become very independent. Wanting to dress herself and help with anything I can let her.

She has developed quite the imagination as well. Pretend play happens all day long. Including the brown dog who makes funny faces and has sharp teeth. He apparently lives under daddy's chair at dark. Where do they get these things? Dress up and her new doll house are her newest enjoyment. I love having a girl. Everything in our world revolves around princesses and anything pink. So fun. She is such a good big sister. She loves her brothers "SO MUCH" as she always tells them. And they light up and laugh for her better than anyone else. I love this relationship. They constantly bring a smile to my face.

Last weekend we had her kids party with 15 of her friends at Pump it up Jr. It seemed to be a big hit. The theme was My Little Pony. Another favorite thing in our household. Click on the link below to see the photos from her party.

Madison 3

Today we will be celebrating with Nana, Poppi, and Haley bringing waffles for breakfast. Then dinner and Christmas lights later tonight. Hopefully it should be a fun day.
Happy 3rd Birthday to our favorite girl! We love you Madison. You are such a blessing and joy in our family.


And a special Happy Birthday to Madison's bestie Sydney who turned 3 yesterday. It has been so fun to watch them grow together. I really thought they would be the closest thing to twins I would ever know. :) haha

Holiday Preparations!

It has been a family tradition as long as I can remember to get our Christmas tree the Sunday following Thanksgiving. We used to go cut our own even making trips to the woods when we were young. Eventually we ventured to tree farms and have recently made our trips much quicker by picking one already cut at the front of the tree farm. When cutting our own we probably found the perfect one right away but had to make sure and then forgot where the original one was. 2 hrs later we would finally settle. I think this year was a record. 3 pre cut trees in under 30 min. And a hay ride to follow. We had a great time. Of course this was a momentous photo op being the boys first Christmas tree hunt.

Decorating Nana & Poppi's tree with Uncle Bubba.

Decorating our tree.

Watching the excitement.

Stockings for 5!

To answer your questions!

I came across a blog lately of a mom with identical triplet boys. She has a store for multiple related shirts, mugs, stickers, etc. I cam across one I loved and decided to make my own version of her list. Check out her store at... http://www.cafepress.com/pyjammy

These are the answers to questions we are asked almost every time we go out anywhere. We cannot leave the house without being stopped. Most of the time I don't mind at all, but sometimes you get some interesting people and questions.

Yes they are Twins. (This one cracks me up, of course they are twins!)
They are Fraternal.
Yes we can tell them apart.
Yes Twins run in my family, they run all over the place. ( well soon anyways :) )
Yes we found out before they were born.
Yes we were shocked.
Yes they are on the same schedule.
You just do it.
Yes I feed them at the same time.
Yes they have different personalities.
Yes I have my hands full. It is much better than empty! :)
Yes they sleep all night, and at the same time. ( as of this week again )
Yes they are natural. Whats' an artificial twin?

Do you have any other questions that you would like to ask about our life with twins? I am curious to see. Leave a comment!