Sometimes

We're loud.

We run and jump and sing and dance.

We don't eat meals in our highchairs.

Shopping trips require a SUPER SPECIAL distraction snack.

We have a hard time falling asleep.

Mommy has a really hard time waking up.

Change is good! {updates to follow on our gluten free lactose free diet}

Our sippys are community sippys.

A 2pm coffee is nessecary.

We don't brush our hair.

We raise our voices, but we say a prayer and practice speaking softly(this mostly relates to me but a great lesson to my littles).

Your attitude is all it takes to change everyone else's attitude.

I make list's and schedules to feel in control of our days.

The little things make THIS all worth it.

Just laying on the ground can entertain "bored" toddlers.

I need my husband.

We sleep in(rarely).

Books are the best toys.

Picking your battles is a matter of your sanity.

We need to stop comparing our babies to their peers.

Extra cuddles are all that we need.

We forget God is in control.

We're making a list...

...and not checking it twice because it's of all the things Mommy has to replace at Mimi and Poppy's house!

With the most recent "uh oh", my kids Christmas list is getting shorter and shorter.

So far we have broke:

4 ornament balls
1 ceramic pumpkin
1 ceramic acorn
Chipped a toilet lid
Beat a wooden drawer to death
3 "meaningful" ornaments
1 very expensive touch screen tv remote(this one might hurt our bank)
1 picture frame
A bottle of mousse
A Christmas cottage decoration
And soaked the freshly shampooed carpets with milk, juice and possibly a little pee pee.

Good thing my dad doesn't read my blogs because my kids(and myself) are already giving him an ulcer with slamming doors, cabinets and drawers repeatedly, climbing on furniture, touching walls(this is a "no no" in the Baswell household), a metal gate on his wooden stairs, drinks leaking, food throwing, and finger prints on everything. Don't misinterpret though, he loves his grandbabies as much as anyone.

Luckily Emma is saying "Mimi" now and Hunter is handing out kisses left and right to help them forget about all the things we've damaged in the short 13 days we have been here.

Typical Days: Oklahoma Edition

We are settling in quite nicely here at my parents for the month of December 

and here is what we have been up to...

We did some Christmas crafts with our buddy Coen this week!

The kids also let me play around and take pictures of them... for about 2 and half minutes.

{sweet enough for me} 

Enjoyed our new buddy, Coen, that will be joining our crew a couple days a week while we are here.

                                                                
                                     Goofed around at Grammy's and Pops' house.

                                                                
         And H totally enjoyed Pops' Ipad while wearing his new boots from Grammy.

        
                                Riley keeps waking up with the WORST sweetest bed head!!

                                                                            

Oh, and you cannot forget a "must have" once you cross into the Oklahoma border, Taco Bueno.

{yes, I've sent this picture to rub in Jake's face a few times}

Twins + Toddler beds = Success

My 16 month old twins are rocking their new toddler beds that my mom built them, and this was a big surprise to me! Check out how amazing the girls new room is at their Mimi and Poppy's!

And of course, this idea was from Pinterest... check it out here!

Even the ribbon/light garland was from Pinterest!

Even big brother got a new big boy room, complete with a baseball theme! This makes for our move back here in March so much easier on my mind.

Do you have THOSE in-laws?

The ones that...

Adore your children with all of their hearts?

You can spill your guts to?

Make you want to be a better person, like them?

Give more to the community and church than to themselves?

Have the best sense of humors?

Read story after story and lay with your kids until they fall asleep?

Are always finding ways to make others feel blessed?

Want to be with their nephew over anyone else? (Uncle Luke)

Give you the confidence to put yourself out there?

Go and go, and then go some more?

Treat you like a sister you've never had? (my lovely sister-in-law Katie)

Pray for you, with their whole heart?

Crave sweets just as much as you?

Treat you as their own?

Knit you anything upon request?

Fly in from out of state to care for your babies while your other child is in the hospital?

Hike 2,200 miles just to raise money... and out do their Marine son? {grin}

You can spend days or weekends with and feel like you're right at home?

You love and thank God for everyday?

A road trip: by the numbers

34 hours traveled total
10 pit stops
2 ice chests full of food
0 sleep for Jake
3 very well behaved(circumstances considered) toddlers
1 hidden bag of suckers and Pez
8 states
4 great grandparents
2 grandparents
5 dogs
9 aunts and uncles
1 flight for Jake back to NC
8 cousins
1 hospital trip(not us, my sweet cousin)
20 new outfits(thanks dad)
30 deer to feed
1 swimming pool to jump in
3 awesome sleepers
3 days without coffee :(
1 dirty van
3 really dirty carseats
4 excited grandparents back in Oklahoma
1,765,444 hours needed to catch up on lost sleep
1 wife missing her husband
And 5 Johnson's that are thankful, blessed, spoiled, and worn out from all the fun and love we have received for over a week from all of our fabulous extended family.

Thank you ALL, my heart is so happy for my kids to be apart of such a large, loving family that embraces each other and their surroundings!

Now it's time to get in the Christmas spirit and give this blog a face lift.

Thankful Thursdays(the finale)

Are you getting sick of all my "thankful" posts yet?

Or how about all of my posts in general?

I've been on a roll lately and instead of posting because I think I need to or because of a certain holiday/event, I am going to continue posting when I want to. This is my blog, right? 

You can breathe a sigh of relief though, this is my final "Thankful Thursday" post due to our trip to Texas on Monday.

This week and for the rest of November I am thankful for...

Center alignment, apparently.

The renewal of energy I was lacking last week.

Alternating moments of stress between Jake and I.

{his are rare, but luckily never when I am having mine}

A dear friend, Asheli, that is willing to watch the girls(again) while Hunter has a terribly long evaluation at a developmental pediatrician.

Pinterest.

{igniting my hidden, somewhat pathetic creativity in food, activities and other brilliant ideas}

3 full days left to pack and clean my house.

Not having to buy ANY groceries this week.

{besides our 3 gallons of milk a week}

The patience my husband has with me... especially when I let the kids "help" me clean out the van and then we "accidentally" leave a light on, therefore letting the battery die. {grin}

Ugly duct tape keeping independent snacker's and mess maker's out of my cabinets. 

{we were too lazy to screw in the 7 billion screws for the child safety locks when we're about to move}

A new organized DVD case to contain H's movie addiction.

Mornings, surprisingly.

Purchasing ALL of Jake's holiday flights coming up for little cost to us.

{thank you vouchers}

Getting back to our 7 to 7 sleep schedule.

Our sleepy kitty napping on me while I type.

{she drives me crazy when she's awake though}

Riley's new spinning trick that keeps her entertained for 30 minutes at a time.

Chocolate... still.

{I am convinced I have a "disorder" that requires me to consume a certain amount of chocolate a day}

Rainy, cloudy days while babies nap.

Hunter trying to talk more and more every day.

Little Cold's Honey Elixir and Honey Pops.

{I didn't think there was anything over the counter for babies/toddler with coughs}

DVR.

Our upcoming road trip to see almost all of my extended family in Texas.

This post coming to a close.

Have a wonderfully, safe Thanksgiving.

Typical Days

 We are classy eaters.

 

How sweet is this boy?

Hunter has been feeding the girls baby dolls and carrying them everywhere, even to bed.

I wish someone would dress me up this pretty at 8:30 in the morning.

 Can you see the excitement on his face?

Excuse me, Buddy, I was just trying to make you a super cool fort.

 Sleeping buddies.

 Oh how we loved the McClenathan's coming to visit us last week.

 {sigh}

Boys will be boys.

 Gosh, I love this man.

And even more so in his dress blues.

{check out that ribbon stack and expert shooting badge}

 Ray Bans, Ring Pop, and a new Toy Story... no big deal.

 I love this 70 degree weather!

 Coughs and runny noses x3

 When daddy's away, our bedtime routine consists of a little more PLAY.

Our typical days as a family are memories I cherish.

The girls are 15 months old!

I can't believe that my babies are not really babies anymore. 

I can't believe that Hunter was this old when the girls were born... well close to.

I can't believe that I haven't done an actual growth post since they were 8 months old.

I can't believe it has been a year since Riley was in the hospital.

I can't believe I am a mommy to toddler/twin/girls. {smile}

I can't believe I have to reference their growth chart for accuracy on this post.

(Wow, I'm usually more gullible than that.) 

My sweet Emma, 

You are still my tiny, peanut weighing in at 22lbs 15oz (54%)

(this is new for me, I've never had a child under the 70th percentile in weight)

That head of yours is definitely your daddy's at 47cm (80%)

And somehow you seem to be taller than your sister 31 3/4in (81%)

You have the quietest, little voice when you get excited or cry.

And you are still my koala bear latched on to my hip. 

{thank you for still needing mommy}

You can't go anywhere or sleep without your lamb.

{this makes my heart smile}

And you love the rub its ears and tail.

So far we just call it "baby".

You clap when we say "yeah" or if you see other people clapping.

You can say "Na-na" and shake your head for "no".

You are also babbling "buh-buh", "da-da", "ma-ma", "sssssuh".

You are a master climber...

which makes for a master faller.

And you escaped a major accident on Halloween night with only a scratched nose when the gate at the top of the stairs gave way and you tumbled half way down. {sigh} 

You are also pretty good at jumping up and down on the couch.

You are extremely picky with food and with people, at first.

You love strawberries, mandarin oranges, oatmeal and yogurt.

(that's about it for the most part)

This is probably why you are staying so tiny, Emmy.

I love your single dimple, your straight hair, those gaped teeth and your pretty blonde hair.

I respect your strong will, one track mind.

Thank you for being our very own Emma.

My beautiful Riley,

The baby sister but weighing the most at 24lbs 1 oz. (70%)

(that's a healthy weight, baby girl)

You've always looked taller than E, but you are 31 1/2 in (79%)

And there is an equal match on the Johnson head at 47cm (80%)

Ry Ry, you are our most vocal child.

Besides babbling none stop you love to say "ticka-ticka".

(it's pretty adorable)

You are also saying "Da-da", Ma-ma", "buh-buh", and "nuh nuh nuh" while shaking your head.

You are an excellent dancer, I might add. {grin}

Your infatuation with stuffed animals is OUT OF CONTROL.

The way you bring them in the room one by one or even 4 at a time always makes for a good laugh.

And your constant need to rub them on your face is adorable.

You too have a giraffe that you sleep with at night, but you also need several others in bed too.

(daddy jokes about how hard it is to find you to cover you up after you fall asleep)

You have always been a good eater, but you are also getting kind of picky on me too.

You love to smile, scream, and yell at "da-da"... especially when he is gone.

Your NEED to put anything and everything in to your mouth is getting a little old though.

Dirt, Riley?!? Really... still... can we out grow this already?

You are my almost always happy child.

You tend to get busted lips A LOT... it must be those precious, pouty lips you have.

You love for daddy to chase you and to wrestle on the bed.

And a pile of sand/dirt can entertain you for an hour.

You love almost every fruit, but you individually throw every other food you don't like off of your tray.

Spaghetti is probably your favorite meal right now.

And you are starting to sign "more" when you want food... Emma is too.

Riley I can not wait for you to start talking... which will probably lead to signing and yelling.

You have the brightest eyes and lovable cheeks. 

You will always be my last baby, so you might as well get used to it now.
We love you more and more every day.

Thankful Thursdays(cont.)

I'm reaching deep down in my very tired-needing a super mommy break-stressball soul right now to write this post. Let me tell you, this time change has literally knocked me down and has also so kindly ruined my wonderful little schedule I keep my family on. But, finding ALL the thankful things I have been blessed with might help shift this rutt I am in.

This week I am thankful for...

My marriage.

A shower.

Those same three sweet and smiling babies.

Wonderful house guests and friends.

A beautiful message at church.

The women in my life with the word mother referencing them.

A quick, quiet, kid free drive in the car with some good music.

The greens, yellows, oranges and reds in the trees.

An upcoming Thanksgiving, but the sight of Christmas season soon after.

Naptime.

Easy dinners and eaten dinners.

Bath time.

A date night for the first time in a year for Jake and I.

70 degree weather.

Chocolate.

A little boy that is REALLY starting to enjoy having sisters around.

Hoodies.

A forgiving God.

Thankful Thursdays

Don't get me wrong, I am thankful every other day of the week too, but of course "Thankful Thursdays" sounds a lot better than Thankful Mondays.

For the first Thursday in November I am thankful for...

A husband that works long hours/days/weeks and even months to provide for his family.

The sweet smile on a blonde hair, blue eyed two and a half year old when he runs in to my bedroom every morning.

A hidden bag of the kids Halloween candy.

Riley's love for obsession with stuffed animals.

A single dimple on a tiny, lovable Emmy.

The support and love I get from my husband on a daily basis.

A best friend and a mother all in the same beautiful package.

And a dad that gives and gives and loves unconditionally.

In-law's that most people can only dream of.

Little fingers trying to help me type this blog... {grin}

A brother that gives so much for me and loves hearing ALL the advice I have for him.

A brother and sister-in-law that have always been so welcoming and loving to me.   

Diet Coke's and coffee to help keep me on my toes during longgggg dayssss.

Long walks to the park and an escape from the TV.

A never ending supply of pine cones right outside my door.

A new church that our family can enjoy together.

The bedtime kissing routine from Hunter to every single one of his family members.

A little girl(Riley) that peaks over into her sisters(Emma's) crib while she sleeps and whispers
"sisssss".

Friends that are driving half way across the country to come stay with us for a week!!!!

Messes that can ALWAYS be cleaned.

Emma's lamb that she CAN NOT be without... ever (I've always wanted my kids to have a "lovey" that goes everywhere with them).

And for God blessing me with the precious title as mommy and wife.


I have much more that I am thankful for, but there are a few more Thursday's that I can use those for.
Oh, and I am also thankful for any one that took the time to read this

This morning

Hunter found my dinner bag of goldfish on the couch from last night.

My kids ate goldfish for breakfast. (sigh)

It took me way too long to wake up.

I watched Hunter "clean up" dribbles of milk on the floor by swiping his foot across it. (ooops, I may have done that before, but only with my swiffer/mop socks)

The cat wanted in... And out... And then kept repeating this sequence.

It is fabulously cloudy.

Our other Halloween costume is in Raleigh. (sigh of relief)

I'm still not awake and haven't managed to make my monkey muffins.

We are missing not talking to our daddy.

We are watching Up, like every other morning. (making sure we fast forward past the old man hitting the worker with his cane)

The patio door is wide open and it feels great.

Outside toys are slowly coming inside. (Grrrr)

My babies look even sweeter than the did when I kissed them goodnight.

I realized I have no "to-do" list for the day!!

I finally woke up and emerged from my comfy Cardinals blanket on the couch.

Art Appreciation Day

They appreciated a new, squishy experience and I appreciated the super easy clean up... especially when I ran upstairs to get the girls up from their nap and Hunter grabbed a paint brush and my Diet Coke and left them on my white(not so white) rug.

 It's hard to keep his attention for a project, but he did pretty well with this one.

Baby Picasso's.

 Em was not appreciating it AS much as the others, but I made sure she looked the part with paint on her face.

 Riley's balloon exploded.

If you're not feeling as brave crazy on a dragging day, just put the finger paint in a baggie and tape to a window or big door with a window. We did this earlier in the week and it seemed to be a big hit for both age groups. Hunter liked using something to move the paint around like a pen or marker, but the girls just squished and slapped it.

Mini monkey muffins

These are the famous Pioneer Woman's Monkey Muffins, but I just turned them mini for my 3 little mini's running around and oh how they love these!!

You can literally do this while the kids are still coming to life on the couch and they don't even beg for food while it's cooking. We have that problem a lot in the mornings. I can never feed them fast enough once they are awake, but these are so easy I don't even mind the clean up afterwards.

Here's the recipe, now just make them in a mini muffin/cupcake pan if you are making them for your mini's... or for yourself, because they are perfect bite size for us hungry dieting mommy's.

{Of course Ree's recipe has her homemade dough, but I just buy a can of regular biscuits and it is just the same.. well, I can't say that for sure, I've never had her make these for me.}

Ree's pictures look so much more detailed and delicious but here is how they should look in a mini muffin tin after baking. The three little sections in each muffin just break apart so no frantic cutting for the smaller babies needing easier bites. These are pre Eagle Brand and OH MY that makes the difference. Although these are good without, I try to pick up a can of Eagle Brand when I know I am making these.

Hope this was helpful to anyone in a food idea slump for your little ones!