Summer Fun

Summer has arrived! Yay! We've been spending a lot of our time outdoors enjoying the warmer weather and the sun. Joshua and Saray seem to really enjoy the outdoors, just like their parents. Spearfish has a new outdoor water park which is simply awesome! We've spent 3 of our evenings at the water park just this week alone. They love splashing, kicking and trying to grab the water shooting out of the holes around the kiddie pool. It's so fun to watch the kids enjoy water so much, it makes us smile.

Joshua and Saray are doing so well. Each day reveals something new to the kids and I see things in a new light through the kids' eyes. It sure is a joy to be able to be at home with the twins everyday (even on the crazy days as long as I get a break...) Saray is such an explorer; she can make her way up and down the one stair we have so she now has full access (or almost full access) to the whole house. Nothing stands in this girl's way, not even a nearly closed door or a toy, she just pushes it out of her way and off she goes. She is currently really enjoying books/flashcards that are touch and feel, she'll lay there and study them for quite sometime. We loves to explore through touch. Saray is now pulling herself up in her crib and she is working on pulling herself up against the furniture as well. She started walking along the furniture just last night (yikes!). I wonder if she she'll be walking on her own by her 1st birthday, we'll just have to wait and see I guess.

Joshua is such content boy; currently he spinning on his tummy, rolling and scooting backwards on the floor. Although yesterday he seemed to get a little frustrated when something was out of reach in front of him. He would get all stiff, then he's start to scream and yell as if trying to tell his body to move or maybe he was yelling the toy. Either way I think he is starting to want to move like his sister does. He gets quite mad when I try and help him get up on his knees into the crawling position, he wants to do it himself and he makes it very clear too. Joshua has a very long attention span, he can study one simple toy for up to 45 minutes. He looks at it over and over and over again. So amazing to watch the kiddos learn about our world.

We have lots going on this summer, lots of trips to the water park of course, maybe a camping trip (if we can find a bigger tent), flying to Alaska for a family reunion. Yep you heard me, FLYING to AK, WITH the kids. Should be very interesting. Long, long days of flying and then driving, but I think it will be worth it. I am just praying that the kids handle the flying and being away from home and our normal schedule. I am also praying I have wisdom on how to pack for a 10 day trip and how to handle the kids while flying and while we're there. Part of me thinks I was insane to agree to this whole thing....enough said!
Anyway, that's enough for one blog. I need to get some things done around the house while the twins are taking their naps.

Enjoy the Summer days and the pictures I have posted.
Saray - 9.5 months old
Joshua - 9.5 months old
Josh and Saray - 9.5 months old
Joshua spent countless minutes playing with these stacking bowls
Molly, Josh and Saray after swimming at the water park
"Look at me, I'm standing!"
Joshua and Mommy
Father's Day Picnic
Saray and Daddy
Joshua and Saray playing (Saray in the business of taking Josh's toys...)
Playing in boxes
J-man's camera smile
Saray's latest expression
Playing outside
Saray is aiming for Joshua's hat...
Love the Hug!
Saray and Joshua

8.5 months old

It's time to write again, or at least post a few pictures. Saray and Joshua keep me very busy, which is why I have little time to keep up with this blog.
Currently we're getting ready for Jer's Dad, Rose, and his sister Maddie to come for the weekend. We're so looking forward to having them here. Last time they were here, Joshua and Saray were only 8 weeks old! Where does the time go?!
Saray is right on the verge of crawling (I think I said this last time); she creeps everywhere and is up on her all fours 80% of the time trying to figure out the moves to get across the room on her hands and knees.
Joshua is just now rolling over to get to things; for so long he was just content to lay the way you put him down. Not anymore, especially at night, he prefers sleeping a certain way, generally on his back or on side.
My life just keeps getting busier and busier...so if you come here and think "Geez, she hasn't written a blog in weeks...!" It's cause I am so darn busy with twins! :) It's a good busy though. I love spending my time playing with, reading to and even feeding these kiddos. The diapers I could do without...ha!
Oh the biggest change: Joshua and Saray are officially weaned from breastfeeding. I made it a total of 8 months with no formula supplement! That is a huge accomplishment, especially when you consider the fact I was breastfeeding not ONE but TWO babies! I was certain I would nurse until they were 1, but both Joshua and Saray had other ideas. After seeking the LORD and weighing out what was really best for the kiddos, we decided to switch over to formula. A BIG THANKS needs to go out to W.I.C.! We'll save $250 dollars a MONTH on formula! I can't even imagine paying that out of pocket for formula. I think I would have stuck with breastfeeding, even if it meant spending a ton of time at the pump.

Enjoy the pictures! They are growing so fast!


My Little Miracles

I love these smiles!

Always learning and trying to take over the spoon...



Helping Mommy and Daddy in the kitchen

They sure enjoy our walks

Big balls are so much fun!

Saray 8.5 months old

Joshua - 8.5 months old

Our pride and Joy

There is so much I need to get done this evening, so this post is going to be short.

Saray got her second tooth not even a week after getting her first one. Joshua is working on his two top ones. Hopefully they will pop through sooner rather than later, for all our sakes.

You know the real reason you came here was to see pictures, not to hear me ramble on...so here are the pictures :)


Joy = Joshua

Our little sweetheart

Saray, Joshua and Charlie

Just hanging after a walk


Easter 2009


They light up our world

7 months old

Where does the time go? I realized today that in just 5 months our little miracles, Saray and Joshua, will be ONE! We've already crossed the halfway point! I keep trying to remind myself to enjoy, enjoy, enjoy each and every moment of TODAY with these two precious babes. The laundry can wait just one more day or at least until both are napping and those stinkin' dishes can wait as well, but my kids they will not wait on growing up. They need me to read them books, interact with them and play peek-a-boo 100 times in a row, etc. I don't want to miss it, any of it. I don't want those dishes to more important than my kids. Hearing my kids laugh should be way more important than having an organized house. Lord, help me to treasure these moments.

Okay about the kids:
Joshua has become a chatterbox; he talks when he wakes up from his naps, he talks when he goes down for his nap, he talks when he plays, he talks when he eats, basically he talks all the time. We love it! It's such a sweet sound to our ears. He is really starting to get strong. For the longest time he didn't really feel the need to move, but now he's arching his back to see this thing or that thing behind him or over there. It won't be long before he is rolling all over with Saray.

Saray loves Joshua so much. She laughs or squeals with delight whenever she sees him. It's so fun to hear them laugh together. Joshua will make a noise and Saray just thinks it's hilarious. They are such buds. When they are laying close to each other, Saray likes to touch his face or grap his hand or foot (whatever is closest) or she'll roll all over him. Lots of laughter come from Jer and I as we watch Joshua and Saray interact. Saray is such a mover, everyday she moves more and more and explores everything (including the humidifier). She studies everything so intensely. She'll look at something for minutes at a time just studying it, touching it or licking it if she can. Oh! Saray got her first tooth the other day!

They have finally recovered from RSV. Nasty stuff. We're just glad that they are back to their normal selves.


Enjoy the pictures! Keep an eye on www.flickr.com/photos/chapeaufour for a ton of new photos...


Joshua - 7 months old

Saray and Joshua

Mommy and twins!




Finally a current picture of the 4 of us!

Great Grandma Chapeau, Grandma McMahan
met us for a quick visit in Sioux Falls

We stopped to give the kiddos a break from
their car seats...Saray had a great time!

Our happy boy, Josh

Saray loves books - 7 months old

Joshua and Saray


They sure do love each other...

Saray doesn't quite understand the word "Gentle!"

Notice: Saray is digging her nails into Joshua's arm...

6 Months

It's been just over a month since my last post, sorry about that! It's been crazy busy here; the days fly by before I have time to think about what day it is. Our days seem so much more fuller, even though Saray and Joshua generally go down for the night between 7:30 -8:00. My nights are consumed with preparing a very late dinner for Jer and I, making baby food, washing/folding laundry and lots more dishes than before (due to feeding babies!). Once all that is caught up, the night is spent and I am ready to climb into bed, who has time to sit down and write a blog that doesn't sound all mumbled.
This past week Joshua has been sick with RSV, so he's been sleeping very poorly at night, so I haven't felt like I've gotten my break. We were hoping Saray wouldn't get it, but yesterday, sure enough, Saray was coughing and running a fever. Grr. When you have sick kids the days just seem extra challenging and more chaotic than you'd like them to be. More tears are shed, way more fussing to listen to, there are noses to wipe (which they hate), more clothes to change due to more bodily fluids than usual, more times to pump since they're appetites are decreased. Oh the wonderful, fun filled days (and nights!) when the kiddos are sick. Makes you really enjoy the days when they are healthy. But somewhere in the middle of all that, I find joy. The kiddos still manage to smile and giggle a little, which makes it a bit more bearable.

Saray has found her freedom in movement; she is rolling EVERYWHERE! She literally goes from one side of the nursery to the other and back again. She often finds herself up against the wall or an open door or the leg of a crib, at that point she looks at me and screams,as if telling me to tell whatever is in her way to move! Her song is..."I like to move it, move it. I like to move it, move it!" Saray is getting stronger; she is sitting up by herself for a few minutes and sitting up to reach a book if she is leaning against my chest between my legs.

Joshua is my mellow, mellow boy. He is such a snuggle bug, he would lay there and snuggle all day if you'd let him. He loves being diaper-free, he gets super excited and kicks his legs and just smiles and squeals with delight. He often gets a bit mad when you put his diaper back on and even his clothes. Joshua is rolling from his tummy to his back and is rolling to his side, but for now he stays where you put him. He is very ticklish, his feet his thighs his chin, sides, everywhere really. He has such a fantastic laugh, it's so contagious.

On Feb 28th, we all were in my sister Alesha's wedding. I was a bridesmaid, Jer was an usher, Joshua was the ring-bearer, Saray was one of the 3 flower girls. Joshua and Saray were pulled down the aisle in a red wagon. They were fantastic even though they were really tired. I don't have any pictures yet, but once I have some copies, I will post them.

I suppose you're wanting to see a few pictures, so here you go. Remember you can always view a ton of pictures of Joshua and Saray at www.flickr.com/photos/chapeaufour

This is what happens when you hit a spoon full of peas...

So serious sometimes!

Saray really enjoys balls

Super smile!

My first time trying to feed both of them at the same time,
they got a little messy, but now we have it under control!

Joshua - happy and mellow

Saray learning to sit up

Joshua - 6 months old

Saray always attacks Joshua

Saray - 6 months old