Saturday, August 15, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
11 Months Old
Hope this finds you enjoying the Summer months; they sure are going by fast. We had such great plans for the Summer but many of them have yet to happen and may not happen. Camping is one of those things that will NOT happen this year. For one thing, our 2 man tent is far too small for the 4 of us. Plus I have a whole lot of reasons why I don't feel the need to camp out...maybe next year. I have so many fond memories of camping when I was a child and I think my kiddos should be provided with camping opportunities as well. But I think waiting a year or two is okay.
The twins are 11 months old! We will be celebrating their birthdays at the end of THIS month! I really need to get my act together and plan a little something for them. Does anyone have any suggestions? For their birthday gifts I decided to do photo books of their 1st year (one for each kiddo of course). Making two photo books in 2 weeks was by far much easier than trying to scrapbook the entire 1st year for each baby. I just don't have the time or energy for that right now. (For the Grandparents: you do have the option of ordering these books as well...in 8x8 or 12x12. If you are interested let me know and I'll give you the prices and you can take a peek.)
The kids are getting smarter and smarter each day. Joshua is really into tags, yep you heard me, tags. If a teething toy has a tag, he will chew on the tag rather than the actual toy. He is also trying to advance to regular crawling versus army crawling. By the looks of it though he may be one of those who crawls on his hands and feet rather than on his hands and knees. Even though he can move around, he is still so very content to stay and play with one thing for a very long period of time. His attention span amazes me.
Saray is really into dolls and stuffed animals; when she sees a baby doll she smiles and squeals with delight. She is also trying to climb EVERYTHING - the coffee table, the couches (from one to the other even), etc. I think if she could she would try and climb the wall.
Joshua and Saray love music. Saray is really starting to get her moves on, it's quite hilarious. The twins really enjoy playing my keyboard; Saray even changes the sounds by turning the knob. I love watching them grow and learn.
I couldn't decide what pictures to post as there were far too many great ones from the last few weeks of July, so I posted a ton. Enjoy!
Daddy and J-man
Quite the expression
Another one of his great expressions..ha!
Saray is always digging in the toy box
Josh - 11 months old
Josh & Saray trying on their chef hats that their great aunt made
My smiley girlie
Saray trying to climb on top of the coffee table
Lots of tongue action lately
My beautiful, mellow boy
Trip to Storybook Island - tasted ice cream for the 1st time.
What a special bond they share - 11 months old
Cottage cheese anyone?
The twins are 11 months old! We will be celebrating their birthdays at the end of THIS month! I really need to get my act together and plan a little something for them. Does anyone have any suggestions? For their birthday gifts I decided to do photo books of their 1st year (one for each kiddo of course). Making two photo books in 2 weeks was by far much easier than trying to scrapbook the entire 1st year for each baby. I just don't have the time or energy for that right now. (For the Grandparents: you do have the option of ordering these books as well...in 8x8 or 12x12. If you are interested let me know and I'll give you the prices and you can take a peek.)
The kids are getting smarter and smarter each day. Joshua is really into tags, yep you heard me, tags. If a teething toy has a tag, he will chew on the tag rather than the actual toy. He is also trying to advance to regular crawling versus army crawling. By the looks of it though he may be one of those who crawls on his hands and feet rather than on his hands and knees. Even though he can move around, he is still so very content to stay and play with one thing for a very long period of time. His attention span amazes me.
Saray is really into dolls and stuffed animals; when she sees a baby doll she smiles and squeals with delight. She is also trying to climb EVERYTHING - the coffee table, the couches (from one to the other even), etc. I think if she could she would try and climb the wall.
Joshua and Saray love music. Saray is really starting to get her moves on, it's quite hilarious. The twins really enjoy playing my keyboard; Saray even changes the sounds by turning the knob. I love watching them grow and learn.
I couldn't decide what pictures to post as there were far too many great ones from the last few weeks of July, so I posted a ton. Enjoy!
Daddy and J-man
Quite the expression
Another one of his great expressions..ha!
Saray is always digging in the toy box
Josh - 11 months old
Josh & Saray trying on their chef hats that their great aunt made
My smiley girlie
Saray trying to climb on top of the coffee table
Lots of tongue action lately
My beautiful, mellow boy
Trip to Storybook Island - tasted ice cream for the 1st time.
What a special bond they share - 11 months old
Cottage cheese anyone?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Trip to Alaska
Jer and I took the twins to Alaska from July 11th - 20th for a McMahan Family Reunion - WHAT A TRIP! On our way to AK we had two flights to catch, the last one was 5.5 hours long. Joshua was sick with a bad cold while we were flying so all he really wanted to do was snuggle and sleep; I snuggled him in the sling majority of the trip that day. Saray on the other hand was a bit wild. She likes to explore and move, so you can just imagine how nuts flying with her really was. She literally was up, down and turning around for 4.0 hours of our 5.5 flight. And when we did encourage her to sleep she would scream and make quite the scene. She did manage to sleep for a hour or so on that long flight - thank goodness! Jer and I were able to lose our minds! After arriving into Anchorage (and stopping to sleep at a motel) we had to drive 200 miles to Gakona (Where Jer's Mom and Step dad live). On our way back home we had 3 flights. Saray was just as hyper and only slept an 1.5 (broken up) the WHOLE ENTIRE DAY (from 4am to 10:30pm). Joshua was a bit more himself on the flights home so we had our hands really full. I think next time we fly with the kids they will be much older; this baby stage is challenging enough without adding flying to the picture.
To be honest, most of the trip was challenging and emotionally trying. The hardest part of the trip was I miscarried a few days into the trip, had signs of it the night we arrived in to Anchorage. I was 8 weeks along. Miscarriages are hard enough when you are at home, but traveling seems to make it just so much harder. Maybe it's cause you're on the go when you want to be laying low, or the fact that you're in an unfamiliar place when you would rather be home in your own bed, and so on. We did see this little one (just like our other little ones); it's one amazing thing to see someone so very tiny. This little one had perfect hands, teeny tiny feet buds, spine, heart, head, etc. Everything looked normal to the naked eye (besides the fact that its little heart was no longer beating and it was in our hands and not my womb.) We have learned from our past 2 miscarriages that life is to be honored no matter how long it is with us. We named this little one Jael.
The kiddos did quite well, they even adjusted to the time zone (two hours behind our normal zone). Life went on for them even while we were away from home; Saray got her 5th tooth, Joshua FINALLY started crawling, and he also got his 7th tooth the day we arrived home. They even did a good job of staying on a decent schedule.
My highlights were meeting all my neices and nephews, seeing all the fam together, and also getting to hang out with my cousin-in-law Johana. Also, we got to see a fish wheel in action and a few mountains one morning.
Alaska is beautiful country. The hours of sunlight was a bit nuts, the mountains were breath-taking and the Glacier fed rivers were amazing to see. But after all that, HOME is a very beautiful sight, especially after being away. There truly is no place like Home.
You can view many more pictures from our Alaska trip at www.flickr.com/photos/chapeaufour
Cousins
McMahan/Jacobsen/Chapeau Families
Chapeau Four
Beautiful Alaska Mountains
Jer and Joshua playing the bongos
Saray fell asleep in this position
What a load!
To be honest, most of the trip was challenging and emotionally trying. The hardest part of the trip was I miscarried a few days into the trip, had signs of it the night we arrived in to Anchorage. I was 8 weeks along. Miscarriages are hard enough when you are at home, but traveling seems to make it just so much harder. Maybe it's cause you're on the go when you want to be laying low, or the fact that you're in an unfamiliar place when you would rather be home in your own bed, and so on. We did see this little one (just like our other little ones); it's one amazing thing to see someone so very tiny. This little one had perfect hands, teeny tiny feet buds, spine, heart, head, etc. Everything looked normal to the naked eye (besides the fact that its little heart was no longer beating and it was in our hands and not my womb.) We have learned from our past 2 miscarriages that life is to be honored no matter how long it is with us. We named this little one Jael.
The kiddos did quite well, they even adjusted to the time zone (two hours behind our normal zone). Life went on for them even while we were away from home; Saray got her 5th tooth, Joshua FINALLY started crawling, and he also got his 7th tooth the day we arrived home. They even did a good job of staying on a decent schedule.
My highlights were meeting all my neices and nephews, seeing all the fam together, and also getting to hang out with my cousin-in-law Johana. Also, we got to see a fish wheel in action and a few mountains one morning.
Alaska is beautiful country. The hours of sunlight was a bit nuts, the mountains were breath-taking and the Glacier fed rivers were amazing to see. But after all that, HOME is a very beautiful sight, especially after being away. There truly is no place like Home.
You can view many more pictures from our Alaska trip at www.flickr.com/photos/chapeaufour
Cousins
McMahan/Jacobsen/Chapeau Families
Chapeau Four
Beautiful Alaska Mountains
Jer and Joshua playing the bongos
Saray fell asleep in this position
What a load!
Friday, June 26, 2009
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
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 MommyFather'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
Thursday, May 21, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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
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
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