Zoe fought the fight, finished the race and is with Jesus today.

You may remember my niece Zoe.  If you don’t remember her, I first talked about Zoe here.

Zoe is my sister’s daughter. She was born with Trisomy 18. She wasn’t suppose to live. She lived almost 2 years. She was hope for many people.

Zoe went to heaven last night. She is now dancing and talking with Jesus.

I don’t have much else to say. I’m tired right now. But please pray for my sister and her family. For strength and continued comfort.

Please visit my brother in law’s blog for a better tribute to baby Zoe.

For a good laugh, watch this video

Everyone needs a pet! This video made my day. Enjoy!

Cat drinking water

Mom to Mom

I finally did it. I went to Mom to Mom. I have wanted to go since the kids were born. But I was tired, didn’t think the kids would adjust to daycare, was afraid of trying something new just had tons of excuses.

Mom to Mom is a group at my church, Brookfield Lutheran Church.

Mom to Mom is a Biblically based parenting program designed around the Titus 2:4 concept of older women teaching and encouraging younger women in their relationships with their husbands and children.

I heard wonderful things about the group and knew that there were a lot of woman who participated. I honestly feared the whole “getting the twins ready, taking them by myself to an event and putting them in daycare” thing. Ugh.

But I needed to get out and I needed to get the twins out and have them interact with other children. Another one of my “goals” for the year was to get more involved in my church.

I packed up the juice, diapers, wipes, paci’s, snacks, blankets, yada yada yada, got the twins dressed, got me dressed, brushed my teeth (I think), grabbed my coffee and purse,  found my Bible, got coats on, put shoes back on the twins, fed the cat, put another shoe back on, got the twins in the jeep and left for church. Whew.

I dropped the twins off in their daycare room. The women that took care of the kids seemed awesome. I told them Anna was going to cry, and Anna cried. I just left. I peaked in at our break and THEY WERE SO CUTE! It was snack time and all the kids were sitting at the tables with their cups and snacks. Anna and Luke looked so old and so cute. They were interacting with the other kids. I think I cried.

After that I relaxed. I got some food and refilled my coffee and enjoyed the fellowship. Wow, did I need that.

I’m pretty sure we are going back next week. YAY!!

I picked up the kids and they didn’t want to leave. I am so happy they had a good time.

I ran today

Ok, maybe that isn’t such a big deal to some people.,and usually that isn’t a big deal to me. I was running a lot this summer and fall. I was getting back into shape and thinking about racing again soon. But it got cold, dark early, I got sick, the holiday took over my schedule and my running, well, um, didn’t happen.

EXCUSES!

I never make New Year resolutions but this year I decided to give myself some goals for the year. One of them is to start running more. I woke up this morning and it was freezing. I mean FREEZING! I think it was 10 degrees? I’m not even sure what the wind chill was. I had my coffee and cinnamon roll, then curled up on the couch with a blanket to watch football.

Really? Lazy much?

So I went up stairs, put on about 5 layers, dug out my running shoes and decided to run. It was cold and windy but it wasn’t awful. I only went for 2 miles but wow did it feel good.

I love running.

And you’ll be happy to know that I had a chicken salad for dinner tonight to make up for that cinnamon roll.

Merry Christmas (A little late)

Merry Christmas! I know this is a little late. But it’s never late to remember why we celebrate Christmas.  I have a lot to catch up on. It’s been busy around here and we had a little flu action going on (me).

Thanksgiving was a success

I hosted Thanksgiving this year for about 16 people. This was my first time hosting and making a turkey. My mom helped make it a great success. I thought the turkey was wonderful. The key? Fresh turkey and brine it. My mom picked up the fresh turkey on Tuesday morning and brought it over to my house.

I had the brine ready to go.

Brine for 24 hours

Getting ready to go in the oven the next day

6 hours later – yummy

We carved the turkey Wednesday night and put the meat into roasters. Thanksgiving morning we “reheated” the turkey and no one could tell we cooked it the day before. It was so moist.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today I am prepping for the big dinner tomorrow. I plan to follow-up with pictures and reviews early next week. But tomorrow really isn’t about food. No, no, it really isn’t. (Shhhhhh, don’t tell my husband that.) But it’s time to be thankful. We shouldn’t  give thanks on just one day, but everyday. Unfortunately we forget about the wonderful blessing we have in our lives.

I am thankful for…….

1. My mom and dad. They have been so supportive through the years. They have been there for us and are willing to drop everything to help us with the twins. I don’t know what I would ever do without them.

2. My family – all of us crazies. We have had a rough couple years but anytime we are together we have so much fun. We will always be there for each other no matter what.

3.  My husband the father. Even though he couldn’t find the forks (See throwing in the towel post) he is still an amazing father. He loves the twins so much and you can see it the way he reads to them, plays with them, hugs them etc.

4.  My husband the husband. Having kids really makes your relationship different. But he is my rock. I have said it for years. I don’t know what I would do without him.

5. My friends. You know who you are. Old and new. Thank you for being a part of my life. Thank you for talking me off the ledge, making me laugh and cry.

6. Anna and Luke. Wow, what we went through to have you and it was worth every needle, every $ and every tear. You are the most beautiful children and I love you so much it hurts.

7. Advanced Fertility. I know, I thanked them last year. But I think I should thank them every year. They helped us bring Anna and Luke into this world. And they are wonderful and compassionate people.

8. Brookfield Lutheran Church and staff.  We are blessed to be part of such a wonderful congregation.

9. My cat. SHUT IT! I love her! She has been with me for 12 years. Moved with me 7 times and is always by my side.

10. Jesus, my Savior. Doesn’t need much of an explanation.

ok………fun things.

11. Wine

12. Cheese

13. Sushi

14. Dancing with the Stars

15. Target

16. Friends re-runs

17. Kopps Burgers

18. Mc Donald’s breakfast

19. A nice facial

20. My $100 Lucky jeans that I got for $19,99!

Paper Geek by MeghanP

Have you checked out Etsy? Etsy is a website that you can buy and sell all things handmade.

It’s cool, go check it out. Spend lots of money.

But I’m here to brag about my friend MeghanP and her Etsy website Paper Geek. She is so talented and her stuff is amazing. You must go visit her site and shop, shop, SHOP! She makes invitations,  personalized note cards, gift tags and now Christmas ornaments. They are so cool!

 

Daddies Seeing Double – Today’s TMJ4

Did anyone from the Milwaukee area see this special story? Our local news has two families with twins. Sports reporter Lance Allan and morning reporter Vince Vitrano. Very cute segment. My husband and I laughed as they were describing what it is like to have twins. Our favorite quotes were:

“It’s kind of like organized chaos where you can see kids running in and out,” Lance Allan

“You would have moments of, ‘You know what, this is going to be OK. This is all going to be OK.’ But most of the moments weren’t that. It was like, ‘We’re not going to make it. We’re not going to make it. Someone has to fix this,” Vinny Vitrano.

Someone has to fix this.

Still laughing over that.

Thanks TMJ4 for reminding us we aren’t the only ones in a crazy world.

What do you think?

I have gotten some suggestions from my post below.

One is a harness.

Tell me what do you think about these? I was always under the impression that the harness was mean and awful. Or only lazy parents use them. Others are telling me I should get one cause taking twins anywhere by myself is crazy unless I have the stroller. I would actually be protecting my children from danger (running into street) and other potential harm. I understand both sides of the argument.

Just want nice and honest thoughts. Don’t be mean! Thanks!