Small Blessings...

I've been having a hard time maintaining a positive attitude out here in Virginia. At most times I feel very alone and being thoroughly exhausted from Tyce's night feedings isn't helping matters. But one thing that has been a small blessing in my life are the girls across the street, Jada and Lexi. When we first moved in they came by to tell us about their dog walking business and we had them take care of Brody when we were out of town. Then they came by asking if the twins would like to walk the dogs with them, needless to say the boys were THRILLED. The walks started out about 10 minutes and now last about an hour. When the weather is bad the girls take the twins to their house or they play with them here at our house. It is so nice to have some help and to get a break. The boys just adore them and I really am grateful for their friendship.

Here they are...

I think the boys have been sensing my depression lately (which makes me feel awful) so they've really been stepping up the charm. Jackson about 10 times a day will say, "Guess what Mommy? I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!" Then he'll give me the biggest longest hug ever. It makes me feel so good. Last night Parker was, of course, working late so I was having a hard time getting dinner ready with all the kids needing something and I just broke down and started crying. Josh goes, "Mommy it's too dark right now but tomorrow when the sun comes up I will go outside and get you something pretty to make you happy." So this morning he went out and picked me a flower, it was precious. Also, last night the twins were helping me unload their clothes from the dryer and everything they pulled out they'd say, "Thank you Mommy for washing this! I love this shirt!" or "Thanks Mommy for washing my favorite jammies!" It was a small thing that mean a lot to a stay at home mom. I love my boys so much!

Halloween Fun

Halloween this year was so fun! The boys are at the perfect age for it and my dear friend Becky and her family came from Pitsburg to visit for the weekend! It was so fun having them here.

Friday night we went to the ward Trunk or Treat, which the boys just loved. It got them warmed up for going trick or treating the next day.

They had a costume parade where the kids walked across the stage, the boys LOVED it and waved so big, haha...The cutest cowboy and batman ever...Daddy and his boys...Cheeseballs...Mommy and her boys...Josh LOVED his costume...Jackson's wanted to be batman forever...At the door trick or treating...Checking out all their candy...

Tyce is 3 Months!

I can't believe little Tyceroo is 3 months already! He has become so much fun lately and we just love having him in our family. He loves to smile and has even laughed a few times! He just LOVES attention and anybody who will give it to him. He is eating about every 2-3 hours and is still up a LOT at night. He is definitely growing now which is a relief. We love him so much and love watching him grow and develop into such a cutie pie! This picture makes him look chubby, but it's just his big clothes, haha...

Jackson...

Jackson is also 3 years and 4 months old and is such a sweet little boy. His favorite movies are Bugs Life, Thomas the Train, Monsters Inc, Incredibles, and Shrek. His current favorite book is a Halloween one that he just got from Grandma Morrill. His favorite food is probably granola bars and salami (not together) and his favorite drink is orange gatorade. Jackson is opposite of Josh as far as sleeping goes. He would like to go to bed early and wake up early. He is SO happy in the mornings and wakes up so fast! He does still need naps during the day but since Josh doesn't take one it's hard to get just Jack down so he usually ends up staying up and getting a little whiney by the end of the night. His favorite toy is his batman castle, spiderman motorcyle, little people and the animals, and his trains. His favorite jammies are his batman jammies with the cape, he wants to wear them every single night. His favorite shoes are his Air Jordans because he thinks he can jump "way high" in them. His favorite song is "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus."

Jackson is a very sweet and sensitive boy. He is very compassionate and worried about people's feelings. He can sense when I am having a hard day and turns on the sweetness big time. He will just walk up to me, wrap his arms around my neck, and say "I LOVE YOU MOMMY!" It melts my heart. He is always worried about how someone is feeling, "Mommy are they sad? Are they mad? Why are they crying?" He is also sensitive about us teasing him. When Parker or I laugh at something he does he gets easily embarassed. Poor Jackson has a hard time with coordination and is constantly tripping, falling, getting hurt, spilling something, etc. We have to be careful not make him feel bad about himself when that happens because he is starting to feel embarassed when he does those things. Jackson also has quite the imagination. He plays the funniest games and he usually comes up with the ideas for what he and Josh play. He also has an imaginary friend, Cally, who has brown skin and blue eyes. He talks about her all the time, it cracks me up.

Jackson loves his brothers too, especially Tyce. He is always looking for ways to help me with Tyce and is so concerned when he cries. He'll always just walk up to him and give him hugs and kisses and talk baby talk to him like he hears me do. He loves to list all the things he will teach Tyce, "I will learn him to walk, I will learn him to say MOMMY COME WIPE ME, I will learn him to play games, I will learn him to eat his cereal all gone," etc. It's so cute. He also loves Joshy but is subtly bossy and in control. Pretty much what Jack says goes. Josh seems ok with it so I think it works for them.

Jackson is a good eater but is distracted by Josh who won't eat. If Jackson was alone he would eat great. He does have a much bigger appetite than Josh and sometimes eats double what Josh does. Jackson is a DRAMA KING and throws the biggest fits over the littlest things. He is very OCD so if something isn't just how he wants it he goes to pieces. The other night he sat up in his room by himself for almost an hour looking through his sock drawer trying to find a pair of socks that apparently has this microscopic blue line in between the gray toe and the white sock. Never in a million years would I have noticed that. If he can't get his shirt on the right way or if his granola bar breaks in half he will just bawl. It is very frustrating for Parker and I and we are hoping he will outgrow it.

Jackson also loves to help daddy get dressed after work. He loves to help him pick out his clothes and loves pulling off daddy's belt. He also really looks forward to his time with daddy at bedtime. After we say family prayers, Parker reads them two stories then sings them a few songs. After that is all done, Parker tries to leave and Jackson says, "daddy, cuddle me lots of times." Needless to say, Parker cannot say no to that so he lays down next to Jack and Jackson wraps his arm around Parker's neck and gets as close to him as he can and then falls asleep. It is precious and I know it's Parker's favorite part of the night.

I love my Jackson so much. I have always called him mommy's little angel and that is what he is to me. He brings a special spirit into our home that I am grateful for. I feel so blessed to have him in my life and I hope the hugs and I Love Yous never stop.

Joshy...

I figured it's been a while since I did a post on each of the twins individually. I realize this may be boring for you all to read but I want it for my personal history. =)

Josh is 3 years and 4 months old and is so much fun. He loves to wear his snow gloves everywhere and still loves his "la las." His favorite movies are Bugs Life, Monsters Inc, Incredibles, Homeward Bound, and Charlie Brown. His current favorite book is a book about dinosaurs that Auntie Nicole gave him. His favorite food is anything sweet and his favorite drink is strawberry milk. He is a night owl and, if he wasn't a twin, he would like to go to bed late and sleep late. He is pretty much off naps now, maybe taking 1-2 a week. His favorite toy is probably his trains, batman castle, and his tools. His favorite jammies are his superman jammies with the cape because he loves be to a "superhero." His favorite shoes are, of course, his Air Jordans from Uncle Shane. His favorite song is "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus."

Josh is incredibly coordinated and excels at whatever he attempts. He does not give up and will work at something until he masters it. He can jump, throw, catch, balance, ride his bike, hit a ball, etc all with quite skill. He takes after his daddy! He is also very smart and loves to learn. He speaks very articulate and clear and tells the most elaborate stories. He was quite the imagination!

Josh loves his brothers so much, especially Jackson. Jackson is more of the leader and Josh follows happily. When he wants something that Jack has he knows he just has to wait until Jackson is done. Today in the tub Jackson had all 20 of their little animals and Josh was asking to be able to play with just one. Jackson FINALLY gave him the goat, which is the one neither of them like, but Josh was content with it and played with it for 20 minutes, haha. When he has something that Jack wants he is very good at sharing with him. He is also very compassionate towards Jackson, always making sure he is ok. Although he is usually the one who learns something first (potty training, buckling his own car seat, etc) he still gets SO excited for Jackson once he learns it.

Josh is NOT a good eater. He's not picky, he just doesn't eat! It will take him literally hours to finish his cereal in the mornings and hours to finish lunch and dinner. It is VERY frustrating. Josh is also very stubborn and can be a punk at times. Although, it seems like lately he's been a lot sweeter. All day yesterday he told me how much he loved me, it melted my heart.

One of Josh's favorite things to do is after we go meet Parker at the train station they come home and the twins help daddy get dressed in his comfy clothes. They put his train ticket and wallet in his drawer, pull off his belt, then pick out his shirt and sweat pants. It's so cute how excited they get.

My favorite thing about Josh is his gorgeous smile and precious giggle. When he laughs it is impossible not to laugh with him. When he smiles and his big huge dimples show up, it's impossible not to smile back. My other favorite thing about Joshy are his prayers. He really thinks about what he wants to say to Heavenly Father. The other day, after I got my hair done, he said, "thankful mommy's hair looks pretty." Haha, it was too precious.

I love my Josh so much and am sad to watch him grow up. I dread the day where he doesn't want to hold mommy's hand, cuddle with mommy, or say "I LOVE YOU MOMMY!" Until then, despite the exhaustion, frustration, and loneliness, I am trying to treasure these moments.