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Macy: "So Mom, is Dad allergic to ALL kinds of horses? Like...ponies and unicorns?"

Paige: "Mom, how do birds cry?" When I couldn't answer, she said, "I think I know." Then she started tweeting in a really quiet, high-pitched voice.

Paige: "Dad, you know everything. Well, you know almost everything. Jesus really knows everything."

Austin: "Mom, I noticed some of the pajama bottoms you got me say 'flame resistant,' and I wanna test it out."

Paige (to the twins who are yelling in their highchairs): "If you are quiet, you'll get a treat. If you are loud, you'll get stolen by the monsters."

Me: "Paige! Please don't wipe your blueberry fingers on your dress."

Paige: "I didn't. I wiped them on the chair."

Paige: "Santa knows everything. Well...he knows almost everything. Jesus really knows everything. Santa just knows when your good and bad and when you're sleeping."

Austin (to his friend): "I love Katy Perry. In fact, I love the whole Perry family."

Macy: "Mom, how are girls and boys different? You know...besides the hair?"

Macy to Papa: "When I get married, I want a boy with muscles."

Macy: "Mom, do you know the definition of 'eardropping'?" Me: "I think you mean 'eavesdropping'." Macy: "No, I mean 'eardropping.' It means if I listen to your phone call without you knowing."

At Grandpa's funeral, Macy stepped in a huge puddle. Her entire foot got wet. I said, "Oh no! You're all wet!" Macy's response: "Oh well. At least it's not my favorite foot."

Macy (on a snowy day in April): "I just wish there was a button we could push that would move the Earth and it could be Summer. Then it wouldn't snow anymore."

I was doing Macy's hair in our bathroom. We heard Greg whistling in the kitchen. Macy looked up at me and said (in reference to the whistling): "Do you know what that means in bird language...It means 'I love you, Macy'." Later on, when I was telling Greg about it, he laughed and said to Macy: "How did you know." Without missing a beat, and as matter-of-factly as possible, she said, "I speak 'Bird'."

Macy wanted to wear shorts after school. She put some on that were WAY too short. I told her she needed to change. She said, "Okay. I'll put on some Capri Suns."

Paige (right before Easter): "Mom, can you tell Santa to tell the Easter Bunny to bring me this many (holding up her fingers and toes) chocolates for Easter?"

I overheard this conversation:

Macy to Paige: "Oh no! Don't hold up THAT finger. It's your 'Swear Finger'." Turning to Greg and myself, Macy said: "Paige held up her 'Swear Finger' but it was just an accident. Don't worry, she won't do it again. It was just an accident."

Greg took Macy out on a Daddy/Daughter Date for her birthday. They went to Disney on Ice and planned to get something to eat before. Macy said, "Can we go somewhere and get steak?"

Macy (at church): "Brother Valentine must have been borned on Valentine's Day."

Macy: "Mom, what is the name of our president?" Me: "President Obama." Macy: "I think I should pray for him."

Macy: "Being in jail is worser than having a mom."

Macy to Greg: "When we die, the vampires are going to live with Satan and the good people are going to live with Jesus." Greg told Macy that vampires aren't real. Her response: "Well, bats are real."

Greg to Paige: "You better watch it!" Paige to Greg: "What are going to do...blind me with pepper spray?"

Macy walked into the bathroom after a warm shower and said: "The mirror is sweating."

Paige was singing her own version of "The Grinch" song: "She's a mean one...Mr. Mom."

I was cleaning out the kids backpacks and found a math assignment. At the top, it read: Name: Macy, Grade: 1st, Date: Oct 32nd

For the 150th time today, I asked Paige to do something and she did the complete opposite. I said, "Paige! I really need to you listen and obey." Her response: "Okay Mom. I will listen on Saturday."

Paige (while watching a storm): "Mom! The clouds are all dirty!"

Austin took inventory of the kitchen today. After his assessment, he took a post-it note and wrote a shopping list: apples, cream, grapefrute, cheese, eggs, yogurt, 3 pieces of candy, red milk, and chireeos.

Macy (this morning over breakfast): "Mom, it's kind of like you're a maid, but you're really a mom. It's like we are the kids that own a maid. But, we're really kids who own parents."

Macy is reading "The Grinch" to Paige. I just heard her say that they climbed to the top of Mount Everest.

Grandma sent chocolate advent calendars. Macy just said: "Mom, I have to wait until Day 11 for another chocolate because I ate 10 of them."

Thankful 4: 41+

When I started the list, I had no idea it would turn into three separate posts. I just thought I could make a quick list, but then I realized how there is really so much. We had some fabulous talks in church last Sunday about being grateful "in all things," and not just for the good things. They talked a lot about how blessings can be trials as well. I've thought a lot about what that means and how I can be thankful for my trials and the trials of our family have been blessings. I've come to realize that a lot of the things on my "good things" list can also easily be a part of my "trials" list. It is all about perspective. For instance, some days, my five children are my greatest blessings, other times, my five children are my greatest trials.

Our wonderful Bishop posted this on Facebook today with his comment of "Isn't is amazing how our perspectives are changed for the better when we allow gratitude to permeate our hearts!":

"Mercies and blessings come in different forms-sometimes as hard things. Yet the Lord said, 'Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.' D&C 59:7; All things means just that: good things, difficult things-not just some things. He has commanded us to be grateful because He knows being grateful will make us happy. This is another evidence of His love." - Bonnie D. Parkin

Without getting too personal over the Internet, on this Thanksgiving Day, I really want to express gratitude for the trials that I've experienced over the past year. So, while being somewhat vague to protect the innocent (wink, wink), here we go:

• I am grateful that we have a home that could accomodate a few extra occupants part of the year. I'm grateful that my boys have a cousin that is more like a brother (they all love each other and sometimes they want to strangle each other). I'm grateful to spend winter evenings with my sister. It was nice to have an extra hand to help fold laundry, laugh at ridiculous TV shows, and just talk about our day. I'm grateful that we were able to laugh at a lot of situations (like when Lisa and Greg "solved crimes together").
  
• I am grateful for forgiveness. I am grateful that Lisa has forgiven me for my outbursts, frustration, and passionate reactions while living in such close quarters. I am grateful that my kids forgive me daily for my shortcomings as a mother. I am especially grateful to be a member of a marriage where apologies and true forgiveness is a daily act. I am grateful to be married to a man who can easily see the best in me and quickly forgive my shortcomings.
• I am grateful for repentance. I greatly appreciate how difficult it is to change. I have developed bad habits over the years, and I have to repent of the same thing on a regular basis. I am grateful to have a testimony of the Atonement. I am grateful for faith and hope in the belief that eventually I will be able to overcome my bad habits, by temper, and my inability to love unconditionally. I'm grateful for a husband, family, and friends who are patient and accept my apologies. I'm grateful for loving Heavenly Father for His love and patience.
  
• I am grateful to have grown up in a ward family that fasted on behalf of my family. I am grateful to feel the faith and love of hundreds of people in order to strengthen our family. It was such a humbling and loving experience.
  
• I am grateful for the incredible ward members and friends of both of my sisters who have stepped in and helped when it was just too overwhelming for our own little family to accomplish everything that needed to get done. I have learned so much by watching how others serve our family.
  
• I am grateful that I have found some answers as to how my body works and what I can do to be more healthy. There have been ups and downs as I have experimented, but I am becoming more educated and that is always a blessing.
• I am grateful for modern medicine and how it has blessed my family. It has given us hope and helped several people better cope with their situations. I had a really dangerous, scary experience with some powerful medication this year. It made me more compassionate toward people that become addicted to dangerous substances. I realized how we have to be so careful to listen to our own body and take the initiative to speak up if something doesn't seem right. I am grateful for good friends and family for their patience and speaking up on my behalf.
  
• I am grateful for my shortcomings (that is so difficult to write). There is nothing like having five kids to bring out every one of those shortcomings every single day. I am grateful that my husband is able to compensate for my shortcomings.
  
• I am grateful that I have been given opportunities to do things that are really scary and difficult. I don't like it when people don't like me. I have spent nearly my entire adult live overcoming my need to say "yes" to everything and try to please everyone. I have made enemies, and yet I have been able to stand up for what I believe is right and voice my convictions. It took a lot of prayer and self-induced-pep-talks and encouragement from Greg, but I am grateful for these opportunities. I have grown.
• I am grateful for my body. I'm grateful for the health issues I've been given, but I'm mostly grateful that I am healthy and strong - for the most part. I'm grateful that, over the years, I have found ways to deal with some of my health issues. I'm grateful for my bad back because it forces me to exercise which is good for my emotional health. It also forces me to know my limits (which has never been easy for me). I'm even learning to be grateful for the trivial with my body. I look at pictures, and that person in the picture seems to look older than I feel. But I'm grateful for all the lines on my face - I've earned them. I'm grateful for the love handles (also very difficult to write) because I came by them as a result of having children.
• I am grateful for the opportunity to be there when Coleman was born. I know it was hard for my sister and her husband, and it has been a blessing/trial for my sister to have to take care of an entire family and a baby. I am grateful that he was born when he was.
• I am grateful to have learned a little better how to listen to the voice of the Spirit (still working on figuring it all out). I've learned just as much from the times I didn't listen as when I did. It is something I really want to learn how to do better, and I'm grateful that I have been given time to figure it out.
• I am grateful that I was given five loud, energetic, opinionated, independent children. I have heard stories about kids that are meek and shy and believe anything their parents tell them; no such children abide in my home. I am grateful for the challenge of figuring them out and making constant adjustments to help them, teach them, and love them.
  

Even though I have been incredibly long-winded these past few days, I am grateful for a week of considering all of my blessings. At dinner today, I realized how Thanksgiving is the perfect introduction to the Christmas holiday season. How brilliant that we start a season where we celebrate the birth of Christ, where charity and love increases (but also has the potential to become a selfish time), with a holiday devoted to counting our blessings. I have counted so many, and have thought of dozens more that haven't been written.

I am thankful.

Thankful 4: 21-40

The list continues...

#21 I am so grateful that it isn't last year. So very grateful. It was really hard. Enough said.

#22 I am grateful for the gospel. I am grateful for the things that I believe and know. I am grateful for prayer and the experiences I've had that are mine alone that let me know the truth of the gospel.

#23 I am grateful for the challenge from the Stake Presidency to read parts of the Bible and Book of Mormon by the end of the year. We are reading with Austin, and we have had some really great discussions.

#24 I am grateful that Greg has worked so hard this year to get healthy. Not only is he hot, but so much happier. It has taken so much determination, and I greatly admire him.

#25 I am extremely grateful for TV. It's true. This is the way I veg-out at the end of the day. It's really nice to get involved in "pretend" drama.

#26 I am extremely grateful for TV. It's true. I'm so grateful that I gave it two numbers. I admit that sometimes the TV is the only thing that saves me during the day with my kids. Bless you, PBS. Bless you, Disney Channel. Bless you, creators of DVD players. And most of all...Bless you, DVR masterminds.

#27 I am grateful for Greg's job. I am grateful that we can pay the bills. I'm grateful that he is willing to take on the pressure of supporting our family.

#28 I am grateful that I am able to be a stay-at-home Mother. I am grateful that I am able to be a stay-at-home Mother. I am grateful that I am able to be a stay-at-home Mother.

#29 I am grateful to live in the United States of America. I have become a little disillusioned by the court system and there is a reason why (in Nov 2011), the US Congress has a 9% approval rating. Even so, I am grateful for our country. I am grateful that I have the freedom to express my thoughts and feelings. I am grateful that I have the freedom to make choices. I am grateful for the inspired documents that our country was founded upon. I am grateful that I can raise my children without fear.

#30 I am grateful for all of the men and women (and their families) who make the sacrifice to serve in the military. I'm grateful for everyone that has served in the past and those that are currently serving. I have nothing but respect for our soldiers. Thank you on behalf of me and my family.

#31 I am grateful for all the people that teach my children. I'm grateful for their teachers and leaders at church; I'm grateful for their teachers and administrators at school; I'm grateful for everyone who loves them and teaches them.

#32 I'm thankful for food. I really like food. I'm specifically grateful for smooth, silky chocolate and pastries and Breyers ice cream.

#33 I'm thankful for indoor plumbing. I just can't imagine...

#34 I'm grateful for books. Call me old fashion, but I like the feel of paper in my hands. I like the idea of "cuddling up" with a good book. I love getting sucked into the lives of characters so much that I don't want the book to end because I have to say goodbye to good friends. I like to relish a good book. And I like that this entry makes my two TV entries seem not quite so scandalous.

#35 I'm grateful for dishwashers. I'm grateful for clothes washers and dryers. I'm grateful for refrigerators and freezers. I'm grateful for microwaves. All these fabulous devices make my life so much easier.

#36 I'm grateful for music. I'm grateful to be able to sing to my kids (whether they like it or not). I'm grateful for the opportunities to see some of my favorite singers live this year. I'm grateful that my parents filled my life with music, and Greg has carried on that tradition. I'm grateful for Austin's piano teacher. I'm grateful to Austin for filling our home with music on a daily basis.

#37 I'm grateful that the Malibu finally died this year. It died a few months earlier than we planned (financially), but it was time to say goodbye. I'm grateful to Greg for sacrificing his manhood to drive a car all those years, and I'm grateful that he was finally able to get his truck. It makes him so happy. Thereby, it makes both of us so happy.

#38 I'm grateful that our children go to bed relatively easily. In general, I'm a 7-0'clock-type-of-mother. So, making it to an 8 o'clock bedtime is tough for me most days. So having a solid bedtime routine (that our kids seem to buy into), is truly a tender mercy.

#39 I am grateful for my Apple computer. I love her. She is so fun to play with.

#40 I am so very grateful (to the point that I am getting emotional just typing the words) that our family has been blessed with good health this past year. We have been without health insurance since last November, and have hit a few dead ends in our quest to obtain health insurance. We have not had to go to the doctor at all this year (and we had three 1-year-olds living in our house last winter). Every morning we pray for "health and safety." I can assure you that those words have not been trite repetitions this past year. I am grateful.

Thankful 4: 1-20

Every year, I write letters to Greg and each of my children and put it in their stockings on Christmas morning. It's priceless to watch my little ones bypass the candy, the presents, the excitement and run to their stockings to retrieve the most precious gift of the season: words from their mother. Hahaha. I know they will appreciate it one day, and I honestly don't do it for them. I do it for me. I feel like nurturing is not my strong suit and this is the best way I know to express my feelings. Plus, I really like words.

Anyway...My letters to Greg are undoubtedly the most difficult to write. The emotion is so strong as I try to express my gratitude to him. I feel so blessed that he has promised to walk by my side in this life. I'm grateful that I don't have to do it alone. Nearly every year, I start his letter with something like: "What a year it has been!" or "I can't believe what we've been through this year!" It looks like this year's letter will start similarly. It's been a roller-coaster of a ride, and my emotions have been a roller-coaster in and of themselves. In contemplating the last year, here is my much-too-honest list of things I am grateful for this Thanksgiving season:

#1 Greg: He is so good for me. He is generous, loving, affectionate, strong, laughs easily, and seems to make me laugh easily. I love him.

#2 Austin: He has overcome a lot this past year, and I'm grateful for his efforts. He has the most tender heart in our family and is sensitive to the feelings of others. He is coming into his sense of humor, and it's surprising and fun to hear some of the quips he comes up with. I love him.

#3 Macy: The best way to describe her is Indian Cuisine - she is spicy! She is personality times a million, and she keeps life fun and challenging. She adores her daddy and friends. I love her.

#4 Paige: This child talks nonstop and is hilarious! She is meticulous, overly observant, and fiercely independent. She thinks deeply and likes to problem solve. She reminds me of Buddy the Elf: "We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup." I love her.

#5 Spencer: He is my cuddliest child. He loves to climb in bed with me in the mornings, put his arms around me, and hold on...for minutes on end. He loves to give hugs and kisses. He throws tantrums with his entire body but not much sound. He is talking up a storm. I love him.

#6 Kade: He takes the responsibility of youngest child very seriously (even though he only made it by a few minutes). Pretty much, if someone else will do it for him (get him something, feed him, talk), he'll let them. He is unbelievably stubborn, excuse me "determined," but funny. He likes being the clown. I love him.

#7 My dad: It has become obvious to me, as I've started "growing up," that my dad knows a lot about true bravery and sacrifice. I love him.

#8 My mom: She is my greatest mentor, not only in motherhood but in life. She is the glue (as my dad would say). She has had a difficult year, but has come out of it stronger and more faithful. I'm grateful that she can love my children so unconditionally. I love her.

#9 My in-laws: While no family is perfect, I am truly grateful for Greg's parents. I'm grateful for their examples, the choices they've made, their faithful legacy, and their overwhelming generosity. I love them.

#10 Lisa: I am so blessed to have had someone with me my entire life. She is beautiful, talented, and an incredible Mom. I'm grateful for all of the ups and downs of the past year, and I'm grateful that we have been there for each other. I love her (and Cash, who is like my 6th child).

#11 Alexie: She is so strong! She teaches me constantly about the true meaning of love. I am grateful for the trials of the past year because we have grown closer. She has always been my best partner in dissecting a problem or an issue or even just a topic. Her opinions are thought-provoking and passionate. I love her (and her cute kiddos who make me smile all the time).

#12 Gavin: He has overcome so much the past few years, and I'm grateful for his example of perseverance. He is always willing to lend a hand, and goes about doing so much good. I'm grateful that he married Amber. It was a beautiful day and a highlight of the year. I love him.

#13 Madeline: She has my favorite name. I am grateful that she is living closer again, and that we get to spend more time together. I love her vibrant personality, and the ability to say anything at any moment. It's so refreshing! And she is so funny. Really. Hilarious. I love her.

#14 My Grandpa and the chance we had to celebrate his life. I'm grateful that his funeral was such a perfect celebration of his life. I'm grateful that I got to say goodbye to him and express my love one last time. I'm grateful that he occasionally visits me in my dreams. Last night, in my dream, he was in the corner of the room, and I wondered why we hadn't heard him play is guitar lately. I went to get his guitar and tried to give it to him, but he handed it back to me and gestured that he was just there to watch. So, I handed the guitar off to my aunt, and my grandpa just sat there in the corner, smiling. I am grateful to have been so close to him, and I'm grateful that my older children will remember him. I love him.

#15 My grandmothers: They are both struggling with Alzeimers, and my mom has been in charge of both of them (well, my mom and my aunt). It is difficult to be grateful for this disease as it is so exhausting and frustrating for all involved. I can be grateful for the fact that this trial has reiterated to our entire family that a loving Father in Heaven knows us, knows our needs, and does answer our prayers (even if we have to struggle figuring out the answers). I do love them.

#16 My aunts, uncles, cousins, cousins-in-law, and their kids: We are a small group, but the past year has brought several struggles that have brought us closer. I am grateful to have grown up around family and truly enjoy each other's company after all these years. I am grateful for the good people that surround me, for their faith, brave choices, and good examples. I love them.

#17 Jen and her family: I hope I don't embarrass her by putting this on my blog, but I am so grateful to have made such a close friend. She knows me better than anyone, has witnessed by best side (and plenty of opportunities to witness my "not-so-best-side" and often my "downright-evil-side") and she loves me anyway. She is honest with me, builds me up, is a deep and intriguing philosopher, and would do anything for me or my kids. She is a fabulous example of a loving mother, a true humanitarian, a talented photographer, and an amazing wife. I'm so grateful the Lord brought her and Jasper and all of their kids to West Jordan to bless my life. I love her.

#18 Our Ward and Neighborhood: I am truly grateful to be surrounded by so many good-to-the-core people. We have lived in our home for nearly 11 years, and some amazing friends have moved away, but I'm grateful to keep in touch with them. I love all the friends I've made, and I love going out with them occasionally. They really make me laugh. We have some fabulous memories. My neighbors are incredible - the food, the lawn-mowing, the treats for my kids (more importantly, the love and acceptance shown to my kids), and the amazing examples of service and love. I am grateful that my kids have so many good friends that come from amazing families. I'm grateful to all those parents that welcome my kids and their chaos into their homes. My mom told me once that she always loves coming to our ward because everyone is so kind and a true spirit of love exists. It's so true. I love being around so many incredible people.

#19 My home: It keeps us warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We have everything we need and a whole lot more. It's nothing extravagant, but I like it and we seem to make a lot of good memories.

#20 Home videos: Greg has been so diligent in taking home videos over the years. Last Saturday, the kids got them out and before we knew it, it was an hour and a half past bedtime. It was so fun to see the kids over the years and remember why we love each other.

# 20 1/2 Pictures: I am so grateful for photography and pictures. I'm grateful to have images and moments caught in time. They bring back so many emotions and memories. We had our family pictures taken in October, and I love the way they turned out. Thanks again, Jen (Fauset Photography).

Okay, so these items haven't exactly been "honest." This list actually evolved more on the sappy side. But just you wait until tomorrow...

Kids Catch-Up

I can't believe I didn't post anything in October. Life has been crazy. Here are a few pictures (and by "few" I mean "a ton") of the kids the last few months.

The kids started school in August. Paige is attending her second year of preschool at Sunshine Square. Her teacher this year is Miss Melissa. She is sugar sweet at honey pie, and Paige loves her. Paige really loves school. It is right down her alley (she is probably my first child where school is the perfect fit). Paige loves working on meticulous projects, and she loves, loves, loves anything artsy craftsy (it's unfortunate that she was sent to a mother who is art-challenged). Paige has recently become enamored with writing her name and her letters. She writes lists and lists, as Macy tells her how to spell things. She desperately wants to learn to read, and I should get my act together and teach her. Every day Miss Melissa just gushes about how wonderful Paige is and how she is a good worker and a nice, polite friend. (Paige must get exhausted being so good at school because she seems to save her 4-year-old, stinker-pot behavior just for her Mama.) It's a good thing she's so darn adorable:

Austin started 5th Grade and is in Ms. DeMille's class. I absolutely love his teacher. For the first time since starting school, Austin has a teacher that "gets" him and believes in him and knows how to teach to him and inspire him. It is an answer to several years of prayers. The first few days of school, Austin went in with a chip on his shoulder, with the attitude of: "Well, you're the teacher and I'm the imperfect student and we are going to make each other's lives miserable for the next 10 months." After about a week, I saw him soften. Ms. DeMille won him over. Austin is fiercely loyal, and he has a talent for "reading" people. If he doesn't trust you, then he just shuts down (when you look into his eyes, they seem empty; he disappears). But if he does trust you, there is nothing he won't do for you. He still struggles with staying on task and anything related to writing, but he is improving. More importantly, he is enjoying school and looks forward to going. He is talking to us again about what happens at school. It's been such a positive experience.

Macy is in second grade this year and has Ms. Henkels. Confession: It is November, and I have yet to meet Ms. Henkels. I know...horrible, negligent mother. It's true. Macy is doing fine in school. I get reports that she talks too much (if you pull out my elementary school report cards, they ALL say that I talk too much). School is a social outlet for this little socialite, and if she happens to learn something along the way, then that will be a happy coincidence. But she's really there for the people. More specifically, the boys. They are learning how to write form letters. Once a week, one of her homework assignments is to write a letter to someone in her class. I have yet to see her write one to a girl. There are twin boys in her class: Weston and Wyatt. She wrote Wyatt a letter, complimenting him on his soccer skills and telling him how funny he is. Then, she happened to ask if Weston "liked" her. Macy told me that Ms. Henkels asked if she could read the letters aloud in class. Macy said: "I told her 'no' because that would be really embarrassing." This girl has life oozing out of her fingertips. She is hilarious!

Showing off her backpack. She is really into peace signs these days. This was the best that I could do:

The kids thought it would be really funny to play a joke. They handed Paige their First-Day-0f-School signs so we would think that she was in 2nd grade and 5th grade.

For Halloween this year, I did something that I have never done: I coordinated our costumes. Macy wanted to be Alice in Wonderland (wearing the dress that Alexie really wore in the 80s when she was Macy's age), and it just kind of ballooned from there. Austin originally thought he was "too cool" to participate in this family endeavor, but at the last minute (the night before the Ward Halloween Party), he changed his mind. The players are: Austin as the Mad Hatter, Macy as Alice, Paige as the white rabbit (isn't her giant stopwatch adorable), Spencer and Kade as Tweeledee and Tweedledum, Emily as the Red Queen, and Greg as a Card Guard - painting the roses red. It was really fun and actually came together quite easily.

A few months ago, Alexie needed her crib back so her baby (then about 7-8 months old) would finally have a place to sleep. We had no choice but to retire the crib that Greg and his dad made, and has been in our "nursery" since Austin was 4 months old. I may or may not have shed a tear; Greg may or may not have danced a jig. I was incredibly reluctant to put the boys in a traditional bunk bed, but I found this bunk bed at Costco. Instead of a ladder, it has stairs on the side so the entire top bunk is boxed in practically eliminating the possibility of falling out. It has been absolutely perfect. Every night, the boys argue about who gets to go "Up" and tears are shed by the twin who has to sleep "Down." Other than that, they absolutely love being in a big-boy bed. These are a few pictures from the first few weeks, before they caught onto the concept of sleeping in their own beds.

Some days, I think that it's a shame that all of us aren't twins. They have such a fascinating connection, and they always have each other. Sure...they fight and argue like all other 2-year-olds. But they help each other out and just love being together ALL THE TIME. Other days, I'm grateful that every baby isn't born a twin because it would just kill all the Mom's off.

Here are the many faces of Spencer (or "Bence" as we call him around here - coined by Paige). He loves to sit on top of the couch while watching "Yo Gabba" or "Dinosaur Train" or "Rio" (which he calls the "Tweet-Tweet" movie). He walks around quoting a line from that movie. At the most hilarious moments, you can hear Spence saying "Not cool man."

These are some of my favorite pictures of the past year. This is the first time that Kade discovered head phones. Amazingly, at age 2, he can't use the potty, but he can navigate an ipod. His face was priceless as it lit up when a song began. Adorable! And don't you just love the hair!?!