Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to the most amazing mom I know! Thank you for always being there for me, for making me laugh, for warning me about radar on the road, and for teaching me about how to be a great mom. I appreciate you now so much more now that I am a mom! Thank you for the encouragement, the prayers, the help, and for just being there. No matter how old I am I know I will always need my mom :)

Mom and I when I was born

Mom looking good as always!

That's right...no other words

Mom and I on my wedding day

Mom when she found out we were pregnant with twins

Mom and Nancy at the hospital right before we headed home.

I am also so grateful for a wonderful mother-in-law who did an amazing job raising her son!

So for Mother's Day I decided to get Luke and Madison's butt prints on a plate so the grandmother's could cherish them forever! They turned Madison's butt print into a ladybug (her toes were the dots) and Luke's into a lion. My unbelievable sister had the BEST surprise of Mother's Day...when my aunt and I took Luke and Madison to have this done the lady asked if it would be ok if they did an extra one to display in the store. I said sure and didn't think a thing about it. On Mother's Day I gave the plates to my mom and then my sister said, "Do you remember the lady doing 2 extra to 'display in the store?' Well, she made these for you!!!" I cried like a baby! I was so excited to have 2 of my own! What an amazing sister I have! I could never say thank you enough! Jennifer is an incredible mom. I have learned so much from her!

Mom and Jackie with Luke and Madison and their butt prints!

Nancy with Luke's butt print

Nancy with Madison's butt print

Nancy with Madison on Mother's Day

So Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing mothers I know. I always dreamed about being a mom. I think I always wanted to be a mom because I had such a great mom to look up to!

Bubbles!

My sister got the babies a bubble machine for their birthday so we tried it out! They loved it! I loved watching their faces as they gazed in amazement!

Happy Birthday Luke and Madison

Friday, April 30th was their actual birthday. We enjoyed a relaxing day. Here are some pictures from their birthday...(Birthday party post below!)

Good morning sunshine! It's your birthday!

"Mom, is today the day?"

Seeing Daddy before he heads to work

Growing up my brother, sister, and I would always decorate each other's doors for birthdays. It was always fun to open your door on your birthday and see streamers and signs. I thought I would carry on the tradition :)

My sweet cousin, Chad, came by on their birthday to say hey!

(All the single ladies...call me if you need his number)

Jonathan and I made cupcakes with homemade icing for them to enjoy on their birthday. We knew they were going to get a big cake the next day at their party but we thought we may give them a trial run and see how they do.

Madison is checking out the flame

You have to love those first few moments. They are so curious and cautious!

"Mom, what is this and why have you been hiding it from me!"

A woman's first taste of chocolate should always be documented :)

As you can tell, Madison loved it!!!

We kept saying that we should take it away because we didn't want them to get sick. Then we would say just one more minute. It was too funny watching them!

So good!

....and this is what happened when we started taking it away!!! I felt bad taking a picture of her crying like this but her reaction was priceless!

I am not sure what they loved more...eating the cupcakes or playing in the water after. They had cupcake everywhere!!

After they were cleaned up and in their pj's it was time to open presents from mommy and daddy.

We knew they were going to get a ton at their party so we just bought them something little. Luke is in love with balls right now so we got him a big soccer ball!! You can see how excited he was! I can hear him now, "ball ball ball!"

Madison got a little doll

Daddy with Luke and Madison

Mommy with Luke and Madison

So how do you sum up in words, on you blog, what this past year has meant? How do I explain it? This past year has affirmed much of what I already knew...that I married an amazing man! I felt like the luckiest girl in the world when I married Jonathan and almost 3 years later God entrusted us with twins. They allowed me to fall in love with Jonathan all over again. To watch him as a dad is the most amazing thing! To see how hard he works for us so that I can stay home. I am so thankful for our marriage, for our friendship, and for our teamwork this past year!

Luke and Madison,

A year ago, I remember laying on that bed and they came in to tell me it was time to bring you guys into the world. So many emotions ran through me. I was so nervous and excited. The moment I heard your cry I knew you were ours to take care of. Every day has been a joy to see you learn and grow. Your daddy and I can't wait to see what the next years hold! We are looking forward to teaching you about God's love and about His forgiveness. We want you to love life and love others. Thank you for your smiles, your laughs, and your sweet faces!

Happy Birthday little bits :)

1st Birthday Celebration

We had Luke and Madison's 1st birthday party on Saturday, May 1st. We were blessed to have a ton of family and friends there to celebrate with us! We took over 300 pictures (and you know I am bad about choosing just a few) so here are a lot! :)

The table was ready! My wonderful friend, Courtney, has a very talented grandmother that made the babies cakes and the sheet cake. They looked amazing! I loved the big cupcakes! I did a clothesline of pictures from their first year. It covered both sides of the room. I just wanted to sit and look over and over those pictures. It was incredible to see how much they had grown! What wonderful memories we have!

Their seats were ready to go! I still can't believe they are one!

Our beautiful little birthday girl, Madison, with her great-grandmother (Meme)

Our handsome little birthday boy, Luke.

Getting ready to open some presents!

How fun! We have officially opened our own personal Toys-R-Us in our house!

Madison got her first bikini!!! We are waiting on Daddy's approval :)

She loved her first real doll!

Luke loved this little monkey!

Luke has always held onto Madison. I have pictures from when they were just a few months old and he would have his sweet little hand on her! This picture makes me think that Madison was a little nervous and Luke leaned over to say, "It's ok Madison. This is going to be fun!"

I am glad we were able to catch this picture because the rest of them with the hats on they were crying! This is why I wanted the cheap hats...I knew they wouldn't last long!

Here come the cakes. We sang to each one of them separately...that is why there is a candle on Madison's cake and not on Luke's :)

Yum! Luke loved it! He was a little slow to begin but then really got into it!

Madison dug right in!

"Hey, let me try some of yours!"

"Quick, she's not looking!!"

People will often say when they see us with twins, "Oh, bless your heart." You know how they are saying it...like they feel sorry for you. But I always think, and often respond with, "Yes God did! He blessed us with two precious children!"

In the eye, in the hair, EVERYWHERE!

Our amazing group of friends! Thank you for being just a phone call away this year when I had questions! You mean the world to Jonathan and I!

It takes a village to raise children...Well, here is our village! Thank you for the time you invested in Luke and Madison! Thank you for the prayers and words of encouragement!

My cousin, Chad, and Madison. She loves him! (I think she may have his heart too)

Uncle Chad, my nephew Austin, and Madison

They look a little party pooped!

We had a wonderful day celebrating the life God gave them this past year!

We can't wait to see what adventures and memories we will build this year!