The House of Twins!!

A couple of days ago we got in a quick Skype session with Andrea and Elaine…Nolan was out on an errand with Daddy and the twins were asleep.  Before we said goodbye, Nehemiah stirred and Andrea went to get him.  My word, he has grown so much!!  I could not believe it when Andrea said he was 9 lbs.  He has filled out quite a bit since our visit a few weeks ago!  Which made me lament to Andrea that I had not posted my twins pictures yet!  So, before they start walking, here is a little taste of what a house of twins is like!

The best part of babies is just holing them and enjoying looking at them.  All their tiny little baby parts…ears, fingers, nose and mouth, those tiny little nails are in place, the feet!  I just can’t get over it!

Those little bodies need a lot of care.  Feeding, burping, nappy changing!   The twins graduated from a single in the sink to both in the tub while I was visiting!  I think the tub suits them better!

Bath time is always followed by a good lather of Baby Magic lotion and a big sister who loves to rub it in!

Then the baby gawking starts again! 

Mom and Dad have been doing a good job managing the double action.  I can’t believe this is the only shot of Ben with his babies  that I took.  He was pretty tired when I arrived.  He’s a good Dad, working, helping with the twins and still playing with Elaine and Nolan and reading to them and helping get them into bed. 

When Mom and Dad’s arms wear out, Elaine is always ready to help out.  She loves talking and singing to the twins.

Wally flew our for the Memorial Day weekend. He was determined to see these babies when they were still tiny.  See, you just get caught up looking and looking at them!

Hope you enjoyed looking too…they are pretty sweet!

Cookie Time

Making a batch of cookies has always been a big deal to me.  Something that takes time.  Andrea makes cookies like its nothing!  By the time I run to the store and buy a package of Oreos, she’ll have the first warm batch coming out of the oven.  She has always been that way.  Even before the kids came along, Ben had homemade chocolate chips in his lunch.  I’m pretty sure he didn’t have “extra crispy” bottoms like Wally did!  When Andrea visits my house,  she dusts off the mixer and oils its little engine and stirs up cookies.  So should I have been surprised that she made cookies while I was visiting?  Well I was.  When you get two babies asleep at the same time, making cookies is not my first thought.   But then, she did have two efficient helpers!

Elaine is big enough to crack an egg…

…and mix it up!

Nolan is big enough for small dumps and little taste checks!

He checks all the ingredients…these are peanut butter cookies

Kind of busy tasting still to take his turn at measuring!

There we go, Mom is helping to pour and sister’s expert eyes are making  sure it is right!  Big sisters are very good at this, it’s part of their job description!

Back to what he does best…tasting

Lip smacking approved!

Double delight!

I wish I was having a warm cookie with my coffee and Grands right now!!

A Week in Brooklyn

Last week I spent in New York meeting the new twins, loving on Elaine and Nolan, and maybe was a bit of help to Andrea.  It went entirely too fast.  I arrived in New York pretty close to on time…but it took a bit for the luggage to spit out.  When we got to Andrea’s apartment, there she was, with two teensy weensy babies.  So of course I did not go right to bed!  I cannot describe the feelings of holding and gazing at those precious little babies.  Then realizing that my daughter was their Mama!  Funny emotions come over you!  Andrea and I got a little chit chat time in on the couch…Ben staggered off to bed.  And we finally followed at 2:00 a.m. 

My sleeping quarters were the bottom bunk of Elaine and Nolan’s bunk beds.  They were camping out together up top.  In the morning Nolan’s little face looks down and I hear a “boo"!  That was followed by giggles from Elaine.  So, being a good Grandma, I pulled them into bed with me…where Elaine began to fuss about a hair on her finger!  My eyes were barely working, I saw no hair!  I forgot about that hair thing of hers!   No worries, we had a whole week to play and get reacquainted!

NOLAN  He is nearly two, smart as a whip, short on words and loves his 4” princess doll, Belle.  He also loves trains and when he would sit down, he would make “choo-choo” sounds while he turned his hands like he was driving!  He managed to get in the bathroom with me every morning where we went through the same routine...he pointed at a little bottle in my toiletry bag and I would say, “That’s for Grandma’s face”  He’d move his pointing finger to the next bottle and I would say, “That’s for Grandma’s face!”  Well, repeat that four or five times and you get a little humbled!  Then he would point to my perfume and then his neck as he made the “psh-psh” sound!  So I sprayed him with Sweet Pea!  This did not please his Mommy who seems to think he has too much “girly” in his life.  I kind of think he’s just stinking cute and he has lots of time to do the “boy” thing.  Still, when Grandpa came we used his “manly” smelling stuff.

I brought Nolan this super hero cape and mask…kind of to discourage the Princess dress ups.  But I guess he likes to do whatever his big sister does, so he still dresses that way too!  (Notice little Belle in his hands?)    The super hero set was made by a friend of mine from our Military days.  I reconnected with her on Facebook and she has a little side business, Granna’s Goods. 

                 

Nolan likes to carry a bag, or something that he can put his Belle into.  Sometimes he carries it around his neck! 

One of the drawbacks of teaching your kids independence is that when you tell them to get a pair of socks, they might bring you their Sunday argyle socks.  Luckily it just made Nolan look like a soccer goalie!

Elaine  She is definitely the big sister and talks…a whole lot!  She loves Beauty and the Beast (those songs are still stuck in my head) and is always asking WHY?  Which kind of makes it hard to enjoy Beauty and the Beast!   She has secret hiding places on her bed…mostly for toys she doesn’t want Nolan to get!  And she loves having babies in the house! 

Grandma painted Elaine’s toes and fingernails…sparkly purple!

This is not a cradle, it is Elaine’s boat.  And she sat in it with her doggie (and Nolan’s doggie when he vacated the room) just a jabbering a way.  Love their imaginations!

When she isn’t a Princess, Elaine is often a doctor!

It was rainy and cold my week in New York. So if car seats, strollers, and diaper bags aren’t enough to take along, let’s throw in a couple of umbrellas on a crowded, windy, busy sidewalk!  But, they are awfully cute!

We had some good times…

Lego time

Play dough time

Lots of story times! 

And one of my favorites, nap time!

Thankful Thursday

On a shelf in my home I have this cute wooden apple that my friend and neighbor gave to me years ago.  Along the side it says, “friends to the core”.  I met Kathy years ago when we bought our first home.  Another neighbor mentioned to me that a woman down the street was home schooling and since we were also, I went to knock on Kathy’s door.  I am so blessed that we met that day.  Kathy is a wonderful friend and although our families are now grown and we live thousands of miles apart, I still count her as one of my closest friends.

One thing I remember about Kathy, she is is always cooking up something good and she likes to check out new recipes.  She was the one who told me the recipe for the best oatmeal raisin cookies is in the Colorado Cache cookbook…and they are the best.  She shared with me a microwave peanut brittle recipe I have used at Christmas many times.  She showed me how to make eggrolls and shared that great recipe.  And she also gave me a recipe for zucchini bread.  And quirky as it may sound, I am very thankful for that recipe!  I have never really liked baking or been very good at it, but this recipe I have done pretty well with.  It makes two nice loaves and is just really tasty!  I have been sharing it in the Polo Club quite a bit.  I have taken a loaf of bread with a nice card to several residents when there has been a death or illness.  I even got really brave and made several loaves for our Homeowner’s Association meeting this past Tuesday.  Not only did the residents seem “wowed” because I made it, I received several nice compliments.  So I have found myself saying over and over, Thank You Lord. 

Here’s the recipe:

3 eggs, 1 cup oil, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups peeled, grated zucchini, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 3 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 scat teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 cup chopped nuts.

Beat eggs until light and foamy.  Add oil, sugar, zucchini, and vanilla.  Mix well.  Add flour, soda, baking powder, and salt.  Mix well.  Add nuts.  Bake in two greased, floured loaf pans and bake at 325* for one hour.  Cool on rack.

I grow zucchini in the garden each summer just for this recipe.  I grate it (I do not peel it as recipe says) and freeze it so I have it all year long.  The bread freezes well too.  I made mine for the Homeowner’s meeting before I went to New York because I knew I would not have time when I returned.  I’m planning on freezing some just to have on hand for those uncertain times when I would like to give it out.  I have used the mini pans too and taken it to residents who live alone. 

All that to say, this little recipe has been used to bless others!  And each time I make it, I am blessed to think of my friend Kathy!  See you in July Kath!

How to Dress for Ice Cream

There’s an ice cream truck that comes every evening to Ben and  Andrea’s neighborhood.  In fact it stops right in front of their house.  The neighbors kind of hang and wait and even call the driver by name.  “Hey Tony,  a double with chocolate sprinkles!”  And Tony calculates the cost, “Three regulars and two smalls, just make it eight!”  We tried really hard to get dinner over before Tony rolled into town!  We waited and even began to wonder if Tony would come. We were waiting and listening for the familiar music.  Ben googled Softeez ice cream and the music began playing over the computer…and the kiddos began running to the door!  Ben, of course was the only one laughing!  The extra time gave Elaine and Nolan time to dress appropriately for Tony’s arrival!

Elaine said “This keeps my neck nice and warm!”   I guess the ice cream makes it chilly going down ??

Elaine has a chocolate beard going here…and I guess her neck warmed up!

Ostrich feathers all gone here too…

…and a chocolate “cheese”!!

Thankful Thursday

This is our leadership circle from this year in Bible Study Fellowship.  We have met together on Saturday mornings since September and again on Monday nights for our class time.

This circle of women has blessed, challenged and encouraged me as we have studied God’s Word together.  They have shared so freely and transparently what God is showing them and how they are applying it in their life.  Thirty-one women who have said yes to God’s call on their life to serve Him. They have been faithful and committed. Many have had difficult things and trials come into their life this year and their “stick-to-it-iveness” (as my Mom would call it) has been a wonderful testimony of their dependence on the Lord  to do that which he has asked them to do.  How thankful I am for their part in my life.  Saturday we had our last Leader’s meeting…a breakfast Fellowship  at the Polo Club. (Part of my wild, wicked, wonderful week!)

Standing: Joanna, Annie, Cindy, Kristen, Joan, Tish, Bev, Sarah, Caroline, Liza, Susan, Debra, Alethea, and Gail. Seated: April, Tina, Debbie, Heather, Divina, Bethany, Rhonda, Carol. On the Floor: Gayle, Diana, LaRon, Julia, and Laura. We had two leaders absent, Patricia and Michelle.

This is Gail and Alethea.  Alethea is our teaching leader.  She prepares the training for our leaders each week and the lecture for our class.  Gail is our substitute teaching leader.  She brings the lecture in Alethea's absence.  She also teaches several seminars a year, presents the Welcome class information to new women, and leads discussion groups in a leader’s absence.  She is very busy, and flexible!! These two women have shown me humility and excellence in the way they serve!

This is me, Alethea, Gail and Debbie.  Together we make up the class staff.  Debbie is the children’s supervisor.  She trains the children’s leaders each week and heads up the School Program.  These women are more than co-laborers, they have blessed my life with their friendship!!

This is me, Gayle, April, and Tina. We make up the admin team for our class.  Gayle is the class secretary.  She once shared that she has “finally found her niche in BSF.”  I intend to remind her of that and keep her serving for as long as possible!  April has been the other side of my brain for several years now.  She always seems to read my mind, often before the thought arrives!  Tina is new to our team this year but it seems like she has been here with us all along!  I am particularly grateful that she and Gayle handle the technical side of things.  These three women have committed to serving again next year and for the first time in several years, we will begin class with a fully staffed and trained admin team!  Yeah!!!

These two ladies are Michelle and Ellen, the asst. treasurer and treasurer! Michelle stepped in midyear to be our assistant  and I am so pleased she loves what she is doing.  Ellen has been our treasurer for two years now.  The treasurer and asst. treasurer are part of the admin team, along with our class hosts.   And a couple of women  faithfully stay after class to wind up our ropes and help pick up anything that has been displaced during the night.  Unfortunately, I did not snap a picture of them…though I brought my camera, I got a little distracted and forgot.  

When the Lord asks you to do a certain task, He provides all that is necessary to complete that task.  He gives Himself, His Word, His strength and enabling, to name a few resources.  He also seems to provide you with this wonderful side benefit…other believers.  They encourage, help, work and teach all along the way.   They laugh with you, cry with you, and pray with you!   That is what I have been given many times and this year particularly, with these women who love the Lord!