Pretty spring twins

A few years ago, I snagged some of the iris' from my dad's yard.  I didn't realize it at the time, but the bulbs were originally from my Grandma Trevillian's garden.  How cool is that?

This year, they were just GORGEOUS when they bloomed.  Had to snap a few pictures of our sweet girls in front of them.

Ella Grace and Sydney Ann

And we walked down to the lake to visit the geese.

this momma is a sucker for an outfit with a pretty back

Great Wolf Lodge

If you have kids, you know that your house is filled to the brim with way.too.much!  Do they need more toys?  The answer is always never.
We work hard to just make ends meet - before we had the girls, we didn't eat out much and tried to be conservative.  When we decided to have children, I didn't think we could afford them, but jumped in anyway.  When we found out we were having two at once, I FREAKED, not knowing how we'd make it happen.  But, alas, we did (and still do)!  We have to be thoughtful and careful to ensure our family has what it needs.  From diapers and formula to daycare and clothes.  Although it seems like we are poor, we are happy.  And my point is - we don't go big on gifts.  It's not a huge deal to us because the girls have never really had a clue, so we may need to adjust our strategy pretty soon ;)  But for now, our trend continues, and for their birthday this year, we decided to splurge on an overnight to Great Wolf Lodge in lieu of way too many toys.

Napping on the way to a fun adventure

I'm fairly certain this was the girls first time in a hotel....
(twin little ones + one room + thin walls = logistical nightmare)

Three year old wolf pups!

These two had so much fun!  They squealed the whole time, until Sydney's lips turned blue and she said "yet's go find hot water".  Bless her sweet skinny heart.

snack break

seriously, SO happy in the hot water

getting ready to go to story time

We put them to bed and laid in bed on the other side of the little wall.  We laid there and listened to them talk non-stop about their water park adventures.  At one point Ella said "Syd-ee, did you have fun?" To which Sydney replied, "Yeah! Yet's be fish again tamarrow" 

Good Morning water babies!

And when in a hotel... you act like a crazy fool....

we had a fun morning... but we need to get warm, eat a snack, and head on home...

Daniel and I always say after every big event we do... "in one more year... they can do more" and "in one more year.... it'll be a bit easier"

So, while we had a FANTASTIC time, it was also a ton of work and a little stressful (toddlers+water+crowds).  So... in one more year.... :)

We made it home for a bath, and dressed the girls up for a fun early dinner.  They get so excited over their "farkly" shoes.  We had a really, really wonderful trip!

Tea for Two in a magical wisteria wonderland

I'm a little crazy.
I went home after work one day and told Daniel "don't ask questions, but I found us a spot to take pictures of the girls".  Naturally, he rolled his eyes, but knew better and just went along with it.
So I made flower crowns.  I started loading up the table and chairs, and Daniel was like... nope.  I gave him a look, and he quickly went along with it.  And boy, am I sure glad he did... look at this magic:

Absolute Perfection - so in love with our sweet little girls

Sugar and Spice, and all things nice, that's what little girls are made of

Ella Grace

Sydney Ann

We framed pictures for our moms (and siblings) for Mother's Day.  The table and chairs were Daniel's from when he was little.  The tea set was his dad's, and we have the box he stored it in, complete with his handwriting of the contents.  So special.  And to top it off, I just can't get over that we have BEAUTIFUL twin girls to love each and every day.  We're the lucky ones.

Springtime with the #doublesinks

** disclaimer, I've been trying to update on our fun Springtime all damn summer!
Spring is finally here, and we love being able to go outside and get rid of some energy.  It seems like it's also gotten easier to take them outside - they can manage the playset on their own, don't run straight to the street, and actually PLAY.  What fun our sweet girls are!!

i had a good sidekick who didn't roll his eyes too much and helped do party prep for the girls third bday party!

i know they are tacky, but we love these flower pinwheels... perfect for Ella and Sydney's "garden"

"ta-da!"

stopping to smell the flowers on a walk... I've always admired this garden full of phlox!

just look at those two sweet smiles

painting finger nails... i've learned if i paint their nails, they will sit still for a while... #momwin

We watched our best dog pal, Daisy.  The girls love her to pieces, and looooved having her slide with them.

The Martin Agency recently took a public stand for equal pay for women.  They made shirts for all females in the office plus their daughters!  They asked everyone to take pictures of their sweet, strong ladies in the shirts.

and we made the video at the top of the article!  look at those cute girls!

life with twin toddlers

all the grandkids helping Papa blow out his candles!  

these are their favorite princess dresses right now, and they wear them every single day... twirling and using their imaginations

I made everyone a "sprinkle your own cupcake" plate.  We frosted and sprinkled cupcakes after their party - what a hit!  They loved to "frinkle, frinkle, frinkle"

Getting ready to head to Lowes to pick out flowers for our garden!

they brought their own birthday money and purses

Syd and her "purple f-ower"

fun adventure!

they don't normally get to hang out outside the cart... but we try... so here's the circus "holding onto the cart"

admiring our garden purchases

kisses

Had a fun afternoon celebrating our friend Cole turning 1!

came into the playroom one Sunday morning when I heard so many giggles I knew they were up to no good...

planting the flowers they bought

we love Sydney's little tongue that sticks out when she's concentrating

We have tried recently to separate the girls and spend individual time with them.  I took Sydney to the grocery store with me.  She got to pick out something for Ella, and found this huge purple ball and some pink ice cream

later in the week, Ella went with Daddy to grab pizza for dinner.

and I played Tinkerbell with Sydney and had a tiny tea party

working on thank-you-cards for our birthday gifts

I love singing "you are my sunshine" to the girls at night.  Sometimes they sing along with me at bedtime (I can't get over their little voices).  I asked Robin if she would use her amazing skills for some shirts for the girls.... how perfect are they!

you are my sunshine

my only sunshine

i thought that moving their cribs would prevent things like this.... clearly, i'm wrong

going to visit the "mad face"

walked in the room to this scene: real life

Darth Vader - Ella

Darth Vader - Sydney

Ella was laying ON TOP of Daniel, ha!

the Couringtons gave the girls one of Abby's old stuffed animals... this huge horse that Ella named "Bella".  i rounded the corner to these two, dressed up, and Sydney was "riding" Bella while Ella pulled her around.

"frinkle frinkle frinkle" the cheese for quesadillas 

peek-a-boo

these two are the best of friends... and don't even mind sitting ON TOP of each other

I woke the girls up for school one day and Ella was on FIRE.  Her temp was 103... so sick day at home with Daddy for this pathetic girl.

I couldn't tell if Sydney was sick, too, or just being 3.

sweet sick girl taking care of her horse "Baby Bella"

I couldn't resist going in and snapping a pic of Ella napping on her sick day... because when you're sick, you get to snooze with Bella

typical scene at our house these days

Ella's fever just wouldn't go away... so a Saturday morning trip to Kid Med it was!  I'm thankful I followed my gut, because Ella had pneumonia.  Let the record state, Daniel said "you were right about taking her in!"

PB&J besties in dresses made by Aunt Kelly

while Ella was sick, we had some long nights

sweet girl needed to have her hand held or back patted... although we were TIRED, we would do anything to make them feel better

enjoying fresh air!

Umm... yeah...

Ella & Sydney use teamwork to ESCAPE.
We shut that shit down real fast.

When you're three, you get to go to the dentist for the first time!  They did... okay.  They didn't love opening up their mouths, but did a little bit.  The hygienist promised they did better than we thought they did.

Ella's first

Sydney getting a peek over Ella

Syd's turn

Sweet sisters... Ella is hanging out on Daddy's knee watching over Sydney

Daycare needed a "mommy and me" picture... and we take an awful lot of "together" pictures, and way too few single pictures. (**note to self - try harder to just get one girl snaps!).  So here we go:

Momma and Sydney

Ella was being silly

Momma and Ella

trying to get a May the Fourth picture...

Pretty Fly for a Jedi

Since it was going to be a gorgeous spring day, we decided to hang out at Yorktown Beach for the day. 

potty trained toddlers...



my favorite view

a giant sandbox is so fun for little ones

racing away from the water

covering up Daddy's feet

A while ago, we decided it was time for family room furniture upgrades.  We bought a fancy new couch.  First things first... clear out the old, and clean the carpets!

they LOVED the open space

Sydney helped Ella with her forward rolls

Daddy on cake-duty at Caroline's birthday party

we did pedicures and watched a movie! :)
mom-win... I convinced them not to move their hands or feet for a good 30 minutes

took the girls to the grocery store solo... not only were they adorable, but they held hands and helped carry bags to the car

Ya'll know I can't pay the school photography... so I bootleg my own pictures.  Some of these were surprisingly good

with their Mother's Day gifts for me... remember those pictures we took?  they turned them into precious little flowers!

the loofah that came undone turned into lots of giggles in the tub

On May 11, 2004, Daniel kissed me for the first time after a few weeks of "talking" (and flirting).
On May 11, 2018, we anxiously awaited the arrival of our brand new couch and recliner.

sigh.  I love our porch, and this sunday morning view.

Mother's Day 2018: perfect.

I present you with Mother's Day getting toddlers dressed.  Real life, people.

Daniel, of course, made sure I could enjoy being the mama without doing any of the work.

Mother's Day gift: plums (or something??) from the tree in our backyard.  She picked it up from the ground herself.

we cut Iris's from the yard to take to Kim

Dawn dish soap in the water table + wash cloths = car wash

Ella... hahah

Momma got a pedicure

Sydney tripped and skinned her knee on our walk... Ella was worried about her sissy

real life - carrying one, crossing the street and holding hands with the other



welcome to my mornings

cuties

they couldn't get close enough

they were holding onto each other saying "we're sisters!!!"



sweet lady bugs

Prince Harry married Meghan Markle in a Royal Wedding Extravaganza.  A few years ago, a dear coworker friend of mine, Kay, bought the girls these shirts from a store (Rachel Riley) in London.  She told me that Princess Kate would occasionally buy some of Rachel Riley's clothes.  Watching the royal wedding was a perfect opportunity to wear our fancy shirts!  We couldn't resist tutus and crowns, either.

they had "tea" and we also made muffins for breakfast

We got A TON of rain, and were getting a little stir crazy... so we put on rain boots, opened up umbrellas, and went outside to jump in puddles.

The rain cleared up for a fun night at the Flying Squirrels game.  When we got to the stadium and to our seats, Ella said "It's Hockey!!"
Clearly we've been in playoff season...

sweet American girls

Ella and that sweet dimple

Sydney's intensity never ceases to make us smile

The girls really had a great time, and we enjoyed it! :)

Welcome to the age of three - cute and a hot mess all wrapped up into one

I recently got a promotion at work and am now in our HR department :)
Not only am I thrilled, but I'm really proud of myself.  This is a big step for us, and possibilities seem endless right now!

celebrating with a nice dinner out!

spring strawberry girls

someone wasn't listening, so they got sent to timeout right there on Grandma's front steps

And that pretty much wraps up our Spring!  Excited for a fun summer of swimming and exploring new things with our little ladies.