Catching Up.

Wow - so much to write about...shame on me for not doing it.  So now I get to search my memory bank and write.  I some how think that only the "important" stuff will still be up there.  :)

Kindergarten Celebration - June 18th.
Such a cute event.  We were quickly told by the principal though that it was a "celebration" and not a "graduation" as Binghamton only has one of those.  Whatever! Really, the school can't recognize the completion of Kindergarten.  They sang lots of songs....Cody and Dylan both had a part in one song.  They held up flash cards through the song.  It was very nice that they stood next to each other for this event.  Because after that - they went to opposite sides and trying to watch 2 kids at one time while they aren't standing next to each - yah, next to impossible.  Cody sang his songs proudly....Dylan sang them as if he was annoyed he had to be doing it.  After the songs and little video/picture presentation we headed to the cafe for cake.  Still can't believe the school year is over and they are now 1st Graders. 

Relay for Life - June 18th
Starting last year my company has organized a team to walk. Last year we did much better with raising money but for our small group we still manager to raise almost $2000.  So that was awesome.  This year we had fantastic weather - no rain - and lots of sun and HOT.  It gives you goosebumps as you stand there and clap as the survivors walk by.  It's a lot of fun to walk, great exercise and raising money for a great cause.  Not to mention it's something you can do with the whole family.  My kids love to walk the track. 

Pre-school Graduation - June 21st
Tyler had his moving up day.  Ty is my shy kid.  Not sure where he gets that from although Brett seems to think he was shy when he was younger.  I'll have to see if I can find any truth to this.  Cause lord knows he's not shy now.  They sang a couple of songs and Tyler finally started singing the second song.  They wore cute little blue graduation hats.  I thought I had a hard time with C&D moving up - I really can't believe my baby is going off to school in September.  That doesn't seem possible at all! 

Tyler's Birthday - the big #5!
After a quick trip to Cuba for a graduation party, we came home on Sunday to celebrate Tyler's birthday.  He choose to have a batman birthday party.  Although if you asked him what he wanted it was Toy Story everything. :)  We had a small gathering, had invited the preschool class and was expected 4 kids to show up plus or normals.  Well here is a big pet peeve of mine - if you RSVP you are coming and then don't come - you need to call.  It's so rude!  That happened with 3 kids.  UGH.  So then as we are about a 1/2  hour into the party doesn't a kid show up - that we had no idea was coming.  OK, whatever - glad he came as Tyler and him really did get a long great this year.  However, he shows up with no gift.  Not even a card.  Now it's not about the presents but really not even a little something.  $5, whatever!  So I thought maybe the mom would bring a card back with her when she came to pick him up....nope!  Then she had the nerve to tell me that she'll be inviting Tyler to his party in August. Yah, we aren't going!  But we had fun, fun, fun and the weather was awesome.  The kids played and jumped on the trampoline and we had cake and ice cream and it was great.  He had a smile all day and that's what counts. 

So now we are onto a busy next couple of weeks and I'm thinking the month of July will fly.  I am silently hoping anyways....as we head for our family vacation the first part of August!  :)

Birthday Celebration Re-cap

Wow - what a truly wonderful fun 6th Birthday the boys had! It all started Friday at school. Brett and I headed to their classes for some parties. Cody's class was first. We walked in and everybody was waiting. Cody in his birthday hat. The teacher had a new idea to try out. All the kids got in a circle and Cody in the middle. Cody was to choose 6 friends to be his "candles". After he picked them - the "candle" kids all knelt with their hands stretched above their head. All the kids sang Happy Birthday and at the end Cody blew each "candle" out. Then they sat down and it was time for some chocolate chip cookie cake. Brett passed out supplies with the help of Cody and I cut. The kids were "starving" (or so they said). Cody had a smile pasted ear to ear! We left and all the kids thanked "Mr & Mrs Luckey"...to cute! Cody and Mrs. Cluck!

Then we headed down the hall to Dylan's room. The kids were waiting for us too and Dylan had his birthday hat on. Mrs. Matyas pulled him upfront with her and all the kids sang. After they were done, it's her tradition to give the bday kid "high 5's", one for each year and then pinches (on the shoulder) to grown an inch. We took the same role as in Cody's class. Dylan's class was a little more wilder but the kids had so much fun. Dylan was so embarrassed when the kids sang but it was so cute. He tries to play Mr. Macho to much. Dylan giving High 5's to Mrs. Matyas

Friday night Kevin, Kristie and Jack arrived. They stayed with us (something that they haven't done since having Jack) and it was fun to have some time with them. Brett cooked us a good dinner and then the boys played some Wii. Cody and Dylan were getting excited that when they woke up it would be their birthday!

Saturday morning came and the fun began. We headed to Karly's basketball game early. Only got to see 2 cheers but the girls looked great. It's still so neat to see her on the court. After that we headed back home. Coming with us were my Dad and Uncle Ken to hang out with for the day. Brett cooked us a yummy breakfast and the boys were getting excited for their friends to come. To bad this was about 11am and the friends weren't coming till 4. Shortly after my mom arrived and then my sister and crew. Grandpa Jim (Brett's dad) got there about 2:30 and we had a house full. It was so much fun though to have everybody together (only wish Brett's mom could of joined us to celebrate) and the boys took it all in. Next came presents to pass the time. They got new bikes, Wii game and accessories, some cash/gift cards and then their presents from us.

Dylan first opened his present from Tyler. Tyler wanted to get Dyl a new monster truck. Then Dylan opened 2 more monster trucks from us. First was Grave Digger (his favorite) and Iron Warrior. The picture above shows him holding a cool card and a ticket (blurry camera, I know). The ticket is for him and us to go to PA to see a real Monster Jam show. He freaked! Just as Brett said he would. The show is 2/20 and we can't wait. He will get to see his favorite driver and truck in person. You guess it...pictures to come! Another blurry picture (love my camera)............Cody wanted a DS. Thankfully I got a great deal and couldn't pass it up. He loves it!!!! He's busy growing his new zoo. Karly and him were sitting for the afternoon raising their animals.

Finally 4pm came and their friends showed up. We all ate and then had cake. In our tradition with twins...we sing to them separately. I made their cakes...ok, let me rephrase that...Brett made their cakes and I decorated them. Happy Bakuday Cody.......get it Bakugan - Bakuday! :)Happy Diggerday Dylan...........Grave Digger......Digger......you see where I am going with this! :)

Then it was finally time to head to the hockey game! What a fun night. It was also Star Wars night so the kids got to see clone troopers and get a group picture with Darth Vader. Then we found our seats. Now not sure if these were the best seats in the house but for a birthday party with 7 kids - it was perfect. We were 3 rows off the ice. We sat right as the Senators came in/out of their dressing room onto the ice. The kids got "high 5's" all night long. At the end of the first period....Karly was getting her hand slapped and one of the players gave her the game puck. Totally made her day! Then the end of the second period - Cody also got a game puck given by #5. Max the mascot came to hand out the treat bags and we got another photo. There were lots of fights. I mean drop sticks, take off gloves, punch until the refs pulled em apart. Plus the Senators won! 5-2. yeah! So much fun! I think we all enjoyed them turning 6.

Continued.....

I got out of recovery and headed to my room. By this time the family had seen the babies and were watching them through the nursery windows as they cried out about having to be weighed and such. It wasn't long and they brought them into me. My first moment "really" seeing my boys. I didn't know what to think. I was numb - I was excited but this is NOT what I thought I would be feeling like. I looked at Cody and his lip that was pushed up into his nose and honestly had no idea what our future held. Would he even live? Nurses were coming in, my family there and Brett and I just looking at each other. Everybody was telling us the same thing..... "he's going to be OK...they can fix that". 6 years ago I felt like everybody was lying to me. I am almost ashamed to write it but I took to Dylan first. I held him, fed him and just looked at his little round face. Brett took Cody...he held him, feed him and learned first how to feed him. I really really remember the whole hospital stay and I felt very numb.

The next couple of days I went through the motions. We changed the first dirty diaper, we fed them lots, took them for their first picture....by the time of dis-charge I had gotten angry with my nurses for not showing me how to work Cody's bottles. That's when I started to take the bull by the horn. My sister had printed me out information about cleft lip and palate and I read that a little. I knew that we were going to make it.


So..... fast forward and my babies are now 6. Cody and Brett and I have gone through such a growing stage. We've gone through stuff that some parents never will. We've met some parents walking the same shoes. We've dealt with the people that think once his lip/palate surgery was over - that he is all fixed. Only wish it was that simple. He's had to grow up a little quicker. He is the best little patient and we don't sugar coat it much for him. He's taught me that no matter what you look like...you are still a person and need to be treated that way. He really will never know what he has taught me. He has a smile that will brighten a room. And the biggest eye lashes that will make any girl jealous. He's caring and understanding. Dylan is the best big brother ever. Or maybe is it little brother seeing as though Cody is a minute older and trust me that does come up! :) Dylan is our teddy bear. He is rough and tumble one minute and sittin on my lap, cuddling the next. He is his daddy through and through. I love his little dimple when he smiles. He has a love for the out-doors that I'm thinking he didn't get from his parents. Both of them are amazing! Their likes, dis-likes, at times they are so much alike and at time they are completely different from each other.

Happy 6th Birthday to our boys!

Getting ready......

This time 6 years ago, I was settling in on the couch for my last night of rest being pregnant with twins. I had watched them grow on the screen, I had felt them twist, turn, hiccup, flop inside my belly. A feeling I LOVED with all my heart. A feeling I longed for after they were born. That closeness is amazing. I had planned what they were going to wear home, we planned what we would do if Brett was off reffing a basketball game, the due date game was complete and I honestly don't know who won it now but it was fun then. We knew our life was about to change - we were getting 2 babies and not just 1 (like normal people). Bottles were washed, clothes hung, crib made, the list goes on.

What I didn't know when I went to bed that night is that when I woke up on that Friday morning, I would have my water break. Only I didn't know it. It wasn't like the lifetime movies that I had grown to watch in my board em where the water broke and there was instant pain and labor. So I went back to sleep, got up and ate some cereal and then called my sister. When I told her what was up she nicely told me that she was hanging up with me and to call the doctor. So I did! They told me to "get to the hospital". I called Brett at work, the receptionist had been awaiting my call. They were all excited. I hung up from telling Brett to come home, that "it is time" and I went and took a shower, did my makeup and my hair. I was standing in the closet looking for something to wear when he rushed through the door. He ushered me along!

We got checked in and I got all hooked up to monitors. A little more equipment because of 2 babies and the fact I was only 35 weeks along. We called my parents and they quickly got in the car and made it out here in time. They were lucky though - because of that cereal I ate and having a c-section (because baby A was breach) I had to wait.... With that waiting I got to feel labor pains. They weren't fun! I have more vivid labor pain memories from when Tyler was born. Brett got suited up and off I went to the OR. The family went to waiting room. (Here is where I should insert what they were thinking...maybe my sister will write that) Things started to move along quickly. I got on the table, my spinal done and all of a sudden I couldn't feel my legs. Blue drapes everywhere. Lots of people in and out. Brett at my head - neither of us talking as we were both so nervous and excited. The doctor tells me he has made his cut. I wait......I wait for that first cry....it didn't come.....baby A was out and out of the room he went. We had agreed that Baby A was to be named Cody James. We did know that the babies would be taken out of the room to go to their own little team of NICU staff to check them over and make sure they were doing OK. So I got past the "no cry" and waited to hear of Baby B out - he cried! Out of the room he went. Baby B was to be named Dylan Thomas. A few seconds/minutes went by and they came to get Brett. He left. I was a little jealous he was seeing them first. What I didn't know was that he got "the news" before me and all by himself. The babies were both doing great. Breathing on their own and they looked good.......except......Baby A was born with a cleft lip and palate. WHAT?!?! He went to see them and shed a tear or two for his sons. Then he wheeled them into me.....Cody in front/Dylan behind him........."what is wrong with his lip". Gosh, I'll never forget those words. Brett told me what was wrong.....I cried....I looked away and I threw up. I went to recovery to be by myself...wish I didn't have to be....I had no idea what was happening with them......Brett walked with them down the hall to our family waiting.......

Here they come....

Dylan.....Cody

To be continued......

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's birthday....her last birthday in her 5o's. Next year she turns the big 6-0. We celebrated yesterday with her. The boys helped make a cake...and they helped taste it (before it had frosting on it) and without me knowing about it. Thankfully the frosting covered it up. We all chipped in and got her a nice digital camera. I'll call her Ms. Digital! She honestly is the farthest thing from it. Her camera experience should be great and no doubt will cause us to have a couple laughs. :)

Kindergarten and pre-school are going great. The boys all love school. Especially Cody and Dylan who are so excited to be doing new things every day. They keep the kids busy. No naps for them. They come home very tired but look forward to the next day with excitement. Tyler is enjoying his year back with his class. Not all the kids came back but a few of his "favorites" and he is loving it. Last year was a more "coming out of his shell" type of year and this year he seems to get more out of it.

I've seem to take on another job....it's called Mom's Bus! On my lunch hour, I go and pick Tyler up and then head to another school to pick up C&D. I pull up in front of the house, honk my horn, my mom comes out and the boys unbuckle and out they go. It makes for a busy hour and one that is fine as long as there is no snow on the ground. The weather should make it interesting.

This week we only have one appointment and that is the dentist for a cleaning. Should go smoothly as they have all had this done before. Cody is excited to show that he has a loose tooth. He can't wait for the tooth fairy to come. Dylan has lost 2 so it's time for Cody to catch up.

We had signed the boys up for Soccer that was starting on Sat. We got to the indoor field, gathered with all the parents and waited. The coach never showed. Left kind of dis-appointed and figured something good must of happened. Well, I guess he had to have surgery on a disk and is out 4-6 weeks. So he's not coaching soccer and he's not sure if somebody else is going to pick up his spot. So kind of disappointed and frustrating as I spent money on balls and shin guards to only wear them for a 1/2 hour. Most all other leagues have started and since my boys have never played soccer before it might be hard to get on a team now. So we'll sit it out most likely. Which is a "smirky face" kind of way is fine as we know NOTHING about soccer and would love to see them play football! :) Everybody that knows my husband knows where I am going with that!

This past week also brought some bad news to our extended family. Brett's sister has been diagnosed with another brain tumor. She had one 6 years ago that they operated on and she had done well with recovery. However, the ugly thing reared it's head and she had surgery end of May. At that time though, she found out she was pregnant and could not undergo chemo and radiation. Unfortunately, the tumor grew back and we wait till the baby can be born for her to have surgery and treatment. Any and all prayers are needed for her.

What a Weekend!

We had a busy weekend but lots of fun for sure. Friday night I got to visit my friend Erica for a while why she stopped through town. It's always nice to catch up with friends and like always it's never long enough. Saturday was Karly's 8th birthday. It still seems like yesterday that she was a little baby and now she's 8 and sassy and adorable and ALL GIRL! She had a great party to High School Musical. I have lots of fun pictures from the day but just haven't gotten them on the PC yet. Thankfully the rain held off to just about the end of the party then it let loose. Today was a beautiful blue sky day and we went back up to the Smith's for pool fun. The boys are getting braver in the pool and by the end of the day both Cody and Dylan were swimming with no arm floats and doing great. Not sure if I would let them not wear them in a deeper pool cause if they wanted to touch they could in Tanya's. They both love to jump into the pool and Dylan found out that going in backwards with no arm floats - you sink right to the bottom! He came up just a looking for that breath. Tyler and Connor aren't huge fans of the big pool. The little one is perfect for them especially cause their attention span is so short. We cooked out a hodge podge of things and then Uncle Shaun took the kids for a ride on the 4-wheeler. All that fresh air really knocks a kid out!

Cody is doing really good with his appliance. At times I notice his speech but it's certainly not overly noticeable. I think I am looking for it and I don't think to the normal ear they could hear a change. Keeping it clean has been pretty easy so far with just brushing and with this little water shooter the office gave us. He and I had a big boy chat about what he could eat and when put to the test he hasn't given anybody a fit about not being allowed to have anything gummy. I ended up pushing back his follow up appointment till 8/12 as that is the same day as his team visit. We'll knock out two visits in one day!

We are counting down our days till our vacation in Ocean City. Looking forward to seeing my nephew and getting the boys on the beach.

Pictures to come!!! Have a good week!

Tyler's 4th Birthday

Tyler had a GREAT 4th birthday. We woke up to some rain and cooler conditions on Saturday and I was quickly having a little chat with the weather man as he LIED about the weather. Once I got over it....we got busy to setting up the tent, Brett went and got the bounce house, then I to get the balloons and then it was time to go to the fire station.

What an awesome job they did for us at the fire station. We met with 2 fire men and they quickly took Tyler and up in the truck he went. He got to steer, blow the horn (picture below), turn the truck on, turn the lights on. He LOVED it. Then they took us around the truck and showed us what was in each compartment. After that the fireman slid down the pole and then all the kids got to try it out. Then they got out all the gear and he put it all on for the kids to see. He explained everything as he went and did a really good job at. The fireman called Dispatch and had them run a test so the kids could hear the tones. It was a lot of fun and I think they all learned something. We took a quick photo op in front of the truck and you can imagine how hard it is to get all the kids to look at the camera. After we left the fire station, we came back home to enjoy the bounce house. I have to say the bounce house was worth every penny. It was a super nice house with a covered top - which came in very handy as it did rain on us. The kids jumped and jumped and jumped some more. We enjoyed a super yummy ice cream cake, presents and then it was time to beat the pinata. The weather did not cooperate at this point so we had to move the pinata to the front porch and the kids got to release some energy. They all got to hit it a couple of times and then it broke open.

Here is my birthday boy. He came to bed and was full of stories. It was wonderful to hear him explain his day and hear the excitement in his voice. He truly had a wonderful birthday!!!! I still can't believe he is 4! Happy Birthday Tyler - Mommy, Daddy, Cody and Dylan love you!

My Birthday

This is a scanned picture of my card from my niece Karly. I love home made cards. This one though cracked me up. I love she made me the Birthday Queen! :) I then had to get clarification who the other two were. I thought maybe her and Connor. NO! It is ME (the queen with the crown on), my sister and my brother!

Well I am another year older....the big 32. I'm Ok with that....I love my birthday. Some hate it - but I love it. I had a great day all day. And yes, I even went to work. My co-workers are wonderful and I got a 2 great cards and a 12 pack of Mt. Dew. (You can say that is my drink of choice). Then today also was our bake sale for Relay for Life and OMG I ate to much. Everybody bought cookies "in honor of my bday" and well that required me to taste test. I think we could all quit our job and open a bakery and we would do quite well.

I got home and finished preparing dinner. Brett took the boys today to their end of year picnic. So hours home were cut short. He did all the hard work, I just had to put it in the oven. He got to come home at his lunch time and we all ate together. Then the Smith's came over after Karly's dance rehearsal and we did cake and presents. I got some great things. A new Bills lawn chair. I love it and will get to use it lots at teeball games. My mom and sister got me stuff to re-do my bathroom. Changing over from ladybugs to flip flops. Darn it, if I can't live at the beach - I am going to get ready in one every day. My shower curtain though comes with a story. I picked out a flip flop one from Target. My sister had to order it online and have it shipped to her house. So on the day it comes in the mail.....Shaun gets home first and sees it. He opens it and thought Tanya bought a new shower curtain. Knowing that he would just have to put it up anyways - he decided to surprise her and have it up by the time she came home. So she gets home and he is all giddy over doing it - until - they go in the bathroom and she was like "OMG - that is for Kelly's Birthday". So it got a trial run and looks really good hanging up. :) Super funny! I can't wait to do the "switch". I've had ladybugs forever and am ready for a change. My boys got me a great little purse and an IOU for all the rest of the bathroom stuff that I need.

So I had a fantastic day. What was even cooler was getting all sorts of birthday wishes on facebook. So cool to get those from friends that normally would of never known my birthday.

Yes that is a #3....cause I couldn't find a 2 and of course had no candles in my drawer. Whatever! :)

Baking...

Check out my bakers! Aren't they cute? I think so..... We had some scheduling problems for tomorrow and the birthday cake had to get made.....so.....that left me to do it. The boys wanted to help so bad anyways so it worked out. After dinner, I told them they could help. It is amazing at how good of listeners they are when they want to do something. They were huge helpers. Thankfully, the cake recipe called for 3 eggs so each of them got to crack an egg. I think I got out what fell in but guess we'll find out tomorrow. Then they wanted to stir. So each got a spoon and they stirred until their little hearts were content. And yes, I got out my camera. These are some of the best birthday memories in the making.

SURPRISE....

Her smile says it all. She was totally caught off guard! Note: Pictures aren't in order. Blogger isn't great for uploading pictures!

Tyler has sand on his hands. We had a beach theme as Tanya wanted to go to the beach. So we brought the beach to her instead. Kevin brought us up some sand from the Ocean City beaches we so love in the summer time. Looking forward to warm weather so we can go back. Tanya and Kevin after a few. Not sure who had had more. Little Jack. Ok, not so little. He loves his toes and I love to see a baby discover. He is so good and so happy and has the best little smile. Group shot with Grandpa Dave. Parties like this we really miss Grandma but am very thankful Grandpa is still around and able to come to things like this. Cody happy to show off the beach balls all the kids got as "gifts". I got them with hopes they would leave my balloons alone (which they did) and it gave the kids something to do. Darn NY weather was cold and rainy. Imagine that!Dad, Tanya, Karly and Dylan....it was nice also that my Dad could come out for the party. The super yummy cake. I sent the cake lady our napkin and she copied it and added the old lady in the beach chair. Just above the drink says "Now this is a party".....a saying that when Tanya was about 16/17 said at Shaun's high school graduation party after having to much Slow Gin. Dancing to the YMCA....once we played these type of songs the kids got busy on the dance floor.Uncle Brett and Karly dancing. I just thought this was so sweet. I would love a picture of me dancing with my boys - but they are true boys and keep those chairs nice and warm! I just crack up every time I see this picture of him. It was so nice to have us all together. After our incident in town on Friday - somedays I feel like we take family for granted. Mom and Tanya dancing away! Tanya and Jack...she was so happy to see him. Her face was pure Joy when she saw him. On Saturday we pulled off a great Surprise birthday party for my sister. She turned 40 on 3/26. It was extremely hard not to tell her as I tell her everything. She had no idea. We had it at a Rod and Gun club that Shaun had just become a member of. To get her to the club, I sent her an invitation for an Egg hunt. She bought it and was expecting an egg hunt. We had about 50 people and had so much fun. Kevin, Kristie and Jack come home and when Tanya saw Jack it was priceless. Tanya was also very surprised to see Debbi and Christine (her two old classmates from high school) Duane was our DJ and of course we had a blast and danced away. So fun - so fun to plan - Kristie and I emailed a ton to pull this off. The pictures really do tell it all!

Happy Birthday Auntie Tanya

The yummy ice cream cake. I forgot how good these were. Tanya and the crew....just missing Jack! The kids wanted nothing to do with dinner but once we said "cake" they came running. Singing "Happy Birthday"....we tend to just let the kids sing. They do a great job! Auntie and Dylan.......he doesn't pose as much but gave in to his auntie on her special day! Today is Tanya's 40th birthday. A pretty big milestone but she couldn't look any better. We had a nice night of celebration. Yummy lasagna that my mom made and a super yummy ice cream cake. She got some great gifts but a couple of her favorites were what the kids got her. I had asked the 3 of them what they wanted to get her for her birthday. Dylan after first wanted to get her a "new shirt" but I told him I was thinking of something cheaper. :) So Dylan got her his favorite candy bar (that Auntie told him she would share with him and he thought that was a GREAT idea)......Tyler got her a lollipop. He wanted a "big" one but I couldn't find it. Cody got her a pack of gum. As Cody loves to chew his gum. I bet she'll share that with him too! They all made her cards. I think she enjoyed her 40th birthday.

Remembering Grandma

Today, my Grandma would of turned 88! Wow......so hard to believe. There isn't a day that doesn't go by that she is not thought of. I miss her very much. I do know though that she is smiling down from heaven on us all and helping us through our journeys. So I'll take her hands resting on my shoulders and cherish my memories!

Birthday Party

Singing Happy Birthday to Cody!

Singing Happy Birthday to Dylan! Waiting in line for the bounce house. Dylan's SpongeBob Cake! Cody's Pokemon Cake! All the kids sitting to watch the movie! Group Shot! We ended up with 18! The birthday boys with SpongeBob! We had an absolute fantastic party. It was great to see so many of the boys school friends come out to celebrate their day with them. We ended up with 18 kids and they keep me on my toes. We had a small bounce house so that was tough. Had to limit it to 4 kids at a time. Kids HATE to wait in line. But they did do pretty good waiting. It was nice too as we could put it up and take it down as we wanted to. We watched 2 episodes of spongebob and I was shocked as all the kids sat down and actually watched the movie. It was funny too as one person laughed - they all laughed. It was very cute to watch actually. Then I got away with embarrising the boys. I showed the video of them (that I posted earlier) and they all laughed to at certain spots. The moms mostly cried. We sang happy birthday to Dylan first and then to Cody. We had yummy food. The kids lost interest really quick while the boys were opening presents. It just isn't much fun when they aren't the ones getting the presents. The boys had a great 5th birthday for sure!

Family Birthday Night

Tonight we celebrated with just the family. The boys had a great evening. They got lots of great gifts and seemed so very excited over everything. I actually think they were more excited over Birthday stuff than Xmas. Dylan cracked me up because everything he got was something he has "always wanted". To funny! Tyler gave them each a gift this year and the boys were so excited to get it and Tyler was so excited to "give" it. Then they both hugged him and that was adorable. Tyler had a little hard time understanding why he didn't get a present. But he did! :)

Here are a couple of my favorite pictures!

Singing "Happy Birthday"Eating their cupcakes and ice cream!My jammie boys! Everybody is holding a "new" toy!
Cody got a Bakugan Tiger. He was so excited.
Dylan on his new skateboard. Tanya thought she should help me reach my insurance deductible! :) Summer should be lots of fun.

Happy 5th Birthday Cody & Dylan

My little boys are 5 today. How it seems like yesterday that you came crying into my world. Who knew what was in store for us. It certainly hasn't been easy raising 2 babies at once but it has been filled with so much joy. Watching you accomplish all of your first, watching your different personalities emerge, seeing you become two separate individuals with the same birth day/year. Loving it when you say to each other "Hug me Brother"........loving it even more when you tell each other that you can't come to my birthday party. I love both of your personalities as they are so different.

Tash did this for Alli's birthday and I thought it was such a great idea that I am stealing it! :)

5 things I love about you!

Cody:

1. Your big brown eyes and the way you wink at me!

2. Your Smile!

3. Your love of "junk food"

4. When you tell me everynight before bed "mom, I love you"

5. Your very grown up attitude about all that you have had to endure in 5 years!

Dylan:

1. You are my teddy bear. And I love when I tell you that and you just giggle!

2. When you play with my hair. (Ok, really this sometimes annoys me but I would be lost if you didn't do it. You will always be my "hair boy"

3. Your quest to do something challenging

4. Your very wet, sloppy kisses!

5. You have a comment for everything and you are so very matter of factly.

Happy Birthday Brett

Today is Brett's birthday.....he turned 32! He's had a good day so far. Tyler and him slept in. Then he did the normal running around. Reffed a football game this evening. Then everyone came down for cake and ice cream. The kids had so much fun singing 'Happy Birthday'....the adults don't even have to sing anymore. It's to cute to hear them do it. I'll post it so everyone can watch. He got some new t-shirts. 2 Florida State and 2 Buffalo Bills. His t-shirt collection needed a re-fresh. That's it! I think the two of us will end the night with a movie on the couch.

My Mom's Birthday

Today is my mom's birthday. She turns 58 today. We celebrated at Tanya's with a super yummy dinner (chicken and biscuits) and chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. I am so stuffed! I ate to much but aren't you supposed to? The kids had a lot of fun as they trashed the play room. We had a super muggy day today. It was horrible but by early evening the wind picked up and we got some relief. I probably shouldn't be complaining as the snow will be flying in no time.


Singing Happy Birthday to Gimmie!
We had a nice weekend. Brett was busy with football games. 2 Sat and 2 Sun. Tanya and I took the kids shopping on Sat. We went to our party store to check out Halloween costumes. They all found what they wanted to be and now I just need to save my penny's to buy them. :) Gosh, those things aren't cheap. Then we went back to Tanya's to bake my mom's cake. I would of done it at my house but my stove broke so we need to get a new one. UGH. You never realize how much you use something until you can't use it. New one should be here Tuesday!

Cody has his first orthodontic consult on Tuesday. This is with a local office so I am hoping to hit it off and we can stick with this office and not have to travel.

A couple pictures from the weekend!


Go Bills! Gimmie and Guy bought them all these shirts.
Can you say: "Trouble times 4".....what a crew!