Taco Bell

Eric and I love Taco Bell...sorry, Dad! :) We rarely eat it, but for the first time in months got some the other day while running errands. We got home and Eric opened his nachos with a loud exclamation.

Apparently, Taco Bell is selling what we now call, "Recession Nachos"!! These are the Nachos Bell Grande...or not!

A Day at the Zoo

QUICK UPDATE: I follow the blog of little Kayleigh Anne Freeman and her family. This sweet little one is almost the same age as the twins. She was born really early and never got to leave the hospital. She died last night and I cannot imagine what her family is going through...PLEASE keep the Freemans in your prayers! Also, tomorrow their story will be on "The Doctors". Watch it or DVR it if you get a chance...but keep kleenex close by when you watch it!

Here is the link to their blog...www.kayleighannefreeman.blogspot.com

Yesterday we got the girls ready after breakfast and went to the zoo in Waco...Cameron Park Zoo. This is one of my absolute favorite places to go. It was really a great day to be there. We figured a Monday morning would be really slow, but when we pulled up, we noticed that it was school field trip day...AHHHHH!!!

It was still okay since we happened to get there as large groups were leaving and before the next wave of them got there. It was also really humid and getting warm as we arrived. While we knew that was likely, we weren't excited about it. I had the girls covered in sunscreen and little hats ready...THEN, God blessed us!! A cold front blew in as we were standing at our first exhibit. It got really cloudy and a cold breeze started blowing. It was suddenly PERFECT!! We were cool the whole time we were there and the animals were frisky as they enjoyed the weather change!!

While we still took a few pictures of the animals, we took many more of the kiddos this time. I think they laughed the entire time and I loved hearing their little gasps of excitement as they noticed a new critter! Lilly said, "turtle" just clear as day when I showed her a turtle.

Lilly also loves to say our dog Sneezy's name now...so when I asked her what her favorite thing at the zoo was, she said, "Zeezy!!" We about died laughing!!

These are our favorite thing to take pictures of at the zoo...the water lillies at the entrance!

Pop Quiz: Anyone know what this guy is? Mommas kept telling their kids he was an otter and I didn't know how to tell them they were wrong, so I just smiled at Eric and told our girls the truth! ;)

Our silly bear...

This pelican and the girls were in love with each other...they just kept gazing at one another!!

Here is Mommy and Lexi at the entrance...Daddy bought them the cutest little hats that said, "Cameron Park Zoo".

Taking a break by the otters with Lexi! The otters were snoozing under a tree, so no swimming today! Sorry, Jessica...she licked all over the Snugli. I promise to clean it well before I return it! Thanks for the loan!
Daddy and Lilly having a break...Miss Lilly wanted to show me what a doll she is in sunglasses!

Daddy and his Lexi...we switched babies mid-zoo!
We rented a little wagon to carry our stuff in and for when the girls got heavy...they couldn't keep their tooshies down! It was just too exciting!

All done...I think the girls had a blast!!

See....We got in the car and drove, literally, 4 miles down the road to the gas station. They were already passed out!!

Too cute not to share...Eric and Lexi's "We love the Zoo Dance!!"

Mother's Day and Talking Babies

Happy Mother's Day to you all!! Eric and the girls made this the best Mother's day ever for me...although I realize it is only my first one! :) I have not really liked Mother's day for the past 12 years since my mom passed away. It was just always the day that reminded me she was gone. Today, I had the happiest day feeling blessed and loved!! Eric got me the sweetest cards...1 from him, 1 from my girlies, and 1 from my dogs (so cute!!) Then he also got me the curling iron that I have been needing (awesome!) and, drum roll, please....

A Breadmaker!!! Call me old-fashioned, but I have wanted a breadmaker for the longest time. Now I can make loaves of bread for the family and know exactly what is in them....Plus, who doesn't like fresh bread!!

Since I posted a video of Lilly a while back, I wanted to post one just of Lexi!! Gotta be fair, you know!! Here she is, all cute and talkative!

1 more month to go...

My little girls are 11 months old today!! That absolutely blows our minds! Weren't they just born??? :) They are now standing ALL THE TIME, letting go of furniture and standing without help for up to 3 seconds and Lexi now has 2 teeth! I don't think Lilly envies her the pain. They talk like crazy with us and are shy at first with new people. The other day, Lilly said, "fish", "tweet, tweet", "cheese!" and "Sneezy" (our dog's name). Lexi says, "doggie", "hi" and lots of other things we are still trying to decipher. Eric thinks she speaks German since she always babbles "pitta pitta". I have no clue how to spell that in German, but she is apparently saying "Please"! There is nothing like having your child look up you and say, "Momma!" with tears in her eyes and arms reaching high...I love being a mom!!

This morning was eventful and, oh so much, fun! After getting up and eating breakfast, we loaded the girls into the car and went in search of bluebonnets. Eric and I both knew that it was really late in the season, but when the bluebonnets were out, we were pre-occupied with other things or had a sick baby....so we never made it out to take pics this year.

As we realized that they were pretty much gone, we saw a gorgeous patch of other Texas wildflowers in the state park by our house, so we pulled over and took some pictures. I love the girls' fascination with flowers and all things colorful. Here are some pictures from our wildflower stop. (Lexi is on the left)

Next, we stopped at the city park close to home to see if we could get a few more cute pictures by the water. The girls do NOT sit still for pictures anymore! :) I have the prime examples of that at the bottom of this blog. BUT...here is one of the few that I got of them together at the park (Lilly on the left), and then they are off....

Like I said...Lilly makes her escape!

Lexi was smitten with a leaf and decided to stay put and check it out...

Lilly kept crawling until Eric caught her :)

Next we went home to play for a while before our morning nap...Lexi is showing off her 2 teeth for me!And then it's naptime!!

I tried to get a few more good ones to use on their birthday invitations...This one is Lilly and then Lexi.

Now for the funny part of the blog...I wanted you all to know what it is really like trying to take pictures of my squirmy-wormies!! I take LOTS of pictures like these below...So it is truly a miracle when I get several of them sitting together smiling! :)

We are so proud of our girls and the chance to be their parents!! The party is completely planned. I have been planning it for months now and have everything almost finished. I can't believe it has been 11 months already!! :)

My Grill Master and Our Spatula

Well folks, my darling husband is now my grillmaster!! He has really gotten into grilling outside and it is sooooooooooo wonderful! It helps me with cooking and we get to eat lots of yummy and lean meats, which are his favorites.

He will go outside and grill something while I make some side dishes or get things ready in the kitchen. This also makes it so much easier when you are trying to watch 2 little girls as well.

So here is my funny story for everyone: Last night, we marinated some steaks in a fantastic concoction. Apparently the grill got really hot, really fast and some of the fat on one edge of the steaks went up in flames!! So Eric used his "mad, quick thinking skills" and got the problem under control before dinner was devoured by fire.

The steaks were fantastic and I never would have known there was a problem until this showed up in my sink...

Yes, folks, this is my favorite spatula!! Or shall I say, Eric's new dedicated grilling tool!! In case you are having a bad day, those grooves weren't there a few hours before! :)

And what would one of my posts be without cute pictures of my daughters!! I really should have taken more photography classes in college, but at least I can still do it on my own!

Lexi in her new gold bow!!

Lilly hanging out being sweet...these were taken while Daddy was burning spatulas!

Earlier in the day, we went to the park to swing. Here is Lexi with her hair all fixes, waiting by the door!! Please excuse the runny nose, as it is part of her teething experience!

Daddy and Lilly were waiting for Mommy to finish taking pictures so we could go swing!!

Here are the girls playing outside after dinner. We didn't stay long since it was so humid and the gnats decided we smelled good!

Tooth Trouble

Lexi's 2nd tooth is coming through...with TONS more pain than that first tooth!! The first tooth came in as one corner first with the rest easing in later. This tooth is coming up all at once. She just stares at you while tears STREAM down her face and she screams. Last night nothing made her feel better, not even Orajel. Eric and I sang to her and walked her around the living room. We tried her favorite teddy bear, a teething toy, and even a pacifier (which she usually hates). She finally nursed a little more and then finally whimpered herself to sleep.

Now her nose is running again. I feel so bad for her and wish I could wipe her tears away and make her feel better. Of course, it is even more complicated with 2 babies...every time Lexi woke up screaming, Lilly would wake up and cry to be held. So I just had 1 super strong cup of coffee and hope to have a little bit of calm while they take a nap.

Update on Lilly: She is trying soooooo hard to stand up unassisted! She pulls herself up on something and then lets go and balances. She is getting good at it too...between 1 and 2 seconds each time!!

Eric just finished his final english paper and submitted it. YEA!! I think we will stay in today and relax. If it doesn't rain, Eric is going to cook some bratwurst on the grill for dinner, although I kind of want tacos in honor of Cinco de Mayo. :) Maybe we'll have tacos tomorrow. :)

I hope you all have a great day!!

Stories

Eric is almost done with his spring semester...YEA!! He only has to finish up his english paper by midnight tomorrow and then he is done. Looks like another 4.0 too!! He has about a month off and then he launches into a full summer schedule. He will not have another good break from classes until Christmas break once that happens...so he got himself a new Xbox 360 game (Call of Duty, World at War) and is ready to relax. I asked him to give us at least 2 or 3 full days where we can travel somewhere fun with the girls. I think we are going to go to Dallas to visit my favorite aquarium, and then maybe a trip to the Waco zoo. We shall see!

I have been wanting to tell you all 2 quick stories that I thought were fun and sweet...First, last week, Eric was holding Lilly in his lap and I overheard him tell her that, "You're so perfect that if we could clone you and issue one of you to every person in the world, there would be peace in all the land!!" I, of course, thought it was the sweetest thing ever to tell your daughter and almost cried. :)

Then we ran to Target the other night to pick up a few things and just walk around. There was a nice man in the baby aisles who kept waving at the girls. He was so sweet to them and it was obvious that he had a little one, by the way he was acting. Then we bumped into him in the babyfood aisle and ended up having a conversation for a few minutes about his baby and baby poop issues. :) He was also a Staff Sergeant in the Army and was in uniform. :) Glad he can be home with his precious little one right now!

When we left, I laughed with Eric that you know you are a parent, when you can meet a stranger at the store and have a whole conversation about your babies and poop. If you are a parent, you know what I mean. :)

It was a fabulous night tonight, so we sat outside for a while...mommy had her camera, duh!!

Lexi being cute...

Lilly discovered a stick in the grass....

Lilly playing in Daddy's lap...

Lexi was watching the tree for birds...

Lilly was soooooooooooo happy!!!

She is STILL happy...

She saw a bird and wanted to make sure Daddy saw it...