We share

This morning, I had just been helping Bethany do some backward somersaults (which she LOVED, and kept saying "Do 'gain!") when she declared "I sleepy" and laid down on the ground. Knowing the routine, I brought her a pillow and blanket and tucked her in, then laid down beside her. A moment later, she started pulling her blanket over me as well and saying "We share." Touched, I said "You're so sweet. I love you." To which she responded "I yuv you." Totally melted my heart!

This afternoon, I asked Bethany to help me lay Kaylee down and rock her for a minute. Bethany jumped right in, rocking her while she said "Rock a baby, rock a baby" (just like I used to do to her). It touched my heart. Then again later, while I was getting Kaylee's bottle ready and Kaylee was crying, Bethany went right in and started rocking her to make her feel better. Kaylee and Cambree have such sweet, loving big sisters!

Tonight, Travis was holding Cambree and blowing his lips to make her smile, and she did!

Today's pictures:

Kaylee baby:

Love her sweet face!

"Hold her hand"

Travis blowing his lips for Cambree, making her smile:

 

I came in the girls bedroom to find this sweet scene:

Pwedy Tricky and Family Walk

This morning, Bethany was trying to switch me hats and put my Indians ball cap on her and her white beanie on me. After a few unsuccessful attempts to get her beanie on me, she said "pwedy twicky!" (pretty tricky). The way she said it was so adorable!

Tonight, we took the girls on Kaylee and Cambree's first walk (and our first walk as a family of 6). While we were walking along, Grace began walking on the grass and said "I love to be safe." It was such a funny comment, She's always so good about car and road safety, and I appreciate that about her.

Today's pictures:

Cambree girl:

All dressed up from our family walk:

Bedtime Fun

This morning, as I was laying Cambree down for a nap, Bethany came in and started rocking her and singing "I am a child of God" to her with me. When the song was over, she gently touched Cambree's cheek and said "Oh, Cambree." It was so precious.

When I was laying Bethany down for her nap, I also sang her "I am a Child of God" and as I sang the second verse, I nuzzled her nose. It made Bethany laugh and warmed my heart. I'll have to do it more often.

Tonight, when we were doing bedtime stuff with Grace and Bethany, Bethany and I played a game where she would climb onto and off of Grace's bed, then run over and give me a hug (and repeat). She's done a similar thing from time to time before, where I'll open my arms wide and excitedly say "Hug!," and then she'll run into my arms. I always love to get hugs from my girls!

I decided today that I'm going to try to take at least one picture a day (to help chronicle the little moments I mention, and to help capture the girls at their various ages and stages). At the end of each week, I'll upload them to the computer, then add them to the posts I've written during the week. So...

Pictures from Today:

Kaylee and Cambree wearing a new outfit we got from our friends Bart and Shantyl:

Bethany getting in on the photoshoot:

Bethany, kneeling by the twins, kept saying "I wanna see her." This is what she meant (she did not however, want me to take down the mirror so I could get a picture). ;)

"I see you!"

I flying!

This morning (since Travis had already left for work) I was feeding the babies in turn at the breakfast table. Cambree had just eaten and was sitting in the bouncer while I was feeding Kaylee. When Cambree started to fuss, Grace slid off her chair at the table and crouched down to sweetly talk to her to help her stop crying. It was so sweet. A little while later, I read in this month's First Presidency message that as parents, we need to teach our children to serve each other and to serve others. I hope I can do a good job of that.

This afternoon, when I was feeding Kaylee, she grabbed tightly onto my fingers on either side of the bottle with both her hands, like "Don't stop feeding me mom!" I love to hold her little hands in mine. Sometimes Kaylee and I will have tongue-sticking-out contests, especially before I lay her down to bed.

Tonight, I gave Bethany a rocket ride before bed. When I lifted her up into the air, her smile wide, crescent eyes bright, and curls hanging down, she said "I fying (flying)! So fun! So fun!" It made my heart smile.

Today's Pictures:
Bethany decided she just needed to lay down for a minute :)

My parents often come over for dinner/dessert and games on Sunday nights (here, holding Kaylee):

Dancing for Joy

Today after lunch, Bethany came into the living room to confess that she'd spilled her orange juice. Seeing the spill, I growled in frustration (since it was the second juice spill for her that day), then came back into the living room (complaining about her as I walked) to get a wipe. Meekly, Bethany grabbed a wipe too, then ran into the kitchen in front of me and began wiping up the mess. As she cleaned, she quietly said, "I sorry I spill." My heart broke, and I immediately felt terrible for complaining about her mess. My sweet, helpful Bethany baby.

Yesterday, Grace and I were reading "Oh the Places You'll Go", when we got to the part "You'll see things that'll scare you right out of your pants." Teasing, I said "Grace, can you imagine being so scared that your pants fly right off?!" Humored and amazed, she giggled, then added "They'd fly right off and...up into Kaylee's nose!" Laughing, I continued the silly scene, saying "Yes! One pant leg into each nostril!" and we both started laughing again. My silly, creative Grace girl.

When I was giving Kaylee a bath tonight, I started singing "Rubber Duckie" and she burst into the biggest smile. Then a few minutes later, when Travis was holding Cambree and she gripped his shoulders, hugging him, and he said "Oh! Hugs!" Kaylee smiled again. It was so sweet!

Tonight after reading Book of Mormon stories, Grace asked Travis "Can I read (more) in bed?" Travis replied, "Yea, that'd be fine!" And Grace exclaimed "Yay!" Then jumping around the room said, "I'm going to dance for joy!" It was so cute.

Today's pictures:
Kaylee just started to really like the swing today.

She was smiling lots!

Grace and Bethany have just started getting into making beds on the floor. Here they're all snuggled up, watching a movie. Remember how I said Grace loves to wear a beanie? ;)

 

I couldn't resist capturing a picture of Bethany's gorgeous curls, all splayed out. So pretty!

Having fun rocking in the chair together:

Back time:

Kaylee posing for a pic after her bath. What is it about sleepers that just makes them so cute on kids?!

The girls love to have Travis give them "foot rides." I remember loving having my dad do the same to me when I was a girl. :)

 

So kissable, huggable, loveable...

This morning, Grace was looking at Kaylee and Cambree while we were feeding them, and said "They're so cute, sweet, huggable, and kissable, and I love them so much!" :)
When I was getting ready to lay the twins down for their nap, I was about to swaddle Kaylee when I gave Cambree a kiss. I looked over to see Kaylee smiling, so I kept kissing Cambree, and it kept making Kaylee smile. It was so sweet!

After accidentally hurting Grace this morning, Bethany came up to Grace (unprompted), touched her where she had gotten hurt, and said "I sorry Gace." She is such a little sweetheart, and worries when other people are crying. Case in point--the babies got some shots today and were fussy as a result, and Bethany kept patting them, trying to comfort them.

After lunch, Bethany was trying to put on a jacket. After struggling for a minute with the zipper, she finally growled in frustration and said "I angy (angry)!" I asked her if she'd like some help and got it started for her. After still struggling to zip it all the way up, she exclaimed "It not working!" (which is something Grace often says when she's struggling with something and get's frustrated). It was interesting to me to see Bethany copy Grace's words. She definitely watches Grace and likes to do what her big sister does.

Kaylee and Cambree smiled at the same time for the first time at their Dr. appointment today. They're doing well. Kaylee measured in at 10 lbs 2 oz and 22 1/2 inches long, and Cambree was 10 lbs even and 23 inches long. Their hair seems to be getting more and more red too. They're strawberry blondes like their momma. :)

Recent happenings:
Grace, you love to wear a beanie--ALL the time, even when you're not planning on going outside. It makes me laugh. You also LOVE purple. It's your favorite color, and you want EVERYTHING to be purple--your clothes, cups, bowls, etc. I love to see you have preferences all your own. And you definitely love the movie Hotel Transylvania. I can't even count the number of times we watched it in the two weeks that we had it from the library recently. It was all you wanted to watch, and is now on your wish list for your birthday. Bleh bleh bleh. ;)
Bethany, you love to wear socks and shoes--doesn't matter whose they are (they're often Grace's); you just loves to wear them, and can be found doing it throughout the day (even doubling up on socks from time to time ;) ). You've also been really in to wearing your new backpack, and will often pose to show us you're wearing it, by turning your back to us, sticking your hip and booty out and looking over your shoulder at us. It's adorable and makes me giggle every time.

Today's Picture:

 

Cambree lifting her arms up WHILE taking a little nap was too cute not to capture! Silly baby!

29...That's a Lot!

A funny conversation from this morning between my mom and Grace:
Mom: Did you know it's your daddy's birthday today?
Grace: Yeah!
Mom: Do you know how old he is?
Grace: No.
Mom: 29 years.
Grace: That's a lot!
LOL!

This morning, Grace was sitting on the couch by my mom and I after we fed the babies. Looking lovingly at Cambree she said "I just want to kiss her whole body!" I replied, "They sure are kissable, huh?" to which she agreed. :)
A little while later, she exclaimed "Kaylee and Cambree are the best babies in the world." Then she began singing Cambree a song, singing "I love you Cambree baby, I love you very much..." She sang a similar song to her later too. It was so sweet!

This afternoon, Grace was playing pretend with my mom (pretending she owned a store), when she said "My store is closed on Sundays so that people can go to Church and feel a special feeling in their heart." SO precious!

Today's Pictures:

Pretty in purple:

 

Kaylee loving the leaf in the swing:

Travis had to work most of the day, but we celebrated his 29th birthday tonight (with my parents) with a Pizza Hut pizza party (which is significant, because that's where I took him for his birthday when we were dating) and chocolate oreo cream cake--yum!

Being sung "Happy Birthday":

 

 Blowing out the candle, with the girls excitedly looking on:

We've recently started having Grace and Bethany do a few more chores around the house. In addition to picking up their toys and putting their dishes in the sink after meals, we now have them put their clothes in the laundry basket, and after dinner, Grace helps with the dishes and Bethany wipes off the table. So far, it's working really well and everyone is enjoying it!