2014... Ready or Not!!

Ready or not because here comes 2014. I wonder if it's like March... in like a lion and out like a lamb because 2014 didn't come easy.

Cecilia 11.5 months

We started off the New Year staying home with 2 sick twins. They both had horrible colds (or sinus infections) complete with green snot, low grade fevers, coughing and lots of crying (probably meaning sore throats). Throw on top of that, Hadley was getting 2 new teeth and Cecilia was getting 1. They weren't happy. Poor little things would walk around the house whining and crying-- falling and stumbling around. Little did we know that it would take almost two weeks to get them feeling better.

Hadley 11.5 months- sleeping off her cold

I remember when Elise started Christmas break I lamented how much she and I would miss her going to school. Elise loves school, and I love that she has time away from home to learn new things and to have fun. Christmas break seemed like it might be a long 2 weeks but we didn't know it actually would turn into 3 weeks!

School was closed her first week back -- we had gotten 13 inches of snow on top of the foot we already had. The daily highs were 4 degrees and the wind chill was -43. It was impossible to keep the roads clear with all the blizzard like winds nor did salt or chemicals melt what was left after the snow plows came through. We were all stuck indoors. It was beautiful outside but inside we all had cabin fever! Our county had us at a level 3 snow emergency for most of the week-- signaling that it was illegal to drive on the roads. All the stores and restaurants were closed.

The one day I ventured outside to clean the driveway between snow storms, I snapped a few pictures of the dogs. A mere 15 minutes later I was frozen and ready to come in. It was bitter.

The frost inside our sliders. Yikes!

Snow drift almost up the entire fence

Making our own fun inside... playing in the tunnel

Ironically, after all the bitter cold and snow, the temperatures warmed up to the mid 40s a few days later. We are now stuck with puddles of melting brown snow. It's almost like it never happened!

Christmas 2013

Blink. Christmas is over! And now that I've put away our Christmas decorations, it's almost like it didn't happen. It's so crazy!

Christmas eve started with a visit from our dear Jessica. We've missed her so much since she's moved to Denver but are happy she's doing well and loving her job. She was amazed how big everyone has gotten since July and Elise was happy to give hugs and laugh with her old frined. Later that day we hosted the Kaiser clan for dinner and presents. 

And of course we had to put out milk and cookies for Santa and some carrots for his reindeer.

Christmas morning was spent home as a family-- eating a special breakfast (and wrapping paper for Hadley and Cecilia), opening stockings and presents. It was nice to enjoy each other. Santa brought Elise a 'fairy mom', jump rope and a tree house for her fairies. The babies got a Vtech car carrier with cars which plays a bunch of songs.

The next day we went to Medina for the night. Uncle Kevin, Aunt Rachel, Amelie and Walden were also in town from Baltimore. The cousins had a blast playing together.

And like I said- blink- it was over. 

Cecilia Is Walking

The babies are officially walking. Cecilia started walking a week before turning 11 months and Hadley is just now starting to take her first few steps at 11 months. Yikes! I don't know what to do with these early walkers. The fun is just now beginning (insert sarcasm). After a few days of stumbling around, Cecilia is off and running. She spends all her waking time roaming around the kitchen and family room with her arms above her head for balance. She occasionally stops long enough to remind me that we haven't yet baby proofed the kitchen drawers and dining room china cabinet. 

Hadley, on the other hand, is content with reading a book or 'knee walking' behind her sister. If someone is getting into trouble or making a mess, then the other one is usually there helping. I live with a gang!

This video was from last night... Cecilia and Hadley were in silly moods... giggling up a storm. Curtains can be fun!

But even though I live with a gang, we love them so much... even if I have to fold the same laundry 3 times because they help to unfold it. We love them even though they break into my kitchen cabinets and take everything out when I run to the bathroom. We love them even though it takes an additional 20 minutes of preparation to get out of the house. I guess you can say that we love those little girls. They are worth all the fuss and stress. Once they smile, or wave, or clap, or any little thing.... I know it's worth it.

Christmas Pictures 2013

Every year we take family photos with Santa Claus at a photographer's studio in downtown Toledo. This year was no different. Jeff and I remembered back to Elise's first Santa meeting and we recalled that it didn't go well. She was too scared of him to sit on his lap and had to take photos next to Santa instead. We were anxious to see how the twins did. They were interested in his beard and handsome suit. In the end, there were no tears. Cecilia was smiling and Hadley seemed a bit cautious of the bearded stranger.

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas...

My, oh my! I think life with twins, a preschooler and the holiday season has caught up with me because I feel busy, busy, busy. At least I have neglected my posts but I like to think I'm caught up with everything else. And yes, I still have the time to vacuum at least once a day!

I wait all year long for this time of the year. It's time for Christmas music and festivities! Granted I may have broken down once in July to listen to some Christmas music but now I can listen to Bing Crosby and not hide.

We started the holiday festivities with our annual Perrysburg Holiday Parade. The weather was crisp but the sun was shining. We met up with some friends and all their kids. I still love that Elise doesn't have much memory of last year (although the silly girl remembers a soap pump I had in the old house when she was 2!!!!) so everything is like a first! It's magical....

Elise, Eliza and Anna Hebeka

I wish we could have taped ourselves getting the girls dressed and in their stroller. It was an assembly line of clothes and blankets. Jeff and I were sweating by the time we wrestled them out the door.

All the kids lined up

Because I'm a bit of a dork for tradition, we had to put up our Christmas tree after the parade. We put the babies to bed, donned our pajamas, and blared the Christmas music. My sweet little Elise 'oohed and ahhed' over each ornament. I guess I was too.

And don't forget about our elf Jingle. He made his appearance on December 1st in our kitchen. Silly guy. I can't tell you how much time Elise spent that day staring at him. Yep, that's right Elise. He talks to Santa all the time!

And Cecilia and Hadley, Jingle can see you stealing the iPad off the table. You better stop teaming up and getting into trouble!

Hadley and Ceci 10.5 months

Last weekend, Elise and I went to a tea and gingerbread decorating event. After gobbling down chicken sandwiches and countless desserts (and tea too!), we headed over to the other side of the ballroom to claim our gingerbread house.

Self portrait

I can't begin to describe Elise's eyes! She was amazed by the rows and rows of candy. I thought we would work together on our house but instead I raced to decorate while Elise raced to consume as much candy a 4.5 year old can eat without getting sick. I never worked so fast!

.....a full mouth.

In the end, she got full and helped with the finishing touches. It was a work of art!

Then Santa made his appearance. What does Elise want this year? She told him she wanted 'fairies, a mom fairy (whatever that is!) and a jump rope'.

Later that day, we took the babies and had our family photo taken with Santa. Two Santas in one day. Busy guy! I'm still waiting on my Christmas cards so I'm not yet posting those photos. But I can share an attempt to photograph the dogs. It was a debacle. Gladys felt that staged photo taking warranted 'sad' ears. She must have thought she was in trouble. Demi was just disappointed that I work her up from a nap.

Trick or Treating and 9 month Well Visit

Halloween 2013. I think that this picture summed up how I felt. Barefoot and frazzled! Something about rushing to get kids into costumes and out the door into the cold, dark night doesn't interest me. But I know that our little fairy was excited. Halloween had been postponed from Thursday to Sunday because a super windy storm was slated to hit that night. While the storm did come as predicted, it left a lot of sad little kids waiting to wear their costumes.

Hadley is not impressed with this costume thing.
Or maybe she just wanted to be the bee...

Elise getting ready...

Cecilia

There's nothing worse than having an awesome costume and then have it ruined by a coat... but the fact of the matter is that we live in Ohio and while Halloween can be 60 degrees, it probably won't! Luckily the twins costumes were nice and toasty for the 3 homes they visited. But poor Cecilia had to sit on her stinger!

A 6:15 bathtime and 7:00 bedtime can definitely hamper a night on the town especially since trick or treating started at 6:00. Luckily daddy and fairy Elise ventured out past the little girl's time limit. Afterall, I do expect to spend a few glorious weeks stuffing my face with chocolate once everyone is in bed. Funny how I can buy candy myself at the store but I prefer eating a 4.5 year-old's prized stash!

House #1... what a thrill waiting!!!

Right about now I am wondering why I didn't take bags for the babies
to fill. Oh yeah, that would be rude and people would
realize that the candy was really just for me!

The girls also had their 9-month well visit at the pediatrician's office. Granted, they were closer to 10 months than 9 months. Dr. Kennedy spent most the visit discussing the introduction of food. The nice thing about having an older child is that I have fretted a lot less about how and when to introduce table food. And because of that, I can safely saw that Hadley's favorite food is pot roast (what baby likes meat?!) and Cecilia loves everything! I know that to make things go more smoothly around the house, the twins need to mesh into our schedule as much as possible... and if that means eating pot roast at dinner then that means I just chop our dinners into super little pieces!

Cecilia

 18"9oz (50%)

28.5 inches long (75%)

17.25 inch head circumference

*That's a estimate on Cecilia's length- she refused to lay still for her measurement

and that's what we could get out of her. Mind you, she won't lay still for anything

including messy diaper changes! Fun times!

Cecilia 9.5 months

Hadley

18"3oz (50%)

28 inches long (60%)

17 inch head circumference

Hadley eating pot roast- 9.5 months

Hadley, Cecilia- sisterly love

Off to get big sister from school...