The BEST Christmas Gift

Have I mentioned that this Christmas was the BEST Christmas EVER?!?

We were all together as a family of 4!

And then on Christmas Day (that evening), Burkley decided to do this for her daddy and I (the video clip that I uploaded is not from Christmas Day...although I was able to capture it on video)! Oh, and please excuse my high pitched voice and the toys all over the floor...Cory and I were in the middle of taking the Christmas decorations down and keeping B&B entertained!!

In the NICU on Christmas Day 2008 and walking on Christmas Day 2009! What a difference a year makes! We are sooooooo proud of you Burkley!

Gross

This picture of Brooks just grosses me out! It's not his precious face, it's what is on his precious face and all in his hair! We ordered Mexican food the other night for dinner and I decided to order B&B a child's cheese quesadilla dinner for them to try. They are their mommy's children for sure because they ate the ENTIRE quesadilla, rice, refried beans, and some of my cheese enchilada! Do you think Brooks enjoyed his dinner?!?!?!?

Can someone please tell me how long this "stage" of rubbing your food in your hair and all over your face lasts? YUCK, it's sooooo gross...but it does make me laugh! And just to let you know, that is not Alpo on his tray...it's refried beans (Cory said that's what it looks like)!

Christmas Morning Continued

After we opened gifts and had breakfast with Nana, PaPa, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Mandy, Colton, Avery, PaPa Scotty and Granny Di, we got dressed, loaded up both suburbans and headed on over to celebrate our 3rd Christmas with Pop (my dad's dad).

Pop with all 5 of his great grandchildren!

And Uncle Kyle with a monkey on his back!

And our 4th and final stop was Grammy and Poppy's house (they were at all the other stops, but we celebrated together as a family after Pop's house).

This was our BEST Christmas EVER! It's so much fun being a parent and being able to sit back and watch those little faces light up! Christmas next year at Grammy and Poppy's will look a little bit different...Brooks and Burkley will be BIG cousins and Kyla will be a BIG sister! Not much longer and we will get to meet our sweet baby niece/cousin, Shea (or T3...Teeny, Tiny Tinky)!

And yes, I realize I'm in only a few pictures! I was busy opening alllll the gifts and taking pictures (now I'm thinking I must have used my moms camera to take a bunch). And I just realized that we didn't even take a family picture on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Oh well...we took one at my Maw Maw's 90th birthday party the Sunday before that turned out great and we will have to take one on New Year's Day (such a special day to us...that's the day Burkley was discharged from the NICU)!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning

I'm finally getting around to posting all of our Christmas pictures. I took a ton of pictures over the weekend and it's taken me quite a bit of time to upload them and sift through them all. I know there are a bunch more on my moms camera, but mine will just have to do for now! I'm so tired...and this nasty weather is not helping me! Enjoy...more to come soon!

Our 1st stop on Christmas Eve was Granny's house (my dad's mom)

Top picture: B&B and Kyla with my cousins boys, Dylan and Cole

Middle picture: B&B, Kyla, Dylan, and Cole with Great Granny

Bottom picture: Uncle Kyle "Uncle" (my brother) with his FAVORITE gift!

After we left Granny's house, we headed on over to Cory's parents house. They have a gameroom above the back garage and every year, they host a great Christmas Eve party for family, friends, and neighbors. It's so much fun! We eat, have "beverages", chit chat, and play games into the wee hours of Christmas morning! Brooks, Burkley, and I called it a night pretty early this year because we wanted to make sure that Santa came to see us!

Top right picture: The Scott Family

Bottom left picture: Brooks and Burkley playing in their rocking Corvette
Botom right picture: Burkley climbing on their presents from Dr. Schrader and Sandra

Since we spent the night at Nana and PaPa's house, Brooks and Burkley thought it might be a good idea if they left Santa a note...just in case! And, it looks like Santa did read the note and remembered because he did come to see them!

Brooks woke up at his normal time on Christmas morning (around 7ish), but Miss Burkley was still asleep. She decided to pull one of her little stunts and have play time from 2 to 4 that morning...leaving Nana and Mommy pretty dang tired! It was hard trying to keep Brooks away from the toys, so we decided to wake Burkley up (after all, she kept us up all night and if we couldn't sleep, neither was she)! Now, I know they have no idea what Christmas even is, much less the true meaning, but the looks on their faces when they saw all the toys was priceless. Burkley was sooooo excited and Brooks just wanted to play with the ball popper!




One of the many gifts Nana and PaPa gave B&B! Once they got in, they DID NOT want to get out!

Christmas at Great Pop's and Grammy and Poppy's still to come!!!

What Do You Think?

Do you think Brooks and Burkley were good this year? They are LOVED, not SPOILED!!! Here's a few pictures of all the Christmas and birthday loot!

Look what Santa left!

One view of the playroom...

And another view of the playroom.
This is mainly all from Christmas with a sprinkle of birthday added in! Now, this should explain why I'm having a hard time trying to find time to blog...just a little busy sorting through allllllll of this stuff!

Brooks' new clothes...that STILL need to be washed!

And Burkley's new clothes that need to be washed also!

Gotta go, I've got work to do!

Oh, but the good thing is that Cory and I found time yesterday while B&B were napping to take down the tree and put away all the Christmas decorations...my house is starting to look like normal again!

Santa Was Good to Us

Wow, I must say that this was the BEST Christmas ever!!!! B&B must have been pretty good this year! And, it's a good thing that Cory and I decided to turn the spare bedroom into a playroom because we would be in trouble. Two suburbans FILLED with clothes and toys and we still had to leave a few things behind at Nana/PaPa's house and Grammy/Poppy's house! Pictures coming soon...this Santa needs to catch up on some much needed rest!!!

On This Day Last Year...

Brooks and I were being discharged from the hospital. It was a day that I was looking forward to and dreading at the same time. I was so ready to get out of that hospital, but I hated the fact that I was having to leave my sweet and tiny little princess there to grow and stay warm. She wasn't quite ready to come home, and I totally understood that she was where she needed to be and in good care, but it still was VERY hard. I cried on and off all day long and I dreaded making "that trip" down to the NICU to tell her bye! Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Anyway, hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!!! Hope Santa is good to you! We are so excited to have everyone at home this year!!

Brooks ready to leave!

It's hard to remember him being this little!

On our way to Home Sweet Home! I know, HORRIBLE picture, but can you tell how much I had been crying?
I didn't want to leave her!
Mommy, Brooks, and Daddy Christmas morning 2008

Mommy, Burkley, and Daddy Christmas morning 2008
What a difference a year makes!

Brooks and Burkley's 1st Birthday Party

1st Birthday Party Pictures

Sorry for the delay, but I've been a party animal this weekend! Instead of posting ALL the pictures on here, I decided it might be easier to create a slideshow! Brooks and Burkley had a great time on Saturday and got so many great gifts! Thanks again to everyone who came on over to help B&B celebrate their first birthday! Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!!!

Happy FIRST Birthday

Dear Brooks Allen and Burkley Ann,

Happy FIRST birthday precious babies!! It seems just like yesterday that Daddy and I were loading up our new suburban and heading to the hospital that cold December morning. We had so many feelings running through our heads (anxious, nervous, excited, and scared) that we didn't even speak all the way there! Our lives were about to change for the good in a few short hours, and boy did they! You both have brought so much joy to our lives this past year that it's pretty hard to remember our life without you!

It's also hard to remember how tiny and fragile you both were! You have grown so much in just a year and as your parents, we have enjoyed watching you grow up and achieve milestone after milestone! Daddy and I dreamed, hoped, and prayed for years that we would be parents and we thank God daily for answering our prayers and blessing us with two beautiful and healthy babies! We are so lucky and thankful to be your parents!

Happy FIRST birthday sweet boy and sweet girl. We love you more than you will ever know and we can't wait to see what this next year brings you!

1st Birthday Party

12-19-09

Brooks Allen...8:11 am
Burkley Ann...8:12 am
First "family of 4" picture

With a Baa and a Moo...

YEP...

We celebrated Brooks and Burkley's

FIRST

birthday today and I survived without any tears.

I'm not going to lie,

I had to do some serious talking

to

myself when we were singing

Happy Birthday!

The looks on their faces!
Please be patient...more pictures are sure to come!

(but I'm a little partied out...dad's birthday party last night, B&B's birthday party,

and my Maw Maw's 90th birthday tomorrow)!

Our Christmas Card

Don't you just LOVE it?

I'd like to take credit for it, but unfortunately, I can't.

After spending hours upon hours trying to figure out how to edit the previous card so it would fit on a 4x6 card at Walgreens and failing time and time again, I caved and just ordered these off Etsy!

I really need to break out the owner's manual of my photo editing software, but I don't have time to teach myself right now with the BIG first birthday around the corner!

Anyway...

Holiday Blessings

from

Our Family to Yours!!!

Santa Baby

Brooks and Burkley met Santa for the first time Wednesday.

As you can tell from the picture, there were no tears or smiles!

Well, no smiles for the camera!

Mommy informed Santa how sweet they have been this year and how special Christmas will be having both babies at home (Burkley was in the NICU last year and he visited her there and at home)!

Can't wait to see what Santa brings them!!!

Early Birthday Dinner

We met Uncle John and Aunt Karen last night for B&B's birthday dinner. They will be out of town and won't be able to attend the party, so we decided to celebrate with them a little early! B&B were so good and LOVED being out of the house...they have not been out of our house since the Friday after Thanksgiving due to the weather and Brooks being sick. Well, he got to get out and go to the doctor, but I don't think that really counts! These two are definitely spoiled...a new outfit AND a coupe car! They are going to LOVE riding in that car...I can't wait for Cory to put it together for them!

Aunt Karen, Burkley, Brooks and Uncle John

Thanks again for loving our babies as much as you do!!!

Uncle John, Brooks, and Cory

I LOVE this picture of two funeral directors and one future funeral director!

I wonder which funeral home Brooks will work at?

Uncle John says with him and daddy says with him...guess we will let Brooks decide!

Brooks taking it all in and SO glad to be out of the house!

My little stinky checking out her birthday bag!

LOVING the bow!

Brooks and his "first" 1st birthday card!

Burkley and her "first" 1st birthday card!

Happy Holidays

From Our Family

to

Yours!

*Was hoping to use this as our Christmas card, but when I upload it to Walgreens, it cuts some of it off. It was created using Picnik, so if any of you sweet blog readers know how to help me solve this problem, please leave me a comment...I'm so frustrated!*

What Santa Doesn't Bring Me...

Grandma (Grammy/Nana) will!

At least that's what their jammies say!

Trying to get both of them to look at the

camera

AND

smile

=

impossible!

We LOVE our new ornaments Aunt T!

Reading a book that Great Granny made!

And Miss Priss standing on the book!!!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

So, the Christmas tree has been up at house now for about a week and so far, so good! It's still standing and none of the ornaments have been removed or broken as of yet, but the skirt has been ripped off a time or two! I hung a few cross ornaments at the bottom that would not break and little curious eyes and hands have touched them a time or two when playing near or getting toys out of the toy chest. I still need to wrap presents and put them under the tree, but I really don't feel like wrapping presents two and three times and I'd rather not have to pull my twins out from under the tree! Christmas is going to be so much fun this year and I can't wait. Last year, Brooks and I were discharged from the hospital on Christmas Eve and Burkley had to stay in the NICU for the next 12 VERY LONG days, so this year will be our first Christmas at home as a family! Oh, and just to let you know...it's still SNOWING!!! Here's a few pictures of our tree...enjoy!

Brooks and Burkley checking out the tree for the first time.

We put it up when they were taking their afternoon nap!
Burkley...so curious!

Brooks...not touching, just looking!

B&B after their bath.

I decided to decorate it after I put them to bed...figured I didn't need all the extra help!

And here's our tree.

I LOVE it!

My sister in law gave this ornament to me last year!

And can you see one of Holly's ornaments in the background (you can see her name, but look close and you will see the black lab face)!

Brooks' First Christmas ornament!

Burkley's First Christmas ornament!

It's kind of dark and small, but if you look real close, you will notice that this picture was taken of her in the NICU (hold on...I've got to wipe a tear or two)!

My Maw Maw always buys me an ornament or two each year and this is the one she bought for me this year!

Another ornament from Maw Maw!

I LOVE this one...because I DO Believe in Santa!

A close up of some of the ornaments on our tree...

and a few more!

I mentioned above that I don't have any presents under my tree, but I lied! These two (my little miracles) are the GREATEST gift that I have ever been given and I thank God for them each and every day! And I can't believe that it's already December and I really can't believe my babies are going to be ONE on the 21st! Where on earth did this year go???