The Last Week

Here are some random pictures from the last week.

So I know I say a lot how similar the girls are sometimes, but I think in general Savannah takes after me more where as Sydney takes after Chris. Here is Savannah snoozing in her swing, and this is EXACTLY how I used to sleep in my swing and carseat. It doesn't look very comfortable!


All snuggled up, sleeping like an angel. I love this one.


A shout out to my sister, who is away at school. Hello, Auntie!!


Both of the girls, Sydney sporting her beads before school one morning. When Sydney is around, Savannah just stares at her. She also smiles at Sydney more than anyone else!

Another Comparison

I know I've said it before, but I can't help but compare Sydney and Savannah. I was snapping some pictures of Savannah a while ago and when I saw this one...


...it made me think of this one of Sydney...


The one of Savannah, which is the first smile that I managed to catch on camera, is of her at 6 weeks, and the bottom one of Sydney is from her first Valentines Day at 2 months. I know the angles are different, but those little toothless grins are the same! Love it, love it, LOVE IT!!

Fresh From the Oven

I was looking through some pictures today and was marveling at the similarities between our "fresh from the oven" pictures, aka our first pictures with each of the girls when they were just freshly born. First one is Sydney.


And here is Savannah. I love how similar these are!

What precious moments these were! As I write this, one of my closest friends is delivering her twin baby girls. Just thinking of her in labor makes me re-live my own deliveries. One of these days I'll post my labor story with Savannah, which I realize is long overdue as she is now almost 7 weeks old (gasp, how did that happen so quickly?!). I would go through labor and delivery every single day just to re-live those first 5 minutes of life with each of my girls. I remember with each of them that first look, with them naked and screaming their little heads off as they laid them on my chest. Such happy, blessed moments. I better stop or I'll start to cry.

Play Time Photos

Just some photos of the girls while they were having some play time the other day. Aren't they cute?


Savannah is becoming more awake and alert sometimes. I love those cheeks!

Dolly-what?

-Snooki from Jersey Shore
-Oprah
-Martha Stewart
-My mother

So, what do all these people have in common? Let me tell you. My mom recently took a trip back east to see the Ducks play at Tennessee (which we won, by the way, we kicked some serious Volunteer butt) and while she was there, she went to Dollywood. And that's where Snooki, Oprah, and Martha come in. Who is the last person I'd ever expect to see in a library? Snooki. Who do I think is the least likely to commit a crime? Oprah. Who is the least likely to have a messy house? Martha Stewart. And who is the last person on the entire planet who would ever go to Dollywood? My mother. But her and her sister were there, and the tickets were free, so why not go?

I just about had a stroke when I walked into my mom's room and saw this bag. My mom grew up in the country and hated it (to be fair, it's not like living in the country today. It was so isolating, now they have facebook and twitter and e-mail and it's not so bad). She detests country music and cowboy anything, so seeing this bag in her room was fabulous! This country-music loving daughter of her's laughed and laughed (I almost just wrote "laughed until the cows came home" but thought better of it).

And why you're there, why not get gifts for the grandkids?


So cute! Cowboy boot glasses for each of the girls! So they can always remember their grandma's trip to Dollywood!

Honestly, though, my mom had a great time at Dollywood. She said the rides were really fun and it was a "nice place to visit," which makes me fully expect the world to be coming to an end very soon. I'll let Dolly finish this post for me...

First Day of School

Today is Sydney's first ever first day of school! Chris went to work late so we could both take her. We enjoyed a nice morning and spent some time praying for our big school girl! She looked so grown-up with her big girl backpack (which is practically bigger than she is) walking into her classroom with her little friends. She was so much fun this morning getting ready. She picked out a cute little shirt with sparkly ballet slippers on it and I curled her hair. She had a nutritious breakfast and we were all dressed, ready, and out the door by 8:30, which is not bad considering we have a less-than-6-week old baby at our house.




I was laughing as I was thinking about us parents. This morning we were all dressed nicely, in our sweaters and nice outfits, and our kids were in their new little school clothes, and everyone was on time. I wonder how long it will be until the parents show up to drop off the kids in sweats, no make-up on, with our children in barely-matched outfits, and we kiss them good-bye as we brush off crumbs from the breakfast they ate in the car. My friend Alisa had a good idea. Just show up in work-out clothes instead of sweats so then it makes it look like we're going to work out, not because we overslept.
Here's to a happy, healthy, safe, and fun school year for all our kiddos!

How About Them Apples?

(In another shameless attempt to convince my friend Marilyn, who lives in dry, dusty, hot, barren Oklahoma to move back to lush, green, beautiful, gorgeous Oregon, I am posting some pictures of our recent family trek to a local apple farm).

This past weekend we had perfect Oregon fall weather. It was cold in the morning, but clear and warmer in the afternoon. We went to a nearby apple orchard for a fun family morning. Aren't these beautiful? You know it's fall when you can drive around the outskirts of our town and see miles and miles of these beauties.


Sydney's favorite part was walking around the farm and orchard, and Chris and I were excited to take both the girls out for some fresh air and experience Savannah's first trip to the apple farm.




Of course we had to do the cheesy apple pictures. I really wanted to get one of Savannah, but it was a tad bit difficult as I was wearing her in a front pack. I ended up bending at a very awkward angle to get this...

...here is the close-up.

And Sydney being very cheesy in her apple.


A HUGE apple bounce house, which Sydney once again did not like. For some reason, she doesn't like those things. Maybe next year (which is exactly what I said last year).

Last year Sydney and I went to this farm with Alisa and Eli, and here was last year's picture with Eli in front of the barrels.


Now here is this year's pic. Look how much taller she is!

We had such a great time and finished off our morning at the apple store. We got some produce (as I sit typing this, I can smell the zucchini bread baking that I made from zucchini purchased at the farm), a caramel apple that we all shared, and lots of apples to make some apple butter. Now doesn't that sound like a fun morning? Shouldn't Marilyn move back and enjoy it, too?

Duck Party

Last night we went to a friend's house to watch the Oregon vs. Tennessee game on their fabulous outdoor TV. They have a great set-up with a built in BBQ, fireplace, and TV all outside, complete with very comfy outdoor furniture. We all had a blast and Sydney enjoyed hamming it up for everyone.




This is how Savannah spent most of the game...

...but she did wake-up for a few minutes to enjoy the party!

Sundays With Sydney

Sorry it's been a while, we've been a little busy around here.

This slightly blurry shot by Sydney was a surprise for me since the camera is now in the diaperbag and she had to dig through it and find the camera, take the picture, then sneak it back in. Little turkey!

Little Cuties

Preschool Orientation

Today Melissa and I took Sydney and Madison to their preschool orientation. They had so much fun meeting their teacher and exploring their new classroom. Next week when they get to go for real is sure to be very exciting! It was really surreal to see our girls laughing, chatting, and playing together at preschool. This is exactly what Melissa and I always wanted, daughters who could be besties just like their mommies!

First Duck Game

Last weekend was the home opener for the Ducks, and of course we were there. We were all so excited to take Savannah to her first Duck game! Sydney is an old pro now at the Duck games and enjoyed wearing her new jersey to the game.


Savannah was all decked out in her Duck gear, too...

...even down to her cute little socks!

Random Assortment

I have been taking lots of pictures of both girls lately, here is a random assortment of our busy lives with 2 children.

Savannah had her first big girl bath in the tub on her one month birthday. She was totally chill and loved it!


The half smile, one eye opened one eye closed look while snugging with daddy.


First bottle, which did not go well. It wasn't bad, but she didn't do anything with it. She kept wrinkling her nose and looking at Chris like he was crazy! We keep trying, it has yet to be successful.


Doing some tummy time. Look at that precious little face, and those cheeks!


We went for a walk as a family and Sydney insisted on wearing her Snow White dress. A month ago I wouldn't have let her, but now I just don't care, and besides, isn't she adorable in it?