IN LOVE.

Mild Mannered Matty.

Well on to baby A. Matthew, or Matty or Matt. I like to call him my baby boyfriend. He is the most handsome little boy in the world! I feel like he is a little boy not a baby. He has just the sweetest disposition. He can, MOST OF THE TIME, just go with the flow. This is not to say that he hasn't thrown a FEW MAJOR half hour tantrums, but next to our little whiney lovey he just usually sits back and relaxes as he observes his parents frustration grow and grow with his little sidekick. See we thought Mitchie was all innocent didn't we!

He is this way most of the time. When Matthew was a newborn even up until now, if he is in his bed and wants something like a bottle persay, his lungs are in 100% working order. It is the LOUDEST most abrasive sound on earth, or at least in a VERY quiet as a mouse house it is. There isn't really any ignoring going on because he will wake up the whole house. Now he will say dadda, or mamma, or nay nay (blankie) or bobba over and over until he sees you caved. When you do go in you are never mad, because he is so gosh darn loveable and sweet that you are just so happy to be snuggling his heavy little big boy body.

This is the boy who will be on the couch and will pat the couch for you to take a seat next to him. He will usually sit on you or right next to your for up to 15 minutes very content. WE ALL LOVE THIS!!! He will kiss you whenever you ask. He knows really well that I will always ask for a kiss when he wants something from me. He loves shoes and books and loves to be read too. He loves to run down hills, something I hate because I am always terrified he will bash his teeth out!

He likes to sing songs and loves to cuddle. HE IS OBSESSED WITH HIS naynay (blankie). He wants it A LOT and often I will watch him as he disappears upstairs to his bedroom floor just to snuggle with it. OH I LOVE WHEN I SEE THAT! I don't love when he demands to take in with us when we leave ANYWHERE! I WOULD NEVER EVER deny him on a long trip (15 minutes or more!!) or that would be all I would here the whole time. "nay nay, nay nay, nay nay, nay nay!"

He has the most beautiful white hair i have ever seen! Some kids are almost weirdly white, well his is just perfect! I LOVE THAT I HAVE a real towhead!!

I think he gets it from him.

This kid will one day be responsible for an ulcer that I WILL get! He does some dangerous scary crap!! He jumps off anything onto his butt. His FAVORITE thing to do right now is get out of the bath and dive back in while the other two are still in there. He will do this as fast as he can over and over again. It about gives me a heartattack each time he does it, but it does not stop him!

I have never known a little 22 monther say thank you as much as this little guy. It actually sounds more like "dutuh" (butsayitreallyfast) and he uses it in the right context over and over throughout the day. Again, i LOVE THIS! He is a peacemaker. If Mitchie is sad or mad Matty will often share his toy or just give it to him. That is really true. He really acts selfless when someone else wants his thing. It really shocks me that he does it so often.

Okay, well that is Matthew. I LOVE THIS KID SO MUCH!! He is the sweetest little thing ever. I sometimes look at him strangely like he doesn't seem like he came from me. Maybe it is becuase he doesn't resemble me at all, but I feel like I have to earn his respect a little. Maybe it is because I haven't had a kid who REALLY prefers his daddy at any given time. So i feel like I have to ask permission to "sit by him on the school bus" does that make sense?

Two words though. IN LOVE.

Mitchell on the MIND

Mitchell has my heart.




I honestly had no idea that I would be truly madly in love with my boys. It is hard to admit now that when the Dr told me I was having twin boys I was a little sad that at least one was not a girl. I kind of felt that way until I met them.

Tonight my post will be on Mitchie or Mitch or Mitchell.

THis boy is so darling I can hardly stand it. I ADORE the gap in his cute white teeth. I ADORE those curls. It is so hard to cut them until I see his hair short and realize he is just as stinkin cute, just a little more grown up!

He is my little sidekick. He wants me AT ALL TIMES and anyone who knows him knows that fact to be SURE. As hard as it is at times, I love that that little boy is my shadow and he wants me in his sight at all times. If I walk out of the room the wailing starts until he finds me.

Mitchell squeals with delight when I see him in the morning. He will dive onto his crib with pure excitement as if to say "Yeah were together!"

He won't, almost refuses, to go downstairs by himself if I am in his view. He must be carried by me. That causes a chain reaction and then matthew expects it too. So, yes, SO VERY OFTEN you will find me lugging both of them up and down the stairs at the same time. That is a hefty 50lbs several times a day.

So as much as this boy whines, which he does quite often, he is also VERY independant and likes to do his own thing. He will be the caboose on our walks just strolling along looking and exploring at his own pace.

He thinks he older than he really is. He is most content trying to sneak his way onto chairs or into the office desk drawer. He has to have things his own way and heaven forbid it isn't he will throw a MAD fit! Lately what seems to work is saying "okay mitchie let's go sit in your crib until you can stop crying". 99% of the time the second i set him in there he is done crying. So i walk out of the room and usually walk right back into a happy smiley child. I say "are you done" He will nod yes and then stand up ready to leave his time out. Totally unaffected by the previous 1o minutes of pure tantrum. Hilarious. In fact he usually remains in a semi state of being frozen. He stays in the same position holding on to a crib rail until I reach to get him.

Mitchie will very willingly give and offer kisses. His kisses are just a perfect kiss. He will even hold your face to kiss you. The other day he hurt Matty. I told him to give him a kiss and he softly put both hands on Matthews cheeks and softly kissed his open mouth. I honestly can say my heart melted at that moment. If i had a video camera I can be sure it would be all over you tube becuase it was SOO sweet and sincere.

Lastly, Mitchie is one perceptive little chap. WITHOUT fail if I offer Mitchell two crackers one to eat and one to give to give matthew, he sneakily eyes them both up and down and will ALWAYS pick the bigger one. I have tested this one over and over again and 90% of the time he picks the one that is even slightly bigger. I can't believe he notices it so clearly. If he has a cup of water and Matty wants one too Mitchie will give his half drinken cup to matthew and BE SURE to get the new and improved one. WITHOUT FAIL! It is actually hilarious to see this side of him because i totally know where he gets it. ME, his selfish momma!

IN a nutshell this boy is my sunshine and I could and DO kiss his sweet ANGELIC face over and over daily. Probably 100+ times a day!

He is always smiling! He loves to dance and has quite good rythm. He will stay as limp as a newborn if I cradle him while slow or fast dancing with him.

Something about this boy...

Mitchell has my heart. I honestly had no idea that I would be truly madly in love with my boys. It is hard to admit now that when the Dr told me I was having twin boys I was a little sad that at least one was not a girl. I kind of felt that way until I met them.

TOnight my post will be on Mitchie or Mitch or Mitchell

THis boy is so darling I can hardly stand it. I ADORE the gap in his cute white teeth. I ADORE those curls. It is so hard to cut them until I see his hair short and realize he is just as stinkin cute, just a little more grown up!

He is my little sidekick. He wants me AT ALL TIMES and anyone who knows him knows that fact to be SURE. As hard as it is at times, I love that that little boy is my shadow and he wants me in his sight at all times. If I walk out of the room the wailing starts until he finds me.

Mitchell squeals with delight when I see him in the morning. He will dive onto his crib with pure excitement as if to say "Yeah were together!"

He won't, almost refuses, to go downstairs by himself if I am in his view. He must be carried by me. That causes a chain reaction and then matthew expects it too. So, yes, SO VERY OFTEN you will find me lugging both of them up and down the stairs at the same time. That is a hefty 50lbs several times a day.

So as much as this boy whines, which he does quite often, he is also VERY independant and likes to do his own thing. He will be the caboose on our walks just strolling along looking and exploring at his own pace.

He thinks he older than he really is. He is most content trying to sneak his way onto chairs or into the office desk drawer. He has to have things his own way and heaven forbid it isn't he will throw a MAD fit! lately what seems to work is saying "okay mitchie let's go sit in your crib until you can stop crying. 99% of the time the second i set him in there he is done crying. So i walk out of the room and usually walk right back into a happy smiley child. I say "are you done" He will nod yes and then stand up ready to leave his time out. Totally unaffected by the previous 1o minutes of pure tantrum. Hilarious. In fact he usually remains in a semi state of being frozen. He stays in the same position holding on to a crib rail until I reach to get him.

Mitchie will very willingly give and offer kisses. His kisses are just a perfect kiss. He will even hold your face to kiss you. The other day he hurt Matty. I told him to give him a kiss and he softly put both hands on Matthews cheeks and softly kissed his open mouth. I honestly can say my heart melted at that moment. If i had a video camera I can be sure it would be all over you tube becuase it was SOO sweet and sincere.

Lastly, Mitchie is one perceptive little chap. WITHOUT fail if I offer Mitchell two crackers one to eat and one to give to give matthew, he sneakily eyes them both up and down and will ALWAYS pick the bigger one. I have tested this one over and over again and 90% of the time he picks the one that is even slightly bigger. I can't believe he notices it so clearly. If he has a cup of water and Matty wants one too Mitchie will give his to matthew and BE SURE to get the new and improved one. WITHOUT FAIL! It is actually hilarious to see this side of him because i totally know where he gets it. ME, his selfish momma!

IN a nutshell this boy is my sunshine and I could and DO kiss his sweet ANGELIC face over and over daily. Probably 75 times a day!

He is always smiling!

So let's see... Where are we now.

Mom retired and came to johnny and MItchell's baptism. They were here for a week and were

They say writing is therapeutic

Okay well, you got me Phyllis, you said that one day i would come to miss that dog. And honestly i haven't stopped crying on and off for the past 2 days. How can you not. Even if you never let your dog sleep in your bed or anywhere near it, or you don't let your dog mingle on the main floor of your home, or you make her stay in a basement most of her days because you dislike dog hair and dog smell and drool, you can't help but miss the face that you have looked at for 8 and half years over and over all through each day. I think for the most part I was a good owner. I know there are lots better and lots worse. I didn't lean down and kiss her, but i rubbed her body and head often and talked nice to her A LOT!! I told her sweetly everynight goodnight and love ya. I enjoyed seeing her and having her around 24/7, even though most people heard me complain and talk rudely about her. NOW I AM PAYING FOR IT. I feel like hell that most of you have the worse painted picture of her. I know that most of you weren't to fond either of her, but i let on that she was a lot harder and high maintenance than she was and I regret it. When I think of her face i see Alexis in her, mainly because they were together so much. Now that she is gone, i feel like she was the 4th child that was pushed aside. And i feel so sad, because she deserved more than that because she was a sweet dog who offered nothing but love and affection. My advice to you is don't get a dog if you can't give it your time and energy. We were much better before we had kids, she got long walks DAILY and lots of talking time in. I have been pushed to my limits the last 2 years of my life and I feel like i am close to knockin my head against the wall several times a week. I love my life and love my situation of craziness, but i don't love that fact that I am wracked with guilt because of the lack of attention I showed my dog. In my defense i know i wasn't horrible. I talked to her a lot through out the day and gave her treats and table food to be nice. I would let her up a lot recently to play with the kids, but now that she is gone, i could have done better. I am sad that i didn't get to say goodbye to her because again she feels like she was another child, and essentially when you raise something from the time they are 5 weeks old, they are your child. And right now I feel like a very so so parent. I wish i could tell Sunny thank you for all the things she did do for me. I actually did go down to the basement and talked through my tears telling her spirit thank you. I told her thank you for being very sweet to my kids. Thank you for allowing alexis to playfully torment you for the last 4.5 years, thank you for going along with any game she wanted even if it meant you being tied to the bathroom door for two hours on a very short leash while I didn't even know. Thank you for letting Mitchie crawl all over you and dig his fingers inside your mouth, without biting him. Thank you for letting the kids step on your tail, and paws both of which you hate. Thank you forgiving me daily when I would pack up the kids in the car and leave you home behind whining cause you wanted to go. Thank you for giving my restful peaceful nights of sleep because i knew you were our watch dog as we slept. Thank you for ALWAYS giving me that peace that you would alarm us of any potential danger. Thank you for making Jason laugh a lot. Thank you for providing countless hours of entertainment for my kids. Thank you for allowing me to be surprised that dogs do cute things. Thank you for vacuuming my floor whenever given the chance. Thank you for the love you brought to the family and being a sweet dog. I know you had your problems, but it never stopped you from showing us love and I am now seeing that. Thank you for loving me even though I could have and should have done more. Way more. Sorry Sunny. Love ya. See ya on the other side!

Yes that is her dragging her butt down our hill. (hense the reason for the grose outs!)

They say writing is therapeutic

Okay well, you got me Phyllis, you said that one day i would come to miss that dog. And honestly i haven't stopped crying on and off for the past 2 days. How can you not. Even if you never let your dog sleep in your bed or anywhere near it, or you don't let your dog mingle on the main floor of your home, or you make her stay in a basement most of her days because you dislike dog hair and dog smell and drool, you can't help but miss the face that you have looked at for 8 and half years over and over all through each day. I think for the most part I was a good owner. I know there are lots better and lots worse. I didn't lean down and kiss her, but i rubbed her body and head often and talked nice to her A LOT!! I told her sweetly everynight goodnight and love ya. I enjoyed seeing her and having her around 24/7, even though most people heard me complain and talk rudely about her. NOW I AM PAYING FOR IT. I feel like hell that most of you have the worse painted picture of her. I know that most of you weren't to fond either of her, but i let on that she was a lot harder and high maintenance than she was and I regret it. When I think of her face i see Alexis in her, mainly because they were together so much. Now that she is gone, i feel like she was the 4th child that was pushed aside. And i feel so sad, because she deserved more than that because she was a sweet dog who offered nothing but love and affection. My advice to you is don't get a dog if you can't give it your time and energy. We were much better before we had kids, she got long walks DAILY and lots of talking time in. I have been pushed to my limits the last 2 years of my life and I feel like i am close to knockin my head against the wall several times a week. I love my life and love my situation of craziness, but i don't love that fact that I am wracked with guilt because of the lack of attention I showed my dog. In my defense i know i wasn't horrible. I talked to her a lot through out the day and gave her treats and table food to be nice. I would let her up a lot recently to play with the kids, but now that she is gone, i could have done better. I am sad that i didn't get to say goodbye to her because again she feels like she was another child, and essentially when you raise something from the time they are 5 weeks old, they are your child. And right now I feel like a very so so parent. I wish i could tell Sunny thank you for all the things she did do for me. I actually did go down to the basement and talked through my tears telling her spirit thank you. I told her thank you for being very sweet to my kids. Thank you for allowing alexis to playfully torment you for the last 4.5 years, thank you for going along with any game she wanted even if it meant you being tied to the bathroom door for two hours on a very short leash while I didn't even know. Thank you for letting Mitchie crawl all over you and dig his fingers inside your mouth, without biting him. Thank you for letting the kids step on your tail, and paws both of which you hate. Thank you forgiving me daily when I would pack up the kids in the car and leave you home behind whining cause you wanted to go. Thank you for giving my restful peaceful nights of sleep because i knew you were our watch dog as we slept. Thank you for ALWAYS giving me that peace that you would alarm us of any potential danger. Thank you for making Jason laugh a lot. Thank you for providing countless hours of entertainment for my kids. Thank you for allowing me to be surprised that dogs do cute things. Thank you for vacuuming my floor whenever given the chance. Thank you for the love you brought to the family and being a sweet dog. I know you had your problems, but it never stopped you from showing us love and I am now seeing that. Thank you for loving me even though I could have and should have done more. Way more. Sorry Sunny. Love ya. See ya on the other side!

Mother's Day letter's for my kids

For Mother's Day I have the goal to write to each of my children a letter telling them why I am so happy to be their Momma. In case one day they misplace their letter or rip it up out of anger toward me, I want it here for the record. This is the boys' first and Alexis 3rd I think.

Dear Alexis, Mother’s Day 2010

I just wanted to tell you on this Mothers Day of 2010 just how much I love being your mommy! Alexis you are the best daughter a mom could ask for. You are the sweetest girl who will ALWAYS give me a kiss when I need one and even if I didn’t know I needed one. You are really good at staying in your bed at night (FINALLY) and the other night you went to the bathroom quietly and on your way back to your bed you softly kissed my arm. You knew I wouldn’t wake up and you still felt the need to give me a kiss. I hope that need never ends. I will take your kisses and hugs as long as you will possibly give them to me.
You are just the best helper a 4 and a ½ year old could be. You do so many things I ask you to do. Whether it be running downstairs in the mornings to get yogurts and spoons for you kids or running upstairs in search of diapers and wipes. You will gather the bottles in the boys’ rooms and help me look for missing shoes for the boys. You will tell me I look beautiful all the time and say such sweet things to me. You are really good at cleaning your room and making your bed. You are very sensitive to other kids and your brothers. You don’t like seeing people be sad. I love that about you. If that is the one quality that means most to me it is that you will forever stay sensitive to other people. You are such a great example to your cousins. You share even when it is your favorite toy, you compliment your cousins and always give them hugs. Daddy and I are soooo blessed to have you as our daughter. I am so glad you were born first in our family because I KNOW that you will always be an example of kindness and choosing the right. You really are my best friend. I hope you always want to be my best friend because I know for sure that I always want to be yours! I love Lex.

Love,
Mommy

Dear Matthew, Mother’s Day 2010

I wanted to write you a letter telling you how much I love you! Today is Mother’s Day and I want you to know how honored I am to be your momma. You are only 18 months and I feel like I know exactly who you are. Won’t I be surprised though at how much you will continually change as you grow. You are such a sweet little boy who is filled with energy, excitement and happiness. You are such a sweetly content boy. Not much ruffles your feathers, except when Mitchie takes away your toys. You are very easy going, but are very intent on getting what you want. You insist on holding your own spoon of rice just as it goes flying across the kitchen. You love your babas sooo much. A bottle of milk can make you happy at your most upset times!! You are such a cuddle bug. You will sit on my lap or daddy’s or Grandpa Miller’s for a long period of time. You will lay your head on our shoulder or against our chest. So often I will walk upstairs to see you lying on your floor on top of your blankie cuddling it and sucking your tongue! (Something that I love to see!) You are the most handsome little man I have ever seen! I feel like I am looking at a real big kid even though you are still my little baby! I love that you and Mitchie are twins and best buds. I hope you will feel like he is your best friend for ever and ever. You two will be such great examples to each other. I sure do love you Matthew and I am so happy that you are mine for forever and ever. I hope you will always have the need to cuddle me and hang out on my lap in stillness. I love you so much.
Love,
Mommy






Dear Mitchell, Mother’s Day 2010
My sweet little angel boy. You are a mischievous little guy, but at the same time you are such a sweet, little, gappy smiley, boy who LOVES his momma. Mitchie, you are such a doll. You walk around with such confidence that sometimes I think I am looking at a 7 year old. You love to explore new things and try and figure things out. You are very independent but you also really like me to baby you. You like me to hold you and kiss you a lot and I LOVE THAT! You offer me kisses throughout the whole day and understand when I say that after a kiss I will get you the thing you are wanting. You throw great fits, so much so that you sometimes pass out! It really scares me, but actually you have only kept doing that for daddy. Your curly blonde hair is just the cutest thing and I think it is only going to contribute to your loveable personality! I hope you and Matthew realize how great it is that you have each other as a twin and really turn to each other throughout your childhood for strength. You two are already best buddies and often hug each other and pat each other’s head and back. It is priceless. I hope you always listen to your big sister Alexis. She loves you and always wants to protect you. I love you so much Mitchell and I hope you will always want to give me kisses even when you think that that isn’t really cool. I will ALWAYS want your sweet angel kisses, because you are so special to me. I love you forever and ever.
Love,
Mommy

Here are some group shots

I am not expeciting a single person to read ALL OF THIS!

I just copied this from my online journal. Therefore it so very grammatically incorrect, but if i focused on that then I woudn't have time to write all that i did. So, as a disclaimer this has many mistakes and I don't care!! I am so glad it is DONE!! I can't get my pics uploaded and it is driving me crazy!!!!!!

Well, it has been almost a month, but i better jump on this right away or I will regret it!

What have I been up too? Let me start with this last weekend. Jason, the kids and I went to the Kentlands Farmers Market. It was fine, but nothing to do again! After that we went to the nursery to find plants for our front planter in the yard. We weren't able to find what we wanted so we headed home to put the already asleep mitchie and matti to bed. After that i rode to Lowe's and picked up some hydrangaes and little flowers. I can't remember what they are called at the moment. We came home and worked really hard and put mulch down and just had a good time. I borrowed the Thurston's blower and blew the walk clean. That night jason and I had a date and snuck Potbellies and a Diet Coke in my purse and went at watched RObinhood. It was pretty good. I was entertained, but we were reminded how we HATE movie theatres. People (kids) are so obnoxious and annoying that it could just ruin the show for you. When we left that night the power had gone out, so i told the babysitter, Kara Crowder, that pioneers were babysitters too, and to read by candlelight! Luckily the lights came on shortly after we left. When we pulled in at 11pm i noticed the boys light was on! Woops! I guess it was on earlier before the power went out. They were fast asleep in the bright has heck room! It was nice to get away. I am starting to think that date night weekly is a MUST for jason and me! The next morning the Young Women had a brunch for Kristi Cutler, our YW president at the Crowders. It was great and really nice. So, remember those plants we planted on Sarutday? Well today I pulled them ALL up, plus the 3 existing roses and replanted them all, plus 5 more and put a different color mulch down. I like it more now, and the plants will look better when they grow bigger and fuller. They weren't in a great order before. Last Friday after horseback riding jayne, john, kelley, me and all our kids went and picked strawberries at Homestead Farms. I LOVE THAT PLACE!!!! The boys sat and picked strawberry after strawberry and were so darn cute. They loved it. ALexis just ran ahead with the boys and did a great job picking our families strawberries. The best part about doing things like that is that usually the weather is perfect (despite my allergies) and the backdrop is always BEAUTIFUL!!! I NEVER GET SICK of driving around here. I love it. I can't make myslef bring the kids home before dinner if i can help it. I can tell they also just want to be out in it as well. AFter the picking, the boys and Alexis sat at the chicken coup for 20 minutes just playing and watching the chickens. They loved it and were mesmerized. After them, it was the goats. we went into the store to pay for our strawberries and buy some honey sticks and candy sticks and their fresh honey from their own farm. I just love going there!!

I AM 32 years old now! The night before my birthday we went to the Hanson's new home to celebrate mine, Natalie and Matt Markoff's birthday. It was fun. The kids loved it. Jason stayed home with the boys. It was fun and there was great food. Friday night jay, jon and Jayne and I went to Papa Razzi in Georgetown for dinner to celebrate my birthday. It was fun hanging with them. We people watched after while eating Haagen daz. IT was a fun night. Mom and dad left the morning of my birthday. They were here for a week to watch The Savior of the World play that we were ALL in and that Jenn directed. That was a very big production that was put on for the ward. Jenn worked her bootie off on it, and it turned out marvelously!!!! It really was an amazing experiecnce and it was a beautiful play! I was an angel, but jill, john and Jayne and Jon layne had really big roles. Jon Layne portryaed Christ, Jill was Mary Magdalene and johnny was doubting Thomas. My parents LOVED it and so did everyone else!

Enough of catching up, let me get caught up with the kids.

Just tonight jason said that Alexis is just totally getting older. it is so bittersweet. She is even looking a little pudgier on her arms. She is more mature, more helpful, actually that girl has ALWAYS been very helpful to me, thank goodness. She usually does anything i say, i really appreciate it too. She loves playing with her cousins. I am so glad she gets to be with them almost everyday. She enjoys playschool and she really loves horseback riding. She trots and even stands up on the horses. She can do 2-point and around the world very well. She is such a doll. I love how excited she gets to go places, any place. Friday is her last day of horseback riding until fall. She has a horse show on Saturday where she will get a ribbon. She is into combing her hair or mine, she loves how she looks when we do her hair in bows and roses. SHe likes to dress herself and she is very independant. She is able to do her carseat on her own about 30% of the time. It is pretty hard to latch both bottom straps, but she sure likes to try! I usually let her get out of her buckle when we are at the property. SHE LOVES IT!! i think most kids do, i loved when we got to do the fun things in the car. She is still VERY lovey, huggy and kissy! She is especially to MATCH Hanson. SHe has a REAL crush on that boy!! It is really cute, becuase she means it wholeheartedly! Sometimes she is WAY to clingy and kissy with him, so I have tried to teach that a little goes a long way and SLOW IT DOWN! I think she will definetely take after her mother in the boy crazy department!! I don't encourage it though at all, but i think it is funny how she is just naturally like that!!

The boys. where do i start? They are the cutest little things i think i have ever known, (with ALexis of course!), but i think that because there are two it's just a cuter little package!

Mitchie 22lbs

Mitchie is the sweetest litte thing ever!!! His gappy grin is to die for cute. He has most of his top teeth besides the molars and is has 4 bottom teeth

He finds me to give me huge open mouth kisses that I LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!

Walks around like he is a 14 year old boy, ( so cool!)

Loves hats

LOVES the outdoors

loves to take toys from Matthew

hugs my legs and rests his head on my leg when we are standing.

lays his head in my lap a lot.

So sweet and just darling

LOVES Sunny and lays ALL over her and has no fear of her at all (he hates her loud shocking bark though)

Understands EVERYTHING i say and does what i say even with a couple of commands.

Tries to climb out of his highchair often.

OFten opens the oven door and climbs sits on the door. SCARY!!

He will let me cuddle him and hug often.

He is starting to try and take off his diaper. He h

Matthew 24lbs.

He is my big man boyfriend I call him. I feel like he is 20. I love this kid. He is so sweet and charming and loving and cuddly.

He gets so frustrated when Mitchie comes after him to take his toys. Usually he just hands it over to him, but he is getting tougher. He is so much bigger than mitchie too, so it is so funny to see him get bullied.

He has such broad shoulders and big wide feet. I love it.

He loves shoes

He loves being outside

He loves when Alexis plays with him

He loves baths and standing up in the water and putting his face down in the water and drinking it up! YUCK! He loves hitting mitchie on the head with his hands or toys. That happens a lot!

He lays on me and lets me cuddle OFTEN! he will snuggle and watch a show with you.

He loves daddy and Grandpa Miller. He will sit on the laps for a long time!

He loves flying down the stairs.

He LOVES his bottles in the morning and at night and screams for it!

He will dive onto his bed when he sees you in the morning out of excitement.

I could go on and on about each of these kids. All i know is that even though life is busy and at times WAY stressful I am in awe at how much I love each of them SOOOO much. They make me so happy and I am so blessed to be their mom. They bring me so much joy and happiness that i never thought imaginable!! I am entertained by them on a daily basis and they brighten my mood whenever I am down, or stressed or just mad! I can't imagine my life without anyone of these cuties and I just want to continue to enjoy them for years to come!!

I just copied this from my online journal. Therefore it so very grammatically incorrect, but if i focused on that then I

woudn't have time to write all that i did. So, as a disclaimer this has many mistakes and I don't care!! Enjoy! I am not expeciting a single person to read ALL OF THIS! But I am so glad it is DONE!!

Well, it has been almost a month, but i better jump on this right away or I will regret it!

What have I been up too? Let me start with this last weekend. Jason, the kids and I went to the KentlandsFarmers Market. It was fine, but nothing to do again! After that we went to the nursery to find plants for our front planter in the yard. We weren't able to find what we wanted so we headed home to put the already asleep mitchie and matti to bed. After that i rode to Lowe's and picked up some hydrangeas and little flowers. I can't remember what they are called at the moment. We came home and worked really hard and put mulch down and just had a good time. I borrowed the Thurston's blower and blew the walk clean. That night jason and I had a date and snuck Potbellies and a Diet Coke in my purse and went at watchedRObinhood. It was pretty good. I was entertained, but we were reminded how we HATE movie theaters. People (kids) are so obnoxious and annoying that it could just ruin the show for you. When we left that night the power had gone out, so i told the babysitter, Kara Crowder, that pioneers were babysitters too, and to read by candlelight! Luckily the lights came on shortly after we left. When we pulled in at 11pm i noticed the boys light was on! Woops! I guess it was on earlier before the power went out. They were fast asleep in the bright has heck room! It was nice to get away. I am starting to think that date night weekly is a MUST for jason and me! The next morning the Young Women had a brunch for Kristi Cutler, our YW president at the Crowders. It was great and really nice. So, remember those plants we planted on Saturday? Well today I pulled them ALL up, plus the 3 existing roses and replanted them all, plus 5 more and put a different color mulch down. I like it more now, and the plants will look better when they grow bigger and fuller. They weren't in a great order before. Last Friday after horseback riding jayne, john, kelley, me and all our kids went and picked strawberries at Homestead Farms. I LOVE THAT PLACE!!!! The boys sat and picked strawberry after strawberry and were so darn cute. They loved it. ALexis just ran ahead with the boys and did a great job picking our families strawberries. The best part about doing things like that is that usually the weather is perfect (despite my allergies) and the backdrop is always BEAUTIFUL!!! I NEVER GET SICK of driving around here. I love it. I can't make myself bring the kids home before dinner if i can help it. I can tell they also just want to be out in it as well. AFter the picking, the boys and Alexis sat at the chicken coup for 20 minutes just playing and watching the chickens. They loved it and were mesmerized. After them, it was the goats. we went into the store to pay for our strawberries and buy some honey sticks and candy sticks and their fresh honey from their own farm. I just love going there!!

I AM 32 years old now! The night before my birthday we went to the Hanson's new home to celebrate mine,Natalie and Matt Markoff's birthday. It was fun. The kids loved it. Jason stayed home with the boys. It was fun and there was great food. Friday night jay, jon and Jayne and I went to Papa Razzi in Georgetown for dinner to celebrate my birthday. It was fun hanging with them. We people watched after while eatingHaagen daz. IT was a fun night. Mom and dad left the morning of my birthday. They were here for a week to watch The Savior of the World play that we were ALL in and that Jenn directed. That was a very big production that was put on for the ward. Jenn worked her bootie off on it, and it turned out marvelously!!!! It really was an amazing experience and it was a beautiful play! I was an angel, but jill, john and Jayne andJon layne had really big roles. Jon Layne portrayed Christ, Jill was Mary Magdalene and johnny was doubting Thomas. My parents LOVED it and so did everyone else!

Enough of catching up, let me get caught up with the kids.

Just tonight jason said that Alexis is just totally getting older. it is so bittersweet. She is even looking a little pudgier on her arms. She is more mature, more helpful, actually that girl has ALWAYS been very helpful to me, thank goodness. She usually does anything i say, i really appreciate it too. She loves playing with her cousins. I am so glad she gets to be with them almost everyday. She enjoys playschool and she really loves horseback riding. She trots and even stands up on the horses. She can do 2-point and around the world very well. She is such a doll. I love how excited she gets to go places, any place. Friday is her last day of horseback riding until fall. She has a horse show on Saturday where she will get a ribbon. She is into combing her hair or mine, she loves how she looks when we do her hair in bows and roses. SHe likes to dress herself and she is very independent. She is able to do her carseat on her own about 30% of the time. It is pretty hard to latch both bottom straps, but she sure likes to try! I usually let her get out of her buckle when we are at the property. SHE LOVES IT!! i think most kids do, i loved when we got to do the fun things in the car. She is still VERY lovey, huggy and kissy! She is especially to MATCH Hanson. SHe has a REAL crush on that boy!! It is really cute, because she means it wholeheartedly! Sometimes she is WAY to clingy and kissy with him, so I have tried to teach that a little goes a long way and SLOW IT DOWN! I think she willdefinetely take after her mother in the boy crazy department!! I don't encourage it though at all, but i think it is funny how she is just naturally like that!!

The boys. where do i start? They are the cutest little things i think i have ever known, (with ALexis of course!), but i think that because there are two it's just a cuter little package!

Mitchie 22lbs

Mitchie is the sweetest litte thing ever!!! His gappy grin is to die for cute. He has most of his top teeth besides the molars and is has 4 bottom teeth

He finds me to give me huge open mouth kisses that I LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!

Walks around like he is a 14 year old boy, ( so cool!)

Loves hats

LOVES the outdoors

loves to take toys from Matthew

hugs my legs and rests his head on my leg when we are standing.

lays his head in my lap a lot.

So sweet and just darling

LOVES Sunny and lays ALL over her and has no fear of her at all (he hates her loud shocking bark though)

Understands EVERYTHING i say and does what i say even with a couple of commands.

Tries to climb out of his highchair often.

OFten opens the oven door and climbs sits on the door. SCARY!!

He will let me cuddle him and hug often.

He is starting to try and take off his diaper. He h

Matthew 24lbs.

He is my big man boyfriend I call him. I feel like he is 20. I love this kid. He is so sweet and charming and loving and cuddly.

He gets so frustrated when Mitchie comes after him to take his toys. Usually he just hands it over to him, but he is getting tougher. He is so much bigger than mitchie too, so it is so funny to see him get bullied.

He has such broad shoulders and big wide feet. I love it.

He loves shoes

He loves being outside

He loves when Alexis plays with him

He loves baths and standing up in the water and putting his face down in the water and drinking it up! YUCK! He loves hitting mitchie on the head with his hands or toys. That happens a lot!

He lays on me and lets me cuddle OFTEN! he will snuggle and watch a show with you.

He loves daddy and Grandpa Miller. He will sit on the laps for a long time!

He loves flying down the stairs.

He LOVES his bottles in the morning and at night and screams for it!

He will dive onto his bed when he sees you in the morning out of excitement.

I could go on and on about each of these kids. All i know is that even though life is busy and at times WAY stressful I am in awe at how much I love each of them SOOOO much. They make me so happy and I am so blessed to be their mom. They bring me so much joy and happiness that i never thought imaginable!! I am entertained by them on a daily basis and they brighten my mood whenever I am down, or stressed or just mad! I can't imagine my life without anyone of these cuties and I just want to continue to enjoy them for years to come!!

So, I am sitting typing in my kitchen with the kitchen windows open. A perfect breeze is blowing in and the smell of rain is permeating the room. We are expecting a thunderstorm tonight. It feels perfect. I love Maryland. It feels so nice that I live in a place where i feel fulfilled. I need this type of life. I need beauty all around me and I TRULY appreciate it. I thank God often while I drive for creating this view for me. It is so inspiring to me.
Today I did Jen's Brazillian Blowout and after it I was starving so we got in the car and I ran into WHole foods to get dinner for her dinner group and I. After that, being so hungry i ran into Chipotle and got three tacos for us to share. She stayed in the car. As I was coming out she had Mitchie's face up against the window screaming for me! yep that is Mitchie. Total momma's boy. I don't mind. I am obsessed! Obsessed is not the word for these boys. I really can't believe how much i am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with them. They are so beyond cute to me I can't stand it! I love this age because no matter what they do, they are so darling you can't stay too frustrated. And believe me Mitchell can frustrate me! he cries pretty much off and on from 3 every day until bed time. Matty too, but not like Mitchie! I hardly care though, because when i see that gappy grin i melt! When i see Matty's expressions on his face i am smitten! I know this sounds a bit much and wierd and corny, but this is exactly how I feel about them! Alexis is just a doll to me too! Sadly, I am wiped out and a busy whirlwind half of my day so the poor girl gets the brunt of my frustrations! I am really trying to remember she is 4 and not my peer! I really do adore her. We have been reading Junie B. Jones and really liking it! We just finished the 2nd book tonight and I know she LOVES when I read to her. I am trying to take more time just for her, because i know she is needing it! She wakes up in the night A LOT and jay and I are wondering if my lack of real uninterupted attention may be the culprit! Besides i love her and enjoy her so much that I am glad that I am trying to connect with her better. I always want to have a great relationship with her. Sometimes i place to much responsibility on her and I need to relax a bit.
SO, i later ran Jen's dinner to Anjie's for her because I like any excuse to be out and driving when it is such a beautiful day. Instead of going straight home I rolled down all the windows, blasted Vivaldi and we started driving on some back roads. I LOVE DOING THAT! I didn't know where we were going but both the boys were swaying to the music and ALexis was pretend sleeping allowing the fast wind to whip hair all around her face. Needless to say we all were liking the drive. The grass is so green right now and the leaves are on most the trees. Right now you can see BEAUTIFUL pink, hot pink and bright purple trees everywhere! I LOVE IT! I didn't even know there were purple trees like this! When i really noticed one it caught me off guard! I know there are lilac trees and crepe myrtles, but these are HUGE big honkin trees that are covered in bright lavendar blossoms! RIGHT UP MY ALLEY!!! I saw a small sign on one road that read "Old MILL FARM" So as we approached I saw a red barn and a white picket fence and about 20 goats or sheep. Sadly I am still confused as to which animal i was looking at. They were total goat faces, but were covered in wool. SO that was throwing me off. I , the desert rat, haven't seen a goat covered in WOOL? Someone give me the basics please. Finally the goats maaaaa'd instead of baaaaa'd so i figured we were talking to goats. I got the boys and alexis out and stood them against the fence and they stared for several minutes! It smelled so good outside and they were loving it! Alexis kept begging me to lift her over the fence or call the goats over , but to no avail. It was great! When we got home I couldn't bear taking them inside it was so nice out, so we played outside our house and I took them to our park, until Mitchie, yes MItchie lost all park priveleiges due to unnessesary crying and we left. I got home threw them all in the bath, hurried them out and tossed em' in bed. PURE EXHAUSTION! I DON'T GET TO STOP! I am in constant motion. I wouldn't have it any other way, honestly, but I am pooped! Then Jason and I talked and talked over grilled Shishkabobs as ALexis painted a birdhouse and listened. After we looked at the clock we realized I still needed to read Junie B. JOnes to her so we headed off. Then jason's haircut, then this journal entry now the kitchen! thank goodness Jason did most of it already, but still more to do. I am TIRED! Goodnight!

SPRING DAY!

So, I am sitting typing in my kitchen with the kitchen windows open. A perfect breeze is blowing in and the smell of rain is permeating the room. We are expecting a thunderstorm tonight. It feels perfect. I love Maryland. It feels so nice that I live in a place where i feel fulfilled. I need this type of life. I need beauty all around me and I TRULY appreciate it. I thank God often while I drive for creating this view for me. It is so inspiring to me.

Today I did Jen's Brazillian Blowout and after it I was starving so we got in the car and I ran into WHole foods to get dinner for her dinner group and I. After that, being so hungry i ran into Chipotle and got three tacos for us to share. She stayed in the car. As I was coming out she had Mitchie's face up against the window screaming for me! yep that is Mitchie. Total momma's boy. I don't mind. I am obsessed! Obsessed is not the word for these boys. I really can't believe how much i am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with them. They are so beyond cute to me I can't stand it! I love this age because no matter what they do, they are so darling you can't stay too frustrated. And believe me Mitchell can frustrate me! he cries pretty much off and on from 3 every day until bed time. Matty too, but not like Mitchie! I hardly care though, because when i see that gappy grin i melt! When i see Matty's expressions on his face i am smitten! I know this sounds a bit much and wierd and corny, but this is exactly how I feel about them! Alexis is just a doll to me too! Sadly, I am wiped out and a busy whirlwind half of my day so the poor girl gets the brunt of my frustrations! I am really trying to remember she is 4 and not my peer! I really do adore her. We have been reading Junie B. Jones and really liking it! We just finished the 2nd book tonight and I know she LOVES when I read to her. I am trying to take more time just for her, because i know she is needing it! She wakes up in the night A LOT and jay and I are wondering if my lack of real uninterupted attention may be the culprit! Besides i love her and enjoy her so much that I am glad that I am trying to connect with her better. I always want to have a great relationship with her. Sometimes i place to much responsibility on her and I need to relax a bit.

SO, i later ran Jen's dinner to Anjie's for her because I like any excuse to be out and driving when it is such a beautiful day. Instead of going straight home I rolled down all the windows, blasted Vivaldi and we started driving on some back roads. I LOVE DOING THAT! I didn't know where we were going but both the boys were swaying to the music and ALexis was pretend sleeping allowing the fast wind to whip hair all around her face. Needless to say we all were liking the drive. The grass is so green right now and the leaves are on most the trees. Right now you can see BEAUTIFUL pink, hot pink and bright purple trees everywhere! I LOVE IT! I didn't even know there were purple trees like this! When i really noticed one it caught me off guard! I know there are lilac trees and crepe myrtles, but these are HUGE big honkin trees that are covered in bright lavendar blossoms! RIGHT UP MY ALLEY!!! I saw a small sign on one road that read "Old MILL FARM" So as we approached I saw a red barn and a white picket fence and about 20 goats or sheep. Sadly I am still confused as to which animal i was looking at. They were total goat faces, but were covered in wool. SO that was throwing me off. I , the desert rat, haven't seen a goat covered in WOOL? Someone give me the basics please. Finally the goats maaaaa'd instead of baaaaa'd so i figured we were talking to goats. I got the boys and alexis out and stood them against the fence and they stared for several minutes! It smelled so good outside and they were loving it! Alexis kept begging me to lift her over the fence or call the goats over , but to no avail. It was great! When we got home I couldn't bear taking them inside it was so nice out, so we played outside our house and I took them to our park, until Mitchie, yes MItchie lost all park priveleiges due to unnessesary crying and we left. I got home threw them all in the bath, hurried them out and tossed em' in bed. PURE EXHAUSTION! I DON'T GET TO STOP! I am in constant motion. I wouldn't have it any other way, honestly, but I am pooped! Then Jason and I talked and talked over grilled Shishkabobs as ALexis painted a birdhouse and listened. After we looked at the clock we realized I still needed to read Junie B. JOnes to her so we headed off. Then jason's haircut, then this journal entry now the kitchen! thank goodness Jason did most of it already, but still more to do. I am TIRED! Goodnight!