Oh yeah, still here

Well I am just embarassed. Embarassed embarassed embarassed!! 

I'm not sure what has happened, but since kindergarten started, life went into overdrive. And it's going FAST. Let's update a bit:

1. Kiddos started kindergarten. They absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE it. And in obsessed with their school! It's the best. Honestly. 

 

2. They ride the BUS. Like, actually, big kids. Crazy. 

3. Then, out of nowhere, fall happened, and football craziness ensued! 

4. Then came the biggest, hugest thing ever. I took over, and actually own a store y'all! I had been renting space in a little boutique here in Nashville for a while now, then in mid September, I was approached about possibly taking over, and it was official Oct 1! She's all mine. I changed the name to my biz, La Petite Maison, and it's so much fun!!! Www.facebook.com/lepetitemaisonshop 

5. Halloween! My little cuties were a black cat and a zombie, lol. 

6. Jake and I even dressed up this year for a party! So fun! 

7. November came. Nov 1 was the grand re-opening event at the store and it was a huge success! Then Nov 11 the next biggest thing ever happened: 

Yay!!! Back to Disney we went. And this time, we did it right. Stayed Wed-Monday, went to every park, did the Very Merry Mickey Party, dined at character events every day. It was SO MUCH AWESOME. 

9. Josh lost a tooth!! First one! 

10. My niece Sutton turned two, and thenThanksgiving  happened. 

11. And now it's December! Almost Christmas! I honestly can't believe it. Time has FLOWN. And you're all caught up! 

Ive Got Sunshine On a Cloudy Day

A mini photoshoot of My Girl from the beach! and I swear, swear SWEAR she is soooooo shy. I promise!! Its hysterical how she is such a little Diva, but is so shy to people. Lol!!

funny face!

Florida Beach Pics

We went to Panama City Beach in July. I know, I know - I think the same thing. I haven't been here since circa college days when I partied Club LaVela (holla!)

Lol - anyway, it was a last minute trip, and we needed to be close to an airport - so PCB it was! My mom decided she wanted to go somewhere with the kiddos, and it was my sisters birthday as well - (we went to Napa last year - HOW was that a year ago??!??) And it actually was quite awesome! Very fun - family friendly and everyone had a blast - score!

Here are a few little photoshooty pics we took on a sand dune :)

Oh, how sometimes you just get the perfect one. 

The Night we Found out out Kindergarten Teachers

I am incredibly behind on a plethora of posts. Like, a PLETHORA. And the amount of pictures on my camera to upload is just ridiculous. However, tonight we learned our kindergarten teachers :) 

That's right folks, my BABIES start kindergarten on Thursday. THURSDAY!!!!! 

My kiddos will be attending Scales. We are very excited about this school. We looked for houses for two years and finally moved into the district to attend here. 

We got a personal "automated"phone call from the teachers, to inform my kids they will be in their class. It was going to be at 5:30pm.

When I say I've been a nervous wreck all day - I HAVE!!!! It's been like awaiting Christmas morning. There are six teachers. I've been obsessed. 

I decided to separate them. It's for the best. Jules is incredibly shy, and I know it's best for her to branch out on her own without Josh. It will be great for them, but incredibly hard for me: two sets of friends, two sets of homework, etc.

 Once we found out teachers, thus began a phone, text, email, and Facebook chain to collect all information about which kids would be in which classes. It was hysterical. Jake thought I was crazy. An even funnier aside was I went for a good hour without knowing which twin was in each class. Lol!! 

I can't explain how pleased I am with the teacher each child got. They were matched so so well. I'm so excited!!!!!!!!***

***Im actually not excited in the least. 

And Away You Go!

Tomorrow morning is almost here. A day I've dreaded basically since you were born. But, I can hold off Father Time no longer. Tomorrow you will be officially kindergartners.

Babies no more.



Dear Josh and Jules, 

Here it is guys!! The day we have been planning, training, and praying for. I've tried as hard as I can to prepare you as much as I can, but now it's time for you guys to go. And you both embark on this journey, I wanted to give you a list of things I hope for you. I love you both so very much and I am so proud of you!

 - As hard as this is for me to send you tomorrow, I truly hope it will not be hard for you.

- I hope you will go tomorrow and be brave. It will be scary I know, but I also know how excited you both are.

- I hope you will not get lost in school. You guys are still teeny baby people and it's a big school.

- I hope you will feel like you belong.

- I hope you get along with your teachers, and always be on your best behavior and use your manners (Josh I'm looking at you)

- I hope your teacher loves you, and will listen to you, and be excited to see you every morning.

- And I hope you will come home with exciting things to tell me that your teacher said or did.

- I hope you will stay "you". That you both continue to laugh, giggle, create, and find little things magical.

- Jules, I hope my decision to separate you will make you grow and blossom. You are so very shy my little peanut, and my hope is that you will speak up in class and make some great friends.

- I hope you both will talk to me about your day - your happy times, your sad times, and remember the times you thought throughout the day "I need to ask Mommy about this later"

- I hope that not only you make good friends on this journey, but that you are a good friend as well. I hope you are compassionate boys and girls with big hearts that I know you have.

- Dear Lord, I hope no one is mean to my kids and hurts their feelings, even though I know it will happen.

- And I also hope that your skin gets though, so if it does happen, it won't hurt so bad.

- I hope you both eat your lunches. It's going to be different now not having a preschool teacher right beside you, making sure you eat something remotely healthy.

- I hope you both make happy memories that will last a lifetime.

- I hope you both learn something new this year or explore an interest that you've never seen or done before, and I hope you develop a love for it.

- And I hope you will be very proud of that.

- I hope I don't cry tomorrow.

- I hope nothing makes you struggle, and I hope if it does, you will ask for help.

- I hope your teachers see how smart you both are are so eager to learn. I hope you are able to sit in class and listen and take it all in (I know, this is the hard part)

- I hope you both will feel safe. I never want you to feel scared, but if you do- I hope will tell your teacher or me.

- I hope that you both cherish each other and count on each other and will talk to each other about your days. I hope you will see each other in recess or PE, etc, and I hope that puts a huge smile on your faces.

- I hope school is all your hoped and dreamed it would be.

- I hope you know that Mommy's heart is breaking and bursting at the same time. Breaking because you guys are so grown up in the blink of an eye, and bursting with pride. It kills me that I won't be there every step of the way and right there asking if you're ok.

- But, I hope (and know) that you will be. You both are so important in this world, and I hope school allows you to see that.

"You have brains in your head, You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go."

"You're off to Great Places! 

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting, 

So...get on your way!"

Aunt Essie and Josh

Baseball Season 2015

Another spring baseball season is wrapped up! Um, yes, spring just flew right by didn't it? Whew. TIME SLOW DOWN.

Another great year playing on The Pirates! And several of are headed to Scales next year starting kindergarten. So that was pretty cool. Love the Boys of Summer!



   

My Wild Little Boy

"Mommy, can I ask you a question? Why is it that grown-ups don't get booboos but little boys get lots and lots and lots of booboos?"

Milestone - pre-K graduation

I'm pretty sure I took this picture last week. Pretty certain. 

I'm not sure when it became a "thing" but my sweet babies are graduating from preschool tomorrow. 

If you're a regular reader of the blog, you know what I think about time. I think it's a MFing bitch. It's like I look up, and months have passed by, literally. In fact, I feel like I JUST wrote this post like, yesterday, and boom. They are almost FIVE AND A HALF. http://www.mandywithmultiples.com/2015/01/on-eve-of-your-fifth-birthday.html?m=0

God, time. You're sure an asshole. 

I know I should be so happy and proud that they are graduating. But I have all those other feelings. 

The fact that they aren't babies anymore.

 

The fact that they will be walking down the hall with eleven year olds.

The fact that I have no other little babies at home. (Having twins just seals that deal for you)

The fact that I have no more firsts. No more first words, no more first steps, no more first anything really. I'm all done. And it makes my want to bawl my eyes out. They are "kids" now. 

The fact that it seems like I decided to become a stay at home mom two seconds ago. When I made this decision I decided that because we had twins and once they started school, they were "gone" I wanted to cherish a year and a half home with them before they started school. And then I looked up and it's here. Like, NOW. Seriously time. You're an asshole. 

The fact that I adore their school. The LOVE it and everyone in it. What a blessing it's been. Not only are my babies growing up, but we have to say goodbye to so many great people. 

The fact that they have to say goodbye to their friends. I know reality. These kids are going off to different elementary schools. I feel like I'm sending my high school senior off to a different college than his best friends. Sad, but true. 

I know I'm throwing a pity party for myself, and I'm sure tomorrow will be fine. But tonight I sulk. And reminisce. And just remain sad. 

My Snuggle Bug

I have this sweet guy back. He's left me a lot lately. 

Sometimes he's a shit. 

Sometimes he's a big boy and not my little sweet guy anymore :(

Sometimes he's too cool for Mommy. 

The past two days he's been my sweetie again. It hasn't taken much. An animal book actually- he took an interest in blue whales so we've been reading about them and watching You Tube. A little thing- but now mommy is cool again and it's something we have shared and is "our thing". 

Tonight as I'm putting him to bed, he asks that I hold him and rock in my arms for a minute. 

"Mommy, I love snuggling with you. Even if I have friends over, or get big, and married, I'll always want to snuggle with you" 

I then said I Thank God for you buddy, and he said, "I thank God for you, Mommy" 

Again,  he can be a royal shit at times,but between tonight and the fact that pre-k graduation is on Friday, it's been a sappy week 😢😢😢😢

Oh how I love my little cuddle bug and snuggle bunny. He will always be 💜💜

Happy Mothers Day 2015

Mothers Day. It always brings up so many feelings. I vividly remember when I was trying to have my babies. Mothers Day I simply dreaded. I hated going to church, I hated going out to eat. Mothers were everywhere, being celebrated and cherished, and I was just wondering if it would ever happen to me. 

Then it did :) and I'm a lucky lucky girl. 

On 2015, here are my thoughts on this Mothers Day. 

1. I think about those soon to be Mothers, who haven't yet been able to experience motherhood but want to so desperately. Please know I've been in your shoes and I know how lonely and sad you are today. I hope you get your dream soon.

2. I think about my sweet friends who have lost their moms way too soon. I know how hard Facebook will be for you today seeing all the mom posts.  And I hope you'll have a wonderful day thinking about your mom and cherishing your memories. 

3. I think about my mom and her fight with breast cancer this past year. When she called and told me she had cancer I never went to "that place" - that place deep in the back of your mind where you think about a world without your mom. I just couldn't. She is the most important person in the world. And she fought it bravely and with a smile on her face and a laugh in her eyes. She finished all treatments a couple of months ago. We are so, so thankful and grateful to God and her great doctors. 

4. I think about my kids, and how much fun it is to be their mom. Being a mom has certainly changed me. I always wondered the type of mom I would become. I got many different parenting traits from each of my parents. I got reasoning, patience, kindness and love of music from my mom. I got my silliness, "having fun with the kids like a kid", love of sports, and my temper, lol, from my dad. Both of my parents did a great job raising me and my sisters. We are as close as can be in light of all our dysfunction ;) 

5. I think about if I'm doing good as a mother. I have my good days and bad days. Some days are blissful, some days are a struggle. Some days, I feel like Mom of the Year, others a complete failure. I hope my kids will look back on their life and say I was an awesome Mom. When I decided a year and a half ago to stop working so I could stay at home with them before they started kindergarten, no one told me how fast this was going to go. Like- lightening speed. Here is it summertime, and they start school in August. I hope my kids have loved this time with me as much as I've loved it with them :)

6. I think about my mother in law, and how great it is and lucky I am to have her in my life. I think about my two nieces Olive and Sutton, and how great it is to be able to share this awesome "Mom Club" with them. And to be able to witness your sister and sister-in-law become "moms"is just pretty cool. You can explain it all day long, but once it happens to them it's just magical. 

7.  I think about my daughter Jules. I hope one day that she'll want to be a Mommy. I hope she will get to experience this wondrous joy as I have. And I hope Im around to see her become a Mommy, and look at her with her babies like the way my mom looks at me with mine. I hope she will be a great mom and take pieces of me and Jake with her, and shape her into this amazing mom. 

8. I think about this day, and as all days, how truly lucky and blessed I am. Happy Mothers Day to everyone!!!