And then you were SEVEN

Dear Josh and Jules,

As much as I feel like each year has gone lightening fast, friends told me that once they start school it goes even faster. How is that this year seems faster than ever? My what lovely children you are. Your personalities are now that of young men and women versus that of little boys and girls. And sad as I am that you are getting so big so fast, it makes me truly happy to watch you grow up. I love you so much and I'm trying to soak in all these memories as they are fleeting.

I love you and Happy Birthday!!!

Love,

Mommy

And then you were six...

Well, its no secret I hate time with a mad passion. Yesterday I blinked and you turned five. Wow - this year has gone faster than most. Maybe because you are actual "people" and my best little buds in the whole wild world. And maybe it's because not much has changed. Gone are the years of "firsts": first steps, first words, first sentences, etc (although we now have teeth! So there's that - whew!)

Now you are just perfect little people that keep growing up before my very eyes. Into just taller, smarter, funnier, prettier perfect people.  Always remember how special you both are and how special it it that you are twins. You will have each other for the rest of your lives and always share that unique bond. I am so blessed to call you mine.

My Dearest Jules,

You are my best friend, my mini-me, and the apple of my eye. You are the sweetest soul and the do-gooder, people-pleaser of our family. It was a big decision to separate you in kindergarten this year. Mainly for you. I wanted you to blossom. I wanted you to break from Josh and make your own friends and make your own way. And you have! In your kindergarten class you knew one person going in. And you are friends with everyone. Your teacher said "everyone wants to be paired with Jules". Not a mean bone is in your body. You are friends with the girls and the boys alike. Some of your best friends are boys, just like me. Not because you're "boy crazy" but because all you see is a nice, good people and want to be friends with everyone. But I worry about you, little one. My wish for you is to break free of all intimidations inside you. You are embarassed to sing in front of people. You are so afraid people will make fun of you. You are so hard on yourself if you color outside the lines, and worry if something isn't perfect. At five, you are already worry about what your friends thing of you. Oh, my darling - you are perfect and beautiful and smart. I wish I knew how to fix it, and I'm trying to. But you are a minature me. It's so funny how similar we are even at such a young age. I can't wait to see you grow - just please don't do it as fast as last year.

Love, Mommy

My sweet Joshie,

Overnight you have turned into this little cool dude. You will forever be my sweet guy. You were such an angel baby and angel kid. You were the shy sweet one, while Jules was the dominant personality. You hit kindergarten and turned into Mr. Personality. I couldn't be more proud of all the friends you have made. My wish for you is to remain that sweet little boy that is in there - and not to get persuaded to act/be/dress a certain way because others are doing it. Be the kind boy that invites others to play, even if hes not wanted by others - that's you - that's always been you. God gave you the biggest heart of our family. I hope and pray that you use it the way He wanted you to. And I hope you always have a strong sense of worth in whatever you do, be it with friends, in sports, or in school. You have turned into quite the little man. Gone is my baby boy. It's different than with Jules. She is always be by my side hiding under my skirt. But you are growing up faster, and I hope and pray those hugs, kisses and cuddles never end. And Scarecrow, I'm going to miss you most of all.

Love, MooMoo

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! 

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!"

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. 

Our First Nutcracker "Date"

This will top my list and my memories as one of the very favorite days with my daughter. I decided this year will be the year that Jules and I would try to go see The Nutcracker. They have a "Mini Nutcracker" which I would have preferred, but tickets went soooo fast, so the big girl Nutcracker at TPAC in Nashville would be the way to go! It was a risky move, since tickets were over $100 for the both of us, so it would have been an expensive mistake if she hated it.

She couldn't have been a better girl, and the afternoon was absolutely lovely. We went to lunch downtown beforehand at a place called Demo's. She requested spaghetti, so what better place than Italian? About 50 people stopped us to tell Jules how pretty she was. She was on her very best behavior the entire time.

The show started and she loved it. It was long, yes, and by the end she was ready to go, but she honestly did amazing. I loved every single second of it. Next year I think we'll try to do the Mini Nutcracker again though.

As special as it all was, I have discovered in my adult life that I still DO NOT LOVE The Nutcracker. I thought maybe it was because I was just a kid? Nope. Yes, I know, I suck. but I honestly hate it. HA!! Isn't that horrible? It's the most boring this ever. It's like CATS the musical but with no singing. Everybody just gets a ballet solo. But Jules loved, it so I loved it with her. It's one of those mother/daughter tradition things that I've looked forward to since the day she was born. It was incredibly special.

But maybe next year going the "shorter route" will help out this mama. Hehe.

I promise she's excited!

Tried to set the camera up to take our picture. Kind of a fail. Need a tripod!

Phone picture. She got to pose with one of the ballerinas from the show!

My little Eloise at the Plaza.

And don't feel sorry for Josh, he got a super date too. He got to go with his daddy to the Titans game!

Four Year Portraits

Yay! I can finally post these since Christmas Cards are finalized. I am really late at getting their four year shots done - but better late than never, eh?