Two more birthdays right around the corner!

My sweet babies will be THREE next week. They are not babies anymore...not even close. They are talking in full conversations, showing complex reasoning abilities, understanding consequences, having very definite opinions about everything, and are the smartest little boogers on the planet. They are the most beautiful, precious creatures and I adore them.

We had a fantastic summer and because we've been traveling so much, it's been hard to find time to post anything. Here are a few images from our adventures.

Riding the Heartland Flyer Train part of the way to Lubbock--first train ride for G&A!
The Martin Mob @ Ranch Weekend 2010--tons of fun riding the mule (ATV) all around 1000 acre ranch, swimming daily, Kirby learning to ride motorcycle, riding "4 liters" (as G calls them--four wheelers), looking at beautiful west Texas stars, family walks/runs, and meeting the newest Saffle, 4 mo old yellow lab Fagen. Best Ranch trip yet!! Thanx for your amazing hospitality S&D!
Visiting the cool Science Spectrum in Lubbock--they loved it!!
Celebrating their birthdays a bit early with Grammy & Grandpa- hiding from the sun indoors using her fancy new parasol.
Swimming in our backyard pool with G&G & Boomer...


Doing a little hammering in her new ballet leotard & tutu.
G testing out his new hardhat and tool set...he is such a "boy!"
Celebrating Monique's and my birthday weekend in Shreveport--had a fab time hanging out at Mom & Dad's, waterskiing, visiting SciPort, playing in the sprinklers, swimming for Sonny Kirby's bday and loving on Coll & Drew's clan too! Isn't my sweet godchild Ellis precious??
Ellis
Stinky kids after sprinkler play in the yard
G's first tractor ride with Pop.

We start our "fall schedule" this week, complete with my new work schedule, back to NorthHaven Day School, and we start their first extracurricular activities of ballet/tap class for Abigail and percussion for George. I am ready for cooler temps, college football, routine, and structure to our lives. Welcome Fall!!

Lots of sweat and tears!

From extracting tonsils to catfish noodling to training for a triathlon to witnessing two precious loves join their lives in our beloved Texas Hill Country, our summer has had its share of heat and tears!!!!

Here's our summer to date:
Our rainy July 4th was spent indoors watching fireworks on TV following George's surgery. Took him 10 days, but he has finally recovered and we got the thumbs-up check up last week. Hearing has fully restored and tonsils are healing on schedule!!! PRAISE!!! We celebrated our national holiday with a cookout with Mom and Dad and our dear twin friends, the Pollans. The kids loved being with A&C and adore Ms. Leah and "Mita Casey".
Can we say four helpings of trouble???

We also enjoyed our nearly-daily visits with Nana Millie and Paw Mark (our neighbors)--they keep the kids filled with cookies! We had fun on our park date with the Stelzers and A has adopted Emma as her big sister. It has been so fun to watch the kids grow up together. A&G talk about Caine constantly--and Wade, if you're reading, they can't wait to go fishing with you and Caine!!

Every year that we have lived here, my dear sweet hubby has wanted to go back to my "Pauls Valley roots" and watch the catfish noodling weigh-in. This year, we spontaneously decided to drive south and see the 80+ lbs. creatures ripped out of their pond nests by some poor souls' bare hand. I think Abigail was afraid one would eat her. Best people-watching event in the state. Anybody wanna join us next year??
These were the ones I caught, and my hotties who carried them in from my truck...ha!ha!

Two of our favorite people got married and invited George and Abigail to be in the ceremony. We felt blessed and honored to be a part of their day and we love you Mr. and Mrs. M!!

Of course Little Miss A carried her flowers and her brother's ring pillow since he didn't want to...we weren't sure if it would happen, but Mr. G walked independently down the aisle following his sister, hand in the mouth the whole time, that sweet little boy!! G&A loved being in the wedding and precious moments were created!
Daddy tries to bribe A with skittles to be in the group photo...verdict: no go.

Memories:
~G called himself the "wheel barrow" because he couldn't say ring bearer.
~After our new therapy technique of brushing, G wore his adorable seersucker suit and suede bucks without a fuss!! YAY!

~The little princess was ALL about the dress, the shoes, the "crown", and the Skittles she earned for walking down the aisle!!
~G&A made a new friend at the events, and proudly announced that Katie was their new friend and they were happy because she didn't hit them!
~When I was dressed for the ceremony, G crawled up in my lap and said "Mommy, you look beautiful!" I almost cried...
~To this day, they still ask "can we go see Miss A from Texas? Can we go to the wedding?"

My sweeties at the rehearsal dinner...don't they look so grown up?
A glimpse of the loves of my life during prayers, what a precious sight and 3 blessings from God.
Love this one: taken before the ceremony. Can you tell G's mood by the photo? He was in the process of kicking his sister.
Where our friendship began...11 years ago under the eyes of Texas. Love ya Joan!

While in Texas, G&A had tons of fun at Grammy & Grandpa's house. On our family swim, Abigail swam by herself while wearing her lifevest and George is not far behind her! G loved shooting the airplane gun, watering the birds, and watching for the deer and fox. Abigail loved playing with Barbie "Mommy" and "Abby" and "George" and the fishing pole and plastic fish.

And the latest big announcement.... George went pee-pee in the potty with Grandpa!!

So we're re-entering potty training with kiddo #2 and he's been in underwear all week. We've gone through about 6 pairs of underwear per day and he's been successful in the potty once since home... it's a start!!! Potty training boys is a whole new world.

Mental notes for next post: VBS, Abigail's tummy issues, Tye-Die Tri

Tough Week.

G's recovery from tonsil removal has not been easy. The doc told us that it would be painful. He was not lying. George has been in incredible pain this week and living on narcotics round the clock to get him through it. Poor baby doesn't quite get it...he has shown the gamut of behaviors of lethargy to acting out and pouring medicine on the table because he didn't want to take it (our biggest challenge lately). We're back to sleepless nights...up and down every few hours. I thought this was supposed to end when they were out of infancy...snicker, snicker.

Mom and Dad have been here to ease the brunt of household and kid tasks but it has been really stressful. Little Miss Abigail's world has been rocked as she is not center-stage this week and had a rough transition in understanding that "Dorge is still sick". She rallied the past few days and played on her own quite a bit, loving all the TV time and snuggles. Supposedly Days 5-7 are the worst post-op for Mr. G so I'm praying we're near the end....

To explain the pic above: This morning, they were playing under the computer table and taking care of Abby Baby by feeding her and giving her medicine for her "sick ears and fever." Too precious. Unfortunately, they have seen a lot of that this week.

All good!

Mr. George was a trooper this morning. He gave his lungs a workout going back into surgery, but the procedures went well. Doc said his tonsils were "ginormous" as were his adenoids which blocked his airway 75%. Tubes went in well and infection should clear soon. Came out of anesthesia and calmed down in Mama & Daddy's arms.
Now home, day has been touch-n-go. He doesn't feel well but found the strength to play with his new toy crane! Hopefully with prayers, good drugs, and chocolate milkshakes, he'll perk up soon. Blessings to those who lifted him up today!

a little less of georgie

We will be coming home with a few less ENT parts tomorrow morning. George is having a second set of PE tubes put in and adenoids and tonsils removed. His ear infections resumed after the 1st set fell out over Mardi Gras in Feb. Poor sweetie has had hearing loss that will hopefully be corrected with the tubes. We trust that this will put him on a healthier path.

Please keep him (and my nerves) in thought and prayer. We know the Lord will take care of him!

Ahhhh....the loves of summer...

G has been begging for a "basebat" set and we were able to find a great deal on matching bats (of course Abs HAD to have a pink bat!). Though it was 95 degrees, we found a little shade under our magnolia tree and had batting practice. Lo and behold, Mr. G can actually send the ball packing with his switch hitting style. He hits the sweet spot on the T and sometimes makes contact on a pitched ball--wow! Abigail had a ton of fun learning too!! Love baseball!!

Random pic...G&A brought their pillows and blankets into the dining room for a little "nap" before going to Ms. Amy's. I loved this pic b/c no doubt they are twins!

This afternoon after church, we had a picnic lunch and the twins had their first experience in our new-to-us canoe, "The Banana." (Thanks V&B!!) Lake T-bird was hot but we found a great cove and G&A took turns with each of us paddling them around. They loved exploring the water and shore, searching for butterflies, tadpoles, and waterbugs. Made it back home for naptime and they are currently sacked out!! What a blessed way to start the week....

I loved this shot. She was so concerned about her Georgie and Daddy going out without her.

Loving the start of summer!!

We have been spending lots of time in our backyard this month. G&A love our new "fork" (as G calls it), translation...fort. They have both learned to swing on regular swings and can scale the rock wall and rope ladder like Spiderman. They love to help in the yard: following behind my mower with their bubble mowers, weeding, harvesting lettuce, collard greens, and spinach from our garden. G learned how to work the sprayer on the water hose and loves to water the grass, flowers, and his favorite, wash the cars...I will remind him of that when he's 16.

We had fun Mother's Day weekend with Nana and Pop. Norman Public Library's benefit Touch-a-Truck was G&A's dream event. Their favorite vehicles were of course the firetruck, helicopter, cement mixer truck, and school bus.




JAIL BREAK!!!! You may not believe me, but this was my first experience in the back of a police car.

Since I'm an Oklahoma mama, my cuties gave me new cowgirl boots for Mother's Day.
Of course, Miss A and her shoe fetish had to try them on! They covered her entire leg, that short little thing!
Mr. G wants to be big like Daddy.
Since these pics, G&A spent the week with Grammy and Grandpa in Texas, I had a fabulous bachelorette weekend in the Hill Country with my dear friend Amy, we've built a new fence again, and hosted Grammy and Grandpa at our house! My camera has been collecting dust since all of that, so I'll try to find my trigger finger soon!