Welcome Home

It is hard to believe that today makes a year that we were finally able to bring our beautiful baby girls home. Maggie and Marley were born 8 weeks premature and had to spend 5 weeks in the NICU. That was one of the hardest things our family had to go through. Ben and I spent mornings, evenings and nights by their sides. Watching them, praying for them and longing for the day we could take them home and hold them and kiss them all day and night. Some days we could not even touch them, that broke my heart. I didn't get to hold Marley until she was 5 days old, that was hard for me. Clayton and Molly didn't understand. Their babies were finally born, yet they could not see them or hold them. Pictures were not good enough for them. It was 5 weeks of ups and downs. Good news visits and bad news visits. Some days I just sat there and cried wondering if they were ever going to let me have them. Finally, on March 3 we were able to take our babies home and let them meet their big brother and their big sister. What a happy day that was. I can still see the smiles on Clayton and Molly's faces when they walked in from school and saw those babies. They were real and they were home!


What a difference a year has made. Everyday they are getting bigger and stronger. Everyday they are learning new things. Everyday they make me smile a little bigger. They are where they belong, home with us!

Maggie

Marley

Maggie and Marley

Mardi Gras Marathon 2010

Sunday, February 28, 2010, the Mardi Gras Marathon took place in New Orleans. My husband, Ben, mother-in-law, Shirley, father-in-law, Henry and brother-in-law, Derek all took part in running the half marathon. (13.1 miles) They all did AWESOME!! My sister-in-law, Melissa and I along with Clayton, Molly, Maggie and Marley cheered them all on at the finish line. It was a beautiful day and we all had a great time.

This was Ben's first marathon. He has been working hard training for this and on Sunday his time and effort paid off. He completed the marathon in 2 hours, 35 minutes!

WAY TO GO BEN!

Maggie and Marley in their Mardi Gras Marathon oufits getting ready to go cheer for everyone.

Clayton, Maggie, Marley, Molly and Melissa

Ben getting ready to cross the finish line!

Here comes our marathon runner!!


Maggie and Marley taking a break, it was hard work being so cute for everyone!

The four marathon runners
Henry, Shirley, Derek and Ben
Great job guys!

Ben with his family, we are very proud of you! Great job!

A Happy, Happy Day

What a perfect and happy day it was as we celebrated Maggie and Marley's first birthday. We were joined by family and friends who helped make the day so very special. The girls were "tutu" cute! We sang to each of them and they enjoyed their taste of cake and icing very much!

Happy Birthday Girls!

Marley and Maggie

Party Mode

The big day is fast approaching.....Maggie and Marley are turning ONE!!!! Have lots to do to get ready for their big day. Will be making candies in between naps and gearing up for Saturday night when I bake cupcakes :) It is all so fun to me, and I love every second of it....from picking out the "theme" and colors, to making the invitations and planning the food list. Making candy suckers and chocolate dipped marshmallows and baking at least 80 cupcakes....it is all so fun and worth every second to give my kids a day all about them. Can't wait to spend the day with great friends and family and celebrate two of the most perfect gifts I have ever received. Hope to see everyone on Sunday :)

Here's to Blogging....

Well.....I decided to start a blog :) Don't really know where to begin, but we'll see where this goes! I am a wife to my wonderful husband, Ben. I am a mom to my four wonderful children, Clayton (9), Molly (6), and twin girls, Maggie and Marley who will be 1 in ten days! I am a stay-at-home mom and I love it, wouldn't trade it for the world. My family is my life, they are my whole world, they are the smile on my face.

I enjoy simple things, like scrapbooking and gardening. Baking and decorating. Shopping and reading. I love Martha Stewart! I love wrapping paper and ribbon and making my own cards, don't get me started....I could go on and on all day about that stuff :) I love Disney World, it is one of the happiest places on earth you know :) I love hanging out at home with my family and friends. I love watching my children grow and learn and discover new things. I love seeing life through their eyes.

Hope to have the time to keep this up to date and learn how to add photos and everything else that can be done. For those of you who ever read this, I hope you enjoy :)