Remembering...

Today, January 15, 2012 marks 8 years since we last held Devin and Elizabeth. 8 years seems like so long ago and others like just yesterday. Sometimes I look back at pictures and it seems like from another lifetime.

Eight years ago, early January, I took one of my few belly pictures from my first pregnancy. We had recently found out we were having a girl, but we weren't sure what the other baby was, but we all suspected a boy! The picture is blurry because it is scanned - but you can still see the happiness.


A few short days after that picture was taken, we welcomed Devin Lee and Elizabeth Ann into this world, much too soon. As I've said many times before, time is an amazing healer. The scar is always there, but gradually the wound is not so raw and you are able to incorporate the loss into your life. But these precious little feet are never forgotten...always missed. Always loved.



We have memories. Some tucked away more than others, some more in the open as our family continues to grow and we try to incorporate them in our lives.



We find peace in knowing Devin and Elizabeth are Safe in the Arms of Jesus...and we will see them again.


This is from a couple of years ago...but this picture gets me every time!

A friend of mine who lots twin boys 12 years ago who has been a great support posted on Facebook about often wondering why it happened. As she described and I, too feel, I wonder why it happened to me and yet when I look at my 3 boys running around (like crazy most times), I know that is why. They are here, they are perfect and their brother and sister allowed them to be. And I have also been able to reach out and help others who have sadly lost babies - and that helps my healing heart, too.

Happy 8th birthday, Devin and Elizabeth! We love you!

Camp-In

Over spring break in April, we had some time to have fun around the house. Ever since the twins got their sleeping bags for their birthday, they boys have wanted to camp. We told them that first we would have a camp-in, before trying a camp-out.

Thursday, April 7th was the day. It was just a day at home, but they were excited all day! I actually got up and headed to my office - but when I got there, my boss was great and let me leave by 10. He felt bad I came in when the boys were home on break - so it was an extra good day!

We spent some time outside planting more bushes and playing. You can see Landon and Dave in the distance working on a row of holes for the bushes.


I just thought this was a cute shot of the back of Austin and Aiden's heads. They are so different!

Austin is a boy through and through. It didn't take him long to figure out how to ride Landon's Hot Wheel. I believe this was the first time. Landon got this when he turned 3 from Joe and Sarah - and it took him quite a while to learn how to ride. Not Austin! :-)

Here's a quick video...go Austin go!

And here comes Austin on the tractor with Dave. Austin was doing the steering all by himself and did a pretty good job!


Finally - it was time to start "camping". First it started with lighting the grill so we could cook-out.

Then we had modified S'mores (microwave) but it was fun to try them. But - would any of the boys eat them? No! They just wanted the chocolate and graham crackers! I sure enjoyed mine, though!

The boys were so excited!!! Here they are all ready for the camp-in. Austin is in the middle, Dave slept by the fireplace and I held down the couch!

Big smiles!

After about 20 minutes, Dave asked if anyone wanted a snack. Of course the answer was yes!! Time for a Hostess Apple Pie!

The twins fell asleep by about 8:45...aren't they cute?

Landon stayed awake watching "Swamp People" with Dave and I until 10:00! Good job Landon!

They did pretty good for sleeping on the floor. Couple funny memories:

*At one point I heard someone moving around, so I turned on my flashlight. I looked around to see Aiden had moved to Austin's pillow, Austin was just in the middle of the floor, and Landon was bent over using Austin's back as a pillow! I wish I would have thought to take a picture.

*The other thing that happened that night was our refrigerator died. Right before bed I thought it didn't feel too cool, but I had put a lot of stuff in it that day. In the night, I kept noticing it sounded like it was running, or trying to run a lot. Sure enough, our ice cream was melted that morning - the compressor had burnt up! Ended up being without a fridge for a week waiting on a new one to arrive! Fun times!

A week at home...basically!

These next 4-5 posts will all be about the same week...January 31 - February 5th. What a crazy week it was! Here's the break down, and then enjoy the photo's per post per day. For being stuck at home...we were busy! Well, busy playing anyway!

Monday - I was home with 3 sick boys.
Tuesday - Snow Day
Wednesday - Snow Day
Thursday - Snow Day
Friday - 2 hour delay, so short days away from home
Saturday - swim lessons, then fun at home!

Enjoy the upcoming pictures!!! I like having all these pictures here just to remember all that the boys do...because they sure are active for not leaving the house much! LOL!

Funnies

Just a few funny things I wanted to remember about the boys...

*The other day I heard Landon say about something they were playing with...to the boys..."yea, I played with that YEARS ago." With emphasis on years. It was funny!

*Aiden is doing so well in trying to keep his temper calm...usually he does pretty good. I'm proud of his progress. But what cracks me up is listening to him so "Mommy....oh Mommy.........oh Mommy.........MOMmy....OH MOMMY..." If you can imagine him gradually getting louder yet trying as hard as he can to say it as sweet as possible.

*Austin's new favorite thing is to say "yesterday." Everything happened yesterday..."well, yesterday, I played that." "I did that yesterday." "Yesterday I was spiderman." It's just cute to hear the things he is remembering from a while back - sometimes months - but it's always "yesterday."

I want to remember...

I love this picture of the boys. It was from back in May, one Sunday morning when Dave was at school and it was just the boys and me. They were being silly and I wanted some pictures. I asked them to hug and here's what I got. Just precious.

I want to remember...time goes so fast. Just looking at this picture from May, I can see how much they have changed. I always think "I need to write that down" when they say something funny, or do something cute, and then I forget.

This past week, I was out of town for work for 2 nights, 3 full days. A long time to be away! Dave was great with the boys and they did pretty good while I was gone. I got home after they went to bed, so I was very excited to see them in the morning. They each got up at different times...

• Landon was first at 6:00...he came walking into our room, slowly to my side of the bed and once he realized I was in there, he gave me a huge hug. Loved it!! Later in the morning he said "I love it when you are home, mommy." Melt my heart.
• Aiden was next around 6:40...I went in to get him out of bed and when he realized it was me, he jumped up and gave me a big hug. He sat on my lap for a long time, snuggled up into my neck. Heaven!
• Austin was sleepy today and woke up after 7:30. He jumped up and said mommy and gave me a big hug. He sat with me for a while but it was funny- he kind of got shy after that. Austin tried hard not to smile or talk to me until I sat down with him at breakfast. Then he started sharing! It was great!

I'm so glad to be home!!!