Thomas the Train weekend!

While Dan is away in Afghanistan we are travelling the east coast for the summer spending time with family. This past weekend we went to Tweetsie Railroad in Boone, NC to see Thomas the Train. We rented a cabin and had the entire family there. Eli and Luci got to pet some animals at the petting zoo, pan for gold, and ride the real Thomas the Train. Very fun weekend! (The computer didn't save the slide show so that will come on the next post!)

Thomas the Tank Engine!

Couldn't get the twins to look away fromThomas!

Carlsbad Flower Fields

The twins and I went to the Carlsbad Flower Fields today with my bestie Kathy. It is definitely a place we will go back to. There was a playground which Elijah was thrilled to see sand to dig in (he was armed with his rake). Luci tried out every slide they had. There were all kinds of flowers to walk through, great places to take pictures, and a Sweet Pea flower maze. Who knew you could get lost even when you can see over the maze?!

Big Bear Weekend

The hubbies had a long weekend this past weekend so we went to Big Bear mountain and rented a house with our friends the Brown's and the Simon's. Total there were 6 adults and 10 kids! We had a great time. On our way up Friday evening it started snowing hard and we had to all put chains on our vehicles. We woke up Saturday snowed in. It continued to snow all day Saturday and night. The kids all went sledding right across the street. The rest of the time you can see they just had fun hanging out playing their games! Saturday all the mommies got to go to the spa and do some shopping. We came back and the men cooked dinner! Sunday we took the twins out in the snow and they hated it. They kept saying "snow mess!" But Dan got Eli to go down on the sled a couple times and he started to like it. Luci wouldn't let me put her down at all. Every time I would try she wouldn't put her feet down! At least I got lucky finding their snow gear at the thrift stores here! Great weekend away though. We all had a great time!

More Christmas

Okay okay. I'm a little late with these. Here are some pics of the twins opening more presents.

Merry Christmas

Our Christmas started out early this month with a squadron Christmas party. Santa flew in on a Huey. He passed out presents (books donated by Scholastic) to each kid who sat on his lap. Then there is this wonderful Christian group called Armor of Light who has adopted our squadron. They made breakfast for all of us and then had brand new toys donated. Each kid who sat on Santa's lap (or in our case tried to sit on his lap) got to go and pick out any toy they wanted. They had some really nice things to choose from too. Barbies, Legos, clothes, dolls, sports equipment, etc. The twins were terrified of Santa as you can see from their picture.
Christmas Day was very nice and quiet for us. Just us and the kids and the critters. The dogs got new beds and the cats got treats (they got a big tower not too long ago!). The twins had a blast opening presents. It took for-ev-er. They wanted to play with everything immediately. They like to open presents but haven't caught on that there is more coming! It was fun. Then we took them to their rooms where their "big" present was waiting. Luci got a Disney Princess vanity that has a small keyboard and all the accessories are instruments too. Eli got his very first Thomas the train set. They were both excited. It was a very nice and quiet day.

Family picture in Huey

Santa-not our favorite person-YET

Stockings!

Presents!

The Twins Turn 2!!

Has it really been 2 years already?? Wow! The twins are growing so fast and they are such little sponges right now. Luci is a parrot and will repeat everything you say. She is already trying to count to 10 and does pretty well. Eli's speech has really blossomed as well. His favorite word is "helicopter". Luci is now into dolls and dressing up and Eli is into trains, trucks, helicopters, and guns. It's been fascinating to watch them grow. We don't push "boy" "girl" stuff on them but yet they've each gravitated toward boy and girl things on their own. Their actual birthday was during the week and daddy had to fly at night so I took them to McDonald's and we got an ice cream cone and then went to Walmart and picked out a small toy. Then last Saturday we had a birthday party for them. Our closest friends came with their kids. We all had lunch, ate Elmo cupcakes (Hailey and I each got some cupcake in the face!), and then watched the twins open their presents. Luci got a baby doll stroller, a purse, and a doll and Eli got an Elmo backpack and a travel Thomas train set from Grandma and Grandpa Workman. Then they got money from Aunt Gail and Uncle Lance, Memere and Pepere Raymond, and Mataunte Weezie. Mataunte Nancy got them super cute jammies. Luci also got a baby doll, tea set, coloring books, and clothes. Eli got a Thomas train, Elmo, clothes, coloring books, blocks, and a tool belt. We got them the Jumpolene (a toddler inflatable trampoline) and some other things. They scored big time! I had to clean out the old to make room for the new!

Yay! We love tea sets!

A Handy Manny tool belt!

Luci's Elmo cupcake

Eli's Elmo cupcake

Grandparents Arrington Visit

Mom and Werter came out to visit the beginning of the month. They babysat the twins on the 10th so Dan and I could go to the MC Ball and spend the night without worrying about the kids. Then we took the twins to the zoo on Friday. We also opened grandma and grandpa's birthday presents so they could watch the twins open them. Mom and I did a little shopping. Overall, it was just a week for quality time with the grandkids! Luci and Eli loved having them here. Eli played guns with Grandpa. Luci enjoyed being made over by Grandma. Grandma was able to get Luci's hair in her first ponytail and Luci loved it. The twins also got their first haircut by Grandma!