Trick-or-Treating

Our day started out with a Halloween parade at Savannah's school. We got everyone in costume and out the door by 8:45. Quite the accomplishment. Thank goodness daddy was home. Once Savannah's class paraded through the sanctuary and stopped upfront for pictures, I had come to the realization that I have "that kid." Yes, that kid is Miss Grace the child who really doesn't like people. However, when it comes to standing up in front of more than 100 people and pretending to be a 5 year-old (as she did when she just squeezed her way into the line of Savannah's class and stood there like she belonged while all the parents took pictures) Lila Grace is in her element. She smiled and knew that she was getting away with something.


Soon after we headed back home and tried to get a few pictures of the twins before their therapist came. Wouldn't you know that Lila Grace would pose for 100 parents that she doesn't know but wouldn't sit for even a second while smiling when I am behind the camera. So much for the "picture."



After therapy, the girls ate lunch and went down for an early nap while Savannah and I helped one of her friends celebrate her birthday at a local farm. We were exausted when we got home and passed out for a quick power nap. It wasn't long after that we were, getting costumes on, face painting and quickly trying to inhale our dinners. Miss Grace pulled at the stool while I was working on Savannah and said, "Up please." I thought she wanted to watch but then she was doing her Lila jargon and pointing at her cheek. She wasn't going anywhere until she got her face painted too. How is that time races away on a day like Halloween. I tried to plan everything but still felt rushed at dinner time. Thank goodness, Elmo seemed to take the edge off the girls while I was running around and organizing their costumes. Lila and Savannah were very cute all snuggled up watching their show.

The girls had a wonderful time trick-or-treating. I think they were out longer than most of the other kids in our cul-de-sac. It took a little while for them to get the hang of it, as seen in the video, but by the third and fourth time, they were pros. Lila Grace would lead the way up to the door and say, "Trick-or-Treat" while taking as much candy as the adult would allow. Adeline was right there with her and said, "Trick-or-Treat" most time too. Savannah enjoyed going to all of the different houses and soon realized that she was going to bring home a very large amount of candy. The girls took breaks every now and then in their stroller but were on their feet and walking up to houses the majority of the time. There was no fussing, crying or complaining. It was truly a fun-filled family outing. I couldn't be more proud of how they interacted with their neighbors, their display of great manners (please, thank you and bye bye were often heard) and how well the twins caught on to the sequence of trick-or-treating. I love it when my children surprise me.

Off and running




She sees an airplane


Miss Justine had special goldfish for us!!!





Why tear off the wrapper when you bite right trough it?



Savannah and her friends


Can you get your hands on any more things at one time?


Lila was fast asleep in bed. Possibly, Adeline should join her?


Will the sugar high ever end?

Happy Halloween

Halloween Pumpkin Maker & MySpace Layouts

Messy Play

During Adeline's last speech therapy session, she was engaged in messy play. She had finger paints on just about every surface of her and the room. I was please that she was engaged and not distressed. This is a very small step closer to being able to accept the "not so everyday experiences" into her life.

Of course, big sister had blast joining in on the painting. Luckily, little sister was pacified with Elmo in my bedroom or the whole thing would have gotten out of control.



Big sister looks so old in this picture. It was picture day and I had put her hair in hot rollers before she went to school. It didn't stay too well but the body in her hair made her look more grown up than ever.

Third Annual Pumpkin Carving with the Anstines

We just completed our third year of carving pumpkins with the Anstines. The first year our girls were still in the NICU right beside their little girl Charlotte. This year they were all running, jumping and playing around while we tried to discern what shapes they wanted on their pumpkins. Lila Grace tried really hard to like the taste of the pumpkin while Adeline tried to not let the wet stringy pieces force her off my lap. We had a great time and celebrated how lucky we are to have three healthy and thriving girls.






Our first year. . . still in a state of exhaustion and disbelief as our girls have not even made it home yet



Year two. . . happy that all the girls are making tremendous strides in their development

Pictures From Sesame Place

Guess Where We Went Today

For those of you who are at a loss, we went to Sesame Place. I remember taking Savannah her first time and the excitement that was elicited by merely driving into the parking lot which is adorned with character signs. The same was true for Lila and Adeline. Lila Grace expresses it more energetically, but Adeline was pretty excited as well. If you couldn't gather it from the video clip, Ernie is Lila's favorite! Elmo is a close second and is number one with the other two girls.

Sesame Place was decorated for Halloween. The girls got to go around to different stations and collect various treats. The favorite was the orange Legos that make a pumpkin. We were invited to attend this even by the Variety Charity It is an organization that supports children with disabilities and developmental delays. It was certainly worth the drive. The girls didn't fuss once and we were there for four hours. They were beside themselves as they tried hard to absorb all characters and Sesame stuff. Oddly enough, they sat still for an Elmo Live show, something their oldest sister wouldn't do until she was four.

We saw all of the important characters. The babies did a double take at first but soon it was hard to hold Lila Grace back. She couldn't wait to run up to Ernie and give him loves. She snuggled him and talked to him. It was hard to get her turn around for a picture. She couldn't believe that "her Ernie" was snuggling her. She didn't want to leave him. The same was true for Zoe and, of course, Elmo. Adeline was excited to see the characters from distance. Their fur was a bit much for her. She was happy for me to hold her take her up close and personal but didn't want to touch them herself. Her love for Elmo almost got her over the hump as she walked right up to him. She then suddenly turned to me and said, "up please."

I will post pictures later. We really had a nice day!

Through the Eyes of Children

After a rough couple of days I have started to think that this world of prematurity has taken its toll. I feel as though I look at least five years older than when I had the girls, my patience is lessened and I am no certainly no longer the fun and young teacher I was when I got pregnant with the twins (well a few months before). Times have changed and I feel like more of a referee (as my husband put tonight) and a no fun mom. Definitely NOT a young, happy go lucky mom. I don't have the energy to do what I once did and things seem more like a burden than an adventure (yikes, am I really admitting this). It took my neighbor to make a hair appointment for me in order for me to get a hair style (it had been a year) and I am just starting back on the working out which has been neglected for years. Makeup? Isn't that something my girls are supposed to play with when they sneak in my bathroom because it certainly hasn't made it in my hands recently. Clothing, well, in the very few pictures I post of myself on my blog, one can see that it isn't a priority. My point is that I have turned into the frumpy mom. I promised myself I wouldn't but I AM.

Just when I think I have given into the world of frump and frown (isn't that what the not so fun moms did when I was growing up - frown all of the time?) little Abby throws me a rope. On my way to pick up Savannah and her neighborhood friends from art class tonight, Abby and Libby have a discussion about me. "Miss Sara, we don't think you look old enough to be a mom. Libby, doesn't she look so young?" Thankfully Libby agreed. Frown no more. I look too young to have kids!!! Yeah, right us more like it but I will take what I can get from an eight year old!