For Halloween this year. the kids picked pretty easy costumes, and actually stuck with their decisions. We got to dress up a few different times this year. We had a ward Fall Festival that we attended and that is where I snapped these pictures. I'm glad I didn't it then instead of waiting. It was pouring rain the night we went Trick or Treating and so the kids only wore parts of their costumes and I didn't even dress up the twins. I drove the older two kids door to door so it would cut down on how much they got wet. The older two also got to dress up for their Halloween programs that their schools put on.

Samantha decided to reuse her dance costume from last year and was a purple and black fairy. She picked to be called Megan the Monday fairy from the Fairy books by Daisy Meadow. I'm glad she picked the character based on her costume instead of me having to come up with something based on the character.


Eston really wanted to be Diego for Halloween. He made this easy by settling on items we had around the house. He got BACKPACK for his birthday and we printed out a DIEGO watch and badge from the Nick Jr. website. He loved it and told everyone about it when he went door to door.



This has been one of my favorite costumes over the years. Logan went as Superman. Maybe I love it because he got to wear two forms of underwear. Royal blue long johns, and Eston's red underwear. I made the cape and emblem a few years ago for Eston. Logan was grinning from ear to ear all night long.



Oh, Lucy!! To start out I just need to say that Lucy was happy. This is her saying cheese for the camera. She looks like she is in pain. Lucy was also a fairy like Sammie. You can't see her wings because they are small. She loved her twirly skirt, but loved the candy more than anything.



Our next adventure, Potty Training!!! I might need chocolate!

Spooktacular 2nd Birthday Party!!

We celebrated the TWINS 2nd BIRTHDAY on Friday. We decided to head up to Idaho and spend the day with Grandma Brenda and Papa Dallas. On Friday Uncle Jordan and Aunt Kim came to hang out and play as well. In the evening we had a birthday party/costume party to celebrate. We came up with costumes that Grandma had stored away in her house and had a good time. Matt wore a Japanese robe, I was some Egyptian rocker person, Sammie called herself Spidergirl, Eston was a bat, Logan was a super hero, and Lucy was a ballerina with a dog ears. Like I said, very last minute and home made.



Aunt Kim and Stuart played along as well.



But I loved Grandma Brenda and Papa Dallas's costumes. Papa actually wore his to work, and got compliments on his dark hair (color in a can).



The Party was complete with Cupcakes, pin the witch hat on the frog (what we had on hand), and presents.



Logan was so excited to receive birthday money from Grandma and Grandpa Ottersberg.



However, Lucy had many important phone calls to make.



I can't believe that they are already two. The time has passed by so quickly. Logan is the happiest kid I know. As long as he is fed and has had sleep, he laughs and smiles about everything. Logan is also a little terror. He likes to tease and torment ALL of his siblings and thinks it's fun because it works. He loves singing the songs, I LOVE YOU from Barney, and the ABC's. Logan loves cars and trains, and any type of automotive there is.

Lucy is our independent child. I call her a scraper. Since she is the youngest and was the smallest, she fights for everything she wants, and usually wins. Lucy LOVES Samantha and wants to do everything that Sammie is doing. Lucy has taken it upon her to move to a big girl bed, and the big event of the moment is that she is potty training herself. I have dragged my feet on this, but she is going full steam ahead. Lucy loves to sing and dance. She like watching Diego and Elmo. Lucy is a big talker and has a pretty big vocabulary.

Logan weight: 28 lbs   height: 34 1/2"
Lucy weight: 27 lbs  height: 34 1/4"

It is fun to see the difference in the TWINS personalities. They love each other and always wants to know where the other one is. However, they are each others biggest adversaries. They are constantly competing with one another for Matt's or my attention.

WE LOVE YOU BOTH!! HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY!!

LuLu Bell and her Instacare visits

Lucy has given us quite a bit of excitement lately. We have had TWO VISITS to the Insta-care in the last 3 weeks. The first was for Stitches. We were picking Sammie up from preschool and I had let the kids out to play while we waited. I started to load Logan up and was turning to get Lucy when she tripped over the curb and hit her head on an Asphalt rock laying in the gutter. It instantly started to gush. I took her to the Insta-care and she walked out with 2 stitches on her forehead.



Two weeks after this incident had happened. We were once again heading home from picking Sammie up at Preschool. Lucy started to cry and I thought that it was just because she was hungry. When we got home I went to take her out of the carseat and she wouldn't come, I tried again and then realized that her finger was stuck in a hole on the side of her carseat. We tried to get it out and couldn't get it to move. I had to take her and carseat into the Insta care. it took 4 nurses and a doctor working on it for 25 minutes to get it out. It is bruised and swollen but not broken. Now I am trying to get in touch with the manufacturer to figure something else out about the car seats.



Who puts a hole the size of an little finger in a car seat? Seriously!!

My girls

We have had a lot going on for the Thanksgiving holidays. Matt's brother got married and obviously we had Thanksgiving. However I have no pictures from these yet so I will post later on them.

These are just some fun or funny things that we have been doing. I tried curlers for the first time on Sammie's hair. We had a lot of fun and it turned into a major curly fro. Sammie's natural curl boosted with curlers is out of control. I should have taken an after picture.



Lucy is everywhere. She figured out how to get in and out of the kids dresser. She loves to play peek a boo inside of it.



We tried a wig on Lucy and she looks like a completely different baby.



We had fun with Sammie when Sammie was about 6 months old. It is weird to see how close in looks these two girls have.



This is what things look like when I am muli tasking on the go. I thought this was funny.



Have I mentioned that Lucy is into and onto everything? She loves to climb on, in, out, and through things. She keeps us pretty busy.

Double the Trouble, Double Our Fun

Our TWINS are ONE today!! I can't believe that one year has already gone by. It went by too fast. I can't imagine what life was like before them. It has been quite the adventure, but also quite the party with them. I can't thank everyone enough for all the help that we have received over the last year. It has been a group effort. I feel like this is a celebration for more than just us.

I can't believe I was that big.



Logan James is my tender hearted boy. He is quite the mamma's boy. Logan loves to cuddle and just watch what is going on around him. The kid will smile at anyone that acknowledges his presence. He is very friendly and laughs all the time. Logan is very cautious about what he will try around him.
Logan can crawl pretty fast. He isn't walking yet, but could if he would just let go of my finger. He loves food and sleep. As long as those come on time, he is usually pretty happy. Logan also loves his pacifier, snugly, and any cars that he can find.



The stats for the twins one year check-up is:

Logan
20.4 lbs.
30 1/2 inches

Lucy
20 lbs
29 1/2 inches

Lucy Mae is my thrill seeker, mischievous child. Not much slows her down and she is into everything she can see. The girl is the biggest DADDY'S GIRL that you will find. The second Matt walks into a room or Lucy hears his voice, her eyes light up and she starts jabbering fast. She takes off towards him. When Lucy meets new people she has to analyze the situation before she will smile or talk with them.
Lucy is walking everywhere. She has been walking for about two months. Lucy loves kissing babies (alive or pretend), talking on anything that might look like a phone, and playing with her brothers and sister.



We celebrated their birthday with family a few days early. They opened up a few gifts and then we gave them cupcakes.



Logan was very careful not to miss a morsel.



Lucy just stuffed it in her mouth and crumbled it in her hands.



This morning Sammie and Eston woke up the babies by singing Happy Birthday. We gave them a birthday breakfast of Formula and opened presents. They received a table and chair set from IKEA that they have been playing with all day. Lucy got two babies, Logan got a drum and music radio.



It has been a fun day and tonight we are going to have a quiet family party at home.

It's official . .

Lucy took her first steps tonight. She took about 4 steps from me to my sister, Lindsay. Matt was in the other room and missed it.



She has been toying with the idea for a while, and has taken a step in the process of falling. But tonight I can count it. Logan has yet to attempt to stand on his own. I can't believe how old these two are getting. They will be one in less than two months. Crazy!!

Boys vs. Girls

To start this post, the girls win, just because Matt took no pictures of his adventure with the boys, so this is all about us.

Matt and I had a lot going on in the last week. Spencer (my brother) graduated from High School on Thursday night, Braden (Matt's brother) graduated from High School in Idaho on Friday night, and Sammie had her dance rehearsal and recital for most the day on Saturday. In order to support and accommodate all that we happening we decided the best way to handle this would be to divide and conquer. Matt took the two boys up to Idaho on Thursday night and I stayed behind with the girls.

We started our adventure out by heading to Ogden for Spencer's graduation. This has been a long awaited moment for our family.
Sammie really wanted to get a picture with Spencer and my girls. We are PROUD of you buddy.



I told Sammie that she had to take a nap because we had a lot going on this weekend and I needed her to be in a good mood. She wasn't too happy about this so she decided to protest. Too bad she feel asleep during her SIT IN. I was laughing because I could just picture what was going through her mind when she zonked.



On Friday, the girls and I headed to the mall to help Spencer with a little clothes shopping. We had a lot of fun and ended up bringing home a new member of the family.
This is Gabriella, the bear. (The name was picked from High School Musical, go figure.)



Lucy was a great sport. She was a delight to be with. She flirted with the clerks, and was laughing. I just felt bad when she feel asleep. Apparently this stroller wasn't as cushy as she had hoped. It was too cute to watch.




Friday night we had arranged to spend the night at Lindsay's house. Sammie was in girl heaven. We ate dinner, painted toe nails, watched a movie and then she settled in for the night on the hide-a-bed.
On Saturday after the dance rehearsal, Lucy and I took Sammie out for brunch with Etta and Anni from dance. These girls have known each other for a long time and can be such goof balls together.




The boys came home just in time for Matt to catch Sammie's dance recital. We had a great time but sure missed our men folk. It's nice to be a big family of 6 again.

4 month check-up

Yesterday the twins had their 4 month check-up, even though they are now 4 1/2 months old.
As we were getting ready to leave Sammie informed me that Logan rolled over on his own without her touching him. So if I am to take a 3 1/2 year olds word, Logan reached that milestone today.

Logan weighed 14 lbs. 5 oz. and was 26 1/2 inches long. His head was 45.5 cm



Lucy was close behind him at 14 lbs. even and 24 1/4 inches long. Her head was 44.5 cm



Way to go Babes!!!

Cuddlebug Lulu

Isn't she just adorable?



Today Lucy learned to roll from her back to front.

4 weeks and counting. . .

Tomorrow these 2 angels are 4 weeks old . . .The time has gone by so fast, but it feels like they have been with us for months.

(Lucy and Logan)


At their 2 week check-up Lucy weighed 6 lbs 13 oz. and was 19 3/4 inches long. Logan weighed 8 lbs 3 oz and was 20 1/4 inches long.

They are both really great babies. They still love laying right next to each other. Somehow they close 2 or 3 inch gap between them during the night. I think that the only time I really hear any crying from them is when they are hungry. Occasionally they will have an upset stomache, but the are very happy babies. I don't know what I would do if they were fussy.

Matt and I constantly remark on how we are functioning like robots. We go through our days in a trance and on little sleep. I nurse one baby while the other one takes formula from a bottle. For me to feed both babies it takes about 40 minutes, add changing of diapers and clothes and I am into this for an hour. Matt is amazing. He sacrifices his own sleep by getting up every night with me to feed bottles and change diapers, so that I am not up forever by myself.

Everything we do with these two is a production. Going out of the house requires at least 3 sometimes 4 trips to the car, just to get everyone and everything loaded up, plus the same amount of trips to unload. We currently only go to my mom's house. I don't think that I would be able to go anywhere else at this time with all four kids together. It's hard enough going out with all 4 when Matt is around to help. Bath time is another fun endeavour, but I think we have it finally figured out. The first step to a successful bath time is make sure that the older two kids are not around, after that, the process takes us about 30 minutes. Lucy loves her bath and will just stare at you the whole time without making a peep. Logan HATES baths. He doesn't like to be undressed and definitely doesn't like the water.

(Lucy, Logan)


It is fun to see the personality differences in the two already and wonder what those traits will turn into later.

You can see the size difference in Lucy and Logan in the picture below. He is a big kid.



This post would not be complete without something on the older two.

Eston is the proud big brother. He is always excited to show off his brother and sister to anyone that comes over and is constantly talking about them. However, Eston still hasn't figured out who is who, especially if they aren't dressed. He has more energy now than he did before they were born. You can get tired just watching that kid move, but he is still just as kind hearted as ever, and loves to help. The phrase that frequents our home lately is "self." It's just a little annoying now, but fun to see him try and be so independent.



Sammie is so in love with the Twins that we have to watch her carefully. She is constantly trying to hold them on her own and literally will smother them with kisses. Sammie tells me everyday how "darling" they are. I still find it rather humorous that she thinks she has one baby in her tummy and that she will put her other dolls under her shirt. I don't know if she is trying to nurse them or if she is pregnant. Sammie is always ready to help me when needed. Everyday she comes up with some knew idea or phrase that leaves us laughing. The most recent phrase was taught to her by my sister Carly. When you ask Sammie how dad gets to work she proudly replies back with, "The Short Bus."



Thanks for every one's help and well-wishes. It was and still is greatly appreciated.

The Twins Arrival!!!

We went into the hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008 for our scheduled c-section. At around 8:00 they took us back to the O.R. to begin the procedure.

Logan James was born at 8:31 a.m. He weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20 in. long. When the doctors got close to pulling him out it looked like he was trying to push his way through. I think their comment was that this baby was eager to make his appearance. The first reaction from the doctors after pulling him out was that he was a big baby for a twin. He was bigger than a lot of singleton births. It kind of left us wondering how big his sister would be.



Last of all came Lucy Mae who was born at 8:33 a.m. and weighed 5 lbs. 13 oz. and was 19 in long. Upon pulling her out they were surprised that she wasn't as big as her brother. However, she was still a good weight for a twin birth. Lucy's cord had a knot tied into it. It was determined that it was probably due to the fact she was never in the same spot whenever they did an ultrasound. She was and still is a squirmmer.



Matt went over to see his new babies while they where finishing up the procedure. They handed both babies to Matt to come and show me. While Matt was showing me the babies, he looked up and the nursing staff had all left. The look on Matt's face pretty much said, "now what." He carried both babies back to our room, and you could see the relief on his face. The pressure of carrying around two was a little much. He is now a champ at it. I still have yet to try. I am still healing from the surgery.

Sammie and Eston came to the hospital later that day to see their new siblings. They both love babies and where excited that they got to hold them. Eston just had a huge grin on his face the entire time.



Eston was so excited to get to hold the babies, however, he kept saying that their names were Sammie and Eston. He is in for a reality check when he gets back from Idaho. After holding the babies he kept telling me bye-bye so that he could go to Grandma's house.



Sammie would hold the babies so carefully and then give them a kiss. She then would get down and come over to sit with me. She kept going back and forth between me and the babies.



She finally couldn't take it any longer and asked where HER twins were. For those of you that don't know, Sammie has been expecting twins for the last 9 months as well. Their names are Christine and Daisy. Once her twins made an appearance, Sammie never gave Logan and Lucy a second thought.



We were released from the hospital on Sunday and Matt took the week off from work to help me establish some sort of schedule with these cute babies. Sammie and Eston have been in Idaho for over a week and return home on Saturday. We miss them and are excited to have the 6 of us together again.