8 Months and counting....

The twins turned 8 months old earlier this month. We have had a lot of "firsts" the last few weeks.

Madisen went back "on-track" after having her first 3 week break from school this month. Oh how the boys miss their big sister who would make them laugh when they wanted to cry. I have missed Madisen's help and companionship!!!!

Caysen has been acting like a little flipper! Dang him! Oh, guess what? He cut his first tooth. I guess that explains it. He has also started "hopping" around. He lunges forward when he is on all fours, hence why we call it "hopping". He and the dog have a love hate relationship. Caysen loves the dog, but the dog is not sure if he loves Caysen.

Rylen has decided to grow out of the 12 month clothes he has been wearing. He made his first appearance in 18 month outfits last week! I thought the growing thing was suppose to "slow down" by now!! He also cut his 2nd tooth. He is no longer my one tooth wonder.....he is now called the two tooth wonder!! He is "talking" non-stop. His favorite word is "da-da"....go figure!!

We are excited for all of the upcoming holidays. This year is flying by all too quickly!! We are still trying to decide where to put our Christmas tree up that it will be "safe".....if there is such a place!!

Before and After......

So our little blondie has needed a haircut since he was born. Jared has given him a little trim here and there. His hair was driving me crazy! It could not decide if it wanted to stick up or stick down or both!!! The top was so long and the sides hung shaggy over his ears. It was definitely time for a change!

I found out that a gal in my ward cuts hair. She said she would love, love to give Caysen his first haircut. Sweet! She is a super talented lady and I was very happy with the results. Thanks Kay!!

Before:

After:

Now his cheeks stick out even more!

Halloween 2009

I for one really love Halloween! I am not sure why, other than I loved, loved, loved that my mom always decorated the house for Halloween - and then I knew that other holidays were on their way. There is just something special about the holidays and sharing those with family!!

On Friday we went to Kathryn Michael's Photography in Riverton because she was holding an awesome "charity bash". If you brought in some canned goods, she would take your kids pictures for free in their Halloween costumes. This gal is simply amazing!! She did our family photos last July and she is the one and only photographer that has ever taken a picture of Jared with a great smile!! Here are pictures from that day.


You should totally check out her website here: http://www.kathryn-michaels.com/
If you decide to use her, tell her that Heather Andersen sent ya!

Friday night we carved our pumpkins. Madisen had been bugging me FOREVER to get these done. Her Grandpa Ruby brought her a monster of a pumpkin from his Idaho patch. I told her that she had to clean it out. She did a great job. We pulled some patterns off of Hershey's website and had some fun. I think they turned out great!


On Saturday we went trick-or-treating with some of our cousins. It was a lot of fun. The twins only lasted about 40 minutes, but hey, I was glad they lasted a little while. Here are some pictures of the spookies:




On our Spooky tree we have some fun glasses. It has kind of become a tradition that each kid needs to have their picture taken at least once. I love this picture. It makes me smile every time I look at it!! :0)

I hope everyone out there had a safe and Happy Halloween!!! Bring on the turkey day!! I am always up for good food!

More Family Time.....

So if you ask Madisen she will tell you that I am "cheap". Not in a naughty sense of the word, but I am a true at heart sucker for a really good deal!!! I LOVE to be the bargain hunter and find the steal of a lifetime for almost nothing.

So we have been trying to do "cheap" family outings. These have proven to be some of the best. Two weeks ago was our stake conference. Jared was all gung-ho to go, while I refused. I just did not want to wrestle on the hard chairs with two 7 month old boys. SO - we did not go. I kinda feel guilty about it, but we had some "family time" instead which was a lot of fun.

We went up American Fork canyon for a drive. We wanted to see the leaves changing colors. At the mouth of the canyon it was absolutely beautiful!! At the top, most of the leaves were already gone. We drove to Canyon Springs (I think that is what it is called) and then came back. It was a nice afternoon and not too cold.



The kids, especially the boys were fascinated by all the leaves. Such a new world for them. It was great!

I love this picture of Madisen. The car was mostly quiet on the way home and when I looked to see why...(this of course is rare with three kids), I found Madisen mesmerized by the colors she was taking in. I asked her what she was doing and she said....just soaking it all in mom, just soaking it in.



My husband turns into a different person anytime we go up American Fork canyon. He changes in a good way. He grew up in AF and spent a lot of time riding the canyon on his bike, camping with friends and driving to get away from life. I love to watch his love of the canyon come out whenever we go. Maybe we should go more often!!

Family time....

Last weekend we went to Gardner Village because "the witches were out!" It was a lot of fun and did not cost us a thing! If you have not checked this out yet - you really should go! We went on a Saturday, which I would not recommend because there were so many people, but other than that we had a lot of fun.

So some updates on the kiddos.....
Rylen FINALLY cut his first tooth. My goodness it has taken forever for that stink'n thing to break through. It is the bottom one on the left. It looks like the bottom one on the right is not far behind. No wonder we have been changing shirts 3-4 times a day!!


Caysen is getting up on all fours now. He rocks back and forth. We are betting that by Halloween he will be crawling. Heaven help the Andersen house. He REALLY wants to be able to get to Scoobie. I really feel sorry for the dog.


Madisen is getting ready to go off-track. She has this next week in school and then she is off for 3 weeks. Short break for Thanksgiving. Back at school for another 3 weeks and then 2 weeks off for Christmas holidays, then back for like 4 weeks and then another 3 weeks off. She is really excited to be off track. We cannot wait to have our official "helper" back home full-time; even if for just a few weeks.


We have almost completed all of our Christmas shopping. We are just focusing on putting it altogether. We are usually completely done by now, but we have been a little busy. We are really excited for the upcoming holidays. I especially love them!!!

Seven Months Old....Holy Smoke...Already?

Yes it is true. My twins turned 7 months old today. I really cannot believe it. I know that I say that every month as we inch closer to the one year mark. My boys are closer to being one year old than being at the newborn mark. Crazy huh?

Both boys are obviously not starving. They are so big. They wear size 4 diapers and wear 12 month clothes. Some of their pajamas are 18-24 month size. Madisen never grew this quickly. The doctor tells me that they should mellow out on their growth once they become more mobile.

Speaking of mobile.....Caysen is "army crawling" everywhere. I know he is going to scare the h*ll out of me one day because I will turn around and he will be right there! Rylen sits up on his own and is just content to hang out. He really has no desire to be on his stomach. (maybe because it is always full!)


I need to explain this picture of Caysen. He is playing with his dad's shoelace. No big deal right?....actually it is a big deal for me!! When Jared was younger he used to play with his shoelaces all the time! He even went through a jaunt where he did it again as an adult. Well, Caysen somehow received the "I love shoelaces" gene and he loves them also!! Heaven help us all!

Madisen and Jared both got new glasses last week. Madisen really likes them. She is 9 years old and already has bifocals. Poor thing. She can see things far away just fine, but up close is another situation. I asked her how things are at school with her glasses and she said that she likes them a lot and they have helped her.


So I know that I have only been a twin mommy for 7 months now, but here are a few things I have learned.....

1. Do not listen to people's advice that have never had twins, taken care of twins, or had twins in their family. People LOVE to dish it out, but most of it is garbage and they really have no idea what they are talking about!

2. Embrace the advice given by other twin mommies. I have loved doing this!! They definitely know and understand what "works".

3. There is a very special bond between twins. I hope my twins will always share this bond, no matter what.

4. Just because your house is a mess.....this does not make you a bad mom. The moments spent with your kids are much more important.

5. Staying home is the HARDEST job ever!!!! I always have worked full-time, so this as been an adjustment for me! Being home for most of the time (I still work, just not as much) has been an adjustment. It is better to embrace the adjustment than fight against it.

6. Your babies will still love you, even if they have to cry while you take 30 seconds and go to the bathroom.

7. Spit happens!!! Every day in fact!!

8. There is no greater love than the love a mom can give her kids.

9. On occasion, a mom may find that one or both of her twins will be just as stubborn as she is. :0)

10. Every mom needs "mommy time"!! Don't let anyone tell you that a schedule is not important! They are idiots!!!

Remembering & loving those we serve.....

On Monday night I received a phone call from my visiting teaching partner. She is a wonderful lady. We have been visiting teaching together for almost five years now. I never want to go with anyone else!!

One of the sisters that we visit teach passed away Sunday night/Monday morning in her sleep. She was 95 years old, but still as sharp as a tack and a lot of fun!! She always said that she wanted to just go to sleep and then not wake up. What a blessing that Heavenly Father would grant her the wish of her heart.

One of my favorite memories of her is visiting her and all of us laughing so hard that we almost wet our pants. Leota said that she did!!! She always had chocolate for us and I loved her dearly. My life is better because I was able to visit and get to know her, she taught me so much when I was suppose to be teaching her!!!

I love you dear friend. I will miss visiting & seeing you. Till we meet again.....



Leota Thomas Smith
July 4, 1914 - September 21, 2009

Biography
Leota Thomas Smith, 95, passed away September 21, 2009 at her home in Bluffdale, Utah.

She was born July 4, 1914 in Malad City, Idaho to David Dredge Thomas and Sarah Claudia Richards Thomas. She was the oldest of four children. She graduated high school in Malad and attended one year at Utah Agriculture College in Logan, Utah.
On September 19, 1935 she married Samuel Wayne Smith in the Salt Lake City Temple. They were happily married for 66 years at the time of her husbands’ death.
Leota loved being involved in church and community service. She was a long time member of the University Park Daughters of Utah Pioneers and was a member of the Pocatello Literary Club. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and held numerous positions. She was Relief Society President; Stake Young Women’s President and organized the first library in the Pocatello 6th Ward.

Leota was a gifted gardner and loved her roses and other flowering plants. Her talent for quilting and sewing were unmatched. She loved music and loved to play her piano and organ, but only privately. She was a great cook, and was known for her homemade chicken noodle soup.

Leota is survived by her children: Sharon Lee Smith Gustavson of Titusville, Pa., Kathryn Annette Smith Miller of Pocatello, Id., Scott Wayne Smith (Allyn) of Pocatello, Id., Wendy Sue Smith Nielsen, of Bluffdale, Ut., Kristine Kay Smith Nielsen (Anders) of Riverton, Ut. 21 Grandchildren, 37 Great Grandchildren.
Leota is preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Wayne Smith, her parents David Dredge Thomas, and Sarah Claudia Richards Thomas, her brothers Grant Thomas and Maurice Thomas and sister Maurine Thomas Hughes West, and by an infant daughter, Gaylyn Smith.

Leota was loved by many and will be missed! She left a great legacy of good works and selfless service.

Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, September 25, 2009 at the Century Ward Chapel, corner of Fourth and Fredregill, with Bishop David Andersen conducting. The family will receive friends Friday morning from 10:00 am to just prior to services at the Century Ward Relief Society room. The Interment will follow at Smithfield City Cemetery in Smithfield, Ut. Arrangements are under the direction of Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. 4th Ave, Pocatello

Doctor appointments & all that fun stuff!!!

So I took the twins into the doctor on 09/09/09. I did not even plan it that way! Cool huh? Yeah- whatever.

Anyway - here are their stats:

Caysen
18.52 lbs.....67% centile
28.15 in......93% centile
Percentage of ideal for weight & length....91%

Rylen
19.51 lbs.....82% centile
27.36 in......80% centile
Percentage of ideal for weight & length....102%

The doctor told me that for the percentage of ideal, it is based on what the "average" is for kiddos their age. The pediatrician said that he thought my boys would be bigger/heavier/etc., just looking at them. He said that they look like their are one year old. Oh my.....let's not rush things here!!!

The MA's had me worried for a little bit about Caysen. They measured his length three different times. They said that they could not believe how long he was. Let's pray that my boys get more of the "Mills height gene" than the Andersen one.

I was excited to also learn that the twins do not need anymore shots until they are one year old!! YES!! The doctor was very happy with their growth and let us know that we needed to look into new car seats for at least Rylen at this point. Aw...I love the "bucket" seats. It makes going to the grocery store with both boys so much easier. We are adjusting. Here are some pictures of Rylen in his new "big boy" car seat. He loves it because he can see out the car windows better. He loves to "talk" to the passing cars too and to his brother Caysen.



Rylen has way of expressing his endless "chatter" ALL THE TIME.....I think he will be the first of the twins to talk...while Caysen will definitely be the first to walk. Caysen is trying SO hard to crawl. No!!! STOP!!! I am not ready for mobility yet....(Will I ever be?)



Over the past two weeks, Caysen has suddenly decided that he likes his pacifier again. Why could he not like it in the middle of church when he would scream his head off? I don't know....but just when I want to break him and Rylen of it....he decides to love it again. *sigh* I will wait for now..... Here are some pictures of my favorite time of day.....Nap time!! I think it is Madisen's favorite time of day too!!!


Speaking of Madisen....she is doing fabulous in her school class. I am really proud of her. She is working really, really diligently to master her times and division tables. Keep it up girl!!! On Wednesday she decided that she wanted to make dinner. SWEET!!! I was totally loving it. She made chili and cinnamon rolls. Ok - so not the most difficult, but with only a little help she did it. (Of course I was scared to death to leave the kitchen!!)

Madisen tried out for the Riverton Children's Choir and made it!! We are really proud of her. She will be singing with the choir as an "alto". Way to go girl. This is a fantastic group and we cannot wait for her first performance at the end of November.

So sorry for the long post, but just too much to catch up on.