Brooke and Brianna are 4!!!!! WOW!

May 27, 2009
It's unbelievable that 4 years have gone by since I had Brooke and Brianna. It seems like only yesterday that I was on bedrest and dealing with a very stressful pregnancy. Then going into labor 9 weeks early, dealing with the Nicu and finally bringing our little 3 pound twins home:) Today you would never know what they went through. They are perfect in every way.

We had a Mickey and Minnie/Disney theme for our birthday this year..to the extreme! Including a Mikey/Minnie bounce house, a characature artist, and a visit from Mickey and Minnie themselves!!! Brooke and Brianna were VERY excited when they showed up and I think they were in shock for a little while. It was a great party with all our friends and family, including Mom-Mom and Ryan from Philadelphia/NJ.

A few days later, we were off to Orlando for B&B's actual birthday. It was raining but that didn't keep us from Downtown Disney for dinner at TREX and doing all the fun Downtown Disney stuff:) The girls weren't sure about TREX at first since its full of real like dinosaurs that move and make sounds, and every 15 minutes there's a very loud meteor shower. After a while they relaxed and realized the dinosaurs weren't doing anything but being loud! Daddy loved the chocolate volcano we had for dessert too:)

The following day was their bday and we met the Sumner's at Magic Kingdom bright and early. Caidee and Caleb share the same bday as Brooke and Brianna. We had a great day of typical Disney stuff..rides (with little or no wait), princesses, and Mickey and Minnie..of course! The birthday kids got buttons that acknowledged that they were celebrating their bday so cast members and characters would say 'Happy Birthday' to them.:) I think all 4 kids had a great birthday!

The Sumner's went home that night but we stayed for MORE Disney enjoyment:) breakfast with Minnie, Donald an Goofy the following morning. Of course B&B loved that:) They got lots of love from some of their favorite friends. We went back to our Hotel to try and enjoy the pool and some of the fun things they have there. After walking to the pool and seeing a bunny and a snake, taking 4 seat bike ride, and getting rained on at the pool we went home...tired. However, it was a great weekend!

I know this is a long post with alot of pics...but I had so many to share!
Happy Birthday Caidee and Caleb!

Happy Birthday my little miracles, Brooke and Brianna!

After the party...trying on their new apron set from Caidee and Caleb:) Ethan and Connor were helping cook:)
The party-

Leaving for Orlando...very excited!




This is at TREX ....

Brianna-

Brooke-

Dinosaurs...

Chocolate lava cake...Jim tried eating the entire thing...

Magic Kingdom-

A little nap...Mommy and daddy enjoyed some quiet time:)

At the Hotel......Nice, huh!

This was better:)

Breakfast with Characters-

Which one is Goofy????

So much going on!!

There has been so much going on in our family I know I have neglected the blog. Sorry Mom!:) Kristine...I KNOW what you're saying:) Anyway...right after Easter we had: Alec's award ceremony, the girls moved up to full size beds, Shar's prom, Mother's Day, Brooke and Brianna's 4th bday with Ryan and Mom Mom here, and we went to Disney World and now it's the end of the school year! We had Alec's 8th grade dance and Shar's graduation is in a couple of days and Kyle gets his driving license. On top of that, I had a wedding to finish editing and orders to process. So needless to say, I've been a little busy! The pics below are only half of the stuff I just listed. I'm still going through pictures to put on here! So Brooke and Brianna's 4th Birthday, Disney and the Alec's 8th grade dance are still to come!:) Shar's graduation and Kyle getting his license are in a couple of days so obviously they aren't going to be on here for a few days:)

So here we go.....

5/6/09- Alec getting his football medal:) Go Gators!! No, his school right now isn't the Gators, but his High School he starts this fall is and one day UF!!! At 14 he's 5'10, wears a size 13 shoe and bench presses 210! Keep growing Alec!!! :) I have visions of Alec looking into the camera and saying "Hi Mom" after a championship win!:)

5/8/09

My how the time flies- I've been saying that alot lately. Having one child graduating this year, Alec out of middle school, Kyle and Ryan driving, and now Brooke and Brianna in big beds as in full size beds! My heart is aching! No more babies. I can't believe my little 3 pound preemie babies are now sleeping in big beds. Mom mom got them beautiful quilts from Pottery Barn for their beds as a bday present. There not on this picture because we didn't have them yet, but they are so pretty! The girls love them and so do I!:) Thanks Mom Mom:)

Here's pics of my 'big girls!' in their 'big girl beds'!!!

5/9/09- Sharlene's Senor Prom! Again.....time?? Where did it go???

It's not that I 'favor' any of my kids one over the other. It's that Sharlene is my first little baby. My beautiful little baby girl. Now she's going to her senior prom! How can this be? She was just learning to walk and talk the other day! How is it possible she is this grown up? I ask this all the time lately!

She went with a group of friends. A couple of them met her at her dad's house, where the limo picked them up and then went to meet all the others at another friends house. She looked stunning! Her purple dress with her zebra print shoes. You got to give it to her, the girls got style:) According to Shar, the evening was great and they all had a wonderful time:)

5/10/09-Mother's Day...yes the day after Prom was Mother's Day. I did say earlier I've been busy!:) Mom, Dad, Jeremy and Papa Dick came over for dinner and we celebrated one of the best jobs ever "MOM":) I pretty much cried all day. Sharlene brought me a Snickers with a card. The snickers didn't make me cry:), but what she wrote in the card makes me tear up now thinking about it! Kyle and Alec went to the store on their own earlier that week and got me presents with their own money! The heart necklaces and jewelry box were beautiful but the thought to do it was even better. My brother and I got our mom a digital frame and some goodies she likes:) It was a really nice day!

Mom, thank you for all you've taught me! Without you, I would not be the Mom I am today. It's not easy being a mother and I know at times you had to do it on your own with Dad away. You taught me how to be strong, loving and patient. That the simple things in life are usually the best! Your example is one that I strive for everyday! I am so lucky to have such a great Mom like you!

I love you!

This one is for you Jeremy and Sharlene:)