Merry Christmas!

December 16All four babies in their Christmas PJ's
Christmas outfits

Funny boy, Sterling

Princess Ella

Happy boy, Maddox

Baby sister, Lucy

Whew! What an excursion! YOU try taking 4 little ones to a crowded and busy photo place and try to get all four to stay put and smile and look cute, etc.

Let me just say that Courtney and I (and the little ones!) slept really good Monday night!

P.S. It was worth every frantic minute to have these precious memories.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Lucy, the beautician

November 30, 2009Today, when I was in the attic getting Christmas decorations down, I found the box of dolls and stuffed animals I have saved from Amy and Becky. This doll that Lucy is fixing her hair is the exact same age as Lucy's mama...........35 years old. Amy got her the day her baby sister was born. Heaven knows, she needs a new hairdo, huh?
Who knew? This girl is a girl of many talents!

After her training on Baby Tenderlove, Lucy moves on to a real person.

If she ever gets the brush turned the right way, she might can do some damage.

"Hold still now, Mom."

"Just a bit more here on the top, Mom and we'll be done."

The finished product!

Isn't Mom beautiful?

In case you can't see it by the look in Mom's eyes, this is HER girl!

(Lucy kinda feels the same way about Mom)

Not to worry, Melinda; you may have someone to take over your shop when you retire!

Grammy's little helper

November 28, 2009This is one helper little girl!
Give her a job to do, and she's one happy girl!

Today we're dusting furniture, getting ready to decorate for Christmas.

A better duster I've never seen!

She gets every little corner, even if it means standing on tippy toes to do it.

No dusting is complete without a final inspection, right?

Love that corn!

November 26, 2009This little girl loves corn on the cob!
....much to her Mom's delight!

Early start

November 26, 2009Becky has found a game on the computer that Maddox loves!
It shows different things grouped together and asks "how many are there?"
I'm not just a little amazed that he can hit the right key to answer numbers 1 - 5.
When he happens to hit the wrong key, he shakes his head "no" and tries again.
He is 2.

The wonder of Christmas

December 1, 2009This picture is really about "the comfort of a brother".

Lucy had a really hard time with the photographer at this photo shoot. She was so aggressive that even Maddox, who likes everyone was getting a little jumpy. When she finally had them together, she said, "LOOK! What do you see on that wall?" as she shined a bright light on it. Maddox instinctively put his arm around Lucy..............my heart melted...............and I would have taken this picture no matter how it turned out! Not a good picture of either of them, but it will always be among my favorites because of the tender heart of a big brother for his baby sister.

How I wish my Daddy, who would have been 94 years old today, could have met these precious babies.

Toyland

November 23, 2009All 4 babies LOVE playing in Ella and Sterling's playroom

Even though all four have many of the same toys, like this little ball toy, they enjoy playing with each other's toys like they had never played with theirs before.

In the giraffe tent.

Lucy is sometimes a little hesitant about joining the three bigger kids in the tent (it tends to get a little crowded and a little rowdier than she likes). Today she had the tent all to herself.....she LOVED it!

The "Mommy" parade

November 23, 2009Ella and Lucy, mommies both, taking their babies for a stroll.

Lucy feeling pretty big, being given such a big task as walking one of Ella's many babies.

Different strokes for different folks.

You'll notice one of these mommies somewhat resembles a princess, with her fancy tutu skirt. That'd be Ella, dressed in her favorite attire. She'd wear fancy tutu's every day and everywhere if her mommy would let her!

Little Mother

November 23, 2009This morning when Todd picked Maddox up to go to school, I got a washcloth to wash his face off before he walked out the door. I left the damp cloth on one of their little tables not far from the door. When we got ready to go see Ella and Sterling later in the day, Maddox ran to the door to leave and Lucy ran after him shouting, "Maddox, STOP!" He stopped; she picked up the washcloth and washed his face off before we could leave. He stood patiently, with a grin on his face while she washed his face.

Precious? You bet!

"Happy Birthday, Mama!"

November 23, 2009Maddox wishes his Mama a Happy Birthday.
Today is the first day he has really "talked" to his Mama on the phone.
What a great birthday present, huh, Becky?

The BOYS

November 20, 2009Today when I picked Maddox up at school, Courtney arrived at the same time to pick Ella and Sterling up. Nothing would do but Sterling "ride in Grammy's car with Maddox", so off we went, the boys high-fiving each other in the back seat all the way home.

Playing with Mom's lipstick

November 17, 2009 Mom's lipstick........THE BEST!

"OK, Mom, I promise not to stick my fingers down into your lipstick."

NOT!

Luckily, Mom only wears Lip Dew, a smooth, colorless chapstick-type lipstick.

What makes a girl happier than having her own tube of lipstick?

Not much.

Unfortunately for Mom, all her lipstick now is gouged as far as these little fingers can reach!

Sharing

November 9, 2009 One huge advantage of having "almost" twins: they learn to share at a very young age!

What started off as having to share has now evolved into wanting to share.

I love it.

Backpacks

November 6, 2009School's out!

"Not-quite"school girl

wearing a backpack nonetheless.

So proud!

...and SO big!

A backpack just like her brother's, with her name on the back.

This was Lucy's "batpack" before her real one came in.

Halloween 2009

October 31, 2009 The first three pictures are from Becky's camera.
Little buzzing bee on the ladder.

Enjoying the "treats"

Trick or treating at their Mama's Aunt Sue's and Uncle Chet's house
Bringing cheer to the patients at Mitchell-Hollingsworth

Spider cake

Pumpkin flashlight

Counting spider webs on the door

Mr. Skelton licking beaters from the Spider Cake batter.