What we did for Valentines Day and Other Things that Boys do.

So I haven't always been huge into Valentine's Day. I'd have to agree that it seems to be a made up Holiday with no real merit behind it, but I'll use any excuse to make my husband take me out. Also, I've found that any holiday is much more fun when you have kids. Aaron took me on a date Saturday where we did a bit of shopping and then had dinner at Carrabba's. That's usually our go to restaurant. (By the way, their Moscato is a-mazing!) I did a small craft for Henri to take to class that I would love to take credit for, but really I got the idea from Pinterest, and my mom did all the work using her computer scrapbook abilities. When it comes to photoshop, I'm pretty lost. Lucky for me though, my moms a genius!

A hotwheel car in a small bag. My mom designed the tabs and we printed it off on card stock, folded it over and stapled. Simple and super cute!

What I woke up to Valentines Day morning. I was hoping for an Iphone and some Heart-shaped pancakes. I'm a sucker for breakfast foods. But this is what I got, a few of my favorite things. Diet Soda, my favorite candy, a pink rose, and socks without holes. Yeah, my hubs is super cheesy, but he knows me too well. And I love cheesy. 

Hendrix playing on his indoor swing. I talked Aaron into putting this up. It's an outdoor swing that we hung on our door jam to the sunroom. We took down the trim and screwed in a 2x4 into the studs. It has been so much fun! 

Blurry pic, but it's kinda hard to catch one when he's swinging all the time.

Ben waiting for dad to come home.

I've mentioned this before I'm sure, but doing daily chores has been near impossible at this point in my life. Dishes and laundry get done when the babes go to bed, and often that's when I prepare meals for the next day as well. When I do attempt a chore while Aaron is at work, this is what happens. I do my best to distract the boys while I work, but usually it only works for a few minutes at a time. Hendrix is doing his best to distract them as well.

Aaron taking me on our date. Thanks for the good pic, babe ;)

Hendrix ready to take his goodies to school. Best dressed boys.

Playing with Maxton. I loooove the teeth on this kid!!

So flippin sweet!

Ben absolutely loves bath time! He has a seat but can climb out of it so it's safer if we just don't use it and just keep a close watch on him. He is not afraid of water!

Hoodrat

going on winter walks

showing me how he uses his fingers to count

Aaron and some of his boys

Hendrix Warren

No, this picture is not upside down. We were tipping the stroller which he thought was hilarious. 

My babies

I love how Bennett is trying to steal Max's hat.

wild boy 

I didn't realize I had it zoomed in this close, but I love Aaron's wrinkles around his eyes so I had to share this pic anyways. Seriously, I love them. 

Fiiiinally, a decent pic!

Aaron's beard has red in it, it really shows up in the sunlight.

Bennett is styling

Battle wounds from playing outside. My babies always look so beat up. This sore is from scrapping his head on the sidewalk. It wasn't a big fall, just bumped his head as he was crawling.

More teeth pictures on Max! He now has 5, Ben still has 0.

Wearing Henri's hat.

And we have this futon...

In the corner of our living room, we have a rather uncomfortably stiff chair. We bought it because it turns into a rather uncomfortably stiff bed that we thought might come in handy. And it has. Rather though, not as a bed, but as a small gateway to Narnia. Hendrix frequently asks Aaron or I to create his fort, and more often than not his baby brothers are more enthralled than he is. This cheaply made futon has become Aaron and I's ticket to a few moments at a time without a child nagging at our feet. It seems that at even 9 months old the way to engage a boy is through forts and adventures.  

Hendrix, dreaming of summer days, and Bennett stopping to read a book.

Henri reading to his brothers.

Bennett is worn out

Hendrix tries to save the fort as it comes under attack by gigantic monster babies.

Hendrix and Max having a moment

Right after I set up the fort, all the boys hurry over. It's hard to tell, but there is a huge smile on each one of their faces.

Bennett takes a break from his castle to contemplate the furry dragon.

Sunny Winter Days, Lazy Weekends, and Random Stories.

Every winter, I get the blues. I hate being cooped up in the house, but we've been really lucky with the weather this January and have had several beautiful days to talk to boys out. As much as Aaron works, the boys and I don't get out much. I refuse to leave the house with all three by myself, unless I'm just going to my moms. Even that is a nightmare, getting them all out of the house. With two infants, every time we go anywhere I feel like I'm packing for an overnight weekend. Two outfits, can of formula, 165 diapers, 18 packs of wipes, you get my drift. (Is my sarcasm translating through text?)

So basically, I've been feeling really locked away. Aaron and I discussed me getting a weekend job. Some spare cash would be nice, but it would be more about me getting out for a few hours at a time. I considered it for a long time, but the truth is I could never be away. It sounds easy, but it really isn't. I can get really overwhelmed sometimes with three kids this little, being by myself all the time (Aaron thinks I'm Super Woman), but I think I would be far more overwhelmed being away from them and thinking about them the whole time. Ok, really I'm more afraid of leaving Aaron alone with them. I'm 90% positive the house would catch on fire.

Speaking of Super Woman. I have officially earned that title. One winter weekend, Aaron and I decided to take the boys with us to Salina to do a bit of shopping. (This is one reason why we don't do this often). We were in Target, Aaron had Bennett in his arms, and Maxton was on my hip and Hendrix by my side. Aaron had a few shirts he wanting to try on, so we wondered on down to the dressing room. Since the boys  had been held, they refused to be put back in the cart, so I sat on the bench outside the dressing rooms with a baby on each knee. Hendrix was looking at the socks within my eye sight, when suddenly he yelled, 'I NEED TO GO PEE!!!!!' Well. Crap. Ok, I got this, here we go. With a baby in each arm, I hustled Hendrix to the nearest restroom (across the frickin store!) and got him inside the stall. I still had a baby in each arm as I fought to get his pants unbuttoned and down, when he then announces that he needs to poop. I absolutely refused to set either of the babies down on the disgusted bathroom tiles, so while holding tightly to each boy, I somehow managed to lift him on to the toilet seat. Alright, we got the first part down, now he's done doing his duty, and I gotta wipe him. Yes folks, neither of my babies touched that floor. Hendrix is done with his business. Don't think I'm going to leave this public restroom without washing his hands either. Being the Super Woman that I am, I propped him onto my knee and lifted him up just high enough for him the reach the sink and and soap dispenser. BONUS, I even managed to wash my own hands. Now I know I have you all impressed. Don't ask me how, but I am SUPERMOM.

Now back to the regular programming. Pictures of my beautiful boys on a few beautiful winter days. 

Walking to pick up big brother from school. We walked from Grandma Donna's house as ours is a bit far to walk.

Max had been napping so we left him in his car seat. He woke up when we got to the school and was back to all smiles! 

Loading up the car and heading to Lindsborg for a day at the walk. Bennett is excited!

Both the boys fell asleep on the 15 minutes drive to our favorite park. Bennett woke up soon after we got there, Maxton snoozed the entire time, up until we were getting close to leaving, but was in a grumpy mood and wasn't up to playing.

Bennett loves to swing!

Ben and mom

Hendrix was running around the entire time, making it impossible to catch a good picture of him playing, but I did get this one.

Getting dark and still didn't want to leave. He'd play outside all day if he could.

Stopped on the way out of town where they had Christmas lights still set up.

He doesn't look enthused, but he loved to lit up bridge. 

Driving home ;)

Henri and I trying to watch Veggie Tales. Babies make better doors than they do windows.

Lazy Saturday nights.

Hendrix playing peek-a-boo with the babes. He had both of them giggling pretty hard!

Hendrix and his Grandma with our Christmas gift to her. Such a cute pic.

9 months!

Time flies when you're having fun, and these months have gone by FAST!

The boys are now 9 months (ok, I'm a day early) and growing like weeds.

Bennett is now 21 pounds 15 ounces and 29 inches long

Maxton is now 20 pounds 8 ounces and 29 inches long

I love this picture of my lovies. These boys are so extremely unique which makes having twins that much more fun. As different as their looks are, so are their personalities. I love that Max's floppy ear caught on Bennett's chest and is sticking out. So stinking cute!

Both boys have hit every milestone for their age, and are both very eager to walk. They have even been daring enough to let go of the couch to hold a toy (neither have taken a step yet.) If I put money on it, my guess would be Maxton walks first, but I bet they'll both be very close! Maxton is just a stiffer baby which I think will have it's advantages. Maxton has his two bottom teeth, and the two top teeth are sooo close to poking through. Bennett is still at zero. They love baby food, especially the ones they get to feed themselves. They are a mess with a sippy cup, but think it's probably the coolest thing they've ever seen, next to their big brother. They both have great dispositions, always in a good mood until they're ready to sleep. 

We walked to the doctor's office yesterday for their check up as it was such a beautiful January day. Hendrix stayed with Grandma because having two children sit still in a waiting room is hard enough. We hardly ever get out of the house all together, and the babies really don't go out in public often as it is so difficult at this age with three of them. Not to mention they're so little and it's flu season, I try to avoid the as much sickness as I can. You can imagine what it would be like to have three sick kids. And trust me, as much sharing as we do in this house, they'd all get sick. The boys loved exploring, every chance we get we take them outside, and they are so eager! Both boys were all smiles for the doctor and any other person sending them a friendly glance. What can I say? My boys are little lovers.

Having twins has made it very clear that children are born with personalities. These two boys, born at the same times, raised in the same house, have two completely different personalities. 

Big brother had to jump in the photo. I love being the mommy to these sweet boys!

Bennett's duck face. It's only cute when he does it. Ever.

Brushing our teef. (The one that doesn't have any.)

Maxton is my wild thing! He does not like to cuddle, ever. Once in a blue moon he will rest his head on your chest, or let you cuddle him and kiss him. But he loves to play! He is super ornery, and has a pretty bad temper. If Ben takes a toy Max wanted, he will scream and wave his arms till he gets it. He is a spitfire, so funny, full of personality, and so fun. He is also very independent and rather be crawling around the floor looking for dirt to put in his mouth than be on your lap. I'll always catch him zooming around the room with a big goofy grin on his face. 

My wild thing!

Bennett is always in my lap. He is such a momma's boy, and I'm a sucker for his soft snuggles. He is the biggest momma's boy of all my babies, and often fusses until he is passed back to his mother. He has the sweetest personality and is such an incredibly chill baby, rarely ever cries. He is super easy to get a smile out of, and is always eager to play with either of his brothers.

Maxton with cousin Kayla. I adore his rosy cheeks, big dimples, and floppy ears. He is such a goober!

Getting belly laughs out of Bennett.

Always attacked by the babies if I'm on the floor (especially this one!) 

Happy babies!

  

 3 more months until these babes are one year old! Can you believe it?!