Our Homemade Tent

After dinner tonight, Reese was piling a bunch of blankets on top of one another and saying she was making a giant birthday cake. When she did that, I thought about we used to make tents out of blankets (thank you Ashley for reminding me!). So, Jeff and I decided to show Reese and Collin how this could be done. Jeff ended up making a nice, big tent they could play in!

Prayer request

I have a friend whose sweet son burned his hand yesterday (Wednesday). Will you please pray for him??
Please pray specifically that:
1) Will’s body will grow new skin to cover the area and the skin graft surgery will not be needed
2) the physical therapy exercises do not cause him pain and he is able to tolerate them
3) Mom and Dad get some much needed rest and give them strength to endure the cleaning of his wound and the physical therapy exercises, as I am sure they will be uncomfortable for Will

My heart goes out to them, and I cannot imagine how difficult this time has been for them. I feel so helpless, but they have amazing families and lots of support.

The Dreaded Decision

I did it. I finally made the decision, one that was made with lots and lots of dread and sadness, but with hope that it will only help Reese and Collin to be stronger, more independent, better equipt-to-deal-with-life individuals. I made the decision to seperate them in school this next school year.
I so want them to be close and to have a little twin bond, and to share EVERYTHING with each other. I want them to protect each other, help each other, and stick up for each other. I want them to be each other's shoulder to cry on, and for them to put each other before friends, and to cheer each other on, but I think they must also learn to stand alone as individuals.
Our school has a Transitional Kindergarten program (which is what they will do since I am holding them back). Our school is pretty small, so they offer only one "TK" class, so next year they will be back together for sure. So, this really is their only opportunity to be separated before they start Kindergarten. I think it is only fair, as a "twin" parent, to try to bring out the best of each of them, and to not handicap them by keeping them together too long.
So, this is it. No turning back now (although our sweet director told me that if I changed my mind that it would be okay). I think it will be good for them, sad for me. I hate these type of decisions, but one that has been made completely out of love and only wanting the best for Reese and Collin. I love them so dearly, and I don't want to regret any decisions I have made (although I am sure I will). I always want to feel I gave lots of thought, energy and effort into every big decision I make for them--they deserve that and so much more. Being a parent is so hard. Who knew????

Short conversation of Reese and Collin

I wish I could recount all of the little conversations Reese and Collin have all day long. It is so funny to listen to them. The following conversation occured while I was putting on make-up in the bathroom, they were in the playroom.....

Reese: Collin, you can be a girl when you grow up

Collin: No, I want to be BATMAN!!! (WHEW!!...I was worried what he might say)

Reese: You can be a Batman girl

Collin: okay (well, hopefully he'll argue his point a little more in weeks to come)


Another short conversation today...

Reese: Why can't I come to your swim party

Collin: because I am working (WHAT???)

Reese: because only boys can come to your swim party?

Collin: yes only boys are coming

Swim Lessons

Reese & Collin began swim lessons yesterday (Monday). They are taking from a lady named Ms. Pat here in Frisco. They go Mon-Thurs. this week and Tues-Fri. next week. They are doing so well after only two days, and I am keeping my fingers crossed they will be swimming confidently in two weeks. Even from yesterday to today, a vast improvement was made. I am so proud of them for overcoming their fears and actually swimming short distances, all by themselves, when we went to our community pool to swim this evening. Reese really needs to work on keeping her face in the water, and Collin needs to work on his kicking. Way to Go Reese & Collin!!!!!

Cousin Cami came to Dallas

Jeff's sweet cousin "Cami" was in town this week. She stayed with Jeff's parents. Cami has a brain tumor, so she cannot hear very well. To communicate with Cami, we write notes to her on a dry erase board. Cami requested to "see the twins" while in town, so we went to Jeff's parents house Thursday night. I knew Reese and Collin would not understand that Cami could not hear them, but we did the best we could to explain.

Collin was so sweet, he really took to Cami and really enjoyed her. He kept asking, "she can't talk?" We kept trying to explain, she can talk, she just can't hear what you are asking. She was so sweet to Collin, as he was to her. I think he really does have the sweetest little soul. Reese always takes a little longer to warm up, so even though she enjoyed Cami--she didn't jump in there and play with her like Collin did. We enjoyed seeing Cami and hope we get to see her again soon! Thanks Coco and Papa for a wonderful dinner.

Proofs from recent photo session

I wanted to share Reese & Collin's proofs from pictures they took a couple of weeks ago. I thought they came out pretty good. There are some great ones to choose from, and I am only going to be purchasing 7 or 8 pictures total. I am updating a photo collage in our master bedroom.

http://www.storyteller-photography.com/slideshows/slideshow.php?Slideshow=mitzi+m

Jenn (with Storyteller Photography the link is on my sidebar) is the photographer we use and she is so sweet and always does a great job. Our session only cost $30 and we have all of these great photos! Beware, there are 96 pictures in the slideshow, so it does take a couple of minutes to get thru all of them. Hope you enjoy!

George Michael

Brian (my brother-in-law) works for Commscope who has a box at the American Airlines Center. George Michael was in concert last night at the AAC, so Amy invited me to go see him and sit in their box--it was such a great time! He started the show an hour late, so we didn't see the very end, (we both have little monkeys that wake up early and knew we would be exhausted if we stayed to the bitter end) but the rest of the show was really good. We still got home around midnight, so it wasn't as if we were completely lame. Anyways, thank you Amy and Brian for treating me to a fun evening!

The good ole' days

Okay, having a moment here, so wanted to share. A friend sent me an email today with a video from "you tube" when my cheer squad competed at Nationals my senior year of high school. We WON the national title and were NATIONAL CHAMPIONS--yeah, that 's right, GO G-TOWN!!!!! So, I thought if anyone was interested in seeing what we did (because we were pretty damn good if I do say so myself), you can click and see. It is fun to see and still makes me proud.

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=9qwDqzt4OHE

**A little birdie told me she was not able to "anonymously" leave a comment. Well, NOW YOU CAN!!! So, if you have tried to leave a comment before and couldn't, try again!

Swim Party

***********************************Friday evening, Julianne and Rob had us over for a swim party and to BBQ! The kids had so much fun swimming (and later on playing) and the adults were able to chat and hang out. Some of the dad's joined in on the fun by flipping off of the waterfall!!! This was a family get together with our playgroup, which is nice, because the dad's don't get to see other often. The guys enjoyed sometime upstairs on the Wii as well. Thank you Julianne and Rob--the burgers were great and we had such a good time!

Girls Night

Thursday night, we went out to dinner for Carley's birthday. I went out with the other mom's in our playgroup. We first went to dinner at Mattito' and then out for a drink to Coach Joe's. It is so nice when we can get out for an evening together and not having to be interrupted every 15 seconds to talk to our kids, break up an argument or discipline someone. Thanks Girls for a great time! Special thanks to Alison & Daphne for the extra entertainment when leaving Coach Joe's!!!

What would you do?

TWINS
So many good things come in pairs,

Like ears and socks and panda bears.

But best of all are sets of twins,

with extra laughter, double grins.

There's so much fun in having two

with twice as many points of view.

So much alike, forever linked,

and yet they're also quite distinct.

They share a birthday and a name,

But moods and tempers aren't the same.

Although at times they may dispute,

their loyalty is absolute.

From days of youth till life is done,

it's one for both and both for one.

We're all quite novel and precise,

But special folks ~God made twice.

(c) Larry Howlandused with permission

I am so torn on what to do about this, I just cannot decide what I want to do. I am trying to decide to keep Reese and Collin in the same class this year OR to separate them.
In one respect, it is so nice to have them together in one class. When I go to class parties, or participate in parent involvement activities, I can go to one class and spend all of my time with BOTH of them. Also, they seem to do really well together at school, no fighting, arguing or aggravating (at least no teacher has reported this if they do). I also think they genuinely enjoy having each other in class. Their teachers always say Reese takes care of Collin. She wants to make sure he gets a snack, drink, and tries to help him out when need be--which I think is so sweet.
On another note, I wonder if Collin might need to be taking care of himself and would like to be able to worry about himself. I also think it might be good for them to learn to have that independence from one another. If they were in separate classes, when I volunteered or visited they would get ALL of my attention (even if it is for half of the time). Also, Collin would not have Reese reporting EVERY move he makes.
I just can't decide. I feel like if I am going to make a request to put them in DIFFERENT classes, I need to make this decision ASAP. I genuinely want to do what is BEST for both of them. I want them to thrive and grow and have their own identity. I don't want them to depend on each other, but I do want them to share and take care of each other--that is what makes their little bond so special. I love that in gymanstics they are in different classes, but when they pass each other they say "I love you" or kiss each other (not sure their teachers love this but it is SO sweet). I want to nurture their bond, but not hinder them individually. What would you do? HELP!!! I am so torn.

YOU ARE YOU AND I AM ME

You are you, and I am me,

and that's how it was meant to be.

Sometimes we play. Sometimes we fight.

Sometimes you're wrong. Sometimes you're right.

We hug, we read, we play our games.

Sometimes we do things just the same.

But you are you, and I am me.

Sometimes we do things differently.

Sometimes you go. Sometimes I stay.

I miss you when you go away.

Sometimes we're rough. Sometimes we're mild.

Sometimes we like to drive mom wild.

But you are sweet, and I am kind,

and, more than not, we like to mind.

Cause you are you, and I am me,

and we are more than just a "WE."

You eat your peas. I turn away.

You like to steal things from my tray.

You like to swim. I like to run.

We like to pray when day is done.

We like to talk into the night

and stay awake without a light.

Cause you are you, and I am me,

and that's how it was meant to be.

4th of July

We had such a wonderful 4th of July! The Dowd's had us over to their BEAUTIFUL home and the kids played and played and we (the adults) were able to talk, hang out and even play a game ourselves. They have a huge inflatable water slide with a pool and the kids LOVED it. They must have slid at least a 1,000 times each! After hanging out for the afternoon and eating until we couldn't eat one more bite, we did some sparklers and baby firecrackers in the backyard--and later on headed out to watch the fireworks!