When God Causes You to Remember...

Sometimes out of the blue a memory can come upon you for no reason at all, or maybe for the best reason of all...
I was standing in my kitchen last week when I had this overwhelming memory. I remembered the day that the ultrasound technician found a problem with Baby A's heart. It was the most vivid memory, and I remembered the fear I felt as I hid in the doctor's office talking to Jon who was hundreds of miles away. I don't know if I've ever felt so alone since no one was at the doctor's with me and Jon was so far away. I remember praying and trying so hard not to panic. I made it through without completely loosing it (my mom and Aunt Joan filling in for Jon), and Jon broke every speed record in the book getting to the hospital. When we got home I heard my children pray for God to fix Baby A's heart and knew that those sweet voices had a direct line to heaven.
So, why did I relive this so vividly out of nowhere 8 months later? I think God was speaking to me (He's actually been talking to me a lot lately, it's pretty cool when you take the time to listen!). He wants me to know that I wasn't alone. I'm never alone. When I am scared and helpless, feeling abandoned and frantic, desperate and vulnerable, close my eyes and remember. Remember there was a time that I faced every mother's worse nightmare of illness of a child, no that WE faced it, He and I and He daily and faithfully answers prayers. Why does God let bad things happen to good people? I can't fully answer that question. I can't tell you why my sweet baby's heart was healed the same day 10 others weren't, but I know we can learn from all situations, good and bad and that all prayers are answered though not always necessarily how we think they should be.
So, I am so sorry I forgot. I live my life day to day without thinking of what could have been. That's ok, I don't believe God wants us to dwell on the negative, but I do think He wants us to remember that He is faithful. He does answer prayers for the good of His people. God is good, all the time...SEE...
"I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him." 1st Samuel 1:27

Best of Both Worlds G.N.O...

For all you non-Hannah Montana-ites out there that's "Girl's Night Out", and we had a great one, the "Best of Both Worlds": free and fun! My sweet friend Kyla totally hooked us up with some free tickets to the 3-D Hannah movie! Check out the girls sporting their 3-D shades ready to "rock out the show."

Ashton and her BFF Chloe. We decided Ashton is Miley and Chloe is Hannah, and it totally fits their personalities!

Here are we mommies "Pumping Up the Party Now!"

"Who would've thought that a girl like me could double as a superstar?"

This movie made me feel old and young at the same time. I felt young because I totally remembered that feeling of being at a concert for someone I loved (though mine was more like Poison and Aerosmith-yikes!). It also made me feel old because I've seen the fashions of my childhood come back around. The Jonas brothers got their wardrobe from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" days and Miley was sporting the one glove look! I also am probably the only person to cry in this movie because Miley wrote a song about her grandad that died. If I had the ability to write a song about my grandfather, it would be that one. I cry every time I hear it because she talks about him calling her Angel which is what my grandad called me. Anyway, it was sweet just like my pretty girl...who really is "the other side of me :)"

Get a theater full of girls together, and they can't stay in their seats long. By the end, the girls ran down front and were dancing!

Pretending to be "famous can be kind of fun when you're the you that nobody discovers ." Can you tell who these 4 pop princesses are striking a pose, in the rain, no less!

Anyway, thanks Kyla and Chloe for a super fun G.N.O. that my girl and I will never forget. If you don't know Hannah's songs you probably thought this post was crazy, but those like me who know them all by heart, should get it. Gotta sign out now, it's time to "chill out, take it slow till I'll rock out the show!"

Happy "Freezing Rain on the Western Side of County" Day...

So, we didn't get out of school when this happened...

but we got out today due to freezing rain on the western side of the county? Oh well, we're enjoying it.What hormone laden food have we been feeding those Dodd boys? Mustaches and goatees at their age? Or as Jackson suggested I write (my little blogger in training), " Here's the cowboys and the sherriff."

This post is dedicated to Daddy who passed his Microsoft certificaion test today, despite the fact that he had to work all night! Yeah, smart Daddy we're so proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!

New Pictures

Don't let the smile fool you, homework time is usually not full of smiles around here! Of course, it's always a party around here! I can do an entire scrapbook of costumes Ashton puts on the babies!

I LOVE this picture, but how big do my babies look? I came downstairs and found the boys like this. Jackson carried them to the couch to snuggle with him!

Will and I are going to go lay down now and hope he falls asleep minus the screaming!

Junie B, Auntie J, and Chip Off My Block...

I had the honor (?) of accompanying Jackson on his field trip to see Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business. I even got to ride the bus! Jackson's teacher blind sided me with "You can even ride the bus with us." I was on the bus before I realized what was happening. Hey, I'll do anything to have a little one on one time with one of my kids. It's a gift these days! Needless to say, I got a souvenir: a HUGE headache, but had fun playing car (bus) games with my boy... Where were the other 3 you ask? Don't worry they were having fun with their aunts, Donnie and Jessica. They really enjoyed hanging out with my baby sis, and she enjoyed playing Jackson's Guitar Hero and spending all Jon's money he was saving for a tour bus-on the game obviously! Ashton helped Jessie get in touch with her inner princess...

When I walked in I saw this and knew that Aunt Jessica had picked out Wesley's outfit. He carried off the retro look really well I think! We all hope Aunt Jessica comes back to play soon, especially Jon who wants to be paid back!

I had an awesome scrapbooking weekend. This page below was one of my favorite ever (it looks better in person with inked edges and such) mostly because it features some of my favorite pictrues ever of my snoozing cowboy and solemn indian!

I also loved this page showing off my sweet spooks. How crazy is it that showing one pic of each my kids' costumes takes a 2 page spread!

And then in one of my life's happy moments, my baby girl started her first scrapbook! She did a great job and is now asking me 10 times a day if she can scrapbook.

So much for my new scrapbook desk and chair which has now been taken over!

I gave her this princess scrapbook for Christmas-perfect! It's really awesome because now I can give her pictures I wanted to scrapbook and let her do it! I'll be caught up in no time!

I'm posting at 11:30. Jon is at work, and I hate going to bed when he is gone. Don't worry, I'm not alone. Will is wide awake, as usual! I need some help with this child! He is up EVERY night until at least 11:00 usually 12:00. Even then when he gets to sleep it's after screaming a while. I'm tired! I know he needs to just cry it out, but how do I do that when he wakes Wesley up? We've tried naps earlier and naps later. I don't know what to do. Please give me some suggestions! I need to sleep so I can get energy back for scrapbooking!

December Cuteness

I just realized that I never got to share the family pictures we had taken in December because they were gifts for family. I wanted to share them because they were our first pictures as a family of 6. Plus, I thought they were really great. You be the judge...

Random Photos

I downloaded some photos, and thought I would share some random cuteness.

Look what huge developement we had at our house- the babies held their own bottles! You don't know how huge that is until you've had twins. How cute are Wesley's feet? Understandably, I'm pretty excited! This could be a whole new world for me as soon as they can hold them for more than 30 seconds.

Not to brag, but aren't my babies beautiful?

Silly faced Will, this picture doesn't do his beautiful eyes justice.

No, this picture isn't upside down. That's how I took it to show how they twisted around to see me. They look at you and their eyes light up, and you feel like the most special person in the room. Then, big brother or sister walk in the room, and they forget all about you!

Everyone wants to know, what's it like to have twins? Here's one small aspect that's different. What do you do if they both need to eat at the same time? One on each leg, and when their bellies are full you get double the happy smiles!

They both LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their jump up and can go to town bouncing, espcially Wesley. Here he is where he's bounced so mnuch it wore him out, and he fell asleep. Too cute!

Nothing profound, but fun to share! Now I'm going back to finish scrapbooking. I did one of my favorite pages ever today. Maybe I'll take a pic and share it...