Come and Play...

Everything's A-OK at Rylan and Jacob's 2nd Birthday party!!! This past Saturday we celebrated our 2 favorite little boys turning 2. All of what you are about to see is brought to you by the letters R and J and the number 2.

How to have a 2-riffic Sesame Street party...


First make, 1 Elmo invitation... complete with a fuzzy pom-pom nose!
Then send the invitations to lots of your dear, sweet friends...


and don't forget Auntie M and Uncle Tom!!!Then you need to help Big Bird find his hidden eggs.

Next, you help Oscar by throwing trash into his trash can.
And your prize is a bag of Slimys!Next you help out Ernie in the tub! His tub is full of bubbles and he can't seem to get out all the rubber duckies!
And your prize is bubbles to take hime.
Then help Elmo with his nose! Spin in a circle and pin the nose on Elmo.
And your prize is a bag of Dorothys, Elmo's best friend.Then it is present time!!! Yipee!!!
Last, but not least, it is time for cake. Since Mommy is no Duff (from Ace of Cakes) or Jenny B... foam letters and Sesame Street characters did the trick! Yummy!!!
Don't forget to sing "Happy Birthday!"


Don't forget your party sack with all your goodies! These chocolate suckers and
coloring book and crayons finished off your bag of treats.
And on your way out the door, be sure to sign the birthday book for Rylan and Jacob.
A side note... these two special people, GPop and Granna...
had flashbacks to 1978 when they celebrated Kim's 2nd birthday in Sesame Street style too!
Happy Birthday Rylan and Jacob! We had so much fun on Sesame Street with you celebrating your 2nd birthday!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday!

August 22, 2006
At 31 weeks gestation, Rylan and Jacob made their grand entrance into the world! After 7 hours of labor, an emergency c-section was done. Rylan's cord was not attached properly, so we knew we would have a c-section, we just did not know when! Rylan's sac had broken, so he's the one that got the ball rolling. After 2 weeks of hospital bedrest with his sac leaking fluid, it was time to meet us! This is precious, tiny Rylan a few hours after he was born. He weighed 3 lbs. 2 oz. and was 15 inches long.Jacob was born about 30 seconds later! He was just chilling out on top in my womb as Rylan was fighting to keep fluid below. Jacob was not ready to come at all and was really enjoying his comfy home in the womb! Jacob had to be intibated shortly after birth, but only was on the ventilator for about 24 hours. Here is sweet, little Jacob just before the vent. He was 3 lbs. 13 oz. and was 16 inches long.

After almost 2 full months in the NICU, the boys came home and our house was finally full!!! The first year FLEW and here they are one year later... August 22, 2007. Rylan is on the left and Jacob is on the right. LOVE the almost bald heads and Jacob's chubby legs!

Our family... one year ago!
Rylan is loving his fist birthday!
Jacob chatting with the birthday bear!
And that brings us to this week! Rylan and Jacob turned 2 on Friday!!! My how the time has flown! When they were born, it was one of the scariest days of our marriage. We were so worried that they would be OK and were praying like crazy. So many of our friends and family joined in the prayers and we have full confidence that it is because of all the prayers, that they are so healthy and have no permanent consequences from being preemies. So here are my two big boys!

Jacob is on the left, hugging the birthday bear. Rylan is on the right. Jacob weighs 30 lbs. 1 oz. and is 36 inches tall. Rylan is 26 lbs. 2.5 oz. and is 34 inches tall.
Pictures at the park... Don't they look like little boys?!?!? sniff, sniff...And our sweet little family! Thank you Lord for seeing us through the storm and bringing us to this wonderful place!Today was their Sesame Street party... more coming soon! :)

Things you need for a perfect Camping Trip!

This weekend I had the privilege of being a chaperone for the Big Sis/Little Sis camp-out with our church youth group girls. It was a wonderful experience!!! So here are the highlights and the things you need for a perfect camping trip!

1. Awesome, ultra-cool counselors!2. Feet ready to walk to the bathroom and back and to carry us to devos.
3. Smiles and laughter with great friends!
4. Coat hangers that you pulled the plastic-coating off of so that you can roast weenies over an open fire.
5. A shirt to cover your eyes when the smoke attacks you!
6. Marshmallow to catch the OBNOXIOUS flies buzzing all around!
7. Chatting with Christian sisters as the sun sets and a storm rolls by.
8. 25 incredibly fun, spiritually-minded, sweet, silly teens!
9. An outhouse!!!
10. A $25 horseback ride through the forest. I got to be one of the counselors for this activity and loved it!!!
11. Canoe trips!
12. Picnics under the water bags to keep away the flies... could be an old wives tale though!
13. Paddle-boat rides with friends
14. Cabins with a loft! I slept in the loft with 2 teens and it was fun! I felt like Sydney Bristow and was inclined to do a flip off the top! hahaha
15. Generations sharing their faith and witnessing God's beautiful creations!

16. SMORES!!!!!

17. Did I mention Smores?!??!
Overall it was a wonderful weekend! I loved getting to bond with the girls, learn from the other counselors and have some silly time too! Already looking forward to the next one...

I cook

Jacob's new favorite phrase is "I cook." He asks for his own "ape-in," "schoon," and "bowl." He loves to stand up in a chair next to me at the counter-top and watch me cut veggies and he is great at helping to stir the ingredients together.

The other night we had grilled corn... and Jacob loved peeling back the husks!Look at that concentration!
And enjoying his finished product!
He gave it two thumbs up! We may have the next Bobby Flay on our hands! :)