Father's Day Weekend 2012

We had a great weekend! It was filled with family, food, running, and other favorites. I am better at taking pictures for keepsake since I post them. I value having pictures for our memories.

These pictures start with last Wednesday evening at our small group Bocce Ball game. Each family had a picnic dinner in the park.

Since I've been on the high chair search, our friends Rachael and Jimmy let us borrow their seat. So here's our current set up. Having two babies hungry at the same time sends me into a frenzy. It hits all of a sudden, and now I can feed both without having to hold one and seat one in the high chair. Thanks, Rachael!

Friday we went to Murfreesboro and had our own Allen reunion with Jordan's parents (Mimi and Geep) and Uncle Kyle, Aunt Courtney, Paxton, Caitlin and Blake. Slumber party!! It was so sweet to see how much Mac and Paisley are loved by their cousins. I can't believe we are the ones with babies! Crazy!

Bath time with Caitlin and Dada. 

Before we left Saturday morning, Mac and Paisley were surrounded with cousins :o) Not really sure about Blake's pose here... goof.

 Jordan and Kyle ran the RC Cola Moonpie race at the Bell Buckle festival, and we were there to cheer them across the finish line.

 

While Jordan and Kyle waited to get post race foods, Courtney and I ate a biscuit at a local cafe. Then we shopped at the different tents set up. This is my treasure: fresh kettle corn popcorn. I love love love it!! 

 

Everyone left for Nashville after the race, and I took Mac and Paisley to visit my cousin who was in town for the day. Leave it to my family to act so goofy and put a whipped topping container on my daughter's head...

 Look at this dog! It's a "medium" doxen, but he fits in a pocket right now. So sweet.

Sunday, Father's Day, we spent the morning in Nashville and headed home that afternoon. We stopped to visit with Nana and then Geep on our way out of town. 

I got stung by a stinking wasp. Jerk. The picture is of my "wound" and the rolled tobacco I used to make it stop hurting. I think it's a myth because it still hurt afterward. 

Don't judge me by my nice tan, folks. Ha!

Resting in the car. Mac got excited when he saw my phone. Big shock.

 Dinner for Father's Day!! Mac was busy eating his bread.

Happy Father's Day to my own dad! 

>>Insert a long overdue recent picture!<<

Happy Father's Day to you, Jordan! Thank you for being the wonderful, amazing Dad that you are to our kiddos :o) We are beyond blessed by you. 

-ashley

Forever a Student

This post is a reflection of my heart today...

Life is about learning, and I continue to be a student every day. I learn to prioritize my time, handle grocery shopping, keeping a house (a constant struggle with two nuggets crawling around), which clothes should have been washed in cold water, that second helping of cereal wasn't worth it, and so on and so forth. Some lessons are important, some are trivial. 

Parenting.. ahhhh, parenting. I will admit- I was one of those childless people who claimed to know children and 'how to parent'. My friend Mary and I even joked sometimes that we could write a parenting book though neither of us were parents. I mean, I have a degree in working with children, she's a nurse, and we both grew up babysitting lots of kids. Boy was I wrong! This is a lesson I learn everyday: how clueless I was (and still am!)

Babies, kids they don't come with a manual. It's tough. My easy peasy toaster came with instructions, but kids-- yeah right, no way. I remember being so intimidated by Mac and Paisley when we first brought them home. I cried when my mom left because I was so afraid of being here- solo- with two newborns. Well, they're almost 10 months old, and while I haven't even begun to scratch the surface on being a parent, they have taught me so much! 

Becoming a mother has taught me how little I really knew before Mac and Paisley. I could profess my knowledge all day long, but until I've walked this journey, claiming to know or advise better than my peers is quite silly (and immature on my part). Whether the lesson is about developing a routine, how to dress, even discipline, I have learned to trust those who walk in their own shoes. With eyes on Him, I am humbled by my own unworthiness (of Him, Jesus, even Mac and Paisley).

I was on the outside before, and while I'm still on the outside of others' lives, I'm on the inside of a parental role. I have been blessed to have some amazing women parent alongside me. Women whom I can ask advice or suggestions about anything, and I value their insight. Most have been a parent longer than me, and I respect the experience they have.

Let's pick each other up by our bootstraps, and let's do this! It is my prayer that God's wisdom and grace continue to surround my friends and me as we embark on this incredible journey.

My heart is changed since having Mac and Paisley. I have more compassion for others, and I understand people (especially mothers) better. God has used M and P to enhance my relationship with Him, though He plants seeds everywhere.

If Mac and Paisley have taught me anything, it's how little I really know. I embrace the loving arms of the Heavenly Father who desires to teach me- even through infants. :o)

 Love!
-ashley

All In a Weekend's Work

Yesterday and today were project driven. Jordan's parents gave us one of their old bedroom suits when we first got married, and it has been in our guest bedroom ever since. I was ready for a change, and I was willing to buy new furniture. I started looking around and realized I didn't want to spend the mulah on guest bedroom furniture. So I turned to a huge inspiration: HGTV! I have seen people paint furniture, and it looks really good... I lacked confidence.

My mom is a DIY person, and she encouraged me to make the furniture exactly what I wanted. So she and my dad visited this weekend, and we took on the project! Now it's finished, and I love love love it!!! And I'm so proud of our hard work at a fraction of the cost!

We sanded the finish off the chest, dresser and night stand.

Then we painted, sanded, painted, sanded, and painted a third coat. After the third coat of paint dried, we sanded the edges and dry brushed on a glaze.

We painted the dresser white and the chest a robin's egg blue. The original drawer pulls were spray painted a satin white. We didn't have all of the original knobs so I bought {my new favorite}glass knobs :o)

Between the layers of paint drying, my dad and Jordan worked in our flower beds, and my mom, Lilly and I played with Mac and Paisley.

 Last night Jordan and I went to Dan and Shannon's wedding! We actually didn't make it to the wedding because we were putting Mac and Paisley to bed, but we had a blast at the reception! 

 Here I am with two of my dearest friends, Jill and Ellie.

They had a photo booth with tons of props at the reception. It. was. hilarious! Between Jordan, me, Jack, Jill and Mike (Ellie had left to take Levi and Izzy home), we have almost a photo album of hysterical pictures! What. a. blast!!

This morning we started on the furniture again. I was so ready to have it complete, and we were sore from all day in the sun yesterday. We waddled our way around and got started on our project. The dresser was ready except for the drawer handles and pulls. I went to Home Depot early this morning to get new pulls and the blue paint. 

We painted the chest, distressed the drawers and the chest, and finished up. 

Here's our finished pieces!!!!!

Thank you, Mama and Dad {Nana and Paw Paw} for spending the weekend with us and literally working your butts off! On top of it all, Jordan and I got a date night! Thank you, thank you!! 

This afternoon Paisley crawled to a toy, pulled up, and played! My big girl is getting so big! She was chuckling at herself :o) She was practicing sitting and standing, and of course I got her picture while she was starting to sit.

 That's our weekend wrap up! I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well!

Randomness

We are back in the swing of things... well, sort of. It's tough coming back home after being away for a week. Mac and Paisley did great while we were gone, and I credit that to their confidence in our routine. I know routines aren't for everyone, but with twins, I believe it's crucial. The more I read, the more I am confident in the power of a routine for them. Babies don't come with manuals, after all. 

Mac wanted me to hold him instead of taking his picture. I did both :o)

 Paisley loves her teething biscuits.

Sweet babies

 Hey, buddy!!

 

Last night we got together with our small group. We had dinner and played bocce ball at the park. So fun!

Logan and Maggie were dancing to the music.

 The girls entertained M and P

 Rachael's turn!

Brandon rolls for the guy's team.

 See that green ball closest to the yellow? Yeah, that's mine ;o)

Mac and Paisley were so good! 

 This morning's breakfast- blueberries!

 Paisley did another first... she fell asleep in the high chair.

We went to the park today! We walked with our friends Mary and Emory, and Mac, Paisley and I had a picnic lunch after the walk. It's been nice around here the past few days so we are taking advantage of this beautiful weather!

This picture was made at home. I didn't get a picture at the park because I didn't have an extra set of hands. Notice Paisley's pose. She is always on the move....

 ... So Mac is easier to capture than P.

On the way home from the park I heard a siren so I looked in my rear view mirror and started to pull over... But no, it was just the squeals from the back seat. They fooled me. I did get a kick out of it, though. 

I ironed some of Paisley's clothes today. That's a huge deal around here. In these parts, if it needs ironed, it gets thrown in the dryer with a wet washcloth. As "domesticated" as I can be, ironing isn't a priority... unless I can't tie a bow on the outfit or the collar won't lay-- and Jordan nor I have many clothes with bows or ruffled collars ;o)

You know what tomorrow is!?! Woo hoo!! Weekend, here we come!!

Great, Great Grandma Hester

On our way back from the mountains, we stopped to visit my Great Grandma Hester. Mac and Paisley are her great, great grandchildren! Lilly was her first great, great grandchild, and M and P are her second and third. :o) Don't worry, we have pictures.

Grandma Hester was excited to visit with us. Mac was very interested in her. The last time they saw her was in November so they had changed quite a bit.

It was time to eat, and no high chairs equals improv. This is what we did all week without high chairs; Mac and Paisley sat on the table while we fed them. It was much easier to feed M this way than it was P... she's all over the place. Here she's interested in what Paw Paw Midge is saying so she's still.

 Cheese!

Group shot!! We have FIVE generations in this picture :o) 

Bottom row from left: Mac, Paw Paw, Grandma Hester, myself, Paisley, Uncle Jeff

Top row from left: Paw Paw Midge, Jordan, Lilly, Granmom, and Nana.

We heart family and are so blessed to have one another. Great memories shared that day.