Twin Time & Then Some

If you need to move grass out of the way, what do you get?

2011-10-07T09:22:00.000-07:00

Arent' they funny? 

Well, Lily... it's almost winter. So, I don't think a garden is really a good idea at this point. But next year, I promise.

And Ruby, thank you for being so polite. Of course, I have a feeling you just know how to work the system. You'll go far in life.

Grey. Oh, my Baby Grey. The binky has got to go, son. Those bucky teeth are becoming a hazard!

Seriously?

2011-08-24T17:06:00.001-07:00

Why didn't anyone ever tell me that I meant "DESSERT" and not "desert" ?????

Sheesh.

We made desert for Uncle Mike's house...

2011-08-14T22:30:00.000-07:00

Hi. Livin la vida loca in OR. And lovin it. And makin cakes.

Here's what I love about this video:

1. Nobody is wearing pants. I'm wearing pants, but nobody else is wearing pants. No, really. I promise. I am wearing pants.

2. Lily shares her "bow" (any kind of hair clip, flower, bow, elastic, etc is called a "bow" in our house) with her sister. Notice she still has one for her own hair. Lily tends to find bows all over the house, and it's not unheard of for me to pull 6 or 7 out of her hair before she goes to bed. Silly girl.

3. Ruby doesn't care what we're doing, or what we're talking about. She just knows that she wants to be involved. "Hey, I'm excited, too." Excited about what? Cake? Oh sure. I can get on board with that.

4. Cake. What's not to love about cake?

Hi. We're here. We're happy.

2011-08-14T22:29:00.000-07:00

Astoria doesn't know what it's in for.

We're here. It's been 2 months since our extend-o vacation in Utah after graduation. We waited 3 weeks till we could move into our house. And here we are. We're settled. We're tired. We're blessed. We're happy.

You can visit. Or just call... I don't have friends yet. But we're still happy,

Omaha

2011-05-27T21:18:00.000-07:00

When we moved to Omaha, Nebraska over 3 years ago, Aaron used to tell people that he was quitting dental school and becoming a corn farmer.

He's so funny.

Who knew that we would grow to love that place so much? I'm still a bit surprised. We're gone. Our house has a new family living in it. We're not really sure if we'll ever go back to Omaha. But we loved it. Forget the AH-mazing zoo. Forget the life-saving friends. Forget the life-changing education. Forget all of that, and we will still carry a fondness for Omaha that can never be replaced.

Personally, I think it has a lot to do with our growth as a family (and not just the addition of our boys, Grey and Jair). The time we spent in Omaha made us a stronger family, and it made Aaron and I a stronger husband and wife. For that, I will always love Omaha.

And I have to stop typing now, because it's hard to sep;ll check through the tears.

"Goodbye, Omaha. We love you."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Time for a Change

2011-05-04T18:30:00.000-07:00

"Twin Time Plus One" needs a name change!

Now presenting:

Jair Nelson Smith
7 lbs 9 oz
20.5 in long
7:36 pm
May 2, 2011

This sweet little guy came 2.5 weeks early just to join me for my own birthday! I've had some pretty spectacular birthday presents over the years. 2 years ago, Aaron took me to see Wicked. When I was in high school, my friends broke into and decorated my locker. When I was really little, my dad woke me up early before he left for work. He gave me a birthday card with a monkey on it and a Diet Dr. Pepper to drink before anyone else got up. On May 1, 2011, those were my top 3 birthday presents.

As of May 2, 2011...

They've all been trumped.

Jair has stolen our hearts. We can't get over how blessed we are to have him, to have him here safe, and to have him here at the perfect time. You may or not know that my due date (May 20) also happened to be the date we had to move out of our house (signed the contract before we were pregnant...nice) What a blessing to have these next few weeks with Jair here (and healthy!) before we move.

All weekend, I had a feeling that he was coming soon. By Sunday night/Monday morning, I was having lots of contractions. I spent Monday morning getting things together. Can you believe I still didn't have a bag packed? I didn't even have the baby clothes out yet! We got it all together despite the painful - yet still irregular - contractions.

About 2 pm, I couldn't take it anymore, and we headed to the hospital. Thanks to my wonderful friends for watching All My Children while we were gone. Lily and Ruby were very excited when I told them that we were going to go to the doctor and that the baby was going to come that day!

At the hospital, everything progressed very quickly. Everything, that is, besides the effectiveness of my epidural. For some reason, I had numb legs and toes, but that was about it. When the realization hit me that it wasn't working and there wasn't time to do anything about it, I cried a little. I just kept wondering how people do this VOLUNTARILY. It's definitely not for me!

Fortunately for me, I only pushed for a few minutes before our Sweet Baby Jair was born at 7:36 pm. He rocked his Apgar tests, peed on the resident doctor, and then snuggled on Momma's chest. We were instantly in love.

Aaron spent that night at home with the kiddos and then brought them up to the hospital the next morning. Lily and Ruby were so excited to meet the baby, and Lily spent the morning trying to teach Grey to say, "Baby Jair." It was love at first sight... but not for everyone.

Here's some pictures of our buddy. I hope you can enjoy them half as much as we enjoy him! Thank you all for your love and support. We truly are so blessed.

Making an Offer...

2011-04-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Aaron has been in Oregon for a few days searching for the perfect home for our little family. Since we weren't keen on the idea of giving birth to Baby Baby number 4 anywhere but the good ol' University of Nebraska Medical Center, we thought it best that I stay home. Fortunately, Aaron knows what I like... and what I can (and cannot) live with (thank you, Aaron, for passing on the smelly house built in 1892).

It's still hard, though. How many times have I said that I just wish we could pick up and move our townhouse to the coast? Many. I love our little townhouse, but I guess it doesn't work that way. So, we're doing the next best thing: Making an offer on this bad-boy. Keep your fingers crossed!

Wanna see the Oregon coast? There is a guest bedroom! Continental Breakfast included.

What? You say you DON'T want to see the Oregon coast? Oh, then you'll miss out on this view.

Just sayin'

Goonies Never Say Die

2011-04-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

For once, this post has nothing to do with the kids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOurKhAIpOA

Aaron has accepted a job in Astoria, Oregon. Home of - you guessed it - The Goonies! My 1988 self is so jealous! We're thrilled: to be closer to family, to be on the beach, to have a new adventure, and to do dentistry with a paycheck in return!

Coming June 2011!

Give a little whistle...

2011-02-14T13:27:00.000-08:00

These kids are so talented!

Grey 2011:

Can your 1 year-old whistle? Didn't think so.

And just so you know that it wasn't a fluke... here's Ruby in 2008 (about 13 months):

Priceless? Yes.

Building Temples

2011-02-14T13:08:00.000-08:00

Isn't this the cutest? Lily is always building "temples." She stacks whatever she can as high as she can and calls it a temple. I hope she's always this sweet!

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

2011-02-14T13:03:00.000-08:00

I know that the girls sing the Articles of Faith songs in Primary at church, and so we decided to try and help them memorize the first Article of Faith during family home evening. We worked on it twice. 2 weeks later, we asked them if they remembered. What do you think?

Here's Ruby:

Here's Lily:

Ruby has it down memorized word-for-word! Lily knows it, too... but she gets flustered when I try to help. It was pretty cute. She wanted to do it all by herself! We're so proud of them and all that they're learning. They love trying to be like Jesus, and they love each other, and they love their brother. What more can I ask for?

What are the Articles of Faith? They are thirteen statements outlining some of our basic teachings and ordinances written by Joseph Smith. If you wonder what a Mormon believes, this is a good place to start! www.mormon.org/articles-of-faith/

Singing Time

2011-02-14T12:50:00.000-08:00

Efficiency is combining 2 verses into one verse of awesomeness!

A little time to our "Plus One"

2011-02-14T12:48:00.000-08:00

Oh, my Baby Grey. We adore him... in spite of the following:

I want to make a note that he actually likes pasta. He's just a booger sometimes. Oh yes, and that is the saddest face you've ever seen, isn't it? Well, it's all an act. Boog.

He's just so darn cute, he gets away with anything.

Cuteness: Exhibit A

"Cheese"... He won't say "Mama," but he'll say "cheese" for the camera. Awesome.

Cuteness: Exhibit B

I know this is kind of a random video, but he just does the funniest things. And did you see that belly?

How can you not fall in love?

She didn't used to be like this...

2010-12-11T14:21:00.000-08:00

Babies come with... aromas. There's pee, barf, poo, feet, sour milk, and... in Grey's case... Man Stink. I don't understand why Lily's nose suddenly turned on some time in July. All these years, and the "aromas" never bothered her. Now she holds her nose, runs away and cries whenever she walks into a strong smell. It doesn't even have to be a bad smell! It could be a delicious home cooked casserole (which I make all the time... right.) and she'll still run from the room holding her nose! And don't get me started on Grey's room. She won't go near the kid half the time. Poor boy.

One night I went upstairs because Lily was shouting something. I am guessing one of the two *ahem* tooted and Lily just couldn't handle it!

Those pants used to be clean...

A demonstration

2010-11-19T09:39:00.000-08:00

In July, while we were at my mom and dad's house in Spokane, Aaron's mom had an unfortunate spill down the stairs. It involved 3 components.

1. Missing the last step
2. A few trays of freshly pureed appricots ready to be dried for fruit leather (yum)
3. A "pop" coming from the ankle

The result was crutches, a bad sprain, and weeks of hobbling around trying to get work done. Oh yeah, and apricot goo all over the basement. So after our time with the Van Every's, we stayed a few more days in Salt Lake with Aaron's family before driving back to Omaha. Lily and Ruby were very concerned about Grandma's foot. Aaron caught this little gem on tape just the other day...

Balloon Kisses

2010-10-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

For weeks, Lily and Ruby have been giving us these "balloon kisses." We don't know where they came from, or why they called them "balloon kisses." It is just too cute. Finally, we got an explanation. Here it is.

Definition: Balloon Kiss

Imagination

2010-10-29T13:10:00.000-07:00

It is so fun lately to watch the twins play. They are always talking to their toys and they have a different voice when they do. It's too cute. I love these kids!

They are also really into books now. Not just the books, but the actual stories. They love being read to. Up until a few months ago, it was really hard to try to read to them, because they just wanted to turn the pages. Now they sit, listen, and memorize their books. Their favorites include:

Turkey Trouble

Where the Wild Things Are

And of course,
The Book of Mormon

So what if they sleep in their undies?

Birthdays

2010-10-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

Well, we had several birthdays around here in the last few months.
**WARNING**
This is pretty much one of those "I'm their mom, so I think it's the most wonderful and adorable thing in the whole-wide-world, so I'm putting it on my blog" kind of posts. I understand that - while it makes you crazy and unstable - you might not share my opinion on what is bloggable. But guess what... I DON'T CARE! THEY'RE SO CUTE!

Let's start with Baby Grey. He's not my baby anymore. Scratch that. The darn kid still won't walk at almost 14 months... so yeah. He's my baby. My giant, 27 pound - "carry me everywhere, Mom" - Baby Grey.

We had his birthday party at the park right outside our house. He was perfectly content chomping on his cake and watching the guests. He's an old soul, I guess.

This boy is AMAZING! Since he was a little baby, he's always been able to make you feel like you're the only person in the world that matters to him! It doesn't matter if he just met you that minute. He looks into your eyes and connects with people. I love him to pieces! He loves his big sisters... and his dad (Of course, who wouldn't!?). We just adore our Baby Grey!

And on to the Twins!

Their birthday was a hoot. They had a blast all day long. They got panckaes for breakfast, a hallway full of balloons, presents, and their own cakes. Not a bad day for those 3 year olds. Seeing their faces... not a bad day for this 27 year-old.

My favorite line is when Lily says, "Oh, wow!" when she opens the princesses! Love it.

We sang to each girl separately so they know they're special. I'm such a good mom, huh? Lily was born 5 minutes before Ruby, so we sang to her first. Then we waited 5 minutes before letting Ruby have any cake. Just kidding, we didn't. Anyway, Lily specially requested a pink flower cake, and Aaron delivered. If this dentist thing doesn't work out, he can be a cake decorator.

Here's Ruby's infamous "Pink Dog Princess Happy Birthday Cake." I love that girl. For a week, that's all she talked about. She really wanted a "Pink Dog Princess Happy Birthday Cake." She loved it!

We just love these 2 girls. They are the best big sisters, the best little girls, and the best friends anyone could ask for. They are ALWAYS trying hard to do what is right. They really want to be good, and I know I need to sit down and learn a few lessons from these two on being Christ-like. I love them so much. These two really are special. Just you watch.

Funny Foods

2010-10-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

Lily and Ruby talk all day long. Non-stop. If they don't talk to me, they talk to their toys, the chairs, the wall. And don't get me started on when Aaron comes home! We can't get a word in edgewise (what does that even mean!?)

People always ask me if they have their own "twin language." Granted, I don't really know what is said (or in what language) behind closed doors, but to my knowledge, no. Sorry to burst your bubble. Oh wait... Unless you count this:

Aaron: "Ruby, say 'plum.'"
Ruby: "Crum."
Aaron: No... "puh, puh, plum"
Ruby: "puh, puh, crum."
Aaron: Say "please."
Ruby: "Please."
Aaron: "Say 'plum.'"
Ruby: "Puh, puh, crum."

Haha, never gets old.

And what about this one?

Mom makes a mean dish of Ratty Old Lady.

Here, chicky chicky chikcy!

2010-07-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

Every year, the Smiths meet up in Mendon, Utah at Greg and Andy's. It's always a blast! From the first year Aaron and I went (before we were married), we were hooked. Mendon is a tiny town in the Cache Valley of Utah. Everyone wears cowboy boots. You know the type.

Well... what makes the celebration so wonderful is that they empty a pasture in the middle of town (which is cooincidently also the edge of town), they fill it with little children, and then they set chickens, pigs, and bunnies loose. Once that happens, they yell, "Go," and the fun begins.

Lily was sure proud of herself! Too bad she couldn't bring her chicken home! She did get a ticket for a dollar at the concessions stand, though. She got Cotton Candy. All is right in her world!

Twin Time Games

2010-07-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun game Lily and Ruby love to play. It's called, "Chase Me Down and Give Me Hugs and Kisses." It's entertaining for all involved.

We're at Aaron's parents house on vacation for a while. It's usually pristine and lovely. Then we show up. Then we destroy it. They get that from the Van Every side, I guess. :) Thanks for putting up with us, Grandma and Grandpa!

Dancing Queen

2010-07-25T21:20:00.000-07:00

Lily loves to ask me for music. And if it's not the right kind of music, she says, "No! Really fast!" She's actually pretty good, too!

She's only 2 and already embarrassed of me. Won't even dance with her mother!

"No! It's MY dance!"

Silly Lily

2010-07-25T21:18:00.001-07:00

Who loves potty training? I do. Oh! Big Poo Poo!

Scrunchy Face

2010-07-25T21:16:00.000-07:00

He's so cute. Here's our buddy making his scruncy face!

Love.

Not a Country Girl?

2010-07-24T21:50:00.000-07:00

While celebrating the 24th of July (State holiday in Utah that celebrates the arrival of the Mormon Pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley after crossing the plains to escape persecution in 1847), we spent some time in a cow pasture. More details in that in an upcoming post.

For now, just enjoy this bit of fun from our day.

Letter to Harvard

2010-04-24T11:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Harvard;

Let's just get this out there once and for all.

I know they're amazingly smart. I know you want them and all their brilliance to attend your Ivy-Leagueness. Sorry, though. The Smiths breed Cougars.

Oh, and you should see them do the alphabet!

Love,
The Smiths

Monkey See, Monkey Do.

2010-04-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

A lot of people ask me if it was hard having twins. Duh. Can I say it again? Duh. But a huge investment in the beginning (time, sleep, tears, stretch marks, etc), and I think it's going to pay off big time. Meet Lily & Ruby: My live-in babysitters. Oh, and yes. I'm going to exploit it as much as I can.

Just a little more training, and I think they'll be ready.

Ok... so I won't be exploiting this particular skill... but it's still pretty funny.

We're not home, please leave a message.

2010-04-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

When Aaron took off to Baltimore for a Dental Convention (yeah, how fun does that sound!?), the kiddos and I packed up for a weekend in River Falls! While we were all out in the yard enjoying the new spring weather, Ruby snuk (sneaked?) inside.

Sounds important...

The Little Man

2010-04-23T22:09:00.000-07:00

Let's be honest, ladies. What does every woman want? A man who can do push-ups.

It's worth it.

2010-04-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

No matter what happens on the hardest day of any week... it's worth it. I love these two girls!

Oh, and yes... they are stealing all of my clean dishtowels from the drawer to use as 'blankets'. But it's ok.

Elmocize!

2010-01-31T20:21:00.000-08:00

Take that, Jillian Michaels!

Play the next two vids together. I think they could totally teach at Bally's or something!

Baby Grey - In stores now!

2010-01-31T20:16:00.000-08:00

Kids bored? Don't you wish you had a Baby Grey to play with? Best. Toy. Ever.

What? The top of your head isn't ticklish? Weird.

Elmo taught my girls how to "make a funny face." A talent like that is something that needs to be passed on. Lily, Grey will thank you some day.

Cabin Fever

2010-01-31T20:05:00.000-08:00

Have any of you ever been to Nebraksa? I mean REALLY been to Nebraska? I don't want to hear about how you cruised through on I-80; or how you had a layover on your way to Maui or something. We have snow piled half way up our front door... it is bazillions of degrees below zero for weeks at a time. The wind will literally eat your face off. When you live a winter in Omaha... then you can judge me.

Sometimes, all you can do is "run around."

What Sisters Are For...

2009-12-29T21:04:00.000-08:00

A sister is...

someone who will take the fish off your finger every time you get it caught.

Then she will line them up in a row.

Then she will put them all back so you can start all over again.

Don't you wish you had a sister like that?

Don't Eat the Yellow Snow

2009-12-29T20:59:00.001-08:00

Story Time

2009-11-27T13:21:00.000-08:00

Lily and Ruby love their books! Look out, this next video is extremely adorable. Seriously... be prepared to gush.

Chicken Water

2009-11-27T11:50:00.000-08:00

That used to be water. Kids are gross.

Halloween 2009 - Labyrinth the Movie

2009-11-27T11:49:00.000-08:00

Oooh, scary!

Don't they make adorable Goblins!? I wouldn't mind living with goblins if they were as cute as these two... and if the Goblin king was as handsome as this...

Cutest trick or treaters ever!

If you haven't seen "The Labyrinth" yet... your childhood must not have been very good.

Aren't babies fun?

2009-11-27T11:48:00.000-08:00

Here's Lily enjoying some bonding time with Baby Grey. They sure love this kid!

Young Love

2009-11-27T11:47:00.000-08:00

I guess "He loves me not"

But really... how could you not love Ruby?

What more does a girl need?

2009-11-27T11:46:00.001-08:00

1. Wait till mom has to pee
2. Open the fridge because she forgot the child-proof lock
3. Steal a fancy yogurt
4. I can't open it or reach the spoons, so just poke a hole in the top and scoop out with my finger
5. Climb into Grey's baby swing and turn it on.

I can't leave them alone for two minutes! Don't worry... she was severely punished afterwards... No, not really.

Who am I kidding? They run the joint.

Look, Mom! No hands!

2009-11-27T11:41:00.000-08:00

These children must have been raised in a barn.

Here we are at the AMAZING pizza machine. The pizza tastes like a "hot circle of garbage" but Lily doesn't seem to mind.

Oh, and all that racket and noise in the background... that's my friend Stephanie's stinky boys. We love them.

Lemme Explain

2009-10-16T20:05:00.001-07:00

Yes, I'm a bit behind. Guess what, there's a rule of nature you all must know about.

Rule: KJ cannot have 3 kids and successfully pull of anything else.

Sorry, folks. It's one or the other. So until the laws of the universe change, you're just going to have to deal with late posts! See you in 18 years.

Printing a Retraction...

2009-10-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

Regarding my recent post: Plus One, I would like to clarify one thing.

KJ as a seven year old (and KJ as a 26 year old) was never very... attentive. I usually got through about 3 sentences of a conversation before I got bored, confused, or both. My dad pointed this out to me recently, and - in regards to our 20 year-old conversation about Labor Day - it's fair to say that I may have checked out before he could give me the full explanation behind the holiday.

So... just so you all know... my dad's not really a dufus. :)

Blowing Kisses

2009-10-16T19:18:00.000-07:00

Just for Grandma...

Get Down.

2009-10-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

The girl's got moves. Unfortunately, she got them from Grandpa Smith.

I do, too.

2009-10-16T19:13:00.001-07:00

Here is the proud big sister (Ruby) holding her baby brother. He's a pretty lucky boy to have two big sisters who adore him! The girls always want to help change his diaper (a talent we will be exploiting), and get him dressed. They make sure he always has a blanket, and if his binki falls out, they say, "Whoops!" and shove it back in his face... whether he likes it or not.

Grey's Debut

2009-10-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

"I'm probably wrong too, I'm always wrong."

Not quite what you want to hear from your nurse.

FYI - Mom is the only one in the room who can successfully guess the baby's weight. Sorry, Doc... maybe you'd have better luck if you had to push it out of your own loins. Just a thought.

PS - cute baby, huh?

They're not pests... they're pets.

2009-10-16T18:29:00.000-07:00

Whatever you do... don't kill the flies.

"Where did it go?" Adorable.

Camping Videos

2009-10-16T18:24:00.000-07:00

Here's some cute videos from our camping trip with the Amundsens in Wisconsin - August 2009. I kind of think the funniest parts are the comments from others in the background. The things people will say when they don't know the camera is rolling.

1. Counting.

2. Eating.

3. Coloring and Singing

Plus One

2009-09-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

Funny story... when I was about 7 or 8, my Aunt Sheilaugh (yes, that is how you spell her name... but that's another story for another day) was pregnant with her first child - Colin. That year, I asked my dad what Labor Day was for, and I got some lame answer like, "Well, it's for people who labor." Really, Dad? Really?

Now, I knew enough to know that "labor" and "pregnancy" went together, but that's as far as my knowledge on the word extended. So, I was forced to draw my own conclusion and I replied,

"Oh, like Aunt Sheilaugh?"

Confused pause... Dad replies...

"Yeah... I guess so..."

And so, to celebrate Labor Day as it was truly intended... I present to you...

Grey Aaron Smith
Born Sept 7, 2009
10:01 am
8lbs 20.5 in

Don't you wish you could go into labor on Labor Day?

Carseats in Cars - not fun. Carseats in the Kitchen - fantastic

2009-07-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

Ruby loves to buckle herself into things like the stroller and her carseat. So far, she still can't UNbuckle herself (that's a good thing). Lily just says "buckle" over and over... as demonstrated in this video.

Oh, and Ruby has a new phrase. See if you can pick it out before you MELT from over-exposure to adorableness.

Boingy-boingy

2009-07-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

Is it cruel to laugh?

Oh, and yes... I realize they are always naked... and look ridiculous (ly cute) in those hats. I blame Daddy.

Singing Time

2009-07-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

Since the girls started nursery, they have LOVED to sing. Coincidentally, the gal that does singing time for the nursery has been filling in as the chorister in Sacrament meeting as well. The moment the opening hymn starts, they both freeze and gaze up at Sweet Sister Fankhauser. It's like she casts some sort of spell! They're mezmorized.

Their favorite songs include: "Do as I'm Doing" (they know ALL the hand motions! haha), "The wise man and the foolish man" (You know... the one with the rock and the sand and the rain), and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" (I taught them that one! I'm such a good mom...) Here they are singing with Dad before bedtime.

Belly Button

2009-07-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

Who needs toys (or clothes, for that matter) when you have a twin sister?

Notice that at the end, Lily is laying down for her turn at the fun. They switched back and forth 3 or 4 times before finding a different game.

Bed Time = Party Time

2009-07-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, young ones. Jump. Jump, Jump, Jump! Spend your energy and I'll see you in 12-14 hours!

"Niiiiice"

2009-05-18T18:38:00.000-07:00

Lily was sad one day (because Mom left), and Ruby did everything she could to make her happy again. Don't let them fool you. They're actually monsters. :)

BFF's

2009-03-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

Lily and Ruby are really best friends. Granted, we still have to teach them not to hit, share, and play nice... it's so easy to see how much they love each other! Most mornings and after (or during) naps, we can hear them laughing together in their cribs. They like to talk and make each other laugh during mealtimes, too. Our home is never short on love with these two around! Here's a little glimpse into the fun they have together.

And then there were shoes.

2009-03-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

One day, Lily discovered shoes.

Day at the Zoo

2009-03-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

During Aaron's spring break, we took a family trip to the zoo. The girls loved the petting zoo area, because they got to get out of the stroller and pet the goats! Luckily, the goats were smaller than the twins! Every animal we saw, they would say, "Puppy! Puppy! Ruff Ruff!" Yeah, we'll have to visit the zoo again and again so they learn the rest of their animals!

Here's Ruby petting a little goat... then she went for the tail, but got out of the way just in time!

Wee!

2009-03-18T12:24:00.000-07:00

I picked up QUITE the find at the local Goodwill. It was under $2.50 for this adorable rocking horse painted like a giraffe. I spent a little time tightening some screws, putting new yarn in for the hair, and doing a little touch-up painting... and voila! The girls LOVE it! Here's Lily enjoying a ride on the giraffe!

Lily Juggles

2009-02-15T18:07:00.002-08:00

Well, if Harvard doesn't work out, I guess there's always the circus!

Curling up with a good book

2009-02-15T18:04:00.000-08:00

Aaron and I are pretty much the best parents ever. Lily & Ruby love books. Love them. Can't get enough. They have a house full of toys, and all they want to do is read their books! You will ABSOLUTELY MELT when the cutest baby ever (AKA Lily or Ruby) hands you a book and then holds her arms out for you to pull her up on your lap and read to her. They do this all the time. I love it! Here's Ruby demonstrating with their favorite book about a puppy. Enjoy the cuteness.

Playing with Daddy

2009-02-15T17:53:00.000-08:00

Here's Lily and Aaron just playing around. Yes, they are at that stage where they copy everything we do. Time to watch our step!

I know it's not a video.... but... still funny

2009-01-25T16:41:00.000-08:00

Identical Twins are "identical"? I think not. Notice that Lily & Ruby were both given the same amount of Great Value brand Mixed Veggies. Add a little chicken, and it's a delicious and nutritious dinner! Notice that Lily (on the left) has picked out everything green... leaving the carrots and corn. Ruby (on the right) has picked out everything orange... leaving the greens and the corn. My question is... What's wrong with the corn?!

They Must Be Twins...

2008-12-01T11:39:00.000-08:00

Here's a twinner moment caught on tape!

I'm sad and I don't know why...

2008-12-01T08:14:00.000-08:00

Nap time in the Smith household:

Drum Roll Please....

2008-12-01T06:54:00.000-08:00

Well, the time has come! I guess 13 is the lucky number! Almost 13 months to the day, and the girls popped up and decided to walk! While Ruby has been taking her first steps - 2 or 3 in a row (and only towards someone's open arms) - On Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, Lily surprised us both! She just jumped to her feet and started cruising! I guess after Ruby saw us both clapping and cheering for Lily, she said, "Hey, I know how to do that too! Is that all you wanted!?" And she starts running around the house, too! They're pro's!
Here they go! Don't mind Daddy as he tries to clap with the camera in his hands... could make you sea sick! Lily was pretty exhausted at this point. She was doing a lot better at staying up before. She just didn't want to stop!!

Above is Ruby taking her turn around the kitchen. Don't judge me because my children's PJ's don't fit and/or they are naked. You can't win every battle.
I think we might need traffic lights around here!!

Sleep Over Disaster

2008-11-11T21:16:00.001-08:00

Nap time is a precious thing at my house. Even if the girls are awake, I still don't get them out of their room till the 2 hrs are up. I call it my quiet time. Well, when I babysat Owen (the boyfriend), it didn't turn out as I had planned.

Daddy made a rule: No boys in the bedroom. I should have listened!

Music to my ears!

2008-11-11T21:10:00.000-08:00

I can't take it anymore! They're just too cute!

1 Year-Olds (x2)

2008-10-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

My babies are girls now. Ever since we found out we were pregnant... it was "baby this" and "baby that." "Baby" soon became "babies," and they've been my babies ever since. Well... now they're 1. I guess now they're my "girls."

We had a big party with lots of friends and "family" to celebrate. The "girls" loved their cake and frosting. We're so thankful for all our loved ones who came over to celebrate their 1st birthday. We're a lucky family!

Did I break down in sobs and gasp, "My babies are grown up!"? Well, no, I didn't. Of course there is always the astonishment at how fast time flies... But I feel that from any given Monday to Sunday, too. I was excited. Every single stage (save 2 hrs after the epidural wore off) of these two girls in our lives has be indescribably joyful. These two girls are special... just you watch.

Happy Birthday, Lily & Ruby! We love you!

BIRTHDAY!

2008-10-22T21:17:00.001-07:00

Dancing Queen

2008-10-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

Here's Lily showin' off her moves!

Dinner and a Show

2008-10-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

While I was making dinner, the twins decided to entertain us with their cuteness. Act I: Baby Train (Lily always does this!), Act II: Giant Carrot, Act III: Smiles. Critically Acclaimed!

An oldie but a goodie!

2008-09-26T05:45:00.000-07:00

So this video is pretty funny, and I couldn't believe i didn't have it up already! Lily is about 2 months old here. Turns out Aaron had it on his blog already, and I just didn't think about it. But... Aaron's blog (http://aaronoutnumbered.blogspot.com) is LAME-O because he never updates it. Pressure him... he might. Peer pressure works, people. Anyway, enjoy Lily's sleep habits!

Ruby - Spit Bubbles

2008-09-25T07:20:00.000-07:00

How funny is she?

Switch-A-Roo

2008-09-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

People always think they can tell my kids apart by the binki they have in their mouth. "Well, Lily had that binki yesterday, so this must be Lily!"
Unfortunately,
if a equals b;
and b equals c;
then a does not always equal c.
Here's why:

10 Months Old and She's Already a Little Vain

2008-09-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

Ruby loves the laptop. She reaches and pulls just trying to touch it. Once she finally mashes the keyboard with her chubby little hand, you'd think she was the happiest girl in the world! Here she is watching herself on video. It's clear that she thinks she's the funniest thing ever! So vain, so cute!

Ruby "walks" across the kitchen

2008-08-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

Patty Cake

2008-08-22T08:19:00.000-07:00

Grandmas all around will be glad to know that Lily LOVES to clap! She'll be an expert pattycaker next time you see her!

Ruby's first word!! 8/20/2008

2008-08-20T16:10:00.000-07:00

There's no denying it! I got the proof - Ruby said her first word! (It's "baby" by the way) :)

Here's more proof

(She's whispering it a lot in this one)

Babies love Kelsey!

2008-08-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

I guess anything is funny at 11:00 at night... but especially cousin Kelsey!

Everybody Loves Peaches

2008-06-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

I think she likes it...

Swing into Spring! (clever, aren't I?)

2008-04-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

I have spared you the ridiculously long video of 4 adults oodling over 2 girls in a swing. This is the shorter one. You're welcome!

Listen carefully... Ruby's new trick

2008-04-27T14:10:00.000-07:00

So I was in the bedroom when Aaron yells, "KJ, come quick! Bring the camera!"
"What's she doing!?" I ask...

"Being AWESOME!"

Ruby loves to grab Dad's arm and make toot noises... just when Aaron thought he couldn't love her any more! It's kind of hard to hear on the video, so listen close!

Are you just going to sit there and take that?!

2008-04-27T12:14:00.002-07:00

It's never too early to teach the girls to share... or steal. Lily shares; Ruby steals.

Who turned out the lights?!

2008-04-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

Lily likes to play... but sometimes gets... stuck.

Inside a baby's mouth...

2008-04-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

Cool, huh?

Seconds Anyone?

2008-03-15T22:39:00.001-07:00

Why is this still funny?

Lovey Ruby

2008-03-07T11:27:00.001-08:00

Ah, I can hear it now... "Mom, Ruby's touching me!"

Sometimes the Kids Get Hungry...

2008-03-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

We never really have to worry about knowing if the babies are hungry or not... they find a way to let us know!

Apparently, Ruby isn't picky!

Ruby's first laughs - Feb 11, 2008

2008-02-11T21:13:00.000-08:00

1.30.08 - 3 Months Old

2008-02-01T14:21:00.001-08:00

Rolling over and Looking around!

Lily

Ruby

Doritos Breath

2008-02-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

Here's our new idea of fun... Aaron eats smelly chips and blows his breath into the babies' faces. Poor Babies!

Good Morning, Ruby

2008-02-01T12:02:00.000-08:00

Ruby, just how mad do you have to be to wiggle out of your onesie, layette, and blanket?

A whole new meaning to the phrase, "Sleeping like a baby"

2008-02-01T11:53:00.000-08:00

Here is Lily (we think).

I'm hungry...

2008-02-01T11:17:00.000-08:00

They took some time to learn that you can't get blood from a turnip... or milk from a car seat.

2008-01-31T20:22:00.000-08:00

Bath Time

2008-01-31T19:36:00.000-08:00

Lily First
Then Ruby

What?! Another one!?

2008-01-31T19:04:00.000-08:00

Here's Ruby! (then a little more of Lily... and then Ruby again...)