Christmas Sunday Carlson Family Style

1. Get up at 6am to shower and get ready before the boys get up, pack the diaper bag, ready everything for church, leave with 5 minutes to spare and still manage to be 15 minutes late....CHECK
2. Ditch handsome husband and children in the rain storm, run inside to young women's and realize that we're 15 minutes late...CHECK
3. Listen to the rest of the wonderful Christmas lesson and hear three wonderful girls bear powerful testimony of the church and our Savior and momentarily feel that wonderful true Christmas spirit!...CHECK
4. Baby B aka Brayden gets kicked out of Nursery because he's SO tired--spend Sunday School hour in nursery with both boys...CHECK
5. Leave nursery and look for previously mentioned handsome husband who has the diaper bag, walk around the halls with both boys holding one of my hands--best feeling ever--and being such good/sweet boys...CHECK
6. Change stinky diaper and finally sit down in Sacrament meeting surrounded by family who had come to listen to all of us sing--hubby, sister, mom, and I were all in the program...CHECK
7. Baby A aka Walker pukes his guts out just as the Bishop stands to welcome everyone to church--that would be an entire bottle of EggNog...CHECK
8. Rush around frantically trying to clean puke without anyone noticing...CHECK
9. Escape to the hall with Baby A to change him and try my hardest not to burst into tears...CHECK
10. Sissy and I jump in the car and take both boys home, I run back to church--in the biggest rain/wind storm ever and make it just in time to hear handsome hubby sing an amazingly beautiful song, handsome hubby leaves post haste to relieve sissy who makes it back with seconds to spare to sing with mom in a beautiful womens "trio", and I sing a somewhat rushed version of a great song about our Savior because my mind cannot slow down...CHECK
11. I sit back and finally sing the closing song and am overcome by the love of my Savior and my family--how blessed am I to have family to help me every Sunday and who love, support, and give unconditionally--as crazy as our hour and twenty minute Sacrament meeting was for us I truly feel the joy and spirit of Christmas...CHECK
12. Spend the rest of the day snuggling with handsome husband on the couch while boys play on the floor and watch Christmas movies...CHECK
13. Thank my Heavenly Father before falling into bed for giving me the two most wonderful blessings I could have ever asked for--while our lives are rarely boring we would not trade the craziness for anything in the world!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Sunday and that you got to enjoy your program a bit more than we did! Merry Christmas!

New House, New Adventures

2 weeks ago we moved into a new house! We are out of our little condo and into a 3 bedroom house that feels huge to us! We have a garage and a great backyard and are loving every single second here! The boys wake up in the morning have breakfast, play outside, take a nap, eat lunch, play outside, eat dinner and sleep like rocks!

Last Sunday when it rained I taught the boys to puddle splash in our backyard--rain is my favorite weather and growing up everytime it rained I put on my mud sliding clothes and ran outside to jump in puddles and slide in the mud, and when I say growing up I mean until I got married!--Anyhow the boys loved it every bit as much as I did!

A sweet story about the boys--Saturday night Joe and I were making spaghetti together while the boys were playing, they came in the kitchen and asked for bottles and after I made them both a bottle they dispapeered and got very quiet, I came around the corner to check on them and they had climbed up on the couch, pulled a blanket up over them, and were just sitting together on the couch drinking their bottles. They are best friends and I LOVE it!

One more story about the boys--they found Joe's remote control R2D2 toy and figured out how to work it...they passed the remote back and forth a few times before they got it working but I was just amazed that they could actually work it! They're such smart boys!

We are loving our new place and keeping busy getting everything organized! For anyone wondering we are still in CP and didn't move very far, we are even still in the same ward!

On the brink of VACATION!!

So, I am PROCRASTINATING...I should be packing for Pismo but my brain is already in vacation mode...our family goes to Pismo once a year--this year my grandparents have rented a beach front house that we can all fit in and we get to spend a week relaxing!
As excited as I am I just can't find the motivation to get things done--it's a bit overwhelming to pack for two 18 month olds for a week...here's what the math looks like

for 1 child most people say pack 2-3 outfits per day: 14-21 outfits

we need pj's for every night because we usually wet through at least one set per night: 7 pj's for 1 child

x's by 2: 42-56 outfits total

plus

at least 2 sweaters per child, 1 coat per child

2 pairs of socks per child per day: 28 pairs of socks

2 pairs of shoes per child/2 pairs sandals per child...

7 sheets per child--refer back to wet diapers in the night--we usually change the sheets once a day...actually I just read that...who in their right mind has 14 pack-n-play sheets not me--looks like we'll be washing sheets!

2 pack-n-plays

2 booster seats

1 double stroller...

good thing we're taking the truck!

All adding up to 1 momma who should definetely be packing instead of blogging...

btw don't judge me for my spelling, I'm a fairly good speller but have never been able to spell the word definetely right...it's like a mental block, go figure!
Honestly I don't know how all of you mother's do it--or how my mom did it with 4 kids for so many years...I guess I'll find out eventually...but for today I'll stick to packing for 3...wish me luck!

Thursday Thoughts...

Most of my blog is about my children...as much as I love them it makes me feel like I don't have a life beyond being a mom...which I guess could be true at some times--it just makes me feel fairly uninteresting!

So I thought I'd try to blog about something different every once in a while...

1.

I had Jury Duty this week...it was awful and I cried...in front of the whole court room and the judge--I am traumatized! The case was very similar to the car accident I was in back in 2003 and had been caused by a 21 year old kid who had been drinking--it felt way too familiar for me and I had to explain to the judge that I couldn't be unbiased in the situation because of it...as I explained the car accident and how it impacted so much of my life back then I began to cry--I was so embarassed...the upside--I was excused which means they consider me as having served and I can't be called again for a year...BAD day though!

2.

I am obsessed with Glee...Joe and I rented the first disc of season 1 via Netflix and bought the first season shortly after--we have watched the entire season twice! We don't pay for TV though and have been watching season 2 online a few days after the new episodes come out...I am sad to say I don't enjoy the 2nd season nearly as much as the first...

3.

We are going to Pismo Beach in less than 2 weeks and I am so excited! We look forward to this trip all year long!

4.

I have been toying with the idea of joining a gym--I used to love running but have only done it a few times since having the boys...at this point I am a little bit scared to run because when I do it will show me exactly how out of shape I really am...

5.

Last Saturday night Joe and I got free movie tickets to see Life as we Know it--it was a pre screening type thing, I don't think it comes out until November--although it could come out this month I have no idea...it was actually pretty cute and for being a free movie we both had a great time...since the movie was free we were able to spend a whopping $11 on a small popcorn, large soda, and a water bottle--amazing! We stopped by Coldstone for dessert and came home to sleeping boys and a clean house--thanks Mommie!--We don't get to go out just the two of us very often but landing free movie tickets was the perfect reason for a night to ourselves!

6.

One last thing--my calling right now is in Young Womens, I am the Personal Progress Specialist and I absolutely LOVE it! The girls in our ward are so sweet and I have had such a great time getting to know them! We are trying to move into a house and are looking so hard to stay in our ward because I LOVE being in Young Womens...plus we have some pretty rad people in our ward!

Nursery!

Sunday was the boys first time in Nursery by themselves at church! Now that they're 18 months old they get to go to Nursery for the first two hours of church and play with all the other kids! They were such good boys and had so much fun! I prepped myself all week because I knew that they would do so well...Brayden was a little bit sad to see me go but Walker was fine--they both played just fine without me around! Can't believe they're this big already!

18 months ago...

18 months ago yesterday I was busy growing my two little angels...little did I know my water would break that night and I would have my two sweet boys 5 weeks ahead of schedule!18 months ago today Heavenly Father sent these sweet boys into Joseph and I's lives and everyday since then has been a wonderful adventure!
18 months ago, Joseph and I became parents and changed from a couple to a family

6 months ago we celebrated these sweet little guys 1st birthday--and the fact that Joseph and I had survived as parents for a year!

Today I woke up to the sound of my babies playing and giggling at eachother...as usual one of them was covered in poop--such smart boys getting their dirty diapers off--they played in the bath for an hour, we had breakfast, we played some games, we danced and sang at the top of our lungs, I chased them upstairs and they are now slumbering sweetly...

It is days like today when I know how blessed I am to be a mother and to have such wonderful children...

It's somewhat bizarre going from 2 to 4 in a matter of nine months...there were day when I was pregnant that I thought how in the world will I care for and love two children at once--I remember worrying that I might love one more than the other or that I wouldn't have time to play with both of them each day--

I can truly say that I LOVE being a mother--I treasure each moment I have with my little guys...even the poop filled ones!

I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by and how big Walker and Brayden are already--I hope that I always remember these moments and make time for more moments throughout their lives!

And there is no way I could talk about the last 18 months without saying how wonderful Joseph has been as a husband and father--he is such a natural with the boys and they absolutely adore him! They talk about him all day while he is gone and giggle and sit with him when he gets home--

I love you Joseph--thanks for being the best!

Dear...

Dear Fall...

Thank you for showing your beautiful face on the tree in front of our car this morning! Can't wait for more good times with you! Please stay for a while!

Your friends-Kira, Walker and Brayden

Young Women Beach Trip

Growing up in the same ward I'm in now I went on our ward Young Women's beach trip every year...the year after I graduated they changed it to a Youth Confrence trip and invited the boys from the ward, after that they never really did the trip again...They decided to bring it back this year and it just so happens that I just got called to be the Personal Progress specialist in YW's! I was so excited to get to help and attend the beach trip with all the fun girls in our ward! There were 9 girls on the trip and 4 leaders! We had such a fun time...it was my first time being away from the boys over night but Joseph did a great job taking care of them! It was so fun to hang out with the girls and act like a teenager again for a couple days!!The other leaders and I
The girls minus two--turning Chloe into a mermaid

Some of the girls turning Amber into a mermaid...
Morgan, Brooke, and I

Brittney if you're reading my blog I have to say being on the Beach Trip with Morgan--who is So muc like you--brought back so many memories!

It was FREEZING and these girls stayed in the water almost the entire time we were at the beach!

Such a fun trip! Can't wait to go again next year!

Summer Days with 16 month olds...

Things have been busy here in the Carlson household! We have been having so much fun enjoying summertime!
One of the saddest things about the boys getting bigger is we've cut off all their sweet baby curls...we were getting lots of mullet comments so we decided it was time! They look so grown up now!I suprised Joe and took him to Six Flags for his 26th bday! We had a great day riding roller coasters and hanging out just the two of us!
Auntie Caitlin had our cousins Payton and Brooklyn with her for a whole day last week and they came to spend it with Walker and Brayden, the girls swam while the boys napped, they colored and blew bubbles with the boys frosted cupcakes, played outside, and ate pigs in a blanket--the boys love playing with the girls!

Walker and Brayden absolutely LOVE coloring right now...while they do eat the ocassional crayon they will color for hours!

We also play with whipped creme in their high chairs before bath time! They have so much fun getting dirty!

Oh bummer, these pictures are sideways, but they love to pull our curtains around and play peek a boo behind them while they eat...I end up having to wash the curtains every few days but they giggle so sweetly its worth it!

They love to eat bananas but will only eat them if they are whole with the peel, they can peel them back by themselves and look so big holding them!

They love to relax with their daddie when he gets home from work and watch an episode of the Backyardagains or Spongebob!

Well darn, another sideways pic...we also love playing dress up in our house, hats, ties, sunglasses...you name it!

also bandanas...

Hope you're all enjoying your summers, we sure are!

Best Pumpkin Muffins Ever!

So I know it's kind of the wrong season for making things with Pumpkin, but I got some on clearance the other day and have been wanting to use it!

I absolutely love pumpkin...I found this recipe for muffins a few years back from this website and have been making them ever since! The recipe makes a huge amount of muffins--I made some on Monday and did half of the batter in my crockpot, to make sort of a pumpkin loaf...and used the rest of it yesterday to make 27 muffins! Anyways it's so yummy I thought I should share!

PUMPKIN MUFFINS

3 1/3 c. flour 2 tsp. baking soda 3 c. sugar 1 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. nutmeg 1/4 tsp. ground ginger Mix dry ingredients and add: 1 c. oil 4 eggs 2/3 c. water 2 c. pumpkin Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Prepare muffin tins by greasing with vegetable oil or butter and sprinkling lightly with flour. Shake out excess. Fill muffin tins three-quarters full and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean

I bake mine for exactly 20 minutes and they turn out great!

They are also equally delicious when you add some chocolate chips!

Happy Baking!

Mother's Day Crafts

I've been meaning to post these for a while now...I made our Mother's Day Pressents this year and felt so good about saving money and giving gifts that were more meaningful! I made both of our moms canvas' with pictures on them and made a washer necklace for Joseph's mom and picture blocks for my mom(which I don't have a pic of)!

The washer necklace idea came from here

it's been done on probably every craft blog out there but I really liked this one! Just an FYI for anyone wanting to make washer necklaces get aluminum washers--anything else is really hard to stamp, everybody blogs about them being so easy but just buying normal washers are way too hard to stamp hence aluminum washers are apparently the way to go...unfortunately for me I found this out too late!

This picture canvas was my idea, I bought the canvas on clearance at Target and just painted over it, added the pictures and bought the letters for $.99 at Target as well! I love the way it turned out, I also made one for my mom with her other Grandkids on it as well!

The idea for photo blocks is here

They turned out super cute, I painted them blue for my mom and did black and white pics on them, I'll get a pic asap!

One other thing I made recently for the boys are these awesome no sew capes
they literally took me five minutes to make both, and the boys love them! They came from old shirts of Josephs! They're a little big for now--I've been searching for small Superman shirts at thrift stores so they can be real super hero capes!

Scratch That!

So I went to bed last night thinking that my last post sounded horribly negative! I'm sorry! I just get upset by people who act like having twins is a horrible , hard thing! I don't want anyone to feel like they need to be careful what they say around me, I love talking about having twins I just don't enjoy the negativity that people have towards how hard things must be and that they don't realize that having two babies makes every single day worth it!

That's probably what I should've said from the start...thanks for letting me vent friends! Happy Tuesday!

People Say the Darndest Things...

Disclosure: Please excuse me while I rant for a minute...

So today I made a decision--I think my life will not be about surviving twins...but about surviving stupid people--excuse my frankness!

I know I have blogged about this a little bit before, but I just can't believe the things people say to me when I am out with the boys...today we went to the Dr. for their 15 month check up...I know can you believe they're 15 months already!?

And everyone went on and on about how hard it must be to have two boys walking/running! People are always so negative...why not say something like...I dunno, HOW FUN!? Because it is fun and wonderful and ocassionally crazy but I would not change it for the world! I love having two walking boys...I love having two babies in general! Some women struggle for years to have children and I got pregnant with two babies on the first try...why in the world is that a negative thing???

Sorry...just venting, but in case you were wondering I love having twins, I do have my hands full--each hand is full of a wonderful precious baby

...or I mean 15 month old big boy!

Wordless Wednesday!

Memorial Day at the Zoo! Love these boys!

Thrift Store Make Over!

I recently purchased this...at the thrift store for $5!

With some TLC and several coats of paint it is now a perfect pantry for our small kitchen! I love it!

Wordless Wednesday--one day late!