Easter nostalgia

Some Moms do the Christmas Eve photo in front of the Christmas tree with all the kids in their Christmas pajamas. I'm not one of those Moms. In fact, despite that I really enjoy taking photos, it's rare that ask my own children to sit and take a photo all together. And getting myself in the picture is even more rare.

For whatever reason, Easter is the one time a year I hand off the camera and force beg coerce bribe my kids (and husband) into taking a yearly family photo. It rarely ends well (and by well, I mean that we are all perfectly posed and I've not issued threats or made unreasonable promises), but it always makes me laugh. At least, afterwards. Many years afterwards.

It also appears to be the one thing that Lucas hates most on the earth. Olivia, on the other hand, has always rocked the Easter photo. I'm guessing it's her favorite holiday, ever. Besides her birthday and Christmas and whatever holiday is exactly next.

Easter 2010 can be found here on my blog. It's hilarious. But for comparisons purposes, here's a quick picture.

That would be itty bitty Ella on my lap next to Olivia. Goodness

Easter 2011 was apparently not blogged about and this is probably why:

The best one we got that year features our dog's back. Again, LUCAS. He's probably mad because he's wearing the exact same sweater vest that he wore the previous year. Fashion is clearly his thing. Or not. Seeing as how he's worn the same pair of jorts for the last week.

Easter 2012 things seemed to go a big more smoothly.

That's teeny, tiny Abigail on my lap.

You know, except for Lucas. At least Olivia is rocking it out. And Aaron. Clearly they were being bribed with excessive amounts of candy. Momma had a newborn. Momma was tired.

Easter 2013 apparently did not exist because I have no photographic documentation of it. Not even looking back through all the pics from my phone. So weird.

Which brings us to this year. Easter 2014. I knew I wanted a pic of all of us. My parents, my two grandmas and all the kids. Please note Lucas' over sarcastic smile because it took several photos of him not doing pointy, happy fingers at the camera, or throwing up some sort of gang symbol or staring off into the yard in the opposite direction.

23 photos later, grandparent photo: check. I mean, one kid out of 8 isn't looking but LOOK AT ABIGAIL. The cute. I can't even handle it.

And then, I politely asked Abigail to remove herself from my Mom's lap and sit with me for a nice family photo. She also loved that idea. Or not.

Okay, Abs, please just stop before you upset your baby sister.

Well, at least Lucas is happy for once.

I hope your Easter was a scream.

Six, Six

Six years ago today my whole world changed. And isn't that just like kids? They mess you up, don't they? These little people squeeze their way into our lives (literally) and we are forever changed.

But twins.... ah. They're something different all together. When we found out we were having twins, I sobbed. NOT out of joy, either. Stupid, I know.

Each day I have with these two I am reminded how much I am totally dependent on the Lord. Not for the physical strength (although, that too!) but for the emotional, spiritual and mental strength it takes to lead their hearts to the Throne of Grace.

Two times the challenges but an infinite amount of blessings.





It's hard for me to imagine either of these two not being a twin. They annoy the snot out of each other one minute, then they're best buddys the next. I think the concept of being a twin is lost on anyone who is not a twin. In fact, I'm sure of it.
Sometimes, Elizabeth and I just look at them and shake our heads. We just don't get the twin thing, I'm afraid. Oh but these two do.
Lucas loves his sister with ferocity. Ashlee adores her brother with a love/hate affection reserved only for him. And can they ever make each other laugh.

It cracks me up to sit back and listen to them interact. Lucas acts so cool, calm and collected. Ashlee is the forever goofball. Like in the picture below. My instruction was, "Stand beside each other and just hold hands. Now, look at me."

I had released the shutter on my camera several times before I realized exactly what was going on.

Being totally cool, calm and collected, Lucas was squeezing the crap out of his sisters hand. All the while maintaining a nice, normal stance just like I instructed. Ashlee, however... not so much. Giggles abounded as I asked them to love each other, just for a second please.

Silly faces and wrestling matches began.

And I realized my efforts for a nice, normal picture of the two of them were futile. But then again, I guess that this is their normal.

My Ashlee girl is silly, affectionate, a math whiz, eager to please, slow to anger, quick to forgive and totally and 100% in love with her siblings, especially her baby sisters. It doesn't take much to work a giggle out of her.

Lean and lanky she's well into a size 6x in length but is often found wearing her younger sisters' 2T/3T clothes. I mean, after all, "They fit just fine Mom!" Scrawny little thing, she is. She's the fastest runner in the house and maintains the title of best cuddler. She's easily entertained and swings on a quick pendulum of enjoying time alone and being the family clown. She's the family peace maker. And I adore how she loves other people.

Lucas is 1,000% boy. His newest obsession? STAR WARS. He's training to be a Jedi and trying to use the force to overcome the evils of the Dark Side. Or, to distract his sisters from their Polly Pockets. Either one.

Notice how Ashlee is not even phased at the louder than life yelling in her ear. Somethings you just get used to, I guess.

He's a risk taker, determined to test the limits of his body and my good sense. But he's also quick to shower on compliments and even faster to tell you he loves you. Which melts my heart each and every time.

He eats more than I could ever think possible, which makes me even more glad that we're moving to the land of rice and beans. Rice swells and beans are cheap. Both will be necessary to fill up this bottomless pit of a boy, I'm sure.

He's already missing 2 teeth, one of which he ripped from his head a mere 2 days ago. I'm not even sure it was wiggly for more than 2 hours. The threshold he has for pain is remarkable.

Words cannot express how much I love these two people. I've heard people say that bad things come in sets of 3's. I don't know about the truth in that but I can assure you that one of the best gifts I've ever received came in twos.

A six year old princess.

A six year old warrior.

A batch of silliness,

mixed with courage and valor.

I'm quite sure that these two couldn't have come any other way, than in a double dose.

Thank you God for this blessing of six and six. Six glorious years that went by in the blink of an eye. Six, six. Unique. Special. Doubled.

Happy Birthday Lucas!

Happy Birthday Ashlee!

Click here to see their 5th, 4th, 3rd and 2nd birthday posts.