Cohen, Cohen, Cohen!

Cohen is so cute! If he is anywhere near his sister he has to touch her. Today she was sucking on his arm and he just gradually oozed into her. If you noticed, he has her hand on her head in our Christmas photo too. He is such a good baby. He is MEL-O! He just kind of hangs out and is a big time chatter box. He is was 17 pounds at his 4 month check, Tess was 14 pounds 10 oz. He is 5 inches taller and he was the smallest boy and is now the largest. I have to be careful not to squeeze him to death because he is like a supper squishy buttery teddy bear.

TO PIERCE or NOT to PIERCE?

PIERCE!
2 weeks ago we decided to get Tessa's ears pierced and I am so glad we did. She looks sooooo cute. I think we are more for it since she is a twin and to try and make it as easy as possible for people to tell them apart. Yes, I know one is a girl and one is a boy but there are a whole lot of people out there that ask REALLY dumb questions especially when it comes to twins. Can I tell you how tired I am of hearing "oh my, you have your hands full"! Really? Do I? And NO, they are NOT identical if anyone was wondering.

I was told that babies can't feel the pierce before they are 4 months old. I don't know if I believe it. She cried pretty hard. It could have been the sound of the piercing gun because she didn't flinch on the second ear but she was screaming. I do love it. I'd do it again.

The Kiddie's Christmas

I think 99% of the people in this world did this gingerbread house from good old Costco. I don't know about anyone else, but I love it. It was very easy and came with plenty of candy.

The best I could do in the 2 minutes I had before church. I wasn't able to find an outfit for Tessa's other twin (her massive double chin) since her dress was a hand-me-down (thanks everyone for all the clothes).

Cohen and Tess in their BUMBO's. They are getting huge!

Kiddie's in their new Christmas Eve pajamas. Once again, best I could do. Nobody likes to look at the camera, let alone smile at it, at the same time.

More Snow?!?!

The playhouse was even filled with snow since I haven't added the shutters yet.

We actually have two steps up to the house that you can't see. There was about a foot of snow against out door.

This is one of the snow drifts that was about 4 1/2 feet high and 15 feet long. Jared and Payton made it into a snow cave.

We ended up having about 17" of snow during Christmas. It was a great change from the rain. There was one or two days that were blizzard conditions that created really cool snow drifts throughout our yard. One made the PERFECT sledding hill. I really miss it but wish people in Washington and Oregon knew how to drive in it.

Let it snow!

It has been snowing off and on all week and we are loving every minute of it. We have been sledding, having lots of snowball fights, and building snowmen with Grandpa. Payton and Tate are awesome on the sled. Tate has no problem dragging the sled up the stairs and going down the hill without any help. He doesn't even seem to be phased by the cold. Jared built a jump and Payton was getting pretty good air off it. Today he was standing on the sled riding it down like a snowboard and was staying up for a good amount of time. I really hope it stays for Christmas. Last year we were lucky enough to have a white Christmas, I hope this year we are equally as lucky.

The Chosen One. 2008

For the past 3 year we go up the road about a mile to the tree farm to find "the chosen one". It was pretty cold on Friday so I suited up the babies extra snug. Tessa's coat thing was way too big for her. I had to unzip it a little so she could breath. She look just like the kid in Christmas story but in all pink. I put her in the back pack and had to tuck her arms in. We checked on her every few minutes to make sure she was alive. Cohen didn't seem to have any problem. Maybe since he is 3-4 pounds bigger then his sister.

Jared must have been inspired because he walked straight to the tree we chose. We are usually there AT LEAST an hour but this time in was MAYBE 5 minutes. There is nothing like the smell of a freshly cut tree in your home at Christmas time. We considered a fake, but can't part with the amazing smell of a fresh tree. The big boys then enjoyed their usual candy cane and hot chocolate by the fire while they wrapped the tree for us.

Tessa B.

I had to add these pictures that I took today because I can't stop laughing at them. I know I am bias, but she is a pretty cute kid...normally. These pictures make her look like a chubby old woman trapped in a babies body. She is actually pretty small but with her hat falling off and her shirt too big clearly aren't doing her any favors. Her picture on the left my blog shows her more delicate side.

Cottonwood Beach

Last Saturday we decided to go for a hike but I chickened out and decided to go to the beach down the road just encase the babies didn't want to cooperate. It was so quiet and peaceful. The boys had a great time digging in the sand. This beach is along the Columbia River so there are beautiful trees covered in moss. Payton pretended he was Bear from the Discovery Channel. He mad a shelter and pretended to eat the moss off the trees. We even came across a huge nasty dead Salmon that he wanted to "eat". We stuck a stick in it instead :o).

Twilight, Twilight, Twilight.

I don't know what it is about this story that makes it so irresistible to me but it is kind of annoying. I went to see the anticipate movie on Friday and went with low expectations. I should have gone with lower. I thought it was poorly done. The casting was off and I wasn't feeling Bella at all. I did like Alice and Edward. The movie seemed to me like a made for TV movie. The special effect were HORRIBLE and the make up on the vampires was very obvious. It was great to see all the familiar sceaniery from this area. (It was filmed in this area for those who didn't know). All that said, I can't stop thinking about it and I think I would see it again. WHAT'S THE DEAL!!! I will see all four (if they make them) and I am pretty sure I'll see Twilight again. I don't know why, I can't figure it out but I LOVE this series and I can't wait for the next one to come out.

Halloween 2008!

We had a great Halloween this year. Tate was a skunk, Payton was Iron Man, Cohen was a frog and Tess was a bunny. We have WAY too much candy around the house. I had to put it in the garage so I wouldn't eat so much of it. I still was able to polish off a COSTCO bag of mini's myself. I left the 3 musketeers and dark milkyway for the others. I'm not totally selfish :o)

Cohen & Tessa's Blessing

Pumpkin Patch '08

Our star player

I have to brag about my child for a moment. Payton scored 6 goals at his last soccer game. He is a scoring dribbling machine. He weaves in and out of people like it is his job. I am very proud of him until he starts crying like a little baby when he doesn't score (not everytime, but even once is too much for me). I guess I can't have a tough kid and an athlete at the same time. Hopefully that will come later.