Texas Roadhouse here we come....

We took the kids to Texas Roadhouse for their birthday dinner last night. We had a great time! Grandpa, Grandma, Auntie Jean, Uncle Willie and Alexis joined us too. Here are the pictures from tonight.
Alex looking over the menu...oh the choices...
Liz bypassed the menu for peanuts...keep 'em coming grandpa...

Zach also looked at the menu while enjoying peanuts...

and what goes best with peanuts but beer...

Here is one table...

and the other table...

Alexis was enjoying the onion blossom...yummy!

Daddy more peanuts please...

Alex is thinking that is BIG glass of milk...

Look at all those peanuts...

I am full just looking at that BIG glass...

For the birthday kids...a ride in a saddle with a yee-haw...

Daddy and Alex chillin' before dessert...

One very excited mommy and Liz chillin' before dessert...

Mr. Blue Eyes and Auntie Jean hammin' it up before dessert...

And for dessert ice cream....yummy!

Daddy and the boys....we are stuffed...

Liz showing grandpa her very full belly....

Straws are fun toys...

Alexis dancing with her mommy...

After leaving the Roadhouse, Grandma and Grandpa stopped by our house to give the kids their birthday presents. Here grandma helps them open their cards...can you tell she is lovin it....

Each of them received their very own preemie Cabbage Patch Doll...

The all got some big kid underwear and Liz got this cool Elmo shirt that she just had to show off...

Hope you enjoyed all the pictures.

Love, Jen

Happy 2nd Birthday!!!

OMG!!! They are 2 years old! My babies are no longer babies! Where did that time go? Can we slow this down a bit?!?!? It has been quite the emotional day for mommy. I look at them and am so incredibly thankful. I am the luckiest woman...I get triple the hugs, triple the kisses, triple the love from these incredible little people! They have taught me and continue to teach me things. I cannot imagine life without them or even imagine not having one of them. They had a rough start to life but have not let that slow them down. They are our little fighters-determined like their father and me (and sometimes a little stubborns too). They make us so proud! I will stop there as the tears are flowing pretty good.

So here's to you guys...Happy 2nd Birthday! We love you more and more each day! Love, Mommy and Daddy

Alexander Donald, born at 12:50am, 3#5oz, 16 1/2"
Elizabeth Ann, born at 12:55am, 2#15oz, 16"

Zachary Earl, born at 12:56, 2#10oz, 15 1/2"

Our three miracles...personalities all their own but a bond so tight!

PS We will be taking the kids out for a birthday supper (hopefully a new tradition). I will post pictures of that tomorrow (hopefully).

It's An Elmo Birthday Party!

After a week of migraines and hard work, today has come and gone. We threw the kids an Elmo themed party. It was on the small sizes again (one day we will do a big one), but still turned out to be a GREAT day! The kids were dressed in some Elmo shirt I had found just last weekend. The kitchen and dining room were decorated in balloons and streamers. Here are some of the decorations:

Although the look different then I originally envisioned them, they turned out great. With only a paper to trace the outline of his head, the rest was made up. The boys' cakes were chocolate and Liz's was yellow. Again I surprised myself with my ablilty to pull this off. Like Jeremy says I may have a new calling in life...lol! Who knows what a little practice and more knowledge could do for me...lol!

We put the kids down for their nap early and had to wake them up as guest started arriving and they were still sleeping. They took a while to warm up to everyone but eventually came out of their shells a little bit. After eating lunch we went to opening presents. Zach dove in right away with his gift from his godfather, Fred, Noel & Owen (who will be 2 yrs in March). Not only did Zach get this great car game but an awesome outfit with a cap and sunglasses....

Who knew sunglasses would steal the show. He is such a ham!

Liz found it hard to wait to open presents. She just started grabbing while Zach was unwrapping. She did not slow down to find out if the gift was for her. Here she is opening Zach's gift from Nana & Papa...

Auntie Jackie helped Alex with opening his gift from Nana & Papa....

You may think since Liz opened one of Zach's gift that she may let him open one of hers....yeah, right...here she is opening her gift from Nana & Papa...

Although Jeanne, Brent and Mackenzie were unable to join us, Maddie and Morgan were here to watch the kids' excitement over their gifts....

Not only did they get those cool shirts but the big box held an even more exciting gift...

They waste NO time trying it out....how cool!

Tissue paper was a lot of fun for Zach as he opened his gift from Marcus (Liz's godfather), Renee, Brianna and Camden. The three of them will be dressed very cute this summer!

Here are the kids sitting in their rocker made by Papa for the first time. Hard to get their attention with new toys, wrapping paper and an audience...lol...

Alex and Liz did take a moment to check out the cool books from Grover (Alex's godfather) and Sarah. We have a lot of reading ahead of us.

Zach didn't wait for Liz and Alex to help him Auntie Jackie and Uncle Momo's present. He went in head first for it!!!

Auntie Jean's present was almost forgot as it got lost in the wrapping paper. She has a great sense of humor...little does she know, but she will be here when the kids use her present of paint! Can you tell she finds herself very funny? She's the one in the background bustin' a gut laughing...lol!

After gifts it was on to cake and ice cream. Even though Auntie Jackie had the card that had Elmo singing happy birthday, we still all sang to the kids. With a little help from mom and dad to blow out hte candles we were ready....

Here they are clean....but only for a short amount of time....lol! They are waiting patiently for their untensils even though I told them to dig in...

Alexis joined the table for some fun. She turns 2 on the 1st of March, so the kids were filling her in on what it is like...lol!

Today I got confirmation that Liz takes after me in the sweets department. In this next picture notice where she is sitting...yup that is Alex's chair and unfinished cake. Is there such a thing as too much?!?!?! Don't want to waste perfectly fine cake...you go girl!

Unfortunately is was after most poeple had left when the kids' true personalities started coming out. Zach and Liz were running around with their balloons. It took Alex a little bit before he was comfortable with them but he did join the fun. Who needs toys?!?! Next year it will be bring a balloon party...lol!

Here is Alex with his balloons and some gift bags...

Liz playing with them at the table...did not last for long...

Zach is in there amongst all the balloons...he was not happy unless he had everyone's balloons!