Christmas

I know I am really behind, and you would think with my husband being on Christmas break from teaching school that I would have lots of time to sit down and update my blog.  Honestly though, in the evenings once the kids are in bed we watch a couple episodes of LOST season 6 (second time round) and play Black Ops together.  Surprisingly for all you ladies out there who might think video games are lame and a waste of time, it is actually really fun and great couple time because we get to talk to each other the whole time as opposed to watching a movie where we do not talk.

Anyway, back to the point of the post is to show you a few Christmas photos.  Christmas was a lot of fun this year, but I can't wait for next year.  The girls are really a fun stage right now.  It  seems like every day there are a few new words and more love.

Here are a few photos

NEW HAIR

In case some of you are not on my facebook... I thought I would share my new hair cut!
Honestly, my husband has been wanting me to cut my hair again and try out something even shorter!  I know most men love the LONG hair, but he has been on a shorter hair kick, and I was all for it!  My "inspiration" for the style and colour is Alice Cullen... So we shall see how it looks when I actually try to do it myself!

It is Happening

It is happening, the house is starting to look a little like Christmas.  We have put up our new tree (Thank you Costco) and the only thing we have on it right now are the lights (prelit) red ribbon and pine cones.  Adam and I both love the tree as it is, so I think this year we are going to forgo putting the ornaments on the tree.  Mostly because we love it as it is, but also because I think the girls would have fun taking them all off!  If you look closely at the photo you can see an area where the girls helped me put the bows on and they are all in one spot..

We also hung our Stocking sign.  I got this new this year and I love it.  Especially since we do not have a spot to put our stockings.. last year we put them on the piano but that was not really that much fun!  I have three more stockings to add to the holder when I actually put ribbon on them to hang them.  I made them last year but I think I might make some new ones as they were a really quick job!

I love Christmas in our home.. Not because of the gifts (though it will be fun to watch the girls sort of open them this year and Jazzy will be so much fun!  It really though has to do with how much happier people seem to be this time of year!

Halloween

I have been a bit neglectful with my blog but thought I would post a couple photos of my cuties from Halloween!

What would YOU Say?

I would tell myself "It is OK to cry"

Monday Music

How have I missed this song for the last year or so???

First is the Italian version which I think is every bit as beautiful - if not more beautiful!





Here is the English version featuring Kelly Rowland



What do you think???

What song have you been listening to lately more than normal???

Sunday Best

We never made it to church today, between knowing the girls have been napping even earlier and are desperately in need still of two naps (and will NOT fall asleep on us) and a flat tire we never made it.

However, the girls still got to wear their Sunday best - I would be more than OK to let them run around in their pj tops and cloth diapers but my husband loves when they are dressed up really cute - so here they are today in their Sunday Best!

Aboiteau Beach - Cap-Pele

We were lucky enough to get to go to the Cabins of Aboiteau in Cap-Pele again for an Executive work retreat for Adam and the family.  Adam was in meetings during the days so I decided to bring my mother with me to help with the girls at the beach as I knew I would not be able to run in two directions and I certainly did not want to miss the opportunity to spend some time at the beach with the girls - their first real experience at the beach.  They certainly did love it and watching them play and splash and giggle as they fell over in the little waves trying to get their balance was so much fun!  They were excellent little girls who were really on their best behaviour for which all of us were ever so grateful!  My only complaint about the place - and I mean only, is that where our cabins were at the beach entrance only had stairs going down to it and no ramp for us to take the wagon down without having to unload the girls and carry the wagon down!

Here are some photos to prove how much fun we had!

CHAT to the Future

I mentioned a little in a previous post about CHAT to the Future!

My husband has been working hard with Gerald in Uganda to provide shelter, food, medicine and a school to these 130 orphans and has been doing such a great job and working so hard for such a great cause.  I thought I would share with you a little video from the news last week and hope that everyone will join the facebook group and support such a great cause in any way you are able to.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

It is hard to believe how fast 2 years have gone by and how much has happened to change my life in the past two years.  Adam and I were talking about all the changes and honestly, as happy as we are, it feels like 5 or even 10 years should have gone by with all the big changes which took place.

I know most women say how lucky they are to be married to the man they call their husband, and I am no exception.  I have been so blessed to be married to Adam!   He truly has one of the kindest and caring souls of anyone I know.  Honestly he himself has no idea of how great he is as a person which I suppose makes him even better!  I truly married the perfect person - for ME!  He puts up with me - honestly it is true, some days he really does have to just put up with me, and he does it because he loves me!  I have never doubted the fact that my husband loves me not one day so far in our short two year marriage.  I truly hope I can say the same thing 5, 10, 20 even 40 years from now!

So to Adam, my best friend, my laughing partner, a father supreme, my love, my true North Thank you, and I love you!  Happy Anniversary!

What I Have Been Up To!

I have been a total blog slacker these past few weeks and well I have no other excuse except I am lazy and do not really feel like I did anything all that excited to post about except last week, so I am posting now bullet form!

= Hanging out with these sweet girlies

= Adam went to Edmonton for 4 nights for a Canadian Teacher Conference and I had PLENTY of these girls, but I love them!

= Went to Denver for a Scentsy Convention = oh it was CRAZY over 6000 people together under one roof all who love Scentsy and work for Scentsy... it was seriously nuts but a lot of fun!  I got to spend some great time with my sister Amie  and meet some great new people and get to know some on my team even better.  The trip was not without drama and sometimes I will never figure out why people choose to be the way they are but I had a wonderful time and had lots of laughs and am VERY excited for the new Scentsy Products coming out in September!

= We also held an event at our home on Monday August 2nd for CHAT to the Future and we had a nice turnout and got some great matches.. Check out the site and the sweet sweet African orphans who showed so much spirit singing to us via skype.  We had a few more matches and some great memories for those here.  I did a fundraiser which is still going from Scentsy, so if you are looking to get some great products and donate to a great cause email me to be part of the fundraiser or look at the website and sign up for the newsletter - anyone who signs up for the newsletter I will donate 2$ plus 100% of my commission for any purchases.. my email is jennymay.mckim@gmail.com
If you are also interested in sponsoring an orphan it is 300$ a year and you get LOTS of photos and updates and the opportunity to personally skype with your child.. Email me if you would like more info or send a facebook message to the group and my husband will help you out!

On the right is Glorious the 8 year old that Adam and I have "adopted" within the 130 orphans from the Orphanage.  The money goes to the entire group but the contact is personal!

Gerald the director of the Orphanage and National Representative for Youth in his district shown here with most of the children in their most recent gift from some Swedish Visitors - CLOTHES!
Check them out CHAT To The Future on facebook or their Basic Blog getting started at
CHAT TO THE FUTURE

= Honestly it has been a busy but somewhat relaxing summer here in the McKim household and I can't believe we only have three more weeks until Adam goes back to work and until I have my after school children to make up for me quitting work!

The girls are starting to fuss around my feet and I should get their supper ready!

Pictures instead of a Post

I have been seriously lazy lately posting.. actually, nothing all that interesting going on and we have been spending most days outside which means less time for me sitting here at the computer while the girls play and even today I do not feel much like posting.

The British Open Golf is on in the back ground and the girls are busy pulling all their cloth diapers out of the basket over and over again.

So instead of a true post, how about a couple cute photos! (a couple of which are not in perfect focus but getting photos at all of these girls is an accomplishment)

Mommy Message

Because regardless of what each of us mothers believe... This is something I think we can all stand to hear... especially on days like I have had today!

I used to love Shoe Shopping

I cannot say that I have a lot to post about lately. My mind seems to just be all over the place and I cannot seem to find the time to sit down and write a decent blog entry.

However, most people love pictures of cute twin girls... and I happen to have cute twin girls!

The twins are walking everywhere and I am surprised that they do not care where they are walking be it on the grass, on the deck, on the pavement or in the house WITHOUT shoes on. Normally they never wore shoes outside, sometimes Robeezs but normally just bare feet because they did not walk. Now that they are, we were in desperate need to find them some harder soled shoes. Off I went with them (because I really needed to try them on because I had no idea what size honestly)...

After a few melt downs of me trying to shove different shoes on the girls and letting them down to try them out and then torturing them by putting them back in the wagon I decided on a couple pair of little Ked slip ons. I got two pair of the same so in case we loose one, we will at least still have a set! Charlotte was having a great time tonight trying them out. It was very cute because she would step REALLY high with each step and look back and me and her feet and smile with her new shoes. I am for sure going to need a few other pair of shoes, but at least their little toes will not be all beat up and bleeding (yes I am a terrible mom sometimes)... There are SO many cute shoes out there but I cannot rationalize spending 25-30 $ on a pair of shoes they will wear for a few months - especially when I have to purchase 2 sets of each of them!

So what are you favourite first shoes for your children?

Mama's Listening

I have been a fan of Sarah McLachlan since I can remember. I am so excited because after 7 LONG years, she's finally put out a new album, Laws of Illusion. If you have never listened to her before, she is chill, puts a smile on your face and it is the perfect blend of music. Her unique voice is haunting and simply beautiful.

If you are planning on only downloading one song or two from this album you would be mistaken. The entire album is beautiful and perfectly Sarah!

I am absolutely in love with the Song "Awakenings" and "Forgiveness" Her emotions are raw and out there in her music and you can tell a lot of it is based on the emotions she would have recently gone through with her divorce.

Here is a little listening pleasure!

If you are a Sarah fan.. what is favourite Sarah song????

We are Sewing... daily sewing..

Well maybe I am not daily sewing, but I wish I had the time to daily sew. I will admit that I am not a seamstress by any stretch of the imagination, but I do enjoy sewing and I have made more baby blankets and burp cloths than I can count. I have made wool pants from old sweaters for the girls over their cloth diapers, but really I have not made any clothes for the girls... until NOW!

I found this do it yourself over at PRUDENT BABY BLOG (which I love and honestly has something for anyone to be able to do) and I decided that if I could actually do it, I could make the twins some cute dresses that would not cost a lot and I might not care if they destroyed. I went to fabricville yesterday and purchased some really cute material and then some more on super sale material which will make cute dresses for playing around outside.

So, here is my first finished product! I have the same material in red to make Ruby's dress but I have not finished it yet. The girls are sleeping (hence being able to sew and blog) so I will try it on her after and hope it fits.

What have you sewn lately (and send me the links if it is online... I love looking at new patterns!)????

These Boots were Made for Walking

The Girls are walking....Charlotte has been trying for a while and making a lot of progress.  Ruby has not really been trying but all of a sudden she figured it out.  Perhaps it was all the watching of Charlotte, but they are having fun walking around the house...

Here are a couple of videos of the girls walking around...
Sorry for the terrible camera job, I thought the screen would turn sideways when I turned the camera sideways - guess I was wrong!

20 minute workout - Constantly

I KNEW that having children was going to be a lot of work, and that I would do a lot of running around after them.  What I did NOT know, was that I was going to be running after twins!  The girls are on the move.  Charlotte tries to walk everywhere, which in itself is extra work because she does not grasp the concept of walking around in our living room is not quite the same as taking off down the paved driveway. (Her knees tell the story though)

As most of you already know, my girls LOVE being outside.  When I say love, I mean it in the passionate way that I love ice-cream.  If it is there, I want it!  Thankfully for me, ice-cream is not always available, but the great outdoors is.  730 in the morning the girls are crying at the front door wanting to go outside!

I can't make it through the entire day if we spend it all outside!  We have a large property (which I love) but no need for a fence around it, and well I have to keep my eyes on them constantly.  Between the many things they can get into, it is a constant work out running after them now that they are even faster on the move.  It was WONDERFUL when we could all go outside, spread a blanket and they would sit and play for hours and not wonder what it would be like to eat dirt, grass, mommies plants, leaves, twigs, bugs, and whatever else they manage to find on the ground!

Now this is what my day consists of!
I have even taken to bringing their high chairs outside for lunch in the shade because dragging those outside is a lot easier than dragging them both inside kicking and screaming because they do not want to come inside.  I cannot blame them really, it is beautiful outside and I honestly love eating my lunch outside on the deck, so I do not mind, and think it is quite cute!

So here is a peek at a couple of hours outside with the girls today...

LUNCH

A bit of story time after cleaning up from lunch! (as much time as I can get out of the chairs!)

Looking at mommies flower bed

Eating Mommies flower bed (I have tried many times to stop them.. I let them get a taste now hoping that they will figure out it is nasty and stop.. The more I try to stop them, the more they want to eat!)

Charlotte pondering the taste of DIRT!

Whoever said that premie babies do not get chubby - um well look at them now!! Ruby just crawling through the flower bed while Charlotte munches on a stick!

Charlotte in her very colourful outfit (yeah I know it does not all match) eating the leaves from the tree!

Can you tell which one is my trouble maker already???  Where I found Charlotte when I turned my back for a minute to stop Ruby from climbing up and standing on our deck chairs.. That is the look she gave me when I told her to get down... I did not quite catch the bottom lip hanging down.  The girls are at the age now where they are understanding that mommy or daddy is NOT happy about something they are doing and you should see the lips they give us... CUTE - but not so cute!

SO that is about 2 hours of time during my day with the twins....
For all you mothers of multiples or little children close to age, what are some of your outdoor activities that you find keep them entertained and how do you keep them from running all over the neighbourhood???

Teaching them Early

My twins LOVE going to Indigo Books to play and to read books in the "Teacup"! We also thought it was wise to teach the girls that grocery shopping is fun...That way maybe the fits will be minimal when they get older :)

Here is a little of both!



Please forgive the poor quality - these were on my IPhone!

Never Heard That Before

So tonight my in laws (who are next door) were trying out their new fire pit for the first time and we had an invitation to come over and roast some marsh mellows and sit around the fire.. Which of course we took up! As I am writing this quick note I am basking in the scent of camp fire, and loving it.

So Jazzy (my step daughter) who will be 4 in October and our neighbour friend Gracie were playing hide-and-go-seek while we adults sat around the fire. The girls came back for round two of roasting and I noticed Jazzy looked like she might have peed her pants (which she never does). When we asked her if she had she of course was embarrassed but then quickly added the reason why she peed her pants, and I quote...

"I couldn't go in an pee, we were playing hide-and-go-seek and I had a really great hiding spot and I did not want Gracie to find me"

I think she might have her Fathers Competitive nature!!





The sun was right in our faces but I had to post a photo of the girls first "bon fire"