Spring Break 2010

For Spring Break, we made a trip out to the coast and spent the weekend with Mark's sister, Heather, her hubby and their cute little baby. We stayed at their timeshare in Depoe Bay. Our condo was amazing and had the most breathtaking ocean views. The waves were literally crashing outside our window. The weather was stormy which made it all the more exciting.

Macy could not get enough of her cousin,

Kennedy. Best Baby EVER!

Karlee ready for a swim.

We all laughed so hard at this pictures of Nicholas! The hand towel was a perfect fit!

We made the trip up north to tour the Tillamook Cheese Factory. The cheese samples were delicious. Of course, we had to get ice cream.

We stopped by the Air Museum to tour what was a U.S. Naval Station from 1942 to 1948. The building was enormous and use to house the blimps that were used to patrol the ocean looking for enemy submarines during WWII. The kiddos went crazy over the airplanes!

We found a paved driveway down to the beach where we sat and watched the sunset. It was beautiful!

The next day, we checked out both the Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head lighthouses. The lighthouse at Yaquina Head is still used today. The light from a single lightbulb can be seen 21 miles away due to the mirrors and reflectors. It's amazing! Macy was tall enough to climb to the top...all 104 stairs. She did awesome!!!

The Tide Pools

The sea lions basking in the sun.

More ocean views

I always love taking pictures of the twins sleeping in the car. They were exhausted after running all day!

This was such a great trip! We hope this becomes a new Swensen/Kimber tradition.

Happy St. Patricks Day

I made these fun rainbow cupcakes for Macy's preschool class treat. I got the idea from the March Family Fun magazine. They were a little labor intensive but not too bad. The real surprise was when you cut into them and saw the rainbow. I frosted them with rainbow chip frosting. Yum!

Playing Catch Up

I can't believe I haven't posted since January. So much has happened...and to be honest, I have been too exhausted & lazy to blog about it. Life has been busy. I think two 2 year-olds will do that to you. Just to play catch up I'll sum everything up real quick.

I turned 31!!!! Maybe I shouldn't be revealing my age but I'm okay with it. I celebrated my birthday in Scottsdale, Arizona sleeping in until 10:30 AM, reading by the pool and shopping like I'd never seen a department store (which I haven't for a while). It was lovely! Mark had a dental conference he was attending there and I was lucky to be able to tag along, thanks to our sweet friends, Mary and Micah who so willingly watched our kids for us. That in itself was the best birthday gift ever! Thank you!

While we were there, we were able to meet up with the Mannings for dinner, who are close friends from dental school. They drove an hour out of their way to see us and we really appreciated it. We had so much fun catching up and reminiscing about the good old days. We had some good laughs.

Mark's brother, Matt, came to stay with us for a weekend just after returning from serving a two year mission for our church in Catania, Italy. It was so great to see him! Macy never left his side and cried the day he had to go. We took him for Gelato and then to the Oregon State girls gymnastics meet against Stanford. Macy and the twins loved it. The stadium was packed. We finally figured out what everybody does on a Friday night in Corvallis.

I got in trouble for taking this pictures. Apparently, NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY. Oops!

The kids made.....MESSES & lots of them (this is an everyday occurrence)

...and Valentine Cards

Gave each other wagon rides...

...watched T.V. (that looks a little too close)

...and played in the dirt. I can't keep them out of it and now it's on everyone's shoes and tracked through the house. I have a feeling this is just a glimpse of what summer is going to be like!

Bring on the sun!!

WE'RE TWO!!!

We made it to 2!!! (Sigh) Can you believe it? It seems crazy to me but somehow we did it! We had a great day celebrating with Nicholas and Karlee on their Birthday which fell on a Sunday this year. They were so excited to wake up to find balloons. We could have called it a day right there. This has also become a new tradition in our family. Nicholas was having a BLAST running through the balloons. Such a party!

The twins loved opening cards and presents from Grandmas and Grandpas, Aunts and cousins and friends. Thanks for making the day so special. When all the presents had been opened, they still wanted MORE. They have this present thing figured out!

They LOVED their new tricycles and want to ride them constantly, which has been good and bad. Good, because they get outside and burn some energy and BAD, because I have to be out there watching them, getting them unstuck and making sure Nicholas doesn't ride around the corner and disappear. I've been parking my car outside the garage so the kids can have free reign to ride around. They are warm and CONTAINED. So far, so good.

After talking to people who are twins and mothers of twins, all of them stressed the importance of having a cake for each twin on their birthday. Twins are absolute individuals and after having to share their whole life, they at least deserve their own cake on their birthday. So after a little stress and struggling with a theme, I went with these adorable 4 inch cakes from Safeway. Karlee was so happy for a "rella" cake and Nicholas loved his Thomas. It was so funny watching them try to blow out the candles. Karlee did it in two puffs. Nicholas, was able to get his out with several puffs, a little spit and some help.

We love you, Nicholas and Karlee! We feel so blessed that you came to our family. It wouldn't be complete, nor as crazy, fun, tired, or happy without you!

More Birthday Fun!

On what is becoming a birthday tradition, we took the twins to Wacky Bounce to play Saturday morning. We had the place to ourselves the first 45 minutes and then other birthday crowds started showing up. Macy brought along a little friend to run around with. Karlee was trying to keep up with the "Big Girls" and Nicholas, well, it took us throwing him down the slide before he realized that this place was really AWESOME!

We ALL had a lot of fun (this kid included!)

Ever Think About Quitting?

Today was suppose to be my first official day for the New Year! I set my alarm to get up at 5:15 AM to hit the gym. I had plans to have myself all ready by the time I dropped Macy off at preschool. Then I was going to spend my morning playing with the twins, reading, knitting a few baby hats for a humanitarian project for church. The day was looking wide open! The possibilities endless! Sounds kind of like a lazy kind of Monday...a little laundry, a little light reading, maybe some phone calls.

Well, let me just sum up my day up for you thus far.... I've been up since 4:30 AM with all of my children who were WIDE AWAKE and ready to go for the day. I made the mistake of letting the twins run naked after changing their diapers and before I know it, they have both peed and in different places. Karlee at least ran into the bathroom (I am not looking forward to potty training). Obviously, I didn't make it to my gym class but instead was making breakfast at 6 AM. On my way out the door to take Macy to preschool, I check the calendar and realize preschool doesn't start until tomorrow due to teacher inservice! The kids are already buckled in. I have a friend come over for Macy to keep her busy! Macy is extremely grumpy and bossy so I spend the morning trying to make amends between the two girls. I make lunch. Nobody eats. Then everyone wants snacks 20 minutes later. I put the twins to bed. Send Macy to her room for quiet time. Mark comes home for lunch. The twins sleep for 1 hour. ONE HOUR!!!! Of course, Nicholas wakes up crying. Which then wakes Karlee up. I'm in trying to get Nicholas back to sleep, hoping that Karlee, herself, will go back to sleep when I hear Macy open Karlee's door and get her out of her crib. Yes, Macy can pull Karlee out of her crib. She's now up...for good. So is Nicholas. It's 1:45pm. I'm wondering if this day could go any SLOWER!!! I entertain the kids until we leave for dance. I'm late, as usual. While we wait, Nicholas and Karlee want the other kid's snacks instead of the one's I brought for them. Karlee falls and hits her head on the bench. Nicholas pours my water bottle out on the floor. Eveyone is helping me get paper towels to clean it up. I say, "Welcome to my LIFE!" Someone gives me a hug. I get home and run over to say good-bye to my neighbors who are moving. My kids are running all over outside. They get their bikes out. It's 50 degrees here. Nice. We come in. I wash off the twins muddy hands but forget to take off their shoes. Before I realize it, they have tromped MUD all the way up my newly cleaned stairs. Now they are all in the tub and I'm taking a second to get my frustrations out! AAAGGGHHHH!!!!

The only thing getting me through today is that Mark is bringing home pizza for dinner and the Bachelor is on tonight! Jake, please don't disappoint! All I know is that my kids WILL BE in bed EARLY. I am seriously thinking about quitting this 24 hour/7 day a week, never ending, WONDERFUL job! I am so exhausted! I don't think I've sat down all day! Is anyone with me???????

At least someone was nice enough to make me cookies! It made my day a little bit better.

Christmas Celebrations!

I let the kids open a few presents from Aunts, cousins and Grandma's the day before Christmas just to keep them busy. Thanks to my sister, the twins LOVED their Sit'N Spin. Should have sent TWO!

We had our first Christmas in our first home this year and loved it! I did not miss the stress of trying to get everything done that first week of December (cards, neighborhood/friend gifts, Christmas shopping, etc). Nor did I miss fighting the airport with all of our kids and luggage in toe or trying to figure out on Christmas day how I was going to get all those presents home. It was just EASY and ENJOYABLE! My parents flew in to spend Christmas with us and they truly made our Christmas even more special. We had a so much fun with you, Mom and Dad. Thank you for coming! I know I would have been homesick without you there.

While I was preparing dinner, my mom and Macy had fun decorating a gingerbread house. My dad helped out here and there, but mostly just to sneak the candy!

Here it is...all BEAUTIFUL! Thanks Costco for providing everything in a box.

We had Christmas Eve dinner by candlelight...a little something special!

The kids opened their Christmas pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa Swensen. So cute!

We then attempted to have a little program singing around the piano and retelling the Christmas story but the kids were disastrous. Off to bed!

Santa arrived....

..and even filled the stockings. Way to Go, Santa! You ROCKED this year!

Nicholas about blew a fuse when he saw his train table. He did about 200 laps around that thing Christmas day. It has kept him very busy and Mom very happy!!! We ALL love it!

Karlee got her very own Barbie!!! Finally, something of her own. (Umm...I think that is marker on her face and that scab on her forehead was from a tumble she took on the driveway days before. This girl is tough as nails!)

The ONE thing Macy told Santa she wanted for Christmas!

The kids LOVED ripping in to their presents. Macy helped everyone out! My dad was the officially toy opener. The packaging on toys is ridiculous! Nicholas almost had a heart attack waiting for us to break out Macy's My Little Pony Carnival Set.

All in all, it was a wonderful, wonderful Christmas! We were very grateful for all that had been given.

It was wonderful hearing from so many of you! Thank you for your cards and well wishes. We love you all!