sometimes a picture says it all...

this picture was taken a while ago,

but i just saw it again tonight

and it so sums up how we feel by the end of the day a lot.

too funny!

so true.

THE cookie recipe.

i get asked for this recipe a lot, 

especially around this time of year... 

so, here's the recipe for y'all!

enjoy!

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 
with MAPLE FROSTING

1 cup crisco
1 cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 bag of chocolate chips

Blend first 5 ingredients together.  Add remaining ingredients.  Fold in 1 bag of chocolate chips.  Bake @ 375 for 10-12 minutes.  Frost cookies.

Frosting:  3 tablespoons butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons milk.  Boil ingredients for 2 minutes.  Add powdered sugar to consistency

my little helper...

he wanted a "bib" like momma

and this was the best option i had for him.

we made need to purchase a more manly apron?  ha.

he looks pretty darn cute though!

"i'm bescited"

"i'm bescited" is what beck says when he means "i'm excited"

almost every time i tell him "you are driving me crazy", 

he sweetly looks up at me & 

says "i think you need a hug".

he will often "bescitedly" proclaim:

"oh, i have a good 'dea!"

(meaning idea)...

which is usually that we make cookies or have a cheeto party or ride bikes...

lately, when he wants to tell the babes 

that they will be able to do something/whatever

when they are big like him,

he says:

"when you are two beckley's..."

he still calls his oatmeal 
"oaffum"

and, i hope he does for awhile.

instead of won't
he says
"willn't"
and it makes me smile everytime

every night,

he asks us to pray

that he

"willn't hear the mice or the moose"

he tells the babes often

that they are 
"such cute babies"

when i am running up a hill

while pushing my triple running stroller,

he yells

"go momma go... go momma go"

he calls me a 
"princess"

when he wants to open something, 
or push a button or stir something...
he says
"no momma, yet me do it... 
my hands are magic"

the other day,

beck asked me who his boss was?

i told him i was...

and he says:

"oh, you are a nice boss...

'cept sometimes you cry"

LOVE 
(or "yove" as he would say) 

this sweet, funny & witty boy!

i am SO "bescited" that i get to be his mom forever!

pumpkin patch!

 There is the best pumpkin patch right down the street from our house.

It is at Peterson Farm and is so fun!

We spent our Monday night there this week.

first, we played on the tractors...

then, Adrian & Beck found there way through the corn maze...

next, they climbed to the top of the hay pyramid...

 after that, we all went on a little hay ride...

 

Next, Beck loved the apple slinging...

oh, and then, there were all the pumpkins!

and, we are now all 

pumpkin'd out!

chugga chugga...

choo choo!

These 2 could do this all day long.
Crew is perfectly happy to push
and McKay loves to ride!

all aboard!

1 YEAR!

the babes' first birthday

was on 9.29.12.

this is what the house looked like early that morning...

we had already had a big party

(and, Adrian and I were going out for 

a "we survived the first year with twins and a toddler" celebratory dinner that night...)

so, we decided to celebrate with some donut towers!

the babes loved it!

beck & i had been planning the donut towers

for a couple days

& he was super excited

but, apparently got a bit shy that day.

i'll admit these were far from the babies

first donuts,

so they weren't at all shy and dug right in!

each boy did seem to use a different strategy

in eating their donut towers...

Crew just started shoving donuts in his mouth with one hand...

McKay double fisted it...

and, beck went with the no hands technique!

 

 the babes got a choo choo train just like their big brother!

i bought this second one soon after i found out i was having twins...

thinking that beck would certainly be done playing with his by the twins were ready to

(beck got his for Christmas when he was 10 months old & 

has always loved it!)...

but, i was so wrong.

there is NO WAY that beck is "over" his choo choo...

luckily, the twins seem quite content on sharing one for now.

that night,

adrian and i left the kiddos with a babysitter

and we went out!

first we had an appointment at a spa...

then, we had a yummy dinner...

and we ended our night with some fro yo, of course!

WE MADE IT!

everyone says

"the first year is the hardest"

and, i'm hoping they are right.

 the twins had their 1 year doctor appointment on 10.1.12.

here are the stats:

McKAY

weight: 16 lbs 15 oz  (0 percentile)

length:  28 inches  (5th percentile)

(McKay was born at 4lbs 5 oz)

CREW

weight: 16 lbs 1 oz  (0 percentile)

length:  28 inches  (5th percentile)

(Crew was born at 3lbs 15 oz,

15 minutes after McKay)

they each got 4 shots

and balled their little eyes out...

until, big brother beck came to the rescue with some lollipops

all better.

at one year old, these little guys are busy! 

and, we love it that way!

they are the most fun.

both of them are crawling

(Crew started about 2 months ago & McKay about 2 weeks ago).

adrian really wants to enter crew in a "fastest crawler" contest,

and although McKay isn't quite as fast...

it's okay because Crew always turns around to make sure his brother isn't too far behind.

it is so dang cute.

Crew can pull himself up 

and has started "cruising" & walking while holding onto a push toy.

McKay doesn't seem to quite have the upper body strength just yet

to pull himself up,

but he sure does try and i'm sure won't be far behind his brother on this skill either.

both boys are talking a ton.

McKay's favorite things to say are:

"no, no, no, no"

(he shakes his little finger/hand & his head while he says....

it is hilarious)

"dada"

and all sorts of jibberish!

Crew's favorite things to say are:

"mama"

"dada"

and he has the funniest monster voice & talk...

we all love when crew monster comes to visit.

their favorite foods are:

bananas

cheetos

peas

pizza

dry cereal

yogurt

cinnamon toast

& milk

McKay gives kisses on demand...

and they so soft and sweet.

Crew is usually too busy to give kisses,

but when he does they are open mouthed & super juicy! 

they both hate to have their hands or face wiped,

but they love taking baths.

McKay gets scared when there is a loud noise...

Crew is usually making the loud noise.

they love to 

go on runs/walks in the stroller,

play with their big brother (when he's being nice),

chase each other around the house,

be out and about (just about anywhere),

ride on a carousel,

wave good bye or hello to daddy at the door step,

be held by their momma,

read books,

& sleep.

they are both still taking 2 naps.

they both sleep fairly well, but do still occasionally wake up during the night.

they recently have had a hard time falling asleep for naps

because they love to just talk to each other...

which is pretty darn cute.

these 2 have started interacting more & more recently

and it is the cutest thing ever.

sometimes they seem to bug each other & even fight

(for instance, McKay loves to pull out Crew's binky).

but, most of the time, the are super cute together.

there is no better sound than hearing your 2 babies laughing & playing together.

McKay's nicknames are:

"Mac Attack!"

"K"

& most recently, beck has started calling him "Kayby"

this little guy is sensitive

& often a bit dramatic.

he is smart...

this boy listens & observes to everything around him.

(thus, he quickly figures out how to correctly play with toys)

McKay is careful and deliberate.

he loves to be held.

Mac Attack is a total flirt!

(although he cries A LOT at home because he isn't getting the attention he wants or because one of his brothers looked at or touched him wrong...

when out in public he ALWAYS has a smile for just about anyone)

McKay is a momma's boy.

We love you, McKay!!!

Crew's nicknames are:

"Crewby"

"baby monster"

& "Crewby Crewby Doo"

this little guy is tough.

he is aggressive, coordinated & strong.

(this kid will bulldoze over anything or anyone in his way

& he loves to bang toys...who cares what else they are supposed to do anyway?)

Crewby is so goofy (... and, i love it!)

he rests his head on one shoulder and gives the cutest shy little smile.

(trust me, it is the cutest thing ever!)

he loves to happily yell & scream.

he is a cuddler when sick, sad, or tired.

he is independent.

Crew has the biggest & best smile.

We love you, Crew!!!

i'm not sure how we got so lucky?

but, 

i'm pretty sure we have 

the 2 cutest & best 1 year olds in the whole wide world!

and, we love them to the moon & back!