What a HAM......

Thought I would include a few pics of Jack. In this picture, you're probably thinking that he's bathing when in fact he was helping me wash dishes. He normally sits on the side of the sink and stirs up the water, splashes me, you know - just generally gets us both soaked. Well this day he decided when I was done to strip down and get cool. He then proceeded to ask for some ice tea and he made a morning of it. He is such a mess, to say the least.

Hey dad, climb on in here with me! (Jack in local park in Georgia) One of those 105 degree days when he just couldn't stand it any more! He got in clothes and all. And you might notice that big black hose - well we fight many a pretend fire with that black hose.
Looking for pirates from the top of his fort. (You would be surprised at how many we find here in this great state and have to fight off with sticks and pine cones.)
On a trip and showing off his crazy hair. I know i'm prejudice but he has the best hair. He has so much and it's so thick plus he has such long eye-lashes. Isn't that just the way it is with boys!

Mission Accomplished

One of today's missions was to get the Halloween Houses up. I persuaded my mom to come over and watch Jack while I attempted this without Luke's help. (He's a good toter) It might not seem like much but it takes FOREVER. (find the stuff, haul it up from the basement, go through it and decide what goes up this year, keep your ecstatic 2 year old calm, try to convince your dog to not rummage through everything in the basement that she thinks smells funny and thus warrants a closer inspection, get it out of the impossibly tight styrofoam, and above all try not to BREAK ANYTHING!) Mom kept Jack busy with a pretend Birthday party/tea party (it was a guy tea party for those of you questioning my parenting) and so that was a Super Big Help!! Thanks mom. Of course, the new thing that I got Luke last year (which had never been opened) we broke. Frankenstein's windmill had a few issues today! We couldn't get the windmill fan's in the hole on the building and thus broke one of the blades. Nothing that gorilla glue won't fix. We did a lot of gorilla glueing today! (thanks for the tip on using gorilla glue Uncle Ress). We also had to repair the wagon and a rocking chair on the Haunted House. So, it took a while but it's done and I really like how it turned out. Jackson just loves it and that makes it all worth while. And last but certainly not least, I included a picture of Ginger at the Birthday party that I forgotten to include. She was pretty excited about the prospect of some good old crumbs.

Cake ALL over their faces

Happy First Birthday to you (two), Happy First Birthday to you (two), Happy First Birthday to Josephine and Mikayla, Happy First Birthday to you (two)...Yeah......Yah............. Hurray.......... Wow! What a Birthday. It was my first TWIN birthday and I have to say Twin Birthday's are pretty great. The girls are just the most precious thing and they just loved their First Birthday. It was a beautiful day and we got to enjoy it out on Ashley and Jason's new double decker deck (pretty cool). They got loads of presents and just enjoyed pulling all that wrapping paper off. I would look over and they would be holding their cards like they could read them...How cute. I hope you enjoy the pictures because it was just a perfect day.

Getting ready for the Twins Arrival - You could just feel the Anticipation in the Air as the crowd waited.

No one was exempt from the hat wearing.
Some truly enjoyed the Hat Wearing and contemplated whether on not to wear it to work on Monday.
Others just decided that they would take advantage of the photo opt while wearing the hats.

O.k. where's Jack's Hat? - - Somebody get that Kid a Hat!

Woo Hoo, Bring on the Cupcakes!

Oh, No!!! I'm how old and I have one year old Twins? Jason in shock. Ashley taking it in stride.
Photo opts with the Girls

Josephine putting in a finger to check the texture of the cupcakes that daddy made her.
Yep, looks pretty moist.
Mikayla doesn't need the finger test and just dives in face first.
Look at this stuff on my fingers, I love it.
More photo opts with the girls

O.k. it's official Birthday's are great "hey, mikayla - let's do this again next year - I think we might get more presents too!"
This crowd is Enthusiastic to say the least . . . . . . .
and determined to document every moment.

Toes (part one)
Toes (part two)
Do I have something on my face?
I think I'll rub my head with my Chocolate covered hand.
Georgia feeding Josephine cake and Jackson trying to talk the girls into going ahead and opening their presents.

Present time - Oh Boy! (They made out like bandits)
Is that Spiderman?
No fear whatsoever

Anna and Iggy's Handmade Cards (sweet sweet....)

The End

Stretch Hummer

These are some added photos that I got from Jim of Georgia and Jack leaving for their Honeymoon. A few of us stuck around for the second "unofficial" leaving (they decided to do a round one leaving in the PT Cruiser so that everyone could blow the bubbles and then head home ) and got to see the "limo" that was to pick them up. Well, unbelievable to us all (even Georgia and Jack) a Hummer Stretch Limo picked them up. I've been in a few limos and this one beat them all. I have no idea how long that thing was but imagine the length of a very long RV. Quite a site. It had strobe lights, neon, you name it. Really cool. They let us all climb in and it was so...cool. Jack of course was dancing and it was quite an experience for sure. So, enjoy the pics. And by the way, the Newlyweds are doing great.

Heading out tommorrow for the girls big "NUMERO UNO" birthday! Who can believe that it's been a whole year already? Can't wait for the big celebration. Cupcakes....Ummmmm........ I think i'll go on over to True Love Bakery Friday before the party and have a pre-celebration cupcake party myself. I try to refrain from cupcakes but this place is less than a mile from Jo and Jim's house and I just can't help myself. That place calls to me in my sleep. Wow. O.K. enough about cupcakes. I must be on a sugar-low or something. Back to the girls. They are walking I hear. Can't wait to see that and they have Teeth. Can't wait to see that either. I love first birthdays and we get to do this one "Double Strength". I'll post pictures next week of the big event. Should be one for the record books. Man, a lot can happen in the few weeks since the wedding. Plus, I'll get to hear all about Hawaii and how beautiful Maui was and see how the newlyweds are doing. Lots of love.

Flylady at my house

Just wanted to share my latest find - the flylady at flylady.com. My sister reminded me of her and persuaded me to sign up. She sends you e-mails everyday on a new task to try and accomplish to "Bless Your Home". Quite a concept. Well, one of her tasks is to recognize "Hot Spots" in your home and eliminate them. Well, one of my "hot spots" is my kitchen island. Home to anything and everything. I could probably live a week off of the stuff I stored on my island. Well, it is now a recognized "hot spot" and just look at it all nice and clean. Plus, it makes me smile. She also wants you to shine your sink every night. Now, what I take this to mean is clean up your dishes, put them away and get all the food out of the sink. I've been doing this and it really makes a difference. Now, some of you are thinking. "Boy, Mandy - I would never think of leaving dishes in my sink" - Well, I would and I did. I did normally float them in nice bubbly water over night. You know, I was telling myself that I was pre-soaking them. And sometimes I'd pre-soak them for days. I like to get my dishes really soaped up good. But now, I have realized it's great to keep it up and your kitchen looks great too. Plus, I've been working on my porches (with Jack's loving help) and they are looking good too. So, go check her out. You might just amaze yourself. But be warned. She's big on decluttering your house and getting rid of the junk. I like to collect things and so does Luke. You never know when you might need something and as Lexi always says "Go ask Mandy, she probably has it". Well, I know I have too much junk and stuff laying around. So, I'm going to get rid of all the clutter but I'm thinking that it could take me months and months. So, I'd better start now. Whew, tired already. Note: Cookies Luke and Jack made on Saturday.- They were suppose to be kind of spooky. So, I'm thinking - ummmm....not so much spooky but boy they taste good.