forget dishes.

I'd much rather have a sink full of these babies any day!

aren't they adorable??

yep. they are.

and i love me some naked-ness

 baby nakedness that is

and i would much rather bathe babies all day.

i'd take a sink full of babies over dishes any day. i hate dishes. well...a sink full of dishes that is. it's painful to my eyes. only b/c i know that there's work to be done.

and it's never-ending!

each.and.every.minute.of.the.day.

Enjoy these pics while i go clean up...can u guess?? DISHES.

dumb and dumber

so yesterday i had the burning desire to paint our garage

out of nowhere

i just up and decided to buy some paint and paint the garage...of ALL PLACES. but i just can't look at the walls anymore...all unfinished and ugly. i was going to put the boys to work painting...but decided that might give me a heart attack (PAINT + TWO BOYS = HUGE DISASTER)...so i convinced them to ride bikes instead. you'll have to excuse their naked-ness...i had them strip-down in order paint. and i am slightly white trash, i suppose, for letting my children play outside in such nudity. thank goodness we only have ONE neighbor at the moment. i say...let them think what they want. any who...i took a break only to find these TWO doing what they do best...being hilarious! or at least i think so. there's never a dull moment around here.

and just b/c i like looking back...remember THIS wordless wednesday?

i wuv him.

the past two days have been all about this boy

THE SHADLE

between the girls and brampton...i feel like his needs are often overlooked.

and i am not ok with that

i want him to feel like he is special and loved just as much as his siblings

i want him to know that i recognize his presence all the time

and i want to fill him full of praises

most days, i feel like he is just screaming for attention

because well...lets face it...i struggle meeting every one's needs around here

it's true.

he acts out more and does not listen to me when i'm too busy for him or too busy to do something about his behavior

......

SO...i've made him my focus and priority. and OH the DIFFERENCE it has made.

he has been much more obedient...which is HUGE for this little 3 year old

we've hit a naughty stage...and i'm hoping both he and i make it through this together

......

during the past two days our focus has also been POTTY TRAINING...yes, again. it's never ending. remember this post? that didn't last long. BUT i think it has finally 'clicked' (crossing my fingers). and i am just beyond thrilled for him!! and he is too...but doesn't like to show it. he has been dry and has had no accidents. ahh...to think...my days of changing 'cardston's man poops' are almost over.

pay pay steps.

in true stout fashion, payton has begun taking steps!

brampton and cardston both started walking at about 14 months...and pay pay is following in their footsteps, literally.

 Brooklynn on the other hand...well...is brooki. shes got her own agenda. all in due time i suppose. but i'm thinking she'll start here soon...

life with twins is about to get a little easier (i think)...no more carrying two babies at once.

a love note.

honestly, it doesn't get any better than this!

my first little love note from brampton. and look at the cute little heart he included. he's the sweetest.

have i mentioned lately, that i love him??

or that i love being a mom?

i do.

it's hard. very hard. and i struggle with it every day.

BUT...i wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

I love being a stay at home mom.

and i'm so grateful that i am able to do so.

welcoming spring with open arms!

 would you believe me if i said that we're already swimming?? yep. we are. well sort of. we broke out the pool last weekend. and today...get this...it's going to reach 90 degrees. talk about a little too warm for April 1st. but that's just my opinion.

evan has been doing his general surgery rotation this past month. not my favorite. only b/c he's on call every 4th night (i've been one lonely momma)...and let me just enlighten you all...that means that he goes into work at 5:00 pm and is there working all.night.long. no rest. and does not return until 11:00 am-12:00 pm the next day. count it. 18 hours. that's a long time! not to mention that he never sleeps before he goes in...not exactly sure how he does it...but he does! this guy continues to amaze me everyday. i on the other hand cannot go without at least 8 hours of sleep. well. ok i can, but that's when i turn ugly. ANYWAYS...on this day evan was sleeping (hence the long explanation) and so we tried to let him rest by playing outside. after about an hour of riding bikes it was decided by their bright red faces and sweaty hair that it was time! swimming season has begun...well for them.

 my curious little payton. she loved dipping her hands in the water.

and then sucking the water off her hands. yucko i know. but when you've got four kids...two of which are boys and two are twins...you can't control everything that happens. i've learned to chill out a bit. maybe...hopefully. 

 and then there was more.

 and more! honestly...she's the cutest thing ever.

cardston had to join in on the fun too with a little bit of splashing

 which brings a smile to payton's face (most of the time)...she loves her brothers!

can't you tell!

Yay for spring...or if you're in texas, summer.

and hopefully (cross your fingers), yay to better work hours. we're ready to be on a normal schedule!!

Requested Videos.

Aunt Jum...these are for you (and anyone else that wants to watch 'em)! taken this morning actually.

showin' off

i LOVE the stage the girls are at right now! they are making connections...beginning to understand and listening to directions...very much aware of one another and each other's feelings...and just plain silly girls.
i'm absolutely lovin' it.

i also LOVE that i have girls and am able to buy the CUTE girly baby leggings (although i'll have you know that hobby lobby sells knock-offs for 4.99...throw in a coupon and that's a steal of a deal...especially when buying for TWO).

if only that look was as cute on big girls. i'd have myself a collection too.

to you.

yes, you! we love you.

happy LOVE day to you, our blog reader!

(and don't be afraid to comment...even if we don't know you. we love comments) 

valentine preps.

let me start out by saying...i'm so ready for valentine's to be over! seriously. i've been planning and preparing for this day for a month now. in fact the other day ev asked me if "we" (meaning ME) could take a break from crafts for a little while! ha! i agreed. b/c my kitchen has turned into my craft room! i crafted all through christmas...new years...the girls' birthday...and now valentine's. i think the hubby is a little tired of my crazy messes...hint hint...all over the house (as am i).

 we made lots of heart-felt valentine's for our loved ones.

we made our first ever valentine box with brampton. this was so NOT my idea. found here, on pinterest of course. i've had my eye on this monster box for years now...and we were finally able to create it this year.

and i'm sure you'll recognize these. those cute little mailboxes! love them. and love me the dollar section at target! i see them there every year around this time. i've justified buying them many times, but haven't...that is until this year. ev told me that he was pretty sure the mailboxes were having babies b/c every time he looked at my craft mess area...there were more and more mailboxes! i chuckled...and still am! i made about TWELVE of these adorable things. yeah, now you know why i'm so done crafting valentines.

now lets get on with it...

Happy Valentine's Day!!

 (as my computer now says that it's officially 12:00 am)

what fun traditions does your family do for V-day b/c i really want to start some and need ideas??

so over these.

can i tell you how happy i am to be DONE with bottles and formula. ah, so so SO happy. i am tired of having formula ALL OVER the countertops...bottles ALL OVER the countertops...and bottles leaking ALL OVER the place. BUT no more! the girls have graduated to sippy cups and REAL milk. happy, happy day.

pay pay sleepin' on the edge.

well...the girls finally discovered the stairs a few weeks ago. and man, they're all over the place! i can't keep up with the two of them. i think they thoroughly enjoy discovering every nook and cranny in our house. on this particular day, payton had gone without a morning nap and it was late in the afternoon. obviously she was exhausted, because she fell asleep at the very edge of the stairs. i went down to get cardston a drink...literally 2 minutes or less. i heard her whimpering (what she always does when she wants to go down). when i returned to her...i found this. EEK! pay pay passed out! i just about died. and just b/c i KNOW someone will think i'm an unfit mother...in my defense, evan was in the room with her. no worries.

we're growing dimples.

forget a garden. we've got a dimple. can you see it?? it just appeared out of no where. that or i'm just now noticing. the other day i mentioned it to ev, and he said that he had just noticed it as well. so there you have it...i guess you can grow dimples! who knew. i love it though. i have always been a little sad that none of my kids have dimples (well...maybe i'm exaggerating), but now we have just ONE. and it's super cute. i randomly ask cardston to smile at me just so i can see it shine!

THREE EACH

TEETH...that is. both girls have three. the exact same ones, of course...more of that weird twinness that just completely blows my mind. and you wouldn't even know that they are teething (as was the case with my boys)...at least they haven't been acting any different (counting my blessings...every single minute of the day). and i have yet to capture payton's pearly whites (she's not quite as willing to show them off)...so this will have to do.

warm fuzzies.

i know, i know...ridiculous. i was in a hurry...hence the not so good "i love you" sign. but it's the thought that counts, right? i have always loved the idea of a little surprise note in a lunchbox. you know...some nice warm fuzzies to fill you up while you're away from home. come on...it's cute. i've been doing it sporadically this year for brampton. i hope he'll remember these. i try to be creative...if anything i hope it at least brings a smile to his face. if you have been following our blog, you'll know that brampton was diagnosed with a speech delay back in the day. he seriously didn't speak a word. so we signed. lots and lots of cute little brampton signing. that's how he communicated until the age of three when he started speaking in paragraphs! ha. so sign language is kind of our little thing. anyway, back to this particular note...before school i showed him the picture before placing it in his lunchbox. i asked him what it meant and he did his cute little bashful smile. he said mom loves me and i love mom. i knew it had melted his heart and sent warm fuzzies his way and i hoped he would feel my love as he looked at it later that day. well...i'm pretty sure all those warm fuzzies went out the window at lunch time b/c brampton came home and told me that everyone laughed at it. i guess they crinkled it into a ball and were playing keep away. brampton was really upset about it all. really?? already...in kindergarten they make fun of each other for things such as this?? come on. the last thing i wanted was for him to get made fun of. the thought really just makes me sick.

got milk?

 forget the mustache!

i love girly accessories.

several years ago i bought this frame from hobby lobby (love that place) on clearance for like 7.99. when i came home with it, ev questioned my purchase. i told him it was for something...i just didn't know yet. but i had to take advantage of the deal!! you know those, right?? well i finally put it to good use. these things are flooding pinterest and blogs. i spray painted the frame brown b/c it matches their room. i considered doing a fun spunky color, but my crazy mind wouldn't let me. so brown it is. which is fine b/c all the clips give it plenty of color. i'm finding with two girls, i just don't have enough room for all the bows and such...even on that...i'm gonna have to start selling them. anyone interested???

and just b/c i'm so proud...i made over 3/4 of those. these girls are turning me into a craft-nut!

you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.

something we say often in this house. speaking of which...this was all i could get in during the girls' nap time and an episode of curious george this afternoon. ha...and for those of you who don't know...that's like working off a thing of yogurt! i'll take what i can get though. yep. that's what we do around here. i'm all about being flexible. because everyone here KNOWS that THIS mama can only do so much at one time...someone has to wait their turn (usually...it's me.)

Wordless Wednesday

(found THIS on ev's iphone)

we're loving you, january.

the shayster riding his bike the other day...and yes...he's wearing a t-shirt and flip flops in january. i promise i'm not a horrible mom...it was in the 70's. just another reason why i love you, texas.

btw...have i mentioned that we moved into our home, finally?? yes! yes we did back at thanksgiving. and we LOVE it...i think we may stay for a little while.

ONE YEAR STATS

yesterday these two went in for their wellness checkups with the lovely jennifer flippo (whom i just adore). i like her for several reasons: she's baby friendly; she's not afraid of screaming babies; she holds my children like they're her own; she calls them by their nicknames (pay pay and brookie); she talks to them; she is quick to recognize them and their needs; she goes out of her way to care for them; she LISTENS to my concerns; she talks to me like she's my girlfriend; she's not afraid to look me in the eye; and she speaks WITH me and not AT me in a language i can understand (i wish there were more like her). anyway...going to the doctor with two is difficult (but i've managed to figure it all out). take for example my experience: it started out just fine. i took both girls (fed and full) out of their carseats, placed them in the stroller, and buckled them in. just so you know...there is no way i could even do this without a stroller. how do you carry both girls...all their necessities...and try and carry a diaper bag...open doors and sign papers etc etc all the while smiling at everyone. nope. just not possible. i successfully pushed the stroller through the first door AND the second without getting caught (why they have to make it even harder on us moms...i have no idea? someone needs to do some better planning). i checked them in...i was very prepared with their new insurance cards and my drivers license and i was even 2 minutes early (very proud of that). the girls were calm and we waited to be called back. the wait wasn't long at all...very thankful for that. we were taken back by an older nurse...the girls hated her! which i completely understood...she was pretty cold to them. thus...the girls started freaking out and only wanted me. from then on...anyone and everyone made them start to cry (not just crying...their loudest screams ever). they cried through the whole checkup because they didn't want to be touched. they're very funny like that. girls. and then the mean nurse came back to do the shots and it was all down hill from there. three shots each. payton went first...i held brookie on my right hip while i leaned over to comfort and help hold down payton. after she was done, i quickly picked her up and placed her on my left hip while i put brooklynn down. once again same thing...and to top it off...me holding both screaming girls while they ask me to sign all these papers and some surveys. really people? do i look like i can sign my name with my toes or what? i guess i should practice. now THAT would be impressive. i finally calmed both girls down and placed them into the stroller so we could get out. payton had ripped off her three band aids before we even left the room to check out and blood was all over. as i patiently waited for the lady at the counter to stop goofing around...some mom made a comment like "oh they are mad, aren't they" which upset payton (my sensitive one) into full blown screaming. obviously lady. blah...blah...blah. another wellness checkup over with until april. can't wait. that's my story...although i'll have you know it was worse in real life...and i think i might have started sweating for the first time ever (something you might not have wanted to know...yes...it's true...i don't sweat...i just turn really RED in my face. weird huh). so all that...just for these silly numbers. next time i might schedule the appointment so evan can experience it all first hand. ha! love you babe.

payton olivia

19 lbs, 11 oz (25%-ile)

29 and 3/4 inches long (75%-ile)

head circumference: 17 and 3/4 inches (50%-ile)

brooklynn rae

20 lbs, 4 oz (34%-ile)

29 and 1/4 inches long (50%-ile)

head circumference: 18 inches (75%-ile)

my little lovelies

yesterday, it was almost 80 here (or maybe it reached that). it was lovely. i'm so ready for spring...and i think these girls are too...they love being outside.

happy birthday grills!!

 to the TWO cutest little grills around...happy birthday!!

WE LOVE YOU.

a year ago...

one year ago (to the day...jan 19), i posted this as my facebook status:

‎

35 weeks
dilated to a 4
having the babies on Friday (possibly before)!
Now, that's a complete shocker.

that was posted on a wednesday evening...and due to evan's school/test schedule and my doctors i had to lay in bed and keep the girls from coming until friday evening. and i'll have you all know that the girls were delivered at 6:53 and 6:54 pm FRIDAY EVENING. It was all in the LORD's hands. and now...here i am...preparing for the BIG day...their FIRST birthday. i can't believe how fast that year went!! the girls turn ONE on SATURDAY, JANUARY 21 (a day I will remember forever and always).

how many do you really see??

the girls played with themselves in the mirror this morning...

payton was a little shy while brooklynn completely made out with herself. very true to their personalities. 

all the while i was completely overwhelmed at the thought of having FOUR babies at once...well...not really, but it did cross my mind (and in case any of you wonder...evan and i *us crazies* DO consider having more chitlins. but...big BUT...all in due time, of course.)