It's Official

It's official-my babies are not babies anymore.  Actually I think it was official when they turned 1 and again when they turned 2 or maybe it will be official when they are fully potty trained.  Either way they continue to show me that they are growing full force and we had to check another big step off our list this week.

 Big boy beds!!!!



I only thought they are taking an extra long nap.

After a few days of fighting to keep them in their cribs and always having the fear that they would fall while getting out we decided it was time to make the big change.  I have dreaded this change due to the lack of sleep I felt they would get. When one wakes up he can now go bug his brother who may still need to rest.  Along with the playing that goes on before they actually fall asleep.  So far they have really done well.   Maybe waiting so long has actually worked for our benefit. They are very excited about their 'big beds' and have talked about and played in them all day.   

Trying to figure out what daddy is doing to his bed

Giving it a test jump

Super excited and confussed at the same time

In bed ready for his first nights sleep.

In bed and ready for mom to shut the door so he can destroy

OUT!!!  After he depstroyed!!!

Sleeping peacefully

Just for the record, they will always be my babies.

Christmas Maddness

We had a wonderful Christmas with lots of wonderful memories.  Luke and Carter really enjoyed playing with all their cousins and opening their many gifts.  We are truly blessed to have so many loved ones around us.  Here are few fun pics from all our events.  Merry Christmas!!!

Santa Fun

We have had a fun time so far this holiday season. We are getting the concept about Santa and his reindeer's, learning about Baby Jesus at Sunday school and with our Little People Nativity scene, enjoyed driving around at night looking at all the lights and learning not to touch the ornaments on the tree or the presents under it.  That last one took a few days and a few broken ornaments. Once they got the hang of leaving the tree alone I put all the presents under it to really test their curiosity.  It only took one morning to get them to understand that we just look at the presents.  I can't wait until Christmas morning when I tell them they can finally open them.  They will be surprised and maybe a little confused.

We have had a few encounters with Santa so far.  Neither one went great, but the second went a little better than the first.  First, we had a breakfast with Santa with our Mother's of Multiples group.  We had a blast playing everyone's new toys and there was a ton of good food, but we didn't not enjoy Santa to much.  Actually not a single picture was taken in Santa's lap, that's how bad it was. 

Yummy breakfast

Carter's new car from Santa



This is about as close as they got to him



Coloring a pretty picture to take to Santa

So we decided to give it another shot and they did a little better.  We went to explore Santa's winterland at the Bass Pro Shop.  They have a wonderful little area set up for kiddos to play, color and write a letter to Santa, and get a free photo with Santa himself.  Luke was excited about it all day.  We talked about Santa and that we were going to sit in his lap and that he says 'ho ho ho'.  Carter didn't seem as interested.  Well the picture shows for it.  Neither one was very thrilled to sit in the strange man's lap, but Luke tolerated it for the photo unlike Carter. 

 

Our 2010 Santa photo




Luke checking out his gift he asked Santa for :)

On the reindeer carousel

Toddler Christmas Pajama's Playdate



Snack, hot chocolate and toddler talk



This first photo is just a third of the kiddos at our playgroup today!!  We had a total of 5 sets of twins show up for our fun Christmas pajama play party.  All the kiddos had a blast playing together and sharing snacks and hot chocolate.  We had a fun little craft making reindeer's out of candy canes.  They are all still a bit young to understand a craft, but they had fun breaking all the candy canes and eating them.  Nice peppermint breath and sticky fingers on everyone.  After everyone left Luke and Carter were so exhausted they didn't even want to eat lunch.  I put them in bed only to hear little hands playing with the door knob--My little Lukie decided he wasn't so tired after all and wanted out of his bed.  Just that he did!!! Thank goodness his brother was asleep and didn't see this new stunt. I know he will catch on soon and Luke will only get better and better at escaping his nice comfey bed. I sure am dreading making the switch to toddler beds.  I love my cribs :(

My sweet Carter

Luke and his new best friend 'phomas'

Everyone had fun playing outside for a bit

Carter giving Luke a push

Sunroom/Funroom Part 2

  Part 1 was posted back in June.  I think my plan was to post as we made progress, but that didn't happen so here are the final picture. 

Hanging windows with a smile

We finally finished the new room and actually made our deadline, well sortof.  We were hoping to finish by Christmas, which the room is complete, but not the wall structure on the inner side of the dinnerroom.  I'm happy that the room is useable.  I have already moved all my things in and can't stop thinking/shopping  for the rest of the items I need to make it complete.  I am so happy with our decision to add on.  Now to have that pool put in ;)

Hanging the wall



Removing extra concrete. When we cut a
line in the concrete with a saw our entire
house was covered in layers and layers of
dust, so this time he made sure he had the rest
of the house blocked off. 

Helping remove the tape after painting

Carter helping Daddy

Complete!!!  L&C's new play area. They are getting a
new play/art table for Christmas.  Shh don't tell :)

My favorite new spot.  We have plans of mounting a t.v.
in the corner.

Introducing L&C's newest friend



Mommy and Baby

Baby Cade Miles Cellars decided he wanted to enter this world a few weeks early.  To be exact- three.  Coming early didn't make for a small baby.  Cade weighed in at 7lbs 14 ozs. 
What a joy a new born brings to our hearts.  I couldn't wait to feel his little body in my arms.  I'm so happy for my dear friend and her now family of 5. 
Luke and Carter were very gentle and loving to the baby.  They were both anxious to meet him and show him all his new toys or at least play with all his thing themselves.  We are excited to be a part of baby Cade's life and I'm excited L&C have a new lifetime friend. 
Congratulations Cellars family.

The joy of holding a new born

Carter showing baby Cade one of his toys

Mission accomplished!!!! The White Rock Marathon

 I know this is a blog about the Manning Munchkins, but once in a while I feel like posting about other events in our lives.  I feel this one certain event is big enough to make the blog, and honestly I feel I was able to accomplish this goal because of the strength within myself that Luke and Carter have given me .  So I guess this post is still based on my two little monkeys. 

Before the long day--freezing

What mission???  26.2 miles on foot at a faster pace than my normal power walk.  Yep, my friend, Jocalyn, and I set out to complete a marathon and this past weekend all our hard training paid off.  Jocie and I have been running together off and on for over 10 years now.  We have completed many events together, but never a marathon.  Since we had just finished training for a half, we decided now was the best time to get a marathon checked off our bucket list.  Also the fact that we both have very busy toddlers at home and running was a good excuse to spend time with a good friend and be away from our busy homes.  Oh, and don't forget the fact that we both had plans on losing a few more pounds (at least I did) and thought running would be a good way to do just that.  Boy was I wrong!!!  I think I have gained a few.  It's easy to think I just ran 10 miles I can eat anything I want or just the simple fact that my body was starving all the time.  So now that it is over I really need to crack down on my calorie intake. 

All in all the it was an awesome event, but most of all I have some wonderful memories with a wonderful friend. 

NOW--the next time I have a crazy idea like this again, will someone please stop me!!!

No plans for another marathon in my near future, but I'm defiantly in for the Cowtown Half this coming February. 

We ROCKED the Rock!!!!!
Mission Accomplished

Happy, but sad Birthday to me!!

I say happy because I am truley blessed and I'm happy to have another year of life to celebrate.  I consider myself one lucky girl!!!  I have a husband that loves me and supports me 100%, I have a job that I enjoy and I feel is my second family and I have the most wonderful, most handsome, smartest two little boys that I love more than I ever could imagine.  These two little guys have made my life complete and I live for them.  I couldn't ask for more!!! 
Another reason my birthday was so wonderful is because my mom was here.  I love having her here,  She is my best friend and my rock.  She always finds a way to help me see the positive side of things and she is always so encouraging to me.  I feel so sad she's not here for our day-to-day life and I sometimes lonely on the days when I just need help.  I tell her when she gets out of the military and moves back she will have to just move in with me to make up for lost time.  I am so proud of my mom.  She has accomplished so much in her life and has finally found a carreer her truley enjoys (bad part is she has to live so far away).  I know this is best for her right now to help her with her retirement and future so she can soon be here with all her grandsons (five of them).  This trip she was able to stay for 10 days and we used up every minute of those ten days.  Which leads me up to my sad part of my b day--she had to leave on my birthday :(.  Thank goodness she will be back for Christmas so Luke, Carter and I won't have to miss her to long. 
Here are a few pics of our family trip to the zoo.  I'm not the best about taking pictures so I didn't get many while my mom was here, but I will make up for it at Christmas.  Watch out mom, you may feel like a movie star when you leave here--there will be lots of photos.  :)