I've discovered that I am NOT a blogger. We'll see how long I keep it up as my posts have become fewer and farther between. Since my last update, life has been busy. The boys are almost 8 months old! As much as some days seem to last forever, this time is truly passing by so quickly.
It has been so fun watching the boys entertain each other. They laugh at each other and sometimes talk while they're laying in their cribs. Kirk and I have a blast listening to them on the monitor and watching them twist to see each other through the crib bars.
Kirk left for his 3 week training in Georgia for most of March and me and the boys stayed with my parents while he was gone. It was a long 3 weeks and I missed Kirk like crazy, but it was really nice getting to hang out with our family in the meantime. Kirk couldn't believe how much they had changed while he was gone. My parents and sister were amazing and made the time go by a lot quicker. I seriously don't know what I would've done without them!
At the end of March, Kirk and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary! We didn't go out, but Kirk brought the party home by making us cheese and chocolate fondue...it was delicious!
In April, Kirk's Mom and Grandma came out for Easter. They stayed with us the weekend before Easter and they both helped out so much! Grandma Pam has the most energy out of anyone I've ever met in my entire life. She hung almost all of our pictures on the wall with Kirk, washed all of our windows and blinds, hung up valances and still had time to hang out with babies and make some goodies. Grandma Shirley took up her usual role as "Baby Whisperer" and had both Benny and Jojo sleeping on her shoulder in the rocking chair throughout their stay. We had a great Easter with both sides of our families.
As for Merced and how we're liking it....we're still getting used to it and finding our nitch. Kirk's job is very demanding and intense, but we both try and remind ourselves how blessed we are that he has a job. I checked out a MOPs group in our area and met some really neat Christian mommies. I'm looking forward to going again and hopefully making some connections. Otherwise, I will have to continue planning my daily walks with the boys when school gets out every day in order to have interactions with other adults who are on their way to pick up their kids.
Even though it doesn't feel like it all the time, I know that God has a plan for us being here in Merced. My prayer is that eventually we will feel at home here and we will get settled into this new place. I like to try and remember what Ray Johnston said in one of his sermons a few years ago; "Life is not a puzzle to be solved, but an adventure to be had." I don't want to spend much of my life (if not any at all) hoping for something different that what is happening RIGHT now. Otherwise, you're pining for the past or hoping for the future and forgetting to live the life that is happening right in front of you. So, even though the eventual goal is to get back up to Northern California where most of our family is...we're not going to stop living our lives until that happens. So, here's what's going on RIGHT now in our lives...
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| I love holding my sleeping babies. |
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| Meeting Ally Rose Bowen for the 1st time!! |
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| I love to stick out my tongue. |
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| Hanging out with amazing Auntie Ally |
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| Ally Rose...too cute! She is 3 weeks older than the boys. |
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| Benny loves Grandma Jan. |
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| Uncle Matty & Benny! |
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| Happy Valentine's Day! |
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Our Boys' 6 month stats:
Height: Jojo - 26" Benny - 26"
Weight: Jojo - 16 lbs. Benny - 16.4 lbs
Head Cir.: Jojo - 46" Benny - 46" |
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| Trying on Papa D's glasses...do you think they fit? |
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| Mama & Benny. |
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| Daddy & Benny...do you think they're related? |
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| Getting ready to go for a walk with Grandma! |
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| This is what I do after each bite of food...it makes it taste better. |
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| Cherub face. |
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| We are 5 months old! |
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| We are 1/2 a year old!! |
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| We love our Great-Aunt Cristie & Uncle Jeff!! |
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| Benny & Amy meeting for the 1st time. |
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| My lil Newsies. |
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| Grandma & Grandpa feeding the babes. |
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| Hangin' with Daddy. |
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| Wazzzup! |
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| Getting excited to eat some food. |
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| Auntie Amber & Jojo. |
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| Daddy & Benny Sunset pic...so precious! |
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| Who's having more fun? |
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| Jojo hanging out with Tara at Tiff's shower before she leaves to become a missionary in Costa Rica. |
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| Love my Jojo Bear! |
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| Check out those chompers! |
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| Janelle & Gilbert came to visit us in Merced! |
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| Love those faces. |
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| Post-bath Mohawk :-) |
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| Wrestle Mania! |
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| Jojo & Christopher! |
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| Jojo hanging out with Auntie Alicia. |
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| Benny & Grammie Pammie! |
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| Uncle Matty & Jojo |
Jojo & Papa D naptime
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| "Okay, here's the plan..." |
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| The boys hanging out with Nancy for the first time! |
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| Silly boys! |
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| Come on...pleeeeaase. |
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| Two peas, in a pod. |
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| Happy St. Patrick's Day from the McKelvey brothers! |
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| 7 months old! |
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| Static Boy. |
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| PJ & Grandma Shirley got the best Oreo cake from Rick's Diner in Sac for Kirk's bday...de-lish! |
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| Jojo fell in love with Chelsey and couldn't stop staring at her and playing with her hair :-) |
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| Lovin the rolls. |
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| The boys, hanging out with their girlfriend, Cece Haynes. |
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| Kirk likes Oreo cake...a lot. |
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| 4 years ago...I got to marry my favorite person. |
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| 4 year anniversary fondue celebration. |
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| Yummmm! |
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| Auntie Ally introduced Benny to Starbucks for the first time. |
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| Uncle Matty is SO fun! |
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| The boys hanging out with Ally Rose & Gracie Bowen. |
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| Is there something on my face? |
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| Sweet pea. |
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| Hanging out with Great-Grandma Shirley & Grammie Pammie! |
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| Self portrait mode on my iphone makes the boys look extra chubby...love it! |
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| Always laughing when I'm with Grandpa! |
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| The cutest Thing 1 and Thing 2 I know. |
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| Whaley cute. |
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| Trying on our bunny ears while in our St. Patty's Day oneseies. |
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| Going for a walk with the Grandmas. |
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| This is what happens when Grandpa feeds us...he turns food into face paint! |
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| My 3 favorite boys |
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| Grandma Shirley = Sleeping babies |
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| Sleeping Benny & Great-Grandma Shirley |
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| Big cousin, Faith, Grammie Pammie & Benny boy. |
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| Benny & Daddy |
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| Uncle Brandon, Jojo & Great-Grandma Shirley |
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| I have never met a baby/child who doesn't love Christopher...he's the BEST! |
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| Enjoying the Spring weather outside in our Pak N Play! |
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| All dressed up for our 1st Easter! |
