GA State Fair

While at Granny's house we attended the GA State Fair in Perry, GA. The fair is big and beautiful with nice paved roads so you don't get as dusty like at local fairs. I was nervous because Bailey has previously been scared to ride on things that go like trains and rides as it took us a couple times for him to get used to the carousel. I was so proud that he rode two rides and he loved them. Last year we took the twins to the Cumming fair but they were too short to ride any of the rides and so this was their first experience. I loved watching them watch all the big rides and seeing their faces respond to all the new sounds, sights and smells! They loved visiting the petting zoo, where a Zebra actually kissed Gracie right in the face. I thought Granny was going to scream! When we got home I asked the twins what their favorite thing at the fair was and Gracie said "hot dog" and Bailey said "rides." Go figure that Gracie would like the hot dog the best! I can't wait for Daddy get to watch his twins on the rides when we attend our local fair in Cumming. This trip to the fair was a great "practice" for our upcoming Disney trip in November.

Our First Ride at the GA State Fair

Gettting ready to fly!
Gracie loved Kissing all the animals!

Time to eat yummy fair food.

Granny's House

Preston had planned to go out of town for work last week and so the twins and I headed to "granMacon's" house! Gracie and Bailey were so excited and they both yelled "Macon" as we pulled into Granny's neighbor. I love that they are both so comfortable at Granny's house. They immediately went straight for the playroom as they love playing with their older cousin's toys. Granny has lots of games and the twins love playing; Don't Spill the Beans, Hungry Hungry Hippos and etc. They also know exactly where Granny keeps the candy dish and her special draw for the grandbabies that is filled treats galore. I am pretty strict at home but while we are Granny's house we sometimes let things slide like our first sips of Sprite . We had a blast going to McDonald's with our cousins, attending Molly Kay's soccer game and visiting the Museum. Going to Granny's house is refreshing for all of us!

Granny loves to rock both of her baby's before bedtime.

Watching cousin Molly Kay play soccer

Gracie says she wants to be just like Molly when she is a big girl!

On the Nature walk at the Museum

No School Today!

Now that the twins are in school for two half days, I really try to make our other days fun. My heart hurts to know that just in a couple years they will be in school all day Monday through Friday. I know it is three years away but somehow the time seems to fly by so I know it will be here before we know it. I love spending days at the park watching Gracie and Bailey play together. Lately we have been bringing our dump trucks to the playground and it is amazing how we instantly become the hit of the playground. It is great because we have met many new friends who come to the park on a daily basis also and it also helps with how we are learning to share. I am blessed to be able to spend fun days with my Gracie and Bailey and I treasure each memory of our time spent together.

My two little monkeys

BestFriends
We love to feed the ducks

Go Momma, Go!

It only took two weeks for Gracie and Bailey to start absolutely loving school! They are so excited in the mornings to get dressed and put on their book bags in order to head to school. They walk right in the building and know exactly where their classroom is. In the afternoons they are so excited to show me their art work and to tell me all about their day. They both have met new friends at school and they talk about them at home which is so cute. I can tell they have been riding their tricycles in the gym on rainy days at school because Bailey is now super fast on his and he thinks it is so funny to chase mommy around the coul de sac. This past week I was talking to their teacher and Gracie came up to me and said "Go momma, go!" The teacher and I just laughed as she was ready to obviously start the school day without mom hanging around. They also had an early release day the other day and they cried on the way home because they said they wanted to stay at school! These things kind of break my heart but I am truly SO excited that my babies are loving school.

Typical morning heading off to school

School picture day, lets hope they turned out cute!

Substitute Parents!

We were so proud to serve as Kara's "substitute parents" this past weekend. UGA celebrated parents weekend for all the Greek organizations and Bob and Becky were scheduled to be out of town and so Kara asked us to attend in their place. It was so much fun being able to tailgate and spend the day with Kara. We played a great game and the Bulldogs won for a nice change! We enjoyed seeing Kara's apartment and metting her friends as she is quite the "social butterfly." Preston and I were very thankful for my mom and sister, Laura who volunteered to keep Gracie and Bailey so we could attend.

Proud Substitute Parents!

I love this pic of Preston and his lil sis! "Gracie and Bailey loved having Aunt La La give them lots of pony rides while we were gone"

Homecoming Anniversary

September 15th has always been a special day for us as it is the day that Gracie and Bailey came home from the NICU. I look at this day as almost more significant then their Birthday because it was such a highly anticipated day. It was fun this year because I was able to explain to Gracie and Bailey what we were celebrating. I pulled out my scrapbook and we told stories to them about being tiny little 3 pounds babies and how we prayed so hard for them. I also showed them their itty bitty preemie clothes and Gracie loved putting them on her baby dolls, some of which were too big for them! All day long I would ask them, "what is today" and they would yell "we came home today!" We had their friend Zack over to play and had pizza and cupcakes to celebrate.I think it is so important for Gracie and Bailey to know their story and how so many people prayed for them. I love having our own little special day to celebrate.

Today was the first day of school and I have just gotten the twins down for their nap. We started off the morning with our typical routine of eating breakfast and getting dressed but it was so much easier because Preston volunteered to stay home and help on the first day of school. It is amazing how smooth the morning goes when their are two adults in the home! Gracie and Bailey looked adorable wearing their little backpacks and holding their new lunchboxes. In my mind I kept telling myself "they are way too little to be going to school!" On the way to school we made up a silly song and sang "It is a great day to go to school..." The twins did good walking in. Bailey went right in the classroom but Gracie cried just a little bit as the little boy in front of her was screaming being dropped off. It never seems to help when you have the domino effect during drop off. I honestly wanted to cry as I was giving somebody my babies for a half of a day. The one thing that made me feel good was that my Gracie and Bailey atleast had each other and I knew that they would look out for one another. It seems like it has been so long since we have been separated from one another and it made me think back to the days of having to leave them in the hands of the NICU. I did good and did not shed a tear all day but I can say that their wasn't a minute that I didn't think about them! I am sure we will both begin to enjoy our time apart once we get more familiar with school. Gracie and Bailey will be going to North Lanier Baptist on two days a week. I am blessed that I have been given an amazing opportunity to work a full work day on Mondays at the Hospice House. Their Grammy and Granny will be picking them up and watching them for the rest of the day on Mondays. On the other half day I will be working from home doing bereavement counseling calls for Hospice but it will be nice to have a quiet home and to be able to maybe get in a little laundry folding while I am on the phone! I know that school will be great for Gracie and Bailey and I am most excited that they will not only be learning their numbers and ABC's but that they will also be attending chapel service and learning the stories of the Bible. Sometimes it is so hard to do what you know is the best for your little ones but I guess that is a part of them growing up!