EXTREME TIMES CALL FOR EXTREME MEASURES

I feel like this current stage with our sweet toddlers needs to be documented.  I'm sure it is just a season that will pass, but I don't want to ever forget what it felt like to be smack in the middle of it.

Back over Christmas break, the twinsies collectively decided that cribs could no longer contain their awesomeness.  They could both climb in and out at will, rendering the cribs basically useless as mini kid cages beds.  We surrendered and purchased toddler beds, because it is our hope for William and Violet to share a room for several more years, so toddler beds seemed like our only option a sensible move.

As they grow into their toddler-hood, we see more and more of their personalities developing, which is amazing and fun and overwhelming.  Violet is an unstoppable force of nature, and there is nothing that girl puts her mind to that is not within her grasp.  William is more pliable and chill, but he does love a good party, and his girl V brings her party game every nap and night time.

Because I rely on nap time (or at least quiet time in the case of the big girls) and bedtime to personally recharge, it is a non-negotiable around here.  We decided that instead of fighting the battle to keep them in their beds/room, we would just lock them in.  Problem solved!

And many more problems created.

Anything in that room was fair game.  When I would get them up from nap time, it would look like the whole place had been ransacked by robbers that were searching for diamonds and were willing to throw aside anything that stood in their path.  Clear that drawer of diapers!  Look under all of the clothing!  Remove the mattresses!  Bring out the laundry!  Grab the shoes and socks!  "Clean" with every wipe available until surfaces are gleaming!  Spread everything around the room to throw them off of our true purpose!



When I took that last picture, I had already cleaned up a fair few diapers.  As you might imagine, this was defeating.  I would scold and discipline, but ultimately, I didn't want to spend nap time going in and out of their room, so each day, I discovered messes anew.  Bella the destructor had already done a number to the changing table, and before long, another drawer totally gave way.  Here's William dangling from it, because he didn't want to have his pjs put on him.  I was hunting for something that had been taken from where it was supposed to be and turned around to find this.

Night time was moderately better, because it is really dark in their room, so there was less trouble they were able to get into.  Still - as I mentioned before, Violet is capable of all things and must also have night vision, and we found her asleep like this one night.  She had gotten into the closet and put on one boot, removed the cushion from the chair and fallen asleep there.  Looks comfy, doesn't it?

It looks like she also had a diaper that she was getting ready to try to put on herself.  Changing diapers is a new hobby for her, along with potty-training herself.  She really is quite amazing.

After a while, we realized that we were enabling all of this craziness.  We moved the changing table out of the room completely and stored all of the clothing and diapers in the closet.  Then John brilliantly removed the lever from the closet door so that we can open it by turning what's left, but the twins aren't dextrous enough (yet) to do it.  My magical tidying has been put to good use.

Now that there are many fewer things left for them to destroy play with, things have gotten moderately better.  Now they basically can just move the mattresses and turn the lights and fan off and on and play with toys - all of which they do with relish.  And then they fall asleep like this, lights on and everything.  I have pretty much decided that I'm not going to fight the mattresses.  I am having them help clean everything up, an area in which they are showing improvement.

William does get tucked into his bed and go to sleep at nighttime.  Violet has probably slept in her bed a handful of times.  Mostly, she drags the chair cushion to the door and falls asleep there with her mouth at the crack doing plenty of loud breathing.  As I've mentioned before, it seems as if Darth Violet is our regular evening companion in the living room.

I prayed for twins, as John is fond of reminding me.  I always always always wanted twins, and I wouldn't trade the set I have for anything in the world.  I absolutely adore my precious loves.

That said, I can't in totally clear conscience recommend having toddler twins if you get a choice in the matter.  I don't think it's good for your health, and I feel certain that I'm losing years on my life with the current madness.  But - it's good for the heart.  It's obviously a refining experience, and there really is so much love here between us all.  Their hugs and kisses are treasures freely given, and I'm so thankful.

Just don't ask me about it at bedtime when Violet is banging on the door, and we can't hear ourselves talking over it.  I miss mini-cribs.

BELLA'S DECISION

Last fall, Lily prayed to accept Christ as her Savior, and even at the time, Bella mentioned that it was something she was interested in.  However, we waited to see if it was something she would bring up again on her own.  (In the post from last fall, I go into more details about how we hope and pray to give Jesus to our children but ultimately understand that it is a choice they must make.)

Every night, we read from the Jesus Storybook Bible with the girls and pray with them before they go to bed.  Earlier this month, Bella said that she wanted to pray and ask Jesus into her heart.  With great joy, we asked her questions to see how she understood her own (and everybody's) sin and what Jesus promises.  Once it became clear that she comprehends, as much as a five year old can, how Jesus loves her and saves her, then we prayed with her, with Lily's very enthusiastic help.



As a believer, it truly is a joy and privilege to see my prayers answered and my children come to know the Lord.  I certainly know that it does not make life easier, but I know it makes it better.  It is also helpful to rely on the Holy Spirit inside of her to give her fruits of the spirit.  As a parent, I can work on behavior modification, but at the end of the day, the Lord works on the heart, and my prayer is that he will continue to work in all of our hearts to become more like him.

In the past month, we've run across some hard and even humiliating parenting moments.  There has been behavior that I never anticipated or imagined from my child.  But - it is helpful and life-giving to realize that Jesus will come alongside us because he is within each of us.  We all have so much to learn, and it is nice to be on our spiritual journeys together.  Now, when my big girls are struggling with something, we can have a common point of reference and all look to the Lord to help us learn self-control and patience and joy - all things that I still need help with.

Last Friday we went out to celebrate Bella's decision and enjoyed tasty Pizzookies.  Yum.



It is so fun to know that my daughter is now my sister in Christ - what a blessing!

We love you, Bella, and are so thrilled for the journey with God you have ahead of you!

*** I did ask Bella whether or not it would be okay to share this, because ultimately, it is her story, and she gladly gave her permission.

SPECIAL SIP N SEE

Life certainly keeps us guessing, and last fall, there was an adoption story that was very near and dear to my heart that took us all on an emotional roller coaster.  But through God's infinite grace, Shelby was placed with Brian and Christy, and on Sunday, we got to celebrate that fact.

I really am so thankful to do life with these dear friends.  Community is a gift, and it often leads me closer to the Lord.  Plus - we have a lot of fun!


(We were missing Lynn who was out sick.  Boo.)

Since we held this little shindig on Valentine's Day, we went with hearts and flowers and general girly fun.  It came together beautifully, because I have really talented friends.

Many of our daughters are getting older, so we had an entire set of junior hostesses as well.  They loved partying with us, especially eating all of the tasty treats!




Sweet friends came from near and far to celebrate, and Christy received mostly diapers (what she requested) as well as other super cute stuff.  Our junior hostesses were very helpful in the gift opening process, and Shelby herself oohed and aahed over toys.

Seeing Shelby come into the Hutchins family has been such a treasured gift.  God works in ways that we can never understand, but it is amazing to see a story work out so beautifully after such hardship.  We hope and pray God's absolute best for the entire Hutchins family!

VALENTINE'S FUN 2016

I love Valentine's Day lots and lots and like doing photo Valentine's for the kids. Instead of trying to come up with something on my own this year, I followed this very easy tutorial for photo strip Valentine's and love the way they turned out.  I had them printed at Target and cut them, and the girls attached all of them to Airheads for me.  Really, it was very easy - especially with helpers!

Everyone had their class parties yesterday, and I ended up taking all the kids to Lily's party in the afternoon.  Walking in was the hardest part, because we had to park pretty far away.  John surprised Lily and was there to help, which definitely made things better.

(I forgot to check the exposure, which is a bummer on that last picture.)

(This is what it regularly feels like.)

We came home with LOTS of Valentine's loot to sort through (and for mom to discard).



You can see past year's Valentine's fun here:  {2015} {2014} {2013} {2012} {2011}  2014 has hilarious pictures with the "murderer of love," and 2015 has pictures of what we use for Valentine's decor around here among other things.

Hope your Valentine's Day weekend is shaping up to be full of love!