Holy Week

This past week has been one full of family, tradition, remembrance, and celebration.

Gigi and Poppy (my dad's parents) came to visit for six days. I loved it! The babies loved it! And I am pretty sure Gigi and Poppy loved it!

Monday night, we celebrated Passover with a not-so-traditional Seder dinner. My dad's side of the family is Jewish, and I grew up celebrating several holidays a year with Gigi and Poppy. So it was neat to share Passover with them and to introduce James and Mattie Rose to it. It was also neat to be able to share with them how Passover translates into our faith as Christians. And I am so grateful that there is always mutual respect for differences within our family.

{table is set}

{this china belonged to my great-grandmother Rose, Poppy's mom, who Mattie Rose is named after}

{daddy and daughter}

{james and our poppy}

{lots of laughs}

{"oooo poppy, give those glasses"}

{have you ever seen anything cuter than a baby boy in a yamaka?}

{i mean, i think not...}

{sweetness was tired}

{poppy, james, and gigi}

{poppy, mattie rose, and gigi}

{poppy reading from the haggadah}

{kyle following along}

{seder plate with a missing shank bone}

{she's a genius}

{matzo ball soup - poppy told me they were the best matzo balls he's ever had ;)}

{mattie rose was a fan!}

{james was too!}

(the first time i made matzo ball soup for kyle, he got up and walked away from the table. i am proud of him for trying again, and this time, he ate it all!}

{gigi and poppy with their favorite grandchild - sorry kim, rach, nik, sara, ash, alex, julie, and kyle. truth hurts sometimes :) }

{team mcshan}

{gigi, kyle, and poppy}

{this melts my heart}

Saturday morning we headed to church for an Easter egg hunt. The hunt was originally supposed to be at someone's house, but it rained non-stop last week, so they moved it to the church gym. Not as "pretty" but still full of fun and fellowship! 

{i can't believe how big they are getting}

{happy men}

{my girl}

{she was all about that purple egg}

{crawling all over the place}

{gosh, i could just eat her up}

{my chill little man}

{we have lots of friends to look out for us}

{and who love to share with us. or let us take from them :) }

{everything in the mouth. still no teeth.}

{my crew. couldn't love anyone else more than i do them.}

Sunday morning the babies got to tear into their Easter baskets, but not before trying to snap a quick pick. Big thanks to Carrie at Ella Minnow Pea for hooking us up with awesome goodies! If anyone is near the Kingston area and needing a gift for a baby/child, stop in and check her adorable store out! I can do some damage in there!

{they could not sit still}

{my little man}

{team mcshan}

{stinkers}

After church, we had a delicious lunch at Kyle's parents house followed by a house-wide napping session. 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter resting in the Good News that God loves the world so much that He sacrificed His only Son, so that we may never have to experience the full weight of our own sin, and can be reconciled to Him. There is no act of love greater! 

9 Months

I figured since the twins turn 10 months old this week, it might be a good idea to post their 9 month pictures and update. Time is just a-flyin' on by...

The past couple of months have been full of ear infections, flu, and just an all-over hatred for the winter months. We have had a few glimpses of spring weather, but today as I sit here and type this, it's while staring out the window watching snow fall. It makes me mad. End of March should not include snow.

How can we look forward to Easter egg hunts, swinging at the park and taking long walks when it's FREEZING outside.... Misery.

While at the doctor for our 9-month checkup, here's what we learned:

Mattie Rose:
     Length: 26 and 3/4 inches
     Weight: 15 pounds 5 ounces

James:
     Length: 28 inches
     Weight: 17 pounds

Basically my babies are tiny. It has been a hard switch to a new pediatrician here, but we have found one that we really like, but none will compare to the beloved Dr. Hanson in Memphis. I miss my little sheets they would give me with the measurements, percentiles, and what to look for in the coming months. Oh well...

It's getting much more difficult to take pictures of two babies who are on the move!!! They are crawling EVERYWHERE!!! I have a feeling we are going to keep the baby gate business, well, in business :)

Some other interesting facts right now:
-They love to eat any and everything that is put on their highchair tray. And are a little more picky when things are on a spoon.
-Some of our favorite finger foods are grilled cheese sandwiches, lemons, scrambled eggs, bananas, and string cheese.
-James has learned to clap (with both hands flat) and Mattie Rose attempts to (with one hand flat and the other in a fist).
-Regardless of what time they go to bed, both babies are up at 6:45 (yes, A.M.) and not a moment later.
-They have insane separation anxiety. I can't even stand up from the floor without a reach or a scream from someone.
-They love to give kisses. I mean big, open-mouth, slobbery ones. They are the best.
-James has two teeth on the bottom. Mattie Rose has none.
-Both of them will pull to a half-kneeling position, but no standing yet.
-They love to go for walks.
-High chairs in restaurants make them happy.
-Heaven must be a lot like a warm bath for them, because they could stay in there all day!
-Swings at the park are our new favorite thing to do.  We could almost swing as long as we could play in the bath.

Here's what we look like at 9 months old!

February

Oh man.... I am way behind in keeping up this blog. Life has been busy, although I am not sure with what. I feel like I am saying this all the time. But I guess this is the life with two babies.

In February, we spent a solid ten days in Memphis while Kyle was on the other side of the world training pastors, church members, and others how to teach others about Jesus and how to disciple them. Proud of this man!

We sure did miss him while he was away, but we had plenty of fun visiting friends!!!

{we got to visit with our friend reese. her mommy, shannon, and i are friends from PT school.}

{we were tired afterward.}

{not even out of the driveway tired.}

{and we got to play with bay-bay (my brother's girlfriend, bailey)}

{and we were even able to facetime with daddy while he was away.}

{we had a frozen yogurt date with john franklin...}

{and a lunch date with caroline...}

{and on valentine's day we got to wear our adorable outfits made by one of mommy's former patients.}

{little romeo}

{mommy's sweetheart}

{and we spent a romantic evening with uncle pat and aunt alicia that night playing the guitar}

{strumming away}

{guitar lessons for the men}

{sweet cousin hugs}

{my three valentines. james, mattie rose, and my favorite godson, declan.}

{and then daddy came home!!! we couldn't wait to give him kisses.}

{sweet return}

{needless to say, that ten-day trip wore everyone out!!!}