"Babies!"

Just more pictures of Parker taking an interest in the babies. 

Parker with Griffin

Oliver is in the bouncer chair to the right.

Close up of Oliver

Together

Griffin & Oliver

Oliver & Griffin

Ya that last picture I'm pretty sure they were hungry... But I wanted a picture in one of their matching outfits. You can see how blonde Oliver is.. Griffin has the same color as Lincoln and Parker.

How many men does it take...

...to put up a basketball hoop?

Apparently the answer is 4. Plus the help of a girl (Laura.. and Audrey, too).

("Big" Parker, Jesse, Nathan, Matt, Laura, and Audrey)

And what do you do with all the boxes it came in?

It's not a box, Mom. It's a bus and we're going to school! The other one is a fast car!

("Little" Parker, Lincoln, Evie, and Lola)

And no, Lincoln, you can't go to school until you wear big boy underwear. Maybe that will motivate you...

How do you do it?

THIS pillow

THIS iPad

and THESE swings (no link, I'm lazy)

Yes, I'm nursing TWINS! The top picture (where I'm completely covered up) is my view. It was only doable with the nursing pillow made for twins. They are beginning to outgrow it, but now I kinda know what I'm doing so I can still tandem nurse them. I pump every once in a while to give myself a break, too.

Lincoln & Parker like to wake up ridiculously early (which is exaggerated by daylight savings time.. try 4:30 this morning... ugggh). Lincoln comes into our room, grabs Jesse's iPad, and he and Parker sit down on the couch in the living room and watch Netflix shows. (Lincoln is better at using it than me! He's actually taught me a couple things...) That way Jesse and I have an hour or so to [try to] go back to sleep. This week has been especially rough since we moved the big boys downstairs into their new bedroom.

Swings are my crutch. Parker slept in one til he was almost 5 months old. I don't have the patience (multiplied by 10 with twins) to help them fall asleep without one. They help me enjoy holding my babies, so I hope they enjoy their swings a little bit longer.

I also have tons of help. Amazing visiting teachers, friends, family, and even hired help (once per week for a couple hours). Tonight we are even going on a date! Sweet! Can I say this... Jesse is an amazing husband. He has made having twins not feel so difficult. He never complains when I ask him to change a diaper, fetch the baby, hold the baby/babies while I get something done, to do the dishes, or take out the trash, etc. etc. etc. Jesse, you are AWESOME! And I love you so much. THANK YOU.

So how do I do it? One day at a time. Sometimes one hour at a time. 3 naps a week. Lots of prayers. And all of the above. I'm sure I'll look back on these days with wonder... wondering how on earth I did it with 4 kids, 3 and under!

Mama Out with 4 Boys

(Oct. 18)

I took the boys to get chicken tacos and we brought them to Vernon Worthen Park. The babies slept in the car while we ate right outside. I was a little nervous to go anywhere with all 4 all by myself... but luckily the babies slept the entire time, plus Lincoln and Parker got to go to the "pink park". It was nice to change it up... and it was fun to see how brave Parker has become going down the slide by himself!

 Lincoln (left) & Parker getting ready to come down the slide

Weeeeee!

(Oct. 25)

I also took all 4 boys to the park in our neighborhood by myself... but Audrey and her kids met us there. I'm pretty glad she came because Lincoln decided he didn't want to walk back because his feet hurt... I was already carrying one baby in a carrier, another baby plus Parker in the double stroller... It looks like I need one of THESE strollers! (You may think I'm kidding... but I am serious. It still is ridiculous though...)

This ladder is the biggest challenge at our park...

It has taken awhile for Lincoln to master...

Parker almost has it!

Awwww....

Parker is such a cutie. Here he is holding Oliver. He loves touching the babies hands and saying "hands" and scrunching up his nose and saying "cuuuuuute".

Both Lincoln and Parker have adjusted very well to having 2 newborns around. The most hectic times are mealtimes... all 3 of them!

Good Night, Mom!

(10-16)

Lincoln and Parker were being silly. Lincoln said he was going to sleep. Parker (as usual) followed him because everything Lincoln does is so much fun. My cute little monsters.

Time with Mama

Sometimes I just need a break from my [little] babies. Like an ice cream break. DQ, anyone?

Yes, please!

Lincoln & Parker

Staheli Farm

(Oct. 13)

A few weeks ago we decided to go to the "NICU Graduate Reunion" at Staheli Farm. It was our first time going out with all 4 kids... maybe we should have chosen something easier because we were exhausted after less than two hours!  We've gone to a few other things since then, and it wasn't nearly as tiring or difficult (thank goodness!!!!).

The Staheli Farm has your typical "Fall Farm Activities" - such as duck racing, petting zoo, lots of animals to look at, giant slide into a corn-filled box, tractor ride, horse rides... you get the picture. They also had a few things like a pirate ship maze (the boys LOVED it), and this giant bouncing pillow. This was the favorite by far!

It is basically a buried bounce house with the top showing.

(Parker & Lincoln in the center of the picture)

Lincoln & Parker

Parker LOVED this. I wish we had a place for a trampoline pit in our backyard!

Lincoln

My unsuccessful trial to get a cute "farm picture."

Do we look squished? Yes... there was NO room for me in there, but I didn't want them to come back bawling. They loved the tractor ride.

Off we go!

Those were the pictures we managed... the rest of the time we were feeding babies, tracking down the boys, or sweating since it was such a nice day (and I was a little stressed out!).

Cute Little Hats

Since these 2 boys have most of the clothing and blankets and everything they need already, I was really surprised how many people gave gifts anyway! A lady in my ward, Wilma, made these two hats and made two more.

Griffin & Oliver

(10/12)

An awesome friend from high school, Susan gave me these adorable little hats. She also sent some Canadian candy & ketchup chips (she lives in New York next to the border). That instantly made her Jesse's favorite of my friends. :) Thank you, Susan!

Oliver, Mama, Griffin

(10/17)

I know I've been terrible at posting pictures of these two new babies... so I will try to catch up the next few days. Here they are with their eyes open:

Oliver

(10/15)

Griffin

(10/15)

Mama trying to nap...

(9/23)

...but was unsuccessful.