A few days ago, the girls were sitting on my lap going through some old posts.  Olivia couldn't believe she got into permanent markers and Gabby loved her 1st birthday photos.  I really love that I have this website to help preserve memories!

I am still in disbelief that my little ladies are turned 5 on the 1st.  They are growing into such fun girls.  Very, very different in many ways, but they are always best friends.

Olivia loves to color.  She can sit at the table and create artwork for hours.  She also loves to dance and make people laugh.  Some nights we sit on the couch and look at magazines together and she is obsessed with looking at movie stars in their "beautiful dresses".  Her preschool teacher told us that she has a dominant personality in school--the kids tend to listen to her.  I cannot wait for the day when she meets her match!

Maddie is very into fashion.  I should say, she's into what SHE thinks in fashionable.  It's so funny to see what she can come up with.  She likes to hike up her pants, tuck in her shirt and accessorize with headbands, a purse and numerous hair bows.  Also, her main hair request is a "side pony".  Maddie is my main cuddler, too.  The other girls don't want to spend much time snuggling with me anymore, but I can always count on her to get comfy on the couch with me.  Not going to lie, Maddie and I butt heads all day long, but Ricky thinks it is because we are so alike. 

One of my favorite things to watch with them is how they interact with Gabby.  Although she is only 2.5, she is basically the same size of them, minus the height.  She is in 4Ts and they are barely out of 4Ts!  Gabby doesn't take any crap from them and is very opinionated.  It's funny to watch them try to be big sisters to her.  Olivia and Gabby can play with the doll house for an hour without an argument.  Maddie and Gabby tend to butt heads more.

As a birthday treat, we decided to take the girls to get a hair cut.  We've tried a few places now and the Douglas J Aveda Institute is by far our favorite place.  Haircuts are $16 each (actually $11 after a text coupon!) and they get the full treatment: wash, scalp massage and cut.  They feel like complete princesses there! Since it's a student school, it does take about an hour...but totally worth it! 

On Saturday, their actual big day, it was snowing (a tradition for their birthday so far!), but we still went bowling and had a nice little family gathering! 

They are loving being 5 and are ready for more responsibilities.  Olivia loves to help me in the kitchen and Maddie likes to "clean" for me.  It's too cute!  Our big decision for this year is whether or not to put them in the same class for kindergarten.  Their preschool teacher thinks they will thrive apart, but I also get concerned that separating them too early could be harmful as well. 
We have the kindergarten registration in April (tear!) and we will get more info then.

Any tips for raising 5 year olds without losing your mind?! I'm going to need them!

Update! Check me out at Deals in the Mitten!

You may have noticed I've been a bit quiet lately!

I have decided to help Sarah out over at Deals in the Mitten  & Kitchen in the Mitten. I will be posting some recipes and deals daily.

Here are some recent posts:

• 2-Minute Cinnamon Roll Waffles
• How to Freeze Produce

Other than that news, things have been going well for us!  The twins turned 4 in February and they are in dance classes now.  They keep me busy, that is for sure!

Gabby is growing like crazy, she's directly taking the twins' hand-me-downs.  She's only 20 months and in a 3T already.  Where has my baby gone?

I have been chugging away on my 29 bucket list.  Since turning 29 in January, I have been trying to branch out and do new things before I turn the big 3-0 next year.  I have been trying new workout classes at the Y (I am addicted to willPower + Grace class) and getting out there more in the community.  In August I plan to do the color run (me? running? HA!).

So far 2013 is going well for us!  Although I am not regularly posting on here anymore, I will still update occasionally!

Wordful Wednesday: enjoying a fall moment

I thought I would try to join in on the Wordful Wednesday fun this week! I figured a family update was a bit overdue and I have a lot of new readers who may not know about our crew!

Last week, we were able to have a fun (yet FREEZING) trip to Orchard Hill Farms.  If you are in the Grand Rapids area, I highly recommend checking it out.  It's a perfect size for little ones, a lot smaller scale than others we've been to.

It was 40 degrees that morning, we were COLD!

This fall has been so busy for us that it was really nice to stop and enjoy each other.  The twins are almost 4 and Gabby is quickly growing into a toddler.  I am trying to keep her a baby as long as possible, but it's just not working!

Early in the summer, I sent in the forms for the girls to enroll in preschool and they vanished in the mail.  Thinking they were signed up the whole time, I didn't worry about contacting the preschool until the end of the summer.  Since they never got our forms, we didn't have a spot!

At first I was super mad, but now I am very happy we waited until they are 4.  We have been doing play groups and fun trips as a family.  They have plenty of time to be in school!

Maddie, Olivia & Gabby. 

Olivia is all about funny faces.  Maddie is probably hiding something in her pocket.

As the twins grow older, it's so fun to just sit back and listen to them.  They have the funniest conversations while sitting in their bunk beds at night.  A lot of people ask me if they are identical and I really don't see how they look alike.  Especially since their personalities are night and day.

Olivia loves to color and do puzzles all day.  She can sit and read books for hours.  Olivia also thinks she is queen bee.  Poor Maddie just listens to her.  I think when she gets to school she is going to have a big reality check when kids don't actually listen to her.  I try to keep her attitude in line, but toddlers pretty much do what they want.

Maddie has completely different interests.  Out of the two, she is the most quiet...but also very silly.  If you tickle her once, get ready to do it all day long.  She is obsessed with princesses and jewelry.  Everyday she has her purse full of who knows what.  We have a little hoarder on our hands!  Maddie is the one who likes to sing and dance the most.  She can remember words to a song after hearing it just once or twice.  Her favorite line right now "OH OH OH! That's what makes you beautiful".

The funny thing is, even though they are so different, they insist on dressing alike most days.  We always pick out different outfits and they decide to dress identical. 

Gabby (or Gaga as she calls herself...) was on a mission to see some chickens.

It's really hard to believe Gabby is 15 months already.  Wasn't it just yesterday we brought her home? Now that she is walking, everyday is interesting, to say the least!  She cannot sit still and she is always running around with her car (pronounce Cah, like she's from Boston).   This week she hit 25 pounds and she is very close to being the same size as the twins.  I really didn't realize how small the twins were until we had this "little" lady.  She is quickly learning words and different ways to make us laugh.  It will be very interesting to see her interaction with the girls as they get older.  They always say "three is a crowd", I hope that's not the case!


Ricky is getting into the spirit of the season by decorating the house.  Every.Square.Inch.  Outside we have tombstones, boarded windows, spider webs and the whole works.  It's really cute how he gets so into Halloween and fall. 

As you may have noticed, I am rocking a new 'do.  I have a love/hate relationship with my short hair.  It's a big change!  At the end of the day, I have to remind myself it's just hair.  Things could be so much worse! 

I hope everyone else is enjoying this season!  I absolutely hate that I see Christmas trees lit up in every store already.  Let's slow down people!

Save money: grow your own herbs!

We planted our garden 3 weeks ago and I could not be more excited!  It has been so dry lately, I was getting worried my black gardening thumb would come back to haunt us.   But alas, we have a great, plentiful garden coming up.  I cannot wait for veggies to start popping up.  Olivia might be more excited than I am, she is obsessed with checking the garden everyday.

My best tip so far?  Grow your own herbs.  I don't know why this has taken me so long!  I used to get those little packets for $2.99 at the store, every time I needed herbs for a recipe.  That is such a rip off when you can buy the whole plant, in the same section (usually) for the same price.  Our plants are HUGE and we have more mint than I know what to do with.  I am glad I like mojitos!

Look how much progress our herbs made in a week!

We have chives, mint, cilantro, basil and rosemary!

Anyone else growing a garden this year?  Any tips for us? 

Update: Gabby's growing up!

If you haven't noticed, I have been a bit quiet lately.  I have been (kind of) busy planning the wedding and I really have just been trying to keep up with 3 little ladies.  Gabby is almost 9 months and she is huge.  It's funny to see her try to keep up with the twins, who are 3 now.  She will be running around soon enough, I can't even imagine!

Yesterday was a big day for Gabby...she participated in her first research project.  It was too funny!  I occasionally participate in research for a few local places and this time they called for Gabby to try some food.  Since she loooves to eat, I signed her up.  In the past I have looked at new containers for baby cereal (don't you hate those boxes?!) and tried new Subway sandwich ideas.  It's always a fun way to earn some cash.  I love to try new products! 

BTW: you might want to search for a local research company around you.  If you live in the Grand Rapids area, message me and I'll send you a list of my favorites!  It is a GREAT way to earn quick and easy money.  I also participated in Madison, they are all around!

Aside from my crazy money making schemes, things are pretty much the same around here.  I'm still trying to keep up with my workouts and I have actually lost over 10 pounds so far.  I am just trying to lose weight the healthy way, I don't really have a goal in mind for my wedding or anything. 

I hope all of you are doing well! Thanks for sticking with me!  I will have some new posts coming soon.  If there is ever anything you would like me to cover or if you have any questions, email me!

Quick update: calling all bargain shoppers!

This summer has been crazy, to say the least. Here's what I have on my plate right now:

• Buying a house- our offer was just accepted and we should be moving in a month! eek!
  
• New baby- Gabby is doing SO well...she is growing super fast
  
• Planning a wedding- we set a date 5/5/12, which is the 7 year anniversary of our first official date
  
• potty training 2 year old twins- Maddie is doing very well...Olivia, not so much. hehe.
  

It's amazing I have time to write any blogs lately! I am loving every minute of the chaos, though. Well, not every poopy mess in the potty chair, but you get what I mean.

Now here is where I would love some help! I know how to save when it comes to shopping for groceries and clothes, but I would love some tips on decorating a house and planning a wedding! I have tons of books from the library, but I love personal advice from people who have gone through it themselves!

What is your best advice for planning a wedding on a budget? How did you decorate your house without going crazy?

Thanks in advance!

Update: Crickets are gone!

How can you not love those cute faces?  They DO drive me crazy sometimes though!

 Well there have definitely been crickets chirping around my blog for about a month now!  I think I am ready to start posting again...mostly for my sanity!  Gabby is doing very well, she is the easiest baby!  She looks angelic compared to the twins.  I am sure in a few months, it will be very, very different!!  The girls..well they are two.  And potty training.  Everything wonderful about terrible twos, multiplied by two.  If these attitudes are any indication of my future when they are teenagers, I'm scared!! 

They love to dance.

This clip of Amy Poehler on SNL is a perfect example of the girls, minus the clear language.  Instead of "Rick! Rick! Rick!" it's "Mama! Mama! Mama!" (or Ashleigh on the days Olivia thinks it's best to call me by my first name....), followed by gibberish with a few clear sentences. 

Needless to say, I really need to start blogging again.  I won't promise daily posts, but I really need to have a time set where I can go where it's QUIET and write.  This summer has flown by!  We are trying to decide if we want to re-sign our lease and deal with annoying upstairs neighbors, or buy a house.  Pretty exciting looking at potential homes, but also super stressful!  Our lease is up at the end of September, so we need to get moving soon (literally!). 

Not only have I not been blogging, I haven't really been cooking or reading anymore either.  I keep getting al of these great books from the library and then only starting them.  (Note: you MUST read Bossypants by Tina Fey, I did finish that and I laughed so hard I cried!) Now that we are on a set schedule, I really need to get back to normalcy.  Don't get me wrong, I love some marinaded chicken and veggies...but not EVERY night.  Our fridge has never been this empty.

On a side note, my garden is actually growing, despite our crazy neighbors.  I wouldn't say its flourishing with enough fruits and veggies to feed us a lot, but we do have some potential blossoms.  More than I was expecting! 

Okay, I'm done rambling!  Whew! 

How is your summer going?