Raising Multiples

  • Vacation & Travel: Vermont Fun & Celebrations

    Karlie, Daddy, and Brina putting together their lego creations!

    Thankful for a husband who invests time in the lives of the children.  The girls adore their Daddy!  I love all three of you so very much!

    Writing and drawing on tree bark.

    It is amazing the cool stuff you find in Vermont.  As Daddy and PopPop were splitting wood these pieces of paper fell off  of the tree and the girls thought they were the neatest “craft” paper.

    Daddy taking Brina for a short ride on the four wheeler.

    Brina all smiles after her ride on the four wheeler with Daddy.  So much fun!

    Karlie's turn on the 4-wheeler

    Karlie is pleased with herself for “helping” Daddy drive the four wheeler!

    Karlie and Brina riding with PopPop on the tractor.

    The tractor was out so the girls enjoyed riding for a few minutes with PopPop!

    Fun times in Vermont

    It’s the little stuff that make them smile.  Thankful for opportunity to spend time with Nana and PopPop.

    Celebrating Nana's Birthday!

    We were able to celebrate Nana’s birthday during our visit.  The girls helped make and decorate the cake for the party.

    Blowing out the candles!

    It was a blessing to share Nana’s birthday with her!

    PopPop and the girls!

    Brina admiring the butterfly plates while PopPop and Karlie watch Nana cut the birthday cake.

    Nana enjoying her birthday!

    Nana is a beautiful lady both inside and out. We love you Nana!  Thanks for sharing your birthday with us.

    PopPop getting into the festivities!

    Fun times with PopPop.

    Karlie target practicing with Daddy.

     Karlie did pretty well hitting the target.

    Brina had a blast practicing.

    Brina thought is was a lot of fun to sh0ot and find all the empty casings.

    Boutique of fresh and wild flowers from Vermont!

    Brina and Karlie loved picking the beautiful flowers from PopPop’s garden and along the trails.

    Enjoying some sparkler time!

    Standing on the rocks spelling out their names with sparklers!

    Brina and Karlie saying goodbyes to PopPop and Nana.

    Time to head home.  Saying goodbye and ready for the final leg of our long road trip!  We are thankful for our time with PopPop and Nana in Vermont.

    A Vacation To Remember series is a reflection on our recent trip and ways we relaxed.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • SkyTop Orchard: $1.00 off a Bushel of Apples Coupon

    If you are looking for a great fall family activity you might want to try Apple Picking!

    SkyTop Orchard is now open for apple picking and is offering a coupon for $1.00 a bushel of Apples.

    You can pick your own apples or buy apples they have picked in their store

    What is at SkyTop Orchard:

    • Pick Your Own Apples, Peaches, Pears, and Grapes (check to see what is currently in season)
    • “Made While You Watch” Apple Cake Doughnuts
    • Hayrides
    • Pick Pumpkins, Gourds, and Fall Decorations
    • Picnic Areas
    • Barnyard Goats, Sheep, Chickens, Turkeys, Peacocks, Ducks and Geese
    • Free Apple Cider
    • Nature Trail through a Bamboo Forest
    • Orchard Pond
    • Bees working in their Beehive
    • Apple Goods, Hot Apple Cider, Caramel Apples, Fudge Apples and More
    • Honey, Jams, and Gifts
    • Kids Playground
    • Wooden cut-outs for pictures
    • And More!

    Where is SkyTop Orchard:

  • Travel & Vacation: Welcome Home Mom & Dad

    I love having some time with my handsome man but coming home is AWESOME too!

    Jake and I had the opportunity to get away for a few days several months ago.  We took a cruise with extended family and the girls stayed with friends.  Our plane came in the late to Atlanta and we arrived home in the middle of the night so we were not able to see the girls until the next morning.  The girls came walking up the sidewalk carrying this HUGE “Welcome Home Mom & Dad” banner that they had made for us.  We were thrilled to see them and loved the cute banner.  They had a BLAST with our friends and made a lot of great memories.  The girls told me I need to get all Aunt Ashley’s recipes because she made the best food while we were away.

    Our friends (and the girls) brought us Dunkin Donuts for breakfast, so sweet!

    Jake and I were thankful for the chance to get away for a few days and we couldn’t have done it without the help of our friends.  They took great care of the girls (actually I am not sure if they were ready to come home yet, ha).  We are blessed to have amazing people in our lives.  Thanks Mike and Ashley!!!

    Our sweet Welcome Home banner the girls made for us!

    Life has been really busy.  As I was going back over some of the pictures from earlier in the year I found ones that I wanted to share.  The time away from home with your spouse is important, necessary and refreshing, however, coming home to two sweet girls is a huge blessing!

  • Deal Chicken: $20 worth of Educational Supplies for $10 at School Spot

    Deal Chicken has a great deal in Greenville, South Carolina!

    $20 worth of Educational Supplies for $10 at School Spot!

    School Spot Deal Details:

    • Login and purchase $20 worth of School Supplies for $10
    • Redeemable in store at School Spot – 1042-A Woodruff Rd, Greenville, SC 29607, (864) 284-9305
    • Store Hours: Monday-Thursday from 10 AM. to 6 PM and Friday-Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM
    • Must be used in one visit.
    • Not valid on tax or gratuity.
    • Certificate cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other offer, coupon or promotion, teacher discount or clearance item.
    • One certificate per person per day.
    • Only valid on regular-priced items.
    • Expires 12/31/11

    Great deal for teachers, parents of little ones, homeschool families, preschools, daycares, churches, teacher gifts, or anyone else wanting educational material in the Greenville area.

  • Raising Multiples: First School Day of First Grade!

    The girls recently started school, their first day of first grade went really well. After a wonderful summer together of traveling and memories we were getting them ready for school  They were excited to go to school to learn and see their friends but also told me that they would miss their time at home, (aw….such sweethearts)!   Here’s a few snapshots from their first day of school.

    First day of School lunches are packed and ready to go!

     This year we are packing lunches every day except Fridays, which is pizza or special lunch day.  They were very excited about picking out and making food to pack in their lunches.  I was impressed at how well they adjusted and how much initiative they took cleaning out their bags every day.  The girls received their lunch bags from some great friends, they came in handy last year and again this year.

    Brina's lunch

    Brina is our loves flowers, pink, orange, and anything girly so this is perfect for her.  One of the concerns Moms with Twins, Triplets or higher multiples is making sure to develop their individuality.   The girls were THRILLED to have different lunch boxes with their names on it.

    Karlie's lunch

    One of Karlie’s favorite colors is black (she has loved space and planets for years)!   These thoughtful gifts came from a good friend with triplets who has been a huge encouragement to me since she found out I was pregnant with the girls.

    Notes we put into their school lunch on the first day of first grade!

    The girls see some of the “notes” that I send in Daddy’s lunch and always enjoy it when they get one as well.  As a special surprise occasionally I will stick in a note to them.  They both thanked us for their first lunch box “love note” of the school year!

    Brina and Karlie ready for their first day of 1st grade!

    You would think that at this age it would be easy to get two kids to smile at the camera, ha!  They were so worried that my taking pictures would make them late the first day of school.  Don’t worry we made it with plenty of time to spare!

    Brina's ready!

    Brina’s comment on the way to school this year was “”We will make some good friends today and have fun talking to our friends from last year!”  Glad she is excited about seeing friends and making new ones.

    Karlie's super excited to go to first grade!

    Karlie’s comment on the way to school this year was “So how many days until Summer break”!  We had been counting down until the first day of school.  She had such a fun summer together I think she was ready to start counting down until next summer.

    Our notes to our sweet girls at breakfast!

    On their breakfast plates we wrote each of them a note to read while we were cooking breakfast.

    Notes to our girls on the first day of school!

    They love getting notes and special days should be celebrated!

    Hello cutie pies, your note from Mom and Dad on your first day of First Grade!

    Our first day of school note was M&M’s.   The comment I got from them was “Silly Mommy” but they smiled reading the letter we wrote to them.

    Love making our girls smile. The first day of first grade is a great day to celebrate!

    Life is short and my babies are growing up quickly.  I want our girls to know how much we love them.  These notes only take a few moments to write but can be a tremendous encouragement to them especially as they walk into a new classroom on the first day of school.

    On the way to school!

    All buckled in and ready for school.  Yes, I took the picture at a stoplight not while driving.

    Beautiful first day of first grade for the girls!

    I was thankful to see the sun shining, a gorgeous blue sky, white puffy clouds and beautiful leafy trees on the way to school.  We truly have much to appreciate in life.

    Walking behind their teacher on their way to first grade, my babies are growing up!

    My big girls walking to their class by themselves, no assistance necessary from their Mommy.

    School day is done, they love riding home on the bus.

    Thankful for their time to learn.  Praying that their first grade year is a positive experience packed full of great educational fun.