Time goes so Fast

Well, we are needing to update you on a few things from where we left off. Part of the problem is that it takes FOR EVER to upload pics. Very annoying.. I only have so much time.
So Troy and his family came to stay with us while they came to Wichita. It was wonderful to have them stay at our house and enjoy the babies! They gave us news of wanting to leave NY and head to the Mid-West. What??? Could this be true? We were very excited about the possibility of them being closer to spend time with the kids and us to be able to build a stronger bond with Huck. But the job they were looking at was not what they were hoping for in Arkansas. We are still hopeful for them to move closer. Rylee and Jackson must have a Crazy Uncle close to them.

Grandma Twyford had a surprise birthday party for her 90th. Mom planned it all out and Troy and I tried our best to get grandma 20 feet to a meeting hall. Boy was that one of the hardest things I have seen my brother do. We got her there and it ended with lots of smiles and hug. PTL.. it could have gone either way.

The heat of the summer kept us in most of the summer. We finally got out for a few wagon rides towards late summer early fall.

I had an Alumni Game at WSU finally after so many years! It was so awesome to get out there and play a little softball. Seven of my original team came out and it was so good to catch up and see their kids. It was awesome to be able to say they still got it. I was a little slow on the bases compared to back in the day. But I got on every time and it made my day! I hadn't seen some of my friends for almost 15 years. That's way too long.

We took the kids to their first pumpkin patch and it was so much fun to watch them have a ball. It wasn't crowded so they got to ride a few rides and take their time on everything because there wasn't very many kids. We went down a huge slide and played in a corn box. They even got to ride in barrels like a train. Very very fun.

Halloween was a blast this year. We went with a prairie theme. Scott's mom Beverly made Rylee a green prairie dress and it was awesome! She looked so great and even for the bonnet! Jackson wore Scott's old cowboy vest from when he was a kid and it took some time but we finally got him to wear it without crying. Scott made him a little holster for a little gun he had, extremely adorable (well the fact Scott puts so much time into our Halloween costumes. Some friends of ours gave us a horse to play with and take to the party. On Halloween, We went to a Candy Corn Carnival and they loved it! Both sets of grandparents came and we did crafts, played in a paper pit, did a cake walk(but took cookies instead)and raced on Tricycle's. Their favorite things would have to be the lady bug dot removal and the football throw. Because Mom and DAD let them have their cookies so late, when we got home it was a running fest in the living room for about an hour with their new sun glasses.

November and December have been all about FOOTBALL! When Jackson sees it on the TV he yells "GO Guys GO!!! Rylee yells "Go!" and gives out high fives and kisses everyone, of course).
We are also slowly working on going to the potty. Jackson likes the idea of sitting on the big potty. So when asked if he has to go potty if he really hasn't he will run to the toilet and sit with a magazine for about five minutes. If he has gone or is going.. he tells me "Unah ah!" It's the cutest thing on earth. Rylee get's very upset by all this attention so we have to sit her on the floor or on mom's lap so she can read a "BABY" Magazine as well. Of course every page has a baby so I figured they would be able to read it out loud. And they do... "Baby,.... page turn.... baby!!! Momma...... page turn... BABY!!! It's a very easy to read magazine.
Food has been interesting. They love strawberry and Cottage Cheese both of them can say the words. Jackson's main words right now are Light, Truck, Look, Watch, Up, Strawberries, Cheese, All done, Hot, cool, shoes, socks, purse, Scott, Tina, Apple, Elmo, Cat, Puppy, Ball, Horse, Duck, Cow, BABY, Momma, Outside, car, circle, goat, pig, bird, gross, icky, Rylee, Sis, Kiss, ABC, Bible, EIEIO, bye Bye, Dadda, Bus, sick, AH Oh, Grapes.
Rylee words, Bye Bye, DADDA, Momma, Ah Oh, bubba, sis, ball, all done, Hot, shoes, socks, strawberries, cheese, cottage chesse, outside, apple, bird, puppy, car, cow, baby, horse, circle, A B, when she can't express herself she throw a fit but will quit if I say, Rylee do you want to go to your crib? She is a smart one that Rylee.
She loves puzzles and building things. Lately she has impressed me a ton with how quickly she can do certain puzzels. She has a very good memory.
Well that's all for now... some of this is for me because people say you will forget if you don't write it down and I think they are right. I have forgotten a lot of stuff.
They both weigh about 24 pounds.. Jackson is closer to 25 and Rylee is closer to 23. They are about the same height. PTL... Glad Rylee isn't taller at this point. :) They are getting better with the fighting finally.. the last two months has been hard. Pray for us!!! We need it.. Pictures coming with it doesn't take five hours to load them.

Birthday Bash, Talking and more

This summer has gone by so quickly and hardly anytime to write about what has been going on! So sorry blog friends and family. Se left off in May were Rylee and Jackson were being dedicated to the Lord. We have missed them turning the big 1 and all the summer fun! So let's try to pick it up before the kids get up and need lunch.
So we had a family get together for their first birthday. We played a big shabang. And everyone who was invited pretty much came who could. It was so great to watch all the relatives play with our kids. We had a ball pit for the little one's which their great grandma Twyford paid for them to have and we went and got. They loved it and still do. They so enjoy jumping in the balls and throwing them. We had a dance floor for Jackson and a Kissing booth for Rylee. Everything went off with out missing a beat. Rylee kissed everyone and Jackson showed off his dancing skills a little bit. We had a slip n' slide and they so enjoyed playing on that well after the uncle, dad and grandpa made them go down it. They ate their chocolate cake with fashion all over their sweet faces. It was a great time of celebrating them together but separate. One of my friends who is a twin said it would be important for them to have their own cake. So that's what we did.
They are now jabbering away about anything and everything. We can't understand them much but Rylee can say ball, hey, hi, shoe, moo, serious, dada, and momma. Jackson can say light, up, bubble, dadda, and momma. They are so much fun! They are both walking like champs and have been doing great in our church nursery. We are so proud of them and all they can do.
Jackson was scared of baths for awhile but it getting better with the new toys we bought and some that draw on the tub. He will now at least play for awhile. Rylee is just a few steps behind Jackson in about everything. She will steal whatever he is playing with and sometimes he doesn't mind and other times, he will just cry and cry. He usually doesn't fight back but he has started to slap at her when she tries and she doesn't like that one bit. They love to swing and love to play outside in the sand. MOst of all they love snacks. The love fruit and sometimes I have to watch how much fruit I give them. Rylee loves to pick out her own shoes and Jackson helps me put his clothes on. They are learning where the potty is and simply just play with their potty stool. Hopefully we will be able to handle this next step in life without a hitch. Wish us luck.

Blog worthy moments

So the kids are starting to interact with us more and each other. Fun little notes I don't want to forget so I thought I would write them down on here.
The other day Jackson, Rylee and I were playing ball and I said to Rylee " Pass it, pass it, Pass it Rylee and Jackson came over to me and stuck his paci in my mouth. I guess he understands the word paci. LOL...
Rylee normally doesn't use a paci and hasn't until now. She doesn't even know how to suck on it but just puts it in her mouth and chews on it to be like her big brother. It's very cute. In the mornings and late evenings they are best friends. But in the afternoon they want to be away from each other.
They love to play hat time and look at each other with different hats on. Jackson loves his orange winter hat he got from his cousin Huck and likes to wear it like a football helmet. It's very cute!!
Rylee is now kissing us on a regular basis. Open mouth and lots of slobber. Of course we take what we can get. Rylee likes to throw everything on the floor and take things out of boxes. So I clean up after her most of the day. Jackson likes to beat on things and make noise. He loves to make the toys that have music play because he loves to dance. Rylee chases and tosses balls all over the house. I think she might be a ball player. Just saying...
Jackson lets me cut his hair and shave the sides and back with daddy's clippers. They can say Dada and momma. They wave good-bye and can let us know when they are finished with their meal. Jackson will come to me when he is poopy and I think that's pretty good for his age. He is also very ticklish.
Rylee still smiles a lot but is more of a big snuggle bug. She follows her brother everywhere he goes unless mom is on the floor, then she is snuggled on my lap and watches Jackson. But is daddy is home she is all over him. She is definitely a daddy's little girl. I love being a mom! Glad summer is right around the corner so we can play!!! Also glad softball is over for the most part because I just want to hang out with the babies!

Dedication and taking first steps

What an exciting time! We had the dedication but the babies were getting a cold a day before so they were not in the mood to sit through an entire ceremony. They met tons of people and they were not in the mood to be held by anyone other then us as well. Oh I love the snuggle time but sure would like them to be a little more independent. They are wanting to walk a lot more now. Jackson is taking a toy and scooting it around the room. He uses it like a walker. It's very adorable to watch them play at times. Other times they are fighting like brother and sister. The other day Rylee laid a huge kiss on Jackson and he cried extremely hard after it was over. Oh the joy! I am tired most of the time but God gives me strength.
We gave the kids each a verse and prayed over them. It was so amazing to know we have so many believers in our family and what joy it will be to share Heaven with them. It was great to see Dad there too! He was so full of smiles. It was great to have everyone there! Except my Brother's family because they are so far away. Life continues and we share the moments we can together. I am so enjoying my children and watching them grow. I don't like to see them sick. Not a fun thing at all.

Dedicating our Babies

We are getting ready to celebrate a very important day for the kids. On May 2nd they will be brought before our family and friends at our Church to be dedicated before the Lord. I am very excited about standing before everyone and making a commitment and our friends making one to pray for our children to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
Lately, Scott is still in search of a job and I am coaching softball at Collegiate. It's been a little stressful time because I am exhausted all the time. The kids have been growing and are so amazing. I love their personalities and how much they love being loved. We are a very lovey touchy family. I think I probably give them about 200 kisses a day. I just love em... Scott then gives them another 200 kisses and if that doesn't make for happy babies, I don't know what would.
Jackson is soooo cute and loves to praise and worship. We take him to the 533 and try not to be late because he loves to stand out on the aile and dance. And sing really loud. Rylee likes to cuddle and clap her hands (maybe even eat her shoe). Our kids are very different but they really do play well together for the most part. It's so fun to see them jabber at one another. They are both crawling like champs and Jackson is very close to walking. He is about 2 weeks infront of Rylee on most things except fine motor skills. I don't know how they rate amongst of kids because we don't have insurance right now. Please pray we find a doctor who we trust to send them to and get checked out. Their birthday is coming up and I am so excited. I hope is goes well. I can't believe they are almost one. They are so awesome.

New Year and Lot's of Change and Noise!! Love it!

So wow!!! I looked and I haven't written much since the babies got active. So what are they doing now???
Jackson is still very vocal but allows us to change him without crying now. He smiles a ton now... when we tickle his inner thigh, clap his hands together and let him jump in the jumper. Rylee is such a sweet little baby girl. She smiles all the time but has shown signs of anxiety when we leave the room. She doesn't like to be changed into a different outfit and cries when clothes go over her head.
Rylee is rolling and crawling on her back to get places. She can eat with her fingers mostly cheerios and puffs. Jackson can grab things but hasn't figured out how to put it in his mouth so I have to feed him puffs and cheerios. They both love to jump. They are working on sippy cups. Right now they are just playing with it and learning to hold it. Sometimes they are able to get water out but I help with that when they seem frustrated. Jackson's hair sticks straight up so I have oped to go with a Mohawk for now. I know I know.. I said I would never make my child look like a rebel but it's the only style that doesn't make him look like he stuck his finger in a light socket. They love bath time and are eating three meals a day. Sleeping 6-6 am so I am a very very happy.
Softball is getting ready to start and I am excited to get out of the house but also happy to be able to stay with the kids most all day. Scott lost his job recently so he is working part time at Gear for You. A place I worked before I had the kids. It's nice to have him out working and not sitting at home. We are still waiting on unemployment benefits to let us know if we have them. Such a crazy time for us. We are praying Scott will find something soon. A few interviews have been set up but haven't heard anything yet.
Here are a few pics from the last two months. They are getting so big and so much fun!!! I can't stop taking pics... :)Just haven't put them up on the blog. Sorry Blog friends.
So this is a moment I had to share that just happened this morning. We were looking out the sliding glass window at the snow falling down. I so wanted to get a picture of it but some things are better left to memory. I thought what a sweet moment. I was holding Jackson and Scott was holding Rylee. We looked at each other and Jackson let out a loud couple of toots. I love parenthood! :)

Christmas here and gone! Loved it!

Christmas as a wonderful time full of family, friends and food. Scott and I hosted everyone but the Twyford's this year (my mom's side) It was great! We cooked steaks and had a fabulous time with Scott's immediate family on Christmas Eve. Went to our church service with Scott's folks. Rylee and Jackson did great throughout the service and grandma and grandpa nickel loved holding Jackson. Christmas Day we celebrated at Mom's house with a great game of secret Santa and then a game called signs. We laughed a lot that day and it was really nice. I was tied up with tape by my nephew and 2nd cousin to see how many seconds it would take me to get out of it. Later we got tons of presents from Nana and Uncle Troy's family. We then ventured off to Scott's Aunt's where we really got bombarded with gifts, hugs, kisses, and lots of love. My brother's family stayed with us and it was wonderful. They got to spend quality time with Rylee and Jackson. Then off to Dad's house for a little more Christmas. Very sweet time with Dad making us all ribs and such a sweet celebration. Overall, it was awesome but we are very tired. pictures coming.

Christmas is almost here and the stockings are hung

Well, it's been so amazing to be a mom. Jackson is now consistently rolling around everywhere. Rylee just kicks her legs and smiles a lot. I do think I was given the best babies around.

Yesterday we took them to the nursery for the first time at Church. They did great and I survived giving my babies away to a few strangers. Luckily Tom and good friend of mines husband was working and it eased my worries quiet a bit. When we picked them up Jackson was cuddled in Tom's arms and Jackson looked very tired. It was very sweet.
Rylee came out smiling and we were told what a smiley baby we had. sigh...

We hung our stockings last night and it was so awesome to have everyone's stockings up on the fireplace. It made me almost tear up at the thought of this last year and all we have been through. This time last year we were thinking we were about to have three children. We thought we were going to adopt a little girl and then have twins 6 months later. So much has happened and now we are so thankful of how it all worked out. Two kids is enough to make my sleeping hours decrease, I can't imagine what three kids would have done.

Rylee is sleeping through the night and it's wonderful. Jackson, on the other hand, can only sleep about five hours tops before he wakes up again and needs fed. It's been good for the most part because they go down together around 6:30 7:00. I am praying now with more solid foods he will sleep longer. Not so far...;(.

Rylee has learned to scream and do a motor boat sound. She can also do a great 50 year old lady who has smoked most her life voice. Oh it's pretty. Jack learns something and then forgets but has recently remembered he can roll a lot, spit raspberries, scream really loud or cough to get mom's attention.

Things we hear a lot... "Oh Twins..." yeah boy and a girl..."Are they identical?" hmmmmmm. They are looking at them at the time. One is bald/blond the other has brown hair. One has blue sparkling eyes, the other handsome piercing brown eyes. OH yeah they are identical. ;0

Scott is a great dad and doing everything he can to help around the house. Most of the time we are on the same page but sometimes I am so tired, I can be a pill. I know, I know... you can't imagine me being hard to put up with but it's true sometimes. After four times a day pumping, 16 diaper changes, five bottle feedings a day, washing bottles, washing clothes,taking out the trash and no down time except when my children are playing on the floor at 6 am and I can type this... ;)

Naps are 30 minutes long for Jackson and I have to keep them on the same schedule or they really do kill me... it makes for a very long day. I am tired right now...Wish I could write more but I just want to lay down for the ten minutes I have left. ;(

Lots of Company hang out with the Nickel Twins

Your Favorites (33 photos), by Tina Nickel

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Happy Halloween!

Well, we have everything ready for our Halloween weekend. We are started celebrating with a tea party on Tuesday where the kids got to dress in their costumes. Very cute! We had a barn dance last friday night and it was a blast! I love dancing with my honey.
Halloween is going to consist of a bake potato party, OSU vs. K-State game in Manhattan and a costume party later... if we make it back for that. :) So pictures coming..
The kids are getting so big and I am praying they stay awake longer in the day instead of 45 minute naps.. They need the long ones.. and momma does too! :)
Hope you enjoy your Halloween!

Well, the class reunion was a lot of fun! I was so nervous before the nights got started but then a few familiar faces would appear and make me feel like home. It was so good to see a great friend. Jami Schafer, she was so much fun and so sweet. I loved her and saw her across the way and we gave each other a huge hug. Shannon, our class president was amazing. She talked with us for quite awhile and we had a lot in common. So the first night was really nice to see people. I was really surprised I saw so many Roosevelt Junior High class mates. They were so excited to see me and it was a little odd at first. But it was also very sweet to think how much I loved Roosevelt and East and it was so wonderful to be around people who were excited to see you after twenty years. So fun!!

Saturday Night we had the dinner and dance. It was neat to read what I wrote over twenty years ago about how successful I would be and married with two kids. I guess I knew something back then...lol. It was funny because a lot of people wrote things that really came true.

I sat with some friends I had know for a long time but not people I really hung out with during High School but it was so much fun! Donita and I played volleyball together and she was so funny. She served in the military for 9 years and married an amazing basketball coach. He was so sweet and kind. I loved our conversation. I think Scott had a good time too! Met up with friends who have a love for K-State as well. It was a great night and I will always remember how fun it was to dance with my old classmates even 20 years later. Go times!!!