Halloween Party!

For the last couple of years our friends, The Smith family, have invited us to their Halloween party. I didn't plan very well, as I haven't as yet decided what Cooper and Logan are going to be for Halloween. As a quick remedy to the situation, I had James pull out some Hunter's orange for Cooper, and he went as a hunter.Logan was my little army man.
When we got to their new house, we found it decorated to the hilt. Jen had put together the cutest games. I think the funniest was watching the kids try and eat a marshmellow hanging from some string from the ceiling. They weren't allowed to use their hands so we got alot of picture of tongues hanging out.Next up was a bean bag toss. Nick and Addy were really good at this, Cooper on the other hand decided to cheat a little. Hey we told him to put them through the hole. He was just following directions the best way he knew how. The trick-or treat game was cute as well. The kids each drew a candy corn or pumpkin out of a bag. With the candy corn they got a prize, with the pumpkin they got sprayed with silly string.
Logan really got into the cookie decorating part. He didn't bother decorating the cookie, he'd just eat it. Cooper was concentrating very hard to get the frosting on ALL of the cookie.
We had so much fun! Thank you Smith Family for the Food, fun and good time!

Happy Pre-Halloween!

Playtime!

We haven't really gone out of the house lately, mostly due to the inclement weather. Here's a few shots of the kids playing inside...10-16-08 MacKenzie really enjoyed putting together a Cooper sandwich. Yup, he's under the pillow, laughing of course. Once again Logan playing with hats. It's actually one of the tubs their cars go into, but he was so cute, he looked like a spaceman.
10-17-08. Another one of Logan's favorite indoor fun includes riding his trike up and down the hallway. He is quick. It was during this picture he actually ran into my shins. I wasn't quick enough. 10-20-08, Mac & Cooper are pretty mellow. I'm glad their being quiet, Logan needs a good nap.

Smore's indoors!

On my mission I discovered that I didn't need a campfire to roast smores. So tonight for family night we roasted marshmellows over the stove. Cooper was my big helper and together we roasted.....

The perfect mallow!

Logan loved the crackers, and Cooper loved the whole thing!

Happy Birthday Grama Geri!

My Grama Geri had her birthday today and so I want to give her a list of Thank you's as a present. 1. Thank you for your hugs. I could hold on forever.

2. Thank you for all the memories we made at Swan Lake. There are too many favorites to have just one.
3. Thank you for giving me the recipe for your chocolate cake. I'll treasure it always, and so will James.
4. Thank you for being my mommy's mommy. She learned from the best.
5. Thank you for loving us all unconditionally. I love you so much! Happy Birthday!


Thank you Vicky for the pictures!

Readin', Singing, and laughing

Another fun evening spent at the Smith house. We had a wonderful dinner, and dessert. However, the real treat and highlight of the evening was watching Lexie, Camyrn, Cooper & Logan play together. Reading & Singing
And giving lots of loves.

Happy Birthday Jocelyn!

Happy Birthday 2nd Birthday Jo Jo! Cooper taking a wack at the pinata. Look at that form!

Scooter ride for Cooper!

Cooper didn't like the idea of putting on a helmet, at first.

But once he realized that was the only way he could get a ride on the scooter, he was okay with the idea.Thank you Uncle Jeremy.

Virtual Baby, thanks Julie P.

Here's our newest baby...compliments of vw.com

His name is Jett A. Twiddy

Okay, I was bored. All you need is a picture of you and your other to find out what your Routan baby would look like!

Helping with the Laundry.

When Cooper is at school, I find it to be the best time to get chores done. At least it used to be. It seems that one of my laundry baskets was hijacked and taken for a joy ride. I found it at the other end of the apartment with two giddy toddlers. MacKenzie is so fun to have around the house. She plays with the boys so well, and is my little mommy helper with Logan. "Again!"

Peek-A-Boo

One of Logan's favorite games to play is Peek-A-Boo. Sometimes he'll spontaneously start the game. As is evidenced here at dinner time. He thinks it's the funniest thing in the world, and will laugh hysterically for 5 mins. or more.

I love my little man. He can always bring a smile to my face.

It's hard to believe that he's almost 2! Where does the time go?

100 Things about us....

Sorry about the respost, I deleted sensitive info.

In honor of our 100th post, we've come up with 100 things about the Twiddy Family. Everything you were afraid to ask, or already know. Enjoy!

James

1. My Birthday is in August.
2. I am an Assistant Operations Supervisor.

3. My dream job would be a Race car driver.

4. Yes, I like Nascar. My favorite drivers are Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson. Although I do root for all Hendricks Motor Sports.
5. I have loved motorcycles since I was a little kid.
6. I go hunting every fall for elk and deer.
7. I recently started fishing.
8. I make frequent visits to Cabella's, The Sportsman's Warehouse, and Joes.
9. If I do have time to watch TV, my favorite show is Monster Bulls on OLN.
10. I like to get Logan to say Elk.
11. Someday I would like to hunt Caribou.
12. If I had a 1 million dollars I would buy a ranch in Montana .
13. I wear glasses most of the time, sometimes contacts. I wouldn't mind having Lasik surgery someday.
14. I enjoy going to classic car shows.
15. My dream car is a 1941 Willy's.
16. I love coming home from work, and getting attention from my boys.
17. I listen to country music. Brad Paisley's " I'm still a Guy" is my favorite song.
18. The Seattle Seahawks are my favorite football team.
19. If there were more hours in the day, I'd sleep.
20. My favorite food is Lasagna. Especially my Aunt Freda's Lasagna.
21. I have 1 brother, and 3 sisters.
22. I served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Salt Lake City South mission- Spanish Speaking.
23. My wife and kids are the most important thing in my life.
24. My favorite vacation was when we took the boys to Montana in April of 2007.
25. I collect cars.

Sunny

1. My Birthday is in January.
2. My current occupation is a Domestic Engineer. The pay is lousy, but the benefits are AWESOME!
3. I love to blog. If you haven't guessed by now. It's my way of scrapbooking.
4. My best friends are Aimee, Jennifer, Julie & Kati.
5. The last book I read was Still Summer. It wasn't a bestseller, or on the O list, but hey, it didn't rhyme or have pictures.
6. I married my best friend, James. Ask anyone I know, I don't remember dating very long. We were just always together with our friends.
7. My hair is not red. I am not a carrot top (which are green, hello!) I'm not a firehead. I'm technically strawberry blond, with a touch of white.
8. I dislike any creepy crawly ooey gooey whatevers. (spiders, snakes, slugs) I'll do what it takes to get rid of it.
9. I served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Omaha Nebraska. I served at the Winter Quarters Visitor Center.
10. I'm really not as shy as most people think I am. It just takes me a little while to warm up.
11. There are a few crazy things I've done, not illegal, that I won't ever confess to my parents or anyone. The persons involved know what I'm talking about, you were there, you know what we did.
12. I've been on the slingshot at the fair, and thought that was awesome, but won't ever do again. 13. I would rather jump out of an airplane than fly across the country.
14. Going to Disneyland is my idea of the ultimate vacation. I've been 3 times, and can't wait to take my kids.
15. Nascar is a fun sport to watch. Not just to watch the wrecks. GO Jeff! #24 rocks!
16. I believe that Fishing, Football and Hunting shouldn't be at the same time of the year.
17. Sometimes I drink milk out of the carton, just so I don't have to wash the cup.
18. I love my children immensely! Sometimes, I just love them ALOT! /:
19. Jobs I've had in the past: Funeral Home Secretary, Consumer Affairs Rep @ Alaska Airlines, Elder/Child care, temp support & retail.
20. I have freckles. Never have liked them. Once in Junior High I let my friends connect the dots during lunch.
21. I would really like to own a house. My dream house would have a walk-in closet, huge kitchen, a wrap around porch, and was self-cleaning. I did say dream house.
22. My favorite book is Pride & Prejudice. I've always like to read the book before I see the movie, and almost always like the book better. Wish I could read more often.
23. If I won $100,000,000, I would buy alot of land, divide them into 1 or 2 acre lots, put a brand new house on each one for all my family and best friends. That way everyone is together amd close, BUT they have their own space. (I miss you guys. You know who you are.)
24. My favorite new colors from Crayola are: super happy, happy ever after, and bear hug.
25. I admire all my fellow mama's, ya'll rock!

Cooper

1. My Birthday is in May.
2. I love anything to do with Disney Cars. Including, but not limited to my collection of around 40 cars. (I've lost count)
3. I love to go outside and get dirty. If there's a will there's a way. I WILL GET DIRTY.
4. I started my 2nd year of Preschool. I'm improving in my speech and vocabulary. One thing I want to improve on is being potty trained.
5. I have had the same blanket for since I was born. There's not much left to love, but I refuse to give it up.
6. I like to help in the kitchen. I particularly like to make Mac'n Cheese.
7. Speaking of Food, my favorites include, Mashed Potatoes & SOS gravy, and PB&J sandwiches.
8. I'm really tall for my age. I tower over most of the kids in my class.
9. My best buddies are Nick, Ian, Madelyn & Emma.
10. I went camping for the first time this summer, and I loved sleeping in a tent outside! But it was fun to go inside Grama Pam & Grampa Dave's trailer. That reminds me, I need to buy them batteries for their flashlight. I played with it almost the whole weekend.
11. My mom & dad say " You're my baby" But I correct them right quick and tell them " I AM NOT A BABY, I'm a big boy!"
12. This summer we got to go to the lake and swim. I was really brave and went into the deep with mommy and daddy. I like to swim.
13. I really really like animals. Even bugs and spiders. Just ask my mommy, I show her them all the time.
14. Scooby Doo rocks! I could watch him on TV all day, but mom won't let me.
15. I am so lucky. I get to play with my cousins all the time. They are fun!
16. I like to be independent and do things myself. Except when I'm really tired. Then I tell mom, "you do it."
17. I like to go on all the fair rides. I especially like the upside down ones. I love being tall.
18. When I get nervous or anxious I suck on my lip.
19. Whenever I see someone I know, I like to run up to them and give them hugs.
20. I especially like to give extra loves to my grandparents. I like to hang out with them and be their buddy.
21. I wake up happy.
22. I always stay in my room until mom and dad say it's time to get up. Even when I go to bed, I don't come out. (I'm sure Logan won't do that once he's in a toddler bed.)
23. I like to sit on my daddy's motorcycle and pretend I'm driving.
24. I'm very polite to others. I say thank you everyday to the bus driver.
25. My eyes are brown and if I look at you just right, I'll usually get what I want.

Logan

1. My Birthday is in December.
2. I like cows, and mooing at them.
3. I climb on everything. Mom and Dad's bed is still too high. But I can get on Booper's bed.
4. I like to eat just about everything, except vegetables. Although raw carrots and celery are starting to be fun.
5. I recently learned how to 'raspberry'/zerbut, I think it's hilarious.
6. I take 1 nap everyday, usually 2-3 hours.
7. I call my pacifier, Boo-Boo. Mom and Dad say I have to get rid of it before my next birthday.
8. Sometimes during the day I'll call and talk to daddy on my cell phone. I'm a daddy's boy.
9. I really liked going to the lake this summer and swimming in the water with mommy.
10. I can run very fast. I like to run with Booper.
11. I learned to play football this summer. I like to throw the ball, and catch it. I even throw my hands in the air for a touchdown. I also do a celebration dance.
12. Being outside is my favorite thing. I tell mommy or daddy all the time, "Outside?" Recently I've learned to say "Outside, now!"
13. I help my mommy with the laundry. I help her put the wet clothes in the dryer, and I put my dirty clothes in the basket.
14. I'm always a happy boy when I get to play with my cousins.
15. My favorite friends to play with are: William, Taylor, and Tyler.
16. Instead of being attached to 1 blanket, I have 5 favorite ones.
17. I'm a very social toddler. If I see any of our neighbors through the window, I yell "HI" at the top of my lungs until they wave. And sometimes, if I know their names, I yell that too!
18. I'm a little ladies man too. I flirt with all the cute girls at church, at the store, anywhere! Young or old.
19. I love to play with all my tonka wheel pals, mom says I have about 30.
20. I'm really good at sharing, okay, I'm sorta good at sharing.
21. The only TV I like to watch is Thomas the Train. It was so much fun meeting him this summer.
22. I am a little tape recorder. Mom and Dad have to watch what they say around me.
23. I like to do things on my own. I'm very independent. But sometimes I still want some help.
24. I'm usually a very happy boy.
25. My eyes are brown and if I look at you just right, I can melt your heart.

Happy Birthday Grama Nina!

Happy Birthday Grama Jeannene! We hope you get your dream car for your birthday.

Football Game @ Qwest Field

Today we took a trip into Seattle to watch Cole play a game at Qwest Field. As I like to call it, Man Land.

James and Cooper at the entrance.
Here's a picture of most of the field. They had 2 games going at the same time.
Cole had his own cheering section.
Cooper wanted to sit with Grama. Ok, he didn't sit the whole time. He wanted to go and play with his big cousin.
Cole is one of the smallest on the team, but he's so good. He was tackling kids that were bigger than him.
Finally, a close-up. We had fun supporting Coley.

Little Moments...

I cherish the little moments we have as a family and the love we have for each other, even the not so fun moments. If you're a mom you know those moments. "NO!" "I don't want to go to bed!" " I don't want to eat dinner!" The 30 minute freak out sessions at the doctor, etc. etc. Those moments where you find yourself at the end of your emotional rope. Then, out of nowhere the littlest smile or laugh that melts your heart and makes everything worth it. A mother's love is so intense, that sometimes it hurts. This week I'm trying to enjoy every moment I have with my kids. Here are a few my favorite moments from this summer and from this week.
1- Cooper attempting to cook Mac-n-Cheese by himself. He had all the dry ingredients in the fry pan, and was just about to pour the milk when I caught him. He looked up at me and said, " I'm Cooking!" I had to stop and laugh, wish I had a camera then.
2- I was in Montana, on the most beautiful lake in the world, talking to James on my cell, when he put Logan on the phone, " Hi, Mama!" I took an earlier flight home the next day.
3-Previously mentioned in my "Sunday Best" Post.
4- Every school morning, going into the boys' room, opening the blinds, and waiting quietly for them to wake up, at their own pace, with smiles and loves for mama.
5-Every night having family prayer, sometimes Cooper says the prayer, sometimes Logan. But everyone is there together.
Sometimes things happen in the lives of others that help us appreciate the lives that we have. I just want to appreciate what I have without having to be reminded.

Fall Craft

Quick easy craft. Collect fallen leaves, glue them to paper.

Mac's on Left / Cooper's on right

Sunday Best

This morning was the best morning I've had in a long long time. I woke up to Cooper wanting to snuggle. Which isn't an often occurance. He just wanted to be held. I called him my little baby and he say's "I'm not a baby". But to me he always will be. I'm so protective of him. I get so frustrated with other people when they say things about him or treat him differently or single him out as a problem. He's a little boy with alot of energy and so much love. I didn't want to get out of bed. I just wanted to hold him all day. Then Logan woke. James went to get him and brought him in bed with us. There we were. The Twiddy's. All my boys. Everyone was happy. The best way to start a Sunday. Here's my little men all dressed up and ready to head out the door. ON TIME!!!!

To end a good day we went to my mom and dads house for dinner. Cooper & Logan's Great-Grandparents were in town this weekend. Logan got to meet Grandpa Bob & Grama Missy for the first time. Here are a few pictures from our evening together. It never fails, we try and get a picture with all the kids, and one is missing, Camyrn was elsewhere.

Wet, Rainy, & Fishin'

As a random spur of the moment family together time, we decided to go fishing. We bundled up the boys, and headed to the Carbon River in Orting. When we got to the trail I asked James how far it was to the fishing hole. He told me " oh, just a block." You can barely see people in front of us on the trail, and they weren't there yet.... Does that look like a block to you??? Try a 1/2 mile. It was fine. We got some good exercise. James chasing Cooper, and me trying to hold an umbrella over Logan.
James in all his glory. Only a man could enjoy this. Cooper and Logan had fun throwing rocks.
Cooper really wanted to go fishing with his daddy. Next time, it won't be raining, and we'll go to a sandy beach. That is if James want's us to go next time.