The day is over..

...my babies are 2!

Fun was had all around!

Present were wrapped in plain old brown paper, because really where does it all end up anyway?! $1.70 for a large roll of brown paper that will last ages compared to up to $4 for one sheet of wrapping paper.

We made cupcakes the night before. Some to take to preschool with them. And they were loved by everyone. Thomas the Tank Engine for Zachary and Fairy ones for Anna (although she found Thomas more interesting, she really is my little tomboy! I guess what so you expect with two brothers!)



They slept in a little for me - little sweeties! Then we opened up some pressies. Not to many, because you know these kids have way to much stuff already! Not in need of ANY clothes and definitely didn't need any more toys. So we just got a few things for them to celebrate this special day.



(Zach showing me his new book)

Anna getting her new bike - so they don't fight over the one we have!

(excuse the bum! Little Miss has decided she doesn't really like nappies and spends most of the time at home nappy free. Good sign I guess)

And she LOVES the baby doll rocker that Nanny got her!

Opening books...

Then they coloured in their new books until it was time to go to preschool

(Mitchell)

(Zachary)

(Anna)

Anna had zonked by 5:30pm and Zach went to bed after a feed not long after. A long day but a fun day. I still can't believe they are two!

Good bye for now....make sure you check out my giveaway!

Happy Birthday to you and you!

Today our precious little miracles turn 2!

Happy Birthday

Zachary & Anna!

{The Early Days}


Zachary - just days old


Anna - just days old

{First Birthday}





Look at us now!


They had a lovely morning opening pressies and getting lots of love! I'll be back later with a full birthday run down (and probably photo overload!)

Make sure you head over here and enter my giveaway!

DO NOT...

I REPEAT - DO NOT leave your children unattended and accidentally leave the toilet door open!

You may just end up with 4 - yes 4! - rolls of toilet paper in the toilet. But that's not all! After you remove the 4 rolls of toilet paper, all wet and soggy, your may just find a dozen ' women's ' products stuffed down there. And when I say stuffed I mean 'take the toilet brush and jam them down there' stuffed!

No pictures of this disaster. I wasn't thinking of that at the time - although I should have been! I just wanted it out of my toilet and all I was thinking about at the time was just how much 4 rolls of toilet paper costs these days!

My two little ones looked quite impressed with themselves really but if you ask Anna - 'Zachy did it!' I can laugh now and I blame myself, I really should close the toilet - I normally do and I'm always on everyone else's butt to close the door!

So please make sure you close the toilet door if you have little ones! I wouldn't want you to have pull wet and soggy toilet paper out of the toilet.....yuck! Hahahaha.

Wow, thank you Nicole!

{Firstly, photos have now been added to my organization post! }

Well this morning I've been completely humbled!

This post could turn into a really long one but I'm just going to cut the story short for you all.....I have been award 'A Sisterhood Award' by a lovely lady who's blog I read, but that's not all. Nicole from The Life of Us (who awarded me) is the partner of Luke, my eldest Ashlee's Dad, and the mother of Ashlee's two half brothers! We got talking a while ago after Nicole contacted me through Facebook. I bit of a shock but no Nicole I didn't think you were a loony :) Then a little while later I came across her on a forum I frequent, Essential Baby. We have never met IRL but its been nice to have contact with her. Maybe someday in the future we will meet?!

So there you go, a bit different but such is life.....now on to the award.....As Nicole puts it....

What is this Sisterhood Award I hear you ask?

Its an award that you pass on to other women whose blogs you read that you find encouraging, uplifting and inspirational.

Did I say yet that I'm extremely humbled?!

So I have choose just a few blogs that I find encouragement and inspiration from? Geez, that is going to be hard......lets try though.....

Firstly, super crafty CurlyPops! I tell you this woman makes me jealous! So many pretty things. So much talent! I have A LOT of her posts saved with awesome ideas on things to make, bake or just admire. I really look forward to her posts!

Next up, Retromummy! Another mummy to adorable twins. Lots of wonderful inspiration and adorable cuteness on this blog! Making, baking, fabric, knitting. Its really nice to peer into the life of another mummy of twins and see that you are not alone in your trials and tribulations :)

Then, Many Little Blessings. I find heaps of information and inspiration here. I started reading when she was the host of Works for Me Wednesday (which has now moved to We are THAT family). LOVE love love her Organisation posts. She always has so many great ideas and I have used a lot of them around my home.

Moving on, if you need a real pick me up check out [I] LoveLife! You can't read this blog, daily, and not feel happy. She is so up beat, happy, organised and talented! Not to mention those two ADORABLE little girls, Pilot and Penn! Aren't they just the two most original and gorgeous names?! Large, daily, happy photos to put you in the right mood. She is the first blog I turn to if I'm feeling a little down.

Oh I could go on but just one more.....I could not received this award and not pass it on to my beautiful sister in law Melissa at Remember to Live, Laugh, Love! Have I mentioned that she and my brother Dan are expecting?! Can you tell I'm soooo excited?! Melissa is a number one girl, and I'm not just saying that because she is my SIL. I have known Melissa for quite a few years and in that time she has never been anything less than a beautiful person. I can truly see why my brother waited so patiently for so many years to win her over. Melissa is crafty (when she's not under the weather with morning sickness! - hope your feeling better Mel!), talented, happy, beautiful and most of all a devoted Christian. She really gives me inspiration to live a better life. Melissa also has a online shop! Heart and Home, check it out!

That will be it for now. I could list HEAPS of blogs that are truly inspirational and maybe one day I will.......off now for a shower, I smell....hahaha. Zach and Anna also need a sleep. Anna was up again last night with Croup and her ever loving brother decided he needed to with her! Keep Anna in your prayers as we head into winter. Anna suffers quite badly in the colder months. Lets hope this year she doesn't have to spend most of it in hospital! Mitchell is at the farm today with Daddy so I'm going to try and make the most of it!

Where does the time go??! {The Organisation Edition}

This week I think the terrible is beginning to happen! NOOOO! My delightful two are no longer a dream to put down for their day time sleep......I have been dreading the day.....How in the world am I going to get anything done now?! They don't even seem to need it - most days. So today I did spent a little time reading some posts in bloglines that I saved because I wanted to sit down and read them later. I thought I would share some with you....

***

Firstly we have some Organising and Cleaning posts:

: Simple Mom has one great post about Starting your day off right and also these great post on 4 Simple Ideas to Help you Clean a Messy House, Weekly Home Managment at a glance, 40 Tips to go Greener in your home.

: Simple, Green, Frugal has 20 uses for Vinegar. What about giving the gift of an All Natural Cleaning Supply Basket! Or this post about living Frugal with Children.

: Jolly Mum shows us how to make Homemade Cleaners at a fraction of the cost!

: Organising Junkie has some brilliant information including this Free Grocery Template, or this Menu Planning Template,

: Virtually Organized has Bedroom Storage Tips

: Some Wardrobe Organizing Tips - and here!

***

Decorating Posts:

: How about some Wall loveliness with A Sassy Affair

: Etch some glass with Create Studio

: Add some Silhouette's your walls with Home Sweet Home

: Domestic Fashionista teaches beginners how to get started in furniture painting

: Some DIY wall Art with EightCrazy Designs

***

How about some Gift Giving Ideas or Just fun Crafting:

: Sew a Burp Cloth and Dummy Holder with Create Studio

: Diamonds, Fur and Laundry shows you how to sew a crayon and notebook cosy

: Make some lovely Bath Salts to give to Mum with Three Peas in a Pod!

: This is a fun idea! Rubber Band Prints with Pajamamama

***

Lets Cook!

: Find out how to cook once and eat 10 times at MoneyWise Moms

: So many things to cook here at Fabulessly Frugal!

: A year of crock potting! Brilliant, what more can I say!

***

My delightful two are getting up to some mischief so I better step in before someone gets hurt! Ashlee is back to school today and Mitchell is in Preschool. Think I better go and get something else done before everyone gets home.

Went to Canberra yesterday for Zach and also received my Mother's Day Pressie early so more on that soon......

Time for that promised....

Update I think.....

I will get straight into it then....

Firstly, Ashlee:

Mummy's girls {heart}

Not to much going on. Still a few days left of school holidays. She looking forward to going back to school but not. Just to have some time with friends and no 'little people' around. They get a bit tiring sometimes for a nearly 12 year old. Other then that she will start netball this term. Her big love. She has also been chosen for the district team too so that means a lot of driving and training.....something I'm not looking forward to much.

While away for Easter we stayed at Mum's/Nan's and Ashlee decided to have a bit of fun one night and play a bit of 80's dress ups. Oh so funny!

What she was on?......No idea?! Hahaha. Also why she even owns the clothes that enabled her to do 80's dress ups......?!

Mitchell:

Nearly a big 5 years old! Loving preschool and has a wonderful best friend Max. Those two are just nuts together! He would go everyday if he could but at the moment he is only going 3 days a week. Can you believe he will be starting 'big primary school' (as he puts it) next year! Just 10 short months away! My little baby - where has the time gone?!

Mitchell is also really keen to learn to read at the moment. We read ALL THE TIME! I love it (most of the time) and I'm sure he will be reading away before he gets to school. They do say that if I child can read before they start school they have a brilliant start and do a lot better than if they can't. He still adores Thomas (and friends) and has gotten both Zachary and Anna in on the obsession too!
Mitchell loves riding his bike.....

And being a TOTAL boy, he loves playing with trucks in the dirt.

Alone....

Or with company....

And of course....

He loves his Mummy!

Now, My sweet little Zachary:

Everything with Zachary at the moment is pretty stable. We have put in our application for funding for his Kaye Walker and should have it very soon. Kaye Walkers are not all that great for outdoor, uneven ground use so Brett made up a little walking frame for him to use outdoors. He loves it!

For some reason we don't have one of him walking around in it so here is Anna doing a demonstration on the same day.....

Brett has since added a curved rail a bit lower so it is easier for him to use at the moment. Mitchell even has a ball pushing it around so we know it will do him till at least 5 years old. Brett is going to give it a bit of a paint job too - soon.....

We are having a bit of a break from therapy over the Easter period but will back into it from next week. MEIS (Monaro Early Intervention Services) starts back on Tuesday but we will be in Canberra for Zach and Anna's 2 year check up with the Paed and also a review for Zachary. Only for the day this time so thankfully we don't have to pack up half the house to go!

Overall, Zachary doesn't let anything get in his way and if he comes across something that does his ever helpful and loving twin sister is there to help him!

And he just loves her :)

He is the happiest little man I've ever met.....its truly hard to get a photo of him when he is not like this.....

Or this....

He loves hanging with his {little} sister....


What would we do with him?! Love you little man!

Last, but definitely not least.....

Our little Princess, Anna:

She has so much sweet, sweet love for Mummy....and everyone else!

Talking at the speed of a freight train! She really is a laugh a minute! Always saying some thing cute and has a 'Hello!' for everyone. Dribbles like nothing else at the moment while cutting those 4 eye teeth but it definitely doesn't take away from the cuteness!

On a more serious note.....We have been referred from our eye specialist in Canberra to the Eye Clinic at the Children's Hospital in Sydney. He thinks she will most definitely need surgery to fix her eyes now that it is starting to affect her vision. Unfortunately she has gotten to the stage were she just doesn't see things and either runs into them or trips over. Oh, my poor baby, its the last thing we wanted for you. We will take it one step at a time though and see what they say in Sydney.....

Both Zachary and Anna love Preschool (daycare). Adore it really. Sometimes it takes a bit to settle them down in the beginning but they settle in ok.

Anna has a few odd pass times....

Like standing on her head?!

Or just laying in odd positions?!

But loves to 'cook' with her brother...

Your are beautiful though.

And I adore your hair!

And your pretty (chubby) face

Now.....my crafting Mojo?! It's still here! Really it is. The problem has been my Organising Mojo - now that seems to have taken a little walk. I haven't been able to get into my Office/Craft Room lately as it currently looks like this....

And my 'craft space'? Like this...

That there on the desk is a fairy floss machine....?!

Oh wow, did I just post those photos?! Now there is no turning back is there!

All those boxes contain a hoard of clothes that I have cleaned out recently from the kids wardrobe and mine also. Oh, ok. Maybe my organizing Mojo isn't gone! Its just been put to use somewhere else...... Yes, there is A LOT of clothes and I'm currently sorting them out to give to my SIL who is expecting number 1, the op shop and some of it I will sell. We have in those boxes Sz 00000 to Sz 10 clothes in both girls and boys and also Maternity clothes and clothes I have come to be sick of. Some day soon I hope to have them gone and Crafting back! I'll keep working on that. On Monday and Thursdays mornings when the twins are in Daycare.

I'm also hoping to get back into these:

































Well, that is some post! (For me) So I'm off to try get some more house work done before the delightful two wake up. Glad you have beared with me this far :) See you all later!