Rocky Top

We had an AMAZING time in Colorado! How can you not?! We flew to Estes Park on Saturday to spend time with my cousins Bradley and Claire and aunt Debbie. Bradley married a beautiful lady, Sheri, on Sunday and we had the opportunity to catch up with family while celebrating their marriage. Debbie hosted a wonderful barbeque on Saturday night on the Lake Estes Marina - the location was perfect. The kids cooperated for a while, but were soon ready for bed. On Sunday, we woke early and went out for pancakes - YUM! We then found the local Presbyterian church and enjoyed a wonderful worship service. I think Kendal's found the church he wants to attend once he retires and finally gets to live his dream of life in Colorado! Sunday afternoon was spent walking around downtown Estes, then napping once the kids got cranky. Finally it was time for the wedding! The service was right on the lake's edge and it was truly beautiful. Bradley and Sheri are so happy, as is their entire family, that they've found each other and are building a life together. After the ceremony we had a great time at the reception - with Fat Tire on the keg, Kendal was thrilled! We got to hang out with a lot of my family's friends, folks who have been like family to them during all these years they've lived in Kentucky. We ate, danced, celebrated and had a great time!! The kids and Kendal slipped out a little earlier than I did but I then got time to spend with my precious cousin Claire and their friends. It was a great wedding and we are so thankful we were part of it.

On Monday, we headed out and met our great friend Laurel in her hometown of Longmont. Laurel is a friend from our days at the seminary and we've been able to see Laurel and some other friends at least once a year since graduation. Laurel lives in New York state with her husband Rock and was in town to celebrate her parents' 40th wedding anniversary and the upcoming wedding of her sister, Lindsey. We got to enjoy a home-cooked breakfast with Laurel and her family. It was wonderful and the kids were great - they LOVED the fresh berries and coffee cake.

After leaving Longmont, we made the amazing drive to Aspen. We drove through the mountains, it was absolutely beautiful. Everything was green and vibrant - it's hard to imagine the blankets of white during the ski season! Finally we arrived in Snowmass to spend the remainder of the week with our great friends Mary Elizabeth, Conner and Will. The kids are great friends and always play well together - we're just trying to teach them "soft hands" when they get excited! On the first day, we all took a nice hike around Ashcroft, an old ghost town, and had fish tacos for lunch. On Wednesday, Kendal and Conner went on a guided fly fishing trip so Mary E. and the kiddos and I headed into Aspen for some shopping - we felt very glamourous! Afterwards we joined the guys for a yummy dinner at the River Side Grille AND ate right next to Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Oliver Hudson and their friends! Seriously, they were just hanging out at a nearby table. We hoped the kids would draw them over, but no go. I did get a nice (if a little botoxed) smile from Goldie as she left the restaurant - that's almost as good as a photo, right?! On Thursday, we hiked in the Maroon Belles, the singular most beautiful place I've ever seen. That night, the kids stayed with babysitters while we headed out to Snowmass for a fantastic outdoor concert by Gaelic Storm. The concert was on the ski slopes and was a great time - Mary E and I joined her parents at the front and danced a little jig! Friday was a great lazy day for Mary E the kids and me while Conner and Kendal hiked Aspen's Ute Trail. We did get a good walk in then met the guys at the Snowmass Club for some time at the pool. The kids did great in the water! We returned home yesterday tired but grateful for a fantastic family vacation!!



Before I close today, I want to ask everyone to be in prayer for a really special family. Jason Weathers lost his battle with lieukemia yesterday but today he is with our Savior. His family - all in Hattiesburg - is so grateful he is at peace but his beautiful wife Stephanie and their three small kids will be navigating a new life without their beloved husband and dad. Please pray for their family during these days, that the Lord would continue to provide His comfort and guidance. If you want to read more of their story, click on the Weathers family link to the right.

Greece is the word...

Kendal is home! He had an amazing time in Greece with quick trips to Turkey and Italy. He was thinking about the twins his entire time away and even got the group to send a special birthday message to Jackson Camper and Carlisle! They just enjoyed some amazing pizza in Rome - I don't think it gets much better. I'll let him write more about his trip soon.

Otherwise, things are coming along well. We had our 12-month checkup on Friday and had a big round of shots - not fun for twins OR parents. They handled it well and slept much of the day and have not shown any negative side effects, thankfully. We're leaving on Saturday for a trip to Colorado and can't wait! We can't believe it's already time to go. We'll post many pics after the trip.

Standing Ovation

A quick "Geaux Tigers!" to our LSU baseball team in Omaha. The twins dressed in their new Tiger togs to help root their favorite team to victory in the College World Series. Their game resumes tonight, learn more at LSU SportsNet if you're really interested!

I wanted to post a few photos of the twins standing. Kendal has not seen this yet and - as he DELAYED in NEW JERSEY until tonight (seriously, he was supposed to get in last night but they missed their connection to Little Rock by minutes and they could not get on another flight until tonight. I hate the air) - I thought he might like to see what he's in for when he gets home tonight! Note that Jackson Camper is not only standing here, but he's taking a big gulp of Nana's Sonic drink. They follow after me in way too many ways, Diet Coke lovers already! He screamed and screamed until he got a sip. Come to think of it, once he tasted it he actually made a "yucky" face, so maybe he's not such a big fan after all. Regardless, the kid can stand up!

And here is Miss Carlisle. Not only is she standing in this picture, but one second after I snapped this shot she took one tentative step!!! She landed right on her booty, but she was smiling the whole time. This girl is going to be walking in no time. We head to Colorado in a few weeks for my cousin Bradley's wedding and a vacation with the Eldridge clan and are hoping the twins will be walking a little by that time so they can keep up with their buddy, Will. We're already loading up the Benadryl for the plane ride as the twins aren't really lap people...

ONE + ONE = DOUBLE the FUN!

From womb-mates to room-mates!

It's really here... the twins' birthday! It absolutely blows my mind that we are celebrating one full year with these beautiful, busy, whip-smart, smiley kids. It's been a year that has required much caffeine and many deep breaths, but we wouldn't trade one second of the chaos for all of the bliss it's brought us.

As a birthday present to Kendal and to me, both babies are standing up on their own! Carlisle can confidently pop up from a crouch and Jackson easily lets go of a chair, toy, etc., once he's in standing mode. They can each stand for a good 30 seconds before falling on their booties - Carlisle even claps while standing and fully expects everyone in the room to join in! They are mere days away from walking (I think) which is exciting and terrifying, but mostly just plain great. I am dreaming of the days - still in the future, but not so far off - when they will hop out of the car on their own without our having to lift the heavy carseats... But by the time those days arrive, we'll surely be wishing they were back in their swaddle blankets!

Jackson Camper (Jackson, Camper - take your pick!) is always so happy and has an easy grin and is so darn cuddley. When he's screeching in irritation we call him "Cramper" but most always he's just a great little guy. He was the first to master sitting up and stood up first in his crib all by himself, as well as learned first how to make his knees and hands work in sync to craw (not that any of this is a competition, just milestones and observations I promise!)l. He's always been a great eater and opens his jaws extra wide for every bite. He still coos and squeals and likes to sing to himself in the early mornings before it's quite time to get up. He is the fastest crawler in the entire world - there's no way he can run any faster than he can crawl. He's the adventurer and loves to explore, to examine, to take things apart, to ponder. He crawled right up a set of stairs on his first try and hasn't looked back! He's a quick one!



Carlisle (or Carli Mac, or Warley) is also a really happy kid. She's miss independent and quickly mastered clapping, as well as standing on her own. Jackson had been pulling up for several days when - out of the blue - Carlisle just pulled up in her crib like it was no big deal. She watches and observes and then picks things up. I fear she's going to mastermind a lot of pranks and try to blame it all on her sweet bro. She is a total daredevil and loves to be thrown in the air, to swing high, laughing all the while. She has a huge grin that lights up her whole face and just makes you melt - watch out, boys (and Will Eldridge, her first crush)! She babbles a lot and makes the funniest gurgles and shrieks. She can pull out the crocodile tears in a heartbeat when she doesn't get her way and is bound to be a total drama queen, but then she just bats those huge blue eyes and all is forgiven and forgotten.



The twins truly are already best friends. They love to play, steal each other's toys and love on each other. Nana (Kendal's mom) has been here the last week and she has great stories: Once again, Carlisle stole a toy from Jackson and he just cried and cried. She then crawled over to him and patted him on the head and he just lay his head on her shoulder (mind you, she didn't give him back the toy, but she did make him feel better!). Nana also said she experimented with bathing them separately the other night, thinking each would have such fun on their own with all the toys to play with. Apparently, bath-time for one is no fun and each was totally bored! GanGan (my mom) kept the twins for several days last week and was just amazed by how well they played together and communicated, though the sibling rivalry is already in full swing. We pray they will always share a special bond and love and support each other throughout their growing years and beyond. Happy first birthday, Jackson Camper and Carlisle!!! We love you!!

"Sharing" their first apple juice...

Don't let the pretty pastels fool you... they mean business!

All bundled up and ready to cuddle!

Footsteps of Faith

Kendal left today for TWO WEEKS in Europe! I am thrilled for him and sad for myself all at the same time as I already miss him terribly. He is helping lead a group of high school students from our presbytery on a tour that traces the footsteps of Paul throughout Greece, Italy and Turkey. It is going to be an absolutely amazing trip... and he didn't even bring a camera! Hopefully he can steal some photos from the other group members and post some pics and stories when he gets home.


In the meantime, I have lots of help from the grandmothers. GanGan is here until tomorrow, then Nana is headed up here to help until Kendal gets home. The twins are into EVERYTHING (cat food is a new favorite, yuck). It's so much fun to chase them around, but it's also just a little exhausting. They babble almost-words all the time and we're convinced they are talking to each other and just have no need to talk to us! That is, until they need their allowance...

Quick note - Kendal and I just celebrated our sixth anniversary. Nana came up to watch the kids and K and I spent a great evening dining at a wonderful, romantic restaurant in Hot Springs, Angels in the Park. We then spent the next several hours tracking down the swingset we eventually bought and built (Kendal built!) for the kids. It was a fun night and just the right mix of romance and parenthood! That shot of our garage is the "before"...

and here is the "after!" (photo stolen from walmart.com)

One last photo... I accidentally spilled the entire bottle of Johnson's baby shampoo in the tub the other night while preparing a bath for the twins. So, they got their first bubble bath! Carlisle loved doing face plants into the bubbles and coming up with a full bubble beard! Jackson Camper was a little more cautious but liked slapping his hands in the bubbles. Fun times!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, ONEder Twins! We celebrated Jackson Camper and Carlisle's first birthday today, Noah's Ark style :) Lauren's mom (GanGan) came up to Arkansas on Thursday to help get all the food ready for the party - her help was invaluable! Kendal worked hard in the yard to make everything beautiful for the day, so many props to dad! Kendal also worked incredibly hard to get the twins' birthday party ready - a swing-set! Our awesome friend Robert helped Kendal build the swingset and was at our house until 1:30AM on Monday putting in the final bolts. It looks great and the kids love it already. We look forward to many, many years of swingin' times!



We decided to ask guests to bring donations to Heifer International in lieu of gifts - we've received so much support this past year we hoped to give a little back. We hope the gifts we will be able to send to Heifer will really make an impact in the lives of families in impoverished villages. Some friends made generous donations to Heifer in the twins' names and were able to supply a heifer and honeybees to help children and families around the world receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant. Thanks to the gift we received at the party, we'll also be able to purchase a sheep for a family in need, helping them become self sufficient.

Gulf Shores!

We had a FANTASTIC trip to the beach! Each year, Kendal's family treats us all to a family vacation. Past trips have included Mountain Home, AR, Galveston, TX and Gulf Shores. We were excited that this year's trip took us back to the beach.

We stayed in Fort Morgan - it was awesome, away from all the craziness and the perfect retreat for the family. We had 14 people in one house (and four were under one!) but it was constant playtime! The kids all got along and had the best time playing with toys in the living room - we had to barracade the area with couches and furniture but they didn't complain!



Jackson Camper LOVED playing in the sand. Of course he also tried to eat it (yuck!) and he loved crawling all around and running his hands through it. Carlisle absolutely did NOT like the sand and got very offended anytime a grain wound up on her foot or hand. She did take well to the pool, though, and is on her way to becoming quite the water baby. Jackson Camper liked the pool okay but had to be in someone's arms and wasn't ready for the baby floatie. Lauren's favorite day (of course!) was shopping at the Foley outlets. We found some great winter bargains on clothes for the twins, Kendal got a fantastic pair of Sunday shoes for just $10 and Lauren got her first (and probably only!) Coach purse. We all enjoyed lunch at Lambert's and it was a great time!

The twins also got their first taste of ice cream! We stopped at a Bruster's ice cream stand - the best ice cream ever! - and were surprised when they handed us baby cones for the kiddos. The twins loved it, of course. Carlisle immediately grabbed her cone and fed herself while JC needed a little assistance. I'm hoping to send some pics to the Bruster's corporate HQ in hopes of some free ice cream!