Allie is 1!

I can't believe my baby girl is one!! It just blows my mind how fast this last year has gone.  It really feels like I just got home from the hospital with her....

For this child I have prayed, and the Lord has granted the desires of my heart.  1 Samuel 1:27 

As we finish this first year of life I have so many prayers for Allie:

Thank you God for my beautiful daughter and the wonderful first year of life you have given her.  I thank you for her health and happiness.  She is perfectly and wonderfully made by you and I pray she always knows that.  I pray that you will guide her father and I to teach her to love you and seek you above anything else.  I thank you for the special relationship she has in her brothers and I pray they are always close and take care of each other.  She was the most perfect addition to our family and I pray for many, many more wonderful years together!

Party Time!

Although Allie's actual birthday is this coming up Saturday, we celebrated a little early with a party this past weekend. I honestly went to bed Saturday night feeling overwhelmingly happy and blessed. Saturday really could not have been a more perfect day...  the weather was beautiful (not a cloud in the sky!!), we had most of our family and close friends by our side, there was lots of laughter and a beautiful daughter who is just growing up so quickly! I am just so thankful that my children are happy and healthy and that we could all spend a great day together!

My wild and crazy kiddos!! :)

the birthday girl!!

we are working on walking...but I am definitely not rushing this baby to grow up!! :(

One of her very favorite things to do....she cries when she has to come in!

Some of the boys in the backyard playing football!!

"Happy Birthday to You!!"

My wonderful family!

She LOVED her cake!!!  She ate almost half of it and cried when we took it away!

Precious Girl!

Checking out one of her new toys!

All the kids!

Another new, fun toy!

On Allie's actual bday we have a home GT game so we will be celebrating her big day again at the tailgate this Saturday! You can't ever have to many bday celebrations...you only turn 1 once!!

My Big 4 Year Olds!

Wow, I can't believe it has been 4 years since the boys were born...and we are all still here and alive!! :) Honestly, now that I just have 1 baby I seriously look back and wonder how we did it. Most of their baby days are just a blur to me. We just went day by day and somehow we made it!

So last week the boys celebrated their 4th bday and were so excited. Luke for whatever reason woke up the day of his bday and very proudly stated that now that he is 4 years old, he can do whatever he wants to....he was very disappointed to find out that that was not the case! :) This statement pretty much sums up Luke! He is mr. independent and VERY strong willed (I don't know where he gets either of these qualities....)!! While these can be great traits to have at times....it makes for some long days around here. Luke is much like his daddy in the fact that he can sometimes look like a big ole' meanie on the outside, but he is really just a big ole' snuggly teddy bear. That boy loves to snuggle and I just eat it up!! He is constantly asking me to rub his back or his belly and he will often say "mommy, you wanna snuggle!" Of course I do!! I love this boy and his big brown eyes and dimples. He can be so sweet sometimes to be so defiant other times! At home, he is definitely the loud, dominant one of the two boys, but he completely changes out in public. Once again like his daddy, he becomes very reserved and often acts shy. He is quite the observer and he observes a situation for a long time before he becomes comfortable in it. Once he gets comfortable though....game on!! Of course I am biased but he is one smart little boy. The things he comes out with and remembers are just amazing to me. Luke is such a special little boy and I wouldn't change anything about him. He is perfect and I am so happy God blessed me with him!

Blowing out his bday candles at his Bounce U party!

So Cade is pretty much the opposite of everything I just said about Luke! They really are very different and I am glad. Cade is very much a rule follower...much like his mother. He wants to make people happy and proud of him so most of the time he does exactly what is asked of him with no trouble. Much like Luke this can be a really good trait, but I do hope as he gets older he will know when to stand up for what he believes in even when it is against the "flow" of everyone else. Cade is very dramatic and will let everyone know if he is hurt in anyway. If he just stubs his toe he screams like his toe was completely cut off!! Everything is a big deal to him and he wants everyone to notice. Although Luke is the dominant one at home, Cade just shines when he gets out in public. Most of the time he likes to be the center of attention and he has learned that being and saying silly things will get him a lot of attention so this is what he does. Cade just has the cutest face and it is very hard to resist when he wants something! He is very determined and if he has his mind on something...he is going to go for it! This definitely shows when Cade is playing sports. Cade is definitely a natural at sports and has been since his was wee little. He loves to play pretty much any sport and he would play it all day long as long as someone will play with him. Again, I know I am biased, but he is a great little ball player. We are constantly amazed at how good he can hit and throw the ball! Cade is such an amazing little boy and I wouldn't change a thing about him.

Blowing out his candles at his Bounce U party!

I am so thankful God chose me to be their mommy! What an honor to get to raise these 2 incredible boys!! I can't wait to see what God has in store for their lives. I know they are each going to do some amazing things!!

Happy 4th birthday guys!! Mommy and daddy love you Luke and Cade!! You mean the world to us!

At home the day of their birthday

Celebrating at Bounce U!

Party Time!!

Whew!! What a day!! 60 degrees and sunny.....pink cheeks....family and friends....pizza and cake.....jump house....you get the idea!! We had the boys 3rd birthday party on Saturday and it went great! The boys have looked forward to this day for so long and I think they had so much fun. Strep throat and a sinus infection didn't keep Luke down, thank goodness! (don't worry, Luke had been on antibiotics for 24 hours so doc said he was no longer contagious!)

My big 3 year olds!!! They just grow up so fast!

"The crew"

Getting ready to eat the yummy cake that turned everyones lips and teeth blue and green!

Opening presents...to bad they aren't spoiled and hardly got anything!!!

Luke had to stop for a drink break. (look at that wild hair....he was having a good time!)

the happy parents!!

Finally time to go in.....and CRASH!!!

A Special Day

This time 3 years ago.....

(No, there was not a beach ball under my gown.....I was just that big!!)

I was big as a house and preparing for a c-section. It was one of the scariest days of my life since I was about to bring 2 precious little lives into this world. As I knew it would be, it ended up being one of the best days of my life. I had 2 healthy, perfect little boys.

Luke Watson Rearden 6 lbs. 5 oz. 18.5 inches long 12:19 p.m.

Cade Johnson Rearden 6 lbs. 11 oz. 19 inches long 12:20 p.m.

My sweet boy Luke

Cade and Luke

My sweet boy Cade

I don't know that there is anything more overwhelming than holding 2 newborns and knowing they are your sole responsibility to care for!!

Joe and I are thinking to ourselves.....well we actually weren't really doing any thinking at all. We were just exhausted!!!! (I know I look fabulous in these pics and you can't even tell I'm tired or just gave birth to 2 babies....) Also to be noted, I am not 12 in these pics although it does look like it... :)

Now here we are 3 years later....

As hard as raising twins has been, I am so glad they have each other. They share a special bond that no one else can break!! They are so lucky to have each other and I hope they are best friends forever!

Wow, I honestly can't believe we have survived 3 years! It has been the best and most tiresome 3 years ever, but they are worth every bit!! They are amazing little boys and they light up our lives every day. I feel so blessed to have a wonderful, healthy and happy family!! Thank you God for entrusting these 2 little miracles to us!! Happy 3rd Birthday Luke and Cade!!