Hudson and Brooklyn 4 months

Christmas Pics

We got to celebrate Christmas 3 times this year. First was with Opa and Oma when they were out a few weeks ago. It was fun to be able to celebrate in person even though we didn't make it up there. It was a tad bit warmer than the last time we celebrated Christmas together too:)

Morgan saying "thank you" to Opa.

One of Ethan's favorite TV shows is America's Funniest Home Videos on Sunday nights. I love to watch it with him because it brings back memories of watching it every Sunday when I was a little girl. For some reason people falling down never loses its humor. Auntie Jessica and Uncle Ryan bought Ethan a DVD of America's Funniest Home Videos. Thank you!

Christmas break started out rainy and cold. We decided to make Gingerbread houses with the kids one afternoon. Morgan enjoyed eating the candy more than decorating the house.

Ethan decided that after watching mommy build a dilapidated shack for Morgan he would wait for daddy to help him build a bigger house. 

The night before Christmas Eve we celebrated with Nana and Papa and Uncle Eric, Auntie Kara, Annika and Audrey. We had Chinese for dinner and then opened a few presents. The three kids all got plasma cars from Nana and Papa. They've been having a great time driving those around outside.

Ethan put this Santa hat on Hudson and then took this picture. Not a bad picture.

We did our own family Christmas on Christmas Eve. Morgan's "big gift" from us this year was a back pack. She loves to fill purses and bags and then carry them around the house. She was super excited with her princess back pack. I never wanted my daughter to be obsessed with princess stuff, but it is hard to buy anything girly without the Disney Princesses plastered all over.

Here's Ethan opening his skates.

He had to try the skates out on the kitchen floor that night. He ended up on the floor more than on his feet.

Christmas morning we did our stockings. Ethan has been really into Santa this year. I'm thinking it is a combination of hearing things at school and watching different TV shows that had him really intrigued. We've had numerous discussions about how Santa isn't real, but we decided to play into his intrigue this year and play up the Santa thing a little bit. When the kids went to bed Christmas Eve the stockings were empty, and then when they woke up on Christmas morning the stockings were full, because Santa stopped by. So they opened more presents and played with their gifts before church.

It was a fun Christmas Season, so fun to see and celebrate through kid's eyes. The Christmas lights, songs, stories, presents, and cookies were a lot of fun. It was so great to talk with them about what a blessing it was that Jesus came to this earth as a baby to save us. As wonderful as everything was, we took our tree down today and the lights will be taken down tomorrow....so nice to get back to "normal" as well. Although I'm not ready for Kevin and Ethan to head back to school, we've had a great relaxing break together and of course I love the extra help that daddy provides:)

For our family up North

Ethan got some skates for Christmas this year. He's been wanting skates for a long time, so when we saw these strap on skates(you know the kind you put over tennis shoes) we knew he would love them. He is doing surprisingly well on them. He loves that he can play hockey like Daddy now. No ponds to skate on here, our garage will have to do for now. Enjoy the video.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Schenks. We managed to get everyone dressed and to church on time on Christmas morning. I'll post some pictures and videos of our Christmas activities soon.

Time to chat

We received a Flip video camera from Kevin's parents this year for Christmas (we did Christmas early with them when they were out here) with a promise that we will start taking more videos to send their way. We sent them several videos of Ethan when we used our old digital camera, and poor Morgan hardly had any taken of her. We'll try to be better Opa and Oma.

Hudson and Brooklyn are really starting to notice each other. Most of the time when they are laying by each other Hudson will look at Brooklyn and smile away, only to get a slight grin from her. He is definitely our smiley little guy. There are going to be so many cute twin moments that I know are unique and special to twins. They also like to hold hands while they are eating, not that they consciously know what they are doing, but it is super sweet. They are such content and happy babies. We couldn't ask for more. I feel like we are settling into a routine as a family of six. We most definitely still have our crazy, overwhelming times, but I don't expect that to go away any time soon. Enjoy this little video of H and B talking to each other, and of course big brother Ethan is never too far away from the action;)

Baptism

This past weekend Hudson and Brooklyn were baptized. It is such a special time to be reminded how much God loves us...even the smallest babies are welcome in his family. We are incredibly blessed that God entrusted us with four of his children. We pray that we are able to raise them to love and honor God, and that one day they each accept Him into their hearts.

Brooklyn-She is wearing the same dress that Morgan, Kara, my mom and I wore when we were baptized. I decided Sunday that she looks beautiful in white.

Together, I know, don't they look thrilled? We decided Sunday night as we were looking at the pictures that we maybe should have put a dark background behind them. They sort of blend into the couch:)

Hudson-Our little stud man. Gotta love the button ups for babies:)

We had Ethan and Morgan come up to the front of church with us when the babies were baptized. It was Morgan's first time in church, so thankfully she was "in awe" of all that was going on and behaved very well.

With Papa and Nana-we had a little lunch after church for our family and some friends.

With Opa and Oma-We were glad Kevin's parents were able to join us for the weekend. It is always fun to have quality time with Opa and Oma.

Happy Thanksgiving!

For the second year in a row Kevin has had 4 days off of school for Thanksgiving. We were blessed again to be able to head to the coast and take advantage of my parents home in Pebble Beach. This would be our first "vacation" (or rather relocation as I've heard it described) as a family of six. I was most nervous about the drive there as the older two would be in the very back row of the van and both have proven to get carsick on road trips. So armed with towels and plastic bags and a little drugged up on Benedryl we set off. I am happy to report that everyone did FABULOUS on the ride there and the ride home! The babies slept the whole way and the older kids loved their Curious George movies. We got to the house later on Monday night so after running around for a while and making beds everyone was asleep a couple hours later than normal. I also anticipated sleeping problems from the older two, but again the kiddos surprised me and slept wonderful! Tuesday was cold and rainy, otherwise the rest of the week was sunny and clear, but still very cold!

Hudson and Brooklyn didn't see much of the ocean since it was so chilly. This is what they looked like all bundled up in their stroller.

Morgan and Ethan checking out the waves. Ethan must be laughing at Daddy.

Mommy and Morgan. It was so great to go to the coast this time and be able to do everything with the kids. Unlike our trip there this summer when I was "on restriction" due to my pregnancy.

Walking with daddy, definitely a highlight of the week for Ethan and Morgan and Daddy.

The twins...sleeping to the sound of the waves. We have an ocean sound machine in their room at home so I think they felt right at home. I think they were pretty cozy in their stroller too.

Playing at the Dennis the Mennis Park. Again, so great to be able to run and play with the kids, instead of sitting on the sidelines.

One of the crabs Ethan and Daddy caught. This was as close as Ethan would get to holding the crab!

We now have another photographer in the family. Thanks for a good picture Ethan!

Back at home....Ethan is really in to setting up imaginative play situations. Here he and Morgan are in a space ship on their way to the moon. Don't those look just like astronaut helmets?

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my family on Sunday after we returned to Ripon. We took some family pictures for Christmas. Annika wasn't too thrilled to be posing with her cousins:)

Papa and Nana and all their grand kids. Ethan is holding baby Audrey, Eric and Kara's newest addition. (check out the Jung's blog on our blog list for details)

Such loving brother and sister, they're always like this...yeah right! I wish that were the case. They are playing better and better together the older Morgan gets and the better she can communicate with Ethan.

The "big kids"

With the arrival of fall comes the rain. It is so refreshing after a long hot summer. We've taken a few walks in the rain with the older two. It's fun to watch them splash around in the puddles.

Last week Sunday it was raining pretty hard in the morning. We wouldn't let the kids go out before church so Kevin promised a "walk in the mud" after naps. This is what they came home looking like. They had sooo much fun. Guess who got to wash them up in the shower and do the laundry though;)

Cousins reading books together. They are shirtless because we had just eaten pizza and it's easier to wipe off a naked tummy than get stains out of their shirts.

Update Pics of the babes

Not a whole lot to say tonight, but I did want to post some pictures of the babies. They are growing so fast! After holding little Audrey today I realize how much Hudson and Brooklyn have changed in the last 12 weeks. They don't make any little newborn sounds anymore, they both love to smile and Brooklyn especially loves to "talk" to us. They are sleeping at least 6 hours at night and they are starting to self soothe, aka cry themselves to sleep for naps and bedtime. It's not easy to listen to, but necessary for mama's sanity in the long run.

Mr. Hudson, chillin on the couch.

This is one of a couple "matching outfits" that they have. Pretty cute I think:)

Both Hudson and Brooklyn do pretty well with tummy time. Hudson enjoys it a little more than Brooklyn. I think he just like to show off his strong neck. He has rolled over a few times too when he gets his arm tucked under himself just right. So fun to watch them grow and learn.

12 weeks old last Friday!

We finally took the babies to church today. We decided to attempt a kid pic too. It was interesting to say the least and I think this is the best one we have. We'll have to see what we can come up with for a Christmas card this year:)

It was so fun to dress the babies up. Since we spend most of our time at home I don't dress them up very often. I had fun today:)

Hudsers laughing at daddy.

Sweet Miss Brooklyn. We've yet to capture a good smile from her on camera.