Life

Nothing super exciting happening over here at the Schenks. We're just doing life and finally settling into a rhythm. A routine that will change soon I'm sure because that's what happens when you have infants around. Everyone is battling colds right now, the joy of having one in preschool. I think Hudson and Brooklyn have had coughs for 1/2 their lives, poor babies. Here are a few pictures and a video to show what we've been up to.

Ethan got this sweatsuit from Opa and Oma for Christmas. Little did they know that the colors on the sweatsuit are his school's colors. This is Ethan's FAVORITE outfit and he usually wears it 4 days a week. Sometimes just as "warm ups" over his "basketball" outfit. Hudson is wearing the blue and gold outfit Ethan wore to Kevin's basketball games when he was a baby. Ethan had to have a picture with their matching outfits. Hudson and Brooklyn LOVE to have their big sister and brother talk to them. Ethan especially is good at making them laugh. It comes in handy when they are fussing while I'm working on dinner.

Hudson and Brooklyn no longer share a crib. We set up a second crib in their room over Christmas break. It makes the room nice and cozy, but it works. I wanted to take this picture though to show how much they've grown over the past five months. Remember this picture?

H and B love to look at each other now and usually end up smiling and talking to each other. They are getting stronger everyday. They both enjoy the exersaucer, Hudson especially. Hudsers has rolled over from his tummy to back a few times, but we've yet to see rolls from Brooklyn. They both squirm around a lot though.

At their 4 month check up Brooklyn was a pound lighter than Hudson, I'd say it's closer to a 2 pound difference now. She is petite and a finicky eater. Her bottles need to be just the right temperature or she spits them out and she definitely knows when she is full. If only I would stop eating immediately when I'm full:)

Hudson is still our smiley little social bug. He loves when anyone stops to talk to him and I'm not sure he ever gets full:) The babes are doing awesome at night. They are sleeping about 10-12 hours at night. I have to replace a binky now and then, but they can usually make it until 4:30 or later before they need to eat. Now if I could just get to bed at 7:00 when they do I'd be a well rested woman! I do feel a lot better though with the longer stretches of sleep I've been getting.

I realize I don't have any pictures of Miss Morgan on this post. I've been thinking about doing a special post just about her. She is definitely our most challenging child right now, but she also brings the biggest laughs. I'm working on taking some pictures of her incredible fashion sense to share with you all.

I'll leave you with this video of the babes giggling at each other. Not a better sound in the world.

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.