Happy Holidays

From all of us.....

The girls had an amazing Christmas and we are so thankful to our family and friends for all the gifts. We spent Christmas Eve at Jeffs Aunt Jackies house (aka Aunt Pretty) and Christmas morning Jeffs mom, his sister Kimmy and Melissa came over. Christmas afternoon/evening was at my parents house. We had two great days with family that we are so blessed to have!

All the stockings are hung! My heart is full seeing all 5 stockings!


Me and the girls


Enjoying some crackers





Aunt Jackie talking, Uncle Mike pretending to listen and Aunt Marina just looking afar





Ashlyn waiting to open more presents


Auntie Kimmy and Melissa


Grandma Toni


Jillian talking on her new cell phone


Opening up their laptop





Jillian opening up a gift these girls loved ripping off the paper








She threw out some of the clothes and climbed in the box











Santa came and brought them a kitchen the rest was from Christmas Eve


Christmas Morning Jillian ran up to their new kitchen














Opening their gift from their cousins Owen and Avery





Christmas afternoon at my parents. This is Jillians stocking she was giving him kisses


Ashlyn with her reindeer headband











Ohh grandpa let me show you how to open it

Nothing But Trouble

Found the girls doing this! Jillian is saying Uh Oh when she saw me there with the camera.





At least they cleaned up their mess when I asked them to clean up

Taking a Few Steps.....

When I was pregnant with the girls we had known Ashlyn had club feet and we were prepared for it. Once the girls were delivered and rushed to the NICU they were evaluated by a team of doctors. One of the doctors was her orthopedic surgeon he evaluated Ashlyn about 11:00 p.m. and came to our room close to midnight the day the girls were born. It was then he told us about Ashlyn's right hip. Jeff and I just sat their listening to the doctor talk to us about what was ahead for our little girl and we knew it would be a long road and although her surgery is over we still have a long road to go down, but nothing makes us more blessed then seeing the determination in Ashlyn trying to walk. I remember when we started correcting her club feet and taking her to her weekly cast changes and I asked one of the doctors if Ashlyn would walk and she looked at me and said I can't answer that because she not only has the club feet, but the hip dysplasia. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't focus on that I knew we had to be strong for her and we would do anything to see our little girl walk. On Thanksgiving morning Jeff and I were getting the girls ready and Ashlyn all the sudden stood up from the floor and took a few steps sideways. She then continued to take a few steps forward. I started to cry not only because I had been dreaming of this day, but the smile on her face was priceless she was so proud of herself and just so excited to be on the move without pushing a toy. Her legs are still trying to get the strength back, but each time she walks by herself she just smiles and smiles and that brings us so much happiness.

Her she is taking a few steps by herself. This was taken the other day while the girls were playing outside. Jillian is waiting for Ashlyn to come back and push her.