Rose did another outstanding job at her School Christmas Program.  We rallied up the forces for this show since I knew she was a superstar!  EVERYONE did their very best to see her perform.  Mark and I could not have been any prouder!  I am still in amazement at all the Christmas songs that she learned.  Love Love LOVE this age and our little Roo.

Is that another yawn ?

Get it Girl

Note:  the tissue she stuck in her pants in case of an emergency

Those reindeer antlers are giving her trouble and why is her nose on her belly now?

EMERGENCY:  In the middle of the show, Rose proceeds to lift up her shirt, take some tissue she had out of her pants, and BLOW HER NOSE.  It was embarrassing but so funny.  

MEET RAINBOW

Rainbow was the class reindeer.  Rainbow watched all of the children each day and took notes for Santa Claus on their classroom behavior.  (This is the school's version of the Elf on the Shelf I am assuming).  Any hoo...  Unlike our missing (and still not found) elf on the shelf, Rainbow can be touched.  Rainbow came home with Rose for an entire night.  We reported back to school with plenty of pictures of our fun adventures with Rainbow.  Rose brought him to my office to get his teeth cleaned.  He then went to the park and Lost Pizza Co. for dinner!  He slept in a baby crib with 4 other baby dolls in Rose's room.  I tried to explain that Rainbow would report back to Santa that she was not sleeping in her own bed in her room and I was quickly informed "Fine, Ill just play with Maryn-Mills toys"

ONE TIRED LITTLE ANGEL

Rose was an Angel in the Children's Christmas Choir Program at our Church the first part of December.  I had not been to one single practice.  Not one.  Its always on Sunday night at 5 and that falls right in the middle of trying to get the twins fed, bathed, and down for the night - not to mention - its also my prime strategizing time for the week ahead.  So poor Rose just got dropped off at the back door for practice.  I literally can NOT take any credit for Rose's doing so well.  The children's director ordered the costumes and literally we did not even try ours on for size until an hour before show-time!  No joke.  I used scissors to cut the bottom off (and the sleeves) because it was way too long.  Honestly, part of me really thought the poor kid would never even make it down the aisle to the front, much less climb the alter and stand there and participate.  Needless to say, I felt quite guilty when she completely proved me wrong.  She RAN to the alter and climbed right up.  She sang her little heart out and I could not have been any prouder.  Actually, I got teary eyed a few times because it was at that moment that I realized my "baby" was a little girl now and she was totally fine without me.  I wish I had spent a little more time and actually hemmed her costume (not that anyone noticed) just because it was important to her.  The best part of the whole show was her yawning.  I swear.  I mean she was not tired (I didn't think).  I am assuming she just sang so hard it turned into a yawn???  ha ha ha.... It was a GREAT first Christmas Program and I will never forget it.  We LOVE our precious little angel!

A NEW YEAR... A NEW YOU... A NEW BLOG

I am so far behind on my blogging....  just wait until I upload all of my pics off of my good camera!!!  I have a lot of work to do.  FYI....  I am not off to a great 2016.  So far, I have gotten NOTHING accomplished on my "2016 to-do list"....  Please be patient....  and know my pics are worth the wait!!!

THE HARDIN GLARE vs. SANTA CLAUS

IM. DEAD. SERIOUS.

Well, my girls reacted differently to Santa Claus than I was expecting.  I was prepared for the all out scream from Millie, clinging onto my leg and not even looking at him from Rose, and the possible eye-gorge and beard pull from Maryn.  However, they gave quite the show.  If I ever have to worry if my girls will team-up in the future - here was my proof.  It was like a mighty force.  They all three simultaneously looked at him and gave the "eat poop and die" look.  It was quite frightening.  Even the other people in line noted that my girls thought Santa had the intelligence of a ringworm.  We sure hope Santa understands how these girls think and doesn't punish them come Christmas Morning for their lack of tact???

OUR LIFE IN A YEAR

STATS N' ALL

WOW!  WHAT A YEAR???  That is all I can say.
This past year has not been one I will ever forget.  Our little family has suffered some huge changes within the last 365 days.  Some good.  Some definitely not-so-good.  It feels like the babies were born yesterday; yet at the same time it feels like it was 10 years ago!  We have pushed through some of the toughest moments I hope we ever endure in our life.  We now have a new partially built home that we are rockin' this "three-kids thing" in every single day.  Life is finally starting to turn up for us.  I hope.  (At the very moment I type this I am crossing my fingers and knocking on wood so as to not jinx myself).  We have the home narrowed down to about 4 projects before I can start nesting in it.  That is HUGE progress!!!  The twins survived the first year of their life - also a HUGE success.  Rose, Mark, and I grew as a family and opened our arms up to these two little heart-steelers, leaving the only little life we have known as our family of three and stepping out on faith.  Well, actually, it felt more like a 100 yard plunge that turned out as a major free-fall, if you can catch my drift.  I wouldn't trade our life for anything in the world.  It has been a blur but its a total blessing, that to be honest, we didn't even know we wanted, yet couldn't live without.

So here is our 1 Year Update....

THE TWINS:

• The girls started Day-Care in August and are LOVING it!  The really do!  Lizzie now works for the daycare until noon and I pick her up when I pick up Rose and they go to my house for the afternoon.  I can definitely tell that the twins are more advanced than Rose was at this age just by constant interaction.  However, the down side is the sickness.  Daycare kids are SICK.  ALL. THE. TIME.  ugh.........
• Nobody can pronounce Maryn's name.  It drives me totally insane.  Mills started calling her May-May and it kinda stuck.  So 90% of the time our girls go by May May and Millie.  
• The best part of the entire day is first thing in the morning when they start jabbering back and forth at each other in their beds.  It sounds like a conversation in a foreign language.  Melts my heart every single morning.
• Millie has been easier the last few months.  She piddles and minds her own business.  She gets in trouble but mainly for meddling where she is not supposed to be.  
• May May is the cuddle bug of the group - always wanting a hug, to be lovable, seeking attention.  Her smile can bring a grown man to his knees.  
• Maryn is getting slightly frustrated that she cant walk yet.  She gets so upset when we walk into another room and she cant get there fast enough.  Mills used to wait on her but since her speed in walking has increased to running mode - very rarely does she wait on her sister these days.  
• Mills is turning into our tom-boy.  She would rather throw things and play with sticks in the mud than anything girly.  Rose would never have played in the mud for fear of getting dirty.  
• Words they can say:
• May - mama, dada, bye bye, hey, un uh (no), tata
• Millie - mama, dada, bye bye, daye (darly), may may, hey, no, okay, come on, yea, 
• Things they can do:
• May -  climb stairs, clap her hands, put blocks on the stick (actually does great with wooden puzzles), squat down flat footed and back up unassisted, fast crawling
• Millie - back bend, throw her hands up like shes cheerleading with Rose, climb stairs, run, squat down flat footed and back up unassisted
• Diaper size 5
• Favorite Foods:
• May - pretty much anything
• Millie - bananas, peaches, and cheese crackers
• Foods they dislike:
• May - squash 
• Millie - pretty much everything (she is our pickiest eater by far)
• adf

MARYN:

• WEIGHT:  23 lbs 6 oz. (88%)
• HEIGHT:  2 feet 7.5 inches tall (97%)
• HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE:  44.5 cm (32%)
• BMI:  16.56
• HEART RATE:  139
• Clothing Size - 18-24 months

MILLS:

• WEIGHT:  21 lbs 4 oz. (66%)
• HEIGHT:  2 feet 5.75 inches tall (57%)
• HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE:  44 cm (20%)
• BMI:  16.88
• HEART RATE:  131
• Clothing size - 12-18 months

Dont take the monkey...

***  A few side notes on the stats reports!  

1. Maryn has gone from <1% on the growth charts to 97% in length and 88% in weight.  I am AMAZED.  God is good.
2. Surprisingly to me, Mills' BMI was higher than Maryn's - Maryn is 2 full inches taller than Mills - which accounts for a large portion of her weight.  
3. Mills' head is smaller than May-May's....???  I have always thought Mills head looked big compared to her little body but it is only in the 20%.  (I had them measure twice).  
4. To be honest, we measured twice on most things.  I was just certain Maryn was significantly bigger than Mills, but she is really just built much different.

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY MY SWEET SWEET BABIES

DOUBLE THE TRICKS, DOUBLE THE FUN
OUR CIRCUS PEANUTS HAVE TURNED ONE !!!