How Could They be Four Already??

This is the first picture the nurses took of Katie and Emma together out of their little incubators. I love it so much.




I loved holding them and feeding them together --




Best buddies, consolation

First birthday portraits






Second birthday party - Noah's Ark theme - 2 turning 2

They do everything together

Even going so far as "doing" each others' hair

They had two great parties this year - the first was last Sunday, New Year's Day. Great-Aunt Grace, who has no grandkids of her own yet, loves to lavish her love upon them, and the rest of us were recipients of that love and generosity as she gave us all a lovely party in their honor.








Posing with Great Grandma Carlson . . .




And with Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Swanson




More fun gifts - right after Christmas!

Today, on their actual birthday, they had their first "friend" party, which was also attended by their other grandpa and their auntie. The theme was "Thing 1 and Thing 2", from "The Cat in the Hat."

The little girls who were already there met the rest at the door --

The cupcakes were meant to represent the Things - the red velvet cake and the blue cotton candy "hair."

They had blue Kool-Aid and blue icees - thus, the blue mouth --

They enjoyed their snack time together --

They colored some "Things" --






Then downstairs for "story time" - The Cat in the Hat - didn't work out all that well - just too difficult to find a place to sit and sit still!









Gift time - again!!!





They got these cute wigs with "princess-y" dresses --




Livi posing in the wig --




The girls had a great time playing together with the new toys --





The evidence of a good party - the guests don't want to leave!

Happy Birthday, Three Year Olds!

Three years ago at this moment, I was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with Katie and Emma, who were 1 hour and 5 minutes and one hour and 6 minutes old. They were hooked up to every imaginable machine. The nurses and doctors were rushing around ministering to all of their needs. They weighed 2 pounds 15 ounces and 3 pounds 5 ounces. They put oxygen on Emma, the smaller one, which she ripped out the next morning - they never put it back in.

The miracle of their births has been well chornicled here, but I never tire of telling the story of all of our blogging friends around the world who prayed them into healthy life - truly. Many of you have watched their progress for the past three years. It has been so much fun watching them develop and grow.

We are not celebrating today - they are not really aware of their birthday, and it's so close to Christmas (plus a couple other reasons) that we decided to wait a couple more weeks to celebrate. They need NOTHING. They were showered with toys and clothes the past two weeks. We're running out of room in both houses.

For your enjoyment and refreshing of your memories, or if you're a new reader, for your information, I am posting these chosen pictures.

This is the first picture the nurses took of them together out of their little incubators. I love it so much.




I loved holding them and feeding them together --




Best buddies, consolation

First birthday portraits







Second birthday party - Noah's Ark theme - 2 turning 2

Reading their new books




Current adventures

Have a great week-end!