Done.

Our pastor, Bro. Gene (who is now on Facebook WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THUNK!) once said, "Only YOU can make YOU angry." It took me a while to come to grips...ha, I almost said "gribs"...with that statement. Cuz I'm like, "Uh yeah, but if kid in front of me gets the last Butterfinger, he's pretty much made me angry." But, I understand his point now. Sure, I wanted that Butterfinger and sure, I'd like to smack the back of that kid's mulleted head, but I'm the one that let myself get angry over it.

Same with being stressed. I'm the only one that can make me stressed. And stress is making me old. That, and actually getting older, but that's beside the point. And I don't like it. And I'm tired of it. This entire year has been stressful for us...mainly because the girls have been sick the entire time. And like the doctor said, everything they've had is just run-of-the-mill, garden variety little bugs that kids get all the time. It's just that it's two at the same time and they keep passing it back and forth. And gosh, I only have two. I can't imagine what it's like for you guys with more. A hug for you.

And then, having a regular little cold turn into breathing issues and then having that transferred to the other kid who has a really high fever for three days straight and no sleep for almost two weeks and then your grandma who came to help you gets really sick, too...well, it's just been a tad stressful. But, honestly, there was no reason for me to stress out. Yeah, I was tired and cranky and busy with work and busy with two sick kids. But, whatever. It's life. It happens. And I'm so thankful I have kids that can get sick. So, I'm done being stressed. It's not worth it. This past week saw my blood pressure at an all time high, I'm sure, but on the upside...I lost 4 pounds. Always a silver lining, my friends.

It's like what Aunt Sue said on Facebook...this too shall pass. And the girls are all better and in the BEST, most hysterical moods I've ever seen them in. When you're smack in the middle of poo, it's hard to see how it's ever going to be any different again. I know that's a tad dramatic. But, for those of you who have had kids, you remember how intense the first few weeks/months were and it's like WILL I EVER SLEEP AGAIN?? And then, the stress of that time kind of becomes a fuzzy "aw, it wasn't all THAT bad" memory (even though we really know it WAS that bad) and all you remember are the fun times and then it's like, "Yeah, okay, we made it!" And even though it was just two weeks out of our lives that we didn't get a lot of sleep, at 3:00 in the morning, it feels like it's been this way forever. But, now, the girls are in their playroom fighting over something completely dumb and not even a toy...it's like a ring that holds toys together...no runny noses, no puddles if diarrhea, no projectile vomiting, no asthmatic coughing, no fevers...life is good and the past two weeks weren't all that bad in the grand scheme of things.

I miss blogging like I used to. I've decided to "unclutter" my life and get back to doing the things I love to do. And so it begins. That sounds like the beginning of an epic, Middle Earthish movie.

I gotta catch you up on the twinsers.

Almost 14-months old...can barely even believe it. They are into EVERYthing. I remember the day when I thought, "I can't wait for them to crawl and walk...they'll be able to entertain themselves so much easier." Ha, I laugh at Past Ruth now. If only Future Ruth could have been there to tell her, "Enjoy this time now when they're little immobile slugs, for soon they will take over your house."

Harper is going to be a gymnast or mountaineer or the person that changes the light bulbs at the tops of radio towers...she's got to do SOMEthing productive with her climbing abilities. She can get on top of all of the furniture in the house and she will. She's figured out if she moves chairs close to tables, she can get on the tables, too.

Piper Lee's pretty content to mind her own business and stay where she is. She's a master block builder. Legos are her favorite thing. Harper is a master destroyer. We call her Destructo Demolition. She likes to crash Piper's creations.

They love love love books. They love magazines and they love tearing up magazines. They can shred an entire box of tissues just by looking at it.

They'll blow kisses all day long. They are so loving. If you say, "Give me a hug," they'll come and snuggle their faces in your neck and wrap their chubby little arms around you. They give good kisses, too. Harper especially loves kisses. Say, "Give me a kiss," and prepare yourself for the biggest smooch right on on the mouth...sometime it's open mouth, so watch out. They pet Kevin (the pony) and pat his head. Harper will say "awwww" when she hugs him.

They know where their belly buttons, noses, and ears are. They can mimic a few animals...werewolves, cats, cows, ducks, chickens. They "sing" the ABCs. I think that's their favorite song right now. It's more like "Ah ah ga ga ba ba oooooooo" but they're totally "singing" it along with you. They say "Daddy" and "Mama" all the time. If they've pooped their pants, they say "Doo doo," which is weird because I have never said that. I always say "poopy," so I don't know where they got that from, but I mean, it's right.

I'll have to get this on video for you...but in the afternoon, they watch Yo Gabba Gabba and I'll say "Yo Gabba Gabba???" And they'll squeal and say "Ga ga!" Harper then runs to the TV, turns it on...Piper Lee runs to the speakers, turns them on. And they wait for me to get the satellite on. Crazy, right?? I'm a little worried they're going to build a robot or weapon or something...they work together too well.

They are always happy and smiling. They love nothing more than playing outside. Which has been wonderful the past few days because it's been so nice out. Piper Lee likes to sit and admire each individual blade of grass. Harper loves to trample on flowers.

They love their wagon.

They love their box.

They love to sleep in weird positions.

They love making a mess.