New Look and Sound

I am so proud of myself - I just learned how to make the new changes myself!!! What do you think?

Monday, Monday

It seems weird that I am actually writing a post and not catching-up! Mondays are usually the day of the week that everyone dreads because the weekend fun is over and it is back to work. Well, at our house, every Monday morning we start our week with Tom's physical therapy and it is definitely a sign the worry-free weekend is over and it is time to get down to business. Let's just say how Tom does in therapy really does set the tone for the day and sometimes the entire week. We really like our therapist, Carol, and she does a excellent job with Tom; she knows how to challenge him and how to push him outside of his comfort zone without giving into to his quirky smile and long eyelashes. As a mom, it is hard to see your child unhappy and hear their cries especially when you can tell the person inflicting this emotion to stop. However, I have grown to learn - this is therapy and this is what we do because we love our child more than we could possibly describe. So every Monday, I bite my tongue, I sit, I watch and I repeate to myself - this is all worth it and he has come so far. Thankfully, today was a very good day; Tom did excellent and actually did not shed a single tear during PT - which I think is a first. I wish I could take pictures while he is working, but it is hard trying 'not to be too involved' (which leads to a distraction), but also managing to entertain Elizabeth so Tom can focus on Carol. Let's just hope this a good start to a super chilly week!!

Elizabeth and Tom enjoy bath time so much and I have been trying to get some cute picture of them in the tub and yes, we do bathe them together every night. It is not surprising they tend to enjoy the same things Check out this mullet action, I am still waiting on a curl,

before I take him to a barber

I know, his hair really is out of control

Every night we have story time in our chairs. Green Eggs and Ham remains our favorite book of all time - I wonder if it is because this is one of the first books they heard? Tom's next big goal is to walk; with this toy, he is dangerously fast!

Faster than Elizabeth!

The twins are not really talking too much, but they do understand some simple words and actions. They both understand kiss and are so cute!!

Talk about an extra load to slow things down...

Tom is so proud of himself and sometimes he surprises himself by walking

Have a great week!

I'm Back

So the holidays are officially here and so is the cold weather. Everyone in the Powell house has been battling various colds the past few weeks...yes, that's right weeks!! I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel which is great, because I think we are down to our last box of Kleenex. Since the last post, I am very excited to announce some exciting news:

• My pledge sisters Rachel and Ginny gave birth to beautiful girls and Julia has a handsome little boy and my sweet girlfriend Lauren had a girl
• Ginny was on Oprah - TWICE - discussing the amazing life of her sweet son and daughter.
• A sorority sister and previous colleague were married - Congrats Angela and Danny (I forgot my camera, but the wedding was beautiful)!
• Another pledge sister, Jana is pregnant with her first child.
• My beautiful sis, Laura had a great engagement party. Here is a picture of the happy couple
• Powell #3, aka Peach, has completed half of his / her journey in my belly. We are not going to find out the sex of the baby, which always makes for an interesting discussion
• After working more than seven years with Newell Rubbermaid, I am now spending some time working in the home - I know, you would think I have been posting more, but obviously that's not the case.
• The twins saw Santa and were not nearly as quite as they were last year. Yes, we visited the same Santa at Phipps Mall in Atlanta where you need to make an appointment in October. To be honest, we saw Santa before Thanksgiving, talk about small pickins' for matching Christmas outfits. Thanks mom for finding some cute threads!

Thankfully my mother-in-law attended the

dramatic event with me - thanks Jo Ann

So, other than that, we have been enjoying the holidays and getting ready for Christmas! Here are some recent pictures....

Family photo at Thanksgiving #1, thanks Phil and Cindy, everything was delicious!

Kate and Tom bonding before heading back to Atlanta

Just too darn cute not to include....

The Godfather bonding with his two favorite kids...

Family photo and last and final Thanksgiving...number three!

I hope you and your family enjoyed the holidays, there is so much to be thankful for these days!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! It was quite chilly in Atlanta this year, but the twins had a blast dressing up and attending parties. Here are a few pictures from my Mother's of Multiples Group Fall Festival and Halloween Day:

Tom and his super scary Halloween face

Looking like a big boy, enjoying the swing No, it's not Curious George, it's my little monkey Tom! At the festival, Elizabeth was more interested in walking, rather than wearing a costume

It's Halloween night and we are getting the monkeys ready. Our super cute neighbor, Barton, comes over to lend an extra hand.

Dads - Tom and Rick, with precious cargo in tow to the Halloween party Notice Barton is in charge of the cargo (aka - adult beverages)

The best family photo taken, with the complete monkey costume

Girls love it when a cute fireman show them some attention

It is love at first site...

Big Brother in the Making!!!

I know, two posts in one week?!?! I had to share the great news!!!

Happy Birthday to Me

So another year older and still trying to decide if I am any wiser....

I was so excited that I had my favorite cake for the week of my birthday, then little did I know my parents would bring me another cake that weekend to continue the celebration - needless to say cake two weeks in a row, I think I am content for awhile. Many thanks to the Powells for watching the kids so Tom and I could enjoy a quite dinner out.

Here are a few pictures from the Atlanta park

...and a few more my birthday weekend when my parents came to visit and watch the kids

My future little football player, in the typical Saturday t-shirt

Beach and Birthdays for the Brothers

Alright, I know - I have slipped into my old ways of letting weeks go by without a post. However, trusty Marget will definitely let me know when I need to get back on the saddle and update the blog. Sorry guys, with vacation last month and birthdays galore - I am slowly recuperating and adjusting to the hustle and bustle of football season and yes, getting ready for the holidays!

The end of August we took the kids on the Annual Kappa Alpha Order beach trip and fun times were definitely had by all. Fortunately / unfortunately we missed last year due to the arrival of Tom and Elizabeth and a prolonged stay in NICU. Regardless, we were back this year...not quite in our rare form at the Florabama as usual, i.e. shutting down the fine establishment and then heading over to the Waffle House before the cab ride home, but we were back. Let's just say going to the beach with two kids, barely one that are not walking definitely makes for a work-out. We could not have survived without the extra hands and free babysitters - thanks Connell, Brandance, Ashleigh!!

Backs at the BeachMost of the KAs from the '97 Pledge Class, that made the trip Brothers and Sisters - Can You Tell?

Tom, Ann Auxford, Dixon and Elizabeth

The guys and their babies and believe it or

not I am not talking about their wivesElizabeth and Ann Auxford had so much fun chatting While Tom really enjoyed tasting the sand Ed and Ashleigh made sure everyone had fresh drinks,

topped with fresh nutmeg....only Ed

Tom and the cutest twins ever

Tom lovin' the sand!!!

Tom and Elizabeth not really enjoying the wind from Hurricane Ike

Happy Birthday Uncle Robs!!!

In between the beach, we managed to throw in a couple birthday gathers for the brothers - Robert and VJ. Since VJ hit the big 3-0, we had to party in style at one of the "urban lounges" in Birmingham. The party was great and I think everyone had an awesome time. Yes, the twins did make it to the party, but don't worry - Steel is smoke free and they left before things starting getting out of hand!

VJ and the photo birthday cake -

a picture of him 4 years old "drinking" a Busch beer

The entire family made it to the resturantTom and Elizabeth both loved the bar pretzels, after mom licked the salt offSo that's what we have been up to - I promise I am back on the saddle and we make another entry soon! Thanks for always checking in on us!