Bumbo

Carter and Olivia have both been getting so good at holding their heads up, so we decided to let Carter try out the Bumbo.  He wasn't too sure about it, and I didn't let him stay in for too long as I didn't want him to get too tired.  Still, I got a cute pic of him in it.

First Day of School: Crayon College

Today was the first day of school at Crayon College in Hattiesburg.  They actually went to school a few days in Arlington while we were preparing to move, but this is the first day of their "real" school.  I didn't get a pic of them on their first day (stupid I know), but I got a pic of their backpacks and lunch pails.  My friend Ann Loiselle got the twins these backpacks, and I have to restrain myself from squealing in delight every time I see them.  Dang they are cute!  Same goes for the lunch pails (in regards to my reaction at their cuteness).  Aunt Liah and Uncle Phillip gave these to the twins for Christmas.  I just love personalized things for the twins!

Moving Day

This is moving day.  It makes me sad to think about it, so no commentary.  Just pics.

Master Bedroom

Master bath

Twins room

Twins room

Forrest's office

Hall bath

guest bedroom

Weekends with Grandmommy and Pops

Grandmommy and Pops apparently got the feeling that we all (meaning Forrest, me, Carter, and Olivia) could use a break from each other, so I got an email from them midway through December saying that they wanted to take Carter and Olivia for a couple of nights.  They said they sensed the twins could use a vacation from us (ha ha) so they gave us the choice of two weekends: the nights leading up to Christmas, or the weekend of New Years.  I responded with "BOTH!". 

So, that's exactly what happened.  Grandmommy and Pops picked up C and O on the evening of Thursday, December 22 and took them to the lake house.  We joined them there on Saturday, December 24 around lunchtime.  Also, on Saturday Dec 31, they picked up the babies and took them to their house.  We went and picked them up on Monday Jan 2. 

These two weekends were such a gift - it gave us the opportunity to pack.  Thanks so much Grandmommy and Pops!

Then, as if that wasn't enough, the next weekend (the one before we moved), Aunt Sue and Uncle Jim picked up the babies and took them to Grandmommy and Pops house.  We had THREE WEEKENDS IN A ROW without the babies.  Whoa!  We missed them so much, but it was necessary as we had to get packed and ready for our move. 

We have the best family!

We love to read!

Santa got Carter and Olivia each a book for their stockings and I couldn't be more delighted with the ones that he chose.  One is a book from the popular children's cartoon "Olivia".  It's fitting, obviously.

The book in Carter's stocking is from a series that I remember reading as a kid.  These books are so cute!

Christmas Morgan

Morgan really "got" Christmas this year.  And by "got" I mean she was very interested and curious about how it all worked.  And by "Christmas" I mean, the idea that Santa brings presents.  So, one could argue that she didn't really "get" Christmas, but she started to understand at least one small (and not so insignificant to a little kid!) part of it.

On Christmas Eve, Liah made cookies and milk and Morgan made sure they were displayed on the coffee table close to the fireplace so that Santa could have them.  Getting her to bed that night was no easy task, as she wanted to keep getting up to see if Santa had come.  Finally by about 11:00pm, we verified that Morgan was asleep and Santa got the green light to deliver presents.

On Christmas morning, the first thing Morgan did was to look for the cookies and milk.  She saw that there were only crumbs left on the plate, and that the glass of milk was empty.  She looked up with wonder at her mom and asked "Is he gone?".  I guess she wasn't sure if he was still around the house someplace.  Then she looked at all the presents and started jumping up and down and squealing with delight.  In true Helms family tradition, there was a glut of presents.  Very exciting for a little girl (and big girls too, heehee).

We always open stockings first, and because Morgan was so excited, Liah let Morgan and Caroline open their stockings before everyone was set and ready for Christmas morning to begin.  Fortunately I didn't miss it.  The first thing Morgan pulled out of her stocking were some Disney princess themed bandaids. After just that one gift she declared "This is the best Christmas ever!"  Haha, I guess those bandaids were a better gift than we thought.

I sure do love my Christmas Morgan!

Babies' first Christmas

Christmas was spent at the lake house, and I can say with certainty that it was the best Christmas I can remember.  Well, I guess that's not entirely true.  I remember Christmas as a young girl.  Those were so wonderful.  My parents always went all out for Christmas, gift wise.  More importantly (not then, but I recognize that it is now), we celebrated the birth of our Savior in the Christmas season.  We had an advent Calendar each year in which we'd count down the days.  I remember one Christmas Eve, before church, sitting down on the couch with Mom and Dad while they read us the Christmas story from Luke's gospel.  And of course, they always took us to church on Christmas Eve.  Very special.

But this Christmas was special because it was the first Christmas with our own little miracles.  Not only did we celebrate the birth of the Christ child, but also the birth of our children.  It was the first Christmas with cousins also, for Carter and Olivia.  Morgan and Caroline were a joy, as we got to watch them open presents and see Christmas through their eyes.  In fact, I have a story about Morgan on Christmas morning that I want to remember forever, but I think I'll make that another post.

Anyways, I guess I don't have any pics of the present opening, but I do have several family pics taken on Christmas Eve before we went to church at Cedar Creek UMC.  It was kind of a crazy portrait session, but I think many of them turned out pretty nice. 

Olivia and Dad:

Morgan trying to prematurely open a gift.  Don't worry, Liah didn't let her.

This is right after Liah removed the present from Morgan's hands.  Hence the tantrum.

Here are the babies, loaded up and ready to go to church.  Grandmommy bought them these adorable Christmas pajamas.