We 4 Kings!

Catching Up ...

2010-10-29T14:56:00.002-05:00

Time to catch up. It's been almost 5 months since I last posted a blog. YIKES! Here is what's been keeping us so busy (my excuses for not posting anything).

1. Shane and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary

2. Took the boys to Prairieland Dairy to see the cows and eat cheese (a favorite of theirs)

3. Evan had tubes surgically put in his ears to help with ear infections.

4. Had my 10 year class reunion.

5. Went to a couple water parks in Lincoln ... kids LOVED it.

6. Shane built a play structure for the boys. Complete with slide and swings.

7. Boys started showing interest in the potty. Will start training in winter.

8. Gave the boys mohawks ... then trimmed it off the next day.

9. Moved the boys to twin beds ... thanks to Ayden for learning how to climb out of his crib.

10. Bought a mini-van. LOVE it!

11. Boys turned TWO ... and had their 1st dentist appointment. They did great.

12. Went to Roca Berry Farms in search of pumpkins and play.

13. Road around with G'pa Wiebe in the combine. Boys had a blast.

14. Took the boys to Lincoln Children's Zoo ... the turtles and goats were the favorites.

15. Ayden and Evan have started putting words together (two word phrase/sentences).

16. Shane gave me an early birthday gift ... tickets to the NU vs. K-State football game!

And ... a few things in between them all. Now you know the rest of the story.

Pushing the Limits!

2010-06-03T04:17:00.006-05:00

As Ayden and Evan get older and bigger, their risks become bigger and more dangerous. Guess it's all part of being a boy. They like to push the limits and only encourage each other, which is NOT always the best idea. At least, not the best idea as seen by a parent. :o) Everyday there is some new obstacle that they must accomplish or then "die trying."

Regardless, I love my little guys. We are very busy and there is never a dull moment. They are busy ... BUSY ... Busy! Truly boys through and through! And I LOVE it.

Hummm ... Evan and Ayden are on the kitchen table. And you can tell by the looks on their faces and by Ayden squatting down that they KNOW that they are NOT supposed to be on the table.

You see, I was back working in the office and all of a sudden I noticed that it was quiet. "Quiet" is never a good thing, I really do prefer the boys to make noise because then I know where they are and what they are doing. Thought I had better check on them ... and here is where I found the little tykes.

Evan ... little mischief maker #2 is on our new/used spinner. They love to try out new things, and this is something fun! Not only does Evan enjoy sitting on it and spinning (as the toy is designed for), but he likes to stand on it too. Why not?! Ayden prefers to actually sit on the orange/top part. Why not?!

Oooooo ... Evan is attempting a new trick/way of riding the turtle. And when he or Ayden is riding it properly ... they like to stand on the turtle's back and let go with their hands. I have my hands FULL!

But here is a sweet little photo of Evan.

And you can't help but love the cheesy grin from Ayden.

Evan and Ayden posing so nicely for me. The things I put them through. :o)

Notice how Ayden's lips are all puckered up? Well, it's because I'm had been working on the boys saying "CHEESE" whenever I took their photo. So as you look at the photo again, just imagine a little voice from him, saying "CHEESE."

Moving on once again ... the boys decided it was okay to take a break and sit in their new snack (and one day time-out) chairs. You can notice that in this photo Evan was making the "CHEESE" sounds.

And when in doubt and there is "nothing else" to do ... climb on something. At least I think that is the boys' philosophy. Ayden was scaling the back of the chair ... much like they do with their cribs ... and stair railing. Ughhhhhh. I have two very active little monkeys or tree frog ... whatever you want to call them. They don't have many fears which is great for exploration and building courage for them ... but can be very scary for Shane and me.

And as you can tell ... Evan learned how to climb up the chair and get into his highchair. How do they come up with these sort of things?! Seriously, every day they are trying to climb, move or destroy something new. But they are having fun in the process. They are truly ALL BOY!

Pool Party @ the Jensens

2010-06-02T05:19:00.004-05:00

What better to do on a hot summer day than splash around in some water?! Our boys and the Jensen boys (Christian and Tyler) did just that.

Tyler wasn't ashamed to make a splash.

And Christian was working on his tan. :o)

My little duckling ... Evan and Ayden.

4 little ducklings!

By the end ... Evan was so tired.

Awh Evan ... what a sweet little face.

And here is little Ayden all bundled up afterwards.

He, too, looks a little sleepy.

1st Time Experiencing a SPRINKLER!

2010-06-02T05:05:00.005-05:00

Ayden and Evan weren't too sure what to think of a sprinkler. It was strange to them ... and kind of cold! But curiosity got the best of them and they actually touched the water! Oooooooo!

Evan thought the water was just silly.

Ayden worked up enough courage to touch it too!

Oops ... Evan just realized that he was wet ... what should he do now?!

When Ayden wasn't playing with the water, he was occupied with drinking from both sippy cups to stay hydrated! It was hot outside.

And this entry wouldn't be complete with something a little mushy. :o)

Good Clean Fun

2010-06-02T04:56:00.002-05:00

This past Friday, several of us celebrated Bryce Wilson's 30th birthday with grilling out. Because it was bedtime and the kiddos were dirty from playing, we thought it would be profitable to give them a bath before putting them down in their pack-n-plays at the Wilson's. However, Jace needed a bath too ... so it was fun for all!

Evan & Ayden taking a bath.

Bath time ... with Jace!

I like to think that someday we parents can use this as blackmail somehow.

CHA - CHING!

2010-06-02T04:27:00.003-05:00

Grandpa and Grandma King came over for a quick visit ... and inside of Grandpa's pocket was a handful of MONEY! The boys were ECSTATIC to be able to put their money into their shared piggy bank. One day I'm sure they'll want their own piggy banks.

Evan & Ayden busy filling their piggy bank with MONEY! They're RICH!

Confrontation with Grandpa ... Ayden wanted to be sure that he was getting just as many coins as Evan was getting to put in.

Evan taking his turn to put some money in.

Now it's Ayden's turn.

Our NEW Friend Kyla!

2010-05-26T21:10:00.004-05:00

Thanks to a little girl named Kyla ... our summer will prove to be even more active! Kyla lives down the street from us, and her parents needed a baby-sitter for her for the summer. This past year she was in kindergarten (the same grade/age as my niece, Meghan). Anyway, she is a true delight to have in our home. The boys ADORE her and stick to her like glue. Here are a couple photos taken from our first day together.

Ayden, Kyla and Evan are busy reading ... or maybe just looking at the photos. :o)
Kyla thought it'd be fun to bake some cookies ... so we did just that. We even added sprinkles. The boys were trying to stand on their own stools ... JUST LIKE KYLA.

And I can't begin to count the number of hugs Ayden gave Kyla ... he gave her lots of love (already on the first day).

Then we all took time to color. Ayden and Evan love this activity.

Here's Ayden busy at work.

And here's Evan being busy too!

Random Events

2010-05-26T20:46:00.004-05:00

Random events in the King household ... all rolled into one entry!

Grandma Wiebe came by to visit, and they all decided to try some radishes. Neither of the boys were in favor of them. Surprise there, huh?!

Evan has so many different "faces."

... Ayden too!

My kids LOVE to climb ... and I mean LOVE. Here Ayden made his way to the top of a Rubbermaid tub ... and he is showing off his skills.

And here is the pea that was lodged inside Ayden's nose. It was HUGE! I'm just glad I was able to get it out myself. Just a few days back, Ayden was crying several times throughout the night, and we just couldn't figure out what was wrong. It wasn't until after lunch the following day that we learned the cause. You see, The next day while playing, Ayden fell and started crying. Crying, as you know, can make one's nose run ... and all of a sudden a piece of corn came out of his nose with some blood on it. Odd thing was, I knew that we hadn't even eaten any corn that day, so it had must have been in his nose since the previous day. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Not to mention, YUCK!

Two days ago, we rearranged the boys' bedroom. Evan and Ayden were busy helping me too. In fact, the were able to crawl up inside of the dresser since I had removed all of the drawers so I could move it. Man did they have fun!

18 Month (Adjusted Age) NICU Follow-Up

2010-05-17T13:38:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to pass along some GREAT news ...

Today Ayden and Evan had their 18 month (adjusted age) NICU follow up (they are actually 20 months old). All went EXTREMELY well, and we are so thankful! I told the boys to just be themselves. :o) They did great.

The developmental specialist was very pleased with how well our boys' fine motor skills were. She kept commenting on how cute and big they were ... and she couldn't help but "ooooo" and "awh" over the boys' long eyelashes. All parents like to hear those type of comments. Anyway, the boys preformed all the skills tests wonderfully. They passed with flying colors!

Then we took the boys to the actual NICU because I knew that three of our favorite nurses were working today (I had called in this morning). Walking down that long hallway to the NICU brought back memories and tears. The nurses and one of the doctors came up to see the boys. They couldn't get over how grown up the boys looked. They thought surely they were older than 20 months. I'm sure it is nice for them to get to see how the babies they take care of grow up and change. It must be a huge sense of accomplishment for them. Smiles were pasted all over their faces because they remembered taking care of our boys and the issues that both had. I told them that Ayden still has his high pitched scream/cry. I told them I still blame the NICU for that ... they all remembered his scream. Some things haven't changed. :o) It was nice to be able to thank them again for the two gifts of life they gave us and protected for us. When we got to the hospital, Shane said, "Boys, this was your first home!" It truly was for several weeks ... our home too.

No negative comments from the developmental specialist, but simply praises and astonishment at how well they did everything. She said that boys often change the most between 18 months and two years. So we should be ready for some big changes over the next few months. They don't have to be seen until 3 years (adjusted age).

However ... she does want Ayden to see a GI specialist. Ayden has thrown up twice in the last week again. This has happened ever since we brought him home from the hospital ... nothing new to us, but nothing seems to be improving. He is gaining weight and growing which is why we weren't instructed to do anything before. The boys' pediatrician has had us keeping record of when he has these throwing up episodes. There is nothing that similar about the days or foods or anything like that ... other than it typically happens towards the end of the day. He consistently throws up every 2-4 weeks. Anyway, given his symptoms and how he basically passes out afterwards, she feels that something isn't right and should be checked out. One thought she had was that it might be an abdominal migraine. She asked if there was history of migraines ... and I was sad to say that I get them ... I feel awful if I passed this along to him, but God knew this. Granted, she doesn't know for sure, but since he is limp and so tired afterwards, she suspects this. however, given his NEC issues he had as an infant, built up scar tissue may still the the main cause of it all. Nevertheless, this has gone on long enough and she wants us to now press forward and find some answers. So, you can be praying for that and for the specialist who will check out his little body.

Ayden weighed 23lbs 7 ozs, and Evan was an even 24 lbs! Woo-hoo!

Anyway, take time to pray and thank God for how good he has been to our kiddos ... He has helped us walk a scary road at times with them, and He has sustained us all throughout it. God is good, and He has blessed us so much. Thanks for walking along side of us. Today was a HUGE day of celebration for Shane and I. Praise the Lord!

Mother's Day!

2010-05-13T13:19:00.004-05:00

Happy Mother's Day! This past Mother's Day, I was honored to be grouped in the category of "mothers." I have two little blessings that put me there and a wonderful husband for encourages me as I take care of the little guys during the day.

This Mother's Day, we all went up to Omaha to see Aunt Yvette's new house. Grandpa and Grandma Wiebe met us up there too. It was a wonderful way to spend the day.

Evan and Ayden light up my life ... thanks to their Daddy for giving them to me!

My parents, Roger and Coletta ... aren't they cute!

Here is a photo of me, my mother (Coletta) and my sister (Yvette). Unfortunately, my other sister, Deanne, wasn't able to make the trip out to Omaha.

Evan was eager to pick all the dandelions in Aunt Yvette's yard!

Ayden and Mommy!

Evan must have been thinking, "Silly Aunt Yvette!"

At the end of the day, before the boys went to bed ... they brought out my Mother's Day gift. The boys came running down the hallway, each with Cream Soda bottles in their hands. They were proud to give them to me. It was ADORABLE! I love Cream Soda.

Our Friends ...

2010-05-13T13:18:00.010-05:00

Sometimes the weeks get long and I run out of ideas of how to keep the boys entertained ... so, I typically call up some friends and have them come over for play-dates. The boys love it, and I love the fact that I can have a conversation with anther person who speaks more than gibberish. :o)

Jace Wilson (Bryce and Christine Wilson's son) is a "regular" at our place. Jace is only 4 1/2 months younger than Ayden and Evan. In fact, they'll be in the same grade in school some day. Looking forward to that!

Evan was ready to be pushed! He was ready to M-O-V-E!

You'll notice that Ayden has his hands tucked in his pockets ... it's his new thing. Shane has been teaching them to put their hands in the pant and jacket pockets. Now, Ayden is hooked on doing it. I think he looks so grown up when he does it.

Ayden was taking it all in ... just relaxing. He was so tired that he couldn't hold his head up anymore. Instead, he rested it on the swing. So sweet!

Ahhhhhhhhhh ... it's Evan!

Grandma Wiebe came by to visit ... and Evan soaked it up!

Sweet little Jace ...

While Jace was in the swing ... he didn't seem to have a care in the world. In fact, I think he was in the swing for a good hour. Never a fuss.

Our neighbors, the Jensens, came over to play on day. Christian (the oldest of the group) is 4, and next to him is his brother Tyler, who is three weeks older than Ayden and Evan. The boys kept each other busy and on their toes. The house was like a zoo, but Dana (their mother) and I both agreed that it helped the morning go by fast, and that was a good thing!

We were just impressed that Ayden, Christian, Tyler and Evan all looked at the camera at the same time. History was made!

Helping Dad Work!

2010-05-13T13:18:00.005-05:00

The boys LOVE being with Dad. They LOVE doing whatever he is doing. They are such little "helpers." Granted, getting jobs done take twice as long, but the boys enjoy the attention and accomplishments. Plus, it's good for Shane and I to learn how to slow-down. :o)

Ayden had a broom just like Dad! He was so proud of his work. I'm sure Ayden broke many of the brooms bristles since he constantly was pushing the broom instead of sweeping with it. But we didn't care ... he was have an absolute bast!

Again, Ayden kept close to dad to help keep the piles of rocks in order.

Evan on the other hand (on the right side of the photo) was here and there and everywhere. We learned after watching him, that his whole goal was to break up the piles. He liked to take the nice, neat piles and mess them up. He, too, was so proud of his work. He was BUSY!

Ayden (near) and Evan (far)

Garage Sale Finds ...

2010-05-13T13:16:00.003-05:00

Recently I did a little shopping ... garage sale shopping to be exact! I made great finds ... two of which are the little toys I found for Evan and Ayden. When I brought them out from hiding ... the boys were ECSTATIC over them.

Here is Evan on his new 3-wheeler. In the future, I suspect the boys will learn how to use the pedals, but for now ... they just push with their feet!

And here is Ayden on his motorcycle. I'm not fans of my kiddos riding motorcycles, and I am not in favor of my kids ever buying one ... however, I have no room to speak since I technically bought them their first motorcycle. Oops!

(VIDEO) 1st Recorded Wrestling Match!

2010-04-27T13:24:00.002-05:00

Ayden and Evan are starting to wrestle. It's precious! It's funny ... it's all boy!

Road Trip to Grant, Nebraska!

2010-04-27T13:01:00.004-05:00

Our first long road trip was to Grant, Nebraska ... a five and a half hour trip. Did I mention that it felt like FOREVER. Kids certainly change the pace and ease of road trips. :o) We went to Grant to celebrate Lauren's (my niece) 1st birthday! Once at Grant, the cousins all had fun playing together.

Ayden and Evan ... happy ... for now.

FREEDOM from the car! Ayden and Evan were happy to roam free at the rest area. This particular rest area is the one that Shane took me to when we were first dating. We hat a picnic at it. One thing you should know, is that this rest area is just east of North Platte, Nebraska ... about 3 hours away from Bennet. It happens to be my favorite/prettiest rest area EVER, which is why Shane took me there for a picnic.

Evan riding on Daddy's shoulders.

Ayden and Evan decided they needed a break from running around ... luckily the curb was just the right height for them to have a seat on.

A very messy Lauren!

But man, did she enjoy her cake!

(VIDEO) Sleepy Little Evan

2010-04-15T21:44:00.011-05:00

Poor little Evan ... he was SO tired. After a morning walk and playing at the park ... he just couldn't make it through lunch. Also, you can hear Ayden in the backgroung playing with his popper.

1st Day of Coloring

2010-04-15T21:44:00.008-05:00

So I decided that it was time for the boys to try their skills at coloring! Boy did they have FUN! Between eating and sucking on the crayons ... the boys actually did a little coloring.

Evan is pictured using his left hand. However, for other things he uses his right hand ... not sure which one will be his dominate hand.

Ayden's 1st ever drawing!

Evan's 1st ever drawing!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-15T13:05:00.011-05:00

The boys got to experience several different Easter egg hunts. It was great! Ayden's and Evan's first Easter egg hunt took place at the park in Bennet. They didn't find very many eggs ... after all, they were content to just hold one in each hand. They never thought twice about trying to get more.

Bryce and Jace Wilson joined in on the fun at the park.

I'm sure Evan was thinking, "Mom ... I found two!"

I love this photo because Ayden is looking at his egg as though it is the best treasure EVER!

We spent Palm Sunday at G'pa and G'ma King's. Between playing with Jag (the puppy) and searching for eggs, they had a blast outside. Here Ayden was getting licked by Jag. He didn't seem to mind at all.

Ayden just loves the puppy!

Evan found his first egg at G'pa and G'ma King's.

I thought this picture was so cute of Daddy and Evan.

Likewise, G'pa King was eager to help out little Ayden.

Evan loves to be the center of attention ... and loves to grab the camera!

We headed to Henderson to spend Easter with the Wiebe side, and while on the Wiebe farm, Evan caught a kitty! He was so proud. Like his Aunt Deanne and Aunt Asha ... the boys LOVE cats!

We took a ride on the 4-wheeler. Evan enjoyed the ride, while Ayden was a bit nervous.

Ayden's face is so precious ... not to mention that seeing Daddy and Evan cuddle is super cute too.

Time for the Easter egg hunt!

Evan needed Daddy's help opening his Easter egg.

Ayden didn't waste anytime ... he dove right into the treats!

Fourthly, the Lincoln Area Family of Multiples (the club which we joined) had their own Easter egg hunt. Pictured above is only part of the the group. You'll see us on the right side. Also note the two girls in purple below us. Sydney and Madeline are their names, and they were born two days after our little guys. Uniquely enough, they live in Palmyra and will be in the same class as the boys. Cool!

Ayden wasn't shy to touch the "real" Easter bunny.

Evan was a bit more nervous, but had fun getting close anyway.

(VIDEO) Good Morning!

2010-03-27T15:11:00.001-05:00

(VIDEO) Silly Boys

2010-03-26T07:36:00.006-05:00

Here is a cute little snippet of the kiddos. This is also my first time using YouTube, and I'm still working on trying to get the picture to be a little better quality. But for now ... ENJOY!

Happenings in March

2010-03-26T06:25:00.006-05:00

I'm finally caught up in giving "recaps" over the last year and a half ... so now, you are all up to date!

Evan was trying to help Dad take out the trash. Both he and Ayden are strong. They amaze us with what they can carry.

Sweet little Ayden ... he loves to play with this tunnel. The tunnel actually belongs to a tent set, but Ayden just likes to play with this one piece. He hides in it!

Poor Ayden. As you can see, Ayden is sitting patiently on the bottom step of our stairs. He is eagerly awaiting Dad's arrival home from work. Many times throughout the Dad, I hear Ayden asking for "Da Da?" And often come 5 o'clock he makes his way to the stairs and just waits ... watching the door or window for any sight of movement. It's precious!

Cousin Myles and Ayden hiding behind G'ma Wiebe's toy basket.

Ayden, Evan and myself took a trip up to Omaha, NE to visit Aunt Yvette at work. The boys were SUPER busy taking everything in. It was a wonderful change in our routine.

Silly Evan and his true blue eyes!

Silly Ayden ... and his true blue eyes.

February 2010 Recap

2010-03-25T15:15:00.005-05:00

Here is a recap of February 2010.

Happy Valentine's Day! Thanks to G'pa and G'ma, Evan got his 1st sucker.

Ayden was a happy camper, but Dad and I were not the most favorite people in the world when we took their suckers away.

Bye - bye Nuks! Ayden was busy studying his Nuk. You see, we cut off the tip, and gave them to the boys. We wanted them to understand that they were "broken" and would no longer work.

Evan was quite curious too. He kept trying to suck on one and then the other ... eventually the realized that those silly ole Nuks just wouldn't do the job anymore. The transition was fairly easy for them ... and thankfully for us.

After a 3 week cold ... the boys were both diagnosed with RSV and bronchitis. This was rather scary for us. We started out giving the boys four breathing treatments a day (as if I weren't busy enough). Ayden put up with the whole process, but he really didn't care for it.

Evan took to it a little better, and thankfully so since he had worse conditions. The breathing treatments took about 15 minutes. Try keeping a toddler still for that long. Ugh!

G'ma King and Evan ... just being silly.

Again ... Evan messing with the Kleenex.

Evan was caught red-handed!

January 2010 Recap

2010-03-25T06:56:00.005-05:00

Here is a recap of January 2010.

Evan and Ayden like to snuggle with Mommy before bed.

Here is the mess that Shane came home to after work ...

Here is the culprit. Evan.

One of Shane's co-workers (Justin) had a daughter (Addison) just a few months behind Ayden and Evan. We went over for a quick play date.

One grand day, I turned around and found that Ayden had someone managed to get up on the chair ... an exciting moment for him ... and a very scary one for Mom!

After watching his brother crawl up on the chair ... Evan wanted to do it himself. He made it without much effort, but then Ayden thought it should be his turn again.

Evan not only playing with his toys, but literally ... playing in the toy box!

Evan and Ayden quickly learned that if standing in the toy box, one has more leverage to get up onto the end table ... and from there, one can fling himself onto the couch. What fun!

Aunt Yvette with Ayden.

G'ma Wiebe had a birthday on January 30th ... so we went to help celebrate!

G'ma Wiebe was kind enough to let her grand kids play on the piano ... Ayden loved it!

Evan loved it too!

Making lots of noise ... I mean, music!

And when playing the piano isn't enough, it's another object to crawl on and tackle.

December 2009 Recap

2010-03-19T07:36:00.008-05:00

Here is a recap of December 2009.

Ayden and Evan took a trip to Little Panther Preschool to visit Mrs. Cheney.

Here is a family photo taken at the Extended Luff family Christmas (G'ma King's side).

Ayden and Evan LOVE to have their teeth brushed before bed. They eagerly await their turns.

Ayden getting his teeth brushed by Dad.

For Shane's 30th birthday, I surprised him with football tickets. But not just any football tickets ... Chicago Bear football tickets! Shane nor I have ever been to a professional football game. I knew this gift would "knock his socks off." And it did!

Here Shane and I are feet away from Soldier Field.

Burrrrr ... it was VERY cold. Wind chill of 9 degrees. But we had a blast, even if we couldn't feel out toes!

Just a silly photo to show you the wind burn we both received from the football game.

Here is a family photo taken at the Extended King family Christmas (G'pa King's side).

This photo of Evan and Ayden was taken at our house when we celebrated Christmas. I just thought this photo was cute because they were sitting back to back.

Now we enter the Wiebe family Christmas gathering (my side). I chose to post this photo just to show the chaos of it all ... all of a sudden we have an instant herd of kiddos.

Cousin Lauren and Aunt Deanne.

The Wiebe Christmas gathering.

G'pa and G'ma Wiebe with all the grand kids (Ayden, Myles, Lauren, Meghan and Evan).

Cousins Myles, Lauren and Meghan (Aunt Deanne's kids).

The blizzard of 2009! Yikes! We were snowed in for about 5 days at my parents' house. The interstate was closed and so were all roads surrounding. I went out to take some photos of their yard, and some of the drifts were 10 feet high!

Just beautiful ... the way God intended it to be.

Aunt Asha and Uncle Jason.

Here is a photo of the King Christmas gathering (Shane's side).

Evan and Ayden "tasting" the blocks that G'pa King made for them. :o)

November 2009 Recap

2010-03-19T06:50:00.005-05:00

Here is a recap of November 2009.

Evan and Ayden like to wherever Mommy is ... so they were "helping" me do the laundry.

On November 8, 2009, Shane and I had the boys dedicated to the Lord. It's our desire to raise our children to follow and love the Lord. Today was our expression of our faith and commitment to the Lord. Ayden and Evan behaved wonderfully that service!

Pastor Kyle Helmink (a dear friend of Shane's and mine), prayed over the boys and prayed over us as parents.

Family photo! Shane's holding Ayden, and I was lucky enough to hold Evan.

Our close friends, Christine and Bryce Wilson, dedicated their son, Jace, to the Lord as well. It's a time we'll always be able to share.

Evan and Ayden took the day off from playing to go out to Henderson, Nebraska ... to help G'ma and G'pa Wiebe harvest. Much to our surprise the boys weren't afraid of the noises.

Evan and Ayden kept pretty busy watching how the combine works!

Ayden's seat was an up-close one ... pressed against the window.

Evan preferred to hold onto something.

G'pa Wiebe and Ayden in the tractor.

G'pa Wiebe and Evan ... I personally like how Evan is holding onto G'pa's thumb. He must have needed a little comfort.

G'pa Wiebe with Evan and Ayden after a hard day's work! Little did we know at the time, that this harvest would be G'pa's last harvest. Next year they are having someone else do the planting and harvesting for them.

All of a sudden, Evan and Ayden were REAL quiet, so I search throughout the house to find them. "Quiet" is never a good thing ... it means they are doing something they shouldn't. We'll, I found them by the TV. They had opened the door and pulled out ALL of the books they could find. They thought it was a blast!

Evan and Ayden like hiding/playing in this little cubby hole in our desk ... it's just their size.

Ayden's thought had to have been, "Silly Daddy!"

Evan and G'pa Wiebe.

Ayden and Evan were BUSY playing G'ma Weibe's piano. We were all at the farm to celebrate my 28th birthday ... this must have been a special piece the boys had been working on for me.

Ayden was busy showing off his tricks.

Ayden and Evan learning from G'ma Wiebe.

A tradition we have is to give the boys a new Christmas ornament every year. But we made it even more special by determining the day after Thanksgiving is the day that they (or any other kiddos we have someday) get their new ornaments!

October 2009 Recap

2010-03-11T15:40:00.006-06:00

Here is a recap of October 2009.

Evan and Ayden love to play. What kid doesn't?! I was happy to catch them in the moment.

Ayden learned one day that if you wrinkle your nose and try to breath in, it sounds silly. He often makes this face, and it's SO cute.

Oh nooooooooo! Evan likes to be silly too.

Aunt Asha and Uncle Jason came back for a quick visit! Evan and Ayden were thrilled to have someone new to play with.

Uncle Jason and Dad helped Ayden and Evan play the piano ... the boys love to pound on the piano ... it makes lots of noises!

More visitors! Ruth Shubert had twin daughters 28 years ago Steph (on the left) and Liz (on the right. Liz is one of my closest friends. And in this photo, Liz is expecting herself!

Ayden and Evan are showing off with how they can hold their own bottles.

In this silly photo, Evan had milk squirted all over him.

Ayden and Evan got a big kick out of Dad pushing them in the laundry basket.

Fun in the sun! Ayden and Evan enjoyed a little time outside ... also sporting their Husker stuff!

Ayden wasn't sure about the feel of the grass ... but it didn't stop him from wanting to get around in the back yard.

Evan LOVED getting outside and having the freedom to crawl wherever he wanted!

HALLOWEEN! Ayden and Evan were pumpkins ... the best, sweetest, most adorable little pumpkins EVER!

G'ma and G'pa King were proud to hold their little pumpkins!

Evan, Ayden and Jace Wilson were kind enough to sit still and let us take photos of their them in their Halloween costumes.

September 2009 Recap

2010-03-11T14:54:00.004-06:00

Here is a recap of September 2009.

CRAZY Hari Day! I enjoy doing hair, but since I don't have any girls ... the boys get stuck with me playing and styling their hair. Evan doesn't seem to mind.

Ayden doesn't mind either.

On September 27, 2009 ... Ayden and Evan had their 1st birthday party! The boys turned one year old! The first year was a LONG, HARD year, but God took care of us in so many ways. We were truly blessed. We couldn't imagine life without them. They keep us busy, but they bring us so much joy.

At Ayden's and Evan's birthday party, we invited all immediate family, Pastor Elton and Ella Berg (my honorary grandparents), and Leonard and Carol Ringland. Leonard and Carol are practically family.

A messy little Ayden ... he wasn't sure about getting all those crumbs on him, but in the end ... he didn't seem to mind too much.

Evan, on the other hand ... enjoyed getting messy.

August 2009 Recap

2010-03-09T22:18:00.006-06:00

Here is a recap of August 2009.

Now that Evan is able to pull himself up ... he tested his new found strength and overturned the basket of toys.

My little helper! Ayden had fun playing in the water.

Look at Ayden's BLUE, blue eyes. They are irresistible, but then again ... I'm biased.

Not only is this a cheesy smile from Evan ... but like Ayden, his BLUE eyes just shine. Shane has green eyes, and I have brown. However, G'pa Wiebe and Great G'pa Wiebe have blue eyes ... and Ayden and Evan's Great G'ma Luff and Great Uncle Dean have blue eyes too. All that to say, we're not sure where the blue eyes come from.

Little Evan ... he finally learned how to sit up!

Sweet little Ayden ... just in his own world.

We ventured out to G'pa and G'ma Wiebe's house and took the walkers with us ... now the kids become mobile. The love being able to move to places all on their own. However, I'm sure they'll enjoy walking even better.

Ayden snuggling with Daddy after a bath.

Evan's turn to snuggle with Dad after his bath.

When my mother or my mother-in-law aren't available to help watch the kiddos ... I often call Carol Ringland. Evan and Ayden just adore her!

Grass ... it feels strange! Ayden isn't sure yet if he likes the feel of it ... but Evan doesn't seem to mind.

Memorial Stadium! Shane and I took the kids for the 1st time! Every year before the Huskers have their first home football game, the UNL band goes through their routine, and it's free for anyone to attend. The boys were entertained for all of 10 minutes, but then just wanted to crawl everywhere.

Ayden admiring his Great G'ma Luff.

Evan sitting with Great G'ma Luff.

Shane with Ayden and Great G'ma Luff with Evan . We took some time on a Sunday afternoon to drop in at Great G'ma Luff's.

July 2009 Recap

2010-03-09T14:41:00.007-06:00

Here is a recap of July 2009.

Ayden and evan took in their 1st hay hauling experience. Granted, they didn't do anything other than watch, but it kept them content.

G'ma and G'pa Wiebe with Ayden and Evan ... Happy 4th of July!

G'ma and G'pa King with Ayden and G'pa and G'ma Wiebe with Evan.

Time to take in the fireworks! The boys didn't seem to mind the noise or the smoke too much. But then again, we didn't purchase anything that we knew would flat out scare them!

It's the end of a long celebration and the boys are ready for a bath ... then they can dream of fireworks!

Ayden & Evan ... just being cute!

Aunt Asha (Shane's sister) and Uncle Jason came to visit! Ayden and Evan sure didn't seem to mind.

Uncle Jason won Ayden and Evan's hearts easily ... all he had to do was toss them in the air. They loved it!

Don't know what was so funny ... but Ayden and G'pa King sure thought it was hilarious!

After working all day ... Evan finally made it up to his hands and knees! Woo-hoo! Next thing on the to-do list is crawl.

Go Huskers! Aunt Yvette gave the kiddos these adorable outfits ... oddly enough, the company who makes them is call "Little King."

Go Huskers!

Cute little bottoms! :o)

June 2009 Recap

2010-03-09T13:59:00.006-06:00

Here is a recap of May 2009.

A VERY messy Evan ... mummmm ... green beans!

Silly Aunt Yvette came to play with Ayden and Evan.

Summer FUN! The Bishop and King households met in Kearney, NE, for a weekend of fun and swimming. Any excuse is good when making a reason for us to see family.

It was great to get away from Bennet. Ayden and Evan handled the trip well ... and slept great!

Mommy and Daddy celebrated their 4th Wedding Anniversary by eating out at Don & Millie's. It also happened to be the boys' first restaurant outing. They did great and kept us entertained.

Evan's 1st tooth (his bottom right).

Ayden and Evan met their cousins Meghan and Myles at G'pa and G'ma Wiebe's house!

Evan blowing bubbles.

Ayden (9 Months Old)

Evan (9 Months Old)

Ayden & Evan (9 Months Old)

May 2009 Recap

2010-03-09T10:37:00.004-06:00

Here is a quick overview of May 2009.

Ayden and Evan went out to Beatrice, NE to see where Great G'pa and G'ma were buried.

Fun times with G'ma Wiebe. Evan and Ayden sure do like to snuggle up to her.

Ayden was proud to sit on G'pa Wiebe's lap.

Aren't these guys adorable!! Ayden and Evan like to play with one another after they get up from a nap ... so we put them into each other's crib. The love it!

Little Sweethearts!

Ayden was PROUD to try on Dad's fire hat.

Evan wasn't quite sure what was on his head.

Evan and Ayden wrestling as Dad refs! It was here when we had to inform the boys that licking wasn't allowed in wrestling. :o)

Ayden and Evan watching the wiggly leaves on the tree. And as usual, Ayden HAS to have his hand on Evan. I suppose he is comforted when he is able to touch his brother. Pretty sweet.

Ayden (8 Months Old)

Evan (8 Months Old)

Ayden & Evan (8 Months Old)

April 2009 Recap

2010-03-09T09:57:00.006-06:00

Here is a quick overview of the month of April 2009.

G'pa King, Ayden, Dad and Evan

It's always fun when the grandparents come by to play.

Evan and Ayden at their last Synagis shot appointment!

Happy 1st Easter! Ayden with Mom, and Evan with Dad.

Peek-A-Boo with Evan and Ayden at G'pa and G'ma Wiebe's house.

Our friend Neev came by to play. Dev (no pictured) and Neev were born at St. Elizabeth's on October 7th 2008. Dev had to go to Children's Hospital too. He and Ayden were neighbors there.

Bath time for Evan and Ayden ... in the kitchen sink! This was the first and LAST time we did this.

Ayden and Evan were THRILLED to have their friend and neighbor Tyler Jensen come over and wiggle with them. Tyler was born September 3, 2008 ... three weeks before the boys.

Evan and Ayden LOVE to watch the traffic ... so sometimes we all sit out front and watch the cars go by.

Daddy was all dressed up for the Fireman's Banquet.

Honorary Grandparents Elton and Ella Berg came by for the night.

Baby Bishop #3 was soon to be born, so the boys put together a HUGE greeting!

Cousin Lauren was born on April 22, 2009 ... big sister Meghan was SO proud!

Daddy with Evan and Ayden ... they love their Dad.

6 Months Old!

2010-03-09T09:48:00.002-06:00

Can you believe it?! The boys are 6 months old! They haven't started crawling yet, but they are still pretty energetic. They keep me busy!

Ayden & Evan

1st Sunday to Church

2010-02-13T04:50:00.002-06:00

It wasn't until March 2009 that we took the boys to church. We were instructed by the neonatologists and their pediatrician to keep the kiddos out of contact with the sickly. Given that it was winter when we brought them home, we were in a "bubble" for about 5 months. The boys were just so tiny, and the doctors weren't sure how they'd react to getting sick. We were under the impression that the boys could easily end up back in the hospital. So we took their words to heart and kept them secluded for a short time. It was nice to finally get out!

Ayden & Evan with Mommy ... 1st Sunday to go to church!

Ayden & Evan with Daddy!

Solids!

2010-02-13T04:20:00.003-06:00

Solids ... what fun! The first time we fed the boys was probably the cleanest they have ever been. It was all downhill after that. :o) They adjusted very well, but I'm sure they thought it was just a silly game we wanted to play with them. Now days, they eat like PIGS, and ALL THE TIME! Here are some photos of the very first time we fed them.

Ayden's first attempt at real food!

Ayden learning how a spoon feels and "tastes"

So serious.

Mummmmmm ... food!

Evan's turn at solids.

Evan learning the feel and "taste" of the spoon.

Squash!

This is fun!

Time With GREAT G'pa & G'ma King

2010-02-12T10:58:00.003-06:00

Great G'pa and G'ma King LOVE spending time with their great grandsons. It's pretty precious.

Great G'ma King with Evan and Great G'pa King with Ayden

Great G'ma King with Evan

Great G'pa King with Ayden

Chunky Monkeys

2010-02-08T15:29:00.002-06:00

Ayden and Evan started to resemble little Buddhas ... such little chunks!

Ayden & Evan with Dad.

Ayden & Evan

Ayden & Evan ... cute little chunks.

Perkins County Girls State Basketball

2010-02-08T15:16:00.003-06:00

My sister, Deanne, is an assistant girls basketball coach at Perkins County. Their team has gone to State for the last few years. In between games, the boys' Uncle Jayson (Deanne's husband) and cousin Meghan came by to help entertain the kiddos.

Uncle Jayson and cousin Meghan with Ayden & Evan

Meghan holding Ayden for the 1st time

Meghan reading to Ayden.

Ayden & Evan cheering for Coach Aunt Bishop!

Ayden & Evan cheering as best they know how ... from home.

1st Haircut

2010-02-08T14:54:00.005-06:00

Both Ayden and Evan had lots of hair when they were born ... dark like mine too! Four months later, Ayden's was out-of-control. In fact, he was voted "best hair" by the nurses in the NICU at Children's Hospital. Not many babies that are in the NICU have hair like Ayden or Evan did. So at four months old ... they each got their first haircut. It was then that we realized how much they really looked alike. A definite shock to us.

Ayden's wild and crazy hair

Cutting Ayden's beautiful locks.

Evan"so excited" for his haircut.

Evan sitting so still for me

Evan and Ayden after their haircuts

Being Silly

2010-02-08T14:47:00.002-06:00

One can't help but to kiss, tickle and tease the boys. They are just so cute!

Mommy kissing Ayden

Daddy teasing Evan

Evan & Ayden under their 1st fort! :o)

Then Came Jace ...

2010-02-07T11:23:00.003-06:00

On February 11, 2009 ... Jace Wilson (parents are Bryce & Christine Wilson) was born!

Shortly after, Christine and Jace came over for the boys' first play-date. Can't really say that the kiddos had a clue as to what was going on ... but it did Christine and myself a world of good to hang out with one another.

Mommy Time

2010-01-24T14:59:00.004-06:00

I LOVE spending time with my boys (Shane included too). Sure makes being a stay-at-home mom much more fun. :o) God sure knew what He was doing when He gave us Ayden and Evan.

Mommy & Evan being silly

Mommy squeezing little Ayden

Mommy kissing Evan

Mommy holding Ayden & Evan

Super Bowl

2010-01-24T14:50:00.004-06:00

Ayden & Evan make their best/scariest game faces!

Last year (2009) when we watched the Super Bowl, we thought it would be fitting to dress the kids in OUR favorite team's official apparel (thanks to their Aunt Yvette for getting them these clothes. Granted, neither the Chicago Bears nor the Jacksonville Jaguars were in the Super Bowl, but we didn't care.

Grandpa & Grandma King

2010-01-24T14:43:00.004-06:00

Grandpa and Grandma King (Gary and Joyce) watch the kiddos while Shane and I are at Bible study. It's an huge blessing to us that they live close and are willing to watch the kids for us. Then again, one doesn't have to twist grandparents' arms too much.

Waking Up Is Hard To Do!

2010-01-24T10:51:00.004-06:00

Waking up is hard to do ... for some. Early on we noticed once Ayden woke ... he was ready to start the day, and thought everyone else should be too. Evan on the other hand, took a while to actually get his eyes open. It was just so hard for him!

Evan & Ayden

Things today haven't changed. Ayden is typically the first to wake up and chatters and chatters until someone comes to get him. Often I'll walk into a room and find Evan still asleep. Guess he just tunes Ayden out.

Feeding Time

2010-01-24T09:20:00.006-06:00

Once I was on my own with the boys ... I had to learn pretty quickly how to feed them both at the same time. Let me tell you, that was a little tricky to figure out what would be easiest. However, the more I practiced, the better it got.

Mom feeding Evan and Ayden

Of course, I made sure that Shane knew how to feed them both too. He was totally up for the challenge. Then again, not too much scares or stresses him.

Dad feeding Ayden and Evan

3 Month Photos

2010-01-23T13:20:00.010-06:00

Ayden & Evan

Silly little Ayden & Evan

Ayden Louis

Evan Russell

Laughable little Evan

Ayden & Evan

Ayden (notice his scar from his surgery)

(Video) Hiccups!

2010-01-22T20:53:00.005-06:00

Quite frequently, Evan had hiccups even in the womb. And once he was born ... they didn't stop. Both Ayden and Evan had mild colic (which really felt severe at times ... it was awful) and moderate reflux. Well, some people suspect that hiccups accompany reflux. Don't know if there is any truth to that statement, but if Ayden and Evan were to be "experiments" to validate that theory ... it'd be a hands down FACT! They had hiccups numerous times, daily.

Shane As A Father

2010-01-22T20:41:00.004-06:00

Ayden and Evan have the best Dad ever. Shane is an amazing father. He loves spending time with the kids, and does whatever he can to help me with things in the house (even if that means simply occupying the kiddos so I can get a few things done).

I can't say enough how blessed I am, that God paired me with Shane. I'm so grateful.

(Video) 1st Christmas

2010-01-22T11:38:00.010-06:00

Ayden & Evan (Christmas Day 2008)

The kids grow so quickly, so here's a video to help remind you how little they used to be. This video was taken on Christmas Day 2008. At times, it's difficult to recall just how small these guys were, the sweet little noises they made ... and the special way babies smells.

FINALLY Home

2010-01-22T06:59:00.001-06:00

Ayden & Evan with Mom

FINALLY we had both boys at home ... all 4 Kings under on roof. That first night together was awesome. The journey of getting this point was rough, but we learned about God's goodness, faithfulness, love and patience. I told Shane early on, that for my birthday (Nvember 27th - same as the date on the above photo), all I wanted was for both boys to be home ... and they were (with only a week to spare).

Ayden & Evan taking a nap.

Evan & Ayden ... we laugh at this because it looks like Evan is frustrated with Ayden

Comparison Side By Side

2010-01-22T06:49:00.001-06:00

Here are a couple of compaison photos of the boys while in the NICU.

Evan & Ayden

Evan's NICU Experience

2010-01-22T06:40:00.001-06:00

The name "Evan" means "God is gracious." And God was definitely gracious with Evan! Evan's NICU stay was only 3.5 weeks long. It is often said that the smaller baby is the first to go home because that baby knows how to deal with "stress." In many cases, the smaller baby has had to deal with environmental stresses already when in the womb (fighting for space, food etc.); therefore, once he or she is born ... they are ready to "fight" in the same manner.

For Evan, his stay was all at St. Elizabeth's, and his main concern was weight gain. By the time we brought him home, he was 4 lbs 10 ozs. Still very tiny, but he was such a trooper!

Ayden's NICU Experience

2010-01-22T06:27:00.004-06:00

Ayden spent roughly 6 weeks in the NICU at St. Elizabeth's. He developed NEC issues in his intestines, which can be quite serious for infants and can have lasting developmental affects. He also began to vomit regularly and could hardly keep any milk down. [Sigh]. After a couple of blood transfusions and the Neonatologists from Lincoln talking with the Neonatologists from Children's Hospital, it was concluded that he be moved up to Omaha. Shane and I began to wonder if God gave us twins because He knew that we'd only be bringing one child home with us. Those were TOUGH days (to put it lightly).

While at Children's Hospital, a surgeon wanted to do exploratory surgery on Ayden. No one at Children's Hospital knew what was wrong with our son. Fortunately, none of his intestine had to be removed. Instead, to the surgeon’s surprise, he found that Ayden's appendix had ruptured! That was only the 2nd time that has happened at Children's Hospital. Ayden was fortunate ... and so were we. After a week-long stay at the NICU at Children's, we were able to bring him home to be reunited with Evan!

Ready Or Not

2010-01-21T22:45:00.004-06:00

Ready or not ... the Ayden Louis and Evan Russell came (2 months early)! They were born on September 27, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. and 1:18 p.m. We were thrilled to finally get to meet them, but knew we also had a battle ahead of us before we'd get to bring these two littles ones home.

Ayden weighed in at 4 lbs 3ozs and was 17 inches long.

Evan weighed in at 3 lbs 10 ozs and was 17.5 inches long.

They each had a tough battle ahead of them, which also made it a battle for Mom and Dad. Inspite of MANY tough days and nights, we learned that God is good all the time ... and that all the time God is good. We knew God had a plan ... we just hoped that His plan included the boys coming home with us. Luckily our prayers were answered.

Changes Ahead

2010-01-21T21:39:00.002-06:00

Two and a half years flew by, and we felt God was giving us the go-ahead to "expand." We were SHOCKED to learn that we were infact expecting twins!! Excitment, fear, joy, anxiousness ... somehow all co-existed. But we trusted that God knew what He was doing, and that He'd help us through the process of raising (more like surviving) twins.

In The Beginning ...

2010-01-21T10:07:00.004-06:00

On June 17, 2005 ... Shane and I were married! We honeymooned in Jamaica and came back to live in Lincoln.

After a fast 2 year period in Lincoln, we moved to Bennet, Nebraska. Bennet is short drive southeast of Lincoln (about 10 minutes) and is the hometown where Shane Shane grew up.

Shane works in Lincoln at as a Traffic Engineer at Olsson Associates, and I am a stay-at-home mom.