Meet our Twins!

On Tuesday, December 16, 2008 our beautiful twin boys joined our family! After a long day of waiting, we were scheduled to be delivered at 3:00pm but were bumped by an emergency c-section, Luke McKinstry and Logan James Crippen arrived quickly and safely! Luke arrived first at 5:07pm, weighing in at 6lb 2 oz, 20 inches long and Logan joined the family one short minute later at 5:08pm weighing 6lb 7 oz, and also 20 inches long. We were so grateful to have them arrive without any complications and very healthy. We came home from the hospital on Friday afternoon and we have officially entered the world of sleepless nights and lots of poppy diapers!!

All I want for Christmas is.......

The Saturday before I delivered the twins we attended our ward Christmas party. It was a great dinner and fun activity and the best part at least for the kids was that Santa came for a visit. McCall couldn't get to the line fast enough! She was so excited to sit on his lap and really chat with him about what she wanted for Christmas. For the entire month of December this request had changed from week to week and sometimes daily. (Much to her mother's distress!!) At Thanksgiving she told me that she wanted a "Darth Vader Dress up with a red Light Saber" so she could be evil! My sister Allison's comment was "Well, she doesn't need a costume to be evil!" Then is changed to a Luke Skywalker dress-up with a blue Light Saber, to kill bad guys, followed by a "Pirate costume with a knife to kill bad guys" and finally this past week she settled on a "Knight Costume with a shiny sword to of course kill bad guys!" So basically it came down to that if the dress-up looked tough and came with a weapon then we were set! Bless Broc's heart his request was simple and unchanging, "Something fun!" So stayed tuned to see what dress-up came and with what weapon!

I'll trade you two babies for one puppy......

Last night when John and the kids returned home from scouts McCall announced that she had decided that she would like to trade her baby brothers for a puppy. Her proposal, one that was well thought out I might add, was that we could give the babies to Carly's Mom and Dad, the Henries from our ward, and that she could get a puppy in exchange. She was matter of fact and completely serious and had already discussed it with John in the car on the way home. John and I both asked her a few times and then told her a few more that she would be sad if we gave the babies away. Her response: "No, I'll be fine, I WANT a puppy!" So I called my friend Shellie Henrie and informed her that on Tuesday she would be getting two babies and that I would need a puppy in exchange. It seems like a fair trade, doesn't it?

Still on the countdown......and waiting!

Yesterday morning I went for a follow-up amnio to see if the boys had cooked enough and again no such luck! Their lungs aren't developed enough and they need to wait one more week. So we are on the schedule for a c-section next Tue, Dec 16th. They told me that we don't need to do another repeat amnio and that since I'm going to be almost 38 1/2 wks by then, that we will just do the delivery - Yeah! I think!?! So we have another week to chill, sleep and relax until the crazy hits our house! We'll keep you posted!

Still no babies!

On Monday, Dec 1st, I had an amnio to check and see if the babies lungs were developed enough to be delivered on Tues, Dec 2nd. Well no such luck! They found that there was a greater than 75% chance that they weren't ready. Sooooo... they decided to push me back a week and repeat the amnio again on Mon, Dec 8th. If they are ready they will deliver me on the 9th. If not another week! Stay tuned!

Party, Party, Party!!

On Friday, Nov 14, 2008 my friends Elisha Glover, Lu Demetter and Stephanie Rogers threw me a really fun diaper and wipes shower. What a nice afternoon with good food, friends and fun conversation, and considering that I haven't been here very long, the sisters in my ward were very generous! Thanks Elisha, Lu and Stephanie, you gals are the best! Stephanie made the two adorable diaper cakes, aren't they cute?!!

Bed Rest and Ultrasounds

Yesterday I went to see my OB and it has happened....the dreaded bed rest! With roughly 20 days to go she put me on bed rest. YUCK!! I complained to my Mom and she just said "Enjoy it now honey because in a month you will wish you could sleep and just hang out!" Isn't that the truth! I also had an ultrasound yesterday and the boys are doing great and growing like crazy. Baby A is roughly 4lbs and 6 oz and Baby B is 5lbs even. It's hard to believe that in a few short weeks they will be here and we will be tired! We are excited and ready....I think!

Not cool enough?!?

Well it's happened.....I'm not cool anymore in the eyes of my eight year old. Not that I was cool anyway but this past week confirmed it. Last Thursday I took Broc and McCall to the dentist and because of this Broc was late for school. When I took him to school I had to walk him in too check him in. When we got out of the Trailblazer I reached for his hand and he looked at me with a look of terror on his face and said "Don't hold my hand!" I said ok and laughed to myself. Following the actual check in at the office I bent down to kiss him and give him a hug goodbye and before I even got close he pulled away and hurriedly said "Ok, see you Mom" I just smiled and as he walked away I thought well that's it, the days of Mom's showing affection are officially over. I had hoped that I would at least get a few more years but I guess the buck stops at 2nd grade. Just wait until he's a teenager he won't even want to be seen with me! I can't wait!

Happy Halloween - 2008

Halloween for us this year was pretty low key. Poor Broc had strep throat and had to stay home from school on Halloween but lucky for him the weekend before he had gone to McCall's school carnival and the wards Trunk or Treat. So although he missed his school festivities he still had already had the chance to wear his skeleton costume and celebrate. McCall had a party at school the day before and their class had a cute little parade for the parents. She looked darling in her horse costume and was so excited to wear it. Even though Broc was sick John took both of them trick or treating to a few houses around our block. They had a great time and aside from the strep throat it was a fun day!

Cub Scouts Rule!

When Broc turned 8 he was able to join the Cub Scouts in our ward here in PA. I don't know who was more excited to have him in scouts, him or John! Both of them are loving the fact that they now have merit badges to work on and pass off. It is so funny to see the two of them planning the next merit badge that will be worked on and already making their game plan for the Pinewood Derby that isn't even until Jan! They are crazy but I am glad that John is so hands on because I haven't got a clue. At his first pack meeting he had already earned 3 merit badges, great job buddy!

We love Grandma Rabbits!

The middle of October we decided to take one last weekend trip, before the babies come, to visit my Grandma Roberts in Niagara Falls, Canada. We hadn't seen her since Christmas and she hadn't been feeling well so we thought we had better get ourselves to Canada for a visit. What a great weekend we had with her! We really enjoyed a great visit and spent a great deal of time with her over the weekend. She just turned 90 and is my last surviving grandparent so I'm grateful to live so close. The best thing is that Broc and McCall want to see her, love her and spend time with her and are hoping to see her again in the spring. What a marvelous women she is! I love her and am proud to be her granddaughter! We love you Grandma Rabbits!

Happy Birthday McCall - #4

On October 7, 2008 we celebrated McCall's 4th birthday. We actually celebrated the weekend before because John was going to be working late on her actual b-day. So Saturday we let her pick the place she wanted to eat at and she chose CiCi's pizza. She got all dressed up, yes I let her chose and the outfit of choice was a goody! She put on Broc's old red and black soccer uniform, and complimented this fine selection with her light up white and multi colored moon boots! She looked fabulous and was a big hit at the pizza place. She was so pleased with herself and her excellent outfit choice, that I couldn't stop smiling at her. Following her birthday lunch we headed to Wal-mart, where I might add she fit right in with her outfit!, and she picked out the cap guns with holsters for her birthday. She wore them all weekend along with the boots and couldn't have been happier! On Tuesday, her actual b-day she came home from school with a birthday crown and we bought donuts to celebrate. Happy Birthday Sis! We Love you!

It's SO good to be back!!

The last weekend of September we decided to take a quick trip to Notre Dame for the weekend to see our friends the Doughertys and to enjoy a great football weekend. Oh how good it was to be back! What made it even nicer was that they won, something that was very unusual last season. We got to hang out, tailgate, wonder around campus, hear the band play and see some of our friends who are in the two year program. What a great weekend we had and what a beautiful weekend to be on campus. We love ND! Thanks to the Doughertys for a fantastic weekend! Go Irish!

All about Broc

A few weeks into the school year Broc was spotlighted and we got to do the "All about me poster" my favorite thing ever since I am NOT a scrapbooker in any sense. Usually my great friend Kelle who lives in UT has helped me, ok lets be honest done it for me while I watch and put in my one cent! Well this year I was on my own and I will say I think it turned out pretty great considering all the stress. I know it's silly to stress about an all about me poster but I'm so OCD when it comes to stuff like this it make me crazy! Thanks to Kelle for putting up with me all those times and teaching me how to make a great poster!

First day of School

The first few weeks of September both Broc and McCall started school here in PA. Both were excited and ready to meet new friends, learn and have a break from MOM!! Broc was excited to be able to ride the bus again this year (right across the street from the house, Hooray!) and especially that he did NOT have to wear uniforms. He has really adjusted well and is enjoying his teacher and class. He is a great student and according to this weeks parent teacher conference "works hard and always does it with a smile on his face!" What a great kid!

McCall was totally ready to go to school this year and has really fallen in love with pre-school. She attends two mornings a week and has really enjoyed going to "her" school and although its not on the bus, something she felt very jilted about earlier in the year, she enjoys having an activity all to herself. It's been fun to see her grow and learn new things!