So I am a slacker, but ready to redeem myself!

**LONG AND FULL OF PICTURES...consider yourself warned!!!**

My sister called today and asked if I was okay? She said my blog hadn't been updated since I came back home. I think the task of all the updating has been so overwhelming, I decided to avoid it, but the time has come, here is the very long update.


When I last left you, I was getting ready to leave for Illinois. Before we left the girls and I made a gingerbread house. It actually went pretty smoothly. I made the house throughout the day (because the walls had to set then the roof) then I was in charge of the icing (I just can't let all the control go!) and let the girls put on the candy. It was great fun. I have noticed there are pieces missing off the roof. Surprisingly enough, no one seems to know what happened to them, and poor Abby seems get the blame (believe me if it was Abby, there would be more than just a few missing, it would look like a tornado hit the poor house!) Anyway, Cait got one side of the roof and the sides of the house, Madison got the other side of the roof and the front and back of the house. I love when activities come in kits it is all ready to go.

Cait's side is the first picture, Madison's the second.

If you notice, Madison has icing on the side of her mouth. Obviously, it didn't all get on the house!!

It was then off to St. Louis. After our chauffeur Katie drove us to the airport and then drove back to my house, put my car in the garage, picked up Abby and then finally went home herself, we easily boarded the plane, got settled and jetted off. Randy was there to pick us up. He left the day before to go see his dad. We were able to go see Big Randy in the hospital. We didn't stay too long because big Randy was still really tired. ~~UPDATE~~ I am happy to report he has not only out of ICU, he is doing very well at home. My Randy was there to help him get home and settled and he seems to be gaining strength each day! Wow, the power of prayer!~ Another reason we didn't stay too long is the germophobe came out in me in full swing. I kept making sure the girls weren't on the ground and that they weren't touching anything. Then Madison found her brand spanking new gloves, put them on and rubbed them on the floor~AKK!~ It took everything in my power not to throw them away, but I VERY quickly gathered the gloves and put them away to majorly disinfect them. I think I probably used up the antibacterial foam in the room. So far the girls have survived, the gloves have been washed and I am still trying to calm the germophobe beast inside me!

My Dad and Becky came to pick us up and we were off again. The girls just love going to my hometown. They get TOTALLY spoiled with attention. All eyes are on them all the time. They LURVVVV every second! We went to eat with Aunt Kimmy and they both wanted to sit with her. Shocking really!

Cait had a big day. My mom cut her hair for the first time. It wasn't very much, maybe a centimeter. It was more for me that she got it cut. I wanted the little tiny bit of hair. I am very sad, I think I have lost the Ziploc bag with the hair in it. I am still hoping to come across it, but it isn't looking good. My mom even went through the garbage. I think if it was in there, it would have been in a different bag. BUMMER.. Madison got about an inch and a half, and it only made her hair look even thicker.

Really Nana wasn't cutting that much off, it was just a staged picture. Cait had to have a cape and it had to be hooked with a close pin.

The finished product. It looks a lot different doesn't it??? NOT!

The rest of the week was filled with lovins' coloring, candy, a huge amount of attention and of course major time with My sister Steph, Jonathan and Baby Paige. I was able to take some pictures of Paige and hope to work them in Photoshop. I will post them when they are done. I remember how I was a new mother, so talked with the girls for weeks about how we only touch baby Paige's toes, not her head or hands. So poor Stephanie had to pull sweet baby Paige's toes out of her outfit every time so the girls could touch her toes. She was a great sport about it.

Paige is so sweet and mild tempered. She still sleeps a lot and is very content to just be held. (Kind of makes you get baby fever! It is nice to hold a baby and then give her away when she gets fussy and not the other way around!)

I also got to see a very old (we didn't realize how old until our visit) friend (we were in Mrs. Edwards 2nd grade together) and her family while we were home. Melissa, we really enjoyed our visit and Madison has talked a lot about Alex and Olivia. We have to do it again soon! (And I love my the stuff,*Christmas stuff so I can't elaborate*)

Maw Maw lovin' on the girls or the other way around, I am not sure!

Now to Uncle Jon! I think he is happy to still have a neck after they were done climbing on him! I am sure he is glad his little one just sits quietly in his arms!

Poor Steph, I didn't get many pictures of her, it seemed I was taking pictures when she wasn't around. Did I mention she has ALREADY lost all of her baby weight??? Paige wasn't even a month yet! I hate her!

Sweet Baby Paige! She opens her eyes really big every time there is a flash.

Now that is talent! One on the back and one on the leg. He even lifted Cait on to the chair! Steph and I used to do that with him!

Check out the new do! I went to get my hair done and as I walked in, I thought, maybe I will get it cut short, so that is what we did. She kind of based it on the length of Katie Holmes, but a little easier to take care of and my cut will grow out better. (Paige's outfit is one of my favorite outfits the girls wore. It is Baby Nay. It was from Renee and I just loved the way they looked in it. Paige reminds me of Cait at that age too!)

Nana letting them have M&M's before their jammies even came off!

Nana is so awesome. She let them cut cookies and decorate them. There was no reservations. She didn't say, I will do this part or keep it on the table or don't make a mess (you know everything I say!) She just let them go at it, they had a blast! I love my mom gives them new experiences that I am too anal to let them do.

Some of the goods that actually made it to the tray to be cooked!

And then today. Madison had her Jesus'sbirthday Party today at school. I put her hair in rollers last night and let her wear her Christmas dress. They sang songs for the parents and gave us a cool little ornament of their hands and in the middle it was cut out and there was a picture of her. I am not sure what it is made out of. Something like playdoh, but not quite. Very cute. I took some video, but I am sure I won't post it. Here are a few pictures. The card she is holding is a card about baby Jesus. His head is her finger print. TOO cute.

Oh and one final note. I am so rejuvenated. I so needed that. I totally recommend having someone else take care of your kids for a few days, it really made me a better mom. If you don't have anyone like that, I am sure you could stop my my home town, my family will take you in as their own!!

And that concludes the VERY LONG catch up. I have found if I don't post when it happens, it doesn't get done. Hope I didn't put you to sleep because it was so long. Of course if you are reading it right before bed, and it did make you tired, there is no need to thank me!