Leinfam Reunion

This year's Leininger Family Reunion was centered around Lindsay and Jason's wedding. We have been so excited about this event. Each night Lucy asks me to help her think good thoughts so she'll have good dreams and we've been using Lindsay's wedding as our good thought for months! (We've moved on to thinking about  Car's land at Disneyland opening next year:) Lucy and her cousins were flower girls and Lucy was so excited that all the girls would have matching dresses and get to see Aunt Lindsay all dressed up.

Thanks Missy!

   The wedding was beautiful and the reception was a ton of fun. Lindsay looked gorgeous! We loved being with all of our family for such an important event.  After the party we let the couple go off on their honeymoon and the rest of us went up to Tahoe to relax (we are excited to have Jason join us next year:) We stayed in a nice house in the woods and let the kids run around and explore most of the time. Lucy played dress-up and dart guns with her cousins constantly.  The babies (Miles, Joyce and Lydia) took turns in the swing, bumbo and everyone's arms. We went to the beach every day and Danny brought the stand up paddle board so everyone got a turn trying it out.

One of my favorite things was going out on the water.  We rented two jet skis one afternoon and people were very generous and took the babies for me so I could go out with Danny.  Afterward I was able to take out Lucy and then Camille.  I was surprised how brave Lucy was-she LOVED it.  It was so fun to whoop and holler on the jet ski with her. She wanted to go faster and loved taking the "bumps" as we went into the wind. Steve also rented a bat and water skiing instructor for the kids. When I initially heard about it I was skeptical-Lucy can't swim yet so I never thought I'd let her try water skiing. I never thought it would be an issue because I assumed she would never want to try! The instructor convinced me it was safe and that she'd likely never get wet about her knees.  It turned into an awesome experience. Lucy was the first to try it (right off the back of the boat) and she loved it. She even took one hand off the leash and waved at us.  I was so impressed by how brave she was. She ended up trying it twice and I'm so glad she had so much fun. (I only wish I got it on camera!)

Anther highlight was Danny and Lucy's TV debut.  We were at Commons Beach in Tahoe city and parked next to  an ABC news van.  Steve talked to the reporter and was told when the segment would be filmed. Danny "happened" to be on the water at the right time with Lucy sitting on the paddle board and they made the 6 o'clock news!  I called my mom and got her to DVR it-it was very fun to hear the screaming on the other end of the line as they came on screen. Lucy felt famous:) (stay tuned to the end-Danny just keeps coming back!)

Anderson Reunion Part 2

Today I'm hanging out at home and watching The Sound of Music with Lucy for the first time. A milestone in any young girl's life:) These are a "few of my favorite things" about our Tahoe reunion:

The master suite.  Danny and I took over the master because we have all these kids now! The master looks over the lake, has a giant bed (Danny and I still sleep in a double so anything seems giant:) and great light. We would frequently all end up there to watch movies or read books. I love this picture of Lucy and Becca enjoying some quiet time.

FHE. We played a minute to win it game I threw together and I loved seeing  Kyle stack dice, Danny run around with cotton balls on his nose and everyone trying to get a cookie in their mouths. Katy ended up as our champion because she was able to get the cookie from her forehead to her mouth in a minute. The people on tv make it look so easy!

Paddle boarding with Becca. Paddle boarding alone was fun, but Becca and I had a great time going together. We tried to stand up and usually ended up like this pretty quick...

The pool. Lucy had so much fun. I especially love this picture of Grandma Joyce and Lydia.

 My Family and family pictures. These are always an ordeal-and some people were a little anxious to get it over with (the kids and Dad), but I think they turned out okay.

Going down the river with these two. 

This night (our last) and this sky.

This guy on the same night.

We had so much fun. I'm already looking forward to next year.

Birthday Recap

I interrupt my reunion/wedding posts to recap the best birthday ever.  Earlier this month I remembered that it was my birthday coming up. For some reason I had totally forgotten about it, but once I remembered it was happening (whether I want to get older or not) I got excited. 28 is my favorite number. Technically 2 and 8 are, but put them together and there is magic. (2 because it was the tv channel with my favorite cartoons/Saved by the Bell and 8 because I really looked forward to being baptized as a child. Yes, those random reasons have made these numbers dear to me). Anyway, I decided that this should be a fun birthday and told Danny straight out that I was excited and we'd have to do something fun. When he asked me what I wanted to do I said what I always say, "go to a movie". That is the height of fun to me. 

Well, a week before my birthday we went to the temple with all of Danny's parents and siblings. It was the first time we were all there together and first time I went after having the babies.  We had a great time and afterward Danny wanted to go on a walk around the temple. He had dragged a large backpack with him, which I made fun of him for, and we took a walk. I noticed Danny was feeling sentimental, (yes I am lucky enough to have married a very romantic man who gets in "sentimental moods" occasionally.) but I thought it was because he was reminiscing about our wedding lo those many years ago. Overlooking the city he asked me if I could have anything I wanted for my birthday, what it would be.  I immediately replied that I would want portraits taken of all my girls (so many of you cute blog moms have these awesome cameras and are constantly posting beautiful pictures of your children! I've been jealous). Danny laughed at me because he knows I'm slightly obsessed with taking the perfect family picture too (which I know doesn't really exist.)  Then he produced two boxes out of his backpack containing one of those fancy cameras previously mentioned. I almost died.

first picture taken with my Nikon

Because Danny knows me he immediately explained how we could afford it (because we can't). He sold his beloved iPad and used all of his birthday money (which he had been saving for something special) to buy me the camera. He was very proud that it hadn't actually cost him a cent. I cried. I couldn't help it.  I have wanted a SLR forever, but it was all the sweeter because it was a total surprise and had been given with such incredible love and sacrifice. Anyway-best gift I've ever been given.

On my birthday Danny made me a terrific waffle breakfast and our moms took the babies so we could go see Harry potter in 3D.  We had such a good time, I usually hate 3D but I really liked seeing Harry Potter a second time and the 3D was awesome. Afterward we met mom and Kate for a fun birthday lunch at Tomatina. Then we picked up babies and Danny/Katy watched the girls while I got to go to my favorite workout class. We then had a fun dinner and presents.  Danny put together a list of 28 things my family appreciated about me (they really had to search for that many!) and he gave me my favorite treats in quantities of 28. 

on my birthday-not doing my camera justice, but I need to learn how to use it!

People were so generous with their time and love all day. I have never had such a wonderful birthday. I'm quite sure it is a sign that 28 will be an awesome year for me (I know 27 was:)

3 months

While out and about, we get a lot of attention.  Mostly people just smile at me but the moms of twins or people that are twins themselves often talk to me as well.  I really enjoy talking to them and hearing a few of their survival tricks.  The general consensus is that things get easier at about three months and then again when the twins turn one.  Well, my babies are officially three months! It felt like a little milestone to put them in their 3 month outfits-and the life with twins has definitely gotten easier.  Part of it is that they're so much more...durable. Maybe that isn't the right word. What I mean is, I can pick them up with one hand if I really need to. I can wait to feed them until we get to a destination without being too worried that I'm starving them. Does that make sense? They also sleep really well. They have always put themselves to sleep in bed, but instead of waking up at one needing there binkies put in and then eating at 3 AM, I put their binkies back in at 3 and feed them at 5 AM. That is a HUGE difference. Then they sleep until 8AM or even later! I always feed both of them, even if only one wakes up hungry, to keep them on the same schedule. Yesterday I got too lazy and didn't wake Joyce up after feeding Lydia. Well, Joyce slept through until the 8 AM feeding! It was crazy! I may nt let her do it again, but hopefully both girls can start that soon:) Getting enough sleep has made a huge difference in our lives.

Interacting with the girls has also gotten so fun. They talk and smile at us all the time now. They LOVE any attention they can get from anyone. They are also getting very good at entertaining themselves. They play on their mat together, love the toys hanging over their bouncers and love our reading time.  They are still good car seat sleepers and players so they make errands pretty easy as well. They love to be outside and observe all the things going on around them.

I am constantly surprised by how different these girls are.  At this young you'd think they'd simply be babies-hitting the same milestones, eating, sleeping. I'm amazed by how early you see aspects of their different personalities.

In Tahoe with Grandma and Grandpa

Joyce

My Joycie is so cute. I feel like her face changes constantly.  She is still not quite as ready to smile as her sister, but when she does it changes her whole face-her eyes light up. Joycie has a harder time sleeping during the day, but sleeps like a rock at night. She has very dry, eczema prone skin that requires tons of aquafor. She is a thoughtful baby. I can actually see her thinking and figuring things out. She is a big talker and an even bigger spitter. She is a perfect baby.

Lydia

My Lydie ( or Lyd, or Lydia Jane or wide eyes) is adorable. It looks like she is always smiling-but when she really smiles at you she radiates happiness. She has huge, beautiful eyes and incredibly long eyelashes.  She takes her binkie a bit better than Joycie and is more easily soothed in general. She has started being a drooler (Lucy NEVER drooled. I'm hoping she grows out of this:)  While both my girls are on the thin side, Lyd has started getting a little round tummy that I love.  She is a perfect baby.

When things were especially tricky a couple months ago I remember telling Danny several times that life would get easier one day. That the girls would start smiling, playing and sleeping more. I tried to believe it but in our exhaustion I forgot it sometimes too. I am loving three months and want to really appreciate this fun stage.

On Jule 31st I happened to remember that a year ago to the day our first attempt at IVF had been unsuccessful.  That was a horrible day I won't forget. At the time I was so hurt and mad. This has happened to me so many times before, but once again I am so grateful in retrospect.  I can't imagine not having one of my babies. I feel so lucky I was blessed with two. We can't just pop them out anymore :) They are each so precious and I am so happy they were able to come to us together. Here they were one year ago:

and today: