School!

The winter is finally over (I say with such a huge sigh of relief). This was a long one! Both girls & I were sick with one thing or another, non-stop from Thanksgiving until this past weekend. I think it was all the usual stuff that has been hitting everyone from coast to coast, but with twins (and 5 nurses and two roommates), you tend to pass stuff back and forth so it makes each thing last longer : ) Warm weather, sunshine and healthy girls are welcome changes to this Whitacre-Blanco household!

In other news: both girls are starting/have started school! Havyn's is a spanish immersion Parents-Day-Out program here in East Nashville (El Jardin de Los Ninos - a fabulous program, with fabulous teachers, and a director whose love for the kids is evident in everything she does). She was thrilled to be going to "school" with the other kids, and has really thrived in the loving environment there. Here's some "first day of school" pic's. Isn't she darling?

Havyn's teachers are phenominal. Here's one of them, Miss Amaia, posing with Havyn at the lunch table. (Havyn is too busy to smile for the camera because she's working on getting her entire birthday cupcake in her mouth at once) ; ) 

Ava Gray will be starting school too, once we figure out which METRO program she is assigned to in our area. We got to check out a few of the potential classrooms, and Havyn came along. Both girls REALLY loved the classrooms (can you tell?). It was encouraging to discover that there are so many wonderful teachers & schools out there who are doing such a good job with these young ones.  (Havyn's the one in the red shirt):

We are SO thankful that God has worked it out so that Ava Gray's nurses will be able to ride the bus with her to school & back, as well as be with her the entire time she's in the classroom. This is such a huge relief to me & an answer to prayer.

I'm also very thankful for the ways that our friends and family invest in these girls. Even out of the classroom, the girls are read to, played with, enjoyed, and spurred on to grown and learn and develop into the delightful little girls they have become. Our nurses have been hugely instrumental in helping Ava Gray to hit milestone after milestone (and all the therapists are telling us it's just a matter of time before she starts to walk - how huge is that!!??). Those same nurses have also stepped into Havyn's life as well - it is so amazing to watch both girls blossom in the presence of these amazing women who come into our home every day. 

Both girls really do love being read to. Here's Havyn's UB reading her a new book. I don't know if she's more enthralled with the book or the reader ; )

And lest I paint a completely unrealistic picture of our household, the girls ARE three now; testing out their independance, flexing their "toddler" muscles and challenging most everything that isn't their idea. My sister sent me this card ("The Force vs. a toddler), and it made me giggle. Isn't this just the way it is??

That said, God has given both my girls these truly sweet spirits, for which I thank Him on a regular basis. I wouldn't trade em for anything!!!

I'll be posting again soon (hopefully with pictures of AG's first-day-of-school!). Can't wait to see what's around the next corner!

-Jules

And the Party was Pink

Friends,

Most of you already know that the girls turned 3 this last week (March 7th). We had a big ol' birthday at the park with family & friends (we include our nurses in both categories).

It was lovely. And pink (Havyn's request). The Abuelitos, Rafael & Marie, decorated the pavillion for us & helped coordinate & serve cake (they are the sweetest grandparents you could ever ask for!)

For the 3rd year in a row, Uncle Bill & Aunt Joyce (UB & AJ) just happened to be in Nashville over the girls birthday weekend, and have been able to come to their party! Havyn adores them both, and kept Uncle Bill busy doing everything from playing Barbie's to helping her jump on her pogo stick. These two are such gifts to me, and to my girls....

Here's the problem with being super-cute: everybody wants to snuggle with you!

This was the weekend where I got to meet my sweet little niece, Flora, for the first time. She's a little heartbreaker!

 Ava Gray and her La-La (quite possibly her best friend in the world):

Ana set up & ran the "fishing for toys" event (Kristina narrated for the fishers & the fishee's). Here they are in action....The kids LOVED their toys (thanks Ana for setting all that up!). And Jonathan was the one to figure out how to make the  PVC pipe "ocean" barracade. Pretty cool, right?

 Havyn and her very best friend in the whole world at present: Gus Wonder.

 We also used the ocean set for a 2 minute puppet show (basically just a way to lead the kids in singing "Happy Birthday.") We had to use the puppet somehow because Havyn absolutely loves it (the puppet is pink, and a ballarina: what's not to like!?), and also because she's really into putting on puppet shows right now.  Thanks, Britt (& sweet fam!) for the puppet.

 And here's the kiddo's watching the show:

 And theeen, there was cake! (Well, little pink cupcakes for the kids, and big chocolate cake for the bigger kids aka "adults").

 See all the pink? Havyn was delighted : )

 Ava Gray was pretty stoked too:

After the kids got all wound up on the sugar, we took them across the street to the park playground to let them run it all off. Ava Gray opted for a nap in the shade of the pink princess tent that we had out. I hope all of you who came had a good time. I know my girls & I sure did! I love any excuse to see you all and catch up with many of you who have been such an important part of our lives. (Chrissie & Annie, we missed you: next year for sure!!!).

And let me just say that I am so deeply grateful for these two little 3-year-old girls. Their sweet spirits and feisty natures make me giggle and laugh and fall in love with them more and more each day. Here's to you, girls. May you have many more big birthday bashes with the ones you love, and the ones who love you, in the years to come!