The Best Year of My Life - Reflecting on 2014

As I sit here typing this, there is just minutes left until it is a new year.  2014 has been by far the best year of my life!  The reason, you ask?  Quite simply it is the two little guys sleeping soundly in there cribs just a few feet away from me.  They are my biggest answer to prayer. 

Two years ago, I was typing a whole different blog post as the possibility of never being able to have children had just been revealed to us.  Countless tears were shed as I pleaded with God for a child, and in 2014 he gave us not one, but two healthy baby boys. 

Being a mom of twins is the MOST EXAUSTING thing I have ever done in my life, but it is also the MOST REWARDING thing I have ever done!  I am tired ALL THE TIME….there are dark circles under my eyes EVERY DAY…I have not slept though the night AT ALL  this year…..my body is forever changed after carrying twins for 37 WEEKS…being pregnant with twins was the most difficult things I have EVER done physically….I have stretch marks and scars from my ribs to my knees…..I get frustrated OFTEN… some days I don't have time to shower....my needs come last ALL the time....I have cried when my babies cries are unsoothable….I get PUKED on, PEED on and POOPED on more often than I would like....BUT, I have MORE LOVE in my heart than I EVER knew was possible.  Being a mother has CHANGED me.  My babies have changed me.  Motherhood is the GREATEST earthly GIFT I could have ever been given.  And that is why 2014 has been the BEST YEAR of my life so far. 

I posted much of my year on Instagram.  Hundreds of pictures were posted, but here are some of my favorites from this year.  This is my year in review.....

Babies' First Holiday Season - Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's

It seems like the past five or six weeks are a bit of a blur!  Life feels very busy from the week of Thanksgiving to New Years Day....

It’s starts out the weekend before Thanksgiving when my sisters, who live out of state, come home for their annual holiday visit…..

The Friday before Thanksgiving is usually spent shopping for all that the upcoming week holds…

We usually drive down to my brother’s house to eat dinner with my mom and siblings on Saturday…..

Sunday we go drive down to my Papaw's  house for our annual Thanksgiving meal with him…..

Monday and Tuesday are usually spent cleaning the house and preparing everything for Thanksgiving Day…..

Wednesday is the day my mom and sisters come up to our house for dinner and “noodle making”.  We make my grandmother’s homemade noodles the night before Thanksgiving and prep any other food for our Thanksgiving feast……

Thursday is the big day, which has been hosted in our home the past couple of years….

Friday we have our annual stocking party at my mom’s house.  Since family comes in for Thanksgiving, we celebrate Christmas on my side of the family the day after Thanksgiving…… 

Saturday is the day Matt and I decorate our Christmas tree with the boys and swap out the pumpkins for poinsettias…..

At some point between Friday and Sunday, I make time to hit up any important post Thanksgiving sales that will benefit our Christmas shopping……

The first weekend of December, Matt’s mom came home to have Christmas with his side of the family.  We met for dinner Friday night before going to a hockey game.  The following morning we did a family Christmas brunch at our house.

That same weekend, we had our Christmas pictures scheduled, which were followed by getting our Christmas cards ordered and sent out to family.

This also meant that I spent the previous work week putting together Christmas outfits for the family and making the onesies the babies wore for their photos without Mom and Dad.

The second weekend of December, I had a huge Christmas consignment sale penciled in on my calendar, which is where I finished Christmas shopping for the babies….

We also had to make time to visit Santa one weekend before Christmas….

And of course the boys and I had to go shopping for Daddy’s Christmas gift, and then they had to go shopping with Daddy for my gift…..

And I can’t forget to make a few tactile memories, like the hand and feet ornaments I had the babies make this year….

The week of Christmas there is all sorts of Christmas baking for friends and family….

Christmas Eve we drive to my Papaws in the evening.  The morning is spent making goodies to take to the family gathering….

Christmas Day we stay home and enjoy a lazy morning as a family.  We read the Christmas story before any presents are unwrapped, enjoy a big breakfast, and later on in the day I make a traditional Christmas dinner for our family…..

And a week later, here we are.  It’s New Years Eve, a day spent reflecting about all of the blessing that have been bestowed upon us this year!

Here are a few pictures of our holiday season as a family of four!  What fun it was watching the boys during this time!  Their first Thanksgiving and Christmas was so much fun!