December was a whirlwind!
We live in a very busy, very family orientated, very kid friendly area that boasts countless winter activities so that is normal.
What
is (well
was) not normal is our new constant companion, the EpiPen:
The day after Christmas our area got dumped with 14 inches of snow. We do not normally get any. It was the end of the world.
On that day of all days one of the twins Braden ate a couple of cashews and immediately had an angioedema reaction to them. It was horrible, he was screaming. He couldn't talk. He started projectile vomiting. We called our friend, a medic who told us to dose him with benadryl which bought us valuable time as it took the medics longer than usual to reach in the storm. By the time they arrived Braden was completely swollen, hived and having difficulties breathing. Luckily they were able to get him stable and we made it slowly to our local ER. The nearby children's hospital wasn't even a possibility in the weather.
In the past week he's been on round the clock meds but has otherwise completely recovered from this incident. (Don't ask Mommy about her nerves!)
I am astounded by the vast amount of foods that contain either some kind of nut or may have been contaminated by coming in contact with some kind of nut.
This is our new normal. Treat every food as a threat until we can prove otherwise. Always carry an EpiPen on our person. Get countless blood tests and see countless doctors. Read blog after blog and visit health website after health website.
We are so very grateful that we were so lucky and that Braden is okay it's just a tad overwhelming the adjustment period to our new normal.
On the craft front:I'm so pleased to say my December Daily is
DONE. My Project Life album is
COMPLETE! I'll photo and post about both at some point this week.
I'm also jumping in on the 52 photos in 52 weeks project that you see a link for on my sidebar. Check it out-it's sure to be fun!
Flat Stanley arrives! 
Braden taking Flat Stanley into the Bat Cave at Jumpin Monkey
Connor taking Flat Stanley on the merry go round at Jumpin Monkey
Connor, their BFF Addie and Braden taking Flat Stanley down the slides at City View Park
A trip to White's Nursery for their Poinsettia Festival with our besties Brian & Sarah
The twins Popsicle stick ornaments
Sunday's with Santa at the VMSM
Gingerbread House destruction
Book nerd alert!
My 29th birthday
Macy's Believe
Teacher gifts
Flurries!
Braden's class party
Actual inches on the ground!
New Santa hats
First Baby Bulls practice-YMCA B Ball
Little gamers
Connor's class party
Neighbor gifts
Yankee Candles-this just makes me laugh
Christmas Eve morning
Backside of Christmas Eve-reindeer food & Christmas morning
Christmas
More gift reactions
Dec 26th-though I usually stop at the 25th-our record 14" deserved a mention
as well as our frantic trip to the ER!
The day after Christmas our area got dumped with 14 inches of snow. We do not normally get any. It was the end of the world.
We laid out yarn (in place of spaghetti) in the shapes of spider webs...
Liberally coated them with glue...
Connor dumped nearly an entire canister of glitter on his...
Braden had to add blue sparkles to his web...
Connor's finished product...
Braden's finished product...
Here are their super cute creations!
The twins want to paint up a couple blocks of wood today and use up some of the extra pieces to make their own monster Halloween decoration look-a-likes!
2009 age 3 years 6 months
2008 age 2 years 6 months
2007 age 1 year 6 months
2006 age 6 months 
Bike riding tots! It's time to graduate to the next size of bikes for the boys!
My patriotic cuties all decked out for the 3rd of July
At the 3rd of July parade at Lakeside Park
Connor, Braden & Mommy at the parade
Three legged (ahem) five legged race!
We joined our pals Sarah & Brian for some after dinner fun at Chuck E Cheese before the fireworks show
Playing with their glow sticks
Fireworks!
My patriotic cuties enjoying a patriotic treat Rocket Pops on the 4th
My Police Wives Unite sister from PA Kim & her family vacationed in Virginia Beach over the 4th!
Our police hubbies
Our police kiddos
The little ones made fast friends and enjoyed the show!
A Sponge Bob treat break at the Y
The heat came back-full force-back to living in the pool at the Y
Family Fun! Trip to Water Country USA in Williamsburg
Mommy made the boys their own treasure chests and threw them a treasure hunt-they loved it!
Broken crayons & old silicone cups occupied the twins one morning
Their "new" crayons
SILLY BANDZ!!!!
Despicable Me
My little pirates dressed up to see the Moody Crewe Pirate program at the Greenbrier Library
Arrrggghhh! Their new pirate pal!
