The boys are such big boys ... they are officially bottle/formula free!! We switched them to whole milk in sippy cups for their mid-morning and afternoon milk times last week, then their nighttime milk time for a few more days, and then we used up the last bit of our formula on Tuesday morning in their last ever bottles! Since then, they have been big boys and have been drinking only milk from only sippy cups! Mommy was nervous about this switch (and I put it off for weeks!) but they have done SO well, and honestly, I don't think they even miss them! It's just another step in our babies growing up much too quickly! =(
But I am happy at the same time ... not only for the extra money we'll have not buying TONS of formula each month, but for the freedom it brings us! That, paired with their eating a lot more 'real food' (with their 8 teeth each!!!) is definitely making it easier for us to be out an about, without having to pack so much to take along for them!
I just had to post this so I wouldn't forget when this milestone was reached! Yay for our big boys!!
No babies got hurt today, even though you see both of them on top of things they shouldn't be up on! I'm not a bad mommy for taking pictures instead of getting them down right away, right?!
The laundry basket and jumper are not in the room anymore! =) I just didn't want anyone to worry!
We had so much fun at the pumpkin patch on Saturday! This is the first one that either Justin or I can remember ever going to, and we plan on making this a family tradition! What fun!
We were happy to have Mammaw, Gigi, and Grandpa go with us for the boys first experience! We went to the petting zoo part first, and the boys weren't quite sure what to make of it!
Will and Jack (looking really tired in this picture for some reason)
Gigi was a huge help in showing the boys how to feed the animals, and she helped to get a bunch of goats over to see the boys!
They also saw one of the big longhorn cows and just stared at it! It was too funny!
And it just stared right back!
The boys' perspective...yikes!
We had fun walking around the cute little farm
And taking a bunch of pictures! I just don't know why we hardly ever can capture smiles! They really are such smiley boys!
Will was NOT wanting to get picture with the pumpkins though. Poor guy! He's definitely going through an "I want Mommy" phase right now, and the combination of sitting him on pokey straw didn't help matters any!
Jack was pretty happy though!
There was a too much shade in this picture, but we just had to take a picture next to the 'Count Your Blessings' scarecrow ... we definitely thank God for our two blessings each and every day!
By this picture, Will was done with photo op time. Even in Mommy's arms he wasn't happy!
So we decided to take the boys on the barrel train ride! And their Daddy was in for the ride too ... all 6'7" of him! What a daddy!
Getting ready to leave for the ride around the farm
They absolutely LOVED the ride! They smiled, looked all around, and were very well-behaved! And Mommy and Daddy (especially!) weren't in too much pain by the time we got back!
Mammaw and the Boys
Justin with Mammaw and the Boys
Gigi, Grandpa and the Boys
(Notice Will is finally wanting to check out the pumpkins!)
There was a really neat tractor that we had to get a picture of the boys on! Justin has great memories of riding his grandpa's tractors growing up, so it was neat to get the boys on one!
Maybe Will will be a farmer ... he really loved that steering wheel!
And last but not least, we all went on a relaxing hayride all the way around the farm!
Some of the neat sights along the way...
We picked a pumpkin for each of the boys, as well as a little one to remember Jonathan!
What a fun place! I can't believe it took me 30 years to get to a pumpkin patch like this! The Steiner family is definitely coming back next year!
Friday was my dad's 65th birthday, and we had a great couple days celebrating this special milestone!
Dad came over in the morning to get some boy time with the twins, and as always, they were very happy to have Pop come and play! He sure has a great way of making the boys laugh and giggle! He has taught them how to high five, and it is so cute!
Pop and his boys
Later in the evening, after my mom took my dad out for dinner and a movie, they came back to our house for a cake and ice cream celebration! I had party hats for all of us, and we had to get a group shot! The boys were already asleep, so the dogs got to join in on the fun!
You can hardly see Molly, and doesn't Betsy look
thrilled to be wearing her hat?!
I made my dad a very special cake, complete with his two favorite things! A chocolate fudge cake with fudge chip frosting AND chocolate chip cookies! I swear my dad lives on chocolate and chocolate chip cookies, so he was pretty happy with this cake! =) I even made "65" in cookies that he got to take home with him for a midnight snack!
The birthday boy
My brother facetimed in for the party on Justin's iPad, and we presented my dad with a special present. We had contacted many of our family, his friends, and contacts all the way back to his high school years, and they sent us memories, funny stories, and best wishes for his birthday. I compiled this into a powerpoint, and we went through the whole thing during the party. It was so great to hear from all of the people who love my dad, and it sure showed us even more what an absolutely amazing person he is! And always has been! We are so blessed to have you, Daddy!!!
(We snuck in to his computer contacts and sent out the request, but are now realizing we missed a lot of people somehow and emails didn't go through to many others. So if you're reading this, know my dad, and would like to still send in a special note to my dad to include in the present, you are more than welcome to! You can email them to me at justinandalyson{at}gmail{dot}com.)
The next morning, my mom and dad came over, and the boys got time to try out the birthday hats! They weren't quite sure about them at first, but once we gave them a second one to hold in their hands, they had a ball!
Jack
Will
Then, Jack figured out that the elastic strings on the bottom of the hats are hilarious!! Watch this video!
Gigi and the boys
Later on Saturday, we went up to Lake Ray Roberts, about 25 minutes from our house for a picnic lunch! We just love that this beautiful lake is so close! It will definitely be a place we continue taking the boys to as they grow up!
Justin enjoying the lake. We are having such droughts here...
this part would normally be underwater. =(
Grandpa playing with Will
And we decided to take the boys down to the beach area to let them feel the water. They are definitely going through an "I hate water" phase right now (baths are NOT fun), but we wanted them to at least dip their toes in the water.
Family picture ... Jack realizing he is awfully close to water
Toes in the water ... NOT happy!!
All better, now that they are in our arms again!
We hope you had a great birthday, Dad! We sure had fun celebrating it with you! We are so thankful that you are in our lives, and we love you so much! You are the best Daddy and a GREAT Grandpa!!
