Twice the fun!

This post is a bit late but my cousin Amanda recently had her twin boys, Bennett and Brantlee. If you read the post about our new kitten, Augusta, you remember me mentioning my cousin that ran out on the interstate to save a chicken. That was her! She also was late to her maternity photos because she stopped to save a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest. The day the boys were born she was sent to the hospital after rescuing a kitten and falling. To say she's an animal lover is an understatement!

I am still amazed at how well she did carrying twins! She went full term and made it look so easy! She looked better than most women who are only carrying one baby! Her c-section was scheduled for Thursday, September 12th, but after the kitten incident they ended being delivered on Tuesday, September 10th. 

Brantlee Clay was born first and he was the bigger baby at a little over seven pounds. Wiley Bennett came second and was a little smaller at just under seven pounds. Bennett had a few little breathing issues so he ended up staying in the NICU for almost a week.

Here are a few pictures from before and after the boys were born!

When we went to visit the week before the boys were born

At the hospital - we were only able to see Brantlee

When we went back we were able to finally see the boys together!

Bennett and Brantlee

Me holding Brantlee

Mom feeding Bennett

Brantlee laying on Matt

Seriously, I could just eat them up! I haven't been home since these were taken so I haven't gotten to see them again. I can't wait to kiss those little faces!

Beach bums

This year my family went on vacation again in September to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We LOVE going in September and have really enjoyed getting to do so the past couple of years. The crowds have really died down by this time, the heat isn't as suffocating, and we are able to have Jasper out with us much more than we would in July. 

We stay in a campground that also has beach houses. Everyone has golf carts and you ride them to the beach, pool, snack shack, etc. We had perfect weather the entire week! Not a drop of rain! The evenings are actually enjoyable and Jasper loves riding the golf cart in the cool air.

Here are a few iPhone pictures of our trip. I've really been slacking on the camera photos lately! I promise I'll do better!

Our beach boy!

On the deck at our house

First day at the beach with this cutie!

Chris just got this OPC beach towel and he loves it - so sweet!

Going to dinner at Sara J's

Playing mini golf - they love it - me not so much!

My sweet parents

The puzzle Mom, Haley, and I put together!

Big Crab tradition!

Riding the golf cart with our favorite wolf!

Riding with Mom and Dad

The most beautiful sunset I've ever seen!

My boys

Favorite thing in the world

Snow cones at the pool!

Riding the sky wheel

The biggest candy store ever! Bananas and Swedish fish! Yum!

+ Gelato!

I'm excited that fall is here but I wouldn't mind going back to the beach!

Our newest family member

Meet Augusta!

We have had him over a week and we still haven't decided on a new name. We're worse than Will and Kate up in here! Maybe we will just go with George...

My mom is the Director of Nursing at one of the women's prisons in Georgia and he was born on the prison grounds in May. His mom is feral and they haven't been able to catch her yet so she just keeps having babies. 

My mom paid to have him vetted and neutered and they said he could stay. They found homes for his brothers and sisters but he has grown up at the prison. 

I've spent my fair share of time in the jail and I know how sad and dreary they can be. I can't imagine how excited the inmates were to have him to play with! 

For one reason or another my mom was told he had to go so I told her we'd take him. She felt so bad for him and the inmates that have gotten to know and love him. She said they told her it was like losing their baby! Bless them!

We brought him home and he and Darla are getting along pretty well. It was a little ugly at first but it's getting better every day. He's a couple of months younger than her but he's already bigger than her. She's super spunky so she's been chasing him all over our house! They literally chase each other night and day. Sometimes we separate them just to give them a break to nap and eat. I think once the newness wears off they will really love having each other! Especially while Chris and I are gone during the day.

He is the sweetest kitten I've ever met - and I've met a lot of kittens in my day! He loves to be held, scratched, petted, and talked to. He will snuggle with you all you want! Whoever got rid of him just don't know what they're missing!

I think God molds our hearts to feel, desire, and love certain things. I know he created my heart to be a heart for animals. I am so thankful to have been raised in a family of animal lovers. From an aunt who has never turned down a homeless animal at her door step, to a cousin who will run across the interstate to save a chicken, to a sister who held a stray dog in its final moments after being hit by a car, to a mom who has spayed, neutered, and donated more than I can even imagine to help animals and organizations who need it. They are the perfect example of God's love and how HE loves ALL of us despite our worldly worth. Blood line and looks don't matter to him.  He loves us and gives us grace all the same. Do we treat all Gods creatures the way that he treats us?

Happy Friday, y'all. Have a great weekend!

I'm back!

Well, that was unexpected. I'm not sure what happened, y'all! This is definitely the longest I've been away from my little blog in a long time and I have missed it so much. I hesitate to admit that this is the first time I've opened my computer in oh, about three weeks. Yikes! Seeing as it's officially my favorite time of year you can expect more regular posts. Scouts honor!

I have a lot to catch you up on! Some new things around the house, a trip to the beach, fall decor, new babies, a new member of the family, and to top it off I started a new long term sub assignment so that's been keeping me pretty busy!

Thanks for sticking around and I can't wait to catch up with you guys again!