Ella and Zoë: Catching Up with Summer Stuff: Fun at the Farm

blue skies and biking .....

long driveway and corn .....

old barn and silos ....

cute girls .....

sleeping in the morn!

sugar loaf with mom ....

sugar loaf with dad .....

climbing again .....

climbing some more ....

more biking .....

some smiles .....

more climbing .....

more smiles .....

exploring with dad ....

HUGE spider ....

lone oak tree .....

time at the farm always makes us happy!!!

(and the BEST part was seeing grandma della ~

we love her so much).

The Beginning of the Adventure . . .

After trying and waiting for a long time, June 26th 2006 was the estimated due date of Baby A and Baby B. We were thrilled. But a little over 10 weeks early our doctor decided it was time for us to meet the babies. On Wednesday, April 19th at 6:49 pm, Ella Marie was born. We named her after Tom’s mom, Della Marie, and her name means 'Light'. She weighed 2 pounds 14 ounces, was 16 inches long and was perfect. At 6:51 pm, Zoë Dianne was born. We named her after my mom, Dianne, and her name means ‘Life’. She weighed 3 pounds 5 ounces, was also 16 inches long and was perfect too.

Both girls stayed in the NICU for almost 2 months and did really well, especially considering all of the 'what could have/should have beens'. It was a 'one step forward two steps backwards' type of dance those first few weeks, but after 47 days we brought Zoe home and 10 days later brought Ella home. FINALLY, we were all four under the same roof, and were ready to start the next exciting chapter in our lives . . .

Ella and Zoe turned FIVE this April and are THRIVING. They are fun, funny, naughty and sweet. The joy they bring to our lives is immeasurable. They are also really fun to take pictures of : )