Another year, another state.

Soooo...it has been another year since I last posted.  So much has gone on that has been missed on this blog of mine.  My intentions to keep up with this didn't go as planned...obviously.  Instead of using the "I just had twins" excuse like last time, I am just throwing in the "I have five kids" fact of life.  And although I do this for my friends and family to share in our life, I do this for my little family to have a record of our goings on throughout the year.  Now that we have three out of five going to school, I am really going to try to make more time to share pictures and snippets of our crazy life.

So that being said, we have missed Elizabeth turning 4 who, yikes, is only months from being FIVE.  Ella turning 6 and Andrew turning 8.  We have had Andrew make his first communion and another football season has come and gone and the girls did gymnastics.  Phew.  Throw in a new job for Eric, finding a new house, a move across several states (dragging me kicking and screaming), unpacking of said house, and top if off with eye surgery for me.  2013 cannot be over fast enough.  2014 has got to be a better year for the Hensleys.  However, I am going to take my point of view from my husband, the eternal optimist and see the glass half full.  Thank God for an awesome new job for him, in a great school district and a beautiful house and for saving my sight.  (So far, so good)

Ella's First Year of Soccer!

Ella's very first soccer practice.

Our second child has entered the sports world and it is FUN!  Ella is our free spirit and such a go with the flow little girl that she just jumped right in.  She does get slightly distracted by the clouds, trees, butterflies, etc., but for the most part she is right in the pack trying to get to that ball.  Our Saturdays are filled with soccer and football games.  Wait until Elizabeth and the twins get into the mix.  We might have to clone ourselves then. 



Andrew made this sign all on his own for his sister's first game.  These kids are awesome!



The boys watching the game.  They love to clap and screech for their big sister!

Ella's most favorite thing about soccer...her water bottle!  :)  When she is not on the field, she is for sure holding her water bottle. 



Such a little beauty!



The Fab Five after Ella's first soccer game. 



Will and Ben=ONE!

Well, that qualifies as the fastest year ever!  But an amazing one!  God blessed us with some easy babies!  I think he knew we needed that in order to maintain some sanity. 

Will is our little clown, but sensitive guy.  He is pretty much the clone of his big brother in every way.  He loves to snuggle and always lightning crawls to Daddy when he gets home from work to give him a big snuggley hug.  So sweet!  He has a bit of a temper and is perfecting the tantrum when he doesn't get what he wants.  He uses his big head to knock his brother over when Ben is coming for the toy that he is playing with.  He is our belly laugher and when he gets going, it is quite contagious. 

And as for Mr. Ben, his is our playful, "all-boy", sneaky, into everything little man.  He is the one that tests every child lock on the cabinets and the one that figures out the weak points in the gates throughout the house.  He has a sixth sense for when a door hasn't been closed that is suppose to be and delights when he gets into the office, bathroom and laundry room, so much that he gives himself away by being "too quiet".  But he is a lovey little thing as well and quite the Mama's boy.  He thinks his siblings are a riot!

Here are my sweet boys waking up the morning of their birthday! :)  Who wouldn't love waking up to these guys???

Ben the birthday boy!

Will the "oldest" birthday boy by thirty seconds.

Both boys the morning of the their birthday waiting for Mommy to break them out of jail! :)

Here are they are...the big one year olds being their usual hammy selves! :)

Since they were one, Ella had the good idea to get the tub of cars down.  They LOVED it.  Although I think they just loved sitting in the tub of cars more than they actual cars.  However, it did tip off the love of cars, something Andrew was never interested in.  So cute to see them push around the cars. 



For their actual birthday, we celebrated with Grandma and Papa and our family.  So the boys opened presents and dug into a cupcake.  A trial run for their cake on their party day. 

It is all fun and games till someone gets their finger smooshed in the little doors which happened about 30 seconds after the picture.



In the middle of saying "lo" to the phone.



So glad Mommy didn't clip off this plastic tie because it is better than the actual toy.

The fab five enjoying all the new toys...doesn't matter if they were made for babies! ;)

Birthday cupcakes!  They both liked everyone singing Happy Birthday to them.

The first taste...

Then they realized this was some good stuff!



Party Time!

 We had a fun day celebrating with family and friends!  Lots of good food, wonderful people, and lots of love for the birthday boys.  Such a great day! 





Ahhh...singing again!  They love it! Well, Ben does...not too sure about Will.

It took them awhile to get going.  It was driving the kids nuts that they wouldn't just dive right in. 

Finally getting the hang of it but Will definitely got into it more than Ben.  (Will likes to eat more than Ben...can you tell? ;)

I am ready for a bath!

Lots of Firsts!

My head is above water...barely! :)  Life has fallen into an organized chaos enough that I can blog again. :)  Right in time for the twins' first birthday!  So much has been going on and I have to say that amidst the craziness of everyday life, I find those rare and special moments throughout the day where I can take a few breaths and appreciate the beauty and special qualities of each of my children...all five and all incredible and all as different as they can be. :) 

Let's start with SCHOOL!  Andrew started second grade and is really loving it.  They have started a lot more science this year so he seems more excited about school than he has in the past.  Here is my grown up little guy that still loves to be tucked in at night and holds my hand in public.  I am going to hold on to that for I fear that is on borrowed time. 

All the kiddos waiting for the bus stop minus two little girls and a baby. 

And Ella in now a KINDERGARTNER!  She was beyond excited to go so school.   She is in the afternoon kindergarten class.  (I know...can't believe it is not a full day!) I wanted to take her to school the first day but she insisted on riding the bus and marched right on and didn't look back.  No tears from her but some were shed by me.  Here she is on her first day.

And we can't forget Elizabeth who is extremely disappointed that she is not going to school.  But she gets some one on one time with me in the afternoon when the babies are napping and that has been awesome.  Here is our little firecracker who is getting close to being four!!

And my precious little boys who will never go to kindergarten because I will not let them grow up.  Can't imagine life without them.  They have firsts on a daily basis so too many to mention.  The biggest first being their first birthday, but that deserves a post entirely to itself.