First there were 3

Winter Retreat 1996

A long time ago...a really long time ago, I moved to a new house in Midland, TX. I loved my new house, mainly because my closet doorknobs were crystals. :) My first week there I was out front watering the bushes and much to my surprise there were two people crouched behind them. Sidenote: These bushes were awesome for crawling behind...perfect for little bodies in 3rd grade. Little did I know that the two bodies hiding back there were going to be my lifelong best friends, roommates, neighbors, maids and matrons of honor (and vice versa), and partners in this crazy thing we call parenthood.
I consider myself most lucky to have two besties...twins! It really is such a blessing to share so much with these girls, and for them to share so much with me. Sisters have such a special bond, and twins even more so. I've witnessed first hand crazy similarities that only beings that share almost the same genetic makeup have...and it's been such a journey.
So, I had my best twin friends ever since 2nd grade. We "ruled" 'the neighborhood for 10 years running back and forth to each others houses to hang out, talk about boys, borrow many a outfits and have slumber parties. Talk about most convenient sleep overs...you just show up in your jammies and walk home in the morning. It was great and I treasure those memories. I won't lie...there were a few tiffs. The most noted one being the Barbie and Rockers concert (3rd/4th grade). We rehearsed for weeks (days) and invited all our friends from school (one showed). Day of the show I pulled a fast one on Heather and told her I wanted to be Barbie, even though at all the rehearsals she was. Needless to say we didn't talk for awhile, but we worked it out.
We cheered together in Jr. High - Go Scouts! And were in the same youth group at church.

Summer Church Camp 2006 - Team Cow

Then they graduated, I cried because I was still in high school, and they were going off to the far off school of Midland College. :) We survived being apart a year and then I joined them at community college. After that we all headed to College Station and joined the Aggie cult. It was awesome!!
We had TCAITBV (The Cutest Apartment in the Brazos Valley), and painted overalls for Yell Practice. We dropped each other off and picked each other up for class so we wouldn't have to always ride the bus or park 60 years away.

Yell Practice! Overalls and Pigs...and tattoos if we had them!

Then we all fell in love.
So 3 became 6.
Well, technically Holly fell in love right before we went to A&M, but the wedding took place while we were at A&M. Then I met Ross...yada, yada, yada. :) And then much to our surprise, Heather and Scott (our youth group friend that I had known since forever) had some crazy sparks and sealed the deal. Holly moved to Virginia while Daniel finished school (2 years), and that was HARD! And back then we didn't have cell phones...nope, we used precious as gold phone cards. :) Thankfully Heather had a year left to student teach, so she and I carried on.

Wedding day with my sweet maid and matron of honor - December 21, 2002

Then, much to our dismay we all got jobs with our new hubbys. Holly and Daniel "D" to Austin, Heather and Scott to Houston and Ross and I to Dallas. Could it have been further? Now we make up what we call the "Triangle of Texas." One day we'll all live in the same town, for now we love unlimited cell phones and road trips.
Since Holly was the first to get married, she was also the first to bear child. Whew! It was sure nice having her to drill when my time came. Will was born June 4, 2006 and shortly there after Lauren joined him on October 6, 2006. Luke brought up the caboose on March 4, 2007. The "Bigs"were all here.
Then there were 9.
What fun we had with the crazy little things you call kids. :) And they are so cute together! And they love each other!!

Me (Luke in tummy) holding Lauren, and Uncle Scott holding Will.
Will (18 months), Luke (9 months), Lauren (1 year)
Three Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

I don't know what possessed Ross and I to start drinking the water first again, but we did and along came Reid on September 28, 2009. Then Jillian on October 28, 2009. Last weekend we celebrated the upcoming arrival of Baby Blake Walker Duckworth (February 8, 2010). He came almost a month early, but he's great and healthy and home. I can't wait to see him and how he complete the "Littles" of our group.
So 3 turned into 12 and I hope it someday gets even bigger. We love how special our families relationships are and I'm just dying to see if Luke or Reid marries one of Heather's girls...I would so loooove my inlaws, and we'd finally be related.
Time will tell. I love you girls!

Meet Reid Philip (9/28/09) and Jillian Renea (10/28/09) - Baby Boy Duckworth due

The Bigs

Meet Blake Walker Duckworth - I can't wait to get my hands on this little one!!

And then there were 12....