Sisters, Brothers, and Friends

Having a brother who was a close friend of mine growing up, I had to blog about this story.

Last night as I was getting ready to go to my Mom's night out Kendrick and Aimee were sitting on my bed. KJ decided he wanted to tackle Aimee and they were both laughing. As he was laying on her. Then I heard Aimee say "You're my friend, KJ".

How sweet!
They are now starting to acknowledge each other as friends. I LOVE that!

Milestones!

A Few Days Old!!!

1st Birthday!


2nd Birthday!

3rd Birthday!

The Big 3rd Birthday Party!

We had the 3rd Birthday Party yesterday afternoon. It was such a perfect day. The weather was nice, everyone had a great time, the kids really got into their party, gifts, cake, and family and friends. I was pleasantly surprised at what a great time everyone had. Last year their birthday party was very stressful for me. This year I kind of expected the same thing but it was actually the opposite. Of course I have to say that I had a lot of help getting ready for the party. Both Grandmas and Auntie Jane made the food, Sue helped me plan the game, my friend Kate got a big blow up house for free and delivered it, Jon took care of the drinks, and I got the activity stuff ready.
So as I mentioned we had a great big bouncy house in our backyard. My friend and fellow triplet mom Kate had a connection to get the house for free. I was blown away at how big this blow up house was. It looked like a castle and it had princesses on the front of it. It was pretty girly for KJ but I don't even think he noticed. I invited two other triplet families and some close friends who had kids. We had 1-5 month old, 10-2-3 year olds, and 3 older kids. EVERYONE loved the bouncy house including the Mommies, Daddies, and the Grandmas too. It was a hit. The kids were having so much fun in the bouncy house that they kept asking if we could keep it. They would tell me over and over that they wanted to keep it for their Birthday Party. They did not quite get that we were at their Birthday party. It was really cute. This morning Aimee told me again that she wanted to keep the blow up house and I told her that it had to go to another Birthday Party so those kids could have fun. She then told me that Grandma told her she could keep it. She really wanted that house. I told her that I knew Grandma did not tell her that and that the blow up house was going to go to the other party. She seemed fine with it after that. All the kids got to make a foam key chain with stickers on it and take it home with them. This seemed to be a hit with everyone. Our new(used) Wood Play set was a hit with all the kids too.
Their actually Birthday is not until Friday. I might have to blog a little more about their coming up b-day this week so bear with me on that.

Inner Stirrings

I was not sure what to title this post but Inner Stirrings came to mind so I went with it. This week I have been extra sensitive to many things. I can't really pin point what it is but I suspect that it is due to the fact that my babies are going to be 3, Jon is in transition for his new job, I am working on a very important project at work, I have had long conversations with two very good friends that I have not talked to in YEARS this week, and we in general just have lots of change going on in our lives.

I was talking to one of my long lost friends and she asked me in general how life is for me. I described it as "The Days are long, but the Years are short". Since she does not have any kids yet, I am not sure she really grasped what I was saying. It is amazing to me that in less than one week my sweet little babies will be turning three. They are potty trained, they sleep in big beds, they talk in sentences, they no longer have pacifiers, they really don't need a stroller anymore and the bottom line is that they are NOT babies. I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around this. In some regards I can't remember my life before they were in it and then I think, how has three years already gone by. I fight with the thoughts of having no regrets. I want to make sure that I am soaking all of this in. I don't want to look back and think, gosh if I only took more time to do this or that with them! It is not a perfect world though so it is always very easy to look back as hindsight is always 20/20!

These children are amazing and it just keeps getting better. I enjoy them tremendously and I love having big people conversations with them. Ella is in the stage right now where she asks "why" about EVERYTHING! I love being their hero and that they want to help me with everything and generally just want me to be with them all the time. I will post about their big 3rd birthday party that is happening in the near future and I will also post some more about the last three years so stayed tuned!

I also mentioned that Jon is in transition for work. I am so excited for him and he back to his passion that he had to leave for almost 6 years. It is amazing how the person you marry can mentally leave and then just reappear again one day! What I mean is that Jon was not himself for a long time and I really struggled with that. However, now that he is back doing what he loves he is back being the guy that I married almost 7 years ago. I thank God for this DAILY. It is so nice to have him back and I hope he never leaves again.

For my job, I am helping to build a hospital in a community that really needs it. We had our ground breaking ceremony this week and it was amazing. The minister got up at the end to say a prayer and it really moved me. He prayed to God to guide all of us that have a hand in building this incredible new hospital. He asked God to bless the site where many people would start their life and where many people would end their life. He asked God for a lot more than that but I want to say that my point is it feels Awesome to be involved in a project that is going to help so many people in future years. It could help my children, my grandchildren, my great grandchildren, etc.. Like I said, I am blessed to be involved in such a tremendous project.

Overall, I am just a little extra emotional right now. I feel that God has blessed my life beyond measure and I want to hold on to the things I love as tight as I can. Being involved with this hospital project amongst other stories I have heard, I know how fragile life can be. I know that at any time or place myself or one of the people in my life that means so much, can fall ill or in danger. Tragedy happens everyday and instead of worrying about what can happen I just pray to God that he protects us and gives us strength to "get through this thing called life"!

Alleluia for all he has done for me and my family. This post is different than most of my posts but I am not going to apologize for it I am just going to put it out there because I have these "inner stirrings"! Now I am going to get on with the big Birthday Weekend! God Bless!

Dinner Time Fun

Dinner time is a lot of fun at our house. It is the time for us to sit down as a family and spend time together. It is always amazing what these kids will talk about. Jon and I are usually having a good laugh with the kids. Dinner starts off with a prayer where we all hold hands and then at the end we hold our hands up in the air and shout "YEAH GOD"! The kids really get into that part.
Ella loves to eat off of her mommy or daddy's plate. Even if she has the same thing she is always scoping out what we have. She is the most willing to try new things as well. I give her credit as the other two will NOT try something new no matter what.
I know that life gets busy and I am sure it will get even busier now with the kids getting older and activities will be right around the corner. However, I think the tradition of families sitting down to have dinner together is important and one that I remember doing as a child myself. I hope that this tradition can carry on well into the future for us.
Half the battle most of the time is finding the time to make dinner. I am not the world's greatest cook. My mother is a fantastic cook but I have never taken the time to learn how to cook. I can hold my own in the kitchen but I do get intimated easily. I am usually calling my mom to ask her certain questions about how to cook, cut, prepare, bake, etc.. My goal is to have enough time to really get into cooking. However, with three "almost" three year olds, it is not always easy to find the time.
I really struggle with dinner the days that I work. Unless I plan ahead, we are usually always scrapping something together. Last night, after working all week Jon and I decided to get Chinese take out. The kids like the rice but we made some Chicken Nuggets for them too as they are not really into Chinese food. We got three fortune cookies with our meal so each kid got one. There fortunes fit them so well last night. Here is what they said:

Ella's fortune said "You spark people's enthusiasm with your personality"

KJ's fortune said "People think more of you than you think they do"

Aimee's fortune said "A big change is coming your way soon" (Since she pooped her pants twice at dinner last night and she continues to poop in her pants on a daily basis, Jon and I looked at each other after we read her fortune and said "THANK GOD")

Chugging Beer

This morning as I was running around the house getting everything packed for the kids and getting my self ready for work, I quickly ran outside to put something in the trash. When I came back in the house I heard E singing this song:

"Drink a beer, chugga chugga, drink a beer, chugga chugga" When I came around the corner to see what she was doing I saw her sitting at the dining room table pretending she was drinking.

Now I am really worried, a little girl who loves Black and sings songs about drinking beer? :O)

When I asked her where she heard that song she told me she just made it up and then she said something about school! Hmmmm!?!

Proof

The bottom bird is E's Bird!
Everyday, Jon and I witness more and more that these kids are growing up faster than we can blink our eyes. Tonight at dinner E wanted to give Daddy the bird picture that she made for him at School today. She went and got on of the birds and gave to him. The bird she picked out was A's as it had her name on the back. Jon and I noticed this right away and we just smiled at each other. E then went and got the other bird and she said"
Wait a minute Daddy, I gave you Meme's bird because I used all darker colors on mine. She then proceeded to tell Jon all of the colors on her bird.
We were both so surprised that she knew they were all Darker colors and then that she knew exactly what colors they were.

One side note, I asked her which color was her favorite and she told me "Black"! She is funny that little girl!

Picnic Season

The weather is nice here in MN now so picnic season has started. Today after our school we decided to go to the park with our friends the Boland Triplets. Mommy Kate and I did not have any food for lunch and we did not want to go to McDonald's so we went to the grocery store on the way to the park. It is funny how many looks you get from people when you have 6 three year olds with you.
We picked up a rotessiorie chicken, carrots, juice boxes, apples, Yogurts, cookies, and some waters. It was a good lunch and the perfect amount of food. The kids ate great. Mommy Kate also bought TWO loaves of bread so we could feed the ducks too. Needless to say, the ducks are probably really full tonight and will not need to eat again for a week.
I am thrilled for the nice weather again. We have so many more options in the summer. It is also lots of fun to watch these kids really get into the park, picnics, and all the summer fun. I can already tell that this summer is going to be the best yet!

NYC

Jon and I got away together with out the kids. We went to NYC for a few days with our good friends Jon and Michelle. We all had a blast and what a fun city that is to hang out in. I really did enjoy NYC and I can't wait until we can go back again someday!

We went to the World Trade Center site and wow did that bring back a lot of memories of that day and time in 2001. What an emotional thing to do. I can't even imagine being at that location on that day. . We also went to Wall Street, Central Park, Little Italy, China Town, the Pier, Canal Street, Soho, Greenwich, Grand Central Station, and the Museum of American Natural History. It was an awesome trip and my first time being in New York City. We rode the Subway all over the city and felt safe the entire time.

It was so nice to get away with Jon. We were focused soley on each other and it was fun to be the center of his attention. We really needed that trip.

Potty Pep Talk

So the night before we started potty training back in April, Jon and I took the kids to the MOA to go on some rides. While we were there we walked past Build A Bear and so I promised the kids that once they got potty trained we would go and build a bear. Since we have 2 fully trained and one trained to go number one I decided it was time to go and get our bears. We took Grandma with us and I was so glad we did as it was a little overwhelming at first. There are so many choices. The kids really enjoyed making their kitties (hello Kitty) and Dog (K picked this). They all selected a sound for their furry friends: A selected a meow, E selected the Happy Birthday Song, and K Selected the Take me out to the ball game song. Here are some pictures of them warming up the hearts for their new furry friends.

After they all helped put the stuffing in the bears then there was an "air" bath selection where you washed up your new friend. K really liked to wash his new doggy and proceeded to do this about 25 times even after we had the new doggy dressed.
It was a lot of fun, a little expensive for three furry friends that were all dressed up but so worth it. These kids worked hard at potty training and we felt they deserved a big treat.
A is still struggling on going number 2 in the potty. I can't seem to figure it out with her. I am not sure if she knows that she has the power so she just refuses or what. It really gets me angry when she poops in her pants and then dances around and sings that she just pooped her pants. It would be one thing if she felt bad about it but she thinks it is funny. Jon and I are struggling with what to do about this. We had to take her kitty away from her yesterday and she still has not earned it back. She needs to poop on the potty before she gets it back.
Tonight as we were tucking the kids into bed, E asked why A did not have her kitty. We explained that it was because she poops in her pants. E then asked why she does that so I told her to ask A:
E "Meme why do you poop in your pants?"
A "I scared Lela"
E "What are you scared of Meme?"
A "I don't know"
E "Meme it does not hurt to poop in the potty, it feels good"
A "Oh"
E "Only babies poop in their pants, Meme, You need to go on the potty"
K then pipes in with "It doesn't hurt Meme and it kind of looks like snakes"

Jon and I just giggled at them. He if she won't poop on the potty for Mommy and Daddy maybe she will do it for E and K.

Another potty story from tonight. K went potty and when he was done he got down from the toilet and said "Bye Bye Toilet Paper you are gonna go see the sharks now!
I have no idea where they get this stuff.

Traditions

While Jon and I escaped for our mini vacation to NYC, Grandma had the kids. On Friday night, Uncle T, Grandma, and our friend J took the kids to the MOA for some rides and then they all went out for dinner.

I hate to blog about this as I do not want to Jinx them but the kids are usually really well behaved when we go out to eat with them. We have had many people compliment us on their behavior while at restaurants. Of course, we have had our moments but for the most part they are good kids.

Friday night was no exception to this. The kids did a great job during dinner. Uncle T said there was a table of older women nearby that were consistently watching and commenting on the kids. He said these women waited to leave until my mom, the kids, J, and T were ready to leave.
As they were walking out, one of the ladies pulled Uncle T aside and told him this:

"Your children were so well behaved during dinner tonight and I am really impressed. My father passed away a few years ago but he had a tradition of giving children who behaved in restaurants a dollar for being good. I would like you to take these $3 and put them in the kids piggy banks for future use".

Uncle T was so dumbfounded that all he could do was smile and say thank you!
I think this is an incredible story so I wanted to blog about it. It makes Jon and I feel good to know that our kids are so impressive. It made Grandma M and Uncle T proud too. What a feel good memory! I certainly will pay that one forward some day.

The MS Walk Was a HUGE Success!

I was a top fundraiser!

We had such an awesome day for the walk today. It was not sunny and bright but the rain held off and we ALL successfully completed the walk. Here are a few of the highlights from today:

• There were 17 people that walked on my team with me.
• As a team we raised close to $5000.
• I hit a personal fundraising high as I raised $2815 to be exact.
• The MS Society raised over $2M dollars from this event.
• We had fun and everyone that walked said they would walk with me again next year!

Every year that I do this event I always have a lot of anxiety about raising the money and putting the team together! Every year this walk continues to be a success. I have learned that no matter what he weather does (one year it snowed 12") we always seem to finish this walk and people feel great about what they have accomplished.
This walk helps me feel the warmth and love from so many people who donate their money and their time by walking with me.

God has sure blessed me with incredible friendships and support from a tremendous amount of people. I am tired tonight after walking so many miles but I am going to bed feeling fulfilled!

What A Week!

This week has been so busy for us. I actually worked close to 40 hours this week! Yikes. I am sure glad that I do not have to do that every week as it is really hard to manage a house and work that much.
Our week started off with a bang when we discovered that the suspicion that we had about having mice actually became a reality. So this story begins when the other morning after I got home from the gym I was about to get in the shower and I looked down to see a DEAD mouse about 5" from where I was standing. Needless to say at that moment I screamed to Jon who was still in bed that we had a dead mouse in our bedroom. He immediately got up and took care of it. It is important to mention at this point that we have two cats that live in our house and one of them caught this little mouse and played with it until it was no longer alive!!! Thank GOD!
Fast forward a couple mornings later and I woke up to my alarm. I was about to get out of bed and head to the gym but I heard Toby jumping around. At the time I just figured that he was playing with Dexter (the other cat) but then when I looked down and saw that Dexter was no where in sight I just knew Toby was after a mouse. Sure enough before I could even blink a mouse ran out from underneath Jon's dresser! I think my heart stopped and then I started screaming over and over again, "there a mouse in here and it is alive" This of course jerked Jon awake and in the next five minutes I (and Aimee and KJ who happened to walk in on this) watch Jon in his underwear and Toby (the cat) chase this mouse around our bedroom. Jon finally caught it and disposed of it.
So after this incident I declared that it was official...we have a mouse problem. Jon went out and got some traps. We have yet to catch any in the traps and if we don't in the next few days I will be calling some professional help in to get rid of the mice. The last thing I need is to have to deal with a mouse if and when Jon is not around.
So on top of that happening and me working crazy hours, last night we were blessed with the Stomach flu amongst our kids. As a parent of triplets I can say that the hardest thing about having multiples is when they all get sick at the same time. Luckily they are getting old enough now to make it to the toilet or in a bucket so the mess is less but it is still no fun when you have kids that are throwing up.
I am exhausted to say the least as I have had about 7 hours of sleep in two nights. Please pray for us that Jon and I don't get the flu, we are healthy for the big MS Walk on Sunday, that we don't have any more mouse incidents, and most importantly that the kids are back to their happy and fun loving personalities tomorrow.