So Grown Up

Today is the last day of September which means the girls are about 6 weeks from turning 3. I can't believe it! With potty training on the horizon my babies are almost gone.



Two weeks ago we started MOPS on Wednesdays (Mothers of Preschoolers) and the girls get to go to their own class while I meet with other moms. It's as close to preschool as they're gonna get this year.

So ready to go in!



Not sure if it's a triplet thing since they always have each other or if they just like new things but none of them seemed to mind being dropped off for the morning :)



Classtime...



Showing off their projects. They made fish and were very proud of them. Alyssa left the building pretending to be a fish - cracked me up!



Just love this shot - so wish I knew what Alyssa was thinking!



I was trying to get individual shots of them showing me their fish but they weren't understanding :) They have no concept of what the camera can see so they just showed me the backside of their project.



Potty training update (don't worry I won't bore you with details forever) - all the girls have gone but Alyssa seems to be the only one catching on even though Julianna is the one that always asks to go :) Another day closer to diaper free!

And In Other News...

As life always does it goes on. No matter what you deal with or go through the rest of life doesn't stop. Go figure :)

The kids are still as busy as ever. School is somewhat overwhelming - I am trying to juggle the triplets plus 4th grade homework and now Kindergarten homework. Caleb is pretty much already reading and that's fun to see. It's surprising sometimes how much he can read.

But the really big news is that I have begun potty training. Oh yea, I know, finally. But I HATE it - and pretty much if I wait long enough there's no real work to be done :) Hey, none of my kids have gone to school in diapers so my method isn't really a bad one!

Julianna has been talking about it for a long time. She really wants to be a big girl but the other two haven't been quite so interested. Imagine my surprise when we finally put all three of them on the potty (we have three lined up - so cute but no pictures cause that's weird) and Rachel and Alyssa both go in the potty and Julianna does not! Julianna was quite upset about it and wanted to try again. Poor thing :)

We still have a long way to go but we're off to a great start. Here's hoping we'll be out of diapers soon!

Forgiveness, Full And Free

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever is before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgement...
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart...
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
(Psalm 51:3, 4, 6, 9-12)

Thank you for your prayers, e-mails and support. The Lord is doing a great and mighty work in my heart and my marriage. Keep those prayers coming!

Dear World, I Made A Mistake

In the realms of mistakes I have made a big one. I have hurt my husband. It is my fault. And while I won't go into detail I do want to share that I love my husband. I want him to know that I am sorry and I want you to know that if I don't blog for a while it's because I have something much more important going on.

No matter how busy you are. No matter what life throws at you, know that your spouse should come first above all. Guard your heart and guard your mind. Mistakes are very easy to make and very hard to un-do.

Prayers are appreciated.

Six Flags - Yea!

Saturday was Kirk's annual company picnic at Six Flags. It is a huge favorite of ours - we love his picnic! We leave the triplets behind and take the big kids along for a fun day and some pretty good (and free) food! This year we got to go with some friends who actually work for the company too and since they brought their girls we were able to do some babysitting trades in the park.

Of course, I was in heaven because Six Flags is home to one of my very favorite roller coasters: Superman! Oh yea, I love the drop on this one:



And our second favorite: Batwing! Okay, well it was Christie's favorite.



No, the picture isn't sideways - the ride straps you in and then lays you back. You go up the ride backwards and then it flips over so you feel like you're flying. It's a great ride - I just prefer the drops! (Christie and Andrew)



Proof the kids were there! Kirk's co-worker got much better pictures and hopefully I'll get some copies soon since my camera's batteries didn't last long :( Didn't even last long enough to get some pictures of Kirk and I ride the Skycoaster - you know the one where they strap you in, pull you back by a cord and basically drop you (I think from 10 stories high). Even though I was literally dragged (um, carried) I enjoyed the drop quite a bit!



The great news is that the kids were big enough this year to go on a lot of the bigger rides and we spent less time in the kids area :) The biggest plus is that the longest lines seemed to be in the kids area so avoiding it made our day much more pleasant!



The girls being goofy :) (Madison, Morgan and Kaitlyn) I think all 4 kids had a great time!



Already looking forward to next year!

1st T-Ball Game Of The Season

School is in its second week and now it's time for sports :) Caleb has already had a few practices but tonight was his first actual game. I use the term game loosely because they still don't keep score and everyone gets to bat though they do actually have outs.



Caleb did well - he got out the first time he batted but only because he forgot to run after he hit the ball :)



The other two times he hit very well and made it all the way around the bases :) First time he slid into home except he missed by a mile! Second time he got it right and we are super proud of him.



Caleb seems to really enjoy t-ball - especially when everyone claps and cheers for him. Still his favorite part is giving the other team hi-5s at the end of the game and having pizza and sprite afterwards. Oh well, whatever works :)

As for the rest of us - I'd like to say that the games are enjoyable and relaxing but they aren't. It's just a bigger area for us to occupy three two-year-olds and it's honestly exhausting. There still seems to be no end to the fighting and tears no matter where we go.

At least today they didn't leave looking like this:





Sure they're cute but do you see the dirt?!

Tonight we tried a few different activities:

We roll balls... Do I look thrilled?



Get pulled around in the wagon by anyone willing to do it :)



Play with big sister who does a great job of entertaining herself.



And more ball rolling - this time with friends (Miss Kathy and Jesse).



Mommy playing "rock-a-bye" baby - notice the other sets of hands wanting a turn. Can you tell why I'm exhausted after the game is over? Maybe even more than Caleb is!



Just a beautiful picture of Alyssa. She was having so much fun clinging to daddy's leg!



Looking forward to a great season of t-ball and surviving all the games with 4 more kids in tow :)

One Well Mama

Saw the doctor again today and things are better. My platelet count is up a bit which is good but still not in the normal range. Good news is he's gonna let it be and not pursue any treatment right now - yea! No steroids which makes me happy :) So, basically as long as I'm not bleeding to death I'll be fine. But he did diagnose me Chronic ITP - I'll add that to the list of random things I have but am still otherwise very healthy. Whatever.

In other news the girls are crazy! Wait, you already knew that. Julianna either wants to pretend she's a baby or she wants to pretend that Rachel is her baby.



My instructions are "mommy, I want to be a baby. Sit here and feed me." Then I have to rock her and sing "Rock-A-Bye Baby" though the other day she asked me to sing Veggie Tales to her as well.

When not keeping up with Julianna as her baby or cat, Rachel spends her days catching up on magazines - she seems to like Woman's Day the best but she will also read daddy's Photoshop magazines :) Teaching them young!



And a testament to the fact that Alyssa is in her own world :) I have no idea what she was doing but she had to wear this helmet and twirl around - so she'll either be a ballerina or she'll enlist in the military. Hmm...



And a recent shot of all 5 kids together! It does happen but you can see how horribly hard it is :)

Dream Come True

Today I got my last and final birthday present :) A week late I know but it was WELL worth the wait. Today I shot my first live gun!!!!

Oh, I am still just so excited about it and already itching to go back. Back in February I listed a few things about myself and one of them was that I wished I knew how to shoot a gun. And now I know :) Next up is shotguns and rifles but today was handguns - both semi-automatic pistols and revolvers.



Can you tell I was a little bit excited? I'm surprised they let me in - did they miss the scary grin on my face?! I think the instructor noticed but he didn't seem too worried - just commented that I'd be a good shot. I think the gear is pretty cool - who can't look good with eye and ear protection?!



I did find out that I am left-eye dominant and since I am right handed it means I have to tilt my gun to line it up. Also means when I shoot a larger gun like a shotgun I will have to either shoot left-handed or train myself to aim with my right eye - now that will be interesting. The only plus is that it helps my body absorb the recoil of the handgun better so there's that :)



I'm not too terribly far from the target - about 7 yards I believe but I am still proud of how I did :)



These I was shooting with a 9 MM and that turned out to be my favorite gun - less recoil and easier to control. I didn't get to try them all but did also try the .357 but had a harder time with my aim on that one.

I didn't go alone :) Kirk braved the gun range with me (I know he brought me there AND let me shoot a live gun - it's amazing he didn't fear for his life!). Good news is he had a great time too and is willing to go back and shoot again - yea!



Can't wait to go back! Thanks honey for the great b-day present! It was awesome. Now to start saving money to buy a gun... (but don't worry - it would NEVER be within any of the kids reach).

Don't call her the "Coupon Queen"

or the "Miserly Mom"
or the "Penny Pinching Princess"
or the "Savings Savant"

maybe the "Tightwad with Triplets"

But tonight Dorinda gave a presentation at her Moms of Multiples club meeting on her coupon strategies. She did Great! It was a full room of other moms with multiple children, and in need of ideas for stretching their grocery budget as far as possible. Several women stayed around afterward asking questions and taking Dorinda's books, lists, and resources.

Dorinda gave an excellent talk and answered many questions from the crowd. She was just downright inspiring! I saw several women remarking on their way out how this was going to change the way they shop! One woman even said this would help her marriage because she felt it would relive some of the financial stress of her household.

Great Job Babe! I couldn't be more proud of you!



Doesn't she look comfortable in front of a crowd?



A full room and appreciative audience.

Could It Really Be Cool Weather?!

I am beyond thrilled to have cooler weather this week since it's just now September. I could live with the 60/70 degree weather year round except for a little bit of snow :) I am not a hot weather girl.

Of course the change of seasons menas new clothes for the kids since, after all, they keep growing. I recently ordered a new outfit for the girls and when they saw it they just had to wear it. And I have to say, they looked adorable.





We met daddy for lunch yesterday and went to IHOP so I got the girls dressed up and did their hair - not normal for a weekday :) They looked too cute not to photograph!

Me and my baby girls...



Here are my attempts at home - do I have models or what?

Oh yes, that's Julianna shaking her tail at me. I ask her to say cheese and this is what I get - nice right?



A sweeter face.



Rachel would cheese while holding her cookies! Notice the sly grin - this girl gets into everything - you already know she colors on walls but yesterday she pulled every wipe out of my pack of wipes and threw them on my bed. Today she emptied a whole roll of toilet paper into the kids bathtub while I was flat ironing my hair. When I caught her she was trying to close the bathroom door to hide all the evidence - so sneaky!



Alyssa's pose - I have no idea what she was thinking! She is one cool chick :)



Future Baby Gap model!



And since I couldn't decide which feet shot I like best I put both...



So, bring on the cooler weather! I hope it's here to stay :) Don't leave me notes that it's not - I'm trying to be optimistic!!

Way Back When-esday: Back-To-School

We are just about 3 days into school - not much I know but Kaitlyn's complaining already and the girls have yet to adjust to their new nap schedule so I feel pretty deep into the school year already! Heck I already have the whole year's book report schedule for Kaitlyn - sigh, another school year has begun.

And because of that I figured the best way to "celebrate" Way Back When-esday is to look back and the last few years first day. It's a BIG reminder of how fast time flies and how it won't be long before the triplets are standing by the front door to get their first day picture taken before they head off to school :( How is it that they're almost 3??!!

2007



So young! Kaitlyn's heading into 2nd grade and Caleb was going off to his first day of preschool - he was still 3 in this photo - what a baby.

2008





They started school on different days last year so there's no photo of them together. This is Kaitlyn starting 3rd grade and Caleb going into his second year of preschool - he was 4.

My babies are growing up! Even my babies aren't babies anymore!

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