Deck the Halls and Walls

Given the kids were under the weather but not out of commission over the weekend and Grandma Barb comes in town tomorrow for Thanksgiving, we decorated the house for Christmas and had a great time.  Just a little stress when Jerry climbs up on the roof to put up lights... ugh.  I love the house at Christmas... so warm and cozy.

The tree went up... so Tattle our Elf on a Shelf showed up as well.  He's a bit of a bad elf, always getting into things.  The kids LOVE finding him each morning... I wonder how much longer this will last?  I hope a couple more years...

Costumes and Roller Skates

We survived the weekend of illness and everyone seems to be doing better... so here is a little catch up...

At the end of October, the triplets turned 6 years old and we had their 1st birthday party with friends from school.  They have had parties in the past with our friends children and neighbors, but this was the 1st were they got to invite friends from school.  I'm not a huge fan of big parties for children and all the school friends... I swear we get an invite every week and we attend as many as we can so I held off having one, but the kids are getting old enough to know what they really want and this is what they wanted.

We had it at a skating rink and it was a BLAST!!  The rink has PVC "walkers" on wheels that the kids can use to keep them up... they are awesome!!!  This was the triplets 2nd time skating and Kaylee gave up her walker and was skating on her own.  I had no idea a bunch of 5 and 6 year olds could have so much fun on wheels!!

A few days later, we suited up for Trick or Treating....  In tow we had a Stealth Ninja, Captain American (or Aquamarine... Cody kept calling himself Aquamarine??), Minnie Mouse, and an Indian Princess.  Along with Trick or Treating we attended a Halloween Event by the Houston Symphony during the week, I decorated 3 cakes, and I am room Mom at the Triplets school and ran the party and craft event for 18 kids...

Yep, pretty pooped when it was all over... but it was worth every minute!!!

The cakes (Addison OU, Jadon UT, and Kaylee "Hello Kitty")

Illness and Innocence

The past two nights, Cody has thrown up in his bed and today he p**ped his pants several times... soooooo of course he stayed home from school today.

We took the triplets to school this morning watching Bible Story DVDs in the car and after we dropped them off Cody and I headed over to the Kolache Factory for breakfast (he said he wanted to eat).  We were halfway home when Cody said he didn't want his kolache but wanted some bread and goldfish... (I figured his tummy was upset, but dry bread sounded good)  "Ok, when we get home I'll give you a snack."

Upon our return home, he asked again for bread and goldfish.  

Cody:  "I want 5 breads and 2 goldfish."  

Me:  ????  "No, you can't have 5 pieces of bread.  Why do you want 5 pieces of bread?"

Cody:  "I want to be Jesus.  I need 5 breads and 2 fish."

We had been watching the Bible Stories DVD in the car.... He must have been watching Jesus feed the masses loaves and fishes.... I love the innocence...

Hopefully, we get through the illness... BUT unfortunately it may be spreading...

The Pumpkin Patch

I am sooo far behind...  room Mom at the school, 4 kids and work is keeping me busier than EVER.

This year we made it to the local pumpkin patch (at the beginning of October)...  We have gone every year since the kids were one, but we missed last year due to weather and a crazy busy schedule so I was so happy to make it over there again this year.

Update on Kaylee's teeth, she has now lost two teeth and has two more loose ones.  The tooth fairy better not wander too far away.

Tooth Update!!

We went back to the school when Jerry got home and Jadon found the missing tooth!!!  It is currently tucked safely beneath Kaylee's pillow.  Now we are just waiting for the Sandman to arrive and bring sleep.

She Lost it.... Then She Lost it.

Well,  Kaylee finally lost that first tooth... and then she lost it...

Her adult teeth on the bottom front have been coming in behind her baby teeth so we knew the baby teeth would need to come out soon.  Today in carline at school... she finally pulled one of the teeth and then she immediately lost it.  I seriously looked for it for 30 minutes before giving up.  I guess her little bag labelled "My 1st Tooth" will actually have to contain her second tooth.  Oh well, we will write the tooth fairy a note.  She is already spending the money in her mind at the Disney store.

So, here is Kaylee with her lost tooth and another photo from the beach (the whole family)...

Lots of Lunches

School.... again...  it is kinda a pain packing lunches everyday, BUT not as bad as it was fixing lunch at home everyday.  The kids are such picky eaters that fixing lunch was as much work as fixing a dinner... cooking eggs, grilled cheese sandwiches, broccoli... etc.  Now, I've got it down to a pretty streamline system.

I would LOVE to purchase lunch for the kids everyday... but we do have to watch our money and it's just too expensive when purchasing for multiple kids.  I will purchase the Friday meal from time to time... PIZZA Fridays...but not every week.

We are about to have our 1st visit from the tooth fairy.  Kaylee has all of her 6 year molars and has two front bottom teeth coming in behind her baby teeth.  The baby teeth are very loose and I expect one to come out any day now.

Ok... some pics of Kaylee & Jadon at the beach:

Vacation and Ramblings...

We recently returned from our annual vacation and had a blast, but I'm not going to share the details since they are about the same as the previous years...  so I plan to blog about recent going ons and share vacation photos along the way.

The triplets have now been in school about a month now and we are going through some growing pains.

I wake up at 5:00 to shower and clean-up for the day...  I'm lovely at 5:45 and emerge from the bathroom...

Meanwhile, Jerry carries the kids downstairs to the sofa at 5:45 where they sleep and/or watch tv while I make their lunches and breakfast.  At 6:15 I force them to wake up and eat... then it's getting them ready until 7:15.  The girls hair seriously takes me between 20 and 30 minutes... we may need to give them a trim.

At 7:15 they load up into my Mom's car.  She takes them to school then attends daily Mass which gives me another hour + to finish getting Cody ready for preschool and do chores...

So... getting up early is a big UGH...  To Be Continued....

The Alternate Uniform:

A Note From Jadon

Let Them Be Little...

Everyone will tell you, "treasure each moment... they grow up too fast" and until you have a few years under your belt you just can't appreciate how fast it really goes.

Today, the triplets started Kindergarten.  Today, my life as I have known it for the last 6 years is changed.  I have had these little bodies with me almost everyday all day (except the 11 hours a week they were in pre-school) and now... they are gone 7 1/2 hours Monday through Friday.  We get home now about 3:30, change clothes and before long it's bedtime.

Up until now, the kids have gone to bed between 8:30 and 9:00... now we are planning to start 7:30 and may need to adjust it back to 7:00....

For the next 2 weeks, Cody is going to live the life of a single child until his pre-school starts, then he will be gone MWF mornings, but he will still get a lot more alone time with Mom.

Wow, this is just such a milestone that seemed a million years away when they were born.  I am sad and I am happy...  torn up with mixed feelings.  But more than anything... I am so PROUD!!!

They loved their 1st day (I was so anxious to pick them up).  Addison has made new friends, Jadon said he was too shy and Kaylee didn't share much other than she liked it... but they all agree they are ready to return tomorrow.

One of my favorite songs!!!!

Artist: Billy Dean Listen Here!!
Song: Let Them Be Little
Album: Let Them Be Little

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand.
You felt so good in it; no bigger than a minute.
How it amazes me you're changin' with every blink.
Faster than a flower blooms, they grow up all too soon. 

So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give 'em hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little. 

I never felt so much in one little tender touch.
I live for those kisses, your prayers an' your wishes.
An' now you're teachin' me how only a child can see.
Tonight, while we're on our knees, all I ask is: 

Please, let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little. 

The so innocent, precious soul:
You turn around, an' it's time to let them go. 

So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give 'em praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let them sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little. 

Let them be little.


Here is photo of me on my 1st day of Kindergarten....

Permanent Changes

Sunday is coming to an end for another week. We went to Church this morning and I'm happy to report Cody is doing very well. Up until last week, he went to the nursery since Mass with 3 little one's had been a challenge for so long. But at this point the triplets are very well behaved and know the drill, however I had a lot of concerns adding Cody to the mix. The nursery cut off age is 4 years old, so it was finally time for Cody to grow up. This was his 2nd week attending Mass with us and he has been soooo good. I hope it's just not the novelty and this behavior continues!!!

After Church, we went to lunch with my parents (our weekly routine) and Jadon began crying that he had something in his teeth and it was hurting him. I looked around, but never saw anything and forgot about it until this evening when he began crying again when eating. Jerry grabbed a flashlight and we saw a new tooth coming in in the back of his mouth on the bottom. His 1st permanent tooth (the 6 year molar).... I seriously have been teary knowing they are growing up. My Dad said I better start taking photos before I have a bunch of toothless smiles (so true).

On another note, I purchased the kids school uniforms this week (ouch)... but thought it was funny. When the kids started pre-K 4, I stopped dressing the girls alike... one year later and they have to dress the same again. However, they don't seem to mind and they look adorable.

Ok - Jadon and the Books of the Bible... I'm so proud of this little guy.  He is sporting an injury on his mouth.  He and Addison ran into each other in the pool and bloodied his mouth.

WOW... Even I didn't know...

I recently posted on how much Jadon has learned and how I'm afraid he won't be challenged in Kindergarten. Even I didn't know he could do this....

Never Quite Old Enough...

TO THE YOUNGEST CHILD
Never quite old enough
Tall enough
Strong enough
Allowed to wander far enough,
Or stay up long enough;
Taking, breaking big brother's things,
Aching to be like him.
Wishing time had wings,
Hating being little,
Excepting maybe
When mother holds her arms out
And says, "Where's my baby?"

Today, Cody turned 4 years old....  FOUR... where has the time gone???  How can he be four and still be so little?  He is the baby of the family and being the baby isn't always easy.  He is in a class all his own, he is too young for swim team and Karate and all too often his older siblings don't want to play with him.  Seems like he is never quite old enough.  But, today he tucked one more year under his belt. I have 3 five year olds and a 4 year old today... but come October the triplets turn 6.  No matter how hard he may try... Cody will always be youngest... never quite old enough... but always Mommy's baby.  Happy Birthday sweet sweet boy!

Quick Recap: Dinner at a local mexican restaurant with my parents and GG. They put whipped cream on his nose and cheeks and sang Happy Birthday. (Yay for hubby's Iphone camera)  He loved it, but didn't know what to make of it, so he had a very perplexed serious look on his face.  On the way home he said, "That westaurant is cwazy, they made me yook so siyyee (silly)."
Pool Party on Saturday with neighborhood friends... this year theme was Star Wars.

Tonight (his actual birthday day) Jerry took off work early and we took the kids to Bouncin' Bears then to dinner at Texas Roadhouse where he was put in a saddle, swinging a bandana as they sang Happy Birthday and shouted "Yee Ha".

I also have to remind myself that around this time 4 years ago, Cody was in the level 3 NICU preparing to undergo a double volume blood exchange.  Think I'll spend a few more minutes in prayer before bed this evening making sure I give thanks for this little miracle.

Finally, Really? A post???

Awh,

The things kids say.... as I've mentioned in the past, my Mom comes over every week morning to help me out.  The other day, we were all over at the studio and the kids were coloring on cardboard pieces of a cardboard box.

Jadon was making a card for his MaMaw.  He asked me, "How do you spell MaMaw"  I told him.  "How do you spell 'coming'.... followed by "How do you spell 'thing."?  Moments, later he showed me  the card he made for my Mom.

It said, "MaMaw, coming over is a love thing."

My heart just melted!!!  He is the sweetest thing on the planet I swear.  He doesn't have a mean or aggressive bone in his body and oooozzesss kindness.

The poor guy did get a shot of penicillin in his bottom yesterday.  We have had a breakout of strep throat in our house that we just can't seem to shake, so we've gone from oral treatment to hiney treatment.... not fun.

Oh, a few more things I wanted to say about Jadon: 

I think he may be bored in Kindergarten... here are some things he knows:

Pretty much all the states by sight

Some State Capitals (Sacramento, Austin, Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City, Tallahassee, Topeka, Denver)

He knows all the planets (the biggest, the hottest, the coldest, the one on it's side axis, the smallest, the dimmest)

He know his money (how many pennies in a nickel, dime, quarter, and dollar)

He can do addition and subtraction beyond one digit (127 + 352 = 279 and 155 - 132 = 23)

He pretty much is a full blown reader (fantastic, environment etc) but still struggles with (light, fight kind of words)

He knows a ton of presidents by sight and tons of facts about them.

He can tell you every state that shares a border with Canada...

Hmmmm, I've only scratched the surface!!  

Well, my best intentions of posting every Sunday fell apart.  I am seriously busy from sun up to sun down with children and the new business.  I know I've taken on too much right now, but hope when the kids start school in August I'll find that work/life balance with a little "me" time thrown into the mix.

Tomorrow we celebrate Cody's birthday and I plan to take some pictures of the kids.  I really want to do a full blown 4 year old photo session with Cody...  I hope...