Way Back When-esday: Cruising the Caribbean

Timeline: November/early December 2005

With just days to go till my next Caribbean cruise it brought back memories of my last one 4 years ago. Last time it was the Eastern Caribbean - next week we'll be in the Western Caribbean - Mexico and Belize :) I cannot wait!

The family is heading to Florida on Friday so the kiddos can stay with Grandma and Grandpa for a week while Kirk and I take a much needed vacation together. This will give us a whole week to re-connect - something we truly need! Oh yea, and there's the beach and the sand...

When we return to port a week from Sunday we'll spend Thanksgiving week with family. I will post when I can - for sure on Saturday when we celebrate the triplets turning 3!! But after the party it's Bon Voyage!

Want to play along? Twinfatuation.

Caleb's "Best Birthday Ever" - Turning 6!!

Caleb had an awesome birthday party this past Saturday - lots of friends, a great cake made by Kristy (she stepped in in a pinch after our original cake maker had a death in the family and she did a fabulous job!) and so much fun :)

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

More Than Words

Thirteen and a half years ago Dorinda walked down an aisle, put a ring on my finger, and took a vow in front of God and man. I took that same vow and to this day I am still in awe of this amazing woman who is my beautiful bride.

There really are no words to describe how much I love my wife, but I'll make a feeble attempt with this poem and portrait.

Dorinda, I love you dearly. This is just a little something special to tell you how much.


click to embiggin!

Way Back When-esday: Caleb

Timeline: Nov. 10, 2006 - Caleb's 3rd birthday celebrated in the hospital. It's hard to believe that he was the triplets age in this photo! Somehow he seemed so much older.

I know the triplets birthday is in under two weeks but first comes Caleb's 6th birthday! Even though his birthday is just days before the triplets I cannot leave him out :) He's my one and only little man! I'm so grateful that God gave me Caleb. Not just because it means I have a son but because he is such a joy to be around. He always makes me laugh and is eager to give me a hug. Anyone who knows him loves him - he is sweet and kind. I can't wait to see what kind of man he grows into!

We're looking forward to some major celebrating with him this weekend and of course, next Tuesday on the actual day.

Want to play along? Twinfatuation.

Popular Sayings

We've all heard the worn-out cliches like "it's like finding a needle in a haystack" or "it's raining cats and dogs" but here at the Nelson house we're inventing a few new ones of our own.

With two weeks to go till the girls turn 3 (and just a week to go till Caleb turns 6) I thought I'd list a few of our favorites:

- "I do it myself" and/or "No, I do it!" followed by an agonizing wait while she figures out how to do it and then ultimately determines she can't and asks for help - at least they try :)

- "Don't hit your sista!" - this is very popular around here as you can imagine.

- "Rachel, wake up!" This is generally screamed by Julianna at any time in the morning before I get them out of bed. If Julianna is up, everybody's up!

- "Mom, Assa has to share!" - insert every other name here as well. Basically it means, someone isn't giving me what I want exactly when I want it which to them means they aren't sharing.

- "I want Spidermen" - for Alyssa this may be accurate - she seems to really like Spiderman but no, it means they're asking for vitamins :) They love those things and want to know why they can't have extras!



- "There's a spiderweb" - Julianna will point out anything, anywhere that resembles a spider. She wants to be sure no one steps on them. Not sure if this means she likes the spiders or not!

I wish I could remember every cute little thing they say but I can't. They are chattering back and forth to each other constantly. Julianna is always reminding her sisters what mommy or daddy says. She's quick to tattle if anyone commits even a minor infraction - I often here "Mama, tell Rachel no toys at the table".

All I can say is, at least they're listening!

Autumn Leaves Have Fallen

We have two large trees in the front yard - one no longer has leaves therefore my yard is covered. But who doesn't love raking leaves into piles so the kids can jump in? Fortunately Kirk does at least 6 times :)

At least the leaves made for some afternoon fun and a few good pictures!













The second tree has yet to lose its leaves which means more fun another day :)

Happy, Happy Birthday Grandma!!

Today is my mom's birthday! If I wasn't over 30 I'd never guess that she was :) She looks fabulous and is an awesome mom. I love you mom and I hope you have a wonderful day, a great year and many, many more birthdays to come.

Make a Smilebox greeting

Girls First Friend Birthday Party

We've done a few home parties but today was the first time the girls got invited out to a party at a location. The party was for their friends and not big sister or big sisters. They were big kids! At one point today I was telling Julianna she was a big girl and tonight she said to daddy, "I'm a big girl, mommy said so!"

Yes mommy did :)



The party was at a big bounce house and the girls were thrilled to climb the moonbounces and slide down.



Alyssa loved everything and went everywhere alone. Julianna stuck closer to me but was still willing to go alone. Rachel, as usual, stuck to me more and despite the fact that she climbed the bookshelf in her room the other night she was not willing to go on the larger moonbounces by herself. Yikes, even 24 pounds is heavy when it's hung around your neck as you climb!!



Partners in crime...



Miss Independent (Alyssa):



Julianna having fun.



Then onto the party room for pizza, juice and cake.

The birthday girls: Mikayla and Savanna.



My girls just wanted to go straight for the cake. Well, after they drank some juice :)



And who could blame them? The cake was gorgeous! And delicious :)



Alyssa agrees. The little cakes were for Mikayla and Savanna. Alyssa tried to help them blow out the candles from across the room. Cracked me up - I could hear her blowing over everybody!



All 5 princesses sitting on, well, fighting over, the throne.



We lost Mikayla! But now Alyssa decided she needed to be seen in the picture - look at that crazy grin :)



The girls had a great time and LOVED their goody bags. Of course they were willing to line up for a picture but I couldn't get all three of them to smile or even look at me at the same time! Little stinkers.



Happy 3rd birthday Mikayla and Savanna! We had a great time and the girls were thrilled to be at their first friend birthday party :) Now they are counting down the days till their birthday. Of course I won't let them forget that Caleb's birthday comes first. That and Grandma's next week. This time of year is busy for us! Doesn't matter - I still love fall :)

Way Back When-esday: The "Quads"

Timeline: April 2007

The girls first picture with "Best Friend Lauren". The girls didn't get much of a chance to grow up together and be real best friends but in my heart they always will be even if they will grow up hundreds of miles apart. Thanks for all the playdates - we're coming for a few in SC!

Lauren (Grace and Alyssa) - we'll miss you guys too! You will always be my nieces. Love you all :)

Want to play along? Twinfatuation.

Goodbye To My Very, Very Good Friend

I don't even know where to begin. Joanna and I have been friends for a long time and very close friends for the past 4 years. We were on the phone while she was in labor with her oldest child. Then she ended up having her daughter on Caleb's 1st birthday.

We were meant to be close friends :)

When I got pregnant with the triplets Joanna coordinated everything - made sure I had child care for Kaitlyn and Caleb lined up, meals after the girls were born, baby help when they came home even though she was pregnant with her second child (also know as "best friend Lauren").

We've shared everything for years - our kids were supposed to grow up together - her oldest was going to marry Caleb :) Well, that's in my plan but we'll see how that goes.

And now she's moving away - at least it's not another country but far enough that she won't be down the street when I need her. She won't be here for play dates or long hour chats or girls night out. Sure, there are phones and computers but it's not the same.

I so very much hate to say goodbye....

Joanna - you are like a sister to me and I am sad that you are going to be so far away. Just know that I will miss you but I will not forget you and I will see whenever I can! Love you girl!

(In the picture: me, Joanna, Kristy - we had pictures done on our last girls night out)

Way Back When-esday: The Countdown Is On

A month from Friday the girls will be 3! I can't believe it. It doesn't seem like 3 years have gone by since I held my tiny babies in my arms.





I still can't believe they were ever this little! Every day I'm amazed that they were ever just Baby A, Baby B and Baby C - now they are their own people who walk, talk, cry and fight (a lot!).

Want to play along? Twinfatuation.

Tightwads Blog Giveaway

Head on over to:

Tightwads with Triplets

For our first giveaway. Enter to win free Swanson chicken to complete your menu for your next football get together. Entries taken until next Saturday, October 17th.

Enjoy!

Way Back When-esday: Hospital Stay

It's extremely hard to believe that 3 years ago today I had just been admitted to the hospital for the remainder of my triplet pregnancy. I would have to say that was the beginning of some of the hardest weeks in my life.

This is me shortly before I went in. Wow, I barely remember being that big! And to think I got even bigger - crazy!



And a picture from the "inside" - look how little Kaitlyn and Caleb were!



Three years later I still remember my six week stay - I still remember how hard it was to be in there but then I look at my three little girls - girls I didn't know at all at that point - and I can see that every second was worth it. Carrying them as far as I did ensured their health which I am still grateful for today. Sometimes the hardest things in our lives turn into beautiful blessings!

Want to play along? Twinfatuation.

First Field Trip

Today was Kaitlyn and Caleb's first school field trip. I actually like school field trips. I mean it's a cool place that I get to go to that I'm sure I wouldn't otherwise go to. And believe first on my list was NOT the Frontier Culture Museum (how's that for a name?!) but I was pleasantly surprised that we all actually had fun!



The three amigos on the way - look how awake they are for leaving at 7 in the morning! None of them were this awake when we left :) Neither was I!!



The basic idea of the "museum" was that the kids can go from farm to farm from different countries all from about 300 years ago. All the foriegn houses were transported from their given countries are were actually built 300 years ago. So cool!

First up, the German farm.



Each farm (house) had a guide dressed up in period dress to teach the kids about how people would live in that time period. No, he isn't playing with a knife (scary right?!) - he's telling us how his knife was a tool and not a weapon as serf's were not allowed to have weapons.



The other thing the museum does is have the kids practice some of the chores in each of the house - in this house they each got a turn to sweep :) They look so happy doing it - I think I know what their new chore at home is!





Inside the very tiny German house that would have very little heat in the winter and at least 3 generations would live together inside of it - and I thought my house was cramped!!





After Germany we headed to Ireland - first the blacksmith that we watched make nails - very cool - and then to a small Irish house - again I'm so glad I wasn't alive then! Besides the small houses there were no bathrooms - yikes!



Inside were two rooms - one with the fireplace where the parents slept and one where the kids would sleep with the weaving loom.



Outside the kids practiced more chores like learning the process of turning flax into linen - or at least getting the flax to the point where it's ready to be spun.

The kids used the threshing machine to break the flax:



Then they beat the flax - called scutching:



Lastly the flax needs to be heckled:



The kids all seemed thrilled to be part of the process. Of course none of them have to do this for hours every day!

After Ireland we moved on to England which I thought was the nicest house of the ones we saw.



We were brought into the kitchen and shown how the women would have cooked a meal for the entire family. Seemed like a huge chore! I guess I don't have it so bad :) The food is really cooking on the pot behind her - apparantly the staff eat in "England" all the time.





This is the only house we were allowed to go upstairs in (though Ireland had no upstairs) - and we had to go up through a very narrow staircase - no gaining weight there!



The kids in the upstairs master bedroom.



I'm sure the water bottle isn't period authentic but since I don't yet know how to remove it in Photoshop (yes, Kirk is going to teach me - yea!) you're stuck with it.



While the English house was my favorite the kids found the African houses the most fun. Why? Basically because the houses aren't built yet and everyone got to pitch in and help build the house! No kidding!

The teachers wouldn't let them get in and stomp around in the clay (hmmm, wonder why?) but the kids helped by rolling the clay and setting it on a tarp.





They seem so proud of their mess!





Each kid got to throw one of the bricks they rolled onto the wall. Now they can say that they had a hand in building a house!





The end result will look something like this:



All in all we had a great day, learned a lot and wore ourselves out! Looking forward to the next field trip but hoping it isn't too soon :)

Blogging Love

I know it's been quiet on my end for the past few weeks but I promise many more posts in the future - I have just been busy with well, life :) But I had to post that I received a Lovely Blog Award from MomLissa at Binkies and Bandaids. Thank you!

The rules of the "One Lovely Blog Award" are:

Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

So, those are the rules but I haven't been searching for new blogs much lately because life has gotten in the way of my blog reading! I apologize for that and promise I will catch up with everyone and some new ones soon :)

Instead, I'd love to get comments on new/great blogs that you all read so I can find a few new ones of my own!

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!

Play along at Twinfatuation.

Summer's Officially Over

I can't believe it. Kaitlyn and Caleb have been out of school for 4 months but now it's time to go back. Feels like summer went by in the blink of an eye and yet clearly it didn't.

Today Kaitlyn and Caleb went back to school! I now have a 4th grader and a Kindegartener. Yes, Caleb has finally graduated up from 3 full days a week to 5. After 2 years of just 3 days I am more then ready to have him be there for 5. And this year he has to wear uniforms too. So, he's a full-fledged student!

At least it was the perfect day to start. The weather was cool this morning - almost cold and it's been beautiful ever since. I know summer isn't over by the calendar but for me with school starting and the weather changing I am happy to say it is fall! Please God let the cool weather stay :) I am SO ready. Of course at this moment I have all 5 kids outside - the triplets with no shoes on - so no one has told them that summer is over :)

Oh well, it is for me.

First day of school pictures - we have to do them every year in front of the front door :) I guess it's tradition! If you're wondering the front door is magnetic and our fridge is not so all of the kids artwork winds up there or on the floor if the triplets pull it down but that's pretty much how everything goes around here...





Lots of changes at the school this year and one of them is the uniform so while last year they were stuck with just navy and white this year they are able to wear shorts and khaki and any color polo so at least they will have some variety.





And at their desks at school:

Kaitlyn was very nervous about the first day - even though she's attending the same school and has the same teacher all the students are new. However, the official report was that school was great and she likes all the girls in her class. Yea! And even though she's in 4th grade she's already starting on 5th grade work so I know she's in for a tough year - just don't tell her that :)



Caleb was too into playing Legos with the kids in his class that he didn't want to stop and take a picture so this is the best I got. Right now there are only boys in his class so I think he'll have a fine year. And while Caleb is in Kindergarten he is in a class with mostly 1st graders (his teacher has already said he reads at a 1st grade level) so he will be doing advanced work this year. Makes me thankful he has a "late" birthday and will be turning 6 soon!



The verdict for both of them for the first day was that it was great and they have made friends and I'm already being asked for playdates! Good grief they don't even give me a week :) Here's to another year and somehow surviving homework once again.

On another note I want to wish my baby brother a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! He actually is turning 28 - for the first time :) Have a great day brother! Love your "big" sis. Your gift is in the mail - I swear...

So Much For Not Celebrating!

I was hoping that my birthday would slip in and out unnoticed. Not that I don't love birthdays but who really wants to get older at least when they're an adult?! But my attempts to not celebrate were thwarted by all my friends and family and I'm very glad to say that I didn't mind a bit :) I mean did you see what Kirk posted yesterday? How sweet is that?! I feel loved :)

I've actually been celebrating since Cadi came in on Wednesday.

Thursday I took Cadi to the salon and she got her hair done. We should've taken some before pictures but forgot so here are the "afters" of us right before we headed out to dinner for Girl's Night Out.





Doesn't her hair look so pretty straightened?

For dinner we headed to Uno's because their Pizza Skins are so darn good!



Kristy was having too much fun playing with my camera :) Food looks good though doesn't it??



In back: Me and Cadi, in front Kristy with baby Alyssa and Joanna (who will be moving away from me soon and that makes me SOO sad).

We had a really good night and Kirk even called the restaurant and ordered dessert for us as a birthday surprise. Yes, I think he thought of everything to make my day special!

My actual birthday was spent at the mall with Cadi, shopping of course! Kirk kept all the kids (a total of 8 - again he went overboard this year!) and Cadi and I went off to buy some new things. When we got home Kirk had dinner ready and we ate birthday cake.



Clearly we ate a little bit :) Wondering who ate the most? Here are the scavengers cleaning up every last piece!



Since it just didn't seem right for Cadi and Ashlyn to come halfway across the country and not go into DC we took a late night trip in. Ashlyn slept through a lot of it but Cadi did get to see the White House and the Washington Monument from the front seat of the car.

Us in front of the Capitol Building and proof we did get into DC :)





I had to take Cadi back to the airport today which was my least favorite part of the week but I am so glad that she chose to spend her long weekend here with me. She certainly helped make my birthday special!



Even though I didn't set out to celebrate I had a wonderful time doing so and am thankful for all the birthday wishes I received from friends and family. Above all I am thankful for how Kirk chose to make the day special for me. He really went above and beyond - thank you honey! So, of course I'm looking forward to next year! But not yet, I need to settle into 33 first.

Happy Birthday Dorinda

Today is Dorinda’s birthday, so I’ve been wondering just what to post on the blog for such a momentous occasion. You know she’s turning 28 again, (for the 5th year in a row, it’s amazing I tell you!)

I thought maybe I’d write a poem. But I’m the guy who admits that while roses may be red, violets are actually PURPLE.

And nothing rhymes with purple…

I guess I could sing her a song, but anybody who has ever heard me sing would advise against ruining her special day in such a tortuous manner.

Then I realized that while poems and songs aren’t really my strength, I am not without skills. And there’s a certain collection of skills I have that many other people pay me handsomely for. Yet Dorinda rarely receives direct benefits from these. I used these skills once to win her heart so many years ago. But now, so often I use these skills for the world, but only meagerly for my wife.

That ends today.

Happy Birthday my dear, I love more than you can imagine. This is my gift to you, I hope you enjoy it.

-kirk




See a hi-res version of the completed work here.

My Friend Cadi Is Here!

So this picture isn't from way back but the friendship is. About a year and a half ago I started commenting on the blog Triple Blessings + One and she started commenting back. After a while we started exchanging e-mails - long ones too - almost books :) We found besides having triplets just 8 days apart we had a lot in common and we've been talking regularly ever since.

A few weeks ago Cadi said she had some vacation coming and thought she might come to Virginia - when I said the dates corresponded with my birthday weekend it was decided - she was coming here!

And today she is here. So cool to meet my long-distance blogging friend in person. It's fun to know that the people behind the blogs you read are real. You read our lives and I read so many others and we are real people! Imagine that.

So, what's a girl to do after getting off a plane? Go for a pedicure of course! Don't our toes look great :)



(Left - me with a French pedicure; Right - Cadi - don't you love the blue?)

Tomorrow - a haircut for Cadi and girl's night out to dinner. Friday - some girl shopping. Yes, she came halfway across the country to go shopping :) She will go home looking great!

But she didn't come alone - no, she didn't bring the triplets she brought her oldest daughter, Ashlyn (4).



Ashlyn's fitting right in - she even wanted to be my model for my Tightwads blog - how cute is she?



Even though I dread my birthday I am looking forward to it now since I can spend some time with my blogging friend and my family.

Kirk In Wisconsin

I know, what right? No offense but I have never been to Wisconsin and I have no idea if there's anything out there! Apparantly though there is a very large, very cool truck. According to Kirk it's a new variant Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) based at the Oshkosh Truck Corp in Wisconsin. It's an 8 ton (with mods) multi purpose off road vehicle for the US Marines.

I don't actually know what that means but at least someone does and someone needed pictures of it so Kirk went out to do it. He will take those pictures and do an animation with them. Unfortunately, I don't understand it enough to translate but I do know he's very good at what he does and it will turn out really well!

How did I do home alone with 5 kids? Since it was just a day and a half not too bad :) I even managed to take all 5 out grocery shopping alone. Such an adventure. A few tantrums, a stolen cookie (sorry HT - we broke your one cookie rule), a bunch of stares and odd questions like the cashiers when I told him three of my kids were the same age - he asked if they were twins :) Otherwise we did great! And while last night they got to bed at almost 10 tonight I had everyone in their beds by 9.

But if you're wondering, yes I do miss Kirk and am glad he'll be home shortly :)