Babies Have Some New Pairs of Shoes!

It is winter time here in Florida. The boys never wear shoes when we are at home. As it is winter, we started discussing the need to get some house shoes for the boys to wear. We have purchased two different pairs of shoes this season. One of these pairs of shoes where picked out by Mommy and one pair was selected by Daddy. See if you can guess which ones I picked and which ones Daddy picked.

Here is the first option. These shoes are cute little monkey faces...
The second pair are Buzz Lightyear slippers that are really more than just shoes. They also double as really neat toys. I could show a picture but these shoes are really best in action...

So, what do you think? If you credited me with the monkey shoes and Daddy with the light up shoes, you are right! Also, as Daddy is the primary caretaker of the boys during the week, the Buzz Lightyear shoes are getting a lot of wear. Daddy has even asked if these shoes come in a size 13 Wide. Could you even imagine Daddy jumping up and down with his light up shoes?!?

Take care,

Message From Santa Claus

How exciting! While the boys were napping this afternoon, we received a message directly from Santa Claus. Click here to watch the message.

Take care,

Local Multiples Group Christmas Party

We have been trying to attend one of the local Multiples Group events for a few months. We were all set and ready to attend the Halloween event until we received last minute notice that Mike was having surgery on his hand on that morning. As such, we had to cancel our participation at the last minute.

So, when it was time for the Christmas party, we were going to make it! The event was originally planned for an outdoor venue at Maclay Gardens. It rained for the majority of the day so we were not surprised to receive a last minute notice that the location had changed to the restaurant that was catering the event. We loaded up the family and headed over to the restaurant only to find out it was closed. What?!? It appeared that forces beyond our control were keeping us from attending one of these events.

There was a small sign on a pole outside the restaurant that said that their other location was still open. We called the other location and they confirmed this is where the party was being held. Please know that the original location we drove to was the address provided in our last minute notice. We took the 15 minute trip to the other side of town and finally were arriving at our first PRSM (Parent's Raising Sensational Multiples) event!

There were several families there but I am sure the attendance was impacted by the weather and location challenges. However, we sat at the table with Margie (my mentor mom) and her family. The boys were well behaved but the table was covered with paper which was a lot of fun for Wes to rip up!!

Once we were done eating, a gentleman arrived letting everyone know that Santa really wanted to stop by and visit the group but he had something unexpected come up and was unable to attend the party. However, he had left a bag of toys for all of the good boys and girls! They passed out toys and each of the boys had a gift from Santa in the bag...
Mommy helping Jared open his gift, an Ambulance that actually has a siren and lights...

Sensing a theme, here is Andrew with his Police car fully equipped with siren and lights...

Last but not least, Wes with his firetruck again with a fully functioning siren and lights...

Once we had all three of the rescue vehicles out of their packaging, the boys quickly learned how to push the button activating the siren. The other kids at the party were interested in their trucks but I bet the other parents were not so happy. Seriously Santa, three trucks with sirens (loud ones I might add)... what were you thinking?!?!

Once home, I was hoping I could get a group picture of all the boys in their cute outfits... aren't they just adorable... if I do say so myself...

The boys had other things to do than sit still for a photo. Wesley had to turn on the Christmas tree lights. The lights are magically activated by three waves of the hand and the count of ONE-TWO-THREE or three grunts in a row. And no, Daddy does not help with a remote in his pocket (wink!)...

Once he had the Christmas tree lights on, Wes had to check out what was on the kitchen counter. Please note his technique of extending his reach. He uses that tiny lip on the cabinet to pull up on the counter. (This is one of those sigh moments.)

Jared was busy turning on and off the hallway lights. Yep, the boys can reach the light switches without any assistance. Earlier in the week, they could only turn things on. By the end of the week, they grew a little more and were able to pull the switch back down as well.

And then, before anyone was able to change clothes for the evening, we worked to get just one picture of the boys. This is the best of the bunch! Wes was in such a hyper mood that he would not sit still but we were able to catch a brief second of him with Andrew and Jared before he was back on the run.. .

It was exciting to finally make it to an event with the local group. I have previously had many dinners with the local group of Triplet Moms but this is the first event with the multiples group. I hope to make it to a few more events where we can actually visit with some of the other families a little more and see the boys play with some other multiples children.

We had a good time and we have the three new rescue vehicles (with sirens) to remember the event! Yeah!

Take care,

Andrew at Big Man's B-Ball Game

It's basketball game time again and this time, it is Andrew's turn to make the trip to Gainesville. Today's game started at 11am so we had to hit the road a little after 8am. It was early and it was COLD!! It was in the high 30s, low 40s on this day. I had to look long and hard to find some mittens I purchased last year and then hoped they fit. They did! Yes, we live in Florida but Andrew was dressed for a real winter day with hat, scarf, mittens and several layers!
He actually found his mittens very amusing and kept clapping his hands while laughing. We had a nice drive (in the rain) to Gainesville. Andrew was awake for the entire trip and spent the trip singing, clicking his tongue and bouncing his head to the music. Upon arrival, we were able take off the winter covering to show off our basketball sweaters...

Wes was interested in the game for the first half. Andrew was actually interested for almost the entire game. He enjoyed clapping, screaming and watching the action move up and down the court. Here is Big Man running a play...

At half time, we headed out to get some popcorn (aka. Pop-pop). Andrew was Mr. Personality while sitting in the bleachers. Once we walked outside into the concession area, he put back on his in public stoic face. I walked up to the counter to order our popcorn and kept a safe distance of 15 feet between himself and the stranger running the concession stand. I kept telling him we were getting pop-pop but he would not budge!

Back in the bleachers, he sat on the bench like a big boy and ate his pop-pop. He also had his milk that he would drink and then precisely set down to his right. At home, he has been known to throw his sippy but today, he took very good care of it.

Go BIG!!!! Fast break...

We had such a good time!

After the game, Andrew was able to get his picture taken with our super star of the game....

Before we hit the road to head home, we stopped at Burger King for lunch. Andrew was quickly crowned at the official Burger King!! He wore his new crown during the entire meal...

The apple fries with caramel is a great idea but it is not as easy to work as french fries and ketchup...

He worked at it for a while and once he actually got some on the apple, he was so pleased....

"Hey Mom, do you want some, it is pretty good"...

I enjoy watching Big Man play basketball but I also really enjoy these days alone with the boys. Andrew and I had a "ball" (pun intended) today!

I look forward to the next game, Jared's turn!

Take care,

Boys 1, Lamps 0

I have written in the past about how the end tables are our in house nemesis. The boys need constant reminders that the end tables are not places to play and the lamp shades are not their personal punching bags. Regardless of the number of reminders, the boys have still made it their personal mission to take out the lamps. After today, they are a little closer to their goal...
Wes officially receives the credit for issuing the blow that "broke the camel's back." However, all of the boys should receive equal credit or blame for wearing down her defenses to Wes could take that final swing at her.

This event took place while I was at work. I received a text from Daddy that said, "I am currently picking up pieces of the lamp." I thought to myself, Daddy must be really upset. Surprisingly when I arrived home, there was a look of relief on Daddy's face and he was not upset at all. He later told me that he felt somewhat happy to see the lamp fall victim to the boys.

Daddy has always wanted to remove the tables and lamps due to the trouble we have with them. On the other hand, I have always wanted to leave them because the boys must learn to live in a world with furniture. Today, the furniture load in our home got a little lighter with the loss of this lamp. I am starting to wonder if Daddy actually encouraged the lamp's demise or staged the scene and blamed it on the boys???? Hmmmmm??

Take care,

Visit(s) with Santa 2009

It's that time again! It's time for our second picture with Santa Claus. In an effort to get our picture taken before Thanksgiving to avoid the lines, we decided to try and take our picture at home with the Tallahassee Santa. The weekend before Thanksgiving, we loaded up the boys and headed down to Governor's Square mall.

Things started off well as there was no line and we got right in to visit with our local Santa. I proceed to place Wesley on Santa's right knee, Andrew on his left knee and then stood in front of Santa pondering where to place sweet Jared. Well, it took me a second to figure it out and then I tried to have him stand in between Santa's legs. I am not sure what actually caused his reaction but Jared FLIPPED OUT!!! He started crying and thrashing about. I comforted him and then tried again with Jared standing behind Santa on the chair... NOPE! We tried giving him things to distract him and he started to throw everything we handed him and he may have even hit Santa. Did I give up... no! I must completely torture my children for just one photo. Maybe he just needed a minute....

At this point there was another family waiting. We let them go ahead for their time with Santa and we waited. Santa's helper offered the boys stuffed animals to comfort them. Once the other family was done, we were trying again. This time we tried sitting the boys in the chair and Santa standing behind the chair... no go. Wesley and Andrew were now tired of this activity and did not want to sit still. With much reluctance, I submitted to my husband's pleas to end this public torture of our children. We loaded up the boys in the stroller without any photos being taken and were ready to roll out of the mall. Before we left the Santa area, the helper came over to whisper to me that the stuffed animals she had handed my three toddlers were not free. I then had to take the stuffed animals from each of the boys and hand them back to her because I was not in the mood to buy anything after admitting defeat. It was at this moment that Wesley began to cry. I could hear his thoughts... "Mom, I sat there patiently while Jared was have a fit and I don't even get this stuffed animal? Seriously?" That's right Wesley... I am one mean Mommy!

I was depressed and thought that I would not get a Santa photo this year. On the drive back to the house, we agree that we would try back near my Mom's house where we such success the year before with Santa and Mrs. Claus. We planned to arrive early enough on Wednesday to try prior to Thanksgiving. Well, this did not work. Was I (oops, we) going to get our picture??? Hope was fading...

As Mike was taking Veronica home on Saturday, I had one last opportunity. Grandma agreed to help me take the boys down to the mall for our second attempt. We stood in line very anxious yet slightly hopeful. It worked last year, come on... it can work again! We waited for about 15 minutes and then it was our turn. Jared was the first one out of the stroller and without any hesitation, I hand him over to Mrs. Claus and......... he was so happy!!!! Apparently, he remembered the connection that he made with Mrs. Claus last year and if she was not going to be in the picture, he was NOT taking one. Click here to read about our visit last year. I then hand over Andrew and Wesley to Santa. Here are the results....

While we were unable to get a smile out of Wes or Andrew, I love the picture because of the story behind it, Jared's face looks so pleased as if to say "Much better" and that no one is crying!!! I was so excited to get a picture of the boys with Santa! Needless to say, I believe we have solidified our tradition of visiting Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Brandon Town Center.

One more thing... When I was picking the boys up to put them in the stroller, Mrs. Claus asked if they had visited them last year and I replied yes. She said that she remembered Jared and the boys. See, the connection is special.... magical!

Take care,

Spontaneous Moments...

Getting the boys to sit still for a group photo is almost impossible these days. Today, I looked up to see them sitting side by side by side on the couch watching TV. I did not force them into this position but the question was whether I could get to the camera without having someone move. SUCCESS!!!

I enjoy capturing these spontaneous moments of brotherly love!!!

Take care,

My Men in Black!!

Super Daddy and his boys...

Andrew, Mr. Cheesy Face...
Wes, Mr. I am Too Cool for Pictures...

Jared, Mr. Can I See the Camera?

I love these boys.... all four of them!!

Take care,

Mommy and Jared's Mega Tower!

Today Jared and I spent most of the day building, tearing down and rebuilding. With three toddlers, building something that stays constructed for any length of time is quite a challenge.

What started out as playing with mega bloks because a mission. Jared and I sat on the floor and started putting pieces together and building up and up and up. Every so often, Andrew and Wes would join us to build but mostly to tear down or in the case of Wesley... totally destroy all progress! We were not distracted, we just started over again.

We would get about 50% of the bloks up and then it would come crashing down (with Wes' help of course). Once we got to about 75% of the bloks, I was completely committed to putting together a structure with all of the mega blocks that we own. By the end of the day, we accomplished our goal!

It was fun to work with Jared to build this structure. I must confess that when we got to about 95% complete, I moved the structure to the top of the kitchen counter to collect up the last set of pieces. I was worried that without my direct supervision and protection, Wild Wes would destroy all of our hard work.

We have a lot of mega bloks sets on our Christmas list. I wonder if we will be able to accomplish this goal again after Christmas?

Take care,

It's Snowing!

It's white, it's covering the ground, it must be snow right?? Nope, that would be stuffing from inside the couch cushion. Needless to say, when the boys are together and it's quiet.... be sure to check on them because this means they are working together and usually not for good!

Sigh...

I look forward to next year when the phrase "Santa is watching!" will be meaningful.

Take care,

Countdown Santa

The tree is up and the decorations are out.... it must be Christmas Time!! Last year, Grandma Sally gave us a countdown that helps us countdown the days until Christmas.
We hung him up in the kitchen and when the boys woke up this morning, they were very interested in this new addition.
Everyone took turns greating Santa (aka. Dan-ta).

Sadly, after only a few minutes we realized that "Dan-ta" may be safer within the "safe zone" along with Chewie and the Christmas tree.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!!

Take care,

Christmas Tree Shopping

It is hard to believe that it is already time to head out and go Christmas tree shopping again with the boys. It seems like yesterday when we were laughing about our Christmas tree falling off the truck as we drove down the road.

This time our outing was relatively uneventful. We drove to Home Depot and quickly picked out our tree. Our tree is in the picture below. Our tree is the one standing up behind Andrew.

We all watched the gentleman very closely as he tied our tree to the truck. We informed him of our experience last year. He assured us that this would not happen again and showed us how he tied his shoes around his legs as proof.... huh?!?

Well, he did a good enough job because we made it all the way home without incident. However, ever little noise we heard from the top of the truck made us both nervous. We actually stopped once to check on the tree but all was fine. After a stop at Sonny's to have lunch, we made it home to set up & decorate our tree.

Take care,