Bustin' out the pool!

I got this cute dragon pool on clearance
at the end of last summer.
It was about $10 at Target.

I feel better about spending that much
b/c destruction is inevitable w/ triplets.

The only thing that I don't like
is the slide b/c it won't say down.
I get it.
Full of air.
Floats on water.

Not a good combo.
Any time they wanted to go down the slide,
they needed help from someone.

Taylor & Monty stopped by so Taylor got to do the honors.
The kids had fun.
BUT, somewhere along the way,
we picked up a rash.

AND...our 1st summer cold.
Poop.

I don't think I've seen our trio run so fast!


Daddy was cheering them on.
It was full steam ahead!






This sweet face sums up how much fun they were having.


On the flip side,
let me tell you it is quite the undertaking
to get them ready to go outside.
Sunscreen, repellent, bathing suits, water shoes,
fill up the pool, get the towels, make sure to have water ready,
yada, yada, yada...

Around these here parts,
if you aren't wearing mosquito repellent,
you will get eaten alive.

Bullfrog sunscreen & repellent it is for us.
And it works.
Now I just need to figure out where the rash came from.
So weird.

It was a wonderful day,
especially since Daddy was smoking a brisket.
That was the.yummiest.ever.

Happy Memorial Day...
and for those that have served & lost their lives,
THANK YOU!!!!

Cat in the Hat

I'm not sure what to think.
All I can say is that I am amazed at the mind of a 3 yr old.
How can one memorize a whole book?

Exceptional, that is the answer!



My Gabi loves her books!

Mommy & Daddy Night Out

It's actually called a social life.
We haven't had one in about 4 years.
And now it is beginning to pick up again.

What a relief!
Seriously, staying at home & missing adult interaction,
can really make you appreciate it more when you do it.

Todd & I really needed a night out.
Scott & Amanda's wedding celebration was perfect.
Scott is a dear friend of Todd's, dating back to college.
And we LOVE Amanda!
It is going to be fun getting to know her even better in the coming years.

The event was kow key enough for us to actually socialize,
but nice enough to play dress up.


Love for Amanda & Scotty G!!!
Congrats to the newlyweds!!!


I had to get a photo in the dress!
I never get to wear a dress :)


Sometimes I forget I'm an adult,
someone that needs that adult stimulation.
Being w/ the kids all the time is fabulous but even
this momma needs some time away.
AND even better w/ my hunny & our friends!

Sofi & Gabi's First Haircut

We absolutely adore Gina.
Not only b/c she has a great disposition
and loves kids and that the kids love her back...

SHE MAKES HOUSE CALLS!

Yep, you read right.
No need to take the monsters to a local salon.
She comes over in the comfort of our home.

Gina also does my hair.
As a matter of fact,
if she didn't come over to the house,
my hair would still be 1 color & probably 4 inches longer.

Why?

Cuz, I ain't leavin' the house to get my hair did.
With Gina coming home,
I simply do not have an excuse.

And since it was time for Ian to get a summer cut,
I had her trim up the girls' hair as well.
Now, let me tell you,
the girls reacted w/ squeals & literally jumping up & down.

Ian, on the other hand,
he promptly found Daddy's big blankie
and hid underneath.

Our strategy?
Cut the girls' hair first so he could see
that it doesn't hurt.

Thankfully, it worked.
No one shed a tear!

Sofi wanted to be first.
No surprise there.


Does this face say it all?!?
She's just like her momma.
I love to get my hair cut!
Makes me feel GOOD.


Then Miss Gabi got to sit in the hot chair.
She was mostly concerned about her pig tail.
She didn't want it cut.
But in the end, her whole head of thin hair got a trim.


Gabi maintained that stoic look on her face
throughout the whole haircut.
She still enjoyed it!


Compared to any other time he has had a haircut,
this is such a relief to see the joy in his face.


Overall, a great experience!
Can't wait for the next time around.

THANK YOU GINA!

Visiting Tio & Tia

We finally did it.
We took the kids out of town.
Albeit, a short trip for the morning,
but a trip out of town none the less.

It only took a little bit of planning on our part.
The night before, I packed everything up.
Sunscreen, bug spray, Benadryl, Motrin,
bandaids, snacks, cups for drinking,
a spare change of clothes, books,
crayons, coloring books, &
a few other mommy/daddy essentials.

Once the kids woke up,
we just did our normal morning routine.
Changed in to clothes, breakfast,
bathroom, & then last minute checks started.

I was shooting to get us out of the house by 8:30
and we managed to leave 15 minutes earlier.
IMPRESSIVE.

They were very well behaved.
I couldn't believe it.
It had to be the Dr. Seuss audio books.
No DVD player for us!

The kids had a blast.
Tio & Tia also had a good time.
I can't wait to go again.

The kids were definitely all cozy!


Once we got there, we checked out Tia's garden.
Mommy had garden envy.
I learned a lot from Tia.
Can't wait for the fall to arrive
so I can plant green beans & snap peas!

Tia taught the kids how to take off the snap peas.
Ian & Sofi ate a few right there on the spot!




Then it was time to walk to Sam Houston's museum/park.
It was only 1 block away from Tio's house.
Ian LOVES being on Tio's shoulders.
Course, it helps that Tio is 6'2".


Family photos are getting easier!
The kids set right up for this one.


And they were just as cooperative w/ Tio & Tia!


Tio & Tia have TONS of energy.
They ran around w/ the kids for a good 15 minutes in this field.


There are quite a few more pics,
like over 100.
Some were of me practicing photog skillz.
I'll share those in a separate post.
BUT, I had to share the best of the photos on the trip!

Mother's Day Festivities

What a fabulous day!
I got to wake up late.
Have breakfast in bed w/ my 3 munchkins.
Got some new pj's that are super comfy.


Minnie Mouse if you are wondering.
From Gabi cuz she has a Minnie fascination.
AC/DC from Sofi.
Cuz it had serious rock bling on it.
And my Sofi is all about being girlie.

Ian?
A pair of headphones for my computer.
Totally a boy gift.

Loved it all.
Can't forget the flowers I got from my hubs.
Awe!!!

I got to lounge around in bed until 2pm.
Then I had to get dressed for the afternoon festivities.

CRAWFISH BOIL!!!!

I haven't eaten mud bugs since before I was preggers.
This was a treat!
Bill cooks the best mud bugs ever.

The whole family, minus my bro & his fiance, showed up.
It was a beautiful day!


All my kids wanted to show off their balancing skillz.




Todd's mini me.
They even have the same stance.


Watching the mud bugs racing!


Sofi's had a bit of an attitude.
Ian's won in the end!


Sofi's mud bug gave me an opportunity to
practice w/ my lens.
I didn't touch up the next few photos at all.



Getting pissy once again w/ Todd.
Hehe...


And best of all,
my Mommy made it.
If it weren't for her strength,
I would not be the mommy I am today.

If you think it gets easier...

It really doesn't.
It gets different.

The hardest part having triplets
was by far the night feedings.
Especially when the hubs goes back to work
and you have to fly solo.
(And then pump afterward.)

There is nothing that could match that difficultly,
except when Ian was in the hospital.
That was super duper hard.
And emotionally draining.

Then things evened out a bit.
But not for long.
It seems like w/ every road bump,
there comes another after.

We have hit the terrible 3's.
Lord help us.
It ain't been pretty around these here parts.
The attitudes just flat suck.

The no's.
The answering back.
The refusing to apologize.
The brutality between one another.

I could go on.

Here is our most recent sibling to sibling combat wound...


I wish I could get a photo of his teeth
but he doesn't like me touching his mouth.
My poor boy.
He's been on a soft food diet since Saturday.

I don't know if you can really see,
but his whole left (right in the photo) side of
his face is swollen.

Let's call it one running shove,
sneakers on wood floor (traction),
and no way of breaking the fall.

Teeth & left side of head met the floor.
Very intimately at that.

The damage?
Not sure yet but from what we can see,
he had 2 teeth pushed up in to his gums a bit,
and one of them pushed back.
1 super fat lip/gum/nose/cheek/eye area.
Butt loads of blood.
And one very pathetic looking boy.

Not gonna name names.
I love my girls.
But man, if she does it again...