March Madness

We've had a busy and fun spring so far. We've seen both snow and 80 degree weather this month, so our activities have been quite varied. Here's an update on the second half of March.

We pulled out the bunny ears for Easter and the kids loved looking at their reflection in the fire place glass.

I was putting groceries away when I heard a lot of clinking from across the kitchen. Payson had led the crew in lining up all of our spoons from the utensil drawer. The kids are now tall enough to reach all sorts of exciting things that were previously out of reach.

We are loving getting back outside. Sidewalk chalk is a new source of entertainment... even if it does only last 10 minutes.

Last year, we used this trampoline as a temporary ball pit before we got our current one. The trampoline has been packed away and we finally brought it back out. The kids love it!

Cousins Avery and Addison came over to play and my sister-in-law, Negeen, and I were amazed at how they sat so nicely together for a solid 10 minutes while eating dinner. Slowly but surely, they are becoming more independent.

We spent St. Patty's Day playing at the park with about 10 other sets of toddler multiples. There was a flurry of green-clad munchkins!

That afternoon, I decided it was time to introduce the kids to frozen yogurt for a special holiday treat. I take them out by myself nearly every day, but have never taken them out to eat alone. It wasn't easy, but it was a success!

Hayden finished her dessert first (surprise!), and then went around begging Payson and then Madison for bites. Madison was sweet to oblige.

Keith's office had a March Madness party, so we took the kids to experience the high life.

Dallas skyline

The kids loved their first experience drawing on a giant white board.

Daddy's office

We hosted our dear friends, Robin and Andy, for dinner. Charlotte and the triplets just adore each other and Madison, of course, loves baby Spencer.

Lunchtime with our multiples playgroup continues to improve and this time we were short two kids, so they all sat together at the kitchen table. They're all just getting so big!

During playtime, Madison had her cell phone in one hand and her laptop in the other when she said, "I go to work just like Daddy does." She headed towards the back door where Keith exits in the morning and wanted me to open it. I asked her, "What are you going to do once you're in the garage, baby girl?" Too cute.

Madison and Payson have gotten closer the last few weeks and

Madison sometimes mothers him a little bit. Here she put her arm around him and patted his back as they watched Mickey.

We have started having tea parties (my little babies are growing up!) and Madison is the perfect host, delicately pouring tea for each of her guests.

Springtime!

Spring is unofficially here and we took advantage of our first beautiful Saturday by spending the day outdoors at the arboretum. Our first stop was on the bridge overlooking the pond full of big and colorful koi fish.

Next we headed to the little replica structures that made up a mini Texas town. The kids especially loved this fort-like house.

Inside were baskets and little tin bowls and cans that kept the kids as busy as bees. They cooked and cooked using little rocks and pebbles they found as play food.

Madison's favorite was the little red school house. She made a perfect little school girl and was being sweet as ever as she flipped through the book.

A larger pioneer house had all sorts of exciting old cookware. The old tin teapot was especially interesting as they have become more and more fond of having tea parties with their dolls and stuffed animals lately.

Madison swings her legs as she sits on the perfect toddler-sized bench on the front porch.

Snack time! The kids all sit cooperatively together on a little bench to take a break and eat a snack. It's always important to incorporate snack time at home and on outings to help make everyone happy and less prone to meltdowns!

Sooners in training!

Daddy and Payson playing chase in the grass. It didn't take long for the girls to join in the fun!

It was extremely difficult getting a picture of our three active 2-year-olds all together until they came upon twin newborns having their pictures taken. The triplets were frozen in time as they observed the precious babies.

Grandma was there for the fun and we all enjoyed a picnic together in the park.

After lunch, the kids found entertainment by watching a squirrel eat his lunch. But as they got to close he darted into the bushes. The kids then used their sticks to attempt to lure him out of the bushes. It worked but he went the opposite way!

Mommy and Grandma enjoying the bright yellow daffodils.

Check out Madison's expression as she intensely smells the flower. Smelling flowers is hard work for a toddler!

We finished the morning by playing in the water before heading home for naps. What a beautiful day it was!

Thomas

This weekend we took the kids to see Thomas the Tank Engine. Pops and Nunie came too and the kids had a blast participating in all of the activities. We spent several hours there and had to keep moving the kids along because they so much enjoyed each exciting activity. We could have stayed longer had we not run into the "I'm becoming moody and demanding because it's almost nap time" stage of the day. What? My kids? Never!

Here's how we spent our morning:

Playing in the sandbox. Filling the dump truck and pouring it out with a "Whoosh!" just like in the book we read at home.

Petting the pig and other animals in the petting zoo. Payson especially loved the grooming brush and even tried to groom the chickens, who, by the way, wanted nothing to do with that.

Checking out the poor pink-haired pony that was also painted with purple hearts.

Eating a funnel cake with an alarming amount of powdered sugar (which the kids and grandparents loved! Review our trip to the fair for more proof!)

And eating mustard. I mean, a pretzel with mustard.

Watching model trains go 'round and 'round. Payson could have stayed in there forever!

Getting Percy tattoos. (Love those eyes!)

Playing with the train sets.

Taking the kids' on their first train ride...

...where they sat perfectly on their bottoms... for at least the first three minutes.

And, finally, attempting to get a family shot with Thomas. Pops questioned openly in front of the kids if there was a "real" dressed-up Thomas character around somewhere. Geeze, why don't you tell them there's no Santa Claus too? (Just teasin' Pops!)

Imitating

Three weeks ago Hayden saw her cousin who is 8 months older use the potty. In that moment she decided that she too would use the potty from then on. She stripped off her diaper and requested panties. (Seriously!) Ever since then we have been officially potty training Hayden. Panties when awake, Pull-Ups when asleep. She is doing well, but it's certainly a work in progress. I'll save you the details but I can say that it was most definitely easier to have her in diapers!

The kiddos' desire to be like Mommy and Daddy has kicked into high gear. They repeat what we say, get into everything we own and mirror our actions. They continue to be little helpers and like to help check the mail, take out the trash, set the table, sort laundry, etc.

Madison was the only one awake the other day while I was getting ready. She laid out her blanket on the bathroom floor and sat on it with her computer in her lap while playing with her Princess cell phone. What? Mommy or Daddy on the computer and phone at the same time? Never! I don't know where she gets that!

Another day, she hung some bags over her stroller handles, threw a purse over her arm and declared that she was shopping! It made me laugh out loud.

We still participate in a stroller workout class, and we often sing songs to the kids or name off various sequences while we workout. For example, the other day at dinner, Madison started saying the months of the year perfectly in order, "January, February, March..." I was floored! I knew that we said them at stroller class, but I didn't realize that they were listening or retaining it! One of my exercises is to stand on an elastic band and do squats. In this picture I caught Hayden as she was using a beaded necklace as a resistance band and squatting repeatedly while saying, "Sunday, Monday, Tuesday..." all the way through the days of the week. Again, I laughed out loud at her perfect imitation of me!

The kids now love to "read" to us, each other or their baby dolls. Here is Hayden sitting in the chair holding the book facing out and reading like I do at bedtime.

On this day, the kids were serving their baby dolls a meal. The girls had typical food items for their babies: bread, peas, bacon, pie. I cracked up when I saw what Payson was sharing with his doll. Sure there was a waffle and slice of bread but there was also a pan, potato masher, Hot Wheel and bowl of magnetic letters. I love that he shows his gentle side by feeding the doll but that he can't help but to be all-boy in the way he does it!

This story cracks me up. (As you can tell, we have lots of humorous moments in the Melker house!) I was asking Hayden who each of her Sesame Street characters were and she had named about five of them correctly. When I asked who this guy was, she said "Jesus!" I have no idea why, but at that moment, Ernie got to be Jesus.

We continue to meet with a playgroup that consists of three sets of twins and our triplets. The kids are really starting to develop and group lunch definitely gets the award for most improved activity. It was amazing to see nine toddlers sit still and eat for a solid block of time... and eat (mostly) food off of their own plates! Sure, this skill is learned in a Mothers' Day Out or preschool setting, but for nine kids who aren't in these kinds of programs yet, I say we are doing pretty good!

It's common to have three happy toddlers on my hands just before it's time to cook dinner. But as soon as I step in the kitchen, fights break loose, the begging to be held begins and my attempt at making a decent meal is completely sabotaged. Out of desperation I pressed play on the DVD player and up popped "My Favorite Pets," the kids second favorite show after "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse." Although this moment didn't last long, it did last for, well, a moment. Hayden is usually the first to hop off the couch after watching for just a few minutes, followed by Madison. Payson is mesmerized by the TV and could easily watch a full Disney movie or two if I let him!

It is time to sell our RunAbout stroller, so I decided to get a few pictures of the kids in it before it is gone. We still have our Mountain Buggy Urban Triple and our beloved Choo Choo Wagon, but with the kids walking more and more these days, we simply don't have a need for it.

My multiples group had our annual gala this month and we had a blast hanging out with friends and playing Black Jack. I started playing for fun with my family when I was five, so I always have a blast playing, especially with play money. We did win a raffle item with the chips we turned in, so that was fun!

Here I am with my good friend Teryn, Mommy to triplet boys and their big sister. What a treat it was for us all to get a night out with our friends and husbands! Thanks Pops and Nunie for taking the kids!

Finally, I hope you enjoy my last three Dallas Morning News Mom's Blog posts:

Why playgroups matter

Partnering with your spouse

Choosing the "best" Mother's Day Out and preschool programs for triplets