My Little Cupcakes

My sweet little helpless babies are nowhere in sight. I now have outgoing and energetic toddlers who want to do things themselves, make decisions on their own and mimic all things grown-up. Recently, at Grant's 2nd birthday party, sweet Mommy Dana let each kid pick out his/her own cupcake. It was so cute watching all of the young toddlers make such a big decision. While some contemplated the decision, mine took just a few moments to decide and then made their choice with confidence: Hayden= pink icing with colorful sprinkles; Payson= chocolate with chocolate sprinkles; Madison= bright yellow with colorful sprinkles. Their choices fit each of their individual personalities perfectly.

Despite the awful bacteria infection we picked up one year ago at a friend's petting zoo, we have managed to put it past us enough to allow the kids to participate in petting zoos. But, we follow up with about three rounds of hand sanitizer afterwards and eventually a hand and arm wash down in the sink!

Hayden was shopping at home, pushing the grocery cart with one hand and pulling the baby doll stroller with the other. Hmm... sounds familiar! Did she appreciate the difficulty of it? Not exactly. Although, she did run into some frustrating and tangled up moments. If only her stroller were 150 pounds of toddler and stroller like mine is!

My precious baby dolls and loving husband showered me with love, presents and flowers leading up to and the day of my birthday. Hayden helped deliver a present nearly as big as she is!

We started to open the present together when Madison realized "Miley" wasn't there to help. We had to put the present on hold and wait for Madison to go find her baby doll (seen here sitting in her lap).

We also celebrated my 30th birthday with my family, and the cousins enjoyed eating BBQ together.

And big cousin Avery took Payson for a spin in her Jeep.

My little model, Hayden, swinging at Logan's 2nd birthday party.

Luke and Payson played at their buddy Logan's party.

The triplet's friend Charlotte fit right in with our crew that day with her coral and pink dress and her blonde curly locks. The kids loved their birthday party cupcakes. Hayden finished hers in less than 5 minutes and Madison nibbled on hers for nearly 45 minutes! Whoever heard of a cupcake babysitting a child? She began with little licks of icing off her finger until all of the icing was gone and then she slowly ate one crumb at a time to complete her sweet treat.

I have found an excellent activity for the kids to do that also helps Mommy. After I wash the grapes, I have one of the kids pick all of the grapes off the stem and put them in a bowl. They LOVE to do it and Hayden's favorite part is taste testing them.

Payson playing peekaboo with a box over his head. Love that smile! As I type this, Payson is looking over my shoulder at these two pictures saying, "Two Paysons!"

Hello 30's!

I'm 30! My sweet and amazing husband rented out a hip little sushi restaurant in our neighborhood and invited some of my close friends to come celebrate with me.

The Party Planner (I'm so proud of you, babe!) and the Birthday Girl.

Keith taste-tests the delicious cuisine.

I had friends from all different areas of my life come to celebrate me which was so special. Here are my HBS girls...

...and the HBS boys.

Some friends from my neighborhood playgroup dropped by...

...as well as a few of my fellow triplet Mommas!

Here I am with some good friends who have twins. It was quite impressive that so many of my friends were able to get out of the house with young kids at home.

Cristi and I were so impressed with Morgan and Brian (high school buddy) coming out to celebrate with their precious newborn in tow.

Keith picked out such a fun and tasty cake!

It's official!

The HBS crew helps me close down the party.

Thanks, Keith, for a super fun party and thanks to all of my friends who helped make it special!

XOXO

New Tents!

And, no, I'm not talking about camping tents but crib tents! A lot of my friends don't know what they are, but my mom-of-multiples homegirls sure do! The topic of crib tents has come up many times over the last six months. While we have had some issues with Madison climbing out of her crib, it was only an occasional issue and we had a few tricks to discourage it. Now, when Hayden decided that she wanted to start climbing out of her pack 'n play, it threatened Mommy's sanity. I recall one afternoon when I had to put her back in 20+ times. I was so irritated and eventually fell asleep on the floor outside of her room.

Once she started climbing out at bedtime, Madison joined in the fun. After several tough evenings, Keith was home alone with the kids and decided to let them play in their room or do whatever freely so they could feel the pain of being tired the next morning. He said they played, giggled and had a blast (all while Payson slept amongst 15 books they had thrown into his crib during their party). By 9:15 pm they were whining for Daddy to come put them to bed. Guess who had to deal with two grumpy and irrational girls the following day? Me!

So, that day, out of desperation, I loaded up the kids, and we went to the store to buy three crib tents. I installed them immediately. I was a little worried that they'd be scared to be zipped in, but they actually liked it!

Payson has been a good boy and although he climbs out occasionally, he stays in when I tell him to. So he doesn't have his crib tent yet which works out well because when he is in his sisters' cribs he has been terrified to have it zipped up.

In other April news, we had our final music class of the semester and the kids ended on a high note with the parachute. Kids love that thing!

The other day I was carrying my bag when Payson ran towards me and said, "I get it." What a little gentleman! (Even if it was simply because he wanted to look through it!)

I love pictures showing contrast like this one with Madison wearing her butterfly wings and playing with a dump truck.

The kids are starting to smile for the camera and here Madison flashes a big one with Daddy.

My friend Amanda encouraged me to teach the kids to use a knife. I had been hesitant for obvious reasons but thought her advice to let them cut their bananas with a butter knife was a great idea. The kids love it and it is that much less prep work for me!

With friends moving we decided to have a HBS/BCG barbecue. It's always so fun getting everyone together to catch up!

April brings such delightful weather around here, and we were able to take advantage of it one Saturday with a trip to the zoo. Here are the kids observing the ostriches and kangaroos.

We got lucky with an up close look of a tiger chewing on a bone just inside the viewing window.

This little video catches Hayden trying to keep up with the big lizard as he walks along the inside of the glass.

Picture Perfect Easter

This is my new favorite photo. We took the kids to cousin Avery's soccer game and got this cute shot of Hayden, Payson, Addison, Avery and Madison looking back at the camera. Love it!

After the game we loaded up all five kids in the grandparents' car to take them back to their house. What a treat for us big kids! Keith and I enjoyed a matinee that afternoon and dinner that evening... and even fit in a workout in between! Back at Camp Cooper the kids dyed Easter eggs, had an egg and spoon race, fed a horse and did all sorts of fun things!

The next day after church we met up at the great-grandparent's house for Easter Sunday. Madison threw quite a fit soon after we arrived. She stripped down to her bloomers, pushed over a stool and then spent some alone time pulling herself together outside. We made several attempts to bring her back inside but she would yell at us to go back in until eventually she was ready to join the rest of us. I must say she was pretty cute standing out there quietly and all alone trying to work through her bad attitude.

Soon after lunch the egg hunt was on! Hayden trotted down the front steps with her new bunny rabbit in her hand ready to find sugary food!

Madison spotted a blue egg in the large flower pot.

Hayden was munching on a Peep when I caught her in the act of (drum roll, please)... SHARING! She not only offered Madison a bite of her Peep but she gave her the whole thing! (I guess even toddlers know that Peeps taste terrible!)

Is this the perfect Easter egg hunting grass or what? Grandad had groomed the most beautiful green grass and must have had the genius idea to let it grow a little extra for Easter. The eggs nestled perfectly between the blades just enough to cause four toddlers to have to search a little bit harder!

Madison tenderly admiring her pink hippo egg.

By now it was way past naptime but we still somehow managed to get a decent shot of all of the kids together.

And what better way to come down off of a sugar high than to eat more sugar?

Anticipating Easter

The last Saturday of March we had been invited to three big Easter events and had worked out our schedule to attend two of them. The kids had just gotten over a virus and were ready to get out of the house. Apparently, they weren't as rested and ready as I thought. Due to poor quality sleeping that week, we had split them up that night into three separate rooms. The kids are always up by 7:30 am so I was shocked when Hayden, Payson and Madison woke up at 8:45, 9:45 and 10:00 respectively. We missed all of our events but had a great homemade brunch and playtime at the park instead.

But, do not fret, we had lots of fun Easter events ahead. Up first was an Easter egg hunt with my MOPS group. Despite the eggs filled with jawbreakers (that I, of course, had to take away from the kids), it went well. Here they are peeling stickers as chocolate drips from their mouths.

Next was a playdate we hosted for some friends in our stroller workout class. Mom Chelle was so kind to let each of the triplets hold a baby for their very first time! They were so sweet and gentle with precious baby Emerson.

That evening we went to a Spring Fling at my mom's nursing home. Although the kids loved the Easter bunny from afar, they weren't so interested in getting up close (surprise, surprise!) A large basket of chocolate lured the kids over to where the Easter bunny was sitting which was a really big deal but the photographer failed to get him in the shot. Ah well!

We had a great time running around, playing, listening to music, eating dinner and enjoying ice cream sundaes. Madison slurped down every last drop of her melted ice cream.

My nieces were there for the fun too.

The next day we went to a playdate with other moms of multiples that included an indoor egg hunt. I learned very quickly that less is more when it comes to stuffing Easter eggs for toddlers! We had several near meltdowns and Hayden made several attempts to eat chocolate with the foil still wrapped around it!

Pops and Nunie offered to take the kids overnight and we, of course, accepted! So we celebrated Easter at home a day early. The kids came downstairs in the morning to find three full Easter baskets full of goodies, a toddler-sized grill and some fun sand box toys. I have the perfect video of Payson running up to the grill and exclaiming, "Whoa! Whoooa!" It was the reaction that gift-givers dream about!

Hayden was stoked about her first pair of gardening gloves!

Payson loves all kinds of vehicles and was thrilled to get a Percy train in his basket. He carries it everywhere!

Daddy Rabbit getting a kiss from Hayden Bunny.

Payson and Madison grillin' up some mean burgers.

After the kids played with their new toys we ate a yummy breakfast and headed outside with baskets in hand for their egg hunt. This is the only shot I was able to get of all three together!

It wasn't long before the baskets were left behind and the kids were going from egg to egg, opening one, eating the treat inside, throwing it on the ground and running to the next one. I anticipated this so, in an effort to avoid tummy aches, I filled each egg with simple treats such as a single animal cracker or fruit snack.

As the egg hunt came to an end Madison was thrilled to find one more egg with an animal cracker tucked inside.

We sure had fun!