Category Archives: Milestones

April 29, 2013 · 7:57 am

Logan Wasn’t Exactly Wrong

Last week the triplets and I spent almost everyday at church getting ready for the rummage. The first day they were pretty well behaved. I was able to work for hours getting everything sorted!! The second day they were still pretty good, but you could tell they were getting a little comfortable.

I was in the lobby sorting clothes and my friend, Jen, came out to tell me that Logan had taken his clothes off and was sitting on the potty saying “poo poo”. I jumped up right away — they aren’t potty trained yet! So I turned the corner ready to walk into the women’s bathroom when Jen turned right to enter the room where all the rummage toys were. I followed and found Logan!

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He wasn’t exactly wrong … I couldn’t exactly be upset. But boy oh boy was I embarrassed! Logan had tried to use the pretty pink potty all by himself …. Just in a potty that was for sale!!! I was thankful for two things at that very moment. 1.The boys might be out of diapers soon. 2.The church had bleach in the maintenance room!!

The rummage was a huge success! We sold a ton of stuff and made a ton of money for our ministry. And the potty sold :)

Love, Mel

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March 10, 2013 · 11:09 pm

Getting CrAzY at the McDonald’s Playland

My kids are nuts … we are talking banana crazy … do-wack-a-doos!

Doug and I took all the kids to the local McDonald’s for dinner and to run off a little steam.  The triplets are still just a little too little to get up in the tunnels on their own.  I usually end up having to get in there with him and help them up.  Weston has way more adventure in him than his little body can handle just yet.

Today was no exception.  The babies wanted to follow Jaden up to the slides but couldn’t quite pull themselves.  I start crawling in right away and Doug said “Ummm, Mel, the sign?  You must be between the ages of 5-12 … you are 29!!”  Does he know me?  I’m certainly 12 on the inside!  I just giggled and kept on climbing.  I embarrassed Doug – but more importantly … Mom of the Year Award over here please!

If I hadn’t been up in the tunnels with them, how would I have been able to take these cute pictures?

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It was just the three kids and I playing for the longest time – we had the whole thing to ourselves.  Jaden and I played hide and seek in the tunnels.  I actually hid in the slide (thanks to keeping my shoes on for traction – Doug pointed out that it was yet another rule broken).  We made a four person choo-choo down the biggest slide.  We practiced our tumbling in the open area up top.  I tickled all three boys to the point where you couldn’t understand them … it was the best time ever!

Logan and I came down the slide and Doug was shouting for me to get back up to the top.  In my head I was thinking “what did I do NOW?”  But I looked up and saw just a diaper butt running in the big open area up top.  Told you my kids were banana crazy!  Weston was the only one still in the tunnels and took the opportunity to strip down into just his diaper!

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ImageOf course I snapped a few pictures before trying to get him clothed again – come on – this is funny!  A part of me wanted to laugh out loud, the other to disciple and yet another part of me was jealous of how confident he was!  Only my kids would get naked in such a dirty place like the McDonald’s Playland!

I’m thinking after that stunt, Doug was a little happy that I was able to crawl up there and chase him down.  Needless to say it wasn’t an easy task.  He is much faster in those tunnels than my fat butt is.  It took a great deal of effort to tackle him and force him to get his clothes back on.  He was loving all the freedom a little too much!  I was just thankful he kept his diaper on!

Yep … my kids are “those” kids!

Love, Mel

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February 18, 2013 · 11:37 pm

Introducing Son #5

Logan has made a new best friend and lately he has been one of the family. I’ve got to be honest, I thought this was just going to be a day or two long interest … But we are going on a week and a half of this love affair!

Logan insisted on “Wee” being buckled in.
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Once at the grocery store, Logan tucked him into the front seat before climbing into the infamous car on the front of the cart.20130213-141541.jpg

The separation didn’t last long … 20130213-141550.jpg

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Logan’s turn on top!20130213-141616.jpg

Guess where we are …20130213-141627.jpg

That’s right! Woody even keeps Weston company on the potty!20130213-141635.jpg

iPad time – Woody was pretty agreeable and didn’t mind watching what the other boys wanted to watch.20130213-141647.jpg

Woody even has a chair at the dinner table. In fact, Logan took Jaden’s dinner plate and gave it to woody. You can imagine how that went over. 20130213-141658.jpg

I think it’s even cuter because Woody is the same size as Logan. Logan is so attentive to him … Super cute to see your baby pretending to take care of another “baby”. What isn’t so cute is how Weston has figured out that he can really get under Logan’s skin buy casually walking off with Logan’s BFF. So many fights … Add referee to my job description!

Love, Mel

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January 28, 2013 · 11:35 am

Monkey See Monkey Do

I don’t know about your kids but mine love to watch themselves on camera and look at pictures of themselves. Sometimes its fun to play with them :)

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November 16, 2012 · 10:18 am

Baby Tricks

The boys have a few words and tricks that they learned.  I find this video quite entertaining and I was excited I could get them to do most of their tricks right in a row!

Happy Friday! Hope this video makes you smile!

Love, Mel

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November 15, 2012 · 2:01 pm

Happy 2nd Birthday Triplets!

My “baby” triplet boys turned two this past Saturday (Nov 10).  I can’t believe it’s been two years … honestly, when you are a mom, where does the time go?  I spent the night before wrapping their gifts and decorating the living room for them.  When we got them up the next morning they rushed out into a room of balloons and instantly starting throwing them at one another.  The giggles were SO worth the effort the night before.

The very next thing I did that morning was light a candle for Owen.

Started the day off with doughnuts for breakfast!  They only eat the top of them off … smart :)

Doug’s parents came down from Green Bay to celebrate – the boys were really happy to see them!

Then it was present time!  And boy were they spoiled!

When Weston opened up some clothes, he just threw them to the side – we need to work on our “thank you” manners!

Logan’s CHEEEEESE face!

Doug & I got the boys a trampoline – hopefully it will help burn off some of their two year old energy this winter!

 

And of course there was cake!

Jaden had to show them how to blow out the candles and then there was no stopping them!

 

By 6:30pm the boys were tired out!  Having no nap and countless sugar highs and lows – both boys fell asleep in my arms.

Turning two is tiring stuff!  The boys are getting HUGE!  It was a great day … can’t wait to celebrate again with my side of the family this Saturday (after the Little Warrior event).

Love, Mel

 

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August 23, 2012 · 10:49 pm

An overdue update

I wish I felt more inspired to write these days. There are tons of thoughts, revelations and meditations all floating around in my head. They just don’t seem to want to flow to paper when I finally have time to blog. I usually feel inspired to write something profound after my morning shower (probably a little weird but true) or after I’ve read a chapter in a new book I’m reading, “Un-Glued”. Which I totally recommend to read … But more on that later.

I was thinking about how I was thankful that school would be starting up soon. I desperately miss the quiet two hours in the middle of my day while the babies napped and jaden was still at school. And then I thought about how much I would miss him after the first week or so. How with each year he gains more independence and he will be spending more and more time away from home. I reminded myself to find the strength to embrace these days, as crazy and stressful as they are, for one day they will be over. That doesn’t mean I don’t still look forward to the comfort of our old routine … I just need to take a few moments here and there over the next week to appreciate what I have.

Which reminds me … Jaden lost his first tooth the other night! I’d been begging him to just pull it for two weeks and it finally popped out when we were wiggling it in the mirror after we brushed teeth! He was so surprised that it didn’t hurt! His wide eyes when it all happened were priceless! He was even more excited when he found a dollar bill under his pillow the next morning from the Tooth Fairy!

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If only that still worked with adults! Just imagine if it only took someone hiding a dollar bill under your pillow for you to wake up with a smile on your face that would last all day. Imagine being so excited you had to tell everyone you came in contact with — Neighbors, Wal-Mart cashiers, bank tellers, barber, mailman, your boss … You name it! Well that’s what Jaden did at least …

Love, Mel

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July 17, 2012 · 1:41 pm

Watch Out I Bite!

We have a problem … Weston has learned to bite.  It started with Logan.  But he did it when he got overly excited … like he would run up and tackle you in a big hug and get carried away and bite into your arm.  Weston is a whole other story!  He bites when he gets mad!  It’s his way of fighting back with Logan.

I usually hear the blood curdling scream and find Logan in tears with a big, red, wet bite mark on his arm.  I’ve only seen it happen right in front of me a few times.  Picture this:  Logan is riding on a bike that Weston wants.  Weston tries to push Logan off which he can NEVER do considering he weighs a full 10 lbs less than him.  Then his eyes flare rage and he sinks his teeth into whatever flesh is closest.

I feel horrible!  I’ve been able to catch him before he bites only a few times.  (I’m starting to learn the look in Weston’s eye in order to stop him before it happens.)

Anyone else out there have biters?  How do I get him to stop??  Right now I put Weston in his crib for a minute or two every time he does it.  But we are going on two full days of this with no signs of learning.  Pretty sure Love & Logic would tell me to keep with it and he’ll learn … but gosh I’m afraid to take Logan out in public for fear that people will think I beat my children!  His arms are COVERED in bruises!

Love, Mel

ps.  I had another thought … do they make muzzles for toddlers???  ::kidding!::

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July 12, 2012 · 11:39 am

Mohawk

Jaden has been begging me for a Mohawk for almost six months. I told him we weren’t going to do it during the school year because I didn’t want his teachers to think he was a hooligan. He didn’t forget and the last day of school, he came home asking when he could get his hair cut. I suppose he was pretty set on it.

I couldn’t go back on my word. So one day this week, after the babies woke up from their nap, we called Cost Cutters to see how long the wait was. There was NO wait! That was our cue to jump in the car and get the hair cut of Jaden’s dreams. I only had two rules … 1. There had to be some hair on his entire head. We were not going to Bic the sides! 2. If he started to act like a punk, we would need to go back to a regular hair cut because I like my boys nice and sweet.

The before
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The after
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He had THE biggest smile on his face … It was worth every penny of the $15.

That night at his tball game, he kept looking at himself in the reflection of his friends sunglasses. Gently touching the top of his head to make sure it was still spiked. Then the next morning we woke up and the first thing he said was “Mom, do I still have my Mohawk?” Again, gently touching the top of his head. When I explained that he did and would every morning he woke up because that’s how his hair was cut. He was even more excited! “Cool mom its permanent!”

Needless to say, I think the Mohawk fits him well … But then again I’m pretty sure I think my kid is pretty darn cute all of the time. Ok, I’m a little biased!

Love, Mel

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June 7, 2012 · 1:03 pm

Jaden’s Branching Out from 4K

Today I was one proud mama.  I can’t believe my little, baby (ok almost 6 year old) Jaden graduated from 4K today.  Doug, his mom (Pam), my dad (Pa), the triplets and myself all attended his Branching Out ceremony.

The backdrop was super cute with a tree for each of the elementary schools the kids would be attending next year.  (In the Sussex Hamilton school district, all 4K classes are held in one school.)

Of course when the kids came on stage, all the parents went nuts waving and trying to get their kid to notice them.  Some even leaped out of their chairs … haha  Jaden found us after a bit of searching.  Pretty sure he was more excited to wave to his babies than me.  Oh well …

They started out the ceremony with showing us how well they can say the Pledge of Alligence.  Of course my kid is doing everything BUT saying the pledge.  Still love him thought :)

Then they sang some songs – which were delightful!

Then each child’s name was announced along with the elementary school they would be “branching out” to.  They each got to shake Dr T’s hand and pose for a great picture.  Gosh does it get any cuter than this??

ps I told him to tuck in his shirt!  blah!  boys …

Jaden & his locker!

Jaden has had an amazing two years at Willow.  His teachers (and all of the other teachers for that matter) have taught Jaden not only things like how to write his name and how to count to 100, but also how to be a friend and better person.  They have taught him manners and how to deal with his emotions (any other mom’s heard of Tucker the Turtle?).

Thank you Willow Springs for all of the gifts you have given Jaden.  He is a better kid because of you!

To Jaden – Mom is very proud of you!  You have come so far.  I remember last year when we were both crying as I was trying to get you to write your name on your valentines.  Now you color and draw for hours.  You can write your name clearly and know how to spell a few other words.  I couldn’t be prouder of the little (funny) young man you are growing up to be.  Keep being you because that’s who God made you to be!

Love, Mel

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