Tag Archives: summer

July 25, 2012 · 10:46 pm

A Small Summer Victory

We have been keeping busy!  Playing outside, water guns, baby pools, sandboxes.  Keeping cool in the basement.  Race car races, pillow fights, puzzles.  Jaden and I have gotten into playing with playdough while the babies are napping.

In all honesty it’s taken me a while to adjust to my new Summer Stay at Home Mom role.  I don’t care what you say, it’s totally different having the triplets AND a six year old at home.  I constantly feel torn.  Jaden wants to pretend a bomb is going to blow up while the triplets are fighting over the blocks.  So I quick try and save Logan from being bit, and keep up with Jaden and give him the attention he needs (and frankly deserves).  I just feel torn … always.  Nap time I even feel torn between resting and taking some time to myself and getting some one-on-one time with Jaden.

Yesterday morning, I had a rejuvenating moment … I made up a game that ALL THREE boys enjoyed playing!  It was a very special few hours when all four of us were on the same page!  Everyone listening!  The babies and I would set up a tower of blocks and then Jaden would wined up a car and let it fly into the tower.  Sometimes he would knock it over and others he missed totally.  But every time I yelled “clear the lanes!” the babies would scatter and let Jaden race his car across the dining room.  Then one of them would get the car and return it to Jaden while the other helped rebuild the tower.  It was a small but well celebrated morning.

Made me feel inspired and motivated to seek out more activities we can all do together.

Love, Mel

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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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March 26, 2012 · 8:47 pm

We survived our trip to the zoo!

Two weeks ago (when it was just about 80 degrees outside!) I took all three boys to the zoo … by myself!  I’m not sure if I was brave or out of my mind!!  I was too terrified to take the triplets out of the wagon, so they just stayed strapped in the whole day.  They were pretty good about it … lots of stuff to look at I guess.

Jaden was pretty good too.  He liked being the big brother and being able to make all the choices.  I pretty much let him lead us all around for the day.  We saw the fish, tigers, monkeys, lions, bats … you name it Jaden took us to see them.

The greatest part?  We SURVIVED!!  And I think could do it again.  It’s a little hard to sneak in a zoo visit while Jaden is in school (we either run into nap time or we wouldn’t get home in time to get Jaden off the bus).  BUT this summer, when I’ve got all three boys all day long (I’m tired just thinking about what it’s going to be like) the zoo is going to be a savior!  Can the zoo be voted best mom of the year?

Love, Mel

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb

That face pretty much sums up Jaden …

All I asked for was one picture of them all … and they are all looking in a different direction!

Jaden walked around the entire zoo – I thought I’d be a nice mom and let him ride to the car – all three boys all together.   Makes this mom smile ear to ear :)

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April 19, 2011 · 11:40 am

Did I only dream of nice weather?

Spring is such a tease. I want you .. I hate you … I need you … I’m leaving!  Come on spring, let’s make nice and have you stay for good!

The weather today is snowing, hailing, cold and wet.  And to think only last week the weather was gorgeous and I had all the kids outside in the back yard to enjoy some sunshine.  These photos seem like a dream now …

Jaden and his friend Timmy who lives across the street.

The triplets trying out the big boy stroller

This summer is going to be a blast outside.  A few things to get done before summer: buy the patio set, get zoo pass, inventory of Jaden’s summer clothes, figure out what clothes of mine really fit, buy stay-at-home mom shoes (my pumps don’t really cut it), get kiddie pool, plant garden, sign Jaden up for t-ball … I’m getting tired from this list already!!

What”s on your it’s-time-to-get-ready-for-summer list?

Love, Mel

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February 22, 2011 · 6:00 am

A Day in the Life

When talking with Doug tonight he made a comment that he thinks I spend 8 hours a day on the computer. HA! Yeah right!  But it made me realize that unless you live it, you probably don’t know what a day in the life of Melissa is like.  So I thought I’d do my best to give some insight on what goes on in the Bissing household all day.

*****

6:00 am — wake up, use the bathroom (otherwise you’ll have to wait until 9am!), make coffee, start warming up bottles and changing diapers

6:15 -7:15 am — feed babies while directing Jaden to eat breakfast and get dressed

7:15 – 7:45 am — pump

7:45 – 8:00 am — quick shower and get dressed

8:00-8:15 am — get Jaden dressed for the bus stop (snow pants, coat, hat mittens, backpack)

8:15 am — leave for the bus stop

8:23 am — bus picks up Jaden

8:25 am — back in the house

8:25 – 9:00 am — empty clean dishwasher, load bottles from night feedings, check email and blow dry hair

9:00 – 10:15 am — feeding again!

10:15 – 11:00 am — free time!  I fold clothes, read a book, clean up the kitchen, craft or more dishes – any of these is usually accompanied by a mid morning snack

11:00 – 11:30 am — pumping

11:30 – 11:45 am — load bottles from last two feedings in the dishwasher

11:45 – 11:55 am — leave for the bus stop and get the mail

11:55 am – 12:30 pm — make Jaden lunch and make sure he eats it.  I usually sit a the table with him and get the low down on his morning at school

12:30 – 12:50 pm — clean up lunch and hang with Jaden for a little bit

12:50 pm — Mom calls to check in for the day and let me know she’s on her way over!

1:00 – 2:00 pm — feeding time again,  Jaden grabs a blankie and cuddles up on the couch.  We usually watch Tom and Jerry cartoons.  Mom arrives at about 1:15-1:30 and jumps in to help with the feedings

2:00 – 4:00 pm — hang out time.  We do any of the following but usually only one of the following: bath time, laundry, play Nintendo/Wii, I run errands, doc appointments or on a rare occasion I sneak in a nap

4:00 – 5:00 pm — feeding time again

5:00 – 5:30 pm — I decide what I’m going to make for dinner and get Jaden started on his meal

5:30 pm — Doug gets home

5:30 – 6:00 pm — Doug gets settled from work, I finish dinner and Doug & I eat

6:00 – 7:00 pm — Jaden takes a shower/bath and gets his lotion on

7:00 – 7:30 pm — I brush Jaden’s teeth and we read two stories in his recliner chair in his room (same one I rocked him in when he was a baby!)

7:30 – 8:30 pm — chase Jaden back to bed while trying to feed the babies.  Doug and I have our shows playing in the background too

8:30 – 11:00 pm — Doug and I catch up on TV, I play farmville, clean up the kitchen for the night and put away the dinner dishes

11:00 pm — last feeding of the day!

12:00 am — Doug and I head off to bed

*****

There we have it!  A day in the life of Melissa Bissing.

What do you think?

All the triplet moms said how much they needed a schedule.  I thought in the back of my head, “schedules are great and all, but I don’t need that much structure, I like to to be flexible.”  Boy oh boy do I need my schedule!  When we wake up late, it ruins the entire day.  I struggle to get back on track.  I think it’s because there are so many balls in the air that must be caught (mainly getting Jaden to and from the bus stop).  If one thing is behind, it’s a snowball effect.  For example, if I don’t start pumping no later than 11:10 am, I am in serious trouble of being late in getting Jaden from the bus stop.  It’s really hard to understand unless you do it every day.  I know I had a hard time understanding the first few weeks I was actually living it.

I hope summer will bring some new and fun activities to add to our schedule.  The one nice weather day last week we took a walk outside was absolutely amazing!  Not feeling cluttered and feeling a little free outside was great.  I’m going to have Jaden outside as much as possible.  We are talking sprinklers, kiddie pools, sand box, swings, sidewalk chalk and bike rides.

Mom has off of school on Thursday and Friday of this week.  Looking forward to seeing what kind of trouble we can get into!

Love, Mel

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January 3, 2011 · 9:19 am

Bring on the New Year!

Happy New Year to all of our family and friends!  While I don’t think we’ll be able to top 2010 … here’s to another blessed year.

We spent New Year’s Eve at my parent’s annual party – complete with food, games and a white elephant raffle!  Doug and I made it to the finals in the pool tourney!  Not really sure how that happened … oh wait I do, the other team shot in the 8 ball – we got there with no skill of our own!  ha  Needless to say, we came in 2nd :)

Even the triplets were party animals!  I have to admit that I was laughing all by myself dressing up the babies.  I had a little baby party all by myself, snapping off pictures.

January 1st gets everyone thinking about what they’d like to improve for the new year.  But let’s be honest, I’m just trying to keep my head above water let alone try and improve something right now.  So rather than creating a resolution for 2011, I’m going to make a list of things I’d like to accomplish.  I’m keeping them simple to make sure they are something I could honestly obtain while raising triplets and a four year old.

  1. Make a Mommy Friend – Being a stay-at-home mom, I’m going to have to make an effort to be social now.  I get restless if I stay indoors for too long, so it shouldn’t be too hard to make play dates.  When I was working, all I had to do was walk over to someone’s cube for a little convo.  Now, a little bit more effort is needed.  My goal is to make a new mommy friend this year.  Someone who is in the same place in life as me and who can relate to being a new stay-at-home mama.  Ideally, I’d like someone who I can have play dates with – bring on the kidos!
  2. Keep Blogging - I’ve become fond of my blogging time and love that I can turn these crazy postings into a book for when the boys are grown.  Knowing that the year is only going to get crazier, I want to make sure I still take time to blog and post photos.  I’d also like to find new ways to get new readers.  I have just been posting a link to facebook and sharing by word of mouth.  Today I found a site called “Top Mommy Blogs.”  This site ranks other mom blogs like this one based on votes (reader clicks).  I’ve added a link to the right for readers to vote for me!  Come back and click on the link daily and my ranking goes up!
  3. So fresh and so clean - I’m talking good old water and soap.  Sounds small … but it’s a big deal!  With Jaden I could go a few days without showering because I’d rather be sleeping than anything else.  I’ve made it my goal to shower and get dressed everyday.  It makes me feel better.  For whatever reason, a pair of jeans makes me feel like a real person rather than being a mom in sweats all the time.
  4. Jaden’s Activity of Choice – I’d like to get Jaden into at least one class this summer and make this Mommy thing real!  I’ve never been able to do that with being a working mom.  Practice is always in the middle of the day and our weekends were precious, as it was our only time home.  I’m thinking he’d like T-Ball or maybe swimming.  It’s a goal of mine because I know it’d be SO much easier to just stay at home than pack up the kids and head off to a class or sport once a week.
  5. The Great Outdoors – I’m sort of a shut in.  I have barely met my neighbors because I’m always inside, even in the summer.  I’m going to make a point to spend more time outside.  Wether it’s dipping my feet in the kiddy pool, pushing Jaden on a swing or trying out my green thumb, I want to be outside more.  I’m thinking it’ll be good for the kids too – and my MILF tan wink wink although I’m going to pass on the two piece…

So those are a few of my 2011 to-dos.  Achievable and enjoyable.  Although I’m not sure I could accomplish more in 2011 than I did in 2010 … creating three little lives is a lot to live up to!

Love, Mel

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