Vacation 2008

GO CUBS!!!!!

Wrigley Field 9/1/2008

Happy Birthday, Courtney (9) Lindsay (6) and Zack (4)

Check out these pirates! AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH, MATEY!!! We had a lot of fun with this party. It was hard to convince Courtney to have a "pirate" party but once she gave in to the idea, she had a blast. Their cousins came dressed in costume, too and joined us in a "Treasure Hunt".

Happy Birthday, TRIPS! 2 years old!

We can hardly believe it! They are so much fun but continue to be a lot of work. We will all be happier when they can communicate with us better. We moved them to Toddler beds and that was a nightmare(literally). We were up for 4 hours one night putting them back to bed. WOW! I felt like they were newborns again...only that was easier because at least then when we put them back to bed they would stay there! I was begging Kevin to put the cribs back together at 3 am... I was so desperate... but like always we made it through.

Happy New Year

2008 is here and we can hardly believe it. The "trips" will be 2 years old in April. Currently they are 20 months old, just one month older than little Zack was when they were born. He was just a baby himself and he had to grow up so quickly. He was in his big boy bed at this age, but we are not even thinking about big kid beds yet. The first reason being, mommy is so sad at the thought of putting away our crib and secondly, we can't imagine the chaos of 3 curious, unattended toddlers in their room all alone. I'm afraid of who or what I might find where.

Family pictures 2007

17 month old Toddlers

Toddler time out ( a daily ritual)!!!!

Perhaps you have heard the Toddler rules of possession... if not let me remind you.

1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my hand, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must NEVER appear to be yours in anyway.
6. If I'm doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it looks just like mine, it is mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
10. If it's broken, it's yours.

Having 3 toddlers in our house I have discovered a few more of their rules. Mind if I share?

1. If it is on, I must turn it off.

2. If it is off, I must turn it on.

3. If it is folded, it must be unfolded.

4. If it is a liquid, it must be shaken then spilled. If it is a solid, it must be crumbled, chewed,

then smeared into the carpet.

5. If it is plugged, it must be unplugged.

6. If it is not trash, it must be thrown away. If it is in the trash, it must be removed, inspected,

then thrown on the floor.

7. If it is closed, it must be opened. If it will not open, it must be screamed at.

8. If Mommy's hands are full, I must be carried.

9. If Mommy is in a hurry and wants to carry me, I must walk alone.

10. If it is paper, it must be torn. If it is toilet paper, it must be unrolled on the floor.

11. If it is on my tray, it must be dropped on the floor.

12. If it is food, it must not be tasted.

13. If it is not food, it must be tasted.

14. If it is dry, it must be made wet with drool, milk, or toilet water.

15. If it is a carseat, it must be protested with an arched back.

16. If you are a sibling, you must be bitten at least once a day. Lay off MY things!

If I understood these rules, I would perhaps be the world's greatest mommy. However, I have come to accept that I will never figure them out. So, for now, while I try to get through each frustrating day, I will cherish these times because they will soon pass. My babies wont be babies anymore and I will be wanting to trade those teenagers (with a whole different set of problems) for babies once again.

Here are a few pictures to offset my negative comments. They really are precious children and I wouldn't trade them (or my crazy life) for the world. Also, a picture of the "big kids" All of whom celebrated birthdays last month. Courtney -8 Lindsay -5 and Zack 3. Where has the time gone?