Did he just say Peter Parker?

The kids are really into super hereos.  Jackson is a Spiderman guy ... William prefers Batman ... and Addison is SuperGirl.  For a while, we were letting them watch some episodes of Batman and Spiderman on NetFlix.  Until we decided that they really were not great content for 4 year olds ...

During the short time they were watching Spiderman and Batman, they learned their real names ... Peter Parker and Bruce Banner.  For a time, the boys would even pretend that they were Peter Parker and Bruce Banner. 

One Sunday in church, our preacher was telling a story about another member of our congregation ... Buddy Parker.  As soon as he said Buddy Parker's name, Addison's eyes got big and she leaned over and said, "Did he just say Peter Parker?" 

She must have asked me at least 10 times if Peter Parker was at church with us that day!  She was very disappointed to learn that it was Buddy Parker ... and Buddy Parker was pleased to hear he had been mistaken for Spiderman!

Birmingham Parent Magazine

Sometime last spring, I entered the kids in the Birmingham Parent Magazine cover kids contest.  I sent a picture in, filled out a form and promptly forgot about it.  In early August, we were contacted and told that we were in the top 5 finalist for the "multiples" category!  While that was exciting news ... what I wasn't too excited about was that the winners would be determined by an on-line vote.

At this point, I figured that since we were a finalist, we should at least show up to have our picture taken.  Little did I know that I would love the photographer ... Amanda Traywik.   We had done our job well ... meaning we had adequately bribed the kiddos!  They were promised two things if they behaved, obeyed us and the photographer, and looked at the camera and smiled ....

1.  their own fruit roll-up (these are 3 feet long and we usually make them share :) )
2.  a ride on the carousel at the mall

And, needless to say, it worked.  The photographer was amazed that we were in and out in under 10 minutes.  The kiddos did EVERYTHING that they were asked to do ... and they had BEAUTIFUL, natural smiles!  All-in-all, once I saw the final picture, I decided that win or not, it was all worth the picture! 

This picture is definitely in my list of top 3 favorite pics of them of all time!  And, as an added bonus, we were given a free 5X7 of the picture.  Now, we need to get in touch with Amanda and purchase some additional copies for family for Christmas.

Oh, and we were notified last week that we won our category!  So, sometime next year, we will do another photo shoot (that will again be discussed with the kids weeks ahead of time and will have special bribes rewards for good behavior).  With any luck, we will end up with another great photo of the kiddos ... and it will be on the cover of the Birmingham Parent Magazine!

Thanks to all who voted for us!

Quenta

PS ... don't you think this is an EXCELLENT picture of the kids?

Chocolate Cake

This past weekend, I had a craving for chocolate cake.  When I was a kid, I was in 4-H and one of the activities that I participated in was baking.  I used to bake --from scratch-- a lot when I was younger ... well, honestly, right up until the time we had kids ... OK, maybe not a lot but some!  Since then, the only thing I've baked came from a box (not that the amazing , triple-chunk brownies Al  makes are bad :) )

So, I decided that I would make a chocolate cake this past weekend ... from scratch.  I remembered that when I was baking as a kid, my favorite chocolate cake was a chocolate mayonaise cake.  So, with the help of google, I found a receipe and made my cake.

It was good!  Not as good as the chocolate cake at my friend Laura's wedding ... but good nonetheless.  The icing was GREAT!  I made a chocolate, butter-cream icing from scratch as well.  Next time I'll double the receipe for that!  Now, needless to say the cake was enjoyed by all ... and was a treat for the kiddos.

One night, after dinner, we gave each of the kids a small slice.  Addison and William quickly ate theirs.  Jackson, as usual, took his time.  All of a sudden, he spit out something dark and hard.  Definitely not cake.  Al and I looked at him and looked at it ... and he said, "I got Chocolate on my Bubble Gum."

He had been eating the cake without taking the gum out of his mouth!  Did I mention the kids are really into gum right now?

Quenta

The end of an era

Well, we have reached that age ... the age where you can't really sneak anything by them.  It is the end of an era ... a good era.  But, I'm sure the beginning of a new one that is just as good!

The other night we were at the kitchen table after dinner.  Jackson had been having some ear problems (swimmers ear) and we had to put drops in his ear each morning and night.  I had just finished putting the drops in his ear when Addison walked up.

Addison:  Mommy, I want to watch you put drops in Jackson's ear.
Me:  OK sweetie (and I proceeded to pretend to put the drops in his ear)
Addison:  Mommy, why did you pretend it?
Me:  Uh ...
Daddy:  laughs hysterically

So, guess I won't be pretending it anymore!

Quenta

Hide and Seek

The kids love to play hide and seek.  The boys really just like to hide but then tell you where they are.  Usually they will hide somewhere (like under their bed) and the minute you walk in the room, they jump out and say "surprise!"  Addison is actually quite good at the game.  She can stay hidden for a long time and never make a peep.  But she never wants to hide alone ... she wants to hide with Mommy.

Tonight, we had a large box in our foyer.  The kids wanted to play hide and seek ... all three stated that they wanted to hide in the shower upstairs and wanted Mommy to come find them.  On their way upstairs, they noticed the box and decided to hide in it.

Meanwhile, I'm in the living room counting to ten.  Jackson starts yelling that they are not ready.  I can hear the three of them talking and I can tell that they are in the box together.  They are just trying to figure out how to get the box closed.  Soon, Addison calls out to me.  "Mommy, can you come close the box?"

I said back to her:  "Addison, if Mommy closes the box for you, I will know where you are hiding."

Long pause ... you can tell they are processing this information.

And then Addison says to her brothers, "Guys, I think we should hide somewhere else."

And they all get out of the box and head upstairs!

Too cute!

How was your day?

Every day, when I come home from work, I always ask the kids what they did that day. I go into it knowing what they did because I've received the update from Daddy when I called home during my lunch break or to let him know I was headed home. Even though I know what they did, I always like to hear the kids' take on it.

Up until recently, when I would ask the kids about their day, I would get the response from all three of "nothing." It didn't matter what they really did that day ... went to the grocery store, the McWane center, the YMCA, swimming, the zoo, etc. It didn't even matter how exciting their day was ... because sometimes I already knew that they got to pet a shark or a chinchilla or a sting-ray or a snake. I still got the "nothing" response.

I've grown to beleive in Al's theory: that each time the kids go to sleep and wake up, they think it is a different day. They really have a hard concept with time ... they get today, yesterday, tonight, this morning and tomorrow all mixed up. The other night we were driving back from Sam's club and we told the kids that they could have some icecream that night. They all started crying and saying they wanted some today. Al and I both kept telling them that tonight was today ... but they didn't get it. Suddenly, I said that tonight meant now. They all stopped whining and crying and William said "Oh, OK!"

Our kids still take a late afternoon nap. Typically they go down around 2pm and sleep until 4 or 5pm. So, I think that when I get home and asked them what they did today ... they think only of the time since they took their naps! And that is why I get a big fat NOTHING!!!

But lately, things are changing. When I ask how their day was, I actually get information about their day. The problem now is that they talk over each other and they all want to tell me the same things ... and they get really mad at each other if someone else tells what they want to tell.

And that is exactly what happened this evening! Today, Daddy took them to the science center (McWane) and swimming at Grandm Jack's pool. When I asked them how their day was, they all started talking about their time at the pool ... William told me about another kid who had a boo-boo ... Addison told me about someone who was nice to me ... and Jackson told me about what they found in the pool.  But when they get really excited to tell me something, sometimes they have a hard time spitting it out ... Jackson couldn't quite get his words right so William jumped right in to finish his story for him.  Needless to say, Jackson was NOT very happy about that!

After Jackson calmed down and realized that William hadn't really spoiled his story, Jackson finally told me what he wanted to say.  He said, "I found a gun and a ball in the dream."  Of course, he meant to say drain!!  Everytime he said dream, Al or I corrected him to drain ... but for some reason, he just could not say drain!  So we tried to get him to say words that rhymed with drain ... train, plain, brains (which sprarked a few "brains" in our best zombie voices).  And he could say all of those words with no problem.  After at least 15 attempts to say drain ... but intead saying dream.  Al and I were laughing so hard ... and Jackson finally got it right!

I love this age.  The kids are so funny ... so sweet and loving and innocent.  No wonder the Bible tells us that unless we change and become like little children we will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 18:3).  We are supposed to be teaching our children about God ... but I think I am learning more about God from them.
So many other funny stories to share ... when I have more time!
Quenta

The Moon

The kids received a moon night-light for Christmas this past year from my parents ... Mimi and Granddaddy. They love their moon and the triplet of the day gets to turn it on each night. The moon can be set to mimic the different phases of the moon but our kids just turn it on "full" each night.

The moon has a built-in timer and usually turns itself off after 30 minutes or so. Of course, this isn't nearly long enough to allow our trio to fall asleep. Typically, we are light-out at 9pm ... and typically we hear the last of our kiddos well after 10pm. It is really cute ... most nights! They all share a room ... the boys have a queen bed and Addison has a twin bed. William is always the first to go to sleep and Addison is always the last. Most nights, you will hear Addison shouting "wake up William! Wake up!" That part isn't so cute :)

Many nights, after we turn out the light and close the door, we have to make 2-3 return trips to their room. The first trip is usually prompted by Jackson calling out from the top of the stairs. He is usually crying about some injustice that William has done to him. "William hit me" or "William kicked me" etc. etc. etc. One great thing about Jackson ... he is almost always honest! He will tell you exactly what William did to him ... and what he did to William! We have found that these late night wresting matches leave neither part unharmed ... or innocent!

The other night during one such return trip, I noticed that the moon was barely glowing. Of course, the kids were quick to point it out to me too. Here is how the conversation went:

William: The moon needs new batteries.

Me: Well, we'll let Daddy do that tomorrow.

William: It is really easy. You just pull it off the wall and put new batteries in it.

Me: I understand William, but I think we'll let Daddy do that tomorrow.

William: Are you too tired to put new batteries in the moon?

Me: (very surprised) Yes, William, Mommy's too tired!

It still amazes me how perceptive they are now. You really can't get much by them! One day we were all laying on the boy's bed and Al and I were talking about where we wanted to go that afternoon. Al spelled Sam's Club ... and William piped up "I want to go to Sam's Club." For one horrible moment, I thought that William was actually learning to spell and I am not ready for that! We convinced ourselves it was just coincidence!

They are growing up so quickly! And yes, I'm stealing a photo from my husband's blog ... but then again, I did take the picture!

Quenta

Conversations Overheard

It is funny to hear the kids in conversation ... this morning, here is what Al overheard while Jackson and Addison were playing with the trains:

Addison whining: "I want a train."

Jackson: "If you stop whining, I'll share one with you."

It's great when your kids start "training" each other!

Q

Favorite Moments of 2009--January

I really did a poor job of blogging in 2009. I started looking back at pictures of the year and I'm pretty sure I am already starting to forget things. Of course, that really comes as no surprise to those of you who know me well as I often complain about my lack of memory since the kids came along!!!

So, I decided that I will do a year-in-review series of posts ... mostly to help myself remember some of my favorite moments of 2009. So here goes ... January 2009.

One of the best things about the start of my day is that almost every day starts with one or two or three kids "helping" me get ready in the mornings. Of course by "help" I really mean just play with all of my stuff. I probably have the most well-versed toddlers when it comes to understanding make-up ... what's that Mommy? mascara, eye-shadow, blush, lip stick, etc. They know it all. Of course, their favorite items (other than lip stuff--chapstick) are mousse and hair clips. Not a day goes by that I don't share my mousse with someone! Oh, and they love to build towers out of my rollers!

Most days, this is a great way to start my day and I thoroughly enjoy this precious time with my kids. Being a working Mom, I feel like I miss so much and this time each day helps to make up for it. Of course, that is most days! Some days, I am running late, the kids are whining, and I have to help two kids go to the potty. But it is just all part of the package! I wouldn't trade that time for anything.

Back when they still slept in their toddler beds, William went thru a stage where he had a tremendous number of stuffed animals that he wanted to sleep with each night. So many animals in fact that there was barely room for him! William has never really taken to a lovey ... he has a lamb that he really loves and his Aubie, but it is not like Jackson with his glowy!

Their toddler beds lasted all of about 3 months. After that, they decided they all wanted to sleep in a pile on their floor. It started off just Jackson and he would sleep in the floor in their bathroom. Soon William joined him ... since William always does what Jackson does! Within a few months, Addison had joined them. Mimi and Granddaddy got them some great sleeping bags from Land's End ... and Addison's didn't come in when the boys did. So we went a little retro and Addison used Mommy's old Holly Hobby sleeping bag for the first few weeks of her floor sleeping time.

Somewhere around October, the kids suddenly decided that the floor was not very comfortable and that Mommy and Daddy's bed was. Kids started showing up in the middle of the night. Sleeping with one three year old in a king-sized bed is really no big deal ... sleeping between two of them? Not really comfortable. They are like little heaters and will sweat you out of a bed!

So, for Christmas, we got them big girl/boy beds. Addison's bed is a family piece. Her Grandma Jack remembers sleeping in that bed on the sleeping porch at the beach when she was a little girl. The boys got a new queen-sized bed that is really comfortable. Has it kept them from coming downstairs in the night? Nope! But that's OK ... I love to snuggle with my kids!

Just a cute picture of Addison! Her little personality has blossomed this year and I love having a daughter. Addison has always been a Mommy's girl ... and now she is old enough to do things with me. I so enjoy spending one-on-one time with her. This past Wednesday night, she told me that she wanted to go to class with me ... she said "I'm a girl Mommy." I guess that does qualify her to attend the ladies Esther class with me! Of course, at one point Beth Moore asked the women to raise their hand if they were sitting beside a mean girl ... Addison raised her hand! The other women in the class got a kick out of that!

We tend to generate a lot of static in this family. This picture was too cute not to include ... especially with Al's back-ground of getting shocked all the time!

For Christmas 2008, G-Daddy got the kiddos a Learning Tower. This has been a huge hit around here and I highly recommend it. It allows the kids to be counter level to help with cooking dinner, etc. And help they did. One of their favorite things to do is to help Daddy cook breakfast or dinner. Daddy makes a wonderful homemade pizza ... here they are making the dough and the pizzas.

We worked on our utensil skills this year. Now they are great ... they were still a little messy in January! Currently we are working on big boy/girl cups. The kids are starting to prefer a normal cup to their sippy cups. For several weeks now, they get big girl/boy cups at meal-times. They are doing great and we haven't had any major spills ... yet!

And we can't forget Rosie! The kids received a Thomas starter set from Mimi and Granddaddy for Christmas 2008. We headed out with our gift cards and purchased a couple more trains and some more track in January. Addison picked out a pink train ... of course! Rosie. Unfortunately, Rosie doesn't always watch what she is doing. If you look closely, you can see the chunk of hair that Rosie pulled out of Addison. Rosie ended up getting William a few months later! We still love our trains and play with them almost daily.

Well, this started out as a January update ... but I really covered a lot of ground here! But, the pictures are all from January 2009.

More to come!

Quenta

Oh, and these last two pictures are of the kids at the McWane Science Center. We spent a lot of time there in 2009 ... or I should say that Al and the kids spent a lot of time there!

Three Years Old (three months ago!)

How do you measure time? We measures time in minutes, hours, days, weeks, and years. And yet that really doesn't capture the essence of what time feels like.

When you are 10 and can't wait to be in your teens ... 3 years seems like forever! When you are 13 and can't wait to turn 16 and get your license, you think the time will never pass. When you are 38 and staring down 40 ... time seems to blow away as quickly as a dandelion's seeds are disbursed by the puff of breath from a toddler.

And that is how the past three years have gone in our lives. In some ways, it feels like Jackson, Addison and William have always been a part of my life. It is hard for me to imagine what my life was like pre-triplets. And in other ways, it is as if they have just been here for a moment.

A few weeks ago, we took the kids to have their pictures made at Portrait Innovations. We go there every year around their birthday ... good pictures for a great price! Later that day, back at work, I put their 3 year old pictures in the frames that I have in my office. There under the 2 year pics were the 1 year pics. And it took my breath away how much they have changed.

Gone are my babies. Gone are my toddlers. I sat there looking at their pictures and it was so easy to imagine what each of them will look like at 18 ... when I will be placing their senior portraits in those frames. And I am already sad. Sad that they are growing up so quickly. Sad that I can't just stop and cherish every moment ... the good and the bad ... and just enjoy now. Sad that I have already forgotten so many things.

And so I resolve (once again) to blog more often for posterity. To remember the funny things my kids say and do. To treasure each day for the beauty it brings. To remember that happiness is fleeting, that God is good and that ultimately loving our Father is what is important.

So let's see how long I can keep this up! I'll leave you with something insightful that Addison said the other day when I was sad:

Addison: Mommy, what is wrong?

Me: I'm sad Addison

Addison: Mommy, don't be sad.

Me: It's OK. Sometimes Mommies get sad.

Addison: There is no room for sad Mommy.

Seriously, who is the parent here? I definitely know that I am learning as much from them as they are learning from me. The interesting thing is that God is using them to help me grow Spiritually. And I thought that was my job to help them. God is amazing that way.

So, without further delay, here are some of their 3 year pictures