My New Workout Regimen

Don't just stand there, firm something!

Two confessions here-
1. Mama's always appear perfect to little boys. When Beckett saw the picture from the shoes on the table he pointed and said, "Mama!" That's right. That is exactly what I look like when I run around the house in white short shorts.
2. I had to photoshop out the hair on my big toe.

The Old Kate

I found her. She was in Dallas last weekend while the kids were still in Milwaukee. In other words, Rich and I went to Dallas last weekend without the kids for 3 nights and 4 days for a wedding. I felt like my old self for a few days not worrying about schedules or cleaning or the next meal or lovies or sippy cups or fighting over toys or keeping everyone safe in eyesight or what/who is that smell? I felt like it was back to our life before the kids but we just happened to be staying at a hotel rather than our house. Ahhhh, let me just reminisce a little about what I used to do and got to indulge in last weekend.
-Woke up on my own at 9:00 and not to someone yelling at 6 am- Out Mommy, PLEEEASE!!
-Drank coffee in bed watching TV
-Had my nails done non-stop girl talking with my friend, Jillian
-Ate lunch at the best and much missed BBQ at Rudy's with our friend, Cari
-Shopped and had afternoon iced tea (soooo Southern) with my friend Lindsay and her new beautiful baby, Kingsley.
-More girl talk while holding Kingsley while she napped (OMG, I got my baby fix and was unbelievably jealous to experience what life is like with one baby. I never held my babies while they slept or napped so it was a HUGE treat and I couldn't put her down.)
-Headed to my sister-in-law's to help her get ready for her wedding the next day
-Ate a late sushi dinner sitting outside watching the scene with Rich
-Went back to the hotel to eat dessert and watched TV without the lingering guilt of cleaning or laundry or dishes to take care of.
It was a wonderful break for us and so much fun to see our family and friends and get to attend Laura's wedding. Congrats to Laura and Bobby. And congrats to my Dad and Bambi for surviving 3 nights and 4 long days with the trips. Thank you, thank you, thank you for making the trip possible for us. It is so important for me to remember that life has to be more than the sometimes very isolating and insular world of a stay at home mom with triplets.
The temperature reached 107 while we were in Dallas and funny thing that I think I was really only hot one time. The heat did not really bother me probably because I hadn't spend the last 2 months in 3-digit temperatures and I was just hanging out not corraling kids. In fact, by the time we got on the plane I was tired of being COLD! Rich used to make fun of me for carrying around a wool sweater with me all summer.
We were delayed 3 hours coming back to Milwaukee and I was scared to call Bambi to tell her because I know the feeling of counting down the hours and minutes until relief arrives. Like when Rich travels and then he calls and says he had to jump on a later plane- my heart just sinks so I was worried to make the call. Bambi said, "That's fine but I hope you will be home by 5 because I have a yoga class. I NEED to go. I'm going to go." Maybe that was not word for word but something along those lines. Pretty funny. We rushed home to make it. I think she had to double up on yoga that week.

Vacation Pictures- Just A Month Late

A month ago and exactly 6 days after moving to our new house we went on vacation to Door County WI which was planned months ago fully knowing that it would inevitably fall in the middle of our move. When planning this July vacation Rich was just adamant that the house we rented have air conditioning. Knowing the weather can be much cooler on the peninsula and this is WI on Lake Michigan after all I convinced him that maybe there are a few days in the entire year that we would need A/C so to spend so much more for that remote possibility would be silly. Of course we were there the one week of the year that WI had 3-digit temps. Luckily the house was pretty close to the lake and was totally wooded so we stayed relatively cool.
It was just the five of us the first half of the week and then my mom joined us and then my brother and his girlfriend, Audrey, from Austin. So in middle of the unpacking of the house, packing for vacation and house construction I couldn't find (or forgot to pack) a few things like sunhats, swimsuits, sand toys, toys in general and the battery charger for my camera. Luckily we were able to buy most of what I forgot but not the battery charger. So the pictures are from the first half of the vacation and the rest of the pictures are were on my mom's camera. The last half of the vacation is where the trio figured out about holding hands. One night while waiting for a table for dinner there was a band playing in the town square. The girls walked up between the whole audience listening on their blankets in the grass and the band and stood in front of everyone holding hands and staring at the band. They didn't know if they should dance or be scared but holding hands seemed like the safest idea. It was really amazing and one of those scenes where every one's mouth was just kind of hanging open because it was so beautiful.
Well, these pictures are pretty good too...
First day at the beach which was a total disaster and lasted less than an hour. The sand kind of freaked them out as did the dead fish and the sunscreen and the sand in their juice and the people close to the blanket and... (you get the picture) There are no pictures of Eloise because she didn't leave Rich's arms. I was also freaked out about the kids getting sunburned so I made them wear long sleeved shirts. Of course I forgot one for Beckett so he is wearing his PJ top.


After dinner the first night- so picturesque and a perfect night until I forgot one little tiny thing.

We got back to the house and I had locked us out. Mind you, we are in an area with virtually NO cell reception, several miles from town and it is getting late with 3 cranky toddlers. I was ready to bust out a window. Luckily Rich was able to get reception and get an emergency number for the rental agency so they could send someone to let us in. We had to hang out in the yard for about 45 minutes which made me happy there was a swing set in the yard but also convinced me that we don't need one in our yard. Eloise refused to leave the swing and wants a dedicated "pusher" at all times. Beckett only wants to climb and Addy just wants to hang on things all of which require supervision. Swing sets are best left for the parks.



Anyway, while were were waiting, Addy took off her diaper and peed on the ground, herself, her dress and shoes. As she is pointing out.

By the time someone arrived to let us in, Addy was running naked in the yard wearing just my cardigan hanging off of her and Eloise was screaming because it was time to get off the swings. I'm sure they counted the silverware after we left.
Rather than press our luck beach again the following day we decided to take a car ferry to an island and drive around and explore.
Waiting for the boat was pretty exciting for the kids but the excitement wore off once we were on the boat, got out of the car and the noise of the engine didn't go away. I kind of forgot about how loud it is and how sensitive they have been lately to noise especially with everything going on in the house. Eloise was stuck to Rich was a lovie permanently glued to her mouth. It was a little nerve-wracking trying to carry the kids up the stairs on the moving boat. On the way there I don't know if they really understood they were on the boat because the noise was so disconcerting to them. And the whining was a little disconcerting to me.

But once we got there I had found an old book with a reference to a little beach that was supposed to be secluded. Do you know how hard it is to pull a choo-choo wagon with 3 kids through the sand and up a hill. I don't because Rich did it. Part of the whole Ironman training is what I think.
Eloise cautiously checking out the view.
Pretty good I think. And not one other soul on the beach- besides a snake we spotted later- which everyone but me LOVED.
Beckett chasing Rich down the water with a bucket, or digger as he calls it, in his hand. No more fear of the beach for him.

This was a much more successful beach expedition.


Eloise throwing caution to the wind- so unlike her!!!

We ate lunch at a little shop on the island called something like The Dutch Windmill. Like most vacation spots and most places we ate there was a little gift shop. I was CARRYING Eloise through the gift shop while the others finished lunch. Then I heard Rich yell- "Here come the other two, I'm going to the restroom." Then I heard two kids yell "Shoes! Shoes! Shooooooes!!!" My heart sank. If there had been shoes, like the kind to wear, I would have spotted and checked them out already. I raced around the corner and saw Addy and Beckett headed for a display of glasses wooden clogs or something like that. Anyway, figurine shoes. I yelled, "Stop! Don't touch!" I looked up and the saleslady was frozen with her eyes wide open. Really, two toddlers are headed for an entire wall of glass figurines and you freeze? All of this happened in a split second and I was howling in laughter later about it but it was one of those scenes that could have gone horribly wrong both from the Am Ex and danger perspective. Goes to show you how much they love shoes. Wonder where they got that from?
The trip on the boat back was much better because they knew what to expect and it was a smaller boat so it was a little quieter. The kids even enjoyed the view, looked for birds and waved at other boats.



Guess who preferred to sit at the front of the boat where it was windy and sunny?Yep, Ms. Cakes.

Speaking of the wild one, we should have been suspicious one day while driving back from the beach and she was unusually quiet. This is what happens to a bottle sunscreen in 15 minutes in the hands of a lotion obsessed toddler.

We spent a lot of time at restaurants as you should on vacation. We found out early on that a plate of noodles has no chance around Addy. That is still her favorite thing to eat.

And as you should on vacation, putting on weight is a must. So Beckett decided to finally eat something with fat calories and started to down pats of butter at every meal. Say what you will but I'll let him eat as much butter as he wants.

Addy eating containers of sour cream and using a knife to put it on bread (which they all think they can use butter knives at the table now) was a little over the top but at least they are finally getting the hang of this WI dairy thing.

I like this picture because it explains why I almost exposed myself several times. If Beckett would go one way and I went another I better have some quick hands to keep my dress up.
The whole family in line walking around after dinner. The giraffe was carried around by Eloise almost the whole vacation. We went into a candy store piled high with bins of candy early on thinking the kids were going to go nuts grabbing candy. They just wanted stuffed animals and this one got drug around all week. This is pretty much what we look like these days as we take a stroller or choo-choo with us less and less. I've even taken the kids into places by myself with no stroller this past week! It is very liberating and daring. I'll probably stop the first time there is a total meltdown.
Here are the few attempts at a family picture...

Love that Addy is crying. Don't try to make that girl do something she doesn't want to.

Finally, this is how we wrapped up every evening- with a big messy bowl of melting ice cream which is why they were so amped up they figured out how to get out of the pack n' plays, run in circles screaming, throwing toys and generally go nutso for hours after their normal bedtime while we tiredly chased and unsuccessfully tried to coax them to bed. Again, that is what vacation is all about.

Haircuts- or Cut, Cut as Addy says...

The day the moving company was at our house packing, I took the kids to Green Bay to my Mom's house for the first time. We had always talked about the kids getting their first real haircut from my Mom's friend, Kathy, at her salon, Yellow Sox, but we never thought it would really happen because of timing. Lucky for us, Kathy worked on her day off just to cut their hair and even brought entertainment- her adorable and bright little ray of sunshine, her daughter Lyra.
It was kind of bittersweet because it was like cutting off the last tie to their babyhood. No more little frizzy wispy hair. Just big kids now.
It was a bit of a discussion about the order because I knew Eloise would be apprehensive and possibly flip out but I was nervous about her being last and waiting and then before her turn starting the "go, go, go" screaming and pointing at the door. Beckett went first. He looked like he was trying to be brave but that lip could start quivering at any moment.

Now when I look back at that goofy hair, I totally crack up. Like I've always said- Terry Bradshaw called and he wants his hair cut back.

I glad I waited so long to get his hair cut. The cut transformed him from looking like a baby to a two year old little boy.

Since Beckett went first, it gave time for Addy to contemplate the fate of her beautiful curls...

And also time to befriend Lyra. Look at them holding hands within minutes of meeting.

We were all cracking up. Cathy had to brush out Addy's hair before cutting and this is precisely why I never BRUSH it (hence the ever present threat of dreadlocks).

Cathy had to cut many of her curls off because they were frizzy baby hair so now it can be more manageable and less frizzy as it grows out. I try to keep a barrette in it to soften the look but that lasts about 5 seconds with her. Hmm, imagine that.

I had no reason to worry about Eloise. She did great and as always, relished in the extra attention.


Love these pictures because it captures the energy and glee the whole time we were there. Beckett and Eloise are in the chair and little Lyra is running as fast as she can pushing the chair in circles while Addy is getting her haircut.


Checking out the hair dryers and Beckett is not one to be left behind...
Like I said, he was not to be outdone by his sister and not make a new friend too.

As we were leaving Lyra headed to her car to get her car seat to put it in my car so she could come home with us to play. Can you just see these big eyes welling up with tears when she found out we were leaving without her? So sweet.

Of course I forgot to take real before and after pictures so Beckett's and Addy's "after" pictures are really from our vacation the following week. Here's a last look at the fabulous cuts and a sneak peek of our vacation pictures. This happens to be on a car ferry which is why now we can't say "boat" without everyone frantically pointing to themselves and screaming because THEY were all on a boat as if I could forget. You can just barely see the lovey hanging out of Addy's mouth over the railing and Beckett biting Rich in the shoulder. More to come...

Dresses and Pickles

Just trying to catch up on some pictures so I'm posting in chronological order. Before we moved one day while getting the kids dressed I was really talking up the pretty dresses the girls were going to wear. Learned my lesson because Beckett got a hold of one of the dresses and refused to let go. I mean, tantrum central. Whatever. Wearing a dress for a day is not going to hurt anyone. Here's Addy in her dress going shopping.
And Beckett in his dress- sweeping the rug of course.

And making a smoothie in the Cuisinart for the doggie.

Notice that he is now wearing a cardigan. He wanted the complete look, like Addy. She got a cardigan so he needed one as well. Luckily we only have one pair of red patent leather Mary Janes.

This is more like it although I'm not sure Rich is too crazy about the "I just retired in Palm Beach" look but I think it fits him and I usually get them dressed so I win this battle.


I just have to post the last pictures of our sweet little pug Pickles. My last post didn't do her justice so I want to tell you a little bit about the sweetest dog in the world. We got her from the pug rescue 4 years ago. She looked like a pot-bellied pig because he belly hung on the ground. She was taken from a house with 12 other dogs and 100 rabbits so her diet was probably mostly rabbit poop. She was scared to be pet and didn't know about treats or toys and would sit facing the wall staring. They thought she was 8 years old and obviously had a number of litters. She was mostly blind, missing most of her teeth and her tongue hung out of the side of her mouth when we got her. She was a surprisingly agile and skilled swimmer which we found out when she would fall in the pool by accident (couldn't see it!) Before we had the babies we found out that by accident she loved baby dolls or at the scent of them so she had her own baby doll. When we brought the trio home from the NICU Pickles would sit on the floor next to the babies wherever they were and followed us when we were carrying them. We called her "The Pug Nanny." We knew this winter would be hard on her but she seemed to rally after the first snowfall and with carrying her up and down the stairs she seemed better. Our final move was too much for her. She was a very special dog and a testament to the good that comes from a rescue.
This spring Eloise decided she wanted to walk the dogs- I mean hold the leash when we are at the park. At first she had Bella but then Bella took off and Eloise went flying through the air. Pickles was more her speed and even though outweighed her, would only walk if you pulled her.

Miss you precious girl!

Love this picture of all three running- looks like Bella is chasing them but I think they were just really running in circles and screaming. Better outdoors than in!