Getting all 3 together in one picture

I really wanted to get a "fall" picture with all 3 playing in the leaves. I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to get all 3 in one picture much less sitting down. Also, the location was not ideal because it had a playground and all they wanted to do was head towards the playground. Going to the playground at this age is not a terrific idea unless you have one person per child. All they want to to is climb and because they are not real monkeys, just pretend monkeys, they fall A LOT when climbing the stairs or slides or benches. About a month ago it was fine because Beckett could only go a few steps before falling down and mostly hung out around the stroller. Now I have all 3 going in 3 different directions which is a whole other story.
This particular day it was just Rich and I so I had to snap pictures in between chasing and picking up the fallen. Beckett thinks that grass is butt glue so if he falls down, it is impossible to get up without adult help. All I got were action shots and running shots with red noses from the wind.
It is so hard to get Eloise looking up or even looking in your direction for a pictures. She is little but she can move. She also really likes to go from one surface to another (grass to concrete and back again) or up and down a curb or step which can be a little hazardous. Luckily she can pick herself up most of the time.

Of the hundred or so pictures I took that day, they mostly looked like this- me chasing an escapee.

Love this picture of Eloise. Just wandering around in the leaves. Looking down of course.

Mr. B figured out that climbing the slide was a pretty adventurous activity with just the right amount of danger. He didn't anticipate falling headfirst in the wood chips would result in 2 cuts on his forehead. That's when I decided I should probably start carrying Band-Aids.

Love this pictures with the buildings in the back.

Addy is our runner. Most of the time it is like scampering or shuffle steps around the house. She thinks it is hysterical when we hold on to the back of her shirt and she runs in place. I remember taking this picture. She was just standing there and then saw a neglected soccer ball and took off in a panic trying to get it before anyone else.

We lined them up about 50 yards from the playground while I stood in front of them to try to get a group picture and let them loose. Best effort of the day.

Say Yes to the Mess

Some days I just don't have the fight left in me and it is just easier to let the kids do what they want and deal with the aftermath later. The other night is a perfect example. Addy got her hands on a roll of toliet paper on the way to the bedroom before baths. I had laundry to fold and I was just too tired to fight over a roll of toilet paper. I figured it would keep them entertained for a few minutes although a waster of paper. I'm not ashamed to admit that some days I chose sanity over being green.
They were a little timid at first almost like they couldn't believe their good luck. Also they probably thought if they made too big of the deal I would figure out what was going on and take it away. Like the one day they were really quiet and I found them splashing in the toilet water.

For some reason none of these kids will put their hands down to stop their fall when there is something in their hand. Addy is the biggest offender. She always has something in her hands, usually food and will fall on her elbows holding the food in the air before dropping any morsel of food. Sometimes she gets stuck on the ground like a turtle on it's back because she refuses to drop anything in her hands and can't stand back up only using her elbows. Stubborn gal.
I'm guessing Beckett won't drop the TP to stop his fall in this picture and I caught him mid tumble. Either that or he's somehow wrapped up and can't stop himself.

At some point I realized the toilet paper roll was mostly intact deserted in the corner and they were still happily playing. I knew something was amiss and then it hit me. All they wanted to do was rip the TP into little tiny pieces. They were making confetti!

We let them play as long as they didn't eat it. Nothing worse that cheap toilet paper spit balls on carpet. Some days I'm glad the fight is gone.

1/4 roll of toilet paper- 25 cents
Cleaning up toilet paper mess- 10 minutes


Joy it brings to 16 month old triplets- PRICELESS.

Art Project or Dinner?

While the kids (and by kids I mean the triplets, Rich and the pugs) were napping this afternoon, I walked to the store to buy crayons and construction paper so we could try an afternoon art project. I pretty much come up with any excuse to walk places. For example, yesterday an hour before dinner I decided we needed sugar and breadcrumbs so off to the store. This morning I wanted to find a bookstore so we walked until we found one, only to be thwarted at the door by our stroller that was too wide to fit in. Late last week we walked to the Milwaukee Art Museum to play in the children's area which was the catalyst for today's outing.

Started off pretty well.





Maybe you have noticed that the kids now have an assigned seat at the feeding table. Addy is our Switzerland. She doesn't get too bothered by Beckett's fussing and kissing and hugging at the table and she doesn't get mad when Eloise steals food from her.

Ohh Beckett, don't eat that crayon!

Too late.

Not you too Eloise?

Even though I didn't see you eat the crayon, I know you did Addycakes. I can see the yellow on your tooth.

Eloise, why are you peeling the paper off?

So you can eat it better?

When Beckett is done eating he throws the food on the floor. Actually, flings it. When the girls are done eating they will start piling it behind them. Guess they were done with coloring.

I get it Addy. You're done and have better things to do.

I was so busy watching the kids eat crayons I forgot about the pugs.

You won't eat anything at mealtimes except for peas, banana pudding and an occasional pancake but you will eat a black crayon?

Final product. Priceless.

Mother's Little Helpers

Every day these kids do something new. Rich and I just look at each other and ask, "Where did he/she learn that?" forgetting that they just watch and learn from us every day. Not only do they learn from us but from one another as well. For example, Beckett is finally walking with some regularity and with a little more confidence probably because he is tired of his sisters running circles around him. No kidding, you can tell Addy to run and circles and she will until she falls down. If she feels like listening.
Can you tell he has been working out? Believe it or not, he looks like he has put on some weight and doesn't look nearly as skinny as he did. This pretty much sums up my little boy... "I'm professional but still like to party." -Beckett (bottom of the tie says "AC/DC") Then he carried around a calculator for a good part of the afternoon which was absolutely hysterical.
Okay back to my helpers. We rarely unload the dishwasher with the babies around because they like to grab the sharpest or most fragile thing and make a run for the living room. Then most of it has to go back into the dishwasher because it end up on the floor or licked by the dogs. We also rarely load the dishwasher because again, they will grab the dirtiest thing and try to lick it or again make a run for the living room with it. You get the picture. I've started to only do dishes when they are in the feeding table or I put a gate up between the living room and kitchen so I can watch them but they don't have access. I'm not sure what happened today or why the gate was down after breakfast but I got a little glimpse into the future of what it would be like to have my children help with the dishes. I guess they have been paying attention.

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Disclaimer- I don't climb into the dishwasher. I don't know where Addy learned that. And the music was not part of the montage. That was really playing in the background and if you listen very close you just might hear me sing. Just after that Eloise went and got some blocks and put them in the dishwasher. Yet another reason why their access to large appliances is limited.

This one is astounding to me. There was a time that Addy was really involved with cleaning and wiping things but she hasn't shown too much interest lately. Until the other day when she picked up a disposable bib and started wiping the feeding table after dinner right after I finished doing the exact same thing. Then you will see what happens next.

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Beckett copied her! Eloise was chasing the dog with a spatula. I guess she is going to leave the heavy cleaning to the bigger kids and it will be her job to torture the dogs.

I don't know where they "picked" this up because Rich and I rarely kiss or hug or pick our noses for that matter ;) The best for last.

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A Really Long Vacation

I don't think it has sunk in that we are really living in Milwaukee. I feel like we are on a really long vacation. I'm not sure why, maybe I need to stop living out of my cosmetic bag, maybe it is the glorious weather or maybe it is that after 2 1/2 years of weekly traveling, Rich is home for several weeks.
I did a bunch of unpacking but we still have 3 rooms that are just kind of junked up with boxes and things we don't know what to do with. I've reached a plateau with the unpacking because now things are livable but we don't have any art on the walls or any sort of decorations up. It's hard to want to decorate knowing that in a few months I have to pack it all up again. Also, it is finally time to admit it and I'm posting this in middle out of context in the hopes that no one reads it but putting it in writing makes it real so here it goes...I'm never going to fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes again so basically my entire wardrobe is going either to a consignment store or Goodwill. It's a shame because I have some really beautiful things but at this point I just love my cake and chips and flavored iced coffee and yoga pants too much to give it all up for a couple of slinky dresses and tight jeans. There. Done.

Now to the more important things like football! I dressed the kids up to watch the Texas vs. OU football game on Saturday. It was a little touch and go around here for a few hours when Rich thought that the game was not going to be on locally but we were able to watch it. For a little while anyway before it was too depressing and we switched over to the Wisconsin vs. Michigan State game for Uncle Bill. Thanks to the Urech Quads for the cheerleading outfits.

Addy did have a skirt on before it got wet. We since have moved her to bigger diapers.


Eloise searching for the right bib to go with her outfit.


Daddy learned this move at cheerleading camp and taught it to Eloise.
(actually, she was just bothered by stepping on the seam in her tights but Rich going to cheerleading camp is more fun.)

Cleaning up after the big game.


The townhouse we are leasing is next to a dog park and a fairly busy neighborhood so the kids just adore watching out the window for bikes, kids walking to school, trucks, doggies or "arf-arf", "mama", "dada" and the latest "gum". I still don't know what that is. They are too short to see but through trial and error they figured out the best viewing method.
I have half a mind to complain to the leasing office about not cleaning the windows. Just kidding.

And again.


"Let's look for doggies" is a foolproof distraction for our kids. I'm sure I was trying to distract Addy from doing something she was not supposed to be doing.

Such as standing on the tractor.

Or standing on the train with a straw in her mouth.


New interests also include:

Sweeping- this is mostly Beckett. He throws a fit if someone else touches the broom or we take it away for meals. I know, mean parents not allowing brooms at the table.


New fighting methods.


Eating pizza


Perfecting the art of lock picking.

Let's get a closer look at that- Addy trying to undo the childlock on the tv hutch.


Fake smiling.


Hiding when it is time to change poopy diapers.


Sorting plasticware- all of the tupperware, water bottles, plastic cups ect are still in a box and the kids like to empty it. I'm not sure they will ever get put away; this activity provides too much entertainment.


Ripping apart magazines. Pottery Barn happened to be the victim today.


And hanging on the beach that we can walk to.



(Addy is scared of the birds)


Maybe it is the beach that is throwing me into the whole vacation mode. I'm sure I'll snap back into reality in about a month when the cold weather hits. I have more video that demonstrates the true characters of our children but I'm too tired to figure out how to get it off my phone just now. Think headbutting and kissing.