This blog post comes to you from New York where I’m visiting for the week with Steven, Sammy and Amaya. We were lucky enough to have Daddy join us for a few days, too! I’m going to try to catch up a bit so it’s not too overwhelming for me at the end of our trip. <3

First of all, the kids are talking about the most amazing stuff. They’ve decided what they want to be when they grow up.

For anyone who didn’t watch the video (though I encourage you to because this mom thinks it’s adorable), it’s a policeman for Steven, an ear infection doctor for Amaya and a bad dragon that eats people for Sammy. ♥ ♥ ♥

Early last week, the kids met up with Mikey and Baby Taco at the mall before heading to Steven’s “appointment”. Later that night, Steven let me know that babies don’t listen. They tried to tell Taco not to crawl away but she wouldn’t do what they said. We had a long talk about why babies “don’t listen”.

Sammy explained that the oars on this boat don’t actually move. He loves the word “actually”.

Big girls!

I love when these kids hug.

We were meeting with a new orthotist for Steven at his PT appointment so I joined Megan and the kids. Steven saw me and his “I need Mommy” switch was triggered. Even his PT, Meredith, said he was like a different kid while I was there.

This is in the lobby before his appointment. Just not feeling it.

Still not feeling it.

Eventually Meredith worked her magic!

It was a good appointment and I liked the new guy we’re working with. I think, last week, I mentioned that Steven has cuts on his feet. We had just noticed them and it was good timing because his appointment was already scheduled for the next day. Meredith suspected that his orthotic inserts weren’t giving him enough support and the orthotist said these cuts support that because he’s pronating his ankles into the edges of the orthotics. It’s back to the SMOs that come up higher above his ankles. Steven picked a monkey patter with blue straps. Fortunately, the orthotist was able to make an immediate modification with padding so the inserts won’t continue to irritate Steven’s feet while we wait for the new braces.

For Ashley’s last week, the kids presented the art project the made as a goodbye/thank you/we love you gift.

Amaya wanted pink and blue in her hair before New York so, on Wednesday, I ran home at lunch to die her hair. What a treat to get to do this during my work day. She is so patient with me during the process and so, so pleased with the results. The boys were really cute, trying to help me with supplies.

Love my girl.

Friday was Ashley’s last day with Team Cline. We were so fortunate to have her join us for the summer!

Ashley shared this on her Facebook page which I want to put here, as well, so SSA can read it themselves someday:

“This summer I had the opportunity to nanny for some really amazing kids. Monday-Friday I got to play with these fun, rambunctious, happy triplet kids. They taught me how to have patience like no other (like, a lot), some vocabulary terms that I would never have known (colander and ottoman lol), meal prep (yes I gained some cooking skills finally), to make every day a fun one, and ultimately gave me a life lesson on my future and family. My favorite part of everyday was getting to see them. I appreciate the young life they carry within them and spending my whole summer building a relationship with them. Summer is ending and I am sad about that but I am even more sad about not being able to see these happy smiling faces every day, but I know I will be back every chance I get! Thankful for a great great summer.”

We love you, Ashley!

On Friday, we wrapped up the week with our trip to New York! Yay!! Jason was joining us on the flight but meeting us at the airport so Ashley dropped us off and I got the kids going.

Absolutely mesmerized by the fountain at DTW. Look at Steven’s face!

I had the double stroller with me but everyone wanted to walk. It’s actually easier for me that way because I can dump my heavy bags in the stroller. They’re pretty good at staying together and adorable when they need to run to catch up.

I got the kids through security, got them dinner, to the gate, we all ate, took a potty break and boarded the plane. It’s tiring but definitely doable.

Sammy brought airplane wings with him to give to our pilot, which we did. The pilot wasn’t used to getting wings from kids, lol. Amaya introduced herself, as well. Steven was too busy watching the planes on the runway.

My expert fliers boarding the plane.

Sammy, ready to go and waiting for Daddy to arrive! Jason made it with more than enough time to spare.

Tired Mommy.

We made it! The plane was a little late but we were back at Nana’s by 11pm.

Saturday was a beach day. This is a photo of Amaya just to show the bruise she had on her forehead from an accident earlier in the week. Amaya – 0, Doorknob – 1. (That’s what happens when you walk around the house with a sheet over your head.)

Amaya and Sammy are forward facing in the their car seats for this trip because they outgrew the RF limits for the seats we have at Nana’s house. Good to know it’s still easy to nap. 🙂

Beach day! Chase and Charlie were ready to look out for their cousins from the get-go.

Daddy at the beach!

We had a great day. SSA got time in the sand, all looooooooved the kiddie pool (and Amaya went into the big pool) and they had pizza delivery for dinner. Sammy and Amaya even took their first showers!

A highlight was getting to go out for dinner on Saturday night with Aunt Sara and Uncle Dave while Nana and Papa held down the fort with all 5 kids.

We realized, late Saturday night, that Sammy has outgrown the travel crib. Uh oh!! First up on the list for Sunday would be a new game plan for nap time.

Early Sunday morning Jason was off to the airport to head back to MI. We miss you, Daddy!!

It was a lazy morning before heading to Westchester for cousin Dalia’s 5th birthday party.

Everyone was ready to party!

Sammy, petting a bunny.

Steven had this balloon animal who wanted to say hi to everyone.

After the party we went to Aunt Sara & Uncle Dave’s house for dinner. SSA love the backyard “playground”.

As I mentioned earlier, the travel cribs weren’t going to cut it anymore. If Sammy was too big that meant Amaya was, too. Our solution was mattresses on the floor. Had to happen sometime! But hopefully we’ll still hold out for a few more months back in MI. Every day we gain in cribs is another day of development that will help them understand they need to say in bed. (Oh, please stay in bed!)

While Amaya and Sammy were enjoying the new set-up, Steven was in distress over a splinter in his hand. I could see the top peeking out of his skin but he wouldn’t let me anywhere near it. After an hour, the best I could do was get him to let me put neosporin on it along with a blue band-aid. (We didn’t have a blue band-aid, by the way. Nana colored one for him. The things you do when you have a hysterical three year old with a splinter, insisting on a dark blue band-aid… ) I was super nervous about how we’d eventually get it out but (spoiler alert!), it came out while he was swimming at the beach the next day.

Monday was another beach day! We spent a good 6 hours there and got in playground time, sand time and pool time. I’d been nervous about the eclipse but it was bright enough at the beach that the kids didn’t notice anything was happening so it was pretty much a non-event for them. We had our eclipse glasses, though, and got to enjoy the view. We had extra glasses, in fact, which Chase and Charlie were able to sell on the beach throughout the morning.

Amaya was awesome in the big pool! She kept telling me how to hold her, I assume the same way her swim teacher does.

Auntie & Dod Shukey joined us at the beach, too!

It was a great day! And a tiring one. Sammy, our man who can sleep anywhere, took a late afternoon cat nap.

Bedtime brought new configurations. Steven wasn’t happy that Sammy and Amaya got to sleep on mattresses and also really wanted a big one like Sammy. Now we have the boys back together in one room and Amaya asleep on the crib mattress in the room where I’m sleeping. Hopefully this is it with the moves for the rest of the trip but we’ll see!

That’s it through yesterday (Monday)! Can’t wait for the rest of a great week in NY!