Hello! Happy Monday! Amaya and I were in TEXAS yesterday so here I am with another Monday blog update.

SSA are still loving school. I hope they’re as into activities in the drop off room as they are in their own room at 9am start time. They just dive right in. A current favorite activity is journaling. I actually learned at work that journaling like this is very helpful for emergent writing and literacy so it’s awesome to see it in action with my own kids.

Everyone’s a team at Steven’s PT appointments!

Amaya drew this picture of me at school on Monday. Even beyond the fabulous hair, I’m amazed to see eyes, a mouth, legs and arms. She even pointed out that she forgot to add a nose. I love it!

On Tuesday I just wasn’t feeling breakfast at home so, when Anna arrived, we loaded up the kids and went to Starbucks for breakfast. I love spontaneous mid-week adventures. Everyone was so excited to go to Starbucks and eat muffins for breakfast. (Notice Steven’s smile? I don’t know what happened but the deranged toddler smile is back!)

Tuesday our elbow pads and knee pads arrived so it was time to try some driveway adventuring! So much fun!! I can’t believe these are my timid kids. They loved flying down the driveway, especially Amaya and Sammy.

On Wednesday, Meredith took Steven outside for PT. What a fun idea! Just one or two sessions left and he’s done for the year. I know everyone will be happy to get back to regularly scheduled naps on Mondays and Wednesdays.

On Thursday I had visitors for lunch! We decided it was easier for me to grab take-out than for us to all meet at a restaurant. The bonus is that it creates memories of SSA in my office which is pretty awesome.

Sammy loves salad!

Checking out their artwork on my wall.

We had a late night Thursday with a stop at the JCC’s back to school picnic. That’s the boys in shadow with me and Amaya up ahead.

Friday!!

Journaling and fancy hair for Amaya. (Hey Daddy! Take some photos every now and then at drop off once we transition, okay?)

Friday night Nana came to town!

Saturday was a busy, busy day. After a little bit of play time at home, we headed to Toledo to meet up with 8 other 2014 triplet families at the Toledo Zoo.

This is just 7 of the 9 families, looking like an ad for the Radio Flyer Triple Play wagon.

First time seeing elephants!

Also the first time seeing a hippo!

Steven was Mr. Map. He was very interested in finding the path to the giraffes.

Showing Holly & Jennifer the path to the giraffes. 🙂

The Toledo Zoo has a touch tank! We’ll definitely have to venture back to this zoo again next year.

We wrapped up our day at the zoo with lunch at the playground.

  

Amaya and Hadley. <3 (This gorgeous photo and the one above were taken by Hadley’s mom, Heather.)

After a quick Saturday nap, Amaya and I headed off to DTW to fly to Texas to celebrate Grace’s End of Treatment! YAY!!!!

We’ve been talking about Texas for what seems like forever and Amaya and I were both so excited.

This girl swaggered onto the airplane like a boss.

It was a late flight and we landed around 11pm ET. From there we had to rent a car and drive 45 minutes to our hotel. (Plus a car seat install!) Amaya was a champ. Amazingly she stayed awake all the way up until our drive to the hotel. She was very surprised by the rental car bus. “Where are the seat belts?”

Finally, finally tucked in bed!

This kid. I’m seriously going to burst into tears writing about our weekend together. It was so special. I travel to NY for one on one time but this was totally different. It was just US. Amaya was amazing. She had her 3 year old moments but, really, I couldn’t have asked for more from her.

We woke up way too early on Sunday morning after such a late night and headed down for breakfast by 7am.

By 8am we were on our way to see Carrie and family at their house for a bit. It’s always so wild to see my kids with some of these other triplets that I’ve “known” since before they were born.

Back at home, Daddy and Nana had a great time with Sammy and Steven.

(I have no idea who this neighbor is, lol.)

Ironing leaves between sheets of wax paper.

Amaya and I left Carrie’s house by 9:30am because one activity Amaya had been talking about for weeks was swimming in the pool at the hotel. We were literally sitting there when the hotel employee came to unlock the gate at 10am.

I think it was everything she hoped. 🙂  After swimming I got what I’d been hoping for – time for a nice long nap for us both.

And then it was time to head out to Grace’s End of Treatment party! What an amazing, amazing milestone to get to share. There were more than a few tears shed watching a video put together by Grace’s dad, Chris, and especially when she took that final dose of chemo.

Throughout the weekend, Amaya mastered her elevator button pushing skills.

The party had bowling, snacks and lots of friends to visit with. Amaya insisted on just watching the blowing but was thrilled to eat some cake. She also ate about 3/4 cup of scallions – half of those plain and half dipped in queso. Oddest thing ever to watch! (Well, she also dips kiwis in ketchup and grapes in peanut butter so maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. But we’ll need more recipes for Amaya that include scallions!)

The hit of the party (from a child’s perspective) was the visit from Elsa and Tinkerbelle. Amaya has always been scared of characters in costume but she saw Elsa and her face lit up like I’ve never seen. She hovered around Elsa and Tinkerbelle for the entire rest of the party and even got up the nerve to get a glittery butterfly on her hand. Before bed one of the last things she said was, “Elsa loves me.”

HEART BURSTING

Amaya was so careful with the butterfly because she didn’t want it come off before she had a chance to show it to The Brothers.

Me: Amaya, I love you forever.
Amaya: Elsa loves me forever, too.

There were 4 other 2014 triplet families who were able to make the drive to the party. <3

Before we wrapped, Amaya and I hit up a fun photo booth. She was so cute with her poses.

And that was it for the party adventure! Amaya made an executive decision to head back to the hotel to rest before dinner and then another executive decision that we should get takeout. You got it, little mama!

Hanging out at the bar waiting for our order. Wine for mommy and a shirley temple for Amaya. She thought the fizz was too spicy so we traded down to water but she loved those maraschino cherries! (Jason saw this picture and immediately noticed the rocks on the bar, collected on the walk to the restaurant. He sure knows his sweetie girl.)

“Can I eat on that high chair? It will be so awesome.”

And next thing I new it was Monday and time to head home! We had the BEST time. I’m so grateful we were able to make this trip and share such a special day with the Byrds.

Dropping off our rental car. “Take me out of my seat! Don’t return me!”

Amaya was a rock star on the flight. We actually had to move her seat to the window. I guess the rule is that a car seat can only be in a middle or aisle seat if all three people in the row are family. The woman at the window switched without issue and we could tell that the flight attendants were glad it all happened so easily. We’re no-drama mamas!

And I’m back at home to all my men! Everyone wants a piece of Mommy which works out perfectly because I want a piece of them, too.

Have a great week!