This week started a big transition period for our family. After 4.5 years, we’re getting ready to say goodbye to Megan as our nanny and welcome Madison. This has been in the works for 6 months but it’s hard to believe the time has come. Megan has helped care for Steven, Sammy and Amaya since they were two weeks old. She has spent more waking hours with them than I have, and she and I have spoken every weekday, at length, about the kids and our lives. Megan’s been a tremendous partner for us in the kids’ care and will, hopefully, always be a part of SSA’s lives.

And if this week is anything to go by, we hit the jackpot with our transition to Madison as our new nanny. She’s caring, she’s insightful and the kids are already comfortable with her, in part because she was able to spend time with them throughout the summer. This coming week is one last week of overlap between Megan and Madison and then the transition is official.

The kids didn’t have school this week so Madison took on the first half of the day. We started off washing the myriad of shells that came back with us from New York. (And how was that only a week ago!?!)

It’s not specifically dresses that Sammy likes. It’s twirling. 🙂

One year ago, a triplet mom friend told me about an app called Artkive. You can upload your kids’ artwork and then have it made into books (or gifts). I started saving Steven, Sammy and Amaya’s art in the app last September and, at the end of camp, I had one year’s worth of art turned into books. They are spectacular. The process to create the books was simple within the app and the quality is even better than I hoped. They’re amazing keepsakes and it’s allowed me to avoid holding on to waaaaaaaay too much artwork through the year. I’m so excited to start their pre-k collection!

By Tuesday morning, Sammy was ready to help Madison make oatmeal.

Madison also got fancy with Amaya’s hair!

This year, SSA are taking tap and jazz class. We transitioned from ballet to jazz because they really want to take tap and it’s back to back with jazz. To get ready, Megan and Madison took them to buy tap shoes, jazz shoes and new clothes. Amaya was so excited to pick this new leotard.

The boys, trying on their new tap shoes. So cool.

Tuesday was also the first soccer practice! I had an Ele’s Place event that night so Penni took them to practice, I met up with everyone there, and then headed out to the event just before practiced ended. It takes a village…

The coach (Coach G, the kids will tell you) had the patience of a saint. He’s really good with little kids and seems to expect the (low) skill level and poor concentration. Steven was into it right away. Amaya played it cool in the beginning but then got into it. Sammy was hot and cold – sometimes right in the mix and other times wanting to stand by my side. Overall, it was a great start!

I love this picture that Penni took. Beyond the field, across Grand River Ave., you can see the circus tent set up for the state fair.

Go team!!

Another new hairstyle by Madison.

Steven did his own hair, and was very proud of his effort.

On Wednesday, SSA got outside and painted their newly cleaned shells.

Thursday night cuddles with Samscicle.

After bed on Thursday, I went to a goodbye party for a regular at my sushi place. Sammy and Amaya asked that I please bring them sushi for breakfast. Their wish is my command. California rolls plus sashimi tuna and salmon for Sammy. I just ordered them some training chop sticks so I can stop rigging them with rubber bands every time.

Thursday afternoon was a special one. As our thank you gift to Megan, we got her a photo shoot with Steven, Sammy and Amaya. She and the kids met the photographer at a local playground for their photos.

They got in some play time beforehand…

I love this dress on Amaya. I’m glad she’s finally wearing it because it will likely be too small by spring.

Bedtime shenanigans with Daddy

Friday morning I finally got my act together and set up Pandora on my tv. Dance Party time!

Steven the Shape Bandit, supporting St. Baldrick’s.

Reference point – the Shape Bandit is a “bad guy” in an episode of Team Umizoomi. Steven’s always careful to have his sock-gloves on when he’s the Shape Bandit.

Both boys earned these walking, oinking pigs for staying in bed so of course they needed leashes.

I was able to leave work early on Friday so Megan and I decided to take the kids for a picnic dinner at Maybury Farm. It was a gorgeous night and a fun, unusual dinnertime adventure.

This little face.

This is what Amaya looks like when she’s proud of herself. She was explaining that she did something on her own. I said, by yourself? “Yes, really!!”

Amaya wanted to pet the bunnies. We’ve come a long way.

We wrapped up our afternoon in the play area. Boy these kids know how to have fun with wooden vehicles. It’s fun to look back on h

On last stop to pet some horses before we left for the night.

I thought the kids’ first soccer game was on Saturday but it’s next week. The good news is that I realized before we left the house. It mean that everyone was up and raring to go by 8am. Amaya got out some energy climbing.

Sammy: I needed to get to the end of the roll so I could make a telescope.

Jason had to go into the office on Saturday so I decided to try a solo trip with the kids to the JCC pool. We left the house a little after 10am and had a full day, getting home around 3:30pm. It was quiet when we arrived but got more crowded as the day went on which was nice for SSA. They seemed to like it even more when they had school friends to play with.

Amaya was in the water immediately. In fact, she probably spent a good three hours in the pool. She loooooooved getting to wear her puddle jumper and showing me how she can “swim”.

The pool has a nice concession stand with a grill and it opens at 11am. Immediately, upon our arrival, Sammy announced that he was hungry. We had to wait a bit but he was eyeing the window and, as soon as he saw it open, he came to tell me that he thought he could get food now. I told him to go and ask if they’re open. “I don’t know how.” “Go up and say, ‘Excuse me. Are you open?'”

And he did! It was so cute to hear his little voice up at the counter. This is the face of a cute boy running back to tell me about his accomplishment. I know he was nervous but he was also determined.

This was the start of food runs for all three kids. They had a blast taking my credit card up to the window to order food on their own. <3

Playing in the big chair! (Or my kids shrunk.)

Can’t go to the pool without the pigs. (When their friend Shoshanna arrived, Sammy ran over to give her a hug and then immediately showed her his pig. 🙂 )

It took a while for Steven and Sammy to warm up to going in the water. Sammy got there first, with the help of two pool noodles to supplement his puddle jumper. Once he was sure he felt secure, he was fine. Steven took longer. Eventually I offered to hold him and then pushed the issue to show him that he could stand easily and also float. At first he didn’t want me to let go but, within 5 minutes of getting him fully immersed in the pool, he was asking me not to touch him.

Having so much fun!

It was another great day at the pool. I can’t believe I waited until August to start going. Next summer we’ll get there as soon as it’s warm enough. Hopefully we’re also able to get the kids (really) swimming by then, too.

Saturday was State Fair day!!

Amaya was excited to wear a new Charlie hand-me-down and messy bun. 🙂

It was another amazing day. We spent almost 5 hours at the fair. No wagon. No stroller. No diapers. No sippy cup. No nap schedule. No meltdowns. All I brought for them was extra sunscreen. Amazing.

After the success at the July 4th festival (“festibal”), we got the kids ultimate wristbands so they could go on as many rides as they wanted to. Similar to last time, Sammy and Amaya were comfortable on a wider variety of rides but Steven was able to find 6 that he liked, including ones I’m not sure he’d have tried in July (tea cups). Sammy even went on a “grown up” ride. He needed an adult to join him and I was the sacrificial lamb to spin every which way for what felt like forever. But, in the middle of the ride, he yelled, “This is amazing!” Amaya and Sammy went on ride after ride after ride. Twice they had to stop to take Amaya off (roller coaster & honey bear) but they kids all did great!

Amaya and Sammy went on the ferris wheel with Daddy.

“Whoooooooah”

Jason took a lot of great video at the fair but this 5 second clip is my favorite.

There was also a ton to see inside the venue including more rides and lots and lots of animals. Steven was obsessed with a Lego training going around the track – so much so, that we’ll likely take the kids to the Lego event there later in September.

We wrapped up our day with facepaining and airbrush tattoos for Steven, Sammy and Amaya.

First we had two unicorns.

Steven had a very difficult time deciding but eventually settled on R2D2.

After a busy Saturday and Sunday, we took today easy and had a pajama day. As Sammy keeps saying, “It’s a holiday!”

“Look at my Js!”

There was a lot of art time in the morning. I drew pirate ships, R2D2 and C-3PO for the kids. When I wasn’t sure I could draw C-3PO, Steven told me not to worry if it wasn’t exactly like the picture. Taking the advice I give to him, I went for it and surprised myself.

My C-3PO

There was a mommy-led tap class in the basement. Only Amaya was really into it but she was super focused on our “routine”. Steven did join in to choreograph. “How about this? You try ‘tap, tap, tap and spin’.” And so we did!

Between music, tv and movies we also tried a little play doh outside. (Turns out they needed tin foil to roll it on instead of paper.)

I’ll wrap it up with this last photo of Steven. He popped into the living room and said, “I’m the Statue of Liberty!” 🙂

Tomorrow is the first day of pre-k. Incredible!! So much anticipation and so much potential as we start a new school year. Steven, Sammy and Amaya are excited to have Ms Bri as one of their teachers this year. Sammy’s also excited to see Ms Shannon again. He told me that, every Friday at Shabbat, he runs to give her a hug. As I was for the past two years, I’ll take them to school on their first day. I can’t wait!

Have a great week!