There was a lot going on this week! We wrapped up our wonderful visit with Grandma Betsy. The kids fall school photos came in. I took a quick trip to CA. Nana and Savta came to visit. We hosted our annual triplet family Halloween party!

The weather was beautiful on Monday and taking advantage of it was a no-brainer. We have to maximize nice days in October. Madison and Grandma Betsy took the kids to Three Cedars Farm for a hay ride and pumpkin picking.

A phone booth! The kids love “old time” phones with cords like when mommy was little..

On Monday night, Madison was teaching Amaya dance moves.

I took a break from my new legos to watch.

Monday night, the kids got the idea of sleeping on the floor. It seemed like a fun idea but, quickly, Sammy realized his bed was much more comfortable. Steven seemed to be up and out of “bed” earlier than ever.

School pictures! Amaya looks nothing like herself with that stiff smile but they’re cute photos, none-the-less. We even have cameos from Morminer and Puppy.

After work on Tuesday, Steven was soooooooo excited to show me how he organized the fridge. I think he gets the instinct from his daddy though Jason says this particular organizational style is most reminiscent of Grandpa Homey. 🙂

Before bed, on Grandma Betsy’s last night, everyone “read” stories together on the iPad.

Jason called on his way home from work and, while Sammy was talking to him, he decided he wanted to have a call with Daddy and Grandma Sunshine. Happy guy.

Steven needed a turn, too. Amaya, however, said, “I don’t want to talk to any people. I just want a back massage.”

While she was waiting for her back massage (yes, she gets one every night before bed instead of a back rub), she worked hard on her dolls’ hair styles. So proud of herself!

“Now take a picture from the front so we can see them smiling.”

Wednesday, October 24th was my 14 year Sallyversary. Three states. Seven homes. One marriage. Three kids. Still my best big girl. <3 <3 <3

Wednesday afternoon I flew to San Francisco for a work meeting. Madison made sure to send me pics of my sweet kiddos. She’s got this gig down pat (and you can see that Sammy’s well beyond his eating issues).

Our for dinner with 4 SFO area triplet moms. Wherever I go, there we are! All bonded by the birth of triplets in 2014.

Ready for school on Thursday!

I’m obsessed with Amaya’s perfect little hands, mirroring Ms. Christina, in this photo. (She’s got the ballet bun, standing next to Sammy.)

We paid for recital costumes this week. (In October! For a June recital!) Steven officially withdrew from tap. He’s content waiting for jazz each week and is still insistent that tap is too loud. Sweet boy.

While I was waiting to fly home from, Nana and Savta arrived!

A new Saturday tradition is Starbucks with Nana! The kids love it and Jason and I love it because we both get to sleep in!! Big, BIG smiles.

Sammy, in his Savta’s lap, watching shows while we waited for our annual Halloween party.

Halloween 2018! We have Captain America, an Ice Cream Cone and a Chicken!!

I remember thinking we’d be picking coordinating costumes for the kids at this age but they have idea of their own and it’s fun to see those ideas come to life.

We had 4 other families join us for the Halloween party on Saturday morning – all families who’ve been with us for the prior three years, as well. Every year it’s easier and, this year, the kids actually played together – a first.

Sammy Chicken, cutting his grapes.

It’s always fun to go to a friends’ house and find new toys to play with. The kids visiting were very busy, right away.

Storming the castle!

15 kids and four were girls. They gravitated toward each other pretty quickly – especially Amaya and Sarah (Belle) who both wanted to spend their time doing crafts. Sarah’s mom and I are going to work on a play date for the two of them. They’re both the only daughter in a houses of brothers – plus Sarah has a older brother, too.

Steven made Liam his pet Lion. “Do you want to pet my Lion?”

Sarah and Amaya

Sammy wasn’t interested in playing with the other kids. I think it was a bit much. Fortunately, his Daddy was there to snuggle with.

And, when Daddy wasn’t there, he had the chair. lol

The moms! Bethany – Julie – Me – Julia – Nina.

The whole gang!

Four Years Running. <3

We wrapped up Saturday with a visit from Megan and Taco! The kids were so excited. Amaya explained, “We have to have playdates with May May now because she’s not our nanny anymore. She didn’t want to leave but she has to take care of Baby Taco and the baby in her belly.” Well said, kiddo.

Today was a relaxing day at home, bookending brunch out.

Amaya earned her prize for staying in bed so we were very focused looking for her next prize. (A set of costume jewelry.)

Nana is creating crossword puzzles for the kids! Four word crosswords, all three letter words with answers like “hat”, “tug”, “mat”, etc. The kids love them.

I picked up this set of Montessori sandpaper letters after seeing them in use at a school in Texas. The concept is you trace the letter with two fingers in the same way you’d write the letter. Afterward, you say the sound of the letter. From what I’ve read and been told, it helps learning to write letters but also helps dramatically with reading because of the repetition of letter sounds. (Always the soft vowel sounds to help with vowel placement in introductory words – hat, let, bit, rot, hut.)

Super Captain Elsa!

Nana spent the morning playing with the kids – crossword puzzles, board games and a ton of make believe on a ship that Steven captained. I also played Chutes and Ladders with the boys and Jason & I had to spend some time consoling Sammy who couldn’t quite get past his loss to Steven. It’s a good thing he beat me at the game a short time later. It reminds me of Chase at this age, actually.

Matching shirts!! SSA have always loved Nana’s “hand” shirt and now they have their own! Everyone together… working on tree pose in their matching shirts.

Tic Tac Toe while we wait for brunch.

Sammy really wanted coffee today so I ordered a cup of decaf for him. He added two half & halfs and a splenda and proceeded to drink 2/3 of the cup of coffee. It was adorable. He was so stinking proud.

We wrapped up the afternoon quietly at home. The kids got up to shenanigans and, in the midst, Sammy spent an age just sitting and talking with Savta. Oh, how he loves his Savta. It’s special.

And that’s it for this week! Have a great one!