Monday I turned 40 and we had a very special day planned. Megan came a little later than usual so she could stay late while Jason and I went out for dinner. I had a lovely morning with the kids and it was warm enough to go outside after breakfast.

We found a frog on our toy chest! And the boys got new sunglasses as a gift from Megan. Such cool cats.

We have entered the phase where the kids, especially Amaya, want a say in what they wear. It makes for some amazing toddler ensembles. For sure I’d say it’s less about fashion and more about exerting control over what she wears, which I totally understand. For the boys, it’s more about the content of their outfits – wearing a woo woo truck or a digger, for example.

As a big birthday treat, Megan and I took the kids to meet Jason for lunch! It was Jason’s first workday lunch with the kids and very special for me.

Of course Mr. Sam Man fell asleep on the drive to lunch. In our toddler yearbook he’s definitely voted “most likely to fall asleep in the car.”

Family lunch!

On the way home, Steven and Amaya held hands at Amaya’s request.

In the afternoon, we donned some eclectic head wear and headed outside again to enjoy the sun. We finally busted out our chalk that Grandma Sunshine gave us for our 2nd birthday. It’s perfect for coloring on the deck!

This girl.

I had a great birthday, capped off my dinner with Jason and this amazing video.

Everyone had moments of great participation at music on Tuesday especially Steven who was playing up a storm. All three kids wanted to get in the action as Miss Marie’s helpers.

At school on Thursday we had lots of age appropriate activities we can make ourselves with items in our home.

These sealed sensory jars are full of all sorts of different foods: beans, noodles, rice, soda & more.

We will NOT try this at home. It’s birdseed!! The kids loved it. They spent a long time playing and spooning/shoveling birdseed into cups. It’s nice that they have these opportunities for this type of play.

I will try this at home. They’re colored sticks from the dollar store and Amaya’s pushing them into little holes in an empty oatmeal container. It’s great for fine motor skills.

Mr. Sam Man fell asleep on the way home from school much to the amusement of his brother and sister.

Sammy has a squishy face like his daddy.

Back in November I bought Hannukah shirts for the kids. I was very excited about them until my mom reminded me that shirts referencing matzah are not for Hanukkah. Uh, OOPS! I really don’t know what I was thinking. But the good news is that they’re perfect for Passover.

Here’s Amaya and her Matzo Matzo Men!

This year the kids are eating matzah for the holiday. They’re not keeping Passover but we’re still enjoying traditions where we can. We call it “matzah crackers” because they need some context for what they’re eating.

Raise your hands if you’re eating matzah!

Nana and Papa got us a bag of plush plagues that the kids are enjoying. You haven’t enjoyed Passover until you’ve experienced plush darkness. I could live without the plush boil, though. The definitely don’t get the point yet, but it’s a nice foundation at this age. I’m a big fan of the holiday. I love the traditions and I love the idea of acknowledging our freedom. It’s one I hope the kids love, too.

This week we made some new art for our art center in the playroom. The Halloween ghosts and Thanksgiving turkeys were getting a bit old. Amaya can sit and color for ages. She loves when I trace her hand. Sammy focuses for a short while but he’s usually done first. Steven colors in spurts and is almost always the first to rip his paper off the table. You can’t see it here but the table and one of the chairs are covered in crayon. It’s much better than the wall but we’re still working on the concept of only coloring on our paper.

A highlight of the week was a play date with a triplet family from outside Indianapolis. Courtney and I grew close from our 2014 triplet group and couldn’t miss the chance to get our families together while they were in town for a family event in Ann Arbor. It was so much fun and surprisingly easy. Everyone played well together and, at lunch, Amaya even wanted to sit with two of her new friends rather than in her seat at the table. I honestly can’t imagine doing this without the support and friendship of the triplet moms I’ve gotten to know over the past 2+ years.

Photos below are all shared with Courtney’s permission.

Now that it’s warmer I’m trying to get outside with SSA as often as possible. We have our cool shades for walks in the wagon and also hats, courtesy of Chase and Charlie. They looooooove the hats. I never know who’s going to want to wear which hat in any given moment. Today it was Chase’s tan fisherman’s hat for Steven, Charlie’s white hat for Amaya (too small) and Charlie’s pale pink hat for Sammy (close to too small). But one of the last things I’ll fight over are hats. It’s win/win if they love wearing them this summer.

TV time this week!

Amaya asked to sit on Sammy’s lap. Every now and then he’d say, “Amaya sit up.” She’d sit up for a minute and then he’d say, “Amaya sit back.” Too much for my heart!

Friday night, after seeing a video of our trip to the beach in August, all 3 of my children were adamant that I show them videos of kids on the beach. Thank goodness for YouTube! I think about how they’re growing up in this generation where they can make these kind of requests and I can fulfill them very easily. (Steven, Sammy and Amaya – if you’re reading this: when I was a kid there was no internet in people’s homes. YouTube did not exist. FaceTime did not exist. There was no such thing as a selfie. Ask me more. I’ll blow your minds.)

Auntie! This is for you. Amaya brought me this flash card and said “Auntie’s apple.” (For everyone else, when Aunt Anita came to visit 3 weeks ago she ate an apple. The kids still remember that.)

Helping Daddy clean for the guests.

Tonight I made chicken in my Instant Pot (pressure cooker) and the kids know there will be a steam release at the end. They never want to get too close when I do the quick release so here they are huddled with Daddy to watch.

Steven, this week!

He loves his hats from Chase & Charlie!

Wearing Charlie’s hat, looking out the window to see if he can see Nana’s airplane.

At dinner, Steven was holding his bib in his hands and dipping the end of his bib in his sauce & licking it off. (He was also putting it up his nose but that’s an entirely different story.) I firmly told him he had to wear his bib.His solution was to hold his bib up under his neck but, instead of closing it, he still found a way to use the end of his bib to eat up his sauce. Frankly, it was ingenious. He fulfilled my request and still got what he wanted.

Steven holding baby Jenna who is wearing a hat Grandma Sunshine made.

Sammy, this week!

This FACE.

Loving Charlie’s pink hat. Pink is Sammy’s signature color. He wears it well.

No one can lounge like this kid. His daddy tries but Sammy’s got size on his side.

Amaya, this week!

I just love Amaya in a back pony with a clip.

Can you believe this kid? She’s ready for her closeup.

And that glint in her eyes!

This is Amaya’s face when she’s taken something she shouldn’t have and doesn’t intend to give it back. My girl.

That’s all she wrote! Have a great week and Happy Passover to everyone celebrating!