This week started with a surprise. On Monday, Mr. Steven decided to strip naked at the end of his nap! We lucked out because it was not a clean diaper and it managed to land open side up when he tossed it on the floor. Ack! He was so proud of himself, too!

We’re trying out some new activities at home. It turns out that dry beans are a great time suck. The kids can play with them for ages, especially Amaya who loves to sort the beans by color and also pick them up and put them in containers. It’s made me think we should start doing more with color sorting.

Still at it. I think Amaya played with the beans for a good 45 minute stretch.

I saw this one at our EI school and also in my triplet group. It’s just a colander and pipe cleaners. The idea is to put the pipe cleaners in the colander to help with fine motor skills but the pipe cleaners are all sorts of unrelated fun.

Best new toy of the season first seen at our twin friends, Ben and Sam’s, house. A Home Depot Power Tool Kit! Now Steven, Sammy and Amaya can be like Daddy! The tool set comes with removable battery packs just like the real deal. They love it!

Amaya was ready to dive in immediately. I’m surprised she ever removed the goggles.

Sammy was nervous at first but Jason worked him through it and he was a champ!

It took Steven a few minutes on his own to get the hang of it and then he was go-go-go Construction Bobes.

You have to try to saw your arm off.

And drill Daddy’s face off.

Sammy had lots of fun with the safety goggles.

Even this morning, the tools were the first activity of the morning!

At music this week, Miss Amaya insisted on wearing  her hat. As toddlers do. She was consistent, though, and didn’t remove it for the entire class.

Tuesday to Wednesday, Amaya had an adventure sleeping at Grandma Sunshine’s house. They’re old enough now that we can talk about it in advance. On Tuesday she came over shortly before they left and said, “Ready!” When she got home, Sammy said, “Bobo go to Grandma Sunshine’s house now.” They all know that it’s Steven’s turn next. I had to explain that he’s not going right now so Sammy corrected to, “Bobo go to Grandma Sunshine’s house soon.”

On Wednesday morning, the boys got to enjoy the zoo along with Anna, Ben and Sam. They’ve come to expect hot pretzels as a zoo treat!

Wednesday afternoon fun with Grandma Sunshine after Amaya came back home to us.

We only have a few weeks left for early intervention school and then the kids will have officially graduated. We can go to some summer play classes but there’s no more formal weekly program. It was a great opportunity for them to grow and socialize. This week Steven actually played with another little boy spending some time rolling a big exercise ball back and forth to each other.

Sammy fell asleep on the way home from school which is always exciting to Steven and Amaya. “See Bubba sleeping!”

You can’t really tell but this is Amaya going in for a kiss.

Last weekend at Comic Con I saw some cool Star Wars t-shirts but they didn’t have them in the right sizes so I ordered the online. So cute! Though getting them all to stand still for a photo isn’t as easy as it used to be.

Amaya is using the force to get Moo, her cow puppet.

We had lots and lots of time outside this week. The weather has been all over the place but always nice enough to get out.

Someone has decided to start climbing into the water table.

Sammy, refusing to come inside. He thought it was hysterical that we were all back in the house and he was still outside.

On Thursday, Ben and Sam came for a play date.

Early Saturday morning we tried out our new bubble machine.

Bubbles on bellies, just like at music class.

Today, our friends Liam, Kayla and Makenzie came over for a play date. We pulled out our climber, which SSA are getting more used to and starting to explore more. It helps when your friends can climb to the top!

Amaya made it all the way to the top but wasn’t sure what to do next and wanted to swing over. It’s really cool to see her exploring and pushing her limits. When we first got this, she didn’t even want to touch it.

This afternoon, for the first time, I went out in the yard with the kids by myself. Without fences I wasn’t sure how it would go but it was great. Everyone seemed to understand I was serious when I said we were a team and stuck together. No one tried to run off anywhere that concerned me. It’s really exciting because I wasn’t sure it was possible. I accept that there are some things we just can’t do with triplet toddlers but it’s nice to discover something is safely doable. Amaya also wanted to get on the climber again. Even the boys joined it. They still have to figure out what they’re doing but it’s cool to see them take an interest.

I took a million selfies with the kids.

Steven has learned to smile so he’s the “deranged toddler smile” phase.

Funny faces!

Jail break into the library!

Proud girl!

Years ago, Jason got me this giraffe from Borders. It’s been in the nursery closet for the past 2.5 years and today I finally thought to take it out and let the kids play with it. It’s been determined by my children that she’s a girl and her name is Julia Big Giraffe.

Amaya stole her nose.

The boys wanted to steal her nose, too.

One last random group photo of play doh time with Megan.

Steven, this week!

In Mommy’s sweater.

Showing me his food. (Sorry folks. I think it’s adorable.)

Holding hands with Baby Doll while he eats. (Amaya was a Grandma Sunshine’s house.)

A MESS. Such a mess.

Deranged toddler smile.

Sammy, this week!

Deranged toddler smile.

After nap, Sammy didn’t want to get up. He wanted Steven to rub his back. Related, tonight Sammy tripped and fell in the nursery. (“What hurts?” “My face.” lol) Both Steven and Amaya rushed to comfort him with hugs, back rubs and his water cup. It was so sweet.

Baby Doll is a sack of ‘tatoes.

I have a Sammy story to share. At nap time I was trying to get everyone to go upstairs and Sammy wasn’t having it. I let him know it was time to come upstairs for naps but he wanted to play. I brought Amaya up and fully expected to have to bring Sammy upstairs kicking and screaming. Instead, I found Sammy and Steven climbing up the stairs. When I praised them, Sammy put his finger in his ear and said, “listening!” I was so proud. Practically proud to tears! It’s Megan who’s been working with the kids on using their “listening ears” and it’s amazing to see him put it all together like that.

Amaya, this week!

Reading intently with some crazy bed head.

A pipe cleaner flower bouquet, compliments of Megan.

Crazy child. Amaya climbed up into Sammy’s seat and buckled herself into his booster seat. It was pretty impressive.

Finally, this week, a look at what it takes to brush teeth every night.

No blog until Tuesday. Next weekend I’ll be off in Portland with some of the best girlfriends a girl can have. Nine years running. LNVE to the ladies I’ll see next weekend.