I Tried

To grow the bangs out and get them to keep their hair clipped back out of their eyes.

It didn't work.

Instead Sunday afternoon we had spa day complete with haircuts, manicures, and lots of lotion, which they are fascinated with.

Thanksgiving

Alida fell asleep in a heap in the midst of everyone at 4:00.

I picked her up and put her in bed at 8:00

She came down to the couch the next morning at 7:00.

She threw up.

She stayed there.

At noon Friday, she stood up, announced she felt better, and went on about her business.
I hate to admit this, but sitting there on the couch with her Friday morning while she was still and watching a movie without constant wriggling--heaven for me.

Now. Let the Christmas Tom-foolery Begin!

Thanksgiving Day Movie Marathon: Musical Edition

Thankfully

Thanksgiving 2005

Bed rest.

I don't even remember that day.

Thanksgiving 2006

Nicholas had a fever.

I cooked an ambitious meal for my nearly one-year-olds.

Little did we know on that day the two additional blessings already headed our way.

Thanksgiving 2007

We made it out of the house that day to go on a walk.

I cooked; we diapered; we looked forward to the boys turning two.
We were blessed more than we had the coherence to realize.

Thanksgiving 2008

We road-tripped to St. Louis, to Kansas, to Nebraska.

We loaded diapers and sippy cups and prepared for car-sickness.

We were ambitious and exhausted but surrounded by friends and family.

Thanksgiving 2009

We took Ben took the emergency room.

I was so sick I felt I had been beaten.

We were facing Patric's imminent departure.

But, my parents were there and they put together a feast for everyone from our very thankfully donated meal from our Guardian Angel at church, who very quietly always makes sure we're taken care of.

Thanksgiving 2010

We're together, and we have planned nothing.

Our Guardian Angel filled our fridge again last night.

Thankfully.

And There They Sat

For at least an hour while the boys and I drug Christmas decorations around the house.

It's a slow transition from Halloween to Christmas.

Saturday Mornings

Perhaps because they are starting to be a bit more calm, I found myself convinced yesterday it was Friday, which would of course put me at the edge of a Saturday morning by the time I picked up the kids. When I did pick up the kids, I couldn't figure out why their happy-nappys weren't there to pick up (nap blankets for weekly wash over the weekend). Then I reminded myself that it was Thursday. Two seconds later, I was wondering aloud why Nicholas had homework for the weekend? Then I reminded myself it was Thursday. On the way out the door about 3 minutes later, I nearly asked out loud again why no happy nappys today? I caught myself and remembered it was Thursday. We got to the car 1 minute later and I out-loud took Friday McDonalds orders. Nicholas had to remind me that it wasn't Friday. Good grief.

Then this morning, Friday morning, three of my four children showed up lights blaring and loud in the living room playing some game with each other at 4:15 and again at 4:55. All I could think was, at least it's not Saturday morning.

To Battle!

Love visiting friends on a Sunday afternoon.

And playing with new toys.

The Stuber Family Turkey Project

Ben's assignment: disguise his turkey with his family (I guess to save him from becoming a feast).

Everyone pitched in, and while I admittedly generally feel annoyed by this kind of stuff wriggling its way into our evenings, this one was fun. They all had fun with their different tasks and were really proud to take it in to preschool the next day.

When Ben marched in the next morning, the first worker we met asked him about his turkey, and he started to describe everything we had done. And then Nicholas jumped in more loudly and more quickly to finish. Ben automatically shut down and let his brother take over.

Then Laura asked Nicholas to politely be quiet and let his brother finish.
Nicholas stood like a cartoon character ready to burst with the need to provide the presentation as Ben stepped-up and finished what he was saying with a smile and excitement that we rarely get to see.

I am SO glad they are in different classrooms in preschool, and I hope it continues on through all of their school days. No, I will insist it continues through all of their school days.

There's a Bit of Nicholas in That One

Nicholas--scratching eczema and loosing hair.

Nephew Noah, Nicholas 2.0.

Weekend Outing: Flu Shots

I made the mistake of honesty before we loaded up Saturday morning to get flu shots. Although smiling here, we entered the doctor's office all in tears like Ben back there and screamed our way through the entire appointment. Then off to breakfast. The smiley face pancakes seemed to make up for the drama a touch. In the middle of being complimented by our neighboring table on such great kids, Elaine stood up and dumped herself headfirst out of her chair and Alida dumped two sets of utensils onto the floor and Nicholas became suddenly animate and LOUD while Ben decided that would be a great time to reach his fist into his drink and drag out some ice. Alas.

I Ignored That Noise

While the washing machine worked it's way into blocking the door that opens in.
Bother.

Picture By Alida

Not too bad girl.

Sneaky

Mommy, can I have some (sneaking her chair to the counter to sneak a treat)?

Of course.

Mmmmm, broccoli.

This Place

Used to be that we would take the kids here, glad that the boys were happy on the smaller set of equipment and glad that the girls were still not mobile.

I never took them here alone--the diapering, the potty going, the feeding, the terror of one of them wandering over to the big-kid playground and falling while someone snatched another one left behind at the small kid playground.

Graduation.

All four on the big kid playground.

Me watching from the side while talking to National Guarding daddy on the phone.

Oh, happy day.

Then I got all ahead of myself and took all four of them to the grocery store to pick up a few things.

Oh, half-happy day.

The Game

Wrestle while trying to kiss each other's hands.

The the girls laugh until they can hardly breath.

Eek out this phrase between gasps: "Are you hungry?"

Roll on the floor laughing.

Repeat.

Until you draw blood.

I failed to get a picture of Nicholas' scabbed nose.

The game: brawl.

Just Another Day

Of singing, pumpkin carving, and sitting on the furniture.

The girls do this a lot--sit and sing non-sense songs together. Hilarious because they (nearly) sound like they are on the same page.

Triplets

Someone at work asked the other day if the girls look just like me when I was little.

Um, yeah.

Hair

Had they been for Halloween what they told me they wanted to be,

there would have been hair.

Halloween

Friday for the preschool party--what we thought everyone was going to be for Halloween.

What actually happened.
Third year for the boys to be skeletons--getting a little tight.
We picked up a ninja and a different Strawberry Shortcake.
Elaine decided she had to be Dorothy.
And Alida.


Alida suddenly needed to be a vampire when she heard face paint could be involved.
Cutest moment of the night: Alida eeks out a "Don't forget the wampire," as they crowd around the door of our friend's house bags extended.

Dorothy, with a somewhat creepy lipstick application.

The costume that just keeps on giving.

But the boys didn't seem to mind.

Strawberry Shortcake.

Running to keep up.

And the ninja slowing down to guide the vampire.