Meg - A Princess Shoot

This evening we had an incident. Jay Pee'd on the Princess and it did not go over well. Actually, he Pee'd in a cup outside and threw it on her. Sam laughed to see such a sight and the dog ran away with the spoon .... not really, but it sounded good didn't it? The first part is true. Jay did throw Pee on her, and Sam did laugh, but not until she came crying into the house.

We do not like those stinking boys tonight. Words spoke straight from the heart we say!

So after a long hot bubble bath, we went up to Meg's room, dressed up in wedding clothes and had a little photo shoot, all by ourselves. We're practicing how to look beautiful, and how to be good for Joey and Mariah's wedding coming up in two weeks. We practiced smiling .... A LOT!

Here's an artsy fartsy vintage version. I think I love this one.

... and here's just Meg, while she relived the story telling of how she got Pee all over her, and how much she does not like those boys right now.

I don't blame her. I'm willing to trade them in for new models this evening ... but I'm the Mom, and I'm stuck with them!

Houston! We have Cavities ...

This morning .... early, and that's hard to do with these kids, we had a Dentist appointment with a new Dentist.  One that is more equipped and modern ... and one that Lurrvvvv's the chaos that triplets and kids bring.  One that can handle and keep on ticking and clicking, and one with office staff that is 100% more friendly.  Instead of a frown when we walked in the door .... the best part was that we got big smiles.

BUT, we also walked out with eight cavities!  Ouch! Triple Ouch I should say ....

Unfortunately, if we'd followed our gut instinct all along instead of believing that our Dentist was prepared for our kids, we might not be in this boat right now.  Don't get me wrong, I'm sure he's a good Dentist, but he just wasn't the best Dentist for us.  Times changes, but he didn't change and update, and his frame of mind didn't either. 

Knowledge and technology have come along way, and for us .... we wanted more for our kids.  Like flouride treatments, and better exams and cleanings.  Kind of like ... more for your money, or at least get what you pay for.  Yes, I'm dogging him.  No I shouldn't ... but our mistake in choosing a Dentist is only costing us $2,019.00 in the next month.

So we have eight cavities.  Very small cavities.  Teeny Weeny.  Except one of Jays.  I was totally thrown off my high horse with this news.  Now what?!  Better brushing.  Better flossing. No candy.  No pop.  No gum.  Zilch ... Zero ... Zip!  None at home, and none at the Neighbors.

I guess my frustration is that our old Dentist wasted two years of my time ... and the tooth that Jay needs a crown on next week might not have gotten this far down the road if it had been caught at previous exams. 

Just to set the record straight .... I do not believe that you have to take your kids to a "Pediatric Dentist", but I do believe that the Dentist that you choose should be "Kid Friendly", not only in atmosphere and technology, but in attitude as well.

Water Fun ... Again!

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far, and we had no choice but to cool down again at yet another "Splash Park!"  Thank goodness they are plentiful around here and we love them!  Click the picture for a better view ... and enjoy!

Meg's Bed

Meg has a new bed! Well ... actually it's a very old bed. In fact, it's so old that it's considered a very valuable antique ... worth more than Von paid for this old farmhouse fifteen years ago.

Last week we decided that it was time to separate Meg from the boys, and we knew that we had to make it really good and enticing to pull her away from her womb mates. So we (me) decided to use this bed that was already in the room that we were making pink and girly. Our dilemma was whether to use the bed or not.

First of all, I had visions of white wicker twins beds ... one for Meg and one for Kelcie. Then we decided to give her our queen bed after Von and I went shopping for her bed and ended up buying us the most awesome King Tempur-Pedic bed (which has not been delivered yet). I visioned having a canopy made that attached and came down from the ceiling, and had already shown the woodworker my plan. Then we changed our minds.

This old handmade bed has stood in this house for many many years .... more years than any of our living relatives know. It looks like a wonderful old wardrobe, but it pulls down and rests on wrought iron legs. Many years ago it was placed upstairs, long before the stairway was changed and "modernized", and now the bed has a permanent home. Our choices were to either attempt to remove a window from our house and have the bed hoisted down and hope that it stayed intact, then try to find a climate controlled place to store it .... or destroy it to get it down the stairs. I can't tear that bed up. Some of our ancestors were most likely created in that bed.

So Meg has a new bed .... one with three very old feather mattresses. (yes, they were cleaned). Along with the bed, she has new pink walls, beautiful new vintage looking rose bedding, her Great-Grandmother's rocking chair, her Father's old trunk, her Great-Grandmother's dresser with crystal knobs with a gold framed mirror hanging above it, and a big new pink rug on the floor.

We still yet have to decorate the walls, but I'm working on that. Oh, and the words on the bed .... I photoshopped that on there to see what it will look like when I put the quote from "Upper Case Living" on that tall old headboard.

But I'll leave you with two little boys that loved the bed even more than Meg ....

On Meg's first night in her new bed, she said to the boys, "Since I won't be living with you anymore, do you want to give me a hug?" Simutaneously .... both boys said, "Uhhhh, NO!" So much for being womb mates don't you think?!

Puddle Jumpers

This evening we took the kids over to the neighbor's to go swimming.  This past weekend, I took them to Josh's (oldest son) and they swam like little fish.  Tonight was no different.  Jay and Sam both loved the water .... Meg, not so keen on it without ripping my clothes off.

They love it so much that we've talked about getting a pool.  Not a big permanent one .... but one that we can take down in the winter, and one that is big enough for the kids to have fun in.  It's hitting close to 100 degrees here and it's still June.

Jay was jumping in .... Meg was jumping back and away from the edge. 

She was more into prancing around and showing off than she was swimming.  I have to admit ... she is cute, and her tricks and poses are better than her clawing my neck in the water ... and her new life jacket makes her even cuter.  Thanks Juli for buying them for the kids!  I love them and they are wonderful!

Sam too was getting in and out by himself and paddling all over the pool.  He thinks he's a puddle jumper and can do everything by himself. 

Any ideas on how to get Meg to have fun in the water?  I can only take so many pictures of her looking this cute!

Splish Splash

Yesterday evening it was hot outside baby!  Juli and I took the kids to a splash park for a big cool down.  They didn't have any problem finding the water!

We splished.

We splashed.

We posed.

We got drenched.

We waited for the water.

We hammed it up.

But we had fun!

Viva Las Vegas!

Yes, we Ditched the Kids for Vegas. Last weekend I flew to Vegas to meet up with these ladies. It was wonderful to put voices, personalities and faces together, and I can't wait to see them all again next year on our "Back-To-Us" vacation. We came from coast to coast and you would never have thought that it was the first time that we all met up together.

Over the past three years, some of us that live close have met ... and others have traveled short distances to meet .... but this trip was for all of us to be together, and I am so happy that I went.

Having triplets brought us together. Being Mother's of Multiples and friends has kept us together. Over the past several years, we all ended up in an online triplet group, and our friendship grew.

Over the past several years we've experienced great support from one another. We've experienced heartache with losses of children, and we've rallied for each other through the tough times, and we've experienced miracles. ... and we've grown close. I'm proud to call these ladies my friends, and I love them.

I learned a lot from these women and I want to thank them for being who they are, and for being my friend.

Tanya M: I almost feel like your sister. We've had so many spontaneous and late night phone conversations. You were everything I thought you were. You're funny and witty and so full of life. I already knew you long before we met :)

June: It was great to share a room with you. You too, I felt like I knew so well. I envy your energy and your ability to keep it all together. Maybe someday I can be more like you and just go, do, and enjoy!

Sheri: Wow! What can I say ... you kept us all in order, and you are such a lady. I admire your faith. I can't wait until October when I come to Michigan and get to see you again.

Mandy: You have spunk Woman! I bet you could conquer the world in the very nicest way and still be so gracious. I'm in awe. I'm so glad we got to meet.

Sheryl: YOU. Surprised me. But what a very very nice surprise. I love your laugh and the fun that you ooze. Don't ever say that I didn't give you anything .... (it's a secret, right?)

Chris: You are a true Teacher and Leader. I have to say, you are so thoughtful, and your heart is as big as California. You keep us together.

Tracy: Oh Tracy! You sparkle and bubble .... and I love it! I'm still hearing your laughter, and I smile with the memories of our great weekend.

Eve: You are funny ... and so much fun to be around. You and your high heels! I'd have a broken neck if I tried to wear them ... and you just looked so beautiful in them .... and your red dress! Mario knows a good thing doesn't he?

Pam: In you, I have met a lifelong friend. Thank you for encouraging me. You are a very brave Woman that can move mountains with your faith. What a wonderful gift to have in life. You are so blessed!

Tanya B: It was great to meet you .... but I have to laugh when I think of you. You were MIA. A lot. I wish I had your indepence. I have no sense of direction .... I could never find myself around like you did, especially in Vegas.

Angela: You are drop dead gorgeous! How do you do it? I know, I know ... you have liquids! (makeup) ... but you really don't need any. At all. But mainly .... you're just as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside. I'm so glad we got to meet.

Karen: You are the sweetest person I think I've met in a long time, and it was so wonderful to meet up in Chicago and fly into Vegas together. You are exactly as I had thought you would be. Honest and genuine. I can't wait to meet up again. I pray for your little angel Lauren, and I pray that your heartache eases, and that she'll always send you butterflies from Heaven.

Sabrina: What can I say that you don't already know. YOU, my friend, have a BIG BIG heart. It was the most wonderful feeling to hug you in person. It was hardest to say goodbye to you, but I know we'll meet up again next year. God put you in our triplet group for a reason, even though you have Quintuplets. He put us in your path to lift you up and help you, with love and friendship. I can't even imagine the pain of losing your three boys, but know that I will always be here for you when you need me. I also pray that God keeps Curt safe while he's deployed and this next year just whizzes by until he is back home with you and the girls.

Judy and Wedad: I wish you could have come too! You were there in our hearts. I know it's hard to make doable when you live on the other side of the world ... but maybe next year. (wishing).

Viva Las Vegas Ladies .... it was wonderful!

Love,

Tan

Happy Father's Day

June 21, 2009


Dear Von,

Happy Father’s Day! No card that I found said the things I want to tell you.

First of all, I want you to know that I have never been happier in my life, and I thank God every day that you found me. Every night before I go to sleep I pray for God to keep you safe and let us live a long life together.

Having these kids with you, and you being their Father has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Of course, it doesn’t mean that I love them more than my older four, I don’t, but raising them with you is wonderful, and I know that with you, I am a better Mother.

As the years have gone by, I see that we are settling into a life that at one time I didn’t know if it would work. In the short time of eight years that we’ve been together, we been through a lot of heartache and in the end, we have found a tremendous amount of joy, and I am at peace with my life with you.

I wanted to tell you in my words that I love you. I love you for being the person and Father that you are, for having so much more wisdom and patience than I have ever had. Mainly, I want to thank you for all that you’ve taught me in our marriage and for all that is yet to come as we raise these children.  I am blessed to call you my husband, and you their Father.

I love you,

Tan

Ditched the Kids for Vegas

In just a few hours I'll be boarding a Jet and leaving for Las Vegas!  By myself, and leaving my kiddo's and husband behind. 

Am I sad?  Oh how I wish I had just a bit of guilt ... but I don't.  Am I scared?  Yes, I am.  I'm always a bit scared when I leave them.  Even when I just drive to work, or when they are with other relatives.  No one loves them as much as me, and no one can coddle, cuddle and take care of them as well as I can.  I know they're loved and safe, but I'm the Mom.  It's that simple.  I'm their Mom.

But Mom will be flying off leaving them on the ground with their Dad, and waving as I disappear into the clouds.  At 2:30 this afternoon, I will be meeting up with some of the most wonderful women I'm yet to meet.  More than a dozen of us will be in the sky, on different airplanes, coming from around the nation, and we're all so excited.

We're all Mom's of multiples, and we've all been in an online group for several years.  Even though we've never met face to face .... we know each other well.  We've been a tremendous support to each other through good times, bad times and hard times .... and it's time we met.

So please keep us in your prayers, that we all land safely and have a great weekend, and when I get back, you'll get the full scoop ... and a whole lot of pictures!

Oh, I almost forgot ... (not really)  Thanks Von for the plane ticket and for making it so easy for me to go!  I really love you!

The Fabulous Four

It's been over five years since these four kids (men) were all together at my house.  It seems like just yesterday.

Jake, on the left, comes often, but Mike just returned from Iraq recently and has been gone for over four years.  Of course third in line is Joey ... my son.  He makes it here when he's home from college, and when he can.  Gavin, on the right hasn't been here either in all those years.  He had never met my babies until tonight.  I didn't realize how much I missed them until they showed up here tonight.

Just hugging them almost made me cry.  I didn't want to let them go.  Watching them eat made me laugh.  It was just like the good old days when they were teenagers, and used to come and eat me out of house and home.  Especially Mike.  We didn't even have to be home for Mike to come.  He'd just come to eat.  We had to keep things stocked up for that boy .... because his Mama couldn't cook fast enough for him.  Bless her heart, she made a big boy.  When that boy started growing, he didn't stop.

They came and fished tonight.  Together.   .... just like the good old days.

Date Night with My Boyfriends

Friday evening I picked up my little boyfriends and we went on a fabulous date.

You see, Juli and Kelcie had picked up Meg early in the day and they went shopping. They got BFF necklaces, went out to dinner, got new purses loaded with makeup and girly things .... and they strutted their stuff without my boyfriends!

SOOOOOO, I picked up my little guys and we headed to "Build a Bear" and met up with the girls.

I have to tell you that it was my first experience in that store .... and I've come to realize that when you have triplets, it ain't cheap! There wasn't a sign on the door that said, "Oh Honey ... you don't just buy the bear ... you buy it's beating heart, it's voice recorder, it's clothes, it's shoes, it's underwear (bikini), it's ribbon's for it's hair, it's necklace and it's toy for it's arm." Whew!

Four Kids + Four Furry Friends = a bit over $200.00. But, my little boyfriends are still in love with their new friends, and the girls are still rocking and singing with their Hannah Montana Bears! Juli got the worst end of the deal since Megan and Kelcie were her date for the evening!

Thanks Juli for footing the bill for Meg!

After a round on the horses, we ate at the mall and regrouped and headed off shopping!

Old Navy will never be the same .... and neither will I.

I realized that my kiddo's are way too sheltered when Meg walked up to a mannequin girl and talked to her. When the stylish little snob didn't talk back, Meg turned around and said to Kelcie in the most serious voice, "I do not think she is alive." Of course this drove Juli and I into leg-crossing hysteria as we laughed until we had tears, and after we caught our breath, we knew it was time to get out of Dodge and head for the sticks again!

It was fun to have a night out with my daughter. She's truly my best friend, and I love it that we have kids the same age and we can plan and do things together again.

What I didn't love was that my boyfriends got sleepy before our date was over and one had a meltdown over a piece of gum and the other one threw up in my car. NICE!