Because I'm the Mom

This is a vent.  Only a vent.  Nothing I say here can or will be used against me!  You promise???

This Monkey has reached the end of her rope.  They got the best of me, and it only took four and a half years to do it.  I truly thought I had the patience of a Saint and was the best Woman for this job.  The Saint business went right out the window this morning ... and I can't abandon the ship or give up the job, because I'm the Mom, and when you're the Mom ... it's for better or worse.

Some days it's a toss up which is better and which is worse. Here's my day, and you can sing it to any tune you'd like.

No No No No ... it's five AM, the sun's not up, lay down and go to sleep.  Go to sleep, Go to sleep, Go to sleep! Be quiet in there ... don't wake up Sam ... I can't deal with that right now.  He's "one on one" and I'm too tired, too pooped to pop ... to pop, to pop, to pop!  You what?  Go pee?  Are you ser-eee-ous?  Just sneak down stairs ... quietly, don't talk to loud, don't run, don't play ... just pee and come back here.

All is quiet, I did my job, pillow here I come.  I can sneak a few more minutes in before my day begins.  What?!  You need a drink?  You want to eat?  You need your boots?  You want to play?  You don't like that shirt?  You need your Dad?  You don't like me?  You want that toy?  Don't cry ... don't cry .... don't cry.  Don't wake up Sam ... he's "one on one" and I'm too tired right now.

Let's lay on the couch and sneak some hugs before the day begins.  You watch TV... I'll close my eyes.  We'll take a nap and catch some ZZZZZZZ's.   Sushhhhhhh right now, don't wail that loud, there's room for both of you.  One on each side, I still can sleep.  Just don't wake up Sam ... he's "one on one" and I'm still tired, just thinking about our day.

The sun is up ... and so is Sam.  He's "one on one" and makes me play things I don't want to do.  Out to the sandbox?  Right now you say?  Blue jeans?  Gray shirt?  No food?  Just play?  Drink you Milk!  Eat your Food!  Wash your face!  Let's Go! 

No No No!  No sand in the house.  Drive that truck outside.  Water?  Where did you get that Water?  Shoes off the couch.  Take that out!  No bugs in the house!  Put that down.  Put that back.  Close that door, I'm chasing flies.  Sam, you're "one on one."

You need a bath.  You have sand in your hair.  What's on your hands?  Ewwwwww ... take off your clothes.  One at a time.  Stay out.  Close that door.  No bubbles.  Don't dump that shampoo in there ... in there ... in there.  Don't pee in the tub.  Don't pee in the sink ... Just don't Ppppeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Sam did what?  Trash can in the tub?  Oh no ... oh no ... oh no!  The floor is wet.  Don't slip ... don't fall ... get out in the hall.  Stay there.  Sit down.  Wait your turn.  Don't fight.  Sam is "one and one" and I'm so tired.  It's only noon,

I need a drink ... I need a break.  I need to sleep.  I need to eat ... but I'm the Mom, and it's my job and it is only noon.  Clean up the mess.  Make some lunch.  Take a nap.  Take a break.  You're wearing me out ...  but I'm the Mom, and it's my job .... and I love you so much!

It's quiet now.  They're all asleep ... I get to go pee.  By myself, with only the dog for company.  Who threw the washcloths in the tub?  They're all wet.  They all were clean.  I'd wake up those kids and make them pay ... but I'm the Mom, and it's my job.  I'm so tired ... So here I sit and fingerpeck so I don't wake them up.  This is my break, and it still is only noon!   

It's all in a days work ... because, I'm the Mom!

Married Bliss and the Couch

Today was a busy day. The Mission: Buy Joey and Mariah a Sofa. It was my gift to them.

The Honeymoon is over, they made it home yesterday ... so we started out early this morning searching for the perfect Love Seat. They both have less than one year before they are out of college and back home. Their apartment is going to be very tiny .... like college married students cracker box tiny. So we started out "Love Seat" ... but I soon talked them both right into "Sofa" mode.

Anyone can do anything for 9 short months ... such as trip over each other and live cramped up. But when they come back home, they'll need a Sofa for their house. So they might as well get what they want and get something that is going to be more useful. So a few minutes into the search, they were transformed into looking for the perfect Sofa.

As you can see, we had lots of help ... and the help acclimated very quickly in a very large furniture store with hundreds of Sofa's and such. Very quickly. In fact, like little ducks in a row ... they tried out almost every seat in the house. We couldn't have done it without them!

Rich Chocolate Brown. They found the perfect one. Happy Wedding Gift Joey and Mariah. I love you both very much ... and I hope you love the new Sofa! Maybe for Christmas, we'll shop for the Chair!

Joey and Mariah {The Wedding}

Joey and Mariah got married Saturday ... and it was a good day for a wedding.  Mariah was a beautiful Bride and of course my son Joey was just as beautiful.  The look on his face as she walked towards him was priceless.  I'm surprised, knowing Joey, that he didn't stop the wedding and do "this" before anything even got started.

A Mom can't take more than one wedding a year you know.  This makes three in a row for my older kiddo's and most likely, I pray, the end of weddings for about twenty years ... until the Littles start getting hitched.

He loves her.  She loves him.  It made my heart feel so good for these two to get married.

Yes, I took their pictures ... and yes, I had help.  It wouldn't have been so cool to have a big camera bracket and flash hanging around my neck as I was escourted in, now would it?  Thank you Dana Shroeder for lending your expertise.

More to follow ....   I promise!

The Ride

Night before last .... I loaded up their bikes and took the kids out to the high school for some serious riding.  As I stood back and watched my babies "GO" ... I thought about how much they have grown over the past four years, and I thought about just how lucky I am to have them.

This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life ... raising triplets.  It's not the same as raising stair-steps.  This is incredible because they're all the same age, and they've each got each other's back when they do something wrong.

I also thought about how much I love them and how I always want them to look back and know they are miracles, and they are very blessed to have  us as their parents.  I love that we live way out here ... and life is really here on our farm.  I hope that they want to stay here instead of venturing off someday.  

It would be an understatement to say that I have already chosen each of their homesteads and have already planned their front yard,  .... and of course, all three are right here on our very own road.  Okay, just call me crazy ... but call me in love with my kids. 

Even when the going gets tough and some days it's tougher than others .... the ride is worth it!

The Boys

My boys are growing up so cute. When I look at them, I can't hardly stand it. For so long, all I wanted was for them to be the very best of friends ... and now they are.

Now days I need a break, a nap and some time-out when they're in full gear!

Anyone up for a few hours with these boys?  It's a guarantee that you'll sleep good at night after a day with these two!

Me ... and my Babies

I rarely like photo's of me ... but I love this one. My very good friend Peggy took this, and sent it to me. Even though the kids weren't smiling, we're all together.

I'm coming to realized that I need to be in pictures too. I want my babies to look back someday and see me with them. I've also come to realize that I am not just the person on the other end of the camera.

Memories in the mind fade over time ... but when you have pictures to look at, it jars the mind and brings home the moment. For when that day comes, that I'm only a memory ... I want my kids to look through all these pictures and see the "Me", .... their Mother. So from here on out, I'll be sticking my face on here ... a lot!

Peggy will send me more ... and I too will get a chance to edit them. I'll post a few more when they come my way.

Jump Baby Jump!

Playing Possum!  Joey and Mariah came over yesterday evening to see the kids, and to gather up all my canning equipment.  They're going to can green beans this week and do Tomatoes.

In the meantime the kids had to show them their bedrooms and all the work we've done.  Of course, one thing led to another and before we knew it .... I had a bunch of kids in their beds having a bunch of fun.

The big kids were having way too much fun tickling the little kids.

Not only did they play in and mess up Meg's bed .... they moved on to the boys beds as well and let the kids jump back and forth between them.  I didn't have the heart to stop them since they were having so much fun; plus the fact that they won't get to see Joey and Mariah as much since they'll be living in St. Louis for another year, after they get married in two weeks.

But the main thing is .... they had fun!  All of them!