Let's Play!

Griffin's hockey wound-up this past weekend... the kids played four 35-minute games all in one morning! This was a lot compared to the one 15 minute game they typically have at each practice. By then end, most of the kids wanted to be "goalie" and just stand in the net.  At one point, Griffin and three of his teammates were arguing over who got to stay in there... hahaha:

All the kids started soccer today at our local YMCA. I can't believe they let two year olds play an organized sport... well atleast try to play. I don't have any pics from the actual practice cause I spent most of it trying to help corral all the kids but I did get a few of them "warming up" before it started. So so cute!

Before we got hit with a giant snowstorm yesterday and today, it was so spring-like and beautiful outside! The kids spent some time playing in our court.  The boys in a mud puddle...

... and the girls in the convertible. Oh dear... couple of divas we have on our hands. Sunny took driving very seriously and Gibby was happy to be passenger.

The battery started dying out a bit, so like a true gentleman, Fletcher gave them a little (actually a pretty big) push!

Typical "women drivers"... hahaha... maybe an insult to my own kind, but this photo makes the comment hard to resist.

First Ponytail

No, this is not Gibby's first ponytail... This is the first ponytail TROY has ever done. Every other Thursday he is on days off and so stays home with the kids while I go to work. I love this new level of parenthood he has achieved. And personally, I think the ponytail is beautiful.

#5!

Well this weekend was much more fun than the last! We ended up spending last weekend in the hospital with Fletcher AND Sunny... both had RSV and were having respiratory trouble.  Luckily they are much, much better now and could enjoy this weekends festivities.  Griffin was celebrating his 5th Birthday! We had a little winter Fiesta complete with a pinata and taco bar!

Singing happy birthday!

 The little guys were a little jealous that none of the gifts were for them. Sunny kept saying that it was "happy 'nunny' day!"

Erin helping Fletcher open one of Griff's cars... pretty cool!

Sunny and her blonde locks... her hair sure has grown lately!

The boys doing a balloon relay race!

Birthday cake and another round of singing!

I love my Griffin so so so much. He is the sweetest, most caring little boy. I am constantly in admiration of his never-ending enthusiasm... I hope he never grows out of thoroughly enjoying everything he experiences. He sure is an amazing person to have around and I'm so very proud of the little man he's becoming. xoxo

on the Bright Side

Well it's been quite a week. One child with a throat infection, another with pnemonia, a trip to the E.R., and a lot of nights with not so much sleep... I'm beat! I'm looking for the bright moments though... and here's what I found:

It's blurry cause I took it with my phone... here's Gibby trying to comfort Sunny while she had her nebulizer. (I didn't take a picture of the fight that ensued once Fletcher decided he also wanted to "comfort" to Sunny.)

Griffin brought this picture home from preschool today.  Its the first one he's drawn of our whole family. My heart fills with love and pride whenever I look at it. And "the hearts are because I love you, mommy".

Here's hoping everyone gets better quick and we all get some sleep tonight!

Mmmmmuffins

I feel kinda bad that I haven't baked with the kids much... Griff used to help me all the time when he was a toddler... but the fighting and messing that I knew would occur has kept me from doing the same with S, G & F.  The other day I decided to give it a shot.  Mostly inspired by the gorgeous aprons my good friend Tara made the girls for their birthday! 

Here's a shot of everyone ready to go - but before any ingredients were handed out.

And ya I bet you wish I had some shots of them actually making the muffins.  But that would be CRAZY! I needed all my hands and then some to keep the experience relatively positive... definitely not the time for a photo shoot.

So here's a shot of the final product.  We made 15 little whole wheat banana muffins... and they were delicious! (and nutritious too... which is why I didn't feel bad that we ate all of them in 15 mins flat!)

They were so good they deserved to be eaten with his eyes closed.

Sunny's apron :)

And Gibby waiting for another serving in her pretty lil apron:

And in case you were wondering... my first week back at work was amazing! I still feel a tad guilty to admit that... but it seems to be such a perfect balance for me.  2.5 days in peace & quiet and still plenty of time to spend with my loves.  And they LOVED going to the dayhome. Prepping for our 7:15am departures and 5pm supper is a whole lot of work... but totally ok once I'm in my office with a cup of coffee and a clear head!

2 Years Old x3

My babies are two! Wow! We had lots of fun this weekend celebrating their big day.  Now I'm not really sure how to refer to them anymore... we used to say "the babies"... now I'm trying out "the little kids"... I guess I could just use their names... I cringe a little when people refer to them as "the TRIPLETS"... doesn't really sound personable to me. They are so much more than that... three extremely unique individuals!

Miss Gibby is my soft spoken (with the exception of her ear-piercing cry) sweetheart... she loves her sleep and often asks to have a nap or go to bed... which we are happy to do cause she is much sweeter with lots of sleep!  She loves attention and is most happy if it is one-on-one.  Singing and cuddling are our favourite things to do together.

Sunny is a laid back bundle of personality and energy.  She's tough as nails, and sure knows how to work her cuteness to her advantage.  I hope she will always be so confident and eager to learn.  She is the easiest to reason with right now and always has lots of hugs and kisses for mommy.

Since day 1 I've labelled Fletcher as my big softy.  And I've tried to keep an open-mind and not decide that that's the way he will be... but he makes it tough...  he's just a giant mush-ball.  A strong little guy and very athletic... but if anything doesn't go exactly as planned his emotions get the better of him.  He's a real mommy's boy and it's hard for me to resist babying my favourite little red-haired guy.

I love love love my three little two-year-olds!  Here are some pics from their big day!

New snow hats...

A few of the kids colouring at the party... there were 9 kids age 2 and under so it was pretty busy! It went surprisingly smoothly I think though.

Some of the kids having lunch!

Sunny was the last one standing at nap time... Here she is posing in her "happy Nunny shirt" with her new backpack and boots!

And since I forgot to get a pic of the birthday table before it was emptied, here's an aftershot atleast.

The girls feeling pretty cool with their bacpacks.  They were acting all "high school".  Neither of them would let poor Fletcher stand beside them.

This is as close as he could get... poor guy, gotta be tough being the odd man out! This is the first time I've seen the girls so blatantly leave him out. (Yes, I know I have to clean my windows AGAIN!)

Waiting for Auntie Mila to arrive!

Sad "nunny" face.  Daddy looks pretty handsome though :)

Supper time! Yay!

Time to blow out the candles... ie. spit all over the cake.

Yum! Rainbow surprise cake!

Now it's off to work for me tomorrow! I'm sooooo nervous! 

Craft Time

We pulled out the paints the other day to work on a craft for the little kids' birthday party that is coming up this weekend.  They love to paint, and actually were a bit less messy this time around.  Gulp... I guess they are maturing.  The little guys will be 2 this weekend and I'll be heading back to work next week. I am feeling pretty overwhelmed at the moment... my babies are officially not babies any more, I don't get to take Griff to preschoool any more, I don't get to stay home all the time any more.... hey... wait a minute... after a long day listening to whining/screaming/crying maybe not staying at home all the time isn't all bad.  Maybe my nice quiet office isn't gonna be so bad... hmmmm.... it is definitely bittersweet!