Spanking anyone?

So our really sweet neighbor Jeanne brought this toy over the other day for the kiddos. They really like it, but when Tristan first saw it, he decided to start punishing it. They don't get spakings that often, they are pretty darn good kids. But he must get enough of them because this is what I caught on video:

In case you can't understand what he is saying, he is telling the toy "no" and then asking it if it wants a "spanking" (pankin), then he says "Not Nice", some more "pankins" and then he says something I can't understand, like "shishishi shesh" then a few more "no's" and some more "pankin" threats.

I LOVE his laugh

I caught daddy and Ry having a fun time the other day

Family pictures

We went and had some family pictures taken to day. For the life of the photographer, she could NOT get Tristan to smile. He was so serious! He wouldn't even smile for Mark or I. Silly guy, but Ryland and Cassie both did more than enough smiling. Here are the pictures:

Girls night out

This past Saturday night, I got together with some of my girlfriends from Junior High (yep, you read that right, 7th and 8th grade!!!!!) and we went to Valhalla's in Kirkland. Lauren brought along a friend Jessica, Katie's friend Rachel met up with us and Rachel who went to High School with Katie and Lauren came as well.
Most of us are mom's now, Lauren has an adorable daughter Brianna who is 5 months, Rachel has a 5 year old daughter and a 2 month old son, and Jessica has an adopted daughter. Lauren's boyfriend Tommy was sweet enough to offer to pick us up and let us crash at their place, so we didn't have to worry at all about a DD.

When we finally got it figured out as to where we were going and what we were doing, oh, and who was coming along, (LOL) we ate quickly at TGI Friday's and then up the hill to Valhalla's we went. When we first go there, it was pretty empty and we sat down in the red room. I wasn't too excited, figured it would be a boring night. Man was I wrong!
I kind of turned my nose up at Katie when she said it was 80's night and she was going to drag my butt out on the floor. A few drinks later and a full dance floor, and there I was shaking my booty right next to her, Lauren, Rachel, Rachel and Jessica. I had a blast and can't wait to do it again!

Here are some pictures from the night

A child's safety is EVERYBODY's business

I was at a friends apartment a few weeks back and noticed a mother placing a newborn sized infant, in an infant carseat like this one:

Then I noticed the mother placing the baby in the car facing forward. I turned to Mark and said something about it and he told me it wasn't really any of my business. Maybe he was right, she was a perfect stranger and who am I to give her carseat advice. Plus, I know I roll my eyes at a lot of "well intended advice" that people throw my way about my children. Maybe she wouldn't care, maybe I would annoy her.... and so I kept on walking.

I wish I would have said something, and from now on I will. Afterall, a child's safety is EVERYBODY's business.

Fast forward a few weeks and I am getting out of my car at work. One of my friends is with me and says something about the car parked next to us. It belongs to one of our other co-workers who has a daughter around 3 years old. In the back there is an infant seat for the baby they just had a few months ago, and a booster seat for his oldest daughter. According to the standards for the state of Washington, he is "correct" in having her in a booster seat with a seatbelt securing her. However, after all the horriffic stories I've heard lately about children being moved to boosters too soon, I felt the need to say something to him.

So I forwarded him a link to the Kyle David Miller video on You tube and told him that I didn't want to step on his toes, but I wanted to give him some information that he might not know. He later told me he watched the video, but that the decision to move their daughter to a booster was beetween him and his wife and she's staying in the booster. I was surprised, and he is right, it is their choice.

I wish there were stronger laws about this, more specific criteria about height and weight minimums before you move your children to a booster with just a seatbelt securing them.

There are now carseats available to 5 point harness your children to 80 lbs, you better believe we will have our children in one of those. The newest one on the market is the Britax Frontier, it holds a child in a 5 point harness to 80 lbs, and then you can use it as a booster up to 100 lbs.

2006 Honda Oddysey and Peg Perego Triplette SW

For a fellow triplet mom.... hope this helps you figure out your car situation :)



To see the captions that explain the pictures a bit better please put your mouse in the lower left corner and click on the title of the slideshow. This will take you to our Picasa albums, where you can enlarge the pictures as well.

It takes me about 2 minutes to pop both wheels off, put the stroller in the trunk and close it.
We put the seats to the stroller in the area of the 2nd row where we removed the "captains chair" behind the driver.

Almost 2

Many thanks to a fellow triplet mom, Amanda for designing this card for us www.preppyandpinkdesigns.com

In just a little over a month, we will be celebrating the kiddo's 2nd birthday. I can't believe it, they are going to be 2. These past two years have flown by so fast and I can't believe how big they are.

Who are you?

Daycare has taught Tristan a neat way of identifying himself. Check it out in this video:

Earning their keep

That's right, to live here you've got to earn your keep! They start washing their clothes by hand early in our house, not even two and already doing their own laundry.

RUN RYLAND RUN, YOUR SHADOWS GONNA GET YOU

I tried to catch a video of this but was only successful in getting a picture. It was hillarious to watch Ryland see his shadow to the side of him and try to run away from it, stop to see if it was still there, see it again and go running faster, stop and still see it right there next to him. and then the funniest part of all... he face plants in the pool because he's still running as his head is turned and watching the shadow behind him. Gosh I love these kids, at minimum once a day they've got me laughing so hard I cry

They are at such a fun age, they love asking for hugs, it seems to be their new favorite thing to do and how they say it is so cute "ug" "ug pease" "pease". We are still working hard on our manners, but they seem to be catching on well. We only have to prompt sometimes for please and thank you's and Ryland's even taken to saying "awcome" (you're welcome). They are trying so hard with all of their words.

Cassie continues to go potty each and every night, and Ryland is back to telling us when he has poop. Tristan told us a few times this weekend too. Not every time, but the recognition seems to be there. One step closer to that big huge potty training fiasco, I can't wait.

Happy 4th of July!!!

We had a great 4th this year! Katy, Ricky and Kaleb came over with two of Ricky's friends. We had a BBQ in the front yard and played all afternoon until it started getting dark. Kaleb didn't really like the fireworks so he went to bed after a few. They had a lot of fun playing all afternoon though.

Katy and I were in charge of the kids and the guys were in charge of the fireworks and not lighting us all on fire (which Ricky and Jeff nearly failed at a few times!!!). The kids did really well with the fireworks and seemed to enjoy them. Everytime cassie saw one she'd say, "oohhh, pretty", it was so funny. Here are some pictures from the day.
If you want to see the captions for the photos, you have to actually click on the slideshow name at the end or beginning of the end.

Crazy weekend!

We had a great and fun weekend in all this nice sun we've been having lately. On Saturday we went with our friend Katy and her son kaleb to the Waterplayground in Everett. The kids had a blast and I got some videos this time.....