Triplings

All Aboard the Kindergarten Train!!!

2010-09-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

The title of this post, all cutesy and positive also reflects a strong feeling of moving ahead, whether I like it or not. The train is now leaving the station, will I put my kids on it or will I be seized by my underlying urge to pack the family into the minivan and escape the seemingly unavoidable task of Letting Them Go?
I know they are ready (as ready as anyone ever was).
I know I am ready (as ready as anyone can be).
This is the custom, right?

Today is what the school calls the girls' "staggered start." They go for an hour and fifteen minutes only along with a handful of other kids and they get to play and visit and have a little walk around the school and then we pick them up. Friday is the first full day - six hours. Then next week its six hours, five days a week. That means that without exaggeration, I will have more "childcare" in one week than I have had in the last 6 months, maybe more.
I don't want to give the impression I am suffering from this. Well, okay, maybe I am just a little traumatized, but it's not like I have spent the last year begging the heavens for MORE time with my girls. My patience is tested. My nerves are ragged. My body is crying out for exercise and my brain is too. Without employing my powers of spin, I can still see kindergarten as a magnificent gift to me and the kiddos. I'm just getting cold feet a little bit.
I tell myself everything will be better: I'll be able to get all that boring stuff done during the day and then when the kids come home it will be fun, fun, fun! I'll never get grumpy or anything because I will have spent the day doing yoga and baking cupcakes, right?
Honestly, I can't even tell if I'm joking.
What I do know is that rarely, if ever, do things go entirely as expected. I guess my first task is to regain my footing because I want to step deliberately through this section of wilderness.

PS: Will do my utmost to put some pictures up very, very soon.

Fiddlers Three

2010-02-04T23:00:00.001-08:00

Fiddlers Three
Originally uploaded by triplings

October 2009

It's a Wonderful Life

2009-12-17T21:00:00.001-08:00

I was just listening to this radio program in which a woman with a disability of some sort told the story through a translator of her first romantic relationship and how in retrospect, it had been really valuable to know that someone could see past her disability and perceive her as a smart and sexy woman.
I found myself listening and thinking jadedly that this man must have been taking advantage of her in some way...and whether he was or not isn't the point. The point is that I had difficulty accepting that anyone could see past such a profound disability. I had a hard time seeing past this woman's disability. This realization was of course, immediately followed by a real sense of gratitude for the health and uncompromised abilities of my children. Then thoughts flooded me about the disparity between all the things we wish and hope and fear for our kids in relation to the things that are really significant. I will get right to the point...my own gratitude for having been blessed with such wholly strong and beautiful girls was suddenly eclipsed by the worry that someday my daughters might not be so lucky. Now that I am a mom my worries are so different from what they used to be...many the things that seemed so important to me and to my parents are now moot because my happiness is inexorably linked to the happiness of my own kids, and therefore, it seems crushingly overwhelming the idea that no matter what I do to keep them safe and warm and protected and loved, someday they may choose to bring another child into the world and that child's happiness and health will supercede all of the comforts I will have (presumably) worked so hard to secure.
Now, this is not supposed to sound as fatalistic as I made it out to be...I guess I am in the midst of a Chris-piphany or something, but it's all just so miraculous and I am so happy for my parents that my brother and myself are as we are so far (if I may be so presumtuous) and that my kids are as they are so far...
I am wishing lots of happiness and good health to all this winter and a merry Christmas too.

Roosevelt Puppy

2009-10-12T15:28:00.001-07:00

RoseyPuppy
Originally uploaded by triplings

Butterfly House

2009-10-12T15:27:00.003-07:00

ButterflyHouse
Originally uploaded by triplings

As it turned out, their Halloween costumes were warmer than their winter coats.

Lucy in the snow!

2009-10-12T15:27:00.001-07:00

butterflyLucy
Originally uploaded by triplings

Even cooler than a bubble bath

2009-10-12T15:26:00.001-07:00

BalloonBath
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida in the snow

2009-10-12T15:25:00.003-07:00

IdaSnow
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ruthie in the snow

2009-10-12T15:25:00.001-07:00

RuthieSnow
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ruthie Bikes

2009-10-12T15:24:00.005-07:00

RuthieBikes
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida Bikes

2009-10-12T15:24:00.003-07:00

IdaBikes
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida and her cool helmet

2009-10-12T15:24:00.001-07:00

IdaHelmet
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ruthie in her special Christmas nightgown

2009-10-12T15:23:00.003-07:00

Ruthie
Originally uploaded by triplings

Lucy, Ida share a hug in Christmas nightgowns made by Grammy Kris

2009-10-12T15:23:00.001-07:00

Ida,Lucy
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida turned 4!

2009-10-12T15:22:00.001-07:00

Ida4
Originally uploaded by triplings

Lucy turned 4!

2009-10-12T15:21:00.003-07:00

Lucy4
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ruthie turned 4!

2009-10-12T15:21:00.001-07:00

Ruthie4
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ruthie dresses up

2009-10-12T15:20:00.005-07:00

DressUpRuthie
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida dresses up

2009-10-12T15:20:00.003-07:00

DressUpIda
Originally uploaded by triplings

Dress Up

2009-10-12T15:20:00.001-07:00

DressUp
Originally uploaded by triplings

Waiting for the bus

2009-10-12T15:19:00.003-07:00

BusAdventure
Originally uploaded by triplings

Yeah, I'm not crazy about the bus either.

2009-10-12T15:19:00.001-07:00

BusAdventure2
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida shares her tea with Dorothy

2009-10-12T15:18:00.003-07:00

TeaParty1
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ruthie, Pursis, and Lucy enjoy a tea party at Deedee's house

2009-10-12T15:18:00.001-07:00

TeaParty2
Originally uploaded by triplings

"Hiking"

2009-10-12T15:17:00.003-07:00

"Hiking"
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida enjoys decorating Easter cookies

2009-10-12T15:17:00.001-07:00

EasterIda
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ruthie enjoys ballet class

2009-10-12T15:16:00.003-07:00

BalletRu
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ruthie enjoys ice cream with rainbow sprinkles

2009-10-12T15:16:00.001-07:00

IceCreamRu
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida was made for danger, it's written on her face.

2009-10-12T15:15:00.003-07:00

MotoIda
Originally uploaded by triplings

First ride at the fair for Ruthie and Lucy

2009-10-12T15:15:00.001-07:00

MotoLu
Originally uploaded by triplings

Lucy

2009-10-12T15:14:00.003-07:00

Lucy
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida in the car after a very windy beach walk

2009-10-12T15:14:00.001-07:00

IdaCar
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida and Ruthie make bracelets at school in the spring

2009-10-12T15:13:00.003-07:00

school
Originally uploaded by triplings

Lucy at preschool in the spring

2009-10-12T15:13:00.001-07:00

school2
Originally uploaded by triplings

lovely Ida

2009-10-12T15:12:00.003-07:00

lovelyIda
Originally uploaded by triplings

Jason

2009-10-12T15:12:00.001-07:00

JP
Originally uploaded by triplings

Tea Party at Auntie Duffy's House

2009-10-12T15:11:00.001-07:00

AnotherTeaParty
Originally uploaded by triplings

Lucy, Ida and Ruth at the Black Sheep Festival in Eugene

2009-10-12T15:10:00.003-07:00

BlackSheep
Originally uploaded by triplings

Grandpa Buck helps out

2009-10-12T15:10:00.001-07:00

GrandpaBuck
Originally uploaded by triplings

peekaboo, Ida

2009-10-12T15:09:00.005-07:00

peekaboo
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida holds a sparkler

2009-10-12T15:09:00.003-07:00

4th
Originally uploaded by triplings

Lucy holds a sparkler

2009-10-12T15:09:00.001-07:00

4thlu
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ruthie runs on the beach

2009-10-12T15:08:00.003-07:00

beach2
Originally uploaded by triplings

Lucy Flies a Kite

2009-10-12T15:08:00.001-07:00

beach3
Originally uploaded by triplings

la familia

2009-10-12T15:07:00.001-07:00

lafamilia
Originally uploaded by triplings

Sitting on the skateboard ramp eating mint chocolate chip ice cream, good times, good times.

Headin' to a weddin'

2009-10-12T15:05:00.003-07:00

wedding
Originally uploaded by triplings

Sometimes we still look nice too

Ruthie on her first day of school

2009-10-12T15:05:00.001-07:00

firstdayru
Originally uploaded by triplings

Lucy on her first day of school

2009-10-12T15:04:00.003-07:00

firstdaylu
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida on the First Day of School

2009-10-12T15:04:00.001-07:00

firstdayida
Originally uploaded by triplings

Beatrice

2009-10-12T15:03:00.001-07:00

Beatrice
Originally uploaded by triplings

So lovely and well mannered.

Pumpking Gang

2009-10-12T15:02:00.001-07:00

pumpkinggang2
Originally uploaded by triplings

What are you looking at?

Under the Wire - Not quite a whole year since the last post!

2009-10-12T13:49:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends and Family,
It's this time of year when school starts and weather deterioration leads to more time indoors that motivate me to finally turn my attention to the forgotten stepchild that is this blog. Apologies. Also, I confess, I flirted briefly with Facebook as a method of sharing updates about the girls, but that affair is over. Oh blogspot, you are so faithful and so stalwart; I swear never to wander again.
The girls are wonderful, life is paradise and we are all healthy. These things are not to be underestimated. Something else that comes up for me this time of year is a grand sense of gratefulness for a warm and cozy house to hold my family and cozy beds with lots of blankets to keep us warm on the cold nights to come. Every cup of tea and hot meal just seems more meaningful when the weather turns. Maybe it goes back to the notion that the year is split into two halves: a fallow, frugal season and a prolific,frivolous season. Or maybe it's because Jason's work is seasonal and when the weather cools, so does his business, but whatever it is, it's certainly not all bad. In summer it's go, go, go; make hay while the sun shines, rise and shine and while this is highly enjoyable, I look forward to sleepy fall to recharge the ol' batteries. Among the other things for which I am grateful: that fall comes when fall comes and spring comes when spring comes. It's a very tidy little system we've got here. No matter how many times I tried and failed last winter, somehow now that fall has come again, it is attractive, the idea of knitting scarves for Ruthie, Lucy and Ida. No matter how many times I was overwhelmed with copious amounts of squash, kale and kohlrabi last fall, right now I am up the challenge again.

Speaking of Ruthie, Lucy and Ida, they are grand; they really are. I truly feel sorry that I haven't been better about updating things because there has been so much. They began their second year of preschool in mid-September - the "blue class." Their teacher is the incomparable Mrs. Hodge. She is inspired and inspirational. I have said it before and I will say it again: people who are dedicated to working with kids are saints. Mrs. Hodge greets each child at the door in the morning with a hug and a genuine expression of happiness that they are there. I could go on and on but it would all just sound gushy. The point is there are two kinds of people in this world: those who are really good with kids and those who are not. I group myself in the latter category, because even though I think I am pretty good mom, I am not great with Other People's Children. I am simultaneously fine with my lack of general kiddo skills as I am amazed with those who truly possess them.

Okay - here is the scoop on the triplings. The big news beyond the start of their second year of preschool is that we have just began violin lessons, thanks to our collective benefactor, Uncle Lou. This is very exciting for me because I have always wanted to learn to play the violin and was always sorry that I never picked up any instruments at all. I have found a fantastic teacher who is teaching the 4 of us gals together and have no doubt they will pick it up much more easily than I. We have only had one lesson but the girls are enthusiastic and really, really careful (for 4 year olds). And their violins are ridiculously cute (1/16th size!). I promise to post photos of this very, very soon.

The other activity the girls have been enjoying is ballet. I have enrolled them for a few sessions at the community center, and it's a really great low-key class. The building is this two tone mint/hunter green Tudor job in the middle of a sprawling park in SE Portland and from the outside it really looks like there should be elves living in it. There is a little balcony that you get to by climbing the elfin stairs where you can sit under the rafters and watch the girls prance around with tutus and scarves to tinkly music. It is very dreamy. They start a 6 week session of ballet in mid-October and are very excited about it. Ruthie is especially good at curtsies and arabesques and has fantastic mincing skills...she has been mincing almost as long as she has been walking. Ida is muscular and excels at her grand jetes (big leaps). Lucy has a flair for the dramatic, shall we say, and is very expressive in her pirouettes especially...she just grins and grins.

Okay, I am getting out of hand wordy now, so I am going to just give a little explanation of what everyone is into right now and so forth and then I am going to upload lots o' pics.

Ruthie Ellen. She is such a trouper. The first few weeks of school have surely been a big adjustment for all the girls but you wouldn't know it to look at Ruth. She has been doing a great job sleeping through the night, which she wasn't doing so well at a month ago. She is all smiles when she gets up in the morning and she has really been lovely about making space for her sisters. I have had more than one evening recently where we get to bedtime and I feel I have hardly seen Ruth all day because she has been so self sufficient. At school Ruthie is friendly and forward. It impresses me endlessly to watch her walk up to someone she doesn't know so well and ask to play with them or introduce herself and often her sisters too. Just today it was, "Hi Amanda, did you see Lucy is wearing a pajama shirt? Isn't that funny?" (poor Lucy) Ruthie learned to skip day before yesterday and then yesterday she was practicing winking, so it's anyone's guess what she will do next. And there are many cute anecdotes to draw from but one that has had us laughing for weeks was when I taught them the jump rope rhyme that goes, "Cinderella, dressed in "yella," went upstairs to kiss her fella, made a mistake and kissed a snake. How many doctors did it take? 1..2..3..etc." Well, Ruthie has pronounced the word "yellow" as "ye-no" as long as I can remember even though she has been able to make the "L" sound for some time. So, when she was singing the rhyme she said, "Cinderella, dressed in "ye-no" went upstairs to kiss her fella..." Okay, well maybe that one doesn't translate to print, but it was really very funny. Also, she and her sisters still call coat hangers "hoat kangers" without fail.

Lucille Grace. Lucy is a firecracker. She does not do things halfway. When she is mad, it's "bad mommy! you don't love me! i'm not your sweetheart!" Then, with a change in the wind, she is all smiles, "I love you mommy, you're the sweetest." When she is in a good mood she is generous with her sisters, but when she is feeling down or grumpy, look out. She has been working on whistling and humming and she loves to make up little songs about how happy she is, or how much she loves Roosevelt (our dog - I can't remember if I have mentioned him or not yet). Lucy has been having some trouble sleeping for the last month or so. Most nights she will wake up once or twice and want to be tucked back in. She doesn't care so much for the dark. She has made big improvements, though, especially on what she expects when she wakes up in the middle of the night. She used to cry if I didn't rub her back or put her back to sleep or sing a song, but she has lowered her expectations dramatically and I expect that it will soon be more appealing to just stay in bed entirely (crossing my fingers). Lucy is the only one who will declare that she is shy when we are headed somewhere new like violin lessons, or the first day back at school but she is usually one of the first to make herself at home at these places too.

Ida Mae. Ida is easily mistaken for being low maintenance. She is not dramatic like Lucy or as outwardly sensitive as Ruthie and she cruises along for days and sometimes weeks with hardly a wrinkle. But when Ida gets to a difficult patch - if she gets sick, or when something big changes like school starts - she melts. She clings, she cries, she yells. Mind you, I don’t blame her, it’s just interesting to see the change. It’s similar to her sleeping pattern. Ida has been sleeping through the night with hardly a hitch for a year or more. In that year, though, on the occasions when she did need some coddling she was absolutely the most stubborn and pitiful little person. She really won’t settle for anything less than sleeping with me. My bed or hers, it makes no difference, but if I try to lie down in her bed and slip out once she begins to snore, o the wrath. She wakes up immediately and is both wounded and indignant so much so that I generally find it more restful to just bring her to bed with me. Ruthie and Lucy may frequently have sleep trouble, but they are far more easily pacified. Ida is the one who doesn’t like to say goodbye when I bring them to preschool; she often wants to show me “one more thing...” before she’ll let me kiss her goodbye. Something about Ida comes across as especially self assured: her posture, her “devil may care” sense of style (not joking - Jason often refers to her outfits as “volcanic”), and when you talk with her she is candid and unguarded but she also has some difficulty jumping right in with the other kids. I don’t really worry about it, she does just fine, she just seems to feel extra self assured at home and a little less so out in the world. I can relate.

Okay, I started working on this post a week ago and now I am going to wrap it up because otherwise I will never get it posted.

I hope everyone is enjoying fall as it settles around us. This time of year is a welcome excuse for me to stay home more and cook and bake start projects ( I haven't found a time of year for finishing them yet). I am wishing everyone a happy fall and abundant blessings of health and happiness to each of you.

A few words about this picture

2008-11-15T21:22:00.001-08:00

turtle Ru
Originally uploaded by triplings

Okay. You see this sweatshirt that Ruthie has on? The girls have been fighting over it since they were approximately the size of a loaf of bread. It's dark blue, maybe just this side of navy and has that a very pleasing texture inside; it's extremely soft, no matter how many times it gets washed, probably owing to some ghastly permutation of polyester. It also features yellow snaps and a yellow string to tighten the hood. This sweatshirt came from the thrift store up the street, Value Village. In fact, I don't think you can even find new kids' sweatshirts with strings anymore because people are so paranoid about strangulation, etc. Well, the girls all love this sweatshirt and have been passing it around since it was way too big for them and today Ruthie was the lucky one. So she puts it on and immediately tries to get me to help her make her "like a turtle." She is pulling up the hood and repeating over and over again with varying intensity, "pull the stings! Tie it! Make me like a turtle!" Meanwhile, I'm sort of absentmindedly helping all three girls into their various wraps and so Jason goes over to Ruthie and gets her situated. I go into the other room to get something else together and Ruthie joyfully gallops in looking like this photo and says with pure glee, "Mommy I'm a turtle! Thanks for nothing!" and gallops off.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T22:20:00.002-07:00

It's downright spoooooky how quickly time evaporates these days. I'll just break the ice by apologizing for not uploading any Halloween photos. Unfortunately, we have been unable to locate our camera for a couple of weeks and it is very frustrating. I don't want to admit that it's lost, but if we don't find it soon we'll just have to replace it. The girls took part in a Halloween Sing-a-long at preschool yesterday and to miss out on photos is a touch heartbreaking.
Picture this: 18 sugar-soaked three year olds in costume on stage singing (to the tune of the Farmer in the Dell) "The skeletons are out tonight, they march about the streets, with bony bodies, bony heads and bony hands and feet. Bony, bony bones, with nothing in between, up and down and all around, they march on Halloween." I did take some video with the video camera courtesy of Dear Aunt Duffy, but it was criminal to be without a camera for stills! Anyhow, that's sort of my super wordy apology for not uploading any spanking new photos, but luckily I have some surplus photos from Spring and Summer to share.
School is going really well, the girls love their teacher and have made some friends I find suitable. (Just kidding, but I do think the 2 girls they have befriended are the nicest in the class). Every day they do some kind of different facilitated art project (rolling pumpkins through paint to make pictures, sticking different colored dots onto the tummies of tissue paper ghosts and describing what kind of food the ghosts "ate.") Also they have an hour of free play time to paint, write, play dress up, blocks, read books (there is frequently a parent helper there just to read book after book), do playdough, or one of the 4 or 5 activities that change every week.
One thing I was not prepared for was how fond I have become of the other kids. I am there more than any other parent, so I get to spend lots of time with the kids and they are a pretty cool bunch. Even the "spirited ones" I kind of feel for because they're mommies are weird and fake or they have a new baby in the family. And one thing that is so cool about the preschool is that there are very few expectations on the kids. They can come in and hang up their bag and coat and spend the next hour doing only playdough if they want or painting picture after picture and someone will be there to get more paper or whatever. And Mrs. Hazzard "never gets mad" as one very astute little girl pointed out to me. I replied, "I know; I think we all wish we could be a little more like Mrs. Hazzard." Bless her heart, Mrs. Hazzard overheard and said, "I just do my best."
There is something really poignant about experiencing preschool with my kids. I feel like everything that happens is like this monumental event, and it kind of is because kids are so malleable, but also, they are way more resilient than grown ups when it comes to lots of stuff. So when another kids says something thoughtless to your kid it's easy to take it way personally but kids seem to just take it all at face value, which is so smart of them. Just because that mean boy says he didn't want to sit next to you it doesn't mean you smell bad or that you're ugly or he didn't like your anything, it just means he'd rather you didn't occupy the seat next to him, like it's his issue, which it is. Whatever. Just like that. I will be left speechless at the callousness of it, but meanwhile the offendee has moved on and is halfway through their snack.
I had wanted to cover a lot of ground, but now it is past my bedtime and I can't go on. I am looking forward to the advancing fall and now that the girls have this preschool gig a couple times a week, I can kind of silence that "gotta get the girls out of the house" voice and concentrate on spending time together at home.
"Autumn, the year's last, lovliest smile," said William Cullen Bryant.
Happy fall to everyone. exes an ohs to all.

Ruthie's picture

2008-10-31T22:20:00.001-07:00

Ruthie_Art
Originally uploaded by triplings

Unfortunately, I don't recall Ruthie's description of this picture. I know it's a mixed media paper collage and pastel.

Lucy's Picture

2008-10-31T22:17:00.001-07:00

Lucy_Art
Originally uploaded by triplings

Here is a particularly nice example of Lucy's drawing. I think it's a series of faces, although the figure on the bottom left may be spider.

Ida's picture

2008-10-31T22:15:00.001-07:00

Ida_Art
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida constructed this face by cutting out construction paper. Pretty good, wouldn't you say? She was pretty pleased too.

Ruthie.

2008-10-31T22:13:00.001-07:00

Ruthie
Originally uploaded by triplings

Every time I look at this picture and just sigh Ruthie's name. Don't you just want to squidge her? And those eyes, "like the sea after a storm." This is a summertime photo from our trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house in Eugene and she's looking a little tan, she's trying on my shirt and the headband is smashing!

Nothing but a smile...

2008-10-31T22:09:00.001-07:00

Lucy_grinning
Originally uploaded by triplings

Just a little slice of heaven, that Lucy. She comes from a family of squinters, but Lucy really works it.

Uh, you have a little something right...there

2008-10-31T22:04:00.001-07:00

Ida_jamface
Originally uploaded by triplings

Oh Ida, I'm sorry for this picture. I don't mean to imply that you are unkempt or that you are casual or careless in your appearance, it's just that some people can wear anything. The jam perfectly sets off that chic scarf. Don't pretend you didn't notice...

Escape!

2008-10-31T22:00:00.001-07:00

Escape!
Originally uploaded by triplings

March, 2008. I think this was one of the first really sunny days we had had after a pretty miserable winter.

First Day of Preschool!

2008-09-11T23:02:00.001-07:00

First_Day
Originally uploaded by triplings

Okay...I know I talked all about how I was going to keep up with the blog, etc. and I plan to make good, but I have to put this most recent photo up because it is so precious. Here are the girls getting ready to step out the door on their first morning outing to their preschool. Bless their little hearts! I am one proud mama! (Lucy, Ruthie, Ida) September 5, 2008

Anchors Aweigh!

2008-06-28T16:21:00.001-07:00

Sailor Ru
Originally uploaded by triplings

Here is Miss Ruthie on the 4th of July, 2007. Great Aunt Deedee is responsible for these adorable dresses. I for one, fully support the tradition of navy-inspired garments, especially for kids.
I photographed the girls one by one as they came through the back door to the deck, and I am still amazed at how well each of these three photos came out. We were having a little bar-b-que out back and it was ghastly hot so I think they only wore these dresses for about 10 minutes, but I am so pleased I captured the moment.
Again, apologies for not posting these sooner; I'll be in Eugene for the 4th this year and I wanted to get these up here before taking new ones for 2008. I promise, promise, promise to put up this year's pics in a more timely manner.

Navy Blue

2008-06-28T16:13:00.001-07:00

Navy Blue
Originally uploaded by triplings

Okay, this is (one of) Lucy's moment(s) to shine. Look at this girl! This is July 4, 2007 also and she is very pleased with herself for any number of things. Oh, Lucy.

Sailor Ida

2008-06-28T16:11:00.001-07:00

Sailor Ida
Originally uploaded by triplings

Here is Ida on the 4th of July 2007. She looks a little dazed, but still charming, of course. Note the relaxed hand on the door and foot position - pretty sophisticated posing going on there.

Trick or Treat!

2008-06-23T22:33:00.001-07:00

trick or treat!
Originally uploaded by triplings

I absolutely love this photo! As this is the first photo I have added in more than one year I wanted to make it a really, really good one. 2007 was the girls' first true Halloween experience. They were butterflies and I am still proud of myself for the pure genius of this costume: cozy leggings, cozy turtlenecks, cozy hats, black socks over slippers and down vests swaddled in gold lame fabric - I was very pleased with the warmth factor, not to mention the cute factor! As for the wings, I get very little credit: the girls decorated themselves with a little help from Grammy Kris and Mommy.
The girls took right to trick or treating and gave me more than one sideways glance the day after when I explained that no one would dole out any candy if they put their costumes back on and knocked up the neighbors. I am sure it all seemed beyond arbitrary to them!

Tomorrow College!

2008-06-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

Hello All.
The words that come to mind to describe my feelings when I see the date June 8, 2007 as my last post are: dismayed, overwhelmed, and apologetic. I don't feel guilty because I know none of you would want me to feel guilty, so as a favor to you I have saved myself the grief.

The words that come to mind to describe the girls, as I have come to know them in that past year since my last post are: riotous, keenly intelligent, frentic, profound and miraculous. Oh, and of course, cute too.

I obviously can't really begin to cover too much ground regarding the events of the past year. Very, very soon I will put up a bunch of photos and I'll make the captions on the long side. In short, the girls are happy, healthy, growing and plotting their takeover, I'm sure. There are definitely times when I feel I am playing right into their clutches. I am no match for them. I think I like it that way.

In September the girls will begin preschool - yes, preschool, already! It will only be twice a week for two and a half hours and it's a co-op so I'll be there sometimes too. It is a big deal, but I am very sure that the girls will love it. It's called Hancock Street Co-operative Preschool, and it has a website if anyone is interested in investigating it. The teacher is wonderful - she says things to me like, "you set such a good example for your girls when you say what's on your mind." I think it's a good thing that she makes me feel like a kid again myself; I mean, when was the last time a teacher gave you some praise? It's kind of intoxicating...or maybe that's just me...I always was eager to please in school.

I am getting rather excited about the co-op aspect. Initially, it was a financial decision, but as someone who has shunned a lot of parenting type functions, I am excited about learning better ways of dealing with conflict, discipline, etc. When I think about how much time I have spent being this "mom" person, without having even a teensy bit of previous experience I feel like a sham. The girls will no doubt realize this when they have teachers and other parents to answer to, so I guess this co-op arrangement will allow me to jump aboard the bandwagon too. Seriously, though, there really are times when one girl takes something from another and I hear the "MOMMMMMY!" and inside I have to psyche myself up because I am never really sure if I should make them share whatever it is, or if I should tell the girl who wants it to find something else until her sister is done with it or if I should lock it in the closet because the girls couldn't work it out amongst themselves. I am completely inconsistent. See, I mean it! I am sham! But wait, come September, I get to learn all about HS Preschool's conflict resolution guidelines and then I'll be a perfect parent! Ha, ha!

I am going to cut this short in favor of working on the photo uploading portion, but now that I have taken some action, I will try to be more loyal to the blog.

Much love to all,
Sarah

Diaper Head Ruthie

2007-06-08T23:12:00.001-07:00

Diaper Head Ruthie
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ruthie started it. But Lucy took it to the next level - see below

Mardi Gras Lucille

2007-06-08T23:10:00.001-07:00

Big Pimpin' Lucille
Originally uploaded by triplings

I just want to say I had nothing to do with this. I did not set this photo up, nor did I suggest or encourage this ensemble in any way. Let's just say Lucy is long on style...

Hunky Jason

2007-06-08T22:52:00.001-07:00

Hunky Jason
Originally uploaded by triplings

I could have done worse, no?

Memorial Day BBQ

2007-06-08T22:51:00.001-07:00

Ida and Ruthie BBQ
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ruthie just steals the show with that face. I think her dimples have dimples.

Memorial Day BBQ

2007-06-08T22:50:00.001-07:00

Ida BBQ
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida: You can see the world in her face. Or at least I can.

Tea Party

2007-06-08T22:49:00.001-07:00

Tea Party
Originally uploaded by triplings

My cousin Jessica just gave the girls this adorable tea set. We had a little tea party a few days ago with peppermint tea, milk, sugar and a chocolate cupcake and it started off pretty respectable. However, get a few drinks in these girls and the next thing you know they are eating sugar from the dish, stirring each other's tea and stealing cake from each other's plates. I have some work to do before they take tea with HRH.

Can't you see I'm on the phone?

2007-06-08T22:45:00.001-07:00

Lucy on the phone
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ida with sprinker

2007-06-08T22:42:00.001-07:00

Sprinkler Ida
Originally uploaded by triplings

Pretty as a picture, isn't she?

Lucille delights in sprinkler

2007-06-08T22:41:00.001-07:00

Sprinkler Lucy
Originally uploaded by triplings

One of our first really hot days, and my BFF Grace took the girls out to the backyard and set up the sprinker. Glee ensued.

Ruthie with sprinkler

2007-06-08T22:39:00.001-07:00

Sprinkler Ruthie
Originally uploaded by triplings

Ruthie contemplates the sprinkler in the backyard.

Easter Bunnies

2007-06-08T22:36:00.001-07:00

easter bunnies
Originally uploaded by triplings

Here are Lucille, Ida Mae and Ruthie on Easter afternoon. It is rare to get a photo where all 3 girls are sitting relatively still and smiling, so this is very close to my heart.

Princess Ruthie

2007-06-08T22:34:00.001-07:00

Princess Ruthie
Originally uploaded by triplings

Princess Beatrice made these crowns one night - aren't they fabulous? This photo is all class, the crown is almost redundant when the posture is so, so...aristocratic.

Princess Lucille

2007-06-08T22:31:00.001-07:00

Princess Lucille
Originally uploaded by triplings

Princess Ida

2007-06-08T22:30:00.001-07:00

Princess Ida
Originally uploaded by triplings

Will Wonders Never Cease?

2007-06-08T21:29:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to note that this will officially be my SECOND posting of Spring 2007; a feat I'm sure you will both appreciate (There's a little Car Talk humor for you). There is so much news and so little news all at the same time, but if you are still reading I will assume that you are fascinated with the minutae of our lives and carry on.
With the warmer weather, Jason has been extremely busy, working 6 day weeks and extra long days. I find myself at home in a perpetual cycle of breakfast, clean up, play, lunch, clean up, nap, outing, snack, dinner, clean up, bed time for kiddos, laundry, bed time for me. I will admit it was novel at first after college and miscellanous jobs to be a homemaker. And I am certainly not complaining; I want to stress that in this day and age when people work for the money to pay people to raise their children (not by choice) I consider myself very fortunate to get to spend these toddler years with my little ones. That said - I just want to say that it's really hard work. The roles of wife and mother are difficult enough when you add up the tangible responsibilties like cooking, cleaning, shopping, budgeting, laundry etc., but I find it's the grey areas that really cause the most consternation. Is it my job to make everyone happy? No, not in the sense that anyone expects it of me, but do I really have a choice about whether I make it my responsibility? Absolutely not - it naturally flows from the other jobs that are expected of me. But by the same token, do I get any credit for keeping this crazy circus on track? Yes, if by credit you mean crumbly kisses, pocket change and grape juice stains. But the answer is no if you only count credit in terms of checklists and tally marks.
I fear this entry is turning into a giant pity party, which is not my intention at all. I sit here bewitched, bothered and bewildered at the shape my life has taken. I count myself really lucky for my sea-monkey family (just add water - instant family) and I don't humor myself for even a second that I am the first or last mama to ask these sorts of questions. Maybe the fact that I can even find the time to ponder these things means I should be doing more dusting.
Oh yeah...the kids - I promised news.
The big news is talking - crazy wonderful talking: sentences, poetry, conversations; it's amazing. The first thing that comes to mind was tonight when the girls and I were eating dinner and Jason's van pulled into the driveway. Ruthie didn't just say "dada," she said "See Dada right now!" Incredible!
Also the girls are really doing well with the potties. They are all almost accident free when they are naked and the potty is nearby. The sticking point now is that they don't mind going in their diapers so as long as they have diapers or pull ups on they will just go in them even though they know how to hold it and go in the potty. I think the next step is to move onto training pants, so that there is a real difference from the diaper and they can really get the concept of trying to use the potty even when dressed. I am not in a giant hurry though, and I don't want to rush into such a big step without a plan in place.
Really, the girls are just growing up. They can do so many things, they can tell me what they need, they can talk to each other, they can eat anything, they are in love with the world. I think my most important job right now is to take the girls to the park, even when I don't want to and read the scooper book again even when I don't want to and to get out the watercolors even when I don't want to, and even to say "no," when I don't want to. What can I say, it's a hard knock life.
Happy almost summer to all.
Lots of hugs and kisses too.

Would you like a spot of tea?

2007-03-29T00:23:00.000-07:00

Would you like a spot of tea?
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Lucy, Ida and Ruthie love the tea set they got for Christmas.

Lucy in the Great Snow of 2007

2007-03-29T00:22:00.001-07:00

Lucy in the Great Snow of 2007
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Ruthie is a snowbunny

2007-03-29T00:22:00.000-07:00

Ruthie is a snowbunny
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Ride 'em cowgirl

2007-03-29T00:18:00.002-07:00

Ride 'em cowgirl
Originally uploaded by triplings.

September 2006

A newly two year old Lucy sleeps in

2007-03-29T00:18:00.001-07:00

A newly two year old Lucy sleeps in
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Lucy makes peepee in the potty!

2007-03-29T00:18:00.000-07:00

Lucy makes peepee in the potty!
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Ruthie in the bath

2007-03-29T00:17:00.002-07:00

Ruthie in the bath
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Ruthie sleeps in after her 2nd birthday party.

2007-03-29T00:17:00.001-07:00

Ruthie sleeps in after her 2nd birthday party.
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Ida and and the big snow

2007-03-29T00:17:00.000-07:00

Ida and and the big snow
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Grandpa Buck holds Ida Mae on Christmas

2007-03-29T00:13:00.003-07:00

Grandpa Buck holds Ida Mae on Christmas
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Ida in her totally righteous head scarf.

2007-03-29T00:13:00.002-07:00

Ida in her totally righteous head scarf.
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Ida sleeps off a cupcake hangover after her birthday

2007-03-29T00:13:00.001-07:00

Ida sleeps off a cupcake hangover after her birthday
Originally uploaded by triplings.

One of my favorite toys.

2007-03-29T00:13:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite toys.
Originally uploaded by triplings.

These tow magnetized ladybugs dance around a stage with magnets under it as a music box plays.

Ida the Longshoreman

2007-03-29T00:12:00.001-07:00

Ida the Longshoreman
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Lucy does her own makeup

2007-03-29T00:12:00.000-07:00

Lucy does her own makeup
Originally uploaded by triplings.

In this case, it's cherry chapstick

No comment

2007-03-29T00:08:00.000-07:00

No comment
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Funnyface Ruthie

2007-03-29T00:07:00.002-07:00

Funnyface Ruthie
Originally uploaded by triplings.

Funnyface Lucy

2007-03-29T00:07:00.001-07:00

Funnyface Lucy
Originally uploaded by triplings.