THREE TIMES THE FUN

BEST Christmas Yet!

2012-01-05T14:19:00.032-06:00

We had such a fun Christmas this year... I just love having five year olds! Best Christmas yet with them! We got to celebrate for the first time in our new house, and I think we all really enjoyed getting to have some down time together as a family. It's always nice having a break from the hustle and bustle of routine and what life is normally like. We were blessed to get to spend time with both of our families... and now the kids have cousins on both sides which they love!

The girls minus Macy

Marah and Abbie

The girls and Noah...story of his life!

All of the grandkids with Grandmother Morrow...it's still hard to get them to all look!

My sweet girls

Nana and Grampie with all the kiddos

Just with our 3!

They love Grandmother!

And a funny one!

Santa wiped us out...and left a note (from him and our elf).

He left "the goods"!

Stockings

Noah with Toy Story legos

Girls with their make-up/craft pouches...Santa thought it would be nice to have something to put all the little "what do we do with these things" in.

Bailey with her horse that she begged for. Weird since she's never been into horses, but she loves him...and she cleverly named him Roosevelt.

Razor scooter!

Abbie with her Hello Kitty blocks

Girls got Barbie scooters

And books are always a must!

The kids got to go on a field trip to the Dollar store to shop for their siblings and parents for Christmas. Abbie's gift from either N or B...not sure which one. They had fun picking out for each other and us!

Drew bud smiling

Sweet Brynlee

Abbie with Brynlee (wide awake, which was a rare occurance)

First pic of the grandkids together

First pic of Mimi and Pop with the grands

Hope you all had a blessed Christmas with family and friends.

We are so thankful for all of our blessings!

Holly Jolly Holidays...So Far

2011-12-18T15:26:00.002-06:00

We've had a December full of fun already! We started out with the kids Christmas program at the beginning of the month. Noah and Bailey were camels along with their friend, Jonah...

...and Abbie was SO excited to get to be Mary. Putting baby Jesus in the manger very carefully.

The big finish!

They did great!

We left from the program headed to the Opryland hotel to spend a little time with Ben's family. We were sad that we had to miss a lot of the time with them because of the kids program. Thankfully, we had a little extra time there after the rest of the crew left.

Decorating a gingerbread family...

Pic w/ Gingerbread Man

Train Ride

Pic w/ Santa

Mailing Santa letters

We saw a little show at the hotel that was great! A few characters were even there...the penguins from Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, Puss in Boots, Shrek and Fiona.

And Abbie had her Christmas dance at ballet that we got to see...I'm so proud of my little ballerina! And of my other sweet girl that decided ballet wasn't quite her thing. Here come the days of them doing 3 different things. A little bit sad, I suppose...but I'm really happy to see them being independent and finding their own things that they enjoy!

Thanksgiving...and Another Baby!

2011-12-06T21:04:00.017-06:00

Our "little" Pilgrims and Indians at school came together to have a Thanksgiving Feast.

My 3 Indians

"Roaring River"

"Butterfly Wing"

"Fast Deer"

All smiles! :)

We got a special blessing added to our family soon after Thanksgiving. My sister's sweet baby girl, Brynlee Elizabeth Young, was born on December 1, 2011 @ 3:26 am weighing 7 lbs. 3 oz.

These 2...and their sister...stayed up all night so they could welcome their new baby cousin into the world! They were troopers...really!

It was all worth it when we saw this sweet girl!

Noah holding baby Brynlee

Checking her out

Giving kisses

Could she be any prouder? :)

So sweet

Kisses

We have lots to be thankful for this holiday season!

Halloween x 3

2011-11-06T20:51:00.014-06:00

It's hard to believe that another Halloween has come and gone...and Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner! This year is flying by! I am doing my best to soak up this time with them...before life changes with all of my kids in big school. Guess I'll save my sentiments about all of that for another post. We had a fun Halloween! 3 rounds of trick-or-treating will wear you out, though...Whew! We've learned to recycle that candy for the trick-or-treaters that stop at our house. However, we are still left with too much! Oh well, tis' the season for too many sweets! :)

Our church's Funfest...Buzz Lightyear, a ballerina, and a fairy princess

I know I'm partial, but I think they're about as cute and sweet as it gets?

Painting pumpkins

The Chandler triplets came with us... Lucy, Bailey, Cole, Abbie, Emma Kate, Noah

Halloween Program at school

Me w/ my sweet girls...& their candy :)

Best we could do...

Halloween night...Noah was apparently very serious about his trick-or-treating.

Pickin' Pumpkins

2011-10-28T16:08:00.021-05:00

We went on a field trip to Tate Farms earlier this week. The weather could not have been better! Boy, have my kids grown since we first starting taking them. Here's a couple of pics that I found of the first year we went...decked out in the triplet stroller. My how things have changed in our house!

As cliche as it is to say, they really are growing up too fast! Just doing my best to enjoy this time with them...while they still think I'm cool!

Happy girl

Pics of Abbie and Bailey with their friend, Hannah

Cute little goats

My animal lover with her friend, the pig

Playing in the corn bin...and yes, I did find corn in my dryer!

Jumping on the jumpy thing

Picking pumpkins...and I was thankful that they could finally carry their own the whole time!

Their sweet, sweet class...if only they could stay together an extra year or two. :(

Can you tell who loves to get her picture made?

Pic of their class with their teacher

Bring on Halloween...and sugar overload! ;)

Welcome to the world, Drew!

2011-10-02T21:16:00.011-05:00

For the one or two of you that still actually read this blog (ha!), here are a few pics with our new baby nephew/cousin, Drew. He entered the world Friday afternoon weighing 7 lbs. 13 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. He is precious!! My kids are SO excited to have a new baby boy cousin..and are anxiously waiting for their baby girl cousin that is coming soon! Yay...so long are the days of us being the only ones with kiddos in my family!

Holding Drew for the first time

Sweet Abbie grinning ear to ear

My big girl is happy to have a new baby to help take care of

And this little man was so happy to finally get his hands on his new boy cousin! You got someone else on your side now, bud! :)

We love him!

Uncle Ben

Another healthy baby...what a blessing!

Trip to AU

2011-09-21T21:45:00.016-05:00

We headed down to Auburn for the AU vs. Miss State game a few weeks ago...and, boy, was it a good one to go to! We had the best time...and it's always fun when your team wins in a "nail biter"! Thanks to the sun and heat at an 11:00 game, me and the kids took quite a few breaks. I don't even want to know what our total bill was on concessions to keep the kids well hydrated and occupied! Oh well, we're making memories that last a lifetime!

They're ready!

Yay...they even saw a couple of the interns from church last Summer!

Hello sunshine...in our eyes!

Ready to cheer!

Waiting for Tiger Walk

Sweet girl

AUBIE!!!! The real star!

Noah "high fiving" the players

Almost game time

Some of the cousins were there, too!

Watching the pre-game show

Priceless picture!! Noah grinning from eat to ear watching the eagle fly...and fly...and fly...and fly...literally! Ha!

And it's amazing...a halfway decent family pic!

WAR EAGLE!!

Just In Case You're Still Reading...We're Here!

2011-09-13T20:18:00.015-05:00

Yes...I realize it's been awhile! Blogging has fallen way down on the priority list lately. It used to be my outlet and my way to stay in touch with the outside world while trapped at home with 3 babies. But, things are different now...busier (in a different kind of way) and consumed with more things outside of the house. Life is all about changes, I suppose. Right when I start to get settled into a stage it changes again, so I guess I better just do my best to go along with it...like it or not, huh? :) I am thinking that soon I will put an end to this ole' blog and get another blog book published. I am SO thankful that I have kept up with it to this point and I will have the memories of the first 5 years or so documented for myself...and for my kids. So, to catch up...

-We are settling into our new house and it really feels like home now. We love our neighborhood...and being closer to friends, church, school, and everything we do! I need to post a few pics once my house is clean.

-The kids started Kindergarten at their Preschool and I started a job there. I love working there and getting to be with them. They love it, too...their 2 favorite things about school are "playing on the playground and seeing Mommy". If only their excitement for Mommy lasted forever! Life is SO great right now! I'm praying this year goes by slow so I can soak up this time with them...before they all leave me and go to K at big school next year. I'm not ready to think about that!

-The girls started a ballet class one day a week and they are loving it! My ballerina Abbie is a happy girl come Tuesdays...and her sister is happy, too!

-The kids are learning so much at school. There are only 9 in their sweet little class, so they make up 1/3 of class! Noah is reading like a champ...and the girls are getting there. The days of spelling words out to other adults so my kids can't understand are ending soon.

-My brother and his wife are expecting in October and my sister and her husband in December. We can't wait to add a new baby boy and baby girl to our family!

So...I guess that's the rundown.

Here's some pics from my cousin's wedding in Georgia a few weeks ago...

Me and my sis...with baby GIRL!

Cutest ringbearer award goes to...

Cutest flower girl awards go to...

They loved this kitty cat that hung around all weekend.

Triple trouble

Best pic I got. Thanks Uncle Andy for ruining it...ha!

Wedding Party

Daily and DeAnna with cousins and their spouses...

Goofballs!

Fall and the holidays are right around the corner!

1st Day of K (Preschool)

2011-08-09T16:31:00.009-05:00

Kids had their 1st day of Kindergarten at Preschool...it went great! We're doing K at big school next year, too, since they have a summer birthday...so that is definitely helping me keep my emotions in check! :) I'm working at their Preschool, too, so I'm looking forward to being with them all this year! We're going to have a great year!

They are growing up way too fast!

Abbie Ballerina

2011-08-04T20:52:00.007-05:00

Abbie has been wanting to take a "ballerina class" since she was 2 or 3 years old. I've put if off since paying for 2 little ballerinas can be pretty pricey...and she's still asking. I found a place that is really reasonable for her and Bailey...and 2 little friends are doing it with us...so needless to say, she's SO excited! I predict that she will LOVE it and will choose it over other activities. We'll see how Bailey, who seems to be able to take it or leave it, likes it.

Abbie striking a pose...

She's the cutest little ballerina I know...along with her sis! :)

5 Years Old

2011-07-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

5 years old?!?! Really? Already? Where is the time going? It is so hard to believe that my babies are 5 now! A whole hand x 3! One of my good friends told me that it's like I've done 15 years of parenting in 5 years...it sure feels like it! :) They are turning into little people before my eyes...no more baby fat, no more baby words, no more baby toys...just tall, skinny little kids that are SO independent and big! Yes, it's sad in a way, but I do love where they're at right now! We can go and do so many fun things now...life has definitely gotten easier. They are each so special, yet so different. I truly can't imagine life without one of them. They each bring something different to our family, and with all 3 of them put together we are complete.

Bailey

Favorite food: Cheetos; cheese quesadilla & rice

Favorite place to eat: Chick-fil-A

Favorite thing to do: play baby with Abbie and Noah

Favorite color: pink & purple

Favorite animal: monkey

Favorite show/movie: My Little Pony show

Favorite thing about school: getting to go to a new classroom soon

Best friends: Emma Kate, Alexis, Abbie, & Noah

How would you describe yourself? nice

Bailey is like her mommy in lots of ways. She continues to be the "mother hen" to her brother and sister. She is a nurturer and likes taking care of others. She is mommy's little helper. She still likes playing with her babies. She is the leader of the 3. She likes school and playing with friends. She is dramatic and emotional...and is preparing me for the teen years already. She is 5 going on 15! She would rather wear a t-shirt and shorts than a dress any day. God knew I needed a Bailey to help me take care of the other two!

Noah

Favorite food: cheese quesadilla & rice and beans (Yes, we love Mexican!)

Favorite place to eat: Little Rosie's

Favorite thing to do: play with Daddy

Favorite color: orange and blue & gold

Favorite animal: giraffe

Favorite show/movie: Team Umizoomi

Favorite thing about school: Getting to be in Kindergarten!

Best friends: Alexis, Cole, Abbie, and Bailey

How would you describe yourself? silly and funny

Noah got his daddy's looks and lots of his good traits! He is laid back about lots of things...to the point that he can not even make a decision without his sisters deciding first. He loves Abbie and Bailey and would rather play with them than anyone else. He is the best reader in the bunch! He likes baseball and wants to try basketball soon. He likes school, but doesn't like handwriting..."because it's boring". He loves music! He can be such a boy, but has a tender heart, too. God knew that I needed a little man like Noah to add some excitement to my life!

Abbie

Favorite food: chicken nuggets
Favorite place to eat: McAllister's
Favorite thing to do: dance around in my ballerina outfit
Favorite color: pink
Favorite animal: kitty cat
Favorite show/movie: Bugs Life
Favorite thing about school: coloring
Best friends: Lucy, Alexis, Bailey, and Noah
How would you describe yourself? happy and funny

And then there's Abbie... Abbie continues to be my most carefree and easygoing child. This girl wakes up with a smile on her face and stays that way most of the day. She is like a little ray of sunshine in our home! She is a pleaser and rarely gets in a whole lot of trouble. She has the neatest handwriting and is the best artist in the group. She would choose to wear a dress every day if I would let her. She loves to dance, and is so excited to start a little dance class soon with B! God knew that I needed sweet Abbie to make me smile!

Cow Appreciation Day

2011-07-08T20:53:00.010-05:00

I decided on a whim this morning to dress the kids up as little cows and head over to Chick-fil-A for Cow Appreciation Day. I can't pass up anything that's free...especially when it comes to Chick-fil-A. We got 3 kids meals w/ ice cream for FREE! And that's a big deal for them...they rarely get their own kids meals! We had so much fun!

Mooooooo!!!

It's the little things in life...like dressing up as cows and eating chicken nuggets that make for a PERFECT day...for these munchkins and for their Mommy! :)

June flew by!

2011-07-01T22:33:00.054-05:00

This blog has taken a backseat lately with everything that we have had going on. I am determined, though, to keep up with it so I can have these memories documented. I can hardly believe that June is over! It has been busy, but filled with lots of fun and exciting things! We went to the beach with Ben's family. Lots of pictures follow. If you stick it out, kudos to you!!

Playing in the sand with Carter

6 of the grandkids

Bailey and Caley

Abbie, my child that is not fond of sand

Aunt "Paigey" with the girls

Monkeys

Looking for the crab that Nana has told the grandkids about for months - "Big Bud"

Pool time

3 little fish

We celebrated 3 big birthdays while we were there!

We're 5 years old!!!

Noah blowing out his candles

Some kind of conversation going on between these 2...

Abbie...Round 2!

And Rounds 3 and 4 go to my drama queen

Here's Bailey being all shy and taking a little too long with the blowing...

So, Noah thought he would step in and help his sister out...

And here's what ensued...a meltdown to say the least...

So, Round 4 was a re-do of Round 3 to give B a second try on her own! :)

Presents!

Another beach walk to find "Big Bud"

Look what we found..."Big Bud"!!!! The things that grandparents do for their grandkids...ha!

These 2 are quite the pair...Noah & Macy

We went to Oyster House and found some things to do to kill time while we waited...

Balloon animals

Pictures in the Oyster House sign

And some rides!

The girls...plus their trusty sidekick, Noah.

Right after we got back from the beach, we closed on our new house!!! We really love it! It's been busy, busy, but we're slowly settling in and making it our home.

1st morning in our new house

Opening presents on their birthday...thanks Aunt Ally!

Our good friends came over the night of their birthday...and came bearing gifts!

2nd time to blow out the candles!

We went to get ice cream with our buddies while the daddies worked hard on a BIG birthday surprise!

A trampoline!!! They have been LOVING it!

And our 3rd time to celebrate...with Mimi and Pop! We know how to party around here!

And if you made it all the way through, Congratulations! Yay...I'm all caught up!

More to come on the kids turning 5!

It's Been a Whirlwind!

2011-06-09T20:20:00.025-05:00

Sorry for my lack of blogging, but it's been a whirlwind around here...to say the least! Our house sold quicker than we expected, but we were thankful. As I was trying to finish up the school year teaching, we started packing boxes and looking for a house. About a week shy of our closing date, we found a house and made an offer! Talk about pushing it down to the wire! In the midst of all of this busyness, we made a decision for our family that gave us a lot of peace. I decided to take a job working at my kids Preschool next year, which I'm so excited about! I'll get to be with my kids before they all go off to "big school" and it will definitely simplify our life for right now. After many prayers, God led us in that direction for now...I have such peace about it and I am really looking forward to it! We closed on our house at the end of April and thanks to my loving and gracious parents, they have let us move in until we can move into our new home. Talk about troopers...my parents are just the best! We are so happy to be in our new home soon, though...we're closing on June 24th! We've had a busy start to summer so June is passing quickly! Here's a rundown...

Kids had their PreK graduation

Getting their certificates from their teacher

We wrapped up our t-ball season and we've been doing swimming lessons. The girls are doing great! Hopefully their brother will get over his fears and become a little fish like them soon.

We went on a trip with my family to Georgia this past weekend. The guys went white water rafting...I think Ben got the bad seat! Ha!

Meanwhile all the girls (and Noah) took a trip to the Cabbage Patch hospital closeby. It was the cutest place!

In the big Cabbage Patch chair

B sitting with the Cabbage Patch dolls

A in the nursery with a baby

N with the creepy Cabbage Patch nurse :)

Holding babies in the nursery

Where the Cabbage Patch dolls are "grown"

My triplets with Cabbage Patch triplets

A & B with their Cabbage Patch dolls that they picked to adopt

We even saw a Cabbage Patch baby being "born" :)

We had to find something for N

Girls signing their adoption papers - They look so big! :(

Look what we're taking home!

I didn't take any other pics, but this one at the cabin.

We had a "Chubby Bunny" contest. :)

Coming up in June...

VBS, beach trip with Ben's fam, kids 5th birthday, and the move!

What a month! Happy Summer!

This house...

2011-05-14T20:50:00.005-05:00

In less than 2 weeks, our house will be closed on and we will be moving on to make a new home for ourselves. We are up to our eyeballs in boxes right now...there is still stuff to be done, but we are getting there. If only we knew where we are going from here. :) We are either moving to an apartment or rental house where we can rent month by month...until we find just what we want. Due to various reasons, we are still waiting to decide. This totally goes against my nature, but my husband keeps assuring me to trust him! God is working on me in more ways than one right now! I am going to miss this house because we have SO many memories here, but I am looking forward to being closer to family, friends, and church and making memories in a new place. I wanted to document what this little house has meant to us over the past 7 years...

This house...is the first house that we built and owned.

This house...is the house that we came home to after both working all day.

This house...is the house that we dreamed of having our first baby in. Ha! :)

In this house, we struggled with infertility and wondered if God would bless us with a baby at all.

In this house, we rejoiced that God would choose to not only bless us with one, but three, babies.

In this house, we began to prepare for what God had in store while wondering if we were really adequate for the task ahead...and wondering how we would possibly afford it!

In this house, I laid in the bed for weeks and we prayed fervently that God would take care of us and our babies.

In this house, we brought our sweet girls home and their brother a few days later...and rejoiced that our family was complete.

In this house, I left my teaching job and became a full-time stay-at-home mom...trusting that God would somehow provide.

In this house, we began feeding and changing diapers around the clock (without much sleep) and managed to survive the first year.

In this house, we watched our babies take their first steps and say their first words.

In this house, we baby-proofed everything and had moments where we wondered how we were going to stay sane through it all!

In this house, Ben took a huge leap of faith with a job in a completely different field.

In this house, we celebrated a 2nd birthday and the kids finally headed off to Preschool a couple of mornings a week!

In this house, we celebrated a 3rd and 4th birthday and watched our kids grow from toddlers to little girls and a little boy.

In this house, we struggled to find time for each other, but managed to stay close knowing that we're a team and there's no way we would want to be on this journey without each other.

In this house, we have prayed that God would help us to make the right decisions and that He would be at the center of our family.

This house has so many memories for us. My how life has changed since we started here. We look forward to making a new home for ourselves and new memories there.

Thank you, God, for your blessings and for being with us.

Easter Rundown

2011-05-03T20:35:00.027-05:00

Here's the rundown of Easter and what it entailed this year...

The kids had their Easter program and egg hunt at school.

(You'll have to forgive the blurry pictures...our camera needs some maintenance, but it's not at the top of the priority list right now.)

Abbie hunting eggs

Bailey and Noah checking out the goods

We went to the Easter egg hunt at church...and our friends came with us!

5 of the 6 munchkins

Abbie and Lucy are best buds

Sweet Abbie

Scoping the place for eggs

Pics with Mr. Randy, the bunny who was too hot to wear his bunny head

Easter morning

And pics on Easter morning went about as well as they always do at our house...ha! :)

Best we could do with Mommy and then with Daddy (and for Daddy's they had already busted into the bubble gum from their baskets)

A few pics from Mimi's

An update: We officially sold our house and are closing in 3 weeks, so we're busy packing and getting ready to move! I'm finishing up the school year filling in for a teacher that's on maternity leave and waiting to see what God's plan is for next year. However, all of this seems very insignificant in light of what is going on around us. So many people have lost so much from the storms that ripped through Alabama and surrounding states last week...homes, belongings, family members, jobs...nearly everything. We were fortunate to escape unharmed and without damage...just a few days without power...and we even had family nearby to stay with. Here is a picture of the tornado that hit about 15 miles from where we live.

As many have said, God is bigger than the storm and He will use this for His glory! Keep praying for all of the families that are dealing with loss during this time.

Catching Up & SPRING BREAK

2011-04-14T21:37:00.026-05:00

It has been busy around our house these days! In mid-March, I started a teaching job filling in for a 3rd grade teacher that is on maternity leave. I am blessed to be in a really good situation...filling in for a great teacher and I have a great class! It's still been an adjustment, though, to say the least. Going from being a stay-at-home mom to working full time is a big change...even if you have an AMAZING mom that is helping you out in more ways that you can ever thank her for! My kids are really doing way better than me...they're with their Mimi when they're not with me...and they love their Mimi! :) It's an up and down journey for me right now in regards to God's plan and timing and what He wants for me and for our family. I don't know what's going to happen next year. It's hard to even know what to pray for or which way to go. However, I'm confident that He will lead us in the right direction and that He will do what is best for our family. He has a pretty good track record...I know He can handle it way better than I can. On top of all that, our house is on the market so we're in the midst of trying to keep a clean house that is always ready for "lookers". Maybe it'll sell before too long...Summer would be great! :) We've had SPRING BREAK this week...and I was so ready! We've had lots of fun! Here's a little rundown thus far...

We've gotten a t-ball game in.

Just threw in a pic of my little "poser".

We had our first water day of the year!

Daddy went on a mission trip to Mexico and came back Tuesday.

We made him a Welcome Home sign to take to the airport.

We did Build-a-Bear after Daddy came back!

They picked exactly what I would have guessed...Abbie the ballerina bunny, Bailey the multicolored bear with a matching shirt, and Noah a bear dressed up as Darth Vader.

(If you'll notice from the pics, Abbie has hit a major growth spurt. I keep telling her that I'm going to put a brick on her head to let the other two catch up!)

We had a playdate with our good friends, the Chandler triplets...though we needed more time to see other friends. A week is not long enough! Thankfully, Summer's right around the corner.

Here's my sweet big kids that are growing way too fast! Hard to believe that we will be celebrating their 5th birthday in June!

I love these 3! :)

GO Yankees!

2011-04-02T20:45:00.014-05:00

We had our first t-ball game today...Go Yankees! The sun finally came back again and the weather was beautiful! I know the days of them being on the same team will be gone before long, but it sure is fun (and it definitely makes like simpler) for now. I love t-ball...no pressure and everybody gets to score! :)

My 3 Little Yankees (better known as Monkeys)

With their friend, Sydney

Waiting on the ball

Hey...I got it, Mom!

Ready position...all in a row. I love this! :)

Batter Up

Going to Greenville!

2011-03-24T20:38:00.015-05:00

Here's a handful of pics of the kids from the week that Ben and I were on our trip. The kids had a great time with Nana and Grampie for a few days, and then with Mimi and Pop. It worked out well...Pop had a dental conference close to where my sister lives, so they went for a visit for about half the week. They had a blast...went to the park, Monkey Joe's, the candy store, downtown Greenville...and had all kinds of fun! As you can tell, Aunt Ally and Uncle Cole are big kids themselves, so the kids love them! :) (I know it's a little heavy on Abbie, but she's the one who likes to pose so you take what you can get.)

Train in the mall

Playing at Monkey Joe's

Downtown Greenville, SC

Super Mimi...she is the best! :)

Thanks Nana, Grampie, Aunt Paige, Mimi, Pop, Aunt Ally, and Uncle Cole for all pitching in to help keep our kids happy and safe while we were gone! We are blessed! :)

Cruise

2011-03-19T20:57:00.041-05:00

Ben qualified for a trip this year with work, so we set sail on our cruise ship for 7 days. We got back this past Sunday night. We had a good time getting away and spending some time together. If it had been 2 or 3 days shorter, it would have been perfect! A week was a long time to be away from our kids, but we made it...and they had a great time with grandparents (as usual!). Thanks to Grampie, Nana, Pop, and Mimi for pitching in and making sure our kids were safe and sound. Pictures coming from their adventures...hopefully sooner rather than later! We set sail from Los Angeles and headed towards Mexico. We had 2 days in Cabo San Lucas and 1 day in Puerto Vallarta. Lots of pics...

Ben got his fill of ice cream!

I couldn't believe how big the ship was! This was my first cruise.

Water slide on the boat

We played BINGO a time or two.

Dinner on the ship

We had towel animals in our room at night...Here's an elephant in honor of Pop!

Cabo San Lucas

The rocks by the beach were so pretty!

Cabo beach with our ship in the background

A hotel with a pool that we visited

Night on the ship

Our ship

Pelicans

Rocks at Cabo

Sea lions

This beach by the rocks is called Lover's Beach. It was AMAZING! So beautiful there!

More Cabo

Yes, this is a real man...not a statue!

I had never seen a yacht like this...with a helicopter on the back!

We went parasailing!

Back on the ship

In front of Puerto Vallarta

Beach of Puerto Vallarta

These statues are made out of sand! Makes my sand castles look pretty pitiful! :)

In the city

These street performers were hanging from these ropes and swinging around and around way up in the air. Kind of like the circus again! :)

This view was amazing!

It was nice to be away for a few days, but it's ALWAYS nice to be back home! It has been a whirlwind of a week! We got back Sunday, and I started a new job on Wednesday. I took a teaching job. I'm filling a maternity leave for a teacher until the end of the school year. And then we'll see about what God has in store for next year. It's a big transition, but we feel like God has been a part of it all. I've been so blessed to be able to be at home with my kids for the last five years, and it is very bittersweet for me. I am confident, though, that He will be with us and will work it all out for the good. I'm thankful, too, for a Mimi that is sacrificing to help us out in the meantime! We love you, Mimi! :)

The Greatest Show on Earth

2011-03-03T23:32:00.025-06:00

We went to the circus tonight!!! We had lots of fun! It was the kids (and Ben's) first time! :)

Here's my perfectly posed husband and girls...and then there's my Noah in outer space doing his trademark smile/smirk.

Ready to go!

Dinner at Mellow Mushroom before the show

Noah and Abbie...about to head inside!

Clowns

My little clown

Star Spangled Banner...this pic was supposed to be 1st..forgive me!

It's not the circus without cotton candy (& lemonade in a fancy circus thermos)...that Mommy and Daddy had to get a loan to pay for! Ha! Making memories, though!

Ring master

As you can tell, there were about 8,000 things going on at one time. It would have been nice to have 8,000 eyes to be able to see it all. Talk about overstimulation! :)

Tigers!!!

Tight rope walkers. These people are amazing...and crazy!

Motorcycles in the cage...up to 7 at one time going round and round!

Elephants!!!

I love this part!

Who knew there were pirates at the circus??

We definitely got our money's worth out of that show! It lasted about 2 hours! The kids loved it...but they were tired by the end! And, Abbie was crying when she found out she wasn't going to get to ride an elephant. She kept talking about riding the rides at the circus. I wasn't exactly sure what that meant...apparently she thought they would give elephant rides. Maybe one day, sweet girl. :) I was thankful for a fun family night! We've got lots going on and some big changes coming soon, so I was happy to have this little night away with my fam.

30

2011-02-23T20:50:00.010-06:00

We celebrated Ben's big 30th this weekend...his b-day was Sunday. I'm glad he joined me in the 30's...I've been there since July. :) I could list reason after reason of why me and the kids are so blessed to have him in our lives. I think those that truly know Ben know what a genuine person he is. He is so easygoing, humble, consistent, patient, and such a source of strength for me.
Happy Birthday, Daddy! We love you!

And here's my sweet Abbie all ready for a friend's b-day party...a dress up party! She wanted to wear her ballerina outfit...with her new light-up shoes from Pop! And she posed herself! :)
She is one girly girl!

Our Valentine Dates

2011-02-17T21:57:00.026-06:00

We did something different for Valentine's Day this year. Ben and I were able to celebrate together over the weekend, so we decided to split the kids up Monday night...Daddy took the girls & I took Noah and we had our separate little Valentine dates. We had so much fun! My afternoon was spent getting them (mostly the girls) all fixed up...picking out outfits they wanted, curling hair, and painting fingernails.

Daddy w/ his girls before their date

They even got a flower from Daddy.

Noah just couldn't understand where his flower was, so good thing we had an extra just in case.

And...big surprise! Soon after, Noah's flower broke from trying to have a flower fight with his sisters! :) Nothing a little tape can't fix!

Mommy w/ her valentine

Noah chose a pizza place. So, we ate pizza and played a little Pacman.

Then, we headed over to the yogurt place for a little dessert.

And to finish the night off...to the bookstore to read books and play with trains.

I don't get much one on one time with Noah. I'm usually with the girls if we split up. So, I was feeling all sentimental about getting to have a date night with him. On the ride home I asked him, "So, did you like having a night alone with Mommy?" He said, "I really like being with Daddy better, but you're still my Valentine, Mommy." Thanks buddy. :)

Girls chose Chick-fil-A at the mall for their date. Then, they headed to the play area.

Daddy even paid $1 to let them get in this crazy thing called The Hurricane.

Then, to Gigi's for a yummy cupcake!

And, they finished the night off at The Dollar Store picking a treat!
A night doesn't get much better than this for 3 four year olds...or for their Mommy and Daddy. They'll be 16 and wanting to go on their own dates before we know it. Sigh.

What to do?

2011-02-10T15:52:00.009-06:00

Another day of snow in Alabama...I'm beginning to think that this isn't Alabama anymore! :) Thankfully, my kids don't go to school on Thursdays, so I was hoping to have a calm day at home anyway. I am SO ready to let them run and play outside, though! I'm sure we've probably exceeded our TV quota on these snow days, but there's only so much you can do. I need structure and these "free play" days stuck inside get to me after awhile! Plus, my kiddos are way past needing naps, so that doesn't help, either. So, today we pulled out the paints and I let the kids have at it.

Getting started

Finished product

Can you tell by looking below which one is my little artist right now?

I love how what they create shows how different they truly are. I did have a person ask me yesterday while waiting in the checkout line with the kids (after his first 20 questions relating to my triplets)... "So, are their personalities all exactly the same?" I laughed to myself about that question and replied..."Uh, No...thank goodness they're not!"
Enjoy the pretty 60 degree weather that is supposedly coming in soon! :)

MR. SUNSHINE...

2011-01-28T14:47:00.007-06:00

...Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming out today!
We haven't been able to do this in a long time...

...and it was just what the dr. ordered! For them...and for me! :)

Going On's

2011-01-25T13:59:00.009-06:00

I know I've been on a little blogging hiatus and I'm feeling the need to post something, though I don't have anything major to report on. But, the simple day to day things around here are the things that make up life, and I want to be able to look back down the road. Here's a few snipits of what's been going on around here.
-We finally got our carpet replaced to try to help our house sell. It had been put through "the ringer" the last 4 1/2 years with 3 babies on it! It is so clean!
-We replaced our van and I am so happy to have a reliable one that won't be in the shop every couple of months anymore!
-I have been staying busy subbing 2 or 3 days a week at various schools. I am possibly going back to teaching next year after 5 years of being home with my kids...assuming that I get a job. We're praying a lot about it and feel confident that God will work it all out in the end...in whatever way that He feels best. Prayers regarding that, selling our house, moving, etc. would definitely be welcomed! Lots of things "up in the air" and possible transitions for our family in 2011. Makes it tough on a "type A/planner" like me, but God will work it all out...as He always does!
-I am READY FOR SPRING!!! It will make this Mommy very happy when we can play outside again!
-And these 3 munchkins of mine are keeping me busy...as always! They have their sweet days, but then other days it seems like everything is a battle. Just like always...they are all in the same stage together, so it's either really great or really challenging. But, through it all...we are blessed to have 3 happy, healthy kids! I can hardly believe that they will be 5 this year...don't even get me started on that!

Keep holding on, Mommy friends! Spring will be here before we know it! :)

BIG Snow!

2011-01-10T12:49:00.025-06:00

We woke up to the biggest snow that I can remember in a VERY, VERY long time! We ended up with about 6", but other areas in the city had up to 10". Not our usual "dusting" that we're used to. It's fun today, but by tomorrow I think I'll be over it...and ready to break out of this house! :) We've made the most of it, though...it could be years before we get this kind of snow again.

Bailey up to her ankles in snow

My "snowball boy" in action:
Step 1: Collect the snow and mash into a ball

Step 2: Get ready to throw

Step 3: Let it fly!

Abbie full speed ahead

I bet you can't tell who loves snow the most in our house? His face says it all! :)

Girls helping Daddy shovel the snow

My boys

Me and Abbie

I had to include all 3 of these...They make me laugh!
By looking at Noah, you would think that something wasn't quite right with him. Nope, that's just Noah. :)

Snow angel

I think she's about had enough!

Let's head inside for snow cream...yay!

And they loved it...Little man ate every bite! :)

Enjoy this time with your families! Stay warm!

Christmas To Remember

2010-12-31T22:50:00.025-06:00

We had the BEST Christmas! Experiencing the excitement of Christmas through the eyes of 3 four year olds was SO much fun...and the snow on Christmas morning made it just PERFECT! And thankfully, all of our family still made it home in spite of the weather. Just a season of feeling thankful and blessed for all that God has done and continues to do for our family. Our holiday in pictures...

Kids with our blow up Santa

Marah, Noah and Abbie on Christmas Eve

The girls minus Bailey

Pillow pets for all the great-grandkids from Grandmother

We went Christmas caroling to bring some cheer to others this holiday season.

Santa was hungry and thirsty! He didn't leave much. He left us a note, too!

Santa brought lots of goodies!

Stockings

B with her Zhu Zhu pet...I don't really get these things, but she loves it! :)

A with her kitty

N (wearing his Nana's leopard Santa hat :)) opening his Buzz guitar

Our snow covered neighborhood...what a PERFECT Christmas!

Noah's expression after he pegged Daddy right in the face with a snowball...He LOVED it!

All bundled up

Mommy just wants one good one, kids. This might be the only time EVER again that it snows on CHRISTMAS DAY!!!

Snowball fight!!!

Our snowman...I think this is the biggest one that I have EVER made! We brought Abbie back out for the pic after thawing out inside. She is like her mommy...not made for the colder temps.

We resorted to sausage balls for the buttons and eyes...whatever works. We glanced outside 30 minutes after this pic and noticed that Frosty had fallen to the ground. Oh well, at least we got a cute pic, right?
Frosty and Santa

We had a great time with my family, too, after Christmas. (I was just a slacker and didn't take pics toward the end.)
Happy New Year...Blessings in 2011!

Christmas Goodies

2010-12-23T21:09:00.013-06:00

I can hardly believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve! Today was filled with making Christmas goodies. Here are a couple of things that we made that are yummy...and so easy! I put the recipes on here if you want to try...

M&M/Hug/Pretzel Treats
-bag of windowpane/checkerboard pretzels
-Hershey Hugs (or Kisses)
-red/green holiday M&M's
Line cookie sheet with wax paper and then stack one Hershey Hug (or Kiss) on top of one windowpane or checkerboard pretzel. Heat for 4-6 minutes in oven @ 170 degrees. Then, press M&M on top. Put in freezer 8-10 minutes to let chocolate re-set. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookie (also known as Ben's favorite :))
-1 roll frozen peanut butter cookie dough
-mini Reese cups
Cut dough into 9 slices. Divide each slice into fourths. Put into lined mini-cupcake pans and bake by directions on dough package. While baking, unwrap the candies. Immediately, place one in each cookie when they come out of the oven. Let cool and enjoy!

We also decorated our gingerbread houses. I got these cute ones at Wal-Mart for just $5 each! It's neat to see how different their creations turn out.

My crew before Pajama/Party Day at school

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with your families!

More December

2010-12-19T19:37:00.016-06:00

Since my last post, the kids have had their Christmas program at school, their triplet cousins came to visit, and we took a trip to Nashville for the day. As for this week, they are having their Party/Pajama Day at school and then it's CHRISTMAS!

The kids were cows this year in their Christmas program - "The Friendly Beasts"

Abbie, Bailey and Noah playing checkers with their triplet cousins Lilly, Marlee and Beau. They came all the way from Texas!

Getting a pic with all 6 looking = IMPOSSIBLE!
Noah's face cracks me up...it definitely shows the attitude that he's been having lately.

We went to Nashville for the day with Ben's family and went to SNOW! All 9 of the kiddos had a blast! (I got these pics from my sister-in-law's blog.)
Sweet girl

2 Peas in a Pod

Little Man

Our fam

That's a bunch of grandkids!

In the Opryland Hotel

The girls with their cousin, Carter

All of the kids (minus Macy)

(And one with little Macy)

Christmas is right around the corner...and BOY, ARE WE EXCITED! :)

Girl Day / Boy Day

2010-12-12T13:28:00.021-06:00

December is keeping us busy, busy! Last Saturday, I took the girls with me for a day filled with nothing but "girly" activities while Ben kept Noah occupied with things more suitable for boys. I'm happy that he doesn't cry anymore when we won't let him go with the girls...he's usually happy for a little "one on one" time with Daddy.

My mom and I took the girls to Princess on Ice. I'm not sure who loved it more...the little girls or the grown-up girls! :) A and B really did LOVE it...They were mesmerized the whole time!

The finale - Cinderella's castle

After the show, we headed to their friend Kaley's Ballerina Tutu birthday party. The girls all wore a little leotard to the party and they got a special surprise when they got there...their own tutu to wear! Then, a real ballerina did a little ballet class with them. It was SO cute and the girls had so much fun!

(As you can tell, Abbie has hit a BIG growth spurt. Right now, she's about 1/2 inch taller than Noah and about 2 inches taller than Bailey! She might have Daddy's tall genes. Sorry Bailey!)
With their friend, Sydney

Meanwhile, Ben took Noah on the Santa train ride with our church. It was Noah's first time to ride on a train, so he was happy!

Now these last 2 pictures crack me up...
(My friend, Kera, will appreciate them for sure...Ha!)
Noah with Granny Claus

Noah with Santa and the conductor in the background...putting bunny ears on Santa!
Looks like it was an interesting train ride...to say the least!

Noah and Ben finished off their day watching Auburn play in the SEC Championship. It was a great ending to a great day!
War Eagle & Merry Christmas!

Let the Festivities Begin!

2010-12-05T20:31:00.034-06:00

We got an early start on our Christmas fun this year! We went to Santa's Village the weekend after Thanksgiving, so my sister could join us while she was home. We had a GREAT time...best year yet!!! The kids were SO excited and marched right in like big kids...no fear of Santa, the elves, Frosty, or the Gingerbread Man. They were full speed ahead and soaking up every minute of it. It's amazing how far they've come since the first year we went. Get ready for LOTS of pictures...too many cute ones to pick!

Abbie and Pop (Poppy)

Pictures with Frosty, the Penguin, and Gingy (Gingerbread Man)

Gingy jumped in the sleigh with us

Me, B and Aunt Ally

Our fam

SANTA!

Santa visiting with the kids and talking about what they want for Christmas

Writing Santa letters

Story time with Mrs. Claus

Decorating cookies

World's cutest Christmas tree :)

Picture in front of post office after mailing our letters

Making an ornament

MY FAVORITE...

I am so blessed!

50 FREE Holiday Cards from Shutterfly

2010-12-01T20:23:00.008-06:00

It's officially December!!! I am so excited! Christmas is in the air! I am marking things off of my list one by one. The presents are bought and just waiting to be wrapped, the tree is all trimmed, the stockings are hung...and next on my to-do list is Christmas cards. Thankfully, I've already got the picture ready...thank goodness that's getting easier! I just need the PERFECT card to slap our picture on. I was really excited when I read on a couple of friends' blogs about this great deal...It's one that I can't pass up! If you blog about Shutterfly and help them promote their holiday cards, then you can get 50 FREE ones of your own! It's a great way to save a little money this holiday season while getting some really cute holiday cards for family and friends. After looking through the Shutterfly collection, I found SO many that I LOVE! It's going to be hard to pick! Here are a few that I really like...

Here is the link to see their Christmas card collection:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards

Being that you get 50 FREE cards, you might wonder about the quality of the prints. I have received Shutterfly holiday cards from friends in years past and they always look GREAT!
Here are a few other items or gift ideas that you can get from Shutterfly as well...

Personalized calendars - http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars
Gift mugs - http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/photo-mugs
Birth announcements - http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/birth-announcements

So, hop on over and check it out! And, here's the link to submit your info to get 50 FREE cards of your own...

http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/
Don't miss out! Happy card shopping!
Thanks Shutterfly! :)

A Day of Feasting and a Little Blessing

2010-11-28T23:11:00.016-06:00

The kids had a Thanksgiving feast at school last week before being out a few days for the holiday. I was happy that I got to go and be there for it! It's always fun for me to get to see them in their school environment. They were Pilgrims. They didn't eat much of anything at the feast, but they sure had fun!

Later that day, we headed to Birmingham to welcome a new "little cousin" into Ben's family. This makes #10! The kids loved getting to see a real baby! Noah just couldn't seem to understand why he couldn't hold her just yet. What a special Thanksgiving for Cortney and Trey! We're so happy for them!

On another note...this little girl wants nothing more than to be a ballerina. She had to model her new leotard and tutu for everybody at Thanksgiving. I might have to cave before long and let her (and B) take a class! :) If anybody has any suggestions of good places (...and YES, cost is a factor...it always is with triplets), send them my way!

These girls of mine...

2010-11-18T20:54:00.006-06:00

...are growing up way too fast!
They are becoming little girls. It's a little bittersweet for me...especially since they (along with their brother) are all growing up at once. I am going to embrace every stage, though...and I am really loving this one!

This girl (my first born) is still my little "mother hen". She is very nurturing. She loves taking care of her brother and sister and also loves being in charge. I'm thankful for a "little mommy" that can step in to help be my assistant when I need it. :) She continues to be my drama queen and can have an emotional outburst over the smallest things. She would rather wear jeans and comfy clothes than dresses any day. She doesn't care about things matching or being in order... it doesn't bother her a bit. She still loves purple and playing with her babies. What a special gift God gave us when He gave us you, Bailey Boo!

This girl (my baby) is still the baby in the bunch. She has always taken on the "baby role" being the last to do things and has always been perfectly content to be right by my side. She is such a cuddle bug...always ready and willing to give a hug to whoever needs it. She is my "happy go lucky" child that is content with whatever is going on...God knew that I needed one of those! She has become my girly girl that loves all things pink! She loves her pink tutu and is begging to take a ballet class. She would wear dresses every single day if I would let her. She is my little perfectionist. Her bed is made perfectly in the mornings and everything must match and be in order. What a special gift God gave us when He gave us you, sweet Abbie!

Free

2010-11-11T21:04:00.010-06:00

I'm thankful on this Veterans Day. I'm thankful for those who have fought in the past or are fighting today for the freedom that we all enjoy as Americans. I really can't imagine my husband being away from us for months on end so that he could fight for the freedom of others. I think having kids makes me appreciate those that sacrifice even more. So, in honor of Veterans Day, I loaded the kids up and we headed down to the Veterans Day parade...for the first time ever. Even though we waited in the heat for an hour before it started (without water), the kids still had a big time...it doesn't take much for them to have fun!

Trying to get a picture of them together went really well...Can't you tell?
(And yes, I know I'm shooting into the sun and there are spots on the pics...it was too bright the other way...I don't claim to be a professional!)

My little flag wavers! :)

I wanted to post this just for me to look back and read one day...
The kids teacher at school pulls their cards to various colors when they break the rules and disobey. If they don't pull a card, the kids say that they are "cool at school" for that day. The girls have never pulled theirs and Noah has only a time or two. Well, the other day he was a little out of sorts and didn't have a good day. We disciplined him the ways we thought best and part of that was to write Mrs. Shelly an apology letter. He wrote her name and signed his name and he told me what to write in the middle. This is what it said...
"Mrs. Shelly, I'm sorry for knocking the blocks over two times and for pushing Abbie. I'm sorry for getting my card turned. I'll obey next time and I'll be cool at school. I'll obey every time. Love, Noah Morrow

He is "all boy" sometimes, but he is such a sweet boy. :)
I'm really going to miss this stage...I'm loving 4! I just need it to slow down so I can enjoy it a little longer.

Trick-or-Treat

2010-10-30T13:57:00.020-05:00

The Halloween festivities have begun! So far, we've already had Funfest at church and the kids Halloween program and party at school. I guess we're gearing up for one more round of trick-or-treating tomorrow night and then we'll officially be "up to our ears" in candy and junk! Oh well, tis' the season! So, we finally broke the trend this year and didn't make the kids match or dress in a theme. I was just happy that Noah couldn't decide between a fireman, Buzz Lightyear, or Spiderman...and that the old days of dressing up in princess clothes like his sisters are behind us! :)

Fireman Noah with his princess sisters and princess Sydney

Cinderella and Belle

A fireman's gotta have a firetruck!

Trunk or Treat!

Our friends Cole, Lucy, and Emma Kate came!
4 yr. and 2 yr. old triplets

Halloween program at school

My sweet kids

With our friend from school, Emily Anne

Our family

Pop and Mimi came, too!

This has nothing to do with Halloween. I just thought it was funny! Abbie made me some Chicken Noodle soup this morning. A piece of plastic chicken and some garbage bag ties...pretty clever!

A Windy Day on the Farm

2010-10-27T22:27:00.011-05:00

We headed to Tate Farms with the kids class at school for a field trip on Tuesday. Yep, that was the day that the tornadoes were all around! We were there before the weather got really bad, but it did feel like we were in the middle of a wind tunnel for the 2 hours that we were there. Poor kids had dust and hay flying all in their faces and eyes, but you know how kids are...it didn't stop them from having a good time!

Noah's in mid "CHEEEEEZZZ!"

The best pumpkin pic I could get...as Bailey is rubbing the dust out of her eye.

Mrs. Shelly with her sweet class

Petting the bunnies

Bailey going down the BIG slide

Abbie in the corn bin

And a pic of the pumpkins we've accumulated so far! Seems like our collection keeps growing and growing this year! This is what happens when you have 3 kids! We've painted some and still have to carve a few before Halloween.

Time Out...

2010-10-12T14:21:00.007-05:00

...will wear you out!
I know it's hard to imagine (ha!), but Bailey has been a bit of "a pill" the last couple of days. (I'm sure it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that they were with their grandparents all last weekend. :)) So, she's spending the remainder of the day in her bedroom. I went to check on her awhile ago and this is what I found...

Bailey Boo sleeping nice and cozy UNDERNEATH her bed!

I'm suddenly rethinking my strategy for trying to get my high-energy kids to nap. Ha!

Fall Break, Football, and Fun!

2010-10-04T21:53:00.022-05:00

The kids are on Fall Break this week and out of school, so I was happy to have a busy weekend before our week at home. We headed to Auburn Friday night with the kids in tow for the game on Saturday. We got there in time to eat at a place we love and to walk around campus. We stayed the night and headed to the game Saturday morning. This was a great "first game" for the kids! (We took the kids to AU last year, but long story short...ended up not staying for the game.) So, the weather was warm, but not miserable, and Auburn was winning by so much that we (really just Ben) didn't have to be completely focused on the game...and we were able to leave a little early when the kids started getting tired! PERFECT for 3 four year olds!

WAR EAGLE!

Out of all of the beautiful spots in Auburn, we just happened to pick right in front of the trash can for this pic and the next...awesome! Oh well...at least they look cute. :)

As you can tell, Noah was tired of his face paint by this point.

Walking to the game...

Outside the stadium...

Taking it all in...

1st family pic at an AUBURN game

Then, we geared up for round #2...Ben won tickets to the Titans game in Nashville with his work, so he and I headed to Nashville Sunday after dropping our kids off with Nana and Grampie. It was cold at the game! I didn't get a picture of us...I was too bundled up! We had fun, but I think I've had my fill of football games for awhile. :) We did spot Kevin Costner as we were walking into the game...that was pretty crazy!
Then, back to Florence we headed to close out the weekend with Grampie's 60th bday. I just love Ben's dad. He is so sweet and patient and loves his family and all 9 of his grandkids to pieces!

We love you, Grampie!

Now we're resting up from our whirlwind of a weekend! :)

I Love These!

2010-09-29T14:10:00.014-05:00

My sister-in-law, Brooke, has become quite the photographer! I'm always happy for my kids to get to be some of her subjects. :) Here's a handful of pics that she has taken recently that make me smile...

Sweet Abbie (always smiling)

My little man (mini-Ben as most people say)

Bailey Boo (known as Little Mommy in our house)

Sisters

Auburn cheerleaders

We are READY....

2010-09-22T21:49:00.011-05:00

...for FALL!

We went to a little pumpkin patch in Florence with Ben's family last weekend. We now have all of our pumpkins on our front porch just waiting to be carved! And I even got a yellow mum this year...my first mum ever...thanks to Ben's mom! If I can just keep it alive...I'll be really proud!

Now Mr. Sunshine, if you would cool it just a bit so it actually feels like Fall, that would be wonderful!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Scarecrows and Butterflies

2010-09-19T13:54:00.013-05:00

The kids got to go on a field trip to Botanical Gardens last week with their school. Mom filled in for me since I had a meeting that I couldn't miss. Thank you, Mimi! They had a great time...other than getting really hot and thirsty towards the end! I am ready for Fall weather to be here and cool things off! They got to do the Scarecrow Trail and the Butterfly House.

Wizard of Oz scarecrows

Kids from school

In the birds nest

Buzz Lightyear scarecrow

Pinocchio scarecrow

T-I-G-E-R-S...

2010-09-13T13:58:00.016-05:00

...T-I-G-E-R-S, Tigers Tigers!!!

Before we knew our team colors, the kids soccer team decided that they wanted to be the Tigers. Of course, Ben was ok with that. Then, we got our uniforms in and I'd say it definitely worked out great...at least for 4 out of the 6 players that are AU fans! :) Their first game was Saturday...they had fun! Other than Noah running out on the field a few times when it wasn't his turn to play, they had a great first game!

Daddy (or "Coachie" as the kids call him) with his kiddos

Game time

F is for...

2010-09-04T21:28:00.011-05:00

...FOOTBALL and FALL!!!

We are excited!

WAR EAGLE! HEY!

Rain or Shine...It's Alright!

2010-08-30T14:59:00.031-05:00

We packed up and headed to the beach last Thursday afternoon. We were so excited to be getting away for a few days! We envisioned the kids playing all day in the sand, riding the waves, and splashing in the pool. Well, it didn't quite go like we had expected...our days were filled with dark, cloudy skies and LOTS and LOTS of wind and rain! I have never in my life experienced such yucky weather at the beach. We did not even catch a glimpse of the sun...not even for a second! But, thankfully our kids are four years old and to them life's a party...rain or shine! They spent a total of about 15 minutes on the beach, 10 minutes in the outdoor pool, and didn't even get to float around the lazy river, but they were completely happy playing in the condo, swimming in the indoor pool, and picking out seashells at Souvenir City. Ha! We even left a day early because the weather at the end was SO yucky! I thought they would be upset, but they were really fine...they were just happy to get back to school to show off their seashells to their friends. They are real troopers...they make me proud! So, we made the best of it...just being with our family and making memories together. I am REALLY hoping, though, that our turn for yucky vacation weather is over with for awhile.

Our only beach pics

It did help that our great friends, David and Kimberly and their kiddos, were there at the same time we were and we got to hang out with them. Definitely added some excitement to our trip!
Lucy and Emma Kate

Dinner at LuLu's with the Chandlers

Lucy LOVES Abbie...she drags her (and Bailey) along everywhere! It is too funny!

Cole, Lucy, and Emma Kate are now at school with our kids. It's really fun having them there together. You should see Kimberly and I walking all 6 of our kids out at the end of school...we are a sight, for sure!

This picture really makes me feel better about the tan that I didn't get while at the beach...Thanks Kimberly!

Yep...this is how the sky looked the whole time!

Not a care in the world! :)

Girls Only!

2010-08-23T21:11:00.012-05:00

I took Abbie and Bailey with me last weekend to visit my sister in Nashville. A good friend of ours from growing up had a baby shower on Saturday, so it made for a good excuse for us to make a weekend out of it! My sister and her husband are moving to Greenville, SC the end of September, which is a little bittersweet...farther away from us which is sad, but really exciting for them! I have no doubt that God is going to use them in mighty ways at the church where they are headed. And, it will be fun to have a new place for us to go and visit! So, quick trips like this will be few and far between soon, so it was fun to go and spend some time together. We took A and B to paint pottery Friday night, and we had so much fun! Definitely not the place for my little man, but perfect for the girlies! A chose to paint a cross and B an ice cream cone box to put her jewelry in...basically a hodgepodge of colors is what they looked like in the end, but it was great fun!

Sisters in the big rocking chair

A fun little kitchen right around the corner from the pottery place

The only pic from Sarah's shower that I have. The girls with their Aunt Ally. (Abbie with her "not feeling good" face. She was running a little fever, but thankfully is much better.)

All the while, Ben and Noah filled their time up at home with other things...bowling, the dollar movie, eating out, and all things boys...definitely a nice break from babies and princesses for Noah!

Back Into Routine

2010-08-17T21:50:00.008-05:00

We are getting back into a routine with the kids back in school. I really enjoyed the summer with them, but it's nice to feel like we have some structure to our lives again.

We went to Florence Sunday to celebrate Macy's 2nd and Joshua's 7th birthdays...

Grampie (or is it Grampy...I never know how we spell it!?!) with his couch full of grandkids. It is impossible to get one of all of them looking! These kids are growing up way too fast!

What do my kids do when it's way too hot to go outside and play? Put on sunscreen and swim gear, spread out towels, and turn the den into a swimming pool! Their imaginations are something! They can play for hours in their little "imaginary land" and be completely oblivious to whatever I'm doing. These are the days that I longed for when they are little...and they're here! I am loving this stage that we're in! :)

Kids first soccer practice was today...they had a great time! Daddy is their coach and they get to play on the same team as their cousin, Caley, and another good friend from church. There are only 6 players, so they are half the team. :) Good times!

1st Day of Pre-K

2010-08-11T15:20:00.011-05:00

Time is flying by!
It feels like I was just dropping my babies off for their very first day of Preschool in the 2's class...

...and then their first day in the 3's class...

...and now their first day in the 4's class (Pre-K).
Here my big kids are before school! They were very excited!

They had a GREAT first day!
Their favorite parts of the day...playing outside on the playground, lunchtime, and getting a piece of candy from Mrs. Shelly. :) They have a really sweet teacher...I'm feeling like it's going to be a great year of school!

4 Years Old

2010-08-05T21:33:00.018-05:00

Bailey

Bailey's interview:

(answers subject to change on any given day)
Favorite food: okra, mac & cheese, and chips
Favorite color: purple and pink
Favorite animal: giraffe, monkey, and parrot
Favorite thing to do: play w/ my baby dolls
Favorite show/movie: Mickey Mouse
Best friend: Rushton, Jonah, and Miller...and Abbie and Noah
What do you like most about school? drawing and going on the playground
What do you want to be when you grow up? a mommy and a teacher like Mommy
(Height: 39 1/4 inches / Weight: 31.8 pounds)

Abbie

Abbie's Interview:
(answers subject to change on any given day)
Favorite food: purple grapes, mac & cheese, and cheetos
Favorite color: pink and purple
Favorite animal: kitty cats and little baby dogs (because little baby dogs don't bite)
Favorite thing to do: play w/ all of my baby doll stuff
Favorite show/movie: all of the princess movies
Best friend: Bailey and Noah, Joshua, Marah, and Macy, Camden, Carter, and Caley, and Calli and Betsy
What do you like most about school? cutting at school
What do you want to be when you grow up? a mommy and a teacher like Mommy
(Height: 39 1/2 inches / Weight: 32.3 pounds)

Noah

Noah's interview:
(answers subject to change on any given day)
Favorite food: bananas, chocolate, popsicles, candy, and smarties
Favorite color: red, blue, and yellow
Favorite animal: Aubie (tigers)
Favorite thing to do: play with my new birthday toys
Favorite show/movie: Cars
Best friend: my sisters
What do you like most about school? Everything!
What do you want to be when you grow up? a seller like Daddy
(Height: 39 3/4 inches / Weight: 35 pounds)

Day Trip

2010-08-03T21:52:00.014-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, we headed to Chattanooga to the aquarium with my friends, Kacey and Kera, and their kiddos. We all had a great time! Just posting a few pictures of our day before it gets too far away from me. These are the times that I want to remember...fun times with friends! I'm blessed to have some great friends in my life...and it's just a plus when your kids are close in age and they love being together, too!

5 four year olds in the shark cage

Sweet friends

Making fishy faces

The whole crew...
I'm thankful that we didn't lose a kid that day. That was an accomplishment! :)

2 of my favorite things there...the butterfly house and the penguins.

We headed over to the Splash Pad across the street after a few hours in the aquarium and a bite of lunch. The kids had a ball splashing...while the moms sweated it out in the heat!
We had a blast!!!

Until next time!
Next up...SCHOOL! It's right around the corner!

Getting Wet

2010-07-28T21:48:00.015-05:00

We've spent more time at the pool swimming this summer than we ever have before. I'm finally at a point where taking all 3 of them by myself doesn't totally and completely exhaust me anymore... and it's actually fun! We did swim lessons earlier in the summer with Mrs. Rachel, a friend from church. It was really good for the kids. They have improved a lot...even Noah, though it's still baby steps at times. And, yes...I realize they're 4 and still wearing floaties some. When you've got triplets, you've got bigger things to worry about than arm floaties! :) I've got 3 little ones to watch...it's security for them and comfort for me while trying to watch all of them. We'll say bye to those next summer!

Ready to swim

Bailey was all smiles when we got there. She was soooo.... excited to head to the diving board and jump off! She jumped off (for the first time) about 20 times last night when Ben took the kids. She absolutely loved it and was so proud of herself for finally doing it! Apparently, the lifeguard on duty wasn't paying too much attention last night and didn't tell her that kids with floaties on weren't supposed to jump...
...As she walks toward the diving board today grinning from ear to ear (Mimi came to see her and Mommy was on the side ready to snap a picture and see her jump off for the first time) the lifeguard shouts out, "Kids aren't allowed to jump off with floats on!" I was like,"Are you kidding me?" Talk about the meltdown of the century! She was absolutely devastated!!! She cried and cried for about 30 minutes! I shed a couple of tears with her...broke my heart! Thankfully, after lunch I finally got her feeling better and ready to swim again.
Finally...jumping off the side was just as fun!

The easy one to take a picture of...Abbie.

And then, she did the slide about 10 times so that made up for it, too!

This little man has come a long way. He still likes the little pool that's 2 and 3 ft. deep. Not a fan of the big pool yet!

Abbie doing swim lessons with Noah. It was hilarious! She was pretending like she was the swim teacher. She kept saying, "Put your eyeballs in the water, Noah"...like Mrs. Rachel always says. I'm finding that there's lots of benefits to triplets as they get older. In this case, they teach each other to swim and I get to sit and watch. :)

Names

2010-07-22T14:32:00.014-05:00

As a teacher, I always loved watching my kindergarteners grow and learn throughout the year. Seeing them learn to write their letters...and then putting letters together to write words and eventually sentences is pretty neat! It's even more fun when it's your own kids that you're watching grow and learn. My kids have started drawing and writing a lot more. I love watching them as they are learning it all one step at a time. As you can tell from the pictures, Abbie is my little artist that pays much more attention to detail. She is becoming more like me than I ever thought she would be. We have got to get her in some art classes eventually...she would love it! For some reason, Noah thought it would be funny to put his paper over his face. As with everything, one does it then they all do it...and think it's hilarious! :)

Abbie

Noah

Bailey