Three of My Three

I've logged on to my blog, after a quarter of the year away, to put some thoughts and pictures down on "paper" from Wren's 2nd Birthday.

And I stumbled upon this draft from June.  

Remember when I used to post three pics of my three kids?  A bit foggy of a memory for me, too.  

Anyway, three of my three from over three months ago...

It really wasn't this bad, but I love it because it looks like it was. Wren saying "Dear God, Help Me!" 

No.  Wren should not be in this apparatus.  If fact, she could tip the thing over with herself in it.  But her baby cousin, Dash, wanted in - so of course she did too.

I hadn't been to a Fleet Farm in decades.  I had no idea how much I missed it!  If it were 25 miles closer to our house it might just rival Costco as my favorite store.  I am determined to go to their Toy Land this Christmas.

Three of my Three

I got a new laundry basket, which meant the kids turned this old laundry basket into countless boats, rockets, construction vehicles and more for a solid week. And then I needed it back as a 2nd laundry basket because we have just.that.much.laundry (see below re: springtime). 

Best playpen of all time.  The back of Papa's pick-up!

Springtime, and all the glorious sandboxes, dirt digging, grass rolling and sticky, melty foods, is bringing more bath times.  

Three of my Three

A few more photos from Mexico.  

One of these days I'll write a post again.  Until then...Three of my Three!

Checking into the hotel.  Each kid got a little bouquet of flowers.

Sandals. And Sunglasses (Wren was having none of that).

One of the games in the Kids Club.  Yes, RAMBO.  Among various other totally inappropriate kid's video games.

Three of My Three

This past weekend, which was quite gloomy, we headed to the Downtown Library. I kind of wanted to take the city bus to get there, but Joe persuaded me that we'll have enough transportation excitement as we head to Mexico this week. 

The kids all loved playing on the computers, riding the elevators, climbing the big flights of stairs and looking out the walls of windows on the second floor of the library.  We got some books (& videos for the flight to Mexico), too!

So this is how I get them to all "mind their own business," stay out of trouble and stay in one spot!

Checking out the view towards North Minneapolis from the 2nd floor of the Library

Climbing on a rock outside the library

Three Of My Three

For some reason this picture says "after-school" to me.  Gathered around the counter.  Snacking and doing homework.

The older I get, the more kids I have, the more I like Old Navy.  Fleece hat and mitten sets - with velcro to keep the hats put (on the youngest, anyway) - for about $2.  $0.47.  Oh Yeah!

Three of My Three

It's been quite some time since I've shared Three of my Three.

Not a ton has changed.  Wren's still wearing a barrette.  Otto flip flops between piggies and a pony.  Max wears kick-down PJs from his cousins Grace and Lyla.  They all love Mac n Cheese.

They also all loved Ikea when we headed there a few weekends ago.  Otto kept saying "I love this room" and would lay down on every couch we came across.

Last weekend - November 11th - 70 degrees!  

Three of My Three

Brothers & Sister

Sisters? Max & Otto absolutely love the pink nightgown hand-me-downs from their cousins. Next trip to Target I'm going to see if they make any Toy Story or Bob the Builder nightgowns.

Taking Wren for a ride in a basket to play in their room.

Three of my Three

Three of My Three

I should maybe check the weight limit for Wren's crib. They all like to hang out in it. Had I known it could hold my body weight I for sure would have crawled in a few nights to get the babies (& myself) some sleep those really rough first months.

The Motley Crew. They are two and four and I've already waved the white flag of surrender when it comes to clothes selections. Max wanted to fray the bottom and sleeves of his "Bike Week" (we're talking Hogs and Choppers and stuff) t-shirt from Papa Mark (pretty spot-on way to pimp a "Daytona Beach Bike Week" t-shirt, actually). Otto will only wear one pair of sweatpants, one pair of sweat shorts and two different t-shirts. When those are dirty, it's his (I mean Wren's) plaid dress that he adores. I am thoroughly enjoying putting Wren in cute clothes and hope it will last. Then again toddlerhood and self selection of clothes isn't far off so maybe I should start taking pictures of the good stuff just in case.

She seriously just plays with them now. Here they are camping in their camper. Otto was making breakfast and Max and Wren were taking a nap (just in case you couldn't tell) in the bedroom. I've always thought Wren looked more like Otto, but it this picture I think Wren looks just like Max.

Three of My Three

I was just looking through some photos on my phone and love the following pictures. Somehow the three of them are synchronized in their motions; none of which included looking at the camera.

- Looking at something in the distance

- Glancing at their popsicles

- Licking their popsicles

Three of My Three

Playing Together. Playing Together??? Playing Together!

From the perspective of this photo and the location of the swings, it makes Max look big, Wren look little and Otto somewhere in the middle. There's not that much differentiation in real life...

Testing out the floor in the new tent. Works great in the front yard. Ready for another camping trip.

Three of My Three

The boys taking Wren's bonnet and bunny ears on Easter, leaving her with the Leprechaun hat.

They may have won the battle, but probably not the war...

A couple giggle monsters. And a sour puss.

I imagine Wren saying "Mom, put the camera away. I can't be distracted if I'm going to keep up with them."

Three of My Three

This week I've been looking through photos from when Wren was born and selecting the ones I will print for her baby book. It's been a wonderful jaunt down memory lane.

I'm amazed at how quickly life changes in 5 months time. Things that seemed so scary 5 months ago are not so scary anymore. Things that felt awkward and klutzy are second nature. Things that were really, really challenging are a little less challenging these days. Worries have turned into joys.

We're at a new normal. At least as a family we are.

In less than 4 weeks I've got what I think will be the most daunting task ever...getting back into the working mom groove. This time with three really little kids in tow instead of just two. I have no clue how I'm (we're) going to get out of our house, usually before 7:25 am, all put together for a day at the office.

But if the past is a good predictor of the future, I know we'll manage just fine some mornings, struggle others and utterly rock.it. a few mornings here and there too (on those mornings I will wish that the DQ was open before 8am because I'd be buying congratulatory ice cream cones for everyone in my car as well as all other customers in the drive-thru).

And then of course we still have to get home in time to feed, play with, bathe, brush and bedtime story all three of them. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Almost 4 weeks is a good chunk of time to turn a blind eye to any potential problems.

So, thinking back to when the days were simpler. Or maybe I mean more complicated (I didn't say everything's been figured out in the past 5 months).

Three of My Three...

Tummy Time was often a family affair. When Otto was a newborn, Max always wanted to practice tummy time with him. No different once Wren came along. All three of them would pile onto her little playmat and work on strengthening their core muscles. Practice makes better.

Ooops. Looks like the one who needs the practice isn't getting any.

Small things like big scrapes on faces apparently went somewhat unnoticed the first couple weeks that Wren was home. Looking at this picture now (& a few other close-up's of Otto's face) I realize that I may not have fully "noticed" Otto's gash. I kind of remember being in a bit of a haze when one of his teacher's commented on it at drop-off one morning. The thing is Otto is one tough cookie. When he fell and got the gash, he just jumped up and continued running to keep up with Max, so I blew it off too. Remarkably, within about 5 days this big cut was totally healed. Resilience.

And can I just say how happy I am that Max's hair is shorter now! I always thought I liked his long hair, but I like it better shorter. Perspective. That's another thing I've gained these past 5 months. Otto's hair will be cropped soon too.

Three of My Three

God bless professional photographers. I will always treasure the perfectly lit, beautiful portraits that Eydie takes of our family.

BUT, for the million moments that make up my every day, I can't beat my own snapshots.

I mean, the dog hair on ugly fleece cozy pants, all three of them with their eyes closed (repeatedly!), hugs that border on "should I put down the camera to make sure Wren's ok," the underwear (Fridays are usually "underwear" day here, except for when I make them put on clothes for our Costco run), the look in Wren's eyes asking "how much longer? i can't take these boys any more," and the three of them piled in a bed.

Yes, God bless the professionals once a year when photographing our kids. And God bless me and my three all other days.