Since naps are sometimes a no-go at our house, I like to do everything in my power to ensure they take place.  Our awesome neighbors inherited a trampoline.  It is a great tool to use before naps and bed to ensure sleep.  I highly recommend one. (PS…turn the volume down.  I get a little excited when Mia accomplishes a summersualt and makes good use of that $400 gymnastics bill).

So far, no major damage has been done.  Maybe a few bumps on the noggin as the kids jump into each other but they’ve been butting heads since they were in the womb…

On another note, the kids went to preschool to meet their teachers on Friday morning.  We parents received a “survival” kit the night before during parent orientation with tissues and chocolate to help us with the transition.  I’ve already made use of both but not to dry my tears and console myself with my impeding small dose of freedom.  Rather,  the kids noses happened to be running before they went in to meet the teachers.  I would hate to get the reputation of spreading sickies so soon into our preschool experience so I made sure to get their noses nice and clean prior to entering the preschool.   Meanwhile, the chocolate came in handy to calm my nerves during one of Mia’s temper-tantrums on the way home from her first day.   I can always use tissues and chocolate!

Finally, we recently discovered an awesome park near our house.  It is the only park like it in the country.  Amazing play equipment, beautiful landscaping and several levels of fun.  They are using it to research future parks that bridge together nature and play for young children.  This dragon is the highlight of the park and my kids FAVORITE play equipment.

Just in case you were wondering…

According to Mia, these monsters have very specific names.  She identifies them as above on every page.  It goes without saying that this is one of her FAVORITE books.  Luckily, I am not in the book!

I thought this video of Mia counting to 13 was appropriate today.  For some reason she always skips “one”.  I’m not surprised the ominous ”13″ is her stopping number these days.  Between this, her hitting the priest during her baptism, and repeatedly stabbing the angel in the nativity scene with a stick last Christmas, I’m thinking Mia may have a  defiant streak.

And here is a video of the kids dancing at the Children’s Museum

This is a really neat age to have multiples.  At 25 months, my kids are really starting to play together.  In fact, they don’t interact with other kids their age as much as they interact with each other.  They are constantly playing “choo-choo’s”, fish,  dancing together, and just hanging out in the same vicinity.  I am able to take them places like the Children’s museum and pool by myself because they don’t wander very far from each other.  They like to stick together.   They also are really into names right now so they call each other by their first and middle name “Josie Mary”, “Mia June” and “Marcus Max”.  It is darling.  As soon as one of the kids wakes up in the morning or after naps, they look for their siblings…”Marcus Max?”  They are very lovie right now so they usually hug/kiss each other as soon as they see each other in the mornings.  It is really adorable to see such a close bond between siblings and something I treasure as a mom to multiples.  Of course there is the other side…”Marcus’s turn”, “Mia’s turn”, “Josie’s turn” that reverberates through the house at increasing decibels when a fight is about to break out.  But, let’s not focus on that…..

In 3.5 weeks the kids start preschool.  I’m so excited!  They are only going two days/week for 3 hours but thoughts of grocery shopping, working and running errands without the constant “mommy, mommy” is thrilling.  I’m pretty certain they are going to transition easily into preschool.  They do great when we sporadically drop them off at the church nursery and their pretty independent as long as they have each other to return to.  Until then, we are enjoying our summer mornings together.  Between gymnastics, taking the kids running to the local park (I can’t believe I still do this but until  the kids start riding bikes or running themselves, I’ll be pushing the triplet semi), the pool and the museum, we stay pretty busy.  Here are a few pics of some of our recent adventures:

Splashing through puddles on a REALLY HOT morning walk quickly turned into something else entirely:

Fun at the park:

Our local bounce-house

A water break at home:

I’m working on catching one of Mia’s famous tantrums on video.  They are priceless.  This girl has a very strong and independent personality.  I personally find the tantrums pretty humorous and have to keep myself from laughing.  Usually I just let them play-out.  She moves on pretty quickly and I actually will take a tantrum over whining any day!