I like organization and I like to keep things clean and tidy.   It’s no surprise I loved having my infant triplets on a schedule.  With multiples, schedules and organization are they keys to survival…or so I thought.  I have done a great job on keeping my kids on a schedule but as they get older, I’m being thrown for a loop.  First it was naps.  For the most part, Josie dropped her nap entirely months ago.   The past few months, the kids have been staying up till 9 or so.   Delaying bed time became their passion in life.  Sometimes Marcus wouldn’t go to sleep until 10 PM.  So, I decided to try to drop their naps.   This went ok with Marcus but Mia obviously still needs a nap.   She totally loses it by 5 PM without one.  So now, I never know who is going to nap and when.

Mia

The kids and I at the zoo

Then came potty training.  The girls were a piece of cake.  Marcus is finally “trained” after several weeks of sometimes pooping in the potty and sometimes in his pants.  Accidents happen still but overall, everyone is doing great.  But potty-ing is hardly a scheduled thing.   For example, today we spent 45 minutes at the Splash Pad.  In those 45 minutes, we took 5 whopping trips to the bathroom, I kid you not!  And EVERY time somebody either peed or pooped, even though they swore up and down they didn’t have to go 5 minutes earlier.  Since all my kids have been potty trained, I feel like I spend half my day in the bathroom.  Besides that, I have never felt so unsanitary!  I just can’t seem to get them to wash their hands every time they go potty..it is so much work.  Sometimes I find a child running around naked only to find out they had just pooped and never told me.  And the darn little potty, it’s disgusting!  I despise it but the kids prefer it.  It’s a little crazy.  Please…tell me it gets better…and soon!

Marcus

Enough shit, let’s change the subject : )  We had a fantastic visit with the grandparents recently.  Grammy and Grandpa just left after a whirlwind of a week.  We did the zoo, gardens, festivals, parks, bike rides, fishing and anything else we could squeeze in.  Grandpa was even brave enough to attempt taking Max’s mountain bike up the killer mountain trail behind our house.  It’s hard to visit us here without getting a crash week of exercise and recreation.  The weather was perfect, the kids had a blast and I was thrilled to have a little breather from the constant excitement of raising triplets. We cannot wait for them to return!  I also just joined the local “moms on mountain bikes” rides.  We got out once a week and explore the trails around Park City. The best part, we drop our kids off at arranged and affordable childcare first!  Finally, I have found a mom’s group that I really enjoy.

Josie fishing, she really enjoys the outdoors!

Grandpa at the top of the mountain trail behind our house

Grammy and Grandpa with the gang

A year or so ago, a man stopped me while I was running with the kids in my triplet stroller.  He introduced himself as the town manager and asked if my family would mind doing a photo shoot for our small town of Apex, NC.  I agreed and one Sunday morning, a professional photographer followed us around Apex and took pictures.    Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to get copies of any of the pictures but they did decide to use a few of them in the town magazine.  So, here we are:

Although we have since moved from this lovely town, it really is a cute area.  It was the epitome of suburbia and a great place to raise a family.  Although I adore Park City, Apex will always hold a special place in my heart!

The triplets are three.  This is an interesting age.  The volume has suddenly escalated, as has the fighting and the temper-tantrums.  If you have three children, one of them is bound to throw some killer punches.  Mia can throw some amazing tantrums complete with kicking, hitting and attitude.  Josie can also sport an attitude but Marcus remains drama-free for the most part.  Before we moved, we had a birthday party for the kids with family.  But on their actual birthday, we threw them a small private party at the house  to celebrate this glorious age.  Daddy came home for lunch and we opened presents from Aunt Jess and Ga-Ga and Pop-Pop.  Marcus did ask “where are all the kids?” but honestly, their best friends (each other) were there and they were perfectly content.

The weekend after their birthday, Ga-Ga and Pop-Pop came to visit.  It was an eventful jam packed weekend.  Max started the weekend with a mountain biking accident.  He broke his collarbone and cracked a few ribs.  After a trip to the ER, he ended up camped out on the couch for the rest of the weekend while we kept the kids busy.  They watched their first fireworks display, which was a success.  Marcus and Mia were very entertained while Josie hid her face in Ga-Ga’s chest the whole time.  After the grand finale she perked up to announce “I LOVED the fireworks!  Can we watch them again.”  We also watched the small 4th of July parade, and took a scenic trip up one of the ski-lifts.  In the summer, you can ride up the ski-lifts and hike around, bike , or take one of the slides, coasters, or ziplines back down the mountain.   The kids enjoyed their first ski-lift trip; although, I about lost it with all their wiggling.  I don’t know how we’re going to ski with them this winter…

Max had surgery this past Wednesday and is recovering nicely, complete with a metal plate and 7 screws in his shoulder.  He should be good as new in several weeks.  Until then, I’m trying to keep the kids busy and out of the house to allow daddy some peaceful recovery time.  I often attach them all to my bike and take them on rides to the different playgrounds in the area.

Some days I wonder how I’m surviving the summer without preschool.   Wine definitely helps  Although I’m finding this age extremely daunting, it is also very amusing.  The kids play together all day.  Although this results in lots of arguments, it is also fascinating to watch their pretend games and their imaginations take off.  Josie tends to be the “teacher” of the group, always leading the games and making sure everyone is sharing and happy.  Mia brings the drama and excitement and Marcus just tries to keep up with it all.  I really wonder what parent’s of singleton 3-year-olds do.  How in the world do they entertain their children all day?  My kids rarely leave each other’s side and will act out intricate pretend scenarios with mommies and daddies, prince and princesses, dogs and cats, etc. for hours. They also make-up songs and sing them together.  It really is fascinating. The benefits of having multiples is definitely starting to pay off!