Aloha!

In honor of my little sister's birthday yesterday, I thought I would share with you about my trip recently to see her in Hawaii. One thing I love about Hawaii is that it lives up to the hype. If you haven't been yet, you have to go. It's so beautiful!

After the tumultuous last 3 year years, it was exactly what my soul needed. I can't say enough about my amazing husband who trash-talked me into making the plane reservations and offered to take care of the kids for a week. Thanks to all the grandparents who helped him out, too! I can't tell how much clearer my head is, how improved my attitude is and how much more appreciate my husband and kiddos, since taking this trip.

Jill and Mo took good care of me, along with their dogs Brian and Marshall. They fed me well, let me take the truck wherever I wanted, and I got to sleep next to the view of the mountains. They took me on a personal tour of Ford Island and to practically private beaches. It was fun to see where they live, work and play. I relaxed alone (did you hear me, ALONE!) while they were at work, and then we hung out on the weekends and evenings.

It was so hard leaving my little sis. We had a fantastic time watching Grease and jamming on our guitars (or at least attempting). I got to go to the beach almost every day and saw some amazing WWII historical sites. We shopped together and we watched a documentary of Typhoid Mary one night (great vacation material, huh?). She let me borrow her deluxe hair straightener (microprocessor technology, baby), and we watched funny clips on You Tube.

Jill also led us on a hike to see a beautiful waterfall and a cool bamboo forest that whistled in the wind. She even put up with my whining when I complained that it wasn't the 1 mile hike that I was promised in the brochure. (That's what I get for hiking with a marathon runner!)

The only thing I like about her living in Hawaii is when I get to visit her. Otherwise, it stinks being so far away, but I'm glad to see that she's so happy. We made lots of fun memories together that week, and I hope that I get to do it again soon!

Of course, coming home is wonderful, too. My Dad, Dave and the kids met me at airport. The triplets seemed to care less that I was there, as they were well occupied with their Happy Meals. But Alyssa seemed excited to see me. She was holding this poster and gave me lots of hugs.

Aww, home sweet home.

I still miss Hawaii, though!

God bless,

Amanda

Off to Kindergarten

So far, nothing has made us feel like time flies than to have our oldest child start kindergarten. It doesn't seem possible, but Alyssa is a big bad kindergartner!

Last week we went to the ice cream social and met Alyssa's new teacher. That's when we dropped off our school supplies. That is a story in itself, but let's just say that the list was very specific and it took 7 stores to get 4 of the correct glue sticks!

On Tuesday, I went with Alyssa to a breakfast and orientation meeting. One of our friends that was just at our house last week for a playdate is in Alyssa's class! That made it fun for the kids and the moms. It was also a big help to me as a rookie school mom to have someone who's been there show me the ropes!

While were there, we made a name tag and did scavenger hunts around the classroom and around the school.  Her new teacher also read a story called  "The Night Before Kindergarten". It made me tear up thinking that I was going to send her off into this new world alone the next day.

Wednesday was the big official first day. For years, Alyssa has watched the neighborhood kids get on and off the bus. She excitedly talked about someday when she would ride the bus. Then on Tuesday night, Dave  had a little talk with her about the safety issues and rules of riding the bus. She seemed really excited to learn all about it and asked lots of questions.

Then the big day finally came! Of course, the pressure was on not to be late the first day. I was tired from staying up late the night before getting MY homework done and making sure everything was ready. (Man, is having a kid in school a lot of work!) The trio was also tired from a big storm the previous night, so they slept in. That caused me to yank them out of bed, throw some clothes on them, and usher them out the door. I didn't even give Jack a chance to practice his new potty training skills or brush anyone's hair. Drew wouldn't leave until I answered his inquiry as to if we were going to take the minivan to the bus stop or not. (It's a 30 second walk from our house.)

Alyssa handled everything like a champ. I was a little bit of a nervous wreck, making sure that the little guys didn't run into the street or get onto the bus themselves, while taking pictures. But the little kids pleasantly surprised me with how well they did, too. I thought I would be bawling when the bus pulled away, but I think all the action at the bus stop distracted me. It's like we finally got to hang out with the big kids. What a neighborhood social event! (Granted, a little early for me, though.)

Lauren, however, let out a little whimper as the bus pulled away to show that she was sad when her sister left. Her best friend, dancing partner, and roommate had just taken off without her. I think Drew missed her, too.

I made a little video of Alyssa getting on the bus for the first time that I just had to share. I LOVE the look that she gives me right after the bus pulls up!

A short 2 1/2 ours later, it was time to pick Alyssa up. With this obvious change in routine, the triplets had all kinds of questions. "Are we going to eat ice cream at Alyssa's school [again]?" Jack asked. Drew inquired, "Is Alyssa going to come back on the bus?" Lauren quizzed me, "Can I sit in the car seat in the back?" (We also moved around the car seats to accommodate 5 kids for carpooling. She wanted the seat next to Alyssa.) On the way there, Drew said, "Is this the way to Alyssa's school?" Then when we got to school, Drew kept asking where all the buses were. Constantly. Again and again. Then when I put the sign up in the window with Alyssa's name on it, Jack wanted to know all about the sign. In the midst of the third degree treatment, I was just trying to figure out what I was doing, so I wouldn't have to hear "You're doing it wrong!" like they say in Mr. Mom.  (I have already learned that it is very competitive to get there first. Today I was there 20 minutes before class let out, and I was car number 5!)

So we picked Alyssa up, and she was happy as can be. She told me all about how she made 4 new friends, and got to eat popsicles on the playground, and she got to sit by her friend at circle time, and she couldn't wait until we got home so that she could show me the craft that she had made. (This is a huge change from preschool, where it was pulling teeth to hear anything about her day!)

So I just had to show you what she made yesterday (below).  She cut and glued all the pieces herself. She drew herself (left), her new friend Sarah (middle) and the bus driver (right). But she did clarify that Sarah and the bus driver actually didn't wear yellow, she just wanted to draw them that way. (I'm guessing to match her or the bus?) She was also very proud that her teacher had taught her how to spell "bus" and she had written that herself, too. This craft is definitely a precious keeper!

Our family has just entered a whole new world, my friends. But so far it's pretty good!

God bless,

Amanda

PS Did you happen to catch Lauren looking out the window in the pictures at the top? Too funny.

http://four-and-no-more.blogspot.com/

Pick up the Poopy (Part II)

Well, we are developing a bit of a backlog with the blogging, so even though Dave wrote Part I (which you can read by clicking here), I hope you don't mind if I finish Part II. I know I'm not as funny as he is, but he starts teaching and coaching tennis today, so I don't think he'll get to this for a while!

I have to give Dave credit. He was genius at getting the kids help him do yard work. I was inside one day (doing laundry, I think?) and I looked out the window and Dave had the kids all excited and involved in what he was doing. His new toy this spring was an aerator. Not the big hoss one that you push, but the kind that you push into the ground by hand and it pull up 2 plugs at a time. It works quite nicely when you have to watch 4 kids at the same time. Dave also was dethatching the yard and somehow Tom Sawyered the kids into thinking it was fun to pick up the piles of thatch and plugs that Daddy had made. It was so cute to see them piling the plugs into their little wagon and walking around the yard.  They seemed to think it was hilarious to pick up the plugs, as they thought they looked like poopy! But don't take my word for it. Listen to those that there there....

So you already know if you saw the Mudhens entry, that it rained soon afterward. The rest is history. Well, in case you couldn't get enough from the video on that entry, here's actually the first video we took that day.

Yep, I think God just put our family here for the entertainment of others.

God bless,

Amanda

http://four-and-no-more.blogspot.com/

Ballet Class

This summer, we blessed to find a ballet class that both of our girls could take together, and it was only 5 minutes from our house. Luckily, we didn't have to buy too much to prepare for it, since Alyssa took ballet last year. We did get Lauren a new leotard and Alyssa some new ballet slippers, and they were as excited as can be. The picture above shows the girls just before the first class they attended. (Too bad I blew it, and we missed the first week of class because I wrote down the wrong start date on my calendar. Shhh. Don't tell the girls. They don't know.)

I hope I never forget the squeals of excitement I heard from the girls as I drove them to their first class. They loved it and jumped right in. There are many things I liked about this class better than where we went the last two years. Tops on the list is that the parents could sit right in the dance studio and watch. I loved to just sit and watch what they would do. Those are precious little memories you treasure the most as a parent.

Here's a video I took on their first day. It's of the warms up they did. Lauren is on the left and Alyssa is on the right. I think it's fun to watch the differences in ability and how they keep an eye on each other.

This video was also from their 1st day. They played a version of freeze tag that they just loved. My favorite parts of this video are when Lauren loses her shoe, and the way she handles crashing into someone so well! I think her "tripletness" showed through, too, as you can see how she always wanted to end up by Alyssa. This was the first big thing she ever did without her brothers by her side.

On the last day of class, the girls did a little recital for the parents during the last 15 minutes. This one is called the Sunshine Dance. You'll notice that Lauren isn't in this one. Well, she lost it a bit earlier when it was her turn to be the duck in Duck Duck Goose. (Something about being a triplet makes those individual moments scarier.) So, just Alyssa did the Sunshine Dance, even though Lauren had told me that this was her favorite to practice.

Their last number is to the song "Child of Mine." Lauren joined in for this one. I love how this video captures the spirit of distraction that their poor teacher had to constantly work with (including responding to a baby in attendance passing gas). You can also see how Lauren spent most of ballet copying what big sister Alyssa was doing.

Here's a picture of the girls with their teacher, Miss Jennifer. She did such a great job of making the class fun with lots of games, while still teaching them a lot. The girls just loved her class so much and were sad to see it end. They even each colored a picture for her for a thank you gift.

At the end of class, Miss Jennifer also gave each girl a certificate, and most excitingly, their very first trophy! They were so excited about that and talked about it the rest of the day. Before we left, Alyssa was even asking when she can take ballet with Miss Jennifer again. Maybe next year! Kindergarten starts next week!

God bless,

Amanda

http://four-and-no-more.blogspot.com/