Grace and the Purple Pacer

Monday evening Grace's gait trainer was delivered to our house. It just so happened that four of my friends (Jackie, Rachel, Beth and Kathryn) were with us when it was delivered. It seems like we have been waiting for this day forever!! We were all so excited...you would have thought someone had just brought us a Porsche 911. We waited anxiously as Heather adjusted everything perfectly for Grace's first run in her purple Pacer. How would she do...would she like it? She did great!!! She loved it!!! We still need to practice some before she can get around perfectly but I know she can do it.

Another Triplet Playdate

Yesterday Sharla and her triplets came over for a playdate. I met Sharla while I was on bedrest in the hospital awaiting the birth of my babies. She had just delivered her trio and was visiting them in the NICU so she came up a few floors to meet me and offer encouragement. I liked her instantly. Her optimism was contagious!

George, Ave and Chloe are about 1 1/2 month older than my kids. They are adorable!! (Sharla, you must teach me how you get George to stay in time out) Yesterday morning was very nice (especially for July) so we played outside in the backyard. We had a great time except for the few minutes Sophie decided to run away from home (that's a story I can barely talk about).

The picture above was taken just before they left and they all look wiped out or too afraid to move. I promise we didn't threaten them :)

I can't wait for our next playdate!

Big Bus, Little Bus

Mack LOVES anything with wheels that moves. He likes motorcyles, cars, trucks and even giant excavators (yes, I now know what that is). However, he does have a special fondness for buses. Big buses, little buses, yellow buses or even purple buses (he REALLY liked the purple one but it wasn't ours and we couldn't bring it home). Given a choice between a really cool car with flames and a plain yellow bus...always the bus. The bus must always be empty. Don't try taking a Little People or Tad the LeapFrog for a ride...he won't have it! Hmmm....I wonder what this says about him.

Look What Sophie's Reading...

and where she's reading it. Daddy's Economist magazine has become her favorite reading material during her private time. What a big girl!

Really Cool Water Park

NO, ABE IS NOT NAKED IN THIS PICTURE - HA HA




Today's outing was to this little water park near our house. We had no idea it was there until a friend mentioned it to us (thanks for the great idea Corey!) It's just small enough to be able to manage triplets and it is free! After spending $45 to get into Wiggle's World we are loving free fun. Our friend Brian (Abe's best friend from 8th grade who just happens to live 6 houses down from us) went with us. He loves the triplets and is always "willing" to hang out with us even though he knows that at any minute there could be a "toddler meltdown" or worse a "triple meltdown".

On a side note....Brian is our friend who taught Mack that it is really fun to STAND on the Sit-N-Spin. Thanks Brian!! We can't wait to teach your new baby (who will be here in Sept) to do all kinds of fun stuff :)

Again, Gracie was our big fish. She loves the water! Mack and Sophie were a bit alarmed about the shooting water but we ended up having a great day. I think the water park will be a weekly event...it's fun and...did I mention it's FREE!

No Nap Today For Grace

Grace refused to take a nap today which was shocking considering she had OT at 7:30 and an appointment with the Developmental Pediatrician at 9:00. She had a busy morning and I thought she would be wiped out. After lunch she got a second wind and decided we needed to work more on her walking. So I walked around and around the house with her...she was relentless It was nice because Mack and Sophie were asleep and were not in our way. We had a great time but I really wish we had her gait trainer (we STILL don't have it...GRRRRR). She wants to be mobile so badly. In one of the photos above she is standing ALL BY HERSELF while holding onto the pak-n-play where we practice cruising (this is also where Mack usually spends at least a few minutes a day for time-out :). I'm so very proud of Grace...she is such a hard worker and I know she will be walking and chasing Mack and Sophie before long.

....And by His light I WALKED through darkness. Job 29:3b

Watch For Snakes!!

WATCH FOR SNAKES!!!

BIG GIRL GRACE WITH AUNT KATIE

AUNT KATIE, COUSIN ALORA AND THE TRIPS

GRANDPA AND GRACE PLAY IN THE WATER

GRANDMA AND SOPHIE HAVING A SNACK

This past weekend, we all went to see Abe's mother and father. They live in the country about 15 miles outside Boerne in the Texas Hill Country. It is a very nice, relaxing place to visit and we always eat really well (Abe's dad is a great cook). We were lucky on Saturday to have nice enough weather so the kids could play outside. However, we had to "watch for snakes"!!! Three poisonous snakes (a rattlesnake, a copperhead and a coral snake) had been found relatively near the house. The rattlesnake had been found TWO STEPS FROM THE BACK PORCH!!!! Because of the very wet weather the reptiles were looking for dry ground...NEAR THE HOUSE!!! So I became a "little" concerned when the kids were outside...."Don't play near the woodpile!"..."Don't walk through the leaves!"..."Get away from the shed!"..."Abe, Abe, Mack is running through tall grass. Grab him!" I think I spoiled everyone's fun but there were no snakebites on my watch. :)

Thanks Katie and Alora for keeping the kids entertained. They had a great time!

Reminiscing

My computer is running EXTREMELY slowly these days because I have about 1500 photos on iPhoto...at least I have been told that could be part of the reason. It is driving my CRAZY!! So Abe keeps telling me just spend some time to get the photos on cds and the computer will run faster and I won't have to deal with waiting so long for things to work. Yes...when I FIND THE TIME!!! So far I have only saved 2005 which doesn't include the 1500 still on my computer. Much of the problem lies in the fact that I'm just so disorganized and I can easily get sidetracked. Take today for instance...with good intentions of cleaning up my computer I start setting up folders in iPhoto and then...I started reminiscing....

Gosh, they were so little...born at 2lbs 11oz, 1lb 13oz and 1lb 13oz I can barely remember Mack being on oxygen. I can barely remember the nightly feedings and the 3 different formulas and the many bottles. I can barely remember the projectile vomiting and the numerous medications. I can't believe they are so big now. They are my miracles!!! Thank you God for my beautiful babies!!

Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

The photos above are from early 2006. I wanted to include some from 2005 but that would require me finding the cd I put them on. Sigh......