Pumpkins on Saturday

I love this time of year...pumpkin patches galore and harvest festivals everywhere (I think everyone is really glad we can finally stand being outdoors...in has finally broken 90 degrees). So anyway, the photos above are from the festival at Tietze Park near our house. The pumpkin in Sophie's photo came home with us and she had to sleep with it. Hmmm...never cuddled up to a pumpkin before. Abe's favorite part of the afternoon was the chili cook-off. He tried them all...ok I did too.

This Is How You Eat Ice Cream

In an effort to fatten up my skinny little girls I decided they should learn about ice cream. The best way to eat it is straight out of the carton...don't you think ;) It was a big hit!

Inclusion - We Have A Long Way To Go

As I begin thinking about pre-school for my trio, my main concern has been Grace. Where should she go? Will she fit in? Isn't it fitting that I came across this...Including Samuel?

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow??

This is the status of Mack's hair today. It is really getting long but oh so pretty! He was going to be Peter Frampton (does anyone remember him) for Halloween but we've nixed that idea (because no one remembers) so it can now be cut. We are still debating whether to cut it. What would you do?

Four Seasons?

Living in Dallas means we don't get the four seasons and I really hate that! Love our winters but guess you can't have it all. Check out Autumn in Utah on Mel's Blog...Amazing!!!

Ohhh Sissy

Grace is doing much better with her walker. Thanks to everyone who has been asking about her. Even though Grace has special needs, she is a typical stubborn two year old...testing her mommy all the way. She is really motivated to use her walker if we make a game out of it. She loves to chase Mack and Sophie and they love for her to. Of course, every few steps Sophie has to run and hug her sister with an "Ohhh Sissy". Melts my heart every time.

A bit later, while I am preparing lunch I hear a lot of laughter from the living room...the kind of laughter that sounds like they are up to something. Well, Sophie had crawled in the stroller and Mack was pushing her. They were have too much fun.

Another Zoo Trip

We have a membership to the Dallas zoo and Abe has been adding up the cost of each visit to make sure we are getting the benefit for the cost. My sweetheart is such the CPA :) So, we have been making as many trips to the zoo as possible. This trip is with Marcy, Sharla and Dana and their kids. I love these ladies...they are such cool moms and great friends. Now that it is FINALLY cooling off let's do another trip soon!

New Hairdos

When I picked the kids up from school yesterday, the girls had new hairdos!

20,000 Pumpkins

Yesterday we went to the Dallas Arboretum for Mommy and Me Monday with Dana and her twins, and Charlotte and Shelby...so did everyone other mommy in Dallas and their kids. It was crazy!! Along with the 20,000 pumpkins it felt as if their were 20,000 kids. The picture above of the strollers was only 1/2 of the line of strollers at the pumpkin patch. I was hoping to get some cute pumpkin patch photos but we will just have to make a later, much less crowded trip. The arboretum is beautiful right now so if you have a chance I would highly recommend a stroll through the pumpkins!

My Lil' Artists

Can you guess who drew each picture? I thought this was an interesting perspective of their personalities. Ok, maybe not that interesting to you, but hey I'm their mommy. They're brilliant!!!!

Look At Her Go!

Grace has been riding the Amtryke at PT. She loves it and does a great job! The arms rotate along with the feet to help build coordination. We are in the process of trying to get one of these for her for Christmas (shhh...don't tell :) Mack and Sophie are also getting triclyles that look much like hers but without the "therapeutic" devices. I'm so excited....do you remember your first bicyle?

Don't Pity Us

Yesterday I read another mother's blog about how lucky she feels to have healthy children (triplets) with no disabilities. She recently attended her NICU reunion and saw other children with braces or oxygen or a feeding tubes and it made her feel grateful for the lucky life she has and reminded her to take time to enjoy the little things. That's wonderful, I agree, yes you are lucky but we aren't unlucky. We are as blessed as you. Our blessings may just look a little different. Why must we all be so uncomfortable with people who are different? Why must you avoid us because you don't know what to say or do? Yes, our children are different but they are still children. Why must you pity us?

When you look at Grace, you may see the walker and the braces but I see the princess with the amazing smile and contagious laugh. The little girl who likes to pull her brother's hair and chase her sister. The sweetie who loves books, the tricycle she rides at PT (and will get for Christmas) and her daddy. The 2 year old that throws tantrums when she doesn't get her way...the "normal" little girl.

So, I have a real problem with pity but I can certainly understand compassion. Compassion is sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it (I stole that from Webster). So many times we pity others for 2 seconds and then go home to our comfortable lives and forget. I'm as guilty as anyone. I want to make a difference in someone's life and I hope that I can teach my kids to be compassionate and most of all have enough desire and enough love to make the world a better place for others.

Well, that's my vent for the day. I can already hear one of my friends..."Dang Jac, lay off the caffeine, will ya?" :)

We Went To The Beach Today

Well, actually we played in our crab shaped sand box in the backyard, but it was just as fun. Thank you, NiNi, for an awesome birthday gift. Sophie, however, refused to get in the sand box because it was "dirdy", but was willing to help us out with some gardening.
====================
Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
And only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.
******* Elizabeth Barrett Browning

See, She Used to Like It

My mother sent me this picture of Grace when she liked her reverse walker. Hopefully we'll get back to this point soon.

Life's Hard and Scary

Grace got up this morning with a smile, ate a good breakfast (never know if she will), looked through some books and jabbered away and then when it was time to practice with the reverse walker, she threw a fit. This has been going on for about a week now. The frustrating thing is, when we first started using the reverse walker, she was a champ! Now, she cries and acts like it's just too hard or too scary. So, we've decided there will be no "walking" unless she uses her walker. She loves to walk as long as someone is helping her, either by holding her arms or her waist. I feel like a really mean mommy but I want her to learn to do things by herself. I want her to learn that it is her responsibility to get from A to B and that there will not always be someone there to help her...that sometimes it is hard and scary but we have to do it anyway. That's just the way life is sometimes, whether you have disability or not. I love you so much Grace that is why we can't "walk around" right now unless we use our walker. Hopefully she will understand that one day. Why am I crying right now? Maybe because it's just to hard to let your babies go.