January Tales

     January has started off well. I have finally gotten my act together long enough to make a book of my blog posts thru a great gal at Picturia Press named Suzanne. You could make your own book through blurb.com but I had an issue with not knowing what I was doing so left it up to the professionals. I hope this is the first of many journals I leave for my family that can chronicle all of the mundane to the exceptional in their lives. What I hope most that they get out of my perpetual verbal diarrhea and snap shots is that their mother was proud of them, enjoyed them, and loved them more than could be measured in this world or the next. I must say that putting my thoughts to an actual page has left me with a bit of writer's block. What do I want to preserve for time and all eternity? I think I just need to get back into the mind frame that I am writing for myself and the rest will follow.

     I am still on Instagram. I love it because I can quickly take a picture, document it to my folder and input it into my computer for later cataloging with nothing more than my iPhone. The only draw back is  obviously the picture quality. I miss my camera and her impeccable results. I must learn to find a balance in "getting it documented" vs. "getting it amazing". Until then, here are a few of the pictures of my babies these last few months.

Golden

 Growing like a weed but still able to play Legos with his dad. He made Honor Roll again this quarter and is doing well in piano classes. He is surprisingly good at tether ball and Mike says he can hit three pointers all day long in the backyard, whatever that means. Funny moment with him last night in Family Home Evening:
Mike: What were the prophet Abraham's sons named Golden?
Golden: (long pause) Ughh. Willy and Tad.
Mike and I: (worried we have not been teaching the Bible too well to our kids) No Golden. Why don't you try again.
Golden: No dad. I am sure. I just did my book report on him.
Mike: (Even more confused) You did a book report at school about the prophet Abraham?
Golden: Was he a prophet too? I just thought he was the President of the United States.
So technically, he was right. Good job Go-go.

Eva

 She made Honor Roll this quarter too. I may need to hire a full time secretary to keep up with scheduling her play dates and activities. She enjoys flipping all over the house when she's not busy taking giant leaps everywhere. No wonder she comes into our room each night with a new malady to complain about. Mike and I are sure that she has so many complaints because she doesn't have a co-pay. We are trying to rectify this. She face times daily with the grandparents and texts us from the next room when she needs to tell us something urgent like, "I love you" or "I want ice cream." My mother is completely head over heels for her because she thinks she resembles me so much. I only hope I was as kind, smart and beautiful as her at that age. I have finally put my finger on describing Eva's smile: disarming.

The triplets

As a group, they love using their new words, in particular, the word "mas" (more). They use it when asking for food and sound like the seagulls in Nemo who say "mine." They follow commands extremely well. 

 "paseo" (trip)They run to the door. 
 "Zapatos" (shoes) they run to the shoe bin to get their turn.
 "outside" They run to the back door to play in the backyard. 
 "Papas" (food) They line up at their triplet feeding table to 
  eat. 
 "bath time" While repeating the words over and over they run to the bathroom and start pulling at their diapers. 
 "night night" The run to their rooms and get ready to pray. 
  They all say, "Amen" like they landed a touchdown. 

   The kids can say all of our names but Eva's. It is funny to all of us but her. I say she is like Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter; he who must not be named. They point to her when I ask where Eva is. The run to her when I tell them to go hug Eva but not one has uttered her name from their lips. We await the day with bated breath. 


Gisele

   The oldest of the trips likes to grunt and make growling noises. She has a weird habit of rocking back and forth in her crib making a "bang bang" racket we can hear throughout the house but still her sister manages to sleep through it. She has the cutest little tip toe run. And don't get me started on her hair. It is a perfect representation of who she is. Wild but still soft and lovely. She is the hard sell when it comes to strangers. I feel flattered that she prefers me and it means so much when she hugs me because she really means it. She does not cuddle often. She loves her daddy. She calls out for him like one might call a puppy. "Daddy" she yells than blows kisses while patting the side of her leg. She has a preferred white bear she takes everywhere that was given to her by President and Diana DeVries in Michigan. There are actually two white bears but I have to wash one almost every other day. She, like the other siblings, has found a new love for Baby Einstein. She gets so excited when it comes on. She yells, "Baby. Baby" as she climbs into the rocker with her bear to watch the show. Her laugh is infectious. It is impossible to be in a bad mood if you are within listening distance of it. 

Beau

   She is our little coquette. She is the most friendly of the three when it comes to strangers. I like it when she comforts her siblings. She passes her hand across their hair and says, "Oh no." She also is our tiny little bit. About three inches shorter than the other two in height but she never lets that stop her. She pats the pillow or seat next to her and tells you to come in Spanish. She is putting the most words together of the three and is presently our official door closer. Her and Gigi have learned to jump. Even though it's not very high they crouch down as if they are leaping to fly and get a millimeter off the ground. We applaud them nonetheless. She has ponytail envy when she sees Gigi's hair pulled back so I have to get the small bit of hair she has and put it in a ponytail too. You can barely see any hair left around the band. 

Carlos

   My papito is still the baby. He loves to hug and be held which is fine by me most days but since he is now the largest of the bunch, my hands do get a bit tired. He sleeps in a separate room because he wakes up with only a brief nap in the day and because I fear the noise those two girls make at night while they rock and jabber will cause him some psychological damage. He eats double fisted and stocks food into his cheeks with abandon. He likes his trucks and cars. I like to see him in his little man clothes, especially shirts with pockets. Even though they all say it, I love how Carlos asks for the "mote" or remote. He is happiest with his mommy and some piece of electronics in his hand. 

The Triplets at 20 months

By now, my and my trips got a routine going. Most of the time at least. Carlos, my sweet beautiful boy whom I love dearly, has the nick name C-Le D, which stands for Carlos Le Douche. Why would we call him that. What else do you call a 20 month old that still wakes up in the middle of the night with an ear piercing cry or who uses said cry to tell you he is not going to nap for more than 15 minutes today? How do I tell him the absolute need for mommy alone time, and by that I mean time to do the laundry, make his lunch or help the big kids with their homework time. Yes, he is a challenge but when you pick him up he gives you one of his stellar hugs followed by his heart melting smiles and you forgot why you would ever call him such a thing....until he does it again. The girls sleep through the night together in the same room but nap time everyone is to their own corner because Gigi and Beau wind each other up and all you hear is baby gibberish followed by hysterical laughter and inevitably one or both climb out of their cribs. 

     They are all talking a lot but Beau is putting the most words together. I love how they wake up greeting each other and us with a "Hi mommy. Hi daddy. Hi Beau etc..." Carlos likes to keep it chill by waving his hand and saying "Hi guy" to everyone. They will say goodbye to everyone and everything as well. They are very well behaved kids but it doesn't make the day any less exhausting. But I wouldn't know what else to do if I didn't have these guys. It's forced me to step up my game as a parent and as a human being. I can see it in my older children too. How they are more patient and kind because of these kids. 

     Carlos climbs up to play on the computers a lot. Gigi likes a little iPad in the morning and Beau likes to sit on your lap when you need to move around the most. They all say "see-cio" in the morning when I start exercising and they all have their exercise moves that we have documented fully. Carlos likes to sit on  my during sit ups. Beau prefers the leg lifts and Gigi likes to rock in the chair and do arm exercises. They sure do know how to make me laugh. We go through a gallon and a half of milk each day and that still leaves them wanting more because they eat us out of fruit every other day. I can't complain because they have grown like weeds. What more could a mom ask for? I plan on teaching them how to follow me while holding a rope just like in pre school so we can make it out to the park next month and hopefully a plane trip soon.....Keep your fingers crossed.

Gigi our joker

Peek a boo time three

The girls like to hold multiple babies. I wonder why?

They have fancy hair

They are clowns

Blue Steel stare

The lover and most talkative of them all

Dress up each day varies.

But you better dress them both up and sing the princess song

Sometimes it's hard to be a superstar

A moment of peace.

Golden's 11th Birthday Party....I know we were late

I know the year is almost over but I had to put in Golden's September birthday party photos or I would never forgive myself. At least we celebrated it on time. We went to Sam's Fun City, which is a kid on speed sort of creation. Sensory overload a minute after you step foot inside. Arcade games that feed you tickets to purchase your heart's desires (If your desire is a ten cent piece of garbage you would of never even thought of buying), an entire carnival of rides outside, go kart racing and finally, laser tag. What more could a kid ask for. I must say my favorite was watching the kids on the go karts. The crashes were spectacular and just by their driving, you got an insight into who these kids were. Just my kids alone: Eva was focused with a furrowed brow trying hard to be the first and best at this task. Golden, he was driving along, surprised when the road just changed on him abruptly but taking it all in with a little "Oh no!" Never really noticing who was in the lead or not. Our dear friend Jeremy had to ride with his daughter scout. Funny to see him speeding by the kids, lapping most of them. I think he enjoyed it but he kept a good poker face on for us. In laser tag, Eva commented that Jeremy hit the most targets and "I never saw him mom" How intuitive that child is since Jeremy is a sniper in life. Jeremy 11000 - kids 10. I hated to think my boy was growing up but it's impossible to ignore since he has grown a foot in less than a month and a half. But he will always be my first little guy. I love you Golden.

Jeremy with Scout on the twirly thingy.

Carlos dressed up for the occasion

Eva was calm as usual.

Golden is never scared.

What is he wishing for I wonder?

Ready

Set

Go-Go!

Things I should tell my kids more.

With this being some sort of magical date, 12-12-12, I thought I would mark the occasion with some words of wisdom I should remind my kids about. I thought I'd list ...well, twelve.

1. Take time to appreciate what is around you.
     I spent most of my twenties trying to hurry up and get a degree, so I could hurry up and get a job, so I could hurry up and get an apartment, so I could hurry up and get a man, so I could hurry up and get a family. I was in such a hurry accomplishing things that I missed a lot of the adventures that I was experiencing or didn't see them for the wonderful moments that they were.
2. Laugh at yourself before anybody else beats you to it.
     This one I got covered. My motto growing up was, "Don't take the FUN out of dysFUNctional." Laughter will carry you through hard times and if you can find just one person who can be there with you laughing and sympathizing, you've  got it made.
3. If given the opportunity, travel.
     Whether it is to the corner or around the globe, make sure you see the world from a different angle then from your front door. Nothing gives you more perspective about who and what you are in the world then trying to order breakfast in a foreign language from someone who thinks you're an idiot and will most likely spit in your food. But you will not care because the scenery is so beautiful, the accents are adorable and the mundane still gets your adrenaline pumping. I can't tell you what I got for my birthday last year but I can tell you about every vacation in my life with great detail.
4. Believe in your heart that people are genuinely good but but prepare yourself as if the whole world was out to get you.
     You can be nice without being an idiot I guess I'm trying to tell you. It's sad but true.
5. In life, beautiful people may have more chances to be lucky at first, but educated people will have the ability to  make their own luck throughout their whole life. Smarts don't fade.
6. Don't waste time being jealous of people who are smarter, cuter, richer etc. It won't change a thing. And chances are someone is wasting their time being jealous of how smart, cute and rich they think you are.
7. Believe in something or fall for everything.
8. Be kind to the less fortunate because chances are you'll end up there at least once in your life.
9. Learn to love with all your heart, even if it gets pummeled and mutilated, just get up and start again because to love half heartedly leaves you with an unfulfilled life.
10. When making friends, look for people who exude kindness. If they are talking bad about other people to you, chances are they will eventually talk bad about you.
11. Live your life as if you are being filmed because you probably are and film is forever.
12. This should be the first and maybe only one to remember. You are a daughter/son of Heavenly Father. This makes you perfect. More perfect than anything Hollywood could put on film and New York could ever publish. And God just wants to shower you with love and blessings if you just let him.