Happy Birthday

Today was my birthday. I am now the same age my mother was when she had my twin sister and I. When she called she said, "Just think, you could be having twins right now."

I said, "And I'd be having a heart attack at the same time." I think I've done my duty on the multiples front, thank you very much.

Since it was my big day I got to sleep in until 8. I got to eat a hot meal without getting up once. And I was absolved from all "wiping" duty.

That alone made it a great day.

But on top of that, I got a plate of hugs and kisses pancakes for breakfast:

How cute are these? Amelia helped Daddy make them.

Later I got flowers and we had ice cream cake. I'm sure in a few years one of those cakes won't last 15 minutes around here, but I had to share this one with the neighbors!

Jeff and I celebrated with a nice meal out last night, so I really got to celebrate twice.

I finished the day with a phone call to my twin sister and a relatively peaceful bedtime for the kids.

All day there were happy birthday calls, cards and Facebook messages from friends and family.

All in all it was a pretty nice way to usher in a new decade of life.

© Trippin' Mama 2011

Looking for the Great Pumpkin

As part of Sam, Isaac and Alex's birthday festivities, we took a train out to the pumpkin patch. There were free balloons, a petting zoo, face painting, a wagon ride, and of course -- pumpkins!

We tromped through the field searching for the perfect pumpkins. Since we were carrying them back on the train, we didn't want anything too big, so we helped each of the kids choose a small pumpkin for their very own.

Amelia picked four before she was satisfied, sort of. We just wouldn't let her change her mind any more after that!

Alex, Isaac and Sam searched a bit before settling on their selections.

And then it was picture time.

Apparently Sam's pumpkin was much heavier than I thought:

And Isaac's was a slippery little devil:

(He dropped it at least four times, on purpose mind you. And it amazingly survived!)

Finally, the money shot, sort of.

Yes, only one child is looking at me, but it's the best I got. Isaac's holding his pumpkin, we can see everyone's faces, and no one's screaming, crying or running away. I don't know what was so interesting off to my right, but Alex never looked at the camera once in 11 shots.

Good thing we've got time to practice the group shot before Halloween!

© Trippin' Mama 2011

First, The Birthday Cake

Since Sam, Isaac and Alex were turning three, I thought they should have a say in what kind of cake they wanted. So I asked them.

Sam wanted vanilla with vanilla frosting. Alex wanted chocolate with vanilla frosting. Isaac wanted chocolate with chocolate frosting.

Of course.

Luckily, I had lots and lots and LOTS of help with the cakes and the frosting.

Alex, Isaac and Sam "help" make their birthday cakes. (I got a lot more done while they were napping!)

Then Tigger hopped on by to help with the frosting.

Sam ~ His expression in this photo just cracks me up!

Now I'm not a big theme party person, but I did want to do something fun. So, since we were planning to celebrate the boys' birthday with a trip to the pumpkin patch, I decided to make their vanilla and chocolate cakes in the shape of pumpkins.

I saw a pumpkin cake on Pinterest that was made using two bundt cakes, one upside down on top of the other. I made a much smaller version by using a mini-bundt pan that made 12 cupcake-sized bundt cakes.

Put two of them together like so:

Add a little orange frosting, a Tootsie roll stem, and a leaf and tendril made from a green fruit slice candy.

And, voila! You've got the cutest little pumpkin cake ever!

I'll admit that these were a little tricky to frost. I found that putting it on my finger worked the best. After all, there is a hole in the bundt cake!

They were a little tricky to eat, too. Everyone had their own technique.

Alex chose to politely eat his cake with a fork.

For Isaac, it was all about the frosting.

And Sam just picked the whole thing up and ate it like an apple!

In the end, the cakes were cute, but more importantly, they were delicious! Seems my helpers were pretty good help after all.

Happy third birthday boys! We love you and we're so glad you are a part of our lives. A crazy, noisy, messy part -- that we couldn't live without.

© Trippin' Mama 2011

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday AND Happy Birthday!

We've just celebrated FOUR birthdays around here.

On Saturday Sam, Isaac and Alex turned three. On Sunday their Daddy celebrated a birthday, too.

 Isaac, Sam, Alex and Daddy ~ Birthday weekend 2011

I remember the day the boys were born. I turned to Jeff and said, "Happy birthday. I'm not giving you anything else this year." Because really, birth of three sons is enough of a gift, don't you think? How can I ever top that?

Fortunately, we had celebrated Jeff's birthday a week early, because none of us really believed I'd still be carrying babies into 36 weeks.

And now those babies are three. Someone asked me if I could believe the triplets were turning three. I can believe they are three. I just can't believe I've survived the past three years plus the pregnancy!

We had a beautiful weekend and did lots of fun things, and I've got lots of photos to share once the sugar high ends and I get a chance to do some editing!

© Trippin' Mama 2011

From My Kitchen: Princess Tiara Cake & Summer Berry Medley

Tomorrow is Amelia's fifth birthday.

I can't believe that she's already five! Whoever said "The days are long but the years are short," was soooo right.

We had a birthday celebration today, complete with a homemade princess tiara cake. I called on my 4-H days and made a nifty cut-up cake. Here's how you do it.

First, you need a princess to help you make a 9x13 sheet cake.

Mmmm...butter!

Add a couple of eggs...

Yum!

Here's the big tip on cut-up cakes: You MUST grease and flour your pan. Even though the box recipe says to grease the bottom only, I sprayed my whole pan with Pam for baking and the cake came out easy-peasy.

The cake won't raise as high if you grease the sides of the pan, since the batter can't cling to the sides as it bakes. That's actually a good thing here. Your cake will still be delicious, but it will be a little flatter and slightly more dense, which makes it easier to work with. Most importantly, it will pop right out of the pan.

Cool the cake completely, flip onto a cutting board and use a paper template to cut out your princess tiara.

I spread a thin layer of frosting on the cake while it was on my cutting board, let it dry a bit, and then carefully transferred it to my serving platter. Before I moved the cake, I covered my serving platter with strips of parchment paper so my platter would stay clean. Once I frosted the cake, I carefully pulled the parchment paper strips out and took the mess with it. Voila!

It wasn't a fancy cake with fondant and cake decorator touches, but I was proud of how it turned out. I used a small biscuit cutter to make the round "jewels." At Amelia's request, we frosted a couple blue for the boys who were going to be at the party.

In the interest of full disclosure, this was my second attempt. The first attempt crumbled as I tried to cut it and had to be declared a cake-tastrophe.

Which brings me to my second recipe. I hated to waste a whole 9x13 sheet cake, even though it was a sorry mess. So, I tore it into bite-sized pieces and served it with this yummy Summer Berry Medley and lightly sweetened real whipped cream. It was the perfect dessert for the grown-ups to enjoy while the kids ate birthday cake.

The original recipe, which calls for limoncello liqueur and fresh mint (and is amazing!), comes from Cooking Light via my friend Heather. I didn't have mint on hand, and left out the liqueur in deference to the kids, though none of them ate it anyway. You can make this with any combination of berries.

Here's the variation I made today.

Summer Berry Medley
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 1/2 cups fresh blackberries
2 cups hulled fresh strawberries, quartered
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 cup sugar (start with half and adjust according to taste)
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
Juice of one lemon

Toss all ingredients gently and let stand for 15 minutes. Serve over cubed cake (yellow, white, angel food or pound cake would all be delicious) with slightly sweetened real whipped cream.

It's even more delicious if you happen to have a five-year-old princess around to eat it with you.

Enjoy!

© Trippin' Mama 2011

One of the Best Birthday Presents

On December 30, I celebrated a birthday. The WBH helped Amelia make cupcakes, and the boys enthusiastically went along with the singing and blowing out of candles once they realized that stood between them and cake.

I have to say, this was one of the best birthday presents ever:

I love it when Sam demands cupcakes in the middle of the singing. I think he speaks for all the boys at the end: "Now we all ready to get cupcakes!"

What good is a birthday if you can't enjoy the cake, right?

© Trippin' Mama 2011

Birthday Boys!

Happy birthday, Daddy!

To celebrate, Jeff got a nap and a new golf bag. Can you guess which one he liked more?


© Trippin' Mama 2010

Sorry, The Kitchen Is Temporarily Closed

Sorry for the lack of a recipe post today friends. I know you'll all understand that with THREE birthday boys in the house today (and one tomorrow, too!) I'm too busy keeping up to get to the blog.

Today I took the four kiddos to the Children's Museum and we had a little birthday dinner with friends. We Skyped Grandma and Grandpa D. for gift opening, sugared the boys up, and then listened to them party for more than an hour after we put them to bed in their room.

I am tuckered. The museum trip alone was enough to do me in for the day...or the week. Throw in boys fighting over new toys (all of which make noise, by the way) and whew! The boys got police cars, ambulances and musical instruments. Our play room sounded like a twelve-car pileup involving a marching band.

I suppose could post the recipe for the boys' birthday dinner, but I don't think any of you really need instructions for making frozen peas and Kraft macaroni and cheese!

I promise I'll make it up to you once I've recovered.

Christy

© Trippin' Mama 2010

Here Come The Two Year Olds!

Look out, world.

Sam, Isaac and Alex are turning TWO tomorrow...

...and here they come!

A Birthday Celebration

She is four.

They had cake.

(This guy loved it the most.)

I am tired.

Almost as tired as I was at this time four years ago.

But at least tonight I got to enjoy a glass of wine.

Happy birthday, Amelia! Welcome to four years old. I can't wait to see what this year brings!

© Trippin' Mama 2010

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Ernie

Yesterday was my dad's birthday. Amelia devoted a considerable amount of time to making Grandpa Ernie a birthday present, which we will wrap and present with appropriate seriousness when he comes to visit in a couple weeks.

Last night as Amelia and I were snuggling up at bedtime she told me how she wants to make cupcakes for Grandpa's birthday when he comes. (Any excuse to make cupcakes!)

Amelia and Grandpa Ernie

Pretty soon Amelia said, "At my next birthday I'm going to be four, Mom!" Yes, dear, I know, and I'm trying not to think about it.

Then she asked, "How old will Daddy be at his next birthday?" I told her Daddy would be 39.

Then she asked how old Grandpa Ernie was "at this birthday." I told her that he turned 83.

Amelia thought about that for a minute. Then she said, "Mom, when I grow up I want to be...what number is Grandpa Ernie?"

"Eighty-three," I replied.

Amelia said, "Yeah. I want to be 83 when I grow up. That's a lot!"

It sure is!

Happy birthday, Dad. Hope it was a good one. Amelia can't wait to help you celebrate with cupcakes. 

© Trippin' Mama 2010

Happy Birthday to Us

Today is my birthday. It is a celebration I have always been fortunate enough to share with my twin sister Cathy.

Me and my twin sister Cathy ~ November 2008.

My clearly fraternal twin sister Cathy.

Here we are about age 2. Cu-ute!

Of course, I didn't always see it as my good fortune that I shared my birthday, and pretty much everything else with my twin. Luckily, age brings wisdom and understanding, too!

Cathy is four minutes older than me, and we were different from the second we were born: She with a head full of dark hair and me with a few gingery wisps. She with an easygoing nature and me a colicky baby.

We are in many ways polar opposites. She's as quiet as I am talkative, as reserved as I am outgoing. Cathy is a registered nurse who works with severely disabled kids, most of whom can't communicate at all. And I spent my pre-SAHM days working in communications and PR. We wouldn't do each other's jobs for all the tea in China.

Our differences extended all the way to our birthday cake preferences. I always requested chocolate devils food with chocolate frosting and Cathy always wanted angel food cake with no frosting. (Let's not read too much into that, shall we?)

So every year my mom baked two birthday cakes. Five days after Christmas. When the last thing anyone wanted (other then the birthday girls!) was another sweet thing in the house. I never thought much about it at the time, but now I appreciate that she went to the trouble of making sure we each had our own cake and it was exactly what we wanted.

Doesn't every birthday girl and boy deserve that? Even if they share their birthday? I think so.

Though for right now no one has a cake preference, so cupcakes will probably do the trick for the first couple of years. I know the boys will be delighted with the birthday cupcakes we'll all be sharing after supper tonight. But as they get older, I fully intend to bake three cakes, just as I would if the boys didn't share a birthday.

I am glad that my triplets are fraternal, since that's my own experience as a multiple. Most people don't even believe that Cathy and I are sisters, let alone twins. It was an advantage to not look alike, because we never had trouble being seen as individuals, instead of as "the twins." I think my boys will find the same is true for them.

I'm sure I'll make just as many mistakes with my boys as any mom, despite being a multiple myself, but it does give me a little extra insight. I watch my boys play together and remember playing with Cathy in the same ways from early, early on. And I know firsthand the importance of individual pictures, getting your own birthday cake and gift, and not being always lumped together.

I also know that not taking my kids to the grocery store because it's too much work won't scar them for life. Somehow they will figure that out despite being deprived of grocery store trips as a toddler. I did. And I know that I should expend my effort and energy (and some things we do require massive amounts of both!) for the things they need and the trips that will create lifelong memories, not the mundane.

I know that growing up with someone who shares ALL of your childhood experiences, from playing with Barbie dolls to going on family vacations, is a unique experience and creates a special bond.

Cathy is probably the only other person in the world who remembers that we had one lone male Ken doll, who had only one arm by the time we inherited him, and possessed just one outfit: a Tarzan-esque leopard skin. We never bothered to get him other clothes. I'm not sure why. Without her I'd be alone in that weird memory.

I also know that it can feel restricting to share so much at times, because sometimes it seems that nothing belongs solely to you. We shared a room (good), toys and books (often not so good), classes in high school (good and bad), friends (also good and bad). But we got to do our own things, too, though we just shared our experiences with each other as soon as we were together again.

But every year on my birthday, I am reminded that despite all the times I bemoaned that I HAD to share with Cathy, I am very lucky because I GOT to share so much with her. Tarzan Ken dolls and all.

Happy birthday, sis. Remember, we're not another year older, but another year brighter!

Let Them Eat CAKE!

When we pulled the cupcakes out last night, the boys' eyes lit up. Apparently they remembered this treat from their early birthday party in September.

Isaac, Alex and Sam dig in on their first birthday! ~ 10/08/09

Amelia couldn't wait to sing "Happy Birthday" to her brothers -- both versions.

All three of the boys had their own approach. Alex dived right in, of course. Sam hesitated slightly before giving his cupcake a good squeeze or two. Isaac turned his cupcake over and poked at it cautiously for a while, then licked his fingers before he finally picked it up and started to eat it.

Sam

Isaac

Alex

And then there was this bit of brotherly love.

Isaac didn't take well to Alex "borrowing" some of his cake.

Neither did Sam!

Today we had another birthday boy in the house. Yep, this is Jeff's birthday. I will never be able to top the gift I gave him last year, which really takes the pressure off!

Tomorrow Amelia and I will make homemade cherry pie for Jeff, and we've got a sitter so we can enjoy a night out. Hopefully the boys will be back to their usual jolly selves so our sitter won't be tearing her hair out by the time we get home!

Once I get all these kids healthy and get a little more time, I'll have a big photo post that chronicles the triplets' first year, so stay tuned!

Unanswered Prayers

Dear Sam, Isaac and Alex,

Happy birthday, my boys. I cannot believe that you are one year old today. We celebrated with cupcakes, playtime, and lots of cuddles for sick little ones.

It seems fitting that we spent much of today holding you. This time last year we couldn't hold you enough. Your little heads fit in the palm of Daddy's hand, and you fit neatly on my arm between my elbow and wrist.

Today I have been thinking about your birth, and the entire amazing experience of being pregnant with the three of you all at once. And I keep coming back to one thing over and over.

I remember talking to the nurse at the doctor's office after we had blood work done to confirm the pregnancy. She told me that my hormone level was very high and that it was probably multiples.

I laughed her off. "You told me that with Amelia, too. My hormones must just run high."

She responded, "I thought of that, so I checked. Your hormone level is more than three times as high as it was with Amelia at about this same point in your pregnancy."

I paused. "So, twins?"

She paused. "At least twins."

What? I took a couple deep breaths. When I got off the phone I started searching for information on multiple pregnancies and hormone levels. I recalculated over and over when we had gotten pregnant. Everything pointed to the fact that my hormone levels were off the charts for twins, but in range for triplets.

I confess that I prayed for twins. Triplets just boggled my mind. Twins, I could handle. But three babies at once? My prayers were feverish and fervent and foolish.

And God, in His infinite wisdom, did not answer them. He knew that there should be three of you. He knew that your Daddy and I were born for this purpose. He knew that all three of you had a special place in this world.

He knew.

How small is our fear beside His greatness.

Even before you were born, I could not have parted with one of you. Before we ever met you, we knew you and loved you.

There's a song that says:

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers.

Remember when you're talking to the man upstairs,

that just because He doesn't answer doesn't mean He don't care.

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers.

I thank God every day that each of you is here.

Sam, with your wild red hair and the best belly laugh. Isaac, with your fearless attitude and soulful eyes. Alex, with your loud voice and ever-present smile.

You are answers to a prayer I could never fathom praying. A prayer that only God could have known. And I am so grateful that He gave each of you to us.

I love you Sam.

I love you Isaac.

I love you Alex.

Always,

Mama

October? Already?

Today the calendar reads October. That means that in just one week, the boys will be one year old.

I can hardly believe it.

This has certainly been the longest, shortest year of my life.

There were weeks when time seemed to stand still as one day literally ran into the next in a round-the-clock marathon of feedings and diapers.

Sam, Isaac and Alex ~ home together at 6 days old ~ Oct. 14, 2008

And there have been times when I swear I've just blinked, and a month has flown by.

In one week we will have packed 1095 days of babyhood into this one year.

It has been exhilarating, exhausting, amazing. And even though I'm in complete denial that my babies are about to turn one year old, I wouldn't trade one second of this year for anything.

Mom & Dad with Alex, Isaac and Sam ~ Sept. 12, 2009

It has been the most amazing adventure of my life, and the ride has only just begun.

Happy Birthday, Mom

Today is my mom's birthday. Last year she was here with us on her birthday, helping take care of me, Amelia and the house while we waited for the boys to be born.

She cooked. She cleaned. She did laundry. I should have been doing those things for her by the time I was 36, not the other way around!

My mom nested on my behalf, since I couldn't do much. So she painted and sewed, and in an trip to Home Depot that had us both shaking our heads, pushed me (at 33 weeks pregnant) around on a rolling chair to pick out a washer and dryer after the electric cart died.

Bet she didn't bargain on that when I was born.

In exchange, we treated her to pizza and a beer on her birthday. Oh, and gave her our undying gratitude. And three beautiful, healthy grandsons.

Grandma Alice holds all the triplets for the first time ~ Sam, Alex and Isaac ~ 10/10/08

I honestly don't know how we would have done it without my mom's help, even though I never went on bedrest. I'm sure having her here helped me carry the babies longer because I was able to do less and rest more.

I don't know if my mom would say that this year's birthday was better than last year's, but it certainly had to be more restful!

Grandma Alice & triplets in the baptismal gowns she made ~ Sam, Isaac and Alex ~ 01/16/09

Happy birthday, Mom. Thanks for always being there.

Love,

Christy

Busy, Busy

Sorry things have been a little quiet on the blog this week. We've been busy getting ready for an early celebration of the boys' FIRST BIRTHDAY!

Can you believe it? Sam, Isaac and Alex turned 11 months old on the 8th. And we are celebrating with friends and neighbors and volunteers this weekend.

The time has flown by, and it's impossible to believe that this time last year we were celebrating making the milestone of 32 weeks and I was carrying 12 pounds of baby.

I can't even wrap my head around what my body did during my triplet pregnancy. It's just surreal to me, even though I went through it -- ALL the way through it.

Who can believe we've gone from this:

Isaac, Alex and Sam ~ 3 days old, October 10, 2008

To this?

Isaac, Alex and Sam enjoy story time with Amelia. September, 2009

The year has flown by, and I know it's only just the beginning. Already I have to admit that I have toddlers, not babies. And while it is a lot of fun, it's a little sad, too.

Don't grow up too fast, Sam, Isaac and Alex. Mama would like to keep you little for a short while, OK?

Birthday Wishes

More on the birthday celebration tomorrow once Daddy and I recover, but for now, I just wanted to share this video.




Birthday wishes do come true. Just ask Princess Amelia.

Birthday Busy-ness

Tomorrow is Amelia's third birthday. Yesterday in between keeping up with this...

this...

and this...

I made cupcakes for her to decorate to share with her friends today.

After she was in bed I made these for the family party tomorrow.

Now the boys are napping and I'm off to finish off a few more things QUICKLY, while I don't have a herd (a pod? a flock? a tribe?) of babies swarming around my ankles.

Stay tuned for more birthday fun!

Happy Belated Birthday to Me

Yesterday was my birthday. It was a great birthday, (well, except for the trip to the dentist) with four beautiful little "presents" in the house. Amelia sang "Happy Birthday" to me. Well, technically she sang, "Happy birthday to us," but close enough.

On Monday, Jeff took me out to dinner thanks to Sarah and Jamie who came and watched the kids for the evening. The restaurant was packed! I had no idea it would be so crazy on a Monday, especially as today is New Year's Eve. The meal was disappointing, but as I said to Jeff, it was really about being out of the house and enjoying each other's company. I told the waiter the meal wasn't very good when he came to ask if we were done and when the bill came he had comped half of it. That was a nice surprise.

The boys are 12 weeks old today, and having been working on a birthday present of their own for Mommy -- sleeping through the night! We aren't quite there, but getting closer. They have been pushing their 1:30 feeding to 3:30 or even 4:30 a.m. since the day after Christmas.

Today's weigh-in showed the boys at:

Samuel - 11 lbs. 1 oz.
Isaac - 9 lb. 13 oz.
Alex - 11 lb. 11 oz.

Everyone's gaining weight well, though Isaac's still got some catching up to do! They are all smiling and working on rolling over. We're done with the chicken pox, except for the last of the healing for Sam. Thank heavens that's over, and it only took five weeks!

As we close out 2008, I have to say that this has been an amazing year. We certainly had no idea what was in store for us at this time last year. We had an incredibly healthy triplet pregnancy that gave us three big, beautiful boys. And if that weren't enough, their birth has brought so many new and wonderful people into our lives, and strengthened our bond with many of the people we already knew. The year has definitely brought us multiple blessings, and each and every one of you can count yourselves among those blessings.

May you ALL be blessed with multiple blessings in the New Year.