Soooo HOT

It is so hot here. Meltingly, miserably, horribly hot. So what did I do today? I took my guys for a walk.

That's right. Genius that I am, I carried nearly 60 pounds of boy out to a stroller, strapped them all in and hoofed it around the neighborhood.

It's proof that three crabby boys will drive you to do crazy things.

Seriously though, the guys clearly needed a change of pace this afternoon, and they enjoyed the walk. But then why shouldn't they? They enjoyed a little breeze, and there was no effort on their part. I, on the other hand, proved that Secret Clinical Strength won't hold up to a two-mile walk pushing almost 80 pounds.

As the sweat poured off me, I suddenly realized that I was headed to the fair tonight. And after my sweatfest, I had a treat coming to me. FUNNEL CAKE.

That's right. Powdered sugar on my chin. Crispy crunch in my mouth.

Mmmmm...

Come to mama.

Gotta love fair season!

Another Walker!

Sam took his first couple steps today, though he's in the doghouse for doing it while Mom was at the grocery store. I'm here all day every day, and then when I leave so I CAN FEED MY FAMILY, the stinker makes his move.

Sam: These shoes were made for walking.

Isaac is getting to be pretty good on his feet. He walks a little more every day, up to about 15 steps now. Here's a little clip of him upright and on the move!

Ten Months Old

Today the boys are ten months old. To celebrate, they hung out with Daddy while Amelia and I went to the zoo. It seems appropriate, since it was about this time last year that I sent Amelia and Daddy to the zoo by themselves, while I stayed home with the boys (still in utero, of course)

A year ago I was posting ultrasound pictures and celebrating the fact that we had nearly made it to the 28-week mark. Each baby weighed almost 2 lbs.

And now?

Now, we've got our hands full of little boys who are ALL boy. They are so busy! Giggling, squealing, standing, climbing, walking (still just Isaac), fighting over toys, speed crawling, getting into everything, eating, eating, eating, and generally delighting their parents and everyone else who meets them.

Sam, Isaac and Alex love to tackle their sister Amelia, and she loves to give them hugs and kisses. She does NOT love it when they pull her hair. Amelia is such a good big sister.

Sam

Sam can still let out a good shriek, but he's the one who giggles the most these days. I swear his hair is redder and curlier every day.

Isaac

Isaac is still the smallest, but he's got his brothers beat when it comes to walking! He's the best sleeper, maybe because he's the most attached to his little blankie and pacifier.

Alex

Alex continues to be the eater of the bunch, though Sam can give him a run for the money. Alex loves finger foods: No more waiting for his turn to come around!

A year ago we never could have imagined this, even though we knew we had three babies on the way. We worried about the expense and work. If we would have had even an inkling how much fun we would be having, we would have worried a whole lot less!

Mission Impossible

I was at a friend's house recently. It was immaculate. The beds were all made. Fresh towels hung in her powder room. The soap dispenser was full. The kitchen sink was empty. The toys were neatly stowed. There was no sign anywhere of the 47 tons of paper that clutter my house at any given time. There were no handprints on the refrigerator or crushed Cheerios scattered across her kitchen floor.

It took all the willpower I possess not to bury my face in her freshly vacuumed carpet and beg her to adopt me.

My own house, which has been under assault by triplets for the past almost 10 months and will be for YEARS to come, is a little different.

For three weeks my living room looked like a children's thrift store while I attempted to sort through and store all of the kids' clothes we have rapidly outgrown. If it weren't for my sister's help (thanks, Judy!), it would probably still look like I was a Goodwill annex.

Paper piles up everywhere. Oh, we have systems. They just seem to do nothing to stem the never-ending flow of paper that comes into this house.

My fridge is cluttered with Amelia's art. Well, at least the top third is. Anything lower and the boys can get ahold of it now.

On a regular basis I walk around the house and throw all the mail, receipts and miscellaneous paper in a box and go through it. I weep a little bit for the forests when I do it.

I can't even bring myself to mention the laundry. My fellow multiples moms -- or any mom with more than one kid, for that matter -- know the pain of which I speak. It truly is the task that never, ever ends. And I don't even dress the triplets half the time!

Now that we are rapidly approaching the boys' first birthday, I've decided to turn a new leaf when it comes to the house. A fresh attitude! A positive outlook! A sign on my door that reads:

No need to remove your shoes,

No need to wipe your feet.

When it comes to clean,

We've got the problem beat.

All we need is this magic hint:

When you come inside, PLEASE SQUINT.

Unplugged

We had a big wave of thunderstorms here today, and BANG, out went the power. Fortunately, I had finished giving the barracudas -- I mean boys -- lunch, and afternoon naptime was almost upon us. While it was pretty dark outside, we had enough light to play by until it was time to hit the sack.

Once the boys went down I found myself in a quiet, dark house. I couldn't do laundry or dishes (we're on a well, so no power means no water, too). I couldn't use the vacuum or see well enough to clean. I couldn't cook anything, though I had a whole freezer full of food that was slowly defrosting. I couldn't even check out the weather online or blog!

What to do?

I started thinking about my grandmother and how she lived without power for many years. You can bet that the rain never stopped her from tending her garden, baking, cooking, sewing, milking cows or any of a thousand other things that needed to be done. And, of course, the wood stove would always work, as would the treadle sewing machine and the hand wringer for the wash. Her tools worked as long as she worked. Mine do not.

Then I realized: I am in a house that is quiet and dark. All the children are asleep and will be for the next two hours or so. And because I am not an idiot, I did the only sensible thing. I TOOK A NAP.

Yes, despite having slept all night last night, courtesy of content kiddos, I laid myself down and snoozed peacefully. Without guilt. Because, really, what else could I have possibly done that would have been more productive than that?

(That is a rhetorical question folks. Anyone who answers it will be banned from this blog forever!)

Call It Good Timing

I put Amelia on the toilet before bedtime tonight and as I reached for some paper to help her, I realized we were almost out.

"Stay there for a minute," I said, and I went to get some more toilet paper.

When I came back, less than 30 seconds later, Amelia was off the toilet and had the washcloth I use on my face in her hand.

"I need to use this to dry myself," she told me earnestly, as she did just that.

Then she neatly hung it back up just the way it was.

I think I'll be using a fresh washcloth on my face every night until there are no more children left in this house.

Fashionista

It's been a little cooler than usual here this summer, but not quite this cool!

Shorts and snow boots. It's what all the three-year-old fashionistas are wearing this summer.