Today's actually temp was 102 - the heat index I think was at 110? In any case...we were at actual triple digit numbers so outside play wasn't on the schedule. On the off chance that the rest of the world went to the library - we headed to the mall. 1st we had to stop at the bank (and had to go inside to the desk), then headed over to Walgreens (same parking lot) for some stamps, then we were mall bound. Once at the mall we hit up Starbucks (coffee...???? I think I will!). Then it was off to the candy store where the girls scored some Swedish fish. And then it was off to the Disney Store...where the girls walked out with brand new back packs and lunch bags for school. I'm seriously going to have to supplement my income more.
We were about to head home when I got a text from Uncle Andy that there was FREE ICE CREAM where he works! Detour! We drove to his workplace (another bank) and enjoyed some free ice cream, snacks from the vending machine (thanks to uncle Andy) and I even got a car wash! Whoooo hoooo!
Now we're home and I think we'll spend the rest of the afternoon cleaning up toys and playing games. The girls are walking around with their 'pack packs' and lunch bags filling them with everything they can think of.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Lake fun!
(I'm just going to act like it hasn't been so long since our last post and move right along...).
One thing Pete and I have been wanting to do is take the girls to the beach. The one day we planned on it....it rained. It's not a trip I'm willing to take on my own. I don't think it needs much of an explanation as to why.
My cousin Jen invited us to her place yesterday where they have a lake not too far from her. Soooo we jumped on the opportunity to hang out! OMG IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! I was full of anxiety about the girls + water + people....I thought it was going to be a pain to keep an eye on them or to even get them in the water. BUT to my surprise it was the complete opposite! There wasn't too many people there, the lake water was clear so the girls were happy to get in and with the help of Jen - I was able to RELAX. The girls were happy to come out to me (in water up to their necks!) and swim back in with some help. And while they were in shallow water - they were crawling around on their hands with their full body in the water! For 3 and 1/2 hours they were fish! We didn't even need buckets and shovels because they were happy just swimming.
The day wasn't only about swimming either. Cousin Christopher actually WANTED TO PLAY with the girls. Rather than parallel play - he was totally interacting with them all day! It was a super day all around and I'm hoping to go back very very very soon to do this all over again.
Oh and the girls slept all night - no peeps out of them. I'm guessing that all that water play tuckered them out. I know it did me in...I went to bed at 9:00 last night and didn't move until 6:00 this morning. Ahhhhh what a good nights sleep can do for a mom is truly amazing.
One thing Pete and I have been wanting to do is take the girls to the beach. The one day we planned on it....it rained. It's not a trip I'm willing to take on my own. I don't think it needs much of an explanation as to why.
My cousin Jen invited us to her place yesterday where they have a lake not too far from her. Soooo we jumped on the opportunity to hang out! OMG IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! I was full of anxiety about the girls + water + people....I thought it was going to be a pain to keep an eye on them or to even get them in the water. BUT to my surprise it was the complete opposite! There wasn't too many people there, the lake water was clear so the girls were happy to get in and with the help of Jen - I was able to RELAX. The girls were happy to come out to me (in water up to their necks!) and swim back in with some help. And while they were in shallow water - they were crawling around on their hands with their full body in the water! For 3 and 1/2 hours they were fish! We didn't even need buckets and shovels because they were happy just swimming.
The day wasn't only about swimming either. Cousin Christopher actually WANTED TO PLAY with the girls. Rather than parallel play - he was totally interacting with them all day! It was a super day all around and I'm hoping to go back very very very soon to do this all over again.
Oh and the girls slept all night - no peeps out of them. I'm guessing that all that water play tuckered them out. I know it did me in...I went to bed at 9:00 last night and didn't move until 6:00 this morning. Ahhhhh what a good nights sleep can do for a mom is truly amazing.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Compliments
I took the girls to a store today that we hadn't been to before. It's called The Chalkboard and it's focus is materials for teachers. We were looking for something very specific that I knew this store would have so rather than having to shop around we went straight to the source. I must have chosen the perfect day to go because today the store was offering 10% off everything, free raffles every 15 minutes and tons of free stuff on our way out! We bought 2 things...a border for our newly painted chalkboard wall and a map of the United States. But we walked out with a ton of stuff. The store was packed (and it's not a very big store) and the girls were pretty good about using the 'one finger' rule (touch anything you want but with 1 finger only...this eliminates me from saying "don't touch that" 30 million times and gives them the opportunity to explore without breaking). We were in the store for about 30 minutes...and you can be assured that 30 minutes in a store with 3 kids who have bathing suits on ready to hit the park could be a challenge. Especially since this was our THIRD stop of the morning. We had to stop at the school to drop off paperwork, stop at the bank and then The Chalkboard. Each time the kids get out of the car (our bank doesn't have a drive thru ATM in this town). On our way to the cash register someone said "Triplets?" And I though 'great...this was going so well....' But this time was different because she said to me "I am absolutely amazed! You would never even know they were in the store because they're so well behaved!" *BIG cheesy grin from me followed by a "THANKS!" These are proud mom moments for me. Because sometimes I forget that they are 3 and there are 3 and I take these moments for granted. They WERE in fact being good and I was really appreciative that SOMEONE ELSE took the opportunity to tell them that. It's important for them to hear some positive feedback from people other than myself.
We did finally make it home to drop off our stuff, hop in the wagon and walk to the park to enjoy some time in sandbox and splash pad. This was followed by a walk home, lunch, nap and then picnic dinner at the community center.
Oh and I should just confess now - while 'teaching' the girls the states...I missed the boat on Illinois. So when they stumble in school - it's because they were 1st taught Idaho, Indiana, Iowa.....
If someone taught ME the states...this wouldn't have been a problem! LOL
We did finally make it home to drop off our stuff, hop in the wagon and walk to the park to enjoy some time in sandbox and splash pad. This was followed by a walk home, lunch, nap and then picnic dinner at the community center.
Oh and I should just confess now - while 'teaching' the girls the states...I missed the boat on Illinois. So when they stumble in school - it's because they were 1st taught Idaho, Indiana, Iowa.....
If someone taught ME the states...this wouldn't have been a problem! LOL
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Compromise
Life is about compromise. And if you don't learn to go with the flow and let certain things go - it'll just drive you crazy to have to get out of bed every day. One thing I was looking for in a program for school for the girls was 2 days a week and only 3 hours on each of those days. Then next year I was willing to do 3 days a week followed by full time K. But...it is what it is and I can't change school systems or their programs. So - what we have found that we seem to like a lot is St. Brigid school. They don't offer a 2 or 3 day a week program but they do offer part time. It's Mon - Fri from 8-11. I think I can handle that since I suspect the girls will be home sick for most of the 1st year anyway! They'll wear uniforms (some of you might cringe but I'm ok with this since it's LESS clothes that I'll have to buy them when school shopping!). They meet in the gym every morning for morning prayer and then they go to their classrooms. There is only 1 class for each grade (through 8th). This might eliminate the 1 vs 3 classroom debate (unless we choose to switch them over the public school). In the 3y/o program they leave their classroom to go to gym class, music class and library on different days of the week. By taking them out at 11:00 vs 2:00 (they would leave at 2:00 in the full time program) they are only missing out on lunch, outside play and nap time. These are things we can do at home together though...at least until we decide they're ready for a transition to full time. I like the office staff and the principal seems like she'll be running a tight ship in that school! I didn't get a chance to meet their teacher but she'll be calling me this week sometime. One thing I liked very much was the number of years each teacher has been in the school. The girls will share a room with up to 20 students their age, 2 teachers AND 2 aides. We haven't come to a decision just yet but it seems like a wonderful option to explore. We shall see..........
Friday, July 1, 2011
What do we do?
What have we been doing in all of our 'free' time? I wonder this myself sometimes but somehow - time flies. Monday's and Friday's are set aside for work for me. I clean on those 2 days (in addition to cleaning on some weekends but it doesn't take long so I'm not away for long). The great thing is that I don't have to 'clock in/out'. I get there when I get there...and I leave when I'm finished. The girls spend time with Pete's parents while I'm working and it's working out very well. The great thing is not being rushed to get out the door in the morning in addition to getting home early :)
We met a neighbor who has 2 boys. One is 4 and one is a little more than a year old. She is amazing and we hit it off pretty quickly. Her older son asks if his 'friends' can come over all the time and the girls love hanging out at their new friends house because he has cool toys. We haven't invited them over to play here yet but we will soon.
There is a splash pad at the park that we walk to all of the time. That's another great thing about where we live now. Having the 3 of them in the pool by myself would be impossible this year because they don't know how to swim and they don't know how to be patient either! But the splash pad offers them TONS of independence and it's PACKED FULL of kids! However; they don't actually play with the other kids yet. Actually they get pissed off when the other kids are in their way. Emily & Hannah just wait their turn but Hailey...boy oh boy. She is one smart cookie. She has learned that although mommy doesn't cater to her owl screeching scream - others certainly do! So if someone is playing where she wants to play she will scream "MOMMY! I WANT TO PLAY HERE AND THERE ARE PEOPLE IN MY WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!" It's not a tantrum type of scream...but a scream is a scream right? And here's the thing - she's NOT talking to me. She must have done this once expecting ME to make someone move. But I'm sure that didn't happen...what happened was whoever was in her way moved before I did anything. Who wants to hear a 3 year old scream about how you're in their way?!?! Soooooo that's what she does EVERY SINGLE TIME now. I'm letting this one go. Eventually she'll come up against someone that has a louder voice than her and won't give in to her. She'll learn................
We also spend a ton of time out in the yard. Who knew a yard could be so much fun!?!? We grill probably 5 out of 7 nights a week too. We play in the pool, with the hose, on the slide and just have fun.
The girls help around the house too. They each make their beds, pick up toys and help set the table when it's time to eat.
Oh - and their new 'thing' is they want a puppy. With a bed and a leash. One day...but I just don't think we're ready yet. I know I'M not! And since I'M the one that would get a majority of the responsibility...we're just gonna have to wait. LOL
We met a neighbor who has 2 boys. One is 4 and one is a little more than a year old. She is amazing and we hit it off pretty quickly. Her older son asks if his 'friends' can come over all the time and the girls love hanging out at their new friends house because he has cool toys. We haven't invited them over to play here yet but we will soon.
There is a splash pad at the park that we walk to all of the time. That's another great thing about where we live now. Having the 3 of them in the pool by myself would be impossible this year because they don't know how to swim and they don't know how to be patient either! But the splash pad offers them TONS of independence and it's PACKED FULL of kids! However; they don't actually play with the other kids yet. Actually they get pissed off when the other kids are in their way. Emily & Hannah just wait their turn but Hailey...boy oh boy. She is one smart cookie. She has learned that although mommy doesn't cater to her owl screeching scream - others certainly do! So if someone is playing where she wants to play she will scream "MOMMY! I WANT TO PLAY HERE AND THERE ARE PEOPLE IN MY WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!" It's not a tantrum type of scream...but a scream is a scream right? And here's the thing - she's NOT talking to me. She must have done this once expecting ME to make someone move. But I'm sure that didn't happen...what happened was whoever was in her way moved before I did anything. Who wants to hear a 3 year old scream about how you're in their way?!?! Soooooo that's what she does EVERY SINGLE TIME now. I'm letting this one go. Eventually she'll come up against someone that has a louder voice than her and won't give in to her. She'll learn................
We also spend a ton of time out in the yard. Who knew a yard could be so much fun!?!? We grill probably 5 out of 7 nights a week too. We play in the pool, with the hose, on the slide and just have fun.
The girls help around the house too. They each make their beds, pick up toys and help set the table when it's time to eat.
Oh - and their new 'thing' is they want a puppy. With a bed and a leash. One day...but I just don't think we're ready yet. I know I'M not! And since I'M the one that would get a majority of the responsibility...we're just gonna have to wait. LOL
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Feeling overwhelmed...again
I am doing some research trying to find a preschool for the girls to attend. I'm not looking for much - just 2 days a week for maybe 3 hours each day. Something to break up the week for them, a place that will slowly guide them towards getting use to a curriculum and schedule and school and all that stuff. I called 5 schools today.
The 1st school happened to be a magnet school. They will only open 15 spots in the fall and then the children that applied are chosen by lottery. That's out.
School #2 wants over $9,000 per school year per child. That's out.
School #3 wasn't extremely nice but said they could 'check and see if they might have 3 open spots for triplets in the upcoming school year." Thanks. I'll hold my breath waiting for your call.
School #4 is a Catholic school and seems to be reasonable in price. Only $3,200 for a 2 day program. They would attend 2 days from 7:50 - 11:15. Lunch would cost more so I'd feed them at home. It's only 32 weeks but at least they 'get in the program'.
School # 5 wants over $5,000 for their 3 day program. That's out.
I guess I called 6 schools...cuz I'm waiting for 1 more school to call me back. They didn't have a website so their tuition fees weren't listed. They also didn't answer the phone and I had to leave a message. Maybe their staff is actually caring for children and saving on the cost of tuition by letting the answering machine take messages rather than hiring a Yale graduate to direct my call and charging me 1/2 million dollars for my 'child's education'. But who knows.
You would think I should say screw it and not worry about putting them in school. I'm a stay at home mom anyway so what's the point? Here's the point. I can't offer them the things that a school can offer them. I can teach them what they need to know - sure. But I'm ONE PERSON. And I'm not a toddler or preschooler. They KNOW that when I'm 'pretending' to play - I'm pretending. I'm not really in their little world. When they play with other kids...they ARE in a different world. My innocence is lost to that. Every adults innocence is lost to that kind of play. They NEED other kids. They also need the curriculum. I'm not about to set up 3 desks and have 'school' time during the day here. This is HOME for them...not school.
Ugh...just feeling so overwhelmed. On one of the pages there is a preschool 'test' that kids can take. My kids would fail. Why? Because they actually don't know all of their shapes. They can't differentiate between sizes. They can't count to 20 yet and they certainly can't point at 20 dots and count them all. Light/heavy, wide/narrow, fewer/more...identify pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters...the answer is no to all of it.
I know there are kids that go right to kindergarten and I'm sure they turn out just fine. I just want my girls to have every advantage available to them to keep up or get ahead. Doesn't every parent?
The 1st school happened to be a magnet school. They will only open 15 spots in the fall and then the children that applied are chosen by lottery. That's out.
School #2 wants over $9,000 per school year per child. That's out.
School #3 wasn't extremely nice but said they could 'check and see if they might have 3 open spots for triplets in the upcoming school year." Thanks. I'll hold my breath waiting for your call.
School #4 is a Catholic school and seems to be reasonable in price. Only $3,200 for a 2 day program. They would attend 2 days from 7:50 - 11:15. Lunch would cost more so I'd feed them at home. It's only 32 weeks but at least they 'get in the program'.
School # 5 wants over $5,000 for their 3 day program. That's out.
I guess I called 6 schools...cuz I'm waiting for 1 more school to call me back. They didn't have a website so their tuition fees weren't listed. They also didn't answer the phone and I had to leave a message. Maybe their staff is actually caring for children and saving on the cost of tuition by letting the answering machine take messages rather than hiring a Yale graduate to direct my call and charging me 1/2 million dollars for my 'child's education'. But who knows.
You would think I should say screw it and not worry about putting them in school. I'm a stay at home mom anyway so what's the point? Here's the point. I can't offer them the things that a school can offer them. I can teach them what they need to know - sure. But I'm ONE PERSON. And I'm not a toddler or preschooler. They KNOW that when I'm 'pretending' to play - I'm pretending. I'm not really in their little world. When they play with other kids...they ARE in a different world. My innocence is lost to that. Every adults innocence is lost to that kind of play. They NEED other kids. They also need the curriculum. I'm not about to set up 3 desks and have 'school' time during the day here. This is HOME for them...not school.
Ugh...just feeling so overwhelmed. On one of the pages there is a preschool 'test' that kids can take. My kids would fail. Why? Because they actually don't know all of their shapes. They can't differentiate between sizes. They can't count to 20 yet and they certainly can't point at 20 dots and count them all. Light/heavy, wide/narrow, fewer/more...identify pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters...the answer is no to all of it.
I know there are kids that go right to kindergarten and I'm sure they turn out just fine. I just want my girls to have every advantage available to them to keep up or get ahead. Doesn't every parent?
Monday, June 27, 2011
More funny stuff
Sunday we went to Rose's Berry Farm to have breakfast and then pick raspberries. LB came along so it was kind cool that each of the girls got some 1/1 time. We ate more raspberries than we brought home. It was a really nice day and we all had a lot of fun!
I'm noticing the girls (especially Hannah) becoming more aware that they can 'lie' to get things. For example: The girls get mints after going potty at Pete's moms house. When we came home today Hannah said to me "I didn't get any mints at Grandma's so I need a prize now please." Hmmm...
They're also good for saying that "Daddy said we can _______" or "Mommy said we can__________" when in reality neither one of us had even been asked anything. I know this is just the start of a very trying time and very fine line. I know they're exploring and I have to give them space. But at the same time I don't want them to think it's ok to lie. Right now I'm just explaining to them what they're doing. "Hannah - I know you had mints at Grandma's house today. If you say you didn't - when you really did, that's called lying and we don't do that. Did you have a mint today?" "Yes." "Great! Thanks for telling mommy the truth." Hindsight I probably should have given her a prize anyway but I didn't. I don't know why - I think she sidetracked me with something else lol.
And today's funny comment is (per usual) from Emily. After getting home from being at Pete's parents - I asked Emily where her attitude came from (she was just being miserable). She replied:
"I just forgot to leave my attitude at Grandma's house."
I'm noticing the girls (especially Hannah) becoming more aware that they can 'lie' to get things. For example: The girls get mints after going potty at Pete's moms house. When we came home today Hannah said to me "I didn't get any mints at Grandma's so I need a prize now please." Hmmm...
They're also good for saying that "Daddy said we can _______" or "Mommy said we can__________" when in reality neither one of us had even been asked anything. I know this is just the start of a very trying time and very fine line. I know they're exploring and I have to give them space. But at the same time I don't want them to think it's ok to lie. Right now I'm just explaining to them what they're doing. "Hannah - I know you had mints at Grandma's house today. If you say you didn't - when you really did, that's called lying and we don't do that. Did you have a mint today?" "Yes." "Great! Thanks for telling mommy the truth." Hindsight I probably should have given her a prize anyway but I didn't. I don't know why - I think she sidetracked me with something else lol.
And today's funny comment is (per usual) from Emily. After getting home from being at Pete's parents - I asked Emily where her attitude came from (she was just being miserable). She replied:
"I just forgot to leave my attitude at Grandma's house."
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