TRIPLETS PLUS TWO

Christmas 2009

2010-01-09T18:58:00.001-08:00

Christmas was good this year....We did a lot of driving around looking at Christmas lights while we waited the arrival of Santa...I even got to enjoy a house tour with a friend of mine which allowed us to tour some historical and new homes in the Columbia area....this is something I always have wanted to do, and finally made the time to do it this year...if you haven't done one yet, I'd highly recommend it. It's a great way to spend an afternoon with a girlfriend...I was able to get my cards mailed out on time, and did accomplish baking a dozen chocolate nut cookies.-That was plenty of cookies for here, I don't like stressing out over baking and it certainly isn't good for me to have in the house when I'm trying to regain my girlish figure!!L.O.L. Christmas was actually pretty peaceful and quiet this year which sounds pretty amazing for having five children, but we were very fortunate... I tried to instill in the triplets this year that Christmas was about celebrating the birth of Jesus...We have always given only three presents to each child, since baby Jesus was given a gift by the three wise-men...This way they don't get caught up in all the hoopla of gifts....works out pretty good especially since we have five kiddos to buy for, that still amounts to fifteen gifts!!! The shot up above is of Caleb and Connor at my mom's house...Don't let Caleb's expression fool you about those monkey jammies, he actually loves those things...mommy does too, they are SUPER soft and wash very well!!!

Here are the boys opening up games for their new leapsters that grandma got them...

Caleb and Connor enjoying the John Deere that was left for the triplets at Mama's house...Notice Caleb in the driver's seat, where he insists on being the majority of the time...He has made it clear to us that he didn't want one of these to share, he wanted his OWN!!!!

I just LOVE this picture...so sweet...

Mark was VERY good this year, he got his own cell phone, complete with unlimited texting!!!

Corey opening up his new Lightening McQueen remote for his Radiator Springs Geo Trax....I thought this would be a big hit with the boys, but unfortunately they haven't played with it all that much..SIGH....

The princess gets an I-pod touch....Hmmmmm Santa must have thought she was pretty good too!!!

Here is our Christmas tree for 2009...

My little darlings at Mama's on Christmas Eve...Can you tell they are tired of pictures and want to get straight to the presents???

My boys....Corey, Connor, Caleb and Mark....I hope your Christmas was as enjoyable and memorable as ours!!!

Go Cart Racin'

2010-01-09T18:36:00.001-08:00

Not sure what happened to "I'm going to try hard to post once a week..." Oh yeah, I think the Holidays happened!!!! I have really allowed my poor blog to slack once again, I definantly need to do a better job at keeping it updated in 2010....So, here we have go-cart pictures from our Nov. Branson trip...A very exciting time, especially for the triplets because they were finally tall enough to ride on their own go-cart!!! Here is a shot of Mark and Mackenzie making their way around the track. Mackenzie is not looking to happy here... after being passed by her brother for the third time, she decided to retaliate by sticking out her tongue!!-Wish I could have caught that one on camera!!! Mark loved the excitement of smokin' his little sister out on the track!!!!

Can you tell he is enjoying himself?!?!?!

Mackenzie remains focused and determined to pass him up, even if it's just for one time!!!!

Here is Caleb and Corey....Caleb was cracking me up; their first ride he ended up with the SLOWEST cart and he was determined to make that thing go faster!!! He'd stretch those little legs as far as he could and lay on the gas hoping to catch up with his brothers...The thing I love about this boy is he is very determined and never gives up.....he never did catch his brothers, but not once did it damper his spirits...

Here is a shot of all three of them...Connor is in the middle. Mr. quiet reserved boy is actually running his cart into the back of his brothers!!! -He'd then drive by with a little grin on his face-it was priceless...

Looking like they are making a train here....They had so much fun and we had just as much fun watching them!!!

Notice how Caleb has both feet ready to go???-and that smile, oh how I love his smile!!!

Branson Day 2

2009-12-07T18:45:00.001-08:00

Day 2 at Branson was a GORGEOUS 68 degrees, so we took the kids on their first Duck ride. For those of you who are not familiar with the Duck ride in, it is a REALLY COOl experience that you must embark upon. I got to ride the Ducks when I was about Mackenzie's age. This car/boat will take you on an adventure on land and water. You even get your very own quacker for a keepsake!!-Fun for the Duck ride definantly NOT for a car trip home.L.O.L. The kids thought Captain Magic was kidding when he said, "hang on, were going in the water!!!" The looks on their faces were priceless....

This was a view before we actually entered the water....

Here is a pretty neat shot of the Branson Belle right after we entered into the water....

Mackenzie got to drive the boat!!! I had to remind her to watch where she was going, she seemed to be captivated by Captain Magic!!!!Connor and Mark enjoying the ride....Later that day, we enjoyed some shopping and the boys got drive their own go-carts for the very FIRST time!!!! They had an absolute blast and couldn't get enough rides on them...Cute how they had enough people to enjoy their very own race...Mark and Mackenzie decided to have a race too....After Mark passed Mackenzie up for the second round, I caught her sticking her tongue out at him!!!!-Wish I could have caught that on video...so spontaneous and yet SOOOOO Mackenzie....-I'll be posting go-cart pics in a couple of days...It's time for lights out

Branson Day 1

2009-12-02T19:59:00.000-08:00

We spent Thanksgiving in Branson this year....Instead of having a nice Turkey Dinner, we enjoyed Subway Sandwhiches L.O.L.!!!!!!! Mark and I decided to take the kids to Branson for a short trip...We were able to get into the Holiday Spirit by enjoying the ever famous Sheperd of the Hills Christmas Light Display..For our family of seven it was $47.00 to see these lights.-Not something we'd pay every year to see, but it was a nice 2 1/2 mile ride of a Christmas Fantasy World that helped get us all in the Holiday Spirit...

Much of the experience were these adorable Christmas displays behind plastic plexi glass....It reminded me of the windows decorated downtown at Famous Barr that my mom would take me to see when I was little, only a whole lot bigger!!!!

Each scene held a lot of detail...

Then there was a cute little coke-cola cart...Who doesn't enjoy themselves a good old ice cold coke-cola????

They had several of their buildings adorned in lights too. When we were done with the drive, we got to go up the Scenic Tower to see the lights...pretty neat experience!!!

Upon arrival at the hotel, the kids were pumped and ready for swimming...Notice Caleb's red cheeks from the hot tub???

They started the first day in their swim rings, but by day two, they were mostly "swimming" without them...I think I'm going to have some swimmers by the Summer...They all LOVE the water and Connor is doing so well trying to learn how to swim under water...Maybe he'll be on the swim team come Summer!!!

Corey lookin' all cute!!! He usually takes a little longer to feel comfortable in the water, but once he builds up his confidance there is no stoppin' him!!!

Had to get a shot of dad with just Mark and Mackenzie...They both look so grown-up here!!!!!

I thought this turned out cute...I know I know were missin' a kiddo; that would be my stubborn, I mean strong-willed child Corey who refused to get in the picture...Always got to have one in the bunch!!! This picture turned out pretty darn cute though, so I wanted to post it!!! I plan to add more Branson photos within the next few days, so check back soon!!!!

A Visit To The Zoo....

2009-11-16T12:51:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday Mark was off for Veteran's Day, so we packed up the kiddos and headed out for the zoo. We got to bring baby Kendall with us (the little one I baby sit) and enjoyed watching her have her very first visit at the zoo!!! The weather was gorgeous, and all of the kids had a great time enjoying the outdoors...

One of the very first animals we saw were the penquins, and they were a big hit with everyone..I think they might have been Kendall's favorite!!!! We arrived at feeding time, so we got to see and hear the penquins as they enjoyed their lunch...the kids found that to be very fun!!!

Connor and Corey getting a close-up view of the penquin...

Here they are having lunch...It was fun to watch, not so fun to smell.....

Then we got to see the baby giraffe up close!!! He was very intent on watching my kiddos...

Mackenzie and Corey posing by a statue at the bird sanctuary....I call this Corey's Gomer Pile smile....

Mark, Mackenzie, Corey and I had about 45 min. together while daddy took the other two boys on the train... I thought the bridge made a cute picture...

Here is daddy buying the tickets for the train....Every year we go to the zoo, Connor always wants to ride the train...At $5.00 a head, I usually always say, "Maybe next time..." He wasn't buying it this time...He wanted to ride so bad...I told daddy to take them on, because this was so important to them...Corey could have went too, but he wanted to hang out with big brother and sis...

Connor was so PROUD to be on that train...

Just look at Caleb's smile....worth every bit of $15.00!!!!

Corey....

2009-11-08T12:27:00.001-08:00

I took these photos yesterday afternoon. Little did I know just hours later, Corey would experience an accident that could have changed our lives forever.... Psalm 91:11-12 says, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone..."I can tell you that there is NO doubt in my mind that my little boy had his angels watching over him yesterday. We ventured out on a hayride with the cousins and ended up stopping at a small bridge in the country to throw rocks in the water. My brother in law was over at the bridge with the 10 children while me and two other women remained in the wagon. A car was coming from the opposite direction and I instructed the triplets to stay exactly where they were and not to cross back over to me...Next thing you know, Corey turns his back to the bridge to scoop up some rocks, and falls off of the bridge!!!! I can't tell you how terrified and helpless I felt at that moment, not knowing what was at the bottom of the bridge, nor just how far he had fallen!! I hollered for Stephen (my brother in law) to get him, because I knew that he could get to him much faster than me....I have never seen a man move faster than he did in that very moment...Mackenzie said Corey had grabbed on to the edge of the bridge when he fell and was hanging on for...not sure how he did this since he fell backwards, but she saw his hands gripping the edge....she bent down to grab a hold of him and he fell 21 ft. to the bottom landing, thank God, on soft squishy mud...one to two feet further over to the left, and he would have been in the water...he could have hit rocks logs anything...Steve saw him hit the ground and said he knew he was going to be alright when he started immediately crying...He landed on his right side caked in mud....The only injuries he sustained where some minor abrasions and slight bruising on his back...I have absolutely NO DOUBT in my mind that his angels broke that fall for him...his injuries could have been much worse, possibly even tragic...I stand in awe and praise my heavenly father for his mercy and his protection over my little boy...I am thankful on this day for him and for the joy, craziness, and chaos he brings to my life!!!!!!

Kindergarten Readiness...

2009-11-02T19:44:00.000-08:00

Corey

Connor

Caleb

Ever since the boys were about 2 years old, I have heard two repeated questions about school. (1) Will you start the boys at school when they are 5 or 6? (2) Will they be in the same class, or will you seperate them? So for quite some time, I have put the questions off, knowing that there was plenty of time to decide this. Now, they are 4 1/2 and I am faced with this question once again. Kindergarten year is quickly approaching. I have known for quite some time that Caleb would not be ready for Kindergarten at 5. He is currently in a smaller class size than Corey and Connor as well as in speech classes every week. Although I have seen progress this year, such as he can currently write his name with verbal prompts and he can actually sit and complete "homework". However, he seems to lag behind the other two boys overall...After sitting in Caleb's I.E.P. meeting, my concerns were confirmed, and although they recommended me to test him for Kindergarten in the Spring, just to see what they say, after having Parent/teacher conferences on the other two, I feel I've solidified my decision. Connor as I already knew could quite honestly go to Kindergarten now and be successful. He has been writing his first name since the Fall of last year. He just recently learned to write Yochum. This little boy LOVES to learn. His coloring is incredible which is fairly unusual for a boy. Corey on the other hand goes to school for the social aspect. He "romances" the little girls on the playground with fresh picked flowers. He has the ability to write his name but quite honestly doesn't like to take the time to do it. He would rather be playing with his friends than sitting in a chair learning. I will say that he was the first to recite and recognize his ABC's and when it comes to learning new songs, he is always the first to catch on. His teacher said he would do fine in Kindergarten at 5, but would absolutely soar at 6. After having that meeting, I knew that doing another year of Pre-K would be the best decision for my boys. Miss Beverly assured me that I need not worry about Connor having behavioral issues because of boredom because he is a child that does not like attention drawn to him and loves to please his teachers....he is his mother's son..As for whether they will be together or seperate, at this time I plan to keep them all together unless it begins to present problems...I figure once the homework load starts getting heavy, I won't have the energy to keep up with three different sets!!!! I have to admit I feel confidant and full of much relief that this question is no longer a "question." I know that I will be getting my boys started off on the right foot and I look forward to what the future holds for each of them....

Everyday Life....

2009-10-23T13:18:00.000-07:00

Corey-gotta love the milk splatters on his face!!!

Caleb was crackin' himself up!!!!

Connor was trying to figure out where all of Caleb's bubbles went?!?!?

For some reason Connors Cinnamon Toast Crunch didn't bubble up!! That didn't discourage him from trying though!!

Corey on the other hand had a bubble overload!!!

Caleb kept right up there with Corey....We've decided to make the BEST bubbles, you need to have Frosted Mini Wheats!!!

I'm not quite sure what happened to the poor blog, but I've abandoned it since August...Not that I've been busy or anything(l.o.l.) but I do want to try to update at least once a week...The boys have all been doing well in school but not quite sure we'll be heading off to Kindergarten next Fall.-More update on that in the next post to come soon...I have started watching a precious little baby girl named Kendall Mon. thru Fri. All of the kids are totally smitten with her!!!-She definantly is not lacking love at the Yochum Household..Kind of nice for me to be able to have a baby around that I can actually ENJOY, plus not have to be responsible for financially; I kind of get a taste of what being a "grandma" may be like someday!!! She is a VERY good baby and I am really having fun with her...Markie finally got his haircut which is a HUGE deal considering we have not seen his ears or back of his neck for nearly 18 mos!!!! I'll post a picture of him in the next post too. The princess is in the process of growing her hair out for Locks Of Love in rememberance of her Aunt TiTi who passed away from breast cancer 2 years ago...I'm hoping that it will be long enough by Christmas so she'll be able to give some special little girl an extra special Christmas present....The boys and I have been also involved with AWANA's Wed. evenings at church...I listen to the 1st and 3rd graders as they recite bible verses and the boys go to their class and have A LOT of fun playing with their friends at church as well as reciting their weekly verse.-I have been so impressed with their ability to memorize scriptures; they have been soaking it up like little sponges!!! I'm so excited that at just 41/2 they are hiding God's word in their hearts!!! I decided to post the series of cereal bubble-blowing pictures, because I thought it would be fun to see the games the boys play at night when they have their bedtime snack!!!! Hope all has been well with everyone and I look forward to once again giving you a small glimpse into our "crazy" little world...

Here Comes Peter Cottontail....

2009-08-13T17:26:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Mackenzie found some baby bunnies on the church playground that we believed to have been abandoned by their momma. The kids begged us to take them home and after much pleading, Mark and I relented. They went back later that evening and retrieved the little cuties. They spent about five days with us before they were released into the wild again. I explained to Mark and Mackenzie that if we kept them to long, they would forget how to live in the wild, and I encouraged them to release them as soon as possible. Rabbits I must say are VERY smelly, but Mark and Mackenzie had a fun week taking care of their new pets. Mark's was very mellow and would allow you to hold it. Mackenzie's not so much.(Other than the pic. I was able to get). They were very sweet bunnies and a joy to watch for the week. Mackenzie decided the following Sat. to release them, because she was afraid hers was going to hop right out of the tub they called "home." I told Mark they needed to be released together. Interestingly enough they both hopped in opposite directions when they were released!!

Mackenzie with her bunny....

They had "blankets" for the bunnies and plenty of grass. After a day or so, they started eating the lettuce and carrots we fed them...

While Mom's Away, Sis Will Play...

2009-07-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

Last week I had a much needed girl's night out. A dear friend and I went to see a movie followed by a Kid-Free dinner at Applebees. So VERY nice and relaxing....We then decided to walk to work off the "tub" of popcorn we ate. I arrived back home a little after 10p.m., certain that the darlings would all be asleep.-I told Denise to wait outside just in case I needed a get away car if they weren't.(L.O.L.) This is what I came home to. Caleb standing in the hallway all "dolled-up." Yes, sissy had been playing dress-up. Caleb was so proud of his new attire!!

I didn't know until I was uploading the pictures that Corey got in on the fun too....I told daddy she really is in need of a little sister. Shannon, maybe we can do a "kid-swap" one day. Mackenzie for Sawyer!!!!!L.O.L.

Sweet Summer Time...

2009-07-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Summer and swimming they just kind of go hand in hand dontcha think???? This is our second year of being members at Hilltoppers Swim Club in Dupo. This has been a crazy Summer weather wise with all of the rain and cool temperatures. It doesn't seem like we have used our passes this year as much as last, but the kids always have a lot of fun when we go.-Especially when daddy comes, which is a treat because they love playing with dad in the pool!!!

Corey with Flounder his new found friend....

Caleb showing off his muscles and his ability to balance in two rings at once!!!

Connor boy just being cute...

This was the game they played that day. They would link together as a chain and take turns pulling each other around the pool!!!!

They had so much fun together that day....

Mommy and her little girl. Not to often mom will actually get in pictures.....

Caleb was in the baby pool when we took this one and Mark was at camp this week, that is why he is not in any of the photos....

A Trip To The "Denist"...

2009-07-15T12:25:00.001-07:00

Last week the boys made their first trip to the "denist", at least that is how Corey pronounces it!! I brought grandma along for back-up, not really certain how the experience was going to go. Typically Corey will cry for grandma when he is hurt or scared, and he was showing the most resistance to going, so grandma agreed to come along. I scheduled Corey and Connor on one day, and Caleb on another.-I didn't want to overdue it for them, or the poor dentist. Connor, being the brave boy that he is, went first. He was a little apprehensive when he first went to sit in the chair, and we quickly found out that he was NOT going to lay back. The lady that did their cleanings was FANTASTIC with them. Incredibly patient and worked around any "issue" that arose. Connor did really good, he loved wearing the "sunshine glasses" and had a sparkly white smile when we left. None of the boys had any cavities which was a huge relief for mom!!!!

Let's see those pearly whites Connor!!!!

Theresa tried to get x-rays. Connor was very cooperative until she told him the camera would rotate around his head, than he panicked. She said, "Not a big deal, we can get x-rays next time." He was relieved and excited to hit the treasure box!!!

Countin' Corey's teeth while wearing the cool shades!!! He actually did really well.-No crying or anything. I think it helped that he got to watch Connor first and that he knew grandma was right by his side.....

Corey getting his teeth brushed.-Makin' sure mom got the back ones really good!!!

Caleb went a week later and got to wear the yellow shades!!! He was so brave and couldn't wait to get his new toothbrush like his brothers!!!! His pick from the treasure box "pirate earrings".....

You're lookin' like a movie-star!!!!!!! Overall, the trip was uneventful. Another "first" that went over without a hitch....Yeah!!!!!

Mark's Week at Bible Camp

2009-07-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday Mark left for a week long camp at Bond Christian Camp. It was his first time of being away for a whole week. - Quite an experience for him and his mom. He wanted only dad to drop him off, probably because he didn't feel like spending over an hour in the car with the three little indians.-I can't blame him really, they do tend to get very loud while traveling, and it is definantly NOT a relaxing time. That being said I now realize it was a very good idea that I did not accompany them with the drop off. Dad said he had a difficult time staying. There were tears and all and at that I was thinking so good I did not go, I would have probably loaded him back in the car with me and headed home. If I would have done that however, he would have missed out on an incredible, life-changing week.....

These photos were taken the day we picked him up. This is Mark, on the right, walking to to Boy's Dorm with a friend getting ready to load up his luggage...

Here he is with and AWESOME friend he met named Marcus. This boy was really neat and I think an answer to prayer. He befriended Mark on Sunday when he noticed he was having a hard time staying. This boy is persistent and wouldn't take no for an answer. Him and Mark became quick friends...

There were 8 kids from camp that gave thier lives to Christ and were baptized on Friday!!! This is Mark and Mackenzie with their dad watching the baptisms....

Here is a shot of half of the crowd that watched this AWESOME event!!!

And this my friends is what clearly has been the most exciting thing to happen to my son in a VERY long time. Mark was one of those children that made a commitment for Christ and was obedient by being baptized!!!! I can tell you, I truly did NOT see this coming!!! I was beyond excited when I got the call on Thurs. at 9:40 p.m. that Mark was going to be baptized in the river and that he had made a commitment to Christ!!! Truly this was an act of God and an answer far and above what I prayed for for that week. When his dad called on Sun. evening saying how difficult it was for him to stay, I began to pray. I prayed into the night, because of course I didn't sleep well. I prayed the next day and into the night AGAIN. I asked that God would be with him and help him develop friendships and that he would do mighty things in Mark, that the week at camp would be a life-changing experience for him. On Wed. I got a call from his "parent" at the camp saying he was doing GREAT. Becoming a social butterfly!!!! Memorizing scriptures and smiling like she had never seen him smile before! God began a work in my little boys heart and come Thurs. he made a decision to follow Christ. I was incredibly excited!!!! He wanted his dad to baptize him and Mark didn't think he was going to be able to get off work, but God worked a miracle, arranged Mark's schedule, and he arrived at camp for the baptism with 10 min. to spare!!! God is so good, and I am praising him for his faithfulness.....

Fourth of July Fun!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

The Fourth of July fireworks were cancelled in Columbia, due to the rain. So the celebration was on July 5th. We didn't do much on the actual fourth, although the kids were excited to see a fireworks display over at the neighbors house. On Sunday though, we were able to have some fun with some sparklers and enjoy the display Columbia puts on. The boys were very excited about fireworks this year, at least up until the point of going to watch them!-Then it was how many boys could fit on mom's lap and how many M&M's can we put in our mouth at once!! Kind of a "weird" fourth being as Markie wasn't with me to watch the fireworks this year(He left for camp) and also the first fourth ever that we were wearing jeans.-The boys were at least...It is very difficult for me to get a good shot of fireworks, but I really like the one above, it almost looks like a dandelion!!!

Brotherly Love...

Boys Will Be Boys.....

Corey

Connor

Caleb

Love Caleb's face in this one!!!!

They loved doing sparklers this year. - At least 2 out of 3. Corey enjoyed watching rather than participating....

Mackenzie's Statue of Liberty pose....

The only time they were all in their own chairs!!!!

Mackenzie watching fireworks with her friend Lauren and Zoe the dog....

Happy 11th Birthday Mark!!!

2009-06-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

Eleven years ago today entered into the world my first born son! I can't believe how quickly the time has gone, and I sit back and watch you as you grow into a young man. I do not know what the Lord has planned for your life, but the bible says God knows the plans he has for you!! -Plans to prosper you and give you hope for the future. I am thankful to be your mom and feel very blessed to have you in my life. I hope this next year holds many new and exciting things for you my son....

This is Mark's new "pal" Cyrus. He loves to watch Jeff Dunham the ventriloquist. Jeff started with puppets when he was just 11 years old. I'm not sure that Mark will grow up to be the next Jeff Dunham, but I do think it would be cool if he keeps practicing and possibly used his puppetry talent to minister to the children at church one day!!!

He also got a new DSi from Grandma and Papa, which is a new and improved Nintendo DS. This one has a built in camera that allows you to do a lot of fun and crazy things with your photos. He's been having a lot of fun with this!!!! Mama and Papa gave him a nice chunk of change to spend. We had a small gathering of grandparents over tonight for a barbeque, and in mid July, he will be going to Lazer Rock to celebrate with some of his friends...

Powder Valley Nature Center

2009-06-25T11:16:00.001-07:00

Today I took Mackenzie, Corey, Connor (not pictured here) and Katerin to the Powder Valley Nature Center. I Love to go visit here, so we do so often. It's really neat to see this park during the different Seasons. Caleb had school this morning, so we got an early start, before it became to hot. We only hiked on one trail today. - I would have liked to have done more, but Connor wasn't cooperating.-(Always has to be one....). We then went inside to explore some of the fun things indoors. We got to see the busy bees making their honey, huge fish and snapping turtles, beautiful blue jays, and deer. It was a fun adventure that we won't soon forget!!!

This is a photo I captured of a spider web. I think it really turned out pretty cool. It resembles a C.D. or a DVD!!!!

Mackenzie had to bring Brandon along for the adventure. I think Corey looks cute admiring his big sis....

Here is a shot of Connor before he got crabby.....

Corey is looking so TALL!!!!!!!

This was one of my favorites I took of Katerin today...

Schooooools Out For Summer!!!!!!!!

2009-06-23T06:12:00.001-07:00

Well, school is out for the Summer, but there are a small amount of children that get to enjoy Summer school.-Caleb being one of them!!! My boys were enrolled in the At-Risk Program at our school this past Fall. It is a phenomenal Pre-K program that meets 5 days a week for 3hrs. The program is government funded which is fantastic, because we couldn't afford to put the triplets in pre-school. All the boys started out in the same class, but after about 8 weeks, they decided that Caleb would benefit from being in the smaller classroom, with lots of aides. He also receives speech therapy twice a week. The goal is to get him back into a class with his brothers. This year his teacher recommended Summer school for all the students. It meets 3 days a week for about 5 weeks. It's kind of a nice way to break up the day for Caleb. He really needs, and thrives on structure and overall he really does like school. The only part neither of us really enjoy is getting up at 7 A.M. This is his second week, and I literally had to carry out of bed, he was so tired.....

Gotta have a little chocolate milk before school you know.....

He loves his "umbwella". That was one of his favorite Birthday gifts, and even though it was just sprinkling, we needed it!!!L.O.L

Mackenzie wanted to see him get on the bus. Where'd your smile go Caleb?????

Workin' At The Car Wash....

2009-06-22T06:24:00.000-07:00

A good friend of ours once said, "How do you spell love?" The answer: T.I.M.E. That quote has stuck with me, and I couldn't agree anymore. Last week Mark and three of the kids decided to "love-up" on me by washing my van.- I mean THE van. Of course it's not really mine, I just drive it most of the time.L.O.L. Anyway, it really meant a lot, because usually when I run it through the car wash, I'm still left with a huge amount of bug residue in the front. Mark got all of the little critters off, and the kids scrubbed until everything looked shiny!!!!

Mackenzie going for some fresh water and more bubbles....

I think Corey has more bubbles on his arms, than on the sponge!!!

A quirky and a cheese pot grin....but still makin' mommy's van look shiny and clean!!!

At the end Connor was really getting into it, so much so, that off went the shirt!! He was down to some serious car washin'. -I love how he's standing on his tip-toes!!! The kids are lookin' for some things to do to keep them busy this Summer, so let them know if your ready to get "loved-up" on!!!!

Little Momma....

2009-06-17T10:31:00.001-07:00

I'm going through old photos for a project I'm working on, and I came across this picture. What a hoot!!! This is Mackenzie with my nephew Alex, playing house with Corey. Every now and then she would put one of the triplets in her doll stroller and pretend like they were her babies....So cute. She cracks me up with her little "sassy" stance. Recently she has started playing with her baby dolls again, and today I was asked to "baby-sit". I told her that was fine so long as she didn't stay out to late. Hard to believe one day I'll be a baby-sittin' Grandma for real....SIGH....

Just Keep Swimming, Swimming, Swimming.....

2009-06-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

Outdoor pool and fun pictures from our Indiana trip. The lighting was much better for these photos! The kids didn't want to spend to much time in the outdoor pool because apparently the chemicals were a little to strong, but I was able to get a few shots. I look forward to getting some fun Summer Photos at Hilltoppers where we swim everyweek!

Acting goofy, just like his dad....

Is that a cheese-pot grin or what?!?!?!?

Ready, Aim FIRE!!!!!!!!!! I'm still waiting to hear about some Summer Adventures that are planned and wondering if there would perhaps be any room in your trunk??? I think I may be in need of a kid-free vacation soon!!L.O.L.

Fun At The Indoor Pool

2009-06-13T09:11:00.001-07:00

The nice thing about arriving in Indiana on a Tues. afternoon, was that the kids had the pool and hot tub completely to themselves. They loved that.-So did mom since come night time, it was totally packed!!! I found myself constantly counting heads. 1,2,3,4,5,....They spent part of their time in the indoor pool and then would go over to the hot tub for some nice warm fun!!!

Here Mark and Mackenzie are enjoying some fun in the hot tub. (Not sure why the picture uploaded vertically...)

Time for the boys to get in for some action....

Connor was really having fun in the pool this year. He would spend most of his time just swimming around or putting his face in the water. He just loved the new goggles he got for his Birthday...

Here's Mackenzie with her George Washington hair....

Cute smiles from Mark..(Again not sure why the pic. uploaded this way..)

What day would be complete without a little craziness from the wildman?!?!?!?

Connor had to get in on the craziness too....

This is what Corey spends his time doing in the pool. He makes his way all around the perimeter of the pool by holding on to the edge. This is what he is comfortable with. Hopefully by the end of Summer, he will be right out there with the rest of the kids!!!

Meetin' Santa....

2009-06-12T07:43:00.000-07:00

This year, the budget would only allow for us to go on a short trip, so we decided to go to Holiday World in Indiana for a couple of days. The boys were really excited about meeting Santa and he was the first person they saw when they walked into the park. In fact, we were the very FIRST people to meet Santa on that day!!! Kind of exciting...Corey was a little stand offish at first. He let brother's do the first official greeting.

Then he finally joined them for a picture, but was sure not to take his eyes off of Santa...

Finally, the smile I know and love!!!!

This was Corey and Connor with Mackenzie at the front entrance of Holiday World. Caleb was to "busy" to get in the picture, and Mark was to "big". Three out of five isn't bad I guess...

This was of the boys in front of the only strip mall in Santa Claus Indiana... Not much of anything at all to do in that town other than Holiday World. Our dinner was at Subway both nights. My friend suggested that this would be a good place to open up a restaurant and retire someday!- I have to agee with her.

Mackenzie wanted in the photo too... She's always striking some kind of pose!!!

I just had to add this photo. Caleb was so tickled to be in the photo with Santa.-Real or not, it didn't matter to him....

Big smiles from Connor and Caleb. You can see Corey just off to the right. Not cooperating for mommy for a picture...The trip went pretty well. I have decided that being pent up in the car with the five little darlings for 4 hours is about the longest I can withstand at this point. We wanted to go to Disney in the near future if finances allowed, but I'm not sure I'm up for a fourteen hour drive just yet. Maybe in the future...Hope everyone is having a GREAT Summer. Let me know about any vacations your planning, maybe I can stow away in the car....L.O.L.

A Day At Grant's Farm...

2009-06-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

On Tuesdays I watch my girlfriends little girl, so I have decided to try to make this our "Field Trip" day. Mark is still on vacation this week, and since this morning was filled with chaos, we decided to divide and conquer. I set out with Mackenzie, Katerin, Corey and Connor. We were going to go to the zoo today, but decided to wait until we had grandma with us for that adventure. We ventured out to Grant's Farm. I'm so bummed the above photo was so washed out. Someone messed with the settings on my camera and I wasn't able to "fix" all of the photos of the day. I wanted to post this photo though, because it's still cute, even though Connor was in "one of his moods" SIGH........

This little guy quickly became Mackenzie and Katerins favorite. So much so, that Mackenzie thought we needed to bring him home....

Here is a shot of Connor feeding the goats with the girls...

When the goats started getting "aggressive", Katerin quikly passed her bottle off to Mackenzie...

Only for Mackenzie to pass it right back!!!!!!!!

Corey was so funny, he wanted to do EVERYTHING the girls did....Thankfully big sis didn't put up a stink about it!!!

The girls really had a GREAT time together. They have only known one another for a few short months, but act as if they have been life time friends!!!!

Memorial Day Cont. at Elephant Rocks...

2009-05-27T17:43:00.000-07:00

If you have never been to the Elephant Rocks State Park, I would highly recommend it. It is about 1 hour and 45 min. away from St. Louis. A great place to go with the family for fun and adventure. Pack a lunch and be prepared to climb, play and explore for the day. They have a children's play area and these incredibly HUGE rocks that you can climb on and explore. So much FUN!!!!!!!!! A great way to enjoy nature with the ones you love.....

Aren't the rocks GORGEOUS?!?!?!?

The boys had an absolute BLAST!!!!!!!!!!

Here's Caleb with Corey being Mr. Funny Guy!!!!!

Mackenzie's expression cracks me up here. They spotted a lizard and when I said, "It's right there by your feet", she got a little unsure.....

Connor-Boy....

Corey buildin' a bridge....

Caleb Michael....

Corey's climbin' the walls like spider-man...

Here's a group shot with my crew and our dear friends children Lauren and Landon...

Mark kinda lookin' like he just escaped out of the jungle with that hair!!!L.O.L.

We have all decided another trip is necessary and can't wait until we can go back for more fun and adventure.....

Memorial Day Weekend A Visit To The Black River...

2009-05-26T12:17:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning we packed lunches and headed out to the Black River with some friends of ours. We arrived after about a 2 hour drive. We decided to eat lunch than head down for some fun on a rocky "beach". We had a short walk from the campsite we parked at to the river itself. We got all comfy cozy and were just starting to enjoy watching the kids play when we felt some teensy tiny rain drops begin to fall. Than, came the thunder; overall, I think we were down at the rivers edge for 1 1/2 hours. I would have prefered to stay longer, and wouldn't you figure by the time we got everything back to the car, and everyone loaded in, the rain stopped. SIGH.....Well, we decided we are going to try this again real soon, and we will definantly bring the boys life jackets. Some of the currents were pretty strong.....

Caleb definantly needs to eat a little more.-He's lookin' pretty thin....

My silly boy....

Notice how clear the water is?

Mackenzie is really concentrating holding on here, so the current doesn't pull her down river....

Click on the picture to get a larger view of this one. Caleb's face is priceless. This boy LOVES adventure!!!!

This is one of the things Connor "constructed" while we ate lunch at the campsite....After we left Black River, we stopped at the Elephant Rocks. I will post pictures of this soon. Hope everyone had a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!!

Boys Night Out...

2009-05-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

The boys had a really fun first day of Summer. After visiting the Museum of Transport on Thursday, dad took them and big brother for a Boys Night Out!!! They all got to go bowling. What a good time they had. Mom thinks they need to do that at least once a week, it allowed me to get the floors mopped without little feet trampling on them!-How nice.....Anyway, they had a very good time up till the point when dad tried to give big brother instruction.-Mark doesn't like to be "taught" he thinks he is pretty expert on most things...

Here was Mark having a good time.-Obviously before the "instruction" began....

My boys.....Hangin' out waiting for a ball...

Isn't this the coolest thing? The boys no longer have to put the ball on the ground and push....

All the boys watching to see if Caleb is going to get a strike!!!-Maybe someday big guy!!

Fun At The Museum Of Transport

2009-05-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

Today was the triplets first day of Summer Vacation. Mark and Mackenzie have until the middle of next week. I wanted to be able to take them somewhere special for their first day off. So at 8:30 this morning we packed up and headed over to the Museum of Transport. I haven't been there since Mark was about two, and since then, they have added "Creation Station", which is a hands on educational place to "play". They charge 1.50 for the kids to play for 1 hour. I really lucked out, and we had the whole place to ourselves! The boys had a blast. The above photo is to remember what they looked like after completing their first year of preschool. You would think Caleb would be a little happier; maybe he knows Summer school is right around the corner for him.....

Now there is the smile I know and LOVE.....(Doesn't Connor look so proud of his "little" brother?)

One of the many trains we got to see today. The boys even got to ring the bell on one of the large locomotives..They thought that was the coolest!!!

Here is Corey and Connor playing with the farm in the Creation Station....

Caleb really enjoyed the train table and spent most of his time here...

I got to watch a puppet show that Corey put on....

Connor was in Choo Choo HEAVEN.....

This is a photo of half of the room. They had a variety of stations set up for the kids to play at. Towards the back was a lady the does crafts with the children.FUN!!!!

This was also a BIG hit! The boys got to sail on their very own Pirate Ship!! How cool is that?!?!?!

A pirate has to make sure his hat is just right....

Ahoy Matey's time to sail away with Caleb....

AAAAAARRRRRR Pirate Captain Connor will take you for the ride of your life....We also got to take the shuttle to ride the "little" train around the track two times, and a ride on a real trolley!! The boys really had a great time. It was a GREAT way to start the Summer, and I hope that my plan for a "weekly fieldtrip" proves to be as enjoyable as today was!!!!

Caleb's Rash...

2009-05-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

Poor Caleb has had such a rough time recovering from his tonsil and adnoid removal surgery. On May 7th he had the procedure and exactly 8 days later, he broke out in this awful rash. So ironic, because when Mark had the same surgery in 2nd Grade, exactly 8 days later he broke out in a rash!!!! They do not tell you that after this surgery to be watching for a rash, but so weird how both of my boys developed one. Mark's was slightly different though, covering nearly his whole body, also accompanied by fever and irritability. We think now that he may have had a case of Roseola. Caleb's rash is due to a reaction to the meds and thankfully has not spread anymore over the last couple days. I do have to limit his time outside though, because it makes him very itchy. I am hoping that he will recover quickly, because we are leaving for a short trip on June 2nd to Holiday World. Yep, we're going to see the big guy!!! If you want us to put in a good word for you and tell Santa that you have been very GOOD this year, just drop us a line!!!!

D.A.R.E. Graduation

2009-05-19T06:57:00.000-07:00

Last night Mark, along with his fifth grade class, had a Graduation Recognition Ceremony for completing the D.A.R.E. program through school. This is the first year the principal held the award ceremony in the evening. He wanted the parents to be able to participate in the recognition of these outstanding students. I was very pleased with the ceremony. The Chief of Police led us in prayer, and even quoted some scripture verses in his presentation. I am proud of all the children for partaking in this program and hope as they grow, they can remember what they have learned.

This is Mark receiving his award.-I cropped the photo on Picnik.com, but I am not sure why the black is around the photo...

When we got home, I told him I wanted a picture of him with his certificate. He was very proud of it and hung it on his bedroom wall right away!!

Then we got dad in for a shot...

You can't leave out little sis....

Corey was so proud to hold his certificate, although I'm sure he has no clue what it even is!!!

Connor absolutely refused to smile, because he was upset about something.-Not even sure what anymore...Caleb unfortunately wasn't in any photos. As soon as we got home he went inside to crash on the couch. He has had an awful time recovering from his tonsil and adnoid removal; which explains why I have had NO time to keep up with my blogging. Friday he broke out in a rash and yesterday he was spitting up blood. A trip to the doctor revealed a drug reaction causing the rash and blood from the scabs falling off. Tomorrow I will post photos of the rash.

On a lighter note, I want to say that I am very proud of you Mark for completing the D.A.R.E. Program, and I hope that as you grow, you will remember and put into practice the things that you have learned!!!

Update on Caleb Recovering From Surgery...

2009-05-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

I feel like I have been so out of touch with everything and everyone since last Thursday when Caleb had his tonsils and adnoids removed. Out of all five of our children, we have had the most visits to the hospital with this little guy. When he was 2 he got a hold of tylenol and overdosed on a medication that was supposedly in a "child-proof" container. Than 6 mos. ago, he got tubes in his ears. That pretty much went off without a hitch. Getting his tonsils and adnoids removed however has really brought him down. They did the surgery on Thurs. Mark and I arrived at the hospital at 5:30 A.M. They gave him his "cocktail" at about 7 a.m. He was so funny.... When daddy was holding him, he continually needed to be reassured it was daddy.-I think he was seeing doubles. By the time I was holding him, he developed a "fascination" with my nose. He would point to my nose and say "EEEWWWW". Than, "That's caca" (our term for sick, yucky, etc.) He wouldn't let up for a good 10min. I was starting to get a little paranoid.L.O.L. Than, we were informed the Doctor was running late and that they would maybe have to give him another "cocktail". I was not to keen on the idea of him receiving more drugs, but they assured me he would be fine. Fortunately, he didn't need a second dose, and the surgery went well. The recovery however has been very draining. I am very blessed that Mark could take off work and be home to help with him. Caleb has required a lot of care and Mark has pretty much done most of it while I have tended to the other four kids. I will tell you when you see your child in such pain, and you can't do much for him, it gives you a whole new perspective of what parents go through that have terminally ill children. I have a new compassion for them and I have thanked the Lord that he has given my family and I good health. Today was Caleb's first day without daddy. He has really struggled with this. He told me he needed to go to work. I said you have to be a daddy to go to work. His response, "No I Caleb, and I GO TO WORK..." Poor baby. His post-op visit is Wed. I hope he will be able to return to school on Thurs. I'll post more later.

Bubble Blowin' In Daddy's Pick-up Truck....

2009-05-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was absoulutely GORGEOUS outside, so bye bye naps, hello BUBBLES!!!

Connor caught a BIG one....

Silly silly boy Caleb....

Connor trying to blow the PERFECT bubble... Why is it when children turn 4, they suddenly look so grown up?!?!?!

"Look at that one go mom....."

Nothin' better than blowin' bubbles in the back of the pick-up truck.....

Good one Caleb!!!!

Another day of precious moments, precious memories made with my little boys.....I'm actually looking forward to this Summer with them. Let the good times roll......

My Child You Never Knew....

2009-05-01T08:05:00.000-07:00

April is THE month for Birthdays in this home. Yesterday marked the 12th year that I delivered Adriana Nicole; our first born, the child you never knew..... Last week I pulled out the only memories I have from my first born. A little sleeper she never got to wear, photos, sympathy cards and the baby book that we received from the funeral home. I wanted to "reconnect" with my little girl that I never really got to know. In the midst of going through everything, I pulled out the envelope that holds the letter I wrote for her while she was still in my womb.-This was written before we knew she was "sick" with Trisomy 13. It reads like this....
Darling sweet baby of mine, you have been growing within me for a total of three months now.-It has been the most wonderful three months of my whole life! Daddy and I waited a very long time for you. One whole year went past when we decided to seek the help of the doctors. After another long and tiresome three months of being at the doctor, while having been poked and prodded with needles, and doing many uncomfortable things every week, you were finally conceived.-Oct. 7, 1996 to be exact on the date.(This is grandma's birthday, what a gift!) I'll never forget when the nurse called me at work to tell me the good news. I was truly amazed and so grateful to God for answering our long cried out prayer. From the moment I found out you were growing within me, all of the hurt, pain, confusion, and frustration all left me. All I could think of was in nine short months we'd being meeting our precious little angel sent from above for the first time! You were truly wanted my dear sweet baby, and daddy and I will love you so very much until the day we go home to be with the Lord!

Little did I know when I wrote this note, that she would be going "home" much sooner than I ever imagined....At 19 weeks we found out that Adriana had Trisomy 13 which is a genetic disorder. The doctors strongly encouraged us to abort her, by we knew that was definantly NOT an option. They said to prepare ourselves for her to pass at any time.-These "type" of babies rarely survive in the womb for long. Days weeks and even months passed, and I thought sure God was going to allow us some time with our baby girl. I began gathering books from the library so Mark and I could educate ourselves on how to care for a Trisomy 13 baby. Then at 32 weeks, I delivered her stillborn. 2lb. 2oz. with a head of jet black hair. Her tiny feet were the most perfect thing on her precious little body. Ten tiny little toes. As is common with Trisomy babies, she had an extra pinky on her left hand. Her ears were perfectly formed, yet set low on her head.-Also very common. The most striking thing was she didn't have a nose. I know this is very difficult to imagine, but even this didn't come to a surprise to me. I remember very clearly when I showed mom her ultrasound profile at just 19 weeks I said, "Look mom, it doesn't look like she has a nose.." Mom's reply, " That's silly Kelly, every baby has a nose..." Yet my little angel didn't. When the doctor presented her to me, I simply said, "Huh, she doesn't have a nose..." I think God was preparing me for this back in the beginning. After delivering her, the hospital let us spend as much time with her as we needed. They dressed her and brought her to me in a little moses basket. Family was there and a few very dear friends. I got some photos, but oh how I wish I would have taken more... I have nothing to remember those precious little tiny feet by. I didn't allow my friend to take photos of me with her, which now I surely regret. The hardest thing for me was to hand her back over to the nurses and to go up to my room empty handed. Even harder leaving the hospital with empty arms..... Adriana was not "perfect" by the world' s standards but to me she was BEAUTIFUL. My heart still aches for what never was with her. God has surely blessed me with an abundance of children, but I still feel an emptiness and like our family just isn't complete... As I was thinking about her yesterday, I began to wonder if they celebrate Birthdays in heaven? I began to think about once again what she may look like. I don't know why, but I envision her with hair down to the middle of her back the color of her daddy's with soft waves. Her eyes are also the color of her daddy's. I do know that she is fully restored now, with no imperfections. I do know that when I go "home" that she will be at heavens gate waiting for me along with some very special loved ones that have already passed on...

Thankful.....Are You?????

2009-04-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

Today I am thankful. Thankful that Mark has a job that allows me the opportunity to be able to stay home and raise these children that God has blessed us with. Thankful that he is able, for the most part, to be home by 4:00 to help relieve mama of her neverending duties. Thankful that he makes enough money to put food on our table. Our pantry is full and the fridge is well stocked. There are however, many people that aren't as fortunate. I love working with the Food Pantry at church whenever I get a chance. It helps me keep things in prespective and reminds me just how blessed I am. Today was one of those days. I knew I only had one hour to give, but I wanted to be a part of the outreach today. Normally the Pantry is open everyother Friday, but today was a special day. The St. Louis Food Bank was bringing in food that we could use to bless the Monroe County residents with. There were 50lb. bags of carrots, 3lb. bags of onions, cases of apples, turkey meat, corn, spaghetti (sp?) and even Gatorade. I've never seen so many carrots in my entire life and I swear I will be dreaming about carrots tonight when I sleep!!!! There were around 15-20 Hopers Packing food today to bless the less fortunate with. What really struck me was when I pulled up 1 hour before they would be passing the food out, and seeing the long line of cars waiting. I was told some had been there since 7:15. They were willing to wait in line for 4 hours for food!!!!! I tend to take for granted that which God has blessed me with. I tend to take for granted when I am hungry, I can walk in my kitchen, and my need will be met. I am thankful to God blessing me and my family and for all the good things he has given me. What are you thankful for???

Birthday Bash!!!

2009-04-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official, my "babies" are growing up!!! Their party went real well. We kept it fairly simple this year with family only. We however had 13 kiddos running around from the family, which made for a FUN party. The weather was absolutely GORGEOUS, so the kids were outside most of the time jumping on the trampoline, riding the moped, playing ball, and blowing bubbles. It was great!! We kept the menu simple, hot dogs, with a few sides and chips. I'm learning that simple is O.K., the main thing is to be able to get together and celebrate with family. The next series of photos are great, because they kind of tell a story.....

Connor is getting ready to pinch Corey, because he touched the cake.....

Gasp!! Caleb says, "He did what!?!?!?"

Corey telling Connor, "If you ever do that again, your going to get it.." Connor is totally ignoring him and Caleb, who knows what he's doing....

Then the confrontation is over, as quickly as it started and we begin to put the candles on the cake....

Corey's favorite gift was a SpongeBob basketball....

Connor got a tractor. Yeah I know he looks real thrilled but he does love it! He was so proud of his Birthday crown from school he wore it for the entire party!!!

Caleb is happy as ever. He waited for 4 weeks for his "umbwella!!"

Here's a shot of the three together checking out the goods....

This picture cracks me up. Connor my O.C.D. boy is thinkin' who is going to clean this mess up?!?!?! This my friends is what a triplets Birthday Bash looks like. PRESENTS EVERYWHERE!!!!!

The Eve Before My Boys 4th Birthday....

2009-04-24T07:33:00.000-07:00

As I write this post I realize it was nearly 4 years ago, that my world was forever changed. This has been an emotional post for me. The photo above was taken 2 days before my baby boys arrived.-My own self-portrait! The next one is of me and Mark and Mackenzie right before going to the hospital.- I think it's so cute how Mackenzie has her hand on her stomach.... When I started going through all of these photos of the innocence and most precious gifts God has ever given me I was very humbled. He chose ME to carry and be the parent to these precious little boys. I have often abused that privelage, by not always loving them as I should.-Caught up in the moment in the stress of all of lifes happenings. Life as I knew it changed so drastically in one short afternoon. I went from raising 2 children to all of a sudden 5!!! I really needed to make adjustments to survive in this new lifestyle. Before the boys arrived, I was a very scheduled/orderly person. I had to learn to relinguish control and to live in the moment. I had to know if the dishes didn't get done and the beds weren't made, that was O.K.!!! A good day for me was if all of the children were fed and had clean clothes on!! I remember the days very clearly when I look at these photographs, and I am so thankful I have them, but so much of the other days "in-between", I have no recollection. Thankfully my mom blessed us with help 2 days a week from 8-6. She would come in do the laundry, dishes, cook meals, and help me feed and care for the babies and Mark and Mackenzie. I don't know how I could have possibly survived without her help. She has been such a blessing to me and my family. Other than my mom, Mark and I did most everything by ourselves.-Not that we didn't have offers of help, but rather that I wanted to keep life as "normal" as possible. There were some weekends that we had very close friends keep a baby overnight so that I could get a little more much needed sleep. That was an awesome gift, and for that too I am very grateful....I look at these photos and rejoice at the perfect little beings God created for me and I am FOREVER thankful. I can't dwell in the past. I most look forward and make the rest of these years I have with them the best that I can.....

I marvel at all the nurses and doctors that needed to be in the delivery room.....

Corey James Yochum 4lb.90z.

Connor David Yochum 4lb.80z.

Caleb Michael Yochum 5lb. Caleb had to be on C-Pap. We were not allowed to hold him for several days. I really struggled with this. I didn't bond very well to him initially.-Perhaps I didn't want to make that connection in case something went terribly wrong.... This was very difficult for me.

I LOVE this picture of Connor. He was always so ALERT and wide-eyed....

Connor-My sleeping angel....

This was a neat photo of Corey. It shows just how tiny he was....

Here's Mackenzie with baby Caleb. The first day we got to hold him. Caleb is her little mini-me.-Everybody tells me so....

My Dishwasher Broke, So I Had To Get A New One....

2009-04-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

My dishwasher broke a couple of weeks ago, so I figured with all of these kids, certainly I could get SOMEBODY to help me with the neverending dishes duty!!! -Just kidding it didn't really break, and if it did, I highly doubt Corey would be the one volunteering for the job. For the most part he is not very motivated. In general, if I want something done, I know I can always count on Mackenzie or Connor. This day however, Corey decided he wanted to help mom in the kitchen and since he is generally lazy, I mean unmotivated, I thought who am I to spoil his fun!!!

He had quite a stack of dishes goin' there, and no, they weren't rinsed after they were washed, but that's o.k......

I love the action of the water pouring here. He loved it too; so much so that I had to MOP the floor when he was done!!!

Cute little hands with tiny little bubbles.....

Birthday Party Fun....

2009-04-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

Mackenzie wanted to have an overnight party this year, so she had her three closest friends to spend the night with her. Taylor (with the glasses) is an older neighbor girl who is more like Mackenzie's big sister; She only got to stay at the party for a short time.

Her BFF arrived later in the evening because her mom had to work.....

This was her favorite card which plays the Hamster Dance tune... Very fitting, because her FAVORITE gift was her new hamster TEDDY....

She loves this little guy as does her four brothers. I just love his little paws in this picture.-To cute!!! The girls had a good time eating pizza, cookie cake and watching Bedtime Stories. It was a very late night for them. They were up until 11:00.- Which I thought was late considering most Friday nights Mackenzie is exhausted from a full week of school. Then they were up at 5:30 a.m.!-Way to early for mom. We made pancakes in the morning and than we went "park-hoppin'" and exploring on some trails. Overall, I think the girls had a really good time. Later that evening, we had the grandparents over for hamburgers and hotdogs. Mackenzie had a very FULL day and I hope this next year has many good things in store for her. I'm excited to watch her grow......

Celebrating Mackenzie....Today she turned 8!!!

2009-04-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

Sixth Birthday celebrating at Woody's Cafe with 10 of her friends...

It's hard to believe eight years ago today, God blessed me with this most awesome gift. A little girl that I would actually be blessed to be able to keep, and watch grow!!! I have enjoyed my years with her and each year, I can see her blossoming into the little girl that God created her to be. He has given her a kind, loving heart and an incredible ability to write. She loves to draw pictures and she's most certainly the apple of her daddy's eye! She can make you laugh even when you are having a bad day. - I say she definantly is a good mixture of daddy and I. She is quick to think about the needs of others and really ENJOYS learning!!! She has required little to no help in school and brings home straight A's.-That has been such a relieve to me, considering I still need to help big brother in school prepping for tests and other things....She is very compassionate and LOVES animals. In fact she decided for her Birthday she wanted dad to build her a clubhouse. When she found out we would not let her sleep in it everynight, she decided against it.-Much to the relief of dad!!! Somehow, she managed to talk me into letting her get a hamster. So now, we have added yet another "addition" to the family. -I will post pictures soon. She has been a joy to me. I am so thankful for her. I treasure our times together when we get to do "girl" things. Shopping, nails, a quiet afternoon together. I sometimes wonder what our relationship will be like when she grows. I hope and pray we will always stay close and that she knows how very blessed I am to call her "MY DAUGHTER".......

Well Hellooooo Mr. Frog.....

2009-04-15T11:55:00.001-07:00

About 2 1/2 weeks ago the boys were playing outside after school and happened to discover Mr. Frog hiding under my van. They soon decided they wanted him to come out and play. So began the chase.....I was quite surprised that Connor was the only one pursuing Mr. Frog while the other 2 watched at a distance.....

Then he decided he was going to try to catch Mr. Frog so he could show him to Mark when he arrived home.....

It wasn't long, and Mr. Frog was "trapped!"

Caleb and Corey were still a little on guard, so they decided to observe from a slight distance...

Then Corey came over to congratulate Connor with a pat on the back for a job well done!!

Connor was quite proud of his frog catching expertise!!!! F.Y.I. No frog was injured in the shooting of any of these photos. Connor soon released Mr. Froggy to go find his mommy......

Easter Egg Fun!!!!!

2009-04-12T15:59:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung!!! WooHoo!!! With Spring there are not only beautiful fresh blossoms on the trees, but Gorgeous daffodils! Spring represents a new start. A time of new beginnings. I LOVE Spring. Spring is the time we celebrate the resurrection of our Christ. On the way to grandma's yesterday for an early Easter Celebration, Mackenzie questioned how hunting eggs fit in with celebrating Christ rising from the dead. I told her that was a tradition that was started long ago, but that it had nothing to do with the real reason we celebrate Easter. Her response was, "Who started the tradition?" Corey replied, "Grandma did." Too cute.... Anyway, this was the first year the triplets have experienced coloring Easter eggs. They are going to be 4 in a couple of weeks and I have never given them this experience... I know, bad mama. I truly didn't want to deal with the mess three little boys could potentially make with egg dye. This year, I finally broke down and gave them the experience.-They loved it. I let the boys each dye three eggs and that was sufficient for them and not overwhelming for mama. Here are some photos of their first egg dying experience along with big brother and big sis....

Corey got a little carried away, and forgot to use the "egg dipper!"

Now that's coordination!!!!

Corey's finished products. SpongeBob of course!!!!!

Caleb chose Patrick.....

Connor was frustrated because he couldn't get his stickers to stick just right....

Mark's finished product!!Pretty cool huh?!?!?!

Mackenzie was pleased with her finished product...

MMMMM,MMMMM Good........

2009-04-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

The reason for all of the "old" Pics. is because I am still waiting on Mark to receive the cord we need to transfer the current pics. from the camera to the computer. Our other one got lost. So, I thought I'd spend a couple of weeks going back in time. Many of you didn't get to see photos of the kiddos when they were young, so I thought you might enjoy it anyway. One hot Summer Day, I decided to give the boys a taste of the "Good Ole' Summer Time"! They weren't really sure what to do at first, than they quickly got the hang of it and totally LOVED it!!!

Corey just starting out......

Caleb being the silly boy he is, thought it was the funniest thing he'd ever seen.....

Connors thinking," Oh yeah baby more food!!!"

Then Caleb had to take a little break for some of his every day teasing...Doesn't seem to phase Connor a bit. He is totally zoned in on that watermelon!!!

"Hey Corey, what are you doin' down there?"

I tried to get one of those cute baby feet shots....Not my best for sure, but still cute.

This is Caleb of course....He truly cracks me up!!!!

Corey is totally savoring this bite....Notice the drip on his chin?!?!?!?!? I am looking back on all of these old photos, and it kind of makes me miss my little boys at this age. I feel like that time was so long ago. As crazy as it was in those days, I do have some sweet memories that will remained tucked in my heart forever!!

Being a Big Brother.....

2009-04-06T11:59:00.001-07:00

Being a big brother comes with A Lot of responsibilities.....

You must teach your little sister the rules of football...

How to get all of the gunk out of the pumpkin..(Mackenzie's face is priceless!)

How to have fun in the good ole' Summer time...

How to drive a go-cart.....

Then along come baby brothers, and the list grows..... How to play video games....(Corey got his first lesson at 3mos. old!)

How to make the BEST fishy face....(Caleb is trying to figure out how he does that!)

How to dress very stylish...(Connor looks like he doesn't really care!)

And, how to read....(Corey did like when big brother would read to him!)

I think overall Mark has enjoyed being the big brother. He likes to teach his sister and brothers things he has learned...Sometimes they are not always the best things to be learning though according to mom! He has handled the responsibilities pretty well for the most part. It's not always easy being a big brother to 3 little boys the same age. There are many times he gets very frustrated with them and if I am to be honest he gets frustrated with his sister daily, but that is part of having siblings!

My Boys......Back Then

2009-04-04T07:13:00.001-07:00

Oh, back in the day...These were taken when the boys were just getting use to sitting up. I took them out in the front yard for a little photo shoot and fun. I thought this photo was so precious of Caleb, so I decided to mess around with it a bit at picnik.com. I like how it turned out. I so miss his tiny little baby hands......

Here it is in color...

Poor guy. Mommy didn't even get him out of his jammies for his pictures.....

It doen't seem to bother him a bit...

Then there is Corey... Could you not just pinch those CHEEKS?!?!?!?!

This photo always cracks me up. Corey is fascinated with the ball, and poor Connor tumbles over right behind him.....

They almost look like identical twins here...This was the time when they favored one another. Now I think Connor and Caleb tend to resemble one another.....
AAAAHHHHHH they look so sweet....Notice Connor has a tiny leaf in his hand. What do you think he is going to do with it?

Yep, in the mouth it goes!!! Connor was always eating something!!! Corey looks away, "Nope mom, I didn't see a thing......"

Bucket Heads!!!!

2009-03-31T07:19:00.000-07:00

About two years ago when the boys had just turned 2 we had a play day outside with the water table. Caleb found a sand bucket and being the silly boy he is, decided to put it on his head. Corey and Connor had to join in on the fun, so they grabbed my planter buckets off the patio.-Dirt and all!! This is why I think taking pictures are so important. I would not have remembered this "ordinary" day, but when I stumbled upon these photos, the memories of that day came flooding back to me.....

Connor

Corey is crackin' up!!-Look at the dirt on his bucket...

Not sure where Caleb wondered off to.....

My Three Sons......

2009-03-28T19:27:00.001-07:00

Corey such a sweet shot and so typical him. Nuthin' better than his thumb and good ole' blankey......

Connor Boy, my middle man and also the one I can always count on to get things done. A couple of weeks ago, I had the Swiffer out cleaning the floors. Connor didn't nap that day, so he was observing me mop the floor. He says, and I kid you not "OOOOHHHH mom I like dat. Can I have one of those for Christmas?" L.O.L

Than there is Caleb. My funny one. Who is into acting silly for photos now. He'll do anything for a good laugh...

I caught this shot of Connor and Caleb looking through the fence at the neighbors dog. I thought it was too sweet. I really like how the edited version turned out...it gives it kind of a vintage look.

Silly Silly Boy......

2009-03-24T07:01:00.001-07:00

O.K. so I'm outside last week getting photos of all the kids for the blog. I of course had none of Mark. "Mark let me take your picture for the blog." At first it's "No Mom!!!" Then he stops and gives me a great smile. I'm not sure what happened next, but his face started to contort in all these different positions. I guess he's more like his father than I ever realized!L.O.L.....

Gotta love that boy!!!!!

He Shoots, He Scores!!!!!!

2009-03-22T17:27:00.001-07:00

Caleb was out "shootin' hoops" last week, and I was able to get some really GREAT shots!

Look as he watches in anticipation to see if he's going to make it or not...

In it goes! Even the ball is smiling!!!

Sweer victory!!!-Gotta love the hands raised in victory..... I know that Caleb already has a passion for sports. He is so good at whatever he tries.-Much like his older brother. I think they will be good competition for each other as Caleb gets older. It's so great to see how he really tries to keep up with Mark when he is out shootin' hoops. He tries to mimick a lot of his moves.-It's just too cute!! It'll be exciting to see what he does with his God-given talents.....

My Daughter, My Friend.....

2009-03-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

Mackenzie, My Daughter, My Friend.-Truly she is. There is something to be said about a mother/daughter relationship. There is an understanding between us, that can only occur with a mother and a daughter. She can read me better than any of my sons. About 3 weeks back, I was going through a very difficult time. Mackenzie loves to draw and write books, and many times this is how she communicates her feelings to me. She wrote a book for me etitled "Princess Kelly". The front page started with a hand sketched photo of Princess Kelly with very angry eyes, and I kid you not wearing devils horns. How ironic, since I often saw myself as the devil himself when I would spend my day disciplining my children out of anger and rage. The story went on to say how Princess Kelly was not happy and how something was very wrong. She couldn't have been more right. My life was absolutely FALLING apart. I was headed nowhere fast. Then, I decided to take a weekend a way to get on my face before the Lord to seek his will for my life. At that point, my life took a radical change. After confessing my sins before the Lord, trying to make my heart right, so I could receive from him what he would have to tell me about his direction for my life, things began to fall into place. I finally had a peace about me. You know that kind of peace that surpasses all understanding? I came home and the atmosphere had changed in my home. Things were different. I could feel the presence of the holy spirit once again present in our home. After a week of that incredible peace, Mackenzie decided to write me a poem:

These are flowers for my mommy. I would write you a little something.
K is for kind and a loving heart
E is for excited with joy
L is for loving and passion
L is for laughter and care
Y is for wait a minute, you are so pretty that's for Y.
I love you. It's like me finding crystals in a cave, wait more than that!!

Your daughter,
Mackenzie
I can't tell you what that meant to me. The evidence of God's MERCY and GRACE is clearly evident here through the gift of my precious daughter. When we think our children aren't watching, just be reminded they are watching EVERYTHING we say and DO.

Walkin' On Sunshine!!!!

2009-03-17T16:12:00.001-07:00

God is finally blessing us with some sunshine!!!! The boys have been making the most of it by spending much of their time outside. Here is Caleb proudly displaying the little rabbit he got at Wal-Mart when the boys had some "daddy-time." He is so funny, anytime he gets something new, that is what he carries around with him for days!

I LOVE the way Corey's face is illuminated here...

Sweet Connor-Boy showing off his new bunny....

"Where is Connor?"

"Peek a Boo Corey!"

I love when I catch moments like this..."Let me help you up brudder" Priceless....

Corey is "on-call" just in case Connor may need a hand...

The end of the photo shoot. Corey was in the process of pinching Connor. You can't really tell it here, but it was seconds after that he decided to give him a little squeeze....."Why?" you might say. Don't know, that's just Corey.....

Meeting Uncle Todd's New Puppy!!!

2009-03-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday Uncle Todd and Aunt Lisa brought over their "newest addition" to visit. Cyrus is an English Mastiff that may look cute and cuddly now, but very well can grow up to be 200+lbs.!!!!!

Is he not the cutest little thing?

I had a hard time getting a good shot of him. They had just picked him up from the breeder, and I think he was still trying to figure out what was going on....

At just 7 weeks old here, you can imagine how big this boy is going to get!

This was probably the best shot I got of him...

He absolutely LOVED Mark! As soon as Mark sat down, Cyrus climbed right into his lap and made himself very comfortable...

Kisses for Mark....

Cyrus really brought out the tender side of Mark.....

Where I Wish I Could Be......

2009-03-13T08:11:00.001-07:00

I would do almost ANYTHING to be right here right now. I am so done with Winter. To be able to relax and lay all my troubles aside if only for a moment, would be so refreshing to my spirit.... This was taken on our Florida trip of 2004. Pre triplet days. I often like to look at these photos and remember just how different my life once was.

It just doesn't get any better than this. She was absolutely LOVIN' life here!!!!

Mark loved jumping the waves...

This was taken at Busch Gardens. My Uncle worked at Anhesuer Busch, and he blessed us with free tickets....

This was my favorite photo of Mark and Mackenzie together. They look so sweet and so tiny. I miss those days of such pure innocence.....

Bubbles Bubbles Everywhere!!!!

2009-03-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

Do you think this face is saying, "Yeah, Spring is here, and I am soooo HAPPY?????" These were taken 2 years ago. Caleb was luvin' life and the fact that we could get outside of the 4 walls that had us cooped up all Winter. I chose this post today because like all of you, I can't wait for SPRING to arrive!

Silly Silly Boy.....

The boys had just got a new bubble machine for their Birthday. They thought it was the COOLEST thing ever! Notice Connor bending down trying to figure out where all the bubbles are coming from?

Corey had fun catching and popping the bubbles....

Connor did too, but you can see he is a little more intense, just trying to figure out how this machine is creating all of this "magic"...."There's a bubble right there, maybe I'll try to touch it!"

Corey getting ready to do the bubble dance! Oh happy day, Spring has arrived!!!

Goin' Back In Time.... A Glimpse Of Some Of My All Time Favorite Photos!

2009-03-06T16:19:00.001-08:00

This picture was taken when the boys were 6 mos. old. Not so much that it is a "great shot", but special, because it is the first one I have of them ALL smiling!!!

I got this idea out of my Triplet Magazine. They were about 4 mos. old.

One of my absolute FAVORITES of Caleb. His eyes are incredible here. He was 3 mos.

Sweet Baby Corey at 3mos. He was not very photogenic and so many shots I had of him as an infant, he had his tongue hanging out!!!! This one is so sweet of him though. I love the arms in this one!!

My Connor Boy at 7 mos. I think he looks so handsome and business-like here!

Connor at 6 weeks. Probably thinking, "Mommy whatever are you doing to me?"

Mark at the Falls. 8 Years old.

Miss Mackenzie. Summer of 2006.

Caleb at 6 weeks. He did much better with the neck control. I tried to get a shot of Corey like this, but it never worked out.

My Mackenzie on her 4 year old photo shoot at the Falls.

Mark at his annual Fall's shot. 9 years old. He looks so grown up here!!!!

A Day At The Park!!!

2009-03-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

Last week were blessed with such a beautiful day, that I decided to forgo naps and enjoy the afternoon outside. We went to two different parks, played on the equipment, and the boys got to ride there bikes and big wheels.

I love this photo of Connor. He can be very photogenic when he cooperates. I'm trying different angles and things with my photography.-Trying to get out of the habit of having every shot being centered.

Corey enjoyed the swings too. He's really come a long way. Before he never wanted to be pushed to high, now he is wanting underdogs!!!

The serious side of Caleb. He didn't get on the swings that day, so I couldn't get a good swing shot of him. He was kind of all over the place that day, so not much of anything. That's the way it seems to go though. Some days I get a ton of shots of one of the boys, and not so much of any of the others..

A Peaceful Sunday Morning....Or So I Thought

2009-03-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

This is how Sunday Morning started. The boys were fresh out of the tub, lookin' cute for church and playing so GOOD together. I have been trying to get in the habit of taking more "everyday life shots", so I grabbed the camera...

Then big "brudder" joins in. How cute is that?

Corey insisted I get a shot of him in his new Spongebob shades...

Caleb didn't like him having the spotlight. "Take a picture of me mommy!" -Gotta love those eyes!!!

Here is Corey with his "anything you can do I can do better "antics. He loves to imitate anyone. Sometimes very cute other times simply annoying.....

Mark was actually wanting to be part of the picture taking today!

I love you "brudder"....

A sweet kiss for my brudder, my friend....

Love this picture. See how great the morning was going? I was basking in the peace....

Big sister came in for some action too....

Connor decided to take a break from playing and also get in on the action....That is when the problem began....

He took Corey's SpongeBob glasses in one quick swipe. As you can see this was not O.K....Hello trouble, goodbye peace!

Corey looks like he's getting ready to deck him, and Caleb cracks me up, because he is still smilin' and posin'.....Fortunately Connor kept a sense of humor and didn't fight back. It could have turned nasty. Just look at Caleb, he's still smilin' as if nothin' is even going on.....Too funny.

A Day at Build A Bear....

2009-02-28T17:17:00.000-08:00

I decided to take Mackenzie to Build a Bear yesterday in order to hopefully fill up the sadness and emptiness she was feeling. We had to give our Black Lab Bailey to another family on Thursday. About 2 months ago, Bailey decided she wanted to be over with the neighbors toy poodle to play whenever possible. Poodles owners weren't to keen on these "play dates." She would run out everytime one of the boys would go out the door. I couldn't control her, so we had to find her a new home. Mackenzie was absolutely heartbroken. I had the idea to take her to Build a Bear so she could build a "Bailey" she could keep FOREVER. Of course the boys had to build something to, so I justified it as an early Birthday present for them. The photo above is Mackenzie making sure Bailey feels "just right."

Giving Bailey her first of many hugs....

Then she chose a heart for her Bailey....

Next Corey chose a little brown and white puppy which he named Carly. This is the 2nd time he has built a bear, but the first time he probably understood and got something out of it.....

Corey thought Carley felt just right...

He didn't quite understand the concept of catching a heart for Carley, so big sister helped him..

Then came Connor. I tried to encourage him to get an animal that was different than Corey's, but he was persistant. His puppy is also named Bailey...

Caleb, bless his heart, only wanted this tiny prestuffed bear. He has carried this little guy, which he has named Brendan, around all day today..

Then came time for bathing the puppies....

Everyone did a GREAT job. The puppies were smelling so fresh when we left!!!

Notice Connor looking up at the yellow spout. He is trying to figure out how it is working..

Then he has to touch the "air" blowing out. He is always so inquisitive. Always thinking.....

Here is the whole crew with their new "Best Friends."

I tried for a good shot one more time, and than realized this is about as good as it's going to get!!!!

Rub a Dub Dub Three Boys in a Tub!!!!

2009-02-27T11:32:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love a good bath tub picture? These were from 2 years ago. I can't believe it, my BABIES are alomost 4!!! Where did the time go? Don't they look so cute? The fun has not yet begun.....

Splish Splash we were taken a bath.....

Water, Water EVERYWHERE!!!!

Does that not look like so much fun? Connor is trying to lap up the water!!!

SNOW MUCH FUN!!!!

2009-02-26T16:05:00.000-08:00

Mackenzie has the BEST kissy lips!!!!

Mark amazes me. There is NOTHING this kid can't do. He's very athletic like his dad.

Corey LOVED sledding this year!!!

Snow Princess

That's one BIG snowball Corey!! (I think he was getting ready to attack big brother!)

Caleb enjoyed eating the snow. Only once did I see him with yellow snow. JUST KIDDING!!!

My three Amigos. It's hard getting shots of all of them together. Usually they are in all different places when we are outside.

Caleb's first snowball he made all by HIMSELF!! He was so proud of himself. The snow was very packable this year!

I caught Connor licking the snow off the car window!! Well at least I knew it wasn't yellow!!

Now that the boys are getting older, they are really starting to enjoy the snow. Mark and Mackenzie would stay out a large part of the day sledding with all of the neighbor children. The triplets were out one time a day. Just getting them dressed in layers was a chore. By the time I would get the last one dressed and out the door, the first one would be ready to come in!!! Anyway it was a good day and memories were made. Now, I'm ready for Spring!

Answer to Who's Da Baby???

2009-02-25T20:21:00.000-08:00

We'll everyone who guessed was right. That precious little one was my Connor Boy all dolled up!!! This was right before I got his first haircut. He had natural curls in the back and I couldn't bear cutting his hair. One night we decided to put him in pigtails, because we always have thought that as an infant he looked so much like Mackenzie. Of course now Caleb and her look the most alike. Too cute and thanks for playing the game!!! New post tomorrow. Good Night!!!

Commenting on the posts.....

2009-02-24T19:02:00.000-08:00

If you have been trying to comment on any of the posts but have been unsuccessful, try again, I have changed some of the settings. I'm still waiting for guesses on WHO'S DA BABY?!?!?!?! Miss Patty I know your guess. I'll give it a couple more days then I'll let you know if your right!!!!

Powder Valley Nature Center January 2009

2009-02-24T11:48:00.000-08:00

We were blessed with such a beautiful day in late January. If I remember correctly, I think it reached 70 degrees. Everyone had cabin fever, so we spent the day at Powder Valley Nature Center. It was really fun and being as everyone in our family loves to hike on trails, this was the perfect choice to spend our day. I of course was not thinking about the trails being wet from all of the melting snow. Our day turned into quite an adventure.....

Mark Jr.

Mackenzie Grace

Corey James

I love this photo of Connor. Every now and then his silly side emerges!!

Caleb Michael

Notice how a nice walk with daddy quickly turns into a disaster? The sunshine was melting all the snow, which made for slippery paths. Everyone but mom and Markie fell.(Yes even dad fell!) Corey is smart, he is holding on to dad for leverage. Connor, not so lucky here was his famous spill. Markie is coming back to help little brother while Caleb is heading straight out of the photo, and then SPLAT down goes Caleb and we have....

PANTS WET!! Notice in the photo how wet his bottom got from the fall. This is absolutely 100% frustrating for Caleb.... SOOOOOOO...

PANTS DOWN!!! Caleb has sensory issues and does not do well with anything wet touching his skin. He tried desperately to get the wetness away from his body! And finally......

PANTS ARE OFFICIALLY OFF!! People looked at me like I was crazy, but if you truly know Caleb A.K.A. No pants boy, you would know that (1) He can't stand anything on him being wet and (2) There is no arguing with this boy, he is absolutely set on getting his own way. I have decided to pick my battles with this one!

Who's Da Baby???

2009-02-23T15:43:00.001-08:00

I've been having fun going through old pictures. I thought it was time for a good game! One day we were playing dress up. ( Still trying to accept the fact that we were not going to get a girl out of this trio. ) So, some days we had to fullfill that empty desire by playing dress-up with our delightful boys God gave us. You get to guess who this might be. And yes, I know he will absolutely KILL me one day, but I have to keep some excitement admist all of this chaos! So, please comment and I'll tell you in a few days who got it right!!!

Mark my first born son...

2009-02-21T05:41:00.000-08:00

This was my Favorite shot of him in the snow. He doesn't allow me to photograph him very much anymore, so I'm grateful when he gives me the opportunity!

I thought this shot was really cool. I caught him throwing a snowball. It looks like he's holding it on the tip of his fingers!!

Mark is real good about teaching the boys "BOY" stuff. Here he is attempting to teach Connor how to snowboard.

Happy Birthday to my FAVORITE Aunt!!!!

2009-02-20T06:24:00.001-08:00

This photo was taken of me and Aunt Sherry when I was just 5 years old. I was so excited to come across this at my parents house this past weekend!! - What perfect timing since Aunt Sherry's Birthday is today! I wanted to dedicate a post especially to her, because she has been such a positive influence on me. This lady is a prime example of what it means to self-sacrifice. She has truly given of herself to others time and time again. She never seemed to mind it either, or if she did, you would never have known. She has raised her 3 children and has helped raise her 2 grandsons. She is a woman that will always find the best in a person, and rarely do you hear her say anything negative about someone. She is a woman with great patience, and a gentle touch. She has a pure heart and kind eyes. She has always had a way to make me feel special. I have loved her in a way I have never loved any other Aunt. The bond we share is unexplainable, but I am so forever grateful that I have her in my life!!!!

My Princess

2009-02-18T07:18:00.001-08:00

Sweet Mackenzie, enjoying time in the beautiful snow. She spent nearly the whole day outside!!

Watch out mom, I'm armed and ready!!!

The first big snow of the Season. I didn't get many photos of her, but the few I got I was pleased with. This one was my favorite!

Bikes and Boys!!!!!!!

2009-02-17T08:38:00.000-08:00

Connor does fantastic riding on the trails all around the park!!

Caleb being the wild man that he is has been riding a bike since last Summer!

Corey is still in the process of learning how to pedal. It's hard for him to keep up with brothers.

Corey and Caleb getting ready to "race" down the ramp!!

Connor January 2009

Connor didn't make it in my last post, so I wanted to add him to this one. This was taken on a fairly warm day in January. I took the boys to the park to ride their new bikes for Christmas.

Photos of the boys edited through Picnik.com

2009-02-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

My first scrapbook page throug picnik.com

Taken at the Falls Sept. 2008

"And they called it puppy love"
Caleb with Carly

Photo taken at the Zoo Mother's Day 2008

Day 1 of Blogging-Keeping record of our daily happenings!

2009-02-13T10:04:00.001-08:00

Today is my first official day of blogging. I have a lot to learn, but I'm excited about this new journey. Won't you follow along with me as I record the daily chaos and joy that comes along with having a higher set of multiples?