Hi! Remember us? There has been so many things going on here I just haven't had time to write anything on our blog. The good news is that I have been making notes of cute things that the kids have been saying and doing. I was waiting to post this until I added some new pictures, but at the rate I'm going I thought I better just post this now and add some pictures later....

Here are a couple cute un-grammatical things the kids have been saying:

Mom to Joshua, "Do you need nay help?"
Joshua, "No, mine fine"

The kids are learning a little Spanish. They can count in Spanish (up to 6, sometimes up to 10) and when things are hot they sometimes say "hace calor" and the other day Joshua took a drink of some ice water and said "oohhh, hace frio". I'm not really sure if that is the correct Spanish grammar, but it's cute!

We were at the park and baby James had to go potty. It was a little bit of a walk to the bathroom so I asked him, "do you have to go really bad?" James said "no, me good boy"

This story must have happened a while ago because it was raining--Joshua looked out the window and says "rain-stop". Then he paused and said "Rain don't hear me. Rain no talk"

We were driving and we were stopped at a red light and I heard Joshua saying "stop. stop. stop. stop." I looked up and saw the red hand for pedestrians was flashing and every time the red hand would come on he would say stop.

*********************
New pictures coming soon....and a post about our California trip we just took...

Baby Got Back

Ok, if you don't laugh at this video something is wrong with you! :)
It's a video of James jamming to his favorite song :) seriously, he ALWAYS asks for this song when we are in tha car.

Untitled from James Gillis on Vimeo.

The kids' birthday party

Due to our crazy schedules and the fact that the kids wouldn't know any better, we had their birthday party a few weeks after their actual birthday.

We decided to get each kid their own "colossal cupcake" and decorate them with their favorite characters.

Elizabeth had Dora:

James had "cars" as it's called around here. (It's Lighting McQueen from the movie "Cars")

Joshua had Diego:

Then we took the extra cake decorations and Daddy made a cake for the adults:


The kids had a great time, and I believe all the adults did too!

Holy Crap-it's been a month since I've written!

Gosh, it's been so long since I've written...do you want to hear all my sad stories of what I've been so busy doing? Probably not---so I'll just tell you a few funny kid stories.


The other day, after going potty Joshua and said, "penis... squishy" then he grabbed his penis and said, "squeak squeak". Like it's a dog toy or something...

This past weekend baby James was not very happy with me (for who knows what--something minuet I'm sure). Then he told me, "Mommy go to work. Konstantin here" (Konstantin is our au pair in case you forgot, you know, our "manny"). I tried not to take it personal. I'm sure there will be many more cases like this in the future....

Another James story-one day he asked me for something (let's say it was milk) and he said "milk, Robot" Like my name was Robot. Ok, that's cute. But then he said it again and I was thinking he was saying it a bad way. So I told him my name is not Robot, it's Mommy.


The next day James asked for something (let's say it was pizza) and Daddy said, "Say 'Can I have some more pizza please?'"

Then we found out the TRUE meaning of Robot:

James said, "Can I have more pizza please RO-bot?"

RO-bot = BEE-otch

Just the way he said it-it was like, ok, Bitch, I'll play your game, I'll say the words you want me to say, if it's going to get me some more pizza.

So of course, this is our new running joke around here. Daddy and I call each other Robot (when the kids can't hear us, of course).

Try it, it's fun! :)


Then there is Elizabeth. Poor baby wants to be "just one of the guys". The other day she went potty and then stood up and grabbed her vagina and shook it.

Daddy asked her what she was doing and she said, "I'm shaking my snake"

I am too scared to ask her where she heard that from! :)

Crazy Kids

The kids like to dance when the washing machine starts. Here is a little clip of the boys moving and grooving to the washing machine.


Untitled from James Gillis on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to my three beautiful kids!!!

Today they turn 3!!!

Can you believe it?! I can't! It was three years ago today that these tiny little guys came into our lives. James weighed 2 pounds, 10 oz., Elizabeth was 2 lbs., 5 oz., and Joshua was 2lbs., 15 oz. You wouldn't know it by looking at them now!

We are so happy and so lucky to have 3 happy, healthy, amazing kids!

Lucky You!

Lucky you!
The first five people to comment on this post will get something made by me!

My choice.
For you.
This offer does, however, have some restrictions and limitations...
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year.
4. You will have no clue what it's going to be. I may draw or paint something(ok, maybe not). I may bake you something and mail it to you. I may send you a photo collage. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange. (Not intentionally strange, but you may label it that way.)
The catch?
Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. And those of you that don't have a blog can make it a note on Facebook, or find some other way to offer it up!

So comment at your own risk!

So Joshua and (sometimes Elizabeth) have started this new thing that is really funny, but you can’t laugh because you are the parent and you are not supposed to encourage it….
It’s usually at meal time and Joshua will do something he is not supposed to, like put his hands into his food. After Daddy or I say something to him, or catch him doing it, he closes his eyes and keeps doing it.
You know, like he's thinking, if I can’t see you, then you can’t see me either!
It’s pretty funny, but as the “adult” you have to act serious when you say “Joshua, I can still see you!”

Pictures posted below!

I now added pictures to the post "Routines". So in case you already read that post-go back and check out the pictures! :)

Words of wisdom...

The other day we were all watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the t.v. and Mickey said something about his friends the chickens (probably “Do you want to help our friends?"-which happened to be chickens).
I said to Elizabeth, “Are you going to help the chicken friends?”
She said, “Noooo, chickens aren’t friends, chicken is dinner.”

Routines (now with pictures!)

It’s funny how some things happen once, then twice, then before you know it-it has turned into a routine. The kids have taken it upon themselves to create some of their own routines. Like at bedtime, we all walk up the stairs and the kids run into the boys’ room. They all “hide” behind James’ crib until Daddy and I come in and “find” them. Then Elizabeth runs into her room while we put the boys into their cribs. Mommy gives the boys hugs and kisses, then I go into Elizabeth’s room. Elizabeth is “hiding” again, this time under her bed. (The first couple times she did this and I would look under her bed to find her, she would tell me which side of the bed to come find her). Once I “find” her she runs out from under the bed and sits in the rocking chair waiting for me to sit with her. Then Daddy comes in and takes over, rocking with her for a few minutes before laying her down to sleep.

Another routine that we used to have (it’s almost gone), is after nap time is done, or in the morning after bedtime, the kids gather up their stuffed animals to take downstairs. When they get to the stairs, they throw the animals downstairs, then go down to get them. This routine has all but stopped since they usually just keep whatever is in their crib there. Except for Joshua, who I think has just been slowly taking a couple things into his crib at a time and not ever taking any of it back downstairs Here are a couple pictures to prove my point:

This is James' crib to see as a comparision.

Simple.

One blanket, one pillow, one stuffed animal.

Here's Joshua's WALL OF STUFF:

I demolished his wall so you could see how much stuff was built into his beaver dam:

Here's a closer look (left side):

Here's a closer look (right side):

Get down with your bad self.....

Here is a little clip of the kids dancing to one of their favorite cds, Choo Choo Soul.


Dancing to Cho Cho Soul from James Gillis on Vimeo.

Pictures of Joshua

Here are some pictures of Joshua (who is usually the one with the most pictures---but not this month I guess):

Joshua in the backyard (with his favorite pink shoes!--well, they are Elizabeth's but he wears them more then she does): Love that smile!

Pictures of James

Here are some pictures of James:

This one is from January, but I thought it was so cute! This is our friend Kathleen playing with James:


Say cheese!




Here's James outside at the sandbox. Notice the cool 80's style headband (and no that is not graffiti on the wall behind him--it's water stains...gosh it looks like I have him in some scary alley):

At the zoo:

Pictures of Elizabeth

So I've been meaning to write a blog about what's been happening lately and I posted some pictures...but I haven't gotten to the writing part yet and before I know it these pictures will be so old....so here are some pictures!!! I'll write later!

Elizabeth acting like we are torturing her by brushing her teeth:



All done brushing!

Cutie-pie pigtails:


When I asked Elizabeth what she was doing she said, "I'm a turtle".

At the zoo:

Just a usual day...

I'm not really a morning person.

So in the morning I like to sleep as long as possible. Which means that I sleep until the kids wake me up. Which is o.k. except that I have to get ready for work. What I usually do is get the kids all comfy on the couch with a blanket and the t.v. on and I go upstairs to get ready. Usually I get ready and come downstairs and they are still sitting the same spot that I left them in. Usually.

Well, last Wednesday was not usual.

I came downstairs and found this:

Elizabeth (I'm sure with some help from her brothers) had taken all of the ice cream sandwiches out of the freezer (and a few various things from the fridge). Luckily, only one ice cream sandwich had been opened...and it was kinda strange that Elizabeth was the only one covered in ice cream (guess she didn't feel like sharing this morning--works out good for me.)

How can you be mad at a cutie like this?!

The funniest thing was we went into the bathroom to wash her hands and when she saw herself in the mirror she said "oh...big mess!"

This weekend we went out for dinner with the kids and the fam. The kids did a great job being well behaved in the restaurant. When we were putting them in the car, Daddy was telling them thank you for being so good.
Baby James said, "Yeah. No fussing, no crying, no screaming"
That's right James, that is why you guys were so good. There was no fussing, no crying, and no screaming! :)

What's for dinner?

The other night I was brushing Elizabeth's teeth and I noticed a white piece of something on one of her teeth. I was worried at first that it a piece of her tooth that had chipped or something. It's hard to get a toddler to let you dig in their mouth...but finally the piece came loose. It was a soft white piece of something.

I said to Elizabeth, "What's this?"
She replied, "It's dinner!!!!"

a what?

We give the kids treats for going potty (mini marshmallows).

Tonight baby James had gone poop so he gets two treats. Daddy went to give him the treats. Baby James comes running in to see me with his mouth full of marshmallows and says "poopy treats!"

Yuumm! Poopy treats! :)

Re-post about the kids morning routine

So somebody mentioned that my story was a little hard to follow-o.k., I guess it probably was. So I changed the "child one" and so forth to the kids names....just know that the kids' role in the morning theater changes daily.

Here's a typical morning: It's morning time and the kids all still have on their nighttime diapers. I've told them all to come to the bathroom so we can take off the diapers and put on their underwear. No one wants to come of course, so I have to pause the t.v. to get there attention (um, yeah, our kids love t.v.--oops!) Then I get to hear the cries "more t.v." "no potty" "more Dora"...
But since the darn t.v. is not on, they come down to the bathroom. That is when the chaos ensues.
It goes something like this: Joshua takes off his pants by himself, while James is standing on the step stool turning the lights and fan on and off, on and off.
Mommy to James: "get down" Elizabeth starts crying because she can't get her pants down. Mommy to Elizabeth: "come here, I'll help you"
Mommy to James: " I said get down! Leave the lights on!"
James gets down, but the lights are turned off.
I turn the lights on while Joshua is getting off of the little potty and is trying to dump his pee into the toilet, Elizabeth is standing right in the way still fussing because I have not been able to help her like I said I would.
James has moved back into the hallway. Mommy to James: "come in here an go potty" I see a devilish grin.
I get the pants off Elizabeth while I help Joshua dumps his pee in the toilet.
Elizabeth is sitting down to go potty while James has come back into the bathroom to turn the light off again for us.
Joshua: "nooo, turn lights on! too dark!"
Mommy to James: "I said leave the lights ON! Come over here!"
I turn the lights on and quickly grab James before he can run out again.
Joshua is trying to put his underwear on by himself and has both legs in one hole- "mommy, help!"
James is trying to take off his diaper- "it's stuck, it's stuck! Help mommy"
Joshua is trying to wash his hands in the sink, Elizabeth is dumping pee, and I help James take his diaper off.
I try to take Elizabeth’s pants all the way off and she starts freaking out.
Mommy to Elizabeth: "I have to take off your pants to be able to put on your underwear!"
Elizabeth does not really want to let me but I do it anyways because I know that is the only way the underwear will get on. "I'll put your pants back on after we put on your underwear".
James is going now going pee.
Elizabeth has underwear and pants on and is now moving toward the sink to wash her hands.
Joshua takes over the job off turning the lights on and off. I'm content now sitting in the dark. I don't really care. I just want everyone to go pee and leave the bathroom with underwear and pants on.
James finishes going pee. Mommy to James: "Come hear so I can put on your underwear". In toddlerese what I just said was " run, run as fast as you can! Mommy can't catch you-I'm the naked-man!"
So James runs into the play room. Huummm, he thinks-where should I go today-inside the playhouse? On top of the school bus? Sitting on the carpet? Into the living room? Sitting on the couch? Climbing over the couch? Or just run?
I catch James, and some how get underwear and pants on him.

I sit down on the couch.

Phew, deep breath.

I look at the clock: " Is it time for me to go to work yet?"

Ahh--Good times, good times!

Hopefully that helps! :)

Ok, give me the dirt

So I know what you are all thinking--what's with all the cutesy posts lately?! I'm reading this blog to find out how you guys deal with crazy triplet toddlers, I don't want to hear about the cute things they do and say! Tell me about the tantrums, the poop in the crib, the crying and whining for no good reason!!! The reason that we haven't been blogging about that is because none of that stuff happens at our house.

Yeah right! Did I have you going for a minute there? (Anyone that's been to the house in the last 6 months would know I'm lying!)

I guess I haven't been writing about that kind of stuff because I trying to only put good stuff out there-I want to place my order for good times (a la The Secret and Oprah). "One good life, please".
Hey--who's taking my order?! Can I talk to a manager?! I want my meal comped! (Jennifer G-that one was for you)

Ok, just kidding...I'm gone off on enough tangents now--I'll try to amuse you with a toddler triplet story. Here's a typical morning:

It's morning time and the kids all still have on their nighttime diapers. I've told them all to come to the bathroom so we can take off the diapers and put on their underwear. No one wants to come of course, so I have to pause the t.v. to get there attention (um, yeah, our kids love t.v.--oops!) Then I get to hear the cries "more t.v." "no potty" "more Dora"...

But since the darn t.v. is not on, they come down to the bathroom. That is when the chaos ensues. It goes something like this: child one can take off their pants by themselves, while the child three is standing on the step stool turning the lights and fan on and off, on and off
Mommy:"get down"
Child two starts crying because they can't get their pants down
Mommy: "come here, I'll help you" " I said get down! Leave the lights on!"
Child three gets down, but the lights are turned off. I turn the lights on while the first child is getting off of the little potty and is trying to dump their pee into the toilet, their sibling is standing right in the way still fussing because I have not been able to help them like I said I would.
The third child had moved back into the hallway.
Mommy: "come in here an go potty" I see a devilish grin. I get the pants off the second child while I help the first child dump their pee in the toilet. The second child is sitting down to go potty while the third child has come back into the bathroom to turn the light off again for us.
Child one: "nooo, turn lights on! too dark!"
Mommy: "I said leave the lights ON! Come over here!" I turn the lights on and quickly grab child 3 before they can run out again. The first child is trying to put underwear on by themselves and has both legs in one hole- "mommy, help!"
Third child is trying to take off their diaper- "it's stuck, it's stuck! help mommy"
First child is trying to wash their hands in the sink, second child is dumping pee, I help the third child take diaper off. I try to take pants all the way off of second child who stars freaking out. Mommy:"I have to take off your pants to be able to put on your underwear!" Child two does not really want to let me but I do it anyways because I know that is the only way the underwear will get on. "I'll put your pants back on after we put on your underwear".
Third child is going pee. Second child has underwear and pants on., moving toward sink to wash hands. First child takes over the job off turning the lights on and off. I'm content now sitting in the dark. I don't really care. I just want everyone to go pee and leave the bathroom with underwear and pants on! Third child finishes going pee.
Mommy: "Come hear so I can put on your underwear".
In toddler what I just said was " run, run as fast as you can! Mommy can't catch you-I'm the naked man!"
So the third child runs into the play room. Huummm-where should I go today-inside the playhouse? On top of the school bus? Sitting on the carpet? Into the living room? Sitting on the couch? Climbing over the couch? Or just run? I catch the third kid, and some how get underwear and pants on them. I sit down on the couch.
Phew, deep breath.
I look at the clock: " Is it time for me to go to work yet?"

Ahh--Good times, good times!

In that charming story, notice I didn't name the children. That's because every child has played every part in the story before.

I do want to mention that I no longer do that in the morning. The kids have gotten to the point where they just tell us if they have to go potty. I just take off their pants/diapers inthe living room and replace them with underwear right in front of ht t.v.-everyone that is except Joshua who doesn't really want to be bothered with underwear. He just wears diapers all day.

umm, no thank you...

Hey-another post! Yea!

Elizabeth, she looks like a cutie-pie princess, but acts like a daredevil! (where does that come from?)

Here's the new cute thing she says:"umm, no thank you."

To answer questions like, "are you going to eat your peas?"
"ummm, no thank you"

Or "can you share those toys with your brother?"
"umm, no thank you"

The best is when she shakes her hands in a no gesture while she is saying it :)

Another cute thing James says

Another cute thing James says:

the instrument maraca:

"maracaca"

Of course, maybe I should check that that doesn't mean anything bad in Spanish....

Not

Baby James has a new phrase: "not".
It is used, of course, in place of no. For example:

Mommy: Do you want to read this book?
James: Not.

Mommy: Are you hungry?
James: Not.

I don't know how or why this started. It was cute at first, but now I've started trying to correct him, since it won't be very cute the older he gets. I'm imaging him as a teenager saying the same thing:

Mommy: Have you done your homework?
James: Not.
Not so cute then....

2009-year of the 3s

Ok, I've been prompted by Andrea to reveal the

YEAR OF THE THREES!!!

(said in a spooky, Scooby-Doo type voice)

(Thanks, BTW, Andrea for all the comments--ahem, ahem, anyone else?!)

So, Andrea guessed the two big ones-the kids are turning 3 and I'm turning 33. The rest are really just random things I keep thinking of that are multiples of 3...so not really that exciting....hopefully you all noted my sarcasm in the previous post, but here we go:

The year is 2009 (3X3)
The kids' birthday is in the 3rd month, my birthday is in the 12th month (3X4)
It's our 6 year wedding anniversary (3X2)
We finally have a good au pair, who didn't start until 2009-he's our 3rd au pair and he will be with us for 6 months (3X2)


I swear there were more things....I can't remember now...I'm sleepy.

Even Dads can cry.

So, the other day I had a Dr. appointment so I was leaving the house later then normal. I was taking care of the kids so Stephanie could leave a little early to get a head start on work.

After breakfast we all started to play. Nothing special, just our normal playtime thing. Elizabeth asking Dad to "chase you" (her way of asking for me to chase her). Then of course James join in and I am running up and down the hall way, though the kitchen after them. They love it and so does Dad!

It was getting time for me to leave so I was telling them that Dad was going to be leaving for work. They all were giving me hugs and kisses, a couple rounds of that.

I then made it to he front door, when Joshua ran to the kitchen door way, he waved good bye and blew Dad a kiss.

As I walk to the car I was tearing up thinking how much I wanted to just go back inside and stay home all day. Oh, how I love those kids!!!

Elizabeth's First ER Visit

Let me first start by saying that she is okay. I did not want to hold any one in suspense the entire blog.

It was Friday afternoon and we decided to take the kids to the park around the corner (about half a mile) to play since the weather was nice and to combat the cabin fever.

We all decided to walk since there were 4 adults to 3 kids this time. Mom, Dad, Au Pair-Konstantin, and our dear friend who flew out to see the kids-Kathleen.

So, we are there playing, having a good time, it was getting close to 4:30 and we usually eat around 5 so we tell the kids that we are going to be leaving in about a minute. I walk over to start to make sure that we have everything ready to pack up. I turn around to watch Elizabeth go down a corkscrew slide (mind you it is one that she has gone down alone numerous times before), and she her face plant on the side as she is going down. I am not sure if her foot got caught or what, but all I know is I see Stephanie get her at the bottom of the slide, and then say, "We have blood".

Elizabeth is obviously crying loudly by this point, I walk over and have her look over at me and I see this inch long opening right above her right eye. Let me tell you this thing was bleeding, reminded me of a MMA fighter getting cut open with an elbow. So, as you know we decided to walk so there is not van waiting near by to take her to get looked at, so I take off running to get the van.

After arriving back at the playground with the van, I see Stephanie about to put Elizabeth in the swing to do a little swinging. I get out of the van with this look of, and why are you letting our little girl with a head wound out to play some more? (Stephanie writing here: Elizabeth was in the swing because umm, we have a strong and stubborn girl! Once she finished crying all she wanted to do was go on the swing. She was wriggling her way out of my lap and I thought, well, at least she will be sitting in the swing....carry on with your story....) Stephanie mentions that it has pretty much stopped bleeding and asked what my thoughts were. I said I would be more comfortable if we had someone look at it.

After waiting and then talking with a nurse in the ER, she mentioned that we may be seen quicker if we go over to an Urgent Care. We call one to make sure they do stitches and we head out. We get to the Urgent Care check in and talk with one of the nurses there to make sure they can handle the case. One of the docs come out to look at her wound and mentions liquid stitches (glue), but since he does not use it all the time, he would send out the doc who does. The doc who does use the liquid stitches comes out and says yes she would be able to close it with just the liquid.

Half hour later we get called back, Elizabeth does amazing while they have to clean it and then apply the stitches. All and all it was an ok experience. It was nice to know that Kathleen and Konstantin were at home taking care of our other 2 while Mom and Dad could handle the emergency.

Here is a picture of the after-math:



Like I said at the beginning, she is fine. You wouldn't even know anything had happened to her. Every now and then she will put her finger on the cut and say "owie". We are very happy that everything turned out ok.

psst...leave a comment!

Hey!

I see you reading all these posts, leave a comment! :)

Please :)

Another one bites the dust....

...au pairs-- that is.
Yes, we have let our second au pair go. But the good news is that we have already found a replacement and he has already started. Yes, we have another "manny". He is 20 years old and from Austria. We really think this one will work out-third time's a charm, right?! (there's another 3 from my year of 3s---that post is still to come...) Tomorrow will be his first day home with the kids since Daddy and I go back to work :( bummer... Grandma will be here with him in the morning, but then he will have the afternoon to do my himself. But Daddy and I think he will do great! We'll keep you informed :)

Happy New Year!!!

This is a lot later then I ever thought I would be up tonight, so I thought I would wish everyone a happy new year.

I hope that everyone has a great year!

2009! Crazy! Later I will have to write about all the 3s happening this year.....(oh, suspenseful! What a great teaser!hehehehehhe) ok, time for bed :)