9.14.12: Splash pad

We had heard rumors, but never tried it until today...the splash pad.  Apparently a very popular activity amongst the locals in the crazy heat, but today was oddly quite windy.  It took some coercing but eventually everyone (fiona/pink, stella/green, daphne/pink) spent some time playing in the water.  Daphne enjoyed it the most, not even bothered by the chilly temperatures.

9.12.12: Botanic gardens

We adventured to the botanic gardens for the first time with some expert friends who taught us all about the desert.  Of course, what was the girls favorite part...drinking from the water fountain on their own (stella, daphne, fiona)

9.10.12: Outnumbered

Daphne/me, Kelly, Cooper/Stella, Nene/Fiona

 

On our final day together, we had to get some group photos.  It is still amazing to me how our small little family of my mom, sister and I has more than doubled our living blood relatives in three years.  Cooper was such a trooper the entire trip, even in this picture when he is smashed in between everyone he didn't fuss.  Of course, you can see what he is thinking in his eyes...he just realized that he is very outnumbered by women.

Yes Cooper, I couldn't agree more  :)

9.9.12: Sharing Nene

 

Knowing that Nene was coming down to visit, the girls and I have been talking a lot about how Nene is Cooper's grandma also.  Until three months ago, the girls have had Nene all to themselves and now it was time to share.  I was really impressed, it went over very smoothly.

 

After welcoming Nene to our family weekend, we all adventured to miniature golf for the first time.  The girls (daphne/orange, stella/purple, fiona/red) grasped the concept quickly, but the rules...not so much.  Regardless, they had a fun time once they took over the adult golf clubs.  Brant and I had a 'what were we thinking' moment when we started the game, we actually thought we'd all be able to play...duh.

 

 

 

After nap it started to rain.  The girls (fiona/blue, daphne/purple, stella/pink) rushed to put on their coats inside because it was storming.  Of course, they didn't realize it was still in the 90s outside.  Thankfully we still had 'Holding Cooper' as our favorite activity of the day.

9.8.12: So many helpers

 

While running errands, the girls all wanted to help push Cooper in his stroller.  When the girls took over the stroller Kelly and I gave each other looks of concern.  I suppose if the car seat can keep him safe in a car, what harm can a few walls and doors do?

Some very happy helpers holding Cooper (daphne, cooper, stella, fiona).

9.7.12: Cousins together

First group photo of the girls with their cousin (left to right: fiona, stella, daphne, cooper).  He only looks semi-distressed.  Good thing he has an amazing demeanour, exactly what is needed when you have triplet cousins who all want to hold, touch, tickle and play with you...a big change from his chill life in Seattle.

9.6.12: Meeting cousin Cooper

A very brave auntie Kelly adventured down to visit us on her own with 3 month old cousin Cooper.   The girls have been around very few babies and typically ignore them.  However, cousin Cooper was a different story.  They were all very excited to hold him (with auntie's supervision of course).  Stella/purple went first.  Then Daphne/blue tried giving Cooper the ball which he did grab eventually.  Finally it was Fiona's turn and Cooper apparently already learned that in our house, you have to hold your own.  He grabbed the ball from Fiona and tried to turn away.  You go little man!

9.2.12: Nourishing trees

We have been playing 'picnic' a lot in our living room lately.  It seems that our tea parties have morphed into picnics.  We have been told by many locals that Mt. Lemmon is the place to go for hiking, camping, picnics, and to escape the heat.  Thanks to the holiday, we decided to adventure up to see what Mt. Lemmon was all about.  We drove straight up to the top bypassing all of the lookouts.   With three toddlers in a car, going somewhere you aren't too sure about, we wanted to stay focused on our goal...the top of Mt. Lemmon.

 

Growing up in Seattle where the trees are giant, grass is green, and climate is moist, it has been a big adustment living here.  Well I have finally found my Seattle fix.  A good hour from our house at about 9000+ feet exists this amazing place.  A place where there are no cactus and instead giant trees.  A place where there is definitely water (and even snow) in the winter.  A place where the temperatures are 20 degrees cooler and I actually said to myself - wow we should have brought hoodies for them (side note: we haven't worn long sleeves since April).   It is so very different from our new norm. 

The girls (daphne/yellow, stella/purple, fiona/blue) did well on the car ride and helped us navigate using a map we drew out for each of them.  When we arrived, they saw it....a picnic table.  Screaming ensued.  They rushed to sit at the picnic table, who knew this would be a highlight for them.  Coupled with blueberry muffins they helped make the day before we had some happy girls.  We filled our morning picking flowers, playing with sticks (aka magic wands), throwing rocks down the cliffs, playing the beanbag game, snacking and of course playing hide and seek behind the giant trees.  The picnic area we ended up at wasn't ideal for hiking which just means next time we will try somewhere else. 

 

Before we left the girls each took turns 'nourishing trees'.  In lieu of a real potty, we brought out our old travel potty which didn't seem to bother the girls one bit.  We talked about how they were providing 'water' for the trees to keep growing big and strong.  Stella also decided to provide some 'extra nourishment' which I later buried....ahh wilderness.

 

On our trip back down the mountain we stopped at several lookouts. The views were amazing. I had no idea what to expect but I was impressed.  We were even able to climb on some rocks to see amazing views of the mountains but made sure not to get too close to the edge....Brant and I are outnumbered after all.

9.1.12: Cat in the Hat

Cat in the Hat + trip to daddy's work + lunch out = Super excited girls!

 

We learned that Cat in the Hat was coming to Brant's work about a week ago.  The girls (fiona, daphne, stella) were so excited they kept asking how many days until they got to meet him.  When the day finally came, they were ready to leave about 7am, but sadly we had to explain that the cat was still sleeping.  Three hours later we made it to Brant's work and finally met Cat in the Hat.  They weren't too scared of him and willingly smiled for a picture.  We even had time to decorate these faces, color daddy's white board and eat lunch with all the big kids. 

8.24.12: Nana reads and reads and reads

Nana came to visit and the girls (fiona, daphne, stella) put her right to work....reading.  After hugs, kisses and showing nana all the new things in our house, they convinced her to read every book we currently had checked out from the library.  Since these books were a bit stale (aka memorized) we decided to take nana to the library to pick out some new books followed by a trip to Old McDonalds.

The girls were so excited to have nana here, especially because she would entertain them early in the morning when they woke up at 5:30.  Yes, these days we are lucky if there is quiet until 6.  Thankfully there is minimal fighting in the morning as they read books and seemingly play together, but there is clearly an instigator to this early wake up time.  We hear Daphne calling to her sisters to wake up, can't blame a girl for wanting playmates.  I really enjoy waking up to giggles, chattiness and my personal favorite a giant bin of legos getting dumped out onto the floor.