11.29.14: Thanksgiving weekend

We had a wonderful thanksgiving weekend with Nene, Nicole, Dan, Peter and Ruthie.  Nene spent all day Wednesday with the girls doing endless projects (above Fiona, Stella and Daphne were making turkeys).  Thursday was filled with cooking, eating and shopping. Friday we adventured out for a bit and tried to enjoy a park in the sunshine, but it got a bit warm....yes, late November is still in the mid-80s.

Saturday we went to Peter's bowling birthday party, the girls had a blast and Brant has definitely perfected his positioning of the bowling ramp.  Stella ended up at 106, while Daphne and Fiona were in the high 90s.

After the party we tried to go and see a movie with the penguins from the Madagascar series, but got way too scared (all three) and had to leave.  We ended our day building a lego dump truck, helicopter, and train.

11.25.14: Crazy Hair Day

Today was Crazy Hair Day at school for Daphne, Stella and Fiona.  Daphne decided she wanted normal hair and opted for a pony tail with flowery clip.  Fiona fell in the middle and requested half pony tail with flowery clip and the other half in a bun - semi crazy.  Stella got really excited and drew me a picture (the paper she is holding).  She wanted little poofs all of the top of her head with a braid in the middle - definitely crazy.

11.20.14: Playing in the leaves

Auntie Kelly and Uncle Rob mailed the girls a giant box stuffed full of fall leaves.  Today we spent a good hour playing in the leaves tossing them over ourselves and each other.  Fiona, Daphne and Stella were so excited to play in the leaves.  What I did not think about is how these leaves would blow into the neighbors yard and how perhaps, they would love the leaves all over their property less than we did.

After enjoying the leaves, Daphne and Fiona decided to write the alphabet in our front yard using a rake and our rock filled yard.

Today was also special because it was the first time I have been able to volunteer at the girls school. Thanks to some business travel over the holiday, I was able to spend the entire day experiencing a typical school day for my kids.  Each morning their teacher asks 'What makes today a beautiful day?'.  Stella and Daphne both said something about me visiting while Fiona said that today was a beautiful day because 'I get to boss mama around all day'. Hmm.  It was great to meet their friends, teachers and get a taste of what kindergarten is like in 2014 - pretty different from the 80's.

11.15.14: First football game

We decided the UW vs. Arizona game would be a great first football game for the girls.  What we were not expecting in mid-November, was the 90 degree heat.  It seems that our nosebleed seats could not keep their attention and combined with the heat, we lasted about 15 minutes and had to leave. We were able to see Arizona score a goal and then headed out and watched the remainder of the game from our home (with air conditioning).

11.9.14: Flashing shoes

It finally happened.  Brant had been wanting to get the girls flashing shoes for years now and today he finally got his way.  Not only did we get them flashing shoes that light up when you walk, but they also have a ton of sparkles and animal print glitter.  The girls were thrilled and spent a majority of the day in the laundry room (the darkest room in our house) watching their shoes flash.

11.8.14: Family milkshake

Stella, Fiona, Daphne, Brant all sharing a milkshake at one of our favorite restaurants.  What a great way to celebrate Daddy's safe travel home from Boston this week.

11.1.14: Fall Festival

Today we adventured to our old preschool for the Fall Festival.  We had a great time in the jump house, holding animals, riding ponies, and watching our favorite music teacher perform.

 Fiona

 Daphne

 Stella

Front row seats to the Bruce Phillips performance.  He even played our very favorite song (Martin Luther King) twice - just for us!

10.31.14: Halloween

This year Fiona, Daphne and Stella were well prepared for a long night of trick-or-treating with ample glow sticks.  We went trick-or-treating more than we ever had and learned that portions of our neighborhood are quite busy (thankfully not out street).  For the first time, the girls began essentially ranking their candy (chocolate - yay, suckers - boo) upon receipt, something we tried to discourage. Whenever they got a reese's product, they made sure to let us know that Uncle Rob would be excited. All in all, a very successful Halloween season culminating in way too much candy and sugary smiles.

10.29.14: Pumpkins

Daphne, Stella and Fiona got to clean out their own pumpkins this year.  Some chose to clean them out 'like mama' which means using your hands.  Some chose to clean them out 'like daddy' with a spoon.  Either way upon cleaning out the guts, they drew the design on their pumpkins and Brant got to work carving three pumpkins in a night!

Stella, Fiona, and Daphne's creations.

10.27.14: Legwarmers

Stella, Daphne and Fiona decided it was appropriate weather this morning for leg warmers (high 60s).   Some of these leg warmers were even used when they were babies - but now they just cover half of their legs.

10.26.14: Howl-o-ween

Trick or Treating at the zoo - our annual Halloween tradition with the Marrones.

Daphne

Stella

Fiona

This woman recognized Daphne as Princess Celestia from afar - it made her entire night.

10.25.14: Pumpkin Patch

The morning started with.....the triplet pyramid (top to bottom - Fiona, Stella, Daphne).  I'm not exactly sure why it was decided to create a pyramid on a tile floor, but since they all agreed - who can stop them?

 Giggles upon the collapse.

 After some early morning silliness, we went to a pumpkin patch to enjoy all of the fall festivities. 
The girls climbed this giant hay structure,

 rode a train all around the farm,

 adventured through a giant corn maze,

 jumped on these huge bouncy pillows,

and even rode ponies.

A pretty exhaustive list to complete before lunch.  We would have stayed much longer, but with the temperature in the high 90s, it was difficult to be outside too much longer.

10.24.14: Halloween Festival

Tonight was the Halloween festival at school.  This was a great opportunity to begin all of our Halloween activities.  Daphne is Princess Celestia (my little pony), Stella is an artist, and Fiona is a witch.  Each girl designed their own costume telling me exactly what components were needed to make their costume complete.  Overall, three adorable little girls.

Stella in the apron that she painted.

 
Fiona determined the placement for each star on her dress and hat.

 Daphne was the most particular making sure we accurately reflected Princess Celestia from My Little Pony.  Princess Celestia had to have a purple jewel on her crown and necklace and the perfect cutie mark on her hip.

She selected blue, pink and teal for the mane and tail, but didn't want the hair covering her wings.  Princess Celestia is a unicorn after all.

10.20.14: Cousins visiting

Auntie Kelly flew all by herself with Cooper (2yo) and Nicholas (7mo) to spend the fall break with us. It was the girls' (and Brant's) first time meeting Nicholas.   At the airport we had plenty of helpers with the luggage.

 
 Stella, Fiona, Daphne, Cooper, Auntie Kelly and Nicholas at our favorite tree in the zoo.

 Somehow Auntie Kelly managed to entertain all five kids at the same time while I was cooking dinner.  I'm not sure she got much of a vacation while here, but we sure enjoyed having everyone together.

 Nicholas and Cooper playing together happily while their mama took a shower.

Uncle Brant holding Nicholas. Somehow Brant managed to get Nicholas to fall asleep in his arms (only to be woken up by a child soon after) a huge success.

10.15.14: Chameleons

Fiona, Daphne and Stella spent the afternoon in a special art class where they created their own interpretation of a chameleon in the jungle. These magnificent creations are now hanging proudly on the play room wall.

10.14.14: Raspberries

Stella and Daphne decided that they would give Fiona raspberries for the entire drive home.  The giggles were ridiculous.

10.11.14: Flowers for Auntie

Daphne, Fiona and Stella spent the afternoon picking flowers from our yard (filling this bowl completely) for Auntie Kelly when she arrived.  Given we were still a bit out from her arrival, we opted for a picture to show her what the girls had done.

10.10.14: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Today was dress-up day at school so Fiona dressed up as an astronomer, Daphne a paleontologist, and Stella as an artist.

10.4.14: Creativity

While Brant and I were busy doing chores, the girls decided to recreate text they found on their toy container 'Tinker Toy.'  I love it when Fiona, Stella and Daphne work together on a project.

In preparation for a play date we created an obstacle course in our living room.  It was quiet involved and culminated in a dance performance by all the kids.

9.21.14: More science

Today we completed Auntie Kelly's box o' science the girls (Stella, Daphne, Fiona) got for their birthday.  Today was my personal favorite....liquid chalk.  Combining baking soda, corn starch, food dye and water into a squirt bottle provided a whole new approach to decorating the driveway.  Then add to that the vinegar which makes the liquid chalk fizzle.....well I'm just not sure anything else could be as exciting.

Last week's project (Stella, Fiona, Daphne): Shaving cream + school glue + glitter = puff paint.  So many creations, so few places to hang them.

9.19.14: Fiona's surgery

Fiona has oral surgery today to have two extra teeth removed in the front of her mouth that were blocking her adult teeth.  We desperately tried to find a medical opinion telling us this surgery was optional and could wait but everyone agreed.  It was a really tough day and I was a complete mess, but she did really well.  When she was waking up, she smiled and said, " Why do you guys have two mouths, two noses and four eyes?"  It was enough to help me stop crying, for a few minutes.

How on earth are kids so resilient?

9.16.14: Homework....please

Stella, Fiona and Daphne were ready for school a little early this morning and instead of playing, decided that they wanted to do their weekly homework.  I wonder how long the excitement about doing homework will last - hopefully forever.

Daphne, Fiona and Stella waiting in the rain at the bus stop.  Who knew umbrellas could be so much fun.