3.11.13: Murals

The girls have now been in separate rooms for over a month and seem comfortable with the change.  Occasionally we get an 'I miss my sisters' night but nothing some kisses, hugs and back rubs can't cure.  I have been asking the girls what they wanted on their walls now that they have their own rooms.  I figured I'd get this painting done during the time they were in school and I was job hunting.  The good news is that I got a job much faster than I expected.  The bad news is that I didn't finish the murals until now.  The girls were very excited to each get exactly what they wanted on their walls and I had a blast painting them.  Of course, I realize in a few years they will want different murals but for now they sure brighten up their rooms and make them very personalized.

Daphne wanted a blue wall with clouds and ten colorful butterflies.

 

Fiona wanted a blue wall with ten clouds and a rainbow.

Stella wanted a pink wall with ten flowers.

3.10.13: Visiting neighbors

Our old neighbors from Pasadena came to visit us and the girls were VERY excited.  We used to play with Fausto and Heather weekly from the time the girls were 8 months until we moved at 26 months.  Matias was born shortly before we left, so they didn't remember him.  They weren't sure that they remembered Fausto but once the kids started playing together, it was all so familiar.  They got along great!

Yes, four three-year-olds having a dance party = blurry picture.

 
At the children's museum they all worked together to build a fort, even Matias helped.

When we adventured to a festival, the kids found a grassy hill to roll down over and over again. 

Attempting a picture with five kids is a bit challenging, here was our best attempt: Fiona, Daphne, Kari, Stella, Fausto, Heather, Matias.

3.6.13: Dr. Daddy

Dual employment has surely brought on some challenges.  Within my first two weeks of work, Brant had to stay home with at least one of the girls three times already.  With his Super Dad skills, they are all on medicine and able to go back to school today.  Hopefully next time the girls get sick, they'll wait until I have accumulated some sick time so I can help out at home. 

3.2.13: Elephant and Piggie

We went to storybook day at the University. Stella was drawn to Piggie because he matched her balloon (he is pink after all), Fiona was thrilled that they had blue balloons, and Daphne was a little disappointed that there were no balloons in her favorite color and settled for blue. While we were all very excited to visit Elephant and Piggie, Daphne wasn't interested in taking a picture with them, maybe next time.

2.25.13: Carpooling

Well it's official.  I am back in the workforce for the first time since having kids.  This is going to be a big adjustment for everyone with some new challenges and many new opportunities.  For example, our entire family of five gets to carpool to work/school each day.  The girls school is about five minutes from the University where Brant and I work.  So now we get to have dance parties and singing during our commute, not a bad way to start/end the day.

2.21.13: SNOW!

It is very rare to have snow here, in the mountains sure...but at our house, very rare.  So it was a big deal that it had been snowing off and on throughout the day but not much was sticking. However, by the time we got home from preschool we had a good coating in our front yard.  The girls rushed to play until they realized that the snow was cold.  Daphne/hearts and Stella/pink seem to embrace it the most while Fiona was just trying to figure out why being cold/wet was so exciting to me.  We played outside for about three minutes and then went inside and watch the snow fall.

The next morning we discovered the snow was still there. All the more reason to make our very first snowman.  Stella/pink hearts, Fiona/stripes, Daphne/pink watched me make a snowman.  They weren't so sure about getting their hands cold from the snow but had a good time making footprints.

The technique of snowman making I learned growing up (rolling the snow in the grass to make a ball) does not apply to desert living as you just end up incorporating countless rocks.  Regardless, we figured it out and made our very first little snowman.  The girls knew he needed a carrot nose and asked about buttons for his belly.  In lieu of buttons, we just used pebbles from the yard.  By the time we got back for lunch, the snowman had melted but we found his carrot nose, reminding us that he'll be back again some day.

By coincidence, we got these three big diseased trees in our front yard removed on Monday and it snowed on Wednesday...good thing or we would have had a harder time making our snowman.

2.16.13: Rodeo

After reading every library book in our house this morning, Nene and I took the girls (stella/blue, daphne/green pants, fiona/stripes) to their very first rodeo, coincidentally - ours too.  I won free tickets so it seemed like the perfect time to try out this local tradition.

 

Upon arrival we were a little early for the main show so we had to try out some 'fair food', the girls seemed more than happy to oblige.

 

 

 

 Proof, it was an actual rodeo.


(me, stella, daphne, fiona, nene)

2.14.13: Friendship tea

 Daphne/Daddy swinging at school

 Fiona supervising the quad-bouncing chairs

Stella climbing through the playhouse window

 

In preparation for my reentry into the workforce, the girls began the afternoon program at preschool this week....and they couldn't be more excited.  I'm inclined to say they are too excited, it is almost hard on me. However, keeping in mind they are going to be spending a majority of their weekdays at school - I'm thrilled that they are so happy there. 

On Valentine's Day the girls' school had a Friendship tea.  Brant, Nene, and I were all able to attend and enjoyed the red-themed food while sitting at mini-picnic tables.  It was great to have a 1:1 ratio at a family event.  The girls enjoyed showing Nene everything that they played with while at school while Brant and I were able to chat with some of the other parents and teachers. 

1.31.13: Making three swings

Fiona, Stella and Daphne are adjusting really well to their new preschool.  They have even learned how to all swing at the same time regardless of the fact that there are two swings and one set of rings.  Loving their creativity!

1.26.13: Stitches = separate rooms

Naps have been a challenge lately, especially when one girl isn't tired - then usually  no one gets to sleep since they all share a room and get each other riled up.  It is not uncommon to hear, "wake up, why are you sleeping, talk/sing/play with me" etc, during nap. We've tried quiet time, books, animals pretty much anything to get them to let each other rest when needed, but we are not always successful as we have one very resilient instigator.

Well, today during 'nap' Stella managed to bash her head into a door hinge requiring a frantic trip to urgent care and two stitches.  Once she learned that Daddy would be taking her to urgent care, she got really excited, turned on the charm and didn't cry one bit while getting her stitches. This girl is tough!

While Brant and Stella were at urgent care, Fiona, Daphne and I rearranged some furniture resulting in the girls now having their own rooms.   We weren't planning to separate everyone so young, but after today there was no other option.  For now, their rooms are rather bland but we will decorate soon allowing each of their rooms to reflect their personal taste.  So far everyone seems to embrace having their own rooms and bedtime has been MUCH calmer.  Can it be that simple?  Only time will tell.