10.9.12: H-A-D-E-P-N

The girls have begun to really embrace reading letters lately.  They all know how to spell their name and their sisters' names.  Daphne has taken a huge interest in writing her own name.  Above is the first time she wrote her name all by herself where you can actually tell what each letter is (HADEPN).  She did write the letters in the correct order but randomly wrote them on the piece of paper. On another hilarious note, when arriving at (lutheran) preschool Stella said, "look mama, a lower case t like in my name is on the building".  I couldn't help but giggle and agree, it did look like a lower case t. 

Fiona, Daphne and Stella have finally begun talking/playing with other kids.  Up until recently, they have been a little gang that didn't interact with other kids focusing more on parallel play and playing with their sisters.  While I understand this (put me in a room with my best friends and strangers and I, too, would interact with those I know best) we were hoping preschool would help them socially.  Already this has become apparent.  I learned that at preschool they happily play separately and treat their sisters just like the other kids except they call their sisters by their names instead of  'friend, boy or girl' as all other children are currently named.  In fact twice, they have even recognized other kids from preschool while around town and gone up to say hi to the 'friend, boy, girl'.  We are still working on calling kids by their real names. 

9.29.12: Dance daddy dance

Today we took the girls to a local Oktoberfest celebration.   Upon our arrival we discovered a family friendly environment of bounce/climb houses, live music, and some new (fried) food.  The girls were very excited about the music and so I convinced them to take Brant up to the dance floor.  Fiona wasn't so sure about all that so she stayed with me and we danced in the corner.  Daphne (gray) and Stella (pink) had a great time spinning their daddy in circles. 

9.22.12: Mustaches

Above Daphne, Stella and Fiona are displaying their new favorite party trick...milk mustaches.  For some reason we have continued to use the closed toddler cups for milk even though the girls are more than capable of drinking from an open cup for orange juice and water.  Perhaps it is the laziness in me trying to avoid one more thing to clean up off the floor when some inevitably spills.  Somehow I have grown accustomed to the endless crumbs under the table but when mixed with milk, that might be too much to avoid.  Regardless, we started opening the girls cups when they were 2/3 done with their milk and so was born their new party trick. 

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!