BIG DAY!!

Change is good, right? 
We must embrace it.  Trust & have faith.

Again, we find ourselves there.

The end of last week, someone from OPS called Jeff.  He wanted him to come down & check out one of the alternative schools.  Turns out.... they got his name from an old professor & had a job for him.  He interviewed twice this week & officially accepted a full-time job today.  He starts ASAP, meaning as soon as we successfully line up of child care for our kids.  They were very understanding & gracious of our timeline.

Today, at the recommendation of 2 co-workers, we dropped in & checked out a daycare center.  As it turns out, being almost 3, our kids can actually be in the Pre-school room there.  As opposed to most locations where you must be 3 by July 31.  It was an awesome place.  Great security.  Very nice teachers we met in every room we dropped in on.  And a Pre-school curriculum built from all 3 of the surrounding school districts to get our kids prepped for K.  The kids were in awe of all the new things & though I know there will be tears when they do go it alone on day 1, they talk about it excitedly.  In talking to one of the Pre-school teachers, the curriculum will push their minds a little bit, but I think they are right there... and ready to jump in & learn.  We were told some 3 year olds are not quite ready for the Pre-school room & if we decide its something they are not quite ready for, they can drop back to the 2+ room.  But I think they are ready.  And getting back to some structure will be good for them!

So (assuming everything goes as planned) in just 10 short days, a great change will be upon us.  I pray our kids remain resilient as ever & take on this new journey head on! 

We have come to look at things in life with a "meant to be" mentality.  We were MEANT to have triplets, hence our infertility struggle.  During our home buying process, I challenged God to give me a sign we were supposed to be doing this.  I think with the way it all went down, its pretty clear.

And this job.  Jeff admits, 3 months ago, its not one he would have applied for.  And while he has enjoyed subbing & its been keeping him pretty busy the last few weeks, it would be silly to turn down a FT job opportunity.  So apparently he was "meant to" go this sub route temporarily so that he was prepared to accept this job. 

We are excited to embark on this newest journey!  Pray that our kids handle the transition gracefully!

 Never a dull moment.... Oh Hayden....

Who actually very quietly spoke up & told one of the teachers at the center his name was "Hayden Thomas Maas"

Picture Teasers!

I have some previews from our kiddos 3 year pictures already!!!

We took them this past weekend.  Did them a little earlier than I usually do, but since the photographer we used is 36 weeks pregnant.... we had to go early.  And actually she was already dialated to 3, we were worried we'd have to re-schedule.

This time we used someone I know from High School.  Nikki with Every Milestone Photography.  I actually graduated with her brother.  I like using a photographer (vs somewhere like The Picture People) & I like using different people.  They have some different ideas & choices of location.   One of her new favorite outdoor photo spots is actually just 5 minutes from our new house! And she picked out that spot for us even before we moved!  My only must have trait in a photographer is that I get a rights to pictures on CD.  I want the ability to print, re-print, what I want, when I want it. 

They didn't cooperate super well.  They are so shy!  And it was COLD out.  But Nikki managed to get some good shots.  I'm always amazed. 

Here are our teasers!

Hayden

 Logan

 Olivia

 We're turning THREE!!!

Not only did Nikki brave 3 toddlers & the cold... but also oncoming traffic :)

In October, We Remember....

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.  October 15, specifically, is Remembrance Day.

I myself am lucky.  I have never lost a pregnancy, or a baby.  But I know many of my family & friends have.  This past year alone I have watched several friends lose pregnancies, infants, and children.  And my heart mourns with them. 

As we journey through October may we journey together & support one another. 
May this month encourage you to speak out.  Remember.  Not hide. 
May your voice & your story bring comfort to someone else walking in your shoes.
May you find comfort in not being alone.
May you continue to celebrate those too special for this Earth.

But if you can't, I will celebrate them for you.  And I will remember.  I am inspired by your strength & grace. 
This month, and every month, I stand with you.

Random life.... and more pumpkins!

What we've been up to....

 

Making pizza....

 Buying milk. 
I think we've done the color coding thing for our kids to the extreme.  They demanded we leave the grocery store with Hayden's blue, Olivia's pink & Logan's green milk. 

 Addie & Ava came to visit!!

 Making our house, even our closets, kid friendly.

Finding little cars lined up in every corner of the house.

 Growing our imagination.  Olivia made supper for "White baby" & she stole my chair!!

 More Pumpkin patch.... this time with some of our triplet friends!

 We did it wagon-less!  They did so great walking!!!!

Watching pig races & having goldfish crackers for snack.

 Blake, Logan, Peyton, Olivia, Hayden & Hayden.

Project 2- Bedroom for Boys

Project #2 is officially underway....

Painting has begun & supplies have been purchased for the boys' new room!

 This is where we're going with this......

So beyond excited to see how this eventually turns out!

A new note from our potty diaries

Where do we stand these days?

A very infrequent daytime accident.  Rare.  Infact I have braved journing out with all 3 butts in panties on occasion (Sometimes on purpose, sometimes on accident!  You should have seen my face at Walmart when I took them all potty thinking I had put the boys in pull-ups, when I discovered those CARS pantied butts!)

Livi is in panties 24/7. 

Hayden has just started the past few weeks to wake up dry from nap about 50% of the time.  And is super proud when he is "dry!"  Actually I think right now he is on a 3 day naptime dry streak.  Still far from dry at night, which is totally fine.

Logan.  Still working on poop.  He does poop in the potty about every-other or every-third day before nap, though it's usually just a preview for what he will wake up with in his diaper.  But its progress from nothing poop-wise in the pot.  We've tried being mean.  We've tried being nice.  We've tried bribery.  And we've pretty much given up & are trying plain ole' patience.  He has complete & total control of it, I guess we'll just wait until he is ready to appropriately use it. 


And just for fun... going through the last of the misc. boxes that need unpacked.  (Well besides the basement, which is a whole other bag of worms.)  And trying winter coats to see who needs new this year.  They can always turn a task into a smile :)

It's October!

It's officially October. 
This month I turn 30!  30!!
THIRTY!!!

I know, I know, its really not that old in the grand scheme of things.  And I'm really not struggling with this milestone in terms of me aging. Mostly it just has me reflecting on how fast time really flys by. My kids are almost 3! I'm turning 30! I'm worried if I blink, they will be 18 & gone. Thats what makes getting older seem scary.... time is such a fleeting thing. 

So while, yes, it is "just 30," its a pretty solid milestone none the less.  We tend to reflect pretty hard on those decade crossing years & at 20 you just are more excited about turning almost 21 than reflecting on much of anything.  So 30 is really the first "big one."  The first time you sit back & think "Am I where I expected I would be at 30?"  "Am I where I want to be at 30?"  "Where exactly am I really?"

Well, I can tell you honestly I never expected I would be where I am.  Who ever expects they will have triplets?  Ever?  No.One.  Even 6 months ago I wouldn't of belived you if you would have told me where I would be living.  Life has grander plans for us than we can even dream up.  And while I have yet to hit that big lotto & pay off all my debt, so I can work just on occasion, just for fun, not necessity & spend every moment I wish with my family & friends....outside of that, I would have to say at 30, I would rather be no where else.  My 3 decades of life have blessed me pretty immensely & taught me a lot.  My brain can't even wrap itself around the idea of how much the next 3 decades could possiby hold.  So as far as where exactly I really am?  I am here.  And beyond that, it doesn't really matter much.... because I'm exactly where I am supposed to be. 

And today, I was supposed to be welcoming October.  Embracing growing & changing.  And making memories to last a lifetime.  Or at least making some Halloween T-shirts that will fit my kids for at least a few months ;)

 Candy corn feet!!

 Ok so 2 out of 3 enjoying this activity isn't bad, right?  He was so not a fan of paint on his feet.

 Look at the size difference between Hayden & Olivia's feet!!!

 Some Cricut stencils to help me write with the paint...

And there you have it!!! 

Front:

 Back:

So bring it on 30!  Show me what you got.  I am here, right where I am supposed to be.  And I am eager & excited to see what this decade to come can show me & how it can make me grow. 

In the meanwhile, I will be childishly enjoying every minute of saying I am "29!"