We're Two! And Not So Terrible Yet...

On September 15th, Alex, Jacen, and Ty turned two. We celebrated with a small party this time, figuring that they are still too young to miss anything. We were right. Although their birthday was on a Tuesday, we celebrated it on the Sunday before. Matt had a great idea to take the boys to Build-a-Bear for the first time to let them pick out their own stuffed animals to love. Ty picked out a brown, soft dog that plays a "Happy Birthday" song, Jacen picked out a patriotic-themed dog that barks, and Alex picked out a snow leopard that roars. They had a blast! When it came to opening presents, however, they really didn't have a clue what to do until we showed them, but they sure liked playing with everything when it was unwrapped! And they didn't like their cake at all, although they did manage to smear it in their hair. Silly boys!

We have also gotten the boys out to several different types of activities in the area as well. There is a gym near us that has a "tumble tots" program for an hour several times a week, and so we tried that out on September 25th. The boys had a lot of fun, and got to run off energy that had accumulated during the long, rainy week.

The other upcoming event, of course, is the impending birth of our daughter. The boys don't really have a clue what to expect there, either. It will be interesting to see them--and us!--adjust to a new wee little bundle!

Here we all are outside Build-a-Bear, pre-bear-building...

Ty is debating between a fluffy bear and a fluffy puppy...

Jacen has latched onto patriotic puppy...

Alex opts for the snow leopard!

Alex loves choosing a sound for his animal...

Jacen helps to stuff his puppy!

Alex is very happy with his leopard. Roaaarr!

Ty on the other hand does not like the stuffing process for his puppy.

Hmmm...will we all take after Daddy? Computers are fun!

Here we all are, post-bear-building.

Alex, of course, is the first one to find an inappropriate alternative use for his box.

Unwrapping presents...so much to play with!

Their big present was a train table. They liked it from the first.

Ty rejecting his cake...MOOOOOM don't make me eat it, c'mon!

Alex dispersing cake and crumbs from his tray. Note the flying crumb action.

Post-cake trauma, Ty decides to take his puppy for a walk.

Here we are at Tumble Tots...they have a slide that goes right down into a foam-filled pit. Fun!



Ty discovers the joy of hula hoops...

Note that pesty look on Alex's face!

Not-So-Lazy Summer Days

It's been over two months since our last post! That's pretty shameful, especially since we haven't had any large adventures as in the earlier part of the summer. Our non-work-related home projects have been fairly large-scale--landscaping the backyard, going through old possessions, getting ready for our new baby--and we have made good progress on completing them. There's always something else that needs to be done, it seems, however. Fortunately, in this household, we're content with imperfection. Jody's book project and other research as well as preparations for the new school year have taken up much time as well.

We have had a wonderful summer, however. It was cool throughout July but things heated up in August, and now that it is September it is starting to feel like fall. Highlights include joining the Y and introducing the triplets to a swimming pool on a more routine basis, getting together often with friends, spending time with the boys and attending (NOT traveling!) to Pennsylvania for Matt's parents' surprise 50th anniversary party. It was so much fun to see beloved friends and relatives, especially since we anticipate being home-bound at least until spring.

Coming up we have the boys' 2nd birthday on September 15th. Is it possible that it has been two years already? We have a bunch of eager little boys who are learning to talk and help and who already know how to make one heck of a mess and are experts in being cute.

Here are some pictures from the past two months:


We made the discovery in June that big blue $3.00 plastic buckets from Michael's Craft Store were a big hit. Especially for playing "bucket head"...


We didn't put up our "big pool" this year because the weather was so cool, so we bought the boys a giant inflatable pool shaped like a frog. It got a hole in the bottom and was otherwise a pain, but the boys seemed to like it...





As Jody's lap shrank, and the boys were more reluctant to share what remains, we thought it would be a good idea to get chairs for the boys...they LOVE books!

Brotherly love?

Here is our second attempt at a baby pool; this one worked out better. No leaks!

The boys got an early present...a water table. They loved it and got just as wet as they did in the pool!

Much to Matt' s horror, Alex found a new friend...

Here's Wild West Alex!

This is one of our favorite photographs from Grandma and Grandpa Madeira's 50th anniversary party!

Driving home from Pennsylvania...Alex decided to take the wheel as Diaper Driver.

In August, my friend Rebecca visted us with her son Theo, who was about 11 months at the time. Check out this hair!

Rebecca and Jacen relax together...

Last week, Granmy Burkett and I went to the Indianapolis zoo with Rachel, a good friend of mine, and her threesome. Alex is keeping Rachel and Zoe company here as the rest of the boys run around the zoo's "sprayground"...

Alex strides out looking for some new wet thrills...

And he found them!

Ty, hesitant at first, found some wet fun that wasn't too scary...

Here is a frolicking Jacen...

Rachel and I pose for a photo with the giraffes!


Granmy Burkett and Jacen...

Summertime, and the Living is Easy (At Least, Most of the Time...)

Well, the last two months have flown by, and we at last are sitting down to post pictures to the blog. What with vacation, grading, conferences, and house projects, we've been swamped! And there is, of course, the little matter of taking care of the boys as well. Whew!

Our vacation to Disney was lots of fun--except for the drive down and back, which was actually a bit too long for everyone, especially the boys! We stayed in a wonderful 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom timeshare less than a mile from Disney. It had just been renovated, and so there were plenty of new things for us to mess up! Things got much easier after Tuesday, when the boys adapted to the new place and to the idea of amusement parks. We visited Magic Kingdom on Monday, Animal Kingdom on Tuesday, Sea World on Wednesday (a big hit!), Epcot on Thursday, and Sea World and Magic Kingdom on Friday. It was hot most days, but not unbearably so; with lots of sunscreen and air-conditioned breaks, it was certainly bearable. The lines were not too bad either. Here are some great pictures:

Camping out, Hampton Inn triplet style...

It's curtains for Alex...

The boys at LegoLand at Downtown Disney

Pirate Ty is preparing to board...

Our first time through "It's a Small World" at Magic Kingdom...Alex likes it!

Lunchtime, plotting further adventures in 97 degree heat...this is how we roll...

The boys at Splash Mountain (sorry, guys, you're too short)...

Jody and the gang at Pirates of the Caribbean, which they were just the right size for...

Alex steals a cuddle from Dad...

Are the boys amused by their private concert? Or alarmed?

Tigger...he put a bounce in our step!

The gang at Seaworld, waiting for the Shamu show to start...

The gang on Shamu...

Three little lumps of sugar in a tea cup!

Little Alex, big Clydesdale...

Alex sleeping face-plant style...

Mom and the gang at Epcot...note the new stroller (the old Peg Perego lost a front wheel at the end of the day at Sea World, so Dad had to wheel them tilted back all the way to the front of the park). The new stroller was much easier to push, but weighed a ton and took up hordes of space.



In the belly of the shark...

At Epcot, in merry ole' England...

Back at Sea World, Alex glimpses some sting rays...

And Ty does too!

Everyone loves walking through the underwater tunnels at Shark Encounter...

Dad trying to get the boys started on some early video gaming...

How appropriate. Enough said.

The boys in front of the Magic Kingdom castle...

Mom and Jacen at the Indianapolis Zoo.

Alex meets some rhinos.

At the Indianapolis Air Show, for Matt's 35th birthday...yet another set of strollers. These are terrific.

Mom and the boys in front of a plane.

The closest Jacen will ever come to a gun...

Can I fly this thing? You bet. Just hop in.

Jacen is ready to take off as well...

Matt and his flaming cake!