SPRING!!!

First bike ride of the season! Wahoo!!

Don't let the snow in these pictures fool you, spring is on it's way! We can feel it!! Over the past week, we've had a few days that felt more spring-ish, then dead of winter-ish. This gives us hope! Hope that soon we'll be once again playing in the driveway for hours on end. Hope that our days will once again be filled with bike rides and walks and exploring the outdoors. My boys (and this Mom) don't do well being cooped up in doors for too long. They need to explore and they need the outdoors! 

Other signs of spring:

A lowly caterpillar:

By the way, mismatched gloves are the new trend. Did you know that?

Maple syrup!!!

Every year since we've moved out of the city, Chris has tapped the trees in our yard and made syrup that lasts most of the year. Chris loves the outdoors and doing stuff like this..... it's such a part of who he is and we love this about him! As you might imagine, the boys love to help with the process! Every day, we check the taps to see how much sap there is and then carry the sap over to the always simmering, enormous pot. Seriously, this pot is simmering for most of March!

The ability to play outside without getting stuck in waist high snow.

Flowery necklaces.

So, I wore this necklace for the first time today, because it felt like spring, it was sunny out and well, because, why not? I thought it was a good choice. But when I came downstairs, the boys all stopped cold in their tracks and  looked at me STARED at me. Carter seemed to speak for everyone when he asked, "What the heck is that on your neck?!"

MEN. 

They don't always get it.

Given that we live in Michigan, we are well aware that we could easily get another snowstorm..... (Please NO!) but not today. Today we are just enjoying the sun and the "warmth" and the outdoors!!

 

The toughest job you'll ever love

That was (maybe still is) the slogan for the Peace Corps when I joined, what seems like a lifetime ago. However, I think it can be applied to parenthood too!

Our days have been busy, busy, busy...... which means that blogging has taken a back seat lately. 

Our days have been busy and the night's have been long, as the boys all seemed to pass around a cold which interrupted their sleep.

Sometimes, the days feel challenging and overwhelming. Maybe you can relate?

From the minute that the triplets were born, what has always helped us get through overwhelming days is remembering to live in gratitude. Maybe that sounds cheesy but it's true. If we can live in gratitude then it's much easier to delineate what's most important and what can be let go. It helps us remember what a privilege it is to care for our children day in and day out. We are so grateful for these boys and the experience of multiples, even though they constantly keep us on our toes and have us asking questions like, "When was the last time you showered??" or "What day is it?" to each other.

At the end of very busy days, I sometimes get sad about how fast time is flying. Since our kids aren't really spaced, the baby/ toddler experience isn't spread out over a period of time. Soon we will be out of this phase of four in diapers, five in car seats, and living off little sleep. People excitedly tell us, "Soon you'll be done with this phase!" True, but then..... we'll be done with this phase. We'll be on to other exciting phases with the boys, but the baby/ toddler phase will be over. For good. I want to savor this time, to enjoy it in all its crazy glory while it lasts. 

At the end of every day, after Chris and I collapse on the couch and mumble something like, "When is the last time I showered?" or "How unbelievably hard was bedtime tonight?!" the conversation always turns to "How cute/ funny/ exciting was it when ____ did/ said/ discovered ___?" 

Five littles running around brings lots of work.... but the flip side is that it also brings lots of love, affection and hilariousness.

Lots of hilariousness.

Blurry, but it's my only picture from today when the trips and I had fun snuggling in our bed before their nap. We read a few books and played peek a boo with the covers. It was one of those times when I thought, "This is the good stuff".