He is so hungry..

he has resorted to taking the furnace grates off and eating the old crusty food in there.  Because, when you have three toddlers, that's where food/bugs/sand/dog hair go to die.

Not that he just finished THREE pancakes for breakfast.  These were no "silver dollar" pancakes either.  And they were whole grain-so super filling.  Soooo gross.  Only my son would do that.  Yes, I said son.  The daughters never would have thought of that.  But they will now that they saw him doing it.  I halfheartedly cleaned up the 10lbs of dog hair, 40lbs of sand, 50 cheerios, 12 bugs and other random pieces of food in there.  It's moderately clean now.  As clean as things get around here.

ArtPrize!

Tiff and I took the kids to ArtPrize today.  It was a bit chilly in the shade but really nice in the sun.  Brecken cried pretty much the whole time because he wanted to walk but not by the stroller.  When I would try to talk to him about it his legs would go limp and he would have a fit.  Ugh.  I'm really striking out lately with activities. 

The Mommas actually took a picture of themselves, with the kiddos.

 

The kids throwing pennies in the little pond.

B HAD to ride the motorcycle.

Thought this one was so neat and intricate.

               Adelyn by the flowers                                                         Joelle was trying to get away here ;)

 

Pretty lady.

Smelling the roses...err tulips.

B wanted to smell the flowers too..Sophia kept telling me she couldn't smell them ;)

Silly little man

Sophia and Adelyn waiting for lunch.  Please take note of B in the back ground.

...aanndd again.  Still not happy.

Sophia, Adelyn and another little girl were dancing in the Rosa Parks Circle and EightWest was filming them.  Watch for them on tv..not sure when they'll make their debut but I'm watching the internet for it!

Doggie Door Fun

We went over to my Uncle's house the other day to celebrate some birthdays and we were all out on the deck.  I turned to look for Brecken and found him doing this::

Coming back through::

We were all laughing hysterically at him, which only encouraged him to keep doing it.  Only Mr. B...

Petting Papi :)

Post Family Farm

We had a rare day to ourselves and I wanted to do something fun with the kids so I thought of Post Family Farms.  I told Adelyn and she was sooo excited to go.  When I had her get her shoes on she came out with sandals and I told her to get shoes on because it was cold AND because we were going to a farm.   She proceeded to scream and cry for about 20 minutes because she didn't want to wear shoes.  She tried on every pair of shoes in the pantry and there was something wrong with each of them.  During her tirade I put shoes on Joelle and she proceeded to scream for because she wanted sandals on as well.  I got Brecken all ready and amidst all the crying and screaming I decided we weren't going because I didn't want to deal with Adelyn all morning.  Then I decided that wasn't fair to Brecken and Joelle so I told her we were going but she had to sit in the stroller the whole time because of her attitude.  She got in the van without shoes on and away we went.  I decided to let B and J try their hand at walking and was planning on committing social suicide because of it.  They actually did really well and listened.  When we got there Adelyn got in the stroller and was, generally, happy as a clam.  The only times she got irritated was when we were in the barn and she was waiting outside while we pet the baby animals, while we were petting a cat and when I told B and J we would go get donuts.  She got REALLY upset when I told Brecken and Joelle we were going to get donuts because she thought she didn't get any.  She was screaming "I want donuts! I want donuts!"  Anytime she complained I ignored her and this time was no exception.  We walked out from getting our donuts and a lady said to me "Oh I see she got her donuts."  I'm sure she meant it as a joke or just was commenting but I wanted to say to her "Do you know what I had to go through to get these donuts?!?!"  Instead I smiled and walked away.

Pretty little lady petting the goats.

Pretty much her face the whole time.

Petting the baby cows.

Feeding the goats

Ooo look at the kitty!  My little animal lover.

 Riding the tire horses.

 

 All in all it was fine.  Other than me being frustrated that she didn't seem to care about her "punishment."  Argh.

Pure Silence. Literally.

Eric was golfing tonight, so he wasn't home.  We brought a friend a couple meals so we didn't get back until 6.  I had nothing made for us and no leftovers so I decided to stop at McDonalds instead of having sandwiches (again).  I can, quite literally, count on one hand the number of times I have fed my children McDonalds.  We have one in our neighborhood so sometimes it is extremely tempting.  I avoid it like the plague.  The germs in the play land scare me and the food is the opposite of healthy.  I knew that the kids would love it because who doesn't love nuggets and fries?!  I sat them down with their plates and all I could hear was the sound of gnashing teeth.  I am not joking.  Dinner is never that silent at our house.  They must have been feeling lucky.

Yes they have to be seated like that.  If Brecken and Joelle are next to each other, like they used to be, Joelle HAS to have her chair touching Brecken's.  Touching, I know.  Not so touching when he steals her food and she gets SUPER pissed.  Even if I have them on the same side but as far away from each other as I can, she will pull herself along the table until she is touching him.  And then he steals her food.  And we listen to the angry monster noises.  So they all sit separated. 

Apple Picking

It's a terrible year for any kind of picking but when I got word that Cranes would be apple picking for the weekend I wanted to take the kids.  I was hoping to purchase some Honey Crisps as well.  When we got there the line was a mile down the road to get INTO Cranes.  Haha.  I think not.  We went across the street to Gary Cranes and picked there.  They were picking Golden Delicious, Ida Red's and Jonathon's.  The lady said that the Golden Delicious were the best pickings so we started there first.  I am not kidding when I tell you there were, at most, 5 small/bruised/ok/TOO small apples per tree.  We got about half a bag of those and then moved on to the other varieties.  The Ida Red's had, maybe, one small/too small/bruised apple every other tree.  The ones they had were at the top of the trees.  We got a handful of those.  The Jonathon's were the same as the Ida Red's.  So pretty much overall picking was terrible.  And the apples are small.  When we left there wasn't a line on the road at the other Crane's any more so we headed over to possibly buy some Honey Crisps.  Yeah right.  We pulled up and the line to check out was winding through the orchards.  They were selling Honey Crisps in 10lb bags for $20.  No line just for Honey Crisps either.  We left.  No Honey Crisps for us this year... :(

Love this cutie.  And her dress!  Thanks Heather ;)

Chheeessseee!

Such a pretty girl.  With some amazing eyes.

Stinker boy.  He's saying cheese...

     No one likes to look at the camera...                                                              ...or sit still.

 

 Again.  Either not smiling, not looking or trying to escape.

Ha :)  Pumpkins+Apples=Fall! 

Even though picking royally stunk we still had fun.  And have THREE babies who LOVE apples..with skins on ;)

My zoo...at the zoo.

We went to the zoo with playgroup today.  What an entertaining trip to say the least.  First and foremost, I am ever so thankful Alyson decided to bring both of her parents AND Pappy and JoAnn.  Also SUPER thankful for friends who don't mind lugging my children around, offering their stroller for me to use or, perhaps, just pretending my chaos is not happening.  Pretty sure I would have NO hair left if they hadn't come.

Brecken and Joelle were pretty antsy in the stroller from the start.  So I had an inkling that I was in for a fun trip.  Luckily it was only about an hour or so that was absolutely terrible.  The first part and the last part wasn't so bad.  Just the middle.  It all started at the bird cage.  You know, the one were they can go in and feed the birds with a stick of bird food.  That you have to pay a dollar for.  Those ones.  Brecken pitched a serious fit when he couldn't get out.  Adelyn was inside so I was trying to get pictures of her.  B screamed and cried for probably about 10 minutes.  I got Adelyn out and I see her licking her lips.  Then I notice that she has bird poop all over her face.  And she is still licking her lips and her face.  Then I see that it's all over her hand.  So I am trying to wipe it off with a wipe and she is still trying to lick it off.  Believe me when I tell you that I was whisper-yelling at her to cut.it.out.  So gross.  The whole time B is still crying.  So I get him out.  Then Joelle starts crying because he's out but she isn't.  So then I get her out.  We head to the petting zoo.  It's closed.  That's awesome.  So my three monkeys are running wild and there is one of me.  At one point I couldn't find Joelle..then realized that Judy had her.  Thank you Judy!!  We corralled them over to the wooden train and they played there for a bit.  I constantly had to chase B away from the petting zoo.  We started to head for the bears and Tiff had Jojo, Adelyn and Sophia were in the stroller and B was walking.  As we are headed up the little incline by the turtles and the otters, a moderately large lady didn't see Brecken and plowed him into the ground.  Like his head hit the concrete plowed him over.  So he's screaming.  I'm running for him.  And left my stroller, with the two girls in it, on the hill.  You guessed it.  Next thing I hear is "Your stroller!!"  Not "Your kids!!"  But "Your stroller!!"  I guess it is a Maclaren after all...maybe they were concerned for it.  I turn around and there go Adelyn and Sophia rolling down the hill.  Pappy chased them down and offered to push them while I took care of Brecken.  We managed to view a couple animals before the next fiasco.  We were over by the baboons and I noticed Joelle munching on something.  She was right by Sydney and she had just ate something so I just figured she got it from Syd.  Haha.  I said to Leslie "Did you give Sydney some popcorn type of snack?"  She says "Umm noo.  I gave her goldfish and cheerios."  Awesome.  Joelle was picking popcorn off the ground and eating it.  My last straw was when we were by the lions.  Tiff had given Joelle Charlie's snack cup and Brecken had just realized he didn't get any.  Well Joelle wouldn't share and she was busy running away and making angry monster noises at him.  This happened a couple times.  Finally I threw them back in the stroller.  Then we got to hear a chorus of screaming from the two of them.  They wouldn't stop so I gave them their pacis.  Then they looked like the crazy three-year-olds who can't get over their pacis.  Because they are giant enough to look like three-year-olds. 

Pretty sure we are going to get the bird flu or some disease from the popcorn.  Or maybe we won't because I washed their mouths out with the antibacterial squrity stuff they have everywhere.  KIDDING.  Maybe.

After all that at least lunch time went smoothly.  Everyone listened to me and everyone ate.  Bonus.

The whole gang-of kiddos-that came today.  Mind you this is only 5 families.  We produce children well.

Pretty lady with the birds.

Mr. Owen trying to tempt a birdie.

Tiff and the kiddos

Sophia, Leslie, Sydney, Henry and Owen feeding the birds

Adelyn petting the cow.

Mr. B chasing a turkey.  Because HE is a turkey.

Adelyn showing me her "cool trick"

aanndd this is the face that everyone got to listen to and see today.  His sad face.  Argh.

Needless to say, while all this was going on, I was telling myself I would never go anywhere with all three of them, by myself, again.  The above is proof that they can be crazy and aren't so good all the time.  Thankyouverymuch.

Kaylee and Kaleb make 5.

Kaylee and Kaleb came to visit!  Their momma went to Shipshewana for the day and I offered to watch the kids.  Mrs. Rachael paid me in Amish cinnamon rolls.  I accept.  Rachael told me that Kaylee hadn't been taking naps so I was pretty determined to make sure that one DID happen.   We played hard outside all morning and we went for a walk.  She took a nap.  ;)  I was pretty amused that Adelyn isn't the only one that says random silly things.  We were eating lunch and Brecken put his plate all over his head.  I told him not too.  Kaylee said "It's ok Mister Nichole.  Kaleb does that too."  Haha.  Earlier in the morning I was doing a poop check before we went outside and Adelyn asked Kaleb if he had poop in his diaper.  He bent over and smelled.  I laughed out loud.  During nap time I spray painted some frames in the garage.  I went to get Kaylee from her nap and I walk in all happy like "Hi Kaylee!  Good job taking a nap!"  She says "Mister Nichole where you painting your pictures?"  I said "How did you know that?"  She said "My daddy does that."  What a little stinker.  After naps we headed out back to show them some hillbilly fun.

**No babies were harmed during this episode**

Kaleb and Joelle.  Right after popsicles ;)

            Some friendly smooches...                                                       ...and some sweet, sweet hugs.

 

                          Flying!                                                                                     Collision!

 

            Kaylee having a blast ;)                                                 Even thought it's out of focus...it's hilarious.

 

 Please get a good look at his face. 

I'm so mean.  In order to get this little half smile I told him I saw his mommy.  Haha.

Mister B getting a drink out of the hose.  Sometimes he choked.  Maybe because he would stick the whole thing in there.  Life lessons I tell ya.

 

Everyone is always amazed that I will take on extra children.  Once you have had three toddlers at the same time, what's two more?!?!  Our back yard is fenced in.  It's like a big hamster cage.