Grandma and Grandpa Lucco

Titi

Emily

While snapping photos of the girls individually in front of the Christmas tree.....

I noticed Emily had snagged my phone

Then this is the picture I get after taking my phone back!

But....she can't resist a funny face for the camera!

I love you baby girl! 

Cousins

Hannah, Hailey, Emily & Christina

2 sets of Multiples spanning 4 Generations!

Here is my grandmother with her identical twin sister...Elaine and Shirley.  They are 83...my girls are 2.  Amazing!!!!

Baking

We've had a lot of baking to do this month.  No one (well at least not ME) wants my girls sneezy, grubby, dirty, sticky hands all over their cookies.  But they love to help.  So I gave them each a cookie sheet and a bowl of flour and let them 'help'.  I gave them cookie dough at some point too.  They LOVED 'baking' and I got a ton done.  They also got to eat the cookies - and they are indeed hooked.  That's all they want Santa to bring this year! 

Girls at the Store!

I needed to go grocery shopping today.  I also needed to take the girls with me.  I wanted to not have to worry about them fighting (I've heard enough to last the rest of my life).  Here's how we did it all :)

Pic with Santa

It was a process.  Everything is a process.  But it's my life.  Santa is a scary guy - let's face it.  No one really likes him until we find out exactly what he's all about.  At 2.5 - the girls sure weren't about to just say "Hey Santa!  You're my new BFF!" 

How on earth was I going to get a pic with Santa?  I wasn't.  I had no intention of doing so.  I didn't even have $ on me to buy the pictures.  Because these are MY kids and no way are they going near the big guy. 

But we DID need xmas pictures and I DON'T have much $ and the mall DOES have a nice xmas scene.  So the girls and I got dressed (I wore a matching outfit just so they would think it was 'cool' to have jeans and black shirt...they hate wearing jeans).  It worked.  They were excited to match with mommy for the day.
Hurdle #1 done.

Off to the doc I went with the trio in tow - I had to get my wrist looked at.  They had to come with me.  The doctor only swore once (he said 'oh shit' but I don't remember why).  The girls were good - they only asked 309 times if this visit was 'just for mommy?  right mommy?  just for you?  not me?  no?' 
Hurdle #2 done.

To the mall we went.  Got there early - 1/2 hour before the mall even opened.  Found close parking.
Hurdle #3 done.   

Ate breakfast at D&D.  Full kids are happy kids.
Hurdle #4 done. 

By this point - we only stepped foot in the mall...D&D was right there.  We were already stopped a few times.  What I wasn't thinking about were mall walkers.  Who walks at the mall?  Yeah...moms with one baby in a stroller and old people.  Ugh
Starting to see how people are going to be a problem on this trip already.

Done eating, clean off the black shirts, wipe off the jeans, back in the wagon and head to the middle of the mall.  There is lots and lots of talk about Santa and how he's going to be at the mall today and we are going to wave 'from a distance' and say hello. 

We get to the middle of the mall and I park the wagon and the trio get out.  No one is around - we immediately start our photo op.  All 3 by the tree - click click click...wait - no no - don't look at the elevator honey - look at mommy.  Oh - everyone look at mommy!  Ok...no no - there's no one over there.  Ugh...click click click. 

We move locations - only a few feet...to a new tree.  Click click click 'yes they're triplets' click click click, 'yes they're all girls' click 'yes my hands are full - so is my heart' click click click.  Not once did I take my eyes off camera or the camera off the girls.  Don't you get the point?  We're BUSY! 

Ok - I've got about 90 - 100 photos, we were interrupted about 5 times and the girls were winding down and not really wanting to smile for the camera any longer.  I'll call it a day - and I'm happy that I have a camera that takes quick shots...I'm sure there's one I can use. 

We are directly at the bottom of the escalator.  I'm kneeling down at the wagon putting the camera away.  All of a sudden I hear 'SANTA!' and I have 3 toddlers on TOP OF ME.  One is almost crying.  The MOM in me takes over.  I look up to see the Big Man coming down the escalator.  So I put on my happy face and start chanting 'OMG it's Santa!  I'm so excited!  Can you believe it?  It's really Santa!!!!  OMG!  OMG!  OMG!'  By the time Santa got to the bottom - all 3 of the girls were excited.  He saw their hesitation - gave us all a HIGH FIVE as he walked by and kept his appearance brief. 

It couldn't have been more perfect. 

The girls wanted more.  Let's go see him.  We walk around and see him sitting in his chair.  They want to get closer.  Ok - let's get closer.  No lines of course - the mall is just opening.  We walk through the 'snow globe' and move our way in to see him.  We're about 3 feet away.  Hannah & Hailey start to show their fear.  Emily walks over, gives him a once over, and jumps on up on his lap.  EMILY. 

The 1st few shots (which you won't see), I'm in the photo.  Kneeling down next to Santa while Emily is on his lap and Hannah & Hailey stand in front of him.  Hailey kept putting her hand over her face - so I had her hold hands with Hannah.  Then I said 'Oh - I have to move my camera...I'm just gonna scoot it over here' and moved away.  Click click click - and the wonderful staff get this shot.....................
Mission Complete. 

Photo shoot

Look at Emily.  One finger in her ear and one up her nose.  The other 2 gave me their fake smiles.  Really?  This is what I get for bringing them to the mall for pictures (and not paying for them lol).  I did get some really good shots though - but still not sure what we're using for xmas cards so those will have to wait.

MOMMY!!!!!!!

Usually I am oblivious to this word.  It's used so often that I just don't think I even hear it anymore.  But today it was over and over and over...when I screamed from the other room "HAILEY!  YOU BETTER NEED HELP!"  She sure did............

Coloring Eggs!

No it's not Easter - but we had some egg coloring kits from Easter so we spent the snowy day doing some odd stuff.  Egg coloring was fun (and a bit messy). 

Happy Birthday Christina!

What on earth was I thinking taking on one more toddler for a day?  I must have lost my mind for sure. 

Today was Christina's 4th bday.  So instead of her going to school we asked if she could spend the day with us.  We greeted her at the door with 6 presents, all were wrapped with the help of the girls, and they each were very excited to give the gifts to their cousin.   They weren't very expensive presents - but it was along the lines of what she wanted.  She wanted musical instruments - so we got her a train whistle, kazoo, piano horn (very cool), recorder, echo microphone and on the way to the register I couldn't resist grabbing the whoopee cushion!  Guess what she loved the most?  Yup - the whoopee cushion.

So the fighting began.  Everyone wanted the whoopee cushion or everyone wanted the piano horn, or everyone wanted the recorder......get where I'm going?  It didn't take long for me to find a bag to put her gifts in so that they would remain in one piece for her to bring home. 

Hannah & Hailey were fighting all day.  Emily & Christina were fighting all day.  Normally I have 2 fighting while one is playing quietly.  But today I have 4 fighting all day long.  It was lovely I tell you.  I might add that Christina was NOT at fault for anything of the arguing that went on.  Even if she was...she had immunity because today is her birthday :)

We went to story time at Barnes & Noble.  This is only the 2nd time we went.  The girls did ok while we were there.  They sat for the book (and listened because later they were able to tell me what it was about).  Then we had craft time there...they gave the kids paper, crayons and stickers.  Then it was over.  But Hannah says (ever so politely) "I want cookies mom!"  Remember - last week they got cookies because it was Halloween...a special treat for the kids.  But being our 1st time at story time - it set a precedence.  So don't EVER ask me to break our rules 'just one time' because this is PROOF that it only takes one time!!!! 
We did go to the cafe (I was prepared for this - I knew Hannah would remember) and we had cookies at the cafe. 

Then it was back home for lunch and naps.  At this point I was starting to realize that dance wasn't going to be a good idea because Emily really wasn't feeling well.  She's been a bit under the weather for a couple of days.  If we went to dance - I would have had to wake them up at 2:00 rather than letting them sleep for however long they needed.  So I cancelled dance class. 

Good thing cuz Hailey didn't wake up until 3:30 from her nap.  Hannah and Emily woke up around 2:45.  Christina slept as well but she only slept and hour.  But I used this hour to bake her a cake to take home with her for tonight. 

My mom came and picked her up and then the girls and I had dinner when Pete came home.  They took baths, drove us crazy, got some extra time awake because they just weren't so tired...and finally - at 9:30 they fell asleep. 

Happy Birthday Christina!

Dance Outfits

I'm sure they're going to want to kill me for this..........

Flower Girls

Hailey

Like we don't change enough diapers!

Playing in the rain

Sometimes you just have to play with mother nature rather than complain about her. 

Hailey

Hannah

Emily

Park

Hailey

Emily

Hannah

Triplet Playdate

The girls had a great time with the Dudley crew on their truplet playdate!!!! 

Sisterly Love

I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll...

Blow your house down!!!  Yeah - this is a 'house' that they pushed over and love to play in while it's on the floor. 

Colorful

I'm amazed at how many people come to my house and comment on how colorful our dishwasher is.  I think I take it for granted because it's our 'normal'.  So I thought I'd take a picture because I guess one day it won't be so full of bright colors and little plates/cups.  And I'm sure I'll miss it. 

COTU

Hannah & Emily

I LOVE this picture. 

Sausage

Emily took full advantage of the fact that Pete turned his back for a minute.  She took this plate of sausage off the counter and found herself a nice cozy spot in the living room to chow down.  Hannah seems to be an accomplice - and Hailey is probably the look-out (although not a very good one since Pete was able to get the camera and take a picture of the culprit red handed!). 

Daddy

COTU

Brushing teeeeeeeeth!

Not a great pic - taken from my phone.  But hey...cute is cute is cute!

Fun with Christina

Pics from last weekends pool party

Come on Emmie - let's go get the pinata! 

And now Hannah...

And Hailey...

The girls had fun playing with the dog (or at least looking at her!)

But let's not get too close.