{my buddy boys}

I kept watching the boys out the window as they played in the backyard. I became more curious about their little adventures when I noticed that they kept going over to one specific place by the fence. Upon closer inspection and to my surprise they had been hard at work collecting potato bugs...poor little guys (as in the bugs). They had rigged up quite the system with a bucket and a radio flyer tricycle.

Yesterday I took the boys to the zoo and became very nervous when I decided to take my three sons into the monkey village. I could not keep them on the right side of the roped off space and there were times that I was sure I was going to loose them to the monkeys. Want to know how the zookeepers kept the monkeys away from us..they sprayed them with water bottles. As I finally got the boys to exit I overheard the zoo workers commenting on how the monkeys were extra active today. I felt like saying, "you're tellin' me". Seriously though yesterday was a great "buddy boy" day.

wild engines (AKA: Bridge-gee Baby, Wellsinator & Choaney)

Lately have felt a little more outnumbered so we simplified and our little boys 3rd birthday consisted of:

slushies before lunch

cupcakes out of a box (shame on me)

making indian headbands

a teepee & boom box from my parents

cars from husbands parents

new shoes from us

singing happy birthday 3 individual times

lots of smiles

lots of love

Because of the birth of my boys I have benefited greatly. They have helped to learn me a lesson or two...like do not have any expectations when it comes to trying to get their pictures taken. I guess either which way it really didn't matter because Michelle is a miracle worker. I left the photo shoot thinking there is no way she got a decent picture...not for a lack of skills but because my boys WORKED us. I think I love the pictures because not only are they cute but it shows real life. I have three wild "engines" for petes sake so why wouldn't one have a black eye that just happened in nursery two days before pictures and why would they only NOT wear their indian bands and hats for pictures and why wouldn't they feel the need to cry and have only their Momma carry them when usually they want to walk all by themselves and why would one want to keep biting his toy snake and why would we have to try and bribe them to take pictures by throwing suckers in the teepee and telling them to get in.

To say I am so happy to have the above pictures is an understatement...thanks Michelle.

{Photos via Michelle Herrick @ Sweet Moments Design}

the miracles of lentils

When I was McPregnant with both the McDoubles and the McTriples I lost all want for meat. It was the weirdest thing because you'd think that when you are pregnant that your body would crave meat. I could no longer stomach the thought of even eating chicken. The only problem was that Dr. Elliot said that I had to eat 4000 calories a day. He didn't care how I did it and even suggested McDonalds to gain the necessary 40 pounds by week 20. He swore I would have large healthy triplets if I stuck to his plan. Somehow by drinking lots of Ensure and high caloric shakes as fillers I was able to gain 70 pounds when it was all said and done. The doctor was really shocked when I told him that I hardly ate any meat. To this day I swear by lentils, salmon, veggies, flax and quinoa for the successful arrival of my triplets that were in the 98 percentile for weight. They were actually ready to come home with me from the hospital which I thought was amazing. Anyway last night as I made a big pot of lentil quinoa soup I thought about the miracles of life and how much I LOVE LENTILS...they are so comforting.

The below recipe is both simple and tasty.

1 large onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 carrots, peeled and diced

1/2 dried quinoa

1 1/2 cups dried red or brown lentils
4-5ish cups vegetable stock
1 bunch baby spinach, chopped
1 lemon juiced
finely grated lemon zest to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until soft. Add carrots and sauté for another 3 minutes. Add lentils and stock. Bring to the boil.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, covered, for 25 minutes or until lentils are tender. Remove from heat. Add spinach, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Stir until well combined. Ladle into bowls. Top with lemon zest. Serves 6ish.

I also made this cornmeal crunch side dish to go with the soup. So far 101 cookbooks is one of my favorite food blogs. Just thought I would share.

P.S. - If you are pregnant with multiples, talk to me...I have an awesome book recommendation.

P.S.S. - In case there is any confusion, I am not recommending being pregnant with triplets but just in case you are then there is hope:-) Did you know that in the state of AZ that you qualify for a handicap parking pass with triplets and above....I'm thinking I should have taken it...ha!

gratitude & abundance

The other day I felt like as was going to be on the verge of a mood.  My camera WILL NOT work in the sunlight.  Nope not on manual, not on TV, not AV and certainly not automatic. Playing in Nana & Bacca's backyard brought some beautiful lighting & the boys were so happy swinging, picking the metal cricket out of Bacca's garden (shhh) & playing catch but my darn camera would not operate properly.  I was pretty sure it was because the boys (or girls..either which grouping of children) dumped water on top of the camera the other day.  I went inside to see if the camera worked indoors.   

Hmmm, still a little blurry but much better.  The first place I went to snap a picture was Nana's dining room.  A room in the house that really only gets used a handful of times a year.  One being none other than that great day of thanks that is really just around the corner.  For some reason I had a little extra gratitude in my heart right then & there just thinking about celebrating Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving should actually be a daily occurrence in my opinion  You see, I have been given so much, an abundance in fact.  It's amazing how in an instance replacing gratitude for any negative thought can lift ones spirits or diminish thoughts that even are on the verge of going down negative lane.  After that I followed those cute little chipmunks around the house.  I am amazed & grateful @ the chance to be their mother.  Perfectly healthy normal boys who teach me so much,which I am grateful for (even if they break & ruin things).  Is it normal for little boys to live trucks up on a wall;-)

Of course it wouldn't be normal if I thought more about the food served on Thanksgiving as opposed to decorating the table.  I can't help it.

{1st image unknown, 2nd image Eddie Ross, 3rd Image unknown, 4th & 5th image Martha Stewart, 6th image studiohousedesign. 7th image,}

Speaking of giving thanks....thank you so much for anybody who has sent a nice email or left a nice comment.  

Messy Face Contest

Votes are in:

34% - Big "W"

33% - Crazy "C"

33% - Baby "B"

Hands down here is the winner of the messiest face contest!

Good job son!  Very competitive.  Congrats on the big win.

Retail therapy

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. 
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. 

Wouldn't you like to get away? 

Sometimes you want to go 

Where everybody knows your name, 
and they're always glad you came. 
You wanna be where you can see, 
our troubles are all the same 
You wanna be where everybody knows 
Your name. 

You wanna go where people know, 
people are all the same, 
You wanna go where everybody knows 

your name. 

TJ MAXX is my CHEERS

I am still trying to decide how I feel about the fact that the Cheers theme song came into my head as I drove away from TJ Maxx.  All I know is that it had been a very long time since I had been to that store for a visit so when I arrived there it was a pleasant surprise to see all of my friends still working there. It was as if I had never been away. "Where are the girls", "I bet they are so big now, said one. The boys big debut was a hit. Jeanne who has worked at TJ for fifteen years finally made her way over & said, "I was just thinking about you yesterday". I sat & talked to one about her husband with diabetes & the other one about her grandkids.  "Is that weird that I'm friends with the TJ Maxx workers", I thought, Nah..there's much weirder.  The thought came into to my mind, "RETAIL THERAPY". Well I'd say today was a true example of what retail therapy can provide for one's soul.   

Did I mention the good solid 25 minutes in the car driving over to TJ Maxx was equally as wonderful? As I looked back into the rear view mirror my heart melted at the sight of 3 beautiful, happy & healthy little guys....my bestest friends.  Hey & they don't make such bad shopping buddies after all (at least for now).  That was until I saw this establishment.  I mean who wouldn't want to take their kids & drop them off here:

 

But I didn't.  Instead we had fun trying on fancies.  Don't tell husband.

Just in case you were wondering the shopping trip was profitable to me but not husband.  Our definitions of profitable are quite different, apparently.  We can all still be friends though, I say.  

Exercise regimen

This is how I get my exercise:

1ST CIRCUIT

*Move highchairs 4 ft. apart (not because the boys grab @ each other)

*Start from right to left and spoon in hot cereal into each boys mouth (not because they don't know how to eat by themselves & not because they throw their food all over floor)  REPEAT.

*Every once in a while throw in a kick, shake of the booty, or a twisty turn while listening to Ernie sing "Boom. boom. boom, I go boom in my room"----------or whatever that is that he is singing.  Seriously is this my life?  

2ND CIRCUIT

*Run as fast as you can from what feels like the paper boy from Better Off Dead who wants his 2 DOLLARS but is really just my daughter.

2 dollars...I want my 2 dollars!!!!!

Ever feel that way?  I finally found a hiding spot for 5 minutes of peace.