Happy 4th of July- A WEEK+ LATE

What can I say? We have been busy. Very busy. Too busy. Casey and I barely make it to bed by midnight each night and are usually joined in bed by at least one child. I dread the day we move the triplets out of cribs . . . do they make "room beds"?  You know, like a bed that spans the whole room? I suppose that would then be considered a "padded" room and well, I could very well be on may way to one of those soon. Of course, Casey would beat me there! :) This house is insane . . . or at least the children are.

We spent the 4th at Mother's Beach in Dana Point, thanks to my dad for saving us parking spaces. The kids spent time in the sand, in the water, and on the grass. We all had a blast, minus a few meltdowns (Riley, Daddy, Papa) and made it home for a BBQ in the backyard and fireworks. Riley got to do his first sparkler ever- and loved it. Austin and Mitch managed to stay up for the show ("Oh, Wow!"- Austin. "Boom!" -Michaela, "ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz"- Caden). Can't really say that I remember too much else (1/4 of a wine cooler- I know, dream big- right?).

Throughout the week we have spent a lot of time scrubbing of crayon graffiti (thank you to Austin and his followers); picking up ground in cereal and goldfish from the floor, car, etc.; wiping up barf (thank you Austin); and doing copious amounts of laundry. Casey was ever so grateful to be going back to work today- gee I wonder why? Could it be that work is easier than being home? Just a thought.

Today, we braved the park with Riley and the trips. Tricia and I almost died when we found Mitch with a piece of fur/bone in her mouth (seriously). I had to call the MD office and leave a message with the advice nurse and of course while I waited I phoned the hospital to speak with one of our docs. Thank you, Lana! No I didn't have to worry about rabies unless she was bitten and call if she develops fever or begins vomiting. (This kid is going to be the death of me!!!) My car was fed an entire box of Fruit Loops this morning with an 8 oz glass of water, you know, just in case the car was thirsty. She "dressed" herself this morning, selecting one of Riley's monster truck t-shirts and a pair of James (train) underwear, which she wore over her diaper. Yesterday, she told me I was a mean mommy. . .  I am in over my head. Thank God, they were not all girls!

Before I add pictures, a few quotes from the kids this week:

RILEY:
"That's not cool man!"- after watching Austin squeeze 2 snails to death (mommy too slow to stop him)
"She's Action"- in reference to Michaela after Daddy said she had ADD or something!
"Sorry Austy. Sometimes my brain doesn't work right."- Ry's apology for splashing Austin in the face (and a total understatement if I ever heard one!)

AUSTIN:
"Hold ya" and "Toot" (Austin's new favorite toy is the whoopee cushion!)

MITCH:
"Riley naughty"
"Mommy mean"
"Kayla crazy"
"Happened? Happened, Mary. Happened, Mary hand? Sorry Mary. Kiss."- after breaking the hand off of the statue of the Virgin Mary. Catholic guilt anyone?

CADEN:
"Itsy bitty"- itsy bitsy spider (he can sing most of the song)
"ABC"- again can sing most of the song
"Chips? OK!"
"Taco!"
"Pizza!"
Caden just got his AFO leg braces and is learning to walk, bending his knees! He is so funny- and he knows it too!