Happy Halloween!

Halloween in our new little town has been an exciting adventure - just as all the other events have been!
A week before Halloween, there was a community parade, which is normally held at the park. This year it was in the firehouse because of the rain. All of the kids in the town dressed up (and some adults and dogs too!) They had a costume contest for each age group. Every child got a thank you ribbon and candy. They also had a pumpkin carving contest, which of course Tim entered! He made a Tinkerbell pumpkin this year! Then they served free hot dogs and juice for all! We got to see some of the girls' friends from school and met some new families, including a couple with 15 month old triplets (dressed as a banana split!)

Tim's pumpkin-carving expertise:


For the past two weekends, Ocean City boardwalk offered Family Halloween Fun with free face painting, pumpkin patch, hayrides and trick-or-treating. We went the first weekend with Poppop and last weekend with Mommom. I can't explain how cool it is to listen to the ocean waves and see the beach while on a Fall Hayride! Quite an experience! Kaitlyn, Megan & Morgan got their faces painted as princesses, Madison got a Nemo on her arm.
Face Painting (you can barely see it in the picture):

Girls with Poppop:

View from the hayride:

Girls with Mommom:

My mom & I:

Today the elementary school had 2 parades where all of the kids (Kaitlyn at 8:45am, Triplets at 1:45pm) walked around outside in costume to show all of the parents. We got some cute pictures and the girls had a blast! Then each classroom had their own Halloween party - so Tim & I ran from room to room to be sure we got to see each of the girls have fun!

'Sleeping Beauty' Kaitlyn with Mrs. Lhulier:

'Ariel' Morgan & 'Belle' Megan with friend, Lauren:

'Snow White' Madison giving a wave:

Kaitlyn with best friends Shane & Anna:

And tonight, the Halloween adventure culminated with a fun time Trick-or-Treating! We actually only got a handful of kids come to our house, so I went with Tim and the girls to a neighborhood just a few blocks away where there were TONS of kids! Of course they made out great and have WAY too much candy!! Now we are having fun eating some candy and watching Halloween specials that mommy recorded for them!
About to go trick-or-treating!

Walking home with all the goodies:

'The Loot'!

This is one of those times of year when I just LOVE being a mom!
Hope you all had a great Halloween!!

The Tooth Fairy

Well the tooth fairy has found us in New Jersey...hurray! Kaitlyn was very nervous that the tooth fairy would not be able to find her since we moved so far away. Of course I thought that was so cute, and my mind started racing on how to put her mind at ease. So the magic of the tooth fairy lives on in our home!

So far, there has been a story for each tooth that Kaitlyn lost and I remember each of them. We review them each time she loses another one. It seems losing a tooth is one of those milestones in a child's life where it holds a special place in their memory, at least for Kaitlyn this is true.

She just lost her 6th tooth last week at school. So that makes 2 lost at school already (within one week of each other!) For some reason when she loses them at home, she screams, throws a fit, freaks at the sight of her own blood! But at school - calm as a cucumber! I now agree that school is the best place for her to lose the rest of her teeth! ;) So the most recent tooth, she lost during Math in her classroom, she bumped her tooth by accident and it flew onto her friend's desk next to her! Kind of funny! The tooth before that (just a few days before...) she lost while trying to jump rope out on the playground. The jumprope hit her tooth and she describes seeing something small and white fly past her face! Luckily she was able to find it on the ground. Both times at school, she went to the nurse and got a special little 'tooth' case to carry her lost tooth around her neck for the rest of the day. That made her feel special! Also tells me they must have lost teeth happen a lot at school!

Prior to those lost at school, she lost one in our kitchen at Ava Circle - unfortunately her grandmom accidentally pushed it down the garbage disposal (the tooth fairy left a special treat for that one!) Another she lost at our friends Jen & Greg's house. One lost in Florida while visiting Mommom and Poppop (Poppop actually 'helped' that one out against Kaitlyn's wishes!) Eating popcorn while watching a movie was the demise of another lost tooth.

So, in all, she has lost 6 teeth. When I think, kids have something like 26 teeth in their mouth - so we will go through this approximately 20 more times in the next few years?!?!

THEN...the triplets will start losing teeth. What an adventure! We have one BUSY tooth fairy!

Pumpkin Muffin Recipe

As promised, Miss Brooke, Madison's teacher sent home the recipe and I thought I would share it with you! We havent made it yet, but they tasted very good at the farm last week! By the way, they used chocolate chips...yummy!

Ingredients:
3 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsps baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
3 c sugar
2 c canned pumpkin
1 c corn oil
2/3 c water
4 eggs
1 c chocolate chips or raisins

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin tins (with Pam).
In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Add sugar and stir again
In medium mixing bowl gently beat together pumpkin, oil and water.
Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
Make a well in flour mixture.
Pour pumpkin mixture into the well and stir until flour is just moistened.
Mix in chocolate chips or raisins
Pour into muffin tins, filling each 2/3 full
Bake at 350 degrees until tester comes out clean (about 15 minutes)
Makes about 7 or 8 dozen mini muffins.

Let me know if you make them.... Enjoy!!

Fall Fun!

On Friday, the triplets' school took a class trip to a local farm. We could choose either the 10am time with Madison's class or the 1pm time with Megan & Morgan's class. We chose the am so the girls could get their afternoon nap. And also the forecast wasnt looking too good, and I wanted to be sure we got to take them. What made it even better is that Tim was home that day and Poppop was still here (he left today by the way, and made it safely home to Florida...bittersweet for us).

So anyway, we got there and the kids all played in the hay. Then we took a 'tour' of the farm and learned about apples and corn stalks. Then over to the pumpkin patch where we each got to choose a pumpkin to take home. Next was the hayride which was really nice and we all enjoyed that. Last, we all had snack together- pumpkin muffins that the kids made in school the day before. They were yummy! The teacher promised me that she would send us the recipe so we could make them at home!It rained off and on - at some points, it was a downpour... but everyone was good sports about it and thank goodness I keep sweatshirts for the girls in the car!

Morgan playing in the hay!

Madison's cute little face!

The whole class learning about apples and corn:

Madison's teacher Miss Brooke with Mommy, Madison & Megan!

Triplets posing for their teacher to take a picture, Morgan making a 'shy' face:

Our trip to PA last weekend!

I am sorry its been so long since I last wrote, for some reason time got away from me. So I thought the best way to update would be through pictures!

Last Saturday (Oct. 13), we drove to PA for the first time since our move to New Jersey! We went to visit Poppop's stepmom who lives in Birdsboro...Monday the 15th was her 88th birthday! It was great to spend time with her, and a real eye-opener to how quickly life passes us by. We also spent the day with Sean & Holly & my cousin Tommy.

Poppop, Great Mommom, Kaitlyn, Megan, Morgan & Madison:



Uncle Sean & Aunt Boochy with the girls:



Tommy and I:




After leaving Great Mommom's house, we drove by our old house on Ava Circle and stopped to say a quick hello to Kaitlyn's friend Jennifer. Then we went to Zerns - what's a trip to Gilbertsville without stopping by Zerns! ;) Our great friends, Carl & Anita came also, with adorable baby Ryan of course! While there, I impulsively got a new kitten! I have felt bad since we lost Tanner (our other cat) just before moving to NJ and Milkshake has seemed sad without his friend. They love each other already - and play together like true brothers.

Meet "Spice Cake" - we call him "Spicey" for short!





And while we're at it, here is Milkshake:




And Sulley (our 1.5 year old Golden Retriever):




After Zerns, we all went to Carl & Anita's house for a little get-together. We ordered dinner, then made Caramel Apples...so yummy! It was also fun to see their great Halloween decorations outside and we saw Ry Guy in his Halloween costume!

Here is Scary Ryan!




We got home around 11:30pm and thankfully the girls slept the whole drive home. Tommy came down shortly after to sleep over and spend Sunday with us.

Sunday was a more relaxing day, we went to church in the morning, then to a local nursery to get mums and other outside decorations. I will take some pictures to post soon!

I have lots more to write about, but my eyes are closing as I type (so tired!). But I promise to post again soon with more stories and pictures from the last week.

Here's to a great weekend! Enjoy!

Losing your marbles??

*Taken from an email I received, which touched my heart*

Something to think about! Enjoy your Saturdays...

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.

A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the garage with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it:

I turned the dial up on my radio and came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind; he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whom-ever he was talking with something about "a thousand marbles." I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say.

"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. It's too bad you missed your daughter's "dance recital" he continued. "Let me tell you something that has helped me keep my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."

"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years.

"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now, stick with me, I'm getting to the important part.

It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays." "I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear."

"Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life.

There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."

"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time."

"It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the radio. Good morning!"

You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few friends to work on the next club newsletter.

Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles.

And so, as one smart bear once said...
"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you." - Winnie the Pooh.

Random updates

I forgot to mention, last week we got our NJ drivers licenses and registered our cars in NJ, so we are officially New Jersey residents! It was bittersweet handing over my PA license, like another 'finale'. But I'm starting to adjust to the idea ;)

Also, we are in the process of collecting quotes from local tree companies. There are some huge 'dead' branches hanging low over our house and driveway. However, after having these professionals to our home, we have learned that there are more dead branches than we originally thought. And actually 2 trees that need to be completely removed - I am referring to approximately 100-year-old Oak trees! Needless to say, the prices are WAY higher than I could have imagined and now we are trying to find a way to budget for this and figure out what we want/need to do.

Last Thursday I bought 3 new booster car seats for the triplets...the girls were so excited! I got matching black seats, to avoid ANY confusion! So far so good...now I am trying to teach them how to buckle the seat belts themselves, then it will be perfect!

I ordered the girls' Halloween costumes last night online, I am hoping they arrive within the next week. For now, I will keep it a surprise, but I must say the girls are VERY excited!!

Of course, here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure!

First, some triplet shots from this morning before school:






Next, Kaitlyn's new earrings from the festival on Saturday, taken after her shower tonight before bed. Take note of her new tooth in the front, coming in before losing the baby teeth...it's a full house in there right now! heehee




And last, my 'AUTUMN' sign on our fireplace mantle, also from the festival!

RESPECT

*Please refer to post below regarding Shore Fx*
RESPECT: Responding with words and actions that show others they are important.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Respecting your child
* Be honest. If you do something wrong, admit it and apologize.
* Be positive. Don't embarrass, insult or make fun of your child. Compliment him.
* Be trusting. Let your child make choices and take responsibility.
* Be fair. Listen to your child's side of the story before reaching a conclusion.
* Be polite. Use "please" and "thank you." Knock before entering your child's room.
* Be reliable. Keep promises. Show your child that you mean what you say.
* Be a good listener. Give your child your full attention.

Modeling good behavior
~ Obey laws. Follow rules.
~ Be caring. Show concern for people, animals and the environment.
~ Avoid poor role models. When you see examples of disrespect, discuss them.

More respect tactics
> Teach children to respect themselves. We must respect ourselves, to respect others
> When you set rules at home, explain to your child why the rule is important
> Your opinion means a lot. Believe they can succeed. Build their independence. Give them responsibilities.
> Help them set and achieve goals.
> Encourage honesty.
> Most importantly, show love! Say “I love you" often, and give plenty of hugs and kisses. If your child makes a mistake, remind them that they are still loved.
> Teach your children how to talk with (not to) people. Ask how someone’s day is going, compliment a person, be concerned about something a person is experiencing.
> Expose your child to different things. Help them develop interest in and acceptance of different races/cultures.
> Demonstrate respect. Do something kind. Make it a goal for you and your children to do something kind for someone at least once a month. Give your children choices and help them decide what they want to do.
> Teach your child to say no to anything that affects their development physically, socially, and psychologically.

HOW TO BE RESPECTFUL
* Treat other people the way you want to be treated.
* Be courteous and polite.
* Don't insult people or make fun of them (no bullying).
* Be quiet and listen when someone else is talking.
* Do what you are asked to do – the first time.
* Take turns and share.
* Always say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.
* Don't judge people before you get to know them.

Weekend Fun!

The girls had off school on Friday (Inservice Day), so we planned ahead and took a drive to Rock Hall, MD to visit Poppop's mom aka 'Great Mommom'. It took over 3 hours to get there, which made the girls (and me) a bit antsy, but they enjoyed watching 'High School Musical' to help shorten the trip!


Once we arrived, we had a great time and they were very good. I have not seen Great Mommom since before we had kids, so it has been at least 7 years...she is now 82 years old. The town of Rock Hall is beautiful and so peaceful. It is a small, everyone-knows-everyone kind of town. The view from her front porch is the Chesapeake Bay and it is breathtaking!

We walked across the street to let the girls play on the beach and we got to take a few pictures.



Then we went to a local pizza place for lunch and headed back to her house for cupcakes and ice cream (an early birthday for Poppop since she wont see him for his actual birthday). Our 3+ hour drive home went more smoothly, as the girls watched 'The Little Mermaid' movie then dozed off for a bit.

Saturday, I started off the day at one of my favorite places: the Library!! They had a used book sale and I was the first one through the door (may help that we live only 1 block away and Poppop stayed home with the girls!) Stuff as many books as you could into a bag and pay only $3... I walked out of there with LOTS of books and paid only $6! woohoo ;)

Then we took the girls into Ocean City for their Indian Summer Festival...it was hot, humid, sunny and CROWDED! Those things combined do not make for the best time with 3 four-year olds and a six-year old! But we made it through and found some fun things along the way. Then we went up to the boardwalk for lunch and to check out the Sidewalk Sale that the stores were having to wrap-up the Summer season. After a quick dinner and some Hannah Montana on TV, it was time for my little ones to go to bed! Unfortunately, I stayed up with Poppop to watch the Phillies lose the third game in a row which ended the season for them (sorry Sean).

Today was a bit more relaxing, I took the girls to church this morning then we had a slow-paced afternoon at home. After dinner, we went back to church for an awesome family event they call Shore Fx. It is a fun, family service which they have the first Sunday night of every month. Each service will spotlight a different virtue - this week they were teaching RESPECT. We really enjoyed it and I plan to follow-up with the lesson here at home!! *wink*

Here's to a great week for all and Autumn-like weather to come (after this record-breaking heat)!!

New Haircut!

I am so excited...I finally got my hair cut this morning!! It was a great experience, I went a place called Hi-Tech Salon & Spa just 5 minutes from our house. A mom from the girls' school recommended them and it was really nice. Although major sticker-shock, just like most things I've experienced in NJ! ;) Hope you like it! And notice the red shirt for the Phillies! Fingers crossed for their game today..

Four years ago and now...

Kaitlyn
From this (2.5 yrs old)...



To this (6.5 yrs old)...



Megan
From this(5 months old)...



To this (4 yrs old)...




Morgan
From this (5 months old)...



To this (4 yrs old)...




Madison
From this (5 months old)...



To this (4 yrs old)....



Where did my babies go??

Triplets First Day of School!

The girls had a super day today! All morning, they continuously asked 'Is it time for school yet?', 'Are we going to get dressed now?', 'Can I get my backpack ready?'. It was actually really cute to see how excited they were!!


So, after lunch, we went upstairs to get dressed, did hair, gathered backpacks, shoes, the usual and had a little photo shoot out front. Then Tim and I took them to school and after a quick hug and kiss...they were off!






Madison is in Miss Brooke's classroom (which is actually Madison's middle name, so easy to remember!). Megan & Morgan are in Miss Beth's classroom ~ in that way, it's the same set-up as last year. Both classrooms are very similar, follow the same curriculum, schedule and lesson plans. Each student has their own 'jobs' in the classroom and they have to serve snack/juice, etc. I think it is going to be great for them!






As you can tell, I was not able to change them to the morning class, so they will have school from 12:30-3pm Monday through Thursday. We'll see how it goes with them missing their nap, they were very tired today after school, but made it through.

Our little girls are growing up.......