Maria's visit

Maria (our au pair from last year) came to visit from Virginia this week. She arrived on Monday afternoon and came to pick up the girls from school with me. I hadnt told them she was coming, so it was a huge surprise to them...they all screamed "MARIA!!" ~ it was cute! Then she left this morning to make her journey back home in the pouring rain.

Here are some pics from her visit...



Notice Megan's new glasses - we just got them this week!



We went for hot wings at Charlie's in Somers Point, got Megan's new glasses at the mall and ate dinner at Friendly's. Maria stayed with the girls so Tim and I could go to a meeting for the triplets at school on Tuesday. Last night, Maria and I got to go out shopping while Tim stayed with the girls, what a great feeling to get out without the kids!! It was a wonderful visit and I can only hope she enjoyed herself as much as we enjoyed having her here!

Our new car!

We had a busy, exciting weekend! It was our second time to PA since moving and our main purpose was to trade in our Ford Expedition at the place we bought it. I was done with things breaking and the value dropping daily.

So...we purchased a brand new 2008 Nissan Armada! I have not taken pictures of the actual car yet, but I will attach some basic stock pics that I got online.

It is shiny black outside and black cloth interior:

It has a cool screen that shows the rear back-up camera image, temperature, radio controls, menu settings. The car also has 8 sensors (4 front, 4 back) that beep when you are close to another car or object, 6-disc CD changer, upgraded Bose sound system, Dual heat controls (very good for Tim and I, as he is always hot and I am usually cold), rear lift gate opens at the touch of a button.
Seats 8 people comfortably, actually larger than our Expedition!
We bought it with a 3-year lease and by that time, we will be done with our inequity from the Ford and ready to lower that payment!! But meanwhile, we LOVE this new truck and I am very thankful it all worked out as it did!

Have a good Monday :)

Christmas Dresses!

After taking Kaitlyn to school this morning, the triplets and I took the cats to the vet to get them fixed (FINALLY!).
While out, we went into Target to check out their holiday dresses, and surprise...they were on sale! They had a beautiful selection and we had our choice, since they were just put out and fresh on the racks!
I thought I'd post pics of the dresses we got - the girls are SO excited! I cant wait for Kaitlyn to see her dress too!

Kaitlyn:


Megan:

Morgan:

Madison:

School pictures

We just got Kaitlyn's first grade school pictures back yesterday. I'm not sure I love them, may have them retaken in 2 weeks, but thought I'd post - I was amazed at the difference comparing her picture from Kindergarten to First grade! Especially seeing the change in teeth! With the retakes, you will see a nice big gap! lol
The triplets will be getting their school pics taken in 2 weeks as well. So I will post some pics of them that I took yesterday before school.

Kindergarten (5.5 years old):

First grade (6.5 years old):

Morgan:

Megan:

Madison (being VERY grumpy...):

Kaitlyn (with Spice Cake):

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!