downtown disney

During our trip to FL, we had enough time to stop at Downtown Disney - and the kids loved it! (I can only imagine what a real trip to Disney would entail!!!)

We ate at the rainforest cafe - which we thought would be a treat for the trio - but Gabby and Mateo ended up being afraid of the thunderstorms/lightening that happen every 1/2 hr... and really upset at the gorilla's and elephants that come to life. Mary, however, thoroughly enjoyed all of the excitement and is seen "dancing" with the animals in the below video clip.

We can't get through anyplace without stopping at the "horses." These horses had an extra special saucer that spun around in a circle as the merry-go-round went along. Talk about motion sickness!





"Choo-choo" - All aboard!!! Again, the trio spotted the choo-choo train and we just HAD to stop...

trip to FL

As everyone can gather, taking care of triplets can be stressful. BUT FLYING with triplets takes it to a whole new level!

Daddy had a meeting in Lakeland, FL this past Friday, so we all flew down on Thurs, and then back home to Charlottesville on Sat. The trio did great! They had to each take off their socks and shoes and walk through security....had to cram into 3 seat positions on the flight down there (Lou and I each "held" one and we had a seat for the third)...and had to be as patient as a child could ever be getting through the airport, car rental, and into the hotel. Again, they did fantastic!

I spent Friday alone with the trio and took them to a few neighborhood parks along with lunch at Moes. (see below blurry picture.) This was a milestone for me since I have never taken them out to eat lunch by myself...let alone in an unfamilar town....

We had few meltdowns....but very, very tired babies that tried their hardest to keep themselves going longer than the enegizer bunny!

Now we need another vaction to re-coop from physically handling all the luggage (imagine carrying 3 car seats through the airport onto the plane!) and mentally keeping up with three toddlers!

the moment

Every once in a while... (well, okay - more often than that.... and if we are being truthful, it usually happens when they are sleeping or I am rocking one to sleep) a moment happens that I am completely overcome with this enormous sense of... My Lord, My God... I am so very blessed. It is such an overwhelming sense of - love doesn't even describe it - more appreciation of how truly lucky I (and Lou) am to have these three (healthy, beautiful) little people in our lives. They try my patience, and make me smile...and laugh. And give me such an abundance of tue, surreal joy (is there such a thing?) that I really can't contain my emotions over it all. Hopefully everyone (yes, even you men!) gets to experience this RAW feeling of.... let's just call it "the moment" at some point(s) in their lives... over someone or something, or about life in general. Life is just to short not to.

attack of the belly blower

The latest phase of the trio is blowing on each other's bellies. They have actually mastered the task of making loud, noisy, obnoxious sounds when they blow on each other's bellies. Too cute. Unfortunately, baby brother is the usual target. At least he likes it.

And notice the obstacle course that they use in the background. Can't keep them on the ground.

garcia's got talent

America's Got Talent had better be ready for our miss garcia.... she can keep a small toy cup suctioned to her nose and mouth. What talent!!! :)

(AND NOOOO my children are not usually this laid back! It was a rarity and lasted about 1 minute!)

angels to devils in an instant

8:05am - smiling children hovering in the kitchen
8:07am - boy smiling devilishly with yogurt in his hair

9:35am - car enroute to Target with 3 children singing in "rounds" (if you call it that... they are joyfully saying some sort of words/gibberish in some sort of melody- and all 3 are on a different pace)
9:37am - screaming, crying Mary who is desperately trying to get out of her safety harness

10:40am - children enjoying all the attention as we go through Target's check-out line for the 2nd time!
10:41am - items that the chilren are holding are whipped across the floor

11:08am - ice cream treat for what Mommy thought was "acceptable" behavior at Target (based on entire time there)
11:09am - Mary screaming because she wants her own spoon
11:09- 30sec - Gabby refusing to actually swallow said ice cream

12:25pm - happier child disposition has now been replaced with screams of "done" from lunch table.
12:28pm - returning to kitchen to take next child up for nap time...only to find that high chair tables have been dumped onto the floor... (yes, with food still on them.)
12:28 - 20 sec - Gabby actually smiling at the masterpiece she has created on the floor

12:50pm through 2:35pm - constant high pitched screams from various children... mostly because they all want to be held at the same time and Mommy just can't
2:38pm - sudden silence from 2 that have now finally appeared to fall asleep

5:28pm - sisters "sharing" dinner... aww, how sweet
5:29pm - food dumped on the floor since they are "all done"

6:30pm - smiling babies waving "hi" at daddy who is on the phone
6:31pm - crying babies since daddy really isn't here to play
6:32pm - really crying babies since Mommy won't give them the phone

6:45pm - major meltdown
7pm - babies laughing as they give Mommy a big splash on her belly

7:30pm - silence as little angels sleep

water fun

Thanks to a neighborhood friend, we found a nearby park that had some fun water features... good times for the trio and a sense of "safety" for mommy!

Daddy's big splash

hmm... Isn't it strange that the trio think the words "big splash" mean jump on the belly of the closest person? Guess who taught them that one? Is "daud" eating his words?

Well... Dad must have made an impression on the trio...he was the topic of conversation at dinner the next night. Mateo is saying "my dad" to start the video off...

Uncle Jeremy

There is just something about Uncle Jeremy that is irresistable to the trio... They love having him come over and visit!!!

Grammy and the G3

Same spot, but different day.... The Garcia grand-kids loved climbing up on Grammy's lap for a story or song.

"brrretttttt"

Gabby loves walking around and saying "brett"... over and over again. She misses her Uncle!

big family dinner

Grammy, Pa, and Uncle Brett came to visit...and we enjoyed all gathering around the table!

Momma and the three

"copy cat, copy cat" - The trio seem to want to do everything that Mommy does! And here we thought the girls just had to go potty....

train table

Move over "susie -homemaker"...here we come! Lou and I decided to turn our coffee table into the ever popular "train table" (the next biggest thing since sliced bread for toddlers) in the hopes that they would stop climbing up on the table.

We decorated some wood with fabric (water, forest, sand, grass) and bought a small train set and sat back to see what would happen...

They liked it...but it was no deterrant for the climbing :(

say "CHEESE"

"b-a-b-y"

This evening's big "item" was "b-a-b-y".... everyone wanted to hold and hug and love and kiss baby. We even had to take her to bed with us!

pandora's box

I was fearful this past weekend when I allowed breakfast to be served at the big table... I was hoping that I hadn't opened pandora's box and having the trio want to eat there at every meal. Luckily, all went well and we were back in our high-chairs at lunch!

donuts with friends

Our friends, the Gorman's... brought some yummy donut holes for the kiddo's to eat while playing at the park. What a tasty treat!

class of 2027

Really? Collegiate class of 2027? Yikes!

picture taken on the UVA campus

strong lady!

she may be little...but, boy is she strong!