Vacation Part II: Heading South to Disney

First day of the second half of our trip was spent in the car, driving from Cincinnati down to Atlanta, with three six year olds in tow. For NINE hours in the car, they did so well and better than we expected. The drive was seamless through Lexington with no traffic, speeding south with that lovely 70 mile per hour speed limit; bumper to bumper traffic didn’t occur until until Knoxville, which sucked up over an hour of slowly moving forward. Once again we then cruised until Chattanooga, and then off and on had traffic delays until we arrived at our Airbnb in downtown Atlanta. With only a few potty and food breaks, a brief run session while we waited for food, and a random playground, we spent the rest of the day in the car. The girls colored, wrote down words displayed on billboards and played with their toys, and watched a couple television shows. That, and a LOT of snacking.

Craig had another surprise in store, unbeknownst to the girls, with Grandma Sue walking in the door that night in Atlanta, to complete surprise and delight. While we traveled all day by car, she traveled by air. She walked in the front door like it was no big deal and they were so surprised! Little did they know that their beloved Disney castle was right around the corner.

Atlanta was not our final destination but a good midpoint on the long drive, so we shoved two major tourist destinations into a one day visit. We walked over to the Atlanta Zoo, first thing in the morning (once we found the front entrance!), and explored all the attractions in perfect morning temperatures and with very few people around. Staying a couple blocks from our morning destination and being able to walk over was a nice touch to the visit.

First stop was the elephants, learning that a couple were older than us! We stopped at most of the penny machines and I towed a huge bag of customized, zoo animal featured pennies back with us. Everyone saw the zebras and giraffes but didn’t get to feed them, as they didn’t wish to cooperate while we stood in line for it. Gorillas were everywhere in several different enclosures, but the girls could care less and were more excited to follow the random squirrels -which are everywhere down there- and collect acorns and pine cones off the ground. We saw snakes and other reptiles, and a variety of different turtle breeds. A few beautiful birds humored us in the bird enclosure while the lone red panda refused to wake up from his nap to say hello.

Fake pandas everywhere but no live ones…sad day.

Turns out the Atlanta Zoo didn’t quite live up to Cincinnati’s vibe, but at least it filled a morning. The real kicker? The live pandas packed their bags and returned to China just a week before we showed up. Reagan took the tragic news like a champ—definitely better than I did. She still strolled around the panda exhibit like they were magically going to reappear, we made panda themed pennies, browsed the still-open panda gift shop, and grabbed some panda merch. Because if you can’t see the real thing, at least you can own the T-shirt, right? And the irony of it all- while we were in Atlanta not seeing the pandas, another pair was refueling in Anchorage on their way to a different zoo—one we weren’t visiting. Talk about timing!

The petting zoo was cute, with goats and sheep enjoying the sun and a little love from kiddos and adults alike. Emerie and Harper insisted on picking off all the straw on them, and stood there talking to the zoo employee while “cleaning” them off. The kid specific area had a little train that looped the section, decked out for Halloween with a candy-themed stretch that looked like sugar rush from Wreck It Ralph. It was basically Halloween eye-candy central, minus the actual candy (thankfully, because the last thing we needed was more candy). The girls enjoyed pointing out the types of candy decorations and yelling echos as we passed through the tunnel.

After the zoo visit we walked back to the house and drove further into downtown, stopping for a quick lunch eating some local barbecue -brisket and pulled pork that took forever and didn’t actually get eaten until hours after our next adventure. We headed to the Georgia Aquarium for our second aquarium of the week, and honestly? I was a bit disappointed. Compared to the Newport Aquarium in Kentucky—which might be smaller but is definitely more exciting and better laid out—this one just didn’t impress.

Harper immediately spotted the seal enclosure -which was tiny by the way- and she happily watched them swim around, talking about them with Reagan and Emerie. For so many seals in one spot, the size of the area didn’t even compare to the Sealife Center here in Seward, but still drew quite a viewing crowd. The adjacent wall displayed paintings of all different types of seals and we had to return later to ensure Harper had a picture with it! The girls weren’t really impressed at all the fish varieties swimming in the many tanks, although I did hear Emerie exclaim look it’s Dory! and later look it’s Nemo! when we passed those species. And in truth there were many beautiful fish- though through the eyes of a six year old, I can see how that is less exciting than all the larger sea creatures swimming around. Another fish coloring activity led the girls to requests to color lots of different fish and see them swimming along a full wall projector, and it took a few minutes to convince them we couldn’t do that section for an hour.

The dolphins and the single, large shark were seen without any big excitement from the three, surprisingly. The kids absolutely loved crawling through the tunnels under the penguins—so, naturally, Craig and I found ourselves down on all fours, squeezing through like giant, overgrown toddlers (kidding not kidding!). We popped up inside the viewing bubbles, face-to-face with those cuties, probably looking just as thrilled (or ridiculous) as the kids. It was a sweet family moment— with a side of mild knee trauma for the parents! Another, more readily accessible spot had a moving escalator below the large fish tank and was met with more excitement than the actual exhibit, and less suffering on the adult knees for that experience. We touched more stingrays in the touch tank, took pictures in front all all kinds of fish, and the girls touched every piece of fake treasure on display throughout the Halloween themed halls.

After a couple of hours wandering around, we ventured back outside and to a nearby playground for a few minutes, then attempted to find ice cream to no success. The place we found was in a large, air-conditioned mall and hotel, but nearly everything was closed. The funniest thing about that stop? The highlight of that stop? Three girls, probably in their early 20s, walked by and asked if we were triplets—a question asked countless times on this trip. Turns out, they were fraternal triplets themselves, sparking a cute conversation about life as triplets, who’s the oldest, middle, youngest, and all that fun stuff.

We ended the evening driving to the Atlanta Airport to swap the rental car for a large model; you know, to accommodate Grandma and our continued shopping excursions. Craig and I managed to find the right location within the city that is the airport, and the rental folks were very nice and helpful. After clearing out one car, loading all the car seats and coloring (so much coloring) into the replacement, we drove home with the sunset dropping across the sky. This time, the quest for a local ice cream spot was successful, with tons of random flavor choices to try.

By the end of the day everyone was tired; no bedtime stories or Tonies were requested, and not even a nightlight to keep the darkness away. The three bedroom AirBnB meant each kid slept in a big bed with one adult, and were off to dreamland in no time, unsuspecting that Disney was right around the corner after one more day in the car. While Atlanta was a bit disappointing overall, I believe we made the best of the stop and still had fun. Reagan found plenty of panda swag, Harper saw more of her beloved seals, and Emerie

Final Travel Day: Atlanta to Orlando

The long awaited trip to Disney World is finally here! After six years as a parent, over a year of saving up funds and buying plane tickets, we finally made the final 400 mile drive to get to Orlando. Some grumbling and complaints were heard with another day in the car, but not enough to give away the surprise at the southern destination. With a fourth “older” kid in tow (Grandma Sue haha), the overall ride consumed less complaints and arrival time requests. Everyone rotated seats, with one in the very back surrounded by luggage and Grandma and the other two in the middle row. Each kiddo spent a block of the ride doing their reading homework with Grandma when seats swapped, time very well spent in the car, and eventually we conceded to allow iPad games for a while too, a rarity all were thrilled about! Nobody napped, everyone snacked and enjoyed the unusual screen time as we made our way to our final, exciting destination.

I will also add, traffic was nonexistent on the drive until outside Orlando, which was MUCH appreciated after the first trip’s challenges. With fewer cities to get through and more rural areas on the one interstate, traffic moved at a fast pace and the 70 mph speed limit kept us moving. We drove through areas affected by Hurricane Milton earlier in the month, with the billboards (or lack there of I should say) torn to shreds and missing on a long stretch of road. Many were blown down, in pieces, or ripped apart, as was the brush and trees nearby. Numerous DOT employees were out clearing trees along the interstate right of way and continuing efforts to clean things up. Once into Orlando area, we couldn’t see any devastation other than more missing signage and areas with high standing water.

The temperature and humidity continued to increase as we worked our way south. Our final rest stop potty break was met with a slap of humidity and the girls finally felt real heat as we coaxed them off the iPads and out of the car. I was surprised we made it more than halfway through our trip before encountering any real humidity—Ohio had been drier than usual, and Georgia only slightly more humid. The girls eyed the palm trees and found other trees dropping pine cones, which were bagged in the back of the car and even made it home to Alaska with some effort, for a flower craft we will do this winter.

First stop after arriving at our home base for the next few days? The pool! After a long day cooped up in the car, all three of them couldn’t get into their swimsuits fast enough. They practically sprinted across the condo parking lot to the pool, which turned out to be the perfect temperature to cool down a bit on a nice day. The only thing that slowed them down? Recognizing dozens of tiny geckos living their best lives along the pathway, each one spotted getting an excited remark from one of the three. They had fun torturing Craig in the water while I relaxed poolside, letting my eyes refresh from a long day of driving. Later, we tried out a local spot for dinner; while the my salad and the rice bowls were amazing, the place could’ve used a few more hands on deck. We gave up waiting for a the kid meal dessert and explored a Publix and a Disney outlet shop (they’re practically everywhere!) next door before calling it a night—a good nights’ sleep was a must!

Everyone chose their parent for the first night and ended up staying in that same room for the rest of the trip. Harper roomed with me in the master bedroom and glorious king sized bed, Emerie insisted Craig bunk with him in a room with two full beds, and Grandma and Reagan were together in the last bedroom. Each bedroom had a fun feature- colored lighting under the bed frames, and a nice way to handle kids’ dislike of darkness in a foreign place; definitely a good set up for families visiting Disney. The condo perfectly fit our group, even though we only really slept there each night, and spent the rest of our time adventuring, meeting princesses, shopping, and enjoying what Orlando had to offer.

Orlando Day I: Disney, Disney, Disney!

We opted to keep the excitement of the day a secret until the very last second. Getting the girls up, showered and fed, Craig and I then walked out in our princess themed t-shirts (Rapunzel for me and Snow White for Craig, the least girly color options!), and handed the girls three more matching ones with their favorite ladies, Sleeping Beauty’s Princess Aurora, Frozen’s Queen Elsa and Aladdin’s Princess Jasmine. They initially took the news a little calmer than I expected, with minimal screaming, but definite excitement that grew once we made it to the park and the realization of the day’s adventures became reality.

Matching shirts in front of the real Disney castle!!!

It took over an hour to get from our condo to the actual park—despite the fact that we were only 10 minutes away by car! Little did we know, once you find the right parking lot for the right park, you catch a ride to the park entrance, only to then hop on a train to finally get near the actual entrance. This all equals lines in between each transportation stop, and of course, doing this right at opening time meant everyone else was just as eager as we were. Thankfully, the girls were thrilled to ride on both vehicles and managed to stick close to ‘their adult’ in the crowd of equally eager park-goers. Somehow I was also flagged BOTH times we entered the park for security to go through my bag. Not Craig, who wore a backpack himself, just me. The girls kept saying my boobs were setting the censors off…silly kids!

This being my first time at any Disney theme park, I wasn’t expecting the throngs of people that surrounded us. In fact, one park employee noted about one hundred thousand people pass through in a day; in Alaska terms, that is a third of the city we live in, which is crazy! Because of that, each kiddo was reminded to stick with their “assigned parent,” which rotated throughout the day (although Reagan was mostly glued to me for the whole trip). Everyone was handed a Disney card “ticket,” Emerie instantly unimpressed that Elsa was not an option. It took the girls a couple tries to swipe into the park, but we made it. The cards helped with our princess photo pass, the predominant reason for the visit, and will make the memory book at some point later.

The first day of Disney World, at the Magic Kingdom Park, was a big success. Not only that, but we ended our 14 hour day with very tired but happy kiddos and parents, kiddos who exclaimed this is the best day of my life! (Emerie!). No amount of coaxing in the world would have kept all three awake on the short drive home, after such a fantastic day.

We met several characters the first day, including Encanto’s Mirabel, Tiana, Cinderella, Elena of Avalor, Rapunzel, and Ariel; but knew a few others were going to be part of day two. We stopped in many shops, rode the carousel and twirling tea cups, ate popsicles, smoothies and ice cream (anything cool!), enjoyed dinner in Beauty and the Beast’s ballroom and rounded out the day with the big firework show. It was a magical day made extra special by a few thoughtful details. For example, smoothies came with edible chocolate crowns, something small and fun that made it even more enjoyable. You better believe Grandma and I made sure to get three crowns for those tiny humans! New dresses were selected and everyone sparkled in the sun with princess-themed jewelry (jewelry that kept falling apart and making the adults crazy, I might add!). Eventually each kiddo found their mini princess doll (Elsa, Aurora and Jasmine duh) and toted them around like a tiny royal friend. The custom princess t-shirts were eventually traded for tank tops, which felt so much cooler in the direct, afternoon sun.

Another epic find in my mind was the customized parasols, each one hand-painted right there in the park and with their names on them. Emerie, of course, picked a “Frozen” theme, with cool snowflakes and an Elsa and Anna dress against a purple backdrop, while Reagan went for a Jasmine design against blue, full of vibrant colors and the magic lamp. Harper couldn’t resist Aurora’s signature pink, with a touch of fairy tale elegance of her crown and pink dress. A few hours later, we picked up their custom creations—perfect souvenirs for a day spent in their own little kingdom and a keepsake I hope we can keep from utter destruction for a couple of years!

Watching your kids see Disney World for the first time is like seeing pure magic unfold right before your eyes. Their eyes light up with a joy so big it seems to spill over, and each new sight—whether it’s the castle, a fancy dress (or pair of shoes!) or a favorite character—feels like a piece of their dreams coming to life, a small look into what they see as magical and important at this stage of their lives. It’s hard to put into words how wonderful it is to witness them in that pure, unfiltered excitement; in those moments, you realize you’re sharing something they’ll (hopefully) remember forever, just like your bank account will (am I right or am I right?!). I found myself pausing to watch the experience, and so very glad we made the effort to travel across the country to do it, and that we waited until this age.

I could write a book on the adventures of the first day, so in lieu of that here’s a list of some of the highlights:

The goal of the day was simple, to meet as many princesses as possible. Day one consisted of Mirabel, Tiana, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Elena of Avalor, Ariel and Jasmine. We learned that Elsa, Anna, Belle and Aurora would be day two at a different park, much to Emerie and Harper’s dismay. Many assurances continued to remind them all the favorite princesses would be met before we went back home to Alaska. We also spotted lots of familiar sights, like this photo with Rapunzel’s tall tower, which really looks like the real thing!

Seeing the real Disney castle, was a request Craig and I heard on repeat for the past two years or so. The girls didn’t fully comprehend the upcoming day until that castle came into view and were met with shrieks of excitement and awe that it does indeed exist! We took pictures in front of it, watched a couple dance numbers in front of it, walked through it, and explored with three very joyous and excited girls. Watching the magic come alive and their reactions to it was one of the best parts of the entire vacation. The firework show with the castle all lit up was a pretty exciting thing to see as well.

So many princesses to meet, such lines! We strategically decided who to see and when, with Tiana the first stop because her stop had no line. It was pure surprise when we walked in to the Princess and the Frog’s Tiana AND Rapunzel, and the girls peppered both princesses with lots of questions. The best part? The girls explaining they called Rapunzel “Pan” for all their toddler years, because it was easier to say and for her excellent use of a frying pan, which was met with a laugh and smile. Emerie also commented that Rapunzel’s hair was so beautiful, and we have braids too!

The moment they saw Cinderella, the girls made a beeline to ask her the most pressing question of all: what do your shoes look like? With a kind smile, she humored them and lifted her dress just enough to reveal those famous sparkly shoes, and the girls were so thrilled.

I couldn’t resist mentioning to Cinderella that Grandma Sue (and now Craig and I) always say, don’t act like Cinderella’s stepsisters! She actually laughed—a genuine, out-of-character chuckle—as if even she couldn’t help but non-verbally agree that it was pretty solid advice. The girls also asked her about her mice friends, and the prince, and were so fearless and not shy at all!

While rides were not the main focus for the day, we absolutely took advantage of low lines to ensure a full experience. At one point while Craig waited for lunch to be ready, Sue and I caught a quick line and rode the spinning teacups with the girls. We rode the carousel several times throughout the day, Aladdin’s magic carpet, and the girls drove the motor car track and ensured all three adults received minor whiplash from the wild steering. Apparently Harper became a speed maniac and was giggling and screaming manically with Grandma Sue in tow. Sounds about right.

We committed to a very long, winding line in a cave to ride the Ariel clam shells. Waiting in that line with the massive throng of people around us was the most anxiety I had the whole trip, but the ride was pretty cute once we made it. Reagan and Emerie hopped in with me and Harper with Sue and Craig behind us, and off we went. At one point everything stopped and the ride was stuck, which presented more time for the girls to look at everything closely. It was fun and got us out of the elements for a few minutes, not to mention all the creative characters and sets to look at.

Later in the afternoon we finally made it to see Ariel, in another cave. While in line we actually met another set of six year old triplets visiting from Michigan, whose mom is on my triplet Facebook page. It was nice chatting with them as we waited. Everyone was SO excited to talk to Ariel and full disclosure, Harper definitely reach out and touched her boobs. She told me later she wanted to know if her bikini top was made of real shells. So funny.

Last but definitely not least was Princess Jasmine and Aladdin. This was the toughest line of the day, 2 PM in direct sunlight, and we all look as sweaty and overheated as we felt. Reagan was SO thrilled to meet Jasmine and give her a hug; no one even batted an eye at Aladdin there with her, which was pretty funny. After pictures we rode the magic carpet ride, which provided a little breeze and view of the park from above.

It was really impressive that all the characters we visited took the time to listen to the girls, answer their questions as they all spoke at the same time, and just let them bask in the magic of the stories playing out in front of them. Everyone took turns pretty well, getting triplet photos and single photos with each princess, and often loudly announcing we’re triplets! to ensure that message was conveyed clearly to everyone in the room.

After a couple rides we walked through the Monster Inc. scare floor, watching the comedy show. It was cute although no Sully sighting was a little disappointing, but the air condition and momentary break to sit, on the other hand, were great! We rounded out the evening with dinner at the Beauty and the Beast ballroom, with the Beast walking around and waving but unfortunately no Belle sighting. Adults and kids alike had a three course meal and funny enough, Reagan and Emerie both ordered appetizer salads with their meals and quickly devoured them. The food was delicious after a very busy day and the girls received light up cups to pack home (to their delight and our addition of another tote for home). The kid dessert also had fun chocolate teacups that came with paint brushes to paint, so the girls decorated their masterpieces before tasting them.

By the time dinner was over it was dark outside, and we were right on time for the evening fireworks. While we initially planned to leave the park before this to beat the traffic, I’m really glad we found a spot off one path, with a direct view of the castle and sky. The girls oo’d and awed over all the different colors, which lined up with both the music and in relation to the princesses and characters. It was a spectacular show and the girls happily watched, without the “I’m tired” complaints after exploring for close to fourteen hours. It took another full hour to leave the park after the fireworks, along with practically everyone else. It felt like herding cattle, trying to keep my little ones close and with the adults as the crowd shifted to tired kids and sleeping babies in strollers, all of us pushing toward the train cars and the distant parking lot. Once we reached the car, keeping the kids awake was impossible, and the drive was completely quiet. Back at the condo, they instantly climbed into bed, still in their tank tops and shorts, with wonderful memories of the day to dream about.

Since this is apparently the longest blog ever, I’ll wrap up this post here and finish our trip’s highlights in the next one! There’s just so much to capture—so many moments I never want to forget and so many details that deserve their own stories. I’m beyond grateful to be part of this family trip, sharing these magical days with my girls, an amazing mother-in-law who makes traveling so fun, and a husband who’s wholeheartedly embraced his role as a girl-dad, making every moment extra special.

Being here together, watching the girls light up with every surprise, princess encounter, and adventure, has been something I’ll certainly treasure forever. And I can’t wait to share the final leg of our trip soon….when I finish writing it 🙂

❤

Nov 02

Vacation Part I: Ohio

After months of planning- err..who are we kidding that entirely didn’t happen- we headed down south for our first out of state trip with the girls. It happens to also be my first trip out of Alaska since learning triplets were cooking, and I can’t believe that was over six years ago! The household was excited to go on TWO airplane rides, as opposed to the one it takes to visit Juneau, the only time they’ve gone airborne.

Leaving Alaska of course meant a red eye flight in the dark, something we never mustered the strength to try with three toddlers. Honestly, I’m still glad we didn’t. After the debacle of our first plane experience with the girls at 15 months old, where Alaska Airlines booked our tickets as kids with lap children and nearly missing our flight because of it, effort exponentially increased to try to go further without too much stress. My two week “work break,” which most people refer to as a vacation, was ever present on my mind the few weeks prior to leaving, to ensure everything was ready to go, the house was clean, and all the miscellaneous work tasks at a good place.

The night of the flight we coaxed everyone into a four hour nap (2.5 for Harper!) before raising them at midnight for the dark trek to the airport. Bags were all packed beforehand, including their tiny carry-ons filled with snacks, a couple essential stuffies, and a pillow/blanket, in hopes more sleep occurred during the first flight down. In a stroke of luck the northern lights came out in full force; you could see the green as clear as day from our house, and were visible from the plane window as well. That is a first for me, and Harper stayed awake long enough to see them dancing across the sky mid flight too.

Anchorage TSA was nearly empty as we passed through, and, as usual, everyone was full of questions about life with triplets. The girls, thrilled at the chance, begged to take off their shoes—because, of course, it’s a big deal—and the agent laughed, saying they could go ahead if it meant so much to them. That part went smoothly, but we didn’t make it to the gate before the first scrape. As usual, the girls couldn’t resist thoroughly testing the horizontal escalators, and Reagan tripped, skinning her knee and elbow, proudly adding to her collection of scrapes with two skinned knees just a week apart. A kind stranger even shared an extra band-aid with us, since the one I packed wasn’t quite big enough—and I hadn’t expected to need it so soon into our two-week journey!

Both flights went smoothly; I expected entertainment on a four hour flight to be more difficult and the girls couldn’t have been better. Reagan and Harper sat on either side of me the first leg with Craig and Emerie in front of us, and Reagan and Emerie with me on the second leg, finally giving me a window seat. Coaxing and a willful lack of electronics convinced both to fall asleep eventually- Harper found a comfortable position a while before Reagan and eventually both were snuggled under their travel blankets and snoozed. Craig convinced Emerie to snuggle into him and before we knew Seatac was in sight (not literally, under the clouds!). With time on the ground to burn and a foggy day outside, we rode the underground train and escaped the N Gates (the ghetto side of the terminal). The girls were thrilled to ride the train, though Emerie quickly learned the importance of holding on when she tumbled into a nearby group of gentlemen, who couldn’t help but react as she flew by. Aside from that little mishap, the train rides were a big hit, with a few extra stops thrown in for good measure. Another wonderful tip- the airport has a cute play area for kids, where the girls burned off extra energy before heading back to our departure gate.

I am proud to say I was able to get both to fall asleep on the second flight as well, and at their own insistence. Emerie and Reagan rotated turns playing color and Bluey games on the iPad, and eventually put it up to catch a few more zzzz’s. That, and a nice tailwind expedited travel time and we uneventfully arrived in Cincinnati, to a minimally humid and sunny evening. By the time we made it to Grandma’s house, everyone was purely exhausted and the parents running on fumes and bad coffee. It still took quite a bit to coax the girls to sleep with the four hour time change, and most of the credit to that occurring came from Grandma Anne because I slept right through it!

Day One: Time Change Recovery and Shopping!

Our first day out of Alaska obviously meant enjoying the warmer climate and going shopping! We ventured to a few stores that we don’t have up north, such as Meijer and Marshalls and grabbed some Chick Filet for lunch, which the girls all enjoyed. Apparently 75 degrees and sunny is cold to the locals; we were the only family sitting outside for both lunch and our ice cream treat later that afternoon. We ventured to Jungle Jims, hands down my favorite “grocery” store in town, and the girls excitedly pointed out all the random characters and decor that it is known for. The treasure in the ceiling by the Robin Hood area might be a favorite spot, or throwing nickels into the wishing well at the exit, which HAD to happen before we actually entered the store. It was fun to see them experience a place I’ve always enjoyed visiting over the years.

The visit also meant a quick stop for Graeter’s Ice Cream, which was welcomed in the warm sun and after all the exploring. Everyone tried a different flavor, which is a rarity, and all happily devoured it, commenting on how much faster it melts down here than at home.

Dinner was spent with good friends from my prior life back in the day; I told the girls in the car on the way over that this friend likes airplanes MORE than Mom, which seemed to impress and shock them at the same time. There are few people I can say that about, but Lisa is definitely one of them!

It was wonderful catching up and watching five girls play and become friends, running across the yard to the tree house yelling girl meeting, girl meeting! and breaking into giggles. I’m still laughing that all five mimic the exact same shriek or scream; so close you can’t distinguish which kid from which family is hollering. Over the years we’ve become pretty skilled at knowing who it is by tone, but not that night. It was a good evening with friends and much overdue. The girls keep asking when we can see them again and play- connection made!

Day Two: Disney on Ice

Day two was intended to be a more relaxed day with less running around (hey- shopping is hard work!) and started out with a trek to downtown Cincinnati to see Disney’s Frozen and Encanto on Ice. It did not disappoint; in fact, it was a great event. We didn’t bring dress up dresses like many of the littles wandering around, and compromised by purchasing overpriced light up wands that the girls waved around the entire show.

The show kicked off with Mickey Mouse and friends (on skates, of course!), leading into a magical retelling of Frozen that had everyone on the edge of their seats. As soon as Elsa appeared, Emerie let out an ecstatic scream, completely captivated by the story from start to finish. Usually, during shows like the Nutcracker, she’s ready to go by intermission, but not this time! Her absolute favorite moment? Elsa’s dress transformation during ‘Let It Go’—she switched into her beautiful, flowy snowflake dress just like magic. For the parents, the highlight was Sven the reindeer, which consisted of two skaters hidden in a single, connected reindeer suit. That seems highly uncomfortable, and also hilarious, but they did a great job. Not sure I would want that job, and for sure not the back legs! Our least favorite part? The fake snow—while it looked amazing falling from above, it had all of us coughing a bit as we inhaled it.

After intermission, it was time for Encanto—or as the girls called it after first seeing it, the crack house. You can’t really blame them for the nickname, since the magical house literally cracks apart, setting the story in motion. The costumes were stunning, even more vibrant and colorful than those from Frozen, which had an intentional cooler, wintry feel. Each outfit popped with energy, bringing the characters to life in a way that lit up the entire arena with a little more pep than the predecessor. The girls were enchanted by the swirling skirts, bold colors, and lively dance moves that captured the spirit of the story perfectly, not to mention the catchy music we all recite by heart. By far the highlight of the show was Emerie’s favorite character Isabella, who sings “Bring It In” as we call it in our house; the part where Isabella and Mirabel swing from the vines and create a plethora of flowers in a sister bonding musical number. They indeed did swing around the rink with ropes and it was very impressive to watch, even for the adults! Emerie’s face in that photo says it all and Harper notes it was her favorite part of the show too. Once again the adults chuckled at the animals on skates, this time it was during Luisa’s song, and she was surrounded by skating donkeys, all dancing in sync. Pretty cute.

After the show we took advantage of the gorgeous fall day and walked around The Banks, which is downtown along the Ohio River. The girls scrutinized all the blooming flowers, looked for sticks, scaled a climbing wall and rode the big, metal slide, and even scrambled up into the “flying” pig contraption for a photo and “dad initiated turbulence.” A cute water feature nearby was met airborne shoes and bare feet to goof off, cooling down in the water. Another fun feature along the walk, huge, multi-person swings meant to enjoy the view of the water and opposing Kentucky riverbank. We opted for a snow cone at a local vendor before finding a random indoor carousel for a quick ride. Funny enough, the carousel had tons of random animal options, but missing a panda. Emerie excitedly found a turtle to climb on, Harper a pink flying pig, and Reagan chose a horse. Lots of smiles and eventually we headed back to the car.

Being back at Grandma’s house meant running outside to play in the sprinkler—filled with warm water, like normal people do—something the girls could hardly believe was real and not how we grew up! Reagan and Harper were soon racing through the spray, giggling together, while Emerie kept her distance, happily playing with her babies on the scooter, just as she does at home. We all enjoyed the sunshine for the rest of the afternoon, while I relaxed with a hot cup of coffee and a book on the front patio, instead of checking work emails. Now that’s what I call vacation time!

My Aunt and Uncle from down south arrived late afternoon and joined us for dinner at Cracker Barrel, which of course we don’t have up north. The girls did pretty well eating their dinners and Craig and I even had a few minutes to sit and relax at the table, while each kiddo had an adult to do their coloring and menu activities with. Apparently the trick we’ve missed all these years is inviting three extra adults to dine with you, one for each kiddo, and then Mom and Dad can relax!

Day Three: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens

The Cincinnati Zoo was bustling, a perfect place to spend hours wandering—which, as it turned out, was exactly what everyone else had in mind on a federal holiday. And talk about holy pumpkins! The walkways were lined with all kinds—some real, some plastic, and each with unique carvings. We had a few favorites during our visit: the towering dinosaur pumpkin wall, a “stone” wall of carved princesses, Reagan’s favorite red panda pumpkin, and the creative cutouts of the Sanderson sisters and Nightmare Before Christmas characters. It was a pumpkin lover’s dream and truly impressive!

We walked around for probably five hours or so, and without warm coats so it was a bit colder than I expected packing for the trip, but we survived! And instead of boring you with details of all the animals, the oooh and ahhhs and demands for snacks and photos, here are a few highlights from the day:

It wasn’t hot but definitely hoodie weather. In fact, we could have worn warmer clothing, but luckily the rain held off until the very end.
The girls wanted pictures with everything: statues, animals, fancy pumpkins, each other, and anywhere you could climb into. All of it.
Turtles galore: Emerie was thrilled to find so many turtle-themed attractions, which popped up at various stops throughout the trip. At one point, we happened to reach the reptile area just in time for turtle petting (yes, turtle shells have nerves!), and everyone had a turn—Emerie even went twice. We also found a turtle statue perfect for a photo op, along with some impressive turtle-themed pumpkin carvings.
Red panda exhibit: This is as close to a real panda as we’ve had so far, and Reagan was thrilled to take a picture with them in the background and bring home a stuffed souvenir. Hell, I brought one home too, they were super cute!
Pink flamingos: Harper’s personal favorite of the day was the flamingo exhibit, which she states Grandma Sue would really like. They weren’t as pink as the cartoons, but still resulted in demands for photos and excited exclamations.
Wandering kangaroo: The first exhibit of the day were the kangaroos, who were roaming about without any enclosure from visitors, which I thought created a really cool experience. The girls, however, didn’t share quite the same excitement—they took one look and were already tugging us toward the next animal, eager to keep exploring!
Giraffes are cute and were almost in arms reach. That is all; need I saw more?!
A new elephant area: the adults thought this was fantastic; the kids thought it was okay and then wanted a snack. Apparently the exhibit opened earlier in the month and was very new, and so huge. The elephants at least caught the girls’ eye for a few minutes, until the snack…
Bamboo: Yes, I am aware that is a plant and not an animal. But apparently it is worth pointing out as a highlight to the day, because everyone wanted to see, touch, collect, and talk about the fact that bamboo was along the walkways and near the animals. Oh and pandas eat bamboo, in case you didn’t realize. I had no idea a plant could be so very exciting; their excited screams say otherwise.
At one point three eggs were spotted in a nest and resulted in a lot of screaming and excitement and demands for pictures.
One of the gorillas scared the tar out of a bunch of children, when it hopped up from its nap in the corner and ran toward the viewing glass. It was pretty funny to watch all the kids dive backwards, forgetting the glass separation.

We wandered around the city a bit more that afternoon, and unsuccessfully tried for a driving nap. After five hours of walking you’d think tiredness would overtake them, but nope! A quick dinner out with Grandma Anne, Uncle Bruce and Aunt Rachel; the girls work through their school workbooks until food arrived. It was a good day!

Day Four: New Triplet Friends

We were able to connect with a fellow triplet family from my 2018 triplet moms Facebook page. I have a few ladies from that group on my page, but only met the Alaska moms in person. Going through similar life challenges at approximately the same time gave us a sense of community and a place we could air our grievances with life challenges or be entirely honest with our feelings day to day, without any judgement from people that haven’t experienced the same challenges. We met up at a nearby play center, and it was wonderful to chat about everything—pregnancy, birth stories, surviving the baby stage, starting school—pretty much all the big topics! The kids hit it off right away too, thrilled to meet another set of identicals, which is a rare find around here. It was such fun watching five identicals play hide-and-seek, effortlessly keeping track of who was who. Kids have this amazing knack for telling each other apart, far better than adults can. We both agreed that, to us parents, our own kids still look unique, though neither of us could easily tell each other’s apart! It’s hard to explain, but somehow, we just know

Much of the day was spent running around town and checking out the local outlet mall, a must on a list of option craving Alaskans. The adults and kids scored several new pairs of shoes and I made out like a bandit on clothing deals for the girls, including matching shirt sets for $2 a piece. One thing I’ve learned as a mom of three- hold out for the deals and they will appear- and then cute outfits are affordable and so many things offered in pink, purple and teal combinations. The girls were on great behavior, better than a few other shopping experiences since we arrived, and were rewarded with Dip ‘n Dots while I perused one last clothing shop and a random rain and hail downpour hit outside. It was the only time we saw rain the entire trip!

That night we fit in a little school time, actually using the reading books that I lugged across the country in my suitcase, and Craig and I took advantage of the additional adults, letting each kiddo pair to an adult and do reading time and their activity books. Man, it is so much easier to do that with five adults, and let me pack up a new suitcase of deals from the day.

Day Five: Newport Aquarium and Catching up with Friends

Another bucket list stop on our trip was the Newport Aquarium in Northern Kentucky. It had been years since my last visit—back when I lived here, and our Christmas party even included penguin petting (my prior job was SO cool)! Visiting with the kids was almost as amazing. The girls, who love our wildlife center in Seward, were thrilled by the larger exhibits and wider variety of animals here, and to drag and direct Grandma Anne to see all kinds of interesting things. Turtles were everywhere to Emerie’s delight; swimming in water close to the glass AND above and underneath us in the water tunnels. She even found a machine to make a turtle penny. To Harper’s delight, she spotted one picture of a seal on the wall next to the whale statue, but no live seals here. Reagan was assured pandas would be at a stop later in the trip, since they don’t live in water environment or at aquariums.

The kids area consisted of a play structure to burn energy, an iPad corner with a underwater coloring and stacking game, and multiple paper copies of different sea creatures to color, scan, and project the final product on the television. Everyone customized a few turtles and sharks and a few even projected with their names above it. It took a bit to convince the tiny humans we still had more to see outside this area and Craig and I even marked one up to scan. It was fun!

The touch tank with stingrays was a big hit for Emerie and Reagan, though Harper wasn’t as enthusiastic. Just like with sea stars and sea urchins in Seward, the girls placed their hands in the water, and the stingrays glided by, letting us gently ‘pet’ their backs. The staff member explained that the stingrays’ stingers are trimmed monthly to minimize any chance of stings and reminded us not to touch their tails. These slippery little guys were gliding everywhere just under the surface, but none seemed to come directly to Emerie, which frustrated her to no end. When one finally collided with her hand, she wasn’t quite expecting it, shrieked in surprise, and burst into tears. Honestly, it was pretty funny!

After a gift shop visit and a quick snack break, we wandered a few blocks south to a local yarn shop and then to another farther into Covington. Then, taking advantage of our location, we headed up the interstate for a quick hello to the new L&B offices, my old consulting firm and the company that lead me into airport planning and design as a professional field. The girls managed to mostly contain their volume for Lisa’s quick tour and found the break room treats. In another universe, if I hadn’t decided to move back to Alaska and had stayed put, my life might have unfolded in a completely different, perhaps more predictable way—and likely without triplets. It’s fascinating to ponder how one simple choice weaves the unique path leading to the life we live now.

We explored the park across the street, with all kinds of climbing activities to try, and had a sweet treat after the mandatory, unplanned potty break. We wrapped up our day with a trek to an area in eastern Cincinnati that I’d never explored, even when I lived here, and spent a lovely evening with friends. It’s funny to think back to when Haley and I first met—back in the early days before dating our now-husbands. Fast forward, and here we are, each with three kids in tow! It’s amazing how life has evolved for both of us, from those first dates to the bustling families we have now. Their property was so beautiful and it was another wonderful catch up. After dinner we ate smores out by the tree house in the woods and the kids were -you know- kids. It was a great night and much overdue.

Day 6: Union Terminal and Pumpkin Carving

After a lot of running around, it was a good day to play things by ear and spend the evening at my Mom’s, letting the girls play outside in the sun with scooters and chalk, and -of course- track down a boatload of acorns. Collecting acorns out of the grass was apparently the most exciting activity that week; not the zoo, aquarium, meeting new friends, flying in airplanes or traveling across the country. No, collecting acorns in the neighborhood and in random people’s front yards and sitting at the kitchen table organizing them and their little hats! The abundance of squirrels was also noted and every time one was spotted, it was announced by three little voices. Now, the heartbreak that is coming when they learn those nuts did not make it into our suitcase and to our journey back to Alaska. The blasphemy!!

Earlier that day we visited Union Terminal in western Cincinnati and explored the children’s museum, which I can confirm is really cool. Not only is the museum filled with multiple exhibits on a variety of unrelated topics, but it also sits in a beautiful, historic train station that opened in 1933 and boasts amazing architectural detail. The girls excitedly explored all the kid centric activities, including a water area with aprons to wear and boats to float, a huge climbing play center with tunnels and climbing areas and slides, and a spot to climb underneath the water for a quick photo.

Another activity area was all about momentum and movement, with a thousand germ filled balls to float, throw, and lift into different tubes for different results. All three really liked the one that floated them upwards “by magic” (air) and pushed them to the next area. One spot required tiny hands to fill the basket with balls, use a pulley system to push it up and tip it over into a basket, which then opened and dropped onto giggling kids below. Keeping up with three kids at once was a bit of a challenge, trying not to contain their excitement and curiosities.

It took convincing to get everyone to move along—until they caught sight of the next section. This area was a kid’s dream, complete with a mini Kroger grocery store where they could shop and check out their items, pull food out of the freezer and scan it in, a nearby pint-sized kitchen, café, and lemonade stand, a fully equipped vet clinic with animal x-rays and waiting room, and even a city metro ready to drive. Grandma Anne and I even climbed in so Reagan could “drive” us around. There was a construction zone with tools and hard hats, plus a dentist area with an oversized set of teeth they could actually climb on! We spent ages there, watching the kids dive into imaginative play and explore each setup. I couldn’t help but think how amazing it would be to have something like this back in Alaska.

After lunch at a local burger joint that I was craving all week (Frisch’s!!), we wandered across town for another store for Craig, with a few quiet minutes for him to join a quick work call. Funny enough, as he sat on a park bench and we waited in the car, Reagan literally pulled out one of her bottom teeth completely by herself, and demanded I text Craig proof of the extraction. And lucky enough, she was assured that the Tooth Fairy had enough magic to find her tooth that night, and the parents didn’t forget to put out a dollar buck.

We rounded out the night with pumpkin carving, meaning Craig did the heavy lifting while the kids occasionally helped. They now sit out on the front porch and the mini pumpkins are custom colored with hand drawn names and faces and displayed on the counter.

Day 7: Meeting more Triplets!

Heading north toward Dayton, which is less than an hour away- like going to Wasilla but on a bigger highway with more traffic- we checked out one of Ohio’s Get Airs and met another set of same aged triplets from Craig’s triplet dads Facebook group. The kids ran around for two hours and no blood was drawn! After a nice chat between the adults, we all enjoyed Steak ‘N Shake- the fries were a hit (for me too, first fries in forever!!) and the girls scarfed them down. The burgers? Not so much.

The afternoon was uneventful and unblog-worthy, but we did check out a couple more stores that aren’t up north, grabbing some (some might be an understatement!) pistachio treats at Trader Joe’s for Craig, a couple shirts for me and kid Christmas presents from TJ Maxx, and random nick knacks from Hobby Lobby. Boy do I wish we had a Hobby Lobby; the girls walked so many aisles, looking at everything and taking it all in. Who are we kidding, so did I!

A quick stop to visit one more local friend on the way back, and let the kids meet, and what a perfect, impromptu picture!! It couldn’t have turned out better if we tried! The girls were instantly playing and running across their beautiful home, allowing the parents to actually get a word in edgewise and catch up a bit. Then home for the rest of the evening to recover from the very busy day running around and making new friends.

Day 8: Fall Festival

Our last day in Cincinnati was all about squeezing in those final must-dos—running a few last errands, indulging in one more scoop of Graeter’s Ice Cream (because I couldn’t leave without my cherry chocolate chunk!), and hitting up a ‘real’ fall festival. And by real, I mean the kind drenched in sunshine and warm autumn air, with all the classic activities: hayrides and stacks, zip lines, photo ops, pony rides, and seasonal treats. It was the perfect way to wrap up our busy week, soaking up every bit of fall fun before starting the next adventure. It’s such a different experience than the cold, fall air in Alaska, where outdoor festivals require layered clothing and a hope for some sunshine to keep you warm enough to enjoy it.

Burger Farms did not disappoint, and while a little hot in direct sun for us northerners, it was really perfect. A little shaved ice after a fun hay ride up the hill and back, several zip line rides, an adorable cow train, and a few real rides and we were good to go. The girls had pictures in a couple different spots, danced on stage, did the chicken dance, and had a pony ride.

The highlights of our first week were definitely reconnecting with old friends, exploring the zoo and aquarium, and watching the girls experience so many new places, foods, and adventures beyond our home state. Craig and I also appreciated the restaurant variety—it’s been a few years since we’ve had so many options to choose from! The girls, as always, made friends effortlessly, immediately blending in with other kids and disappearing into play as if they’d known them forever. Everyone has been so welcoming! I can’t quite imagine tackling this trip when they were toddlers, but I’m hopeful that now, they’ll be able to hold on to most of these memories. I can’t imagine trying to wrangle three mini tornadoes from the car through airport security, only to have one throwing a fit while another tries to escape and the third declaring need for a potty break. If that thought doesn’t make you anxious, then I’m impressed! Add in a triple stroller, three big car seats, long flights, nap schedules that don’t sync, and snack demands every five minutes, and a ‘relaxing’ trip quickly turns into a full-contact sport. This age avoided so many of those things; a much better time for a cross country adventure. The first week was such a success that we’ll definitely need to plan more adventures like this in the coming years!

We crammed in as much activity as possible into a single week, and little did they know what was right around the corner for part two!

❤

Sep 26

Exploring the Outdoors

The past month and ending to summer flew by. As we enter my favorite season of the year, where the leaves turn to vibrant yellows, oranges, and reds, the air turns crispy- like the perfect bite of an apple- and the blue skies are crystal clear, we plan to spend as much time outside as humanly possible before winter arrives. Whether it’s hiking through trees that look like they’re painted in watercolor or simply breathing in the cool, fresh air on the back deck, there’s something magical about embracing the beauty of our home state this time of year.

On an impromptu weekend trip down to Seward, we caught a perfectly sunny and calm day to play along the beach, collecting shells, fancy rocks and sea glass. We played at the park, tested out the local gelato, and enjoyed dinner at one of the local restaurants with friends. The airbnb for the night boasted a large, kid friendly outdoor area, so smores and bike rides were a must. None of the old bikes had training wheels, so the girls essentially taught themselves to ride around the big, gravel parking lot without any assistance, in a matter of about fifteen minutes.

We’ve definitely slacked this summer on the bike riding, and taking the time to become comfortable riding without the training assist. It is not easy trying to help all three at once, or even two at once with both parents- you are constantly hopping from one kid to the next, trying to keep the collisions and frustrations to a minimum and certainly a reason for the lack of progression in this area to date. Managing three at once is like a mix of running from one wobbly bike to the next while offering words of encouragement, untangling the occasional crash or wobble over and corresponding raging kid, and celebrating each triumphant moment with cheers. The thrill of watching them gain confidence and balance all at once is also a great feeling—though by the end of the moment, you’ve likely run a mini marathon, and probably need to find some bandaids!

Within a few minutes Reagan was circling the driveway, keeping her pace and confidence up across the dips and bumps, and Harper followed soon after. Emerie attempted a bit slower and more timidly than her sisters, but also caught on quickly until she tumbled and scraped up her hand. There are perks to all three learning so many skills at the same time (not just parental cardio!), because if the first kid can do it, confidence is boosted for the other two. That, and a little friendly competition.

Back at home in the following weeks, Craig removed the extra wheels from two of the three pedal bikes, and so far Harper and Reagan keep the momentum going, literally! They are improving at pushing off unassisted and not always asking for help. Emerie insists on training wheels, even after rocking it down in Seward, and we aren’t fighting it until she gets more confident. I wonder if her bifocal plays into some of her hesitation; that can’t be easy to balance with. We are taking short walks more frequently in the evening, both to wear them out and to let them practice. The discovery of downhill acceleration was quite a highlight one night too, and now we have are defined direction to go each time.

In addition to muscle powered machines, we tested out the new motor track by our house one sunny morning. It took several clear articulations to convince them going through the puddles and mud purposefully was okay, and even then they still hesitated. Everyone is also a bit timid to tackle big hills and splash through puddles, which meant the parents (ahem…Craig) had quite the unexpected cardio workout. Every time the terrain looked a little too daunting, an adult needed to run over to give a push, give them more throttle up a slope, or coax the wheels out of a mud puddle. After unsticking kids multiple times, we found they were far more excited to ride loops in the wet grass with their friends, over and over again, than test out the muddy hills. Sassy Emerie emerged as she constantly hollered at Oliver, you can’t catch me! He looked at her perplexed that they were even racing, which was pretty cute, and she found it hilarious. Harper rode the loop over and over again, and didn’t want to stop until she was wet up to her shoulders; Reagan enjoyed the loops and then wandered over to the playground equipment while her sisters continued to circle.

Another end of summer event greatly enjoyed by our household is the annual Trick or Treat in the Heat. This event occurs well before the normal Halloween and gives local kids the chance to participate while it’s less frigid and dark outside. The meaning behind the event is much more significant than just having fun, and relates to a young boy more than a decade ago who lost his fight to cancer, but not before his neighborhood came together and gave him an amazing September trick-or-treat experience. The even now fundraises thousands of dollars for cancer research and the Ronald McDonald house, which is really cool. This year we went all in on a family theme, with a “big” and “small” trio of Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus. Harper insisted a witch was her pick this year, which nicely supported the idea. Emerie was displeased that she couldn’t be Elsa for the 6th year in a row.

We watched the original Hocus Pocus movie for the first time, with hesitation at the beginning and investment by the middle, and Craig spun up the enthusiasm by endorsing one of the sisters himself, and convincing Cousin Tyler to do the same. One of the best parts of the entire evening? Watching people walking opposite as us smile sweetly upon seeing the girls all matched in their dresses and wigs, then seeing their eyes level with Craig’s fully gowned awesomeness, and bursting into a big chuckle. I probably witnessed that at least a dozen times, with many kudos from other dads.

The rain held off for the evening and it remained warm enough to leave coats in the car. Reagan called me her twin all night in our matching outfits, Emerie finally accepted being the bossy one was okay only because Craig was too, and Harper had the need for speed and kept trying to get ahead of the group for the best pick of candy. That might also relate to all the empty candy wrappers in her bag…

One other fun fall evening this week- we finally took the girls up to Flat Top for a hike around the base of the mountain, something we haven’t actually done with them before. There were many hollers of I can see EVERYTHING from up here and wow we are so high; and the occasional demand to know where our house and Miss Tawni’s house were below. The adventure started out sunny and warm, but ended in clouds and a brisk wind; thank goodness we brought hoodies with us. The girls scrambled up the hilly parts full of energy; apparently we should have proceeded further up the mountain, because they were still energetic on the return home. All three carried Ziploc baggies and filled them with treasures- you know, berries you can’t eat, colorful leaves, twigs, you name it. The discovery of edible Alaskan blueberries resulted in a few blue fingers and requests to go berry picking another day, something we haven’t actually done this year.

It is nice to get out and about and share a love of nature as a family. After a stressful month at work for both Craig and myself, getting out and releasing that stress is really helpful for our sanity, as a parent, a triplet parent, and a full time employee. Fall has arrived and that means more hikes, festivals, and enjoying the last month of warmth before the cold and all the beauty that comes with it returns for the year.

❤

Sep 05

Going with the Flow

It’s been a while since a randomly chaotic, yet hysterical event occurred in the Douglets household. I’m here to inform you that we had a brief stint of that very thing tonight, and of course while Craig is running an errand. Did it involve any kind of mortar? Thankfully no. Was it poop related? Well of course it was…

After dinner, I productively tackled the load of laundry that had been calling my name from the living room like it had more important business from the day. All three little ladies were deep in their evening ritual of royal chaos— their princess tea parties in full swing, complete with grand proclamations of announcing princes blah blah blah echoing from the stairway. Dance costumes and dress-up heels were the attire of choice, obviously, as they zoomed between pretend thrones and imaginary ballrooms. Just another typical evening surrounded by three pint-sized queens ruling their kingdom of glitter, giggles, and chaos.

I hear a scream upstairs, and the other two go running to see what Emerie is hollering about. Traditionally it’s something like I saw a spider or look at my beautiful fort! but this team meeting ended with three heads popping around the bathroom corner and sailing down the hallway, all screaming.

Since that got my attention, I ventured upstairs to find an impromptu inch- deep, indoor swimming pool in my bathroom, accompanied by three screaming children, and it still coming. After shutting off both the water and my ear drums, Emerie informed me with disgust that this occurred while still sitting on said pot, and everyone hovered as I frantically grabbed towels. Four of us in a tiny bathroom filled with water is a little tight, so my demands for everyone to go away were following by a flurry of artistic ambition (hilariously), all insistent that No Entry and Stop signs display on the door. After all, we wouldn’t want and unsuspecting visitors wandering into our new water park.

Note the sign. The outside one says “Flooded”

As I’m mopped up the bathroom floor, with the river thankfully changed to a lake, I realize it’s the first time in six years as a parent that this has happened to me. I am going to say that is pretty good -I’m certain it would have been sooner if we had boys- and everything was alright until I looked at the remains that caused the overflow (barf) and the incredibly amount of toilet tissue. This summer the girls appear to be on a mission to singlehandedly restart the COVID toilet paper shortage, on bathroom stop at a time.

By the time I emerged from the cleanup, and a still clogged toilet that needed Craig’s muscle to release, Stop signs were up and I heard the front door shut, assuming it was Craig getting home. In reality, Harper and Reagan went outside after their emergency six-year-olds summit to debate who caused the great disaster. The mission? To stand guard in case Dad gets home. We don’t want him to see it!!

Generally I would feel a mix of exasperation, amusement, and mild defeat in these moments—always wondering how something so chaotic could unfold in such a short time. But then again, at least it wasn’t mortar, and no real harm was done! Emerie summed up the experience pretty concisely with her well that’s so weird. I am happy to report all has been resolved, the plumbing de-pooped and tissued by Dad, and we will keep going with the flow (get it???).

Yep, kids are fun. I’m going to go wash my hands again.

Aug 23

Summer Side Up

Somehow summer is beginning to wrap up and school has started once again. This was our first summer without the kids in some kind of daycare (for the most part) and our first one with grade school aged kids, with all that entails. Everyone says it goes by in a blink -something that I believe also occurs to kidless people in terms of the shortness of Alaska’s summertime- and before I knew it, back to school pressure was on! While school is a topic I haven’t tackled yet, let’s delve into some of the fun happenings since our return from Juneau in mid-July.

Emerie had her first eye check in six months and passed with flying colors. The daily patching -with much effort I might add- is genuinely making a difference in the sight of her left eye and her brain’s awareness to use it. While patching will continue for at least another year or two, we are very excited to see the results that equal about 20/40 vision and greatly improve her future welfare.

The other day I heard Emerie reflect to a neighbor kid that she has to wear glasses because Doctor Winkle told her to and that patching helps her eye get strong. She clearly articulated that she only did it because he said so, not her parents :D.

Enjoying and playing outside as much as possible during the summer months is a requirement. Since sunny weather is more of a rarity the past few years and something to take advantage of as much as possible, the girls are finding new ways to entertain themselves and enjoy the warmth. This specifically pertains to anything flower or berry related (Reagan constantly warns her sisters don’t eat the sick berries, those make you sick!), grass soups and other creations, and all types of tea parties, pretend and with real food and drinks. Harper especially likes setting up such events for her dolls and seals and later inviting her sisters.

Harper also now announces herself into a room with a loud (and proud) Harper alert! Harper alert! and a grand entrance into the space. It’s pretty cute.

Another general accomplishment from Reagan, her first braid! She was SO excited to show her first twist braid, and all by herself. Having three girls, I can’t until until the day that they start doing each others hair. The makeup portion of that journey has already begun, but maybe I should rephrase to say when the makeup and hairstyles are socially acceptable in public…although Craig has no problem sporting that wild eye shadow and going out and about.

Her creativity continues, more recently with toilet paper rolls creating wishing fountains. One caveat I noticed after the fact- when she ran out of toilet paper rolls, she went into the bathrooms and unrolled the ENTIRE new rolls and left it in a hot mess by the toilet. So. Much. TP.

You wouldn’t believe the compilation of flowers that pop up all over the house. Dried flowers, drown flowers, moldy flowers, beautiful bouquets, fist fights over who gets what flower, explosions of petals in the car, under their bed, stuck to your socks…essentially across every surface of our living space. A $15 flower bouquet from the store gets hours of enjoyment, and some fighting, and is well worth the money! We now draw and paint flowers, the girls seek out lupin for Grandma Sue and fireweed for me, just to make sure we see them (real or artistic), and they exist to the level that rocks existed around us when the girls were toddlers. #flowerpower … right?

Another box checked for back to school, the triple haircut. I took all three to my favorite hair expert, who just so happens to be a twin mom and all around rock star of a human, and we survived an hour adventure resulting in three haircuts and much excitement over the machine that sucks the hair off the floor and into it. Everyone wanted a quick wash (because why not!) before their trim and air dried while the next had a turn. Reagan begged to have shorter than shouldn’t length so we compromised with hers an inch shorter than her sisters, but still past shoulder length.

In addition to a triple haircut was our next dentist visit. I’m happy to report no cavities -maybe a bit shocked by that too- and plan to seal all those new molars in about six months, that are now popping through everyone’s gums. We also have more loose teeth, although none are ready to commit, we anticipate those top front ones will be abandoning ship sometime this school year, based on the latest x-rays.

I made it approximately two weeks with kid booster seats in the back of my Toyota Rav4. My love for my car lasted a decade, but juggling three kids into boosters forced me to upgrade to a roomier vehicle with a third row. We broke it in a trip to Girdwood to enjoy Double Musky, and I’m loving the girls now buckle themselves in like professionals, after five plus years of four point harnesses. Milestone achieved!

Grandma Anne visited for a few weeks in July. The adorable picture you see next to this paragraph shows her handiwork on custom colored kuspuks, which still fit but needed minor mending to accommodate the girls growing bigger. The girls played lots of board games, crafted with everything from glue to glitter, and read lots of books during the visit.

Our kitty Winston went missing for 12 days, reappearing the night before we left for Kenai, vocal and malnourished from wherever he landed. A night or two is no concern, but after a week we reported him to the pound with no success. He ended up snuggling in the girls’ beds that first night and getting lots of love, and seems to be doing better now. Harper was very excited for this cuddle picture with him.

Another summer past time, constant trips to the you-pick farm. I have to at least add this to the blog, knowing it’s one of my favorite adventures and gets easier to do every year. The girls love jumping on the massive blowup strawberry (which was deflated on our last visit disappointingly), and ready for the fall zip line fun. We also impatiently wait for potatoes, carrots, and peas to open.

This picture articulates a creative activity the girls invented while playing at home over the summer. When focused on something around the house and not physically upstairs, fashion shows begin with the theme “dress like Mom.” This usually entails a master bedroom closet raid, complete with boots, shirts, skirts and hoodies donned and strutting around the house. The volume exponentially increases after a few minutes, and by far the favorite accessory is the discovery of bras, which produces a huge amount of giggles and wildness when on display. By the time I return upstairs, it’s an explosion of clothes (the less fun part of it for me!).

After a weekend at home to recover from our excursion down south, we packed up once again and headed to Kenai, this time for a family meetup for the next set of identicals (twins) to join the family. I completely dropped the ball on travel preparation, forgetting entirely to book somewhere to stay. Luckily we received an amazing offer to use a camper for two nights, parked outside of Jaren and Savaya’s house. The girls were thrilled at this new accommodation, since it’s “so” different from staying at a hotel or at a new house, as the girls say when we go somewhere (we return to our old house on the way back!), and overall other than a bit cold, they did pretty well. All three slept in the top bunk over the driver seat, while Craig and I corralled in the bed in the back and Grandma had the table turned bed. And you know what you do to solve being cold? Have a kid sleep next to you.

Sue and I helped set up the lady bug themed baby shower while Craig wandered with the kids through parks and jump parks on the peninsula. During the event the girls were in high spirits, continually sipping cups of juice, munching on snacks, and scarfing down a slice of cake as they ran around with the other kids on the beautiful, sunny day. All three seemed to enjoy watching Amber open presents and seeing all the baby outfits and goodies; it was a sweet reminder of how long ago that stage feels for us and how it really wasn’t that long ago. Everyone colored custom happy baby shower pictures along with our presents, sported pink necklaces (because baby girls of course!) and ran around with the ladybug fans and balloons for most of the afternoon. They were exhausted from the excitement and the fact everyone was cold and up way earlier than normal after a late night. I managed to get Emerie and Reagan to briefly doze off on an intentionally long drive back to the camper; Harper not so much, but she did settle for a bit in her booster seat.

We attempted a short lived fishing venture that night, not heading out until well around normal kiddo bedtime. It was still light and sunny and exactly three kid life jackets were waiting for us. The girls were full of energy and couldn’t resist running along the water, tossing rocks and collecting grass and wildflowers, completely unconcerned with how dirty they were getting or interrupting other folks trying to make a catch. After Savaya caught a fish, Jaren turned into a tour guide, showing them all the fascinating details of the catch—the slippery scales, the wiggling fish, and of course, those eyes that seemed to beg for a poke by three excited girls. They gathered around curiously as Jaren strung it up, getting a front-row seat to the process. It was a thrilling few minutes that would be replayed in their minds long after the drive home that night.

It was quite the whirlwind weekend, but also really fun! I look forward to these memories all year round and especially when timed with family. We are so lucky to be able to hop in the car and drive to see so many extended family members, something I did not grow up with. I’m already looking forward to next year, planning to step up our game for some real combat (dipnet) fishing, or get out on a boat. On the return drive we pit stopped at the train car for waffles, making sure Craig had a chance to experience it and I enjoyed a fancy coffee. The waffles were as delicious as ever (I finally tried them!), and the kids enjoyed the fun of eating in such a unique spot. By the time we made it back to town in the early afternoon, we (the adults obviously) were happily worn out and the kids happy to be home, with full bellies and a weekend’s worth of new memories to cherish.

Our next adventures relate to back to school and my kindergartners turning into first graders. More to come on that soon!

❤

The Douglets

Triplets in Alaska

raising triplets