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!
❤
