Summer Wrap-Up & Second Grade

I continue to think back to the wonderful summer we had, where it was (relatively) warm, easy to transition from inside to out, and full of adventure and possibility.

We wrapped up the summer season with a couple annual family activities. One of my favorite weekends of the year consisted of both my favorite Alaskan summer activities: wilderness berry picking and the Alaska State Fair. While not a hot, sunny day, the afternoon berry picking in cloudy skies and minor drizzle was perfect in temperature.

This year the girls were far more helpful and did pick some, but also enjoyed the stained fingers and faces that came with sour, Alaskan blueberries. In truth, they picked berries a little ways into the woods, discovered a perfect fairy tree, and proceeded to decorate said tree while Craig and I worked around them, filling our bags with berries. They stained the tree blueberry blue, and added flowers, sticks and leaves to make a beautiful house. I love the age where they take the time to create and innovate, hoping fairies will enjoy it, and really hope we will have at least one more summer like this.

We accidentally chose the perfect day to go to the fair- a beautifully sunny day with 10+ hours of walking around and just having fun doing whatever we wanted to. We arrived at opening to avoid parking traffic and bee lined it straight to the face painting booth, where the girls and I requested flowers and Craig did a planet theme above that beard. Pony rides, lots of random food to try, dip and dots and snow cones (it was hot out!), and of course we joined a few friends for the carnival rides.

Last year Reagan didn’t enjoy the kid roller coasters but bravely rode them, and this year other than one or two moments of pure disdain for a ride she opted to go on, she did great. The girls road the spinning teacups with Paris and a couple of the kid roller coasters, but I believe the favorite ride was the spinning swing, which for the record, I feel were faster than last year! We luckily did most of the rides before it got really busy with long lines, and I am happy to report we had no major meltdowns the entire day out in the sun. That in itself is impressive when lugging out three overstimulated and excited seven-year-olds. And it was a very long day and active day!

I also must mention the girls’ excitement to see if Craig won any ribbons, for his first time entering the arts portion of the fair. He knitted two shawls and rainbow socks, and I am personally offended he didn’t instantly win first place on all three entries! The girls were happy to see his 3rd place ribbon; it was quite sweet. I enjoy having an artsy husband, who really does have quite the talent and inability to sit still without creating something.

Craig took the girls to see all the animals before loading everyone to go home, while Janelle and I stayed for a kid free, Weird Al Yankovic concert. Not that you asked…but it was amaaaazing!!! I’d also like to point out that Emerie constantly begs me to play Amish Paradise -which is really a nostalgic song from my childhood that brings me back to cd players in the car- and all three kids singing the lyrics in the car…that’s right up there in my parenting accomplishments with their joyous singing of Papa Roach. I just love it!!

In between all the fun weekends are nightly bike rides. To burn energy of course, but it’s also just a nice outdoor activity that we can finally do in this age. And we are finally a training wheels free house. Harper and Reagan mastered their balance last fall, picking it up rather fast once they mentally accepted they could do it. Harper thrives on speed, just like she did as a toddler. Reagan is more timid but now very confident and zooms around, even standing up. Emerie was another story, adamantly insisting she would never go without, and refusing to try without major pushing. It took most of the summer to convince her to try, and one day we biked to the park and she practiced in the grassy area. After a few flops she put a little more muscle behind it, giving enough to stay balanced, and she was so excited! It was sweet to see both of her sisters cheering her on; encouraging her to keep going and not berating her when she threw a fit about it.

The wheels went back on for neighborhood bike rides as her fears returned, until eventually her confidence increased enough to do it. It might have also helped we collected three 20” bikes off the free page or marketplace, ones too big for training wheels, and that worked! I’d given the chance, she would have them reinstalled, but she’s doing great. Now we just have the uphill battle to convince her that biking is fun!! Harper and Reagan love our evening rides and want to go farther and faster; Emerie does not so it’s constantly a divide and conquer between the parents. But hopefully we will get there!

All three also convinced Craig to buy and install their own kickstands like grownups have, as well as pink, purple and teal wire baskets on the front to house stuffies, snacks and coats.

In addition to physical labor activities, we are making a point to take the four wheelers out more often this year and get the girls better at steering and zooming around. And when those damn machines actually run, and stay running, it is quite fun! Reagan is the most timid on them but definitely more confident than in last years to zoom by us. Emerie would drive forty miles an hour if she could, sticking her tongue out as she speeds by, whooping in laughter and threats that no one can catch her. Harper is also quite a pedal to the metal kiddo and you can hear her giggle over the roar of the engine!

Before school started I took the girls to 5000 different appointments to prepare for the school year, which included physicals for all three, that I did back to back in super mom style, with our babysitter in the car to swap each kiddo out for their turn. The most hilarious part about that ninety minutes of my life? Watching the doctor ask all three girls the exact same questions, but without the others present, and watching them all answer almost exactly the same. I mean it was freaky how similar answers were, and even their questions and interactions with the doctor. For example, all three separately wanted to play with the stethoscope and asked her how it worked and if they could listen to their own heartbeat. Biggest difference was Emerie’s claim to be allergic to tomatoes…which isn’t true, she just thinks if you hate them enough, then you are allergic.

For the first time in seven years, Emerie has caught up in height and weight to her sister, specifically Reagan, who came in at the same weight as her, and Harper leading by a couple pounds. All three are now the same height; Emerie has officially caught up!

We also rocked our biannual dentist appointment and it’s getting easier to do them all at once. They love the attention and getting clean teeth, and I love that no cavities were reported this time. It is still a battle to convince Harper she needs to love her adult teeth, since she only likes it when they brush her teeth at the doctor. Don’t think the teeth will survive only two brushes a year, and the breath!

We also shoved in an ENT visit for Harper to check her ear tubes, and Emerie had eye checkup with a lighter bifocal, and will continue to do her eye patch.

We are now a month into second grade, with all three in the same classroom again this year. I must start documenting the cute things brought home at the end of the week. In their writing booklets they all answer slightly differently and it’s fun to compare them, some answers are more true than others when you really know them. For example, Emerie wrote her favorite weekend activity is going hiking, which couldn’t be more from the truth if she tried! Hiking might cause her physical and psychological pain…according to her when we do it. Another answer, all three’s favorite day of the week…is Thursday. Very random but likely relates to either the day they were asked that question…or the fact that gymnastics is that night after dinner! Here are few other answers for your enjoyment, to see how they are different and yet still so similar:

What is your favorite person?

Harper: my favorite person is Mom and Dad. I love them because they are nice. Together we hug.
Emerie: mom and dad. I love them because they are kind and sweet, I love Chris!
Reagan: my favorite person is my “perins.” I love them because they love me and I love them. Together we go swimming. (And her “i’s” are dotted hearts- sob!)

What is your favorite season?

Harper: my favorite season is winter. I like winter because it is fun in winter. The weather is cold.
Emerie: my favorite season is spring. I like it because it is warm in spring and it gets warmer. In spring the weather is getting warmer and the snow is melting.
Reagan: my favorite season is winter. I like winter because we have snow ice cream in winter and the weather is snowy.

Favorite subject in school

Harper: art. I like it because it is fun.
Emerie: PE. I like it because it is fun and my favorite game is tag.
Reagan: science. I like it because we do fun things.

Favorite weekend activity

Harper: my favorite thing to do over a long BFF weekend is look at the stars. Spend the weekend with my family.
Emerie: my favorite thing to do over a long weekend is hiking and spend time with Mom and Dad.
Reagan: spend time with my family. I like to spend time to be alone.

And my personal favorite, which is better shown for you to enjoy reading yourself. Because of course, my kids have a favorite vegetable!

The girls also did a partner project at school, where they each chose a specific government service that contributes to society, to research and create a 3D masterpiece of. Reagan chose an airport, continuing her “team mom” status, Emerie did the police and/or state troopers like Dad, and Harper opted for firefighters. There was much discussion after schools on their creations, what to include and what it looked like, and they turned out pretty cute!

I look forward to continued growth in writing and spelling, and future articulations. For now we will continue to shove in evening bike rides, outdoor playtime as sunsets continue arriving earlier, twenty minutes of reading per kid per night, and lots of spelling word practice. The evenings go by so quickly and winter is right around the corner, so enjoying the joys of fall as much as we can.

❤

Aug 08

Stars, Stripes and Shells

And just like that, the entire month of July is in the books! It went by so quickly and involved a lot of family fun, even meeting extended family on Craig’s side that I’ve never met before. Two weekend trips out of town, more lost teeth than I can count at this point, more outfit changes than ever before, and lot’s of hustle and bustle as we transition toward back to school.

Before the parade and on the way down to Sterling we stopped at our favorite ice cream spot and wandered next door to a random carousel, which the girls rode at least ten times in a row. The owner was a good sport and let them switch up to their hearts’ content and ride all the different Alaskan animals while the adults perused the beautiful wood carvings.

Another magical fourth of July weekend is in the books. Last year we explored the wonders of the holiday in Juneau, a first for me and the girls, and a double parade followed by hanging out on the beach on Douglas Island. This year we left town again and headed south in the car, to experience the City of Kenai parade. It was a beautifully sunny day and the girls rocked their stars and stripe dresses, star face glitter, and light up hats throughout the event. Oh and the adults also rocked the star glitter, and the kid-sized cow girl hat accidentally kept me from a decent sunburn on my face.

I should also mention my judgy children called me out for smashing a dragonfly (to death) when it landed on my leg and I smashed it with my foot, thinking it was a mosquito. For the following few days I was dubbed a “dragonfly killer”, and that was before I nailed a mongoose on the highway on the way home… The children determined my mild swerve at 70mph was to intentionally hit him instead of avoid, and did just that. Ah to be a parent.

We spent a few nights staying with Cousin Brian a little farther south, and even made a quick pit stop in Homer to hang out on the beach, say hi to friends and eat some bbq, and collect shells that would become painted jewelry in the following days. The girls favorite part of the first weekend in Ninilchik? Brian’s movie projector that played cartoons on the ceiling, and probably picking wildflowers. The projector was quite the hit with all three and something different than normal television.

Our second Ninilchik weekend and mini family reunion was another nice time away, this time the girls and I sleeping in Tyler’s RV while other family stayed in cabins. Craig opted to catch food poisoning (opted hehe) and stayed home at the last minute; but Sue and I weren’t going to miss out on the fun with Papa Lon up here!

One hilarious moment of the weekend was watching Cousin Brian show the girls where he collects fresh water from a spring across the highway and lugs it back home for use. The girls were rather enthralled with the concept water comes out of the ground (rather a pipe in the ground) and it was pretty funny to watch their reaction to something so Alaskan.

We had a lot of fun meeting more extended family and enjoying an evening barbecue in the hot summer sun, with a tote of new Barbie’s to entertain the girls while the adults caught up. The girls ran around the yard with their new toys, played Barbie dress up with just about every adult in the place, cooked smores on the grill with Lon, and overall enjoyed a fun visit and some fantastic weather.

We couldn’t end such a fun weekend without a quick stop at our favorite lake on the way back; all three girls finally walking out into the water and not complaining it was too cold. They made a few new friends, tried to capture (note I didn’t say catch!) tiny fish and happily enjoyed a quick jaunt around the lake in the boat. Unlike past years, this year had screams of faster! instead of carefully holding on.

The rest of Papa Lon and Grandma Sue’s visit was full of yummy dinners, fun crafts (like Lon drilling holes in ton of seashells so jewelry could be made!), celebrating Grandma Sue’s birthday with a homemade cake, customized birthday cards and a pie shaped, smelly candle- and helping her blow out all those candles- and of course I can’t forget to mention the girls watching hunting shows with Lon, filled with commentary and questions.

In other unrelated news, we have officially lost all the front baby teeth for all three, with Emerie finishing the milestone and convincing that last, lazy front tooth to depart for a future adventure with the tooth fairy. Her sisters accelerated this by knocking it before it was really ready, and then her absent minded wiggling, just like the other side. The prior day Harper evicted her top right (canine?), which frees up some of the space for those front two teeth to continue filling out. And Reagan, who was the first to lose a front tooth as a toddler and her other top front a little more naturally, excitedly pointed out that the hole she’s boasted in her mouth for years finally has a tooth poking through, after much speculation this year that it didn’t want to arrive. I also continue to find it amusing how all three closely mimic the same tooth order, with only a few outside that.

A great deal of discussion centered around the tooth fairy these few weeks, and all were in agreement she should be trapped and captured (like the movie), so many schemes were devised. Prior discussions last year centered around hiding lost teeth from her completely, which 180’d into using them as a trapping method to catch her. A decorative birdcage was purchased, recolored, and strategically placed in the bedroom. But that elusive tooth fairy managed to evade capture, and even leave little notes behind, scolding their attempts to get her. She always had a bit of a panic, spreading fairy dust all around the cage, but managing to escape, to the girls’ delight. I know we will miss these entertaining, magic related stories and creativity in the future; meaning Craig and I continue to embellish the fun while they still believe in it.

I’ve greatly slacked on writing things down this summer, due to the usual busy-ness and just not in the mood to do it. We wrapped up July with other miscellaneous stops like our favorite farm out in the valley and their summer festival, horse shows, birthday parties, and watching jets land at the airport. Reagan getting lost in the corn maze at the festival; Craig eventually tracked her down with some effort. While Sue picked her body weight in rhubarb, we ventured over to the strawberry fields where I supervised (and didn’t touch!) and the girls picked a container each. Emerie left that field with a face bull of strawberries, in addition to the box she carted around. The horse show captured everyone’s attention for a fun afternoon and good excuse to rock their cowgirl boots, and we enjoyed a day trip to Seward with Auntie Janelle and Paris, even in the constant rain. After the standard stop at a very tourist filled Sealife Center, we embraced the rain and let the girls run while along the beach. It might have taken as long to dry them off as they played, and was a great day.

As we wrap up summer and get back to a more normalized school schedule, my goofy girls continue to switch with each other during the day, and who is who depends on the day! Harper and Reagan keep wearing each other’s colors, demanding adults refer to them by the other sister’s name, and in addition to how funny that is, it’s also hard to purposefully call them the wrong name! Harper also attempted to pull one over on Grandma Sue by rocking Emerie’s glasses and smiling without showing teeth. It always amazes me how swapping glasses between them really makes them look like Emerie!

Nightly neighborhood bike rides have also become the new normal. Emerie is incredibly close to removing training wheels and did great practicing and overcoming her fear of it at the park last weekend. Harper and Reagan did a great job cheering her on, with lots of words of encouragement. On pavement she is still sporting the training wheels, but that doesn’t hold her up on speeding around. She especially hates going uphill (or putting in the muscle to move uphill), and with that Craig has a newly discovered superpower, which is pushing a kid up a hill on a bike, while riding is own bike. All three think it’s hilarious when he chases them around the neighborhood on his in-line skates instead of the bike, and he’s convinced them to pull him. It’s pretty funny to watch.

I’ll save our four wheeler adventures for another day, since fall time is my favorite season to get out and about in them. The track by our house has one loop that isn’t too scary for the girls to navigate solo, and it’s been quite the excitement to get over there and speed around. Only minimal blood and crashes, and a lot of mini-speed demons emerging, not to mention the big smiles and giggles you can hear from so far away.

Anyway, getting this blog is getting posted since it’s way out of date, and we are jumping back into the back-to-school to-do list before next week. Happy August!

❤

Jul 03

Stilettos & Sidewalk CEOs

Summer is in full swing and that means finally a few days of sunlight! With the warmer temperatures appears our three fashion icons, who -unlike their mother- instantly boasted a tan and brightened blonde locks with their new fashionista attitudes. With Grandma Sue in town for the month as our built in daycare, that means days spent at home and fifty thousand outfit changes. Her visits always equal a lot of fun activities and goodies; new artwork decorates my walls, colorful bathwater now has to be saved for future use (don’t ask…) and crystals and gems are growing on the counter. At this point it’s hard to picture summer without her after several years of visits.

As shown in the photos, we’ve apparently entered the girls’ high fashion era—think stilettos, strappy sandals, and a rotating wardrobe of too-big junior and women’s dresses, now making daily appearances in our living room runway and around town. Each of the girls handpicked their own thrift store heel, scoring treasures like sparkly pink wrap-around stilettos, black chunky heels with sparkly butterflies fluttering up the leg straps, and silver flats that shimmer with every stomp.

Harper, in true firstborn form, struts around the house in 3” heels like she’s been doing it since birth; unlike me, who barely survives standing in heels, let alone walking in them. I tried on the size seven ones at their request; and nearly didn’t survive that five minutes. Harper’s skill is frankly rude it’s so natural. And Emerie and Reagan, well their confidence and thrill of style far outweighs their coordination, but don’t tell them that! They still charge into the backyard in their new shoes, attempting to climb playhouse, swing, and help with gardening with all the grace of baby giraffes on stilts (great visual right?!). But hey- as Grandma always says, beauty is pain….right?

Along with the heels came an influx of XS dresses from the women’s section and enough sweaters to dress all the Bluey grannies. The girls have a sixth sense at spotting their desires; it might just be in their DNA from my skill finding a good deal in clearance sales. One day it’s a pink off-the-shoulder sequin dress, the next it’s a glittery black gown that looks like it was made from recycled sandpaper. They also swap colors and parade around, announcing they look like their sister. And comfort is clearly not a requirement. The discovery of oversized cardigans too, that naturally go with evening wear or even pajamas pants, support this fashion-forward household. After several weeks of searching, Harper and Reagan excitedly found thrifted hooded bathrobes, one pink and one teal. Emerie initially claimed an adult-sized purple robe, rocking it like a tiny boss until I caved and ordered her a kid-sized version—at which point she graciously “allowed” Sue to wear her discarded one. Even on a few warm nights, these three goofballs still curl up in bed wrapped in them like cozy, baby burritos. I mean honestly, it looks kind of cozy…if it wasn’t the warmest time of year for us!

Papa Cliff stopped in a couple weeks ago and delivered roller blades, which caused quite the discussion on who received what color, and very interesting times watching them try to run across the front yard and not lose all their teeth or break any bones. They excitedly rocked their half pajamas, half winter wear with elbow and knee pads, another fashion forward style apparently. And no, they cannot skate like Craig- who is exceptionally good at it- but they sure wish they could!

Grandma Sue visits always equal your body weight in goodies; and no, we are not complaining! As the girls have grown, they are a little more manageable on the cooking output, not eating handfuls of flour, licking their fingers every five seconds, or sneaking chunks of butter (hey they are their grandma’s granddaughters haha). Fashion forward outfits contribute to this activity as well, with messy buns in the morning for scones and much more handwashing than in years past. The past few weeks they’ve tried their hand in peach pie and crust (Emerie), key lime cheesecake, multiple flavors of delicious scones, and you can’t forget the non-desserts, like homemade fried rice and favorite and local flour explosion, chicken fried steak.

The girls, Sue and I spent the first real sun of the summer out of town, and what better Father’s Day gift to a busy girl dad then giving him two days of kid-free silence while we harassed the Kenai Peninsula. The weekend was smooth overall, the girls bonded with their new identical twin cousins, barbecued with family and made smores, and discovered a few treasures at local garage sales. It is fun (for me!) to try to figure out which twin is which, something that is always fun when trying to distinguish who is who on identicals, and Reagan is getting really good at it. We rounded out the trip stopping for the waffles at the train restaurant, and were back home in no time.

It’s not all fun and games when the parents are off at work- there’s still a busy household to run. Thankfully, Grandma Sue runs a tight ship and keeps the girls busy with chores. And by chores, we mean supervised chaos with good intentions and efficiency. For example, the reseeding of spots in the yard. In order to avoid stomping the spots, the girls “helped” throw grass seed, with a level of distribution far exceeding the adults and their enthusiasm. So far all are abiding by the rule well, and excitedly notice as grass starts to fill in since they helped with the process. Around the house, they’re also tackling the essentials: loading the dishwasher, making beds, putting away clean laundry, and attempting to clean up the daily toy explosion. It’s a group effort -with some fighting and arguing in between- and the job jar is never empty!

In addition to having little fashionistas, we once again have tiny entrepreneurs with a homemade lemonade stand, all inclusive with colorful Rice Krispy treats (extra marshmallows) and M&M cookie bars. Picture three sets of energetic hands helping Grandma Sue stir the cereal; it was a chaotic and hilarious scene to watch. Yes, hands were washed, and yes, we limited the direct cereal-to-mouth ratio…at least until the end. The giggling lasted about as long as the stirring. Sign making didn’t receive the same level of enthusiasm as last year’s marathon art session, but the results were still pretty customized and cute. Everyone rocked lemon-themed outfits and, for the most part, stuck to the front yard, where they joyfully harassed any passerby and our good sported neighbors. All agreed to spend their revenue on fancy nail polish at the nail salon, and hopefully we are working toward a good understanding that hard work equals reward, even at this age.

Each morning, just like during the school year, Emerie continues to patch her eye and still questions why she has to do it when the other two don’t. In the past month she’s become more aware that her weaker eye doesn’t always appear straight, especially at night, and was really stuck on the thought for a few days. We’re not sure if a friend pointed it out but it’s the first time she’s ever noticed, and it doesn’t seem like it came from her sisters since patching is a normal occurrence throughout the years.

Needless to say, we’re working hard to reassure her that patching strengthens her eye, and that it won’t be forever. We also remind her that her sisters will likely end up in glasses eventually, given the genetic odds stacked against them with both parents and grandparents in the bad eyesight club. Our hope is to ease her worries now, before they snowball into something bigger… especially in a house that’s destined to have three teenage girls under one roof. We know she will appreciate all these efforts as an adult, because glasses or not, she will have sight in both eyes!

Other summertime adventures include a stop at the local reconnaissance fair, a first for the girls and during an excessive downpour afternoon. Excluding the cold hands, wet raincoats and attire covered in clay from learning pottery, it was quite a fun afternoon. And not so cold as to avoid an ice cream treat (according to the girls…because I was cold!). Our annual visit to the Scottish Highland Games was also a success again this year. The Douglas kilts aren’t nearly as oversized with growing kids, and we managed to snap a family photo with the Douglas scarves from Grandma Anne in Scotland last month. With only a few rain sprinkles here and there and mostly sun, the girls rocked their kilts, drank a gallon of fresh lemonade, gleefully found the dip and dots booth, sported cute face paint and begged to do the harnessed trampoline jumps. They nibbled on lunch during the Harp Twins concert and handed their coloring to the twins before getting our annual, three-sets-of-identicals photo. Everyone enjoyed watching the dance clubs highlight their dances. Another highlight was all three volunteering to go on stage with other kids and learn one of the dances, and they did pretty well. Stage fright is not a concern in this house (other than Reagan occasionally) and they listened, followed along, and gave it their best. All three get their rhythm from their dad 🙂

I can’t believe July is already here. We continue to get out and about and enjoy this great state, visit parks and ride bikes through the neighborhood, and get out of town when possible. For now, we will continue crafting, baking, picking all the wildflowers, and enjoying our time together.

❤

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.

❤

Aug 09

Don’t “Juneau” What We Did This Summer?!

Better late than never is my theme lately on life blogs. Summer is often such a whirlwind that keeps us constantly on the move; I always have the best intentions of documenting the cute and exciting things that happen, the funny moments, the unexpected surprises, and the sweet (or hilarious!), everyday comments that ring into my ears. But before I know it, another day has passed, and I realize I forgot to jot down those memories to expand on later. Staying connected through these little updates over the years helps everyone feel more involved and more present, even when we’re miles apart. It’s one way to ensure that no matter how hectic life gets -and it can get pretty hectic with three- we’re all part of the adventure, the ups and downs, the big moments and the little ones, together.

We trekked down to Juneau for nearly two weeks at the start of July, with the plan to work in state office buildings there while the girls bummed around the city with Grandma Sue, wreaking the normal triplet havoc. We broke the record on number of suitcases, and resulted in what I felt like quite the spectacle lugging everything into the airport. The girls each had a tiny, pull behind carry on stuffed to the brim with their dolls and toys, and they even dragged their booster seats to the ticket counter, with minimal grumbling and groaning on the way. TSA and getting to the gate were much easier this time around -we haven’t flown with them in about 15 months- and they were oddly displeased at the lack of requirement for shoe removal as we passed through security. In fact, they strongly expressed their disdain to the agents, who were cracking up about it as they passed through. And I can also say, going through security with three six-year-olds is faster than going through it alone for a work trip: figure that one out!!

We occupied the back row of the 737 aircraft, which is actually amazing with multiple kids in tow and minimal turbulence. Reagan wanted Mom time on the way down and everyone swapped parents on the ride back. The best part about the flight down, besides how ridiculously smooth it was (for once), were her sentiments, which mostly consisted of repeating Mom, is this dangerous? It feels dangerous. Is flying dangerous? I think it’s dangerous. Once above the clouds and leveled out, she demanded to know why aren’t we moving anymore? How do we get there if we aren’t moving? It was unusually smooth, with only bright, blue sky and a layer of clouds below, giving the “air” (haha) of stillness.

After boarding Emerie asked twenty times when we would actually move and eventually figured it out as we pushed back. Harper stopped and explained to several smiling passengers that she was a triplet, and that her and Emerie are indeed twins, with another sister being her triplet. She continued to explain she had her own sac and so did her sisters and on and on… I still find it somewhat disconcerting that the layout of them before birth is explicitly shared to random strangers at the airport, at the store, everywhere.

Flights both directions were uneventful and everyone snacked and watched Bluey or Lion Guard on the iPad with minimal fighting; Craig worked on another yarn project and I listened to music and played random iPad games. One store had iPhone looking gum containers that were also devoured on the return flight; so funny. And I now believe we can tackle a longer flight and actually leave Alaska for a trip, and we will survive it! With a full backpack of snacks.

We stayed at Papa Cliff’s house for the whole trip, pulling sleepy blondes out of bed bright and early and loading the car in pajamas and messy hair, to drop them off at Grandma Sue’s to get ready and have fun for the day. Some nights everyone went to bed smoothly, other nights resulted in random and hyper chaos. For the most part, everyone slept well once asleep, and even through all the fireworks on the 4th of July, which were much louder and more constant than at home in Anchorage. At one point I could hear Harper comforting Emerie on the loud booms, explaining they were fireworks and she didn’t need to be scared. Very sweet.

Fourth of July weather was nice for the most part, at least in Juneau standards. It poured for a few minutes during the first downtown parade, nothing raincoats couldn’t handle. It didn’t diminish any candy collection or excitement; and Juneau may have a better parade than Anchorage! This being my first experience at it -we tried during our unplanned visit in 2019 and gave up due to the lack of parking and tiny toddlers in tow- and it was really fun. We grabbed hot coffees and smoothies at Heritage and walked over for the fun. The girls wore fancy flag dresses recycled from another triplet mom, fancy braids and hair ties (of course), and to top it off everyone’s faces were bejewled with sparkly “gems,” including Craig’s. Auntie Amanda was a little harder to convince, although I do believe one, lone gem made it on her cheek after we pinned her down.

The girls retrieved SO much candy. It must be a Juneau thing to distribute saltwater taffy and all the adults seemed quite excited by that too. The biggest monstrosity of the entire event was the man handing out plastic whistles to EVERYONE, and the crowd suddenly turned into a throng of tiny noisemakers. Parents winced while the kids, of course, thought the increase in volume was fantastic. I found myself caught in the middle of this chaotic symphony, ears ringing as I tried to embrace the sound increase. It was a sensory overload, but seeing the girls’ faces light up with joy was pretty priceless, and those damn whistles were hidden not long after we returned to the house.

We trekked over to the Douglas Island parade to ensure we had enough candy…and apparently more whistles, and enjoyed lunch at Island Pub. After the second parade the girls were climbing all over Auntie Alicia and Amanda, wanting to be carried, which was great for Craig and I not giving into it (hehe). We explored the beach a bit and played at the playground, snacked on lemonade and cotton candy, and it was an all around good day.

Another reason for the timing of the trip was for Craig’s 20 year high school reunion; somehow he (we) is that old overnight. The girls played a solid two and a half hours at the playground by the barbecue, with only a bit of rain and a lot of sand to ensure everyone was very dirty by the end. They didn’t even sit down to eat their burgers, and were very tired on the way home.

Another day one of my fabulous coworkers took us out for the girls’ first boating experience. Balancing their enthusiasm with safety was crucial, as we caught waves in hopes of seeing some wildlife. Riding a boat with three kids in Alaska is a minor feat in itself, and the very reason we hadn’t attempted this adventure when they were smaller. Other than the constant adult holding each kid’s life vests as we moved, it was a pretty easy experience and no one landed in the water or needed rescuing, even our wonderful tour guide from triplet time.

The breathtaking view of rugged mountains, expansive waters, and spots of sunshine provided a stunning backdrop; it is hard to describe. Even after growing up in this inspiring state, I am still in awe at such beautiful moments and hope the kids grow to appreciate how lucky we are to be here and raise our kids here. The kids, bundled up in warm layers, were filled with excitement and curiosity, pointing out every splash, boat, and potential animal sighting. We didn’t fish and catered to the demands to see specific wildlife, including a bunch of sea lions and whales. Harper expressed her opinion that we didn’t find any wild seals -which we spotted a different day from a dock by downtown- but also enjoyed listening to the sea lions expressive conversation from a distance. Luckily the girls have their father’s DNA when it comes to motion sickness, and the movement had no resulting effects on them. It was a memorable afternoon.

In addition to the boat excursion, one morning Sue took us to a beach at a low, negative tide, to see what we could find. As you can see from the photos, no hair was done or breakfast eaten, faces were dirty, but at least we changed out of pajamas and into coats and boots! It was well worth the reduced sleep, and I enjoyed it too as an “Anchorage city girl” myself. We left with three buckets of shells and other treasures…and happy girls.

Another first that my mom heart strings weren’t completely ready for, their first sleepover without mom or dad. While my emotions were a mix of pride and a pang of sadness on the realism they continue to grow up, it went smoother than I thought it would. In fact, it was no big deal to all three, sleeping over at Grandma Sue and Papa Lon’s house, and all demanding to sleep in Auntie Manda’s bed. I question if adults had a comfortable night of sleep, but everyone seemed in good spirits the following morning, and like it was no big deal. Sob!

One day after work we explored downtown and looked around for seal earrings, one piece of jewelry Harper desperately wants me to find, and I’m not sure actually exists. In the past I’ve found a diamond panda necklace and turtle earrings, but nothing seal related (which is not surprising). Auntie Amanda treated the girls to ice cream and I even cheated on my no sugar and ate a few chocolate covered, Alaskan blueberries (SO good). Emerie found a stuffed turtle with a baby on its shell, Harper found a stuffed seal she HAD to have for the collection, and Reagan spotted a panda face plate that she wanted more than a stuffy. I am happy to report the plate even made it back home without getting broken!

We finished our two weeks of adventures with two normal tourist activities when you visit, checking out the massive whale fountain and walking out to the falls. We lucked out on clear blue skies for our downtown excursion, and the girls begged me to find enough coinage for a wish at the fountain. It was a VERY big deal. In fact, Harper wished for a fabulous pink dress OR a pet seal to live in the bathtub, Reagan wished for all the Princess Sofia dresses in the land, and Emerie insisted she couldn’t divulge her wish with me or it wouldn’t come true, so who knows what whim she willed as her quarter went into the water.

We later walked to the waterfall out by the glacier, with a huge throng of tourist buses, moving very slowly. It was the perfect mix of clouds and warmth, so the walk wasn’t overly hot or bright, and the girls didn’t complain about temperature. They did complain about distance on the return trip, on a flat, gravel pathway, but managed to survive such hardship by collecting rocks, climbing and jumping off rocks, random screaming, and befriending a baby squirrel that followed us a ways. Harper at one pointed even noted I’m tired and my feet hurt, I need water and I just want to sit and watch TV… for a walk of less than a mile each direction!! The falls were beautiful and surprisingly loud, and everyone climbed up for a closer look. Grandma also muscled them up on one of the huge rocks, so they could stand in awe at the top and see everyone down below, much to their joy.

Also on the way back, Grandma Sue went into a legendary only-Sue-can-come-up-with-this-BS explanation on how the large rocks fell down the mountain from Elsa’s high castle, because it’s summer and the warm weather is making everything melt… something like, since it’s summer now and Elsa’s magic isn’t keeping things cold anymore, everything is starting to melt—including the mountains! That’s why these rocks have come crashing down and don’t look frozen anymore. Adults passing by were cracking up and pausing to inconspicuously listen to the animated narration while the girls (especially Emerie) argued about the validity of the information. The tale continued to expand as Sue defended her version of events with a mischievous smile. I mean if you really think about it…why not?? Juneau has a great winter climate with loads of snow (lately), it’s secluded and peaceful from the rest of the world, very beautiful, the northern lights boast their own type of magic that she could probably tap into, there’s lots of wildlife and options to connect with nature, and on and on! Yeah yeah, I’ll stop now. Suffice to say after a couple of weeks, Emerie is fully convinced that Queen Elsa of Arandale lives in Juneau during the winter, and is displeased that we missed her presence because our visit was the wrong season. Grandma has some work to do to keep her story true for next time we head down during the winter season! I have a feeling we will be trekking out to the falls in our snow gear.

All in all, it was a good trip- I questioned if two weeks away from home would be too long, but now that the girls are older and activities are easier to do, it was just right. They befriended a number of other kids on several play dates, kids we will have to see again on our future visits. They enjoyed many outdoor adventures and beach visits, parades and tasty foods, and spending time with family, i.e. torturing Auntie Amanda and Papa Lon, climbing all over Alicia and getting snuggles, and you can’t forget all the nail polish salon afternoons that occurred too. Good memories!

Until the next time ❤

The Douglets

Triplets in Alaska

summertime