June - Soccer, T-Ball & Dance... Oh My!

When Quin and I read through our Zeeland Rec guide, she wanted to try t-ball, dance camp and soccer.  She doesn't do summer well.  She likes to have things to do, on a scheduled calendar (I know, sounds a lot like her mother, huh?!?!)  Boredom is not our friend!  The first week out of school was a disaster for her.  She hated not having school or dance, so I am glad that we signed her up for all three activities. 

Quin and Jason did 'Toddler T-ball' again.  Boy, what a difference a year makes!  Quin was much better this year, and actually liked going.  Of the three activities, this was her favorite!

Her favorite position was catcher because she got to "touch the ball all of the time".

It helped that she and her friend Macie were on the same team this year!

I love that the triplets are getting older too!  We went to all four games.  They loved bringing their chairs and cheering Quin on, but inevitably they ended playing on the playground most of the games.  

I love this picture of Ellery (L) and Gianna (R).  Doesn't it look like they are in a deep conversation about something?  :)

Quin also participated in a soccer camp for four consecutive Saturdays.  This was a new sport for Quin.  She wasn't a fan... "too much running".  HA!  Too bad for her... she is signed up to play on a team come fall time.  

I think if she puts a little effort into it, she could actually be good.  

She also went to a dance camp for eight days (two weeks, four days each week, for 45 minutes).  It was pulling teeth to get her there, but once she was there she loved it.  UGH!

I am not sure I will able to keep up when the triplets are a year or two older and want to participate in all of these events!  Eek - I will need to find a way to clone myself, or they will just have to be on the same teams.  Eek!

June - My Picky Pickers

Near the beginning of June, we took our crew to hand pick some strawberries at DeLange's Redberry Farm.  I knew the kids wouldn't last long, but I would really like them to start to form some knowledge/appreciation of how much work it takes to have the food we eat.  It is worth a try, right?!?!  

They let us pick down a row.  Jason, Quin and Gianna took one side, and Easton, Ellery and myself took the other.

I loved their red stained fingers!

Easton would pick a few, eat a few and then sit until I made him pick more.  Needless to say he didn't contribute much to the end pile.

The kids only lasted about twenty minutes (in their defense, it was super hot and I didn't argue with them!).  We ended up buying more from DeLange's farmers stand.  The strawberries were small, but scrumptious!  We made a superb strawberry shortcake, and then they helped me freeze the rest for smoothies.  So yummy!

May - Graduation

I think I can... I think I can... 

Slowly, but surely I am getting CLOSER to getting caught up.  Thanks for putting up with me :)

Quin 'graduated' from preschool near the end of May.  {Sniff, sniff... she really is growing up!}

They did a really good job - I loved that they kept it short, sweet and low key!

After the students received their certificate, they were able to go down the main steps and find their families in the audience.  When Quin came to sit down next to us, Ellery ran over to her and gave her a big hug!  It was SO cute!  Ellery definitely looks up to Quin.

Quin and Izzy were in the same class the last two years.  Izzy's grandparents made it possible for Quin to go to preschool!  They brought Quin to and from school two days a week - what lifesavers they were!  We can't thank them enough!!!

Quin and her groupies :)

And... just in case you thought my kids always loved each other...   ;)

I also had the opportunity to go on Quin's end of the school year beach field trip.  We had a GREAT day!  

I don't know what these two girls are going to do next year when they are in two different school!?!?!

May - My Twinkly Star

Quin continued with dance again this past year.  She now takes dance through our recreation dept (I know, I thought it was strange when I first heard about it, but they have a great dance program!).  She only took ballet.  She missed tap class and hopes to take it again soon!

This year, her dance was to the song Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jewel.  It was very well choreographed - not cheesy, like I thought it could have been done!

Her dance recital was in May.

Rehearsal:

Recital:

Quin's BFF Izzy also takes dance through the rec dept., although they are in different classes.  

Quin was lucky to have her grandparents come support her!  My parents are on the ends, and Jason's mom is in the middle.

As we were getting into the car to go home, she asked me to take a 'close up' picture of her in her make-up. She loves to get dressed up and made up!

She took a two week dance camp this past June, and can't wait for dance to start again in the fall!

May - Tulip Time 2012

We couldn't get through spring without our annual trip to Tulip Time, in Holland!  This year we had an unusually hot spring, which was great for people who love warm weather (me, me, me!), but it wasn't so good for the flowers and crops - including the tulips.  The big joke was that it should have been called 'Stem Fest' this past year.  None the less, we made our way down for some junk food, dutch dancers and wanna-be tulips!

We tried deep fried pickles and mozzarella sticks this year (no pics, sorry).  The pickles were fine, but Oh-My-Heavens... the mozzarella sticks were to DIE for!!!  My mouth is salivating just thinking about them, and it was two months ago.  The food stand sliced a big block of cheese, then breaded them in a beer batter and deep fried them.  Each stick was the size of a hot dog.  So, so yummy!

The kids favorite?  French Fries of course!

And, they did enjoy an elephant ear or two :)

We went in search of some tulips, and guess what Gianna spotted?!?!  A butterfly!  

(In the picture below, it is just above the 'ore' of our watermark.)

Hopefully next year, there will be more tulips, and less empty stems (and more mozzarella sticks too please!)

April - Butterfly Gardens

The two animals that Gianna loves most are elephants ("efifants") and butterflies ("buffaflies").  So, in late April we took the kiddos to Fredrik Meijer Gardens.  Each year, in the spring, they have a beautiful exhibit called Butterflies are Blooming.  They have a huge conservatory where butterflies fly freely among the visitors.  They have many kid friendly displays, and super helpful staff/volunteers.  The girls wore their bright butterfly dresses in hopes of attracting some butterflies.  Unfortunately, their strategy was a bust.  They still enjoyed getting close up to the caterpillars, seeing the chrysalises in the 'Bungalow', and watching the butterflies drink nectar with their proboscis!

It was a chilly day, but nice and sunny, so we decided to explore their grounds.  What a perfect place for kids!!!

We have a recurring theme when we go to places now... we cost too much :(  After paying for all six of us to get in, we were extremely close to paying the cost of a family membership.  We are now the proud members of Fredrik Meijer Gardens!  I hope to visit sometime this summer or early fall again!

Nanny Needed

{Sorry to everyone on our email list - When I deleted our post about the garage sale, it sent out a random email.  I don't understand why that happens.  Sorry!}

Here is my summer 'to do' list:
1.  Finish grad class - check
2.  Organize and have garage sale - check
    So, next on my list:
3.  Find a new nanny for the fall....

I didn't plan on this, but we have found ourselves looking for a new nanny again.  My plan has always been that once Quin was in kindergarten, we would put the triplets in the daycare that is run by the school system that I work for.  We knew that the woman who we hired this past year would only be with us for a year (she graduated from college a few weeks ago and is moving out of state for work).  Well... after looking into it, we would end up paying a substantial amount of money compared to keeping the kids at home and paying for their 3-school tuition.  It really doesn't make sense for us to send them (the pain alone of getting them up and around each morning and making their lunch is enough for me to keep them home another year or two!).

Quin will be in kindergarten this year, and will go all day/every day.  She will go to the same school that I teach at.  The person who we hire will watch her for the few weeks before school starts, as well as any days that she does not go to school - but, she will not be home much of the year.

The main responsibility will be to take care of the triplets.  They will go to school two mornings a week, so the person will need to help transport them to and from school.  Likely, this will mean that the new caregiver would need to drive my van and I would need to drive their vehicle (I teach 2 miles from our home).  The triplets will be going to the same preschool that Quin attended (less than four blocks from our house).  Their school does require volunteers on a regular basis.  Jason does go often, but there will be class times and field trips that we would like our caregiver to attend.  So, this person will need to feel very comfortable in a classroom setting.

We would love to find someone who is energetic, timely, cooperative and willing to engage the kiddos in activities that will help their development.  We need someone who is willing to make a commitment for the full school year, starting in mid August and working through mid June.

If you know anyone who would fit this description, I would be so appreciative if you would pass the information along to them!  If anyone has any questions, please email me at joeleeda @ hotmail.com

Thank you!