Beautiful fall afternoon

I heard about a little pumpkin stand photo opportunity downtown Monday afternoon and I really just couldn't resist. I had Layla help me get the boys ready, load them up and we all went to the Rock Quarry at Cleveland Park. I really, really hope that the pictures are great! I am such a picture hoarder. I can never get enough! I really wanted a cute fall picture of my little guys!

So, the Rock Quarry is beautiful, but a little bit of a logistic nightmare for a triplet mama. For one thing, you have to walk down the stairs to get there (i.e. this makes using strollers, wagons, etc very difficult). Also, there were no parking spots near the stairs. Also, there is a rock lined little creek that runs through the park. Also, I have 3 kids that want to run around. Also, there is a fairly busy road right near it. Also, I didn't really want my boys to run away from Layla/me, fall into the creek, run into traffic, just get into dangerous situations or mayhem in general. Also, OK, OK, you get the point. My thought was that I would get our triplet choo choo wagon out so that I could keep them in the wagon and bring them out for the pictures and put them back in to help prevent any unnecessary danger/stress.

The 3rd section of the wagon comes off, and we have to take it apart to fit it into the trunk of my car, so I had to make two trips (one trip for the first 2 sections, and one trip for the 3rd section) from the car to get the wagon from the car to the stairs, down the stairs, then to the park, while Layla waited in the car with the boys. Then Layla held Ryan and I got Stokes and William to each hold a hand of mine and we got everyone down to the park and into the wagon...and buckled. It was kind of an ordeal. I was already sweating. This probably sounds whiny, and I am not trying to whine, but just keep it real for the logistical challenges I have on mundane tasks every now and then. Anyway, we got down there, didn't have to wait long and got some pictures taken. I can't wait to see them!

Finally in the wagon!

Everybody say cheese!

Wassup, boys?!?!
William says, "peace out!"

LaLa (Layla) and the boys

YAY!

The set up was so super cute. The only bad thing was that Stokes and William kept picking up the pumpkins and throwing them. I was getting really nervous that they were going to smash the photographer's pumpkins and her super cute set-up and props would be ruined! I kept trying to stop the pumpkin throwing to no avail. No pumpkins were harmed in the making of the pictures, but we came close. The pictures only lasted about 5-10 minutes (perfect for our short attention spans!) and then we loaded up the little guys and walked around this tiny little park for a quick minute.

I'm so glad that we didn't rush out of there, because look who we ran into! This made my day!!!!

Caroline and Heather

I saw my dear friend, Heather, and her beautiful daughter, Caroline, heading towards us. Heather and I had been texting earlier in the day and I was thinking about how long it had been since we'd seen each other and how I needed to see Caroline and get hugs from both of them and then they showed up! I was so excited!

Heather, me and the kiddos

Another take

Of course, I can't ever get a picture of everyone looking and smiling, but hey, we do our best. Caroline is a perfect little model and will start grinning, laughing and looking directly at you as soon as you pull out the camera or phone. She is very well-trained and I love it! I will need to get some tips from her smart mama!!!

It actually was great timing for Heather to be there because she stayed down in the park with Ryan while Layla and I each grabbed Stokes and William and took them up to the car to get them loaded. Then Layla stayed with those two in the car so I could go back down and get Ryan and load him up. Then I was able to load the wagon, while she waited with all 3.

While I was gone on the first loading up trip to the car, Heather put Caroline in Ryan's "car" and they were flirting! Ryan was also holding Caroline's hand while we were all talking a few minutes before this. It was the sweetest thing. My heart melted on the spot. Luckily, Layla took a few pictures of this sweet moment for us.

Ryan holding Caroline's hand

Young love...

They are so sweet!

Anyway, Heather got this gem and can you even get over how cute and sweet it is?!?!? This is not the first encounter between these two. Check out this post from the summer when they started their flirtation. ;)

Love these two angels

It was a spectacularly gorgeous afternoon, I got to see one of my best friends and Ryan had a little mini-date. But the fun didn't end there. After Da-da got home, we finished supper and then had some family fun time instead of rushing upstairs to do our bedtime routine. We danced to Jack Johnson (that Stokes somehow turned on), read, tickled, and laughed and laughed and laughed. We don't have time to do this every night, and the boys's moods aren't always agreeable (hello, meltdowns!), but having this fun time made me want to do it more often. It's the little things, ya know?!?!?

Da-da swinging William

William hugging on Da-da

Ryan, post-dinner

Stokes with music remote
(this is how he turned on music!)

2 of his faves - shades and remotes

He cracks me up!

Tickle time for all 3

They were cracking up and making my heart want to burst!

How cute are they?!?!?! Gah, I almost can't take it!

My cuties!

Love my boys!

Wild Man

Loving life

Starting to sit up

Still working on it...

He's up!
This is a relatively new skill and we're super proud!

Bro snuggles - William and Ryan

Da-da reading to William

two on one

Da-da playing with Ryan

Big love between these 2

William and me

Snuggle sesh

snuggling/wrestling?!?! Mama with Stokes and William

I've felt a little slack on the blog lately, but Monday was just one of those days that I wanted to bottle up and put in my pocket. I'm grateful for sunshine, friends, happy and healthy boys and a solid family. Our lives aren't perfect, but today it felt pretty close.