Family Pics 2019 (9yr 1mo!)

These are a long time coming! Our last professional pictures were taken way back in 2014 when the boys were just shy of 4 years old. I would have done them sooner but the boys lack of cooperation for photos was lacking so I've been afraid to try for years, ha! Well we finally reached a good age where I could fully bribe them with money to cooperate. I promised everyone a crispy ten dollar bill and in return I just want ONE good picture of us all. I was not disappointed! And in case you are looking for a very talented photographer in the Portland area I highly recommend our photographer (www.coffeeandlove.com), his Instagram handles are  @jrgdz  &  @coffeeand.love

CET are 9 years and 1 month old!

NINE!

CET are N.I.N.E. years old!!!

Obligatory couch photo : )

They can do tricks!

What To Expect When You're Having Nine Year Olds

I took the kids to their 9 year well check and they're as healthy as race horses and probably just as fast, haha! Caleb weighed in at 54.7 lbs and 49.85 inches tall. Eli was 53.1 lbs and 49.5 inches tall. And last but not least Thomas was 54.7 lbs and 49.65 inches tall. Our fall birthday is so convenient because we don't have to come back for our flu shots. The boys have always been champs at getting their vaccines. I believe the last time they cried from a shot they were 2 years old! 

As we were leaving the office the nurse walks over to me and hands me a paper and it's one of those developmental checklists or what to expect lists for 9 years old...Wait what?! I seriously haven't seen one of those since the boys were infants! After getting over the fact this actually existed I decided to read through it. To my surprise it describes them to a T! I'll share a few of them, so you as well know what to expect when your kido(s) turns 9, ha!

-Favors active, highly-charged  games and sports....boy do they ever, they've recently become obsessed, very obsessed with tackle football, oy!

-Wants to excel in sports and recreational skills...for sure! They loooove sports and competition. And they are also really into working out and you'll see them frequently doing pull ups, push ups and lifting dumbbells. They are such dudes and just like their dad!

-Has greater small muscle coordination and better dexterity...you wouldn't know this by their terrible handwriting, haha! But I gotta say they can give a great neck & shoulder massage (I pay them in cookies, teehee!).

-Becomes more interested in clothing and appearance...yup, I have very little say on what they wear these days : ( Thank goodness for vacations when I do the packing therefore I do the picking, hehe : )

-Laughs at bathroom humor...they excel at this one!

-Tends to be critical of self...Caleb is showing signs of this when he's having trouble with homework. I was really getting worried about him but glad to know it's normal. The other two boys are less than humble when it comes to admitting they can't do something, ha!

-Wants to talk, dress, and act just like friends...oh yes more than ever, and sadly their friends (plus 90% of the boys at school) all dress in athletic wear, ugh, so tacky and over done! Lets not get too comfortable people, what's next pajamas! Sorry not a fan of the look.

-Is involved in informal clubs and small groups of the same sex...Check! Since the school year started the boys have been talking about their recess "football team" and they even made themselves buttons to wear that say 'football,' ha!

-Starts to just sit and talk with friends...I think multiples start this one way sooner because they've been doing this with their brothers for years now. 

-Uses reference books with increasing skill...to my surprise one of the boys told me last week that they used a dictionary at school. 

-Gets immersed in a hobby or project, then drops it for another...Oh yeah!

-May be a perfectionist...by their frequent freak outs, I'd say yes. 

-Generally follows instructions...I guess when they want to yes. 

-Is highly concerned about fairness...Another one that multiples are advanced in. I'd say this one started for us the day they were born, ha!

Caleb
These remind me of a video game : )

Eli

Thomas

Backpacking, 1st Day, Vashon Island (8yr 11mo!)

We've had an exciting last few weeks! I'll break it down to three parts...it's a long one so grab a glass of wine!

CET turned 8 yrs and 11 months old on their first day of school!

Backpacking

Even though we tried recruiting help friends to come along, it was bad timing for all the backpacking enthusiasts we know. Since the boys are getting bigger and stronger we decided to go for it anyways. The boys carried a lot more weight than years past which helped a ton. Surprisingly we were able to fit everything else we needed in Phil and I's packs and they were reasonably heavy. The only thing cumbersome is our tent situation. We use our old 4 person tent (small dome) that is not made for backpacking but it doesn't weigh a lot and Phil just carries it like a duffel bag. What really helps is that we mostly bring dehydrated meals (they are a great deal at Costco) and we brought very minimal clothes. We upped our hiking game too, in the years past we've only done 1-2 miles each way. This year we did 3 miles and one of those miles was straight uphill! The kids did great but not sure I could handle anymore. I was fine but the whole time I was nervous that my bad knee would start acting up on me. Funny enough my knee did act up on me two days later I'm guessing from the heavy backpack. I recovered quickly I think because my muscles are strong from biking to work all summer long. If only I could stay in shape through the winter, ha!

Back to School

The kids started 3rd grade and they got the nicest teacher they've ever had. I even told them to behave extra extra good for her, I'd hate for them to be anything but sweet with her. I think they are very glad to be back in the school routine and getting to see all their friends. I warned them that they needed to step up their school game because 3rd grade will be much harder than 2nd. Funny enough that's what their teacher told me at back to school night. They will be doing tons of reading and writing and they'll be memorizing all their times tables. I ordered flash cards so we can get a head start, it's weird that I'm excited, ha! 

Vashon Island

The next weekend after school started we headed up to Vashon Island for the first time ever. We haven't done a ton of exploring in Washington but every time I go I'm always taken aback at how gorgeous it is up there. The beaches in Oregon and California are so beautiful but the beaches in Washington are simply breath taking! The countless islands and the way the densest of forests go all the way up to the shore is so unique. The "sand" is essentially tons of tiny shells mixed in with colorful pebbles. The kids and I spent literally hours picking through the sand. We saw tons of sea life, tiny crabs we could grab and would crawl around our hands, large crabs that we assisted back into the ocean and not to mention dolphins! The Sound is so amazing I can't wait to go back. 

They've been super into building muscles lately

On our way to school!

At the trail head 

Picture time before heading out

These guys love backpacking

We stayed for two nights and here we are before heading out.
We camped at a small lake and besides a few hikers passing through we
pretty much had it all to ourselves. 

Perfect timing for picking huckleberries, it's a lot more than it looks!
We made 24 huckleberry muffins when we got home and still had a ton to freeze down. 

Our friend works with horses on Vashon Island and we were so excited to meet Lily!

The boys at the beach

Caleb jumping against such a beautiful backdrop.
My pictures just don't do it justice though!

3 Polar Bears! (8yr 10mo)

I know this mirthday post is waay over due but I'm not even gonna make excuses...haha! Summer is going well and I've been working on being ok that I'm not vacationing in Spain anymore. Gah! It was so nice. The boys spend the weekdays at sports camps. They are outside and active all day long. You think they'd come home exhausted and go to bed early but neither is the case. SO MUCH ENERGY! I started a new job soon after we got back from Spain and I've been really busy working. Thankfully I'll be able to cut back a little once school starts, I'll go back to .8 FTE. Life will be much more manageable, I could never work full time year round. I don't know how people do it. Only one more week left before they start 3rd grade, yikes!

CET are 8 years and 10 months old!

Two being sweet while the other one was mad at something, ha!

One of the other two took over the camera and got a sweet candid of Eli and I.
Excuse the pjs and messy hair : )

At the zoo!

Papi and Eli

Internal tandem triplication, haha! (science joke)

Boys passed Seal level and now we have 3 Polar Bears!
They were working on their back stroke and diving, they
are great swimmers. I'm envious!

Among the manliest of men!
They are so full of testosterone, help me please!

8yr 9mo them, 15 yrs us!

CET are 8 years and 9 months old!

Phil and I celebrating 15 years in Spain with NO KIDS!!!

Our first spot was San Sebastian. 
It is the nicest beach & city combo I've ever been to!

San Sebastian is in Spain's Basque country and on the Atlantic side.

Our second stop was Cadaques, on the Mediterranean side of Spain.
This town is so nicely preserved.
The streets, buildings, shops, and restaurant are so original and authentic.  

Our last stop was Barcelona so of course we had to tour the Familia Sagrada church. This building is so unique and the interiors are simply jaw dropping. Definitely one of the most interesting pieces of architecture I've ever gotten to see up and close. 

Spectacular views of Barcelona from atop one of the spires.
We ate amazing food, saw jaw dropping sights, and had a spectacular time in Spain!

With cousin T in California.
It's debatable who had more fun the boys or us!

So grateful for my family!
My mom and sister watched the boys for a full two weeks
so we could celebrate our anniversary kid free!

Getting to meet new cousin L!

Camping! (8yr 8mo)

I'm waaaay late on this post but I did take their mirthday pic on the correct day! I've been wanting to post this for quite some time and have been having some technical difficulties with getting my pictures off my phone, ugh, I hate technology sometimes!

CET are 8 years and 8 months!

Went camping over memorial day weekend.

As a special treat we rented a boat and fished Lake Billy Chinook which is full of bass and trout!
The boys and dad caught a ton of fish. 

They said scrambled eggs for breakfast was "gross" and requested the fish they caught instead. They ate the skin, fins, and eyeballs but of course eggs are gross, ha!

Thomas

Caleb and Eli

On a short hike

Ok so who else gets annoyed by over packaging?
I ordered 3 small to very small items. A sprinkler for the hose, a box of eye drops, and a box of color catchers...and I got all this in a box big enough for my triplets to fit in!

We recently found our cat comb and the kitties have been getting pampered ever since!

Trying out some Russian hats, hahaha!