Do they look bigger?

That's what Joe says when he's been away on business for a few days, so I imagine after 2 weeks everyone may look a little bigger! I can't believe its been over 2 weeks since I last posted. All I can say is the days have been flying by!

We worked so hard to get ready for our garage sale that it took a week to prepare for it & I think I'm still recovering! It was very successful and we cleared out so much stuff that it feels great. We actually cleaned out our entire cubby area into the basement and went through everything. I went to Target and bought a bunch of clear tubs, so my last task is to get what stays all in easy to see containers and marked well. So this on top of babies, my business and not sleeping because of Ryan getting sick last week is my excuse!

Ryan is getting much better now, but I actually took him to the doctor 2 days in a row last week, which I have never done with a kiddo before. He held a 104 fever for almost 4 days and was just miserable. I got scared because he kept shaking at night. It turns out he had a really bad throat infection. The doctor thought there was a chance that it could be H1N1, but he said if so the rest of the house would be getting it in the next few days- luckily no. I couldn't even imagine! I actually can't believe it, but so far no one else has gotten sick- knock on wood...

Other than that, everyone is doing great. The biggest news around here is that Ryan started walking yesterday! He is so funny about it. He takes a few steps and then falls and will wait awhile before trying again. I did notice that even today he is trying to walk around more- you can just tell by his face that he thinks it is pretty cool!

JP just finished summer golf lessons & is on his last week of swim lessons. We went to Target and got his new school backpack & lunchbox- Star Wars theme this year! I've been starting to gather the supplies too...its hard to believe summer is coming to an end!

Our next project is getting organized and ready to leave for our first plane trip with the babies next week. I already had an order of diapers sent to Joe's parents house, so we won't need to worry about that. I'm starting to make piles of things to take for each kiddo and figure out what they are going to wear to the big birthday bash we are attending to celebrate Grandmom & Pop turning 70. My girls have the littlest feet! I have had a hard time trying to find size 3 sandals for them (that didn't cost $25 a pair) Hopefully it should all come together this weekend and our latest adventure will run as smoothly as possible.

Since I'd been slacking a little, I pulled out my camera and took a bunch of pictures of the kids yesterday. That along with the videos should make up for lost time!

A view of loot on garage sale day. JP set up a table and sold water & Otter Pops!

Daddy and his girls.

Caitlin so proud wearing Daddy's hat.

Big Boy & his Sippy Cup

Watch out- here he comes!

Caitlin has started walking around with her hands behind her back- she looks like she is supervising everyone.

Maddi on the slide

This is actually the first time any of the kids have crawled into that basket. Caiti thought she was pretty funny!

Madison caught in the act after pulling all the leaves off of one of my plants.

JP home from swimming and we did a quick science experiment. This picture shows how his top teeth are starting to go over his bottom- yeah!

This is a picture from several weeks ago, but I thought it was cute of JP and our neighbor Max getting ready to go to Zoo Camp.

AND Here's the videos.....

Maddi's new word

Watching me clean up after them all the time is starting to rub off!

Here he goes!

And Willa Makes 5

This past weekend we added a kid to the mix! (Who says we don't know how to have fun?!) Little Willa stayed with us while her mom and dad, Joe's sister and husband, attended a conference in Chicago. She is only about 2 months older than the trio, so our household was already stocked with enough toys, cheerios and babyproofing items to keep her entertained for a few days.

It all went pretty smoothly. Willa did miss her Mom when she left Friday morning. She kept grabbing her coat and shoes and standing at the front door~ so sad! She wasn't feeling the best either, so we had to try hard to keep her smiling on day 1. After that, she pretty much fit right into this crazy household! I'm sure it was hard from being the only baby to one of 4, but she did great. She even got a few perks like getting to stay up later than the triplets and coaxing Uncle Joe into feeding her chocolate goldfish crackers in the morning.

I can't say that it was like having quads, because I've decided 3 of your own can be easier than 1 of someone else's. It just takes awhile to figure out what makes them happy. Willa got picked up tonight (Monday) and she was so happy to see her Mom! I'm sure if she could really talk she would just say- man, that place was crazy- kids everywhere!!

Day 1: Can I go now?






















Maddi & Willa checking each other out.














Everyone playing














Day 2: Having fun- this picture is blurry, but I thought it was pretty cute.





















Day 3: Yay! I got to put piggies in Maddi & Willa's hair. Caitlin's is still too short.



















JP found a frog in our backyard! He's back to wearing a chin guard to help with his underbite. All I can say is I hope all the kids are this easygoing when it comes to orthodontics- he is the biggest trooper through all this!


















I caught an action shot of the frog hopping near Madison. JP was trying to take a picture with his camera. Thanks Aunt Gretchen for the awesome gift!

The trio in Ryan's crib. This is a classic face that Caitlin can give. This is her "What are you talking about Willis (I mean Mom)" look.

To add to it all, we're in the midst of trying to get ready for our 1st ever garage sale this weekend. I brought up JP's old Elmo doll from the storage area. Maddi got so excited & gave him a kiss!

My 4th of July Stars

I just finished watching fireworks out our upstairs windows with JP and tucking him into bed, so I thought I would do a quick update on our fun holiday.

This morning Sean, Anne & George joined us for the Stapleton kids parade around Central Park. JP and I went to Party City yesterday with a $5.00 budget to get some decorations for his bike. It turned out great. We put a few streamers and garland on the strollers as well and we were ready to roll! At the end of the parade we all got bomb pops~pretty yum! I let Ryan taste one, but didn't feel like dealing with that mess with all the babies just yet! After the parade we had a cookout with the O'Reillys and then spent the rest of the day relaxing (except Joe who found time to cut the grass!)

After dinner we made s'mores and then Joe, JP and I watched a Scooby Doo movie. I had received a free code at Redbox we rented movies yesterday and today. Last night Joe got Confessions of a Shopoholic for us to watch after the kids went to bed. He actually sat through the whole thing (which I couldn't believe) and at the end I said I was proud of him. He then proceeded to tell me that any smartness he had gained at DU (getting his MBA the past 3 years) was now gone from his brain after watching that movie. :) Now he gets to pick the next movie we watch!

We hope everyone had a good 4th of July! Here are some pictures from our day:

George at the parade.

Here you see the usual "Look- there's triplets!" people in the background. I just laughed when I got home and saw this picture.

JP & George

Someday soon George will figure out what a goofball his cousin really is!

Caiti says next year I want to ride a bike in the parade!

The trio

Watching Daddy work in the yard.

Aunt Carolyn's Wedding

Last weekend was so much fun. Grandmom & Pop flew out and Carolyn & Paul were married in Boulder on Sunday. The kids had so much fun with their grandparents and cousins. It was the babies 1st wedding. The day was absolutely beautiful and everyone was so well behaved (except when JP was asked to have his picture taken- he didn't want to stop playing.) I got to be one of the photographers & had so much fun capturing the day. Here are some of my favorite shots!