Leigha and the Triplets

Saturday, December 22, 2007

The BEST Santa Picture Ever!

Last Saturday we decided it was time to get the kids' photo taken with Santa. Everyone has been sick in our house recently so we put this off for too long. There is a new outdoor shopping mall, more like a city, called Town Square. Unlike our other outdoor malls here, you can drive down the streets in between the stores. It was beautiful!

In the car, on the way to the mall, Leigha blindsided me. She told me that she was going to ask Santa for a jingle bell from his reindeer. I panicked. I told her that she should probably just stick to her top two or three things on her wish list. I had no idea where that wish came from. Later I found out that her teacher had read her Polar Express. Needless to say, I had not read it (yet).

Since Noe had a final in the afternoon, we took off around 10:15 a.m. We drove separately and he stopped for some coffee and another short errand. I assumed we would be line forever! I was pleasantly surprised at how short the line was (and scared that Noe wouldn't make it in time).

Santa is in a little cottage. They allow two families in there at a time, one getting their picture taken and one getting coats and hats off. I think I might have stood in line for about 30 minutes tops. I was pretty proud of the boys, they were calm the whole time. The only problem that we ran into was that Robert and Noah kept staring at the cute two-year old twin boys who were getting ready for their picture!

While I was getting the boys ready, Leigha sat with Santa and talked to him for a few minutes. I wasn't even paying attention to what they were talking about. I was in my zone, the one where I am praying to God that the boys will behave, not tear anything apart, not scream, etc. We tried a few shots but it was impossible to get everyone to smile at the same time. Blank stares it was!



In my fantasy world I live in, there are two GREAT ways to have a Christmas photo with Santa. The first was is to have all four kids smiling and showing off their fun personalities! The second way is to have a picture similar to my friend Jen. I think that the photo of her triplets from two years ago was the BEST Santa picture, ever! Santa was pretty priceless in that one, too!



Everything worked out perfectly. I had talked to Laura and Don earlier that morning and they mentioned that maybe they would meet up with us. I hadn't seen or heard from them so I assumed they didn't make it. I asked Noe if he wanted to stop at the play area but he thought I was crazy. He offered to help me back to the car and get the kids loaded. Of course I accepted!

All of the kids were loaded in the van and I had just put the last wagon car in the back when my phone started ringing. Funny, it seems that Laura and Don were at that play area I just considered going to. Noe was off to his final and I was kicking myself for not calling them earlier as I unloaded the wagon and all of the kids AGAIN!

Noe doesn't like going to the play areas because he feels that Matthew gets the short end of the stick. This is the reason that our kids rarely see a park or let out of their wagon when we are out. Not only do we have triplets, but we have one of them that doesn't walk on his own. Sure, I could let him walk around on his knees but that would hurt his knees and ruin his clothing! If there are at least two of us, it's not as big of a deal. One can stay with Matthew and the other can TRY to keep an eye on the other two. Thankfully, Don and Laura were a huge help to me! At times they would keep an eye on Robert and Noah, while I had Matthew, and other times they would hold Matthew while I followed the other two around.

Leigha had a ball, she ran off as soon as we got there. She jumped on a spinning ride and spent most of the time there.


The last time we went to the park, Noah wouldn't have anything to do with the slides and we couldn't keep Robert OFF of the slides. This time it seemed to be reversed. Noah was the one that kept going down the slide. Talk about a worried face, but he went right back up again!


Robert, on the other hand, was NOT happy about being up on the slide AT ALL! Since I was helping Matthew walk around, Don grabbed Robert and held him down the slide. Does
this look like the same boy who must have gone down the slide 100 times the last time he was at a park?


Even thought Noah might look like he is enjoying himself, he sure went down a lot!




They had the cutest stage there.


Robert was in heaven, he's going to be my little performer.



Matthew hung around on the stage, but not for too long. He wanted to take off!


The entire play center was full of little buildings. Matthew found the kitchen!


Once Robert was tired of the stage, he grabbed the wagon. Needless to say, it was much easier to keep an eye on him as he pulled that wagon around! He tried to escape one time, but he was easily spotted!


BUSTED! Are you trying to steal some cake, Noah?


Matthew and Wyatt wanted in on some of the cake action, too!


Just think, some day my boys might be climbing as much as Wyatt and Lucas were!


While the Wyatt and Lucas were climbing around, Jaxon wanted to perform with Robert and Noah. Look out Don and Laura, you might have an entertainer on your hands!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

looks like everybody had a ball!! hope you had a great Christmas!
lv
jonib