Sunday, August 16, 2009

Back to life...back to reality...

Well, things are back to normal here.




















I don't know what I was thinking complaining about Utah being hard. My regular life is way worse.

Really though, my house is spotless when each day begins. I don't know how this happens so quickly day after day. It's so overwhelming. And I even forgot how much chocolate it takes to get through an average day in my life. In fact, I actually consumed a whole Costco-sized box of chocolate covered raisins in about 5 days (cringe)!

But the boys are so excited to have their dad back - they can't get close enough as you can see. I love that they all have to do what dad is doing.
















I asked Ryan if the boys are better or worse when we left. He was affirmative: worse. Definitely worse. It's funny to see his frustrations with them sometimes. I came in to find Phoenix with his bib duct taped around his neck today. Apparently you don't get away with ripping it off 100 times when dad's in charge of lunch. I think Ryan is still surprised at how much they cry and scream and really just how crazy these kids are. I tried telling him we needed to go check on the kids one day and sure enough we walked out and Phoenix had a big knife in his hand! And of course they're all over things they weren't before. I keep having to rescue Phoenix after he keeps climbing up on our stroller and getting stuck in flying position with his arms and legs straight out as he's sprawled out perched across the top of the extra jump seat in the front. And yes, they've grown just enough to be able to reach the elevator button that's just outside our apartment. This could prove to be very problematic. I might actually be glad for how often it breaks down now.

And I have to say I actually enjoyed my day with the twins separated. It was the easiest airplane ride I've had in a while (well, minus the hour and a half we had to wait in the airport for Ryan to pick us up. Just imagine bleeding children, children throwing tantrums on the baggage claim floor, children running away down the halls and out the automatic doors, pushing carts all over the baggage areas, people yelling, "Where are the adults with these children?!?" and me getting in a tiff with a snotty woman who wanted to take our cart. It was ugly.) But then the next day we went swimming. And grocery shopping. And ran errands. Wow, just imagine all the things I could do if I only had one baby! With all of them I can hardly go anywhere and we're stuck in the house so much. But two was such a cinch! I kept wondering if it was having the third kid around that was hard or if it was just Phoenix who makes life hard. When he came back I realized it's both. :)

Anyhow, as a random question - I know many of you have done Disneyland or Disneyworld with kids. We're attempting it when my sister comes in town with her family in a few weeks. I'd love to take our awesome stroller - but do you just leave them sitting outside the rides? I'm just afraid - what if someone just walks off with it? I mean, it's pretty unique and you can probably tell it was expensive, so do I take it, or take crappy strollers we don't care as much about?

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wondered what it would be like with all your boys having completely new skill sets. Can I help it if they all learned to climb at my house? Think of the advancement in motor skills. Am so glad they are enjoying reading with Ryan, though, as it seemed we could never get them to sit and read with us - they were all squirming and out of there! How they are missed. But it would please you to see that my home (which looked like the posted photos of your house) has been tidy for two days. Serene, quiet, tidy, but missing you all.

xoxoGrammy

Catherine Call said...

I have taken identical pictures of my house in the same state as yours. Seriously. I hear ya! How does it happen so quickly? I loved the pictures of the twins climbing on top of.....everything!

Sarah said...

the never endingness of messes!! it's actually quite amazing at times. ryan is so cute! i'm happy you guys have him back. i really would love to hear -in detail, the tiff with the cart lady. oh man, how i HATE traveling (flying) with kids. congradulations on being done with that!!! (for now at least)

Sarah said...

Oh, and one more thing. How does cash like that book "Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus"? Should I get it for my boys?? I knew cash was smart but man, isn't that pretty advanced reading for his age??

Anonymous said...

That is what grandparents go to Disneyworld or Disneyland for -- to guard the strollers and whatever babies cannot go on the rides. So sorry I will miss out! Of course you would want your good one, but minus a grandparent, you had better settle for Disneyland ones -- but then, you would have to push three! No one wants to take one of those home.

xoxoGrammy

Laura B. said...

I say take your big one. it's easier, the boys are familiar with it. We always take our nice double and haven't had a problem.
I like to believe that no one is going to steal at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Safire said...

Your house and mine look very similar. Amazing what 3 kids can do to tidyness!

As for Disneyworld, I say rent one of theirs. They have doubles that would easily fit 3 small children in. I personally like the Disneyland strollers although they have no padding. You could take some kind of bike lock for your big stroller and lock the wheels together. That would deter someone from just walking off with it casually. Have fun!

AnnaMarie said...

Wow, that's a crazy house. :) But that's how mine looks some days with only Katie around. I love the pics of the boys reading with Ryan. :) Good luck at Disney...no idea what you should do there, but have fun!

Tara said...

A couple of things....

First - If you are even stranded at the airport after a long flight you better CALL me. I love 15 minutes from the airport and I can always come a get you. I can't imagine having to wait after a long flight. I am a little sensitive about flying right now and I know I would want to just shoot myself if I had to wait. But seriously...call.

Second - my house looks like that at the end of every day also. Every night I think to myself...why am I bothering...but then I imagine what it would look like if I let it go for two days. Kate is at such a crazy age now...I can't imagine having two Kate's running around!

Third - We always just take our stroller to Disney. Although ours is not particularly nice. You have a normal double right? Take that and then an umbrella if you need something for Cash. Have fun!! Do you know about the parent swap and fast pass?

Tennille said...

We took our double stroller to D-world. I was nervous about leaving it, but there's really about 100 strollers in the stroller parking area, and I think there's even a random employee who's supposed to watch them. It will be fine. :)

Good luck, though. Glad you're attempting it with help from family. There's no way we could have done it otherwise.

Geoff and Bets said...

jen,
i was suprised how much garrett was able to participate in at disney. of course its very kid friendly. you do leave your stroller outside the ride in stroller parking but there are attendants. at the stroller parking (most of them) i think everyone is a little preoccupied to think about stealing a stroller and hauling it all the way home. guess you cant be too sure though. anyways epcot is not that great about having convenient stroller parking. it would be worthwhile in the world showcase portion but the half of the park with rides just seemed like we shouldnt have bothered. all the other parks were great though.

Geoff and Bets said...

oh yeah its nice to cover your stroller with a poncho (or two in your case) because you dont wnat a thunderstorm to soak the stroller while you're in a ride. i guess thats when a rented disney stroller would be nice cause you could just wipe it off

LuAnn said...

Oh boy! You will be the most patient person I know if you aren't already. I think you'll want your nice stroller. You could take a bike lock if you are worried. But don't they have passes where you don't have to stand in line and someone waits with the babies so can they watch it? Bike lock is a good idea to ease your mind.

camille said...

yeah, I went somewhere with just two kids once...it was heaven! I just know that I would be a more patient and loving mother with only two kids. I hate it when people complain about how hard it is to shop with their two kids.....

Rochelle said...

Take your nice stroller...you'll be glad to have it. There is stroller parking everywhere, so moving around with it isn't too hard. Tie a bandana or something to the handle or buy a ballon when you get to the park and tie it on...that way you can easily spot it among the sea of strollers...and avoid someone from mistaking it for their own (which is probably the only reason a stroller ever gets swiped)...We had no problems...even leaving our lunch and gear in the basket...but I always took the cameras and cash with us on the rides (of course!). Have fun....your boys will love it!!...even the twins...I don't think there is such a thing as too young for Disney.

SuburbiaMom said...

Cute--love the picture of everyone reading.

I say, about Disneyworld, hire a sitter for the day and leave the kids at home than you can enjoy yourself and not have to stress about where your kids are!!!

Byron & Susan said...

My house looks like that constantly, but I only pick up weekly-monthly-guests or until my sanity goes otherwise what really is the point. Disney- take the stroller- never worried once about out triple being stolen, Disney's are expensive to rent. Also Disney has great guest service where if something happens to your stroller while your there (flat tire) like happened to us, they'll let you use theirs for free! If we ever wanted to do something separate, one would watch the kids in their playground areas while the other went on a ride or did something an older kid wanted to do but a lot to do for the whole family. I would go batty with a Paulina and two Dexters or two Paulinas and one Dexter- I bow to you!

katya said...

Those pictures of your boys reading with their dad are SO sweet!

Katya

Melissa Bigelow said...

This was a cute post. My boys are constantly highlighting books while they read them....just like Dave. They all sit together and read and study.

Anonymous said...

Paul says to do what will be most cdomfortable for you. We thought someone would take our brand new BOB stroller, but no one did. We just spent a whole week leaving it outside of rides at Universal. We're glad we took it cause both kids were tired and complaining at the same time. You have 3 and if you have all 3 cranky at the same time, you'll want all 3 comfy seats. Now I'll feel really bad if something happens, but I really think everyone is there to have fun and no one will take it.

Mark Newman said...

Jen...totally get the stroller thing. We had a cheap one stolen at the Bronx Zoo so I am paranoid about this.

We took our nice peg perego to Disneyworld and didn't have a problem. In main stroller parking areas their is usually sometimes a worker/attendant (we found our stroller in different places sometimes as they shift them around a lot), esp. in Fantasyland.
So fun. Have a great time. We put a yellow backpack and red lunch bag on ours so it was easy to spot in case it got moved within the designated stroller parking area.

There are tons of strollers!

I

Winnie said...

My house is the same. Everyday I feel overwhelmed with the mess. I hope it gets better once the kids gets older and actually help me more.

Heather said...

Welcome back! Sounds like you had a great trip. When are you guys going to Disney World? You are one brave mama.

nyclizzie said...

Take your stroller. No one is going to steal it.