End of Preschool party

It's hard to believe that Brooks, Reese and Sloane have completed another year of school! For the past 2 years they have attended an amazing preschool with a wonderful teacher.

Here they are at the end of the year party...

Reese

Sloane

Brooks

We love Mrs Puglia!

Brooks, Reese and Sloane are excited to attend Kindergarten next year!  

Let the adventure begin!

Steve finally received his job promotion and we will be moving to the Chicago area over the summer!  I am extremely proud of Steve and this accomplishment, but also sad to leave Texas since I have lived in this state most of my life!

Recently, we attended one of our last Texas Rangers Baseball games.  Brooks, Reese and Sloane love baseball, not to mention their obsession with Josh Hamilton.  That night while we were driving home Brooks asked me if Josh Hamilton could come over for a play date!  

Inside the Ballpark at Arlington

Our Family

This summer before we move, Brooks, Reese and Sloane will be busy with swim lessons, vacation Bible school and T-ball games!  We had our first game last week!  All 3 of them are hitting really well, and Sloane even hit a home-run at her first at bat of the season!

The last day of preschool was bittersweet.  I am proud of Brooks, Reese and Sloane and how much they have learned over the past 2 years!  They had an amazing teacher, Mrs Puglia, who was a true blessing for our family.  We will miss her next year when we begin Kindergarten.

Over Memorial Day weekend, Steve and I traveled to the Chicago area to find a new home.   We had been looking online for a few months and had narrowed down the search, but this was the first time we were able to actually see the homes.  Just before this trip, I discovered that the public schools in Illinois did not have a full day Kindergarten!  I was shocked!

Brooks, Reese and Sloane are ready to attend a full day of school and we were concerned about sending them to a half day program.  After some research and phone calls, Steve and I were able to find a beautiful home in an amazing neighborhood with a school that just happened to have 3 openings left in their full day Kindergarten!  Not to mention that the house we are buying is surrounded by 5 year old children on both sides!  It is fate!  God is looking out for us during this transition and we couldn't feel more blessed with all that has transpired thus far!

Steve  and I took a trip into Chicago the last day of our house hunting trip!  We walked around the city to see many of the highlights, and took a architectural river tour.

Union Station

Buckingham Fountain

Our NEW home!

Millennium Park

So as we always say in our family "Never a dull moment".  We are excited about the future and the adventures ahead!

Mother's Day thoughts...

It’s almost Mother’s Day and I can’t believe my triplets are already five years old!  Where has the time gone?  It seems just like yesterday we were in the NICU with our premature triplets, Brooks, Reese and Sloane.  We thank God everyday that they have grown to be strong and healthy. 

Now I look at my three babies and realize they are growing up so fast! They are reading books and asking questions about everything from where do the clouds come from to why ladybugs are red and black.  One of my favorite times of the day is driving with them in the car to school or one of their activities such as gymnastics, dance or soccer.  It makes me smile to listen to them talk to each other or observe their surroundings and make comments or ask questions.  They are no longer babies....it is very bittersweet!

Along with their developed personalities, I also have realized that Brooks, Reese and Sloane have become extremely independent!  Not only can they dress themselves, pack a snack in their school bag and buckle themselves in the car.....they also buckle in their toys and animals! 

Here's Sloane's dog, Peaches, ready to go!  

Reese and Sloane participated in separate dance classes this year.  I felt that it was time for the girls to have their own classes and begin to experience things as an individual rather than "the triplets".  Recital is just a few weeks away and the girls have been working hard to perfect their ballet and tap routines.

Here's Reese in her ballet costume...

 Reese' tap dance costume...

 Reese, Brooks & Sloane on our Friday Family Dinner Night

 Sloane's ballet costume...

 Sloane's tap dance costume...

Being a mother is the most amazing thing in the world and more difficult than any of my past occupations.  When I find myself discouraged or stressed, I am reminded of this quote “Without children, my house would be clean and my wallet would be full, but my heart would be so empty”. The love and happiness my children give to me is more valuable than material things.

On this Mother’s Day, I celebrate with the greatest gifts in the world, Brooks, Reese and Sloane.  

Always on the go...

It seems we always have something going on whether it is dance, soccer, gymnastics, school activities or milestones in life.  Brooks, Reese and Sloane are growing up so fast and lately they say some of the cutest things!  They are also becoming more independent and their individual personalities are developing more each day.  Fun times in our house!

Brooks, Reese and Sloane have been choosing their own clothes each day for school.  On Pajama Day, Sloane and Reese decided to wear different sets of PJ's.  No more matching clothes for my girls!

Reese, Brooks and Sloane on Rodeo Day!  The girls were insistent on wearing their hair in braids, and Brooks would not wear pants because he wanted his cowboy boots showing!

I was asked to participate for a charity event where local celebrities create a piece of art work that will be placed up for auction.  Brooks, Reese and Sloane wanted to help me with the painting so we created this portrait with 3 butterflies using each of their hand prints...

Reese lost another tooth!!!  We were in shock!  This makes 2 teeth now for Reese while Sloane and Brooks still have not lost a tooth yet!

Brooks, Reese and Sloane love their gymnastics class!  Here they are "hanging out" with our twin friends Sydney and Madison...

I was so excited to find matching Batman shirts for the Trio!

Texas Bluebonnets 2012

One of our favorite traditions is to take photos with the Texas Bluebonnets. This year the flowers were so vibrant and tall!

Brooks, Reese and Sloane were excited to carefully walk through the field and look at the beautiful bluebonnets.

My three little angels are getting so big!
Our family
I love this photo with Brooks...
Reese
Sloane
Brooks
Hugs for Mommy...
We love the Texas Bluebonnets!
Steve and Candace

Easter

We had an amazing Easter holiday this year. Brooks, Reese and Sloane participated in a couple of egg hunts and we attended church together as a family in the main sanctuary.

I was so proud of the trio during the service...just a reminder how much our babies are growing up.This year more than past years Brooks, Reese and Sloane were very excited for the Easter Bunny to arrive. I think I went a little overboard on the basket treats!
We hosted a nice family friendly cookout at our house the day before Easter. Brooks, Reese and Sloane helped with getting the backyard ready for the party...
During the egg hunt at our church, Sloane noticed a ladybug on the ground...
Our family at the church egg hunt
We were invited to another egg hunt with the Junior League of Richardson. The children were told to look for a gold egg during the hunt. Brooks took this information seriously and would not pick up any other egg color except yellow or gold!
I love this photo of Sloane just happily running along looking for eggs...
Reese looking for her next egg
A successful egg hunt!
Sister love!
Easter Bunny!
Brooks was so determined to find the gold egg!
Reese inside of the bounce house...
Sloane

Reese and Sloane at Disney on Ice

Reese and Sloane are really into the Disney Princesses, so I decided to take them to see Disney on Ice. This year the show was all about the princesses. The final act was the story of Rapunzel, and Reese and Sloane were dressed for the event!

They even talked me into buying the Rapunzel braid...
Since this was a "girls' night", a friend came with me to help with the girls and Steve took Brooks out for a "boys' night". Here we are waiting in line to get inside for the show...
Reese and Sloane LOVED the show and could not stop talking about the princesses for several days. As a result, we have decided to plan our Disney World family vacation for this coming October! We can't wait!