Farewell

What started out as a way to keep everyone updated while our babies were in the NICU has turned into the chronicle of a year long journey through the joys and challenges of parenting triplets. We are so thankful to all of you who have faithfully followed our babies lives this past year. We now feel it is time to say goodbye to our blog, as we are not up to the task of maintaining it with three toddlers in the house! We will turn this year's entries into a photo book to keep for our family. If you would like to stay updated on the babies' lives, please request Rose as a friend on Facebook. She will post pictures and updates there often. Again, thank you so much to all of you! It has been wonderful sharing our lives this year with you. Stay in touch!

Our First Birthday!

It was a sweet and simple birthday on Mackinac Island with homemade cupcakes and presents wrapped in newspaper. We celebrated with just both sets of grandparents. It was perfect.

Our Hats

Daddy started a tradition with our cousins - every year on their birthdays, he takes a picture of them in the same hat. The tradition continues with us! Here are our hats.
Reesie's Texas hat is in honor of his Daddy's law school.

Orlando's Michigan State hat is in honor of Daddy's undergrad. (I know, Bronco fans, WMU is not represented, but oh well... I've got to let Josh get his way once in awhile!)

And of course, the Princess has a very cute pink hat. So adorable!

Some Favorite Island Activities

Looking out the window at the Jack's Livery horses next door.
Mercedes loved snuggling with Grandpa Tom in the morning. So cute!
We went out to eat at the Icehouse. More sweet potato fries, please!
Strolling on the beach...
Playing in the grass (aka eating the grass) in front of the house.

On Our Way to Mackinac Island

After eating an illegal snack on the lawn of a private campground (sorry, angry campground proprieter)...
... the babies boarded the Arnold Line ferry for their first trip to Mackinac Island!
We were met with hugs and kisses from Grandma and Grandpa Lounsbury, plus some early birthday presents! We loved the wrapping paper!

Grandma Judy and Grandpa Larry's House

We stayed at Grandma Judy's and Grandpa Larry's for about a week. Mercedes loved sitting in her rightful place - on Grandpa's lap.
Orlando relaxed with Grandpa Larry in the hammock. Notice the jean-on-jean fashion sense. Grandpa is sporting jeans with jean shirt (aka the Canadian tuxedo) while Lando chills out in a very attractive jean diaper.
Reesie enjoyed playing on the kitchen floor with cake pans and duct tape. Who needs baby toys???
It must be Grandma's house! The treats are flowing like water!!!
Reesie learned a cool new trick while we were there - cruising along the couch. His motivation? A tiny glass of beer! He gets it honest, I guess. Much to his disappointment, he was not rewarded for his cruising with a sip.
Grandpa guards the corral, a makeshift baby gate fashioned from plywood and duct tape (of course!). We posted the guard after Orlando escaped the corral and bonked his head on the floor.

Aunt Johanna and the Lake!

We took our longest vacation ever to Michigan during July. We started off by stopping for a night in Fenton to visit Aunt Johannie, Kevin, and Jake. We got to go out on the lake in a boat. We loved it!