Yes this is normal...

 Leashes for your children that is.... at least if you have twins!  :)  Since the girls have become mobile and feel they should be as independent as Hannah, it has been EXTREMELY difficult (to say the least) taking them anywhere with only one parent in tow.  So we've gone the route of the "Harness Buddy" and took them to the greenbelt to given them a good testing!

 The twins actually love the harness since they are similar to Hannah's backpacks (which they walk around the house in all of the time) except they are super soft and cute puppies... double score!  They are not so sure about the addition of the leashes, although the true problem seems to come in the length of the leashes!  They feel they should have way longer roaming privileges!

 Hannah has very few complaints either...  She thinks this is a great idea!

 The twins were thrilled to be mostly independent... this may go better than planned!

 Brooke was especially proud of her independence!

 Discovering all kinds of fun things!  (No we're not sure if her legs can get any longer!  Hannah turns 5 in November and is rapidly approaching a size 6 in pants!  For the length anyways...  they wrap around her tiny waste at least twice!)

 The sun glistening through Aspens spikes.  The twins hair is out of control these days!  So cute!

Little nature girl!  She'd have no complaints living outside all summer long!  We are grateful for the lengthened summer here in Idaho.  It is supposed to reach 90 again on Saturday and we couldn't be happier!  I love fall and winter, but summer was too short!  Thank you God for a little extra warm so we can play outside before a long winter with probable cabin fever!

Got Patience?

For those of you still checking for updates, thank you for your patience!  You will be happy to know we are back!  Still have some back blogging to do, but progress is a process...  especially with 3 very active girls!  For now, back track a little to catch up with part of our summer.  The rest should fill in soon!  Enjoy!

God made dirt so dirt don't hurt!

 Both John and I adore the fact that although we have 3 girls, they don't hesitate to play in the dirt.  Some may argue that we could get a sandbox.... the thought has crossed our minds.  But the dirt is there, and we still haven't decided what to do with it.  So until then dirt it is!   :)

 Don't worry...  all 3 are alive and well, they just appear quite pale since they are covered in dirt dust!

 You'd think will all of that dirt all 3 girls could find their own bit of dirt to play with...  but of course for poor Hannah it is a never ending battle when trying to dig a hole.  Her sisters are guaranteed to fill it back up while she continually battles to empty it.  We understand your frustration Hannah.... they'll understand soon enough and you will all combine your efforts while trying to dig to China, I'm sure of it.

If you look closely you can see the dirt throughout Aspens scalp.  You know it's a good day when you've got dirt in your scalp!  The bathwater was definitely indicative of a great day full of fun.  You've got to smile when there is a ring of dirt in your tub after draining the water out.  So happy that the girls love to explore and discover new things!

A trip to the fire station

 Recently we traveled with Hannah and her preschool class to the local firestation.  Both the kids and parents learned a lot as we got a tour of the station and some preschool aimed fire safety tips!  Hannah was SO thrilled for this field trip and it was great how they put on all of their gear to show the kids that even though the fire fighters may look a little scary they are there to help.  They wanted to encourage the kids not to hide when they see them if they are stuck in the house and there is a fire.  It was so great. 

 Gotta remember to stay low!  Here is Hannah D.  and to her left is Hannah C.  She is thrilled that she has added another Hannah to her circle of friends and that she has a new name in class that includes the first letter of her last name.  :)

 They were so great with the kids and let them handle most of the equipment (...all of the safe equipment!) along with going inside the firetruck which of course was a HUGE hit!

 Here the twins are hanging out with their friend Jake.  There was enough going on that all 3 stayed pretty content in their strollers!

 Here they were teaching the kids what a smoke detector sounds like.  Notice Hannah is not covering her ears.... maybe I have burnt a few too many cookies! Lol!

So proud to be a Jr. firefighter!  My favorite part of the day was when one of the firefighters pulled out this ginormous tool telling the kiddos how it could break almost anything!  Then he asked who liked to break things and Hannah's hand shot up in the air!  Everyone got a quick giggle out of that since the other kids quietly stood there not wanting to admit they did too!  Way to be honest Hannah!

First day of Hannah's 4yr old preschool

 Goodness does time fly!  Today was Hannah's first day of preschool this year.  She missed the cut off with her November birthday to start Kindergarten, boy am I glad for that!  I don't know if I'll ever be able to send her to Kindergarten let alone 1st grade!  Whoever thought 6yr olds were old enough to leave home all day for 5 days out of the week to attend 1st grade was crazy.  It was someone who didn't like their kids, that's for sure!  I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there, but until then 2 days a week for 3hrs is just perfect!

 So sweet!

Each week the kids have a color theme and this week it was yellow!  The goal is for the kids to wear something that has yellow somewhere in it!  Hannah was so proud to find her tye dye shirt to wear suggesting she might wear it every week since it had so many colors!  :)