San Diego Wild Animal Park and January Activities

While Aunt Sarah was in town for Auntie Lynn’s 60th birthday, we took a girls’ trip to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, a.k.a. the twins’ and Meredith’s true home. Someone in my Mothers of Multiples club was giving away free tickets that were going to expire and she couldn’t use, so on a whim, we took a day trip down there! Being a Tuesday in January, we had the place to ourselves, which was perfect for these three wild animal sisters.

I hatched!

Thank you for always feeding me snacks, Aunt Sarah.

Gorilla skull!

Keeping this crew in line while waiting for food is torture.

We love the Wild Animal Park, not just for the open space and roaming animals, but for all of the playgrounds throughout the zoo. I strolled Meredith through the shady tiger trails until she fell asleep while the girls played at one of the playgrounds.

The lorikeets seemed hungry that day! Meredith was still asleep and didn’t feed the birds, but I doubt she would have wanted to… she’s still traumatized from getting bit at the Living Desert zoo in Palm Springs and will randomly hold up her finger and say, “Birdie bite me!” when she sees birds.

Aunt Sarah had a photo shoot at a cute bookstore for some clients in Newport Beach and brought the girls back some fun new books for storytime.

While Aunt Sarah was in town, we also hiked to Ortega Falls, which we had been wanting to check out. There was only a trickle of water, but the girls had fun rock climbing and were entertained watching a family with legit rock climbing equipment scale the rock walls.

What it’s supposed to look like when there’s water:

I want snack!

In other January news, Noah stayed at our house overnight while the grown-ups were at Auntie Lynn’s 60th birthday party, and the girls all loved having a guest over!

Meredith has spent her whole life sitting and watching the twins do their activities, and finally got to do a gymnastics class of her own. The class for her age group requires the parents to be in class as well, but she wanted nothing to do with parental supervision and acted like she didn’t know me! Even though she’s not old enough, the coach said she could move up to the next level in which parents don’t need to be in class and she absolutely loves it.

Looks like we need some more practice on those cartwheels…

Skating lessons!

The best part of winter? Watching it on TV on an unusually hot January day at home.

Orange picking!

 

We had what seemed like an entire month, but was really a 10-day period at the end of January, where all of the girls were SO sick and fell like dominoes, one after the other. I thought for sure it was the flu, but it turned out to be some kind of bad respiratory virus. The twins missed a combined week and a half of school, and were not happy about going alone when the other twin was home sick. To help make her feel better on her first day back at school, with Samantha still sick at home, Jake took Amelia on a morning Daddy Daughter Date before school. This special fruity pebbles french toast was enough to coax her into being at preschool by herself that day! Where is my french toast reward for taking care of sick kids for an eternity?

Lots of love,

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Thanksgiving 2 in Yucca and Palm Springs

The day after Thanksgiving, we had planned to drive a few hours to Great Aunt Linda and Uncle David’s house in Yucca Valley and spend some time with them and Grammy, Grandpa and Aunt Sarah, who drove out from Utah, and Uncle Mike and Ali who drove out from Wyoming. The whirlwind of the week of Thanksgiving, however, had finally caught up with me, and I woke up feeling exhausted and like a cold was coming on. That, coupled, with feeling nauseous and dizzy from morning sickness (all-day sickness, really), was enough to keep me in bed and sadly, unable to travel.

Jake was still up for taking all three girls, however, so after summoning up the energy to get them all packed, I bid farewell as they took off on their journey through the desert. While I wish I could have come to hang out with everyone for Thanksgiving weekend, a nice, restful three-day staycation at home was just what the doctor ordered!

Meanwhile, in the desert, the girls were having a blast on their extended Daddy-Daughter date (minus the not-so-fun extra few hours in the car both ways due to traffic over the holiday). Jake and the girls stayed at a Marriott condo in Palm Desert, and met up with our family at Great Aunt Linda and Uncle David’s house upon arrival for a second Thanksgiving feast. The next morning, they met up with everyone at the Living Desert Zoo in Palm Springs.

Getting the text updates at home made me miss everyone! They had so much fun riding camels and playing at the zoo that I don’t think they missed me!

Camel ride for two.

No camel ride for Meredith, so she had to settle for a ride on Daddy’s shoulders.

Silly Great Uncle David!

Posing for this picture is SO lame, Daddy.

Cheery Meredith is always up for saying a big “CHEESE!”

The adults try to catch up with Meredith.

Meredith was so excited to hold the birdies… until one bit her.

Hey, did that thing bite me?

Ouch! Whenever Meredith sees birds, she STILL talks about the “Bad birdie ouchie.”

NOT funny, Grammy!

The twins, fortunately, had a bite-free experience.

Feed the birds. Tuppence a bag.

Amelia the bird lady.

Sammy calls for one more bird.

Pizza time.

Taking a rest back at the condo after a busy day.

A pretty view, minus Jake’s monster feet.

Back in Yucca, the girls loved visiting the park by Great Aunt Linda and Uncle David’s house.

Riding the stagecoach.

Meredith got a little too dizzy spinning with Uncle Mike.

Before leaving back home, everyone met up for breakfast in town.

As a parting gift, Aunt Linda and Uncle David gave the girls a bunch of old hats from Uncle David’s mom’s house… perfect for dress up!

Jake and the girls had to take several rest stops on the way home because the holiday weekend traffic was so bad. Very glad I was not in the car with them!

When Jake and girls collapsed through the door, they looked like bedraggled travelers who had just completed a pilgrimage through the desert for months! They had a fun time, but the car ride and exhaustion from all the excitement had definitely taken its toll, especially on Jake!

Back at home, while I had spent a relaxing weekend resting and trying to curb my morning sickness, I had also torn the house apart all weekend looking everywhere, including the trash, for my wedding ring, which I had taken off while preparing Thanksgiving dinner and thought for sure it must have been accidentally thrown away! I was near hysterical when Jake and the girls returned, but fortunately, Jake found it behind one of our dressers without too much effort. I swear I had already looked there, but I blamed it on the pregnancy brain!

I missed everyone, but the girls loved their adventurous Thanksgiving and seeing our family. A big thanks to Great Aunt Linda and Uncle David for hosting, the rest of our family for helping with the girls in my absence, and Jake for letting me stay home in bed!

Lots of love,

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Treasure Island Beach Family Photos

While Aunt Sarah was in town, we seized the opportunity to have her and her camera tag along with us to Treasure Island Beach in Laguna. The girls normally cringe at the mention of “family photos,” but with Aunt Sarah along, it just felt like another day at the beach. The girls quickly ignored the camera and started playing once we were done taking a few posed shots. The rest are candid (which always turn out to be the best ones) and a perfect encapsulation of a typical beach outing (crazy running around, sandcastles, kite flying, random meltdowns/tears, and wind in our hair).

Meredith wasn’t in the best mood that morning (teenager), but Aunt Sarah worked her magic and snapped some cute ones of her anyway. Thanks for the beautiful photos and easy-going morning, Aunt Sarah!

Queen of the Nile, Meredith, escorted by her caravan.

Getting ready for her close-up.

We bribed the girls with gummies to get them all together for a family shot before everyone dispersed to play.

I selected outfits from what we already had for these beach photos, but since we found out a few weeks later that we’d be having another girl, the pink ensemble worked out perfectly!

Jump, Samantha!

Run, Meredith!

Jump, Amelia!

Moody teenager.

         

Chasing the birds.

Meredith’s death glare.

Kite flying is a dangerous sport. The kite almost killed us five times randomly nose-diving from the sky straight down.

 

(Photos from my phone)

Hanging with Grammy.

 

I’m ready to be carried away, servants.

This wagon ain’t gonna move itself, slaves.

More pink coming soon! Thanks, Aunt Sarah!

Lots of love,

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Pool Time with Aunt Sarah

Since it was ridiculously hot during Aunt Sarah’s visit in October, we wiled away many afternoon hours in the pool! The kids are entertained for hours, get tired, we have a bath right after, and basically our bedtime routine is done and they just collapse! A win-win.

Thanks, Aunt Sarah, for the hilarious pool photos!

Amelia floating lazily in her tube.

An even lazier Samantha.

 

Meredith relaxes in the hot tub.

 

They’re coming for you…

Practicing her back float.

Attack Daddy.

Creeping along the wall for a big jump.

So serious.

Time for contemplation in her unicorn floatie.

The perfect way to spend an October day!

Lots of love,

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