Happy Halloween!

We have the cutest "friendly" dragons!! They are all blinded by the sun in this picture but what a blessing, a snow-free night of tricks and treats! It was a busy day after a busy weekend, hoping to get "life" back on track by the end of the week ;)

Success!!

I did just the right amount of shopping and planning to pull this off!! I am boarding the plane to Minneapolis with a very full belly and good memories. It was a quick trip but I honestly couldn't have handled more time away. I am so anxious to see my boys tonight! I will have to settle on a view of the video monitor since I get in so late, but I will be smothering them all with kisses when we get up (early) tomorrow morning!

Miss this face!

It was hard not waking up to all my boys cuddles this morning! Good thing Ben keeps texting me sweet pictures like this one :)

I am trying to fit as much as possible into this quick trip but soooooo wish all my boys were here to share it with me.....soon, I hope!!

I do know I will come home a few pounds heavier- we are definitely eating good!! Good thing I packed the suitcase light as I managed to get some prezzies for the boys and groceries from Trader Joes, ha!!

A Pirate's Life

I am out with great friends surrounded by a lot of pirates! Good times for all :) This sweet pirate posed for my daily blog post and gave me his "A Pirate's Life" card, they have a reality series following their little pirate family. Can't wait to check them out! I miss my boys so much! And can't wait to tell you more about this trip- but, for now- Bye matey's!!!

1st night away!

I drove to Bismarck tonight since I am flying out to Portland from here in the morning and yes, I cried or fought back tears for about 50 of the 106 miles it took me to get here! I think it was partly the choices of music (reminding me of the lonely nights I spent driving solo to see Evan in the hospital) and because I am going to have 3 sleeps away from my boys :( It's bittersweet for sure- I get to see some great friends and my old clinic (not going to lie- I may not like seeing my old office occupied by someone else...love you, Brent!) I get to go to the worlds best halloween party and participate in some great business meetings, but I will be missing Ben and the boys soooo much! And I may visit our old home (which we still own) and not want to leave! I love being close to family, but the Portland heartstrings are still so fresh and strong. Did we make the right decision? What if we would have stayed? Can we go back? Would we make it? Would we regret it? What's best for our family????? Ahhhhhhh, SO many questions and emotions. I am having a hard time dealing already and I'm not even to the Rose City yet!

One things for sure, hands down, I have the cutest boys EVER!! I mean- look at Evan's grin! Happiness is where these boys are <3

Scheduled baths??

Yes- I have to schedule baths. And they were done yesterday so this sticky mess has to settle for a really good washcloth wipe-down! Oh the pains of being a multiple and not a singleton :) I have already learned that there are so many more positives than pains- sounds like a good blog posting....for another day! This mama is beat after a hectic week, and it's only Wednesday! Yikes.

Sunday Funday

We had a FUNday on Sunday!! (Even though the Lions lost for the 2nd week in a row...not that we're not use to that- but Ben says it's different this year!! We will see..) We had friends and family over for some yummy homemade pizza, pumpkin painting and football!!

Payton and Riley looking surprised to see a camera...not sure why!

Ellie, Drey and Brody hard at work

Payton, Ellie and Melissa

The 1st batch of yummmmyyyy homemade 'za! and some left over booze from the birthday bash ;)

Payton is king of falling asleep at the bottle

The Waind bros

...and their wives- Yes, there is a baby in there!

All my little skeletons waiting for some grub

Brody and Drey's finished pumpkins!

In case you missed it- we are currently staying in family friend's house while she works out of town and prepares for a big move, we are enjoying "playing house" and looking forward to a stable home of our own one day!!

Most expensive baby toy

I must have been having a moment of weakness when I shared my iPhone with Evan this weekend (it was probably the end of a loooonng day, ha!)-but sure, Brody plays with it all the time and did so as a baby as well, but letting the trips play with it?? Now that is just asking for trouble....or a missing phone. Evan's no dummy though, he caught on quick to the real thing and was not happy with a toy fake!

Hey- this makes some cool noises!!

and it is great to put in my mouth! (which lead mommy to take it away...)

Hey- this is a Cars phone, where's my iPhone??

This doesn't taste as good either!!!

I think I will just take this paci instead...

Oh ya....much better :)

Simply Thick Update

We received a letter today from our lawyer stating the the FDA's preliminary report indicated that they found a contaminant of Bacillus cereus in the Simply Thick product of question. Our lawyer, from PritzkerOlsen, are also doing further testing with the samples of Simply Thick that we provided to them. This is all still so fresh in my mind and heart that I can't help but cry when I think about what Evan went through for 6 long weeks in the children's hospital fighting for his life- it breaks my heart. Just this last Friday I was driving home with Brody and saw an ambulance in front of me- it was at the same time Brody was talking to me about Dr. McPhee from Portland because we were leaving an appointment and it reminded him of her (we love and miss Dr. MP!!!)....I was overwhelmed with feelings and flashbacks of my ambulance ride with Evan when I honestly didn't know if Payton and Riley would grow up with their identical big brother. I get torn between these emotions because they are so painful to remember but also something I never want to forgot. I think they defined a part of us that will never be changed. Evan was a fighter and he pulled through to keep our family together and we will be forever grateful for this. Wow, we have came such a long way- even if his future health is still at risk. I will never forget telling Ben that EPR were a package deal and Evan had to make it- he did, and they are!! xoxo

Waind Cousins

Here are some of the Waind cousins who gathered in Langdon, ND today to say goodbye to their great-grandpa. I stayed home with the sickest of the trips (PandE) while Ben took Brody and Riley Warren on a road trip with his brother, Matt, and family. I was sad to have missed it but there in spirit :) (note that Brody and Dreyden prefer their cars over pumpkins, silly boys!!)

Can't wait for November!

I know that children watching TV or videos is not supported by all parents, but we totally support it! I by no means think that it is a substitute for interaction or a babysitter but in our household it is much needed sanity :) We do bring Brody to day school or to Grandma Chari's daycare just so that he gets out of the house most days. When he does stay home he tends to watch waaaaay too much TV as we get so involved with the trips! Poor guy, but he doesn't complain- he loves it.....unfortunately. The babies also love some TV stimulation, it helps them concentrate while they are drinking their bottles otherwise they are throwing them everywhere and not getting much down the hatch.

So- back to the point- November!! We are anxiously awaiting the release of Cars 2 for Brody to enjoy, he has only been talking about it for months since Uncle Matty took him and Drey to it in the theater :)

Aaaaannd.....I am so so, so happy to have found out that a 2nd volume of Gigglebellies is also going to be released in November!! Since we all have the 1st volume completely memorized, this more than excites me :) I really think these songs are great for all ages (the babes and Brody love them) and are so visually stimulating! They have won a lot of Parents awards and are even used for children with Autism as they can really grab attention. I love the original volume we purchased a few months ago and the 30 minute DVD has proven to be a lifesaver for us many times over! (we don't even travel without it!)

Here are some previews of the new DVD that I can't wait to order:

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

If All The Little Raindrops Were Lemon Drops & Gumdrops

Down By The Bay

Busy Bumble Bee

Surprise!!

 

 

 The trips got all dressed up for my 30th Birthday yesterday :)

 Brody was sooooo excited to give me a lightning mcqueen singing card with 5 gold-de-blooms in it!

 Such a sweetie!!!

 All done up to go out for a birthday dinner!!

 Me and Melissa at my SURPRISE party she helped Ben pull off!

 Love my family!!!!

Group shot of part of the GREAT night!!!

Well, Ben was able to pull off a huge surprise on me! And I HATE surprises- so, well done sweets! We went out for a yummy birthday dinner downtown at 10 North Main and I thought we were going to meet a few friends and family at the wine bar when he asked me to go next store first and get a picture taken at Otis&James Photography....Hmmmmn, OK, I guess. But when I was brought back to the studio (with paperwork in hand) I was shocked to see all these beautiful people here to celebrate my 30th with me! I have the best hubby, friends and family~ truly. It was a great night of laughing, cupcakes and libations :) I am so thankful to have each of them in my life...thank you babe!!!

The O-G has been found!

Yesterday was a GREAT day on many levels! The highlight was finding Brody's original Lightning McQueen after weeks of being MIA. You have to understand his love for this car to fully realize what excitement was had by all upon its return! This kid seriously loves his cars and the "original" lightning has been in his hand at all time for about a year now, until it was unexpectedly lost and not found in the obvious places like normal....it has been a sad few weeks....but things are looking up!


The text messages between Ben and I yesterday afternoon went like this:

me: Guess what mommy found????

ben: No way!!!

me: Yes way!!!!

Ahhhh, the small things :) LIFE IS GOOD!!!

Thankful

People never cease to amaze me....from family help and support, assistance with the flooded house,  past and present homes opened up to our family, cases of rice mum-mums, rides in race cars, and gifts of money (including one special gift from an anonymous angel). We have been thrown a lot of curveballs this last year, some we have handled better than others, but we are most appreciative of our family and friends (and strangers!) love and support each and every day.

I am also thankful for my twenties- here today, gone tomorrow ;) Helllllooo THIRTY!!!

Old Stomping Grounds

 We woke up in Fargo on Friday morning to cool new toys!

 We finally got Brody and Brynn to stop and look at the camera.....well, kinda.

 Ahhhhh, a couple of sweeties!!

 Evan sitting down for a little snack.

 Riley stuffing his face.

 Brynn entertaining Payton.

 Bathtime!! Brody thought it was pretty funny that Brynn washed the baby's butt.

 What a sweet profile shot.

 Haha!! Riley was done with the hugs! But it was so sweet, really ;)

It was SO good to see all of our GREAT friends in Fargo, we have missed them sooooo much! April and Jeremy have a beautiful new home and were very gracious to have them host us for a few days :) We spent the day shopping.  We had a fun Saturday meeting all of the many kids that have populated since we moved in 2005- it was a mad house and we loved every minute of it :) Thanks for a great time!!!

Hmmmmm

Love this guy :)

I have so many cute pics of the boys and more friends/kids from Fargo but have been too busy to upload them today. So, yep, another phone pic post to meet my 365 day challenge! I am wondering if quality is better than quantity?? Have I lost some purpose in this blog trying to get in one post a day? Am I annoying you with these sub-par posts?? Oh well, it's our life and time to improve this blog will get here soon enough!

RIP Gpa Warren

After 89 years of a beautiful life Grandpa Warren Waind (Ben's Grandpa) passed today. We know he will continue to watch over all of us with with his beautiful wife, Millie, from Heaven. We are so glad that he was able to meet the triplets in August and see Brody again (they had quite the time playing cars together ;) )~ we love you!!! xoxo