There they go....Kindergarten x3 begins

This morning was my last first day of kindergarten ever.  I'm kind of an emotional mess right now!  I'm totally excited for them and they are BEYOND excited and ready but wow.  There they go.  A house full of craziness and chatter and laughter and questions and energy....to silence!  Just like that!  Seems like just yesterday I took this picture and wondered what their personalities would be and how they would get along and couldn't wait for them to say the words "Momma." I also couldn't comprehend how we would get through the first five years...but God brought us through...and will continue to do so.  

And now Emily, Addison, and Hailey bring me more joy than anything.  Girls - I love you more than you know and I'm so proud of who you've already become the past 5 1/2 years.  You are exactly who I hoped you would be and I feel so incredibly blessed to call you my daughters.  I truly truly love spending time with you and love watching you grow up.  It is all going way too fast for your momma though...  I'm so thankful you have each other and that we have had SO MUCH fun with you each year.  (Emily, Addy, Hailey)

 Em - my caring little sweetheart...my encourager....

 Hailey - my little princess and fun-loving people person

 Addison - my determined little helper, my buddy

 Emily, Addison, and Hailey's first full day of school....yesterday was the first day to meet the teacher and bring all of their supplies.

 I was a little bummed because the bus came 5 minutes EARLY today and last year, that didn't even happen ONCE!  I thought for sure it would be 10 minutes late!  So we didn't even have time to take individual pictures today!  And then it was crazy even getting a hug good bye and then whammo - just like that, they were gone!  This is all good prep for me for when they go to college.  Yikes.  Don't get me wrong, I am so excited for them.  And they were excited too.  They had their outfits all picked out last night. and were up and ready to go by 7 a.m.  The bus wasn't supposed to come until 8:13!

I'm super sentimental today... looking back....

 "So big!"

 Addison, Emily, Hailey...

Here they were yesterday....

 With some of their friends at chapel!

 Addison and Mrs. Hervey!

 Hailey

 Emily

 Today is going to be MUCH harder for me than it is for them.  I've heard that people have said that it's harder sending you oldest child to kindergarten than your youngest.  Maybe that's why I feel so many emotions today.  Sending my 3 oldest today....and also my youngest.  This is crazy.  They told me that they wanted to give me the biggest hug ever when they come home and they want to have "chat time" to tell me all about their first day.  I can't wait for that girlies.  You are the best and I hope you have an incredible time at school....I know you will.  I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!!

A little chat with my soon to be Kindergarteners

Here's a video (sorry it's long) but I just wanted to film a typical chat with the girls.  :) Here's a little bit of what they are like right now.... :)

Hangin' on to summer...

Summer is coming to a close as the girls start KINDERGARTEN next week!!  I won't talk about that yet though as I definitely have mixed feelings about it.  We are trying to get prepped for it this week though by slowing down on the naps as K5 is all day every day except for Friday!  The girls have honestly taken a nap every single day forever.  I'm kind of a schedule freak but they love their routine and know the drill.  They still nap from about 1 to 3 every day.  Wake up around 7..and go to bed at 8:30...and talk to each other til we say no more talking at 9.  They love their sleep.  So a couple weeks ago we started skipping one nap a week.  Then this week...we've skipped three in a ROW!  On the way up the stairs to bed tonight, much earlier than normal, Emily said in a super tired sounding voice "Mom we are NOT skipping naps tomorrow."  This might be a rough transition! But I'll take it cuz I'm so glad they have napped this long!  It's crazy I know! 

We are LOVING every minute of summer and take it all in.  :) The girls have had so much fun together and I'm so thankful they have each other.  The other day we were at the store and the clerk said he had twin sisters who hated each other.  He went on to tell us this whole story about it.  The girls listened to the whole thing, looked at me and then Hailey said "Mom why would they hate each other?"  The guy told them that they probably would hate each other too someday.  How nice, Clerk.  But they looked at me and shook their heads. They were shocked at how this guy was talking.  People say the craziest things I tell ya! Above:  Here they are on a day where they all wanted to dress alike.  Most days they all pick random stuff....sometimes two want to match...and some days they think it's so fun to all dress alike.  I tell them all the time that they are pretty lucky to have each other.  (Em, Addy, and Hailey above)  and below Addy is in front and E and H in the back at the carousel at the zoo. :) 

Here are some of my other triplet mom friends.  I cherish their friendship and love the bond we share! Here we are ready for the Color Run race...BEFORE

AFTER

Then my little brother had a BABY GIRL!!!!!  I am so proud and happy to be an auntie again!  Sweet Brielle is adorable and I cannot WAIT to meet her at Christmas.  It is so hard being away when big things like this happen!

Brielle!! Beautiful!!

So the other day the girls got new tennis shoes for school.  That night...they wanted to get in their "running clothes" and asked me if they could go for a run with me.  So cute. So we literally went for a run together.  I loved it!  They were ALL about it and wanted to keep going.  They would encourage each other not to stop and everything.  It was so cute.  Afterwards Hailey said "Mom, when was your first run with your mom?"  Mom?? :)  I think it is yet to happen. :)  But so cute that they want to do what I do.  Here's Em warming up!

Addison

Hailey

How much fun do they have? :)  (AEH)

Game face.  Look out world. :) (HAE)

Then one weekend in August, our lake has a party for the whole lake.  There is a live band, a golf tournament, a 5k walk/run, games, etc.

Okay and check this out.  Boat parade!  I cannot believe the work people put into this parade!  So funny! That's a pontoon boat! Here are just a few of the boats..
Firetruck

Gilligan's Island

Red Solo Cup

Lake in July!

We started off July by heading to the lake with Ryan's Uncle and Aunt and cousin from Iowa!  We had a lot of fun celebrating the 4th with them!

These pics are all out of order but here the girls are catching a bucket full of minnows. (HEA)

My sister and brother in law came out too!  Love my sis so much!

My sis and I mastered slaloming!  I am sore!! :) 
Ry and his dad chillin' by the fire

Hailey

 Addy

 Em

This was the first year we attempted sparklers with the girls!  They were a huge hit! (AHE)

Auntie Kara and the girls

Love Em

 Hailey and her s'more!



And this is a bad pic but the girls LOVED playing king of the hill on our friends' raft.  We couldn't believe they thought it was so fun for us to fling them off the raft.  They would have played ALL night.   They slept SOOO good that week!! :)