And here's to you, Triplets Robinson

Emily, KC, and their babies Alex, Ruby, and Bennett (as pictured) are on their way home to Maryland as I type. Over the years there have been many of these farewell days when Em or I head home after what seems like a few fleeting moments together. Should twins really live across the country from one another? Of course not. But that is how it's been for the past six years. Only one thing could make it worse. In this case, times that by three. Now I have to miss those chubby babies too. I don't like these farewell days.

Em was here for a whole month, so we packed in as much fun as we could in that time. Julia loved going over to Nana's several times a week to play with "Mimi's tri-its." She adores them, as you can clearly see from the pictures and the movie clips Em has been posting on her blog. It's hard not to - they are so jolly and adorable.

So, I could go on and on about how much I miss all the Robinsons already, and how I wish we could see them more than a few times a year. But I will just try to be happy with the time we did get to spend together and hope for more happy times like that in the near future.

Hope you get home safely and sleep well. We love you, Robinsons!

You get what you pay for?

I love reading to my kids. Right now I especially love that Gabe will snuggle on my lap to read before naps and bedtime. (It's the only time he will sit still.) Just now I was reading one of the $1 board books I had picked up at Target the other day. (Our growing library of paperbacks and hardbacks stay in Julia's room, up and away from Gabe's destructive nature!) I know these books are cheap (which is good, because soon all the corners will be chewed up and mangled), so I don't expect the best literature or even a darling storyline. (Although I don't know why it would be so hard to include those. I mean, why would anyone write a dumb story, no matter how inexpensive the book or how novice the audience? Oh well. On with the post and out with all the parenthetical comments...)

Anyway, I was reading this story about a hard-working bumble bee when I came upon a blatant error. Here, see for yourself.

And so for once he joins in too, and finds it so much fun.
Bobby's has a lovely time playing with everyone.

You caught it too, I am sure. I mean, this isn't just a misplaced apostrophe. (Which is another problem all too common these days. I just don't know why most things plural are given an apostrophe. Maybe they need to put greater emphasis on that possessive vs. plural lesson in, what, second grade?) The sentence doesn't even sound right. Did anyone proof this book before sending it off to the $1 Spot!? It kind of blows my mind. Of course I don't mind typos in hastily-written blog posts, emails, comments, or other informal writing. (Just as I hope my occasional errors are forgiven.) But when I see one in a published work, I am quite taken aback.

Anyway, Gabe doesn't mind. And this book will soon become one of his chew toys, and will be long gone before the grammatical error can do him any harm.

Yeah, I will continue to occasionally buy the decently-cute board books at Target. Although, referring to the tile of my post, I do think my dollar is worth more than that. Still, you won't find me proof-reading each book before purchasing. Well, probably not.

"One is the loneliest number..."

...or age, and Gabe is just fine with that. As fun as his party was with lots of family there to celebrate, he would rather be off on his own. (Or just with his mommy. See previous post.) Gabe can be quite the party animal, but I think there was just a little too much excitement for him on Saturday! That is, until he discovered that the entire small cake was all his. Then he was totally down with the birthday party thing. (Check out the slide show to see how seriously he took the whole cake-eating business.)

We love our big boy. Here's to many more happy birthdays to come, Gabey Baby.

Mama's Boy

Jonny may be Julia's idol, but Gabe is all about his mommy.

Yes, I know, he is just at that clingy-I-only-want-mom stage right now. But as tough as this can be when I need to put him down and, say, do anything - I relish in it. I adore my boy. He is crazy and wild and will hardly sit still for a few seconds. Simply changing a diaper or putting clothes on him require an Olympic effort on my part as she struggles to get free. He yells at me when I am eating or drinking anything and begs for whatever it is like a little puppy at my feet. He is a big guy and my arms tire very quickly from hauling his chunky body around on my hip. But he also has the sweetest smile that gets me every time. His deep belly laugh makes me laugh whenever I hear it. He is the fastest crawler in the West and I love swooping him up into my arms when I see him coming for me. I crack up when I look in my rear-view mirror to see him head-banging and clapping his hands to the music. Reading to him before naps and bed are some of the sweetest moments in my day - and the only ones where he sits still on my lap.

Like I said, I adore Gabe. And he just happens to adore me right now. Lucky us.

Don't forget your snow boots...

Last week our friends the Mathews traveled from sunny CA to snowy UT. You just never know what you're going to get during May in Utah. We hope your trip was a good one despite the cold, you three! We certainly enjoyed spending time with you and getting to know darling baby Carter. Now, here are a few pictures. Jonny caught some great ones of your funny boy. Enjoy!

Adios, Rudi

Jonny's sister Rudi is now in the MTC until she jets out to Guatemala. We will really miss Rudi but are so excited for her to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (Julia thinks all missionaries do is where black name tags and eat pizza - since that's what they did at our house a few months ago.)

It was so fun to have Rudi around so often when she lived in Utah all of last year. Julia adores her and still calls the chair she usually sat in at the dinner table "Rudi's Chair." And because Rudi worked at Great Harvest and was always bringing over delicious bread, Julia calls any loaves that come in a plain plastic bag "Rudi Bread."

Mom and Daddio made the trip up from Durango to deposit Rudi at the MTC. We loved spending time with all three - Julia was excited beyond words for their arrival and has been talking about the visit since.

This is Rudi pretending to be excited about my attempted missionary name tag cake. I told her Julia frosted it. However sloppy it may look, I must say that it was quite delicious. Chocolate cake usually is.

Naturally Jonny broke out his old mission photo albums.
Julia and Grandma playing
Gabe and Grandma playing
A farewell breakfast
(I made it into this picture through the reflection. Sweet.)
Aunt Rudi with Gabe and Julia
(Gabe looks about the same size as big sister.)
Great Harvest buddies
(I will REALLY miss those occasional loaves of pumpkin chocolate-chip bread.)
At the Mt. Timpanogos Temple

"a happy day"

Just now I groaned when I walked into the kitchen (after leaving it momentarily) to find Gabe in the garbage can again. As I was grumbling about it Julia calmly said, "Mom, what's problem? It's a happy day, not a sad day. Why you so bad and sad?"

True that, Julia. There is no reason for me to be "bad and sad." (Not sure where she got that. But she says it every now and then. I think she means mad and sad?) It is a happy day, after all. I will be sure to remind her of that when it's time to brush her hair this morning...