Fast Away 2010 Passes...

Happy 2011, everyone! I'm once again blogging this family update instead of sending piles of Christmas cards since most folks are now online and I can share more photos this way. I've actually been on a blogging hiatus, but I've missed this little nook and hope to return to regular writing in the new year. I had hoped to have this letter out sooner, but our PC to Mac migration kept me from getting the work done. Better late than never, though!

2010 was a year of migration and transition for us in many ways and though there are still a few areas to smooth out, we're mostly into a good rhythm now. It's hard the believe that the triplets are now 5 1/2 years old and half way through their kindergarten year. Some days it seems like they came home from the NICU just a few weeks ago, while other (more challenging) days it seems like they've been with us for alot longer! Over the last several months we've been cleaning out the baby & toddler gear to make room for big kid stuff and that's been nostalgic, but also refreshing as we move fully into their elementary years. Here are the highlights of the year that has fast away passed...

We started new year 2010 with a train ride into Philly to see the Macy's Light Show (in the old Wannemaker Building). This was a nostalgic time for Bob and his parents since they had gone to see it many times during his childhood, too. The following months were quite chilly with a few good snowstorms that reminded us we do indeed live in the Northeast! The kids enjoyed playing on the cul de sac snow mountain that the plows created after each new snowfall. We kept cabin fever at bay with lots of indoor crafts and science projects and I realized that my dining room table was quickly morphing into the arts and craft center as all 3 kids developed their love of coloring and drawing. Back in the mountains of central PA, my mom slipped on some ice and broke/sprained both her wrists so L and I went home for a weekend to cheer her up and have some girl time. Even though the occasion for our travel wasn't happy, we did enjoy the extra, unhurried time with Grammy.

In the spring, we spent Palm Sunday here in Philly with the Gunning side of the family. Despite the very cold temperatures, I also made a trip to the shore with Grandma and 2 of the kids to buy half-price boardwalk ride tickets that weekend. It was freezing cold as we walked the boards in our winter jackets and mittens...not our usual Jersey shore attire! We traveled to Curwensville a week later for Easter where the kids got to attend sunrise service with their grandparents, spend time with their cousins and hunt for eggs a second time (so far they haven't questioned why the Easter Bunny makes 2 deliveries in different locations so far apart!) Other spring highlights were going to the Philly flower show, getting an iPad and attending the kids' last art show and concert at preschool. I also began the laborious process of filling out kindergarten registration papers (I am not looking forward to college paperwork, let me tell you.) The kids also invited their friends to a pirate and mermaid birthday party as we marked their 5th birthday and I celebrated the 1-year anniversary of my thyroid cancer being conquered. On Memorial Day weekend, we also had a family picnic to celebrate Bob's Granny's 91st birthday. So many reasons to relish life!

As summer approached, we wrapped up preschool and started more outdoor activities. Matt had his first team experience with soccer and we joined our local pool where the kids took swim lessons. We made our annual pilgrammage to the strawberry fields in June and also got to see the circus when it came through town. A big portion of my time during the summer was devoted to gardening, or perhaps more accurately stated, "the attempt to preserve my garden from various pests"! Bob put up a taller fence and also submerged it 8" underground to thwart the neighborhood groundhog. For the most part it worked though the squirrels devastated my sunflowers at the end of the season. I also expanded my pioneer skills to include trapping... 2 groundhogs, 2 rabbits and several squirrels now live a few miles down the road thanks to my Hav-a-Hart! We watched a wren family make their nest in the see-through box we had on the dining room window and Josh was forever capturing various other creatures around the yard, including a very large, sinister-looking horned tomato worm. We continued our tradition of taking each of the kids on a special trip with just Mommy and Daddy. Josh got to see Walking with the Dinosaurs at the Wells Fargo Center (very cool, if you get the chance to go); Matt went to see the Eagles at training camp and his first Phillies game at the Citizens Bank Park; Lauren chose to take Grandma and me to a tea room for a girls' day out. We also went to 2 Reading Phillies games and spent a day at the Please Touch Museum in Philly. As summer drew to a close, we made our annual trip to the mountains for the County Fair (this time we spent a full week at Grammy's and the kids had their first tenting adventure). To wrap things up, we squeezed in one more weekend at the beach before putting away our summer gear for the season.

This year, fall was special as it marked the kids' entry into kindergarten. I was doing so well at the first day drop-off until Matt turned around, ran back to me for one last hug and asked, "Mommy, when will I see you again?" With that, all my pent-up emotions about them growing up so quickly poured out and I turned to mush, along with all the other moms standing near me on the sidewalk. Thankfully, everyone adjusted quickly to the new routine and the kids are really enjoying their expanding horizons while I'm enjoying a bit more free time to get back on top of things at home. Another big transition was moving the boys into full-sized beds and turning the guest room into Lauren's bedroom...all shades of purple and pink, of course! In late September, we began to clear out the garden. I always let the kids pick a "last bouquet of the summer" and they love to pull all the blossoms off the plants they weren't allowed to touch during the summer and make beautiful designs on the deck with them. The tomatoes and pole beans did well this year and the sunflowers were beautiful until the squirrels hit. Matt got a single butternut squash from his plant which we turned into a yummy soup and the pumpkin vine gave us one perfect little fruit which eventually made it's way onto the Thanksgiving table as a pumpkin parfait dessert. October arrived and we made our yearly trip to Merrymead Farm to search for the perfect jack-o-lantern pumpkin. We once again visited Great Granny's retirement community and entertained the folks in the dining room with our costumes and treat bags. In early November we spent a sunny afternoon at the zoo (actually our favorite time of year to go) as we hunted for the Lego animal creations that were on display. Then it was time to think ahead to the holidays. We have started the tradition of enjoying 2 Thanksgiving birds....Thursday with the Gunnings and a Saturday one while my parents are here for the weekend. This year I stuffed and cooked the turkey all by myself, though my mom was constantly supervising and pretty much handled the rest of the meal on her own.

Once December arrived, we made the transition to winter activities and Christmas preparations. We switched from gardening and bug collecting to bird and squirrel feeding. The kids enjoy watching all the wild animal activity outside the dining room window while they work on their art projects. They are fully on board the Santa train and it was alot of fun to watch their anticipation grow with each passing day. When Christmas Eve finally arrived, we had a busy day ahead of us. Lauren sang with the cherub choir at church and Matt's wiggly tooth finally fell out. We had our annual pizza and angel food cake meal to celebrate Jesus' birthday and the kids re-enacted the Nativity story as I read from the Bible. It's been heart-warming to see their faith grow over this past year and equally exciting to hear them talk about the true reason we celebrate Christmas: Jesus' arrival....Emmanuel....God with us!

And that brings us to this New Year. We're looking forward to another turn of the seasons filled with blessings and goodness and are praying the same for you as well!

With love and all good wishes for the year ahead,

Jen, Bob, Matt, Josh and Lauren