Ok, it has been a while, a long while. The past two weeks has been crazy as last weekend we took the kids up to Indiana for a family reunion on Amy’s side. Of course we were very busy getting everything ready to go, so I didn’t have time to write. Anyhoo, let’s get started.

Thursday night, we left for KC to stay the night with KB, John, and Carter. Everything went well except that the kids did not want to go to sleep in a strange place, and that very item came back to haunt us a few times in the days following. We got up at 4am to get on the road by 4:30. We figured this way, the kids would sleep more, which they did. The trip went well with us pulling into Aunt Patti’s in Naperville at about 3:30.

Buzz was there only for a little while as he was going with his side of the family to Wisconsin Dells. We found out very quickly that their house needed a lot of baby-proofing as the triplets were in top gear tearing stuff up. It was a constant struggle to keep them away from anything that could break. You couldn’t get mad at them though. They were just having fun.

Saturday, we had to drive out to the family farm, which is now being remodeled by Aunt Judy, for the reunion. On the way out, we stopped into Michigan City to do some shopping and then got somewhat lost taking the back way out of town. Amy knew where she was going, she just didn’t know where she was going.

It was hot starting out, as we were all under tents. After lunch, John and I took all four kids on a nappy drive, while Amy and KB had a good time visiting with their Grandpa Bernard (who is 94). Somewhere along the way, it cooled down about 10 degrees and a breeze came up. It was perfect weather

Sunday, we headed to my parents home to stay a day. Dad and my brother, Chris, were moving pigs when we got there. My Grandpa Burnham (who is 95) came down along with Cecilia (Chris’s wife) and their three kids, Nathaniel, Patrick, and Victoria. We threw a blanket on the ground to play and visit with Grandpa, my mom, and Cecilia. Patrick kept trying to bring the farm kittens over to the triplets to pet. I gave each of the triplets a ride on the tricycle, and the later, on the tractor (930 Case). They did great!

Monday morning, my high school buddy, Tom, came out to visit and brought some kid clothes with him for the triplets. We also went down to the nursing home to visit my Grandma Ethel (who is 88). Nolan had fallen asleep, so she only got to see Gage and Katherine.

We then headed to Hannibal to stay with Brad and Jamie and went swimming in their pool with the kids when we got there. The water was great and Katherine was loving it. She acted like she wanted to swim on her own. Truly a water baby.

Tuesday, we traveled to KC to visit with Gavin and Susie. Susie had to work, so we went with Gavin to the KC zoo. The sea lion show was great, as Katherine got to hear a sea lion bark from about 3 feet away. Whoa! We also got to see Kowala bears and a frickin’ HUGE tiger.

We finally dragged ourselves home Tuesday night. We spent all day Wednesday unpacking and washing clothes.

The kids have really come far in a week. Katherine is now officially walking a few times a day. She walked all the way down the hall (8-10 feet) last night. Gage and Nolan are close behind as they both walk while holding Mommy’s or Daddy’s hands. They know more body parts (fingers, tongue, ears) and have made up their own word, Ahbiahbi. They all are saying it now, almost chanting it.

“I went down to the Ottoman zoo, and they all asked for you.”

P.S. I’d like to give a shout-out to my home-neph Carter. Happy Birthday man!