HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 12 MONTHS AND 12 TEETH LATER.

I would like to dedicate this blog to my Auntie Jan who left this world on May 11 2012. A wonderful Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter, Aunt, Niece, Cousin and Friend and so much more. 

I have to admit sitting down to write I am keenly aware of the absence of her presence. I could always feel her cheering our family on from a distance. Often when I was able to pick up my Canon and take some shots of the girls I thought "Oh, Auntie Jan is going to love this one..." since the day she found out we were having triplets she was a dedicated fan. In fact the very last person to post to this blog was Auntie Jan with words of encouragement, optimism and love. So I thought it only fitting to take a few moments and spend them on her. I was grateful to be able to attend her service and Life Celebration in Toronto. It was helpful to connect and reconnect with all the lives she touched and all the people she loved. Her physical being is gone but I know that her spiritual being is alive and well and never far away and that does help in some way. Her passing just reiterates to me what we of course already know, you have to try and live every moment and be true to yourself and be happy and not get stuck in the past because you are right Auntie Jan; "Life is too short." Missing you.

Can you believe it's been 1 year? Really? 12 whole months since these 3 little Sweethearts were born!? Where in the world did the time go? I realize that everyone says that....I have heard it a thousand times before but it is so true! The past year has mostly been a blur. In some ways though it seems like a long time ago that we were up all night feeding them every four hours; sometimes for an hour and a half at a time! I know that I was completely exhausted back then, more exhausted then I had ever been in my entire life. Functioning as though I was a rational being was tough. I have come to the conclusion that I may have gone slightly insane because although I know it was really, really, really hard being that sleep deprived my brain has somehow managed to dull the memories a bit; sort of take off the hard edges and soften it up. I guess that's what happens...that is why people continue to choose to have more children...you go slightly insane the first time around..?
Well, my last blog update foreshadowed the arrival of teeth. I am happy to report that the teeth have begun to arrive! Victoria 6, Evangeline 4 and Violet 2. So 12 in total. We are still working out the kinks with these new teeth however. Some of us seem to sort of know what to do with them, like brush them, (we are fairly good at that) and some of us still have no clue! I am sure the girls must be thinking to themselves "How could I possibly eat that Mama? It's lumpy and bumpy and makes me gag? I can't get it down like that! I only eat pured food!" Oh my girls, let's practice using those teeth a bit more shall we? There is a whole world of wonderful food just waiting for you to enjoy. Wait until you try Pizza! So we are experimenting. Some things work better then others like Mango, Toast with Almond Butter and an occasional squished pea or two...oh and a cupcake with icing (more on that later). A mushy cheerio or a pasta star however, not so much.

The past few months have found us (Todd and I) very busy (as per usual). I went back to work as of April 2nd and our full time Nanny arrived the first week of May. Todd was given another three branches to provide Investment needs for and we have both happily managed to devote some time to working out. I have joined a trail running group that is just absolutely FANTASTIC; a really great group of people that are forcing me to push some of my physical and mental boundaries (I have actually entered a race this weekend...slightly anxious about it! Been a long time since I participated in a trail race) and Todd has joined a cycling group to help him prepare for his upcoming GranFondo at the beginning of July. I have also somehow become a Director of the Okanagan Mission Residents Association (this is the area of Kelowna in which we live) and I am now doing the monthly newsletter for the Kelowna Multiples Group. I know it sounds like a lot but for now I feel up to the challenge.
We celebrated the girls birthday on May 22nd but we actually had a 1st Birthday Party for them on the Saturday of the long weekend, May 19th. We had lots of friends and family make a special visit just to celebrate with the girls and us. It really meant a lot to both Todd and I to have the support of those we love. My Grandfather McCall from Toronto and his friend Joan even came out to join the party! It has been quite an amazing year and our little girls have been such troopers. It's hard to believe they were in the hospital for 45 (Violet and Victoria) and 89 days (Evangeline). Thanks to everyone who joined us on that special day and to everyone else who couldn't be here but sent lots of love and well wishes for the girls. We are very blessed to have such great family and friends!
We ordered a special 1st birthday cake for the party but the girls each had their own individual cupcakes that they were able to enjoy. They were a little apprehensive at first but once they got a taste of that icing all hesitation quickly vanished. Todd and I had fun picking out pretty little birthday dresses for the girls and my Aunt Mary (the girls great Aunt) also decorated very sweet and special birthday crowns/tiaras for the girls individually personalized with their names.   It was a really great day and the girls did fabulous.

Some brief updates on the girls:
Evangeline is now 19.6 pounds and loves to beat her drum and play her 'piano'.
Violet has moved to the next car seat so she is over 22 pounds probably almost 24 and is CRAWLING everyone...she can make it across the living room in about 4 seconds.
Not sure what Victoria weighs currently, meant to get that done today...she is crawling but currently only backwards and believe it or not she has light, light (almost blond) hair...of course we are fairly certain that will change but interesting none the less.

So here are some pictures of the past little while, including our first adventure with swings and of course the birthday!
(oh, and I hope to upload some video in the next day or two but thought I should probably get this update done asap.)

Lot's of love,
The Kennelly's

Evangeline on the swing

Victoria enjoying the grass at the park

Dada and his girls

Victoria

Violet (a dare devil like her Mama)

Evangeline and Victoria out for a walk

Victoria just out of the bath.

Pappa and the Flower

Victoria, Grammie and Violet

Pappa with the Angel and the Princess

Yummy cake!

Pau Pau with Evangeline

Pau Pau and Victoria

Pau Pau with Violet

Grandpa with Evangeline

One of our first and only family photos EVER!

Evangeline showing off her party dress

Violet, Joan and Auntie Wendy

Evangeline and her Great Grandad McCall

Violet and Dada

Birthday Kisses for Evangeline