From the Trenches of Motherhood

Memory Lane Monday- Halloween

2009-10-26T00:19:00.000-07:00

I have always loved Halloween. I don't think I can nail down one specific reason. Maybe it's the candy or the opportunity to become someone other than me for a night. It could be the pumpkins, apple cider or the hay rides. Or maybe the sound of the leaves crunching under my feet as I walked down the sidewalks in my quest for candy.

Now that I am a mom, I derive great joy from taking my kids to the pumpkin patch (and then bringing those pumpkins to "life"), drinking hot apple cider after spending an afternoon jumping in the leaves and, of course, dressing them in cute and creative costumes and drinking in their excitement as they run from house to house in THEIR quest for candy!

I have, of course, taken full advantage of the years where I have had the privilege of making the "BIG DECISION". . . . which of course is the choice of costumes.

Dressing triplets is always fun and the first Halloween was no exception. I had been milling over costume ideas for weeks. Three peas in a pod, the three little pigs, three blind mice. . .they were all good ideas, but I wanted something more original. Then one day, as I was browsing through costumes online for inspiration, it came to me. . . .

A hot dog, mustard and ketchup!

Starring Maren as the "Hot Dog"

Lukas as the "Mustard"

Jacob as the "Ketchup"

And the triple stroller as the "Hot Dog Cart"

The following year was not quite as creative, but it certainly summed up life with 21 month-old triplets:

The Rieben Family Zoo
Featuring Mommy and Daddy as the "Zoo keepers"
Jacob as the "Elephant"
Lukas as the "Lion"
Maren as the "Zebra"

The Rieben Zoo on the move. . .

Sadly, I was literally a world away (bringing Joshua home from Uzbekistan) the next year and missed the glorious event, but the festivities continued on without me. . .

Representing Griffindor:
Jacob as "Neville"
Maren as "Hermione"
Lukas as "Ron"
Will (our best buddy) as "Harry Potter"

Last year was another summary of life as we had come to know it:

Five Busy Little Bees

The Queen Bee

My Baby Bumblebee

My So-stinkin-cute-you-WANT-him-to-sting-you Bee!

*Note: The other two bees decided to buzz off before I could get a decent picture of them!

Sadly, I have a feeling that my years of choosing the costumes are slowly drawing to a close, BUT, I did manage to sweet talk them into one more year. I don't want to give away the surprise completely, but here is a hint. . . .

Have I mentioned how much I love Halloween!?!

7th Annual Rieben Family Founder's Day

2009-09-21T06:28:00.000-07:00

September 21st is one of the most important and celebrated days of the year in the Rieben household. It is a day that we look forward to all year long. This is the day that our family was created. Today we celebrated our 7th Annual Rieben Family Founder's Day!

Seven years ago, I knelt across an altar in the Washington, DC Latter-Day Saint Temple and was married to my amazing husband for time and all eternity. As we walked out of the Temple that day, hand in hand, a brand new family of two, we knew that the Lord had great things in store for us.

As we began to welcome children into our family our anniversary became more than a celebration of our marriage, but a celebration of our family as a whole. We wanted our children to grow up knowing that marriage and family are ordained of God and so "Family Founder's Day" was born.

Each Founder's Day we celebrate where our journey began as well as each member of our family. We also introduce our family theme and scripture for the year. For the next year, our family will focus on serving our fellow man.

Theme:

"Because I have been given much, I too, must give."

Scripture:

"And behold I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17)

We celebrate all of the different countries and cultures that make up our family:

Beautiful, handmade wall hanging from Uzbekistan

Sunflowers to represent our children from Bulgaria and Ukraine

And, of course, no celebration is complete without cake!

Finally, we celebrate the love, faith and commitment that our family is founded upon and we thank our Heavenly Father for His amazing and beautiful plan for our family.

Happy Founder's Day!

One of those days. . .

2009-06-02T18:58:00.001-07:00

Ever have one of those days. . . . .

Life Lessons- Part 2

2009-05-21T09:27:00.001-07:00

Wasps don't make very good pets.

Maren learned this lesson the hard way.

Life Lessons

2009-05-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you get poop on your hands. That's what antibacterial hand soap is for.

2009 Mom's Choice Awards

2009-05-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

Most "Detail Oriented"
This award goes to Lukas

I think he folds better than I do!

These books are stacked one on top of the other while leaning against a large piece of foam board

Most Nurturing
This award goes to Maren

Okay, so she is a work in progress, but despite her confusion in the diapering department, she does have a big heart and loves to take care of those around her.

Most Creative
This award goes to Jacob

This is a treasure map.

This is the treasure box.

This is where the buried treasure was found.

Most likely to be covered in dirt from head to toe by the end of the day
This Award goes to. . . .well, you be the judge!

Best Hair

This award goes to Maren and Evan

Need I say more?

Evan's "mohawk" on Hilarious Hair Day at preschool. . .I cut his hair the next day!

Best Legs
This award goes to Evan

He has worked hard for those good-looking legs!

Most Expressive
This award goes to Joshua

Most "Domestically Inclined"
This award goes to Lukas and Jacob

These boys are going to make some lucky girls VERY happy!

Wanna know a secret?

2009-05-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

I've been keeping a secret. A BIG secret. Want in on it?

CLICK HERE

Secret Combinations

2009-04-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

As I nestled the phone back onto the receiver after making a call this morning, I took note that it was eerily quiet for a house occupied by five young children. Immediately the red flag of suspicion was raised. I walked quietly through the house so as not to alert them (I find immense pleasure in catching them in the act). As I rounded the corner into the hallway, a trail of silver, leading from my open bedroom door to the boy's closed bedroom door, caught my eye.

The light bulb above my head suddenly shone bright.

I tiptoed the rest of the length of the hallway and then threw the door wide open. Three, startled, chocolate-covered faces looked up at me. The massive bag of Hershey kisses (stolen from atop the dresser in mommy's room) lay empty on the floor in front of them, silver wrappers scattered all about.

I collected what little candy had been spared and shuffled the kids off to their rooms while explaining that, because they had chosen to gorge themselves on stolen chocolate, they had forfeited snacks for the duration of the day. Once they were all within the confines of their own rooms, and I within mine, I burst into fits of laughter and laughed until the tears rolled down my cheeks.

The looks on their chocolate-covered faces had been priceless! And I could suddenly recall many a mischievous conquest in my own childhood. And the tears. . .well, I am sure I shed a few at the thought of what these three might be capable of as teenagers!

Ken's Demise

2009-04-16T13:19:00.000-07:00

With so many boys in the house, it didn't really come as a surprise to find this in the hallway yesterday:

Imagine my shock, however, when I learned that, it was not one of my boys who had done the deed, but my daughter, Maren.

Apparently she and Ken were not seeing eye to eye on a particular issue (his fashion sense) and so she quite literally ripped his head off.

My husband will be happy to know that, he will not need to pull out his guns for cleaning when the boys come to call. Instead, we will just provide this wonderful visual of what she does to those who cross her.

Fabulous Five- Snowflakes and Cherry Blossoms

2009-04-07T18:49:00.000-07:00

1. Bird watching in our pajamas. We have two bird feeders on our back porch and we love to watch and identify the birds. This morning we sat and watched many of our little friends come and go. Among them were cardinals, mourning doves, robins, crows and house sparrows. The kids are very good at identifying the birds and, long after they had flown away, we all sat on the dining room floor looking through our bird books and talking about all of the different birds.

2. Spending some quiet time reading with Joshua. He is really starting to enjoy books and being read to. Today I found him in the playroom alone, looking through the pages of one of his favorite books. After watching him for a moment, I sat down beside him and he climbed into my lap and together we read his book. I cherish those moments.

3. Catching big, cold, fluffy snowflakes on our tongues. . .in April. Although I long for the warmer days of Spring, it was fascinating to see snowflakes resting on the cherry blossoms.

4. Enjoying free cookies from the bakery at Sam's Club with my children.

5. See post below.

The Joys of Boys

2009-04-07T18:44:00.000-07:00

Lukas: "Hi Mommy."

Me: "Hi Lukas."

Lukas: "I peed on your toilet seat."

Me: "That's nice."

I love little boys.

Words to Live By- What will you CREATE?

2009-04-06T22:37:00.000-07:00

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.

Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.

You might say, “I’m not the creative type."

If that is how you feel, think again, and remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative Being in the universe. Isn’t it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? Think about it—your spirit body is a masterpiece, created with a beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination.

You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.

If you are a mother, you participate with God in His work of creation—not only by providing physical bodies for your children but also by teaching and nurturing them. If you are not a mother now, the creative talents you develop will prepare you for that day, in this life or the next.

Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.

As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you."

(For a full transcript of "Happiness, Your Heritage" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, click here.)

Lemonade anyone?

2009-03-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

I have seen many awards floating around blogland, but, of all of those awards, I feel most privileged to have been nominated for the "Lemonade Award" by my amazing friend, Jill.

It makes me smile to know that at some point, I have helped someone to make lemonade from the lemons in their life. Of course, much of the lemonade in my life is freshly squeezed from the love, encouragement and support of the many blessed friends that surround me, both physically and through the world wide web. So, it is my privilege to nominate ten of those amazing people to receive this award as well. In no particular order, the nominees are:

1. Melanie at "Melz Midnight Brew". I "met" Melanie about six years ago in an online forum. Melanie is an adoptive mom who also happens to have biological triplets, two of whom have special needs. She and her family are currently in the process of adopting a precious little girl from Ethiopia. She homeschools, knits, gardens, makes delectable meals and inspires everyone who has the privilege of knowing her. It is such a blessing to "know" Melanie!

2. Elaine at "Looking for George". Elaine is the mother of five incredible kids, two of whom are adopted from Korea and Vietnam. She was my international adoption mentor and kept me afloat during the tedious and often painful, paperchase and the wait to bring my boys home. She continues to keep me afloat with her wit and wisdom and she never fails to bring a smile to my face.

3. Kristy at "Purely Monkeying Around." I met Kristy shortly after moving to Ohio. I was on bedrest during my pregnancy with the triplets and Kristy came to visit me at least once each month (for those of you who are LDS, she was my visiting teacher). She has always been a ray of sunshine in my life and is one of my greatest friends. Kristy and her beautiful family moved to Wyoming several years ago and I miss them dearly, but, even from far away, she brightens my days with messages of hope and encouragement and continues to put a smile of my face and in my heart.

4. Charissa at "Country Living the Urban Way." Although we have never met in person, I feel like I have known Charissa my entire life! Charissa is the mother to five incredible children, one of whom was adopted from the same orphanage in Ukraine as our Evan. We rode the roller coaster of adoption together and she continues to inspire me every single day with her heart of gold and her zest for life and love of the Savior.

5. Jenny at "The Ramsey Clan." I met Jenny when I transferred to Southern Virginia University in my Junior year of college and she has been one of my best friends ever since. Jenny is a pillar of strength and has been my rock and support through some of the most difficult times of my life. She is always there with an encouraging word and reminds me to put my trust in my Heavenly Father, whose plan for my life far exceeds my own! Jenny has faced many difficult times in her life and she does it with such grace. You could say that she is an expert at making lemonade with the lemons she is handed!

6. Richard at "Eastern Impact." Yes, I am nominating my husband for this award! In the 7 years that we have been together, we have weathered many storms and we have always come out on top. Much of that is due to his amazing ability to always see the rainbows at the storms' end. He is a faithful friend, an amazing husband and an incredible father. He is compassionate, giving and inspires all who are privileged enough to know him.

7. Sara at "The Magnificent Seven." Sara has been an inspiration to me since the day that I met her four years ago. Sara is the mother of seven magnificent children, including a set of quintuplets. She is an amazing wife, mother and friend and, on my toughests days, her patience and strength gives me the courage to press on.

8. Stacey at "The Kirchner Way of Life." Stacey is my life preserver. She keeps me afloat when I feel like I can barely hold my head above water (yes, even I have days like that). AND, she is courageous and generous enough to take on my brood whenever I need her to (and that takes a very special person)! There would not be as much lemonade in my life if Stacey was not around to help me squeeze my lemons :-)

9. Megan at "The Happy Hippies." I went to school and coached cheerleading with Megan at Southern Virginia University. She is the mother of two gorgeous children, one of whom has autism. Megan is a beautiful person inside and out. She is passionate about her family and her life and her passion is contagious. She inspires me to be the best person, the best wife and the best mother that I can be, each and every day.

10. Jennifer at "Our Uzbekistan Adoption Journey." If anyone knows how to make lemonade out of lemons it is Jennifer. Jennifer and her family started their jouney to adopt from Uzbekistan at the same time that we did. They were scheduled to travel to bring their beautiful daughter home just a few weeks after I traveled to Uzbekistan for Joshua, but problems with paperwork and officials in Uzbekistan kept them from meeting their daughter for almost 16 months after their original travel date was issued. With patience, faith and an eye single to the glory of God, they hung in there and finally arrived home with their daughter on Sunday. Jennifer and her family are an amazing example of faith and perserverance and beautifully illustrate the phrase, "Good things come to those who wait."

These amazing people are only a few of those who lift and inspire me on a daily basis and I am deeply grateful for their presence in my life.

To nominate others for this awards:

1. Copy the above logo and put it on blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show attitude and/or gratitude (Those who add sweetness to life and/or inspire you by making lemonade.)

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know they have received this award by commenting on a post.

5. Nominate your favorites and link to this blog.

Memory Lane Monday- Sisters

2009-03-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. I've been a slacker. And I am sure that you thought another Monday would pass us by without a Memory Lane Monday post, BUT, I didn't want to become too predictable!

I am the oldest of six children. As the first child, I spent two, wonderful years being the lone object of my parents affections, so, naturally, when my younger sister, Claire, joined the family, I wasn't thrilled. This tiny little person absorbed so much of my parent's time and attention with her crying, constant need of feeding and her smelly diapers. To spite me, she liked to wake my parents over and over throughout the night leaving them too exhausted to play with me. At least, that's the way I saw it. And so the plotting began to get rid of this undesirable addition to the family.

It took a few years for my master plan to materialize, but finally the day came. I was 4 and Claire was 2. While our mother was busy in another room I grabbed a child-sized suitcase and stuffed it full of clothes and other odds and ends necessary for survival. You know, crayons, coloring books, a stuffed animal and a blanket with "silkies" (an addiction that both Claire and I have always shared). Once the packing was complete, I checked to make sure the coast was clear, then I grabbed my sister's hand and we quietly tiptoed out the back door. With the suitcase in one hand and my sister's hand in the other, we walked quickly down the sidewalk towards our destination.

After what seemed like an eternity (two year old's don't walk very fast, you know), we finally arrived. The Super America Convenient Store seemed like the perfect place to leave my "unwanted goods." Upon arrival I promptly helped my unsuspecting sister up onto the bench outside of the store, placed the suitcase beside her and turned to head back home. Luckily our father, who was on his way home from work, happended to drive by right at that very moment. He continued on to our house, thinking that my mother must have been at the store with us, but he arrived to find her in a panic. She couldn't find us anywhere.

They piled into the car and drove down the street to the convenient store where my sister still sat upon the bench, completely oblivious. I had not made it very far when they pulled up to collect my sister and within moments found myself in the car as well, face to face with what I would eventually come to call my mother's "death stare."

Although the details are a bit fuzzy, I can imagine that I spent a good amount of time alone in my room that afternoon and chances are, my mother didn't let us out of her sight for quite some time after that (now that she knew that I was serious about getting rid of my little sister, she wasn't taking any chances). Fortunately for Claire, this was my first and last attempt at dismissing her from the family.

Although we didn't always see eye to eye growing up, we eventually learned to love and appreciate each other and now that we are older, we are the best of friends. To say that I am grateful that my plans were foiled that day would be an understatement. To not have had the privilege of knowing Claire would have been a great tragedy as she is one of the most amazing people I have ever known!

Into battle. . . .

2009-02-28T22:26:00.000-08:00

Command Sergeant Evan Rieben will be going into battle on Tuesday, March 3rd at 1:00 pm.

For reports from the front lines, please visit us here.

A self-reprimand

2009-02-27T08:52:00.000-08:00

I stood at the counter, mechanically slopping peanut butter and then jelly onto ten little pieces of bread. My mind wandered over each task of the day yet to be completed. In the deep recesses of my brain I could faintly hear a little voice calling my name. . .over and over again. It wasn't that I was ignoring the voice, it's just that, when you hear little voices calling your name all day, every day, it becomes almost effortless to let the other thoughts inside your head become louder.

Finally the little voice pushed it's way into the forefront of my mind.

"Mommy, mommy!"

Without looking up, I uttered my impatient response.

"What!"

There was a slight pause and then I heard the little voice say, sweetly and sincerely, "Mommy. . . .mommy, I love you!"

And then she was gone.

And as I stood there at the counter, my hand frozen in mid swipe, I realized that, no thought inside my head would ever be more important than that little voice.

I'm in love. . . .

2009-02-27T07:02:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the intensity of the feelings you felt when you first fell in love? I do. Do you remember the butterflies you would get every time that person was around? The smile that took up permanent residence on your face? The excitement you felt as you rolled out of bed each morning in anticipation of even just a few minutes with that person? How about the electricity that would surge through you at even the slightest touch of hand? The way your heart would race every time they looked at you or the peace that would flow through you just hearing their voice? What about the complete intoxication of their smell? Or the absolute joy that filled your soul at that person's success and happiness? How that person made you want to be the very best that you could be?

I feel that way about my life.

It's incredible.

Fabulous Five

2009-02-24T18:07:00.000-08:00

1. Taking all five kids to Evan's physical therapy session this morning. There is something energizing (and validating) about getting five young children up, fed, dressed and out the door by 8 am. And there is nothing more heart warming than watching my children offer Evan their encouragement and support as he works hard to achieve his goals. He has his own fan club and they motivate him to keep going when the going gets tough.

2. I took a long nap today. It was fabulous.

3. I love spying on my kids. . . .watching them when they don't know that I am there. I love observing how their minds work and seeing the intensity, focus and creativity that goes into their play. Today I watched from a distance as Joshua played alone in the playroom while the other kids were busy creating artistic masterpieces at the kitchen table. Watching Joshua always brings a smile to my face and it takes a lot of willpower to remain in my "hiding place" when all I want to do is eat him up!

4. The kids and I made chocolate chip cookies this afternoon. As we stood in the kitchen licking the batter from the beaters, the spatulas and the bowl, I was reminded of all the times that my siblings and I stood in the many kitchens of our childhood doing the exact same thing with our mother. It made me smile to think of all of the yummy memories we were creating at that very moment!

5. My "exercise buddy" came to visit me again tonight. Several months ago, while I was in Philadelphia with Evan, Richard called and told me about a mammoth possum that he had discovered on our back porch. A few days later, as I was sweating to the oldies (well, not literally, but I am sure it looks just as silly), I noticed something move out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head and there, staring right at me through the french doors, was the mammoth possum. I can only imagine what he was thinking as we stared at each other through the glass. It made me giggle. Tonight, as I was once again getting my groove on, I looked out of the french doors to see that my buddy had returned. . .and he had brought a friend (I can imagine their conversation went something like this, "C'mon man, you've got to see this crazy lady!"). I tried to capture them on camera (yes, it really is amazing that I can keep pace with my workout while operating a camera), but my efforts were thwarted by the hundreds of tiny fingerprints on the glass (which I must admit, made me smile as well). Ah, the things that amuse me!

Memory Lane Monday

2009-02-16T08:46:00.000-08:00

This is Johnny

Johnny (along with his brother, Frankie, who later passed away) joined our family shortly after Richard and I were married. You could say that he was our first "baby."

During my long days of bedrest, Johnny was my constant companion.

Around the 30 week mark, I hit a wall. Hit it hard. I was in constant pain and miserably uncomfortable, but I was determined to carry my precious cargo as long as I possibly could. One night, as I lay in bed, hot, itchy, uncomfortable and, once again, unable to sleep, I reached my breaking point. I could feel the sobs welling up inside of me and, not wanting to wake or worry Richard, I hefted my enormous body out of bed and waddled down the hall to the bathroom. Once the door was shut, the floodgates opened and I was unable to contain my misery any longer. Silent sobs wracked my body as I pleaded with God for mercy and strength. As I sat, sobbing and pleading, something flew under the bathroom door. It was a dead mole. . . followed by a frantic orange paw, searching for it's prey.

It was more than I could take. . . .I burst into fits of hysterical laughter. And as I sat there, laughing and sobbing, I peed my pants (not hard to do when you are 30 weeks pregnant with triplets). It was in that moment that I recognized and appreciated that God truly does have a sense of humor and knows exactly what we need when we need it. For me, it was a dead mole and a crazed cat, reminding me that, even in the most miserable of times, laughter truly can be the best medicine!

Last minute lover?

2009-02-13T19:27:00.000-08:00

Are you a last minute lover? Scrambling to think of something you can do to show the ones you love just how much they mean to you this Valentines day? Do you loathe the consumerism surrounding this celebration of love and wish that you could do something straight from the heart without breaking the bank?

Why not give some oreo truffles to the one you love?

INGREDIENTS:
1 package oreo cookies, divided
8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
16 oz. chocolate chips, melted

DIRECTIONS
Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs; reserve for later use (To crush cookies you can use a food processor or place the cookies in a sealable plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin). Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs; place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter. Dip balls in chocolate (to make dipping a little easier, I usually chill the oreo balls for about 20 minutes and then use a toothpick to dip them into the chocolate); place on wax paper-covered baking sheet (you can also place them in mini baking cups that you can find at any craft store, such as Michaels). Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator. (Gift boxes can also be found at most craft stores).

Need an idea for a delicious Valentines day treat? Look no further. These homemade oreo cookies really hit the spot.

(Great recipe and tutorial can be found here.)

Decorations? This heart"felt" banner will make everyone who walks through your door feel warm and fuzzy.

(For a great tutorial, click here.)

Still have a few valentines you need to check off your list? How about an activity that the kids will enjoy? This sweet idea from "Family Fun" is the ticket:

YOU WILL NEED:
An assortment of bears (we used honey and chocolate teddy grahms and gummy bears)
Plastic bags
Ribbon
Cardstock
Hole punch

Count out your bears:

Put bears into bags. Write out your message (we said: "Bear hugs for "Katie" Love, Evan)
Punch a hole into your cardstock, thread your ribbon through it and tie it around the bag to close.

All done!

Sweet Freedom

2009-02-12T13:47:00.001-08:00

It has been a cold winter in Ohio. Frigid really. And we have spent many a day staring longingly out of our windows into winter's gray abyss, wishing we could run free in the yard, take leisurely walks around the neighborhood and spend hours at the playground. But alas, it just was not meant to be. . . . until yesterday that is, when winter finally released her frigid grasp (at least temporarily).

When I opened the doors and let the troops run free, it was like releasing caged birds into the wild! It was a magnificent sight watching them run every which way and listening to the peals of laughter as they rolled on the soggy earth and dug their fingers into the dirt. Ah, sweet freedom! The warm air was rejuvenating and, I must say, the sunshine was very good for the soul.

Freedom!

Finally able to "hit the pavement!"

A triplet tree. Had I known that triplets grew on trees, I think I might've gone with that option!

A Naptime Project

2009-02-11T06:30:00.000-08:00

Believe me when I tell you that I count my lucky stars that my children still nap (well, most of them do. . .for Maren, it is more like quiet time, but she stays in her bed and plays quietly with her dolls, occasionally drifting off to sleep, and of course, Evan is at school). I'd be lying if I told you I didn't need (and welcome) the break each day. Most days I allow myself to dabble in dreamland as well (sure there are dishes to be done, laundry to be washed and toys to be picked up, but I have every confidence that they will still be there when I wake), but every now and then I welcome the chance to tackle the many projects that sit, awaiting my attention. Yesterday was one of those days.

From the moment I laid eyes on this barn star project, I began daydreaming of all that I could do with it. You may recall that I made these magnificent stars for several members of our family for Christmas. I loved them so much that I decided I must have one of my own. I have had the stars and the supplies for months, but just could not find the energy or motivation to complete them. My vision was to create one large star featuring Richard and I (where it all began) and to make individual stars to represent each of our children. The results are in. . . . . and I LOVE it!

Memory Lane Monday- Go Fish

2009-02-09T12:20:00.000-08:00

In the early days of our marriage, Richard and I enjoyed many shared hobbies, but none more than fishing in the Maury River together. On lazy Saturdays we would gather our fishing poles, bait and tackle and a nice, big tub of fat, slimy worms and drive down to the river. The Maury always bestowed her bounty upon us generously, at times yielding as many as 7-8, small-mouth bass to each of us. Of course, the irony in this beloved hobby is that Richard is allergic to fish. . .deathly allergic, that is. This being the case, our catch, obviously, did not accompany us home. This simple fact also required that I free the slimy, panic-stricken fish from the hooks that held them captive, a task that I quickly became quite proficient in.

It has been years since we have pulled out our fishing poles and spent lazy days waiting for the fish to bite, but this is one Rieben family tradition that will not be left to gather dust for long. Now that the troops are old enough to man a pole, I don't believe that there is a fish within a fifty mile radius that is safe!

#6

2009-02-05T19:57:00.000-08:00

6. A night out on the town alone, enjoying Barnes and Nobles and studying Russian at TGI Friday's, while savoring a brownie obsession. Heaven!

Fabulous Five

2009-02-05T16:47:00.001-08:00

1. Doing the hokey pokey with Evan while we waited for the school bus. Keeps us nice and warm and it always gives us the giggles!

2. Although I prefer NOT to have sick kids, I sure do love the snuggle time I am able to get in while they are down (because let's be honest, it is one of the only times they are still long enough to snuggle), especially with Joshua, who let me hold him and rock him like a little baby.

3. Knee hugs. You know, the kind where you are standing at the sink washing the dishes and a little set of arms wraps around your knees and gives you a good squeeze. I get lots of knee hugs when Aiden is around!

4. Homemade pizza. Yummy.

5. Richard's strong, comforting arms around me after a long day.

The Sick House

2009-02-05T16:26:00.000-08:00

Seven

2009-02-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

It occurred to me several years ago, that Heavenly Father's favorite number must be seven. As we know, the Earth was created in seven days. In Egypt, during the time of Joseph, there were seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. In the Book of Revelation, I'd be willing to guess that the number seven is the most commonly occurring number, with mention made of seven churches, seven angels, seven candlesticks, seven stars (you get the idea). Jesus even commands us to forgive seventy times seven (a parable teaching us that we must always forgive, but still. . the use of sevens!).

I have a certain affinity for the number seven as well and, this week, I have had the opportunity to experience many things in sevens.

Each morning I have woken to seven smiling faces, anxious for the adventures of a new day.

Seven servings of chocolate chip pancakes with seven cups of cold milk

Seventy wiggly toes on seven sets of feet

Seven personalities all different from each other

Seven little people having fun with one another

Seven peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

Seven sets of smiles and laughter (and some tears and frowns too)

Seven baths = seven, sweet smelling, huggable babies

Seven sets of snuggly pajamas fresh from the dryer (yummy)

One bedtime story read to seven eager children

Seven little prayers are said

Seven little kisses bestowed upon seven sleepy little heads

One happily messy playroom tells the tale of another day, where seven amazing children all played the day away!

Thank you, Stacey, for giving me a taste of seven this week! And I must agree with the Lord on this one. . .seven is quite a fantastic number!

The extra two kids belong to my friend, Stacey, whose husband had surgery several hours from home this week. Don't worry, we wouldn't have added two more children without sharing the good news!

Celebrating life's little accomplishments

2009-02-03T17:23:00.000-08:00

We like to celebrate life's little accomplishments. When the kids learned to crawl, we celebrated. When they started to walk, we celebrated. When they learned to take their dishes to the sink, put their toys away and say their ABC's, we, of course, celebrated. So, it should probably go without saying that, when they FINALLY started pooping in the potty, we made a big deal out of it. I admit, celebrating this great accomplishment certainly achieved the desired results, but now, months after mastering this "skill," our kids still call us to the bathroom to marvel at their creations. Today was no exception. After Jacob had done his business he ran, enthusiastically, through the house calling my name, "Mommy! You've got to see this!" So naturally, I followed him back to the bathroom to survey his work and congratulate him on a job well done. As we stared into the toilet together, Jacob looked up at me, his face exuberant, and declared with pride, "I'm a great pooper!"

That you are Jacob. That you are!

Memory Lane Monday

2009-02-02T10:10:00.001-08:00

This was our first home.

Richard actually purchased it (for $57,000) shortly after moving to Buena Vista (pronounced Byoo-na Vista rather than Bway-na Vista. . .we just refer to it as BV), Virginia where he had accepted a position at Southern Virginia University (I had just transferred there from a community college in North Carolina to complete my last two years of school). We were married in September 2002 at which point I had the privilege of joining him in this cozy little bungalow! We had so much fun making this house a home together. We painted, we renovated, repaired and beautified.

Looking into the living room from the kitchen

Looking into the kitchen from the living room

Our bedroom (I wanted this room to be "fun." We were newlyweds and definitely had romance covered! This is the "toned down" version of the bedroom. Prior to selling it, the trim and baseboards were the same color green as is on our bedspread. Knowing that the blue was probably going to be overwhelming enough for potential buyers, I decided to paint the trim and baseboards white again.).

The first winter we lived in this house, it was so cold that we slept on an air mattress in the den (the only room that did not have drafty windows (all of the windows were original to the home except for the windows in the den, which was an addition to the house). It felt like we were having a sleepover every night! Our next door neighbor had a mullet. He also had a band. We called them the "Mullet Band" and often found ourselves drifting off to sleep to their not-so-quiet tunes. Rather than feeling perturbed by the "Mullet" and his band (yes, we actually referred to him by this name. . .not when talking to him of course, we called him Jeff then, but between the two of us (and maybe some of our close friends) he was the "Mullet"), we often found ourselves laughing and even dancing, to their interesting selection of music and enjoyed our frequent, private concerts.

This is where we fell in love. This is where our family began. This is where our triplets were created. This is where many wonderful and cherished memories were made. I miss our cozy home in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. I miss Southern Virginia University, where I graduated and then worked, with my husband, until October 2004 when we moved to Ohio to be closer to family prior to the birth of our triplets. I miss it, but I cherish every memory that was made there and look forward to telling my children and grandchildren about "where it all began."

Southern Virginia University (Winter 2002)

Fabulous Five

2009-01-29T17:18:00.000-08:00

On this particularly long day, I felt it would be most beneficial to report my fabulous five, because, believe it or not, no matter how long the day may seem, there are always, always five wonderful things to report!

1. Warm chocolate chip cookies. Need I say more? So I am cheating a little with this one since we actually made (and devoured) the cookies yesterday, but just the thought and lingering smell of those yummy morsels brought a smile to my face today, as did watching my children delight in the last of them after lunch.

2. Stacey came to play today (and brought her boys Will and Aiden along as well). What more can I say, but there is nothing quite as refreshing as a good friend and light and easy GROWN UP conversation (not to mention the fact that the kids keep each other wonderfully entertained).

3. Before bedtime this evening, Richard called to tell the kids he had a surprise for them on mommy's computer. We all piled into the office to check my e-mail and there, in my inbox, was an e-card from daddy. This is what it said:

Evan, Maren, Lukas, Jacob and Joshua.

As I settle down for the night here in Atlanta, I want you to know how much I miss you and how much I look forward to seeing you again. Be good for mommy and sleep good tonight!

With Love-
Daddy

Have I mentioned just how much I adore my husband, who also happens to be the most fantastic father in the world?

4. When Richard called to say goodnight to the kids this evening, Joshua came full speed ahead from the opposite side of the house yelling, "Daddy, daddy, daddy!" He also does this every day when his daddy comes home from work. There just are not words to properly describe how sweet it is to see how much our little man loves his daddy. Some day, I am going to capture it on camera!

5. Although I hate that Evan was feeling ill today, it made me happy, as I snuggled with him on the couch this afternoon, to know that, now, when he is feeling sick, he has a mommy to hold him, love him and care for him while he heals. Before he joined our family, there was never any advantage to being sick. He simply felt miserable and lay there by himself with no one to cuddle him, love him or tell him that it would be alright. Now that he has a mommy, I think he is quickly learning that being sick actually does have it's advantages. Although misery is still a factor, who doesn't love a nice quiet afternoon watching their favorite movies while snuggled up in their mommy's lap? I sure do love making sure that he knows he is loved!

Moving in slow motion. . . .

2009-01-29T16:13:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those days where everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. You know, where the minutes drag on for what seems like hours, every moment feeling like an invariable "groundhog day" and creativity closely resembles a dry well. Perhaps it is a result of being stuck inside these walls for so long with no change of scenery. At some point the mind cries out for a change of pace. Perhaps it is a result of my lack of sleep last night. I never sleep well when Richard is not here and I hadn't really noticed how cold it was at night until there was no one to snuggle up to.

To further prove that the world must be slightly off it's axis today, Evan, my infinitely healthy child, was under the weather with a 101.5 degree fever and a cough.

Not that I was completely surprised after our frolic in the cold, snowy weather yesterday. He was adamant that he was not sick, telling me every few minutes that he was feeling better and asking to go back out in the snow, but alas, mommy won out and we spent a good part of the afternoon snuggling on the couch watching our favorite movies and then enjoyed a "healing" dinner of homemade chicken noodle soup, which, I have come to believe, also does wonders for the soul (especially on a long, hard day).

2009-01-28T19:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Winter,

I must admit, you have never really been my favorite season, with your gray and dreary days, biting cold and seemingly endless snow, but I find that, now that I am able to see you through the eyes of my children, my general distaste for you is beginning to change. You see, today as I watched your fluffy, white snowflakes blanket the earth I was touched by your peaceful purity. As I listened to my children's laughter echo through your quiet skies, caught snowflakes on my tongue and lay in the snow making angels with my children, I marveled at how magnificently you capture the essence of childhood. And as we sipped our hot cocoa and snuggled on the couch under warm blankets, I was grateful for the opportunity you gave me to cuddle with my babies. So thank you, winter. Thank you for reminding me that, even the coldest and grayest of days can be filled with love, laughter, magic and miracles!

Fabulous Five

2009-01-27T16:18:00.000-08:00

Several months ago, at the end of each day, I started writing down five things that made me smile that day. It is so easy to get lost in the busyness of doctors appointments, therapies, school, work and all of the other things that we fill our plates with, and I wanted to take a moment to appreciate all of the little things that bless my life each day. After a few days of keeping this "joy journal" I found that I was starting to focus more and more on each of the moments that bring me joy and less on the exhaustion and frustrations of the daily grind.

While many of those moments are precious and private, I would like to take the time to share some of those moments with you occasionally, so without further ado, I bring you today's Fabulous Five. . .

1. I love watching my children play together. As with most siblings, they certainly have their moments of fussing, fighting and general discontent, but more often than not, they play so well together, and look out for and are compassionate towards each other. One of the things I love about having children so close together in age is that they are each other's best friends and I hope that they are always as close to each other as they are now.

Jacob and Lukas playing with their Leapsters (or as Lukas calls them, "Lobsters")

Jacob, Lukas and Evan playing with cars (taken a few weeks ago)

Maren and Evan snuggling on the couch

2. "You're beautiful mommy," "Thank you for this wonderful dinner mommy," "Mommy, you are the best cook ever." My kids tell me things like this every single day. Why? Because their daddy has taught them to love and appreciate me. . . and boy do I love and appreciate that! Richard has always been wonderful at complimenting me and taking note of the things that I do for our family. When we first started dating, I remember feeling uncomfortable at times at how freely he complimented me. I wasn't used to having someone shower me with praise constantly. Now I have such a deep appreciation for this expression of love. I never doubt that I am loved and important to my family and I know that, the spouses of all of my children will be lucky to know, all the time, that they are loved, appreciated and important.

3. As I was working on some pre-surgical paperwork this morning for Evan's upcoming surgery, Maren came running into the room to tell me that something was wrong with Joshua. I followed her to the opposite side of the house where I could hear Joshua crying in the hallway. As I rounded the corner I saw him laying on the floor outside of the bathroom and immediately realized the cause of his distress. Apparently he had decided that the kids' potty seat would make a nice necklace and was wearing it like a "pageant sash." His arm was stuck and he couldn't get it off, thus causing the distress. Like the loving mother that I am, I immediately ran for my camera trying to hold back the laughter! Once our photo session had come to a close, I knelt down to free him from the potty seat. It took me about five minutes to finagle him out, but soon he was free and after some hugs and kisses, I disinfected us both (and gave the potty seat a good cleaning. . .ew) and all was well once more!

Joshua, the potty king

4. Every night before bed we have a family song and prayer and then, before we tuck each of the kids' into their beds, we have individual prayers with them. I love listening to toddlers pray. There is such a purity and innocence in everything they say and occasionally I even find myself needing to stifle a chuckle at something funny that they have said. It is one of my favorite times of the day and it is a wonderful illustration of why we are commanded to be "like unto little children."

5. My kids LOVE to sing. I catch them singing multiple times throughout the day. Sometimes it is songs that they have learned and other times they just make up songs about what they are doing (they come by it honestly as I tend to sing about everything). Today I found Jacob in the playroom, playing by himself with his cars, singing "I am a Child of God" at the top of his lungs. It always brings a smile to my face when I hear the kids sing, but my smile grows even more to realize that they know this truth. . .that they are children of a loving Father in Heaven.

Bliss. . .

2009-01-27T15:58:00.000-08:00

For my birthday in November, my mother in-law gave me the gift of time. She volunteered to take the kids for a weekend while Richard and I had some time to ourselves. A week and a half ago, Richard and I were able to put that generous gift to use. Cynthia came into town on a Friday evening and we spent the weekend together, enjoying each other's company and celebrating birthdays. On Sunday afternoon, after church, Richard and I bid everyone farewell and we drove to Hocking Hills (Logan, Ohio) and enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing time with one another in a cozy cabin in the hills. We spent most of our time together resting, relaxing and reconnecting, but we also took the time to enjoy some of Heavenly Father's beautiful creations as we hiked snowy, "Old Man's Cave." It was truly breathtaking. What better gift is there than time? Thank you so much Cynthia, for such a precious gift!

Redemption

2009-01-27T12:53:00.000-08:00

What can I say, except that there is little hope of redemption for my silence over these past few months! I have sat in front of my computer, with every intention of updating my blog, many, many times and within minutes become so overwhelmed by the task that I simply walk away! But today I am not running away, because, truthfully, there are too many blessed things to share and I will no longer selfishly keep them to myself! When God blesses you with such amazing gifts, you share them with the world, and so, I share with you the many gifts that I haven been given these past few months of silence. . . . .

We were blessed to be able to spend Thanksgiving with my extended family this year. We rented a "cabin" in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and spent Thanksgiving with grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins (totaling 31 people). We had such an amazing time together.

The Hamilton/Fightmaster/Terry/Monnett/Turner/Rieben/Colton Family

Evan with cousins Adrienne, Kaitlyn and Madeline (I have a feeling he will spend a lot of time surrounded by beautiful girls!)

Maren with cousins Kaitlyn and Emma

After Thanksgiving we got to work preparing for the Christmas season. We decided to make most of our Christmas gifts this year and wanted our children to focus on what they would "give" this year rather than what they would "receive."

Our first order of business after putting up our decorations, was to make our Christmas cookie countdown.

We made hand-dipped chocolate pretzels for our neighbors, friends, family, teachers, doctors and therapists (Aunt Claire also taught us how to make Oreo truffles and we gave those as gifts as well. . .the ones we managed not to eat, that is!)

One of my favorite hand-made Christmas gifts were these barn stars that we put together for our family (blogspot rotated my pictures when they uploaded which is why they appear to be upside down). These two stars went to my sister, Claire and her husband Tyler and to Richard's dad and step-mother. (As with most crafty things, this idea was not my own. Credit for this goes to Jules (a friend of a friend).

I also tried my hand at doll making. This is Maren's new doll Calla and her teddy bear. I had a lot of fun making this for her! (I used the Wee Wonderfuls "Kit, Chloe and Louise" pattern for this. Well worth the money I spent for it!)

Each of the kids also got their very own "baking set," complete with felt cookies, cookie dough and a rolling pin. Although time-consuming, these were one of my favorite Christmas creations and the kids LOVE to make cookies in their new kitchen.

Speaking of their new kitchen, here it is in all of it's glory! It was the first thing Lukas ran to on Christmas morning and he immediately started "washing" the dishes! He is going to make some lucky girl VERY happy!

We were blessed to spend Christmas with Richard's family! It has been several years since we have been together for a "Rieben Christmas" and it was wonderful to all be together this year. We had a blast experiencing the magic of the Christmas season through the kids' eyes and, after they were in bed at night, we enjoyed endless hours of Settlers of Catan and episodes of "Firefly."

Richard, Craig (Grandad), Rob (Captain Awesome), Evan, Anne, Elizabeth (Grandmom), Valerie, Joshua, Maren, Mariette, Lukas and Jacob

The kids had so much fun playing with Aunt Mariette

The "Computer Lab"

Shortly after Christmas a "cold spell" hit (at one point we were down to -25 with windchill) and we got some snow. We have had a great time making snow angels, snowballs, and sledding!

Stuck

(Yes, I do believe that is frozen snot coming out of his nose. Icky, no?)

Who let the monkey drive?

Talk about a workout!

Cold. Very, very cold!

Thankfully, we've had lots and lots of this to keep us warm (Aren't these mugs adorable? My mother-in-law brought them home from the Czech Republic a few years ago and the kids love them. They are perfect for hot chocolate on a cold day)

This month we have the privilege of celebrating the lives of five members of our family. On the 8th, Joshua (2) and Richard (29) celebrated their birthday's and on the 22nd, the triplets turned 4!

I think it goes without saying that Joshua enjoyed his birthday!

"Is this for me?"

A combined birthday party with family.

Maren, Lukas and Jacob's "Snowman Cakes" (Have you ever tried to ice a stack of cupcakes? Not as easy as you might think!)

Complete with "Snowman cupcakes"

Is there any doubt that we are blessed beyond measure?

Welcome to the Trenches

2008-11-24T09:06:00.000-08:00

Finally, after almost a year of trying to transition from our adoption blog to a family blog, I am pleased to welcome you to the Trenches of Motherhood, my own little corner of the world wide web where I can share with you the joys, triumphs, exhaustion, tears, frustrations and tender moments that make motherhood the most challenging, most rewarding job I have ever had!

Several months ago, my friend Stacey "tagged" me to do an "All About My Kids" post and I thought that would be a great way to open this new chapter in the blogosphere. So without further ado, here are the troops:

All About Evan

Name and Meaning: Evan Valera Rieben. Evan spent the first 3+ years of his life as Valera Aleksandrovich Degtjar. When we saw Evan for the first time, we knew that he was meant to be a part of our family. When we learned that his name was the masculine form of mine, we felt that was God's way of reaffirming that Evan was ours. The name Evan means, "God is good" and we have witnessed, first hand, just how true that is every day since Evan first entered our lives. We chose to keep Valera as his middle name because that was the name his birth mother gave him and we wanted him to have that part of his heritage (and allow him the choice to keep it or change it when he is old enough to make that decision).

Age: 4.4 years

Nicknames: I'm not sure why, but Evan is the only one of my children who has escaped my crazy nicknames! Someday I am sure he will consider himself lucky.

Favorite Activities: Evan LOVES to sing. You will find him singing at all hours of the day and sometimes, he even sings in his sleep! He loves to splash in the bathtub and spends hours playing in the sandbox. He loves going to preschool and especially likes riding the bus. He likes to read, color, paint and spend time with his family and friends. He also thinks flying on airplanes is pretty neat!

Favorite Foods: First and foremost, Evan has never met a cookie he didn't like! He is also a big fan of anything and everything chocolate. He has a newfound love of chicken nuggets and I am convinced he would eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner if allowed. He also enjoys a good pancake, bread and we are learning that he has a special place in his taste buds and tummy for soup!

Least Favorite Foods: Odd as it may seem, he is not a big fan of most childhood favorites like macaroni and cheese, pizza and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Favorite Music: Evan LOVES music of all kinds! In fact, when we first met Evan, he was a bit wary of us (and who could blame him, we were strangers speaking a foreign language) and would cry through the majority of our visits. One day I decided to sing to him and as soon as I started singing, he stopped crying. He was mesmerized. From then on, Richard and I would sing to him at every visit and he rarely cried after that. Some of his favorite songs include, "I am a Child of God," "Families Can Be Together Forever," "I Love to See the Temple," "Give Said the Little Stream," "The Hokey Pokey," "If You're Happy and You Know it," "The Wheels on the Bus" and "BINGO"

Favorite Toys: Evan is a big fan of stuffed animals. His favorite animal is a rainbow-colored bear that his Grandma DD brought him shortly after he came home from Ukraine. He sleeps with it every night and it accompanies him to doctors appointments, hospital stays and even on road trips. He also like to play with puzzles, with sand toys in the sandbox and with toy cars and trucks.

Favorite Book: Evan loves a good story, especially stories about Curious George, Corduroy and all the books by Laura Numeroff (author of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie..." )

Favorite Item of Clothing: Evan loves, loves, LOVES his slippers! Once he got his casts off and got his new KAFO's (Knee Ankle Foot Orthoses), I decided to put some slippers on over his braces to keep his feet warm while they were adjusting (I didn't want to put him in shoes since they usually squeeze the feet a little more and didn't think he was quite ready for that). Now he asks for his slippers constantly! He wears them 24-7 and loves them!

What Makes Him Happy: There isn't much that doesn't make Evan happy. I like to call him my little piece of sunshine because he is always smiling! He loves to give and receive hugs and kisses and to snuggle. Chocolate never fails to bring a smile to his face. Riding the bus, playing in the sandbox, reading books and going to preschool also make him deliriously happy!

What Makes Him Sad: Evan is a mama's boy and really isn't a fan of being away from his mommy. He also doesn't care much for doctors, cast saws, mommy speaking Russian, or being made to eat grilled cheese sandwiches.

All About Maren

Name and Meaning: Maren Elizabeth Rieben. People often ask me how we came up with the name Maren. The first time I heard the name was in 8th grade orchestra when I was living in West Valley City, Utah, where a girl named Maren sat next to me in the 2nd violin section. I loved her name and it stuck with me. I met another Maren when I was in college and was reminded again of how much I liked the name. One Sunday morning, while we were visiting my mother-in-law's ward (congregation), a baby was blessed and her name was Maren. When Richard and I returned home from church that day I asked him if we could name our first daughter Maren Elizabeth. He loved it too and a year and a half later we named our beautiful baby girl Maren Elizabeth Rieben. Maren is lucky to be named after several amazing people to include my mother (Elizabeth Anne), Richard's step-mother (Elizabeth), my youngest sister (Haley Elizabeth) and my cousin (Emily Elizabeth).

Age: 3.10 years

Nicknames: Maren is fortunate (or maybe unfortunate) to have many, many nicknames! When she was a baby we often called her "Mare Bear". When she first started to talk and before she could say Maren, she bestowed upon herself a nickname. . ."Meaner" (which is quite often very fitting). Most of the time we refer to her as "Mini" (other variations include "Little Mini" or "Min"), "Sister" or "Mare"

Favorite Activities: Maren, like many little girls, loves to play house with her dolls and stuffed animals. She is quite the nurturer (just ask Josh, who has become the "real life" subject of her "nurturing" much to his chagrin). She also enjoys playing dress up and doing hair with mommy. But that is only one side of Maren, she also enjoys a good romp in the dirt and is often the dirtiest after an afternoon of playing outside. She also loves to swim, color, ride her bike and read books.

Favorite Foods: Maren, much like mommy and Evan, has a sweet tooth and if it were up to her, she would likely eat candy, cookies and chocolate for every meal. Since she can't, she also enjoys homemade pizza and potato wedges, chicken enchiladas, fruit, spaghetti and salad.

Least Favorite Foods: Maren has recently decided that she is not a big fan of chili. She also doesn't care much for cream of wheat!

Favorite Music: Maren is a big fan of music. She loves to sing and she loves to dance. Her favorite songs include, "I am a Child of God," "I love to See the Temple," "The Hokey Pokey" and "One Step At A Time," by Jordin Sparks (I am convinced that she would be a Hannah Montana fan if she actually knew who Hannah Montana was). She also wants to learn how to play the piano like mommy and both of her grandma's.

Favorite Toys: Her absolute favorite toy at the moment is. . . . Joshua! But when he is not in the mood to be the object of her entertainment, she loves playing with her baby dolls and stuffed animals. She also LOVES her "bunnies" two identical lovies that she has had since birth. She doesn't go anywhere without them.

Favorite Book: Maren loves stories and would likely let you read to her all day long. Her favorite story at the moment is "The Dancing Jellybeans."

Favorite Item of Clothing: This changes weekly for Maren. At three years-old, she already loves clothes. This week's item of obsession is a pink/brown/orange striped, hooded dress with hot pink tights.

What Makes Her Happy: Maren loves getting to do things one-on-one with mommy and daddy. Candy and chocolate also bring a smile to her face. She loves to receive praise and also to give it. She also thinks it is pretty neat to help others (especially when helping involves cooking something yummy in the kitchen).

What Makes Her Sad: The word "No" generally turns her smile into a frown. She isn't a big fan of time out either!

All About Lukas

Name and Meaning: Lukas Robert Rieben. Lukas was a name that Richard and I both agreed we loved prior to getting married (possibly the ONLY name we both agreed on prior to getting married). There was never really a question that our first son would be Lukas and, with just 30 seconds on Jacob, he is! Lukas is named after three very important people in our lives, Richard's brother (Robert), my good friend and suedo big brother (Sean Robert) and my Uncle (Robert Christopher).

Age: 3.10 years

Nicknames: Lukas is also "fortunate" to be a victim of mommy's crazy nicknaming! While there are really too many to list here, some of the most common names you will hear Lukas called by are "Lukey Loo," "Toot head" (this is what Jacob, Maren and Evan refer to him as), "Toad" (or Toady), and "Loo" (also included in this category are "Loo Loo" and "Too").

Favorite Activities: Lukas is our comedian. He loves to make people laugh and is therefore always trying! Like many little boys, Lukas enjoys chasing his sister around the house, playing with sticks and covering himself from head to toe in dirt. He also enjoys reading, playing with cars/trucks and dressing up in pretty dresses. He can often be found making "dinner" in his play kitchen. He also loves to ride his bike, swing and play ball (any kind of ball really, although he has a special place in his heart for baseball and football).

Favorite Foods: Hands down, without question, Lukas' favorite food is chicken enchiladas. I am convinced that he could down an entire pan by himself! He also enjoys pancakes, homemade pizza, chocolate chip cookies, fruit and spaghetti.

Least Favorite Foods: Honestly, there really isn't much that Lukas doesn't like.

Favorite Music: Lukas also LOVES music. In fact, he is the child that I am most likely to find singing to himself when no one else is around (it is really sweet). His favorite songs are "I am a Child of God," "Families Can Be Together Forever," "I Love to See the Temple," "Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam," "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree," "In the Leafy Treetops," "The Wheels on the Bus," "If You're Happy and you Know It," and "Give Said the Little Stream."

Favorite Toys: If given the option of playing with any toys, Lukas almost always chooses the play food and his play kitchen. He loves to pretend he is cooking. Also, anything that can be used as a sword, will be used as a sword (this includes sticks, mops/brooms, baby dolls, wooden spoons, toilet paper rolls, and empty containers). And although it is not necessarily a toy, his object of greatest affection is his "Agget" (a blanket made for him by his Grandma DD). Before he could say blanket, he said agget and it stucks. It is his most prized possession.

Favorite Book: Lukas LOVES to read. As with singing, he is also the child I am most likely to find sitting alone reading a book. He is really no respecter of books. He loves them all. Some of his favorites are "The Little Engine that Could," "The Cat in the Hat," "Green Eggs and Ham," "Horten Hears A Who," and all books by Richard Scarry.

Favorite Item of Clothing: Socks. Lukas has awful eczema and has since he was about 4 months old. His feet are always itchy and so he wears his socks to help keep the scratching to a minimum. I think he is convinced that his socks have magic powers because he HAS to have socks morning, noon and night.

What Makes Him Happy: As previously stated, Lukas LOVES to make people laugh and when he is successful, it makes him happy. He also loves spending one-on-one time with mommy and daddy. He also loves to give and receive praise. He is happiest when he is doing the things he loves with him family.

What Makes Him Sad: Eczema and allergies make him miserable and like Maren, he also isn't a fan of the word, "No!"

All About Jacob

Name and Meaning: Jacob Craig Rieben. When we found out we were expecting triplets, we decided to come up with three names for girls and boys that we liked. Much easier said than done! Maren and Lukas were easy. We had already decided we liked those names. We discussed many different names and, although there were some that we liked and even some we agreed upon, none of them really seemed right. One day I was browsing a baby name site and the name Jacob suddenly lept off the page. I felt like I had just found the missing piece to a complicated puzzle and I knew that one of our children would be Jacob. When I was about 23 weeks pregnant I had a 4-D ultrasound and was able to "see" each of my babies. As I looked at the screen, I had a strong impression that "Baby B" was to be Lukas and "Baby C" was to be Jacob and, although we did not "know" these children yet, we knew that was exactly who each of them were meant to be! Jacob is named after Richard's father (Craig Leonard Rieben).

Age: 3.10 years

Nicknames: Jacob has one nickname that has evolved over time. It started off as "Jay" and quickly became "Jay Bird" (as in, naked as a Jay Bird). Most of the time we called him "Jay Jay" or "Bird" until one day when he came in from playing outside in a mud puddle. He was covered from head to toe in mud and so I jokingly called him "Dirty Bird." It stuck. I mean, REALLY, stuck. In fact, he actually introduces himself as "Dirty Bird" (I can only imagine what people think!). If you ask him what his name is, he will tell you "Dirty Bird." If you ask him what his nickname is, he will tell you "Jacob!"

Favorite Activities: Jacob LOVES to play board games. His favorites are "Candy Land" and "Memory Match." The child schools everyone at "Memory Match." He also loves, loves, LOVES cars, trucks and trains (especially Thomas the train). Like Lukas, he loves to play outside in the dirt, swim and play on the swings and at the playground. He also loves to read.

Favorite Foods: If Jacob could eat peanut butter and jelly for every meal, he would! He also loves homemade pizza, chicken enchiladas, pancakes, fruit (especially watermelon and strawberries) and chocolate chip cookies.

Least Favorite Foods: Like Evan, he is really not a fan of grilled cheese, although he will eat it if that is the only thing offered. He also doesn't care for cream of wheat.

Favorite Music: Jacob is another lover of music. Like his siblings he loves, "I Am a Child of God," "Families Can Be Together Forever," "I Love to See the Temple," "Give Said the Little Stream," "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree," "The Hokey Pokey," "If You're Happy and You Know it," "Do As I'm Doing," "Going on a Bear Hunt," and he has a special place in his heart for Daniel Beddingfield ("James Dean" and "Gotta Get Through This") and "Shake It," by Metro Station.

Favorite Toys: Cars, trains, and trucks are always at the top of Jacob's list! Jacob also has a wonderful imagination and can pretend that anything is anything! He loves anything that he can pretend is a car, truck, train or a sword. His prized possession is his "Scratchy B" (a blue blanket that is silky on one side and soft on the other. . .he has two of them and he refers to them as "Scratchy" and "Rubby". . .he prefers scratchy).

Favorite Book: Jacob also LOVES books! Some of his favorites are "The Little Engine that Could," anything about Thomas the Tank Engine, anything by Richard Scarry, "Green Eggs and Ham," "The Cat in the Hat," and "Horton Hears a Who."

Favorite Item of Clothing: His pajamas because it means it is time for bed! Jacob likes to sleep. By the time naps and bedtime roll around, he is ready to rest and he always lets us know. Sometimes he will tell me in the morning, which pajamas he would like to wear that night! The kids loves his PJ's!

What Makes Him Happy: Jacob is a happy guy and it doesn't take much to make him smile! As long as he is doing the things he loves with people that he loves, he is generally happy!

What Makes Him Sad: Jacob is a sensitive guy and gets his feelings hurt easily. When others don't share with him or when someone is angry of upset with him, it makes him sad. He also gets upset when he is tired or can't find his "B."

All About Joshua

Name and Meaning: Joshua Steve Ortyk Rieben. Joshua was born as Ortyk Farhod Hanazarov. Joshua was a name that both Richard and I liked and could agree upon. The meaning of the name Joshua is "God is my salvation" and we wanted Joshua to know where to look for all that he would need throughout his life. We also wanted to name him after someone he would look up to and so we chose to name him after my grandfather, Steve Hamilton. My grandpa (we called him Big Dad) was one of my heroes. He accomplished many things throughout the course of his life and he did it through his drive and determination. We knew that Joshua would have many obstacles to face throughout the course of his life and knew that the example of his name sake would help him to know that he could achieve whatever he set his mind to. Like Evan, we chose to keep the name Ortyk since it was the name his birth mother had given him and we wanted him to choose whether or not he wanted to keep that part of his heritage rather than make that decision ourselves.

Age: 1.10 years

Nicknames: Joshua is also lucky enough to have received many nicknames! Some of the most commonly heard nicknames are, "Baby Josh," "Baby," "Little Man," "Joshie," "Little One" or "Tiny One" (or sometimes just "One").

Favorite Activities: Joshua could play with a ball for HOURS! He loves to play catch and what we like to call "fetch." In fact, "ball" was one of his first, distinguishable, words! When he is not throwing balls or chasing after them, he loves to be outside. He loves to swing, play with cars/trucks and he also enjoys reading. His favorite thing is to follow the other kids around the house and to help them in their mischief.

Favorite Foods: Joshua is no respecter of food! This kid loves to eat! Some of his favorites are pancakes, chicken enchiladas, homemade pizza, chicken/broccoli casserole, chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter and jelly and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Least Favorite Foods: Like many toddlers, he isn't a big fan of vegetables and generally boycotts most of them (but don't worry, mommy is a master at hiding veggies in other foods he loves!).

Favorite Music: Although Joshua is not doing much singing yet, he loves to listen to the rest of us sing. His absolutely favorite songs are "Wheels on the Bus" and "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree."

Favorite Toys: Balls, balls and more balls! He also enjoys cars and trucks, but that is only when he doesn't have a ball to play with!

Favorite Book: Joshua loves to look at books with pictures of other babies. He will sit and listen to a book with the other kids, but he much prefers sitting on the floor with his board books and looking through the pictures by himself. Often, when it is unusually quite, I will find Joshua sitting by himself, "reading" his books.

Favorite Item of Clothing: His favorite things to wear are his prosthetic leg and his shoe! Seriously, he HATES taking them off and when they are off, he will crawl around until he finds them and will bring them to me to put them on. Sometimes I will even find him trying to put them on himself! Such a funny little man!

What Makes Him Happy: Joshua is a happy guy and his smile just makes me melt! This child can get away with murder! Joshua is always happy as long as he is well-fed and well-rested. . .and there is a ball to play with! He loves playing with his siblings and always loves a good snuggle with mommy and daddy!

What Makes Him Sad: When he is hungry or tired, watch out!!! He also isn't very fond of having to come inside when play time is over or when he gets trampled by his hyperactive siblings.