I'll take this week. I know Sharon has a lot on her plate right now.

1. Do you do separate birthday parties for the triplets or just one big one? When they were younger, we did one big one. Now that they are older, we do separate and we delay them until the month of August. Our July's are just way too busy. This year, we had separate "camp out" parties.

2. Excited, relieved or sad that school is starting soon? Excited/relieved for the most part. Our summer has been tough and the kids have been bored and getting on each others nerves (and mine). Put it this way, it's a relief when we need to run the air conditioner....no one in the neighborhood can hear them argue.

3. What are the ages of your kids and what sort of household chores to you expect from them? 16yo and 13yo. All are expected to keep their rooms clean and get their dirty clothes into the laundry room. We rotate dinner detail. One sets the table, clears and loads the dishwasher. One washes the dishes that cannot be put in the dishwasher and then wipes the table and counters down. The other dries and puts those dishes away. Of course, they are also expected to pitch in with other stuff if asked. Oldest dd helps out with Katie, dd helps with groceries (comes along, helps me unload the car and puts groceries away). Ds helps dh with lawnwork

4. How's the weather been in your area? Warm and humid. A cold front is moving through this afternoon though. Thank goodness. We will have temps in the 70's without humidity.

5. Do you live within close proximity to where you grew up? Yes. Both dh and I grew up in the same small town and we live about 3-4 miles from that town. My brother lives about 15 miles away and dh has a sister that lives 1/2 hour away and a brother that lives 2 hours away. We are blessed to have all of our families close by.

Sadly, my grandma has been having health issues. She is having issues with her back (some type of a degenerative thing) and has been dealing with dementia for the last 5 years. She will be moving to an assisted living facility at the end of the week

I officially start my second semester of school tomorrow. Last semester was a full load, but it looks like this semester will be lighter. A good thing because I am actively looking for full-time employment. I'm trying to get back into the field that I did before being a SAHM but so much has changed in the last 16 years.

Have a great week everyone!

"Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears."-- Gillian Anderson

1. Do you do separate birthday parties for the triplets or just one big one? We haven't had parties for a couple years (flood time of the year) but before that, we mostly had one huge party. One year I did a girl party after a boy party and I just thought that was too much for me.

2. Excited, relieved or sad that school is starting soon? I go back to work with them, so I am not all that excited. As soon as I get there, I love my job, but I LOVE summer. My kids have been so fun this summer. It is my trio's last year of elementary, so there will be many sad moments throughout the year...


3. What are the ages of your kids and what sort of household chores to you expect from them? My son is 12 and my trio is 10. We have four jobs: dishes dude or diva; personal assistant to the pet; general of cleanliness; and king or queen of the throne. We rotate every month. We also expect the kids to put away their own laundry and help us with other projects such as yard work or big cleaning jobs...


4. How's the weather been in your area? Back and forth - like summer is fighting to hang one, but fall is pushing in...

5. Do you live within close proximity to where you grew up? About 3 hours from my childhood home and 5 from my hubby's. We like being close but not too close.

Deb
Son, 12
GGB, 10

1. Do you do separate birthday parties for the triplets or just one big one?
We always had one family party and one friend party. Maybe it is easier when they all are the same sex, no arguments on themes or friends.

2. Excited, relieved or sad that school is starting soon?
Sad. My girls have been back 5 days and my son started back today.
The girls had an hour's worth of homework and then studying for 3 tests this week. My son will have football until 6p then homework.
I will be lucky to spend 2 hours with them today.

3. What are the ages of your kids and what sort of household chores to you expect from them?
15 and 14 (x3). They all have to clean up after themselves (put dishes in dishwasher, pick up personal items, put away laundry etc.)
During the summer they each take a 15-30 min job (dusting, glass, put away dishes etc.) M-F. Weekends during school year and summer they each get a bigger job (mow lawn, clean bathrooms, vacuum downstairs, do laundry et.)

4. How's the weather been in your area?
Hot and humid all summer. Usually I don't like humidity but we had such a cold summer last year I am loving the long days at the pool and beach.

5. Do you live within close proximity to where you grew up?
We both grew up in the same town we now live in. My mother and 2 of my sisters are here, My husband's father and 1 of his sisters are here. He also has lots of cousins in town. In fact, the girls go to school with 3 cousins (tho some much removed).
We are so pathetic, we bought my inlaws house right before the girls were born so our son has my husband's old room and the girls one of their aunt's old room. Our neighborhood is very like that. Lots of families bought houses down the street, next door or from their parents. My son't 2 best friends are the kids of my husbands and my friends.



Judie and Victor
lucky parents to
Frankie 3/95
Maggie 7/96
Rose 7/96
Elizabeth 7/96

1. Do you do separate birthday parties for the triplets or just one big one? Have done one party in the past, but I think the boys will have theirs and Ellie will have a separate one next year.

2. Excited, relieved or sad that school is starting soon? Looking forward to it! Mine don't go back until Sept 8 and are moving up to secondary school (high school), complete with full uniform. It's been a good summer with them though, as I've not worked these holidays.

3. What are the ages of your kids and what sort of household chores to you expect from them? 17 and 11. I expect them all to be able to do almost what I do. They all cook, clean, wash clothes, sort clothes, vacuum etc. We all muck in together.

4. How's the weather been in your area? Miserable. Rain, rain and more rain. The joys of the British summer.

5. I live about an hour's drive from where I grew up. Close enough to make the effort, far enough to make excuses!

UK mum to Aaron 18, and Jasper, Eleanor & Nathaniel 11 born 17/3/99 33wks2days

Thursday already!!!LOL!!!

Been busy -- classes have started at the univwesity, I have had the boys this week, etc.

I took the boys to the beach two nights ago -- walked around with the full moon! They loved it, "A little spooky", said Alex!

>1. One party. But probably two from now on -- one at each parent's place
>
>2. Excited and relieved that school is starting soon!
>
>3. If I want a good job done, I do the housework...but the boys (13) get assigned the various duties anyway. At their mom's house they get assigned three chores -- changes weekly. At my house I told them we can forgo the assigned chores along as I don't get any talk back when I assign them chores to do on the spot (dishes, sweeping, vacuuming, garbage, etc.)
>
>4. How's the weather been -- two beautiful sunny days, temps in the 70's -- then back to fog. Typical for this time of year. Hot inland.
>
>5. Do you live within close proximity to where you grew up? 800 miles to the north, and happy for it! Opposite ends of California -- in weather, politics, # of people, quality of life, etc!

Vaughn and the ABC Boys.
Still in divorce limbo.

Gina, I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother. We just brought my MIL to live with her daughter. She was here all summer after her broken hip. We determined she also has Alzheimer's and cataracts plus a few more medical issues. It's so sad, isn't it? Getting old isn't for sissies.

We just got back from our East Coast vacation. Started in South Carolina (where my SIL lives), then we did a road trip up the coast. Spent a week visiting Williamsburg, Jamestown, Mount Vernon, and Washington, DC. Wish we had more time. It was a very nice time! And school starts in 2 days!

1. We tend to have just 1 party for the boys. In the past few years, they have opted for bigger birthday "gifts" or "experiences", rather than a party.

2. Can't wait for school to start. Just so much happening this summer with my MIL, that I crave some routine again. The boys are ready to hang with their friends!

3. My boys are 17 and 13. They are expected to do everything around the house. Our motto is "help the family." While some of them prefer to cook, others prefer yard work. All help out with any chore that needs to be done: laundry, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, etc. I will not be a maid for the 4 of them.

4. We live in Northern CA and the weather has been fairly cool all summer. My boys hardly wore shorts all summer. But we wore them every day on the East Coast. Hot and humid in South Carolina but we arrived just in time for the cool weather (70s with no humidity) for the rest of our trip. Just perfect!

5. I don't live near where I was born. I was born in New York City. My husband was born in Missouri. We now live in Northern CA. My boys were born in the same city we live in now and have always lived in the same home!

Have a great week, everyone!

Sharon
13 year old b/b/b + 17 year old son

1. one party for both girls- 10 days later my youngest has a birthday too and it's all in January so we are partied out from Christmas too.

2.THANK GOD they're back in school! They were driving me crazy!

3. 10,10, 8 and 7. They are *supposed* to keep their rooms clean,help feed the dogs and cats, but they don't. The boys DO like to clean windows, mop the floors and Henry ( the baby) helps me with laundry and dishes.

4. weather- hotter than Hades here in Texas. This week has been upper 90s, humid. We just came off 3 weeks of 100+ weather. yuck. I hate it.

5. I grew up on Long Island,NY so no, I'm far away. My ex-husband grew up in Oklahoma and Texas so he's not too far. My parents live 3 miles from me but they both have major health problems so we visit them but not for long periods.

Korrie~
^i^B/G/G 24 w 3d,1/17/00
B 10/31/01
B 1/27/03

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