More Family Visits

Today we had Great Aunt Lois and second cousins Min Joo and Nu Ella arrive. Nu immediately became a favorite babysitter for the triplets, and we hope we get to spend lots of quality time with them this week.

The Games We Play

The triplets have been playing more games with each other. A new variation on the chase game is to crawl through the opening underneath the coffee table, and have someone follow you. Coraline is getting quite brave about this. We also caught Betty and Coraline playing tug-of-war with one of their toys while in their carseats. Giggling always ensues when a game is afoot. And then tonight, Arthur started a game of peek-a-boo with us that went on for quite a long time (I only captured the end of it).

In other news, Coraline has taken a single step while transferring between two objects (such as the couch and the coffee table). I don't think it counts yet as her first steps, because that would imply her taking more than one. But she's close. And while we have been watching the dark bruise on her upper gums for a new tooth to come in, today the matching tooth on the opposite side came in without any fanfare.

Tooth count: A-2, B-8, C-5

Solstice Festival

We celebrated the first day of summer by going to Blacksburg for their first annual Solstice Festival. We enjoyed mango smoothies (which the triplets tried to drink with a straw), saw a costumed dog parade, and visited the farmer's market. Arthur, Betty, and Coraline ate a picnic lunch on the drillfield, where they loved crawling around on the grass (though not Arthur, he didn't like the feel of the grass on his knees). We ended the day with a walk around Virginia Tech's campus.
Oh, and I finally got Betty waving to Coraline (off screen) on video:

Huckleberrying with Em

We took Auntie Em to our favorite hiking spot today - the Huckleberry Trail. Black raspberries were just beginning to come in season, so each of us managed to pick a whole handful during the hike. Next year, though, the triplets should be able to enjoy some as well.

It was a nice leisurely hike, and we saw a giant frog, lots of honeysuckle, and some wild roses.

Shoe Shopping

Today we took Coraline and Arthur shoe shopping with Aunt Em. We tried one pair on Arthur, but they turned out a little too big for him. They also had a sale, but it wasn't as good as the "Buy One Get Two Free" deal we had on the triplets.

The girls are starting to practice walking more, and Betty took another two steps. Cruising on the couch is quickly turning into assisted walking, as the kids support themselves with just one hand. Emily also helped out by giving each of the triplets numerous "walks" around the living room.

Auntie Em

Pop Pop picked up Auntie Em from the airport today. She's visiting for a few days from Singapore, and the triplets are excited to see her again (she met them for the first time last Christmas). Arthur is mesmerized by Emily, and probably ate quite a bit more than he should have at dinner time - he just kept staring at her and passively accepting spoonfuls of food from his Auntie Em.

First Steps, Part II

Today Betty took her first steps, while Erin was at school. We were working on folding laundry, and Betty was standing and holding onto the couch with one hand. Then all of a sudden, she let go, and took two steps towards Nana, before falling on her face. I missed it, but I did see her later attempts - which included taking a single step (twice), and taking a giant hop with both feet at once. Evidently she is still figuring it out.

In other news, Coraline now has a large bruise on her gums, where her third upper tooth is coming in. It is the exact same tooth that her twin had difficulty getting in.