Truths About Being a Parent to Quads Plus!

I'm so proud of myself for posting twice this month. Most of the time things get away from me! I know it's hard to imagine...I mean I do have my hands full. :) We took a family trip to the zoo last minute today. All Brian's idea. I was kinda excited he wanted to go out and have fun as a family. Usually family events make him nervous and raise his blood pressure 300 points. I know Brian is going to read this and get all worried, but in all truthfulness, I'm sure most fathers of large families have the same issue. He just doesn't get out all the time with them to realize it's ok to have some malfunctions on an outing. I've been there through it all. Age 1.5-2.5 were an absolute nightmare most times. We've made large improvements!! I've learned a lot in the past three and a half years of parenting multiples plus one. 1. You always get asked stupid questions. It doesn't matter where you are those questions will find you...it's like a magnet and a fridge! 2. The choo-choo wagon always draws attention. It's like being a celebrity. 3. Your kids will never go to bed. Night owls!! Even if separated there is always the INSTIGATOR...they will unlock/lock doors. 4. The doctors office visits will always be a challenge. It's a small space with A LOT of bodies. Although our behavior there has improved. 5. Always buy bulk of EVERYTHING. What one has the others will ALWAYS want. 6. There is no point in trying to save money....there will never be enough. 7. Buy a home with a large backyard. It can be a sanity saver. 8. Always know where the closest Starbucks and/or liquor store are. Sleep deprivation and increased stress are a given. 9. Potty training requires lots of patience and laundry detergent/bleach/stain remover. 10. Make your own laundry detergent....it will save about $300 a year. 11. I'm only skinny because I NEVER SIT DOWN, DON'T GET TO EAT A FULL MEAL, and have to run on the treadmill to de-stress! 12. My kids love kisses and snuggles all the time. I feel like I have leeches on me! 13. I know I'm not the only one who has failed at many things while parenting. 14. Sometimes dinner just looks like you are at the circus....this is when I drink my dinner! 15. No matter what my kids LOVE me. (EVEN ON THOSE ROUGH DAYS). I've learned a lot! I happen to be a very lucky mommy who has a very supportive husband. Raising our family is a challenge but I don't think I could us loving life any less chaotic. I know it's crazy, but our passion for our kids is unimaginable. :)

Starting Summer with a Bang!

Well we are a little over a week into summer break. I'm having a blast with the crew....they've been keeping me on my toes. Within the first ten minutes of summer break we had a boo-boo. :( Yes....Drew unbuckled his seatbelt to retrieve a toy he tossed behind his seat. As I came to the realization he was moving about the car I turned my head to yell at him and almost ran a red light. He sat and had one arm under his belt by the time I hit the breaks to avoid running that red light. He flew into the front seat and ended up with a seatbelt burn across his neck and whiplash. As the week continued we had a smashed finger, two cut toes, a dresser on top of the three little boys, my debit card number stolen and my account overdrawn. Needless to say SUMMER WILL GET BETTER! We have some positives to the above named negatives...the quads are potty trained during the day!! Emma, Parker, and Maddox have been day trained for a while now but Jack was a bit stubborn. Maddox told Jack a few weeks ago that he wasn't a big boy because he was in a diaper and Jack got mad. I asked Jack if he was ready and he said no, but it didn't stop me. I woke up the next day and told him he was going to be a big boy. The first few days were murder, but now he's doing great. We've been able to spend lots of time outside, which is great for wearing ourselves out. The boys make sure they "water" the trees every chance they get. :) We've made some big changes in the house this past week too. Drew used to have a room to himself. He and Maddox are now roommates in the bonus room and Parker and Jack now share Drew's old room. Emma still has her own room. Maddox, Jack and Parker managed to pull an antique dresser over on top of themselves last week. Talk about a heart attack! Brian and I immediately thought about splitting the three of them up. It has made bed time a little easier and more peaceful. Brian is considering improvements to the backyard. Expanding the jungle gym and adding some fun things like a tire swing and another slide. The kids love playing on it, so it would be a great investment. We aren't planning on any family trips this year, but most definitely looking forward to fun here at home. We'll keep you up to date on our backyard adventures!! XOXO