The Quads got the Memo....

that they have entered the terrible twos! Little did I know that the quads had a couple shenanigans up their sleeves to welcome me into their world as 2 year olds. Not sure when they worked as a team to figure out how to put their own stamp on turning two but they did. First of all I thought it would be fun to take my camera up to their rooms when we got them out of their cribs in the morning but much to my surprise I would catch them in the middle of being mischievous 2 year olds. The boys were super talkative but not in the 'come get me out of bed NOW' tones they usually use. I quickly discovered why when I opened their door to discover Tate butt naked with his diaper thrown on the floor and his jammies lying in his crib. He of course took aim and successfully peed between his crib rails onto the floor. Rylan was not as successful in the removal of clothing but was able to paint his sheets with poop when he got one side of his diaper undone. Tate was pointing at Rylan, Rylan was pointing at the poop on his sheets and I believe the poop was laughing at me and welcoming me to life with four 2 year olds. Because it was their birthday I remained calm but in my tough momma voice I did let them know taking off ones diaper is NOT okay.

Love how he is pointing to his brother who is taking off his diaper.

And he is pointing to his sheets that now need to be washed  while his diaper is hanging off in the back.

She saw me walk in with the camera and she would not look at me no matter what I did. 

Little Miss is our sleepy head.

"I thought one got to sleep in on their birthday? Why are you waking me?"

After all cribs were stripped (because if you are changing 2 cribs you may as well change 4) we restarted our birthday kickoff with blueberry pancakes topped with homemade whip cream and of course sprinkles. What's a birthday without sprinkles? My 2 year olds each devoured 2 1/2 pancakes, 1 1/2 stripes of bacon and a quarter of an apple. They ate more than the big kids! We literally cleaned up breakfast, played outside and then ate lunch so they could get an early nap in before family arrived for a little birthday party. Some days I feel all I ever do is cook food, clean up dishes and repeat. I am not even joking when I say that as soon as I get a meal cleaned up someone is already asking for a snack. If they could at least let me get out of the kitchen before asking I may be okay with it but really, you just ate!!

This kid never makes it through a meal without asking for more.

I thought naps would go okay but my now terrible two'ers had other plans. An hour into naps I hear Tate screaming. Go up and check on him and he has dropped his pacifier out of his crib. He quickly laid back down and was quiet after he was given back his purple pacifier. Thirty minutes later he is screaming again. This time I send Paul as I am in the middle of preparing food for the party. Like I said I some days never leave my kitchen. This time Tate has a poopy diaper and once cleaned up he lays back down again. Thirty more minutes pass and I hear Tater Tot letting us know he is ready to join the party even though he has yet to fall asleep. Because it is his birthday I give up on naps for the boys. I was not so happy walking in this time though to a naked boy in his crib again. Two crib changes on the same crib is a bit too much for any mom. He was quickly sent outside before he woke his sisters and gave mom another reason to think that 4 two year olds were going to give me a run for my money. (Side note: We have now resorted to duct taping the boys diapers at nap and bedtime because the removal of diapers was not just a one day thing for them. Cute the first time, not so cute the second and after that I may have been thinking naughty words in my head.)

At four o'clock I came in the house to get the girls up and as I get near the stairs I can hear Isabella having one of her screaming fits. I found it odd that it sounded like their door was open. As I walked up the steps I was trying to figure out who had opened it because none of the kids had been upstairs, the cats can not get the doors opened and I am pretty sure there are no ghost living on the second floor of our house. As I rounded the corner into the girls bedroom I found a distraught Izzie who was contained in her crib and a frightened Kenzie who was standing in the doorway. How the peanut crawled out of her crib with a mattress that is literally on the floor I still have not figured out. I think Isabella scared her though with her screaming and fortunately Kenzie has yet to try it again. Just like I am not ready to potty train Tate even though he is totally showing signs that he is ready, I am also not ready to convert to toddler beds. Seven kids who can get out of bed at night to tell me just one more thing sounds awful.

Cousin Axel

20 weeks preggo and apparently daddy wants him/her to be a fan of beer. 

How many kids can fit on one trampoline?

The rest of the afternoon we had 2 year olds who behaved themselves. I may have bribed them with swimming, pizza, and cake but in the end we had quadlings who were ready for bed when they got tucked in way past their bedtime. I do not even want to imagine what these kids are going to get into this year. Because in our house, if one does something there are surly others right there to either assist or try out the exact same thing. I am just kind of hoping Isabella will remain my tattle tail instead of joining in on the fun. The Terrible Two adventures have begun...

The first one to dive right in.

Didn't take Tate long to follow his brother. 

It took Kenzie a little longer to dive into her cupcake but Izzie sat there until everyone else had left the table and then she started to eat hers. She sat quietly by herself until she was finished while Rylan cried the entire time because we would not give him another one.

"Brother is crying and I am not sharing. 

Grandma trying to get the fake crier to laugh. She had success!

Always wearing her beads.

My babies are growing up!!

Happy Birthday to My 4 Amazing TWO Year Olds

You are 2 and I have no idea how so much time has passed since the day you were born. It feels like yesterday when we would visit you every single day for 6 weeks while you were in the nicu. We could have just mixed another batch of formula which would last for 24 hours. I just changed my shirt an hour ago because I was once again got spit up on. We play for 15 minutes after a bottle before you are ready to sleep. Feedings every 3 hours followed by pumping is our everyday routine. You figured out how to roll, then you got sitting figured out and finally you were up and walking. You started eating foods mashed up, then slowly advanced to puffs and before long you started eating whatever we were eating. Somehow all of these things have happened in the last two years and now we have toddlers who run, climb everything, want to go on rides in the jeep, eat more than I can in a meal, are learning how to talk and sing. You my babies are growing up but you will always be my babies. I am wondering how long I can get away with calling you babies before you tell me you are not a baby anymore?

I am okay with you turning 2. I am having a harder time figuring out how two years have already passed since the night you arrived. As far as becoming two year olds I am okay with it. As you left the baby stage and started becoming little people we have had so much fun and have felt more like a family. The first year was exhausting and so routine. The months 12-18 was physically exhausting but as you neared a year and a half life got better. You were a little more independent and could entertain yourselves for longer periods of time. We went from two naps to one which allowed us to get out of the house more. You were all walking, climbing up and down the stairs, and we could open the garage door and you could climb into the car yourself. Life physically got a little easier. Now mentally I think you are trying us every single day! I am going to say it will be nice when you can use full sentences to tell mom and dad what you want because the screeching x4 is enough for anyone to want to run and hide. I say this now but I am sure it won't be long and I will be asking you all to play the silence game like I do with your big sisters and brother.

Even though you were all born at the same time and are grouped as quadruplets you are all so very different from each other. First of all not a single one of you even bear resemblance to one another! You are each your own and I love that about you.

Kenzie Rae
You remain our peanut at just 20lbs. Everything is little about you except for your fiestyness. I loved this quality about you when you were in the nicu but not so sure how I feel about it now at the age of 2! You are a daddy's girl and want nothing, and I mean nothing to do with anyone else when dad is around. You love anything fast and have no fear. Jeep and lawn mower rides are a favorite of yours. Even though you are only 20 pounds you can eat just as much as the others. Fruit, hot dogs and anything in the carb group are your meal choices. You can dress, undress and put your own shoes on. Most mornings we find you just in your diaper and I am so thankful you stop there. You love to take out your hair pony's and I think you do it just to bug momma because as soon as I ask you what happened to your hair you start giggling. Your voice is just as tiny as you are (except for when you yell because then you are able to break glass!) and you say 'thank you' for everything in the sweetest little voice. It melts my heart every time you say it. You are not a cuddler because that would mean you would have to slow down and that only happens when you crash at nap and bedtime. Even though most people think you are the baby of the family you are my Baby A and I have a feeling you will continue to lead the pack as you get older. I love you Peanut and Happy 2nd Birthday Baby Girl.

Isabella Lynn
Your smile lights up a room and I think it has something to do with your dimples and the way your eyes glisten when you smile. You continue to love your family best but do warm up to others much quicker than you use to unless it is your occupational therapist. Even though you can throw a very good fit and we see them almost daily you are the one that for the most part is the happiest playing with toys. When you are done playing you love to sit in mom and dads lap and just watch the world around you. You are a good eater and you really don't have anything you do not like but when you are done or get mad at something during a meal your food gets taken away or it will end up on the floor. When you do get upset it takes you longer than anyone else to settle down. Holding your arms across you and making a shush sound helps you the most. Beaded necklaces are your absolute favorite thing. You wake up and immediately find one or ten and will wear them all day long. Your face lights up when you are told you are pretty or beautiful. Hands down you have the best kiss out of the babies. You know how to pucker those lips. You also love babies either real or doll form. You remind me so much of your sister Natalie and it will be interesting to see if your personalities continue to be similar as you get older. Izzie Boo, mommy loves you so much and I can not believe you are turning 2. 

Tate Richard
You are a mini Drew in so many ways. You are also the biggest of the four and not just by a little bit but at the same time you are scared of so many loud noises. Wrestling along with eating are your favorite activities. You also love bath time and are the last one out each night. You enjoy when the tickle monster arrives and give the biggest tummy laughs ever. Out of all the babies you are our best talker and 'mommy' and 'daddy' are your clearest words. You also enjoy singing the ABC's but I think mom is the only one that gets what you are singing. Being outside is were we can find you all day long and sometimes if we are not getting there fast enough you will go out by yourself. Even locked doors do not stop you. I think you will be an awesome cook when you are older because you will sit and watch me the entire time I prep lunch and dinner. You have boycotted most meats but anything else you will scarf down. You get the most diaper changes throughout the day because I have never met a kid who poops as often as you do. That being said I think you will be the first to potty train because you will pretty much go on the big boy potty every time we set you on it. Even though I am ready to be done buying diapers I am not sure I want to have more kids to take into public bathrooms so we are not pushing for potty training just yet. Tater Tot, you are awesome at giving kisses but I think your hugs may be even better. You are 2 Baby Boy and make your mom so proud.

Rylan James
Your dad has recently given you the name Ry Cry which is one I am hoping you grow out of real soon. The reason you have gotten this nickname is because you turn on the waterworks for everything. It is too bad we have figured this fake cry out and it does not get you far anymore but it is funny to see how fast you can turn it off when you decide it isn't worth the effort. Besides fake crying, stealing any toy a sibling has is also something you have perfected. You get more middle of the night cuddles than anyone else. I think you know if you wake up around the ten o'clock time I will bring you downstairs and cuddle with you. While you are laying with mom you will not even look at your dad because you know he will tell you it is bedtime. You are a little birdie when I am in the kitchen making dinner. Sometimes I will give you something I know you will not care for just so you go and play. You are petrified of noises such as the vacuum, a chainsaw and lawnmower. You literally tremble and cling to the nearest person when these things turn on.  If someone does not finish all of their food you will happily take their plate and eat what remains. You are a mischievous little boy but always give us the most innocent little smirk. You will either be an engineer or a con artist when you get bigger. RyRy I love you so much and you completed our little family 2 years ago today. Happy Birthday to the little man that makes me laugh and shake my head the most.  

You my loves are 2 today and make your mom and dad smile, laugh and some days make us want to pull our hair out. Even on those days we can not imagine not having you four with us. I am so thankful for the nurse who called us the night before we transferred you back into mommy because without her telling us she had occasionally seen poor grade embyros take we would only be celebrating 2 birthdays today instead of 4. Each one of you were meant to be here and I can not wait to see where your life will take you. I loved you when you were in my tummy. I loved you even more on the night I first met you. And today I find myself more in love with you than I ever imagined possible. 

Happy 2nd Birthday Rylan, Tate, Isabella & Kenzie

A Look Back at our Father's Day

Somehow our summer is flying by. I can not believe it is already August and that our summer will be over on the 27th when the kids start school again. Blogging has kind of been pushed to the back burner because I just have been to lazy to write. The other day I was going through my pictures from this summer and ran across some things I want to make sure I get into our family life story because I know in twenty years I will want to look back and remember the good old days. So over the next couple weeks I will have some 'catch up' post from our summer.

Father's day this year was nothing special  except for the fact we were celebrating a very special daddy in our life. I was not creative in the gift department this year and I totally pulled a Paul. I went shopping the Eve before the big day. I can not even tell you how many years Paul has gone Christmas shopping for me at 8 o'clock on Christmas Eve which has resulted in pajamas three sizes too big because everything my size was sold out. Not only was I very late in going shopping but I had no idea what to get him. We are trying to be careful what we spend these days and everything Paul wants/needs is way beyond the 'may purchase without spouses permission' limit so I ended up letting the kids pick their father's day gifts. It turned into one of the most memorable Father's Day. The kids had a blast and Paul and I could not help but laugh.

I love that the kids are at an age where they can make their own cards. It gives the a project and it is so fun to see what they write and draw. I have a feeling my saved card box will be very full when I am old and grey. 

When I took the kids to Target Saturday evening I told them they were in charge of picking out dad's gift. I was a little nervous on what junk we would be bringing home but in the end they surprised me with the thought that they put into it. Drew immediately said dad would want a lego so the toy department was our first stop. This came as no surprise this would be Drew's choice because we can not go anywhere these days without him asking us to buy him a lego. He kept telling me all the ones daddy would like and in the end he chose a fire truck. Paul also received a frisbee, a football magazine (outdated draft edition that got taken back, who leaves outdated magazines on the rack?), and his favorite snacks of Pringles, Oreos, Peach o's and Reese's peanut butter cups. As we were standing in line to pay Aubrey insisted dad needed a new water bottle. I asked her why since dad does not work out and she told me he always gets thirsty mowing the grass and so he needed a big cup to drink from. She had a good point so we got out of line to go find the cup she wanted. After everything was picked out I was surprised at how well they knew their dad at the ages of 6 and 4.

The meeting room to decide which kid would go next and what they would be giving dad. 

Now if I excel at this mom role I signed up for we would have gone home and wrapped everything but it was already past bedtime so I told them we would do it in the morning. Well when morning came they were too excited to give dad his gifts so we just made dad close his eyes and the kids handed them to him one at a time. Even the babies got into it by running back and forth from the living room to our bedroom. Drew was not happy that dad could not build his fire truck right away but a peanut butter cup made up for it. Father's Day 2014 was nothing fabulous but the kids loved being able to go to the store and pick out their own gifts. They still talk about it so I know it was a special day for them celebrating their dad and we may just make it a tradition. Sure takes the pressure of me!

"Eyes closed Daddy"

When I pulled this up on my computer the first time I just sat at my computer and couldn't believe these kids were all mine. I remember seeing pictures like this of my dad's brothers and sisters who equaled 8. They had a much wider span in ages but it always seemed like so many kids. Now I sit here and am still shocked that I am a mom to 7. Some days it seems like a lot and other days after I have done my head count I recount because it doesn't seem like 7 is that many kids.