Fiday Flashback

What do you get when you mix flour, sugar, oatmeal, pancake mix, and 4 unsupervised two-and-a-half year olds?

Answer:

Four lil' Bakers

In order to take a shower when the kids were small, I would put them in a fenced area, get them interested in a video and then take the fastest shower I could. I never spent more than 5 minutes in the shower and I would run out, dripping wet, wearing nothing but a towel to check on them. This particular day, not only had they stopped watching the video that they were so engrossed in two minutes prior but they had managed to breach my "high tech" security system on the kitchen cupboards. You can't tell from the pictures but the fruits of their labors were on every surface of my kitchen, both high and low. The kids were completely covered in baking supplies, even under their clothes and into their diapers (don't ask me how they did that)!

My first thought was to cry. My second thought was relief that Amanda had not opened the bottle of oil that is sitting next to her. (30 more seconds and I have no doubt she would have!) My third thought was to just chill out, grab my camera and start taking pictures. I liked my third thought best so I acted on it. It wasn't too funny then but I knew it would be in a couple of years! Many of the things the kids have done end up being hilarious AFTER the fact, so it's always good to have pictures. I think those types of moments end up being some of the best memories! However, had Amanda opened that bottle of oil I'm not sure if I'd be laughing yet since I would likely still be cleaning it up today, 4 years later.

Thank Heavens I only had to vacuum to clean it up!

The 8th Was a Surprise?

I'm sure nobody has missed the news story of a woman in California who gave birth to octuplets this week. She had exactly double what I have, 6 boys and 2 girls. All I can say is WOW what a woman, I'm not worthy! The news said the 8th was a surprise (like the first 7 were'nt?). I can't imagine being in surgery, having 7 babies pulled out and then oooooops, one more! Not sure if I would laugh or cry, I imagine both. The same thing happened with the Dilley sextuplets, they thought there were "only" 5 and they found a sixth behind her liver during delivery.

Let me tell you, I'm not into surprises. I remember reading the Dilley's story when I was pregnant with the quads. After that, I made my doctor promise me that there wasn't a 5th baby hiding somewhere as one of the embryos we transferred was unaccounted for. He assured me that there wasn't but of course, I'm sure the doctors in the previous mentioned stories didn't think there were more either. I knew that carrying 4 was going to be quite hard on me due to my age and size, I didn't think 5 would be possible. Fortunately, there were "just" the four, although had there been more I would have adored that baby too and would wonder how I lived without him or her.

Well, a hearty Congratulations to the parents of the octuplets. If I could give them any advice it would be to sleep now while the babies are in the hospital, install a revolving door (or just remove your front door) because you'll need a staggering number of helpers, remember your sense of humor, and take lots of pictures since the first year will be a sleep deprived fog. (You multiple birth mom's out there know exactly what I"m talking about.)

WOW, seriously, 8?!!!?!!

A Friday Flashback

Last night I was downloading pictures from one computer to another (thanks Jeff for my laptop) and looking at the pictures started bringing up awesome memories that I've never found time to write down. I think I'll try and write at least one down every week and call it my Friday Flashback.
This weeks story is about darling little Jaxon. I love this picture of him, he's got my glasses on upside-down and is reading scriptures. (At least someone dusted them off and looked at the pages.)

One night when Jax was about 3, I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of silverware clanking on dishes. I wandered bleary eyed to the kitchen to see who, or what, the culprit was. I was hoping it wasn't a drunk stranger who had mistaken my home for is own or a large rat with table manners. What I found was adorable. Little Jaxon, in the cutest fuzzy blue footed jammies, standing on the counter. He had managed to find himself a bowl, poured himself a healthy sized serving of chocolate chips and was eating it with a spoon. Standing in the kitchen lit only by the light on the range hood I thought how beautiful and innocent he looked.. I will never forget how his little dimples melted my heart. We sat and ate some chocolate chips together, had a drink of milk and then went back to bed. That was certainly my kind of midnight snack and the best company to share it with.

Any Brad Paisley Fans?

I'm a big Brad Paisley fan, (he's a country artist for those who don't know who he is) and I recently bought one of his CD's. It has a lot of great songs and I have been listening to it in the car. The kids usually don't pay attention to the music that is on but in the case of a Brad Paisley CD, a couple of the songs are fun enough to catch their attention. Makes me wonder if they are siding with their mother and going country.
The quads have decided that their favorite song is one called "Ticks". The first few lines go like this:

Every time you take a sip
In this smoky atmsophere
You press that bottle to your lips
And I wish I was your beer

OK so not the best lyrics for a 6 year old but it has a catchy tune and the kids think it's funny. What I think is funny is the way Amanda and Jaxon sing it. It goes like this:

Every time you take a sip
In this smoky assmosphere....

ASSMOSPHERE???? Well, it is a song about a bar so I guess assmosphere could be an accurate description.
I haven't corrected them.
Shameful, I know.

My CEO's

On Friday, Jaxon and Amanda received CEO (chief example to others) awards at school.

They got the awards for being such great readers.

Carson's thrilled for them

Mason had a little accident.

He fell and hit the back of his head. Luckily, the cut didn't need stitches. He insisted on a bandage...

Just another day in paradise!

2 Down 78 To Go

Last night Amanda lost her very first tooth...

Tonight she lost her second one.

She's been the first for everything.

It would be fine with me if they would all slow down.

They're growing up so fast.

Look Ma, No Cavities!

Just before Christmas, I finally got around to taking the kids to their first Dentist visit. Some of you may be thinking "hmmmm, aren't they six?" And my answer is yes, they are six and I'm only 3 years late scheduling the first official cleaning and x-rays.
Better late than never, right?

Jaxon is one cool dude!

Here he is getting ready for x-rays.

I think he looks like one of those Star Wars

storm troopers preparing for battle.


Open Wide!!


Carson's Clean!


In the end, everyone

Shows off

Their beautiful smiles

Amanda's about to lose

her first tooth!

Even (the now late) Marie

got in on the action!

All in all, it was a GREAT visit. No crying, nothing broken in the office and NO CAVITIES!!! I only wish that such a great visit meant that we could skip the next 6 years of dental visits. As their "practice teeth" (as I call them) begin to fall out, I guess I'll need to be more conscientious of their pretty, new, "forever" teeth and yes, schedule those visits regularly.

A Farewell

Last night, the twins bravely said goodbye to their dear friend Marie.

I think her burial was appropriate.

We shared a lot of good times with Marie. Here she is in her better days, blowing out her birthday candles.

Mason and Carson have already found new stuffed friends to abuse, two monkeys. I wonder if they know what will be their inetevitable fate.