This & That

I have about 5 blog drafts but nothing ready yet, so instead I will just post some recent fun pictures of our everyday life!

Only Classy Kids can pick noses with their ring finger and look this cute.

Hannah LOVES to walk!!  I need to take video of it, but here she was in action.

Jenna being a monkey.  She is very ready to start Kindergarten in 2 weeks!

Sometimes "dinner" means feeding the kids early, getting everyone cleaned & off to bed, and then we have alone time and eat a nice, quiet, relaxing dinner together.  Almost like a date :)
On this night, I believe Andy & I did something rare:  we went out to a movie while his mom put the kids to bed!  Date nights are fun at home, but even better when we can actually "get out"!

Oh boy.  Here we go.

At our neighbor's house.  I don't have to hold a single child whenever we go there!

Daddy lovin' on the boys & our climber girls below

Jenna took a bowling class with the neighbor girls this past week.  She seemed to keep up with the big kids!

Tyler & Hannah were yucking it up inside the tunnel!  I love how they all interact!

"Well, if Tyler won't move it's his fault if he gets stepped on."

Getting EVEN SMARTER with this whole bath at the water-table thing.  Jenna helps me shampoo & clean them quick as a whip, and then they go naked & clean in a pack n play filled with warm towels until I can bring them in to get dressed one at a time.  Safe, easy & can be done solo without difficulty!

Singing to my crew after they all were crazy howling a "symphony of quadstruction".  Their teeth are to blame, and sometimes only a mommy's lap will make things better.
Even if there are four children on that lap.

So what "everyday" things have you done this week?

Hugs!

Becky

1 year Stats & Schedule

So I like to chronicle things (obviously) and since this blog also serves as the baby books, I just realized I didn't plug in the babies' stats from their 1 year doctor appointment 3 weeks ago!  Slacker!

Lauren:  28" tall, 20# 2 oz, head circumference 44 cm
Tyler:  27 1/2" tall, 16# 13 oz, head circumference 45.5 cm
Tanner:  28 1/4" tall, 17# 5 oz, head circumference 45.5 cm
Hannah:  27 3/4" tall, 20# 4 oz, head circumference 45 cm

And this is what our schedule currently looks like.  All Day.  Every Day.  :)

6:30/7- wake & coffee made!
7-8- morning diaper changes, bottles, hot cocoa for Jenna
8-9:00- breakfast for all
*babies are basically all "real" food now, with pureed food & baby cereal at the end of some meals only to appease Tanner and ensure full bellies.  This is good for them, but waaaaaay more messy.
9-10- clean up, change babies into clothes, play
10-11:30 Babies nap!  Jenna plays!  I actually shower!!!
11:30-12:30  Lunch
1-2 play time, clean-up time, sometimes walks
2-2:30  Babies get another bottle (I am currently transitioning from bottles to sippy cups, so hopefully this bottle will phase out once they get more liquids in throughout the meals & daytime.  I am also transitioning from formula to milk.  And transitioning from warmer to cooler temps....)
2:30-4 nap time!
4-5 play, snack if dinner is later than 5
5-8- Dinner is made, eaten, cleaned up, all kids get baths every other day, we play if we have time, babies get bedtime bottle and Jenna & babies are all in bed by 8.  Phew.  It's a zoo.

After that you would think there was time to rest and relax, but there is always so much to do!  Dishes, clothes, floors, toys & counters need cleaning, putting away, sanitizing & organizing.  Meals or bottles need prepped.  Beds need to be made.  Shopping and schedules need to be figured out.  The list is never-ending and tomorrow always has spill-over things not accomplished from the day before.  BUT.... having said that, there is always room for fun.  I am going to end this post now because tonight I will have rare snuggle-time with Andy at our campfire in the back yard with beers in our hands.  Ahhhh.....

Life is definitely busy with 5 kids 5 & under, but this is the season we are in & I wouldn't change a single thing.  I like our life, and love my family deeply.  I think this season will go by so fast, and I remind myself that THIS is what God made me for--- I want to do the best job I possibly can, even in the mundane busyness of quaddlerhood.



Hugs!

Becky

v.a.c.a.t.i.o.n

 Last week Andy's family relaxed at our annual family vacation at the beach.  His parents usually rent the same cottage the first week of August in beautiful Holland, Michigan.  No fail, it seems the weather is always wonderful and the time is so relaxing!

Our annual "Girls Night Out"- the ladies get all pretty and we go out for dessert.
This year we allowed Tanner & Tyler to crash it :-)

~cousins~

Last year, I remember countless drives between the cottage and the NICU, straddling 2 lives, wondering if four little miracles would live, frazzled, hormonal and hanging on literally only by many of your prayers.  This year, I breathed a sigh of relief and said many prayers of gratitude that we have four healthy, active, lively babies!

Playing with Daddy in the cottage living room

The beach resulted in mixed reviews by the babies.  Jenna, of course, LOVES it.  The girls LOVED it too!  The boys?  NOT fans!!!

What's the best way to keep 4 babies/toddlers contained on the beach?  A playyard, of course!

Jenna & Elizabeth splashing in Lake Michigan

Tyler & Lauren checking it out

At first I thought Tanner might like it, but he soon decided NO.

Tyler seemed to be open-minded at first, but I think some sand in the eye ruined it for good.  He didn't like anything about the beach AT ALL!

Our Sand-loving girl

Instead of taking the babies all week long, this year just Jenna & I went on Sunday for Anna's 13th 14th birthday (lol, Anna) and then I took all 5 kids Wednesday morning thru Friday evening.  There was SOOOOOOO much to pack and thankfully Andy was there to help Wednesday & Friday, but it was well worth it!

Happy Birthday Anna!  Even with a sad looking birthday cake, it was still fun!

One blessed mama & her boys

Auntie spoiled generously gifted her nieces with ipads!  What an awesome gift, Auntie Kim!!!

Seriously this girl can hula-hoop for over half-an-hour without dropping it.  I am jealous.

Jenna had a blast with her cousins, and the babies did wonderfully!  There were always lots of hands to hold them, and they slept like a dream!

Our sleeping arrangement: the room fit 2 twin beds & 4 pack n plays well!  The babies slept like a dream.
Why?  They are on a rockin' schedule and they were pooped, people!

~Tanner~

~Lauren~

~Tyler~
(how ridiculous does he sleep?  So funny!)

~Hannah~

Lots of holders were available all the time!

 Does your family have any vacation traditions?  Andy's dad told me he believes they have been renting a summer cottage on Lake Michigan for 46 years now.  Now THAT's a great family tradition!

Hugs!

Becky