The new Quadmobile!

Since I was young I have always been very anti-minivan so when I found out there were four babies on the way I knew the inevitable was going to happen and I would be driving a minivan in the near future. I sucked it up, gave my beloved Camry to Ben and bought a 2001 Ford Windstar. I have to say I hated it! I thought for sure it was just the idea of actually having a minivan until we started looking for a newer vehicle to fit our family of 6.

Having a family that big and needing to get 4 carseats in it leave vehicle choices very limited. I was desperate for a Suburban but knew there was no way we could afford a decent one and the gas milage would kill us so we started looking at more vans. We tried out the Toyota Sienna and it totally changed my mind about minivans! I loved it, it drove just like my Camry and was perfect for our family. I am now a happy Minivan Momma!

Active bunch!

The foursome have been extremely active lately! They love to climb, run, jump, and play all the time. We have traded in some of our nightly walks for playing at the playground or out in the yard. They have so much energy I wish I could bottle it up. I know at the end of the day I am totally wiped out!

Bath time has turned into a water park. Splashing and swimming until me, the floor and everything in sight is totally soaked. Matthew hates to get out of the tub when time comes and I usually have to drain the water with him in it.

They have discovered how fun the play ground is and nearly give me a heart attack every time they go on the big slide! I can just imagine them falling off and breaking something. I have yet to get pictures from the park because I am to much of a basket case to take my eyes off them long enough to snap pictures. They love to blow bubbles at the park as well. They got some new bubble wands today that are fabulous because they just whip them and a bunch of bubbles come out!

I love the age they are at, except for the temper tantrums they are throwing right now, because they are so much fun and can play with us and enjoy the summer. I can't wait to see what the rest of the summer bring for us!

Yesterday I went to take a pictures of the foursome yesterday with my brand new lens and said "Who wants to take a picture?" and they all lined up on the love seat like I normally put them for the monthly shot. It was to adorable not to share!



And finally at 20 months Aubrey finally can wear pig tails!

Quadvention 2011!

First off I would like to thank everyone who made it possible for me to go meet 11 awesome women that are a huge part of my daily life I appreciate it so much! Thank you Ben, Mom, Dad, Jackie, Tom and Kate. It was so hard to leave the babies for four whole days and fly all the way to San Antonio, TX but I knew I just had to meet these women!

It took a year of planning (thank you Brandy and Betsy) many surveys (sorry Lisa) and arranging child care for 55 (yes 55!) children to make this trip of a lifetime possible but it was so badly needed by all of us. I wish that our whole group could have made it but it just didn't work out so Stephanie came up with the motto "No quad momma left behind" and got pictures blown up of all those who could not make it so they could be included in the group picture.

I knew before I went that these women were amazing and we shared such a strong bond but I never expected to walk into a room of virtual strangers and feel like I had known them my whole life. Not once did I feel the uncomfortableness that I normally would in close quarters with people I had never met. I love each and everyone of these women like they are my sisters! We spent our days shopping, sitting by the pool, and chatting. It was a much needed break from our normally hectic lives.

The awesome house, scratch that, mansion that Betsy found us!


View of the back yard...BEAUTIFUL!




Lovely kitchen!


The two livingrooms!




New Hampshire's room! Danielle and I got to share this beautiful room with in room bathroom.


What kind of room has this note on the door?


Obviously the "Scream room"! It was very weird and echoed horribly. We joked that the room was built for human sacrificing.


The downstairs game room


Lisa, Nicole and I at Starbucks. Stephanie introduced us to the finer things in life!



Stephanie and I having dinner by the Riverwalk


Filling up at Cracker Barrel before shopping the outlets!


Rolling into Starbucks in our PJ's...Priceless!


Quick visit with Kami and her beautiful family!


Our ad on the board at Howling at the Moon!


Lisa and I riding in style!


The last supper :(


The final 4 waiting to board to go home. Me, Danielle, Teri and Stephanie


We were all given some awesome gifts from some of the crafty quad mommas. Betsy brought us all some cosmetic samples, Teri travel coffee mugs with everyone's name and Quadvention 2011 on them, Kim coffe mugs, and Brandy made these awesome wine glasses...now to get some wine to put in it!





I love these women!


No quad momma left behind!

Quads at 20 months

Each month I attempt to get a decent group picture of the fabulous foursome and some months are better than others...today they were just being plain silly!













Individual shots were much easier!

Making a picnic

The babies watched Mickey Mouse this morning and on it they had a picnic. I was very amused to come into their toy room and see that they had set up one for themselves. I asked what they were doing and the all yelled "pa-nic!" Too cute!

April showers bring...

a muddy May! Our backyard is full of mud and the kids, well most of them, love getting dirty. They are constantly asking to go outside and will go to the coat closet and beg for their shoes and jackets. Once they are out there it takes a lot of convincing to get them to decide to come back in the house. Tonight we bribbed them with bath time, as you can see it was greatly needed after playing outside!

Cameron running down the hill


then not very happy to fall and get dirt on his hands!


Aubrey braving the big slide all alone


loving being outside


Matthew head first as usual...my wild man!


Matthew playing house


Brady getting a little dirty


ride 'em cowboy!


After Brady went down the slide head first Matthew decided Brady's back was the perfect place to sit and take a break


after much convincing, finally coming in for the night!