Babies with Babies

I guess my girls aren't really babies anymore, but they're still little! Our most recent toy rotation brought the baby dolls up from the basement, and all four children have been really sweet with them. (It almost makes me want to have another one--yikes!) They've been singing lullabies, wrapping them in blankets, feeding them, rocking them, giving them hugs and kisses, and putting them down for naps.

Gwyn wrapping up her baby:

Lana hugging her baby:

The girls play with cars, so I guess Everett can play dolls with them, right? We're not dealing with stereotypes yet. I just love it when they all play together happily!

Everett also wanted to play school the other day. I'm not sure what gave him the idea, but I was happy to go along with it. (I've been trying to encourage writing, etc. without a whole lot of success.) He set up a little school area with a chair for the teacher. All four children sat down in front of me, and listened attentively as we went through the first six letters of the alphabet naming things that started with each letter. We then sang the alphabet song and looked through an alphabet book that Everett and I had made. One more run-through of the alphabet song and the girls were done, but I was surprised they lasted that long! I wouldn't mind a repeat of that experience. At this point it almost has to be Everett's idea.

"The Machine"

You remember "The Machine" in Princess Bride? Well, it was designed as a torture device which could suck years off of a person's life. Sometimes, when my children are all crying and screaming, this is how I feel:

I try to keep cool and respond in the best way possible, but I think that after one week of minimal screaming, not only am I getting an extra-big dose of it right now, but my sensitivity to it has increased too. I'm sure that most of our day today was actually pretty happy, but those few minutes of all-out screamfest here and there really wore me out!

Happy events today included playing house with two umbrellas on the porch and going to the park. This was the first time I took all four kids to the park by myself this year. Actually, I started to take them by myself, but my sweet neighbor spotted us and decided she'd tag along and help out. This was kind of a trial run to see how the kids would do. I held two girls' hands, and Everett held the other's as we walked to and from the park. He did a great job and everyone stuck together really well. We must have looked really cute--especially when I had the children walk quickly across the street. Everett may not have done this if my neighbor wasn't with us, but he did release Gwyn's hand about half a block from the park because he was so excited. I'll watch for that next time. All three girls are climbing ladders like little pros now. I still keep an eye on them every time though! The hardest part of our park visit today was keeping all four children in the same area, and persuading Everett to leave the park. He was very patient with us today. I'll have to take him by himself every now and then.

Workin' Hard in the Yard

Here are my little helpers, hard at work:

Too bad they can't actually mow the lawn!  They love to help with the weeding though.  And digging!   The garden will be outside of the fenced-in area.  We plan on renting a sod-cutter and a tiller this week to prepare the turf, and repair other parts of our yard.  I'm sure that Everett will be a big help in the garden this year, but I don't know that the girls are quite ready!

I'm hoping to round up some form of shade for us before it gets really warm.  I'm already getting headaches.  I would love to have a nice big tree in the back corner, but by the time one grew big enough to shade us I'm sure we'd be long gone.

This is why when I tell the girls to come inside, they are happy to oblige:

They LOVE the handwashing ritual.  As soon as we come in, I get a bucket and fill it with warm, soapy water.  Six or eight little hands are immediately plunged into the bucket.  They rub and dunk until they pass inspection, then I pull the bucket away and give them a towel.  It is so cute to see all their little heads together!

Yard Sale Wagon: $5, Fun Times For Four: Priceless

Today was my CMOMs yard sale. A yard sale for multiple mothers of multiples = lots and lots of stuff, and more than 100 customers in the first hour. I worked there for four hours today while Cary watched the kids, and came home with some clothes for Everett and a few fun surprises. (I also got rid of our most obnoxious toys. *grin*) Since the weather was a bit on the chilly side and I didn't feel like getting everyone dressed up, we let them try the wagon out indoors today. They pushed and pulled for a while, and when they got tired of that, the girls decided that the handle made a great sliding board! Kids are so creative.

(Maddie is in stripes, and Gwyn is in green.)  Here's one more of Maddie.  The girls' new favorite game when I pull out the camera is to rush over to me and try to push the flash closed.  Many shots end up with an arm over the face or very blurry!  Maddie is smiling because I'm holding her arm down and tickling her.

 

Little Helpers

Everett and the girls usually do a really good job of putting away their toys during "clean-up time", but I think that their favorite "chore" is helping with the laundry. Sometimes I dump it on the stairs, and Everett gets to push it down and throw it over the baby gate, where this happens:

Maddie, Everett, Gwyn, and Lana

They play in the clothes for a few minutes, then they get to bring them to the basement door and throw them down the stairs. (Gwyn sometimes hands it to me to throw because she has a rational apprehension about those stairs.)

The Normal Craziness

You know how we have to tape Lana's diapers on?  Well today Gwyn brought me her baby doll and some packing tape, and wanted me to tape her baby. Maddie has also asked me to tape her diaper.  I guess they think Lana is getting special treatment!

The girls had a lot of fun trying on their new swimsuits this week.  At one point, I left the bag on the floor for two minutes while I put away some groceries.  Gwyn ended up wearing her suit on top of her clothes, and Maddie underneath her clothes.  We're looking forward to using them at the Snoopy pool this summer!

And disasters are always fun to hear about, right?  Today Lana climbed out of her pack 'n' play at least eight times before she finally fell asleep (on the floor).  Before falling asleep, she removed the vent cover, put it down into the ductwork, and then proceeded to put anything that was loose on the floor or in Everett's dirty basket and small enough to fit down in there too.  I believe the final contents of that duct were a pair of underwear, pajama shorts, a plastic cup, torn-off pieces of the room-darkening shade, a sock, and a Lego man.

Yes, I know we need to get her in a crib for naps, and yes, we need to fix that vent cover!  It has already been used to create disaster. At least it was easier to take the ductwork apart this time!  Rest assured, securing that vent will be one of my first projects tomorrow!

Quacked Goose and Naptime Disaster

Sorry for the cheesy title. The children were getting a bit out-of-control before dinner today, so I decided to teach them how to play "Duck, Duck, Goose". It was really cute. After a while, Gwyn stood up every time and followed the goose around "ducking" people. Lana was wandering around the whole time. We finally got her to "duck" a few people, but when she got to Everett he leaned away. She kind of landed on his face and proceeded to squeeze his nose repeatedly. Fortunately, he was amused. The chase area became larger and larger. We all had fun. Maddie mostly sat in the circle and held her buckets. (See the previous post.)

As for naptime... The first few days of Lana being in the girls' room for naps went fairly well. They all at least got some sleep. Well, yesterday was another story. I heard them for about two hours. Finally I went upstairs and discovered that Lana had taught Gwyn a new trick. They were both standing in their cribs naked over a puddle. Maddie had apparently slept through that part of the shenanigans. Sooooo I separated the girls again today, but I think Lana had already made an impact (hopefully temporary) on naptime. Today I heard some jumping in the formerly calm girls' room. Ah, the adventures of supertwindom...

Call for Captions II

Well, I think it's time for another contest. Please submit your idea for a title. I'll choose a winner on Saturday and post the results. Here's the photo (of Maddie, by the way):

The winner will receive a candy bar of their choice. Have fun!

Thinking Warm Thoughts

Today was cold and snowy, and beautifully sunny! If we didn't look outside it felt like summer in our house. I'm looking forward to some warmer weather and more outside playtime, so I thought I'd post these pictures.

Everett, summer 2005

Lana, Maddie, Everett, Gwyn, and Grandma, Summer 2007

I also found these of the children when they were about 5 months old:

So what resemblances do you see?

Sunday Activities

Today was ward conference at church. What I heard of the talks was really great, and Cary and I did a special musical number. It wasn't perfect, but it was nice to sing with Cary again. It seems that the only times I do something musical now are when I am asked. I'm always glad for the opportunity (and the reason) to play or sing--especially with my family.

Grandma and Grandpa came over for dinner, and you'd think the kids hadn't seen them in ages! They were laughing and jumping and squealing, just full of delight. There is a lot of love and excitement around here. (And face-poking, shoe removal, jumping on laps, and general child-abuse. Don't take this the wrong way: I mean abuse at the hands of children. Happily, the recipients of this treatment actually aren't bothered by it.)

Random Snapshots

Ahhh...toy rotation! I should start doing this regularly, maybe even daily! We had a sweet, happy, peaceful morning together today. This is our playroom. The kids from left to right are Lana, Gwyn, Everett, and Maddie. In case you're wondering, Maddie's outfit was chosen by her father.

Everett and Gwyn were good buddies. They were crawling
around the house in two lavender tubs, playing ball, etc.

Lana was really cute and she ate spaghetti with alfredo sauce!

Lana's hair is long enough now that I have to put it up every day to keep it out of

her face. When I'm fixing it, Maddie always wants me to do hers too. All I can

manage for Maddie is a tiny little ponytail right on top of her head.

The Best Toys

Why is it that the best toys are never meant to be toys at all? Hand the girls something with a lid they can put on and off, and they're as happy as can be. And I won't even go into the many merits of a cardboard box.

Of course, the best entertainment of all is a parent doing fun things. I had said that I need more exercise than dancing with my kids, but maybe not much. Between swinging them around, dancing, and being a horsie tonight, I'm pretty tired!

More of "What happens when you come to our house"

The following pictures were all taken in the last few days. Warning to visitors: It is recommended that you remain in an upright position, or this could happen to you.

Grandma is under there somewhere!

Our girls recruited the president of our Pittsburgh area church

congregations and his wife (who is their nursery leader) to be horsies.

Dogpile on Dada!

Often when Cary and I hug, we end up with a little person or two between us. Everett thinks it's really sweet when we hug. Yesterday he said "When I am big and I get married I will kiss someone on the lips." At what age does this actually turn into a gross-out for kids? The children also love it when we pick them up and Cary and I each kiss a cheek simultaneously.

Everett is really starting to think about his prayers, and the girls are learning to pray. At first, we would have them repeat what we said, but now they are starting to come up with some things on their own. It is so cute!!! I should really record it sometime. I love hearing their little voices say things like "bless" and "flam-il-ee". Lana sometimes says "Amen" before the prayer is over. They are also learning a lot of songs. Here are some of their favorites:

I Am a Child of God

Popcorn Popping

Once There was a Snowman

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

Snow Fun

I have been hoping for one large and sticky snowfall this winter so that we could get out and build something with Everett. We finally got a few inches yesterday and today, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity (though I'm a bit under the weather and it felt so warm and cozy inside!). So Everett and I bundled up and headed for the back yard.

We started out building one snowman, but then we decided there should be a snowbaby. And in this house, you can't just have one baby, so we had to make three. Then we decided there had to be a snowmama and a snow boy too.

I know they look pretty lame without faces or arms, but I was getting cold!

Favorite Photos This Week

Maddie and Lana

These two were paused in the middle of the couch gymnastics that

I never thought I would permit until we entered the winter blahs

with four active children!

Little Mister Pineapple-head

(We have a picture of each of us, except Cary, in this same pose.)

Gwyn

Everett had just come in from playing in the snow, and Gwyn promptly

put on his mittens and hat, and asked for help with the coat and boots.

She looked at the picture and said "Erett!"

Amy with the children

As soon as she comes in, the girls say "Coat". As soon as she is

seated and her coat is hung, if not before, she is covered in kids.

Another use for packing tape

I am becoming ever more convinced of the usefulness of packing tape. Most recently, I have used it on one of the most obnoxious toys ever created--to reduce the volume by a couple of decibels! Now every instrument our little band is, if not very musical yet, at least tolerable.

Hallelujah!

Something beautiful and perhaps miraculous happened today:

All four children played with the same toy for about 5 minutes without screaming!!! For some time, I have been hoping that they would all discover that it was fun to share, and was just starting to doubt that it would ever happen.

Here they are, with "Lucky Ducks"
















Don't they all look angelic with the sunlight on their hair?

A preview of the teenage years?

(Gwyn, Lana, Maddie)

Two Peas in a Boat?

It looks like Everett and Gwyn have

come up with a new use for our play tunnel.

Books

We LOVE books at our house! Cary and I have hundreds (including a large collection in French), and the childrens' collection is growing as well. The kids like to EAT books...

(Lana - Oct. '07)

... carry them around all day, and occasionally read them.

(Gwyn, Maddie - Nov. '07)

(Gwyn, Lana, Maddie, Everett - Oct. '07)

I have heard of many uses for duct tape, but I find that I use packing tape a lot! Aside from the normal uses (such as sealing packages), I have repaired many books with that stuff, and it's the preferred tape for diaper turban prevention measures!

PS - Although Lana does not enjoy consuming many solid foods, she does seem to have a taste for cardboard, paper, and candy wrappers!