Slow Melt - They Make Those?!?!?

Was I the last person on Earth to find out that they now make Slow Melt Popsicles??? I had no idea until James clued me in on these little miracles of the culinary arts! They are awesome...unless your children REFUSE to hold them by the stick! So having said that -- 3 out of 5 of my kids can now enjoy at least 25% more of the delicious summery goodness. Now if I can only convince Evan & Nolan that the stick truly has another purpose other than trying to get those pesky molars to break through their gums!

Miss Mimi

Nater Bug

Evie-Doo

Rollie Nolie

4th of July - Better Late Than Never

I am finally getting around to posting the 4th of July pictures! A little thing called summer has gotten in the way of me spending time with my old friend Mac (iMac that is.) The parade (weekend before the 4th) was incredible this year. The weather was AMAZING & the kiddos really enjoyed it. Nathan thought he was the main attraction & waved the entire time at all the passing floats. Gotta LOVE Nater-Bug! It rained off & on all day on the 4th. We were so happy that our family still made it out. Colin & Aidan were able to shoot off a few of those DANGEROUS things that rest of the world calls entertainment between showers. I'm always waiting for a trip to the E.R. when fireworks are involved. I can't even begin to imagine what it will be like when all 5 of my kiddos are wanting to blow up stuff! I'll need to be sedated. Uncle Mike & Aunt Julie got a chance to watch Nater pack away a bottomless tray of food. I have no idea where he puts it, but that kid can EAT!!! It's so awesome! Uncle Thom & Aunt Maddie brought Missouri Baking Company Cookies from The Hill. They are only the best cookies in the entire world & they didn't last long with a bunch of Italian kids in the room! It was a really good week...

My main squeeze...Aidan
Miss Meredith waving at the horses.

Nathan thinking "I know I'm cute folks, but you sure didn't have to go to ALL THIS TROUBLE for little old me!"

Evan saying "Doo!" He always says his nickname when we wants something now.

Nolan - waiting for the Monster Truck to get closer.

Brendan, Colin & Aidan
NOTICE that Brendan is LOVING some Italian cookies! So cute!

Gotta Teach Them Young...

Steve used to be in a band years ago with his brother Thom. Once Steve left the band, Thom started singing in addition to playing guitar. You can hear a little here if you are interested. It was a great time in Steve's life & he still noodles around with his guitar now & then. It's all fun & games until Daddy starts teaching them about how to engage the crowd...

Nothing Runs Like a Deere...

WHAT have we been up to you ask...well, well, well. When we bought this house last October we knew we'd have to do some major repairs to the foundation. We had to wait until summer to begin this project. On Wednesday, the poor guys from the foundation repair company jackhammered up the front porch for the entire day. You should have seen Meredith & Nathan's eyes light up when that noise started. Of course Nolan & Evan were all about it!!!! Since it was SOOOOO loud, we camped out up in the boys room all day & they even NAPPED through the chaos. On Thursday, they had to use the tractors & get all the mess out of here...Nolan & Nathan were GLUED to the window. Boys will be boys!!!! On Friday, they dug a 12 foot trench across the entire front & side of the house. Then they had to jackhammer a place in the basement to install a sump pump. Steve & I decided to load up the babies & head to Jump 4 Fun just to get away from the noise for awhile. It was a lot of fun! Aidan is still in his Summer Quest Program at school so I can't wait to go back when we can take him. It really was a good time & extremely toddler friendly!!!

The first day...porch is turned to bits!

Bye-Bye Porch & Sidewalk!

Nolan: Mom, I really DO THINK they could use an extra hand out there!

Nathan (closest to window) & Meredith & Nolan: Hey big brother...do you think these guys know what they are doing?!?!

Aidan blissfully got a "turn" on the back-hoe.

The insanely scary 12 foot drop-off right outside our front door. Aidan keeps referring to it as "the cliff."

Nolan & Nater (in background) at Jump 4 Fun

This child is FEARLESS!

Miss Mimi laughing hysterically!!! She had a BLAST!

Nater - throwing his body around. He is so CRAZY!

Evan - Running all over the place! He was WORN OUT when we left!
The look on Nolan's face says it all!

Porkapalooza: Swine-O-Nine

Some friends of mine from high school throw one heck of a BBQ every summer called Porkapalooza. Steve & I weren't able to go the last two years, so we were really excited to see everyone again. The heat index was floating around 100+ degrees all day & the humidity was KILLER, but everyone that was in town still showed up. It's a really great time with good people, awesome food & lots of beer. Where else would you want to spend a crazy hot summer day & evening?!?! Miss Vanessa...we REALLY missed you & hope you make it from TX next year!!!

Just a few members of the Class of '93 - Many more showed up later.
Tisk...yes, I AM that OLD!

Me & my guy
Gotta LOVE what the humidity does to my hair...uuugggh! One of the MANY pleasures of Missouri weather!

Me, Keith & Billy

The guys...amidst a very deep discussion about the band Radiohead.

Me & Shelly

4 of my favorite guys from high school...
They were NEVER up to any good & not much has changed! lol! Noooo, I love you guys!!!
Jason, Matt, Keith & Jeremy

Lisa & I

Happy Father's Day!

Steve & I went to Porkapalooza Saturday night (will do a separate post about that) so Father's Day was rather uneventful. We had all spent the night at Nana's the night before so these are a few of the Father's Day photos I was able to snap. Getting a group shot these days is IMPOSSIBLE. After killing ourselves trying to keep the kiddos in one place we threw in the towel & opted for individual shots with daddy. Sometimes our sanity is WAY MORE IMPORTANT than the perfect family photo...sorry folks!

Aidan, Nathan, Evan, Steve, Nolan & Meredith at Nana's
These kiddos are so blessed to have a father with the patience of a SAINT! I am so thankful to be sharing this journey with the best guy in the entire world.

Steve & Aidan

Steve & Nolan

Steve & Evan

Steve & Nathan

Steve & Meredith

Keepin' Busy...

People, have I ever told you how much I love my hysterically funny friend (and fellow quad momma) Jac?!?! I mean this woman is one bad-ass piece of southern charm!!!! She is flippin' hilarious & if you don't believe me check out this post. While you read it, you must picture it being said with the most charmingly adorable southern drawl ever! I was just crying/laughing hysterically because in this single post she has captured the TOTAL picture of what life with quads is all about!!!! So funny!!! I love you to the moon & back Mrs. Jaclyn Tubre!!!

In order to avoid (we try hard, but RARELY succeed!) moments like this, we all try to keep our kiddos as busy as possible! I would drive around in a flippin' clown car, making balloon animals in one hand & serving their beloved V-Fusion Pomegranate/Blueberry juice in the other if it would keep these 4 entertained for an entire 5 minutes...which it would NOT! But anyhow, I try & these are some of the things we've been up to in the last week...

Pool Party - Evan (Red) , Nolan (Navy), Nater & Mimi (at the picnic table)
Going fishing - Aidan & Great-Grandpa

Coloring - (L to R) Nater, Nolan, Mimi & Evan

At the park - Meredith, Nolan (Teal), Nathan (Red) & Evan (Navy)

Sidewalk Chalk

Crib Mattress Trampoline
(Great idea Misty!)

Wrestle Mania

Much to Steve's dismay, I discovered that Dish Network has a Grateful Dead Channel. Give me a break here people! I have to share my childhood memories & considering Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young was my first concert with the folks, it's only natural that we are going to be blaring this & dancing our booties off!!!! Hellllloooo, only hippies name their daughters CHARITY for crying out loud! Does it get any better than Eyes of the World ending with a little bit of China Doll?!?! I don't think so...and my 4 little Deadheads agree!!!! Sorry daddy!

"Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world,

The heart has its beaches, its homeland and thoughts of its own.
Wake now, discover that you are the song that the mornin' brings,
But the heart has its seasons, its evenings and songs of its own.

Sometimes we live no particular way but our own,
And sometimes we visit your country and live in your home,
Sometimes we ride on your horses, sometimes we walk alone,
Sometimes the songs that we hear are just songs of our own."

~Eyes of the World by the Grateful Dead