Christmas Conversations

Some of the best times around our house are those little conversations that you get to have with four 3 year olds. It's hilarious to see what they will tell you that's on their minds. The other week, I thought I'd quiz them to see if they were retaining any of the stories I was telling them about Christmas and what the true meaning of it is. Our conversation went like this:

Mommy: Do you know whose birthday it is on Christmas?

Kids: Becky! Auntie Alaine! Auntie C! Grammie!

Mommy: No.....here's a hint: It's mommy's very best friend.

Kids: Jo Ann! Gen! Suz! Rebecca!

Mommy: No.....here's another hint: We talk to Him everyday before we eat.

Kids: THE PIZZA MAN!!!!!!

Eye opening, right? I guess I need to step up my cooking around here! Here are a few more Christmas conversations I captured on video. I hope they warm your heart as much as they do mine!

Christmas Conversations 2010 from Mari Goerlich on Vimeo.

Crazy Eighteen

1 crazy idea .

3 families of 6.

18 friends getting together.

88 hours of driving (each way) - putting 2,847 miles on 3 cars (each way).

126 meals and over 200 more snacks eaten.

758 digital photos.

Unmeasurable number of memories made in 4 short days.

We just got back from driving over 1,000 miles across Texas, New Mexico and into the desert mountains of Tucson, Arizona to meet up with some of our best friends whom we never would have known if we all weren't blessed with having quadruplets just a few years ago. We've gotten together with Gen & Conor McNulty and Joe & Suz Steece on several occasions and have always dreamed of getting all of the kids together too. This last weekend we were all just crazy enough to stop dreaming and start doing.

It was a weekend we'll always treasure. The kids made friendships that will last forever, the parents made plans for future family trips and arranged marriages in the years to come. Chris and I were in awe of how much fun it was to be in a house with a dozen little ones and started to make plans to fill our house with more pitter patter of little feet. While we're still dreaming - enjoy a few snapshots from the adventure.

The Tucson Twelve from Mari Goerlich on Vimeo.

How Can This Be?

Our babies turned three! Last weekend birthday celebrations were in full swing. Chris took off Friday from work and we brought the kids to their favorite place on earth, Chuck E Cheese. They all got their own "money" and were running like crazy spending tokens on driving cars, riding horses and shooting guns. Saturday was spent at the pool with Daddy and partying with friends, Jack, Kate, Chris and Rebecca that evening. Then on Sunday {the official day} we woke up early and had a mini party at breakfast before heading to church and then off to visit Busha. After a fun lunch with her we all headed down to Galveston to visit Grammie, Mema and Pepa. By the end of the weekend we all had sugar highs and rough throats from all the renditions of "Happy Birthday To You!"

It's hard to believe they are three already. The terribly terrific two's came and went so fast. We wish we could freeze this time somehow and let it last just a little bit longer. And since we can't literally....at least we can make a little video, right?

Thoughts from Three Year Olds from Mari Goerlich on Vimeo.

Summer Snapshots

We just spent a month in America's Heartland with my gracious family who entertained us, fed us and helped me to parent these terrific two year olds the entire time. We drove this time - 18 hours straight through the night on the first leg and broke it up a little on the way back. The kids did amazing - only stopping once to eat and twice to potty in that amount of time. And without a car DVD system, they were left to entertain themselves with the sites and sounds of the road. This might be the first time I have ever thanked the Lord over and over for summer construction! The kids were easily entertained for miles and miles as we passed all sorts of tractors, dump trucks, steam rollers and workers.

We had a blast while staying at my sister and brother-in-laws' beautiful family home in the country. We fished, swam in the pond, rode the tractors and four wheelers, chased the kitties and fed the horses. It was like being at family camp with just your family! We are all missing them like crazy. I wish the miles weren't so far between us but am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to spend so much time with them and for all of the summer memories our families made together.

Here are some snapshots of our trip.

Summer Snapshots from Mari Goerlich on Vimeo.

Holy Momcation!

16 Best Friends

Front (left to right)

Kelly, Heather, Amy Jo, Misty, Casey, Beth, Mari

Back (left to right)

Charity, Suz, Sandra, Kami, Jenn, Jenna, Jac, Gen, & Moni

mom·ca·tion [mom-key-shuhn]

–noun

1.

a period of suspension of all mommy duties, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday: 16 moms of Quadruplets met in Austin, Texas for a 5 day momcation.

2.

a part of the year, regularly set aside, when normal activities of wiping bottoms, administering time outs and referring to yourself in the third person are put aside

3.

freedom or release from preschool activities

4.

an act or instance of vacating with 15 best friends who are collectively called mom by 67 children

Quad Mommas 2010

We, as always, had the time of our lives and encourage all of you ladies to do the same. When you have unconditional friendships like these, life is so much sweeter. We can't wait for next year!

Summer Is Here

Summertime is here and it's blooming hot! Since we can't spend every waking hour at the neighborhood pool, we hunker down inside. These four walls are closing in most days but we can't complain much since we get to sit in the cool air conditioning. Hallelujah for AC! I find myself pushing Nick Jr. and Sprout on the kids a least a half a dozen times a day - hoping they'll sit still for a full 30 min. No such luck yet. So we color, play playdough, paint toe nails & finger nails, read books, play dress up and blocks and then wonder what we'll do for the next 8 hours!

I guess in the monotony of the day to day I have forgotten to take photos while we're inside. I'm mentally adding that to the list of indoor activities to keep us busy. In the meantime, here's a quick slideshow of some of the outdoor fun we've been having the last month!

Summertime Fun from Mari Goerlich on Vimeo.

We're Big Kids Now!

It's been nearly a month since we gave away all of the diapers and plunged feet first into the 3 Day Potty Training booty camp. It was exhausting but absolutely exciting to get rid of the ever growing diaper fund. The weeks that followed have been challenging to relearn how to live in the outside world without diapers. Our first big outing was Art Car Parade in Downtown Houston. We had a blast but definitely shocked some passers by when we'd let the kids drop trow and go in public on their personal port-a-potties.

Long Lines At the Porta Potties?

Not For Us!

(Noah & Sophia)

But We Could Really Use One of These (Notice the "Crapper" is Driving the Art Car!)

One of These Wouldn't Be So Bad Either...

Since we had two good weeks of training the kids' little bladders, we thought it appropriate to convince Grandma & Papa to come down and take over so we could go use up some of that extra diaper dough burning a hole in our pockets and enjoy a quick vacation with some great friends in Seaside, Florida.

Enjoying the Ocean Breeze

Chris & Rebecca Before Our Big Dinner Out at Fish Out of Water

Amazing Views, Incredible Food and Even Better Company!

Rebecca, Chris, Mari, Chris

Cooling Off Our Sunburns While Boating in the Bay

Toasting the Sunset

Rebecca & Mari

Once we got home the vacation kept going since Grandma and Papa were staying another 5 days! We celebrated Grandma's birthday with a day at the Galveston beach and an evening at Mia Bella in Vintage Park. What a blessing to be able celebrate such a beautiful woman and all that she contributes to all of our lives! I love you, Mom!

Since we no longer have babies anymore, here are a few pics of our Big Kids...

Cohen

Finn

Noah

Sophia

What's Really Goin' On

Are we cleaning up after a fun-filled weekend with our buddies, the Steece's ? (check out her site for a great recap)?

Or is it potty training mania?

A Colorful Spring

Spring is definitely in the air in Texas! The weather has been beautiful leading to some serious spring fever. We have enjoyed the outdoors at Grammie's house, the zoo and the International Festival in Downtown Houston.

We celebrated Mema's 88th birthday at Grammie's house. Once the rain stopped (after the grilling was finished), we had tikes on trykes, tikes in swings, and a mad game of kickball.

Cousin Madeleine and Mema

Madeleine, Cohen, Noah, Grammie, Sophia, Finn

With a severe case of spring fever, I took off work one day for a family outing the zoo. This was the first time I had been to the zoo without the kids in a stroller or wagon - just hand in hand. We stopped to enjoy a tasty pretzel and view the blooming azaleas. We ended the day with an awesome dinner and fun time at Clay's Restaurant. This place is a must-go on a nice day with kids!

The Beautiful Azaleas In Full Bloom At the Zoo

Munchin on Pretzels With the Munchkins

Clay's Restaurant's Proud Peacock Giving Us a Dinnertime Show

Finn aka Mr. Social finds a new buddy at Clay's
No mechanical bulls at Clay's but these will do

(Finn and Noah)

We headed downtown for the International Fest - the Caribbean. We walked all around, danced to the steel drums, and dreamed of dancing like the colorful ethnic dancers on stage. Afterwards we walked over the Hard Rock Cafe for a bite to eat and couldn't leave without a brownie a la mode.

Super tall Caribbean dancers

The kids are all smiles after chowing down

Cohen

Sophia

Finn

Noah

Daddy and Sophia share a moment

The root of all happiness?

Cohen

Just Believe

Okay, so let me be honest. That last post had the highlights of March. To every highlight, there were at least a dozen low lights. I keep questioning how I am ever going to get through the tantrums, the fighting, the jealousy, the miscommunication....the list goes on and on. I am run down, angry, frustrated and have been searching for strength for quite a while. Meanwhile, a friend emailed me asking me to find a verse to help her get through her tough week. So as I'm paging through my Bible for a truth she can hang onto, low and behold, I find one that was just right for both of us. It read:

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 1:19 & 20 (New Living Translation, emphasis added)

I read that verse over and over and realized I was reading it all wrong. I was reading it, "for us who believe IN him". I'm thinking, "well, I believe IN him but I don't understand this great power nor do I feel like I have it. What's wrong here?" But believing IN him and believing him are two different things for me. Yes, I can say I believe that Jesus is the Son of God but do I simply and truly believe him when he says things like "he gives us the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead?" Say what? That same power is within me? Amazing!

I picture the scene in Matthew where Peter starts to walk on the water and then a wind comes and he gets scared and starts to sink. Then Jesus says to him "you of little faith, why do you doubt?" Jesus must be saying this to me over and over everyday. I have the power within me to have joy and strength in every situation but it's hard to believe that. I want to know more. I sent that one to my girlfriend and I'm posting it here because it is my prayer that all of us who read it will truly believe in that power and learn to rely on it. Think of the things we could do, the joy we could have if we actually believed that the very power that we celebrate this Easter is available to all of us who accept that it's there.

Celebrating Easter 2010 from Mari Goerlich on Vimeo.

March's Top 10 {a Springtime Rhyme}

Cool shades for any style,

Talking with best friends for quite a while.

Fire trucks,

and horsies.

Playing ring-around-the-rosey.

Cheering at the St. Patty's Day Parade,

chillin' with Daddy in the shade.

A visit from cousins - what a blast!

A balled python in our playroom; what can top that?

Turning off the computer for some backyard sun!

Oh, March was so much fun!

A Few Photos From February

February was a busy month - so busy that I barely took any pictures! Here are a few I did manage to get.

We Enjoyed A Visit From Papa & Grandma

A Weekend in Austin....

....with Ansley

....and cousin Madeleine

(Finn & Madeleine)

and finished it off with anniversary celebrations with Suz & Joe Steece!

(they celebrated 7 years a day after our 8 year anniversary!)

Now that February has come and gone - March potty madness is in full swing! Well, nothing major yet but we have introduced the potties and they all quite enjoy trying them out a few times a day.

Noah & Cohen's New Reading Nook