Rolling With My Hommies

The Dirty South will never be the same after the Sweet Sixteen took to the streets!

Back Row: Jenn Suz Moni Amy Jo Sandra Charity Mari Kelly Gen

Front Row: Beth, Jenna Kami Casey Heather Jac Misty

Quad Mommas 2011 Shirts:

Front:

Back:

No. I won't. Nope. Uh-uh. Noooooooo!

Request denied is the status quo these days. The tantrums are louder and even in public now - talk about humiliating. The whimpers and whines have replaced "big kid voices" and it's making Chris and I want to beat our heads against the wall. And isn't it funny how this works? These unpleasant seasons always last longer and cut deeper when God has a bigger lesson that he's been trying to teach me while I was too busy trying to get some naughty little toddlers to listen to me.

So the lesson this time? As often as I hear my kids say no, I am telling God the same thing. It was so loud and clear one day that it had me laughing out loud. I was asking the kids to wear some cute, coordinating outfits that I'd picked out for them that day and they absolutely would not put them on. They were throwing themselves on the floor in full tantrum mode. They were not having it and I wasn't either. I was so tired of fighting over every. little. thing. I flipped into my 'freak out mommy' mode and yelled, "Listen to me! You need to obey me when I ask you to do something, do you hear me?" It was like God spoke right into my ear and said, "Exactly." It instantly made me start laughing at how hypocritical I was being. I expected, without fail , for our kids to listen and obey us yet I can't do that even half of the time with God. In an instant I felt the tiniest bit of what He must feel when I constantly deny His nudges. I'm too busy, too tired, too comforted by something else to just follow some simple things He is asking me to do.

These days I'm trying harder to say yes more and as I do, I have more energy, more patience, more yes's from my four little teachers. I can't tell you how much better I feel when I stop fighting Him over every. little. thing.

"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck." Proverbs 1:7-9

We're ALL growing up so fast!!

Noah Sporting His New Helmet

Noah & Sophia - Best Buds Lately

Finn & Cohen Show Some Brotherly Love

Sophia - Our Little Goofball

Washing Jaz - So Doggone Fun! (For Them)

Cohen Taking Daddies Longboard For A Spin

Finn Showing His Excitement Over the New Helmets!

The Two Musketeers (Noah & Sophia) Going for A Ride

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!