Toddler Tips #321: Batten the Hatches

November 14, 2013January 13, 2014Amber 4 Comments

With each passing day, I find myself trying to solve some new challenge with raising four toddlers, aka “quaddlers”. They are a cunning lot who inspires a little ingenuity on my part (and George’s) just to manage day to day life. While my ideas are born from being surrounded by four toddlers, I think many of them could be helpful to any parents of little ones so I’m sharing.

As soon as the babies became mobile, serious baby proofing ensued, starting with baby gates. Sometimes it feels as if we reside in Fort Knox thanks to the baby gates that effectively partition our den. We have a total of three gates- one at the base of the stairs, one between the den and entry way, and another between the den and kitchen.

When the quadlets are awake, the gates do an outstanding job of dividing the baby proof vs adult areas.

When the quadruplets are awake, the gates do an outstanding job of dividing the baby proof vs adult areas. This gate will soon be replaced with a much taller one..they’ve recently began reaching the latch and it’s only a matter of time before they finagle it open. UGH!

I’m thankful for the way we can cordon off our den, creating a mostly toddler proof room. This allows me to dart to the restroom or do a few things in the kitchen while they play. However, baby gates are a nuisance for the rest of us. They separate the dogs from their food and water and we sometimes trip over them.

One evening after we put the quads to bed, George pulled out a few bungee cords and propped the gates open. It was fantastic being able to move about our house without being blocked by gates, and for the dogs to freely drink water. Now it’s part of our evening routine to prop the gates open as soon as everyone is in bed. I also do the same while the quads nap.

After the quads are tucked into their cribs for the night, the gates are more of a nuisance for us and the dogs.

Here’s how we use bungee cords to keep the gates open.

The critical part is to always shut the gates before getting the quads out of bed. Otherwise, the little opportunists scamper into the kitchen and play in the dog’s water.

Typically, the kitchen is off-limits to the quads unless they are in the quad table. Still, all of the cabinets with hazardous chemicals or other dangerous items protected with latches. When we have fussy days, I bring the quads into the kitchen with different toys. They are rejuvenated by novelty and are thrilled to play in otherwise taboo spaces. We have several cabinets that contain things such as pots and Tupperware, which do not have latches. That does not mean I want eight hands exploring said cabinets. To keep my sanity, I use George’s bungee cords to seal the cabinets temporarily. I suppose we could bring bungee cords for when we travel to family member’s homes, or if we ever attempt a vacation.

What are some of your favorite ways to use bungee cords?

hugs,

Amber

A Generous Heart

November 11, 2013November 26, 2013Amber 11 Comments

Several months ago, we began teaching the babies a few functional signs starting with “more”. We did this because they clearly desired to communicate, but lacked the ability to produce meaningful speech. They grasped “more” quickly because they were already clapping, and we simply paired an existing behavior with a food reward. Since then, we’ve added more signs particularly for mealtime. Otherwise, they demand food and drink or refuse in a boisterous way. We value family mealtime and want our children to be polite at our table and when they are visitors elsewhere.

The second sign they mastered was, “please” but they signed “please” often and it was difficult to discern what they wanted. A lot of the time they were requesting a drink but lacked means to say that so we taught them to sign “drink”. At that point, I removed our sippy cup straps that I so treasured. The sippy cup straps were sometimes a thread of my sanity. They absolutely love tossing their cups as far as possible, and without straps I found myself hunching over countless times to fetch cups. However, if their cups were strapped to their seats and always within reach, they would never need to request a drink. I began setting their cups just out of reach, waiting for them to sign “drink”. Then, I watched for them to finish drinking and immediately putting it out of reach again. Every now and then, I am not quite quick enough before they heave a cup. This led to a natural consequence, “bye bye cup”. When someone tosses his or her cup, I say, “bye, bye cup” and let them watch me put it in the refrigerator. Don’t worry, they won’t be dehydrated- I let them have more of their drink after everyone finished eating. They’ve caught onto this routine and sometimes say “bye bye” when a sibling tossed a cup.

Aside from working tirelessly to promote good communication skills, we are teaching virtues on toddler scale. One of the most salient right now is sharing. It doesn’t matter how many of a given toy we have, they generally want the same ONE. We once had a scuffle over a blue Lego while we sat in a sea of blue Legos. That’s just how toddlers are, but we have to teach them otherwise. Thus, we are teaching them to “wait” and “share”.

I think my heart melted tonight as we enjoyed our family dinner. After taking a quick swig of his milk, Harper thrust his cup over his shoulder onto the window seat. As usual, I did the whole “bye bye cup” scene and Rylin mimicked me saying, “bye bye!” Realizing his misstep, Harper pouted and signed for “more drink”. I kindly told him that he had to wait because he threw it.

The window seat behind the quad table catches many things they toss, especially cups.

Then, Mason began signing, “drink, please.” George handed Mason his cup, but Mason didn’t drink a single drop. Instead, he handed his cup to Harper who guzzled milk happily. While we wanted Harper to learn that he can’t have milk when he throws it, Mason’s generosity trumped the usual consequence.

Not long ago Mason was taunting Harper with a raisin, but tonight he shared instead.

A similar behavior occurred a few days ago at the table. Harper began signing “more” for veggie sticks. As soon as I handed him one, he passed it to Mason who passed it to Sydney. When Mason’s hands were empty, he would sign “more, please” and repeat the whole chain. I attempted to record what unfolded, but they naturally stopped when I hit record. I’m so proud of how much they are learning lately, especially when they are kind to each other.

What melted your heart today?

Hugs!

Amber

Here are a few snippets of Rylin and Harper demonstrating some of the signs they know-

2 Days. 3 Parties. 4 Toddlers.

November 10, 2013Amber 9 Comments

In just two days, we attended three parties with four toddlers. WHEW! I’m considering pitching this to the Olympic committee as a new sport. In order to take the quadlets out for an evening, we literally begin prepping after breakfast. As soon as I finish cleaning breakfast, I check to make sure the diaper bag is stocked, and we have plenty of toys and snacks. While the quads enjoy a morning catnap, George and I ferociously shower and get dressed. After their nap, the quads are fed lunch and dressed. As I get them ready, George is responsible for loading the quad mobile. Once everything is organized, we begin the loading process. I start with the back row because it’s easier for me to slip back there while George works on the middle row. It’s expected that after at least two are loaded, someone has a foul diaper that needs attention. Once we start the loading process, the van is usually rolling down the driveway within about 10 minutes, and we are sweating profusely. Are you exhausted yet???

This weekend turned out to be a rather busy one. We were invited to a housewarming/ 30th birthday party and a shared children’s birthday party that began an hour later. Both of these parties were across town, but fortunately within close proximity to each other so we decided to make both. The next day, we had an early Thanksgiving dinner at my Grandmother’s house while my Aunt Susan visited from California. I don’t think we’ve hit three parties in a single weekend since college.

Party #1: Housewarming/ 30th Birthday

I was impressed that Aunt CiCi captured a picture with everyone looking at the camera with eyes open!

I was impressed that Aunt CiCi captured a picture with everyone looking (well, mostly) at the camera with eyes open!

For once, I asked someone to take a picture, here I’m with my sister and Kaylie. I always feel a bit weird when I’m somewhere with the quads and I’m not holding or chasing one. I find myself doing head counts often.

Terri loyally helps us care for the quads once a week while I go to work, and also when we have pediatrician appointments. She was so happy when they all gravitated towards her in a sea of unfamiliar faces. They know their caregivers!

Harper became Ed’s little buddy, accompanying him everywhere.

Whenever we go places with Nisey and Grandpa, Rylin seems to gravitate to Nisey who consoles her stranger danger. Somehow Rylin ended up greeting an unfamiliar guest AND she stayed with the guest for quite a while. When she spotted me, she gave the stink eye to her new-found friend.

Sydney always needs a little snuggle time with her “Big Me”.

Party #2: Birthday Party

After the quads soaked up all the attention they could at the first party, we loaded the quad mobile and followed our GPS to the next stop, my cousin, Jennifer’s house. There we were invited to celebrate the birthdays of her oldest two children. They always throw the best parties and I was so excited we were able to attend. They set up their backyard as a movie theater under the stars and screened Brave. Keeping up with the theme, hot dogs, popcorn, and candy were served.

Jennifer’s youngest child jumped right in with the quads and generously shared his toys.

Mason showed Grandpa how to tickle the ivories.

My cousin Lindsay and her cousin Julie got a little snuggle with Harper man.

Sydney loved the long hallways in the house and trotted off independently.

Mamaw absolutely adored the boys, especially when Mason crawled into her lap.

The quads enjoyed watching the birthday boy and girl blowing out candles.

Party #3

We rounded out the weekend with a traditional family Thanksgiving dinner/ family birthdays at Grandma’s house. After dinner, the quads had a chance to run freely in the front yard. They took turns noshing grass and chasing each other.

Sydney enjoyed being the center of attention and was fascinated with Cousin Rita’s braid.

Mason always gravitates to the twins, especially Michael.

When Rylin saw birthday candles she began saying “hot” and blowing.

Nisey found Thanksgiving outfits for the girls, and the boy’s Halloween shirts coordinated perfectly with them.

Our family with my grandparents.

What did you do this weekend?

hugs,

Amber

Noses Blown {BabyComfyNose Review}

November 9, 2013February 1, 2014Amber 5 Comments

With quadruplets, we have more stuffy noses than the average household. Sydney seems to think her finger is the best booger removal tool, but I disagree.

With quadruplets, we have probably more stuffy noses than the average household. Sydney seems to think her finger is the best booger removal tool, but I disagree.

When the babies were still in the NICU they had shockingly enormous boogers. I was baffled at how such tiny noses could produce such disgusting stuff. The NICU boasts a nifty device called the neo-suction where a tube is gently inserted into the baby’s nose and a powerful suction pulls the boogies loose (it’s similar to the suction used by dentists). George was so enamored with the hospital grade neo-suction he searched high and low for a home version of it. Because neo-suction is incredibly powerful, it’s not considered safe for home use without a prescription. No luck for George. Instead he found human-powered nasal aspirators online. Being a rookie mom I was totally disgusted with the notion of using my mouth to clear out the babies’ noses. I was convinced I’d get a mouthful of yuck, which was not appealing. I scoffed at them and settled for the standard issue blue bulb nasal aspirator.

I don't know it it's just our babies, or all babies, but we have a serious case of boogers. It is nearly impossible to extract a boogie without the help of Little Remedies saline. The babies and I are so happy it exists! It is difficult to see, but there is a "Rylin Shawever" label on the side of the saline. Each baby has a set of these nifty labels for the things we don't want them sharing and for bottles so we know who gets which one (they eat different amounts). They are great for just about anything because they are microwave and dishwasher safe. I ordered them from Mabel's Labels.

Just like most new parents, we dutifully used our blue bulb aspirator along with saline drops to clean out the little noses. After a few weeks, our precious bulbs lost suction and were disgusting, but nearly impossible to clean.

A triplet mama friend told me how much she loved her electronic nasal aspirators so we invested in a couple of them. They worked reasonably well, and were easy to clean.

When the babies were a few months old, a triplet mama friend told me how much she loved her electronic nasal aspirators so we invested in a couple of them. They worked reasonably well, and were easy to clean. However, they ran through batteries, their parts wore out, and lost suction in time.

Over the past 15 months we’ve had our share of stuffy noses and various methods for helping clear them. I even whipped up my own nose wipes because the quad’s noses were getting raw and irritated with frequent tissue wiping. It wasn’t until recently that the quad’s noses were truly blown. BabyComfyNose sent us their nasal aspirator to sample, and I was completely satisfied with the results.

Here’s what I love about this product:

really effectively removes even the stickiest, deep, and most disgusting boogies

a gently wadded facial tissue serves as the filter, which is super cheap and easy to replace

the bulb shape and tissue filter prevent any mucus from passing to the parent (Amen to that! My fears of getting a mouth full of snot are G-O-N-E.)

The challenge is getting a toddler to sit still for the procedure. I’ve found that our crew is a mixed bag. Harper is perfectly content with it and Rylin scampers off if she sees us coming at her with anything that may involve keeping her still.

available in three colors so siblings can have their own ( I’ve been guilty of sharing a single nasal aspirator between the quads and that is totally unhygienic. However, I hope Baby Comfy Nose will add a fourth color to their fleet because two of our kiddos have to use the same color.)

includes a mesh bag for storage, which keeps the parts together and away from surfaces (I personally don’t like boogie removal parts touching say, my counter top)
pieces are soft and easy to clean in the dishwasher or with hot soapy water

I put the BabyComfyNose aspirators in our dishwasher two ways: one in the bag with parts disconnected and one with parts outside the bag. Either way seems to work. I also think our bottle sterilizer would get the job done.

sold on Amazon for about $11 (have I mentioned how many things we order from Amazon???)
made in the USA (that is something that will make my Dad happy)

BabyComfyNose Nasal Aspirator is my new go-to snot sucker. However, I can’t toss the less preferred versions out just yet. I’m hanging onto them for when the quads are left with babysitters since we can’t share the Baby Comfy Nose.

Rylin was not pleased when I used the Baby Comfy Nose aspirator on her, but it worked very well. Bunny did a fantastic job of consoling one unhappy toddler.

Rylin was not pleased when I used the Baby Comfy Nose aspirator on her, but it worked very well once I wrangled her. Bunny did a fantastic job of consoling one unhappy toddler.

What do you think about human-powered nasal aspirators? Would you try one to help your little one breathe easier?

hugs!

Amber

P.S. I’d like to extend a special thank you to BabyComfyNose for providing us with their nasal aspirators to sample. I received no other compensation and all thoughts/ opinions are 100% my own.

Shawver Shenanigans {with bonus video}

November 3, 2013November 11, 2013Amber 8 Comments

When I review the snapshots taken in a week’s time, it’s apparent that our lives are full of shenanigans, but that is what enriches us and makes life full of JOY! It’s a clear reminder why God thought quadruplets were just right for our family. Here are some of my favorite outtakes from the past few weeks-

1. For some reason, the quads are obsessed with sticking their fingers in other people’s mouths. They think it’s hilarious. They try to put their fingers in our mouths and constantly stick them in each others mouths. It happens ALL DAY LONG. While I was enjoying an Every Girl Gourmet cooking class, George was in charge of dinner and bedtime. After dinner, Mason began taunting Harper with his fingers that were also grasping a raisin. George let the camera roll to capture the insanity. Needless to say, this didn’t end well for someone. Here’s a video of the raisin taunting shenanigans-

2. One of our friends gave the quads a mini inflatable bounce house. George and I were stoked to use it the first day we had beautiful fall weather. George set it up in the backyard to use when the quads got up from nap. Much to our dismay, they did not appreciate this new toy just yet. Three of them screamed like banshees because of the sound the generator makes while keeping it inflated. After my cousin’s kids demonstrated proper bouncing technique, Rylin warmed up to the concept and became a bouncing monkey. I think they will enjoy it more in another month or two.

3. As I’ve mentioned before, Harper loves nothing more than to crawl into baskets, boxes, or cabinets. He recently began taking the drawer out of the kid’s kitchen set. He gets frustrated when we don’t allow him to push it along our hardwood floors or if he cannot fit inside.

4. We’ve used the same Tommee Tippee silicone bibs since we started spoon feeds at six months. These bibs have been fantastic for catching dribbles, drops, and spits. I simply wash them under scalding hot water and hang them on a drying rack until the next meal. As of the past few weeks, these bibs are no longer working for Sydney. Somehow, she’s managing to get food between the bib and her clothing causing major stains. She now wears a smock type bib with sleeves that covers her entire outfit. Harper on the other hand, finds the old bibs perfect for catching food he doesn’t prefer.

What’s shaking in your house?

hugs!

Amber

Every Girl Wants To Be Gourmet [Guest Post]

November 2, 2013Jennifer 3 Comments

I love to cook. It’s something I didn’t know about myself until I met my husband. He loves to cook (gets that from his Opa), and he’s really good at it. Over the years, it’s rubbed off on me…at least the “love” part. I still have a long way to go with respect to the “good” part.

The difference between us? I’m a rule-follower, and he’s a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants kind of guy. The end result? I can pick out a mean recipe that is usually a crowd-pleaser, and I will follow it. To. The. Letter. (at least the first time). And I usually have a fairly good result with the family.

Except for butternut squash or carrot soup.

Or pastas that don’t involve a red or cream sauce.

Or casseroles.

I’ve tried countless recipes in these departments to no avail. Between you and me, I don’t think it’s the recipes that are the problem. I think it’s the picky eaters involved. But we have a way of dealing with that in our home, and you can read about that here.

My husband, on the other hand, can’t follow a recipe to save his life, but if all we have on hand is some cream of chicken soup, Italian bread crumbs, a few chicken breasts, and a vegetable, he’ll whip up THE MOST DELICIOUS MEAL. Of course, we’ll never be able to have it again because he won’t be able to re-create it, but that’s OK. He’ll come up with another delicious, but different, version next time.

I’m always looking for new (and easy) recipes that will spice up the food I’m serving to my family because I want to keep mealtime interesting, and I want to continue introducing new foods to our kids in hopes of broadening their palates. I’m certain that someday…they’ll thank me. (They will eventually thank me, won’t they?)

This is an interest that I share with my sister, Lindsay, and my cousin, Amber. Over the years, we have swapped recipes, shared shortcuts, and even spent time cooking together, each of us bringing something new to the table for the other to try.

For a number of years, Amber and I lived minutes from each other, and it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence for us (and our hubbies) to destroy one of our kitchens trying to create something new. On one such occassion, we learned that Amber’s husband George is allergic to jalapenos. He was charged with slicing and seeding about 20 of them for something we were grilling and, bless his heart, for the next week, he couldn’t use his fingers due to the burning sensation under his nails! Note taken. Now we all wear gloves or use a spoon!

Our hubbies, about 10 years ago, whipping up a beach vacation breakfast for the girls, before any of us had children. I love pulling out old photos!

Recently, though, my family moved across town as a result of my husband’s appointment at a new church. And with Amber and George managing 15 month old quadruplets…

and us having 3 children ranging in age from 2-9…

We just don’t get to see them as much as we used to. So when Amber and I received an invitation from my sister (who lives halfway between us) to attend a cooking class at her house lead by Audrey McGinnis, owner of Every Girl Gourmet, we decided to seize the moment to spend a little time together and sharpen our skills at the same time.

Meet Audrey, owner of Every Girl Gourmet. Isn’t she the cutest thing ever?

The concept?

1. A night with the girls;

2. A cooking class lead by a finalist from Season 3 of Master Chef (remember the girl who made the cakes that looked like the Judges? That’s Audrey!)

Audrey made it to the top 36, got the coveted apron, and was cut (from the show, not with a knife) during a meat challenge. But she points to her experience at Master Chef as the inspiration for this new aspect of her business.

3. A three-course meal;

4. 3-5 recipes to take home;

5. And some really awesome, but simple, cooking tips to keep in your back pocket.

We had a blast! Audrey is polished, well-spoken, and witty. She’s a great cook. She knows how to make everyone feel comfortable in the kitchen. And she’s lots of fun to be around.

We left with 5 great recipes including a beverage, appetizer, salad dressing, main course, and dessert. And we were stuffed! But Amber and I agreed that the best part of the evening was soaking in some practical cooking tips that transcend the recipes Audrey shared with us.

This is my sister, Lindsay. She’s a local news anchor, and even in her own kitchen, she looks like she’s doing an interview!

Here’s a few things we learned:

1. Roasting vine-ripened tomatoes is the secret to delicious homemade salsa (plus adding a can of Fireroasted tomatoes). Audrey taught us to roast the tomatoes at 500 degrees in a round cake tin covered with foil. After removing the tomatoes from the oven, Audrey shared that covering them with the foil for about 15 minutes helps loosen the skins so they will peel right off.

I’ve made two batches of Audrey’s salsa since the party. Delicious!

2. Adding a little tobasco to a buttermilk ranch dressing recipe is a nice touch.

3. The pits of an avocado will keep guacamole from turning brown. So after you whip up a batch of delicious guacamole, reunite the flesh of the avocado with its pit. It will thank you by staying green!

4. When baking any recipe that calls for vegetable oil, replace the oil with an equal amount of apple sauce. The end result? A healthier dessert, free of transfats, that will be light and fluffy (if you’re going for a dense cake, do not make this substitution).

5. When baking any chocolate recipe, if it calls for a cup of milk or water, add a teaspoon of instant ground coffee to the milk or water to increase the intensity of the chocolate.

6. If your recipe calls for eggs at room temperature and you forget to take them out of the refrigerator ahead of time, don’t panic. Instead, place them in a bowl of luke warm water for 3-4 minutes. (In exchange for this little tidbit, I shared a secret regarding softening butter — if you take butter right out of the refrigerator and grate it with a cheese grater, you will have softened butter for creaming without the wait time.)

As usual, I forgot to remove eggs from the refrigerator today. Audrey’s trick worked like a charm!

7. And finally, have you every wondered how to eat a cupcake without getting frosting all over your nose? Audrey taught us that a truly moist cupcake can be broken easily in half by tearing the top of the cupcake off the base. Then, take the base and place it on top of the icing (like an oreo), and wala! A mess-free cupcake with icing in every bite!

We learned a ton of other things as well, but most importantly, we got to spend some time with each other and we got to escape, even if just for a few hours, from the demands of work and family. That alone was worth the cost of admission!

How do you love spending time with the girls? And what are some of your favorite practical cooking tips?

P.S. If you enjoyed reading this post, please come visit me and my family at Confessions Of A Pastor’s Family. I am married to a pastor in the local church and recently launched this blog as a place for us to share stories regarding our Faith, Marriage, Family, and Ministry. It is our hope that, through candid posts, we can touch the lives of families beyond the walls of our own church in a positive way. We’d love to hear from you!

P.S.S. Also, be sure to check out Audrey’s blog, Every Girl Gourmet. It’s filled with great recipes and helpful cooking tips!

Blessings!

Four of a Kind

November 1, 2013Amber 8 Comments

Sometime after discovering we were expecting quads, George researched statistics and determined the chances of conceiving quadruplets to be about one in a million. We joked that we hit the “baby lottery”. George actually bought a lotto ticket, hoping we’d win the state lottery, but no avail. We’ve always considered having quadruplets to be a “win”. Keeping that in mind, I thought of the quad’s Halloween costume last year- Four of a Kind. Actually…I’m not sure I thought of it myself. Four of a Kind is relatively common for quadruplets because In poker, four of a kind is also known as “quads”. Anyways, I had my heart set on Four of a Kind last year, but the babies were too small for it. This year they were just the right size.

To bring this idea to life, I picked up a package of Hanes toddler undershirts and black and red duck fabric. George stenciled the suits and A’s onto the fabric, which we cut out. Because I have zero sewing ability, we enlisted our friend, Marianne, to help us with that part. She did a beautiful zig-zag stitch that should last long enough for several future generations of quadruplets to enjoy. (Thank you, Marianne!!!)

I’m sure everyone is tired of hearing this, but taking a picture of four active toddlers together is nearly impossible! We busted out the baby Adirondack chairs to contain them, but Mason kept escaping.

I’ve never been one to dress up on Halloween, but this year, I really wanted to do go all with our theme. I went onto Amazon and scored a Poker Dealer’s hat and arm bands for George, but was a bit puzzled about what I should wear. While perusing Amazon for George’s accessories, I noticed that the female counterpart to Poker Dealer was “Lady Luck”. Being a spendthrift, I wasn’t about to drop any cash on ordering a costume. Instead, I rifled through my own closet to pull something together. I think it turned out pretty well.

Four of a Kind wouldn’t be complete without a Poker Dealer and Lady Luck! It’s hard to see in the photo, but my hair clip is made of tiny playing cards (all aces) and poker chips.

Once our obligatory pictures were snapped, we set out for our very first excursion as Trick or Treaters. Thankfully, Nisey and our friend, Terri, joined us. The quads are all capable walkers, but they aren’t terribly efficient yet.

Just getting out the door posed a challenge for quaddlers.

Our first stop was across the street to Kent’s house. There, a huge bowl of peanut butter cups beckoned the quads, but they were hesitant to take any. Eventually Sydney gingerly chose a piece and the boys joined her.

Rylin protested choosing any candy and instead clung to Nisey.

Rylin, hon the other hand, protested choosing any candy and instead clung to Nisey.

Once we collected our fair share of peanut butter cups, we traveled to our next door neighbor, Kim’s house. There, Harper and Rylin had a blast picking Tootsie Rolls from her bucket and handing them to George. This ended up being our final stop as Trick or Treating was hard work this year.

Kim snuggled Sydney while the others picked through the candy bucket.

Each time Harper spied a bowl of candy a mischievous look swept over his face.

Each year, George prides himself in being the most decorated house on the block and this year was no exception. He laced our bushes with bright orange, purple, and lime lights, hung large letters reading “BOO” from our porch, and giant spiders crawling in our bushes. I didn’t snap a picture this year, but it looked similar to last Halloween. A few years ago, George and I grew weary of popping up from the sofa to dole out candy to voracious Trick or Treaters. Not to mention, it drove our fur babies insane hearing the door bell ring and rapping on the door. We began putting a baby gate in our doorway and posting up in the dining room. That allowed us to enjoy our traditional Halloween dinner (chili dogs and chips) while we greeted little spooks. Our usual plan worked perfectly for the quads. They had a fantastic time playing in an otherwise forbidden part of our home while also checking out all the visitors through the window.

Every year, George insists on putting skeleton bones out as part of his decor. I absolutely loathe the horrid things, but it’s a losing battle for me. George let the quads play with them and it looked a little grisly.

Lily took her role as official family greeter and hopped up at the edge of the gate with each new wave of Trick or Treaters.

Even though four babies toddled around the foyer and hundreds of kids visited us, Sasha found it fitting for a siesta.

When I was a kid, mom always made a pumpkin shaped cake of two bundt cakes. She made it once again for the quads.

What do you think the quads should be next year for Halloween?

Hugs!

Amber

Confessions of a Pastor’s Family {Guest Post}

October 28, 2013Amber Leave a comment

My cousin, Jennifer, recently joined me as a blogger when she launched her blog, Confessions of a Pastor’s Family. If you are looking for a juicy scandal or dirt on a Pastor’s family, this isn’t the place to look. Instead, you’ll find a beautifully written account of how a pastor’s family lives. Jennifer shares what makes them a family just like any other. They do not claim to be perfect, but are raising their children to be believers who are kind to others and gracious stewards.

Last weekend, Jennifer and I took our children for a community service activity, and she kindly let me share the story on her blog. Please stop by Confessions of a Pastor’s Family to see what we were up to last weekend.

Thanks to Jennifer, we were able to get a decent family picture with the quads in their Halloween duds.

hugs!

Amber

In the Bunker

October 27, 2013Amber 2 Comments

George has always been fascinated with the weather. Even back in college he stood outside snapping pictures of a vicious twister as I hunkered down in the bathroom of my apartment. With the advent of smartphones, he began following the radar closely, and checking it several times per day. Last night, just as we followed the quad’s bedtime ritual he noticed a hook on the radar directly over our neighborhood. We switched on the T.V. to see what our local meteorologists had to say about it. Nothing. The World Series played but there were no banners or interruptions. We didn’t hear tornado sirens or any indication there was danger. We waited for updates, allowing the quads to stay up a bit later than usual just in case. They watched the World Series as we watched for weather warnings. As they enjoyed their time staying up late, I stocked our under the stairs closet with flashlights, board books, and light up toys.

As I scurried around making sure our under the stairs closet was in order, the quads were oblivious. Thankfully, I cleaned the closet out just last week so I really just had to make sure I removed their Super Seats and brought a few things to keep them occupied.

Harper abandoned watching the game so he could crawl into our bunker.

Despite the nagging feeling there was a serious storm coming, we tucked the quads into their cribs for the night. Not ten minutes after all four kids were settled, a horrible whir began and hail began pummeling our windows and roof. Both George and I recalled the last major storm that passed through and shattered nearly every window in our home and pulverized our roof. There was no way our babies were staying in their rooms if there were a slight chance of a rerun of that storm. George and I sprung into action, whipping the closet door open, snatching babies from their cribs and then stuffing them into our bunker (aka under the stairs closet). Despite being ripped from their snugly beds and literally shoved into a tight space, all four did exceptionally well. The storm rolled on for well over 20 minutes, keeping us confined to the closet. We managed to entertain the crew with a board book, flashlights, and bubbles. Once calm was restored, we carefully tucked each of the children back into bed and they snuggled up as if they were never disrupted.

Yes, six people and two dogs fit snugly into our under the stairs closet. Sasha wore her Thundershirt because she has severe anxiety during storms.

Remembering the saga of the previous storm, George immediately called our insurance company to schedule an adjuster to check our roof. We didn’t notice any leaks or obvious damage, but our roof was totaled before with little evidence without careful examination. When our family came over for dinner this evening, they all asked what happened to our neighborhood. Apparently there is debris covering the front lawns, driveways, and entire street.

This is what’s left of our Gerber daisies.

Our flowerbeds were laced in hailstones.

Here’s a pile of hailstones that accumulated on our back porch.

Has a storm ever caught you by surprise?

hugs,

Amber

Toddler Tips #25: No More Slippin’

October 24, 2013January 13, 2014Amber 8 Comments

Last week, I shared my tip for holding off the pee pee flood gates in the bath tub. Several of you noticed our huge bathtub mat in the picture I posted. Which brings me to another tip. When the babies transitioned from bath seats to sitting independently, it became apparent that the tub floor was too slippery for them. I picked up a bath mat at Target, but was dismayed when it would not stick to the texture on our bathtub floor. I tried putting a bath towel down, but it floated up and made a huge mess for me to contend with.

No matter how hard I tried, this mat would not stick to our bathtub and instead floated up, making an even bigger slip hazard.

That’s when the idea struck, I simply turned the mat we had so it stuck on the sides of the bath tub rather than the floor. It worked perfectly! However, it did not cover near enough real estate for multiple babies in the bath tub. I picked up a second mat and now they are flush against each other, creating a large area.

What appears to be an oversize bathmat, is actually two identical bathmats.

Anna, from All Bad Things Must End, shared her favorite toddler bath tip and I gave it a whirl. While the bath water was running, I attempted to sit the babies on the toilet (individually of course) without a diaper to encourage them to urinate on the toilet. It didn’t go so well. Rylin had a major meltdown complete with back arching and wailing. The other three sat a little more willingly, but no action. I’m not throwing in the towel on this one yet. I will revisit this idea in a few months because I think it’s a brilliant way to begin the concept of toilet training. I will also try it with a toddler seat, I think the seat would make a huge difference, but I just don’t have one yet. Thank you for sharing, Anna!

What is your favorite toddler tip?

hugs,

Amber

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Toddler Tips #25: No More Slippin’

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