The Family

Our fabulous, wonderful photographer took all of these photos on my birthday. My parents and sister were here visiting so we did some pictures with them as well.

Had to throw in the picture with Jaileigh picking her nose. Too funny. Why can't it be the boys picking their nose?

Jaileigh, Anthony/Annie, Michael, and Jakob

I LOVE this picture. I think its my favorite. They were sitting in the tree looking down at Allie.

Jaileigh picking again.

It looks like Jake is picking in this one

All photos taken by Allison Hays Photography.

Chicken Anyone

We still need another high chair for Annie. She asked Santa for one.

At the local grocery store Mike and Joe bought some fried chicken. The kids LOVED it!
Jake, Michael, and Anthony

Jaileigh ate 2 legs and a thigh all by herself.

Annie and Joe are best buds. They love hanging out together.

Joe spent a lot of time reading to the quads. They love reading!

We miss you Joe! You need to come back.

Moving Day 2

Day 2 of moving day was loading and unloading. After breakfast we headed over to the church with our friend Caroline and played in the gym for an hour or so. The kids had so much fun and I'm sad I didn't take any pictures. That afternoon we headed over to Kari's house to stay. We slept over there that night and then headed to our new house the next morning.

With Kari going on our daily walk

Jaileigh and her cell phone. I am in trouble when she is a teenager.

Anthony pulling, Jake riding, and Jaileigh pushing

Jaileigh on her phone again

Anthony and Jaileigh with their phones

Jaileigh and Anthony

Jaileigh and Jake

Michael

Michael and Anthony

Jake and Jaileigh with their phones

Making breakfast with Kari. These kids get away with everything at Kari's house!

Anthony and Jake

A HUGE thank you to the Dunkley's for letting us stay in their home. Kicking you out of your bed, taking over every square inch (except Jack's space). Thank you!

Happy Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday to the best daddy in the world!

Let Me Count The Ways That I Love You

He is my handsome knight in shining armor!
He still makes me feel young and beautiful.
He buys me cute clothes.
He gets up in the mornings, changes diapers, does dishes, makes breakfast, and then gets ready for work.
He changes poopy diapers without complaining.
He buys the most thoughtful gifts.
He loves his family.
He has a family picture as the wallpaper of his work computer and shows it off.
He will call to see how the kids are doing.
He gets excited about new toys just like the kids.
He reads to his babies.
He worries about them.
He randomly comes home during the day just to play with the kids and give mommy a break.
He fixes things.
He does Jaileighs hair.
He plans date nights.
He watches Barney and Sesame Street even when the World Series is on.
He takes the quads on daddy dates.
He came up with do-do (doughnut) Saturdays.
He plays ball with them with the hopes that they will be athletes but even if they aren't he won't be disappointed.
He lets the quads use his toothbrush and some morning he just plain can't brush his teeth. I am hoping that he has one in his car.
He is already planning for college.
Everyday he comes home from work and immediately starts playing with kids. He lets them help him take his tie and belt upstairs. He doesn't stop playing until bedtime. . .
. . . and then he even gets up at night with them

He goes to church with everyone even when the kids are crazy wild!
He still manages to find time to exercise.
He lets the kids play with his cell phone even though he knows it may not work the next time he gets it back.
He loves planning family vacations.
Sometimes he lets me be right, even if I'm wrong.
He wants to go to Disneyland everyday.
He talked his hairdresser into coming to our house and doing my hair.
He has given up his golf career in pursuit of a daddy career.
He has given up his beloved Chicago for Sunny California so that I can stay away from the cold.
He is 100% Italian
He loves anything from Chicago except the White Sox
He is very loyal.
He defends his little chunky monkey and says she isn't fat.
He loves me!

Happy Birthday to my hunny.

Daddy and the boys- Jake, Anthony, and Michael

Playing in the leaves

Our sweet miracle caboose

The whole family

All photos were taken by Allison Hays Photography

Well Baby Vision Checks

We had our yearly opthamologist appointment on Thursday, the day after we went to the Wild Animal Park. The babies were wonderful.  Dr. Dunbar was so impressed with their behavior that she kept commenting on it. She said she has never had 2 year olds sit so well through an exam. Usually they cry and scream or have to be held down.  Mine sat there and let her do her things (eye drops, eye poking, lights, etc.). Everybody has perfect eyes. No straying, lazy, crossed eyes. They all have better than 20/20. Yay! 

Anthony does have a dermoid cyst above his right eye. He has had this since birth and we have been watching it closely. Dr. Dunbar really wants us to have it removed. She is worried that it will wear down the bone around his eye, eventually exposing his brain. Our pediatrician isn't worried about it at all. Dr. Dunbar referred us to a plastic surgeon so I guess we are off to get a 3rd opinion.

Anthony at the playground

Dr. Dunbar is also a little worried about Jakob. He has one of the symptoms of Juvenile Glaucoma. His eye pressure always runs high. She wants to see him again in 3 months. If it is still high than she will put him under anesthesia and check it while he is sleeping. She said there is a small chance that he is causing it to be high because he is excited. If it is still high under anesthesia than she will start him on eye drops and see if that helps. She is really puzzled because he shows no other symptoms of having glaucoma. Please keep him in your prayers as well as Anthony.

Jakob

Jaileigh

Michael

Annie

Enjoying the beautiful fall weather

Wild Animal Park With Our Friends

We went on a playdate with our triplet friends the Fiores. The WAP (Wild Animal Park) is 2 hours away from our current house. This was my first attempt at a trip to the WAP and a 2 hour drive all alone. Usually Mike is with me and we stay over in our RV. Mike surprised us and spent the afternoon at the park with us. Our kids love animals and get so excited when they see real ones. They get really excited and make all the animal noises.

Checking out the flamingos

Mike with Jaileigh, Anthony, and Michael in the choo-choo and Jakob in the stroller.

The Fiores have a Choo-Choo too. We were quite the spectacle at the zoo.

Michael is crying here because he wanted out to pet the flamingos.

Audrina was so brave. She walked right up to the deer and petted it.

Jakob looking at the animals in the Petting Kraal

Michael and Jaileigh hanging on daddy. Jaileigh never got down from her post but Michael eventually did.

Ali holding Anthony, Andrew, Aiden, Audrina, and Michael

Michael getting brave

Michael proud of himself

We went to a play area in the park. It had this tunnel that the kids loved and the parents hated because it went to a different part. I didn't like seeing my kids for a little bit. We got smart and sent Alison over on the otherside. She is the triplets older sister and the best helper ever!

Anthony

Jaileigh

Jakey and his cheesy grin

Alison and Jaileigh

Michael

Annie and her daddy

Lunch break- Jakey and his apple

Anthony showing his muscles off

Daddy, Michael, and Annie

Michael and Anthony (I think)

We went on theAfrican Safari tram ride again. This time the kids did much better. Its amazing how much they mature in 2 months. This time they were actually able to find and see the animals. Jaileigh had a meltdown towards the end but I'm thinking that the no-nap factor could have had something to do with it.