warning: may be the longest post ever.

Many, many, MANY people ask me this question:
"How do you do it?"  ((referring to my life - with 4 boys ages 4 and under...)

Well....................here's how:
Wake up too early to a Shepherd squirming and making noise. Get a bottle for him. Go back to sleep.  Wake up to him happily talking and playing with his feet.
Sit him up in his crib, turn on his mobile and give him a few toys and his binky to play with.  Try and squeeze in a few more minutes of shut eye.  Ultimately decide he's probably hungry.
Go downstairs to see Tim half-asleep and Cale in the kitchen eating breakfast. 
Change and feed Shepherd. 
Get Thad up, diapered and fed.
Put Megersa on the potty. 
Get the new (hand-me-down) walker out of the car and put T in it.  Watch him squeal with delight as he rolls around.  Instruct Cale to be gentle.  Wipe Megersa (decide he's going diaper-free today), dress and feed him.
Say goodbye to Daddy as he leaves for work.   
Clean up Megersa and let him loose.
Ask Cale to go and dress himself.
Slice myself a peice of pumkin bread. Slice a peice for Megersa and Cale who need to have one too.
Make 2 bottles. Feed, burp and swap.  
Have big boys help me with laundry.
Change babies out of jammies and into clothes. 
Tell M & C if they can remain calm and quiet while I put the babies in bed we can make cookies.
Let Cale play a PBS game on the computer.
Put Megersa in time-out for ripping a book.
Put Shepherd down for a nap.
Grant Cale's request to start up a Christmas movie when Megersa gets out of time-out. 
Feed Thad the rest of his bottle, smell something questionable. Check and change his diaper. Look in his crib...see there's no sheet.  Put one on. Turn on his mobile, lay him down and leave.  Say a quick prayer that he will stop yelling and fall asleep.  God answers.
See that Megersa is not watching the movie, but has crawled in the baby walker. Help him out and onto the potty. "Pee and poop?"  No, just pee, Megersa.  Wait him out. 
Start cookies with Cale. 
Have a conversation with Megersa (still on the potty) about the Veggie Tales movie he sees in a magazine.
Realize we're out of vanilla.  Cookie making stops.
"No, we can't run to the store right now...because the babies are sleeping."
Praise Megersa for peeing! 
Allow the boys to help with lunch menu.  Encourage Megersa to continue to eat. 
Tell Cale he needs to sit on the potty...now.  Remind him what the word "consequence" mean. 
Keep instructing M to eat. Have him clean up his space. Put him back on the potty to poop. 
Hear Thad on the monitor.  Text Tim that you're "feelin" Chipotle tonight.
Tell Cale he can stay with you during quiet time if he helps you clean.  Give him the windex bottle and a paper towel.
Check on Shepherd.
Bring Thad downstairs and sit him where he can watch Cale clean. 
Boil eggs.
Lay bacon on a cookie sheet and put in the oven (both for tomorrow's dinner).
Wipe Megersa, help him brush his teeth.  Take him upstairs.  See that Thad is crying when you leave.  Go back downstairs and take him up with you. 
Tell Cale he's doing a great job.
Notice Tim took your "change the sheets day" seriously.... Decide that now's the time to get the new (hand-me-down) crib mattress from the garage and swap it out for current ripped one. 
Since you're down near the washer, throw in a new load. 
Stop at the kitchen to flip the bacon. 
Explain to Cale the reason for the new mattress.  Struggle to pull the old mattress from the wired sides it's embedded in.  Put new mattress in and instruct the boys to be careful while they use the old one as a slide.  Tell them not to yell because Shepherd is still asleep. 
Put Megersa in bed. 
Grab a cranky Thad, and leave with Cale.
Assure Cale that M is only sad because we're leaving and he's tired, but he'll be okay.
Check on Shepherd again. 
Feed Thad lunch. 
Explain the concept of baby food to Cale....again.  Yes, it's real food, just mushed.  "Uh huh, real corn."  Have him taste it to believe you.
Give Thad toys to play with hoping he'll entertain himself while you open a lunch of yogurt. 
Caution Cale the oven is hot.  Yes, it's cooking something.  Open it show him.  Realize you've burnt the bacon.
Explain to Cale you didn't mean to do it.  Allow him to crack the window to let some of the smell out.
Put Thad on floor and let him army crawl.  Video tape him taking 4-5 real crawling strides.
Crumble bacon. 
Peel eggs. 
Sip on diet coke.
Agree with Cale that T is still "super cranky" and make up a bottle for him.  Give him a bottle while yelling out the letters to help Cale finish his cards for Grammie, Uncle Chet, and Jolyn (our Thanksgiving visitors).  Put on baby Einstein for a still crabby Thad. 
Get a stinky Shepherd from his crib.  Change him.  Feed him.  "Yes, corn again...real corn." 
Have Cale hang out with Shep while I take care of Thad (ultimately deciding he needed another nap). 
Feed S a bottle.
Play with him and Cale. 
Check email and FB. 
Tell Cale he needs to go downstairs for quiet time.  Correct his whiny behavior and remind him he got to stay up with me for a long time!  Tell him to turn on his music and when the CD is over he can come back up.
Call Daddy. 
Give Shep the rest of his bottle.  Put him in his crib after he falls asleep. 
See that it's after 4pm but decide you need to  lay on the couch for a few minutes. 
Ask Cale to turn on M's light so he wakes up and to play quietly while Mommy "rests her eyes."  Wake up about 30 minutes later to a crying Shepherd, a happy Thad, talking Megersa, and a Cale playing his dinosaur game. 
Let Megersa out and instruct him to sit on the potty and poop. 
Grab both babies and take them downstairs. 
Put Thad in the walker and hold Shepherd while you get baby food.
Consider dinner for the big guys. 
DADDY ARRIVES EARLIER THAN EXPECTED with Chipotle!  Wahoo!
Decide on raisin oatmeal for the boys (and chips from Chipotle) for dinner. 
Daddy feeds babies.
Grown ups eat dinner.
Give Cale a haircut.
Take two boys a-peice and start bathtime.  
Wash up Shepherd and Cale. Dry Shepherd and cut his nails.
Tell Daddy to send in Megersa after he's done so his nails can be clipped.  Razz him as he grabs the clippers from me.
Tell Cale he has 10 more minutes in the tub.
Take Shep downstairs and put him on the floor. 
Turn on a recorded show in hopes of watching a little of it while feeding Thad and Shep a bottle.
Call up to Tim to see if he was okay...(his first time for nail cutting).
Tell Megersa he can read a book if he doesn't rip the pages.
Sweep up the cut hair. 
Clean up dinner. 
Divide and conquer:  Take Thad up to bed while Daddy takes the boys down.  Put him in bed awake and hope the fight isn't long tonight. 
Grab Shep from Tim and give him the rest of his bottle.  Put him in bed. 
Come downstairs and check the clock: 8:15pm.  Hi-five Tim for an early bedtime.

Now I ask: Did you really wanna know? :)

............Maybe next time someone asks I'll just say "Diet Coke."

Almost forgot...

With all the fun that surrounds our 7 year anniversary...it seems as though we may have, but we certainly could not forget that our twins are now 9 months old!!

And here they are in all their adorableness:

lets celebrate 7!!

It's true....tomorrow is our anniversary. 

Tim and I will have been married for 7 years! 
It's really exciting! 7 years and 4 kids later.... :)
After finding out that I was able to line up a sitter, I started thinking of what we could do on our date.  Of course we both love our quick dinner and movie time, but with an anniversary to celebrate, I figured it should be something memorable (especially since we aren't the gift-giving types.)  I wanted to do something different.
But...I was drawing a blank.

See, I can be a creative person when the wim hits me...and I enjoy doing things out-of-the-ordinary.  Seems as though memories are always taking us back to the unique days of our lives.

I tossed around ideas in my head, hoping something would touch the creative part of my brain and wake it up...

7 years of marriage...we could do 7 things to celebrate.....but what?

A word that had 7 letters that related to our lives?  The only one that I could think of that fit was romance.

Yes, that is a good word...but it doesn't really describe us. 

Don't get me wrong...we enjoy each other...but our favorite memories quite honestly don't have much to do with romance.  Plus, a romantic night spells dressing up, a fancy dinner, roses.........

Tim dislikes dressing up.

We both prefer cheese fries to Italian cuisine.

I find purchased flowers a waste of money (give me something like chocolate I can eat!).

So, scratch that.....


7.
Seven.
Seven things.
Celebrating 7 years.
2004-2011.
I started thinking of each year individually.  I wrote them out.
LIGHTBULB!
We would do 7 things together that reminded us of our 7 years of marriage.
Now we were cooking.  I wrote out the years...easily putting things like "son was born...son came home" etc.  Those 3 years were easy to figure out what was most memorable.
Now for the others.  How to remember our years..................


Year 1  (Nov 2004 - Nov 2005)   We lived in Cedarville, made 13K, I got in an accident.
The accident thing won't be fun to relive or recreate.  Not sure our babysitters would like if we drove to Cedarville.  BUT, we can find something to buy that costs $13....reminiscent of the amount we made our first year of marriage.


Year 2  (Nov 2005 - Nov 2006)   Big move to Illinois....becoming "adults"
Yes, adulthood comes when one turns 21.  But even at 21, Tim and I had little responsibility.  We lived in the married student apartments on Cedarville Campus (paid $320/month in rent)...stayed up super late (we're talking 1-2am) and slept in (at least I usually slept til 11am).  Ate dinner in the living room watching Firefly together, and did laundry for free at his parents house.  When Tim took the job as a Youth and Music Pastor at Faith Baptist in IL...our lives reaaaally changed.  We were apart most of the day - I was in Beauty School 8+ hrs, and he worked full time (often weekend days too) - all year round.  Our rent jumped $500 and we needed to make new friends and become responsible.  Not that it was all bad, but it was a bit of a culture shock.  I think to "celebrate" that year, we can either do something only adults can do....or do something that reminds us specifically of IL. 


Year 3 (Nov 2006 - Nov 2007)   Pregnancy and birth of Cale. 
I asked Cale: What is something fun Mommy and Daddy can do on our anniversary?"  "I dont know...maybe watch a movie."  Easy enough. :)  Tim will be happy with that.


Year 4 (Nov 2007 - Nov 2008)   Fun family vacation. 
Tim and I LOVED our vacation to the Wisconsin Dells.   Friends of ours offered their "cabin" for free. We were thinking it was an actual cabin, but it turned out to be a motor home with an addition tacked on.  Not what we expected, but it was perfect for the 3 of us.  It was such a laid back trip...just spending 4 days of quality time...doing a few fun activites per day.  One of my favorite things is spending time around a fire pit.  We gathered wood during the day, then after we put Cale in bed, we both went out and spent time talking around the fire, reminiscing and eating smores.  Lovely. :)  So...I guess we'll have to relive the year by doing something relaxing or just downright fun....preferably free.


Year 5 (Nov 2008 - Nov 2009)   Somewhat rash decision making. ;)
Okay, this is the year we purchased our house.  We were tired of moving around.  From Cedarville apts to the Wheaton Center to Lorraine apts to Wiant to Boxwood.  Here we stopped at Boxwood Lane.   We purchased a house that we probably should have.  We loved the place, but we didn't quiiiiiiite have the budget for it.  We just held our breath and jumped in the deep end of being homeowners.  We never did sell that house....  Since then, however, God has opened our eyes to the fact that we both tend to be excited decision-makers...AND that a little hesitance and a lot of prayer on even the little matters can go a long way.  Because we are celebrating each year, I think Tim will get on board with us purchasing something on an impulse.  Perhaps something we both have "had our eyes on," but put on the back burner.  Catch is...we both need to 100% agree.


Year 6 (Nov 2009 - Nov 2010)   Referral and Homecoming of Megersa.
I asked Megersa the same thing I asked Cale.  Megersa thinks that Daddy and I should wrestle...or color. 
Well, we will choose one of those...  But that's all I'll say about that. ;)


Year 7 (Nov 2010 - Nov 2011)   Pregnancy and birth of Thaddeus & Shepherd.
Clearly they are too young to help us choose an activity.  But there is so much uniqueness about having twins.  Most obvious first - there are 2 of them.  I initially thought it'd be easiest to do or buy two of the same things...but that seems too selfish.  And when I look back at their first few months of life, I honestly remember so much giving.  Giving from others TO us.  Many wonderful people rose to the occasion to give of their time and energy to help us get through those challenging adjustments.  I think, in honor of our twins Tim and I can find some way to bless another family.



And that about sums it up.  7 years of memories.  7 years of deep, true, love.
And looking forward to many, many, many, MANY more!!

((Also, I promise to try and post pictures of our super awesome date. :))

convo with Cale

After helping me peel carrots I asked Cale to clean up the peelings that fell on the floor.
Cale: Well, I can't clean them up.
Me: I know you can.
Cale: How? 
Me: Pick them up with your fingers...get some spray and use this paper towel...or sweep them up - it's your choice.
Cale: Well, I dont think I can do it.
Me: If I can do it, you can do it.
Cale: Well, I need more paper towels.
Me: We're not going to waste paper towels. I gave you one already.  Rinse it out and use it again.
Cale: Why?  How much do paper towels cost?  $100?
Me: (sarcastically) Yes.  Do you have that kind of money?
Cale: Yes.  I have alot of money....in my piggy bank.
Me:  If you have so much money, you should give some to me and Daddy.
Cale: Well.........I'll give you the money after you make me cookies.  Okay?

((by the way, don't you LOVE his new haircut?!  WE DO!!))

3 turkeys, 2 hams

Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  I've been wondering which main dish I should serve up....

I've got this lil butterball, weighing in just under 20 lbs: 

 Or this one...also just on the cusp of a 20lb-der.

Looks kinda slim for a turkey...let's call him a ham. :)

No doubt about it...definitely a ham.

...They're all kinda cute.  Maybe we'll keep 'em....
I suppose we should just go with Terrance:

weight: 21.34 lbs.
Cost: $7.47 :)

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

What to do when Daddy is away:

We call for backup.
...Back in November, Tim left for his 2nd over-nighter that occurred within a 2 month span. 
When he shyly brought up the subject, I was less-than-excited. 
Most days (even the long ones) are filled with generally the same things:
Feedings, diapers, potty time, playing, cleanup, naps...more feeding. 
We've got a routine - Its not always easy, or fun, or without timeouts, but...It works. ;) 
Even still...I know all 5 of us look forward to Daddy's arrival. 
Mommy breaths a sigh of relief and everyone is happier! :)

But, so back to his night away.  I was not thrilled to do the morning routine all by myself.
The twins are capable of sleeping until 7 or after without a bottle, but it doesn't always happen. Usually it's more of a 6 am wake-up feed, then sometimes going back to sleep.  Which is fine.... But never have I tackled both wake-ups by myself. 
Ever since Thad favored a nighttime bottle and Shepherd preferred to nurse, we have taken on a man-on-man defense.  And even though both have been completely weaned, at night-time and in the early morning I feed Shep and Tim feeds Thad.  Usually once we get them bottled, we are able to at least lay lazily while the babies coo and crawl around in their cribs.
I tried to mentally prepare myself for a very early morning AND an extremely long day...but my brain refused to hop on the 'enthusiastic' train. 
One of my favorite people in Maryland (Miss Wendy) was listening to me complain about describe my 2 days alone and offered to come over to help! 
AND...she stayed the night!! 
She took Tim's roll and got up with Thaddeus for his 5am feed. 
I love her....and my kids love her. :)
And bonus: She actually is a morning person and not only tended to Thad, but got Megersa and Cale up and fed them breakfast!  I woke up at 8am to the smell of PANCAKES!  :) 
It was DE-lightful!!
She stayed in tandem with me as we busily took care of the kids...meals, potty breaks, naps, bedtime, laundry, dishes... 
She has been coming over our house to hang out with me and the kids almost every Thursday evening since April.  She is wonderful and follows my lead. 
Even still, I actually caught myself talking outloud: "okay...the plan is:" (and on more than one occasion actually).
Wendy did a wonderful job and I was so happy to have her help!
I confident she loves our family, but I'm thinking she was happy to go home to her peaceful home. :)

A Curious Kat

Some fun facts:
*My full name is Kathryn, though I never go by it (except for signing my legal name).
*I always introduce myself as Katie.
*A lot of my family (and some of my childhood friends) call me Kate...which I love.
*Even though I felt like it was the coolest nickname, only two people in my life ever called me Kat. 
*And as a young girl my dad affectionately called me Kitten.
All fun forms of my name that I can relate to. ;)

And now....this Kitty has a question.
I'd like to know:  Who are my readers?
Recently, someone who I have never "met" commented on my last post.  She said she had been following my blog for awhile but wasn't much of a poster.  Which I can relate to - I read other blogs and rarely actually write anything.  But, it got me thinking (because I thought it was super cool that I had a reader that I didn't know about!)....
Is there anyone else out there that I haven't met?

I do know some readers...my husband, a few friends from my childhood, friends from around here (who are spectacular people btw... ;)
And I happen to know some people who don't read my blog: like my mom...dad...in-laws (you know, people who barely know me....;)

But who else is interested in the stories I tell, my pictures, or the quotes from Cale...?
But who else follows the Nester life?
Would you come out from behind your screen and post a little something for me?
At least your name??
Pretty please.... :)