The 1st Birthday Post

Our first ever self-portrait together!

Welp...the birthday, the party, Jaclyn and one year has come and gone. What a flippin' whirlwind! Here's a review of the weekend. Better go to the bathroom and grab a snack before you read any further, cuz I have a feeling this one will be a doozie.

We pretty much worked hard and partied hard the entire weekend. Billy stayed at home with the chitlins Friday afternoon so I could work Jaclyn like a dog. She helped me get the place set up for the birthday party on Saturday. Lots of heavy lifting and re-arranging, but it turned out just right. I can't thank her enough for all her input and help!

Friday night before the birthday party, we were invited to get together with some other friends (one of whom was turning the big 4-0!). My good friend from nursing school and one of our weekly baby helpers, Melody, was there with us. Unfortunately, she was forced to sit at our table and endure the endless debating between the LSU/Bama FREAKS also sitting at our table.

Melody and Jaclyn at On the Border (smile, Melody....dinner's almost over!)

This is just a short example of how die-hard sports team fans can morph into irrational, loud, gremlins if provoked accordingly.....

After we left On the Border, we went across the street to Emerson Biggins (nice name....I know, right?) where Lainie was working. We PROMISE.....we only had one beer each!

Sure.....they probably weighed more than our combined 8 kids at birth, but that's irrelevant. It was only ONE beer (a red beer in my case). Good times, good times. We won't mention the Vegas Showgirl shots ;P

Jac and Lainie (pretty much the BEST waitress/college student/babysitter/sister/aunt/and everything else EVER)!

Jaclyn had a hard time finding her way out that night. As it turns out, walls (even with windows in them) don't open too easily. We pointed her to the door just to the right after making her pose for a picture to commemorate the event.

Needless to say, a GREAT time was had by all and morning came MUCH too quickly. Which brings us to..........PARTY DAY! Billy's Aunt Paula and Uncle Nick were gracious enough to let us borrow their heated, decked out barn for the event. We arrived there at about 12:30 pm after the kids woke up from their morning nap, and we fed them before any guests arrived.

We had lots of help from our families with transporting and setting up the boatloads of cupcakes, ice cream and chili that we served at the party. I know, I know....you're thinking, "What the crap kind of combination is THAT!" It was cold and chili sounded tasty and easy (easy being the operative word here). Huge thanks to Bucko, Vicki and Budda for helping us out by making huge pots of beefy goodness to feed the masses! Another big "thank you" goes out to our frosting fairies who stayed up late icing the cupcakes so Billy, Jaclyn and I could go out partying. Aunt Laverna, Vicki, Bucko and Brenda (with Ross and Stubby to supervise) were delirious from the sugar high when we got home Friday night!

The party was crazy, chaotic, fun, and memorable. Thanks to Jaclyn (AKA quad party queen) for helping Billy and me stay organized AND have a good time. You'd think she'd done this sort of thing before, or something! We also need to thank cousin Jack for allowing us to use his inflatable bouncer. That, my friends, was the hit of the party (as evidenced by the squeals and constant motion coming from it in all the videos we took that day)! We're seriously looking in to getting one for us!

We had a great turn-out of family and friends. They were all way too generous with their gifts.....the kids made out like bandits! Many of our local blog buddies were able to make it, including: Brent and Crystal Hanson with their 1 year old BBG triplets, Ashley and Lexi Wasser, Shelia Rupp and her girls Emmalie and Bethanie. Thank you to everyone who came! It meant alot to us that you were there.

Now, on to more pictures of the babies' big day!

Jaclyn trying to get Laine ready to go. She tricked him into good behavior by telling him there'd be Cupcakes at the barn. Naturally, he was expecting to see his favorite Tubre Cupcake, Abbey. What a sad misunderstanding...Jaclyn's already getting the "bad mother-in-law" repoire.

Mama M and Pius....COLLEGE?!? Who needs COLLEGE when you've got PRESCHOOL! The parties are WAY cooler when you're a pre-schooler!

The mountain of gifts astonished me. Good thing Jac was writing it all down....now I have high hopes of getting Thank You cards written before they turn 2 years old.

These were the "personalized to a T" onesies that Jac had made for the babies. They were PERFECT and nailed each baby's personality on the head!

PIUS: I'm the charmer...look into my EYES

Forrest: I'm the Ringleader of this Circus

Danna: I'm the Pretty, Pretty Princess

Laine: I'm the Brains of the Bunch

I mean....how perfect were those! Anyone who knows the quads would HAVE to agree. Maybe we'll take our next family portrait wearing those....that way the photographer knows what to expect from each of them. Jac, if you were to make one for Billy and me, WHAT WOULD IT SAY?! I might have to open that one up to all our blogger buddies. I'd be interested in seeing what comes out. SOOOOO all our blog readers, let us know what YOU think should go on a "Moni" shirt and a "Billy" shirt....keeping the babies' onesies style, of course. Please don't hold back (we've got a good sense of humor).

Speaking of good sense of humor.....Frank the Tank! Frosty is holding his Godfather Brad Goertz.




Laine gettin' some berf-day lovin' from his Godmother, Aunt Mollie




My co-worker and friend, Shelia, with her youngest, Bethanie. It was so cute! Bethanie gave Danna hugs and kisses when she was sitting in her Choo-Choo wagon, trying to open gifts.

Fortunately for Bethanie, the princess had already been de-iced.

Bucko trying to control her FIVE great-grandsons and ONE great-granddaughter. News flash, Bucko.....You cannot control them. You can only hope to contain them.

Front Row: Frosty, Pi-man, LaineTrain and Banana

Back Row: Jack-Jack Attack, Bucko and Mr GQ Austin


My Danna girl got worn out during the party. Good thing Brenda was there to snuggle and cuddle the little Princess.

And now for the video, which features one of my favorite songs. This song really makes me think about my life, my husband and all my babies EVERY time I hear it on the radio. Enjoy!

Hope everyone had a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving with LOTS of good food! We sure did and I'm pretty sure I heard Forrest say that Thanksgiving is his favorite holiday. That boy likes to eat!

Love,
Moni

P.S. I guess that wasn't as long as I was anticipating! Long overdue.....that's for sure. Thanks for being patient everyone (except Jaclyn, who continually called/texted/sent hate mail and emails until I posted this. That girl is BRUTAL! J/K! Love ya, girl and thanks again for making the trip to Oz to help us celebrate. Can't wait until I can return the favor!