Monday, May 4, 2009

Any questions???

So.........just wanted to make sure everyone read the comments on our last post. Whenever someone asks a question, I TRY to respond there. Last post sparked a flurry of opinions and I answered questions about everything from carseats and safety to the Choo Choo Wagon and infertility issues. I like to be honest and candid about MY feelings, and try to respect other's right to have their own opinions and thoughts as well............mostly. Click here to get to the last post and scroll down to the bottom to read the comments.

While I'm at it, here are a few pics of the brat pack to hold you over, complete with commentary from yours truly!

Awww....Mama and her baby girl. She's looks so sweet and innocent (and she IS, mostly). However, when something ticks her off, you'd better run and hide. And the same thing goes for Danna, too ;>

The "Muscle Men" performing....at least Pius and Forrest, anyway. It's such a crack-up to see them show off when you ask to "see their muscles"! Laine and Pius flex so hard, their whole body shakes. Forrest usually just throws his hands up in the air, like he's doing in this picture.

We've been working outside in the yard ALOT lately. Our poor garden (and house for that matter) has taken a back seat for the past 2 years, ever since we found out we were pregnant with the quads in May 2007. Can you believe it's already been that long? The kids love to hinder "help" us with whatever we're doing.

Pius heard dirt was good for hair growth. You'd think we were wading in Louisiana's murky swamp water by the end of bath time when they've been outside playing!

Forr-Forr the Explorer. He's trying to escape to Bucko's house down the road. This boy loves to be outside, more so than the others. He lets out these hilarious, random, smiling squeals of glee every so often when he's playing in the great outdoors.

Laine trying to emulate his daddy's "porn-stache" of the past. I DEFINITELY prefer the "dirt-stache"!

Danna: "This most definitely LOOKS better than it TASTES!"

Mom (AKA Budda), does this look familiar? I think the quads got their affinity for dirt-eating quite honestly! I wish I had the picture of my 2-year-old-dirt-eating-self to post for comparison's sake.


This is Pius's classic "sunny outside" look. He scrunches up his eyes, nose and lips like this ALL THE TIME. It gets Bucko laughing every time! He's getting much better at walking, but we still catch glimpses of the "cat walking through snow" prance every now and then.

Forrest is ALL boy when it comes to playing outside. It never fails....he finds the biggest possible stick and starts banging things with it.
While Pius (pictured) and Forrest get excited about flowers and jabber "Fla, fla, fla!" repeatedly or make the sign for flower, Laine ruthlessly rips them to shreds if given the chance. Danna, I daresay, is indifferent. She has the poker-face to prove it.
Enjoying a morning snack on the kitchen chairs while the kitchen floor is being cleaned.

Pius: "We're SO getting in trouble for this!"
Danna: "Yeah, but I'm gonna live it up while I can! Party on, Pius!"
Pius: "Party on, Danna!"
One of the very FEW pics we caught while at the March of Dimes Walk. The kids were NOT in cooperative spirits that day. I think they were on their way to getting sick, if I recall correctly. Nevertheless, we had a good time meeting up with Crystal and Brent and their triplets Emma (front row, left), Ethan (2nd in line) and Evan (checking the tires in the back....funny how he's so much like Laine!). The quads were also blessed to be entertained by my friend, Shelia, and her 2 girls Emmalie (blond cutie in the pink jacket) and Bethanie (those are some kickin' striped leggings!). Sorry for the head shot, Shelia! Like I said, pickins were slim on photos from that day!

When Forrest is having a bad day, sometimes the only treatment is: 1) his beloved blankie, and 2) his soggy right thumb. My little Linus.

Pius only "likes" his blankie...unless someone else is having fun with it. Then it's a death-match to the end, after which Pius will promptly toss the prize aside and reach for whatever else one of the other 3 might be playing with. He's always been our biggest toy thief and bully!
Find it hard to believe that this bucket-o-dimples can be so mischievous and naughty at times? Neither do we.

Before you ask, Jac....Yes, this is the same 3-6 month top you sent last spring. While she wears around 12 month clothes now, this little gem still fits....and she wears it often. So, thanks again!


As I mentioned before, we've been doing alot of yard work lately. We had a HUGE pile of limbs and garden debris to take to the burn pit. The babes were fascinated watching daddy and cousin Nicholas loading them onto the trailer from the kitchen window.

Danna got to spend an afternoon with Aunt Lainie for a sorority tea party function. She got all dolled up for the social event! This picture cracks me up because it seems like she should have a little drink umbrella sticking out of her bottle.....that, or just get rid of the bottle altogether and stick a martini glass in her hand!

The shirt says it all.

The poker face, AKA blue steel look.

This was taken after Saturday evening Mass while at Budda and Papa's house. Billy had to go to work that evening after Church, so I decided to stop by the ol' stomping grounds on the way home. My mom and dad are probably STILL assessing the home damages inflicted by the quads....but man, did we have fun!

Fortunately, cousin Ronin left his car toy there. Unfortunately, it was only a one-seater. I guess ONE happy kid out of FOUR isn't the worst thing ever. Besides, juggling 3 kids and pushing the 4th in the car is a decent workout! At one point, we had one sitting in the car, one sitting on the back window with his feet around Forrest's shoulders, and one sitting on the roof while I pushed them all around (Budda was holding Danna). All we were missing were the clowns, honking horns and circus elephants!


Hope you all have a great week. Good luck to all the students out there....better get to studying! Finals are right around the corner and then HELLLLLL-O summer!
Moni

25 comments:

jag said...

GIRL! GREAT posts all the way around! The comments on that last one... Whew! GO girl!

I loved all of these pics, but I have to say, I found my self laughing out loud at the ones of Pius. Does he just crack you up all the time or what?! His expressions are priceless in every shot! I also loved Laine's dirt-stache, Linus - I mean, Forrest and his blanket, and the Pretty Pretty Princess' shades, oh, and Mama... You look SO pretty!

Moni Graf said...

Awww, thanks Jenna! If THAT isn't the pot calling the kettle black, though....!!!!

Pius DOES crack us up all the time. He's such a character. He's the one that I KNOW will take a "useable" picture every time, whether he's smiling, cheesing or making one of his classic faces.

Moni

The Cochran Crew said...

How funny is it that Pius and Lauren are the play ground bullies! I see MAJOR fights in their futures! I love your kiddos!

Charity Donovan said...

Love these new pics...I cannot get over how grown up they are all of the sudden!!!! Love those cuties!!!!

Anonymous said...

Love all the new pictures!! They are just the most adorable kids!!!!!!

Stacy

Anonymous said...

The blog brightens my day every time I read it. The pictures are awesome. Love you all, Grandma Vicki

Anonymous said...

The kids look great! Its amazing how fast they grow. I'm sure you will have lots of fun outside this summer. Blake and I have already been enjoying the warm weather. Blake has a black truck similar to the red/yellow car in the picture. It is his favorite outside toy. He fills the back with wood scraps from daddy's building projects- it is so cute. The Riverfest parade is Friday- will you be there?

Dianna Goebel

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the picture of you (Moni) and Dana! It is so cute! Also, your face....by far....was worse than any of the quads!! I wish I could find that picture. Did you take it someplace for show and tell? Be grateful that the quads didn't mix the dirt with their own peepee like you did. That is what probably made it stick to the whole bottom part of your face so well. Awww sweet memories!
Love you all!!
Budda

Shelia said...

Love that group shot... they're getting so big! So many good pictures, but the muscle shot with Pius' facial expression is priceless:) And I'm glad Bethanie's not the only one with an affinity for the bathroom.

P.S.
I'm still laughin' about the "murky swamp water" comment! (It's been a few years since I've been to Louisiana)!

Anonymous said...

Well it looks like you won't have to teach Pius how to flush the toilet when they start potty training. Loved the photos!!!

-Ang

HansonTriplets said...

I love all your pictures! Danna looks so adorable for her tea party day out. I almost bought that same outfit for Emma at Children's Place. The boys have those cute striped polos your boys have. I just LOVE Children's Place! They don't look like babies anymore but toddlers. Good luck Billy on your finals!

Squiggle Wiggle & Maggers Moo said...

Did Danna go to the Alpha Phi tea party a couple of weeks back at WSU? If so, my cousin is the president of something with it.

I love the photos. The kids are growing to fast!! God Bless!

Mrs. M said...

Your kids are sooo cute!! And all I can say is "wow" about the comments in the last post. How did I miss that! I L-O-V-E-D your responses! :)

Anonymous said...

Moni, your blog is great (even if you don't post everyday). I was reading through your last posts comments and I have to say I am proud of the way you responded to JessicaW. I am married to a FireMedic and I used to volunteer at a Children's hospital. You are absolutely correct in that just because a carseat has the highest price tag/most well known brand name is NO guarantee that it will save a child. For anyone who is truly interested it is fascinating how many recalls there have been on the "top" (expensive) name brands.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/childseat.cfm
The best thing you can do is properly buckle your kids into an appropriate (for their age and weight) child seat, that has been properly installed. And that is all I have to say to follow up on your post.
MY

Jenn K said...

TWO THINGS:

#1 I want to come play at your house. Your crew knows how to live it up.

#2 I love your commentary - I LIVE for your commentary. Where do you come up with this stuff?

Okay...THREE THINGS
#3 You are so stinking beautiful woman. I know where that little princess gets her good looks from.

Well FOUR...So...do tell...what was IN the torlet?

Anonymous said...

Why does the wind blow from one direction then it switches around and comes at you from another?

Moni Graf said...

WTF?

Suzanne said...

love love LOOOOOOVE those graf quads. seriously...are the boys shaving yet? they look SOOOOO grown up all of a sudden!!! love you, mama. keep bringin' it and tellin' it like it is.

Anonymous said...

you said in one of your posts that you would try to answer all questions.....

Moni Graf said...

Sounds incredibly like you, Uncle Bobby.....I apologize if I'm mistaken.

To "answer" your question: I think you're referring to a whirlwind, which is what you'll be feeling when I get finished puttin' the smack down on you!

Thanks for the smile.
Moni

Anonymous said...

You are very sharp...remember the days I use to call when you worked for Mike at Current Electric and we'd chat...I'm glad that idiot on the last post didn't chase away your sense of humor...love your fa-vor-ite Uncle B...

The Carlsons said...

Ah! I always love a Graf blog post...lots of cute pics of the kids (yeah, I love seeing the kids over you and Billy...sorry ;) ) and lots of hilarious commentary from the Mama! I love seeing each of their different personalities. Very sweet!

Hopefully you all are keeping healthy and enjoying spring. Thanks for sharing!!
-fellow quad mom of 1yo GGGG and a 5yo boy

The Carlsons said...

Oh! And I love the after-church picture of the kids, on the bench. You should get that one printed up in jumbo size or something. And/or use it as a header in your blog. It's just very cute!
-M

Anonymous said...

Yes, Danna went to the Alpha Phi tea with her Aunt Lainie who is the VP. Squiggles is your cousin Kelsey by any chance?

Homegrown Tribe said...

Hello!

I just came across your blog from Jenna {I just found her blog too}. Your family is absolutely adorable! And I love your little ones names!

I see you've had some 'trouble' with anonymous. I have too -- they seem to be making the rounds!

Anyway, glad I found your blog!

have a great weekend!

Brittany