You Say Ketchup, I Say Catch-Up...The Inaugural Post

Are you wondering what the heck is going on with the title? You'd better just get used to reading that little gem of a phrase, because that's how each of the next 8 or so blog posts will start, followed by the event. We've been SO busy lately and have SO much fun stuff to report, that if we tried to do it all in one HUGE post (typical Bill and Moni style), we'd probably get booted from blogger......or at least hung by our toenails. Soooooo, we'll be updating the blog in installments until we're caught up.

Now, none of this would be possible without the latest addition to our family.....our new HP Entertainment Notebook PC.





Yep, this is where all the magic happens. This baby is awesome! I can't help but stroke it's keys with a little extra love and finesse while I type. I'm hooked.....not only to the new computer, but also to Best Buy who financed this puppy. Man, I hate owing people money. Unfortunately, our old laptop got infected somehow (I say "somehow", but I blame it fully on a Facebook application...in the words of Suz Steece, it was dirrrr-tay!). So, being without a computer for awhile slowed us down some. But we are now rearing and ready to blog! And boy do we have some catching up to do.

In case you've forgotten what the kids look like, here's a refresher:

Pius: He's been putting in long hours at the gym, practicing his hoops. He plans on going to The League straight out of pre-school. Eat that, LeBron.

Forrest: Still loves his thumb and blankie. He has the most teeth and we are witnessing some grueling molar action going on (tops and bottoms).

Danna Lynn (looks like a little old man who forgot to put his teeth in here): The Diva is now a full-time walker! Since our last post towards the beginning of the month, she has made up her mind to get off all-fours. While she still falls often and looks like a drunken sailor when walking, she keeps popping right back up. Her brothers accidentally knock her down alot (it doesn't take much), and I wonder if she feels like one of those inflatable punching bags with sand in the bottom that always spring back up after being hit. Maybe we should just start calling her Timex.....takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'!

The Laine-Train: Oh dear....what can I say?! He's had a rough couple of weeks (months might be more accurate). He's had a nasty rash from the waist down for several weeks now, and despite a 2 week course of oral steroids, it's still hanging around and spreading to his arms and hands. Doc calls it Erythema Multiforme, I call it "My child has turned into a monster" rash. In all fairness to Laine, I know that it stings and itches and he's probably handling the discomfort better than I would. Fortunately, his symptoms seem to be improving. In fact, he has been jockeying for the lead on good behavior for the last couple of days! That's a BIG step for him, considering he's usually the last place contender!

We hope you all follow along with us as we chronicle the Graf Quads' June and July engagements in the posts to come. And because we don't want to be perpetually behind on EVERTHING we've done this summer, we're including a look at how we spent the weekend in this "Inaugural Post" of the series.

We spent the days and nights out at Grammy and Grampy Graf's house on both Friday and Saturday (and most of Sunday). And although Mike and Vicki are both too kind and much too in love with our children to say it, 4 toddlers DEFINITELY know how to wear their welcome thin! We only live about 5-10 minutes down the road, but sometimes it's nice to have a change of scenery, especially when the children are climbing the walls at home and ready to do something different. Plus, they have a pool! Laine and Danna both took after their mother's love of water. Forrest and Pius also like the pool, but only on THEIR terms.

Vicki with Danna (in the recently recalled crab float....yes, we got that memo and will be calling for a replacement/refund) and cousin Ashley with Forrest.

Pius: "Uh....Which way to the gym?!"

Pius with his "ma'am-maw"

Laine keeping guard over the balls....he was perfectly content to stay away from the mower (I know.....surprised me, too.)

Danna kept getting the biggest kick out of hitting the shrub branches in the background (no, not the rose bush......I'd like for you to give me a LITTLE more credit than that). Strange, but true.

Forrest couldn't get enough mow time with his gampy. LOVED the riding lawnmower!

And when it was finally Pius's turn......

.........We had a little melt down and fit. So what did Stubby do?


AWWWW! Talk about a Kodak moment! Of course, not a lot of grass got cut and I'm pretty sure it was the longest mow of grampa Stubby's life!

On Saturday night, Billy had to work and Mike and Vicki had already made plans to watch the races at 81 Speedway. The kids and I had the whole house to ourselves that evening. Baths are always good time killers and I thought they would love to take one in a new setting. So I led them all to the master bedroom where I had drawn the bath water, turned around to go pick up Danna who was dawdling at the top of the stairs, came back 10 seconds later, and found this....

Little turds!!! Do you know how hard it is to scold your child when you kind of want to laugh? The smiles went away quickly when I realized Pius had dropped a massively huge load in his diaper that he was still wearing, and was now filling with water and swelling up like Will Smith's face in Hitch (you know the scene.....after he has an allergic reaction). What to do, what to do.... Well, we got it figured out and bathtime proceeded like usual. Near drownings, attempted jail breaks and enough splashing to drench their mama. You know, the norm.

Rub-a-dub-dub, three men in a tub. Oh crap, where's Danna?!

There she is....taking up her rightful (in her mind, at least) 3/4ths of the tub. She loves to lay down and kick her feet. Hands down, the biggest bath-lover we have.

After removing, drying, wrangling, diapering, lotioning and dressing all the monkeys, they drank their milk, jumped on the bed, and headed to their peapods for the night. And I was ready for a drink!

Until next time!

Moni

P.S. Changes to the blog are almost ready! I'm excited to show off the new look and can't wait for the big unveiling!