Sick of This

Yeah.....you know my whole "I Say Ketchup You Say Catch-up" series? Well, i'm over it. There were 3 to go but I just can't pull myself to do them. So instead, I'll just tell you what they WERE going to be about.

1) The kids' 19 month doctor check up (they are now almost 22 months....holy crap).

Forrest and Danna LOVIN' the fish tank in the doctor's office waiting room!

Fo-Fo and mama trying to kill some time while we wait for Dr Chavez to enter our LOUD room.

Laineman giving dad some lovies.

Pi-Pi checkin' out the wheels and seeing how much noise he could make with the metal tray. Fun stuff.

The future Dr. Forrest M. Graf, OB/Gyn.....

...forming a new partnership with brother, Dr. Laine R. Graf, OB/Gyn.

Laine and Forrest fighting over the pull-out stir-ups. These 2 have been like cats and dogs lately....always chumming it up or duking it out (usually the latter).

Mama and the pretty Dannie Banan-ee

2) Our Haag Family Reunion that was back in June at Big Hill Lake near Cherryville, KS. Can we say, "Holy disgusting lodge room?" Definitely accommodations meant only for dirty hunters that would just as soon sleep on dirt floors than beds! NOT meant for a family of 6 that includes 4 toddlers. All I can say is thank you Lord for the Peapods and antibacterial soap. I was quite certain they were going to catch gonorrhea or chlamydia from the bathtub but have yet to see any critters show up in their nether regions. I think we're in the clear now. I can't complain too much because the people at the Lodge ended up comp-ing our rooms after I asked them for ant spray to kill all the busy little workers that set up camp in the kitchen. The campgrounds at the lake were fun, though. LOTS of cousins, aunts and uncles to keep the quaddies occupied. And they had their first exposure to lake water....that's sure to boost their immunities for the upcoming cold season! Nerve-wracking to say the least, but they all had a blast.

Cramped quarters on the drive up with Billy driving, my mom (Budda) riding shotgun and me wedged in between Forrest and Laine. Thankfully it was only a couple of hours.

The kids were less than pleased that their parents wouldn't let them play on the floor in our room. We ended up moving both the beds together to create a bigger space for them to play on. You've gotta understand.....I'm really not that big of a germaphobe, but this place was beyond what my senses could handle. We contemplated sleeping in the van. Seriously. We actually ended up leaving early because of this lodge (well, that AND the blistering KS mid-summer heat and humidity).

The first of many times the kids got "down and dirty" at the campout.

The quads' 2nd cousin, Becca....such a HUGE help to us at the reunion. She's had lots of practice with kids, being the oldest of five. It was H-O-T....notice the flushed cheeks on Danna and Forrest.

Playtime at the lake with cousins. Me holding a delighted Forrest. I try not to think about how much lake water they swallowed despite my best efforts.

Pius, my lil sand crab. We were washing grit from every crack and crevice imagineable later that day!

Uh, yeah....that's me in the background.

Laine playing with his Kampling cousins, Rhonda and Todd, and their 2nd munchkin, Hunter.

Not quite sure what Forrest is reaching for here, but I hope he found what he was looking for! Hard to tell from the back, but I think that was cousin Whitney.

More lake chaos fun

Billy gets SO anxious around bodies of water...even before we had the quads. The Nervous Nelly kept pacing up and down the beach and this was the longest amount of time that he stood still. Just enough time for a picture!

Fortunately, Uncle Phil and Aunt Cathy and Uncle Bob and Aunt Bertie loaned us their air conditioned RV's for naptimes. Much needed naptimes, might I add. Pictured from left to right: Alexis, Aunt Cathy, Pius, Forrest and Taylor. P and F trying to make a synchronized escape.

What's the weight limit on this thing?! Pius, little buddy, I think you need to get out.

3) Father's Day came and went without mention (at least on the blog). But you all know what a stellar daddio that Billy is.....pretty much the best! Of course, he learned from the best....props to Grampa Stubby and Papa Rog, too. Where would we be without the dads in our lives? My guess is "not born", but I was saying that more figuratively and probably didn't need to spell that out for everyone.

Forrest and Papa Rog partaking in Father's Day togetherness.



Grandpa Stubby lovin on the Beaner while Frosty is preparing to steal her book....again.

Now, on to bigger and better things....as time permits, of course. I'm glad I can finally put all this "catch-up" nonsense behind me. Phew! That's a weight off my shoulders.

Love,

Moni

You Say Ketchup, I Say Catch-up...9th Anniversary

Monica and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary on June 24, 2009. We were just wee-kids when we got married at the age of nineteen years. We began dating in November of 1997 and had quite the confrontational relationship in high school. We were the butt of many jokes about how we didn't belong together, but we have made it through everything. For many of you who know me I make a lot of jokes about my loving wife. But the people that know me the best know that I have an unending adoration for her. She is my best friend, and I love her more than anything in the world.

Now, enough of the sappy stuff. My sister, Lainie, gave us the best present in the world for our anniversay. She gave us an entire night and the next morning off of being parents. Aunt Lainie is one of only a few people that we would trust with the kids for that long by themself. Our kids love their Aunt Lainie, and she is the best babysitter we have. She is also the best priced. We got a hotel room and invited a couple of friends downtown for drinks to celebrate, and we couldn't have done any of it without Lainie.

Getting ready for a hot night on the town!

We went to Emmerson Bigguns for dinner and drinks. We were met there by: Snook and Donna, Maze and Sarah, Ryno and Angela, Teddy, and Sergio and Rachel. It was a great time. The food was good and the company was wonderful.

Donna and Chris Snook (FYI - Chris is actually looking down at Baby Snooklet who will be here in a few short months....at least that's the story I'm stickin' to.)

Ang and Ryno....yes, he is crazy and looks the part.

Sergio and Rach

Two of the five Haag sisters, Rachel and Moni

The Girls: Donna, Moni, Rachel, Angela and Sarah

And, of course....the mostly happy and always blessed couple!

And because it's been awhile since we've posted any pics of the kids, here's a few recent shots (since we all know THEY are the reasons anybody even looks at this blog).

Lainerzinski

The Beaner


Pi-Pi


Frosty

Quads of the Round Table (L-to-R): Forrest, Danna, Laine, Pius

The Princess found her wand

Can you tell who the most difficult one was on picture day?! Hint: Billy's holding "him".

The kids got chocolate towards the end of the picture-taking. Needless to say, they loved it. It was the only way we could bribe them into all sitting next to each other!