Is this a Stress Test?

I may or may not be about to pour my third glass of wine and it's not even 9pm. Today was not a very good one for about four tot-sized reasons I can think of. One of those incredibly frustrating days where I wonder how on God's green Earth He saw fit to hand me four children at once and say, "Go forth and be a mother."

Ay yi yi. For all of my posts about crafts and outings and life with quads, some weeks are a shit show and the kids don't cooperate and I'm left shuddering on the couch at the end of the day stress-eating birthday cake-flavored oreos. Other weeks, or even days, things go swimmingly and I feel like Mother of the Year. Today just wasn't one of those days and I've got to find a way to cope and pick up and start again tomorrow.

I haven't been able to update the blog like I want to lately, I haven't been able to keep up with my story assignments for work as well as I need to be, I haven't kept up with cleaning much either! But right now, even though things are mess, the house has slowly become quiet...

...and I'm going to shut down what's been my temporary work space at the dining room table and call it a night.

At least it was a good day for my mailbox (I'm always surprised at how much I look forward to my new issue of Parents magazine) and I've got a new bottle of wine to crack open and the husband just clicked on the TV.

Pretty sure it's going to take me about 8,329 hours to decompress after today but that leaves a lot of room for improvement when tomorrow comes, right?

My Favorite Views at the End of the Day

Y'all, I am tired. Like almost all the time. My last blog post about weathering the hard days drew some really awesome comments and emails and I'm so glad that I can keep it real with you guys. Because that's the whole point. My fellow quad mom, Becky, just recently blogged about the truth of it all when it comes to raising multiples. We don't have it all together. No mom does! Some may come close but every mom, every parent, has their faults. Their breaking points. Their days that they just don't do it well. Blogging is great for sharing the good moments, the positive things, a place to post about what makes you happy. And I definitely like to throw in a good dose of "keeping it real" now and then, too.

This is how my babies look quite often...

...and this is how I look at the end of a typical day. I know, tell me about it.

Having quadruplets is no walk in the park. I rarely look good during the day and I'm constantly sweating from running around cramming laundry into the washer, trying to write articles for work from my kitchen island, throwing together last minute meals and often being on the verge of breaking out into tears or sighs because I'm so tired and overwhelmed. I have a lot of hard days. A lot. My feet hurt so bad at the end of the day sometimes it's hard to walk. Sure, there are a lot of great moments that make it all worthwhile, as I mentioned in my previous post. But do not be fooled! I'm working my ass off to keep it together the best I can every single day. So in that same train of thought, here's some of my absolute favorite views at the end of a very long day with four 20-month-olds. :)

The kids on their way up to the stairs. This means my day is nearly done and they're about to go to bed!

A glass of wine, fresh flowers and candles always make me happy. In this case, tonight included a sweet treat of red velvet cake to go with my red velvet wine. Delish.

The husband and I make it a priority to spend some time together nearly every evening. It's usually on the couch with our favorite shows and we love it. Tonight's episodes are from Elementary and Chicago PD.

A turned-down bed with fresh sheets spritzed with a lavender chamomile aromatherapy spray. I hurriedly put the new linens on our bed tonight in between cleaning up the kids rooms before we brought them upstairs and I'll appreciate my efforts so much when I sink into those good-smelling sheets tonight.

And those are some of my favorite things to see at day's end! I think it's really important to carve out a few minutes for yourself or have a little something to look forward to. Whether it's wine, cake, a TV show, a hot shower with a new body scrub, something. Anything. 

I read this article to the husband the other day and it really struck a chord with us. It's so true about how parents feel the complete range of emotions on a daily basis. Especially when you're at home with your kids all day! It helps to invest in each other and asking the right questions and sharing your emotions is a great way to connect when you feel like you're surrounded by chaos.

No one's perfect, I'm sure not. And boy, some of my days lately have been very trying! But I'll just keep trudging along one day at a time and wait for the clearing in the fog when I can regain my ground. Thanks for sharing in that journey with me. :)

{Weekend Recap} A Birthday, the Country & Bliss Spa!

Sunday isn't even officially over yet and it's already been a wonderful weekend. The best part is that the husband is off work tomorrow for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day so we get a whole other 24 hours together with our babies. ;)

The husband turned 32 on Saturday and though I hadn't had the opportunity to plan much, it worked out pretty well. My parents came over early in the afternoon while the babies were still napping and I pulled on some jeans and my boots (with a little turquoise jewelry, of course, y'all know how I'm obsessed!) and took the husband to Texas Roadhouse for a steak lunch. It's seriously one of our favorite casual dining restaurants ever. We've been going there for years and it was one of the first things we looked up when we put a contract on the house we live in now!

He even spent a few minutes on Facebook for the first time in months to check out all the happy birthday wishes from friends and family. And he approved a photo of the two of us to share on the blog, ha.

After a late lunch, we made our way to a friend's house in the nearby country to catch up with them while they were in town from North Dakota. It's been a big adjustment for them since they've previously been residents of Texas, and I don't envy their super cold weather and snow right now! A recent low was -60F! No thanks!

We arrived at the party each toting our own six-pack of beer and sat on the patio in the setting sun listening to a little Roger Creager music (my country fav) and enjoying the company on a relaxing Saturday night. Reminds me of the song "Small Town Saturday Night" by Hal Ketchum.



Anyway, the next morning we slept until 8:30am thanks to our wonderful sleepy headed-kiddos then the husband made eggs, turkey bacon, biscuits and fruit for breakfast before I headed off to my long-awaited spa day!!! It was my reward for picking up the slack all the days and overnights he was gone hunting or traveling on business this past fall. I had a voucher for a great deal and enjoyed my second-ever facial, which was heaven. It was the "fully loaded facial" and came with a fruit acid wash, oxygen treatment, mask, O2 blast, massage and hair conditioning treatment. Loved it!

i finally figured out how to do the fishtail braid thanks to a simple diagram -
find it on my style board on pinterest

Bliss is one of my favorite spas—they're very modern and don't have too many extra frills but the nature of their service, their treatments offered and the environment is very suitable to my personality. Plus I always love jumping into their giant rain showers afterward that also have a eucalyptus steam option and leave you all rosy cheeked and feeling like you just inhaled a bowl of minty herbs. Then there's the Bliss-brand lotions and potions offered in the women's locker room, which I enthusiastically slather on. All I had to bring was my hair brush! (I also love the W Hotels and have stayed in the one in Dallas and the one in Chicago and would love to visit more around the nation eventually. They're so chic!)

Feeling relaxed and refreshed—and knowing the husband had everything under control at home—I stopped by Central Market on my way back and indulged in some Greek pasta salad for lunch then picked up a couple things and called it a day.

kailey and logan trying on momma's boots!

The husband just took Kailey and picked up a pizza for dinner from Pizza Hut so it's nearly time to chow down! I'm looking forward to catching up on the season premiere of Nashville and the latest episode of Revenge later tonight. Lounging on the couch with some good TV shows is one of our favorite ways to relax on the weekend or during a weeknight after the quads are in bed. We've become hooked on The Blacklist, Chicago PD and Almost Human as well as continue to enjoy our favorites like Elementary, CSI, Chicago Fire and Person of Interest. I think the only comedy/sitcom we watch anymore is Mike & Molly. I prefer action shows and movies, and the husband doesn't argue with that. ;)

What do you look forward to relaxing with?

P.S. Coming up on the blog this week: the babies 18+ month update and stats, my crock pot paella recipe, our record-setting overnight getaway and a giveaway celebrating my blog's one million (and more!) page views!

{Five Things} Rich & Indulgent!

There's a couple new additions to my day-to-day that I'm loving right now! This Five Thing's post actually has a bonus item (I sort of paired the lip balm and gloss as one in my mind). So here's six things that help make my world go happily 'round...

1 + 2. Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm in Demure and Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Snow Pink - I hadn't seen these before this week, probably spotted them in a magazine ad. I grabbed both at the grocery store one morning and tried out the balm when I got home and love it! It really does feel like a super soft chap stick with a subtle shimmer and color of a light gloss. A definite addition to my makeup bag and great for under lip shine. The gloss is the perfect pairing to the balm pencil and I love light, natural looking colors for my lip wear. Plus my tube of lip gloss that I loved ran out and since it's from Australia and a bit more pricey, I'm hoping this Revlon version is my new fav!

3. Hannah Max Baking All Natural Crunchy Cookie Chips - Holy moly, these things are dang good. I got them on a whim at Tom Thumb. They come in a variety of flavors and we tried the chocolate chip, which were obviously delicious. But I can't lie to you. Between myself and the babies the entire package was gone in one day. I intend to make the next bag last (a little) longer.

4. Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet wine - Cookie chips aside, this is my newest addiction. It's sooooo good. I wasn't sure I'd like it much, since I wondered if the Red Velvet flavor would be too sweet. (I tend to like mildly dry red wines.) It was perfection. You can actually taste a hint of red velvet flavor in between the sip and the swallow. Yum! I checked the website and their description says it best: Our Red Velvet blend delivers over-the-top aromas of chocolate, deep dark blackberries and luscious red fruits that follow through to the palate. Finish with a hint of coconut and creamy mocha that shows unmistakable intensity and length. Red Velvet combines Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah.

5. St. Ives Coconut Milk & Orchid Lotion - I've professed my love for coconut-scented things many, many times before and this lotion is now officially a staple in my house. And I say house because I tend to keep some in the kitchen, my bathroom and maybe even the living room. My hands get really dry from washing them so often and using lots of hand sanitizer—especially if the babies are sick—so I'm constantly reaching for a pump of lotion. But this stuff is now my after-shower essential as well because it's refreshing and makes me want to lay on a beach. It's light, creamy, very moisturizing and absorbs completely with no greasy after-effects.

6. St. Ives Triple Butters Intensely Hydrating Body Wash in Creamy Coconut - Pretty much just repeat everything I said about the lotion! Except the body wash has a more intense coconut smell, so that's a bonus in my book. It's so affordable (less than $4 at Wal-Mart and Target!) and has a rich, thick, creamy consistency, thus it's in my shower year-round.

What are you loving lately?

P.S. Did you know my blog has been viewed over a million times?!? More than 1,191,600 times to be exact. The husband actually suggested a giveaway to celebrate, so I'll be thinking of something fun! In the meantime, here's a link to my very first blog post.

{Weekend Recap} Cowboy Up!

This past weekend we were up and running as soon as our feet hit the floor. Harrison had been poking his fingers in his ears for a couple days, although he didn't have any congestion and wasn't pulling at them, but we decided it'd gone on long enough and wanted to get him in to the pediatrician to rule out an ear infection. We also had a vet appointment for our white lab, Shiner, who's allergies have kicked into high gear and he needed some adjustments made on his medicine. I rescheduled that one for a little later and we fed the babies breakfast then I whisked Harrison away to the doc—even though I almost tried to take him to the veterinarian. Hard to keep track sometimes! Little man loved getting to run around the empty waiting room, only trying to escape once or twice. The kids are getting tall enough to reach door knobs and handles and they've watched us open them enough times to start getting the hang of it. Time to child-proof entries and exits now, too!

Fortunately an ear infection wasn't the culprit, his top molars were just starting to come in and the doctor credited itchy, bothered ears to pressure from that. Shiner got some help with his allergies and we spent the rest of Saturday playing with babies, watching TV and hanging out as a family. 

Sunday morning my mom and step-dad came over so the husband and I could go to a Cowboys football game. I'd given him the tickets a few weeks ago as a surprise for our seventh anniversary (Sept. 30) and we'd really been looking forward to it. Anytime we leave for longer than two to three hours, I have to work a little harder to get everything prepped and ready. I pre-made the quads' lunch and snacks, had them all dressed right after breakfast and prepped their cribs with toys and blankets for nap time. My mom and LD did a great job of keeping them all happy and entertained while we were gone and I could rest easy knowing they had everything they needed.

The game was a lot of fun! It was our second time to the new AT&T Stadium and we both agreed we'd enjoy a laid back afternoon with a couple Cokes and some nachos, but were both jonesing for a cold beer after we'd driven past all the tailgaters to park. So we grabbed some margaritas and hung out downstairs for a little while taking in all the festivities then headed to our seats...at the top of the stadium, four rows from the back! But lemme tell ya, they sure did design that stadium well. Our seats were about in the middle of the stadium, which was nice, and despite being so far up there we had a great view and could catch all the details on the super sized TV screen.

In the photo above, the husband is holding a $20 Jack and Coke!! I'd also wondered what drinks made of gold looked like...stadium prices!

This month, the Cowboys are giving a salute to all those who have or currently are in the service. It was really touching to see the giant American flag on the field before the start of the game, and at half time they recognized several veterans from World War II, the Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq wars. There were also several men and women currently in the service who were there as well, and they all received a standing ovation. 

We got home from the game in time to feed the babies dinner then crashed hard a few hours later. It's exhausting to go out and have fun with four kiddos to come home to! But we really appreciate these opportunities to get out by ourselves and be carefree for a little while. The stress and pressures of home life are a lot for anyone to keep up with and we both agree that breaks are extremely important to our relationship. 

What do you do for date outings?

P.S. Up next, a rustic pork chop recipe!

{Weekend Recap} Babies, Beer + Family Sunday

This past weekend was a really nice one. The kind where you just go with the flow, with a minimal amount of plans to adhere to but just enough on the schedule to keep life interesting. Plus we're realizing how it's truly getting a tad bit easier to take the kids out and be gone for more than a few quick hours. It's still a big push to rush around and get them dressed, diaper bag stocked, two car seats loaded and two kids loaded in their big seats, two twin strollers in the back of the 'burb and mom and dad being sure we've got everything else we might need for a sudden change of plans, backup plans, backup clothes, materials to clean up any potential spills or accidents in the car and so on. Though most  of the time we're sort of wingin' it and hoping for the best!

Friday I was so happy to see the husband return from yet another trip out of the U.S. for work. It's always, always harder when he's gone. We make the best team and having him home even for just those two hours in the evening before the kids go to bed makes all the difference for me. And the way we relax together is just easy, it is relaxing. Thankfully between our nanny, a good friend of mine and the grandparents, we rally the help we need to make it while daddy's out of town and everyone survived.

On Saturday morning, the husband got up and made breakfast then got all the babies' diapers changed like he always does. French toast, fruit and turkey bacon made a good start to the day, which was immediately followed up with cartoons. The quads have taken a liking to Bubble Guppies, an adorable fish/mermaid show on Nick Jr. They still don't watch much else besides Baby Einstein DVDs but momma doesn't mind this particular cartoon since it's actually pretty catchy. They each had their own chair to sit in but for some reason Logan threw a dramatic fit on the floor and laid there while I tried to get a photo of all four. After that, they peacefully watched for another 30 minutes and the husband and I got a chance to catch up on things around the house.

That afternoon I headed to a dear friend's baby shower for her first, a little boy due in February. It was also a nice reunion with all my teammate and BFF's that I swam with for years while a synchronized swimmer. Love those girls! The shower was best followed by a few beers with two of my girlfriends, which provided some MUCH needed gal pal time and a kid-break for me. ;)

I got home after the husband had all the babies in bed and we made some late night pasta and watched TV before crashing. Unfortunately, a few days ago I slept wierd on my hip and my hip flexor muscle is so sore it's excruciatingly painful to walk up and down our stairs, sit and stand, cross my feet and even put socks on. Sunday morning it had worsened dramatically, so I did my best to stretch it out since we loaded up all the kids after breakfast and took them to the indoor play area at our nearby mall. It's the perfect solution for rainy days like yesterday, but also meant it was hard for me to run after anyone. So the husband took care of any speedy rescues and I walked around keeping an eye on the quads one at a time. (Please note we're all outfitted in our Dallas Cowboys gear!)

We had most of the play area all to ourselves for the hour we were there and Kailey learned how to slide down the slide all by herself! I was so impressed! Afterward, we buckled them all back into the two twin strollers and headed over to the food court for grilled cheeses and fries for lunch at Sonic. We returned several smiles and answered a few questions while we ate then headed back out to the car and did diaper changes before putting everyone back in their seats.

Next was a quick trip to Tom Thumb for a couple groceries and some very nice compliments from a few of the shoppers. The kids were starting to fall asleep once we got home so we took them all upstairs to their cribs for naps and they konked out for nearly two and a half hours.

This afternoon was spent in various places, in between consoling the babies who get grumpy on and off since they're all cutting molars, top and bottom! Sheesh, it makes for some rough afternoons. But we spent some time in the play room then moved outside on the driveway in their play corral while daddy worked in the garage and his dad and brother helped us switched out refrigerators in our kitchen. We had to re-employ the one that originally came with the house since the fridge we'd been using since our previous home decided to pretty much stop working. I'm so tired of ruined food and running out to the garage for ingredients! Alas, our fridge switch means no water or ice since the ice maker doesn't work, but we'll make do with bags of ice and ice trays and focus on replacing it later down the road. Priorities, right?

Some Chili's to-go for dinner and the quads were asleep in bed by 8pm and now I'm about to finish my glass of wine and watch Revenge on the DVR. It'll be Monday when this posts and I'll be elbow-deep in tackling yet another new week. I found this handy weekly cleaning routine chart that I printed out and intend to try out this next month. I'm hoping it'll help me get a grip on organizing all the things that tick through my head day in and day out and keep me a little more focused and accomplished during the week. How do you handle Mondays?