What I thought ALL my days would be like...

Mornings at our house are always a little chaotic. The babies wake up between 6:00 am and 6:30 am. When they first wake up, they need a bottle. Riley and Kaiya wake up at 6:30 am to start getting ready for school. At 6:45 am we have family scripture study and family prayer, then Riley and Kaiya eat breakfast while I make lunches, sign homework folders and get backpacks ready. At 7:10, Riley and Kaiya brush their teeth and get their shoes on and they are out the door by 7:20 to catch the bus to school. During the frantic morning rush to get the older kids off to school, the babies all need to be changed and dressed. Most days I take the babies for a run/walk, so we also need to bundle the babies up in preparation for that.

This morning started off like any other morning, except that it was Halloween and the older kids were supposed to dress as a storybook character for school. Kaiya’s grade was going to be in a parade. So, in addition to the usual morning chaos, I had to make some mouse ears so that Kaiya could be Angelina Ballerina, get myself looking presentable enough to go to the school to watch the parade, and make the babies look as cute as possible (since people tend to look at us when we go out in public—especially when we take the stroller).

While I was hurriedly trying to craft mouse ears out of cardstock and a headband, I heard a loud cry from Kassidy in the family room. I looked over to find her flat on her face. She had tripped hit her head on the corner of the small trampoline in the family room. I picked her up and tried to apply ice to the rapidly swelling purple goose egg that was forming on the bridge of her nose, right between her eyes (So much for looking totally cute for our public outing--at least the bruise was purple, which matched her shirt!).

Kassidy--still able to ham it up for the camera, despite the earlier trauma

Meanwhile, Jayson was frantically trying to change all the babies diapers and find them some clothes to wear. When Kassidy calmed down, Riley brought over his homework log for me to sign. That is when I noticed the stench. I checked Kassidy, who was on my lap, but she was clean. I couldn’t imagine that Riley was the culprit, but I smelled him anyway, just in case his Harry Potter Robes were a little dirty. Just then, I saw Rustin out of the corner of my eye. He was completely naked, and there was poop smeared all over the lower half of his body! I ran over to where he was and saw that poop was all over the floor, wall, and stools in the kitchen. I yelled for Jayson to come quick, which of course was the WRONG thing to do, as it attracted all the other babies attention and THEY all came running instead. Jayson grabbed Rustin and took him off to the shower to be hosed off and I quickly gated all the remaining babies into the family room so I could clean up the poopy mess.

The Poopy Trail

More poop---it is hard to tell from the pictures, but I think Rustin must have dragged a couple stools through his mess because several stool legs were covered.

While I was cleaning, I glanced over to check on the babies, only to find that Kassidy had thrown up on the trampoline and she and Kaydence had decided it would be fun to finger-paint with the puke. Fortunately, I caught the “artwork” in its early stages, cleaned up the throw-up and went back to disinfecting the kitchen.

Kaydence and Kassidy--budding artists

Rustin's diaper, which ironically managed to avoid getting even a smudge of poop on it

About this time, my good friend, Virginia, showed up (she is such a lifesaver!). With only 10 minutes before we had to leave for the parade, I threw on some clothes (no time for a shower) while Virginia finished dressing the babies. We made it to the school in time for the costume parade with even a couple of minutes to spare!

Kyndall, Kassidy, Kaydence, Rustin and Ryder wait for the parade to start

Kaiya was the cutest Angelina Ballerina in the whole parade and the babies loved seeing all the costumes.

Kaiya, aka Angelina Ballerina

When I first found out I was having quints, I thought that every day would be like today was. I imagined that my life would be full of uncontrollable chaos and that I would always be running from one disaster to another. Fortunately it hasn’t been as bad as I imagined (at least not yet---maybe those days are still ahead of me!) In fact, having quintuplets has actually been easier than I expected. Don’t get me wrong---it is A LOT of work---but most of the time I feel like things are somewhat manageable. I think it is good to have a few crazy days like today so that I really appreciate how great most days are!

What I thought ALL my days would be like...

Photo Contest Winner...and more

My sister Tiare, who was my "Quint Nanny" for a couple months this summer, recently found out she was the 2nd place winner in the BYU Bookstore Photo Contest! The requirements for the contest were 1) that the picture depict what the student did over the summer and 2) that a BYU Bookstore bag was included in the picture. Below is the picture she submitted:

Kaiya, Tiare, Riley, Kyndall, Rustin, Kaydence, Ryder and Kassidy

Tiare won a digital camera for placing second. Of course, I think she should have won first prize--I haven't seen the first place photo, but I don't know how it could be better than this one! (yeah, I know I might be just a little biased).

Other recent happenings at the Wilkinson household.....

The week before last my good friend Liz came to visit with her daughter Megan. Liz is one of my best friends and she has helped me so much since the babies were born. I don't know how I would have made it through the first year without her! I was so sad when she moved to Colorado Springs a few months ago. We had a blast during her visit--it ended way too soon!

Liz with Kaydence, Rustin, Kassidy, Ryder and Kyndall

Liz with Kaydence

While she was here, Liz and my other good friend, Virginia, took care of all the kids so that Jayson and I could get away for a night. We went up to Dallas to go to the BYU vs. TCU football game. Unfortunately the traffic in Dallas/Ft. Worth is awful—we missed the tailgate party we bought tickets for and we barely made it to our seats in time for the game to start. The kick-off turned out to be the best part of the game—everything went downhill from there. I can’t remember when I have ever seen BYU play so badly! Despite all this, Jayson and I really enjoyed our two-day break. We were able to go to the LDS Dallas temple and I even talked Jayson into doing some shopping. We went out to eat and best of all we got to SLEEP IN!! Just driving in the car to and from Dallas was fun---we could actually carry on a conversation without being interrupted! The kids all had a great time in our absence. Liz and Virginia are super-women. Not only did they watch all seven kids for two days, but they changed all my crib sheets, shampooed my carpets and bleached my tile while we were gone. I truly have some of the best friends ever!

Jayson and I during the most exciting part of the game (ie just before it started)

Kaiya was the student of the week last week and was recognized for exemplifying “Pursuit of Excellence”. She has been doing really well in Kindergarten and I have been amazed at her progress in learning how to read.

Kaiya's Poster for Student of the Week

Riley started taking piano lessons this summer and he recently had his first piano recital. He played Baby Bumblebee and did a great job!

Riley at his first piano recital

A family in the community generously collected diapers for us, in lieu of presents at their son’s birthday party. I was amazed at pile of diapers we received! People were very generous, and I was especially impressed that the family would do this for someone they didn’t know.

Kyndall, Ryder, Kaydence, Rustin and Kassidy check out the new diapers

The babies continue to get bigger and smarter. It seems like they learn something new every day. Whenever we have family prayer, several of them will fold their arms too (which I think is totally adorable). When asked, "Where's your nose?" most of them will point to their nose. They are starting to mimic more sounds and actions. They recently learned to say "Uh-Oh" and Kaydence and Kyndall walk around the house saying, "uh-oh, uh-oh" over and over all day long. They have discovered the great outdoors and love running around outside. They are really changing from babies into little people.

My favorite part of the day is when we get them ready for bed. We rub them with lotion and put on their jammies. Then we read them a story (which they love) and put them in bed. They all stand up in their cribs and wait for me to walk around the room to give them a kiss. When I am done, I blow them all a big kiss and say goodnight. The sight of all five of them standing in their cribs smiling and waving back at me is so sweet--it makes up for all the challenging moments that happen throughout the day.

Ryder and Kassidy

Kaydence

Rustin

Kyndall

Ryder

Photo Contest Winner...and more

The Pumpkin Patch

This week my mom was here helping with the babies. She is so great to try to come every month---I always love having her here to help! Now that the babies are a little older, we have been a lot more adventurous in taking the babies places. It is always a lot of work to get out the door and manage the chaos wherever we go, but it is usually worth it to get out of the house for a while. The babies really enjoy a change of scenery as well. It is amazing how fast the day goes when we have some kind of outing!

This week we took the babies on their first trip to the outlet mall---I figured I better start getting them used to it, since I love to shop and the Children's Place outlet has come great deals! The babies also had their first experience with a fast-food play place. We took the family to eat at a new Chick-fil-a that opened near us. I have a really favorable opinion of Chick-fil-a---especially after this weekend. We made a huge mess and the workers didn't even glare at us---instead they came to our table and offered to refill our drinks! It is a very family friendly establishment. They have little containers of Cheerios for younger kids. They also give out place mats that stick to the table to make things a little bit more sanitary (of course my crew thought they were more fun to rip off and play with, but it is a great idea!). The kid's meal toys are always educational--usually a book or craft project. The chicken nuggets are actually pieces of real chicken that they cut up, bread and cook on-site, and the lemonade is fresh squeezed. This particular Chick-fil-a had plenty of high-chairs (which is not always the case when we go out) and they had a great toddler area in the play place. Ryder especially just loved it. He couldn't stop laughing and running around. I am bummed that I didn't take any pictures of it!

Saturday we took everyone to the pumpkin patch at Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls (about a 45 minute drive from our house). Jayson got called, at the last minute, to go down to Galveston and help clean up the mess left by Hurricane Ike, so it was just my mom and I with all seven kids. We met Jayson's brother Joel and his wife Tobi and their two kids (Alec and Cora) at the farm. The farm is always a fun place to go in the fall. They have all kinds of different pumpkins, a hayride, pony rides, goats to feed, pumpkins to paint, fall flowers to pick and corn field mazes. It has been our tradition to go there every year. We missed last year because the babies were too young, so Riley and Kaiya were really looking forward to it this year. It was a hot day and very dusty at the farm. Having the babies along also limited what we were able to do. But despite all this, I think that everyone had fun---at least part of the time!

Kaiya, Riley, Cora, Alec, Ryder, Kyndall, Kassidy, Rustin, and Kaydence.

I can't get the babies to even try most of the yummy food I make for them at home, but they all wanted a bite of the pumpkins! (Ryder, Kyndall, Kassidy, Rustin, and Kaydence)

Kaiya and Riley--I know that this isn't the best picture of them, but I thought it was so funny. Kaiya was really mad that Riley got to sit next to the big pumpkin. Life is soooo unfair!

Playing on the tractor--Kyndall, Kassidy, Rustin and Ryder

More fun with the tractor

Kyndall, Ryder, Rustin's back, Kassidy and Kaydence. It is nearly impossible to get Rustin to sit still long enough to take his picture!

Kaiya and Riley

The Hayride! Riley and Kaiya had their hearts set on going on the hayride. Joel and Tobi didn't want to go, so we took everyone by ourselves. I think this was the only part of the day where we seriously considered having ourselves committed to the insane asylum when we got back. Before we got on the ride, we didn't realize that part way through they were going to drop us off, have us walk through a tunnel to the other side of the road, and get on another trailer to finish the ride. Luckily Riley was able to carry Kyndall and my mom and I each carried two babies and somehow we made it! As long as we were moving, the boys thought it was fun. Kyndall also gave no complaints. Kassidy hated the whole thing (did I mention that it was really dusty???).

Playing in the pumpkins--Kyndall, Ryder, Rustin, Kassidy, and Kaydence

The big kids--Alec, Riley, Kaiya and Cora

Kassidy

Kaydence

Rustin

Kyndall

Ryder

The Pumpkin Patch

More Quint Olympics soon---In the mean time...

Even though the Beijing Summer Games have come to an end, the quint Olympic competitors at the Wilkinson household are still in top form and turning up the heat in the competition. More competitions will be aired soon, however this week we are taking a break from the Quint Olympics to share a couple of other videos we have made in the past couple months.

WQ+2 Episode 12 is divided into two parts. The first shows a video that Jayson made for the BYU Football Fan Commercial contest. He was one of six winners and his commercial will be shown during one of the home games this season. (Way to go, Jayson!!)



The second video depicts a "day in the life" and a brief introduction to our family.

More Quint Olympics soon---In the mean time...

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

This summer, we decided that going on a big family vacation would not be a good idea. Plane flights are expensive for a family of nine, and a 16-hour car ride with five one-year-olds sounded almost as pleasant as having a root canal. Because we were stuck at home all summer, we tried to come up with a few fun things that we could do with the kids, while still maintaining our sanity. A little before school started, we decided to take everyone to the zoo.


Anyone who lives in Austin knows that it has a really lame excuse for a zoo. There are hardly any really exciting animals and it is kind of pricey for what you get to see. However, Waco, which is about 1.5 hours north of Austin, has a really great zoo. The Cameron Park Zoo is not to big, but not too little. It has most of the zoo animal favorites (lions, tigers, bears, giraffes, rhinos, monkeys, etc.) It also has several trees and shaded walkways, which make a big difference in the Texas heat.


My friend, Halli and her three kids came with us. We also took Calvin, my friend Natalie's son, who has come over several times this summer to help with the babies. In addition we had my sister, Tiare, who was still living with us at the time, so we ended up with 14 people total for our Zoo excursion.


Despite the over 100 degree temperature and very high humidity, everyone had a BLAST! I was amazed that I didn't hear a single complaint from anyone---not even Riley and Kaiya. I think the babies were just happy to get out of the house. I am not sure how much they paid attention to the animals, but they were happy to ride around in the stroller and check out everything around them.

After the 1 1/2 hour car ride, the kids were anxious to get inside! Big Kids: Kaiya, Riley, Calvin, Lauren, Taylor, Carter, Babies: Ryder, Rustin, Kassidy, Kaydence, Kyndall

Elephants!

Giraffes!

Kaiya is testing out the awesome see-through tube slide that went through the otter tank.

Riley

Calvin with the Rhinos.

Bears!

Riley and Kaiya check out the Lions.

Each of the babies had their picture taken by an animal that seemed fitting for them:

Kassidy (with Tiare) gets her photo op with a snake, because she slithered like a snake when she was first learning to crawl.

Kaydence is pictured with the bear because she is my most cuddly baby. (She actually reminds me of a Koala bear--she clings to me the way Koala bears cling to their mom or to a tree, but this bear was the the best we could do)

Rustin had his picture taken with the monkeys, because he sounds like a monkey when he talks "ooh ooh ooh".

This animal (see the one up to the left of my head) reminded us of Kyndall because it was so small and petite, that you could hardly believe that it could walk around.

I always thought Ryder looked a little bit like a turtle (in a cute way) when he was an infant.

Carter, Lauren, Taylor, Kaiya, Riley and Calvin all take a take a break.

All in all, it was a great day! Maybe next summer I will be ready to tackle a family road trip!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Progress Report--One Year Old

Here is an update of each of the kiddos. The heights/weights are all from their one-year check-up about two weeks ago.

Kassidy

Weight: 19 lb 2 oz (20th percentile)
Height: 29.5 inches (50th percentile)
Walking: YES
Teeth: 4

Kassidy is the most inventive of the bunch. She is often the first one to figure out how a new toy works. She also was the first to figure out how to get into the kitchen cupboards. She tries to use brushes and combs to “brush” her hair. She found Kaiya’s hair bow on the floor and kept trying to put it in her own hair. Kassidy loves her “nuggle” (small, silky blanket that the babies like to sleep with). When we let the babies loose in the downstairs, she will head straight for the crib room, reach into all the cribs, pull out all the nuggles and carry them around. She also attacks the laundry basket to find all the newly cleaned nuggles. She is still a “mama’s girl”, but she is getting a little better. Her hair that once stood straight up now lays flat, so she almost looks like a different baby.

Kaydence

Weight: 17 lb 2 oz (almost 5th percentile)
Height: 28.25 inches (20th percentile)
Walking: NO
Teeth: 5

Kaydence is trying to take over Kassidys spot as “mama’s girl”. She is my most snuggly baby. She has a great smile and is the easiest baby to make laugh. She also has a stubborn streak---she is a girl who knows what she wants. She has the longest and the blondest hair of everybody. You can always tell where Kaydence sat at mealtime because she likes to secretly throw things overboard when she thinks no one is looking. She also hates getting in the water at the swimming pool and she as an aversion to having her picture taken.

Rustin

Weight: 19 lb 10 oz (10th percentile)
Height: 29.25 inches (30th percentile)
Walking: YES
Teeth: 2

Rustin is the most determined one. He was the first to crawl and the first to walk. If he sees something that he wants, will go over anything or anyone to get it. Rustin is my best eater. He will eat almost anything that I give him. He is also the most tactile. He likes to feel different textures. He likes to make “oooh oooh oooh” noises that sound like a monkey or a caveman. He isn’t very cuddly, but when he gives you a hug, it is a big one.

Kyndall

Weight: 14 lb 9 oz (<5th percentile)
Height: 27.75 inches (10th percentile)
Walking: YES
Teeth: 5

Kyndall is the most easy-going and content of all the babies. She is often happy to play by herself and doesn’t require a lot of attention. She isn’t usually the instigator of a fight, but if someone takes her toy, she will put up quite a fight. Kyndall maintains her petite figure by being the pickiest eater. She likes to put random toys up to her ear and pretend it is a phone. When she wakes up from her naps, instead of crying, she practices her walking skills in her crib until we come get her. She likes to babble and most of what she says sounds like “tickle, tickle, tickle.” She sometimes uses a “fake” laugh to try to be funny.

Ryder

Weight: 19 lb 10 oz (10th percentile)
Height: 29.25 inches (30th percentile)
Walking: YES
Teeth: 4

Ryder is the charmer. He is the most high maintenance of the group and likes to have someone giving him attention all the time. I am sure there are days when he wishes he had come as a singleton instead of a quint! He has a great smile and can be very adorable when he wants to be. Like Kassidy, he is quick to figure out how things work. He still loves his binky and he loves the nuggles almost as much as Kassidy. He has a great olive complexion that I am sure will make Rustin jealous when he gets older.

Kaiya

Weight: 47 lbs
Height: 42 inches
Teeth: none lost yet
Grade: Kindergarten

Kaiya just started kindergarten this week and she totally loves it. She is very smart and learns quickly. I was surprised when, after only a couple of days at school, she had memorized several of the songs that they had been singing in music. She also likes to be very independent. I think it comes from being the second child---she sees herself as an equal to Riley and thinks she can do anything he can. By the third day of school, she did not want anyone walking her to her class. Kaiya also started dance classes this week. She is taking Jazz and I think she is going to love it.

Riley

Weight: 56 lbs
Height: 47.5 inches
Teeth: Lost 2 so far
Grade: 3rd

Riley was also excited to start school. His favorite subject is reading. His least favorite subject is Math (I’m going to have to work on him, if he is going to be a statistician like me!). His teacher says that he is very inventive and is always coming up with suggestions for new ways to do things. He has become such a great helper with the babies. He is very gentle and kind with them and he is able to carry one of them if we need him to (like to get everyone inside church). He started taking piano lessons over the summer and his teacher has been very impressed by his sense of rhythm. He is a very sensitive and sweet kid and he has snuck in to make my bed for me on more than one occasion.

Here's a few more pictures from the last couple of weeks:

Riley and Kaiya on their first day 0f school!

Kaiya, Ryder, Tiare, Kyndall, Kaydence, Rachelle, Kassidy, Riley, Rustin

I tried to get a picture of me alone with the quints......you can see how well that went over!

Tiare's attempt at getting a picture with the babies went a little better than mine. (But not much!)

Tiare and Me. Tiare was such a great help this summer! We were really sad when she left!

Amanda with Kaydence, Rustin, Ryder, Kassidy and Kyndall

Amanda is a friend from California that came to help with the babies this week. She is starting college this fall and plans to major in child psychology, so she thought hanging out at our house would give her some good experience. She was great and we really enjoyed having her here! She gives a detailed report of her week at our house in her blog.

Progress Report--One Year Old