Big Brother Riley Turns 8!

Riley and Kaiya with cousins Cora and Alec on his birthday.

This week Riley turned 8!! I can’t believe I have a child that old! I remember when I turned 8, and at the time, my mom seemed a lot older than how I feel now. Riley is an awesome kid. He is very sensitive and thoughtful of others. Every once in a while he sneaks in my room to make my bed or leave me a nice note. He loves to read, play LEGOs, and ride his bike. He just started piano lessons last week and he is on the swim team and loves it. He is very gentle and a great helper with the babies.

Riley and the new bike he got for his birthday.

Fun Facts about Riley:

Favorite Colors: Blue and Green
Favorite Food: Pizza
Least Favorite Food: Tomatoes
Favorite Treat: Ice Cream
Grade in School (2008-2009 school year): 3rd Grade
Favorite Subjects: Reading and Art
Least Favorite Subject: Math
Favorite Superhero: Spiderman
Favorite Thing To Do: Play with friends
Favorite Restaurants: Rudy’s BBQ and Taco Bell
What he wants to be when he grows up: Moviemaker

Favorite Riley Quotes:

Riley (at the start of every meal): “What do I have to eat to get dessert?”

Riley: “Mom, what does it mean to be famous?”
Mom: “It means a lot of people know who you are.”
Riley: “Oh, I get it, so we are famous, but not rich.”

The Scene: We walk into Jamba Juice where two older ladies are sitting at a table, drinking their smoothies. Riley suddenly starts sobbing.
Mom: “Riley, what’s wrong??!?”
Riley: “I just don’t want you to get wrinkles!” (sniff, sniff)

Riley (almost seven) in the Bluebonnets--the Texas State Flower

Riley (6 years old) playing T-ball

Riley (5 years old) on his first day of Kindergarten

Riley (4 years old)

Riley (3 years old) has always loved to dress up--in anything!

Riley--2 1/2 years old

Riley--1 year old

Riley--9 months old

Riley--5 months old

Riley saving the universe--4 months old

Riley (2 weeks old) on his blessing day.


Cast your vote for which baby looks the most like Riley in the poll to the right===>

Big Brother Riley Turns 8!

Quint Olympics

My husband, Jayson, made a video of the babies in the first ever (at least that I know of) Quint Olympics. Riley and Kaiya also star in the video as the commentators. Jayson posted it on his blog a couple of days ago but I am not sure how many people read both blogs, so I am posting it here too. We had a lot of fun filming it and I think Jayson did a great job putting it together. (If you've already seen it on Jayson's blog, than I appologize for the redundancy.) If you like this video, stay tuned....there are more events to come!

Quint Olympics

My Three Favorite Fathers

In honor of Father's Day, I want to do a short post about the important men in my life who are fathers.

First, of course, is MY Dad! He is one of those people that everyone likes. He is outgoing, creative, diplomatic, funny and smart. One of my favorite stories about my dad was when he was 19 and serving a mission for our church. He served for two years in upstate New York. While on his mission, he spent a lot of time knocking on doors trying to share a message about the gospel of Jesus Christ. More often than not, this resulted in doors being slammed in his face. At one house, the lady that answered the door was particularly rude and unfriendly. After the door slammed in their face, my dad and his companion quickly ran around to the back door and knocked again. The same lady answered the door. Before she could speak, my dad smiled really big and said, "Whew am I glad to see you--that lady at the front door was so grumpy!" At this the lady softened and invited them in for a drink of water.

Red Hair buddies--My dad with Rustin

My dad with newborn Kaydence--It's hard to believe she was every that tiny!

Second is my husband, Jayson. He is such a great father to all our children. The minute he gets home from work, he steps right in and helps with the babies. He is usually the one that reads to Riley and Kaiya and tucks them into bed at night. He even gets up in the middle of the night (more often than I do) to move fussy babies into "solitary confinement" (pack-n-plays in places like the closet and storage room where babies can fuss without waking up the whole crew). He has a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh. He also puts up with all my imperfections, which is no easy job.

Riley and Jayson

Ryder, Rustin and Jayson. This picture was taken in November--I can't believe how much the boys have changed!

Third is Jayson's dad, Kevin. I appreciate the example that Kevin has been to Jayson throughout his life because it has helped make Jayson into the wonderful person that he is. Kevin is also a terrific Grandpa. When Riley was two, he took a week of vacation to take care of Riley so that Jayson and I could go to Hawaii with my family. Since the babies have been born, he has come by himself a couple of times to help with the babies. I don't know a lot of father-in-laws that are willing to use their vacation for babysitting.

Kevin with Kyndall, Rustin, Kaydence, Kassidy and Ryder

Kevin with Kyndall. I think Kyndall looks just like her grandpa (only cuter)

My Three Favorite Fathers

"Outtakes"

Most of the time, I like to post really adorable pictures of the kids. This really isn't that difficult to do because let's face it---I have really adorable kids. (in my totally biased opinion of course--doesn't every mother think her kids are the most adorable things around?). However, to be totally honest, the cute smiling pictures I usually post aren't always the whole story. Today, I decided to share a "behind the scenes" look at what really goes on when we take pictures at our house...

The Cute Smiling Picture I Posted on the Blog...don't they look angelic?

Kyndall, Rustin, Kaydence, Ryder, Kassidy

What really happened during the photo shoot...

Cute picture of my cousin Christine and the babies.

Christine with Kaydence, Rustin, Kassidy, Ryder and Kyndall

What really happened during the photo shoot...

You probably don't recognize this next picture because we never did get a "cute" one to post to the blog. Have you noticed that Ryder does not like getting his picture taken? Even the Cheerio's we put in his mouth during this photo shoot were not making him happy...

Kyndall, Rustin, Kaydence, Ryder, and Kassidy

Kaydence was clearly unaffected by Ryders tantrum, but Kassidy decided to take matters into her own hands...

Poor Ryder!

No one was very happy in this shot of my friend, Halli, and the babies

Halli with Kyndall, Ryder, Kassidy, Rustin and Kaydence

But sometimes a change in location can do wonders...

Riley and Kaiya are not exempt. Even with all the pictures we take around our house, they have a hard time giving a real smile. Their "fake" smiles make it look as though they are being tortured (maybe because they rank picture taking right up there with eating a large bowl of raw tomatoes), but when we try to coax a "real" smile out of them, it usually ends up in laughter.

Before

After

Before

After

I think we usually average around 10-15 "bad" shots for every good picture we get. For the calendar, the number was more like 50. Thank goodness for digital!!!

"Outtakes"

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Five Babies in a Tub

With my mother-in-law here this week, we decided to be adventurous and give the babies their first bath in the big tub. It was quite a workout getting everyone undressed, weighed, bathed and dressed again---all while trying to prevent drowning and other life-threatening activities. The babies had a blast, and in the end, so did we!

Bath in the Big Tub...By the Numbers

1 Grandma
1 Mom
1 Big Sister
2 Cameras
1 Video Camera
1 Big Garden Tub
4 Inches of Water
2 Towels on the bottom of the tub
5 Pairs of PJ’s to take off
2 Wet Diapers
3 Poopy Diapers
1 Puddle of she-she on the carpet

(Note: she-she = what we call urine at our house)
2 Towels and
20 Sprays of Spot Shot to clean it up
1 Baby Scale
5 Cute Naked Bums
1 Bottle of Baby Wash
5 Washcloths
1000’s of Splashes

10 Ears to wash behind

5 Heads of hair to wash
9 Puddles on the floor
5 Hooded Bath Towels
5 Clean diapers
3 Matching Girls Outfits
2 Matching Boys Outfits
1 Baby Brush
100’s of Smiles
5 Clean Happy Babies!

More Fun Pictures from the Week:

Ryder, Rustin, Kassidy and Kyndall

Everybody loves laundry day at our house!

The whole crew in the morning before school:
Kassidy, Riley, Kyndall, Kaiya, Ryder, Rustin, and Kaydence

Mother's Day Dinner on the Back Porch
Kyndall, Rustin, Ryder, Kassidy, and Kaydence

Rustin, Kassidy, Kaydence, Ryder and Kyndall

Baby Council: Ryder, Kyndall, Kassidy, Rustin and Kaydence

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Five Babies in a Tub

A Tribute to My Mom

Betty Ann Curtis aka "World's Greatest Mom"

Top Ten Reasons Why My Mom is the BEST!!!

10. She is super-organized. I have learned a lot from her, and being organized is the only thing that has kept me sane with all these babies!

"Mimi" with Kaydence, Kassidy, Rustin, Ryder and Kyndall

9. She is the ultimate multi-tasker

Mimi with Kassidy, Kaydence and Rustin

8. Growing up, she drove me (and my 5 other siblings) to all of our extra-curricular activities. She was our biggest cheerleader and almost never missed a performance, game, meet, etc. that any of us was in.

Rachelle, Mom, Tiare (my sister) Other siblings not pictured: McKay, Colby, Ryan and Shane

7. When it comes to finding bargains, my mom is amazing.

Mimi and Papa with Ryder, Kassidy, Kyndall, Kaydence and Rustin. (The outfits the babies are wearing were only $5.)

6. She makes magnificent meals in the microwave. Until I went to college, I didn’t even know that “normal” people brown ground beef on the stove

5. Family always came first with my mom. She made sure that we read scriptures and had prayer together as a family every day. We also had “Family Home Evening” every week.

The Curtis Family (minus Colby) in Summer 2006

4. Any moment can become a Kodak moment when my mom is around.

Our first trip to Rudy's BBQ with my mom and brother Ryan.

3. She is a good friend—she listens and gives good advice.

2. She is a terrific “Mimi” (what the grandkids call her)

Kaiya, Mimi and Riley at Ed Debevic's in Chicago.

1. She has been incredibly supportive. From the moment that I told her that we were expecting quintuplets, my mom has been there for me. She provided emotional support during the ups and downs of the pregnancy and she spent a large chunk of her summer taking care of Riley and Kaiya while I was on bedrest (in the middle of trying to sell her house and put on a huge family reunion).

My mom and I the day before delivery.

Since the babies were born, she has come nearly every month for 10-14 days at a time to help take care of the babies. She has sacrificed a lot in her own life to be there for me, and I am so grateful for her. I could not have asked for a better mother---she is the BEST!!!

Back: Mom, Rachelle Middle: Kaydence, Kassidy, Rustin, Kyndall Front: Ryder

A Tribute to My Mom

9 Months Old!

Kyndall, Rustin, Kaydence, Ryder and Kassidy

This week the babies turned 9 months old! At our church, kids can go to the nursery during Sunday School when they are 18 months old, so we are half-way to nursery age! I can't believe they will all be one in three months. Here is an update on each of the kids:

Name: Kassidy aka "Spike"

Age: 9 months

Weight: 16 lbs 8 oz

Height: 27 inches

Accomplishments: scoots on tummy, finally eating most baby foods

Known Weaknesses: strong dislike of most vegetables, big-time "Momma's Girl"

Superpowers: heightened sense of "stranger danger", super-grasp cling

Health prognosis: recently diagnosed with Grade 2 urinary reflux (where the urine refluxes back up the ureters to the kidneys), will hopefully go away on its own in 6-9 months

Name: Kaydence aka "Curl"

Age: 9 months
Weight: 15 lbs 3 oz
Height: 25.5 inches

Accomplishments: First tooth (now she has two!)
Superpowers: Super-smile and infectious laugh, turbo-speed "army" crawl

Known weaknesses: Large curl especially attractive for grabbing hands
Health prognosis: no known medical issues

Name: Rustin aka "Red"
Age: 9 months
Weight: 17 lbs
Height: 26.25 inches
Accomplishments: First and fastest crawler, pulls up to standing on furniture
Known Weaknesses: "Grass is greener" complex--always wants someone else's toy
Superpowers: "Bulldozer" crawl--he lets nothing get in his way
Health prognosis: Eczema, super-sensitive skin (the sacrifice you have to make for having great red hair!)

Name: Kyndall aka "Peanut"
Age: 9 months
Weight: 12 lbs 9 oz
Height: 25.75 inches
Accomplishments: Second to crawl on hands and knees, finally eating baby foods without force
Known Weaknesses: because of her small size, many children (most notably my own) confuse her with a baby doll
Superpowers: Pilate's expert (loves the plank position) and projectile vomiting (though this power is starting to fade)
Health prognosis: Needs to gain more weight

Name: Ryder aka "Ladies Man"
Age: 9 months
Weight: 16 lb 11 oz
Height: 27.25 inches
Accomplishments: Can hold bottle by himself (when he's in the mood), champion jumper
Known Weaknesses: fairly immobile, easy to bully
Superpowers: Huge heart-melting smile, super-flirt
Health prognosis: lingering ear infection

Name: Kaiya aka "Princess"
Age: 5 years, 2 months
Weight: 41.5 lbs
Height: 42 inches
Accomplishments: recently learned how to ride a bike with no training wheels
Known Weaknesses: finds unusual places for dirty clothes, hums when she eats food she likes
Superpowers: dancing dynamo, extremely clever and a little too smart
Health prognosis: no known health issues

Name: Riley aka "Jedi"
Age: 7 years 10.5 months
Weight: 52.5 lbs
Height: 46.5 inches
Accomplishments: starts swim team this week, straight "A" student
Known Weaknesses: can be very emotional, homework procrastinator
Superpowers: awsome reading skills, super creative, magnificent memorizer
Health prognosis: no known health issues

9 Months Old!