On September 5, 2008 I gave birth to 4 beautiful babies Samantha, Bridgette, Theodore "Teddy" and Madeline. Nine days later on September 14, 2008 Madeline was called to Heaven. So begins my journey of raising my Quadruplets as Triplets. They will always be my Quads!!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas Day at our house!!! 2010

I love the simplicity of decorations at our house, the stockings all hung by the fireplace, this was just after Santa had filled them. The children were stilled nestled in thier beds dreaming of all they would be getting.

Under the tree just after Santa had left. The packages that are wrapped are wrapped in fabric wrappers that will be used again and again. :)

The 2 bi girls are excited to get pillow pets and Lala loopsy dolls. :)

Teddy having a good time.



Bridgette loves her new Pillow Pet.


Samantha also loves her Pillow Pet.


Olivia giving daddy a hand with opening the wallet the kids got him.



Alexis and her Lala loopsy.



Samantha and Bridgette playing with wooden letters.



Teddy playing with his train.



The kids enjoying thier presents. :)



Olivia helping Daddy assemble the Tool Bench Grandma bought the little kids.



It took hours to assemble the little kids even helped. :)





Then our tradition of homemade Christmas Pizza. This year we all had colds so Mom and Dad made the pizzas.




Next year we hope to add the tradition of making a birthday cake for Jesus and singing happy birthday to him.
Thanks for peeking in on us. :)

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Eve at Grandmas

Grandma, Don's Mom, really gets into Christmas and as soon as October arrives she begins decorating for Christmas. Our tradition is Christmas Eve at Grandmas, and boy does she do it up nice for the kids. We were welcomed to her house by a giant snow woman.


The upstairs tree!!
Bridgette


Grandma, Samantha and Bridgette by the downstairs tree.


Dinner was buffet style finger foods this year. She still has to make it look fancy.



The kids enjoy running around. Rolling pool balls and playing pinball.


Grandma, Papa Ed, Alexis, Samantha and Olivia!!


Bridgette



Teddy





Bridgette, Samantha & Alexis



Olivia helping Papa Ed and Grandma in the kitchen.




What a cutie Olivia is.


There is no where to sit look at that tree!!! :)





Teddy helping Olivia.




Don's sister made presents for the kids, this bed Alexis got, Olivia got one also, just different bedding. Can you say amazing work!! WOW!!!



And take a look at the cradle Samantha has, yep you guessed it Bridgette got one too, just different bedding.




And don't forget Teddy, Uncle Jeff, who happens to be a carpenter and Auntie Dawn's husband, made this amazing wooden logging truck for Teddy.




So many Presents to open.








What a rare shot with me in it!! :)


The little kids enjoyed helping eachother open gifts!!


Here is the tool bench Grandma got for the little kids, read the Christmas Day at our house post to see how it turned out. :)


What a fun night with family. Another rare photo a group shot of the family. ( I have Bridgette and Alexis)

Thanks for peeking in on us we hope everyone had a great Christmas. :)

Christmas Card and Letter 2010

 I actually had 2 different cards I sent out. Most people got the family photo taken for our church directory, this one ended up being my favorite I made it at Walmart.com, next year I will do them all like this.




Dear Family and Friends,


Has it been another year already?? Why yes it has, and everything at the Riepe house marks that time is passing all too quickly.

Alexis, age 6, started 1st grade this fall, I thought sending my baby off on that big yellow bus would be easier this year, I was wrong, it proved to have me, yet again, walking back to the house with a tear. She also tried out soccer this summer and absolutely loved it, she continues to ask when soccer starts again. Alexis is in dance for her 4th year. She also is enjoying Sunday school. Confrences with her 1st grade teacher was more proof she is growing up all too quickly, she is reading at almost a second grade level. This is a HUGE deal, way to go Alexis!!!

Olivia, age 4, started preschool this year. The open house proved to be emotional for Mom, seeing my big girl look around her new big kid classroom. Another reminder that they just grow so fast. Olivia's 1st day was traumatic she cried for Mom, but has since settled in and comes home beaming with excitement from all that she is learning. She is enjoying her 2nd year in dance and enjoying Sunday school. She still is my biggest helper in the kitchen, and very much a mama's girl. And I love it!!

Samantha, age 2, the littlest of the little kids, loves her blanket and baby dolls. Bridgette, age 2, my little chatter box, she is the boss of the little kids. She wants to be involved with everything that is going on with everyone. She talks a mile a minute, not sure where that came from. Teddy, age 2, my strong silent little man. He is so good at figuring out how things work, such a boy. The little kids and I are doing a class through our local school with other moms and toddlers, and we enjoy it.

Madeline, 2 years in Heaven, still a part of our family everyday, still inspiring me to be a better Mom and a better person. Our entire family walked for March of Dimes and raised money in honor of Samantha, Bridgette & Teddy and in memory of Madeline.

Don is still enjoying working for Hubbard Broadcasting. Don has been busy doing remodeling and working on the barn.


Mary, I have been quite busy, enjoying being a stay at home mom, this year I took on the task of being a Membership VP for our local MOMS club, which I joined when I was pregnant with Olivia. I am also part of the preschool commity at our church.


We have had a wonderful 2010 and look forward to a great 2011!!


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!


Loads of Love from,


Don, Mary, Alexis, Olivia, Samantha, Bridgette & Teddy

Visit our family online at: www.QBRAT.com

Friday, December 10, 2010

Kids Christmas Party

Every year my husbands work has an amazing Christmas party for the kids. Here are some photos from the party and a video slideshow at the end.


Samantha



Bridgette




Teddy







Alexis












Olivia










My attempts at group photos.









A little slideshow of picture