wants vs needs...

This is an important topic that goes around in our home. When you have four little ones that constantly ask for stuff you have to put it into perspective. What it is that we want vs what we actually need. Sometimes they go hand in hand but other times, OK, most of the time we do not really need what we want! Weird how that happens! [=  We have been SO blessed with so many hand me down clothes, shoes & toys that we really need for nothing. SO the next time you are about to make that purchase just think of your...

wants vs needs...

your four year olds purse...

Having three girls can be quite entertaining at times. Yes there's a TON of DRAMA but they also give us quite a few giggles on a daily basis! Each has their own personality of course. There's Camryn who is NOT afraid of anything or anyone. She is our social butterfly who loves to "mother" EVERYONE! She likes role playing & will not only be the mom but the baby too. She will try to "help" me but in the end causes me more work. =[ Sometimes she does what I am thinking but most times not. Avery is our own personal DIVA. She LOVES LOVES LOVES to dress up, play "Mommy" & almost ALWAYS has a purse on her arm! When we go out to dinner she has to bring her purse in with us & even takes it with her to the bathroom. I think she carries a purse more than me! Like I said she is our little DIVA! LOL!

Then there's Lindsey, she is Mommy's little helper. She does not hesitate to get her hands dirty with an job I have for her. She will even volunteer to do stuff! She has done the laundry, scrubbed a few pots and even makes our bed! She too likes dress up & has been known to carry a purse around the house. Just like her twin she puts practically ANYTHING in her purse. So you ask what might anything be? There was a hankerchief for the occasional runny nose {Grandpa would be SO proud since he ALWAYS carried one!}, an ear scope just in case they stuck something in there! =], Brendan's toy race car, a pink bracelet because it's "girly", a pet dragon "just because" & last but not least a rubber snake! Yes, a rubber snake! {Gotta have one of those to scare Grandma! =]} So what can you find in...

your four year old's purse... 

the things that make me go hmm...

I have come to the realization lately that I really LOVE blogging! I LOVE sharing things about our family, LOVE recreating some of the funny stuff the tribe says or does & mostly LOVE just having a place for my thoughts. Only problem is that since Four little Fulton's is suppose to be the tribes online baby book I decided I better start a new blog that's just for me! I know TWO blogs PLUS a review blog that's CRAZY right? NO WAY! [= I realize that even though I may not have all the time in the world to blog if the content is interesting then it shoudn't seem like "work". I know I talk a good game. This is a new adventure & I'm REALLY excited about it! So now that I've created the new blog I'm ready to jump right in! Remember it's going to be a place for me to write about the things I find interesting & that affect other women like me! I'm hoping it will become a place that I can retreat to when I have something on my mind or when I just want to share! So PLEASE check it out & tell me what you think! I'm still working out all of the kinks. When all is said & done it will be a place for some of...

the things that make me go hmm...

the things I know for sure (part 2)...

Since becoming a mommy I have learned quite a few interesting things. Things that I may not have learned if I was not "taught" by my children. LOL! Here goes... The things I know for sure are... That I NEVER give the "tribe" rice for dinner without already knowing that they will throw it EVERYWHERE!... In order to not have a ton of laundry they need to be bibbed at ALL times!... That in order for us to have a good experience when we go out to eat we need to have their pocket bibs with us. They seem to catch EVERY crumb & serve as their plates!... ALWAYS have a travel container of wipes with you so messy faces & sticky hands can be wiped!... That even though their quad stroller is one MAJOR pain in the neck it gets the job done!... That most stores do not have enough stroller room for one stroller let alone a quad stroller!... When traveling hide a stash of small toys in the vehicle just to keep them amused!... That books are not only for reading but eating too! LOL!... That telling them you caught a bug will make them come to you EACH & EVERY time!... Never leave an open container out in the open or we will have a HUGE spill to clean up!... The tribe LOVES paper, any kind EXCEPT that which they sit on at the doctors office! LOL!... That certain seats in the 'burb are PRIME real estate & do NOT try to change the unassigned seating arrangement without a fight!... ALWAYS have another diaper under their bum when you are changing a poopy diaper!... and getting with the poopy theme I can now wipe a dirty bum with just ONE wipe! YEP!... That raising multiples is more expensive than I ever thought & VERY hard work!... Be prepared because people will ask MANY questions about our life... AND that no matter what I say people are going to have their own opinion about our "tribe"... These are...

the things I know for sure(part 2)...

Momma needs a new "do"...

This is new for me, taking care of ME. I always seem to do for others especially the kids instead of me! I rarely spend any money on me. If there is new clothes or shoes to buy it is for the kids. It's weird because BEFORE kids things were so different! Funny how that happens! LOL! Once I became a Momma my needs changed. Their needs became my needs. I never would have imagined that I'd clean up another persons bodily fluids without a second thought! That I'd care so much about things, whether they did or didn't poop1? hahah! That they'd wipe their boogers on me & I would not get completely grossed out. Yes it is gross but not as gross as if it were a STRANGER doing it! Weird how that works! And most of all I never would have thought that my needs would be thrown out the window. AMAZING! So for me to actually think of myself for once is hard to fathom. You see we are going away for a family wedding & my hubby said why don't you go get your hair done. SO sweet of him to suggest it but even harder for me to actually do it. I have never been a "spa" girl. Don't get me wrong I LOVE to get pampered but not on a regular basis. I LOVE LOVE LOVE a good massage but getting my hair & nails done has never been something I "liked" doing. It was sort of out of habit. I do it out of necessity. Years ago when we were trying to get pregnant I felt liberated when I made the decision not to have the expense of getting my nails done. No more standing appointment, it was nice! There were better ways to spend our money namely a baby! I ended up growing my hair out because I hated the up keep of a short "do". I couldn't do it! TOO much time & money spent on something so short term! Then once we had the kids & started watching our money all things seemed just frivilous! I could see SO many other things that I could spend the money on so it was a tough decision! I figured that since it was in December when I last had my hair done it was time...

Momma needs a new "do"...

if you could do just one thing...

I have asked myself this question a lot lately. What could I do to help others. Is there one thing I could do that would make things better for someone else? SO many people helped us when we needed it that I want to pay it forward. We can not afford that much but there are a ton of things that could help someone in need. Some days when I am on the turnpike I think if I just went thru the regular line instead of the Sun Pass line I could pay extra so the person behind me did not have to pay. Wouldn't that be neat!? I could make just enough food so we could invite our neighbor over for dinner instead of leaving leftovers, OR better yet we could give the food to the homeless. I could help another mommy with night feedings so they could sleep. This helped me SO much! How about giving the babies in the NICU our babies hand me down clothes. I just love "hand me downs". Another thing I could do is "story time" for my nieces kindergarden class. I can be animated! LOL! Oh there are plenty of things out there & I could probably make a HUGE list if I put my mind to it. SO I ask you...

if you could do just one thing...

My MUST haves...

I decided to share with everyone my "must haves", those things that make my life SO much easier & I never leave home without. These items are ALWAYS with us! We have to take with us when we are out on one of our "adventures". Some days if I know I've forgotten one of them I am known to turn the BURB around just to pick up the forgotten item. Here goes...

1. Dex Products Bibs - they are SO easy to clean & just snap up! We always have a bib! Less ruined clothes maes me a happy mommy! PLUS There's NO Velcro! (Velcro is a mother's worst nightmare!)
2. Playtex Coolster sippy cups (LOVE these cups!) in our BIG insulated bag of course!
3. Our Skip/Hop mini diaper bag changer. It holds just enough diapers, wipes & diaper rash cream. PLUS it has a fold out pad to change them on. (I have not carried a diaper bag in FOREVER!)

My MUST haves...

Hold your fork!

Ever have one of those days where EVERYTHING goes wrong & the things that come out of your mouth is out of order or just plain wrong!? Well the past two days have been that way for me. Yesterday started out good. We were at Grandma's & she went with us to run a few errands. I was FINALLY able to get two pairs of work pants exchanged. It is SO hard to go anywhere that is not a drive thru with these youngin's. It is just SO much easier to bring Grandma along to watch them while I run in to do what I need to do. Well, it took more that I expected & we were driving ALL over town to get my pants. I almost wanted to forget it all & turn the BURB around & go home but we perservered. We drove about 40 miles & in the end they had to order my pants. On our way back to civilization is when my day went from good to bad. We were in an accident. 4 cars in front of me stopped quick which started a chain reaction and I ended up hitting the vehicle in front of us. LUCKILY my mom, the babies and I appeared unscathed. The woman in the car in front of me & her kids were ok too. However for the BURB it's a different story! It needs some major work done! I could not even drive it! UGH! Needless to say I was upset. I am now in a TOO SMALL rental van until the BURB gets fixed. Funny how no vehicle ever fits us! I feel SO out of place, like I am missing something. I find I am thinking about what could have been & even short tempered at times. Now fast forward to this evening at dinner. My WONDERFUL hubby picked up Chinese so I did not have to cook. Wasn't that sweet of him!? He has been trying to ease my mind ever since the accident but it does not seem to help. Here I am making sure the kids are fed. I made them Macaroni & Cheese, one of their favorites. They are all chatting away telling me that they want more & instead of me saying "I'm coming!", the only thing that came out of my mouth was...

Hold your fork!...

This I know for certain...

That being a mommy is NOT for sissies! That this "mommyhood" really is really HARD work and that raising quadruplets is DIFFICULT! I know that I have wanted children since before I can remember. I know that LOVE my husband & children more that I could ever say! I know that someone must know more than me when they say you can potty train toddlers! LOL! I know that if a toddler is quiet for too long they will get into T-R-O-U-B-L-E! I know that I have to put bibs on them at EVERY meal if I do not want to do more laundry than I already do! I know that our life is all about schedules! I know that there is NEVER enough time in the day to accomplish my tasks! I know that God gives us no more than we can handle. I repeat this to myself MANY times during the day! LOL! I know that I absolutely LOVE when I take on a new "mission", the harder it is to achieve the better! I know that blogging is my new found passion! Being able to capture all of their "priceless" moments for posterity! LOVE it! And most of all I know that in this CRAZY life we lead that I am exactly where I need to be!...

This I know for certain...

presents....

People have been asking me what Dustyn & the babies need or want for Christmas. I have put a lot of thought into this question. They do not lack for much. Even with our meager funds we seem to make do. They pretty much do not "need" for anything. We have been VERY fortunate to have some WONDERFUL people in our life that pass along their hand me downs for our children. So from time to time they get "newer" toys & clothes. Life is good. What they "need" is people, not "things". They need our time. Since there is only 2 of us and 5 of them things can get rough in the attention dept. I feel bad that Dustyn sort of gets the shaft at times. We have SO much going on that we can never accomplish every task. He puts up with a lot & hopefully things will get better. So that is why I now answer that question with the following response... That the BEST present they could ever receive is to have our presence in their lives. To be there in each moment & really pay attention. They crave it! Some days are better than others but mostly I just try my best. To be the best mommy I can be. Some days I feel they need more than I can give & that is when I need the help I rarely ask for. SO, to any person out there that knows us personally, PLEASE, stop by & visit our little munchkins & Dustyn. If you have any "free time" we'd love for you to come over to spread your love & attention. Remember that's one of the best...

presents...