the TIMES OF OUR LIVES!!! (Warning- SUPER long post covering our Quad Momma 2010 annual “Momcation”!)
Let’s jump right in, shall we??? Sandra, Moni, and Gen all flew into DFW on Wednesday evening and spent the night at the Steece house. Thursday morning, our good blog buddy friend- Elyse- came over to meet everyone (I don’t have any of those pics yet! Bummer)…along with my bestie, Liz and lovely sis-in-law, Ashley! Joe was home for lunch as well---talk about a full house! After some “Chick-filllah” (right JK?), we all hopped in the trusty ‘ole Ford and headed down to Lakeway, TX. (North of Austin) ROAD TRIP!
The lake house that Mari lined up for us was absolutely amazing!!!
Here is the view from our infinity pool overlooking Lake Travis! SO beautiful!!!
Lots of huggin’, kissin’, and lovin’ on 15 of my best friends! Welcome to Texas, y’all! We are all just beaming as everyone arrives! ;)
Jac getting things started with a back flip into the pool---in her cute little dress- no doubt! Crazy swamp thang, I love you.
A couple of snapshots around our new home away from home (Kami, Suz, JWalk chillin’ around the fire pit)
These sneaky little party planners had all sorts of surprises lined up for us! (Casey, Moni, Sandra, and Mari)
First off, some silly awards and gag gifts! (the facial expressions are priceless---we had SO much fun)
Passing out presents! Monogrammed beach bags and beach towels---are you kiddin’ me?!?! Hey you fab 4, thanks for all of the special treats! It felt like Oprah’s favorite things giveaway (not to mention Misty’s handmade, personalized jewelry as well! Thanks, woman!)
And the most special gift---my AWESOME silly band from Hannah Noelle Cochran! She hand picked one of her own silly bands for each and every quad mom…so sweet, right?! Naturally, I had a Texas cowboy ridin’ a horse. Yeeehaw! PERFECTION. Thanks a heap, ‘lil girlfriend! XOXO
Trying out the good ‘ole self timer on the camera. (one of many)
On to the Birthday Party! Yep- some genius ladies decided to throw a party for all of us. Throughout the year, we miss almost all of our b-days and buying a present for 15 different gals gets kind of expensive---so we decided to draw names for secret QUAD MAMA SISTAS (…that was for you, Conor & Joe). The gift exchange was a blast and the party was complete with Mr. Gatti’s Pizza, buckets of the best Ranch you will EVER eat, and gourmet cupcakes!
It was definitely going to be hard to top that first night in the lake house…but we were going to give it our best shot! We summoned the help of quad father, Joe Steece, to come over and take some group photos of these hot mamas. (Considering that Joe and my kids were literally blocks away- staying at Grammy & Grampy’s for the weekend!)
Seriously, one of my FAVORITE PICS OF ALL TIME! The video to go along with the jumping is priceless. We weren’t having loads of fun or anything…(especially JK and her busted up legs! tee hee, poor thang!)
Ahhh…take a look at this picture- which clearly depicts how we spent the majority of our time for 4 straight days---> It. Was. Heaven.
Charity, Beth, and Jenna- hot tubbin’ it like pros
And of course, no trip would be complete without the infamous makeovers- performed by yours truly, G, and Mon.
Charity, Beth, Suz, JK, JWalk, and Heather ready for a fun night---everybody remember your ID’s!
67 children between the 16 of us! As my good friend, Jenna Walker, would say… “GOOD GRAVY!”
That’s right---we travel in style…party bus style! ;) Did everyone remember your ID?
Mari and I were SOOO excited to take the girls to La Traviata at 4th and Congress. We had been talking about the Chicken Carbonara all day long. I think everyone ordered the same thing—and it definitely didn’t disappoint! (SO glad you guys all loved it as much as we did!)
Some pictures around the table: Kami, Mari, Suz
Jac, Moni, Casey, Sandra
Beth and Charity
Me and Jac Attack
Jenny King, Jenna Walker, Misty, Gen
Heather, AJ, Kelly
Jac and Moni
CHEERS! Me and Mare, loading up on some caffeine before we hit the town! (It takes a LOT to get these *old* ladies out on 6th street. tee hee)
Watch out downtown Austin---16 quad moms, childless, and ready to party! One of us might even take over your DJ stand and spit out mad rhymes…I’m just sayin’. I think we have a new nickname for Beth (but JWalk might fight you for it). And Casey, God bless your energy, girlfriend. ;) Good thing we ALL have our ID’s from Suz reminding us all day long.
Charity, the loveable high-pitched Chihuahua, devoured a late night hot dog (from a street vendor, GASP!) and politely offered a bite to anyone who was interested. “No thanks, girl…I think I’ll pass… No really… I’m good.” ;)
After sleeping in and hitting the pool the next morning---we ventured on over to a little place I’d like to call: Suz & Joe’s favorite Mexican food cantina on the lake…otherwise known as Iguana’s.
FAVORITE PICTURE #2- Me and my bestie…Genevieve Caridi McNulty. Just look at that GORGEOUS view of Lake Travis!
Char and Bethie Boo…love those 2.
After Iguana’s, the peeps riding in my car made a pitstop over to the Steece hacienda---to meet the fam and grab some munchkin hugs. Looking back, I probably shouldn’t have gone over there, because my darling little Drew was VERY sick and lethargic (not his sunny, bubbly self)…just pierced my heart and couldn’t get him off my mind. (He’s doing tons better now!)
The next day, we prepared to say good-bye to Beth and Charity---“leaving so soon?! Boooo-hissss!” So we posed for some pics in our awesome Quad Momma 2010 shirts- designed by the uber talented: Casey Gerwer (she owns her own clothing business, y’all! Check it out). THE SHIRTS ARE ADORABLE!
Silly pic---are you noticing a trend here?…NERDS.
We hit up the Hill Country Galleria for some good food at the Iron Cactus and a little light shopping at my favorite store of all time---Francescas. Me and Genny eating some fantastic Mexican grub. (Yes JK, we dip fried tortilla chips into liquid cheese known as Queso…and it is phenomenal! I’m pretty sure I’ve converted you)
Alas…we get to Monday…the last full day. Jenna, Kami, Kelly, Misty, Mari, and Jac all left us. :( Boooo! But the remaining Elite 8 were bound and determined to have some fun! So we took them to my fav sushi place in Lakeway- Mizu.
Heather, Suz, and JK
The remaining party goers: Cox, Cochran, King, Steece, Graf, Sathers, McNulty, and Gerwer… would ya look at that view?!
Yummmm…Chorisi Fire! Did you hear that, Gen? “FIRE”. We all know how FIRE doesn’t bother you ONE BIT. You keep stickin’ with it, girlfriend. ;) (Thanks to the other girls for putting up with me, Gen, and Casey’s CRAVING for good sushi!)
…oh, and don’t forget the Creme Brulee ;)
Just can’t get enough of the goofy pics with these fun ladies!
Our last night…definitely memorable. Between the cheerleading stunts, Moni’s never ending Bronco’s tub, Heather’s one-liners, Gen’s attempt at a handstand, Casey’s attempt to flip me over, Sandra’s poses, and the infamous grasshopper attack---I don’t know if I’ve laughed that hard in a reeeeally long time!
Trying the self timer again…nothin’ but love for my partners in crime! The girls who had already made it home, were inundated with about a billion text messages from our crazy group.
This trip was amazing…just what we needed to take a break from our stressful day-to-day lives as quad moms. I want to thank EVERY SINGLE PERSON who helped in taking care of our 67 children- so that this trip could even be possible. A special thanks to Joe, Ashley, Grammy & Grampy Steece (especially Grammy- for keeping the quads all by herself one day- HUGE!), Uncle Dan, Auntie Dani, Uncle Ed, and Jess! Love you all SO much.
I encourage you fine ladies in the Blogosphere---whether childless or child-FULL, quad mom or singleton mom, married/single/divorced… to find your own group of incredible friends and get together as often as possible!
The 16 of us will continue to vacation every year for our annual Quad Mom Trip and I encourage you all to do the same with your besties. These bonds that have been formed are stronger than anything I could have EVER imagined---many of these chicas have been a major part of my life for almost 4 YEARS now and I cherish the time that we get to spend together each year.
To my soul sisters: Beth, Charity, Sandra, Misty, Kami, Kelly, Heather, Casey, Moni, Mari, Jac, JK, JWalk, AJ, and Genny-poo…thank you for one of the best trips of my life. You mean the absolute world to me and are some of my best friends in the entire universe. God has truly blessed each and every one of us- by bringing us together and I look forward to growing old with all of you. We will all be sportin’ some serious gray hair and dentures to Quad Momma 2060! But have no worries---Gen and I will be coloring everyone’s hair while Moni gives the makeovers. ;)
Love to you all.
