My favorite quints

It's been six years and they're still famous! Today, the St. Cloud Times published an article about my amazing family (which happens to include the world-reknowned "Christoffers Quints"). There's usually an article or TV interview around this time since it's my nieces' and newphews' birthday in a couple weeks. But this one is more about my sister-in-law Collette and my brother Mike and how they make it work. Warning: I bawled like a little baby when reading it. But maybe that's because I miss them so much!

Collette's been one of my biggest inspirations as a mother. Often, when I'm a little lost on what to do, I hear her voice in my head nearly as much as I hear my own mom's. The best advice I've ever gotten was from her:

When you've had a really bad day, and your child has been a nightmare, make sure you take a moment to stand in his doorway at night and watch him sleep. Kids look like angels when they sleep and you'll forget all about the exasperating day! (And, in fact, I just did that last night!)

Plus, I've learned plenty of tricks from her that I use with Danny all the time. The all-important bedtime routine. Singing songs together (including "Where is Thumbkin?" which I didn't know before she and the kids taught me). The old "put-em-down-on-the-floor-and-hold-em-with-your-leg" technique for changing a diaper on a kid that doesn't what his diaper changed. A little tickle-fest to work out extra energy at the end of the day. I could go on and on!

Anyway, take a moment to read the article (you can click here for it). And if you still need a quint fix, check out the video and the photo gallery on the right side of the article page. I especially like the photo that looks like Jacob is about to clobber Kevin with a huge rock.

PS -- I would like to point out that the quints' older sister Emily is extremely special as well. Entire books could be written about her and still not capture the magic that is Emily. Plus, she's a really fun email pal!