Some new photos!

Hannah and Bunny. Night night.

Joel and his red dog pillow pet. Sleep well! Xo

Alexis and her bear. Sweet dreams!

Leah and "pengu-y" sleep well!

Aaden and froggy (remember him? He asked for another one for his birthday this year! How sweet!) goodnight Aa-day and froggy :)

Collin can't find his "pugsly dog" so his pillow pet is his next favorite friend! Goodnight Collin!

1. Q:
YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE TAKING CARE OF ONE CHILD ON “CELEBRITY WIFE SWAP” SHOW, SO CAN YOU POSSIBLY GIVE OUT SOME DETAILS ON HOW DIFFERENT IT WAS FOR YOU AND WHAT YOU ACTUALLY LEARNED ON TAKING CARE OF ONE INSTEAD OF MULTIPLES?
-Alicia
A: Hi Alicia – CWS was SUPER fun! I realized just how scheduled my life HAS to be because I have many kids and with “just” one, I was able to relax a bit, still instilling important guidelines and structure but I didn’t have to divide my time… Which I’ve never experienced as a mom! It was refreshing for sure but I did miss the “busy-ness” of my house with my eight kids! :)

2. Q: What does your workout schedule look like during a typical week? And what part of the day do you prefer to do your workouts?
- Cynthia
A: My workout schedule looks like it always has: I run when I have time and as much as I have time for. I squeeze it in and make it a priority because it IS one of my priorities. A healthy happy mom is a better mom! :)

3. Q: What is your favorite healthy (possibly energizing) on the go snack for Mom & kids? Like most Moms I am rushing here & there with my kids a lot! It’s really difficult to decide on a healthy snack for  crazy busy days. (Kind words)
-Jess
A: Hi Jess. Good question. I plan ahead for snacking because its really easy to grab something quick when I’m on the go and usually quick means unhealthy. I pack veges and hummus and also pre-prepare my “K8 salads” in reusable restaurant containers so I can grab them to eat on the run if I miss a meal! Otherwise a protein bar works or a handful of almonds is yummy too!

4. Q: IF YOU WERE OFFERED TO HAVE ANOTHER REALITY SHOW, WHAT WOULD YOU NAME YOUR REALITY SHOW, AND WHAT THE PLAN WOULD POSSIBLY BE IN YOUR REALITY SHOW?
-A
A: Hi! Just know that I’m always working on fun stuff behind the scenes… You’ll just have to wait and see! Very exciting…

5. Q:
So as a single divorced parent. Sometimes the dating world seems very overwhelming. What are the top 3 qualities you look for in a prospective date?
-Mark
A: Hi Mark. If I had time to think about it, I’d let you know. Unfortunately, all my time and energy goes to my kids..and still there’s not enough of me! If I ever meet the man with the perfect qualities, I’m sure I’ll know it when our noise and chaos doesn’t scare him off instantly! Lol!

6. Q: Did you and your kids watch your show while it was on?
-Kaitlyn
A: Hi Kaitlyn – Sometimes we watched our show, yes. Mainly the kids have always watched it on DVD and still do… Almost daily! Fun times! Great memories!

7. Q: My 5 1/2 year old son has severe food issues and will not try anything new – do you have any tips on how to get him to eat?
-Michelle
A: Hi Michelle – Be creative and don’t give up! Just because he doesn’t like something, keep putting it on his plate and encouraging him to try it. Make meals fun, for example, make a face lunch using a banana sliced length wise for the smile, two peanutbutter cracker sandwiches for the eyes and a baby carrot or two for the nose! Can make raisin eyebrows etc. Fun and flavorful and persistence are the keys! Hope this helps!

8a. Q:  Did any of the sextuplets turn out left handed? I know you are and Mady too.
A: Hi Rebecca. No. Only “lefties” are Mady and me!
8b. Q:  Are you ever coming back to TV (other than Wife Swap)? Can’t you do kind of like you did with “Surviving Sextuplets and Twins”, a little recap for us whom miss you guys!?
-Rebecca from Sweden
A: I’m sure we will “come back to tv” at some point when we can fit it into our schedule, lol! :) I know you miss us. We miss sharing our lives with you too! We are still here doing what we’ve always done, minus the cameras, at the moment! Thanks for your support!

9. Q. How do you raise eight children to be confident and believe in themselves while growing up in a society, where children especially, are constantly being judged by their peers and sometimes in a negative way. I know many children have a difficult time to be confident in themselves because even at the age of 9, can be affected by the negative tone of other children.
-Courtney
A: Hi Courtney. Being a parent is hard work in every way but I find it especially difficult in the “emotional/relating to peers and others” department! Sounds like you do too! I don’t think we are alone. Focus on the positive:  It IS difficult to help kids grow up confidently. I try to build my kids up, discuss their unique strengths and positive qualities. I constantly stress being KIND to others, being a friend and building others up  no matter what.

Empathy: Figuring yourself out and how you fit in with others is very difficult (I remember being young and how hard it was). I try to remember how I felt and give good solid advice on how to handle a peer situation.

Support and Listening and Love: We discuss scenarios at length at home and the bottom line to my kids is always: be kind to others no matter what. I also remind them that I am here to work through issues with them and that NOTHING they tell me will ever change my love for them. This helps them to feel safe to discuss any and every issue. I also stress our “team family approach” to problems. We are a unit and one of our struggles is ALL of our struggles. We listen and help each other. They know that home and Mommy is their safe haven to be themselves and I’m here. Together, we will figure life out for the best results for everyone. Remember too, that kids aren’t always asking for a solution to their every problem. Sometimes they just need an empathetic, kind and loving listening ear (I have learned this the hard way, lol.).

Final Thought: Doing our best as parents is the most important thing: modeling a  good example, our presence and validation for their thoughts, feelings and fears makes all the difference! Just my thoughts. Hope this helps!

10. Q: What is your favorite Starbucks splurge?
How do you like your coffee? Sugar and creme?
-Brooke
A: Hello, Brooke! Oh how I LOVE talking about coffee…in fact, just reading your question made me yearn for a cup! My favorite (and only) Starbucks drink is: a tall skinny vanilla latte with two Splenda sweeteners. The only thing I really change is that during the warmer weather, I’ll order it cold versus hot. But what a treat! I only allow it once a week or two!

11. Q: Hi Kate my question is:
I would love to see you do a cooking show. With your new (preordered for Mothers day) cookbook coming out in September, have you thought about doing a cooking show? Or even just making and selling a DVD ? You are amazing and have changed my life. Thank you!
-Andrea
A: Hmmm.. A cooking show? Like a real one, not just me cooking dinner and my kids calling it a cooking show? I’ll never rule out anything and maybe at some point…. I love to cook and cameras clearly don’t bother me (lol) so I can see why you’d wonder about that :)! Sounds fun!

12. Q: Can you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell us if we have something to look forward to….like seeing you all back on TV SOON??????!!!!!!!!!!  We MISS y’all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ; )
-Jaymee
A: Hi Jaymee – seems like I answer this question a lot. Stay tuned. I’ll tell you what’s coming as soon as I can….. :) Thanks for watching and following and caring! XO

13. Q:  I try so hard to eat healthy and feed the kids healthy also. We’re out on the road a lot between dance, cheer, church, etc.. And have to go thru drive thru often. There never seems to be healthy options. When u are out and about, and have to grab a bite, what type of drive thru do you go in and what options do u choose?
-Sarah
A: Hi Sarah – We don’t do fast food. I pack fresh home made snacks and meals if I have to. We DO do Chipotle (if that is considered fast food) because its all local organic and fresh ingredients and is pretty healthy. Otherwise, I pack ahead for all of us. With a little practice, I am betting you’d find packing even faster than fast food! A challenge for you!:) Good luck!

14. Q: Can you tell us how the chickens are doing?  Do you still use your little chicken coop?  About how many eggs do you/ kiddos collect in a day?  Oh – And how many chickens do you have? Do you feed them all organic?
-Yvonne
A: Great question, Yvonne! The chickens are doing wonderfully! We have about 45-50 chickens and we get 2-3 dozen eggs daily! We eat lots of eggs and give (would love to start selling some too) lots away… We feed our chickens strictly organically and even the table scraps (chickens LOVE them) we feed them are only organic! Chickens are great “pets,” great source of food, and teach life lessons in responsibility so they get the total thumbs up from me (except when I have to haul 300 pounds of chicken feed down to the barn about every 5 weeks or so!)!

There you have it! Sorry it took me so long to get these answered! I was inundated with email questions! I’ll let you know when I’m taking more questions so you can flood my inbox again!
XO
K8

Oh woof! It’s getting warmer outside and along with whole new array of furry animals to chase (and uh, nibble on when no one is looking) that also means loud rolling annoying machines rolling through MY grass every week. See, I got a problem with things with engines, that move – on the driveway of MY area and on the grass.

My smallest humans used to drive a little fleet of mini moving play cars up and down and up and down the driveway and I thought they were chasing me… So I chased them back and then they chased me more. And this scared the tail off me.
I think my paws got in the way a couple a times because those moving cars driven by my mini drivers would hurt me and keep on going! Not on purpose, just little human drivers and accidents! Who can blame them? So, ever since then, I NEED to bark my lungs out at ANYTHING that rolls – anywhere! You know, just trying to keep my people safe so their paws, I mean feet, don’t get hurt too!

So, this time of year, while the smells of summer are glorious, the noise and tires I must endure are NOT! My humans bring me inside when I bark too much and even though the rolling machines hurt my ears and alarm me, bringing me inside in-FUR-iates me! I want to be outside in the sun so I can em-bark on my many canine missions! This ain’t an inside kinda dog here! Know what I mean?

My non-furry mom tries to explain that there’s nothin’ to be all barked up about, but I just can’t lie there and sleep with wheels rolling by me…

There’s no good solution for it. All in a dog’s life? Arf!
Any dog out there share my fear of rolling wheels? Yelp!

-Shoka

What a wonderful Mothers Day! Breakfast in bed, tons of wonderful cards – big and small – and homemade gifts (the best kind!), lots of rest, a run with my kids and playtime too!

Hope yours was gr8 and memory filled too!

XO
K8

Happy 9th Birthday to my sweet six! Off to school with birthday hats on their heads (except for Aaden who couldn’t find one that he liked) and birthday treats in their hands…. God bless their teachers today due to the excessive jubilation and excitement that comes with the birthday territory!

I am in total shock that they are NINE already but am so thankful for the last nine wonderful happy healthy years full of memories! I love you my “babies!” See you later for our party!

Happy birthday on the bus!

I'd say its getting close to PARTY TIME.... Wouldn't you?

It's a pizza birthday!

Happy birthday... Cake and gifts!

Happy birthday... Cake and gifts!

Alexis, hugging her new toys "goodnight" = priceless!

My kids and I are SO excited to announce my cook book! It’s been a long time “cooking” and I can’t wait for you to see each page, filled with love! Love Is In The Mix is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Pre-Order NOW for release in September 2013! Enjoy!

XO
Kate

I know my life to this point has been insanely unpredictable, very blessed, often emotionally draining and stressful beyond the norm, yet completely lived without regrets (despite many mistakes and learning curves), more than my fair share of amazing memories and with so many more gr8 years to come!

Here are 38 of the things I’m most gr8ful for, in no particular order (other than my kids, of course!):

1. Cara Nicole, my oldest child, who turns 13 this year! She is my steadfast right hand helper! Full of love, compassion and help! Light years older than her age! Amazing!

2. Madelyn Kate, my other oldest child, born 6 minutes after her sister. She also will turn 13 this year! Intuitive, strong, charismatic and understanding! This girl’s maturity floors me daily!

3. Alexis Faith – our comedy relief! She can make me laugh on the worst of days!

4. Hannah Joy – little momma keeps ME in line.. And everyone else!

5. Aaden Jonathan – quiet, sweet and loving but ALL boy!

6. Collin Thomas – Mr. Math himself! On days I’m not quick enough, he’s waiting to take over the reigns here!

7. Leah Hope – still tiny (and growing!) but oh so mighty and she WILL be heard! Make no mistake!

8. Joel Kevin – My easy, happy, funny boy who’s a loving friend to all!

9. Shoka Joe – What can I say about our furry boy? He keeps me company and guards his family with pride and love!

10. Our health – I CAN get up everyday and do my best. I don’t ever forget how different it could be. Beyond that, my kids, although all were preemies, are 100% healthy. Praise God!

11. Our home – Not a day goes by that we don’t pull up to our house without SOMEONE voicing their appreciation for our chunk of the world that we get to call home!

12. Our closest family and friends (you know who you are), who have weathered the many storms with us and continue loyally by our sides. There are no words for this rare type of love and support.

13. ALL of my life experiences up to this point. Good or bad, everything we face in life teaches us something and prepares us for a better future.

14. Weekend sleep in’s – there are just not enough of these ever, but trust me, not a ONE happens without my stopping to be thankful for it! Oh how I love to sleep!

15. Gum – if you know me, you know my love of all kinds of gum!

16. My kids, as a group. All the crazy loudness, confusion, fighting and our big family team approach to life. I wouldn’t want it any other way! My cup is full and running over!:)

17. Running – its my steam eliminator and my (almost) daily brain storm sessions. The greatest ideas come to me while I’m running (almost to the point where I feel like pausing to write them down) and the stress just melts away!

18. The Sky – Days when I look up and see a vibrant blue sky with big white puffy clouds! Instantly, I’m calm and happy! I call that “my sky” meaning, it’s my favorite sky. My kids point it out too and we marvel together! What a beautiful world we live in!

19. My God – He is to thank for everything! Our shield and our shelter!

20. Positivity – We have two choices in life: to see the glass half full or to see it half empty. Every day, every situation gives us the opportunity to CHOOSE how we respond to things that come our way. It’s taken me most of my life, :) but I choose and will always choose the “half full” approach! Anyone can give up but not everyone can continue on, no matter how empty their glass may appear! Yay positive approach to life!!!

21. Organization – my brain thrives on order and systems. I LOVE readjusting the system and problem solving for the best result!

22. My nursing education – I have used it in the work place and I have used it in my own life raising my kids. Education is knowledge and knowledge is power!

23. Travel – my kids and I have been able to see so much of the world together. Travel is something we all enjoy and do with relative ease (yes, I did mean to type that). We’ve got it down to a science and we love looking forward to our next adventure together!

24. Our barn full of chickens – what started out as a fun little idea/project, has turned into an organic egg egg-stravaganza and learning opportunity for my kids. By caring for farm animals, kids learn responsibility, pride in a job well done, and how to care for others. These skills are the first steps on the road to responsible dependable adults. Beyond the daily obvious chicken care, I also love our family based “problem solving” approach we have developed whenever something happens in the barn that we don’t know (yet!) how to fix! Somehow it always works out! Love it!

25. Modern Technology – where would I be without my phone? It’s my “disconnected brain” and it keeps me sane! It’s the secret to my organized existence! I also can’t imagine not being able to reach my kids at all times! On a more serious note, I never forget that without modern technology, my sextuplets may not be here today! I may not be computer savvy and up to the moment where technology is concerned but I feel completely blessed to live in “modern times” nonetheless!

26. Coffee – how in the world did I not think of this one sooner? It’s what lures me out of bed each morning! Well, that and my many hungry kids! Hang on, gotta go make a cup….

27. Driving – I love to drive and I love car trips with my kids too, but there’s just something about driving alone that gives me that ability to calm down, listen to music and solve problems. Whether the driver or the passenger,  I’ve always loved adventures in the car… Since I was little and took fishing trips to Canada each summer with my beloved Grandparents. Golden memories!

28. Seems appropriate to mention my favorite number: 8
I’m definitely number oriented so I definitely have a favorite one! And, btw, I’ve ALWAYS liked the number 8, even before I was the mom of 8! (and, this is MY list, so yes, I am even allowed to mention that I’m grateful for a NUMBER!)

29. Saving Money – I still get excited (like extremely) when I get a really great bargain on pretty much anything! A penny saved is truly a penny earned! And, it makes me happy!!

30. YOU! If you’re reading this, chances are, you’ve contributed some support and love to myself and my family. No one can fight life’s battles alone. Everyone needs support and I thank you for YOURS! XO!

31. Spa time..ok so I don’t really recall what this type of relaxation feels like, so I’ll just say that anytime I get to take a shower in peace and at a pace other than lightening speed, I consider it  my version of “spa time” and appreciate it a lot! Enough said!

32. Warmth – I’m perpetually freezing cold (more than the average person, so I’ve been told) so thick fluffy warm blankets and heated seats in my car are things that I do not take for granted, ever!

33. Music – I listen to a very varied range of music. Music can lift me up on a low day and it can motivate me to move faster. It often brings a smile to my face as my kids and I dance while we clean up dinner together!

34. Love – it makes the world go round. It is a real emotion, the most powerful emotion and that powerful feeling makes the impossible possible, the unheard of, happen and the dreamt, reality!

Almost there… Keep thinking, Kate!!!

35. Summer time – My favorite season of the year! I am truly a hot weather girl (see # 32 if you have any inquiries as to why) and I long for the late mornings, relaxed schedule, endless pool time, barbecues on our grill, late bed time, extra time with my kids and exciting summer adventures! Oh, and did I mention, NO homework?! Yeah, bring it on!!!

36. Work! Writing, TV and Speaking Projects – otherwise, with no outlet, my creative juices would drive us all crazy! On a more serious note, work means the ability to provide for my kids and that is the ultimate reason that I push myself so hard to succeed. As parents, isn’t that why we ALL work SO hard? No one said life is easy, but for this reason, I find that it’s SO worth it!

37. Cooking!  One of my gr8est passions! I’m happiest in my kitchen and cooking is definitely one of the ways that I show my kids my love! There is NOTHING like eight full smiling mouths at my dinner table! And yes, it’s definitely possible to smile (politely) with a full mouth!!!

38. My newest exciting news! If you haven’t yet heard, my cookbook, Love Is In The Mix is finally available for pre order right here on my site!

And there you have it. Didn’t think I could find 38 reasons to be grateful? I may have had some doubts along the way too, but let’s face it, I was up to number 8 before even having to think about it! Lol!

XO
K8

Want Wantable? I have to share!!! I recently found this website Wantable late one night and felt compelled to order the products! It was kinda a “hey I deserve a little present in the mail each month” kind of reaction! So, with curiosity peaked, I proceeded…

Let me explain… So basically there’s this website that allows you to take two super fun and super quick surveys about your makeup and accessories preferences. (And when I say they were fun, I am not kidding you!) You click on happy or sad faces to answer. No brain power needed, moms! It was like an “easy peezy” questionnaire to ascertain your coloring, makeup likes and jewelry top picks (silver vs gold etc). Since I really enjoy makeup and accessorizing, I found these quizzes very fun. I’d venture to say that if I was less knowledgeable in either area, these surveys would have helped steer me in the right direction as far as what kinds of this or that are right for me!

Anyway, here’s how it works: you complete the surveys and then are given an option, based on your answers,  to order a single or monthly box of various new makeup products and/or a single or monthly box of jewelry/accessories. The products are updated and change each month and this system was designed to help us – busy moms and women,  in general – be able to find new makeup that become our “go to” favorites without having to spend a lot of time reading, searching and buying items that end up in the bottom of our makeup drawers! Once you answer the survey, you always receive items that will work for YOU!

To be totally honest, despite the fact that both types of boxes were reasonably priced and affordable, I still wasn’t sure what would actually arrive! And because I couldn’t choose between makeup and jewelry (I mean, who can??!), and because my curiosity got the best of me, I decided to order one of each kind of box! In a few days, I was very thrilled to find in my mail pile (that usually consists of tons of bills, junk mail and other various non exciting items) two  small square boxes, neatly packaged with amazing quality brand name products! I am still amazed that my survey answers were considered so thoroughly, that it was almost as if I had done my own shopping for these items, but instead remembered I had merely sat in my bed alone one night answering two fun questionnaires! How gr8 is that? Time saving at its best!

And the most fun part for me is that my “pre-teens” Mady and Cara were equally intrigued by these small boxes in my mail pile and asked to open them! They squealed with delight as they unwrapped the stylish hot pink scarves that enveloped the products in each box – the scarves that are glaringly absent from my photos here because they convinced me to give them to them, I might add!

Whew, and I must insert here that I was extra glad in that moment that I had ordered TWO boxes since my quest to “keep it fair” never ends here in our house full of sibling rivalrous multiples! The girls “ohhhhed” and “ahhhhed” simultaneously as they retrieved the lip gloss, eye shadow, and held up the ring (my favorite! I wore it for my latest appearance on The View, in fact) and other products from the boxes.

I’d give this website my best moms “seal of approval” for its affordability, easy to follow instructions, its attention to details, and its neatly packaged useful products that, when they arrived, allowed me for a moment to feel “spoiled!” So, since you know that I’m one to TELL others about products and companies that I love, I’m telling you……but I’m also doing a giveaway!!!!

Three lucky people who are randomly selected will have their CHOICE OF A FREE BOX! Go HERE NOW to register to win:

Good luck and I hope you’re as thrilled with yours as I am with my Wantable boxes of goodies!

While the opinion expressed in this review is my own I did receive complementary product and/or compensation.

XO
K8

Well, this is a little late but thought I’d update you on the happenings at our house over our recent spring break. As a sidenote, it’s still WINTER here and is snowing as I write this….so spring break is always a challenge weather wise unless we travel. Since we didn’t this year, I decided to piece together a bunch of fun things that we did do and the following is a “diary” of some events worth highlighting:

We began with a Braces On Pizza Sleepover for Mady and Cara. A few friends joined our fun, ate pizza followed by tons of sticky gooey candies that would soon be forbidden!

One predicted snowy night over spring break, I cooked a Thanksgiving dinner and we ate it in the middle of March, remembering to say “Happy Thanksgiving” to each other while passing the gravy! It’s nice to remember to be thankful for our blessings throughout the year, and this dinner triggered that for us! Personally, I have tons to be thankful for, but on this night, I was especially thankful that the predicted snow storm totally missed us! I hate snow:)!

After a fun and relaxing weekend, it was time for BRACES! Yes, Cara and Mady spent one afternoon of spring break getting braces put on! Not really a fun thing, but in an attempt to not miss a school day, I opted to do it over their break. I also thought ahead and figured if they were home during those first few “ouchy” days, it would help them adjust best. After all, if they were in school, how would they have had endless access to moms home made milk shakes and all the popsicles and ice cream they could ingest for days on end?

Next on the list, was an all out cookie bake! In one afternoon, together we baked, packaged and froze over 200 various kinds of cookies for school lunches! To say we were up to our eyeballs in cookie dough would be an understatement on this particular day!

It wouldn’t be a spring break or any kind of break if we didn’t have at least one movie night, SO, after searching HIGH and LOW, I finally found the movie I had been desperate to locate at our local library…. It was an old Disney movie that I had seen when I was about 12 and still remembered it after all these years! It’s message was so heart warming and valuable to me and it clearly stuck with me, so I was determined to find it so my kids could enjoy it too! It’s a movie called “The Girl Who Spelled Freedom” and our local library ordered it from somewhere in our state and had it shipped there so I could pick it up… On VHS tape! My kids were amazed as I hauled our only working TV/VCR combo to the family room where we huddled around and watched, clutching our popcorn with a surprise in the bottom, of course!

And, I have to add here that over spring break, our well loved furry family member “smiled” for the first time ever! This was a huge event in our house – so it’s worthy of adding it to our “spring break diary.” Check out our smiley boy:

And, while we are discussing pets, I thought it necessary to mention that we got a new one during our break. Her name is Felicia (all fish have to have “F” names in our house) and she lives in her own bowl on our table, next to Fabio and our frogs “Leon and Neon.” Felicia makes me nervous because she is a “baby beta” and is delicate according to the pet store. So we all crowd around and watch her eat (usually while we are at the table also eating) to make sure that she is growing and staying healthy! I have to admit, I loved Fabio and so I “allowed” myself to be “talked into” getting Felicia! She is really tiny and cute! When I am home during the day alone, I tend to say hi to them as I pass, much the same way I talk to Shoka, lol!

And, at the end of spring break, I got sick with a little flu bug and passed it onto a few of my kids!

That squashed our last fun outing we had planned: painting pottery. We had each planned to paint our own dinner plates but will reschedule that for some other time! :) Such is life! We had a great break with lots of rest and family bonding! It was gr8 to have my kids home for a week and a half! Next coming attraction is summer and WE CAN’T WAIT!

XO
K8

Airs Tuesday Feb 26 at 8pm on ABC. You don’t want to miss this!!