Kate Gosselin's Love Is in the Mix (18 page)

My biggest struggle with eight kids is “fairness”—making sure there are an even number of gifts to open (some gifts are for all six or shared between Mady and Cara). It usually works out, especially since I make an organized list, based on their individual “wish lists” that they made for me. I also precount gifts as a double check to be sure it all turns out. Even though we don’t do the Santa Claus thing, I’ve learned a thing or two from the jolly man. He isn’t the only one who “makes a list and checks it twice,” you know.

B
irthdays are especially special at our house.
We always celebrate in groups—well, except for Mommy. I’m the only one who isn’t a MULTIPLE in our house.

The challenge is making each person feel unique and special on their day.

I always ask the birthday group to vote and choose their special birthday meal. The majority rules, but I try to prepare any other meals that were considered by the group on the days leading up to or after the birthday.

On the actual day, I wait until the kids are in school, and I decorate the table and the chairs of the birthday kids so that it’s a surprise when they return home. For the girls I decorate in a girly theme, and for the boys I do a boy theme—and hope that it doesn’t end up looking like a jumbled mess of color.

I make our Gosselin family birthday cake with to-die-for chocolate–peanut butter icing. To take it a step further, I always decorate the cake with colorful candies (M&Ms, jelly beans, candy corn, or gummy shapes) to make it extra special. I serve the cake on our huge traditional birthday cake platter.

We sing the birthday song to EACH person who is having a birthday. Then we blow out the candles and enjoy.

Following dinner and cake and ice cream, we open presents, play for a while, and then go to bed—all sugared up!

More happy birthday memories to cherish. I’m always so grateful for another year with each of my babies.

F
riday night movie night is a very well loved tradition
in our house. It’s less about what we’re watching and more about being together and finding out what the surprise is in the bottom of the popcorn cups. Many years ago, as I popped popcorn to fill my kids’ plastic popcorn boxes, I decided to slip some candy in the bottom of the cup. It became one of those instant traditions—and now my kids can’t even eat popcorn unless there’s one of Mommy’s surprises at the bottom. Just another little easy way to make some memories.