One pair and four of a kind

With lunchbags in hand and backpacks strapped on, the six Geoghegan siblings excitedly marched down their block on Tuesday morning to make the short walk from their Seventh Street home to McVey Elementary School.

It was the first day of school for the Geoghegans, and for all students across the East Meadow School District.

But for Rodie and Vanessa Geoghegan, this day had some added importance. It was the first day of Kindergarten for their four 5-year-old quadruplets, Aidan, Logan, Connor and Keira.

Not to mention that Makayla and Liam, their twin brother and sister, were starting the third grade at McVey.

“It’s good to get them out for a little while,” Vanessa said with a chuckle.

Vanessa, 33, has the full-time job of taking care of the children, and transporting them back-and-forth to activities like soccer, baseball, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. Rodie, 36, an accountant by trade who also helps his wife with the children, works three jobs to pay the bills and support the family of eight. He still manages to clear his schedule on Sundays, and spends most of the day playing with his six children.

Although the parents say the quads and the twins get along and are supportive of each other, playtime with their beloved parents could occasionally get contentious.

“They are competing and just all have such strong personalities,” Vanessa said. “They all try to fight for your attention ... and try to get it all at once.”

Three years after having the twins, a pregnant Vanessa and her husband were almost certain that they would be adding triplets to the family. Two weeks before the due date, the couple was informed of the fourth addition. With the quadruplets starting kindergarten now, the Geoghegans don’t plan to add more members to the family.

“We are done now,” Vanessa said. “My husband jokes that in his whole life, he has doubled. When he met me, he doubled to two. When we had the twins, we doubled to four. Then with the quads, we doubled to eight. If we double again there may be 16!”

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