Holy Multiples!

My Grandpa Joe is a twin.  That's not so remarkable, particularly given the number of twins being born in our time. 

Twins, Catherine & Joe Stanish

But, what is remarkable is that among the siblings, who preceeded Joe and his twin Catherine, there were a set of triplets and two sets of twins.  So, if you're counting, that's four sets of multiples out of fifteen (or sixteen) kids.  Can you imagine that?  This was obviously at a time when there were no ultrasounds or tests to determine such things.  I wonder what my great-grandparents were thinking when the fourth set of multiples arrived, let alone the second and third set.  I think I kind of have an idea of what they were thinking...holy schnikeys (or insert your own exclamation here)!

I was fortunate to come across a photo at my Grandma's last year that has most of the Stanish kids in it.  Turns out the babies held in the photo are my Grandpa Joe and Aunt Catherine.  I can definitely see a family resemblance in the Stanish kids.

Front right, Michael Stanish (his triplet sisters had passed away), Joe and Catherine are the babies being held.   Julia Stanish is the little dark haired girl holding one of the infant twins to the right of Michael.  Twins Ann and Annette are the blonds directly behind Julia and the other dark haired girl.  Sophie Stanish is in the black dress on the right and she is holding on to Frances, whose twin John is third from her right.  Don't know who the other cute kids are, sadly.