For the first time in school history, quadruplets have crossed the stage one after the other, flipped their tassels and said goodbye to Lake Creek High School. These Wells quads are four young ladies, each with their own plans and path ahead, and are the daughters of Keenan Elementary PE teacher, Coach Bobbi Jo Wells.
As mom reflected with her girls and was asked what the most surprising thing was about raising four babies at once, Coach Wells shared the same feelings that most moms are probably saying this week: the time just never slowed down.
“Every stage you think it’s never going to get here, and today we’re here!” said Coach Wells. “Yesterday we were dropping them off in kindergarten and we never thought that would happen. Then we started high school and now we’re here. I just want time to slow down.”
The girls were named after presidents when mom was expecting. Pregnant with five babies, with a toddler in the home already by the name of Reagan, Coach Wells’ sister made the suggestion that they unite all the children with a name theme. At the time, mom was hosting a blog (perfectly titled Save the Wells) and took name suggestions from those following along to help them finalize their choices.
“There wasn’t a theme when we named Reagan,” said Wells, “but going with presidents really did make sense. Other suggestions on our blog were silly, like eeny, meany, miney, mo,” she laughed..
Coach Wells carried all five babies to 26 weeks, with their one son Carter passing the day they were born. Mom is most often seen wearing a dainty necklace with a C, keeping their brother with them always. The four sisters stayed in the hospital for two months before Madi and McKinley came home. A few weeks later, Bobbi Jo and Robby were able to bring Taylor home and Kennedy was the last to leave the hospital. Overall, the girls were in the hospital for an average of 77 days.
The family attends Oak Ridge Baptist Church and though they say it might seem like a hike, it’s their home and it’s their family. “Robby and I grew up going there and when we had the babies, they were our life source,” said Coach Wells. “They supported us and volunteered to help us with laundry, meals, holding and feeding babies. Our living room was grand central station and was always full of volunteers. They have loved us and our girls!”
Here they are at graduation, each girl with unique plans for the future. Madi and McKinley will head to Abilene Christian University in the fall, as the only two girls headed to the same place. These two have been roommates since they were the first to come home from the hospital, and even though mom tried to convince them not to be roommates in college, they finally all agreed that was silly. They get along well and they know it works. And it may be even easier in college, as it will only be two girls sharing a bathroom instead of four.
Madison plans to study Nutrition at ACU, with hopes of being a registered dietician. She has been a four-year member of the Lions basketball program and is also a member of National Honor Society at LCHS. She says her favorite Montgomery ISD teacher has been Mrs. Trero, sixth grade math teacher at Oak Hills JH. “It was my first year of junior high and she always made her classroom so welcoming. I always had someone to talk to and even now when I see her, I just feel like I’m still part of her class!”
McKinley plans to major in Speech Pathology at ACU and would like to be a speech pathologist in schools. She was a member of FCCLA and CCMA at Lake Creek HS and also completed the Ready, Set, Teach program where she most enjoyed getting to work with specialized learning students and found a passion for working with kids. She shared about two teachers that have made an impact during her time in MISD. Ms. McCurdy, her 6th grade science teacher and Coach Hochhauser, her algebra teacher at LCHS. “Ms. McCurdy loved us as her own kids and we loved hanging out in her classroom after school each day. She truly loved us like one of her own kids. Coach Hochhauser taught us during covid times when everyone had a mask on. He was literally always making us laugh and still to this day, when we go hang in his classroom, we never stop smiling. He’s just a great person!”
Taylor is a horse rider and plans to stay home a little longer, attending Lone Star College to get her basics out of the way while she continues her equine training. She has been involved in FFA through school and plans to study for a career in equine rehab and physical therapy and has a real passion for horses. She shared that her most influential teacher was Mrs. Robinson, Ag teacher at Lake Creek. “She was always pushing me out of my comfort zone and volun-telling me to do things. And everything she challenged me to do has made me better as a person. She pushed me to be an officer and that has made such a difference in the opportunities and memories I have made in the last year. She is such a great role model and I’m thankful for her!”
Kennedy will attend Mary Hardin Baylor in the fall, following in big sister Reagan’s footsteps. She will study Elementary Education, but says that teaching PE is not in her plans. She has been involved as an officer in FCCLA at Lake Creek and has also completed MISD’s Ready, Set, Teach program. She credits Ms. Alvarez as her most influential teacher. “I had Ms. Alvarez freshman through senior year. She was always so kind and gentle and understanding, and she’s just so gracious with the kids in her care. She’s just a great person and having her is what got me interested in going into education.”
While interviewing the girls and Coach Wells, they were asked as a group who was “the most’ in different categories. Answers were given with lots of smiles, so much laughter, and all in agreement on the responses.
Most mischievous: Taylor and mom added, “She’s just a little braver than the others.”
Who studies the most? Madi (the one in NHS)
Who studies the least? Taylor, to which mom added, “The horses take up a lot of time!”
Most athletic: Madi “She pursues it a little harder,” said mom. “They all played softball growing up, but after junior high they have each developed their own interests. Our rule was that they have to be involved in something and each girl found their own thing. Madi just loves the competition of sports the most.”.
Most competitive: Big sister Reagan
Who likes roller coasters most: Kennedy
Who is most likely to give you the most grandkids? Kennedy
Most creative: McKinley and Kennedy (both planning to work in schools)
Most likely to graduate early: Mom quickly answered with, “Hopefully everybody!” Madi is going in with 40 hours of dual credit and McKinley and Kennedy have 30. Taylor will work hard and is ready to get to the classes she enjoys.
Most like mom: Kennedy
Most like dad: “Madi, because dad is hilarious.” He has to be to have five daughters, right? “Even the dog is a girl!”
Who is closest to big sister Reagan: Nobody is “closer” but Reagan and Madi have the same sense of humor.
When asked how it felt growing up as quadruplets, one answer was quickly given that all four agreed with. “You always had a buddy and were never alone!” The girls were paired in homerooms in kindergarten and then in first and second grade the pairs were flipped to allow each girl to be with a different sister before switch classes began in third grade. Throughout high school, the girls shared that they’ve each had at least one class together and though they have different friend groups through their activities, there are a few friends they share since their elementary school days at Lone Star ES, when mom was their PE Coach.
Following the pattern of sharing as Legacy Seniors, the girls were asked what their favorite memory was of their time in MISD. All in agreement, playing in mom’s gym after school at Lone Star ES was a favorite. Playing kick ball and wall ball with other teachers’ kids after school, hiding in the supply closet and watching movies on the projector were some highlights of being on their mom’s campus. Also mentioned were field days and the entire year of fifth grade, being the last class to attend Montgomery ISD’s 5th grade campus.
The girls were on Coach Rader’s jump rope team, so they enjoyed having him in fifth grade and being his helpers in the gym. “They often say that fifth grade was their favorite,” said Coach Wells. “And then of course, they like to add that Coach Rader was their favorite PE teacher!”
The MISD Premier Blog 