CUYAHOGA FALLS — Back to school means a new set of school supplies and a calendar of upcoming events. But for one Cuyahoga Falls family, you'll have to multiply that by six.
Ohio’s first sextuplets are now entering their first year in high school. About 14 years ago, all eyes were on the Hanselman family as welcomed the six boys and girls, born just about 10 seconds apart, into their family.
Today, five of the six Hanselman sextuplets have joined the Cuyahoga Falls marching band. On Friday evening, Alex, Bella, Logan, Lucy, and Sophia made their band debut at Clifford Stadium durnig "Meet the Band" night.
"Everybody always asks me does it get easier as they get older?" said mom Jennifer Hanselman. "I’m like ‘no, not really.’ It’s just hard in a different way."
"The teenage years are a whole different ball game from when they were tiny."
The sextuplets joined their oldest brother Sterling Conner, 16, when they were born at Akron General Medical Center on Feb. 26, 2004.
"[Band} rehearsals at home are a little noisy," said Jennifer. "We try to encourage them not to play all at the same time."
Who plays what instrument?
- Sophia - Clarinet
- Lucy -Trombone
- Bella - Baritone
- Logan - Flute
- Alex - Tuba
Kyle, one of the sextuplets, isn’t in the band but he shares his siblings' love for music.
"He has low functioning autism. He’s non-verbal," said Jennifer. "We’ve kind learned as a unit what is the best way to help him and how to help him experience life."
The sextuplets are used to the attention but they are still camera shy.
"They’re like ‘why do people care about us,’" said Jennifer. "To them we just have a big family and that’s just how it is."
They're a big family that needs something just as big to handle seven kids and everything that comes with it: A 15-passenger van with the "Hanselbus" logo on the back window.
Jennifer said the kids all share a unique bond but are looking forward to beginning their own personal journey as they start their freshman year of high school next week.
"It’s good to see them become their own person, other than this group of sextuplets," said Jennifer. "Just to explore themselves as a person, not just a unit."