Thursday, July 31, 2008

Jacob

I've posted before about Jacob's feet. My Mom and Dad took him shopping for some shoes for his trip to National's (more about that below). He has no tennis shoes to wear for all the walking around he'll be doing and would need some for school anyways, sooo...



They took him to a New Balance store to have him sized. Are you ready? 14WIDE!!! I am so in shock! He's only 12 years old. I know he's as tall as a grown man, but oh, my! I'm so very glad we live at a time where we can find shoes that size. My grandmother was telling me about taking my Dad for 14's and only had one store that carried them.



About National's (choir competition). I'm having some reality checks this week about thinking about watching my 12 year old get on a plane to Charlotte, NC without me. I know it's fine. He'll be one of two boys with the same chaperone, so he's not likely to get separated from the group. Plus, he's just level-headed anyway and would be able to get back where he needs to be if he did get separated. It's still mind-blowing to think of him going that far away. I don't know. I left him while I went to Europe for two weeks a few years ago, but he was with my parents. I had no problem with it. This is different. On top of everything else, he has to be at the airport at 5:15AM on Monday. That's insane.

It breaks my heart that Cody can't go. Maybe he'll get to next year. He's excited, though about football starting. I'm also going to try to get a friend of his down here from Wichita Falls. We had planned on him going up there, but with football, it's really not a good idea. Hopefully it will all work out. If not, we'll make it up to him somehow.

Friday, July 25, 2008

It is...

unreal what a one year old can do with spaghetti!

some pictures


Chocolate Banana Smoothies


Cutie Pie




This is what happens when Jacob Chop Suey's his eyebrows and won't let anybody see them!

snacks during family game night

Saturday, July 19, 2008

I have great hair!

For a couple of weeks, at least. Julie took me today to have it done in return for keeping Trace for her. Our hair chick is awesome! She did highlights and a cut.

That's all....g'night.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Good news!

I have been trying to find a way to get myself enrolled in school this Fall. I missed the deadline for financial aid and there is absolutely no way we can pay for it ourselves. I got all my stuff turned in anyway, and am approved for a grant and a loan, but it wouldn't be here in time. I was talking to my Dad about it all and he remembered he has an account that was set up for me when I was really young that he's been putting $10/month in forever. He's only gotten money out a few times for big purchases for me, and otherwise it's been left alone. He said he'd be happy for me to use that for school. He had no idea, however, how much money was in there. He said for some strange reason, he hasn't seen a statement on it in years. Anyway, I called the bank and there is plenty for me to get going with - maybe even for three semesters! For sure, for three semesters if I keep getting partial grants. It would totally rock if I could get through school without any loans. Can we say God's provision?

In other news, I have a whole bunch of kids lately. Our friends' girls are here to visit Emily (per her request earlier, and they're just sweet kids). Karleigh has a few more days here. Chandler is off and on for the rest of Summer. Trace is here pretty-much every day. Jacob and Cody will be back from camp on Friday. Joshua of course, is here. Some would call me crazy....I don't think so. There's not a bad one in the bunch.

I'm going to bed.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Bounce Houses!





I don't really have much to say, but I feel like blogging and it's my blog, so I can.

Emily and I just put a cake in the oven. I love how "homemakerish" she is. I don't know any other word for it except maybe "girly". She loves to bake, cook, do laundry (or so she says and for now), play baby, take care of Josh, take care of whoever else will let her (except Karleigh), etc. She's really a neat kid.

All my kids are neat. Cody is very spontaneous and just loves to have fun. Jacob loves fun, too, but isn't nearly as spontaneous - he's a little more reserved, kinda' the huntin', fishin', workin' in the shop type. Joshua is all about Mama (and Blue's Clues, oh, and Thomas) and I love, love, love it. I know he won't always be that way. Karleigh (I'll count her as mine) has so much spunk and so many leadership qualities that it's mind-boggling. Emily's just precious. Each one has an firm grasp and understanding of who Christ is and what he did for them (save, of course, Josh). Each one is at a different place in their spiritual walk and it's quite an honor to be a parent (or aunt) to them.

I didn't mean for this to turn into a sort of tribute to my kids, but that's ok.

This weekend has been nice. Yesterday, we went up to Sherman for Kerstyn's 3rd birthday party. She had it at a bounce land in the mall there and it was sooo much fun for the girls and Josh. He had never been in a bounce house before and it's safe to say, I see a few in our future. He was so excited he was squeeling and shaking. I thought something was wrong with him at first because he's never responded quite like that to anything before. I really would have loved for David to be there. I'll post some pictures in my next post.

Friday, July 11, 2008

My sweet baby

is getting so big! He's using more and more words every day. I couldn't even begin to list them all. Most are still really garbled, but I'm starting to understand more and more. I love it. I can't wait for the conversations and I can't wait to get tired of hearing him talk. I know both will come.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

cute

Joshua today did something new. Well, maybe it wasn't so new, I just didn't understand him before.

I was standing in the kitchen and Karleigh was coming toward me with her arms out looking for some attention. Joshua was in between us and facing her. When Karleigh got close, Josh put his hand in the middle of her chest and said, "NO....MINE!" About me! It was so stinkin cute! I think the poor baby is in some sad need of Mommy time. Hopefully he'll get some tomorrow. I'll do my best anyway. Sweet little guy...

dimensions

I was just reading a friend's post for the day when I think I understand something now. Well, maybe I understood it before, just have a new way of looking at it.

Before we are saved, we see things two-dimensionally - the physical and mental. After we know the Lord, the Holy Spirit begins to show us the three-dimensional view - physical, mental and spiritual. The Holy Spirit is the only way to see the three-dimensional view correctly. The enemy will try to distort the three-dimensional view, but it is not correct.

Thank you, Lord, for an increasingly clear view of the three-dimensional. Thank you for a torn veil and a chance to come into your presence. Thank you for loving me, even when I'm unlovable.

I like it when God shows me little things like that. I'm not very eloquent at spelling it out, but that's ok.

Monday, July 07, 2008

and again!





more pictures again!





more pictures!





pictures!





the weekend

Friday, we hung around the house for a while and then headed up to the Little Elm Jubilee/fireworks. We walked to the elementary school and then took a bus to Little Elm Park. They would not allow parking at the Jubilee because it caused problems last year, so everybody was bussed in. We took blankets and found a spot near the water to wait for fireworks.

David chased Joshua around for a while, then I took a turn. Jacob, Cody and Karleigh checked out the sand at the beachy part and got their feet wet in the lake. Karleigh got most of the rest of her wet also, but that is to be expected.

The fireworks were really great - I was surprised with how good they were for a smaller town. It took us FOREVER to get a bus back to the school, then we had to walk home from there. We got to bed really late and had to get up really early Saturday morning to go to the zoo.

We left the house about 8:30, stopped in Denton at Kroger and then on to Gainesville to the zoo. We were meeting the Osterhouse's and they weren't there yet, so the kids all got out and played in the huge, beautiful playground outside the zoo.

When they got there, we went through the zoo and checked out all the animals. It was small, but really nice. After we had gone through everything, we headed back out to the park for lunch. We had both brought coolers with sandwiches and stuff.

We were home pretty early Saturday, and the kids just played and hung out. I went out to Mom's to feed her dogs and then came home.

Sunday, we went to church and then came home for lunch. The boys had their small group from 2-4. It was a swim party, and they both had a blast. At 6, David made hamburgers on the grill and Monika, Jenna and Julie all came over to eat and have our Bible study. That has turned out to be so much fun.

I am so very behind on laundry! Hopefully I can get caught up today. We should have a semi-normal day today, and I'm thankful.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

I have no idea what sets him off, but Joshua has decided he is not going to sleep tonight. He has been doing so well, but when this happens, I immediately become just as frustrated as I was when it was every night.

I am too tired to do this tonight. We were up late last night and up early this morning, then really busy all day. I just don't understand it.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Cody



See Jacob's bunny ears?





Cody's sprayed in highlights.




My good-lookin' kid!



We are going to get the stuff to highlight his hair soon. Actually, I think we'll get Dena to do it (in case you're reading this).

I'm crazy...


Jayden, Jordan, Justin, Jacob, Joshua, Cody, Trace, Emily, Karleigh, Tori and Lizzie. We have a very, very full house. Right now, it's nap time, so the three youngest and Emily all are down. Hopefully Joshua will sleep for a few hours. He is still learning how to share his toys and his people. He's not sure about either, but he's trying.
Most of the other kids are gathered around a very lively game of chess in the dining room, and Cody's in his room being an "almost teenager", which we keep reminding him that an "almost teenager" is still 12. haha. He knows we're playing with him.
It's so great to have all the kids here. Joshua doesn't miss a beat with all of his own family (it's just when you add in all the rentals that he gets a little weird).
I don't know what we'll do tomorrow night, but I'm sure we'll take in some fireworks somewhere. On Saturday, we're going to Gainesville to check out their zoo with the Osterhouse's. Sunday, we're going to try to have another Bible study. We decided last week, that we don't have to skip Sundays if we don't want to. :-)