Pictures in the Park

What a beautiful day. Today we went across town and had family pictures taken by one of Kerry's friends. She did an amazing job. The kids had a blast playing and Kerry and I now have some great pictures of everyone. We went to an early dinner and walked around an outdoor mall. (which is always fun) Yankee Candle had a sale and now my house smells so yummy.

G is really starting to share her personality with us. She is so adorable and always content and happy. The kids have grown so much in the last year. We had these pictures done 6 years ago at the same park. There have been many changes in our lives since then.

What to do...... and a contest for busy moms

We have been back in the North for almost two years. We lived in the Deep South for almost three previously and in the North before that. J has always been sick the minute fall set in when we have lived in the North. He gets crusty eyes a deep cough, bronchitis and then pneumonia along with frequent ear infections. In the South he almost never got sick. Obviously that's not the point but thought I'd mention it. Anyway, he is sick again today and also missed Tuesday. This will make 7 or 8 days missed and it's only October. He is the oldest boy in his class so being held back would be awful for him if it came to that.

I'm not sure if the school is part of the reason he is always sick. Last year we had many issues with the school, ending with me getting in discussions with the Principal. I was not the only one that had issues, so I know it wasn't just me. This is supposed to be one of the better school districts in the state we live in, we pay out the nose for it. My other two that have been in the school have not had issues, although the principal told me she only hears of the bad kids and didn't know my middle son. Bad kids, since when is a kindergartner a bad kid? J never talks when he isn't supposed to and listens, he has had consistent good grades. OK, again I digress.

My point is, I would love to send him to the Christian school across the street but who has the money to do that anymore? I would try homeschooling, but that also costs money we don't have and do I really want to risk screwing it up?? If I do something wrong, he may not be able to go to college. Now it would only be a couple years, J is in second grade and I would send him to the middle school which we are very happy with. But and that is a big but, what about the Minni's? I couldn't send them to the elementary school either. What a dilemma. Any suggestions???

Do any of you homeschooling mom's have advice on where to begin? I have spent the afternoon looking around the net and am now more confused than ever. I think I can do this and it would also benefit the girls, but where do I begin??

This is what would happen if I did home school, G's hair would be out of control and she is missing her socks and Jammie pants : )

There is a great contest going on right now at 5 minutes for mom. I would love to win the summer breeze set in blueberry for C. He shares a set with his brother right now but at 10 I think he needs his own space. This picture is one of my favorites, it is from a few years ago but with two more kids in the mix you get the idea. We need more beds.

Cleft Clinic

G had her clinic evaluation today. For those of you that don't know what this is I will explain. The clinic is held once a month for cleft patients. They come and are seen by ALL the specialists. So, we saw probably ten doctors in two different offices. We didn't hear anything we were not expecting other than her surgery will take 2-3 hours because her palate is pretty wide. They will try to repair the nose also and give her ear tubes. I have some concerns about doing this in 4 weeks but the pros out way the cons and we will move forward. I am so proud of G, she is an amazing little girl with such a happy heart. You can't help but smile when she is near. All the doctors took to her real well and she to them. She even blew kisses to the speech pathologist.

This is a picture of us before leaving the house at 11:30. (Boy, do I need to see the sun)

Here she is still smiling at 4:30 after we came home. Man, do I love this girl!!

This is what happens.....

when you have two toddlers and not enough hands. H was supposed to be reading quietly in her room while I was putting G down for a nap. I came around the corner and found this....

It's mascara. Black. She painted herself, the little tiny TV,her headbands and her headboard. Luckily it all came off, well except for the carpet. We are still scrubbing that. For extra cuteness you all should check out the video I posted on face book with her explanation.

Autumn Moon Festival

We had our FCC Autumn Moon festival tonight. It was a bit cold and the turn out wasn't as large as last year but we still had fun. We missed having Sunny, our exchange student from Shanghai with us. It just wasn't the same without her.

Hope wasn't feeling well, but still managed to play kickball.


Here's some advice for you women out there, do not let your hair dresser have free rein just because you are distracted. She cut four inches off my hair!! We were planning on getting family pictures next week but now I am not so sure.

We had six kids with us tonight but the others didn't want to pose for pictures. Hopefully next year it will be a little warmer.

VP Debate....

Y'all know I am a republican through and through, or if you didn't you do now. Anyway, I think both candidates did well last night. I was sitting there listening to them talk and trying not to become bored. (I am an action girl must have it or I will fall asleep.) I am looking at Joe's face while he is speaking and I realize that his forehead doesn't move, what is that all about. So I ask Kerry, "Do you see it?" He says, "See what?" His forehead, there are no wrinkles!! I mean the guy is twice as old as me and there are no wrinkles. When his eyebrows lift, his forehead stays without wrinkles. The sides have them but the rest is wrinkle free. How does that happen?? Is is hereditary or make up or bot ox? I really want to know. So I keep watching intently. Kerry says, that was a good point, what do you think?? Me? Well, I want to know what is up with his face, why are there no wrinkles?? Kerry..looks at me and says what?? What are you talking about?

So, I think it is time to head of to bed before he thinks I've lost it. There will be time tomorrow to contemplate the wrinkefreeness of Mr. Joe......

See, no wrinkles. OK, maybe I have lost it.......

Jammie Day Fun

Today was a perfect day to relax in our jammies. Yes, all day!! I even took the older kids to school in them. (luckily I didn't have to get out of the car) The girls really needed this and so did I. We accomplished so much. I changed the furniture around in the dinette area and the dining room, finished a couple sewing projects, trimmed the girls' hair and we even made m&m cookies!! I also day dreamed about vacation plans in February, any ideas people???

Grace still has a bit of a cold and cough so not going anywhere probably will do her some good. The attachment is getting better, but I tell you if you are contemplating not going when the time comes I would highly encourage you to think twice. It does help to be there during the initial meeting. I To Grace I am the meany that Baba handed her off to before heading back to work. I am also the one that took her to get shots, had to sit with her through the hospital during her bout with pneumonia and endless other terrible things. It is so hard to see her reject me but I am very patient and hanging in there. She will eventually want me to comfort her and I will be waiting.



They are finally starting to get along, won't be long now before they gang up on me. LOL

I am currently on a reversible pinafore kick, but they are cute right?? The fabric is leaves on one side and Thanksgiving print on the other. The denim skirt is made from an old pair of my jeans that no longer fit.

This is the crazy hair before the cut.....

And then the after, so much better. I don't think I cut it to crooked and you must ignore the cheesy crackers in her mouth.

This is Gracie's infamous "prayer face". She does this when we hold hands to pray before meals. She then holds her hand up to her face and giggle. I am not fast enough with the camera to catch that yet.

And finally, just when I thouhgt the sickness had left the house, Caleb comes home from school with pink eye!! Ugh, on to the doctors again...I think this is trip # 8 in the past three weeks...