A little "oops" moment

We have been soooooo busy. I just returned from the annual Above Rubies retreat in Dallas and I am returning yet again tomorrow heading back to FW with the children to stay the rest of the week. I just thought I'd take a little break since I desperately need to sit for a minute and update. I miss writing when I haven't done it in awhile. My next appt is on Wed morning so the children and I are leaving tomorrow afternoon and will make this a vacation/field trip week. Mrs Baird's bread is out since they will not allow children to tour under the age of 6. So, instead we are going to the FW zoo for a day and then heading to the Omni and FW museum to spend a day. The Omni is showing Dolphins and I figured it would intrigue them all. They're also showing something about Hurricane Katrina in N.O. but from the write up all I got is that it's a lot of talk about how to save it all and not much fun stuff. Though it might be educational for the older ones the little ones would barely sit through it I think. So, in order to be educational and please all of the ages we opted for Dolphins. They also have a cave diving expedition movie that Grayson would love but I'm still not sure if it would hold Garrison's and Grant's attention for very long. So, that's still being debated. We then get to tour the planetarium, much to Grayson's excitement, and the museum who has recently gotten the see-through woman and a whole bunch of other stuff out that I saw when I was little.

Anyway, we'll stay the week and come home either Sat or Sun afternoon. It just depends on how everybody does. If we're up for the long haul we may try going to church with Granny and Mother on Sun morning and driving home after that. We'll see how it goes.

Now for the most recent story of what goes on around here. This should be incredibly trivial in all of life's grand circumstances that continually take place around here but, alas, it was quite the tragedy in my eyes. Is it just inevitable that the pregnant brain, in all of its absentmindedness, has momentary brain lapses on a somewhat daily basis???? Or could it be that I just happen to have pregnancy to blame it on at this point? The days all kind of have a way of running together sometimes until I do something like this and suddenly it stands out in a not so pleasant way for an unexpected reason. I have gotten really good at cutting the boys' hair. It finally looks like it did when they would come out of the barber shop in FW. I can blend it in from the short to the longer hair of their spikes on top and it's perfect. So, all 4 boys were in need if a hair cut so I set to work on them all last Thurs. before having to leave on Fri. I did Grant's 1st and it turned out great so I moved on to Grayson. Since he doesn't want spikes anymore I just shave his completely. Then Garrison came along. So, I shaved the bottom, blended the sides and clicked the attachment on for the spike length on top. Just moving right along I started by going right down the middle of his head. It only took 2 seconds and half of his head to realize the attachment I put on was the shortest one of an 1/8 inch that is used for the sides of their heads instead of the 1/4 inch for their spikes. He had a huge razor blade wide path down the middle of his head of almost no hair. It was sooooo sad! I pretty much just scalped it! There was no going back so I horridly had to finish the job of shaving him pretty much bald. With his hair as blond as it is he looks bald. Brad had taken the older 3 to the PO with him so when he returned I showed him what I had done. He, of course, loved it. It does make Garrison's eyes look HUGE!!! So, in horror and shame I went and rounded up Grant once again and shaved the top of his head so they matched. It's so sad since it's so short you can't even tell Grant's hair is red....and I love his head full of red hair and his little red spikes! Brad just said it's no big deal and the great thing about hair is that it grows back.......and on them it'll grow back so quick that in 4 weeks they'll have spikes again. It didn't seem to phase the boys. They absolutely loved being able to feel the air on their heads and how cool it is....not that they really have a ton when it's spiked! I love clean cut boys that look clean, sharp and well cared for....but this is going a little overboard I think!! So, anyway, here's my 2 bald boys.





And here's the other 2 bald boys! Grayson's and Garrett's newest shave just for the fun of posting some recent pics. My 4 little military recruits.

House of Color

Well, somehow when I do have the time to actually be creative enough to jot down what all has happened within the last few days it seems all I want to do is sleep. I've had very good intentions of keeping up on here but within the last week all I want to do is sleep. The anemia should be gone......despite the state of dehydration that I always seem to live in.....so no I think I can just chalk it up to plain old 3rd trimester pregnancy. Tomorrow I'll be 29 wks. It seems rather unthinkable. I still feel like I just found out only a few weeks ago...and here we are with only 10 wks to go. Suppose I should do a little something to get ready for this baby. At this point if you were to walk into our home you wouldn't even be able to tell I'm even pregnant. There's not really much to do, I guess. To put the swing up now only takes up room and the crib is currently occupied and there's really no reason to set up the travel crib yet, as it will only take up space too not to mention collecting the infinite amount of dust around here....and it would be a huge climbing attraction for some 2 yr olds too.





But, to get back on track, yesterday after some very long planning and after some even longer color choosing over and over and changing of the minds at least that many times Brad finally started in on our new indoor house colors. It is the most fun thing ever to be so free and just forsake any traditional neutral colors and opinions and go out there on the edge and live like we feel. They're shocking colors but the children are in love and have helped pick out their favorite picks through it all. We narrowed it down to 2-3 choices of paint schemes for the den and we let them decide between the 3. They love being able to help determine what it will look like and being able to live in what they love. Anyway, here's the up and coming hallway. It still has to be trimmed and the crown molding put up. And the front 1/2 of the hallway we figured out in the process needs a 2nd coat of primer before we can carry on with the paint.



The front entry wall and other 2 walls that face you as you walk down the hallway will be the accent walls in "brilliant orange" and it will all be trimmed in cobalt blue named "decadent blue". Pretty wild!!! The front door is a wild bright red named appropriately "deep fire" and the front porch bench is also painted the same color. Mother was miraculously able to find a great wild red bird feeder and gave it to us for Christmas so the front yard accent colors are bright red against the khaki colored brick and black shutters. This pic was taken right after we moved inand before we added our colors. The purple bench that you can hardly see is the one that is now bright red along with the front door that was the same purple that is now the same bright red as the bench. We now have 2 hanging baskets in between the porch poles with bright yellow flowers and hummingbird feeders (both red, of course)on the sides of the porch. I'll see if I can go take some more recent pics here in awhile. I'll also see if I can get Brad to scan the pics and color samples of what we want to do to finish is all out. But, for now, that's our start on it all. It's really fun and despite the rather shocked and appalled reactions we've gotten I just figure.......how many kids in the world get to live in a house with colors like this???!!!!! They love it and I'm tired of seeing all of the perfectly matched neutral homes in books and model homes.

Cheap Thrills

We've had so much fun the last few days!! Yesterday Brad was on so Mother and I took the children into town and decided to check out San Angelo's mall. Yes.....it does have one. After walking through it though I don't think one could really classify it as a real mall but one that tries real hard to be. The length of it is about 1/2 of 1 side of Grapevine Mills, if that. It was funny! Of the stores though they do have an Old Navy, Claire's, Dillard's, Victoria's Secret, Bath and Body and several western deco stores. It's really interesting since every shop is like a miniature version of home....typical of everything down here...including, Bed Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, Target, etc. It's really a cool little place and the best part is that it was empty! We could walk in pretty much any store and have the whole place to ourselves. There wasn't one person in Claire's. Evye thought she'd gone to heaven! In FW you can't even walk in there without having to move somebody out of the way or wait on them to finish looking and then move.

We went to Rosa's to eat lunch and then by Target to get Garrett a bottle and some juice to pacify him since I didn't bring anything with me, unrealistically thinking he would actually not get hungry! Ugh! We had the whole children's clothing and baby dept to ourselves in there too! We got over to the boys' section and Grayson needed a cheap t-shirt to wear for the day since he had worn a long sleeve long john material shirt. Once we were over there looking I began to realize how far America has come by what they tolerate in children and think is ok for them to get away with it in their attitudes......and they even view it as funny and humorous. They had shirts I would never in the world let him wear. They said such awful stuff on them for anybody...not to mention a boy his age! Thankfully, he was as aware of it as I was and it was so incredible to see it hit him like it hit me. He didn't think they were funny at all. For a few examples, some said "I see your lips moving but all I hear is blah, blah, blah". I can't imagine trying to teach him or get onto him for a bad attitude with that staring me in the face. He said he didn't want to wear what isn't in his heart since his shirt says what's really on the inside too. he couldn't have put it more appropriately. Another that really got him was "Brother for sale" with 1. 50 marked out and "FREE" written instead. He really had that stuck on his mind the rest of the day and every once in awhile he'd say "Mom, that's really like saying I don't want Garrison, Grant or Garrett. Can you imagine not having them or me not liking it when they laugh or want me to help them? Can you imagine not having them around?" Another said "Be careful what you say to me...someday I'll be YOUR boss!". Another said "I hate my sister...will you take her?"........another one that really got Grayson to thinking. A bunch were about hating school. One even went as far as to say "I hate school, I hate my teacher, wake me up when it's game time"...and it had a little stick figure playing video games in front of a TV. I really honestly couldn't believe it. I guess it's just been awhile since I've shopped for him. One even said "Don't expect me to do my homework. You'll just be disappointed". It was shocking.

(Grayson in his new ARMY shirt)
We ended up with a great bright green soccer shirt since he's really into soccer and bike riding and the other is an army green shirt with ARMY written in camo on the front. We both loved these. I love it when I can actually see the fruits of everything we are trying to instill in them beginning to manifest in their character. He no more wanted one of those awful shirts then Brad or I would ever allow him to wear it. Even as intense as he is his heart remains so ever gentle and sensitive and is so soft when it comes to cherishing and really valuing the people around him..including his own family. His heart is just so tender and soft. And Garrison and Grant are to the age now that they adore him and really look up to him. yesterday he saved Grant's day after Grant let go of his balloon outside and it blew down the street to the park. Grant stood at the edge of the driveway and just cried. Grayson quickly put on some shoes and flew down the street on his bike and rescued the balloon from it's imminent demise as it blew towards a cactus. Upon seeing Grayson riding back with the balloon blowing in the wind Grant jumped and laughed excitedly and then wrapped himself around Grayson's leg, said "Thank you, Grayson!" and kissed him over and over on his jeans. It was pretty sweet.

(My front seat buddy)

We went home backroads so that Mother could view the Kickapoo for herself. She had taken her truck into town earlier and I met her there with the children so we were in 2 separate vehicles. Somehow with a buddy it added some measure of security and fun to the thought of crossing it so we decided to forge ahead through the river. It was sooooo much fun!!!! We then went mud sliding on the backroads until we finally got home.

(exhausted twin angels...my backseat buddies)

(Doing the fun stuff!)

The children and us all had so much fun crossing it 15 times that we talked Brad into going back and doing it again today so he could experience the thrill. That was fun and the children were breathless with laughter watching Brad go mudding. They thought that was about the coolest thing ever and they all said he was much better at it then I was! LOL! I think the most ridiculous but funniest part is mudding in the family vehicle with your husband and then being 7 months pregnant on top of that! He hit one of the muddiest puddles so hard that we ended up sideways in the grass facing the fence line of the ranch that had just previously been on our right that was now directly in front of us! We had Garrett with us and the rest of the children were with Mother in her truck behind us. They were still laughing when we reached the house again. We all drove through the river over and over again just for the sheer fun of it. And, no, we didn't sink like I was so thoroughly convinced we would! LOL! This is the way to have fun!!!!

On another note, Mother went up to the library to work today since they have better computers up there and it's quieter. All of the old ladies of the town run it and were sooo excited somebody was actually going to use it. They have a brand new computer up there but could not even get on the internet for her. None of them even had a clue where to start! She showed them how to do it. She then loaded Windows onto it and everything else it needed to be able to work. They were so impressed they told her she had a job at the library anytime she ever wanted one! LOL! Of course, it's all volunteer here! Mother took Grayson and Evye with her and they did the remainder of their school work up there while she worked. The old women just love the children and were so excited to have them up there and could not say enough times how well behaved they are. One of them in particular has fallen in love with Evye and Evye has a soft spot for her. She's Catholic so it makes it even funnier since denominations are such a huge deal here. She sat with Evye while she worked and exclaimed over how smart she is! Evye thrived on it, of course. She actually wanted to help her with her work..in which Evye promptly told her she could help if she wanted to but she didn't really need help with any of it! Oh, the joy of honesty. But the little old ladies loved Mother and the children being up there so much that they gave her a key and told her to come whenever she wanted to since it's only open T & Th from 1-5! So, now Mother has a key to the the Paint Rock library. They told her to bring the children with her anytime and they could read or find the books they want or do their school work, if it was during school hours for us.


(waiting to do it again!)



Mother and I also went to the spring Sunday School class party Tues night. Brad was off and stayed with the children. That's a story for Sat night once Brad goes back on shift. It was sooooo much fun but I also walked away feeling like Brad and i do indeed have a very specific purpose for being here. Even in the fun and lightheartedness of it all the Lord was very present and I think, for the 1st time people, I really saw how He is using us here even when we have no clue what is taking place. It was so amazing and I walked away with a feeling of exhilaration but also feeling like I could just cry at the sheer joy of kind of finding myself through all of this too.


(just a little bit dirty..if you click on the pic which enlarges it you can see the 3 little hands waving furiously in the back)



Also, Evye took her 1st 6 wk test this morning and she did so great. She had to match the correct definitions to their partners of noun, verb, adjective, synonym, antonym, homonym, compound word and rhyming word. She then had to underline each one specifically in a sentence and then as I called them out she had to circle the correct one of like "to/two", hot/cold", "run/jog", "land/sand" and then "sandbox". I made the test myself since I still do not want to spend money on curriculum yet. But she did so incredibly well. I was just amazed. These are all being logged and I will make their report cards over there weekend. They will both get another 6 wk report card at the end of May when we slack off a little on the pace for summer but still continue on in our schooling routine. They will be graded on their understanding of each subject along with their grades and also on behavior and attitudes while doing their work. They will also be graded on Bible since it is now officially a subject and also on the memory verses they have worked on memorizing and writing. I think it will be great for them and is a huge accountability for all of us. Grayson now has all of division completely mastered and so after a few more days of the double and triple digit divisors (the # on the outside of the box) then we will move past division. I'm a little nervous about this........no, I'm really a lot nervous about this......since I never did well once I got into that kind of division and everything past it. Brad said he will take over from here since he absolutely loves math and has an ability to teach Grayson in that realm. We've talked this through quite a bit and both prayed about where to go from here and Brad will take over for now and if we find the need we will start pursuing another means of teaching him also....like DVD's from specific curriculums or even a tutor if we need to. Mrs Blair said she would be glad to continue with him both in anything we need help with. She would just tutor him and probably have 1 mtg p/ wk at her house in SA. Brad and I are both at peace with him going on and my pursuing other nontraditional ways of teaching him since he is sooooo very gifted in this area. So, we'll continue to pray about it and see where the road leads.



(Plenty of helpers for clean-up!!!!)










And in the midst of all of this teaching of the older ones Aubrey now knows and can recognize each letter and its letter sound and Garrison and Grant both know most of their shapes and colors and can sing the alphabet. And, believe me......that was not even an issue for me in doing this! I figured I'd begin them when later when I thought they were ready. Honestly, I think it's just a reward for being willing enough to walk in obedience to what the Lord was leading us to do....even when I walked in fear and trepidation at times. It's the little boost of confidence that I desperately needed to know that I can indeed do this and God has given me these children and the very specific ability to teach each one of them in each of their very different styles of learning.



(twin kisses....and Garrison is slightly taller but since he has shoes on in this pic and Grant doesn't he looks like he's towering over Grant!!!!) (2nd pic....how in the world do people really come to the twin conclusion on these 2?????!!!!!!)

Small town life...lessons in kindness

I know you probably get sick of hearing it but I think it's all still a bit of a novelty to me. After having been raised in DFW where people are still typically Texan friendly it is still a massive area with a ton of people with big attitudes....that are more often than not, less than good.

Here's a bit of really really rural twist to it. Last night after our exploration to the creek and lake and discovering all of the spring things that we did we headed into Ballinger for Sonic. I had no clue we'd be out nearly that late and by the time I looked at the clock it was 8:00! Way past dinner and now past bedtime too. No wonder Grant was wearing thin. Having absolutely no quick fixes around and not wanting to make an even bigger mess in the kitchen than what we had left in it when leaving the house I just praised the Lord for overtime money and went to Ballinger. The children were ecstatic. So, we get there and place the whole entire order for 5 kids and 1 adult. After reaching for my purse I had this horrible realization it was still sitting in the drawer at home. Not thinking it'd be a problem I just called on the speaker and asked if Brad could call in a credit card # for the order. But, no, they had to see the card in person. Um.......well, I kind of don't have it. So, calmly, kindly and peacefully I just said we needed to cancel the order...since it wasn't their fault I didn't have it with me. The girl asked, "the whole order?" Not having any cash I explained there was no way I could pay for any of it. She told me to wait and then came back and asked if I could go home and get my card. No, we live 20 miles away. She was gone a minute and then came back and asked if I'd be in town again tonight or tomorrow. I told her we'd be back tomorrow. She asked if I could just pay the 22.00 bill then. Not thinking she was really serious I laughed. She said, "Well, kind of like an IOU." I told her we could definitely do that and I'd even give her my license # if she wanted it. She said it wasn't necessary unless it just made me feel better. LOL! I wrote my name and # down along with where we live. She said that was good enough and they'd see me tomorrow!!! So, out came our food and we drove off!!!!!! That was a strange feeling, to say the least. The children were quite stunned that we got food when I had no money and didn't quite get the concept at first either. It was a great lesson in people's kindness and God's mercy. So, we bowed right then and there and Grayson, Evye and I each all prayed and thanked the Lord for showing us His mercy and giving us His favor even in the little details in life like dinner. Grayson said it was a great example of the Golden Rule too so that just opened the door for more conversation about it. I was highly impressed by how much wisdom he had regarding it all until he ruined it by asking what the 9 other golden rules were. Ugh! LOL! We were on such a good roll! That led into clarifying what the Golden Rule is vs. the 10 commandments. The children each prayed for her to be blessed like she had blessed us and that someone else would show her kindness like what she had shown us right then. It was an incredible opportunity to see them pray so specifically for other people and pray blessings over strangers that had touched our lives in some way.

And it ended that Brad didn't get any OT today so he drove in to take care of the bill. I was so grateful since it was one less thing for me to do. But, unknowingly, Mother was on her way in and after hearing the story she went by Sonic on her way through and took care of it before coming to the house. Kind of funny. If nothing else it showed them that our word on it was good...after having 2 people show up to take care of it. It was a pretty neat experience for everybody and such a great opportunity to teach life's little lessons that hopefully they will take with them into adulthood. I told them part of being successful when they grow up is being able to show kindness to people they've never met just because Jesus has showed them an everlasting love and kindness. And maybe through their kindness those would come to see and know the love of the Lord because of their kind and loving actions. But even if they don't it makes you feel better on the inside as a person. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Exploring spring

I have decided that all of Brad's OT is merely going to replacing everything we just bought at the store that one of the younger 4 has just emptied or destroyed. It started with the Vitamin A&D ointment not long after we got home on Fri. As we unloaded someone failed to watch anything the boys were doing. I only came to discover it when Garrison came in saying his hands were messy and holding a greasy grassy mess out for me to wash. I knew almost immediately what it was. I ran to where I'd sat the diaper ointment on the table and sure enough there sat a very empty box. Now.....to locate the contents of it all and where exactly he had chosen to empty it. I found it out laying on the sidewalk...a nearly empty tube with grass and wet mud stuck all over the top and down in it. There was no hope of salvaging it. Brad walked up after me going off about it only to look at the back doors of the Suburban and realize Garrison's chosen target and what he had so entirely greased up. And, yes, this was after the brand new carwash we had just had done in town due to the fact we could no longer see out the window due to the warm weather, nocturnal bug factor. I irritably threw the tube away and cleaned Garrison up, trying not to end up as greasy as he was. I didn't even have the patience to think about the back doors of the Suburban. That night Brad handed me a snack size baggie full of the clean salvaged ointment. It was probably 1/2 the tube but it was enough to work and get us out of that bind. And, yes, he cleaned the Suburban doors up and they looked just like they did after the carwash..........so I didn't have to come out to look at it in the morning. So, ointment goes back on the list.....and I love Brad more than ever.

And then just as we had begun school this morning it came to an immediate halt after only a few short 15 minutes. The 1st mess of the day had taken place. One of the boys....who knows who the culprit is??!! At this age they all happily and willingly take credit for it.....got into the freakin cappuccino can full of powdered coffee. Aubrey was eating it by the spoonfuls out of the can, Grant was cupping it up by the handfuls eating it out of his hand, Garrison was just licking it off the table and Garrett was happily shoveling it around and then sucking his fingers to death. All I could think of is how that was enough caffeine to wire them up for an endless amount of days.....and it was. Grayson and Evye both helped clean that very sticky mess up and then the little ones were gated in their room with their special "school" toys while we continued on in our schooling endeavors. Oh.......and in between handfuls to his mouth Grant was joyfully dumping them in Garrett's basket of baby toys....which then, of course, had to be dumped out outside and then all of them completely washed since they were all a sticky mess due to Garrett reaching in and sucking all of the coffee off of them. Grayson and Evye took their recreation break and went to the town store and bought me some Mrs Field's cookies as a surprise since the store didn't have any "special" coffee like I drink (cappuccino) made. They even used their money. It was pretty sweet. We broke at noon for lunch and they made their PE trip to the PO for the mail. During naptime we finished up the school day.

Grayson shocked both Brad and I by making a 100 on his spelling test with no help or corrections needed. I tried to use my new found scan knowledge to attach a copy of his test w/ this paragraph but alas......it has failed due to my lack of computer genius genes and Brad's lack of expertise as I attempted it. Mrs. Blair, and now I, would always give him the test and when he inevitably drops out a letter (very typical for him) though knowing how to spell the word perfectly he is then alerted to it and given the chance to find and correct it. If he truly misspelled and does not know how to spell it then he is counted off for it. Otherwise, when he sees a red pen drawing near to the paper he is quick to look and correct it into a perfect well memorized word. Today his test was on last week's words, which were the 12 months of the year and words to accompany that...like annual, yearly, monthly, calendar, weekend, etc. I always give him 2 bonus words for 5 pts each that he does not know ahead of time and today I gave him 1 pt each for every month he abbreviated correctly. He spelled everything right....every month, every word, the bonus words, and every abbreviation right. Never expecting him to be able to accomplish that he scored a 122 on his test! LOL! I was amazed! There is nothing like seeing him succeed at home too and doing so incredibly well. I never expected him to exceed what he was doing in school but I did think we would be able to get the same results at home. I had him print it out on handwriting paper once I figured out that when he prints bigger he catches his mistakes on his own. Something that Mrs Blair would've loved to have done with him but could never take the time to personally meet his individual needs. He could hardly wait to call her and tell her his grade and what he had accomplished. There are no words for that!! And he is now into upper 4th grade division. I never really knew exactly where he was. We just got the book that worked well with his style and went from there. It's a combo 3rd/4th book so we picked up where he was in class and went from there at his own pace. When talking to Mrs Blair and then seeing other text books we realized he is doing upper 4th grade work. His brain is amazing to me. He is amazing to me. His writing ability has improved dramatically too with the letter writing we have done. I am so blessed by watching him progress so very well.

Evye is now nearing the completion of her 1st grade book. She's already finished 1 portion of it and so we are taking it slower now. I had planned to just do it throughout the summer knowing we had just started the book when we withdrew them. Now knowing how extremely driven she is and how fast we can accomplish it I slowed her down a bit. But she went from letter sounds in kindergarten and complete boredom there to now knowing nouns, verbs, adjectives, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms and compound words. I am now just reviewing a few of these a day to make sure she remembers them all. And so far she hasn't forgotten a thing. It's funny too since I am so accustomed to having Grayson write out his spelling words 3 x's a day. He did while in public school and we just continued it once they were home. Now that Evye has spelling words I started by having her write them 3 x's each. She about had a fit and cried that her hand was tired and why in the world did she have to write them 3 x's when she already knew them. So, this past week I let off and figured I'd let her have her way and she only wrote them once a day. I figured it'd prove to her that she needs to write to really memorize. She aced her test, unknown bonus words and all and made an easy 100. And these are with her doing 2nd grade words! She even had the words could, would, and from in there. It's so strange watching each one be so different and have such different strong points. Evye's great at math but she doesn't really care for it all that much.

Alright, on to the fun part. I promised a few I'd shorten these entries up but I still just can't get it all in in a short summed up version. There's just too much that takes place between us all!!!

(the Kickapoo now and the Kickapoo then as the children played down in the basin)

After the paper work was done the ugly neighbors showed back up and kept telling Garrison to go home........when he was in his own driveway!!!........so I decided I'd had enough and we piled everybody up and went for a drive to explore spring. We had soooooo much fun.....even though Grayson was incredibly irritated with me that I wouldn't cross the Kickapoo down on the backroads. We watched an old man in a truck drive right on through but I knew while watching him do it that that in no way was going to be me any time soon. I'll let the pictures say the rest of what all we saw today and where all we went. How blessed we are to live here!

Looking east to the hills/ Looking north/ Headed west to the hills

the beautiful hills that surround us

West TX wild flowers

After waiting for an entire herd of sheep to cross the road we took pics (these 3 came to us!)

We saw 6 deer too but they were too fast to get any pics of!

We finally found the big part of Lake Ivy!!!!

All on the boat ramp once more

(leave it to Aubrey to wear a sundress

in 50 degree weather!!!!!!)

And on a sidenote of what we took pics of today.......

just to think that sometimes I wonder why they're not inside dogs anymore!!!

We can't even tell Tigger has a Shepherd saddle anymore!!!! He's all black!

Sonogram pics

Well, to add to the Easter entry, we also figured out how to scan the sono pics so I can now add them too. We have a ton of pics the tech gave us but we only scanned 4. Here's the pics of Baby Gavin Quint and here's the pic of me taken only a few days before the sono. It's time to take another just to track baby growth so I'll do that sometime this week. The 1st set of pics is of his
telling gender shot and the 2nd set is of his profile. The above pic of his profile is funny and he continued to amuse the children and make them all laugh with the stuff he did. It's of him with his legs completely extended and up over his body with his feet actually above his head! If you can tell, his knees are right above his nose! The lower pic in that set is a perfect one of his profile. And then there's the tummy pic of him on the inside and what I look like on the outside. It's so amazing to know he is growing in there!! It's just amazing to see inside and outside pics.

Easter Snow!

Today was a great day despite how cold it was and how it thwarted all plans to wear their Easter clothes. After 2 days of sleet and snow and it finally melting off some today it still stayed a very cold 48 for the high. The children loved the snow and we got some fun pics. The pics still didn't do it justice since after we quit taking them the snow continued to fall and ended up piling up on rooftops and coating the world in a white wonderland...despite the fact it's spring and has already reached the high 80's on more than several days. I don't ever remember in my lifetime it ever snowing this late in the season or accumulating as much as it did. These were taken yesterday after a long night of sleet and snow and in the height of the snow fall that came yesterday.

We went back to the little Baptist church today after much asking from everyone in the town. It was actually one of the best feelings in the world to be there again. I'm not sure why since I don't really ever walk away with alot of wisdom or revelation after the fact....but I love the people there more than anything. I love their hearts and just being there today reminded me of why we came here. For some reason it just seems to me that we fit there. And sometimes, though I resent it at times during the periods when I am so exhausted, I think we may have more to give to them than we ever realize. They have all asked to come back on more than several occasions and we've had 4 people now come and say that we gave new life to the church and that we brought it to life after being a bit lifeless for a long while. They all have said the children are what it needed. Now that Brad is on the city council I think it is only right to play an active role in the community and really participate and become involved with everything within it. I still have yet to figure out if that means going to a church I don't really get anything out of but there is still something about it that just feels right and there's a peace that accompanies it. Maybe what we get out of it is the fellowship. Maybe it's just me and how overly accustomed I became to finding stuff wrong with everything and being so overly pessimistic about it all and maybe it's just that I have become used to being discontent. Perhaps that is why I immediately sought to find all of the needs the church did not meet of our's. I don't know.

I was reading to the children for our Bible lesson a couple of weeks ago and it really seemed to speak more to me than it probably ever did to them. But it was about Moses and the Israelites being led through the wilderness. It said in there that God chose Moses because he chose to listen to Him above all else while the rest of the ordinary people complained and whined. The whole entire time we read the Israelites were whining about everything. Even after seeing God doing extreme miracles and moving mountains they still were full of disbelief and whining. They whined about having no water, no food, getting nowhere, just about everything. And everytime they complained God met their needs but He did so only by speaking to Moses and performing wonders after He spoke with him. He parted a whole entire sea, He made water come out of a rock, food fall from the sky, a cloud to even shade them while He led them by it and a fire to warm them at night while He led them by that. It was just amazing to me. The whole point was whether you want to be a Moses for God or whether you want to be one of the Israelites that God saves and provides for but because you are full of grumbling you are only ever one of the followers. It is up to you to decide to be a leader God mightily uses and seeker of nothing but Him or a mere follower due to your grumpiness and complaining. I just kind of saw myself in it. I gripe about the house in Hurst, I gripe about eating oatmeal for breakfast, PB for lunch and eggs for dinner every night, the fact that it feels that God has all but forsaken us at times, that everything is going wrong according to what we had planned......but in reality there is a bigger picture that is so very much bigger than we can ever wrap our minds around. And if nothing else the sheer fact that He gave His own life for us and we have been forgiven is enough to be grateful. And, who I am to gripe when the Israelites ate manna for every meal for 40 years......40 YEARS! When the children and I were reading we started talking about the reality of that and what it would be like to eat oatmeal for every meal for 40 years. That thought was a very big attention getter for all of us.........Although Aubrey gladly volunteered to eat it every meal for 40 years during our discussion of it.

Anyway, I am glad for our little tiny church. I am glad that they see in us something that I don't see at all at times. Maybe it is more about what we as a family have to give rather than what we can get out of it....even when it comes to church. It really does feel like we have come home. And even though I do not want the children growing up thinking that that is all there is to God and the whole stringent southern Baptist mentality I think what we do at home and how we see God is what truly speaks. How we watch Him work and move and what we learn in our own lives is so far beyond a lesson in Sunday school and will round out their knowledge of God in every way. I got more than a little convicted about what I do not allow God to do in me as He seeks to work through me to get to the heart of my children. This will never work unless we put it into practice at home and I really start to show them the intimacy that God desires with each one of them. I have to be willing to be that example. Sometimes I feel so inept at the job of parenting. Sometimes I feel like I should be the little 6 yr old sitting down there in the Sunday school chairs.....and then I realize I have this whole family of children God has blessed us with and it is my responsibility to teach them about our living breathing risen Lord. And then I wonder why in the world He chose us...and what He saw in us....to bless us with these innocent lives that He has entrusted us to raise with the knowledge of Him. I am still learning with them in pretty much every way. Who am I to teach them these things?

On another note, Brad and I took them into town and ran errands on Fri. We kind of forgot the small fact it was Good Friday and the rest of the entire world was off work and out of school. Oops! So much for trying to beat the crowds and get everything done by 4. We took them to Cici's and as always we were the spectacle of the entire restaurant. And by now, it is obvious I am pregnant. No one has noticed up until this past week and before that if we wanted any stranger to know we had to tell them #7 is on the way. But in the last week that has changed and people have started to take notice. The place was full of really rowdy kids that wouldn't behave or sit still or even mind their parents. We went through our whole little routine when we got there of putting Garrison, Grant and Garrett into high chairs. Grayson, Evye and I all push while Aubrey followed and Brad paid. We sat and Grayson helped Brad with drinks and stuff and then with Evye they go get plates for the little ones and then themselves. It flows and everybody know their part and we get everything done quickly. During the middle of everybody eating and talking a man and his family approached us and he said we have the most well behaved group of kids he's ever seen and wanted to know what our secret is. He said they are all incredibly good looking kids and they sat over there eating their meal impressed by how well behaved they are too.

So, the point to all of that is that I decided to note in here everytime we get a compliment so that when days like a Wal Mart day do come all I have to do is read back through here and remember how blessed we are to have such great children and how well behaved and well mannered they really are......most days. LOL! And that a Wal Mart day is really not the end of the world.

Oh....and on another note. We got an offer below what the bank's price on the Hurst house is. So, we're just waiting to see if the bank will accept instead of taking action against us. If by some miracle they do we'll be closing at the end of April. We don't really expect much but it's better than nothing. The majority of all of the feedback from realtors' clients say it's just the floorplan that is not acceptable. Oh well. Maybe it's a huge blessing to the buyers if it works. They'll end up buying it for less than what we did. So much for HGTV's great promotion on the house flipping business. We definitely were not in it for that but ended up doing it in the long run only to end up in this boat! LOL! But I can officially say any emotional attachment I had to that house is def long gone. And I hope to never have to sell another house again!!!!!

And last but not least of all the pics.....this was after a very long day of playing hard in the snow. Nothing like all piling up to the Sound of Music for the 150th time! 4-7-07 removed due to space limitations

Praise worthy children

Well, after the last 2 days I just had today was kind of a recoup day. I had absolutely no desire to go into town.....despite all of the much needed food we left in the cart at Wal Mart. I forgot we got Hot Pockets at Sam's as a last minute thought for a quick fix. In all of this I failed to mention, I think, that the oven/stove got fried in the hail storm. It went crazy and flashes every number and display light on the panel and heats itself up to the cleaning mode..which is something like 600 or more degrees......and won't lock the door like it should when it gets that hot. Not to mention that it heats up the entire kitchen to about 85 or 90! So, we just had to turn the breaker off. We tried it yet again yesterday but everytime we turn the breaker on it just automatically starts heating itself up and none of the buttons will even come close to working or even making a familiar beep sound. To sum up, it's pretty dead. So, no cooking for awhile. Everything has to be cold or microwaveable....such as the Hot Pocket fix.

And I know I'm probably really anemic at this point since I've failed to remember to take my iron the last few days. I'm back up to 2 a day since I can't keep my levels up. And we ran out of purified water so I haven't drunk any water or done the Chlorophyll thing like I should faithfully be doing. So, I'm tired....very tired. I started the children's school work this morning around 10 and while they worked I worked on cleaning and straightening the house.....which only made me more aware of how tired I really am. I was able to get the normal daily wash load done pretty much, which consists of a dark load, a light load, a denim load and 2 towel loads. I kept that going all morning so I didn't have it to face tonight. Now folding it is another issue...but they're clean. As the morning wore on it became evident Evye was very much in need of a nap due to how the last few days have worn on her too. So, it was incredible. Grayson and Evye actually fixed everybody lunch and had it on the table. I looked up and realized I didn't have to do any of it. It made my heart sing. Grayson has kept the dishes up both yesterday and today. He completely emptied the dishwasher, reloaded it with the mountain of dishes that faced him in the sink, washed those and then unloaded yet again. Today he just kept them going all day. At some point the dishwasher was full again so I started it and once he noticed it was done he unloaded it yet again. It was incredible. They have daily responsibilities of unloading it when it needs it but usually I do the dishes on most days just due to how much quicker I can get them done. He rivaled me in his speed these last 2 days. I was so grateful and so proud of him. I put everybody to bed for naps and left Grayson with instructions for the load in the washing machine. He stayed up with permission so that he could continue working on what was left of school. I also told him if Garrett woke up, since he had gone down earlier than anybody else, to just let him play in his crib until I got up. It didn't take me long, or Evye, to fall asleep. She hadn't been in the bed for even 3 minutes before she was out. And Aubrey was awfully quiet almost immediately after laying down on her mat in the floor. I woke up on my own at almost 5 and suddenly realized I was the only one still sleeping. I got up knowing Garrett was probably miserably dirty and hungry and the others were into all sorts of no good. I walked out to see a bucket of toys out for the boys to play with in their room and Grayson and Evye playing with a happy Garrett and Aubrey eating yogurt at the table. It was so peaceful. Once Grayson saw me he began telling me that Garrett woke up not long after I laid down and he was just crying. So, Grayson felt sorry for him and went and got him. He gave him a bottle and then let him play in the floor while he did his school work. he assured me confidently that he made sure he stayed in the den so that Grayson could see him and make sure he didn't choke on anything. I was amazed. He hugged me and said "I just wanted you to be able to sleep for a little while". I asked how'd gotten the toys down for the boys and he said once they woke up he gave them their snack and got the box down. He then assured me that he made them sit at the table to eat their snack just like he told Aubrey too. Evye spoke up and said she was now in charge of Garrett since Grayson had stuff to do outside.

It all just flowed. I was so blessed by how much love the children so freely give and by what is really in their hearts. It makes the really hard days so worthwhile in the long run.

Is it over yet???!!!!

What a day..........and not the sentimental sappy kind!!!!! Beware to all that are still battling how many children they should have....this is probably not the greatest entry to read. And to top it all off it really wasn't even the children that drove me to the breaking point....it was Wal Mart itself. I am somewhat sure that every large family has it's good days and bad days while out in public and this was just one of those not so proud moments.

As all of life goes, we had to go in today to do our Wal Mart and Sam's trip today since the finances were finally available....and yes, Brad was inevitably called in for overtime before even leaving the station this morning from his own shift. And today is only a 24 off so he was on yesterday, on today and is back on his own shift again tomorrow. No hope of him going......yet we had to go due to our needs being pretty great, as there isn't much to eat in the house at this point excpet for PB&J....which Garrison andGrant cry when they look at. Usually full of fun and excitment over taking the children and going in even without him I started out dreading it today simply due to the anemic thing kicking in. All I really wanted to do was go to bed. I was proud though since we planned on leaving at 4 and just then one of the Sun school ladies stopped by. The house wasn't too much to brag about but the children were all dressed impecably with hair done and I had make-up and something besides Brad's jogging suit pants and a t-shirt on. LOL! The children were full of stories about catching the snake and were full of manners and I love it when I can see all of the hard work and effort on this end paying off. So, this greatly lightened my spirit and gave some much needed energy for the trip in.

Sam's was great and fun. I love it there since it's so huge and I LOVE the shopping carts!!! Whoever came up with the 2 child seats in the front was a genious and they really need to adapt that concept everywhere! Garrison and Grant fit perfectly. I finally saw the need for an umbrella stroller since when I just have Garrett the double is a bit monstrous and a little like killing a wasp with a shotgun. So, the boys were in the front of the cart together and Evye pushed Garrett in his new little stroller. Oh.....and the ease, size and weight of putting that little thing in the back of the Suburban is just near heaven!! So, it was a fun trip. We took our time looking around, checking out the new tents, the picnic table we want to eventually put on the porch, the swingset that we eventually would love to have and all of that. As usual, we got asked every question and had every comment in the book come in. Most of the time it's just the "better you than me" or "You've got your hands full" thing 1 million times over but every once in awhile we'll get every comment in the book in 1 day. That was pretty much today. A few couples stopped and did the whole 2 sets of twins thing and then, of course, the never ending "hands full" comment and every other one everyone else has ever heard. But, I also love the days when the incredibly gracious comments come in exclaiming how well behaved they are. One older couple stopped to comment how absolutely beautiful the girls are and then went on to say, once they actually looked around and took them all in, how incredible the whole lot of them are. LOL! Grayson pushed another shopping cart behind me with Aubrey and the dog food in it and as he stopped and waited for an older lady to go ahead and pass in front of him she realized what he was doing and kindly said for him to catch us. He said a pleasant "thank you" and caught up. As we stood in line the lady approached us and touched me on the arm and said "I just want to tell you what a well behaved son you have. I havent' seen a boy with manners that great in a very long time. And he's so good looking on top of it all." She patted Grayson and I told her how nice it is to hear comments of praise since we tend to get all sorts of comments due to the size of our family. I love it when the older ones are singled out and praised by strangers since they always tend to hear the worst comments and the appalled "Are they all your's???!!! Why???!!!!"

But, as wonderful as this was, it seemed to be the breaking point for Evye and the turning point of the wonderful evening. Evye broke down in a torrent of tears and melodrama saying nobody told her how well behaved she is. I commented that she had specifically been sought out and told how absolutely beautiful she is and when people see beauty like that they know it comes from the inside and not the outside. Of course, this in no way consoled her. I got them loaded up with her crying and whining the entire time. It didn't help that she'd made herself stay awake last night until midnight. She fought off sleep unlike any kid I've ever seen. And then was up bright and early at 8 with everybody else. So, there was really no reasoning with her.

So, off we headed to the station to give Brad a uniform for tomorrow. We hung out at the station for a little while and then went on due to all of them being hungry. So, with the original plan being Sonic I just couldn't bring myself to spend that much money on food when we needed so badly to go to Wal Mart and get stuff. Nothing sounded good to me anyway so it was even harder making a decision of where to go and what to do. The children all voted for Lunchables as a special treat, and knowing how badly we needed water and Garrett needed formula I thought this was the best course of action. A quick trip in and out of Wal Mart and we'd have food for tomorrow too. By this time the children were really hungry.......but we were only running in and out. We arrived and did the whole get everybody settled in for the quick trip vs. the long trip. Garrison and Grant in the large part of the shopping cart, Garrett in the child seat...since he's too big and heavy for me to carry in the backpack anymore...and Aubrey holding on to the side of the cart. It's simple, easy and fast and is not quite the train that the double stroller and a shopping cart make together. We got over to the fishing nets to get the promised net for Grayson only to have Evye and Aubrey both end up in a fit of hysterics over the fact they could not have one too. Evye, of course, was just plain wailing and Aubrey was, of couse, screaming and stomping her foot and doing all sorts of forbidden Aubrey things that only she does. I explained to Evye how she in no way was capable of lifting a net full of huge heavy fish out of the river water but she in turn just tried to convince me otherwise. After figuring out it was all going no where I left the fishing section with them all....Evye and Aubrey wailing behind me.

Now into the baby section I got the needed formula and food for Garrett only to look and realize Grayson, Evye and Aubrey had taken off to get their lunchables and water so I didn't have to do it. I couldn't chase after them and look as utterly ridiculous as I felt watching them run down the isle away from me........so I just stood and watched waiting for them to come back so I could then launch into that whole thing. About then Garrett got his fat little foot stuck in the bars of the cart and started screaming.........and his scream is no quiet cry. (Oh Susanna, where art thou??!!!! Please come teach me your ways!!!!!.....you know that she taught everyone of the Wesley children to cry quiet??!!!!) So, I dealt with that and began to feel the blood rising and heat coming in. I decided it was very much time to leave. I met the children who had the dinners and the needed water and got onto them for taking off and we picked up the pace. I started chunking stuff in like yogurt and the corn dogs for the boys for dinner. Evye was being obnoxious but everytime I reprimanded her or even looked at her wrong she'd start wailing again. That was irritating on top of already being irritated. So, we finally found the corn dogs and head to the cash register. By this time Garrett is undoubtedly dirty and his rash is bringing him huge discomfort as he sat in it. I reached the checkout to discover 2 out of 40 registers were open!!!! And the line for them stretched across the main thoroughfare and into the isles. I counted 7 people in front of me. I waited through 2 of them and each checkout was taking about 5 min. All I could think of was that we had another 25 minutes due to 5 min each and 5 people yet ahead of us. Knowing how badly we needed the stuff in the cart I figured I'd just regain some of my composure and wait it out. Oh...and somewhere along the way in looking for the corn dogs I discovered Garrison and Grant had opened 3 out of one of the 6 pack of yogurts and were licking the lids and the top of the yogurts. Not only was it going to be a mess trying to get home......they had on white shirts and the yogurt was pink and blue. And both faces were a sticky mess. As we waited in line I decided to make the best of it and sent Grayson to the deli for a plastic spoon since Garrett was wailing now in hunger and I could feed the 3 open yogurts to the boys and it would eliminate that problem. About then Garrett got his thumb wedged in the bars of the cart and started screaming all over again. Frustrated I lifted him up to comfort him after pulling his finger out but it only smashed everything in his diaper up against his skin and compounded the butt problem. Evye was standing in the middle of the busy isle swinging the net around oblivious to anyone around her or attemping to get by. And Aubrey was in the cards pulling out every Strawberry Shortcake one she could find. It was right about then that the last straw broke. By this time we were swamped with people in front and now behind us and it was chaos and another 25 minutes of it to go. I pulled Garrison and Grant out of the cart in a not so gentle way as I felt my blood really begin to boil and everything skyrocketing out of control. And of course, everybody's watching our little circus. I told Evye to put the net down and go get Grayson, who still had not returned. With Garrett on my hip and Garrison and Grant's hands in one of my own I drug everybody out of the way to wait for Grayson and Evye........only to discover Aubrey pulling off every ounce of candy off the awful shelves they have by the checkouts. With my 1 free hand cupped under Garrett's sore butt I drug her away from it and started walking outside. By this time I had no clue where Grayson or Evye were and Grant was screaming in no quiet way in opposition to having his hand squished up with Garrison's in mine. Grayson appeared without Evye, having had no clue she was out looking for him, so that made me even madder. With Grant, Garrett and Aubrey all screaming I led them away to the outer part with every eye in the front of the store watching all of this. Grayson returned with Evye and I barked out the "let's go!" order. Grayson got Grant as I shoved him into him and then Grant falls out on the floor still screaming and Grayson just starts dragging him. Everyone was still watching. Kind of irate at this point I got Grant up and let Garrison go as he took off 90 mph out onto the sidewalk....stopped by a man in a cowboy hat just before running full speed into the street running in front of the doors. (Grant's still screaming). Grayson caught up to him and drug him to the Suburban while I drug Grant and held Garrett as my arm was dying and he was crying.With Garrison and Grant wailing in unison that they were "hun-gwy" and Evye wailing due to the fact we had just left her dinner and everything she had wanted I shoved them all in and shut the doors. I stood outside the Suburban for a minute and just breathed..........only to look up and see a group of people having followed me out OF THE WAL MART DOORS just to watch it all. Ok, i know it was a scene unike any one person has probably ever seen but why in the world would somebody watch that and even go as far as to walk out to watch it all unfold but never even offer to lift a finger to help????!!!!!!I guess that goes along with the whole mindset of people that "you did this to yourself!". Talk about utterly humiliating. I was so mad though that the thought of crawling out of there didn't even occur to me. All I could think about was suing Wal Mart for their shopping carts that do nothing but entrap kids feet, legs, toes, fingers and everything else even while sitting exactly as they should and belted in on top of it all and then for the absolute nightmare of having only 2 out of 40 registers open at 8 at night with a mountain full of shoppers present. By the time we left our place in line there were 5 in front of me and 5 behind me waiting.

I wheeled in Sonic and told everybody to be silent. I threatened that if anyone dared even breathe, or attempt to have an opinion at all, that we'd go home. Grayson looked back at Garrett only to discover him sitting on his knees turning off and on the TV in front of his seat. Obviously he'd never been buckled in.....I could only be grateful that we'd never had to leave the parking lot to get to Sonic. I got out and changed his diaper in the front seat as the food arrived. After buckling him in we took off for home....only to round the corner and hit a dip and have both Sprite and Root Beer go everywhere.........from the dashboard and splashing on the windshield down to the floor. Grayson now cried about his drink and Evye wailed about her's melodramtically. Finally on the road home, I ate in total silence with a car full of 6 kids. 1/2 way home I was feeling horrid and apologized to all of them saying it wasn't even really them. It was Wal Mart in general and to please forgive my outburst of anger.

Needless to say, a very tired Evye, Aubrey and the boys were immediately put to bed once we arrived home and I laid a sleeping Garrett in his bed. Grayson and I sat out on the front porch with the cool soft breeze blowing watching the amazing lightening show and the full moon rise above the dark foreboding east clouds. It was amazing to see both lightening and moonlight all come together to light the sky like daylight. We sat out and talked and laughed and finally just chilled out together and made the best of what was left of the night. I sat on the bench loving the cat and he caught a baby frog. We played with it for awhile and listened to it croak and chirp before finally letting it go in the flowerbed and relunctantly heading in.

He's asleep now and I sit here in guilt and utter embarrassment over what all just took place only a few short hours ago. Knowing what I felt I can only imagine what we must've looked like........and to have people follow us out to watch it all is really the most humilating thing about it all. I suppose it will be funny oneday. That's one of those things though that I'm not sure will ever become funny......but that's also said only a few hours after the whole fiasco just ended. Although, in hindsight, I suppose if it could be funny now it would be the fact that we left a whole shopping cart of mostly frozen food and a bunch of opened 1/2 eaten yogurts in a lone cart sitting at the front of the store. I just figure if they can't plan well enough to employ enough people to keep the store running than they can live with the aftermath of that and put all of that crap back up and dispose on their own of the opened eaten yogurts. It's really not funny but after having lived through that it really kind of is. At least there is some feeling of awful gratification that came out of it.

What a day. What a day the last 2 days have been.

On a funnier note.....

Evye had to write 4 names of common household foods down in her book as part of her spelling work. There were pictures of some ideas and she chose beans. I asked her if she knew how to spell beans and was prepared to help since it's a "lookout" word with 2 middle vowels. She expertly spouted off the correct spelling. In awe I looked at her and said "Evye, you are just so smart!!! How in the world did you know how to spell that right?! You are just so good!!!" as I gave her a little shoulder hug standing behind her as she wrote. She rolled her eyes and said in a funny, exasperated voice, "Mom! It's right there!" as she tapped the paper and the picture of the beans with the spelling of the word directly under the pic. Having obviously completely missed that part of it I smiled and just said "Oh, well, you're still good." In an effort to keep the praise legit she responded "but I only looked once when I was spelling it to you!"

Happy Birthday Garrett!!!!

Happy birthday to Garrett!!!! It's hard to believe it's already been a year. He is 1 today. It's amazing and bittersweet how fast they grow and what a difference just a year makes. Look at these pics of he only a few hours old and him today trying so hard to walk. What a difference a year makes and how very many milestones are reached! I don't care how many children we have the miracle of it all never stops amazing me. Brad's even mentioned several times how incredible it is to watch each one of them learn to smile, sit, crawl, walk, run, talk and so on. It's just so miraculous that these things just come to them at about the same developmental ages.

Garrett continues to be the happiest thing ever, though he is now starting to show a little independence and his own opinions about it all. And he's definitely just as loud as the other 5. LOL! He rolls with the flow and will sleep anywhere. He absolutely adores the older ones and has pretty much every need met by one or the other of them. They all take turns helping him walk so between all of his "teachers" he should be doing it on his own here in only a week or so. He's now to the point where if you hold a hand he'll take off confidently but if you try and let him go he'll just immediately sit. It won't be long now.

Well, on a daily note, how can so much stuff happen in just one day and so much information come in that I'm expected to be responsible for??!!! How is it possible for so much stuff to happen in just one day.......and then want to try and log it all in here???!!!! It makes me tired just thinking about it. And I still have catching up to do from the weekend's events....and pics to post of that!

Well, to start with today since it was full of non stop activity and mischievousness I will vainly try to attempt an account of it all. It started with an awful sinus headache for me that refused to go away. I am quite sure I have another sinus infection going but have no desire to take the time to go into town to have it dealt with. If I went in every time I had one I'd just live up there. I wish some dr would just get smart enough and trust me that I KNOW what this is and it is a regular occurrence for me. But, no...they all say I have to be seen so they can confirm what I already know is going on. It'd be alot easier on the budget and schedule if they'd just give in and call me in something. Oh well. So, I took an absurd amount of pills ranging in my daily iron to Tylenol to Claritin to finally Motrin. But the headache persisted along with the longing to go back to bed. That wasn't happening anytime soon. So, I coped fairly well. But then it all started. While on the phone I discovered brand new marker marks on our bathroom vanity and cabinets. So, I wiped them off and kept talking. Walking back in there I discovered there were yet more where I'd just wiped them away. By the end of it they were all over the vanity (which easily wiped off) and all over the cabinets and even on the wall (which were not so easily removed!). I began wiping only to find Garrison coloring beside me with 4 dry erase markers as I talked away and worked on removing them. After scrubbing way too hard for just dry erase markers I finally gave up and figured out I'd have to resort to Mr Eraser, which always faithfully takes most everything off, but of course we don't have at the moment. I then ran Garrison off after confiscating the handful of markers only to find later he'd raided the candy cabinet and eaten a TON of Easter Butterfinger eggs while generously sharing and passing them out to Aubrey and Grant. That was a chocolaty mess, not to mention the little tiny foil wrappers I then had to enforce that they all pick up. Finally it was time for lunch and then naps.......but of course since I had worked so hard just trying to cope with the headache and cleaning up messes I hadn't been able to get to the children's schoolwork to help them with any of their stuff. Evye faithfully did what she could and got some of her's out of the way. Grayson was able to get his spelling out of the way but needed help with math since we are now going into 3 digit division, instead of the 2 we've been working on. So, after feeding everybody I laid the little ones down and went to work on school stuff....all the while looking longingly at the couch and having visions of my bed. I fought off the temptation though and finished them up so all of their work was done as usual. By then the little ones were now up so that routine started. After giving afternoon snacks I laid down on the couch thinking I could easily hear everybody and I'd just doze for a little while yet stay aware of the happenings. Of course, that went about like the rest of the day had gone!! After only a few blissful minutes of being on the couch the familiar little stinging started and I knew the ants were indeed present on the couch again despite the fact the windows were closed today due to the heat. So, I sat up and indeed there were many little black ants all over me. I got up and brushed away the ones I could and vacated my spot on the couch. I then did my duty and felt the need to take care of the ants before anybody else experienced them. So, out to the workshop to get the exterminator stuff. I sprayed the windowsill and then checked Evye's windowsill next to her headboard since they usually come in both windows at the same time. There they were covering her windowsill and all over the sheets and pillow of her bed. So, I, of course, was forced to deal with that. 30 minutes later I finally made it back to the den and opted for the recliner while the spray stuff had time to work, in the event it hadn't done a complete job of just yet. I had Grayson put the exterminator stuff back in the workshop before he and Evye headed to the river to fish. At some point during my doze I realized Aubrey was telling the boys something about spraying the flowers to look pretty. I got up already knowing what she was doing. And, yes....there she was exterminating everything in sight.....mostly flowers but getting the porch swing and other stuff for good measure. Let's just suffice it to say that we shouldn't be having any bug problems there for awhile. So, off I went to put it way up instead of just setting it in the workshop like what had apparently been done. So, by then Garrett is wanting dinner so I start that process. In the middle of that I hear Garrison start screaming the scream that only a mother knows is serious and maybe life threatening. I ran out to discover the fishing pole that had been in the playroom a few days ago had still not been put up. The same fishing pole with a hook on the end that had pierced Garrett's foot only a few short days ago was now hooked through Garrison's eyebrow. I'm not so great with eye injuries and all I could think of upon initially seeing it was that it had gone through his eye. I'm sure even the neighbors heard my freaked out reaction but knowing Brad was not here to deal with it I knew I had to act quickly no matter how bad his eye was. Thankfully, he was very much protected in every way as only the Lord can do, and it was in there like a perfect eyebrow piercing. It was indeed hooked all the way through from the middle of his left eyebrow all the way to right above his eyelid but narrowly escaping even hitting his eyelid. Of course, he was screaming the whole time and wouldn't be still enough for me to pull it out since he was too busy rubbing it and trying to get it out himself. I finally calmed him down enough so that I could unhook it...which took some experience and more than a little patience. His eye was quick to swell and not knowing if infection would be an issue since it was a used hook (not that an unused one would make that much difference!!!) I hurried him in and did the Hydrogen Peroxide and Neosporin routine. It swelled for some time before dying off but by bedtime it was completely back to normal size but there was no redness or indication of infection.....just a purple dot where it had gone in and come out. I later figured out from Aubrey's account of it that he and Aubrey had been "fishing" together and Garrison had somehow managed to really cast it and it came back to hook him. At 1st I automatically assumed Aubrey was the guilty one but after numerous times of telling the same story over and over I really think Garrison hooked himself. She never wavered in her sincerity and her story never differed.

So, needless to say, after that I was now near exhaustion. Knowing the day was very near coming to an end I went hunting for Grayson and Evye who were now late getting home from the river and due for some disciplinary action. I met them on the road as a car slowly followed them carrying their massive catches for the day. It wasn't until we got home that I realized it was the Bennett mom with one of her children who accompanied them. And, to sum up and save a long story for another day, we began to talk and I realized with a new heart that our ministry in this tiny saga filled town continues to deepen and grow. I don't think Brad and I even have a small clue as to what God's purpose for us here is and what all He has in mind for us to accomplish. It is huge and the more involved we get the more so much more is exposed and we are being pulled into it........and it's nowhere near by our own accord. We are just simply trying to walk in obedience to what we feel He has called us to do. In the few weeks since we have withdrawn the children we have had numerous people and yet still more coming that have asked us what exactly our reasons were and then told their sad stories about the help their children are not receiving. All I can say is that God's master plan is huge. It's so much bigger than us and we are just now starting to really feel some part of what we should be doing. In walking in obedience and enrolling them we were blessed beyond measure by the help Grayson received from Mrs Blair and the progress that was made. We have made several dear dear friends that will last our lifetime from the school experience. But in that also we have been pulled into a political school war that we would've never known existed and are being begged for help since we took action with our own children in getting them help when the school did not follow through. Once withdrawn people are coming to us either feeling let down because Grayson was their hope of getting help for their own children or begging for help since they think we have the answers after taking it upon ourselves to get Grayson help when the school wouldn't. I figured after taking the children out we would no longer have anything to do with the school but I find we are now involved more than ever as these people come to us and tell their sad stories of how their children are suffering. And I then realized too how blessed we are to be so educated about dyslexia when the majority of parents are still searching for answers and have such an elementary knowledge of it. I educated myself simply because I wanted to provide Grayson with everything he needed to succeed but I realize that is not the norm and people rely on the school to help these children and the school is nowhere near following through with a plan to help and these parents are depressed and exhausted with fighting with the school for so very long.

Anyway, so our purpose here takes a new turn everyday........and some very unexpected ones at that. The plot thickens!!!! LOL! But, the details of that whole conversation tonight can be saved for another day.

And then to catch up about the weekend.......the severe TX storms raged through and we had some serious weather. It was incredible and once again completely awe inspiring at the power of God. It was an incredible opportunity to explain to the children just how very little we are on this huge earth and in relation to God's awesome power in the heavenlies. We took pictures of it coming in and then pictures of the storm in progress. We got lots of pea sized hail. I love covered parking!!!!! And the tin roofs were so much fun but at times got so loud that it hurt everybody's ears and nobody could hear anything over the roar of the storm hitting the tin. At one point a tornado was spotted in Ton Green county but only watches were put out for Concho county......and Paint Rock specifically! It literally looked like the sky was on the rotating spin of a washing machine. It was so cool. Mother and I sat and drank coffee and folded clothes while the hail and rain came and went. The children ran around more or less screaming in stormy excitement over it all. That was a little irritating. So, I finally turned them loose and let them run between playroom and house....only it was pouring so hard that even the gutters could not hold it and we had a waterfall pouring off the awning and into the carport between the 2 places. So, they got a little wet going back and forth but it didn't seem to bother them in the least. After the world was washed anew the sun came out and made the most beautiful rainbow to the east as the dark clouds moved their way in that direction. I finally decided it was no use trying to keep the children clean and out of the puddles so I turned them loose to run out their pent up energy they had accumulated while cooped up inside all day due to the weather. Our driveway usually has a pretty big puddle after rain but the creek that was created was more than anything I'd ever seen here. It even had a swift flowing current and came out of the gin area and raged its way down our driveway into the street, crossing over it and then eventually trailing off into the grass on the other side. The children loved it. I finally brought them all in as it continued getting cooler and cooler and bathed them all. We then headed down to the river to see how much it had risen. The power of it was pretty intimidating. The road that spans from one side to the other was not only completely submerged but was raging in a torrential current.....one that was not passable in the least. It was eerie seeing the road leading off into it. I got out to take pics. I'm sure the locals thought I was nuts but it was so much fun seeing everything so transformed. Once out I worked my around trying to find the best picture spot and, to my surprise, we discovered massive schools of huge fish swimming against the strong flowing current trying to maintain their place in the river. It was amazing! We stood watching and by the time we realized the water was still rising it was then everywhere we had just taken been that was dry ground only minutes before. By the time we worked our way up to the waterfall the place we had been standing only minutes before was completely underwater. As the water flowed from the "tide" coming in I was able to get some incredible pics of the fish right up next to the top of the water. We stood and watched as a dad and his children threw out nets and brought back in 20-30 fish at a time. I've never seen anything like it. Standing at the top of the waterfall we were able to see the fish jumping in it. At one point there were as many as 4 at a time that were all airborne. I never could seem to catch them in action but it sure was fun to watch!! I did get some great pics of the torrent of water cascading over the falls. It will definitely make you realize how very small you are in relation to the great power of so much water.

After getting our fill of that we headed into town for a very late dinner by that point. On our way in we discovered many of the low spots and creeks had flooded and not just a little! Since it was sunset we could still easily see where the water spots were and be prepared to gauge how deep they were. On our way back was a different story!!!! LOL! After I thought we were safely through the worst spot and it had just drained off, being a flashflood area, we hit it going about 70 mph! LOL! And it was much deeper on the side headed back home. By the time we were fully in it we had slowed to a mere 50 mph and could see absolutely nothing!!! LOL! We were so deep that it was hitting the top of the Suburban roof. It just kept getting deeper and though I knew we were more than likely not going to float away is was a very strange feeling wondering just how much more depth we had to go before getting to that point. I knew we couldn't have been very far from it seeing as how the water was about to the bottom of the doors. I knew it hadn't been that deep on the west bound side going in so I tried to steer into that lane without ending up bobbing in the water logged ditch. We did make it through but not without fits of laughter over the absurdity of what we'd just done. I told Brad about it once we got home and he just said once you're in that deep you pretty much just hang on and drive straight!!! Well, we pretty much did that. It was like the world's worst and most intense 20 second carwash ever! After the children recovered from it they all begged to go back and do it again! I told them we'd hold off on that for awhile.

Then on Sat Mother left to go home and Brad and I left with the children for Andrews. It was fun being able to just sit and talk and enjoy the 2 1/2 hr drive. The children were happy and all played with their bench buddies. Grant, Aubrey and Garrett were paired up on the middle row and Grayson, Garrison and Evye were paired up on the back row. It's a really pretty drive. We cooked out despite the cool front that had settled in over TX and froze everybody. Brad put the boys and Aubrey down for a nap and Grayson, Evye, Garrett and I headed into Midland with Pam and Abby. It was a long day and an even longer day for Garrett, who was very ready to get out of his carseat by the time we reached home, but I loved the drive and always love having that much conversation time with Brad. I ended up having an allergic reaction to the latex balloons that were cooped up in the car with us for the 2 1/2 hr trip home so we made record time in reaching San Angelo. Brad ran in and got some much needed Benadryl and Afrin. The inhaler worked but only for so long so the Benadryl was a very good thing. Grant, who sat directly behind me, had held onto one of the balloons almost the entire way home. Once Brad really clued in on how bad my reaction was getting he unmercifully rolled down Grant's window as we watched the balloon get roughly sucked out of Grant's little tight gripped hand. It was heartbreaking and, of course, he cried the rest of the way home since he was tired on top of it all. We hung onto the rest of the balloons since they were in the very back and he finally got another once we arrived home. It was so sad......but, admittedly, it was kind of funny watching the balloon get sucked out the window.

Alright, it's now nearing 1 am and I never did get a nap in today. And tomorrow we finally get to make a much needed Wal Mart and Sam's trip so no hope of one tomorrow either. Hopefully Brad won't be pulled for overtime so he can go with us, but if he is the children and I will go in and get it all done.

I'm still getting the hang of putting pics in here. I probably should just wrtite about taht one thing and then put the pics instead of trying to insert them everywhere in the message. But you can get the general idea for now.