OH MY!!

SO much has taken place...School started C Cakes turned 3, Big C went to Washington, Cheering, dance, soccer, cross country, church activites, FCA,Engineering, drama production,Big C elected HOSA Pres, Homecoming, Sweet Pea turned ONE!!! OH MY! And on top of keeping up with everyones activities I'm now working 2 jobs!! Data entry which is really a halftime job working 20hrs a week and still doing a photography biz all while being mommy fulltime!! Needless to say the blog has been neglected. I will try to upload some photos soon and give a more detailed update. But for now its naptime which means worktime :)

A year has passed

Hard to believe it's been a year ago today since we lost my step dad! I can't even tell you how many times we have wanted his input and advice on things!! Yes we joked and it annoyed the hell out of us that he always knew everything about whatever came up! If he didn't know it he had the time to google and call and figure out how to do it!! And that we have missed time and time again!! He seems to like to make his point through flickering lights....seriously twice we were either talking about what he wanted or deciding what to do and out of the blue the light around us flickered! DooDooDoo!!! I always knew my mom was an amazingly strong woman but she could never have proved it more than over the last year and a half!! If the first year is the toughest then I think she will be A Okay cause she really couldn't have been dealt a more difficult 12mo than what she just conquered!! Now for her to enjoy retirement!! Through the year time and time again I was reminded that blood is not what makes you family!! I will always be sad that Kyrie and Caull won't know their PaPaw but know he is watching over us all! Not sure if that is good or bad :) guess if my lights flicker we'll know!!

LDOS

2 weeks later!! :) Sue Bee Sue Bee!! Not sure she is really excited about 1st grade...she'd much rather take her teacher with her!! Finished up the year reading up a storm! I think she made the rounds through all the grades to read to their classes! C Bear rocked his awards this year!! Every single award was checked on his list except perfect attendance (which he missed by like 30min the day his sister was born)Most proud was he got the Citizenship award second year in a row! The kids must be really bad in his grade ;) We survived the 6th grade...they really should make Tshirts! She is excited to be starting middle school! I think this one is going to be our athelete! She's excited about trying out sports!! Not sure she'll like morning practice though! As for now she's ours that likes sleeping late on Summer mornings! She is at church camp this week! Sit back and hold on tight!! The next 4 years is going to be a wild and crazy ride with Red!! 12 days into Summer and she has already been to cheer camp and at church camp now!! Hard to believe this time next year Big C will be starting the application process for college!! WAY TOO FAST!! He did get the job he applied for he is now just waiting to turn 16! He will be working at the hospital! He is volunteering until then doing what he got hired to do! He has already been to leadership camp, he goes to nationals this month, TN on a church trip in July plus another leadership camp and then will start work the 1st of Aug!! Crazy busy! But he should be an phenominal leader by the end of the Summer!!

Confirmation!!

On May 27th we had the honor of watching Red confirm her faith in God!! It was the most awesome confirmation services I have seen! The pastor included each child into his sermon. They each had a bible verse chosen for them. Hers was Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. As he came to Red he touched on her smile and Joy that she brings with her everywhere she goes. He nailed it!

Thoughts!!

2 quotes for the day!! "Astrophysicists assure us the universe has no center. Therefore you cannot be it." and If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money ~Abigail Van Buren~ We may be way off on how we raise kids totally messing ours up- but it hasn't shown through "yet" at least!! Both of these quotes could be the motto for our family!! It gets so hard to teach kids that you have to work hard for everything you get in life! It makes me sad though sad that the world is lacking people that my kids can grow up and relate to. It makes me sad that most kids just say I want and it appears because they are "special". What ever happened to earn the money and buy it yourself? So many kids these days do believe it all revolves around them! Yes we support our kids dreams and we act like the scribble on the paper is the most beautiful thing ever! But at the same time we tell them you put your pants on one leg at a time just like the boy next to you. So yes all our kids are "special" but everyones kid is "special" the ones who work a little harder, give a little more effort, and have priorities in check end up having a little bit more special life!! But sadly the speech the first quote came from has come with debate....heaven forbid we give it to these young adults straight heaven forbid someone break it to these spoiled kids that if you want others to think you are special you might have to actually work for it! Heaven forbid someone say you are special- but not near as special as your momma brought you up thinking you were! :) The second quote ties in with the other and I came across them in 2 completely different areas in the same hour!! Though a vacation to a private island does sound nice at times!! Heck just 5 minutes alone at this point would be nice ;)

UGH!!!

In the last 2 weeks my youngest 2 have sure decided to grow up on me!! :/ I started watching Sue Bees teacher son (2 wks older than Sweet Pea) 2wks ago. By the 2nd day Sweet Pea decided to show off and start slithering. That would be her form of scooting and she is just about as fast as a snake too!! Can't believe she is coming up on 8mo (that went too fast) She is starting to have much more personality too still tough to get a smile out of her unless she's in the mood but those are happening much more!!She says bye, blows kisses and does the silliest faces!! She is a good cross between Red and Sue Bee depends on the day! As for my C Cakes...he is talking,counting,learning colors,learning signs :( turning into a little boy to say the least! As for the rest of life...we are on countdown mode!! 7 more school days!! Yes I am counting down because I am ready to have my kids home and a slower routine! Most assume I count down dreading a house full of kids!! NOPE we actually like having em around :) Although it seems the # of days all 10 of us will all be home together are few and far between!! I was never one to shuffle my kids between grandparents, aunts ect all Summer but now that my older kids have so many trips each Summer I cherish every bit of time with my little ones that much more!! Even if it's just lazy mornings at home and afternoons at the pool!! I LOVE SUMMER!!! BUT before that we have awards, banquets, confirmation, job interview (Yep thats right Big C interviews for his first job tomorrow), about 3 more field trips, field day, Kinder graduation and I'm sure other things that I'll be told about the night before!! ;)

Food On The Table

My new favorite thing!!

www.foodonthetable.com


Can a favorite thing be a web site?? Well mine is!! I got a free lifetime membership code a couple months ago! Google maybe there are codes still out there!! I tried another menu site last year and it was OK but nothing like this! First you put in the store you shop at. The site then pulls up menus that work around your stores sale items. And when I say menu I mean you get a TON to choose from! I can then go in and adjust my serving size (cause yes no recipe is for a large family) Once I choose my recipes for 2 wks its on my menu...I then hit get grocery list it will show me everything I need to make everything on my menu. I then can delete what I already have. Once thats done I can pull up all sales at my store and add what I need to my list. And if I still have things to add I can type it in myself! My menu stays earmarked so I just have to pull up the recipe for the day and its all right there. It gives you all the nutitional info and you can request diet specific recipes too! I've been using this for a couple months now and there has not been a "bad" recipe yet! Its given us a change in meals, saved me a TON of time, and probably a little money too! Even if you have to pay the yearly fee it is well worth it!! ****UPDATE**** Found this on another site.... Sign up and use the code “SPRINGFREE” through the month of May and you can get this service for NO CHARGE!

Baptism

This past Sunday not one but 2 of our kids were marked as Christs Own Forever! We had waited to Baptize C Cakes because his Godmother wanted to be present. Sadly she hadn't made it back home since we had asked her to be his Godmother. Plus the fact we were between churches. Needless to say she called me the Wed before Easter saying I'm coming home! (it was sudden because her mom was sick) but as I met with the Pastor he was unable to do a private Baptism he said he'd rather not have the Godmother present and Baptize in front of the congregation. :( So we went ahead and scheduled the Baptism for that Sunday morning. 3 hrs after Godmothers flight was to leave! But once looking at dates it was all that would work until Aug/Sept. Once I told my dear friend I got a phone call... "I changed my flight I'll be there!!" And that my friends is why she is my sons Godmother she is beyond AWESOME!! Little Sweet Pea was also Baptized needing to have it done before the dress was too small!!
As with all things it was performed in perfect C Family style!! Holy Water...missing! C Cakes helped Baptize himself by putting his hands in too. A little crying when C Cakes tripped but recovered quickly! Sweet Pea did good! Not thrilled about water in her face but no crying!!
All our other kids were Baptized in the Episcopal church- we are now attending the Lutheran so this was our first Baptism there a little different but was very nice! The kids all love our new church and the people there are all so sweet and supportive. Wish we would have made the move 15yrs ago when we first considered it. I will always be Episcopalian but right now its all about our kids and this is where they need to be!!

Assumptions made about a Large Family....

I just love when people live their life off assumptions they make with no real information!!! AND don't find it a bit rude to voice such assumptions!!! SIGH!!

Yes I have 8 kids....no I am not Catholic or Mormon and no YOU (ie Govn't) are not raising my kids! I have never even had a gallon of milk purchased for me! It took me forever to pay with my debit card because I know people watch me pay and I never wanted my card to be mistaken for food stamps!!

It's been a few years back but one of the parents at a birthday party says "how can you afford this?....oh that's right your mom helps" Really news to me!!! Would my mom help? Absolutely if I asked!! In all my kids parties I can remember only one that my mom helped with and that was because a lot of extended family was down and the year before our AC broke so I think she wanted a well shaded area oh and that was when I only had 2 kids!! So NO we actually care for all our children ourselves!! Food-Clothes-Medical care-Parties it's us all us!!!

We do hold our children responsible for certain things!! The reason is not because we can't pay it...it's because we think its important for kids to learn the difference between needs and wants! Cheerleading is NOT a need, popular brand clothing not on sale not a need, we pay tor limited activities and I will buy them clothes but my clothes rule is it must be on sale!!! And guess what I am only one of 2 kids and I gad to do the same! AND I am so very thankful my mom instilled that upon me!! Already my older kids appreciate this they go places with friends and twice now it has been said she's so spoiled she just expected her parents to buy whatever when she asked it was very annoying!

Another favorite comment... "Oh at least you have older kids to help" spoken always from those who do not have teenagers. We will leave all the kids home to go grocery shopping or run errands but we maybe twice a year ask the older kids to watch their siblings while we go "out" The purpose of family though is to work together to make the house/home a better place. So yes everyone in our familiy helps others to make life run more smoothly. I sure hope that is still how families with three kids do things but sadly it seems less and less work together to accomplish anything! I remember frequent family yard days as a kid! chores are chores and kids need em!! The other day we were planting our garden... I told my oldest I can't hold her and plant the garden so which would you like? He quickly said give me her! Point being from the outside our younger kids may seem like a "chore" but obviously not as much as yard work!

My most favorite comment "How do you do it/ afford it" I usually just smile and say day by day!! When I want so badly to say I make them my PRIORITY! :) I don't put my need of new clothes before my kids! I do not expect "ME" time when that could be family time! I spend 23hrs a day at home cooking/cleaning/caring for kids not out shopping, lunch dates e friends, playdates all that costs $$$ and I learned years ago all those things make for a very crabby hubby!! We choose to be debt free opposed to trips where we break the bank to get a break from our kids!!! The same people who ask this question are usually the same ones eating out all the time and spending their weekends out drinking with the girls / boys!! All about priorities!!

So in a nutshell no it is not easy, no we never planned on having a large family, (we tell our kids we wanted 2 we just can't decide which 2 to keep!) :) Oh and if we did not keep a sense of humor we would be CRAZY for certain! Oh and no we don't rotate shower days! Showers taken daily ;) yes it's been asked!

SPRING!!!

I wish I could use Winter (causing me to hibernate)as an excuse to be SO behind on updates!! But did it even freeze here this year?? Guess the only excuse I can give is trying to keep up with a house,husband and 8 very busy kids!! This won't be much of one either seeing I hear a baby whimpering and it's almost time for big kids to get home!! BUT Sweet Pea/ "E" aka Ocho is doing great!! Spoiled beyond belief but great!! At her 4mo well baby check I mentioned her eye was crossing still- "getting better" but still crossing! Dr scared the doo doo out of me wanting it checked right away!! Well "right away" in health care was this month AND her vision is fine she is not cross eyed but the bridge of her nose is big making it appear her eyes are crossed (yes Drs quote)!! Alrighty then corrective eye surgery NO nose job well maybe!! She is precious big nose and all! She did decide to roll over this weekend!! I told you shes spoiled she doesn't ever lay on the floor so how could she roll over any sooner?? Glad she's #8 or I'd be freaked out that she isn't meeting every milestone as everyone things she should!! She is just skipping some of the basics and moving on to bigger more productive means of survival!! Not sure who spoils her the most... She loves Big C- Red is a little mother hen to her- Squeaks ehhh she doesn't like her crying so much- CBear adores her and she thinks he's the funniest thing!-Poor Sue Bee really only gets to enjoy her on the weekend cause she comes hm does hmwk eats and goes to bed Kinder wears her out!!K Baby adores her and C Cakes has started to really show her a lot of affection lately (mainly cause we are getting past Flu season and I actually let him touch her now) Go ahead with your germaphob comments but knock on wood she has only had one cold in a family of 10 something works! So that said she has finally gotten out of the house a little more (of course your thought of getting out a little and mine are still probably polar opposites)But i am excited Spring is here so we can get out of the house more!! These are her Easter pictures!! it took 8 people to get that one smile-she doesn't give em much!!



Quick update on others... Big C is at state comp for Eng this weekend, next he goes to state for HOSA, then who knows what follows :)
Red made Freshman cheerleader! She is very excited but i think reality hit when she saw how much her half was to pay!! Don't i fit "cheer mom" perfectly (oh hush i might can pull it off...or not) :/ I had to keep reminding myself its her life not mine and she really wanted this!! So i am excited for her!!
C Cakes is getting big talking much more and is definitely a TWO year old...I really hope he proves me wrong as I usually laugh of parents of 2 yr olds and say wait til 3! :) He is a handful but his big blue eyes save him often!!

The others are all fine just not much to report!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

About a month ago I decided to try homemade laundry soap!! I LOVE IT!!! Smells great, clothes are super soft, gets stains out great, and super cheap!!! The babys skin is even less irritated!! AND it takes no time at all to make!! So below is the recipe because many have asked what I used!!

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Christmas pics

Not the best pictures seeing they were taken at the worst time of day as we headed out the door for ringing the bell for Salvation Army BUT everyone does have clothes on and their hair is brushed!!! That IS an accomplishment in itself 2 days before Christmas!! ;)

2011

Not really sure how to describe the last 12 months...you always want to say blessed-good-maybe "memorable" would work!!

One year ago today is when my mom called with my step dads Dx... Stage 4 Cancer 2-8mo to live!! So we started 2011 with much uncertainty. January though started out keeping us busy! Big C was playing HS Soccer so we spent many a cold evenings sitting on EXTREAMLY cold bleachers! Brings new meaning to "freezing your @$$ off" :) The hubs started taking call(on his own) in his new job so that took some getting use to AND he celebrated the lest year of his 30's! Red showed a quilt in the youth show and Squeaks did a bake good and neither placed ;) February brought us a lil snow for the kids to play in...yes in Tx AND we found out Ocho would be arriving!! Someone may have also turned 35 but we won't talk about that!! March brought Spring Break which consisted of doing not much of anything! Keep in mind we were still in the middle of Soccer season (the LONGEST sport EVER) We joined a new church around this time and the kids have gotten very involved in that!! Never thought I could leave the Episcopal church but sometimes its about church family than a specific religion!! And this church family is amazing! Big C jumped right in and helped lead an Easter service! April and May are always typical end of the school year craziness! Summer seems to have come and gone in a flash. We always enjoy our pool membehip... though this year it seemed more difficult to get there! 7 kids alone at the pool and preg isn't always easy and P's job limited the time he could go (or it was at least a good excuse) but Sue Bee got in and took off like a fish K Baby wanted nothing to do with it! We were able to enjoy a staycation enjoying things we don't always get to do!PaPaw gave Big C a kayak so P and Big C took it out Fathers Day weekend and then Big C was able to go over and show PaPaw his pictures and tell him all about his trip! So glad he did cause that was the last "good" visit he had with him! Big C left the next day for Eng Comp in Kansas where they placed 3rd! Somewhere in there we took both older girls to camp too! July though was one of those vacations that the kids will remember foreverK Baby talks about it still at least once a week! Lone Star Yogi!!! Hopefully we'll make it a yearly tradition!! Once we got back we celebrated Big C turning 15 and K baby 4! I was feeling very preg in 114 degree weather! In Aug we celebrated K baby and C cakes b days (yes C cakes wasn't til the 29th but hey) We rented an inflatable slide and did a bray party in the AM and back to school party in the PM it was a lot of fun! Big C took drivers ed in Aug too! Aug actually is somewhat a blur between drivers ed, cross country, cheerleading, back to school shopping and in the same week my step dad went downhill and my FIL ended up having emergency bypass surg the day FIL got discharged my step dad passed away! 4 days later school started! Through it all my mom never missed a beat didn't miss a day of work and was strong as ever PaPaw would have been proud!! We waited til Labor Day and had a memorial service reason my mom and step dad discussed not wanting anyone to miss work or be inconvenienced (typical them) then Sept just flew by as we waited for Ochoa arrival. Big C did cross country, Red cheerleading Squeaks volleyball, C Bear various activities, my Dr was a lil concerned how I'd make it all work if I went into labor. But luckily Ochoa cooperated and let us be at the church picnic, and Reds First Communion on the 2nd and arrived on the 3rd!! After that our year was GONE in a flash! I've never been so unprepared for the holidays! I was still buying gifts on Christmas Eve and cleaning @ 2am Christmas morning :) but all was good!! Most people can pretty much sum up their year by Christmas...Oh No not us! My mom left the day after Christmas to visit family in La my hubs went to check her mail only to find water POURING out her house! FYI if copper tubing detatches from the water source while not home it WILL flood 1500sq ft. BUT all is on the mend dirty and drying but as in everything we just keep saying it could always be worse!!! BUT we will be just fine if 2012 is a little less eventful!!! :) Happy New Year to all!!

Ocho has arrived!!!

And it's A GIRL!!!
arrived Oct 3rd at 10:19AM
6lbs 15oz 19in

Here are some pics of our lil Sweet Pea!!





She is just wonderful and a perfect little angel!!!

Last post from a mother of 7!!

Tomorrow morning we will welcome our 8th little blessing! NEVER NEVER EVER would I have believed you 10yrs ago if someone told me I'd have 8 kids by the end of 2011!! BUT I also could not imagine life if we didn't!!

Quick update on everyone!!

Mr C Cakes: Is a funny little boy trying to enter into the terrible two's!! This week he discovered he can move his stool through the house, turn lights on, and get into entirely too much quickly and quietly! Sue Bee put it perfect "some little 2yr old got smart on us!" She nailed that one! But the boy has got the BEST personality his timing is perfect on making the silliest face or a great big bear hug! But pretty certain he is in no way prepared that this baby will actually not live in my tummy forever much less take up space in his house!

K Baby: I believe is missing her siblings during the day! She and Sue Bee played all day so well together. C Cakes and her play together BUT he is a boy and just not the same as big sister! We'll see what bringing Ocho home does for this... a lil nervous!

Sue Bee- Is loving Kinder! She got student of the month Friday so was very excited!! Her teacher had her baby 2wks ago so after that she was VERY anxious for her own brother or sister to arrive! Only problem she is having is NO NAP at school. She LOVES her naps and is so very tired by 4PM on school days! Her little personality is so outgoing and witty she just keeps everyone on their toes!!

Cani Bear oh Cani Bear!! This boy!! Funny as all get out, smart and sweet as can be! Line up girls, leave ur dating info and I will contact u if u are approved (but don't hold ur breath) Cani Bear keeps his eyes on older girls like lifegaurds and his teachers!! His latest achievement was getting second place in the district wide chess tourny. He beat out 4th and 5th graders for this!! Made me feel a little guilty fussing at him to turn the lights out at night and stop playing chess against himself!! Guess he taught himself a thing or two!!

Squeaks- is having an awesome year!! She is staying after school to play volleyball, she has started first communion at church and gets to attend youth group now!! Grades are great and maybe just maybe she's coming out of her shell a little. But u have to keep in mind she falls between 2 of our most outgoing kids so this is tough for someone who is shy!!

Red Red Red- she is a 13 yr old girl! That should say it all! Loving cheer, loving social life, and doing well! She keeps me on my toes!

Big C- If I listed what he wasn't in it would be quicker!! Starts each day at 6:30 running and ends it in lord only knows what activity! HOSA officer, Engineering Pres, he'll be going snow sking w the youth group during Christmas, always something going on and still able to keep all A's!! And most important keeping a focus on his future!! He's thinking about a lot of different areas but all I could see him being sucessful in! Its exciting for us to hear his dreams (even if they change a couple times a week)

As for the crazy parents...we are taking it all in stride! We were driving somewhere the other day and just had to laugh! The conversations that were taking place behind us were just hilarious! And that is just our life!!

FDOS.....

Well the first week of a new school year is in the books!!
Sue Bee has started Kinder. The first day she came running to the van to tell me she met a vampire A REAL one! Her friend is a vampire the entire family is!! But don't worry she promised not to bite!! Can she come over to my house mom? Why sure just not on Halloween!! :) By Wed she told me she wasn't going to school tomorrow... no reason just wasn't going! No worries she was out of bed, dressed and ready to go without complaint Thurs morning!! She seems to be having fun! Her teacher is preg (due 2wks before me) so she was out on bed rest this entire week but will return Mon morning.




Cani Bear started the 3rd grade! He got 2 great teachers and seems to like his class~ though he hasn't gotten to say much thanks to his chatter box sister!!




Squeaks seems to like 6th grade. She has classes with girls she has hung out with at the pool for years and has met new friends through them!! This was something we all were hoping would happen. It's not always easy finding friends being raised the same way now days. She even seems to like her teachers so that's always good too!! Looking forward to watching her grow this year and find her wings! And seems like we're off to a great start!!







Oh Red.... She as always is loving school though the actual classes get in the way of her social life!! :) She too has a good schedule and will do fine. Next week will be her first week to cheer at a game so I know she will love that!! Should be a fun year








Hard to believe we have a Soph. in High School!!! Big C has some tough classes but not as tough as the next 2yrs will be :) He decided to run Cross Country this year so he is at school by 6:30 running 6-9 miles. He seems to like it so far! He decided to do it to help with off season soccer training. I think he's starting to think about what activities are going to take priority during his last last 2 years and thinking ahead for what colleges will look for. I love that he is focused on th road ahead. He is thinking biomedical eng. as of now.... time will tell!!

Last Day Of Summer Break!!

4th annual
SHAVING CREAM FIGHT!!!

Aug 17th

After an 8mo battle and a very long tough week my step father lost his battle to cancer.

In the last week I've reflected on this relationship and the involvement/impact he had on my life, my husbands life and most importantly my kids life. I'll be the first to admit we did not see eye to eye when he and my mother got married. I was probably 12/13 yrs old when my mom met him. Now raising my own teens I have to wonder why in the world did this man not RUN and never turn back? Why would he willingly enter into the world of teens when he had no children of his own?? 20+ years later I respect him for not allowing us to run him off.

I moved out, got on with my own life and may not have always made the best choices~ but unless asked he kept his opinion to himself and let me make my own mistakes~ something that helped make me who I am today! I quickly met my husband and got engaged. He and my husband hit it off right off. Though it got to be a bit of an inconvenience cause he ended up always wanting my husband to spend his days off helping him or going and doing things with him. Again at the time it was quite a PITA. Between my step dad and my husbands dad my poor husband was being run ragged helping them. We ended up having to draw a line in the sand just so our lil family could grow develop and have time for things in our immediate lives. But that bond and the time my husband spent with my step dad that first year year and a half of our life together formed memories my husband will cherish forever.

Shortly into our marriage we welcomed our first child. This wasn't shared for years later but while I was preg my step father said to my mom "they aren't going to just think they can dump their kids here every weekend and expect us to care for them are they" after our son was born and he realized we were very much attached parents he asked my mom "do you think they will ever let us watch that boy?" When I had my first child is when my eyes were open to the heart of this man!! Here he was a gruff retired police officer that absolutely ADORED my son. Not having kids of his own he thought every little thing my son did was the most awesome thing in the world...he continued to think this way til Aug 15th when he saw my son for the last time!! He enjoyed every second and event of his life. He loved all my kids but being his first grandson and never having a boy of his own he loved seeing my oldest grow from a little baby to smirking about him starting drivers ed!

In the last week though it has really surprised me of my blood relatives reaction to this loss. Not once has anyone called to ask how my kids were doing with his death. Yet in the past week I've realized more and more that being blood related doesn't "make" you a father or grandfather. In my adult life when %$#@ hit the fan and we would need advice or help fixing something we always called my step dad first. Of course we learned to weed out half the BS he'd add but the other half of his advice was right on usually saved us time and money and taught us many lessons in life. You know the guidance that any father would offer. While I was sitting in a flooded house alone 9mo preg with 5 kids only one person came to try to get us out...it wasn't anyone who was "blood" related. When he saw he couldn't get to me he offered to do anything he could to help. I declined all his offers and assured him we'd be fine. Before the water had even receded it was my step father who had made calls to line up restoration people to come help us clean up. Through the years my husband, my kids and myself have had disappointments of "family" not being involved in special events for one reason or another. But Aug 6th we had a birthday party for our 2 youngest kids. In 15 years and 7 kids this was the very first birthday party he ever missed of my kids. 4 blood related grandparents and none of those can say they made it to every birthday party. But the non blood related one didn't miss one until he was confined to bed dying! Christmas 2011 will be the first Christmas of my kids lives that their PaPaw is not with them. Every single Christmas the blood related parents/grandparents just cause us stress and disappointment about seeing us and their grandchildren...but not once not one single Christmas morning did my children not see him~ not because we'd tote them over to his house to see and spend time with him. Because he made these little precious people his priority. He never put his own needs or wants before those of my kids. My kids could have called him for ANYTHING and without hesitation he would have given them whatever he could in life. When my kids pick up the phone to call many blood related relatives they joke for half an hour listing the excuses that they predict will come from the other end of the phone!!!

So in all this rambling of reflection this sums up what my step father meant to our family.... “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.”

Thank You Greg/PaPaw for loving my family! I know my children will cherish the time you spent with them and the memories made!!

July/ beginning of Aug

Well after our camping trip the kids had back to back VBS's. Which they were given a little souvenir at the last one... The Stomach Bug!! In our house that is one that lasts a couple weeks :( And my least favorite part of motherhood!! During that time Big C started drivers ed every morning and cross country, Red had cheerleading camp, K Baby had a birthday,Big C had a birthday, and we registered everyone for school! That was just our household.... Unfortunately my step father started going downhill with his battle from cancer about this same time and my MIL had surgery along with my FIL having quad bypass! It was a CRAZY 2 weeks to say the least! All the while my other half worked 12 straight and busy days too! But we got through it all and tried to make the best of the final days of Summer! Oh and did I mention I'm 8mo preg during all this in triple digit heat!! BUT we keep on truckin and enjoy our lemonade along the way!!

Loads of fun in July!!

In July we met family from Louisiana at a campground/waterpark for a couple days of fun!! We were hoping to get all the 3rd cousins together...that didn't pan out but was a loss to those who did not come cause the kids all had a BLAST!! Hard to believe we were able to get 12 kids together and have everyone get along the entire time!! Hopefully we have started another family tradition and others will join us the next time!!