Christmas crafts

These were Christmas crafts I got from the internet. They were suppose to be kids crafts, but were really too hard for little kids and involved a lot of adult help.  They still enjoyed them!

Making Gingerbread Houses with Teenagers

The teenagers had a Cristmas party.  They made gingerbread houses, played X*box, Karaoke, watched movies and goofed off. A good time was had by everyone.  Selena and Shea, won for best house!

Christmas Tea

These pictues are from a Christmas Tea they do every year at church.  The guys serve and the gals enjoy the evening.

Lots of Love

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!  We had a great one!  Everyone has been so excited, with their new gifts.  Lots of family time spent with new games.  Also, lots of skinned knees with new bikes, scooters and pogo sticks.  School goes back in 5 days, I'm glad and sad.  I'll enjoy some quiet time but I'll also miss the sleeping in and easy going days.  I'll also miss the older kids who will all be gone by the 2nd.  Keith has been off for two weeks too.  It doesn't seem like he's been here that much because everyone has been home.  It won't be too long until our anniversary (Feb) trip.  I'm looking forward to that!  This season has been filled with Lots of Love!

Basketball Game, Ice Skating, and Pictures!

I finally broke down and bought a camera, then Destinee told me she bought me one for Christmas.  I opened the one I bought and used it, so I can't take it back and I really like the one Destinee gave me for Christmas.  I think I will give mine to one of the teenage girls.  I'm sure they would love it!

Two weeks ago we took the kids to a UGA girls basketball game.  The kids read for tickets, and we had enough for everyone to get in.  Last week we took everyone and went ice skating.  This is the first time ice skating for any of us.  There isn't anywhere close and we drove about an hour to get there.  It was worth it!  The kids had a blast.  I entertained grand kids and walked through the park all decorated with lights.  Those are memories we will all cherish.

Wonderful Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with all the trimmings.  All of the grown kids were here except one and she was here the day before.  The older I get the more it means to me to have all of my family around me.  With a family as big as ours that takes some doing.  Everyone gets along so well, and truly enjoys each other and just laughing and being together.  I wouldn't trade my large family for anything.  Sure at times it's a little overwhelming. Like when I'm trying to cook for our huge crowd, but I wouldn't change a thing.  One of the younger kids asked "Mom how are you gonna cook all this food when we all grow up and get married?  Then you will have double people and double cooking to do with no help."   HA!  I replied that is when Tabitha does a turkey, and Mac and Cheese.  And  Jennifer does a Ham and squash casserole.  And Staisha does Tater tot casserole and another turkey, And Amey does a ham and Strawberry shortcake,  And Destinee does Sweet potato souffle, and Krishawanda does green beans, and mashed potatoes, And Selena does Coconut cake, and Kieanna does pumpkin pie and............... OK OK Mom we get it.

 
 I also shopped.  Yes, I know crazy.  Crazy to go out into the hussell and bussell of black*Friday.  I loved it.  We got everything we went after, and then some.  I got deals I can't get any other time.  My Christmas shopping is more than half complete.  The little kids were all excited knowing I was shopping for Santa Claus.  Keith was the least excited mostly because he stayed home with the kids.  He got several items that was on sale so that made up for it.  I love the holidays. I love my family.  I love celebrating our saviors birth.  Thank you Jesus!

On the Bright Side

Well I still haven't found my camera.  BUT I got my van back!  Woo Hoo!  It was in the shop *8* weeks.  I am so thankful to have it back.  Borrowing a car wasn't an issue, but borrowing a van to carry 15 people was.  I was stressed out for so long about it I almost got use to it.  It is driving great and seems right as can be.  We all went to church last night without having to ask anyone for rides.  I can also pile all the kids in and go when I have the notion.  We missed several family outings because of it, one being a trip to the aquarium.  We are celebrating with a trip to Apple*bees.  We went to a  Gladiators Hockey game this past weekend.  I like the hockey game as I can actually see what's going on. We got coupons for buy one meal get one free at the hockey game.  We will take advantage of that.  We have a trip to the Circus planned for next weekend, if all goes well.  Kids are all excited as some of them have never been.  I was grown before I ever went.  Everything cost so much.  We have coupons for the event.

I love taking everyone and going out and making family memories.  No one will remember what they wore or which toy they were playing with but everyone will remember our outings.  Memories are something no one can take away.  They are so important for adopted kids.  Our home study has been updated for a long time (2 years+) We were chosen for a sib group of 4, but one of the boys was acting out and we felt he would not be a good fit with all the other kids.  Once again we've been chosen.  The case worker for the kids have taken forever.  We found out about them in April and still don't have anything on paper.  I'm thinking we just need to move on.  I wasn't 100% sure of them anyway.  When we accepted them the oldest three were not in there teens now they've all had birthdays and I've been told even after they "officially choose" us it will still take 2 to 4 more months for placement. I'm praying about it!  I would love to adopt internationally.  I've been told our family is too large and we don't make enough money, but I see on others blogs that they are adopting.  HOW do you do it?  There is no way we make $260,000. and I can't believe other families make that much either.  We are blessed and favored by God.  That is the only way we do what we do.  Sometimes we struggle and sometimes we have more than enough, but we always make it.

Kids are all in reading mode.  They will earn a Six Flags ticket for the summer if they read enough.  They are most all readers anyway, so it will be easy for them, and it's  another outing I can take advantage of.  Hope you all have a blessed day!  

camera

I would love to make a nice long post about our recent adventures and post all of the nice pictures I've taken.  BUT my camera is gone!  Yes gone.  I can not find it anywhere.  I'm not sure what happen to it.  I don't THINK someone took it.  All of the kids are fairly honest.  But I just don't know what could have happened to it.  We have had a bonfire, with hot dogs, smores and apple cider.  We've went to the pumpkin patch and corn maze.  We've had a birth mom visit after 9 years.  We've had a birthday party for Kyson. ( my grandson) And were having surgery tomorrow on Marvin's knee.  I have lots of posts in my head but I'm so upset about my camera.  I sure hope I find it soon.

Cowboy day and Tea Party

Today was cowboy day at the elementary school for grades 3-5.  We were lacking cowboy boots, but the kids didn't seem to mind.  Cute, Cute, Cute. A few days ago the girls had a tea party.  How sweet they were. 

UGH! OOH! #@#%^&

I am soo tired of not having my van!  It broke down a MONTH ago.  It has been in the shop 4 weeks, Yes that is 4 weeks.  I have missed it so much.  We have had to cancel 2 fun family activities we had planned because of transportation.  At one point and time I had 2, 15 passenger vans and a 21 passenger bus!  We never really used them much and so to trim down on insurance payments we sold the bus.  Then my brother needed a vehicle when he went through a divorce and we sold him the other 15 passenger van.  He only kept it about 3 months.  Oh how I wish I had kept the van. Keith drives his truck back and forth to work, so I don't even have it during the day.  I can use one of the older girls cars, but neither is big enough for our family.  SO I sit and wait on the repair shop to call and tell me its ready.  It broke down on a Wednesday.  Keith was going to try and fix it but decided to let the shop deal with it because of air bags having to be undone to repair it.  We left it at the shop over the weekend.  They called Thursday of that week and said it was ready.  Well I drove it to Athens (25 miles one way) and on the way home it went dead. I did manager to get it back to the car shop, where it has been ever since.  It is the computer, or so they tell me.  First the part got lost in the mail.  Then they sent the wrong one.  I am so frustrated.  We have a pumpkin farm/corn maze trip planned this weekend.  If it is not ready we're going to have to cancel.  The kids are going to be so disappointed. AND so am I!

a day at the zoo

I didn't get very good pictures, but everyone had a good time anyway.  The babies wouldn't look at the camera.  Tickets were on sale, and we took a picnic lunch. Most everyone went.  Memories made.  

Homecoming dance

This is Selena and her boyfriend and Selena and her brother.  My my it sure doens't seem like she is turning 16 in a few weeks.  This is the first High School dance she has gotten to go to.  She is in 10th grade but she's still my baby.  Placed with me at just 9 months old.  Oh I'm gonna cry!