Apple Orchard and Petting Zoo

We checked the kids out of school early and off we went.  All the children had a really good time.  The little ones were afraid of the animals at first but soon decided they liked them.  The turkey was the biggest one I've ever seen. The goat loved Tabitha.  Tabitha HATED the goat. The girls were standing up on an old wagon bed.  They were afraid of the animals.  One of the goats jumped up with them and three little girls were scared out of their wits, jumping and screaming. It was a funny site.  Too bad I didn't get a picture.   The apples were delicious and we made pies and cider when we got home.  On the down side my van broke down on the way home.  We did make it home but it went dead 4 times on the hour and a half drive.  It's in the shop still.  I picked it up and left for a dentist appointment and it did the same thing again.  It stinks not having my van when I want it.

Away at School

On Monday we took Doreese to her new school!  We toured the school/college last year and I was totally sold on it.  It is a program for adults with learning disabilities or delays in some way.  It has every thing a college has to offer.  The programs of study aren't as many but what they do offer are small intimate classes where the student gets lots of one on one instruction.  Doreese has chosen cosmetology as her field of study.  Not what I would have chosen for her, but that's not my decision to make.  They are opening brand new dorms in Oct. I think I was more excited than Doreese.  When it was time for us to leave she became all weepy.  Oh it broke my heart.  When I left my other children (birth) at college I was the one crying.  Loss is such a hard thing to overcome.  It took a couple of days, but she is doing great and has fallen in love with the school, as well as a new boy!  UGH!  Oh well, I guess she is 19.  I am so very proud of her. 

Destinee moves into her new apartment today too!  She was in the Army for the summer.  It took a little while but she has made a good choice.  Krishawanda has chosen to room with her.  She's not quiet 18  (a few weeks) but is ready to strike out on her on.  I can tell she is a little more reserved than Des.  She had lots of questions for me and a lot of "what ifs".  It will be good for her to be on her on.  She is strongly independent and a little hard headed.  My birth children say she is more like me than any of them.(LOL) I couldn't be more proud of my girls.  It makes me teary eyed just thinking of all they have over come.  I trust God to look out for them.  They are all so young and yet adults.  Time is not standing still for me.  Now I have 9 children that are 18(almost) and older.

I still love being mom to this house full of kids, grown and little.  I also love being Nana to my grand babies.  Time is so precious, and it just seems like we don't have enough of it.   

August Birthdays and Nerd Day

Austin turned 9 in August, and I included  Roberts left out from the last post.  He turned 13.  Homecoming week was this week and the kids had a blast dressing up for the different costume days.  Tuesday was character dress up and John went as Captain Underpants,  I should have gotten a picture!  It was hilarious.  Wednesday was  twin day , Thursday Nerd day and Friday spirit day.  It's crazy in the mornings so one day is all I managed pictures.  But every one had a fun time participating.

July Birthday's and Grandbabies

The baby girl in white is my youngest grand baby.  Oh she is such a sweetie.  Honestly I don't think in all my years of parenting I've ever seen a better baby.  She is sooooo good!  I'm sure she takes after her Nana!  My babies were all easy going as well but she takes the cake.  Speaking of cake, we had 5 birthdays in July.  For some reason I don't have Robert's picture uploaded to the computer yet, but I'll include it with August's birthdays. 

              We are in process of updating our home study!  Woo Hoo!  I'm excited.  When I read other blogs of families  who are adopting again, I am so interested of the things they go through.  Only parents of large families who have such a crazy desire to parent an abundance of kids know what I'm talking about.                Whether it's by birth or adoption a child coming into  a family is such a blessing.  Sometimes I'm amazed that He trusts me with such precious souls.  And sometimes I wonder why he puts them on me!  LOL.  I truly love all of my kids, trials and all.  Everyone is doing so well right now I'm afraid I'll mess it up by saying so.  Watching them spread there wings and grow up and move out is a little scary and enlightening for me at the same time.  I'm glad they are moving out and making decisions on there own.  They are going to have to learn by trial and error what they did not take to heart from me.  But at the same time I want to protect them from some of life's hardships.  Money management is one of the hardest concepts for them.  Well some of them.  Some have it form the get go.  One particular child can not control his money.  He loans and blows money he has worked hard for.  Another puts his in the bank, doesn't spend money on trendy clothes, (but always looks good) and doesn't waste money eating out.  He is saving for a car.  I know he gets it.  He pays his bills on time.  The other has his phone turned off for several days while he waits on a paycheck.  Now don't get me wrong.  I have been there.  But this young man doesn't have any other bills.  He is not juggling mortgage payments, electric, gas, and water, car payments,  not even credit cards.  He just lets his money slip through his hands.  Friday he has $500 and on Monday he's broke.  Some of the girls do the same thing.  Oh, but I know they will learn.  Or will they? I know some adults who still struggle.  Paying rent or mortgage is not an option.  If you want a place to live, you have to pay for it.  Nothing is free!  I know Keith and I had it easier, when we first married, because we lived in a little shack of a house my grandmother owned.  It was in the exact same spot we have our house built on now.  But we sacrificed, to get where we are.  So watching them leave the nest or pushing them out, has it's good points and it's bad.  But they can't stay little forever. This I know, just look at my grand babies, and how fast they are growing! 

Moving along

Life is full speed ahead!  School is in full swing, and all the kids are back on schedule.  Up at 6 and bed at 8.  Of course the teens aren't in bed by then but they are in their rooms.  I do have two who's curfew isn't until 11.  Sitting up until 11 is a lot harder than it use to be.  When I was younger I would stay up until 1 or 2 am cleaning house and moving furniture around.  Now I'm yawning at 10. 

We made a trip August 4th to Oklahoma!  It was a long trip.   We went to see Krishawanda graduate from the basic training of the Army.  I am so proud of her.  We were so glad to see her.  She will be moving in with Destinee in a few weeks and starting her senior year in school.  Destinee graduated and went to Missouri for her AIT  training for the army also.  She will be back the end of this month.  Ive been so busy the last few weeks trying to get everything for school, and then making the 5 day trip not to mention playing catch up with all the appointments...

The picture is from cow day at Chick fil-a.  The kids all had a blast and got free meals to boot.

Everyone is doing well.  I have 7 in high school, 3 in middle school, 1 in home school, and 4 in elementary school.  Those don't seem like big number when you break them down, but it seems like a lot when we are doing homework.  We do have a couple of extras here when homework is being done. 

I've just took over the nursery at church.  This will be a new job for me.  Although I've worked in the nursery before I've never been fully responsible.  I'm a little anxious about it, can you believe it?  A mom with more than 20 kids!  Worried about a 2 hour deal with 6 or so babies?  If they were all my babies it wouldn't be a big deal but taking care of other peoples children makes me a little ansey.  Go figure.

 

school days

School time is just around the corner!  The kids are all excited and happy and so am I!  It takes so  much to put them all back in school.  I think the list for school supplies is ridiculous.  I expect toilet paper to make the list every year. Clorox wipes, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and soap is already on their list.  Really?  I got a SUPER great deal on their shoes this year buying  Sketchers, Adidas, and Reebok brands.  I bought 8 pair of shoes for $110.  Actually Tabitha has to take some credit for it as she found the deals.  She called me and them came and picked me up and took me back.  The deals were really good.  I'm almost through shopping.  I use to buy everyone new clothes every year.  I've learned to now just buy what is needed.  The kids are all growing so fast they hardly wear anything out before they outgrow it.  The boys still want plaid shorts and polo's but the girls think they have to have 10 of the trendiest outfits out there.  Not necessarily brands but Oh so cute.  We do shop thrift stores and often times find great deals.  I still have to have the boys hair cut.  If I cut it too soon it will just need it again by the time school starts.  Kieanna is great with the clippers and almost always gives them haircuts. 

Krishawanda is graduating from the Army's basic training program.  We plan on going to see her graduate.  It is going to be a 17 hour drive.  UGH! I know it will mean a lot to her, so off we go.  I am so proud of this child.  (YOUNG adult)  She has come so far.  She is not only a good kid but a good person.  She has really had her eyes opened being with so many other girls.  There's no place like home.  She is planning on renting an apartment with Destinee when she returns.  I think this is a good idea if she gets one close to our house.  She will turn 18 soon but still has another year of school.  Destinee is planning on a military college instead of the original one she had been accepted too.  Which ever she chooses is fine by me.  Just as long as she is furthering her education.  DJ is with his bio dad and hasn't planned on college.  He was accepted but just decided it wasn't for him YET!  I think he will come around.  Doreese has a job and is living with her bio grandmother.  She is waiting on new dorms to be finished before she goes college.  It is really a great program for her.   Marvin is doing extremely well.  I am so proud of this young man.  I never thought in a million years he would turn out to be such a great kid.  It's like he just clicked over night.  He has stayed a lot at a friends house and worked for the parents some.  I've missed him but also feel like it has given him some growing up room.
They are all growing up so fast.  I have Jennifer here with me this week and it's been so nice.  She was in Boston for 8 weeks this summer.  She is spending the week with us and then she's going home to Tennessee.  2 more years and she'll have her PhD.  I'm gonna miss her when she leaves. 

To my readers

I'm sorry I don't update this blog!  I don't know where the time goes.  I have several  kids out of state right now that read the blog.  They call and say "MOM why haven't you posted?"  Sorry, I don't know why.  I have the same amount of time I've always had.  Life has just been busy.  We've not had any acting out, thank goodness.  All the kids are doing really well.  Sometimes it's scary.  I think someone is doing something I don't know about.  The explosion will happen any minute.  But then the day goes on quiet and laughing and playing.  And I think could this really be our family.  With 3 teenagers moved out and 2 more gone for the summer (army)  and 2 more holding full time jobs my days are so stress free.  Give me little kids any day over teenage drama.  The kids all have had exceptional behavior this summer.  We have kept busy.  We've had two trips to  North Georgia to camp.  Two VBS, three different christian camps that were a week long, several lake trips, and some picnic and park time.  We are still planning a bowling trip and a skating trip.  Having the pool has been great too.  So I've just not gotten around to posting.  I am still reading my favorite blogs, I can sit at night while I'm waiting on someone to get home and read with out much thought. Maybe when school starts I'll have some time to post.