Another treasure in our town...

Gabe does not have the greatest batting stance, but he is working on it. As you can see here, he doesn't keep his elbow up. How frustrationg!!! So we took him to the batting cages. They have baseball and softball, fast, slow or regular. For one dollar you get fifteen pitches. You supply your own bat and skill (if you have it). Sean and I tried as well, he did awesome. I unfortunately embarrassed myself, but I figured the dramatic strikes did some good for my waistline! I think this would be a great girl's day activity. Imagine the fun we could have! :)

I am also waiting for Kellie to call with our tennis date. Sean and I are actually a bit excited. I took tennis lessons one summer - many years ago. I stunk. But it wasn't as bad as ballet where the dance instructor informed my mom that "Maybe Amanda should try a different field of dance." I thought I was great. I did, however, become an awesome tap dancer. Maybe I could have Sean tape me doing 'Country Western, Yahoo' and post it on here. I know Kellie, Lura, and Victoria could vouch for my talent!

I am still battling a horrible cold. It has settled in my chest and I am miserable. I wish the kids would understand that I need them to cooperate! All I wanted to do yesterday was lay down when Sean got home and instead he wasn't feeling well, so I had to watch the kids and fix dinner and put them to bed. I don't mind, but if I don't get rest I am not going to get over this!

Tonight the kids all have ball games, so I am praying for rain. Is that awful of me?

I need to go to the library today so I can get the kids some new books. I don't know if I want to take the monsters though. They are being rotten!!!!

Okay, enough complaining. I hope that you all have a great day. Sonya and Cheryl, please let us know about your dad. I have been praying for him!

Love you all!

Captain Procrastinator is back....

Tyler, Isaiah, Ethan, Caitlin, Luke, and Jonathan

I loved Luke's expression in this picture!

Here are the pics from Lura and I going to BK with the kiddos. We put the 6 kids into a booth and then we sat behind them. I don't understand why the room cleared out within 5 minutes after we sat down!

I am going to pretend I feel really bad about the fact that I haven't even looked at my paper. I am sick and have been taking 2 Benedryl sinus every 5 hours so I figured that I should not even attempt it. Although maybe the Benedryl would make me extra creative. Imagine all the fun I could have talking about fecal matter and flatulence! I could always resurrect 'Siggy the Sigmoid Colon' that I created for Debby and illustrate the paper....To answer Kevin's wonderful question - of course I will write the whole paper w/o using a : ! Oh, and I have been looking to see if anymore celebriies are sporting an eye patch for the summer.

I have to take the kids to the library this morning for story hour and to check out some new books. They are looking forward to it. I get 45 minutes of quiet so I don't want to miss out on that too! Yesterday I read James Patterson's Honeymoon and the second Charlie Bone book. I can't wait to read the next one! In total I believe I read over 600 pages, on Benedryl too! Go me! It is an uncommon luxury to get that much reading time.

I'll post more later....Have a great day!

Happy Saturday!

Steven, Caitlin, Jonathan, Jakob running in the back, Gabe, and Gretchen

Gabe and Gretchen

Bedtime is almost here for the kids and I am looking forward to some quiet time. I have a paper on Crohn's disease to finish and I want to do some reading for my own enjoyment. It has been a busy day with the kids and I am ready to relax. Gabe and Sean are getting the 8 million bags of brush from my mom to take to the brush pile. I swear she weeds every yard in the neighborhood!!

Yesterday was a nice (?) day. Lura and I caravanned garage saled. It would have been much better if we could have driven together, but the passenger seatbelt in my van wasn't fixed until today and Lura didn't feel like being illegal. What a party pooper!! I don't drive that bad. The door sliding open when I turned the corner yesterday was totally NOT my fault!! Garage saleing with 6 kids is not the most relaxing activity. Especially when one of the kids finds a plastic recorder flute thing and when told to put it down, drops it so then his mother has to buy it. Those things are annoying!!!!

After a nice break, HA!!!!!, lunching at Burger King we went to Victoria's for a playdate. Because what is more relaxing than spending the afternoon with 11 kids? I am joking, I love being with all the kids and there mom's. Even if it is crazy, loud, and I go home and cry, I love getting to spend time with them.

Tomorrow is church and Hazel's birthday at my mom's. Hopefully I will be able to report that my paper is done too!

Nature! Nature! Nature!!!

Johnny and Gabe

Gabe and Mom. Does this count for a full body shot? I have on no makeup and didn't wash my hair!

Goofball

At the start of the trail.

The kids and I discovered a treasure that our town has that we had never done. It is a really nice nature walk. It was 92 degrees out, but felt at least 20 degrees cooler in the woods. We saw a ton of butterflies and had some land on us. Of course everytime I tried to take a picture they flew away, but the kids loved it! The triplets decided that Tanis and Auntie Kellie need to come back with us sometime. We then tried to go blueberry picking, but they are still closed for ripening. I figured they would be, but wanted to check all the same. Tomorrow we are going on another mini adventure, so I guess I had better start planning!

Lots of Little Things...

Let's see....the past week has been a full one. On Thursday the Gabe had his first softball game. He did really well. We bought him a bat over the weekend and are going to take him to the batting cages to work on his swing. He tends to reach for the ball and while he hits it, it isn't the right way. He was tickled to finally get to play as the prior games had kept getting rained out. We did have a minor issue when we got to the ballpark. Sean pulled into a parking spot in the lot and me, being the ever thinking wife that I am, saw that there were 2 open spots by the field. I figured that since the triplets were with us and they tend to get antsy, we could park right next to the field and then if we needed to put them in the van, one of us would be able to see from the car. Smart thinking....right? I thought so. So Sean pulled into the road, turned around in a driveway and pulled into the spot. Unfortunately he didn't see the firehydrant. He backed right into it and it tore a hole in our bumper and put a good sized dent in the hatch. This is our new to us van! He was quite upset....with me! Can you believe that one? He was even more unhappy when I had him go back to the parking lot and park where we originally started. He did later say that it wasn't my fault, so I felt a bit better. I need to learn to keep my big mouth shut about parking!!!

Friday we had our playdate. The kids had a ball and I think all the mom's enjoyed themselves too. It was so much fun to watch them play - and have tantrums! Kellie's house is a perfect playdate house because she has a great yard! I love spending time with Kellie, Lura and Vic. so I look forward to Friday's this summer even more!

Last night was the triplets t-ball game against Lura's nephew, Lochlyn. It is always such a hoot to watch the trio play. I made sure the kids all had shoes on when we left, unfortunately I didn't check to see what shoes. Caitlin was good, Jonathan had on two different shoes, and Luke had on two left shoes. I thought maybe it might make them speedier.....nope. Luke's first time up to bat he swung so hard he missed the ball and hit himself in the head! They are so fun to watch. Lura came to see them and Lochlyn and she took several pictures of me in the stands. I was flattered until she showed me that she was actually taking the pics of the guy behind me and using me as an excuse! How nice!!!
Gabe started football camp today and Sean is working 15 hours today. I am already going insane with the kids!!!!!

Friday's playdate

The 11 kids!!!

Beautiful Gretchen

Victoria, Kellie, Amanda, and Lura

Here are a few of the photos, the rest are on Facebook. Isn't baby Gretchen the cutest? I am so lucky to have these girlfriends! I love spending time with them and our kids have a ball together. God blessed me with such wonderful friends.

the picture is coming. I never realized how hard it would be to take one. I hate full body shots!
On our way to Kellie's for a playdate. Should be some good pics to come out of this! Hope Kevin is feeling better. Lots of Love to you all!

My Fat Butt Idea....

So here's my new idea. Lura posts her weight on her blog to help with incentives. I can't do that - the numbers don't go high enough. Charity posts the number of miles she walks. I can't do that - the numbers don't go low enough. So tomorrow, if I get up the nerve. I am going to post a totally uncensored picture of myself in my exercise clothes. You all thought I was going to say birthday suit or underwear, admit it! I will not try and take it from a more flattering angle, cut off sections of my body with the crop feature or anything. Then I will post a new one each month in the same clothes. Hopefully I will be able to show improvement! I really need help being kept accountable as I am the world's worst emotional/stress eater and can easily pack on the pounds.
I am really, really hoping to lose weight by the summer party on August 2nd! I want to go in the bounce house without fearing it will deflate!!!

Well I am just frustrated today. Here is my list why in no particular order:

*My kids won't listen
*Our finances still suck, I thought Bankrupcy would help
*I am trying so hard to get through my studies, but something always keeps me from studying. I can't do it when it is just the kids a me here. The paper is done and submitted, though!
*Our Landlord is turning into a slumlord, really.
*Nobody blogs much anymore, nobody comments - thank you Carrie for being Miss Consistency. I can always count on you to have a smile for me to read!
*I miss you bloggers. I know facebook and personal problems are the main reasons, but I miss my friends!!!!
*Friday is my dad's birthday and he is not here to celebrate.
*I am tired of family drama and just the shitty stuff.
*I wish I had a time machine.

That is all I feel like typing right now. I will have a positive post later.

The Penis Plant

Sean and I have named this the penis plant - for obvious reasons. If anyone knows what this plant is, let me know! I don't think that penis plant is the correct term.

Random Stuff

Johnny lost a tooth yesterday - his very first one!
Today is the last day of school. No more kindergarteners are coming from this house again!!! I am now going to be the mother of a 5th grader!!!
Sean switches to days tomorrow.
I think some people should be banned from blogging, except they write the most interesting and disturbing things!
I think Madonna should crawl into a hole and disappear forever.
I also think Kate G. from the +8 show should too.
Kids should be born listeners.
Maybe I'll get a postcard from Florida today?

Be at peace.
Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life.
Rather look forward to them with full hope as they arise.
God, whose very own you are,
Will deliver you from out of them.
He has kept you hitherto,
And He will lead you safely through all things.
And when you cannot stand it,
God will bury you in his arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow.
The same everlasting Father who cares for you today
Will take care of you then,
And everyday.
He will either shield you from suffering,
Or give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace.
And, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.
Amen.
St. Francis de Sales.