Bowling Sunday With Friends

 

Lately its been so cool because we have been getting Groupons and having more family adventures at a better price. Last Sunday we took our family bowling for more than half the price it would have cost for our family. Man, the month of June has been so fun and it's also been a very long month because of everything we have been doing.

 In one month we have gone ice skating, the teams have gone to a team camp out of town, We went to the lake, Ryan had surgery on his foot (not fun), we went bowling, and we went on family camping with the church.  This week we are having Vacation Bible School and Ryan and I volunteered as one of the leaders. I have been having the worst headaches ever because of the wildness from it but I love it and I'm having a blast. Of course Ryan's surgery wasn't fun but its definitely shaken things up a little bit for us. I am proud of the good attitude Ryan is having still being he has to be in a cast during the fun month. 

 

When some people from church wanted to go bowling together, I was excited to take my family to bowl with them. Sometimes I'm still so amazed at the friends I have gained in the last 10 months. I feel so blessed and sometimes I still can't believe it. This year has definitely been a new year for us and much, much needed spiritually and emotionally. I feel God has definitely led us to where we are and I have seen the evidence of it in my personal walk with God, which has grown significantly, and joy that I have not seen in myself for many years. Seeing the change in children and in my family as a whole. The fruits is what I'm looking at.

Anyway, here are some fun pics!! 

Broken Foot and Camp Memories

Ryan entertaining sister while waiting for doctor

So I took Ryan to the doctor to see exactly why he needed to be on crutches and what the damage was.  He had xrays and sure enough he had broken 3 bones in his foot while at camp.  Poor guy!  He hardly complained and was in good spirits even though he was hobbling around.  Thankfully, I already had crutches so I didn't have to buy another pair. 

 

Ryan with a temporary splint

Ryan will be seeing a specialist on Thursday and will get it set in a cast. For now they can't do it just yet because the foot is gonna swell some more.  He's in pain though and has to lay around mostly.  The doctor gave him strict orders to sit down with his foot elevated most of the time.  Only minimal walking around.  When he does have to walk, he gets pretty tired on the crutches.  Poor guy!  We are supposed to be camping this weekend.  :P  I have no idea how hard that's gonna be for him with the terrain.

He still says he is so happy he got to experience camp.  He had an amazing time!  My friend took these pics at camp and I'd love to share.

 

 

Ryan holding the team flag

Chaz and Ryan

Chaz jumping into mud pit

This is where Ryan broke his foot.  After you jump into mudpit, you go to the left and slide down a muddy slide.  Somehow he twisted it on his way down.  After he got home and we discussed the results of test, I asked Ryan to find the blessing in the situation. He thought about it for a minute and then said, 

"I don't have to do chores!"

Our Ice Skating Adventure

Wow!  I had the most amazing weekend ever and my heart is so full from it all!

Ryan and I on the ice

I'm a huge fan of Groupon and love to find family adventures to do through it.  I had found a great Groupon for taking my family ice skating so we went on Friday.  My kids were excited to learn to ice skate for the first time.  It took about an hour just to get our skates on and also learn why it's important to tie them tight around the ankles.  We'd get on the ice and go back to the benches to readjust constantly.

Little Ashley on the ice

I had skated back in my teens and I didn't remember having such a tough time as I did this time.  Finally I figured out part of the problem was not just lack of practice but dull blades.  I took it back to the workers and asked them to please sharpen the blades.  They told me people rarely realize that's the problem and quickly went to sharpen them.  What a difference!  Once they gave me my skates back I was able to have lots of fun skating around with my kids.  

Ivy

Ivy was like an ice skating queen and had no trouble.  She flew around that arena like she had been on it since she was little.  She was begging me to take lessons and let her come back.  Little Caleb had a walker while he was getting used to the ice.  He was in love flying all over the ice!  The older boys had a tough time with their dull blades and bad shoe lace tying.  I kept trying to get them to get theirs fixed but they never did.  LOL.  So they skated on the outskirts a lot.

Caleb with his walker learning how to skate

By the end of the night we were all exhausted and could definitely feel how badly our legs got a workout.  When we got home the kids passed out.  Oh man!  That worked out great.  Ha.

This picture truly captures his energy level!  Ha

Second Day in Vegas

Forgive me for not posting much! My computers stink and I'm having so many problems with them. It gets so irritating that I'm resorting to blogging from my phone again. I don't like it because it pushes all my pictures to the bottom of my posts. Oh well. I'm such a busy mom it's hard to find time to sit at a computer anyway. :P I'm writing at the dentist office while my kids are getting their checkups.

Our second day in Vegas we were feeling like we didn't get to see enough and had a family discussion about staying longer. So when my sister Jodee asked if we wanted to come visit their church. I was like yeah! Jodee and Dan have always amazed me because ever since they got married, even before, they just had a vision to reach souls for Christ. They haven't looked back since. They even built a church in South Africa for several years and did a really good work there. So we were excited to see them while visiting in the area. The kids got to see their cousins. That's all the pictures you're seeing on here. ;)

After church we went to the Bellagio and watched the fountains. It was around 11pm but we didn't care. Vegas is fabulous at night! The fountains were so beautiful and are synchronized with music.

It is super fun to shop in Vegas. I've always loved bling on everything and that's where I can find it real easy and not overly expensive. Charles is stinking awesome because he kept making me go into stores to buy all my favorite stuff. Even if I was holding back he would tell me to find stuff because it's harder to get where we live. :D Yay for guys that love to give to their wife!

Family Fun: Old Rules Out the Window

I've needed to paint sooooo bad but because I am so bad at picking out colors I haven't done it. I dread it because 90% of the times I painted, I disliked the results. Today I went out and bought some paint for my scuffed up hallway and I'm not feeling too confident about the color. Sigh.  I have to paint though because in my house we made it super kid friendly. We laid down all tile which means roller skating and scootering (making up a word there) is allowed. That means the hallway gets lots of marks. ;) Rough housing on the couch is allowed which means we have gone through couches faster than probably other families.  That's okay.  It's a fun house!

Recently I took Ivy to a waterpark for her birthday and it was really scary. No joke. They have added some scary slides at that place. I screamed on every slide and closed my eyes on about half of them. By closing time I was so relieved it was over and collapsed in bed once I made it home. Eek!  Unfortunately, my boys are now asking for that experience for their birthday. I'm thinking about hiring a friend to go in my place. I know. Super wimpy of me. Big complaint here of something that really bothers me. These places can be so unfriendly to families because of all the teensy, weensy, itty-bitty bikinis. I wish so bad they had just one family day that had a one piece dress code. I won't even let my 8 year old wear a bikini. A 5 year old? Maybe. I basically put a halt on it when Ivy started kindergarten. One time I had a 10 or 11 year old girl at my house and she ran out to jump on our trampoline in a tiny bikini. I chased her back inside and asked her to get some clothes on. I have boys in my house. ;)  Gotta protect my boys.

In just a few days I have a teenager. Aaaaaaagh!

I'm No Supermom...Not by a Long Shot

I'm doing some research before I make a final decision about this upcoming school year. Basically, my kids are spoiled.  I think they are spoiled rotten at times.  Deprived you say?  Bwahaha!  My kids have memberships to the huge 3 story science center, a zoo membership, gym membership.  They don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn and they get to leasurely eat breakfast every morning.  While they lazily sip on their morning hot tea, they are either listening to a family bible study by me or watching an educational video.  School comes some time around 10am or maybe starts at 11am.  Depends on when mom's brain wakes up.  That only comes after a good dose of coffee.  They get done in a few hours, maybe only two if they really concentrate, and then they start their chores.  If they are lazy about it they finish in an hour.  When they are really good at it they are done in only a half hour.  Yeah, young ones have dissected and learned the insides of some animals before most kids ever get to.  It's weird having a five year old depressed because her older brother got to dissect a frog before she could.  Yeah, my kids have it amazingly good.  I don't have to worry about late nights at church and having to rush them to bed because of school in the morning.  We have such a good life. 

Do you think my kids would be at my feet thanking me for the good life they have?  Noooooo.... they think schooling takes too long and chores take to long.  They've completely forgotten their days of public school that they hated, hated, hated.  They hated the long days, hunger, and bullying. They hated getting lost in the system because the teacher had moved on before they were ready.  They hated the hurried lunches and the lame 5 minute recess.  Did you know they've cut recess waaaaaay down?  When I was a kid we had a good 20 minutes-30 minutes of recess.  I needed to get all that energy out.  I'm sure my teacher begged the principal to give me Benadryl each day.  Something to knock me out so she could peacefully teach the rest of the class.  A week ago I told them I wasn't sure about another year of homeschooling because they aren't appreciating it.  They all cried and hung on my leg.  Please noooooo!  I took a deep breath.  I thought about it while doing cardio at the gym, I thought about it while lifting weights.  I thought about it while swimming my midnight laps.  I thought about it while showering, eating, and just before dozing off.  I ran into a book that just made my heart leap for joy....

Click here to see on Amazon

Wow!  This is about 15 different families that are all in different situations and all homeschool differently.  I needed a way to keep the attention of my kids and it seems what I'm doing isn't working.  It's just not as exciting for them.  I've been devouring this book and can hardly put it down.  There are those perfect parents who seem like they have it all together and their three year old is learning calculus and then there are the ones.... like me.... that give so much to the kids that I'm just happy to shower that day.  Do you know why I go to workout at the gym after the kids are asleep?  Because that's when I have the time.  When I go it's usually 9:30pm-12:30am.  No, I don't sleep in all day.  Heck, I'm writing this at 2am because it's the only time I've had yet I still have to get up with the early risers.

I woke up to this the other day. Juliet trying to figure out how to get
out of her crib.  Okay, she's 12 months! Help!

I get excited when I find a book that just lifts my spirits when I'm lagging inside.  I don't have a homeschool co-op or a support group.  I wish I could have those cheer leaders on the sidelines but I don't.  I have to just keep my faith in God, relying on His strength, my mind in constant study, and my heart resting in God's grace.  That is the only way I can give sooooooooooo much of myself every day without cracking.  I'm no supermom.  Ha...  By a long shot.  I'm related to some but I'm not one.  I just have to work super hard.

 

Good news!  I'm down 10lbs!!!  Aaaaaagh!  NO CARBS and lots and lots of juicing and vegetables.  White meat more than red meat.  I'm learning to make really yummy food and I can eat LOTS of it!  I will share soon on a great Souperman food I now make. Get it?  It's a soup but man, oh man, is it packed of good stuff.  Superman himself might be knocking on my door soon for the recipe. 

Taking My Herd and Tired Body to the Mall

December 5th was our 14th wedding anniversary.  It was a Wednesday. Not only was it a church night but we didn't have sitters anyway.  Charles brought home these beautiful flowers along with a present.  His card and words were amazing. He makes me feel cherished.  ;)

By Saturday I just felt worn down. All this up and down stuff with doctors, trying to keep up with the house and homeschool,  it was just harder than usual.  Usually I am just packed full if energy and rarely ever sit down. I have to stay busy and love to. Now, I'm wiped out pretty quick and have to take rests. It's okay, just different.  My mom has just been amazing. She has been picking up our dirty laundry and taking the kids places to let me rest. I know it's not easy for her and she is disrupting her routine for me.

By Saturday I just desperately needed to get out. Charles took us to the mall. We played games, rode a theatre roller coaster, ate at the food court with my dad, and walked around just having fun looking at everything.  At one point I couldn't take it anymore, found a corner, and just sat down on the floor. I was completely exhausted and couldn't do it anymore. Everyone waited till I got back up and then we had some more fun. ;)   It was such a wonderfully great night and much, much needed.

7 month old Juliet wearing a mask. :D

My dad came and hung out with us

Caleb holding my hand



Watching the coins spin around



Inside the "roller coaster theatre"



Celebrating Ashley's 5th Birthday Party with Just Us Girls

We had to celebrate Ashley's birthday late but for this birthday it was just my mom, dad, Ivy, Ashley, and I.  My dad just met us for dinner and then us girls headed over to Chuck E Cheese.  

My dad is so good at winning these things and he got one of the first try.  Sheesh!  Isn't it funny though how the people tuck everything in so tight?  We were lucky to get that one because after that he couldn't get a second one.  I mean, nothing budged.  I seriously need to own one of those machines.

It is really, really nice to spend time with my parents.  I always wonder what life is gonna be like when all my kids grow up and I'm still here without them.  Are they gonna move far away?  Are they gonna want to bring their children here?  Charles and I have already planned out making one of the rooms a guest room and another one a nursery....just in case anyone will bring the kids by.  I know that's really thinking ahead but I love family around me so much.  It was even a little bit hard going to Chuck E. Cheese without the rest of my family.  We still had fun but I can't help feeling like that.  I think the hard part about being a grandparent would be knowing that you aren't the decision maker on raising the kids anymore.  Your job is done and however your kids decide to raise their kids, that's their choice.  

Have you ever been to Chuck E Cheese during the school year on a week night?  It's so empty AND wonderful!!!  We had the whole place to ourselves.  Usually the place with all it's noise can get really crazy but it was much more enjoyable with not having the over crowding.

Chuckie completely caught me off guard.  I turned around, saw him, and almost fell over.  Sheesh.  Ha ha.

I think the girls cared more about winning tokens then anything.  Ashley was excited about her winnings!  She still carries them around everywhere.  She's so polite though so when we got home and the kids wanted to try out her things she said yes.  I told her to be careful because they break easy.  She shares everything.  Her toys, candy...  The wonderful thing about having several kids, they learn to share so much easier. :)

Happy birthday my sweet princess.  My 5th child turned 5.  You have been so easy to raise thus far and you always have such a sweet spirit.  You even skipped the terrible twos.... I need more of you.  Heh heh.

After Chuck E Cheese we headed to McDonalds so we could have coffee with the cake.  Boy, my mom is a night owl and we only left at 11pm because they were closing.  LOL.  I got my night owlness from my mom.  

So you know how I'm on a diet?  Seriously, I love my diet.  I basically eat only meat and vegetables.  I allow myself only 25 carbs a day MAX.  That's usually just from my milk and coffee creamer.  I ate two tiny bites of my cake.  Heh heh..... so proud.  Seriously though, we went to Denny's, Chuck E Cheese, then McDonalds and I still stayed within my diet.  I'm so proud.  Pat on the back, pat on the back.    :D