BBQ with friends

Yesterday James and Angela (a couple that lives near by, and when I say "near by" I mean a 2 hour drive!) invited us for a bbq by the lake....so we packed up and headed off. It was a quick flash back of the good old days when driving cross country with dad, mom and all 8 kids in the old suburban. Kids talking, arguing, entertaining themselves by making weird noises and sounds. And of course lets not forget the "oldies" station where everyone joins in in singing "In the jungle the mighty jungle the lion sleeps tonight.
Good times. So 2 hours later we arrive at the State park where the kids have a wonderful time fishing, riding in a paddle boat,playing tag, eating to their little hearts content and even playing with a snapping turtle that one of the guys caught. It was fun all around, and a tasty BBQ. It was nice to see our "in-laws" Lily, Stephanie, Mike, Kathy and the two youngest kids (sorry I don't remember your names) Silas couldn't come because of work. But over all it was a great day and something I hope we can do more often.
Here's a few pictures for you to enjoy.

Just wanted to Say...

To all my family and friends....I love you!
These past few years have been so hard for me and I feel like I've lost that close contact I had with you, not that you ever left my heart or thoughts, it's just that when you get a disease like Crohn's you feel the world pass you by. But with this pain comes great joy....of finding out just how great family really is, of knowing that somebody, somewhere is always praying for you. And I can't tell you enough how much all of your love, prayers, letters of encouragement has meant to me. You are the reason I'm getting better, you are the reason I'm fighting every day to get a little stronger. You've been an encouragement to me in my lowest hours. So I thank God every day for you and pray that someday we'll all be together again.

Outings and activities

We try to get the kids out once a week to do something fun and educational.
Here are some pictures of them at the library.

















Devin loves to read these old "Dick and Jane" readers


Then we have activities for them to do at home.

Making cookies is always a favorite!


(Grandma's Haven)
Since moving in with my mom and having her help me get well, she's been talking non stop about making our own garden so we can have fresh vegetables to eat.
So one day she got all the kids outside helping her make a cute little vegetable garden. They all loved it!


























Devin, Nina and Amie














Planting seeds

Devin at school

Cute kid

So I'm doing school with Devin today and he's learning all about the calendar, days of the week and months, things like that. He's very into it and likes to see his calendar everyday to see if there's a "special occasions" happening that month. To his surprise I tell him it will be Father's day soon.... ( Yeeeeaay) and mommy and daddy's birthday's this month.....(yippee)!
So then later on in the day I hear him talking to one of the other kids in excitement, "You know how we had a special Valentine's day for mommies? This month we'll have a special Valentine's day for daddies!" Hee hee Kay-sweet! Well that's my little smarty pants for you, ha!

Well, I'm still trying to get the hang of this whole blog thing ha!
I still want to fix the backdrop, put up some pictures etc. This all takes time...something I don't have a lot of right now, so until then this will have to do. :-)
( Thanks Michelle for letting everyone know about my blog...ahum!)

WELCOME

this is my first attempt to make a blog...bare with me!