Seeing Livi's face

On Sept. 19th, 2010 we got the email that had Olivia's file in it.  Pictures of her, medical records, her story, her likes & dislikes, her diet, personality....everything they knew about her, we got to read.  It was the part that said she was "Outgoing, extroverted, active.....likes noisy and busy places......and likes to imitate and show off..."  that got our attention and helped us KNOW this was a child who would fit right in with our noisy and busy family. 
I can't believe it's been a year already.  Here we are all this time later.....know knowing her firsthand, not just by what we read about her......and realizing that the person that wrote that report.....knew what she was talking about. 

Our new addition

Not me, of course.  hehe...
But we did have a new little nephew and Godson come into the family 2 weeks ago. 
Baby Joey was born on Sept. 23rd in the A.M.  weighing......I can't remember....and a certain number of inches long.....gotta think about that one too.....Hmm...not a very good Auntie. 
Hey, don't feel bad Amy if you're reading this.  I can't even keep my own kids' weights and lengths straight.
Anyway, all that matters is that he's here and he's just precious.

Welcome to the world little Joey!

Waking back up....

Holy cow.  Now, this is just crazy.  I have been so good for over 2 years on keeping up with this blog and now, for the past few months, I've hardly said a thing.  I know what started it.  It was when Jay got sent to second shift at the end of July and stayed there through September.  The boys were still off of school and Jay was gone from about 1:30 - 11:30pm Mon.-Fri.   It was terrible.  Especially because at the same time, 3 of the boys were starting football.  Something that was in the evenings when he was at work and so was I a couple nights.  Long story short....our parents were so helpful and we got through it, but not before I seriously thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown.  Not a good place to be.  The house got neglected.....the marriage got neglected......this blog got neglected.  Everything revolved around our crazy schedule and passing eachother in the foyer as one got home and another one left.  But for now...Jay's back on his regular schedule, football is over, we're in a routine that is easier now. 
I really need to get back into a habit of posting. 
I wonder what I can do to get into a habit of excersizing.....
Hmmm.....

Children's Museum

Okay, so here we are again......always on the lookout for cheap and free things for our huge family to do.  Not an easy task sometimes, let me tell ya....

But this one is a good one.  Every third Sunday of the month the Children's Museum is free.  YAY. 

We take advantage of it at least once a year and this was our month this year.

I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.  We had a great time! 



Saints game

In August every year, Jay's company sponsors a family outing.  The past couple years its been at the Saints Baseball game.  It's pretty cool actually, because they not only have a picnic area reserved where they feed us dinner before the game starts and get us tickets to get into the game.....they also give every person $10 in Saints bucks.  That means we got a free dinner, free admission, AND $80 in dollars to spend on treats, drinks, food....whatever.  What a deal!  Oh, and they even had the beer free for our company section so you didn't even have to use the dollars on that.  Basically, what this meant was that the boys could have anything they wanted. 
You'd like some cotton candy??  No problem
Cookies?  Sure
Your own lemonade?  Of course
They thought this was great.   These are kids who usually have to share a free refill pop at McDonald's and who, at the State Fair, get told no 10 times more than yes.  I hate that, but it's just the way it is when you have 8 people in your family.  It all gets so expensive, so this was really a treat for all of us. 
Oh, and I actually had $20 in the bucks left as the game was ending so I went to one of the T-shirt stands and got myself a shirt.  Hey, I'm not walking outta that place with it in my pocket.  Might as well get something. 

VBS

True to form this summer, this post is long overdue. The boys had Vacation Bible School the first week in August. Actually, we all did. I volunteered all week as a 5th grade governer and Livi went to the childcare for toddlers.

It's always a great week full of fun and friends, but it's exhausting too. By the time Friday hit, I was ready to be done, but that doesn't mean I won't do it again and again. It's really a lot of fun!

The best part of the week is Thursday night when they have the program. All the kids have a chance to get up on the alter and sing one of the songs they learned during the week.

              Tony's hiding in there somewhere.....

Tanner's turn....

Trae is in the front row with the blue striped shirt

Olivia was really wanting to get up there herself. 

The best part of the evening every year is when the 7th graders get up and do the routine they've been working on.  They all have their faces painted white like mimes and they haven't talked or ate or drank since putting it on hours earlier. 
The performance is always so powerful even when it's not involving one of my children,

but when it does....it just makes an even bigger impact. 

They always do a dance to a Christian song first

Tim is in the middle of the second row with yellow shorts

Then a silent performance to another song that tells a story as they act it out.

This was a part that Tim had at the feet of Jesus. 

I had the kleenex out for this, it just was so moving to see him up there like that.

After their performance is done, they invite anyone who wants to come up and receive prayer.

It's just so amazing to see these 12 year olds praying over all the people.  We waited in the line that Tim was in.  While he prayed for us.....I prayed for him.