Month: June 2008

  • Is It REALLY Friday???

    I can't believe the end of the week is really here.  This has been one of those weeks that has literally flown by.

    Yesterday, Stephanie had a fantastic 30th birthday.  I'll write about that, maybe, tomorrow and post some pictures.

    Today I have JanaLyn with me (she spent the night) and Stephanie will pick her up this afternoon when she gets off work.  I mainly have my own laundry to do and the dishwasher to empty.  I never got around to vacuuming the girls' bedrooms - I was flying yesterday to get things ready for Stephanie's birthday dinner of marinated steaks. twice baked potatoes, corn, and salad.  I still had to frost the triple chocolate cake.  The cake was in the freezer overnight (a trick I learned to make a cake more moist) and I quickly spread the (tons) of chocolate fudge frosting on it, then I inserted 30 candles with "one to grow on" in the middle.  But the house is still in pretty good shape this morning. 

    Unfortunately, the girls won't be able to play in the yard today.  We had the guy that does the chemical stuff for Jesse's mowing clients come spray our front and back yard.  He was here yesterday.  It was quite embarrassing, as ALL of my girls wanted to meet "Dad's friend Rocky" and little heads pushed past me, as I stood with the door half open.  I acquiesced and opened the door so they could meet him!  He said the chemicals for ticks, fleas, & chiggers was pretty potent and the yard needed to be avoided for a few days.  It was okay for Sampson to go out and do his business, since he does it, and then comes immediately back inside.  Stormy won't be allowed outside at all because she sits in the flowerbeds (ROFLOL !!!  NOT exactly "flowerbeds", more like bushes!) and that's too long to have contact with the chemicals, which could harm her.

    I'll share the few pictures I have left of the Lori K's family visit and call it a "blog" for the day!

    Somehow I missed one picture of Sarah giving Stormy a neck massage.  Stormy was a little spooked by so many little people running around the house, and we didn't see much of her.  I think she might have spent a lot of time hiding underneath the beds!!!  But, she decided Sarah might be an "ok" one of those little people - plus, Sarah isn't exactly a "little people."  She is about as tall as Lori & I!!!

    On Sunday morning, it was wild around here.  Imagine 11 people (Jesse had to work on Sunday because rain storms were moving in that night) eating breakfast and trying to get dressed for church and then two children (Rissy and Abby) being tender-headed and also "blessed" with hair that easily tangles!!!!

    I didn't know it, but besides being a college professor, Doug has a side-job of being a hairdresser!  LOL!!!  Imagine that???!!!!  That's Jesse at the computer.

    Poor Abby.  Brushing her hair is exactly like brushing Rissy's hair.  She winces at almost every swipe of the brush, cries and grabs her head, and is extremely tense waiting for the never ending tangles to be brushed smooth again..
     

    Doug's next client was an easier one.  As you can see, a line was beginning to form!

    l think Sarah wasn't as much of a problem as poor Abby.  I doubt that any of the clients left him tips, but he could definitely make some "moola" off of this talent he has successfully  kept hidden from me for years!

    Luci has the curliest hair I've ever seen and in the mornings she looks like a wild-woman!  I wanted to get a picture of her "bubble head bun" - as she calls it!

    All it is, is a ponytail that's not completely pulled through the finally twist of the ponytail elastic, thus making a bun.  It only stays neat for a while until she begins to twist her hair and mess with it.    This was RIGHT after it had been done.

    We made it to church, but you know the rest of my "church story" from a few blogs back.  Needless to say, Luci's "bubble head bun" was unstrung (as were her mother's nerves) by the end of the church service!!!

    We said our good byes in the church parking lot and that was end of our nice visit.

  • Just for Fun

    I'll have to admit, when it comes to fixing breakfast for my husband before he goes to work (7am) I am a failure.  I wake up "hard" and my family is lucky if I don't trip over them.  I don't speak and am pretty much comatose until 9am.  I can type in my sleep, thus the reason I blog in the morning!

    I don't darn socks, but I do hem dresses and sew on buttons.  I have been KNOWN to darn socks - then came five children and Wal-Mart's cheap prices for new ones . . . .

    This was fun to do and so I thought I'd share.


    102

    As a 1930s wife, I am
    Very Superior

    Take the test!

  • Thursday Thirteen #25

    Thirteen Things
    I Like
    THAT START WITH THE LETTER "S"


    1.  Storms.  I love watching them form.  I love listening to the rain, thunder, and looking at the lightning.

    2.  Schooling.  HOME Schooling, that is.  I think I'm a natural born teacher.

    3.  Swiffer products.  Their dusters, extended arm dusters, floor mops . . .

    4.  Salads.  Just about all kinds.  (Taco, Chef, ones with fruit & nuts added to the lettuce, Waldorf, Carrot & Raisin, Tuna, Egg, Chicken,  . . .)

    5.  Book of Psalm (I know!  I know! - giggling here!)

    6.  Suburban.  My vehicle holds lots of people AND groceries and I feel much safer in a large vehicle than a smaller one.  I also just LOVE filling up at the gas station!  Sometimes: $100/wk!!!!!

    7.  See's Candy.  I grew up on the west coast eating only See's Candy, and I now have it shipped back to me in Oklahoma because (to me) nothing compares.

    8.  Singing.  I do that mainly in the shower now because the acoustics make me sound better than I really am!  I have always been able to relax when I sing. Must be a stress buster for me!  Now Rissy sings while she works and while in the shower - Jesse and I think it's cute.

    9.  Snow.  I like watching it fall.  I like a light snow and a heavy dumping of snow.  It's just beautiful, to me.

    10.  Stormy my little "girl" cat.  She's very gentle and tolerant.  We got her from the farm where we boarded our horse.  She was only a couple months old.  But, every time we went to the farm, she followed us around and if I'd sit, she'd jump up onto me and cuddle on my left shoulder and purr into my ear.  Too hard to resist!!!

    11.  My "sweetie"!!!!  I can't use his name since it starts with a "J."

    12.  Squash.  All kinds.  I like yellow, acorn, butternut, spaghetti . . .

    13.  Swimming.  I'm too embarrassed to be seen in a suit, but I DO get in my children's little pool and float and paddle around.  I also enjoy watching my children play in the pool.  They are so incredibly creative.

    13 1/2.  Stephanie, my oldest daughter.  She is turning 30yo old today. 

    HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY STEPHANIE!!!

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  • After yesterday's muddy mess, I went to a drive through hamburger place for $1/burgers.  After eating (and me not speaking to my children), they took showers and washed their hair and went to bed.  I ended up with a headache (despite my attempt to NOT let the mud mess bother me).  Jesse came home and I told him the story as *I* was preparing to go to bed.  He just laughed and reminded me his sister (JoAnn, the one who was here a few weeks ago) used to eat mud.  He asked me, '"Didn't you ever play in the mud when you were a little girl?"  Indignantly I replied, "NOT LIKE THAT!"  I might have made mud patties, but I never covered my feet to my knees in a mud pack!

    I slept well last night and had to force myself to wake up this morning.  I was having a dream that I was in a beauty pageant and had completely forgotten the words to my song for the talent portion of the pageant.  I was trying to write them on my hand, but my palm wasn't big enough to hold all of the words.  It was a nightmare, rather than a dream!

    I'm speaking to my children again, and so, YES, I guess I still want more!!!

    I'll start more of my pictures and stories of the Lori K's visit.

    Here are some of the pitter-pattering little feet around our house this week-end.  Less than half of the total amount of feet, but many different kinds of feet, nonetheless!  Notice, NONE of them are muddy!  (OK Cherylyn, let's not go there!)SOMEofTheFeetinOurHouse

     

    Jesse took us out to a Mexican Restaurant, owned by a freind of his, as a surprise treat.  All I had planned for dinner was chef salads where everyone could add what they wanted to their own salad.  I used fried chicken strips, instead of the usual cubed chicken, shrimp, or ham.

     

    We cleaned our plates after hogging a ton of food down us at the Mexican restaurant.WeCleanedOurPlates

     

    We ate, and ate, and ate, and ate!  Everyone ordered something a little different and the free sides items (chips with bowls of cheese dip and hot sauce, a plate of nachoes, corn and flour tortillas, and a plate of fried jalapeno peppers) was a loss of money for the restaurant Saturday night, because we clean those up, too!VERYCleanPlates

     

    Rachel (Lori's next to the oldest daughter) really surprised me by ordering Fish Soup (contained shrimp and some other white fish)!  I kept telling (jokingly) Lori it was fish head soup and she kept telling me to hush!  Rachel said it was good, but the broth was a little spicey.  She asked for a "to go cup" to bring the remainder home.  Here is a picture of Rachel's "fish head" soup.RachelsSoup

     

    Then surprise to beat all surprises, a mariachi band showed up.  In the 92 million times we've eaten there, I bet we've only seen them twice!  So I will call this "The Last Supper - Complete with Mariachi Band."TheLastSupperWithMariachiBand

     

    They were very good (loud, but good) and went from table to table playing and singing.MariachiBand

     

     

    And the children and adults enjoyed them.

    ChildrenEnjoyedMariachiBand DougandLori

     

    Especially, Annamarie!  And, maybe not David, so much.  He kept covering his ears!!!Annamarie DavidDidNOTEnjoyMariachi

     

    Lori and I were in the same vehicle on the way back to our house.  We had a good laugh at this next photo.  Oh, the possibilities!  Suffice it to say, we were NOT stopped and forced to take a sobriety test; but, I DO think the two (can't see the other squad car) were following us because of a city violation code about "eating too much."

    PoliceChase

    We came home groaning from our full stomachs and having over eaten.  Yet, Rachel brought out the "fish head" soup and tried to finish it.  She was mortified when she spilled the soup on the formal dining room tablecloth and apologized a hundred times over.  I explained to her it wasn't an expensive tablecloth (maybe $10) and that we could wash it.  I also told her to take off her t-shirt and I'd get the mascara and soup out of it.  I'm like Kelly Rippa from the Regis Philburn show - I can get a stain out of almost everything.  We ran the two pieces successfully through the washing machine and Rachel apologized again.   Poor girl!  But my miracle working stain removing technique had worked on the shirt AND and the tablecloth!

    That's all the pictures for today.  I think I'll try to do a Thursday Thirteen tomorrow and then finish up with the last of the pictures on Friday.

    Yesterday I went to Wal-Mart to finish shopping for Father's Day and Stephanie's b-day presents.   Last night I realized I had one pill left (the pill I take at night) and called the Wal-Mart pharmacy.  Surely I had called a refill in and had either forgotten to pick it up; or, I had done one of those clever things - like  put it somewhere in my house (you know? a *good* place so you won't lose things????) and couldn't find it.  Nope!  I had not called in a refill.  So, like it or not, I'm going back to Wal-Mart today to pick up a prescription. (sigh)  Such is life.

    I just talked with Stephanie.  After I pick her up from work tomorrow, she & JanaLyn will come here for her steak dinner (and the triple fudge b-day cake) and spend the night.  The next morning I can take her from here to work, saving me an extra trip the night after her b-day dinner, and just bring JanaLyn with me on Friday.

    Other than doing the never-ending laundry today and picking up that silly prescription at Wal-Mart, I have no other plans except to make all of the beds our guests slept in, as well as Annamarie and Luci's bedding needing to be washed, since Luci had an "accident" last night.

    I may vacuum and run a Swiffer duster and go to the bank to deposit Jesse's business checks.  Not a very exciting day, I'm afraid. 

    The girls will NOT be allowed outside, so that piece of my day is under control! LOL

     

     

     

     

  • No Headache (Yet)

    Last night it rained.  It rained A LOT!!!!  I think we got 3.5" in our city.

    I let my girls play outside in the backyard this afternoon.  They asked if they could go barefoot so they wouldn't accidentally get their shoes dirty.  I thought, "What thoughtful children," and agreed going without shoes would be fine.

    I had relaxing music playing in the bedroom as I wrapped Stephanie's b-day presents (June 12th) and Jesse's Father's Day gifts.  All seemed to be going well.

    Then . . . .

    "THEY" came inside, alllllll the way back to the bedroom to tell me,

    "LOOK AT OUR FEET AND LEGS!  IT WAS AN ACCIDENT AND IT GOT ON THE CARPET!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

    This was after most of the mud had been rinsed off.

    I have a white throw rug by the back door, which is (fortunately) washable and bleachable.

    And we have (correction:  used to have) off-white carpeting throughout the house.
    This represents the trail from the back door (through my formal dining & living rooms, to my bedroom, to down the hall to their bathroom.

    They will have a homeschool Chemistry Class 101 on how cleaning chemicals react on what used-to-be white carpeting.  Oops1  The can just ran out so now they are using a small amount of dish liquid soap in and a brush.

    I simply
    refuse to let this be MY problem today.  I don't want another headache
    and, right now, I'm not sure I want any more children!

    Perhaps I'll feel differently tomorrow.

    I need to go find my box of chocolates.

  • The Stories Continue

    I added a few more pictures today to go with my stories about Lori K's family visit.  It was so much fun and there was so much activity all the time.  Very few arguments or crying (mainly Luci and her son, David who is on steroids - which makes him aggressive).

    Despite the umpteen children we had in the house, there was still a lot of opportunities for Lori and I to talk.  Doug was studying for the church camp's Bible lesson/theme and Jesse worked on Friday.  I had to take Stephanie to work and pick her up later in the day, so JanaLyn was with us most of the day.  We made taco salads (make your own) for lunch and had chicken & sauce over rice with glazed sweet carrots that night for dinner.  I had a "Punch and Pour" cake for dessert that night.  Adults sat at the formal dining room table (that included two of Lori's oldest daughters) and the younger children sat at the kitchen table.  Good thing, too, because there WERE spills and clean ups galore.  Praise God for tile floors and plastic table cloths!!!

    The children played outside a little bit.  I was reluctant to let Rissy outside much because she was suffering from a reaction to a chicken pox booster shot she got May 19th.  She literally had what looked like chigger bites that would blister up into a watery bubble (the kind new shoes give you) and then they would crust over.  Our pediatrician said she wasn't contagious at all - so not to worry, but I did.   I was so against getting this new booster shot but caved in when she said if Rissy actually got the chicken pox it could kill her because of her asthma and respiratory (etc.) problems.   When she was younger and had a measles vaccination, she broke out with 48 hours of the measles. Poor Rissy.  So, she didn't go in the backyard as often as the others.   And, no one stayed out long because of the high temperatures and muggy humidity.  Lori's David wanted a popsickle  so bad after he saw a few in my freezer (like 4 of those Pop Ice things) and wouldn't give up asking 92 million times a day.  We told him there wasn't enough for everyone and I'm sure he figured, "So what.  Just give them all to me!"  We have a house alarm and every time a window or door is open the connection is broken and the alarms beeps.  Our ears suffered tremendously and we finally did the "Stay in or out - but pick one place, NOW!" ultimatum!  Eventually, they all came in because it was just too hot, even in the shade.

    It was hard to get everyone together at one time, but I caught a couple people together here and there and grabbed my camera.

    This is Lori with Sarah & Rachel standing behind her and Keziah on Lori's lap.  The pheasants in the china cabinet's top shelf (behind them) are some of the few pieces my mother made in ceramics class when I was VERY young.

    And another shot of the same.

    My "new photographer" (Rissy) insisted on taking photos of me and one of Mrs. K. and me.  From Rissy's perspective, and me looking as tall as the doorway, you can tell a short person took these pictures!  But, they turned out pretty good, nonetheless!

    Sitting proved to be a better angle for her, but she forgot to tell me to smile before she clicked!!!

    I just found another one of me being the same height as our doors and a little blurry.  Lack of perfection upsets Rissy, but I'm posting this anyway.

    She took two pictures pictures of Lori and I.  Lori and I almost busted our guts laughing at the first one.  We were hugging and our stomaches (together) made hugging look like an impossible feat.  So, we asked  her to aim ABOVE our chests!!!!  I WON'T show the tummy picture - but I'm sure Lori and I will laugh about that in the years to come!  Honestly, we laughed so hard, it was difficult to pull ourselves together for this next picture.
    Again, we look gargantuan (tall, I won't say large bellied!!!!!!!!!!!) women with the doorways being the same height as us!!!

    I caught a "moment" when Luci, Keziah, and JanaLyn were playing together.  One or the other was constantly on the move, thus the blurry Luci part!

    Finally, this doesn't have anything to do with Lori K's visit, Rissy surprised me by making brownies yesterday ALL BY HERSELF.  By that I mean, she followed the recipe, put them IN the oven and took them OUT all by herself.  I think she did bring me the timer to set - but I never moved from my desk chair.  I showed her how to test brownies for their "doneness" (unlike cake where you use a toothpick) by pressing the center to see if it's firm and springs back a little.  She couldn't find chocolate frosting (I went out to the garage pantry to look and we didn't have any left) so she got Cool Whip from the freezer, let it thaw, and used that as a topping.  Pretty yummy!
    This is what's left, after we all indulged in dessert last night!

    Stephanie's b-day is Thursday and I know she has a short shift at work.  I think she gets off at 1:45pm.  I just don't know what to do for her.  She's turning 30yo.  I have some gifts, nothing great, and gifts for the girls to give her.  I thought about making that same triple fudge chocolate cake I made for my birthday because she enjoys it as much as I do.  Chocolate loving must be a genetic thing in my family!

    Anyway, I'm taking the girls out today, later on, to shop a bit more.  Also, I just realized I haven't bought Father's Day cards for my dad or Jesse's dad who both live in another state.  Oops!  That's on the list for today!

    We've decided to paint the girls' (Annamarie & Luci) room a very light shell pink.  Then, the guest room will be a creamy color, lighter than the built in shelves, cupboards, and wainscoting.   I just can't figure out that color and have given up on trying to find a green that goes well.  Off white, or beige, will be fine.

    FINALLY, a caseworker from Dept. of Human Services - Foster Care called yesterday.  I've left messages for the past four weeks and no one returned my call - yet, they are desperate for foster homes.  He will come out here next Wednesday afternoon to talk about reopening our home and do our home study.  I pretty much know the drill and what we'll have to do.  Unfortunately, because I allowed our home to close and didn't keep up with the yearly training, we'll have to start from square one.  I don't think they can make an exception for us - but who knows? maybe if they are desperate enough for homes and we have some caseworkers from our past recommend us as an excellent home . . . .

    We want sibling groups this time (something most foster parents DON'T want) and would prefer girls (for our own girls safety) but, never say "never."  That's partly why I decided to paint the large guest room beige.  I have all girlie bedding for the beds that will be in there, but I suppose I could find some discounted bedspreads that aren't laden with  pink rose or white eyelet with ruffles!

  • Rain and Some Happy Memoris

    Poor Lori K's family.  The storms started last night and are still going on full force this morning.  They have a great shelter (a/c & all) but I'm sure it's a muddy mess at camp.

    I fell asleep (AGAIN) on the sofa (after eating) and Jesse woke me up (nearly stopped my heart! - he really startled me!) and told me to go to bed.  I DID take 2 headache pills and slept through the night except for 92 million bathroom trips due to the excessive amounts of water I had been drinking - an attempt to drown my headache.  I feel great today.  Who knows what was up with me (besides Luci's fit in church and my anger) yesterday?????

    I'll share a few photos each day this week of Lori's family's visit.

    This is  Keziah (holding her baby doll), Annamarie, & (granddaughter) JanaLyn

    and THIS is  Keziah, David, Annamarie, &  JanaLyn
     

    Keziah flying solo (which rarely happened in our house this week-end!!!).  Isn't she a beautiful little girl?

    The K family are animals lovers, just like ours, and my question here is . . . Does Sampson love Sarah?

    Answer:  YES HE DOES!!!!!!!!!!!

    I caught Lori trying to take my picture . . .
    then, she caught me trying to take hers.  You'll have to see if she posts that one at her blog site, as it's on HER camera!

    We attempted a group (minus many) photo:

    As the children echoed, "We love you Mrs. K!"
    As you can tell from Mrs. K's face, she "loved" them, too!!!!!  LOL

    Seriously, since JanaLyn was here most of the time, we had a ratio of 9 children to 4 adults, sometimes 3 adults when Jesse was working!!!!  There was no such thing as "alone time" not even in the restroom.  There was always a knock on the restroom door followed by, "Could you please hurry.  I gotta go, too!"

    I was successful in getting a picture with most of our children (minus David, Rachel & Sarah) ~
    From left to right: Keziah, Luci, JanaLyn, Annamarie, Rissy, & Abby.  No one looks particularly thrilled, do they?

    I FINALLY caught JanaLyn smiling.  I think 9 children (and being an only child) was a bit overwhelming, although, I promise, she had a good time!


    That's it for today.  I have tons more to tell, as well as photos, and will share later in the week.

    I have laundry (what ME?  laundry?) and some light housework to do.  We
    ate dinner out on Saturday night, so we'll have what I had planned to
    serve our company.  Chef's salad with strips of fried chicken instead
    of the usual ham or chicken cubes.

    Oh, before I say "good-bye" . . . I was praying about the situation
    with Luci and my anger, and God reminded me of a book I bought a month
    or so ago.  I went to the bookcase and it was right there:  "Putting
    off Anger - A Biblical Study of what ANGER IS and what to DO about it"
    by John Coblentz.  Praise God for His faithfulness!

    Have a blessed day!

  • Good-Bye Sunday

    This morning, Lori K's family and the girls and I (we have pending storms and Jesse had to mow so he wouldn't get behind) went to church together and then had to say good bye as her family headed off to church camp. 

    Church was great (sermon-wise) and Luci was horrible (DIVA-wise).  I had to take my 3 children outside and sit them on benches in the atrium area.  Luci continued to whine about everything under the sun.  Finally after hearing, "I'm cold" 92 million times, I opened the outside door and set her rear-end down and walked back inside.  I could see her through the glass, so I could keep an eye on her and so no one would steal her.  But the glass wasn't necessary, nor was the fear of someone stealing her, as she screamed and kicked and threw another screamin' meany fit.  I definitely knew (because I could hear her and so could the people in the back pews, I'm sure) she hadn't run off, and I seriously doubted anyone would try to steal a child acting like that!  I refused to leave early and waited in the atrium for communion.  I slipped through the sanctuary doors to the back row for communion and then sat back in the atrium (now Annamarie was outside with Luci, who was still screaming and kicking).  I waited for the offering plate to be passed and slipped back into the sanctuary.  I put my "two cents" in and whispered to Lori's daughter I was taking the girls to the car and would wait there until the service was over.  I WAS  NOT A HAPPY CAMPER!

    I was able to go back inside and say hello to a few people after the service ended and then gave hugs the Lori K. family saying "good bye."  They invited us to lunch, but I felt it was best to get Luci home and deal with her (punishment) ASAP.  Unfortunately, I let her get to me this time and was feeling furious and not controlling myself well at all.

    I ended up with a headache (slept for 3 hours this afternoon, so my anti-anxiety drugs must be at the correct level).  I still have that nagging headache feeling after taking some Excedrin.  I didn't have much of an appetite, but ate a hotdog and drank some V-8 Infusion juice, so I wouldn't have a low blood sugar problem to deal with, too!  If my headache isn't gone by bedtime, I'll go ahead and take my "mild" headache pills (Fiorinal w/Codienne).

    I have some great pictures and stories from the Lori K's family visit, and tomorrow I'm sure I'll feel better, so I'll start posting stories and pictures soon!

    We had a great time, and we said they were welcome to come again next year a little early before their camp started   This was WONDERFUL - spending time with Lori.  Well, you'll hear more about it later!

    I need to RELAX (ROFLOL!!!!), or at least try to, before going to bed!

  • The Last Hour of Fabulous Friday

    The only reason I'm able to post a few pictures is because seven of our eight children are finally asleep.

    Stormy was thrilled (as were we) to see the arrival of Lori K's family.  Tickled pink, I'd say!.

    She knew
    she would be receiving the doting affections of eight children, plus
    JanaLyn (child #9 for a few hours).  And she heartily meowed her "hello" to everyone!

    As I said, almost all children are in bed and Lori and I finally found a minute to exchange birthday gifts.  We took turns taking pictures of us with the wrapped gifts.  I opened mine first, but here is Lori because she's much prettier than I (and younger)!!!!!!!!!!

    And here's me, the older version of "the birthday girl," holding the still wrapped gifts!

    It is the end of a long day, we're both tired and headed to bed.  Bet we don't have a problem sleeping tonight!

    By the way, we ended up buying each other similar gifts. 

    True sisters!

  • Fabulous Friday

    Things here are wonderful - loud - but VERY wonderful!!!

    Lori's family arrived safely (made it through some horrendous storms) a little after 11pm last night. 

    I had to pick up Stephanie this morning and bring JanaLyn home with me, until I went back to pick Stephanie up (with JanaLyn in tow) around 3pm.  Lotsa drivin'!

    Anyway, some children are outside, some inside watching TV, Lori is napping and her husband is watching the TV with some of the children.  Shuwee!  That accounts for everyone, I think!  Oh wait, Jesse . . . He had family come in town from Louisiana and he decided to show them around downtown a bit and will be home soon.  "Speak of the devil" - he just walked in1

    Well, guess I should go.  No pictures today.  Haven't even had time to pull out my camera.  It's been "child management" all day.  Between their five and our three, plus JanaLyn, it's been a virtual daycare!  But in a  *good* sort of way!

    Post more later.  Bye y'all!