OUCH!

Our dear Violet fell off the sliding board last Saturday. She came in crying but soon got over it and was back to playing. I noticed that she favored her left arm but I figured it was just sore.  

On Sunday we noticed that it was swollen around the elbow.

So on Monday, after dropping the kids off at the sitter and taking Luci to a new dentist( wish I had my GPS then) I took Violet to the family doctor who sent me somewhere else for X-rays.

      On Tuesday afternoon they called and said there was no fracture but they still wanted to send her to the orthopedic in Hershey and in the meantime put her in a sling. Well, I was at Blue Marsh at this point so it wasn't until Wednesday that I could pack everyone in the sub and go to another unfamiliar location to get her a sling. They finally got back with me for an appt at the specialist in Hershey and I'd need to go where she got the x-rays and get a copy of them to take the specialist.

Well, Friday came and after using my sitter again, Violet and I headed to Hershey with my new GPS.  I had to admit to my sister at this point a tiny piece of me was thinking that something had better be wrong with her arm to make up for all this trouble.The specialist looked at the x-rays and said they couldn't see anything but from the swelling they believe she has a tiny tear in her cartilage at her elbow.

Soooo they put a not so tiny cast on her arm for two weeks. 

What color would a girl named Violet who is wearing a purple shirt pick?  

Now if we can keep this little fish out of the water. 

31st BIRTHDAY

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

This birthday kinda snuck up on me or maybe I was trying to forget about it.

31 yrs. old Yikes!

Whenever I think about hating to get older I remember what I read somewhere. It was a lady who had a sister that died young from cancer. She said that she is sure her sister would have loved for the chance to grow old and spend more time with family and friends.

It kind of puts things into perspective.

Anyway this is what my hubby bought me. I hinted about it earlier in the week. Actually I didn't hint. After a day of driving to yet another unfamiliar place with directions from mapquest printed out, I was VERY frustrated. I said if you want to buy me something for my birthday, buy me a GPS unit. I'm so tired of blah, blah, blah. I'm sure he zoned out around that time.

                             But he did buy it for me because we all know that it's not for him!
                                                              I used it that day, of course!
                                 I even used it to get to McDonalds 5 min. down the road!

At the park with the girls' brothers

Catching up with brothers

We had a playdate last Thursday with Summer, Violet, and Sara's brothers.

This is Carleto. He is the oldest.

This is Matthew.

He is next and a year older than Summer.

 They are being adopted together.

This is their new mom, Mrs. Z. I have known this women for 6 years and she has the energy of a teenager. She has three grown biological children and, I think, 5 grandchildren that she often babysits. She has adopted five preteens and is now in the process of adopting Matthew and Carleto. Did I also mention she works nights milking cows?  This day she had 10 children along.

This is another amazing lady, whom along with her husband is adopting the girls' 2 yr. old brother, Cory. I am so mad that I didn't get any picture of him! He was so busy! Cory and Sara are actually her niece and nephew. She became pregnant with a sweet, little girl that is Sara's age and made the hard decision not to take Sara because they are so close in age. Good for me!!!!

This sweet little girl came up to me and shyly asked me to take her picture. Her uncle jumped in on the picture too. They are Mrs. Zs'.

Have you noticed the sling that's supposed to be on Violet's arm?

That's another story about last week.

                                                         

Blue Marsh

BLUE MARSH

My niece, Nikki finally came home after over a month of leisurely touring Asia. OK, not quite. She was on mission work and from the stories she has told us they were roughing it. I mean, who pays to go somewhere far from home with strangers, to wear the same clothes days in a row, while eating food that will probably make the toilet one of your closest friends? Those who have a heart for lost souls. Now, I'm not saying you have to go over to another country to do that and neither would Nikki but, well, it's so much fun to see new places and cultures. 

Anyway, now that Nikki is home and all is right with the world, she came up to see us. The children adore her and would go home and live with her forever and never look back once. We went to Blue Marsh, a local lake that has a spot with sand.

Summer, Violet, Anthony, Luci

Sadly this is the only picture I have of Nikki but it is her all the way. She always seems to have people who need to see her or want to see her, or really, really love to see her. Ahem, we won't mention any names yet. Ahem, Derek, oops, I'm sorry did that slip out!?

After burning my two red heads in Maryland, I am making them cover up and apply sunscreen multiple times.

OK, maybe this is too much.

When you love a certain piece of clothing you can always buy two!

 

We love the water so much. Please, Daddy dear, can we have a pool!?

PLEEEESE?!

And last but not least Nikki bought the girls' some fish coin purses. The girls love them and use them at church for their offering money.  

Here is the little cutie that joined my family 8 weeks ago.

My niece had her first baby.

I want a baby!

Kidding! I'm enjoying my quiet nights, for now!

Donita, the mom and my mom, the great grandma. Wow, that's the first time I realized that my mom is a great grandma! I'm a little slow!

My sister was there too so I had to get a picture with all our babies.

Me and Sara, Donita and Cadence, Twila and Bailey

Sorry Delena. I must have accidently erased your picture.

Eating and Praying

                                                        

When I saw this I was surprised. I said to Summer, " What are you doing? She will fall!" 

 She said, " No, she's on her bumbo seat."

                

Sara! You are trying to grow up too fast!

And of course everyone wants their picture taken too! Also we need to remember the everyday things in life. Like how it was just to sit around the table and eat!

And how Dad needed the tabasco sauce out at every meal.

  

Here is also a snapshot of our life every evening. Everyone lined up to say their bedtime prayers. Sara was there too, on Quintin's lap.

Camrin & Anya

On Aug. 4 & 5 we had Camrin and Anya over. We had them for 6 weeks through foster care 2 yrs ago. They went to live with their grandparents who have since adopted them. We get them every now and then to give the grandparents a break. We usually take Anthony and Luci to their former foster parents because we can't have more than six children in our home at a time which I don't really know if I'd want to. Camrin LOVES wrestling with Quintin. He is such a glutton for punishment!

The children play so well together.

Rockhall, Md

      For the 3rd year in a row our friends and us have loaded up our vehicles and headed for the water. It is a weekend filled with sweat, sunscreen, bug spray, and too little room with too many children. And we love every minute of it! The first year just us ladies went but now we drag the men down with the promise that they get one day to go fishing. It is so fun to be with these friends and it is always over too soon.
                                 

                                  Bob ans Mary Lou Weaver and family
                                        Their  1 yr old is sleeping.

Jess and Jeff  and their son

Lisa and Shannon and their son

  

    I did not get a family picture of the other family. Jen, Jr and their two sons. Sorry!

Our beach house's living room. It's very small with 10 adults and 14 children. We rented a camper for one family to sleep in.

Quintin with Tessa and Sara

Baby Sara

She loved the sand!

Quintin found a crab.

Eww! a crab!

Double Eww! a crab!

Why must I wear these silly things around my arms? This is as close as I've gotten to the water yet!

 MMM! Sand is sooo good!

The older girls LOVED the water. They were out there most of the time. They would eat a little and then run off! My poor red heads got burnt to a crisp from the shoulders up!

Time to eat!

So many cuties at the beach! 

This man is not too fond of the beach.

But give him a drink and some shade and he's happy.

A snapshot of summer.

A line of wet swimming suits that just helped bring half the beach back to the house.

We celebrated Jayden's 4th birthday Friday night. After that us girls lit out of there for a GNO.

 (girl's night out)

A picture of Jen and her little men.

These girls are as fun as a barrel of monkeys!

We have made alot of memories over the years.

Judy, we missed you!

I had to take some six month pictures.

Jess is such a cute pregnant lady.

I heart being pregnant! For now.

And what would the beach be without making everyone get gussied up and posing nice for some pictures?  Here is my family. Don't we all look happy?!