Crochet

Calling all Grannies!!!

Yep that is what I feel like as I sit in my chair and crochet for hours. I never knew it could be so relaxing. If the kids are going wild and are being extremely loud...If Jacob is crying and I need him to just lie there for ten or fifteen minutes in order to not totally spoil him...If I can't sleep or I am holding Jacob and have free hands but can't get up...I crochet! And I love it.

In the past few months I have just become hat crazy. Jacob has four hats. He has an owl, and elephant, a giraffe and a regular hat. Rachel now has a frog hat. The girls boh have hats I made last year but theya re getting better ones soon. Daniel has requested a monster hat...so I will make him one and make Jacob a matching one.

Ella Cate hasa huge afghan I made that is now falling apart but I am steadily fixing it. Jacob has a newborn jacket and he has a cute hooded blanket. I even made him a turtle.

I strongly recommend this. It is great. Even if I don't make anything, I am now at a point where I can crochet just to gt my mind off the things around me...and sometimes I need that.

Big kids outside playing.
Little Dude in bed.
House almost clean in places.
Taking a break from preplanning.
Started a hat for Little Dude that ended up too big for him but great for my Ray of Sunshine..
What a wonderful day!!

What a beautiful day it is today. I can feel the Fall weather coming along...okay, so it is the hurricane coming but in my mind Fall has sprung..or perhaps, Fall has fallen?

We are stil praparing for the beginning of school!!! I am planning and the kids are getting used to a non-summer schedule. I can't wait. Praying for a delightful year.

Jacob is resting on my bed. This is the first baby we have let use our room. I am hoping that next week I will be able to utilize the playpen more at night but my fear is the other kids going in there. So, who knows!!

This morning Rachel has been dancing and 'juggling' one ball. She is quite a sight! I let her stay up later last night and we had a premidnight snack together..she didn't eat much dinner. She and I sat and talked and I fell more in love with her!

Well, the countdown to school is on. I am going to spend the majority of today preparing for it. I hope to convince my mom to watch some kids this week so I can take the oldest two out into Macon and show them around. Our first unit is on cities. It seems a bit boring and we learn about rocks and things. However, if I can get them out into the city to see how it works, then it might become interesting. We are also going to the local state park to find rocks and view erosion patterns....YAY!!





Little Man is coming along quite nicely. He is sleeping better but still likes for me to hold him non-stop. I have a sling for him but I am not sure it is going to be a great school accessory. We will see.





Buddy is going to begin kindergarten here and so he is excited. I hope I can keep his joy going and not turn him into a school h8tr.





My Little Ray of Sunshine is becoming a handful, more so than usual. She has decided to try to put the potty behind her and regress but I have some tricks up my sleeve. Today I explained to her that if she can't use the potty properly, she can't hold Little Man. She calls him Little Dude. When that wears off, I will use her best friend, C as my hold out. We will see.





EC is becoming more like her old self. This past year has been difficult for her. She is now getting her appetite back. For a while I was worried that she would dwindle to nothing but she is back to normal almost. She used to love school but being around older kids and hearing them moan and groan, she has taken up the habit of it. However, she is eager to read so I think she will love this year of first grade.





Bean...well I just don't know what to say. She is a great helper when she wants to. Problem is..she just doesn't want to anymore. She is content to do nothing. Even when she excels at something, like piano, she bails out. So, praying for this one extra hard because she needs a boost.





The hubby and I are doing great. I am doing an intense workout series trying to gain my strength back. The kids pile into the living room and workout with me. So it is like I have my own class at the gym. Daniel likes to flex his muscles so I usually have him do extra push ups to gain some upper body muscles. I can't wait for him to flex one day and a muscle really pop up!!





So we are doing great!!!

Well, we are settling in here. Jacob is feeding about every four hours...well for the last eight hours anyway. I am hoping this trend continues as I need more time inbetween and he needs to grow. His hair continues to grow more red each day. YIKES!!! And I can tell he is going to be tough...he has to be. Everytime he turns around there is another kid in his face yelling and asking him to play.

I have been enjoying my time off of work. I know I put in a lot of time to a part time job(like I have said before, there is no such thing as part time ministry) but I never realized how much time I was taking away from my kids. I did zero camps this summer but I spent everyday with my kids. I liked it. I have been calm on Sundays and Wednesdays because they aren't "work days" right now. However, I can't wait to get back to work...clarify - I can wait, but I will be happy to get back to work and take some responsibility from Layne.

I have been thinking alot about last words today. I watched a show last night that dealt with a father's last words to his son. It hit me, I am one of just a handful of my friends who can even contemplate what that means. Most of my friends have both parents, all their aunts and uncles and even all four grandparents still living. When I graduated from high school I had one parent and one grandparent. I still have all five uncles and six aunts. It blows my mind when someone my age looses a grandparent and they act as if the world is over. I understand the loss is difficult. But I see things with different eyes. I see that we are blessed to have them here for just a little while...this goes for anyone in our lives. I see that the longer we have loved ones around, the more blessed we seem to be. But at some point the idea must cross your mind that they won't live forever. They will die one day, and we can't let that fact or that event ruin our lives. Our purpose here is not to sit around and love each other. It is to create more disciples. I know, my veiw of things is warped because I have dealt with death a lot, mainly in my younger years. My Sweet Granny died when I was 7. My grandmother when I was 8, my dad when I was 9. Several young people from my school died over the years which taught me that death doesn't just take those who have lived a long life. My grandfather when I was 12-13 and my granny when I was 18. We burried my grandfather on my little cousin's birthday and my granny died the day before I began my first job. That taught me that death is truly inconvinent, it is never part of our plans.
Last words are important. The last conversation I had with my dad is in my head. The exact words have disappeared over the years but I know what we said. I told him about my signed papers and that he owed me money. He told me he would pay when he got out of the hospital. I told him how much I loved him and wanted him home. He told me he loved me and that he missed me. Two days later he was gone forever.
My last words to all my grandparents were love-filled. In fact, I called my grandmother back one night the weekend before she died just to tell her I loved her and talk. I had never done that before. I know God was in charge.
So, when your spouse, child, parent, friend leaves you next time, what will your potential last words be? Will they be filled with contempt, hate, sarcasm? Will they be poking fun or condenscending? Or will they be filled with love from you and from the Father? Will you take that step of faith to make sure they know the Lord? Will you make sure they know your stance with God? Your love for them?

Another week has gone by. Not much new is happening here. I am simply tryng to get the house on a schedule and get school planned for this year. I will be homeschooling the kids again but this year Ella Cate will be in first grade so she must do 180 days just like her big sister, Lilly, a third grader. Daniel will aslo be joining us most everyday as he begins kindergarden. Rachel will be in and out doing preschool work and learning basic concepts.

I am very excited. We are using the WEAVER Curriculum and I have planned out the firts two weeks but I am still unsure as to how it works. I hope that after a few months I will understand it totally and this will work with all of my kids through high school.

We will be doing the Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading. I read several reveiws that implicated this curriculum would be great for a child like Lilly who has Dyslexia but then I read a few that disagreed. I checked this material out and I think it will be benficial. If not for Lilly, the others will get a lot out of it.

I plan to purchase Math U See today. It will be our math. I am just not sure which items to buy.

We are using othr resources as well. We have some extra science, handwriting, drawing...things to make learning fun.

We will not be starting school until September so I have time to get ready...I hope!

Life with 5ive

Well, the transition from four kids to five has been very easy so far. Jacob sleeps a LOT!!! That makes it easier to get things done. He likes to be held and I like to hold him. So that does cause some issues. I am waiting for a free(well $11.00 s/h) sling to come in that is supposed to work great for small babies. That way I can work and hold him. I think I may be completely smitten with him. Last night i cold not put him down. I mean, I did for a while then I just sat and waited for him to cry. Then he woke up to have a bottle and I could no put him back down. I cried and cried trying to make myself just lay hm down. I finally just laid down with him on the couch until I got my fill. Then I got up and laid him down. So obvioulsy the hormones are still in effect.
He is cute as a button and his hair gets a wee bit more red each day...I am getting used to it. If he gets the least bit upset, he turns bright red...so we have our work cut out for us.
The others love him. Each day they run in to see him. They 'ohh' and 'ahh' over him and kiss him all over. Rachel can't leave him alone. It is crazy.
But I like it. I think five completes us. I feel so alive...so fresh---after a rough time being pregnant(bc i like control) I finally feel as if i can get started with the rest of my life. The holding pattern is complete.

Jacob has arrived

Well, after a very long and strenuous pregnancy, Jacob Martin joined our family on July 25 at exactly 3:00. He weighed 7 pounds 4.5 ounces. He was 20 inches long and his head was a tiny 14.5.
I can still remember back in Novemeber, feeling as if I was pregnant again. It wasn't quite in the plans but I was happy. I took one test on a Wednesday and it was negative. I decided to wait for about two weeks before I took another one but I could not wait that long. I took it that weekend...it was positive. However, telling Layne wasn't going to be easy. So I knew for a few weeks. Then after we left his sister's house for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, once the kids were all in bed for a nap and he was utterly exhausted...I told him. He was shocked but he was smiling. And really, who can't smile at that point? A new baby was already growing. The Lord has already begun to form Jacob in my womb.
With this pregnancy came a lot of pain in my hips and I struggled with my usual iron deficiencies. That made me very tired but I tried to save up my energy for VBS and things. I did pretty good. I had some issues with my moods and how irritated I get with people. I didn't have a large threshold for dealing with people so I cut down on how much time I spent with others. It worked out.
Then July came. I was ready any moment. I wanted to wait untl Jacob was ready to come but my doctor insisted on inducing so I went along. I didn't get an epidural...so if you are contemplating that route...it is rough but worth it. Call me!:)
Of course those who know me understand that pain meds have never worked well on me. In fact it was pain meds that caused me to say mean things to a man named Travis Tritt one time in an elevator..Sorry about that Mr. Tritt!
Anyway, the Stadol they gave me caused me to have a pretty bad reaction. The nurse said she had never seen or heard of anyone having such an odd reaction. I kept forgetting to breathe(bad sign)and I kept falling asleep. If it weren't for the contractions I think I wold have slept through it all. I mean I was having severe contrations, Jacob was in position to be pushed out any second and I would fall asleep for brief moments. But he came out...almost falling to the floor but my doctor is pretty fast and caught him. I got the shakes which apparently is common with those who do not get epidurals but they should at least tell you that before you begin to think there is an earthquake happening only to realize you are the only one moving sparadically around. Then I fell asleep. I didn't hold or really see Jacob until I was in the postpardum room. The doctor even spoke to a friend and the other doctors in his practice about me because after I had Jacob I didn't speak to anyone, I didn't answer his questions, I just rolled over and didn't even look at Jacob. I guess he thought I was going into depression. It was quit funny when I told his co-worker that I had been asleep. She laughed.
But Jacob is perfect. He sleeps great. He prefers his bottles. He needed the extra iron. I had been warned by the doctors that nursing him would be near impossible due to my iron issues this time. I am fine with that. He is adorable.
Daniel loves to admire him and kiss him and talk to him. Rachel loves to hold him for a few seconds, claims he poots on her and then says "Get him offa me!"
Lilly and Ella Cate have been great. They each have fed him one bottle. Ella Cate loves to take his clothes off and pick out new ones but she doesn't put them on. Lilly loves to snuggle his face next to hers.
I am content to hold him forever. He is beautiful. I am so thankful to God for these little blessings that He gives to me. I know I dont' deserve to watch over His children, not even for one second. Now, my job is to raise these future Gopsel spreaders with love and compassion, discipline and direction and with Godly truths that this world can not tear down.

My oh my...Life happens so fast. It seems likes weeks ago that Layne and I were able to spend some time alone while his sister and her husband watched our kids. It has been a little over a week. We have been so blessed recently...and it is usually in those times of blessings that the enemy(either satan or our own hearts) will begin an attack.
I have been making some decisions lately...decisions that I know God has wanted to me to make for a long time but I was not ready...Imagine that...me telling the Creator of all things...the Master Planner that I had a better idea. What a fool I have been. I look back on several decisions...several relationships that have brought mostly grief and worry...causing me to question God...and the whole time, He was saying "Let Go"
Years ago, walking up a hill while one of the dearest Christian men in my life, a guy by the name of Dean, carried his bike and mine because I simply could not push it any further, I learned one of the most valuable lessons of all times. Dean told me that one of his favorite songs is Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus, because of one line...The arm of Flesh will fail you...as we walked the rest of the way in silence, I could not stop thinking about that line. It was true. Every person, even yourself, will fail you. I thought about my dad, and while he had no choice in the mater, ultimately he failed me. My friends have failed me. My mom has failed me at different times. However, I fail myself the most. If I fail myself on a regular basis, why would I not see that others will fail me to? I don't think I have ever told Dean how much that one conversation meant. To be honest, I have many fond memories of wise things that man shared with me. Right now though, this lessons is first and foremost on my mind. I have put people on pedalstools---that only gives thsoe people more room to fall. I have made friends with people that I knew I should not have---that leads to heartache for others. I am glad that I learned early to never think that just because someone is Christian, that they will never let me down...and I am glad have never thought of myself so highly as to be hurt when I am let down. I am also glad that I learned...perhaps too late in life...that I don't have to be walked on or treated like trash and talked down to...I don't have to take that because that is not what God has called us for. He has said that we should proclaim the Gospel...when we realize that others are hardhearted towards our words, turn and walk away, shaking the dust from our feet - So right now I am getting rid of some of the dust that is clinging to my feet. The dust I carry comes in many forms...So I will shake, shake, shake...and then, the dust that remains will need to be washed off by my Jesus...and I will not anticipate a pedicure-like washing...I anticipate it to be rough and hurt...but so worth it in the end.

I can see clearly now

the rain has gone...

Well, things have gotten a lot better. The Lord heard my cries and He has let me know that He is here. I think being stuck inside with sick kids nonstop was getting the best of me. I am praying we are done with sicknesses. Daniel's little stay in the hopsital was rough. However, the weather has changed. Things are a beautiful shade of green outisde. It feels as if the wintery scales of my heart have been peeled away. I have had some sad news here and there; friends moving, sickness, death...but God is always there to show me things from His perspecitve, which is always so refreshing.

We are almost done with our first and most likely only year of Veritas. Don't get me wrong. Veritas Classical School works great for some families...just not this one. Lilly is the only one who was attending. The curriculum was way too deep and too much for a second grader, in my opinion. I am all for teaching kids as much as they can know but I do believe there are times to teach some things. Why does my second grader need to know about the Byzantine Empire and she can't even find Georgia on a map?

Our school days are winding down. I am excitedly searching for new curriculum. I have decided on a few definate items and then again, I keep looking just in case I missed anything. I am looking forward to next year and school with my three oldest...not sure what I will do with the other two but we will figure it out!

So, my journey seems to be on a smooth uphill. I believe I am past the rough and tumble areas for now. I know they will appear again. My pack seems lighter. If only I had the courage and boldness as to ask the Lord to carry my pack...I know He wants to. Proudly and foolishly I trudge on...hopefully, if the pack on my back gets too heavy I will finally hand it all over to Him. For now, I am thankful for the smooth road, the beautiful scenery and sounds around me. I look back over the cliffs and precipes I have passed and come through. Part of me wants to run...part of me wants to stroll and take my time. This is a nice place. A good way to rest but keep going. I know that if a boulder or fallen tree doesn't appear in my path soon, I may get to comfy and bored. But for now...I walk quietly with my Lord.

It's gonna be a bright..bright..bright SON shining day!!

The Funk

Well, it has been over a month and we have had a bit of excitement here or there but mostly just sick kids. All three big kids are playing ball. We never went on that vacation we pretended to plan. Lilly is doing better in school. I had a birthday that was nothing special - which is how I like it. However, I am in a funk.

I think I am burnt out on life. I feel that I am pulled in about 70 directions at any given second. I can't help but obsess over the little things - dirty dishes, a friend who was offended and won't speak, disobedience from my kids, and a feeling of far-away-ness between myslef and my Lord.

The frustration and confusion has set in and this dark cloud won't leave my skies. I am super tired all of the time. When I do have energy there is SO much work to do that I don't know where to begin. I feel as if I am drowning in a sea of lonliness surrounded by people who don't notice me. I get up to do a devotion and it is superficial at best. Almost as if I am afraid to dive in or if I do dive...I hit a glass bottom and can't go deeper. So I bob along, gasping for air, searching for a new direction. My head is barely above water...my arms are tired of flayling, my legs tired of treading water. If only I had the courage to dive in...Odd isn't it? my answer for this drowning feeling is to dive in further. But that is just it...I need to go deeper - to give up my control - to just not care what others are thinking...and that is the root of my problems. I was the type of person who didn't care what someone thought. I stood up for my beliefs. I was passionate. if I stood true to God and hurt your feelings - not my problem.... Now - I care too much...as if each move I make will cause another to fall or stumble. I pre-mediate all my actions and words...trying hard to not offend, to not upset, to not turn away. I serve all my opinions with a side of soft serve icecream drizzled in chocolate and sprinkles. WHY!!!! This is NOT what the Lord has called me to do. He doesn't want me like this and I know it. I have been worn down by this world. I know what I should do but I am too weak to do it.
Why post this here...uhmmm because I know not on single person who ever checks this stray blog. So I feel okay dumping my feelings here into the cyber world of nothingness in hopes that no one ever reads it. My thoughts and worries are now floating around in a blackened abyss...but still weigh heavy on my heart.

If you do read this - pray...I just needed to vent since I have no one here to really express my inner most thoughts.

2011

Life seems to take over and I seldom have time to do the things that I really want to...such as blog. Autumn was filled with activity. Ella Cate turned 6. We spent our last Thanksgiving and Christmas with Pop, who passed from this life in February. Christmas was eventful. The kids got new bikes. Well, not Rachel. The girls got big girl bikes with no training wheels. They can't really ride them at our house due to elevation concerns. So they have been able to ride once.
2011 began with great enthusiasm. I just knew we were going to have a great year. It has been fairly good. The kids have taken to sharing stomach bugs with each other on a weekly basis. I was so tired of being home that I pleaded with God to make them well so we could venture back into society. So on Valentine's Day He showed His love for me by giving me this dear wish...He flooded my kitchen so that we were forced to live as vagabonds by day for a whole week. The new floor does look nice!
So we have now been 2.5 weeks with no sickies!!!! Well, that is only true if you don't count Layne who has taken to being sick each night but I feel that his illness is due more to his inability to realize that he is older now and can't keep going!! haha

I am doing well. We are going to be having baby number five this summer if all goes well. We have to wait another 2 weeks before we find out what we are having. Everyone is hoping for a boy so that the bedroom situation will be easier.


Layne has just finished his first year of organizing Upward by himself. God urged me(and I heeded - willingly) to step back. He knew there would be a baby coming. So Layne suffered the long days and nights alone this year. However, this program is worth the effort. He did great by the way.



Lilly is 7 and is becoming a good student. She has a want to read now that can't be satisfied yet. Her possible dyslexia is popping its ugly head out quite often but she realizes that there is a problem and is now mature enough to begin to take action.

Ella Cate is becoming quite the young lady. She wants to help more around the house than do schoolwork and since she isn't technically old enough for the county to care, I do allow her to pass on her studies some. She is finally wanting to be outdoors more. I think she feels that we have a handle on her medical issues and she is more comfortable with it all now.

Daniel is a wild child! He wants to do school but doesn't want to sit. He wants to be a lizard keeper but can't stop suffering from lizard attacks. This kids claims to have been bitten by a snail, scratched by a lizard and scratched by an ant with a huge claw. Just yesterday a Lizard clamped onto his finger and wouldn't let go. It doesn't slow him down though. He cries momentarily and then is right back out there. He will be trying out the sport of Tee-Ball this year...we will see how that goes.

Rachel is known as the "gremlin". She likes to be told no or be restricted from something...then she sneaks back to do it...laughing. She is also very matronly already and calls all of her babies "Ruby". She loves to hold a baby doll, rock it, sing to it and then throw it down for a nap. Daniel is still her best buddy and she searches for him first thing each day.
I am again going to make writing on here a priority. Not because I believe people actually read this...but because I like to get my ideas out there and adults are hard to come by in a world filled with kids...the world I live in.
Well, I plan for my next post to be deep and meaningful. Maybe...

Wow! It has been too long!

I knew it had been a while since I had been on here but I didn't realize it had been about five months. Summers are really busy. I have summer camps, VBS, and the KidzRetreat. All of those things went so smoothly and were very successful. The retreat was the best. I really enjoyed my time there with the kids and the middle school kids.

Not much has changed here. Lilly is in second grade now. She is struggling with it all. However, I have read some things that I hope will begin helping her.
Ella Cate us doing a lot of the same work as Lilly but not as much. She still needs to relax and play. She is a super star around here though!

Daniel is quit the little man. He makes friends everywhere he goes. He rode a mechanical bull at the fair. He petted a shark at the aquarium. He has no fear but still begs mommy to snuggle with him each day.
Rachel has surpassed walking and is now running and dancing everywhere!

Layne and I still spend most of our time at church doing work there and he still has his regular job. I have a part time job at Lilly's school. Upward Basketball will be starting soon so I won't get to spend as much time with him.

I will get on my other computer, which I fixed myself and post some pics. Oddly enough, I fixed it but it doesn't run as well. Hmmm....

WOW - I hadn't realized that my last posting was before Ella Cate was admitted to the hospital. So much has been going on.

Ella Cate was very sick back in April. We ended up rushing her to the hospital and she stayed for an entire weekend. It was a very exhausting process. She still isn't back to normal. She gets tired very easily and has a very odd look in her eyes. So, we will soon be visiting a special doctor to make sure her lungs are functioning correctly.

Daniel has been moved to inhalers from breathing machines, however, the pharmacy won't fill one of the prescriptions...why you ask? I don't know. But they haven't gotten it right yet. I guess he doesn't need it right now. He also turned four and we had a little party. He loved it but was upset b/c I forgot to invite his new best buddy - Westin. Plus it was a cowboy party and he forgot to wear his boots. But he did have fun. However, the only parts he remembers are those 2 I mentioned above.

Lilly has graduated from first grade. I was going to go all out and have a big party but I am out of time and energy. I am soooooo glad homeschool is over. We will still be doing school throughout the summer but not on a daily, sit-down and work it out basis. NOTE - SHE CAN READ!!!!!

Ella Cate finished her first grade work also - She can read also!

Rachel has become a constant companion. She won't leave my side. This has good parts and bad parts. She has become very whiney and she falls and busts her mouth open at least twice a week. She did it twice yesterday. Since her tooth is half gone, she open up that space between her teeth each time she falls. So, blood goes everywhere. It looks horrible and as I am cleaning her up, people are looking at me as if to say "One wrong move and I'll call DFCS" but she isn't really hurt, she just can't go long enough to let that place heal.

Layne will be taking the Middle School group at church to a camp this weekend without me. I coudn't find a sitter so I will be hanging with the kids. I think the girls and I might do some fun things to celebrate school being over.

I don't have much going on. Just camps and retreats during the summer. I have a new machine someone donated to the Kids Group - a cricut create. I have been doing all kinds of stuff on it and have revamped my camps to allow me to use this awesome machine with the kids. I think they will love it.

VBS is approaching - Bring the kids!!! We are going to have a blast and the crafts are going to be the greatest!!

Sorry I got no fun or cool or funny news - Just life happening - I had a Thrity-One Party and lots of people came and we had fun. My house is clean. Rachel is in a twin bed. Daniel is in a tent. The kitchen is almost done(waiting on my BIL to help me add some doors btu he is heading to TX this week).

Life is happening and it is happening fast. I can't make it through the day without my Lord. praise God that we can enjoy this life and look forward to the next one.

Now I have to go - I have about 47 million things to get done before church tonight. I promise to add some wonderful things over the next week. When I am not tired from working out.

Oh yeah - I got up and worked out this morning - Ella Cate walked in and told me I looked like I had lost a lot of weight...So the workout was over!!! yay!!

Rachel

Well - Rachel had to have an abdominal xray today. Just a precaution we think...we hope. We are praying that this is just something that needed to be done so that we can figure out why her tummy gets swollen and she has such problems with...well, poop. So this is just an update for you all to know she is doing fine....in fact, the 4 shots she got at her check-up today were the worst part. **Sniff sniff---- Gross, perhaps the poop issue has resolved itself...Need to go change a diaper.

The Party

at the park the next day

Okay - so I last posted that it was Lilly's 7th birthday and we were very excited. We got the food ready(Stouffer's Lasagna) and the cake(really bad for you homemade icecream cake) and the gifts bought(yep - last minute). Lilly had lunch with Grandma J which ended up being all day because they took Old Pop(Layne's grandaddy) to a med-stop and waited for 3 hours.

Well, they fianlly made it home in time to find a giant inflatable cake in the drive-way. The we came in and ate. DELICIOUS!!! We went outside to give her her first gift - A hitchhiker to attach to DADDY's bike(not mom's) which she loves!!! She can ride and not pedal...hmmmm I sense a lazy streak happening here.

While outside, Ella Cate posed for some pics and then realized she was covered in ants...just one bit though. She panick though, this was not her first encoutner with ants. She ran inside and had to get a bath.

Once she was done we opened gifts to give Uncle Ned time to eat. He hadn't planned on coming due to classes but got out early and came over. After reading his card about how sorry he was for not being there.....it was cake time!

Rachel quietly reads a book - unaware of any upcomng danger....yeah - she is 18 months old and can read - we homeschool (KIDDING)

I got the cake out, placed the candles on it and took pictures....So happy that this party was going so well. I was very excited!!! The kids were too. The soon began sing the Birthday song and Lilly blew out the candles. I turned, ready to cut the cake and celebrate....THUD!!! CRYING!!!! SCREAMS!!! YELLING!!!!! - What happened? Had I dropped the cake? No. Had someone fallen? Sort of.

I ran back in to take charge of the situation...Ella Cate had been standing on the sofa...she fell off...Lucky for her Rachel broke her fall...unfortunately for Rachel, the fall broke her tooth.

I gathered her into my arms and tried to wipe the blood away. Her teeth looked funny(we didn't know it was broken yet). My mind raced back to 2007 when Lilly had to have her tooth removed for falling and forcing it up into her gums....Oh no!! her teeth just didn't look right. I told Layne and he pried the child from my hands. He finally sees her tooth is broken. Grandma J does a finger sweep and finds to tooth. Her others are loose. We are devasted. Ella Cate is sure she has killed her sister and is crying in her room(where she was forced to remain all night). In the midst of calling dentists and scolding kids, Lilly looks up as says "This is the worst party ever!"

Before - isn't she adorable - see her cute teeth??

After - still cute but different....

Sorry Lilly Bean but it will never be forgotten. We will make it up to you. We will go out for a fancy dinner for the whole family, and we will not ask to sit in the back or near the restrooms. We will not get frustrated as you make messes at the table and end up not eating your dinner. We will dress you in diamonds and pearls and treat you like a Queen...oh wait, I will just take you to the park and let you play. That will do it.

**Rachel is fine - teeth tightened up- cracked tooth is not sharp

**Ella Cate is fine - emotionally shattered but fine

**Lilly - got to go to the park - she is happy(and lost a tooth herself the next week)

**Daniel - most likely doesn't remember it happened.

**Layne - survived -- but his stress level was raised about 4,000 notches

**Sandy - well - I am fine - not much happened to me!

Happy Birthday Lilly

Lilly is 7 today!!!!

(Keep scrolling)

Mommy and Lilly on her second Easter.

Why Uncle E will never dress her again...

Lilly stole all the candy!!!

Her second Easter....

Cupey baby

"Sleeping" on the church steps

WOW!!! I have been super busy. I spent 2 weeks re-painting my entire kitchen...I painted everything and I will post pics soon but I have been a bit busy and haven't cleaned or done laundry in 2 weeks....so PRIORITIES!!!

Anyway, today my Lilly-bean turns 7. Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday we were eating dinner at a friends and her 6 month old was jumping on my belly trying to get her new best friend out. The next morning, I knew it was time so Layne called in to work and we headed to the hospital...but they sent me home and said to rest. So I did for a few hours but the contractions were getting closer. So we headed back. They let me stay. I did over-exaggerate the pain because I did not want to have a baby at home. It was my first baby and I was scared to death. I ordered an epidural right away(mistake) but I soon could not feel my legs....if only the pain were in my legs. So, I laid there for hours...waiting. And then it all began. Everyone got ready and within moments...and a few "Holy Moley's" Lillian Gabriella Chastain was born. She wasn't breathing well on her own so they rushed her away immediately but she recovered quickly and I was allowed to hold her. Then Layne was permitted to parade her through the hospital to show her off to friends(they don't really allow that anymore). She was born late so we didn't have to worry about visitors that night. He and I were able to rest while they kept her in the nursery(mainly due to the breathing thing) and we got to go and visit her through the glass. Then they let us have her back. She cried A LOT!!!! Not loud but a very sad noise that I couldn't handle after such a long day so we sent her back...and slept. Oddly enough, she slept also. She slept each time we sent her to the nursery...so we sent her alot. Everyone came to visit and it made me very happy. Going home was a treat. We had banners and food everywhere. And my baby girl made my life complete...this tiny thing that I thought was going to be the end of it all...was really just the beginning. She has been a blessing ever since...sometimes, blessings come in a storm...which is mainly how she blesses me. She is hard-headed and is a perfectionist. She is Layne all over and I suffer trying to figure her out...but I would be lost without her.

Right after she was born, I remember looking up at Layne and saying, "Let's have another"....but boy-oh-boy, I didn't mean just 18 months later.

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Lilly and Annie - Best of Freinds

Lilly and Isaac - true love??

Happy Birthday Sweet-Bean!!!