Our Beach Adventure- Day 1

We made it. Jenn arrived at my house around 7:30 am. We feed the kiddos and packed them up- all 6 in the back!! The great news- no one threw up and the babies even took short naps. We only had to make one short stop for an emergency - "Mom, I have to pee- RIGHT NOW." All I can say is DVD players are wonderful.

After arriving around noon, we feed the kids, napped a few of them and then took off for the beach. It seems like 3 of the 6 kids love the beach and 2 are not sure and 1 only liked the sand. Here are few pictures from our day so far. I have lots of highlights so far but I really enjoyed watching Aiden get knocked over by a wave and then going back for more.

I tried to upload some pictures but blogger is having problems. So maybe another day.

Saturday

My favorite friend posted some pictures of recent outing we took this past Saturday and the details of our upcoming Beach Adventure. Please keep us in prayer. As she mentions in her post 2 Mom and 6 kids under 5. Jenner is faithful in being proactive. I'm just keeping my expectations low!

See you tomorrow Mom & Dad.

Great Thoughts- from Others

I thought I'd post with some links to some blog entries that I've read recently that encouraged my soul. Some of these people I know, some of them I don't. I can say I find it very encouraging to read blogs of other moms. It is hard in here- in our homes- so it helps to know that others are walking the same path with you.

Here are two from Preschoolers & Peace:
So you thought...
Changing

Three from Raising Five:
Set Your Course
Setting My Course-beginning
Setting My Course-desire

From Domestic Life:
Stronghold

From Castro Clan:
Motherhood
What Really Matters

There are more but breakfast is calling.

Girlie Update

It has been awhile since I recorded any data on our little wee one. So I have some evidence to give her when she is 20 and tells me I didn't do anything to preserve her childhood here goes-

On 6/18/07 she had her 6 month visit. She weighed 15 lbs 5 oz and was 25 1/2 inches tall. We both agree she is chunkier than other two were but everyone who sees her says she is small.

She now has two teeth. They both came in over the past week. She is enjoying several solids foods- green beans, peas, prunes, apples, oatmeal, rice, avocado, zucchini and her favorite, broccoli.

She is a real sweetheart and we adore her. She is much more laid back and content than Jotham and Karis were and if it weren't for her ear infections she would be a very easy baby. But even with those she is still very pleasant to be around most days.

As for her ears- she got another infection while we were away, went on antibiotics which did nothing for her, we took her back to the doctor they day we got back and she still had a pretty bad infection and a lot of fluid in her ears. She went on another antibiotic. At this point the doctor is leaning towards recommending tubes. We have an appointment to take her to an allergist, since I read some interesting articles about ear infections and allergies. If you think of her please pray for healing. We can tell when she has fluid in her ears because she stops babbling and cooing and only cries. But when the fluid is gone she says, mamamama & babababa- it is so sweet.

July 4th

We were so blessed to have some of our closest friends over to celebrate the Fourth of July. It wasn't much of picnic due to the weather (it actually hailed) but we had a great time regardless. Not long ago when we got together with these folks there were only 3 or 4 children there. Now there were at 15 kids present. The Lord has truly blessed us all.

Thank you to everyone who came- we love you all dearly and are so thankful that God has placed you in our lives.

I tried to post some pictures but blogger was having a problem- perhaps I'll add some later.

Vacation Part 2- Sea Isle City

After leaving Williamsburg we drove up to the Jersey shore and stayed with Grammer & PPaw for a few days. It was wonderful being in Sea Isle City with them again this year. They always go out of their way to serve us. Last year Jotham wanted nothing to do with the sand and would only stay on the island of mom but this year he enjoyed running around and digging in it. BUT he wanted nothing to do with the ocean and he was very upset if you brought him near it OR if you went in by yourself. I think he was worried we'd get swept out to sea. Karis on the other hand loved both the sand and the ocean. She had a great time running around in it.

We also went to the Cape May Zoo and to Wildwood. It downpoured while we were at the zoo but we had seen most of the animals by then anyway. In Wildwood the kids enjoyed more rides and we all enjoyed pizza at Romeo's.

Here are few pictures.

Vacation Part 1- Williamsburg

We just returned from vacation and I wanted to post a few pictures and highlights from our time away. This year my family decided to go to Williamsburg and we had a great time. It was wonderful being with my Mom & Dad, my brother Josh & sister in law Linda, and my nieces & nephew Ashley, Hannah, & Jude. We went to Busch Gardens, Water Country, Colonial Williamsburg & Jamestown. We stayed at a great resort. The kids had a blast at Busch Gardens, Karis loved the rides. Jotham "loved" the rides - as long as they weren't moving. He so wanted to get on all of them but as soon as it started to move he would start crying- "No More, I don't like it, All Done." He was pulling out all his phrases- actually by the end of our time he started to enjoy them even when they were moving. Water Country has this river, the Hubba Hubba Highway, that you wear life jackets in and float around in. When Karis finally got over her fear and let go of us she doggie paddled around it over and over and just loved it- we did too. I loved Colonial Williamsburg but it was sweltering hot the day we went and I also really appreciated Jamestown Settlement- it amazing to think that everything I experience today in America came from that only 400 years ago.

Thank you Mom & Dad for a wonderful vacation. We had a such an enjoyable time and are so grateful you planned this trip. We made memories we'll never forget.

I took a ton of pictures with our new camera (thanks again Hubby for my early Birthday Present). Here are just a few.