No Jackson, those aren't pants!

they went back to school :(

I was NOT ready! But all the forms were filled out, the school supplies bought, and we were all up so I figured, might as well send 'em! Getting back into a routine that involves getting up in the morning and me running around hauling kids places is not my idea of fun. You parents of kids who do more than one sport apiece get plenty of applause from me! One is hard enough for me to keep track of.

We had to do first day pics in 2 shifts! Well, not really because Jack didn't go but he was awake when the middle 2 were going so he got in the shot!

Here's the JUNIOR in high school (how the he*% did that happen!), the 8th grader, and the 5th grader. Ty changed schools this year so it was a BIIIIIIG day for him.


And here's the younger 2 ready to walk out the door (and the little guy with his blankie buddy!).

Finally, Pics!

Here's the littlest Warrior fan, gettin' ready for football!


We got to meet some new friends the other day. Ria and Matthew met us and RK and girls for lunch. Here's Braska (we were boring her, I think!) and Jack and Matthew.


On our trip to AR and TX a few weeks ago, we stopped and hung out with Janice and Chase. They moved away a few years ago.


Madelyn and Chase were really good buddies way back in 1st and 2nd grade. I think they had a good time catching up.


When we got to TX, the kids settled in like we lived there! They played together, hung out together, acted like it hadn't been 2 years since we saw them last.


I got to go on ONE sight-seeing trek - do you all remember this house?!


This is funny - When Sherry was showing us the house and I was checking out the pantry, Gracie looks up and says "there's my happy snacks!". When I figured out what she meant, I about fell on the floor laughing! Here's Gracie with her "happy snacks"!


This is all the cuties together (except for my Andrew): Jack, Gracie, James, Tyler, and Madelyn. We had a great time. Love you Sherry! (Why did we not get a pic of you and I together??? Sheesh....)

All About Me

So this post is to let me vent a bit. I'm bummed. I'm old (found another gray hair today), my weight is crazy (like 50 lbs need to go), and I'm tired. Everything seems to take too much energy. I keep thinking my hormones must have something to do with it so yeah, when I can talk myself into it, I'll go to the dr. My house is a wreck and I'm tired of money issues. I have a friend that I truly love, but I needed a break from the drama coming from her. That isn't going well either. I haven't dealt well with the last couple of holidays - no special decorations or food and that isn't like me either. I have pictures I'd like to post but can't seem to find the energy to get them on the computer. Do you see where this is going? I'm a mess.

The kids start school this week which always bums me out. So wish me luck, willya?

Time to Celebrate!

Yay! Turn up the music! Break out the bubbly! What else? Oh yeah, those rolled up appetizers! Get some of those!

Why? Oh that's right, you don't live here. Well, even if you did, you might not care (like the rest of my family). This year, we have 4 children in 4 different schools. Every stinkin' one of those schools wants me to fill out many, MANY forms. We've been in this district 11 years. Can't I just stamp "SAME AS EVERY YEAR" on them and be done with it?! I've been working on them for the past few days and thought I'd never get done. But I am! (Yes RK, even the stuff for US and Jack's transition!) Woo Hoo! Now I just need to drop everything off tomorrow, buy some notebooks and loose leaf paper, and we're ready for school! Yay! Drat :( They really have to go back. We love summer, and staying up late, and no schedules, and doing whatever we want. So it's a bittersweet celebration. I asked my 16 yr old what he'd like to do tomorrow, and his answer was "sleep, laze about, maybe some dawdling, and procrastination is on the list that maybe I'll make tomorrow". Man I love that kid!

Crazy Summer

We've done a lot of stuff this summer. It surprizes me when I think about it. We have less money than usual this year, and yet we've managed to do lots of fun things. I logged on to post about our latest adventure when I started thinking about it. We've managed to do things without spending much, and now I'm monitoring myself pretty closely as far as expenditures. Everyone is having money issues these days, it's time for me to start taking spending seriously. Maybe we can manage a debt-free Christmas this year!

Last week I took the younger 3 kids to Texas! The first night we stopped in Arkansas to visit some friends that moved there a few years ago. Haven't seem them since. It was really a wonderful visit. I missed you Janice! I hope we can do it again soon.

The next few days we stayed with one of my closest friends from college. They moved to TX a couple years ago and man, I miss her and her family. I truly love her kids and it was so great to get hugs from them when we pulled up! The little one was only 2 the last time I saw her. I took pics I will post.

Jack shared in all these adventures, just like any of the other kids. I shared some messages with a friend from a ds forum a while back - about how it surprises some to know that our kids are just kids, and can participate in our family life just like "typical" kids. She had just gotten back from a water park with her little ds angel. My hubby is a laid-back, no stress kind of guy, so when we got the news about Jack's ds (sorry if I've told this before), his response was "whatever, as long as he goes camping with us". I guess I never thought about him not doing whatever it is the rest of us do. I worried about him getting teased when he got older, or having a job he loves, or what would happen when dh and I die. Mostly I don't worry about that stuff anymore (no more than I do for the others anyway!) I see my Cap'n Jack growing and learning, having friends, and enjoying his family. I'll worry about the other stuff later.

2 rafts, 1 kayak, and 11 canoes

That is what it takes to get 14 adults, 18 kids, and 2 dogs down an 8 mile stretch of river on a float trip. It also takes 5 hours (when there are LOTS of stops involved). That has got to be one of the funnest things we do as a family. Family, meaning my hubby's sisters and brother and a couple of special friends. All the kids absolutely LOVE it. This is the 2nd year that we've all gone together, and I hope we continue to go every year.

My nephews Nick and Grant, and my Ty.

My M, SIL Donna, and niece Sydney.

My Andrew, in the canoe that sported his football number (not the 17!).

And here's Cap'n Jack, making faces at me as he sits upon his royal Barbie throne (borrowed from the lovely Sydney - don't worry, we didn't point out the Barbie to him!)

This is some of the group the next day. We picked a great spot on the river, to watch that day's floaters as they went past.

More pics tomorrow!