In the family room

Gotta get the obligatory picture at the fireplace.



Here the kids are singing a song from VBS, Who is the King of the Jungle. Keva absolutely LOVES this song. As you can see, it comes with some fun motions.

Who is the King of the jungle?
Who is the King of the sea?
Who is the King of the Universe?
Who is the King of me?
I tell you J-E-S-U-S! YES!
He is the King of me!
He is the King of the universe, the jungle and the sea!

Backyard Snakeskin . . . Ewwwwwww!

I love the two sets of expressions I got for these two pictures of the the snakeskin that the kids found in the backyard: worried, disgusted . . .

. . . to the more realistic expression: utterly gleeful! "Look, Mom, the snakeskin even has the head! You can see where the eyes were!" Great.

* Also note that there are no girls anywhere near this latest find.

"Punkin' Heads"

Kathleen and Kylie sport their orange hair -- something to do on a lazy summer afternoon

Good-bye to Dan and Jess

We waved good-bye to Danny and Jessica yesterday late afternoon. It was so fun to see them for a couple of days and get caught up on the latest family news.

Each night, we played games and talked to well past midnight. They treated me and the kids to lunch twice and Keith and I took them out to Shane's Rib Shack for dinner so that Danny could continue his national rib taste-testing contest.

We also went to Atlanta's Underground Mall and then to the Capital Building. Now the Underground Mall and the Capital Building are pictures in contrast. Airbrushed tattoos, caricatures, cell phone paraphernalia, personalized license plates, and the As-Seen-on-TV store in one place. Statues, paintings, state senate meeting place, the governor's office and stately architecture in another.

It was an adventure just getting into the parking garage in downtown Atlanta -- I'm just really glad that I was following Dan and Jess and not the other way around, or we would have been in a terrible mess. Everyone did well. Konner and Kade only hung off a three-story railing a few times. I was especially pleased with Keva who walked along with everyone really well. Usually, after she's been walking for a while, she gets tired and starts plopping herself down on the ground. This time, she stayed with me.

We were able to suck Danny and Jessica into a few more games. We played Ponce (or Nertz, as it is known by some of the misinformed). Jessica had played before and nearly whipped us all, but Keith game back from behind and won that game. Just the adults played that time because we could only find four complete card decks. We're going to have to take care of this serious deficit.

So today was a day to supposedly get back into the regular routine, except the regular routine has pretty much been absent all summer! I did get up a little earlier than usual and made breakfast. Kade had come knocking at my bedroom door holding his stomach as if dying.

After breakfast, I took Kathleen to go turn in her paperwork for school. We were hoping to get a tour of the campus, but they had just waxed the main hallway. Plus, the poor registrar was somewhat distraught. She had just received a call from a co-worker who had just found out that her mother had died in a car accident. The registrar barely looked at the papers.

Then, I asked, somewhat tentatively, "So, what happens next?"

"Someone will call you."

That was it. No information about when someone might call us or what we could expect. No information about orientation or anything. Just, "Someone will call you."

So, we left.

I did go online to get the rather extensive list of school supplies that she'll need. She needs a zip-up notebook to carry with her to classes, since she can't carry around her backpack -- I'm assuming security issues? Anyway, I've been haunting Big Lots lately waiting for them to put out their school supplies. I got my last calendar book there for $3, and I'm anxious to get what I need before everything is bought out.

For Keri Lynn and Kristofer, I'm to meet with their counselors the week before school starts and decide which classes they're to take. They'll have a chance to go around and look at where their classes will be on the Friday before school starts.

I'm also getting excited about the new homeschool year. My first objective is to get everyone up to snuff on reading and writing. Kylie just needs to practice reading to me out loud, but Kade and Konner aren't reading at all yet. Now that they're older, reading should come pretty fast for them with a teacher that is more readily available!

Next week, Kade, Kylie and Kathleen all go to Camp Sonshine from Monday through Friday. It is also our 19th anniversary week. AND, it's also a vacation week! Whoo-hooo! Keith and I will take a few days out of the week to go on a fling. This is so exciting! I can't wait!

The following week, Keri Lynn will be in the Florida Keys for her missions trip, and then the week after that, we're tentatively expecting the Kings (Ginny and her kids) to come for a visit. Then, school starts. Just like that. Ack!

I have done absolutely nothing towards my job prospects. Nothing. But, I started thinking about going in a different direction than planned. I'm going to specifically target working on publications -- newsletters, brochures and the like -- perhaps at our local hospital, our church, other business. I actually have some experience with this type of work from working at our church office 16 years ago and lately just from being a blog geek. And it's definitely something that I would be interesting to do! So now I feel that I've got an angle for my short-but-sweet resume.

Cleaning for Company

Most of this day was designated to mad cleaning for company. Why, O why, do I do this to myself? Why can't I keep a clean house to begin with? Why can't I diligently clean throughout the week even? Why do I keep stuff to the very last minute?

I even told the girls, Keri Lynn and Kathleen, the only ones left from a marathon cleaning day, that when they grow up and have their own homes that they won't do this. "You'll clean things ahead of time, right? In fact, you'll keep a neat home and won't remember any of your mom's bad habits, right?" They both replied that they honestly didn't know how they'd keep house, but it all gave me pause to think about how I need to work harder on my own work ethic!

It's especially bad this summer. When we're in school, when I have to get up early and get breakfast going early and when I'm in a fuller stricter routine, I just do things more diligently. I do housework at least more regularly. This summer, though, it's been a contest -- how many pots and pans can I stack up before I absolutely have to clean them? How long can we all go without clean underwear? How long can we go without paying for electricity?

The answer to my summer dilemma may be as simple as inviting people to dinner every week just to get the house back into shape again!

Anyway, we finally did get our company in at about 7:00 tonight. My brother Danny and his wife Jessica drove from their stop in Memphis. And the house was relatively clean. Martha Stewart I will never be, but I'll settle for clean counter tops!

They look great! Both are teachers in So. Ca., and taking a vacation back east visiting family and enjoying the sights. They'll be with us a few days and then drive on to North Carolina. We've all been giddy for company, and they came bearing a perfect housewarming present -- or, perhaps more appropriately a housecooling present -- a shaved ice machine complete with those fun snow cones, straws and flavoring. Perfect as we head into the hottest part of the summer. With drought conditions, meteorologists are predicting August to be in the 100s. Ugh!
The kids broke out our latest favorite games. There was talk of actually starting a Risk game and Danny even suggested that we could play Nuclear Risk to make it shorter, but we decided to keep that particular game to another day. Instead, we played Qwidich and Swipe.

Tomorrow, we'll suck them into some Mancala games! And definitely Risk!

I'll post pictures soon.

The Early Bird

I have a ton of things that I want to get done today, so that is why I am up and almost dressed at 8:00 AM! That's really early this summer! I've been lounging in bed until at least 9:00 if I can -- and then I grumble to myself that I never get anything done during the day. That's because it's a huge snowball affect when one ignores "the early bird" thinking.

The house is relatively quiet right now because 1) everyone is used to me still sleeping and 2) Kristofer, Kathleen and Kylie are all over at sleepovers. We got a 3 for 1 deal last night when Keri Lynn's friend Melanie came over for a sleepover. Melanie's mom absconded with Kristofer so that he could spend some time with Marshall, and the girls were invited to Annie and Molly's house. Actually, only Kathleen was invited, but since Kylie has a hard time sleeping in her room all by herself, I asked Kathleen to ask Molly if Kylie could be included.

Anyway, back to my ton of things . . .

I need to finish up the rest of the school reports for the kids' schools. I'm hoping I'll have most of what I need for them to get the process at least started. Time is ticking away and I don't want to be in a mad rush at the end of this month.

As I lay in bed this morning, I remembered that I still hadn't paid the water bill! Argh! So now I'm going to have to drive the fool thing over there. The water company takes only cash, checks and cashier's checks. I can't use my debit card, let alone go to a website. Hah! It's foolishness! It cracked me up when I first went to the water company to get the bill sent to us in our name. It's out in the boonies, down this lonely road, over a set of railroad tracks that don't even have a guard, just a lowly stop sign. I was lucky to find it the first time and it's been an adventure finding it again ever since.

Paying the gas and electricity brings me more into the modern age as I can use my debit card, but still no website. It's a big company that rakes in scads of money. I think that by now they could join the 21st Century, but it is still not to be.

So, I'll make my rounds today to Kathleen's middle school, then to the high school and then to the water company. Then, I really need to make my way home and work on some laundry!

Exciting day.

Happy 231st, America!

On our way to the Fourth of July Parade. The route goes right by our church, so we parked in the church parking lot and walked down the road to find ourselves a spot.

Keri Lynn gets into the spirit of the day with what Kylie called "Thing One" and "Thing Two."

Keith wore his John Deere shirt and patriotic suspenders.

Kristofer wore his USA shirt and silly glasses. He perched on his chair and stared at people as they drove by.

Walking to our parade spot, Kristofer was helping Keva. I love seeing these moments.

While we waited for the parade to start, the girls broke out our newest game craze -- Mancala.

Konner was so excited about this year's festivities. He saved his very own bag for the candy that gets passed out from various vendors and organizations involved in the parade.

Everyone loves a parade! And there's nothing like a small town parade!

The temperature was simply perfect, mild warm weather, low humidity. But beware of those nasty little ants!





Here's the tri-high school band. One of our neighbors, a buddy of Kristofer's, played in it. They were very good. The color guard in front also took part in the opening ceremonies for the fireworks.


In case you can't read what this sign says from R.S. Mann Jewelers, "Now, if she said she wanted an engagement TRUCK, you wouldn't hesitate would you?!"

The next five pictures pan around the fields at Newnan High School where people started to gather for the fireworks after the parade.





Kathleen gets comfortable at our spot. We found a great place perched at the top of an embankment.

Keri Lynn took Keva around to the various jumpers, slides and activities taking place at the football field. She was so tired afterwards, that she sat contently, flag held firmly in hand, and watched everything from her seat.

The rest of the kids ran around the fields playing with friends that showed up from church and going to the jumpers. Keith talked to a few people that we knew, but I stayed at my chair and soaked it all in. It was so nice to just sit and watch and rest. We had our ice chest at the ready with 24 water bottles, of which all but four were consumed, as well as a dozen or so bologna sandwiches and a box of Ritz crackers. No fuss; no muss.

Thank You, God, for our country!

Summer Snaps

Kody waits patiently for some yummy tidbits from Keva. Keva is always ready to share her vegetables with him.
Cooking to feed the starving minions

Superman saves Kathleen from peril.

Then, Superman fights Super Ninja.

Kylie and Kade get in on the super hero action.

I love this picture of Kody. Here he is sitting under the breakfast table, a favorite spot that readily offers bits of treats.

Mac joins the Gruesome Threesome at the kitchen floor. Maybe they're waiting for some special tidbits, too.

Up, up and away!

Father's Day. Keith gets a John Deere Monopoly Game.

A sleepy Kristofer eats his breakfast.

Kathleen is ready for church.

A card from Keri Lynn: "Dear Dad, Happy Father's Day! Just wanted you to know how much I love you and appreciate you! There's not a lot of dads out there to compare you to! And I'd bet you'd win any competition for dads! I love you and I have you as a model for my future husband!" And to this, I add, "No pressure, Sweetie!"

Keith gets a John Deere T-shirt to complete his John Deere-themed Father's Day extravaganza!

Mac and Konner doing what they do best -- Look cute

Family Night at VBS.

The kids caught a lizard and a toad. Aren't they special? I LOVED having them in the house . . . Um, yeah . . . The kids got a jar to put them in to see what they'd do together. That was before I had mercy on the little beasts and told the kids to please take the little critters outside where they belonged. They did, but first they had to take a side by side picture. Don't they look like best buddies? They're probably frozen in shock or dead.

Konner and Mac again.

Konner and Kade

I LOVE this picture. This was after a morning of weeding the front lawn -- a favorite family activity! We each had grocery bags and we had a contest to see who could pick the most weeds. Note that even Kody had a weed, since he never likes to be left out of anything.

Kathleen and Molly on Music and Missions Recognition night. They were both presented with roses from RAs.

Music and Missions Recognition Night -- Konner, Annie, Kade and Kylie. One of my favorite things about Kade's RAs is that I don't have to iron on the patches or keep track of the vest. It stays at church and the leaders put the patches on for the kids. I can't express in words how wonderful this is! A big THANK YOU to all of the kids' leaders and helpers!

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to public school they go

It's time to let you all know some of the issues that Keith and I have been struggling with in the last few months.

We've been especially struggling with finances in the last year. Things are just more expensive here in Georgia than we had anticipated. It sounds funny to say, but it's true. We pay four times as much for car insurance. We are no longer protected by Proposition 13 for our property taxes. Utilities are insane. Produce is more expensive. And, of course, there's the sky-rocketing cost of gas. Marry all of that with the cost of a move across the country and 19% pay cut with Delta's struggles, and we've got a big financial challenge.

Still, God is so faithful. We are so thankful for His provision. Keith has recently received his first pay raise in many years -- and he's been able to work as much overtime as he wants. We have our beautiful house that meets our needs so perfectly. The kids are building friendships, growing in their faith, becoming involved in the church. We're all healthy.

Now we're trying to figure out how to make the money that goes out be a little less than the money that comes in! This has always been an intense struggle for us, particularly because 1) I like to spend it while we've got it and 2) Keith likes to buy it if it's on sale. These habits are not the best habits to have when a family has one income, seven kids and increased expenses!

So we started talking about me getting a part-time job. I thought to myself, "Well, sure, I could do that. I've got time during the day and in the evenings after the kids go to bed. I'm smart. I have SKILLS!"

Um, then, I actually started looking . . . putting my name out . . . applying to a few temp agencies. So far . . . a big ZIP! However, I must say, it's a little easier looking for a job as a more mature 41-year-old than it was fresh out of college. I feel more relaxed and I know more about my strengths and weaknesses.

As I looked through countless employment ads and began schmoozing with friends and neighbors, I came to the stark realization that it would be very difficult to find something that fits the family's needs -- essentially work that I can bring home and do during odd hours during the day and in the evenings when kids were asleep, but not too long, because I needed to get sleep, too.

That's when I started seriously evaluating where the kids were in their schooling. Two school years ago, the fall of 2005, when we moved to Newnan, we began using A Beka DVDs. The kids each had their own set of class lessons on their own TVs. I no longer had to organize the lessons, but I was Chief Tester, Grader and Drill Sergeant. It was all working out pretty well, I thought, and the kids were catching up after a rather shaky 2004 school year.

That's when our financial strains started affecting school. We could no longer afford the DVDs for the new school year or really much of anything else for that matter. Keri Lynn, who now had more stringent academic work, was having trouble keeping up and I was having trouble maintaining the discipline that we both needed. For the first time in the whole of our homeschooling years, I started thinking about the possibility of sending the kids to school. Keith and I began "conferencing" -- he did not want to send the kids to school but recognized the issues before us.

Last week, we made our decision. Keri Lynn and Kristofer will be going to Newnan High School and Kathleen to Madras Middle School. Keva will continue going to Evans Middle School -- even though Madras is her "home" school -- because it has the best special education facilities and staff. Kylie, Kade and Konner will continue homeschooling with me. I won't need to purchase much of anything to continue with their work, and Keith decided quite simply that they're just too young to be thrown into the wilds of public school!

The only thing still kind of up in the air is what kind of job I can get to help with our family finances, because now with the three youngest still at home, I obviously need to be at home, too. You would not believe how many work-at-home schemes there are out there. I will need to find something for myself with a local company or office.

This whole process has been overwhelming at times, so much so that I've felt frozen in place, not knowing what to do, so not doing anything at all. To say that I've been feeling stressed is an understatement. Many times, I've tried to shoulder all of the responsibility and decisions onto myself, and then, just because I'm too tired, I've given it back to God where it's always belonged -- not to mention allowing Keith to take responsibility as head of household. So please pray for us especially during this time.

The reactions of the kids when we told them was so interesting.

I think perhaps Keri Lynn felt that we stripped away a big part of her identity as a homeschooled kid. The plan had always been to homeschool all the way through high school. When I told her, she cried and then proceeded to ask 200 questions or so, then began planning to buy school supplies.

Kristofer is excited but scared. He's thrilled that he'll be going to school with friends from church and the neighborhood. What I worry most about him is wondering if he'll be able to sit through the classes without being able to put teachers on "pause."

I knew Kathleen would be excited, and she is. She's the one that's wanted to go to school. Whether or not it will meet her expectations remains to be seen. She told me just this morning that she wishes I'd told her about going to school two weeks before school started rather than a month before school started because she can't stand the anticipation! The Drama Queen forever!

I'm in the process of getting the beginning of the paperwork started. Good grief, it's a lot to do. I'm hoping we've given ourselves enough time to get it all done. School starts August 6 this year. We're already more than halfway through summer. Can you believe it?