Soccer Practice

Lightning Bug sitting pretty watching Stink Bug practice.

Thankful For Friends

Saturday morning I woke up at 6:30 with a sharp pain on my left side. I didn't call the doctor til almost 7:30 (I thought that it would go away-it didn't it got worse), and the doctor told me to go to the hospital. Most of my friends were out of town at a homeschool conference so I called my sister in law. She was so sweet to help. She called many people in our church to find someone to help. I had to call for an ambulance because the pain was so severe and I could not walk. When the ambulance arrived my sister in law did as well. She watched them until someone else could (she was to be out of town that day with her family). I was so worried that something was wrong with baby but relieved to find out that the baby was fine. After many tests they discovered I had Kidney Stones! Just what I need!!! A few hours after I had been there a friend of mine showed up at the hospital to sit with me! My sister in law had called her to see if she would pick me up, when I was discharged, and take me home. My sweet friend said she would come right then so I would not have to be alone. When she arrived at my room she told me that so many people love me and I was so touched! My husband showed up right when I was released and my friend went home. Later after we came home my sister in law called and said she would be bringing supper over on Monday for us. When hy hubby got off the phone with her, it rang again. This time it was another gal from church saying that she would be bringing supper on Sunday evening! I am so thankful that my husband moved us here and for the friends that I have made!

Linz

Girls Night

While the big boys and Dad went camping us girls (and Wheel Bug) had fun! We talked about the life cycle of a butterfly, made a caterpillar, made a butterfly using a coffee filter, ate popcorn, ate marshmallows, ate homade pizza and watched Marry Poppins. The girls were exhausted by 9:00 but did not go to bed til 10:00. It was a great night and my hubby called around 11:00 to say he was going to sleep and that the younger boys went to sleep long before him (they must have been super tired!). Saturday the boys and Dad painted a Retirement Homes Activity Room--they came home with lots of paint on them!

Linz

Butterfly

One of our friends cacoons (that we are babysitting) turned into a butterfly this morning. We noticed yesterday that the cacoon had turned a very dark brown and the shape had changed. The kids were very excited! We all went outside to watch Dad release it--we even had the neighbors attention!

Linz

Full House

Friends of ours are out of town this week so we have two extra kids! It's been a lot of fun! They brought with them caterpillars and since they have been here we saw one turn into a cacoon (is that how you say it?). Stink Bug is making a book (and taking pictures) about them and what they are doing each day. This morning the kids and friends did their chores and were sitting at the school table by 9am! I was so happy! I split the kids up into groups...one group of three (5,6,7) did math work while the second group (7,8,10) played with our magnets (they built a car and then made it move & other fun stuff) and the third group was June Bug by himself doing math. Oh yeah the fourth group :) was Wheel Bug by himself painting, coloring and playing with foam stickers (he stayed like that for more than an hour!!!). After the younger group finished they switched with the middle group and played with the magnets and the other kids did their math. Ladybug left her group to be by herself cause she is at a different level then the boys (Stink Bug and friend). After a little while of being in the same room with June and Wheel Bug, ladybug had to go find a quieter spot to work. After Stink Bug and friend were done with their math they put together a giant floor puzzle of the human anatomy. When the little ones finished with the magnets they did a geometric coloring page then cut it out and glued it onto construction paper. When the older two groups were done with everything they made a dome out of pipe cleaners, straws, tape and yarn. It took them (really only June Bug worked the other three played or watched and he was just fine with doing it himself) til noon and then had lunch. At 12:40 the kids jumped on the tramp. At 1:00 we went to the pet store to get new fish. We were the only ones there so we had everyones attention (WOW 8 kids----no 2 are not ours----wow you have 6 kids I love that). We saw all the animals in the store and we even got to sit in the reptile room and learn about a Chinese Dragon they had. We took home seven fish and one crab. Later around 5:15 I was cleaning up after supper and we were preparing to go to soccer one of the kids yelled that one of the fish had bitten off the tail of Ladybugs fish. Dad quickly ran over and seperated the fish into containers to take them back to the store to exchange them. I finished up inside while my hubby put kids and fish into the car. When I came outside Wheel Bug and Dad were on the porch on their knees. Wheel Bug looked up at me and said, "Daddy dropped the fish in the dirt!" He did (but quickly picked it back up) while he was pouring some water out of the container the fish was in Lacy, Ladybug's fish, fell out! By the time we got into the car and headed for soccer we were 20 min late. When we got there we found out that L.B. practice was cancelled due to the threat of rain, so back off to the pet store. After the pet store we went back to the field for Lightning Bug's practice. After her practice we drove to church where June Bug had scouts and Ladybug had a mother-daughter social. We had a nice time and enjoyed yummy treats. We came back home for a book, Beware of the Bears, and family prayer. By 9:00 everyone was in bed. What a day! Tomorrow Dad is taking our older three boys and friend camping on the Eastern Shore! The girls (and Wheel Bug) and I are going to make sundaes, pop popcorn, watch a movie and camp out in the family room. Fun! Fun!

Linz

Name Of The Game .....Get Dad And Sis Wet!

Soccer

What a great Saturday we had! We had three soccer (always :)) games, and instead of the first game starting at 8am (which means we have to leave at 7:30), it started at 10:30!!!!!! Stink Bug's game was first and while he was playing Lightning Bug got her picture taken a few yards away. When Lightning Bug was finished she and Dad crossed the field to play her game (which I can still see from where I was sitting watching Stink Bug), and when S.B. finished we walked over to watch his sister play. Usually Ladybug, who plays 40 min away from the other kids, has her game at the same time as one of the little ones and I take her while Dad and June Bug split up to watch the younger ones play. This Saturday Ladybug's game was at 4:30! Yes! Yes! Yes! We can all watch the games together!!! After the two little ones played (and they did awesome!), we went home--wait we hit a yard sale and we can never do that during soccer season--and cleaned our 15 passenger van (grin), packed the van for our surprise visit to the Moms for Mothers Day and got all our clothes ready for church on Sunday! We got tons done before we left at 3:30 for Ladybugs game. Her game was fun to watch--oh yeah and they beat the toughest team! We don't care about that we are just so happy when we see her enjoying herself! After soccer we ate out at Pancake World (IHOP) then went home so everyone could shower and get a good nights rest for church on Sunday. What a great day we had--I love when we get so much accomplished and I'm prepared for the next days activities! Hope you had a good Mother's Day!

Linz

Toy Bath

Wheel Bug helped me out today with the cleaning! His toys needed washing so he and June Bug gave them a bath. What great helpers!

Linz

Strawberry Jam

What a good little helper--what a sweet face! June Bug worked hard and fast! Ladybug can't wait to be able to make jam on her own!
They all worked so nicely together- I would not have been able to do it without their help!

Linz

Strawberry Picking

It's strawberry picking time! Around here strawberries are a big deal (we even have a festival) and 9 farms around us grow them and let you pick your own. We picked 20 pounds! This is our second year picking ours and the kids love it--even though only three out of six kids eat them! Wheel Bug likes to look at his picture, he keeps saying "That's me picking strawberries, I put it in Mom's bag, I did!" Hopefully where you are you are enjoying this yummy fruit!

Linz

I'm Back!

I'm sorry it's been so long since I last blogged but I'm feeling better now! Usually I feel sick for months and months but this time I started feeling better around 15 weeks (I'm 17 wks now)!!My husband has been such a big help! He has done everything from laundry to cooking to taking the kids to the library. I am so thankful for him and all his love and support (he even worked from home for 2 months!). School slowed down for us over the last couple months - the kids read alot, watched educational movies from the library, went to passport club, participated in activities at the library and kept up with their math. This week Ladybug and Stink Bug are finishing up on a project for Passport Club and I'm getting reorganized. Next week we will get back in our regular routine. I will keep you all updated on the pregnancy and what we are doing in our school room! Stay tuned!

Linz