MS Walk

Last month we did the MS Walk to support someone in our ward who has MS. It was a three mile walk through woods and open field. It went up hill, down hill and in some places it was really rocky. We took two strollers for the littlest two but, neither of them really sat in the strollers! I held and nursed Bess Bug almost the entire time and Water Bug walked with the big kids. Sometimes he would get distracted by rocks, bugs, leaves, rocks, puddles, grass and rocks. The bigger kids loved the walk. They walked along talking and sometimes would run ahead to see around a corner. June Bug stayed behind with us pushing one of the strollers and listening to his mp3 player. He was such a good sport. It's hard, sometimes, giving up a Saturday morning to go and do something for someone else when you have been doing school all week. We are so proud of June Bug, he is such a good guy!

When we finished the walk there was pizza and water waiting. The kids enjoyed the pizza and then started dancing. We had such a great morning! The weather was great, the kids were in a good mood and we did something that made us feel great!
Linz

Earth Day

We celebrated Earth Day by reading a books about our planet, learning about aquifers, watched a short video on ground water, talking about how we can reuse junk and dying shirts. We ended by making edible aquifers!

Linz

Jitter Bug Turned 8!

Jitter Bug turned 8! He had eggs for breakfast, tortillas & beans for lunch and spaghetti for supper. This year he requested pumpkin cake for dessert. He had a great day! Since he turned 8 he was able to make the decision to be baptized to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was baptized, by his dad, in April. June Bug played the guitar, Lady Bug played the piano and Stink, Lightning and Jitter Bug sang "I Am A Child of God." They did such a great job!! There were 50 people at Jitter Bug's baptism! We had lots of treats to eat afterwards. What a special day for Jitter Bug!
Linz

We've Moved...Again!

That's right we moved again. Our house has been sold and we are temporally living with my parents. The kids are enjoying being with their grandparents and living closer to friends that we have lived far away from. We have played in the snow, rode a dirt bike, flown kites, made smores over a fire, two have learned how to ride bikes, played games with grandparents, gone to the circus, watched a parade, celebrated a couple of birthdays and so much more. OH YEAH we had a baby too. She was born on Februrary 17th. She was 9lb 2oz and 21 1/4in long. She is such a sweet girl! We are so blessed to have her in our family! Enjoy the pics!

Linz

Merry Christmas!

We are back!

It's been awhile since I've posted anything. I'm pregnant with baby number 8 and was so sick up until October. We moved and are finally settled in and getting ready for Christmas. We have been slow with school and haven't really gotten back to our normal schedule yet. Life will get back to normal soon. We took the Sister Missionaries to the aquarium last Wednesday. It was their first time at an aquarium.

Our tree is up, the house is decorated, the cards have been sent, wrapping is almost done & Christmas candy has been delivered! We have been enjoying the Christmas seasons! We hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

Linz

Linz

Bee Farm

I took the kids to a bee farm. A friend's parents own one and had invited us to come out. We had a cookout, swam in the lake & learned all about bees. When Stink Bug got out of the lake we noticed he had a leech on his arm!! The kids loved that! We had a great time!

Linz

I'm An Aunt!

I'm an Aunt! My brother and his wife just had their first baby (a girl)! he is my first sibling to have a child! Baby Charlie was born the day before Father's Day, two months early (Ladybug was two months early as well). Camille, my sis in law, is such a strong woman! She had pre-eclampsia and it was a very severe case. They ended up having the baby, by c-section, after being in the hospital a week. My brother told me that Camille's epidural (they tried 5 times) did not take and she felt most of the pain! OUCH! She is still recovering. Baby Charlie is doing well! She has been breathing room air this whole time and is able to drink milk from a bottle. She's a strong baby, like her mama! I am so proud of them! Welcome to our family and to the world, Baby Charlie!

Aunt Linz

Baby Number 8!

That's right baby number 8 is due February 18, 2009! I am only six weeks along and look huge! Last week I couldn't fit into my pants anymore and my shirts are ridiculously tight! Oh well I guess with each pregnancy I get bigger and bigger earlier. ;) I usually get sick around my seventh week so...I probably won't be blogging for awhile. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it won't be as bad as all of the others. :) :) I am preparing for the worst, though. I triple supper, each night, and put half into the outside freezer. That way hubby can just defrost one in the fridge while he's at work and cook it when he gets home.
The kids are very excited and are eager to pick out names. We are very happy our family is getting bigger and so grateful to our Heavenly Father for blessing us with our seven sweet children!
Linz

More Camping Pictures!

A Camping We Will Go!

We took the kids camping last weekend at First Landing State Park. The first night we were there, June Bug was with his friends at another site. The second night he was with us and we focused on Dad--it was Father's Day weekend. My hubby does so much for us! He works really hard to give us vacations, food and clothing. Most importantly he loves us! He is always there when we need him and tries hard to lighten my load each day. So, for all that he does--we honored him by camping!! :)

When we arrived at the campground hubby went right to work setting up the tent. After we set up camp, we mad a fire and cooked supper. We had chicken hobo foil dinners. They took awhile to cook because we have such a large family (next time we will have two fires for cooking). The kids were so cute sitting around the fire. They started singing the Sponge Bob Square Pants campfire song -- absolutely funny! By the time we got the kids into bed it was midnight.

Saturday morning started out with eggs for breakfast and teeth brushing next to the trees (the kids thought it was so funny to brush their teeth outside). We went swimming in the bay and then came back for lunch. We ate pb&j sandwiches (except for baby and mommy -- we reheated supper from the night before over the fire) for lunch and then roasted marshmallows for dessert. After our smores we went swimming in the pool and by this time June Bug had joined us. For supper we roasted hot dogs over the fire and made smores! After supper I went to the camp store and bought a tarp (I heard it might rain). There was a car accident on the street that ran next to the camp and power line were down, so, the camp lost power. We thought, "No big deal, we're camping and don't need power." We did need power....in the bathrooms and showers! It was interesting going the bathroom in the dark, someone always has to be with you to hold a flashlight so that you could see. We could not take a shower because there wasn't any warm water (or light). After our long potty brake (in the dark) we went for a walk down to the bay and then back to camp. I sat with the kids around the campfire singing songs and a game of flashlight tag (around the fire ahhhh), while hubby put the tarp over the tent. The kids and I had been playing for awhile when I turned and looked behind me at my husband and noticed he was working in the dark! All that time had gone by and he never complained that he couldn't see!! He never asked the kids for a flashlight! I was truly amazed by husband selfless act. We only had 7 flashlights and he did not want to take one away from any one. I am so glad he put the time to put the tarp over our 12 man tent because in the middle of the night it rained.

Sunday morning we gave Dad breakfast-sausage gravy over biscuits. After breakfast the kids sang a song they had been practicing in primary for Fathers Day and we gave dad his gifts. We then made eclairs over the campfire. After we finished eating we cleaned up camp and packed the trailer. It took us hours! Everyone was assigned a job and that made everything run smoother. When we left camp we drove to a nearby beach and went fishing. We stayed for 2 hours and then headed home.

We arrived home at 2:00 am! I am so grateful for my husband -- he loaded the trailer at home, drove both ways, set up our tent, unloaded the trailer at camp, started our fires and worked to keep it going the whole time, he also took the kids to the bathroom everytime they needed to go and always asked what he could do to help. I sure do love him!

Camping was fun! I am glad we were able to go and I look forward to next years camping trip!

Linz

June Bug is 14!

June Bug turned 14 last week! In our family that is a big deal -- well all birthday's are a big deal but 14 is special! June Bug is now a Teacher in his quorum at church, he can go on all youth trips and he can go to stake dances! In our family, birthdays # 8, 12, 16 and 19 are very special and the kids can pick to do something very special to celebrate. June Bug chose to go camping with six of his friends from back home. We took them to First Landing State Park in Virgina Beach. The boys had their own camp site, fire and food. They brought a tv with them and played Guitar Hero and watched movies. They roasted hot dogs for supper, made breakfast burritos for breakfast and ate many smores and marshmallows. They had such a good time and we enjoyed watching (from afar) them laugh and cook over the fire. I am so proud of my son! He is such a good guy! I love him to death!!! Happy Birthday, June Bug!
Linz