And my two fourth-of-July pictures.      Rainee was actually quite brave about the sparklers although she dropped the first one.  Kaylin wouldn't touch 'em.   They were scarey.

Wellll I really WAS sympathetic to Photo Quilter and her appliance troubles.  Honest!

Our stove is dying.  We had decided we finally had enough money to replace it.....

Instead our dryer died and we replaced it.

I guess I'll be using the crock pot and BBQ'er for awhile longer.   The oven is just plain toast.    We're gonna try getting a element for it and see if that buys us some time, but we're not holding hope for it....

I guess we'll get a new stove in a month or two.  *growls*

Other then that its over cast, yucky, and we're watching way, way too much tv.

We figured out what was broken!

Rainee started back up on its broken.  "Whats broken?  Are you broken, a broken record?"  I asked in exasperation.

"Yes."  she said and was quiet for thirty whole seconds.

Apparently mommy used that expression about her one too many times......

I want one!

one what?

I want one!

one what?

I look around to see if there's anything that could possibly intrest her...nope there isn't.

I want one!

one what?

I want one!

one what?

There is no answer...and finally the broken record walks off.

Rainee I mean.    Goodness gracious that child can talk.  

This morning with daddy she kept saying.  "Its broken fix it."

What's broken?

Its broken fix it.

"Whats broken can you show me?"

Its broken fix it.

He still is muttering an hour later about what was broken.  She does that to us somehow.   Your quite convinced you really should know what she thinks is broken...I mean can parents read minds??

I love two-year-olds. 

Good morning.

Rainin' and foggy this morning'.   Tis okay.  I can use a day to lay on the couch without worrying about the kiddos outside.   And we'll also do school.  LOL

Had a good time at the lake yesterday.   It wasn't as crowded and got to actually visit with one of my favorite people up there.  Her kids have mostly grown so she doesn't usually sit...but yesterday she did and I left feeling blessed.

I needed that. 

Mostly caught up on the boards, and my writing partner is busy this weekend still.   So online time will be quiet probably.  Played with a siggy last night for the first time in several months.  I rather liked how it turned out...its not how I usually do them, but tis okay.

I have fourth of the July pictures not a lot...but have to get them in from the van...so someday. 

If I have a whole bunch of energy I might drag the kids into town to play at McD's.   We'll see.

CHEERS!!!  Zeria's good Sunday shoes that are only a month old reappeared.   We spent 45 minutes Sunday morning looking for them.   And finally gave up.  I was exasperated as she HAS to have them for the wedding.  She just came down with the other one...it was buried in the dung heap otherwise known as their bedroom.  

Now if Sam's other dress shoe would just shoe up......I'm not holding my breathe.

Ever since we organized the shoes in the entry way we've looked for shoes a lot less...but the shoes only stay organized if you actually put them in your respective box.   We've spent an hour and a half looking for shoes this week between Zeria and Jamari.

The good news is we know have ALL of Rainee's shoes again......*snicker*  

I think Sam's gonna have to get a new pair on Friday (pay day)  But I'm hiding them until the wedding.  LOL

My sister is making a dress for Zeria as I couldn't find her anything.  Its almost done.    Sam will wear the clothes he got for his birthday as they've only been worn twice.     A nice Hawaiian shirt (navy and light blue)   and a pair of dark blue shorts.  Its gonna be at least 100 at the wedding.   So coolness is very important.

I think I'm just gonna buy a couple packs of socks from Walmart and pack them unopened.   That way they actually have clean matching ones......HAHAHAHA

And I've told Rob I'm packing the wedding clothes in a seperate bag labeled do not open until wedding day.  I don't trust any of those nitwits to not wear them otherwise.  And Rob being male is just not the most observant bloke on the block.       And wouldn't notice until they had some largish stain on them.

Now my only quandry is what to do with Zeria's hair.   The problem is my mil has absolutely NO clue how to deal with it.   I'm thinking of braiding it just before she leaves and giving her orders to let nobody touch it.  The problem is more then likely she'll be swimming several times and it might get fuzzy.  *sigh*   But trust me my mil does NOT need to do it.   The last time she did it Zeria had a afro about five miles wild.   My mil was highly embarassed.  As was her daughter-in-law. 

Black hair is a fine art.    One I've only mastered due to having 4 black sisters, and a black daughter.  Trial and error you know.  *snicker*  And Zeria just can't quite do it on her own yet....thats a lot of hair to do....

Ponders other options....

Anyhow these are the earth shattering decisions I have to make.  LOL

Morning.  *yaaaawn*  My kids actually slept in.  Actually the bigger girls are still sleeping.   Boys didn't wake until 8:30.  They NEVER NEVER sleep in.   Apparently going to fireworks last night wore them out.

We decided not to go for the dream.  It was a hard decision.   But for many reasons I feel good about it.   Except the fact that I'm gonna miss going to my parents house when they move.

If we were to get a second out which we can get with the crook of a finger.   We have a good credit rating, and a good friend whose president of a bank.  We can add onto this house for only $25,000.   That still leaves us  about 95,000 LESS in debt.   And at a $500 payment.

I like THIS neighbourhood better, its closer to town, closer to doctors.   And I've found my nich.     The thought of moving pregnant, or with a newborn neither appeal to me.   And the thought of getting this house ready to sale gives me a headache. 

My mom tried to talk me into changing my mind.   While I'm having nasty awful rude contractions, and I started bawling.  "I can't even stand up for five minutes without having contractions, how the heck am I supposed to move."     The timing isn't right, and the peace isn't there.

But it still sucks when you loose a dream.  I keep praying about it...and if a miracle were to happen then we'd change our mind.  We have more equity in this house then we'd have in that house for years to come.

If Rob were to loose his job tomorrow we could keep and live in this house for a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time without loosing it.   This is extremely comforting.  

And I have awesome neighbours.   Awesome.

I know I'm repeating myself LOL.    Its to reassure myself we made the right decision.   

Anybody want a 100 year old farm house five bedrooms, 3 car garage, 15 acres, barn, apartment for $225,000 as is?       It looks like my parents are moving....

We went and looked at the property their moving to, its a mile off a county road on a long quite gravel road.   Its ten acres relatively flat and will get them out of $100,000 worth of debt.    Our mutual friend the bank president has told them to go for it.   Today their looking at modul's (repos)  in Shelton.    I have a few reservations...and keep praying God will guide them.  I love the property though.  We ended up picnicking with the family there on Saturday night.     It was one of those god-things.  We drove to see it, and my parents showed up about five minutes later.   They had food to spare...and invited us.

It was a nice break after a day of major contractions and a huge pity party.

I rather melted down this weekend.   The worst I have this pregnancy.   And I'm only half way through....oh this is just gonna be peachy.  Mostly I've vented on my blog and kept my mouth shut.   Saturday I just vented, and none of it was purdy.  

Rob's vacation starts next week...and he and the three oldest are headed to Pocatello.   Without the two youngest and I.    Realistically I know this is the best plan,   Theoretically I HATE being away from my husband that long....and hate the fact that we're essentially not getting a vacation.     I know I'm having a pity party.

Don't mind me it'll end eventually. 

It appears to be a beautiful day and so hopefully we'll get up to the lake.  If not thats okay...I'm tired.

Decisions, decisions.

A dream has been presented to us....and oh the temptation mounts. 

My parents once again are talking about moving.  It really is a wise financial, and emotional, and spiritual decision.  

Their house is perfect for raising a family.

With lots of room to grow.

I love my house, but I have two boys in one bedroom and soon three girls in another.  Who knows where number 6 is going???  *snicker*

Our house payment is disgustingly cheap.  $330 a month. 

My parents house is worth a minimum of $225,000.   They have offered it to us for $200,000.   15 acres, 3 car garage, barn, apartment, and five bedroom house.  

The payments would be approximately $850.00.    Over double what we make.   We could do it...but then finances will always be tight.

Its a dream....

Somebody slap me in the face with reality please????

Good morning,

We were bad parents today.  *snicker*  And went to Safeway and let each of the kids pick out a doughnut for breakfast.  MMMMMMMM Healthy.  (not!)

Its raining today...we need it, besides its tradition to rain on the fourth.  It always rains on the fourth...what else would be new??

My lake friends got their hay done at 9 o'clock last night....they've got good timing. 

Oh and the lake I go to is actually a largish pond.   Some neighbours up the road two miles own it.   They haul in sand every spring, have two canoes, a paddle boat, a jungle swing, and a diving board.     They invited whoever is of the none-partying variety to use it.  You never know which neighbours are gonna be up.  Met some new ones yesterday LOL

Most of the users are Christians and homeschoolers.  Which is rather cool.   

We do swim at Lake Crescent sometimes (to rub it into Zanzivou...but it'll still be a bit cold this time of the year.)  

Three days off for DH as per usual, so we'll enjoy it as we can, and am looking forward to a date tonight.  *grin*

Have a lovely weekend all.

And we're headed to the lake...

of course.

I love this picture.

You can't see faces...but its just indicitive of the lake.   pre-teens, toddlers, teens all cuddled together visitin'. 

Good morning,

Its early. 

And as soon as DH gets here I'm headed to lay down...or run away which ever sounds better.  LOL

I got to see the baby yesterday.   For my 20 week ultrasound.   Two legs, two arms, head, all the internal organs there.  Baby continues to be very active.   The ultrasound tech took 20 minutes to find both arms and the bones in the arms.   Baby was not gonna sit still for some dumb pictures.  *giggles*

I also had a internal ultrasound.  (Don't reccomend those.  )   Okay it was just plain EWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!    This was to determine the size of my cervix to affirm that my contractions aren't doing anything, or that they are.  I don't know what the result was.  I just know that I did NOT enjoy it. 

And once again my baby does NOT like to be sexxed.  So I guess will know in about 20 weeks give or take.

Did I mention I'm half-way through my pregnancy?   Cool huh?   Of course the slow half is now approaching.  LOL

Rob has a nasty cold given to him by Rainee and Kaylin who have had it two weeks.   Do you think they could do me a favour and not share it with me???????

Sam and Kaylin can no recognize and read  the three sounds of A, M, S, R, F, and the first sound of E.    We're flying right along.   They seem to be enjoying it.

I also bought them a beginning logic book.   And Samuel more then makes up for his slowness in writing with that book.  Wow he flies through it.   And Kaylin stumbles.   Its fascinating to see the strengths and weaknesses of each of them. 

I'm throwing out my English curriculum.  And purchasing English for a thoughtful child.   The English was sooooooooo boring, and incredibly rote.   The new program teaches English through composition.   I'm hoping this will be better.   I've heard good things about the new curriculum, but we will see.

I'm also having Zeria start a journal as part of teaching her to love to write.  It will be short at first one or two sentences, but its a good way to get her creative.

I'm enjoying school, and I'm enjoying having something I can do that doesn't hurt me or the baby.

Okay DH's is home.  Gotta git.