Kutless

Kutless was the concert band tonight at camp! The Teens say they got pictures & autographs and the band was AWESOME!!! They were exhausted so I didn't much more information!!! They had been up since waaay early this morning and didn't get to their rooms until 10pm. I am excited to find out who the concert band is for tomorrow night!! Stay tuned.....

Love,

HAPPY 4th of JULY

Poor Ethan....always anticipating the flash! lol

after the fireworks.....

Boys fighting to get OUT!!!

Rylea in her carseat....just so cute!!

Kaylea on our way to see the fireworks...10 minutes from home!

We had a very relaxing day today! We finished packing Johnathan and Emilea to leave for camp tomorrow!! They are going to CAMP ELECTRIC!!! They are beyond excited with a little nervousness thrown in just to make Em a bit sick to her stomach!! ugh....  Both are world travelers, but I think a bit nervous about flying alone! I was able to get direct flights, so it shouldn't be too bad!! I think once they are on the plane, they will be just fine. They are excited to meet some band members of their favorite Christian bands! I'm sure I'll have stories to report once they are home! 

The little ones spent most of the afternoon in the pool with daddy! Then we had steaks, cooked by daddy, and then off  to see some fireworks put on by Sea World! I was afraid Rylea would be nervous with the noise, but she was fine!! She kept pointing an oohing, ahhing and of course giggling. Of course all the others have seen fireworks, but they still enjoyed the show!!

Just want to say THANK YOU to all the men and women serving in our ARMED FORCES!! Especially those overseas and away from their families! My nephew is among those serving in the Middle East!!  We are very proud of you Ryan!!  Also, those men and women who are in the position of shaping, training, teaching and working with the new recruits!! You are all doing an AWESOME job!!!

Love,

Happy Father's Day!!!!

Well...I started this post yesterday and didn't have pictures ready! So...I got the pictures ready and the post was gone!  I'll try again....

Happy Father's Day, Honey!! And Dad & Norman!! 

John, you are a wonderful father...who knew when we started our parenting journey together   that we would eventually have 9 AMAZING kids!? WOW!!!  Thanks for making it all, so much fun!!  I am proud of the father and man that you are....for being so loving, level headed and strong for all of us!!  We need just 1 more girl, don't ya think???  

You are our HERO!!!

Sorry you had to work on Father's Day! Someone has to keep those AF trainees in line!!  

Love from ALL your kids,

Rissa, Johnathan, Emilea,

Jackson, Ethan, Kaylea,

Owen, Rylea & Rubea

Wendy's Winners!!!!

Well, I just wanted to thank all 3 of you who left comments in hopes of winning the WENDY'S gift cards!!  Since I have only 2, from Wendy's, I am going to buy another one and ALL 3 of you will get a $5.00 WENDY'S card!  So, email me your address and I will get it in the mail to you tomorrow!!  Thanks for commenting!!  And Happy Father's Day to the dads/husbands!!

Love,

Wendy's

I am going to extend the Wendy's giveaway through Tuesday!  I will draw Wednesday morning and mail out the cards then.  Please leave a comment to enter.  Check out frostycard.com to make fun cards for dad, grandpa, uncle, etc.  And then check out frosty.com for a BOGO frosty coupon!! Don't forget that Wendy's will donate money to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption for each card you make and next weekend for each Frosty you purchase!!!!  Go Bless some kids by participating!!

Love,

Letters

Kaylea getting her face painted

Ethan riding his horse!!

We received letters in the mail from all 3 kids yesterday!!!  That totally made my day!  Owen says he *mist* us!  Today I got email replies to the emails that I sent to them. They have been horse back riding, swimming, face painting, playing all kinds of sports, including hula hoop :-)  The camp posts pictures daily so we have been viewing those daily.  Looks like they are having fun!!!   

I am excited to see them tomorrow and go to their awards ceremony!!!

 

Campers

Well, I took 3 little darlin's to camp yesterday, until next weekend!!  Can you believe it??  This is the first year for all of them, but they WILL be going back next year!!  When we pulled in yesterday, they had 3 different cheering stations. The kids loved that they were cheering for them!  Then we had many stations to get through to get them signed in and to their respective units.  The 2nd stop, after dropping off luggage, was the LICE check station!  Thankfully they all got through that station with NO issues!!  We have BTDT!!  I was happy to see that they did check the children, so we shouldn't have any coming home.  I was HAPPY that they all seemed ok, when we left them. We were glad that one of the counselor's in Ethan's unit is a young man with CP.  Ethan was shocked to see that he, too, had AFO's. The camp is for children with orthopedic disabilities, so all of the children had some sort of special need.  They are going to have a dance, so they all took their *dress up* clothes. They have swimming, horse back riding, archery, arts and crafts, drama, and of course all kinds of sports!  I think they will have a BLAST!!  All though I miss them, I am glad they had a chance to do camp like every other child!

Father's Day! and a GIVEAWAY

Do y'all know when Father's Day is this year??  It is June 21st.  Did you know that you can go to FrostyCard.com and make a card for DAD??  It is free, it is fun and the best part is for each card sent from the site $.25 will go to DTFA, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption!!! How cool is that???  I have been to the site and there are some really fun options for the cards.

ALSO, over Father’s Day Weekend (June 20-21), Wendy’s will donate 50¢ from every Frosty sold to the DTFA.  Frosty.com offers a BOGO coupon to try the two new Frosty flavors – Frosty-Cino & Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty.

So, now that you have read all of that.....the good folks at Wendy's have sent me 2 $5.00 gift cards to give away here.  All you have to do is leave me a comment and tell me something that you have learned from your dad, grandfather, uncle or any *father figure* in your life!!!

We will draw on June 14th so I can get them in the mail in time for you to enjoy a FROSTY  on Father's Day!!! 

In the mean time, don't forget about the BOGO coupons on Frosty.com and the cards that you or your children can make and send for Father's Day at Frostycard.com.  They are for a GREAT CAUSE!!!!

Wordless Wednesday {in video}

Wordless Wednesday

Making progress!!

Ethan at the Special Olympics bowling games!!!  His FAVORITE!!!

Owen's 8th Birthday!!!

All 9!!! Together at last!!!

Rubea enjoying a car ride???  Finally???

Rylea and her new glasses!!

It has been very busy around here....between me having meningitis & strep, a trip to Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas for Ethan, Kaylea, & Owen, awards ceremonies at school for Johnathan & Emilea, program at school for Rylea & Rubea, hubby's outrageous work schedule, Owen's 8th birthday, Special Olympics with Ethan and many IEP appointments for my many children.....I have been slow at getting this blog *blinged*!!  I have learned quite a bit and have had fun playing with all the elements!! Now if I could just finish it up, I'd be HAPPY!!!  

Enjoy the pics!!

Making slow progress.....

But, I am finally making progress.  I have been sick and the some of the kids have, too! Of course it is also the end of the school year, so it is also hectic!!  Hope to be finished tomorrow!!

Happy weekend!!

Under Construction!

Please excuse my appearance :-) I am learning how to *Bling my Blog* I have to do this between holding the sick babies, chauffeuring the other 6 kids, dr. appts, preparing for my new job, laundry, cleaning, you know...all the *motherly* duties!!

It is a work in progress and I am having fun learning!!!

Have a BLESSED weekend!!

Love,
Carla

Where did the years go???

Kaylea, Rubea, Emilea, Ethan, Owen, Jackson, Rylea, Johnathan

Emilea

She is a bit embarrassed while they are singing for her at Olive G@rden....Emilea and Rubea

My *baby* turned 15 today!! Poor girl... what a day to have your birthday! She is such a beautiful young lady! She loves, loves, loves her siblings, especially Rubea. (she traveled with me to China to get Rubea)  She loves her family and friends. She loves Jesus. She loves life!! She loves school and is an *A* student!!! She enjoys reading, music & her guitars. She is over the moon excited about getting her driver's permit, getting a job at Sea*World and going to Camp E*lectric this summer!! She chose Olive G@rden for dinner and had Cheesec@ke F@ctory for her b-day cake!!  What a very full day we had!  Taxes are filed, cake is eaten, gifts are opened and everyone is ASLEEP!!!!

Enjoy the pictures!!

Love,

Carla

Our weekend in pictures...

Saturday morning I went to the spa....it was luxurious!!  I think I deserve a visit with Rose at least once a month, don't you???  It was my first visit....did I mention it was luxurious??  Our oldest daughter, Marissa  was so sweet to get me a gift certificate for Mother*s Day last year.  I finally got the chance to go!!!  It was luxurious!!!!

Daddy took all 8 kids to a party/egg hunt at his squadron!!  I know I got the better deal!! lol But, he took pictures!!!  

Rylea and Kaylea....

Little boys with the bunny!!  Ethan looks so excited!! ha!

Owen....well, being OWEN!!

Rylea with headless Johnathan :-)

Poor bunny....he looks happy, though!

Then they came home and we dyed our eggs!  All 5 dozen!!!!  Rylea and Rubea really had fun and required very little assistance.

Rylea dying her very FIRST egg!!  Such a beautiful color, too!!!

Rubea, Daddy & Kaylea writing on the eggs before coloring.

Team work!

Typical Ethan *face*  The last egg.....

The *Bunny* showed up this year with 1 big gift. Mommy told him that she was tired of all the candy and *cheap* toys!!  So, he brought 1 great gift that all 8 will enjoy!!!

Trying to get a good picture after church....took about 20....none were great....

Then it was time for the *hunt*   Rylea and Rubea have been to 3 already this year, so they are almost pros by now!! 

Kaylea found some, but can't reach them!  BUMMER!! :-)  Luckily her big brother helped her out.

Jack....not sure what he is doing??!??!

Owen....in a run!  He is so stinkin' cute!!

Rylea guarding her bucket. She won't let ANYONE touch it!!

Ethan proud of all his eggs!!

Daddy helping Rubea look for eggs.

So, the gift from the *Bunny* was a snow cone maker with cups, holders, and syrups!  It was a huge hit!  They all had at least 2 today!  Hopefully it will be fun this summer when it is HOT!!

Rylea, Daddy and Rubea enjoying their snow cones

Owen, Kaylea, Jack and Ethan...with their cones

Johnathan still shaving ice!!!!

Rylea's favorite was rootbeer!

Rubea's was cherry!