Long Story, Short Version

We could no longer afford to live in the house we were in so we moved in with my in-laws. They have a beautiful (and huge) home that they were gracious enough to share with us. It is comfortable, but I can't wait to move into our own place again. If I had my 'druthers, I would just buy an RV, pull the kids out of school and move in. But I haven't won that battle with my husband yet.

Anyway, football/cheerleading season was a blast. Our Flag Panther team (Malachi's team) won first place in the Bowl Game. And our Freshman Dolphin team (Isaiah's team) went undefeated and also won first place. Newman Smith (Nehemiah's team) didn't do quite as well, but we still had fun watching him play. He started off on the B team but was moved up to the A team. So I was very proud of him.

The kids moved directly into basketball when football was over. Ray coached both Isaiah's team as well as Malachi's team. This time Malachi's team went undefeated. Woo-Hoo! And Isaiah's team lost 2 games. But they were able to place second in the Tournament. Isaiah is quite a ball player. He scored 34 points in one game! Nehemiah had a great season too. They had more wins than losses though the freshman team did not make it to playoffs. However, the Smith Varsity team was ranked #1 in the state for a while during the season. We were all disappointed though when they went to the playoffs they lost the first game. Bummer.

Both kids were disappointed that we missed the registration for soccer. Isaiah has some friends who are playing and feels left out. I told him we would watch for it next year and he could play then. Since they were feeling so strange with no sport to keep them busy, we signed them up for karate. They have only been participating in that for 2 weeks. Isaiah in particular is loving it. Malachi likes it, but I think he could take it or leave it.

Both boys are wanting to homeschool again. I am wanting the same. Hopefully I can find a way to make it work for next year. Pray for me.

Recently Isaiah went to an ice skating birthday party. He can't wait for us to take the whole family. It was his first time ice skating and he was a little nervous, but picked it up quickly and skated the whole time we were there.

When my sister came over, we went roller skating. Haven't done that it a long time. Lots of fun! I took some pics on my camera phone but they came out looking like crap cause it was dark in there.

Here's a cool pic I took (again on my phone) when we went to a neat park by our house. The park is all underground. It has little tunnels to move from playspace to playspace. There is a tunnel that leads to a castle playspace. The castle is just asking to be climbed. This is Isaiah the Conqueror on top of the castle.

Last week we went to another park/nature preserve and had dinner. After eating we took a walk through the nature preserve. It was so much fun. The kids felt like they were on a serious expedition. (It really made me miss camping, I'm ready to go again!) Anyway, we walked by a pond, if you could call it that, and threw sticks in it. Samara caught some "little fellas" (roly poly bugs) and collected some snail shells. We saw lots of spiders and Nehemiah found more than one funnel web spider home in the ground. While walking a foot trail, Isaiah, who was in front, spotted a rabbit in the middle of the trail. He immediately held up his hand, signalling the rest of us to be quiet and look ahead. We all tiptoed closer. Then Seth lowered the walking stick he had in his hand and pointed it at the rabbit. Then he made a sound like someone cocking their gun which scared the rabbit and he hopped away. Isaiah was pissed! "Seth, I told you to be quiet! See what you did! Now he's gone!" I couldn't help but laugh to myself. Isaiah calmed down quickly though because we soon found rabbits everywhere! We also walked down to a creek area and took these photos.

Long Time, No Blog

Things have been unbelievably busy lately. We are remodeling the house. The kids started school and football. I have started teaching a pre-k class two days a week. And I'm coaching a pee-wee cheer squad. It's been crazy! So I haven't found much time for blogging.

I thought I better add a few lines of life to the blog.

The boys are all enjoying their football season. Here's a picture from Nehemiah's first high school football game. He's the one in the center of the photo who is facing forward and you can't see his jersey number.

Here's Samara, Malachi and Seth at the first flag football game of the season.

School is getting easier for both of the boys. I still hate the schedule though.

I really love Malachi's teacher. She is very good. I can tell she puts a lot of effort into her class.

Malachi brought home a "surprise" for me the other day and placed it in the fridge but told me not to look. So I waited a few hours until he told me it was ok to open the fridge. By that time the surprise was gone. We looked and looked but were unsuccessful. Come to find out a few days later, Malachi's surprise was a flyer about boy scouts. I wondered why he put it in the fridge but discovered the answer when I found another flyer at the school. The flyer had instructions to "Take this home, show your parents and put it on your refridgerator". LOL!!!

Yesterday was Isaiah's homecoming game. Here's a picture of him escorting his cousin Jada across the field during the halftime show.

After the game he was given a goodie bag full of candy. He shared with his siblings of course. He gave Malachi some gum. While Malachi was in the back of the truck chewing his gum, he thought it would be a good idea to take it out of his mouth and stretch it out. Then he thought it would be a cool necklace so he wrapped it around his neck! Poor thing, he couldn't get all that gum off. We stopped by Taco Bueno to grab a bite to eat before going home and he was walking around with his shirt pulled up over his head. He said he didn't want anyone to see his neck. I reassured him and we sat in the back corner. I just love that kid.

Stupidity

Saturday night we were invited to a friend's house for dinner. We decided to bring a couple of wine coolers. Ray and I stopped at the QuikTrip to pick up a drink on the way. I helped Ray carry one of the wine coolers to the register. The employee asked for our I.D.'s and Ray quickly produced his. I didn't have mine so I told the clerk I didn't have it with me. He immediately grabbed the drinks and moved them off the counter while telling us he could not sell to us. I know he was just doing his job but it really pissed me off. I know why the laws are there, but just because I was standing there, Ray could not buy the drinks. Is that crazy or what? I mean, had I waited in the car then he could go ahead and make the purchase. It seems to me that the law is not doing what it is supposed to be doing. If I had thought like a criminal in the first place then I could've just sent my husband in to buy but instead the law prevents someone like me, a 32 year old Christian woman with 5 kids who rarely drinks, from buying a drink.
NOW THAT'S JUST STUPID!

A Little Better

OK, I feel a little better.

Last night Ray could tell that I was pretty stressed out. He suggested that we load up all the kids and go feed the ducks. So we did! It was lovely weather and though we didn't spend a whole lot of time at the park, we were able to spend time together and with nature. That was SO GOOD for my soul!

Now I can face another school day.

SCHOOL!!!

After much debate, we've decided to put the kids in public school this year. I'm not necessarily against public school but I am really grieving in this decision. I love having the kids home with me but I have to admit I am ready for a break. This summer has been pretty stressful. (That's a whole 'nother story.) Anyway, if I was financially able, I would definately home school again. But public school is a free place for them to go, make friends, and learn while Ray and I work...so we will do what we have to do. Yay! I'm working part-time and will be able to drop the kids off at school and pick them up after school!

I pepped the kids up for the school year. The twins are thrilled to be in pre-K. Isaiah and Malachi enjoyed the first two days. Now they are ready to homeschool again.

But today I was very frustrated. The twins go to a pre-k school, Isaiah and Malachi go to an elementary school and Nehemiah goes to high school. The pre-k gets out at 3:10. So does the elementary school. Our family only has one car. Therein lies the problem. So Ray and I decided to pick the twins up first. Yesterday we arrived at 2:40, thinking that would give us plenty of time to get to the front of the line to pick up kids. Boy were we wrong! The line was already wrapped around the school parking lot, out onto the street and backed up several hundred feet onto the adjacent street!!! We could not believe it. We waited for about 15 minutes before deciding to leave this school and pick up the elementary kids first. Then we rushed back to the pre-k, only to find that we were still at the end of a very long line! With more cars behind us! By the time we actually picked up Seth and Samara it was 3:50.

So today, we arrived at the pre-k at 1:50. There was already a line of about 4 cars in front of us. I did some reading while Ray took a nap. All the while thinking that this is a ridiculous situation. It shouldn't take an hour to pick your children up from a local school. Some of the parents tried to park and walk up to the school, but the principal would not release the children. The school rule is that the kids either have to ride the bus or be picked up by car. No child can leave with a parent who is walking. Craziness! And then I overheard the principal saying something to the effect that she could not believe that parents arrived before 2pm to pick up their kids! Well, what do you think they should do? There are about 300 pre-k kids in this school and none of them can be walked home!

Then I come home to find out that Nehemiah's coach is making the football players stay until 8pm tonight to sell fundraiser stuff. They did not tell us that this would be happening. I don't know if Nehemiah knew or not. But the tardy bell at his high school rings at 7:30am. School ends at 2:30 but he stays after school for football practice. So he leaves school at 5:30pm. Then he rushes home for food and begins homework before leaving (on Tues/Thurs) to go to Malachi's football practice, where he is an assistant coach. He has a full plate.

Man, how to people keep up with this public school craziness?

Weekday Riding at Shady Grove

We like to go to Shady Grove during the week because it's not crowded at all. It makes me more comfortable knowing there are not bikes everywhere that could hit one of my precious little ones! On this trip there was only one other group of riders, a father and son! It was perfect! We had someone to talk to and I felt safe letting little riders ride.

Here's Malachi taking Bruce for a ride:


Marcus and Nehemiah, posing between rides:

Isaiah doing donuts:

Children will find things to do even if you don't make any suggestions. While waiting their turn for a ride on the four wheeler, Jada and the twins did this:


Among other things, they picked up litter and threw rocks too. I love to watch them live life to the fullest. It really helps me remember that the best things in life are free.

Fun at Football Practice

While Isaiah, Ashton and Trejan were busy with an official Dolphins Football Practice, Ray started working with Malachi and Tristen on the three-point stance and a blocking drill.

The twins tried to do their own blocking drill but just ended up on the ground.

Soon Koda showed up with his mom and Tori. He's proudly sporting a mohawk haircut!

I haven't seen Tori in so long! She's growing up so fast! I had to get a picture of her.

Here's a group of Dolphin player siblings keeping occupied until practice is over.