Clown Invasion

They had Kids Blast at Children's Church last night. These clowns came home with lot's of goodies!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

The Search for the Great Pumpkin

Today was our field trip to the local pumpkin patch. The guide that drove the wagon for the hayride told the kids all about corn, pumpkins, milo, and cotton.

Hollywood goes to the Farm

Once we got to the pumpkin patch the kids SEARCHED and SEARCHED........

and even friends SEARCHED....................

and SEARCHED...........oops, that is milo.....

and SEARCHED...............

and SEARCHED and......NO, that is CORN..............



and SEARCHED...........

and SEARCHED................

and SEARCHED...............

and THIS IS WHAT THEY FOUND!!!!!!!

AFTER TWO YEARS

When Katrina hit, she really did a number on several governmental agencies that were based out of New Orleans. The office that issues birth certificates was one of the agencies hurt in a major way. Two long years after our adoption was recognized by the state, we finally have the Kensli's Louisiana birth certificate in hand. WOOHOO!!!!!!

Family Weekend

It was Family Weekend this past weekend and we spent the entire weekend with church family at our District Campgrounds. It was so much fun and we are worn out today! I have posted some random shots of some of the fun!

Nic had a soccer game and he had his hair painted before going to the game. He thought he was so COOL and TOUGH on the soccer field. They lost their game, but he did not seem to notice. All he wanted to know after the game was if his hair was still painted. FUNNY!!!! Another boy on the team was at Family Weekend, too, and so with both of their hair painted they really got some attention. Nic ate it up!

TOUGH & COOL

Kensli dressed up for Verses for Treats.

(The shadow is me! UGH! She would not be still, so I guess I should just be thankful for the shot I got, shadow included!!!!!!)

LSU lost this weekend, but it didn't keep Kensli from making her daddy proud wearing her cheerleader outfit!

Verses for Treats is where the kids get to dress up, go to each camp, say a Bible verse, and get some candy. On the way to the 1st camp, I asked Kensli if she knew a verse to say and she said she did. I asked her to please share her verse with me and so this is what she said,

"Slide and slide and do the butterfly,

Dip and dip and shake my little hips,

I want you and you

to cheer up with me, too!"

Oh, my, all the time she has spent at a ballfield in her short little life was not a waste! Well, she ended up saying,"God is love!" Thank goodness I didn't let her go without checking on her verse first!

Check out her candy bag! Where she got the necklace I do not know! None of the camps were passing out necklaces!

Nic and Kensli walked several times in the Cake Walk for Missions! Nicholas finally got tired so he left! Kensli finally won a cake, but I wonder if it wasn't rigged. I think the one in charge felt sorry for her after awhile, and I am sure it helped her chances when she got upset.

Discussing which chair to sit in!

Kensli and Andrea and the cake Kensli won!

Andrea won the next time around.

HUM?

Wonder if they were feeling sorry for her, too?

On the way home last night Kensli asked where her cake was. I didn't have the heart to tell her someone gave it to the visiting missionary. I saw him walking to his cabin with it in his hand. I just told her someone ate her cake! (He is probably still eating it today!) She seemed ok with the answer and went back to digging in her candy!

Kensli and balloon hat!

When I tell you I did not see much of the two older kids, believe me! I do not have one picture of them from this weekend! ARRGH! It was the same last year with Ricky! Next year I am going to find them and make sure I get a picture of both of them! I will probably get some eye rolling and hiding from Mom and her camera!

Congrats to Daddy

Toby has been studying for a very important test for the last few weeks. Last week he took it and passed it the 1st time with an 85%. The lady administering the test said she had never seen anyone pass it the 1st time with that high a score. We are so proud!!!!!!

The kids planned a little celebration for a Daddy. They made this banner and a cake to celebrate!

This is the 1st cake that Kaitlyn has ever made all by herself! She was so proud!!!!

What happens when a person tries to bake around here!

The younger two want to "HELP", but mostly fight and get in the way! They are trying to push each other off a stool! By the look on Kensli's face, I think Nic is winning this one!

A VICTORY KISS!!!!!!!

Living in a "BOOT"

The other night we met someone that really didn't know us and our family history. He asked Nic where he was from. (I usually step in at this point and give a vague general summary of our family. This usually stops most questions and gets Nic off the hook, because he normally just stares blankly at the poor, mostly well-meaning individual. Not this time!!!!!)

Nic looks directly at the man and says, "Well, I was born in Guatemala, but I live here now," and then he smiles. (Way to go, Nic. Guess my answering for him days are over!!!!!)

Kensli was sitting next to Nicholas, and before the man could even ask her, she gets up out of her chair and says, "I was born in Chinas. Then, my mommy and daddy came and got me, and now I live in a boot!" (referring to the shape of our state)

There were no more questions after that!!!!

Hurricane Recovery Update

Thought that it was going to be a wordless day, but thought that I would tell you about my friend Val over at Val's Whimsy. They are one of the family's that suffered so much damage from the hurricanes in our area. She has updated her blog and has shared part of their recovery and testimony.

Wordless Wednesday

Saturday "STUFF"

Saturdays come around all to often at our house! Today was a little different, because only Nic had a soccer game, so the girls slept in! It was nice to have a little time alone for a change! Nic's team did win, so he was excited when they got home!

Last night we had some friends over and the kids roasted hotdogs. Ricky happened to accidently get in the way of one of the kid's metal roasting stick and this is the result! I thought it was a scratch when he first came to me, so I doctored it as such. After everyone was gone, I realized it was a burn! OUCH!!!! POOR BABY!!!!!!! Needless to say this is the only picture he would let me take of him up close today!



The kids wanted to play outside this morning because of the coolness! I think fall is finally here!!!!!

Look at that static!



Kensli mad because I took Kaitlyn's picture!

Kensli loves to jump on the "shrampoleem"! Here I caught her in mid-jump!


Do not even ask what Nic is doing! I sometimes wonder myself! All he wanted to do was to act goofy this morning!

Just before they made her mad! HEE HEE!!


OOPS!!! Photo shoot gone bad! Kensli loves to pout!!!!!! Frankly, I know why, she is REALLY good at it!

HAPPY JAX
He has really grown! He now weighs 7lbs. Whoa, he might be a good 15lbs or more when grown!

Jax was sick this week and the vet found a splinter in his throat! He chews everything he can find! He is on medicine and is back to his old self!

A Little Imagination

Ricky spent some of his allowance on a K'NEX brick set! He loves Legos, so decided this would be a fun thing to add to his collection! He has spent several hours building different things. This would be a great Christmas for a young builder!

He built this swing and when you turn the handle they will turn and swing outward!

Why NOT????

I am not a whiner!!!!! I have faced many obstacles in my life and have faced all with a this can be handled attitude! For some reason though, I feel powerless in the area of adoption right now! I feel such a call back to China for our last little one, but feel that it may not happen! Today I have really felt an urgency and have been having dreams about a little girl waiting for us and I can't seem to get to her! I know I have time, if it is God's will, etc., but today I am frustrated!!!!! I think of looking at another country, but my heart says "NO!" right now!

The Chinese government has put such restrictions on adoptions that we no longer qualify for their program, because of nonlife threating health reasons!!!! I just want to scream,.............

"WHY NOT????????"

Thanks for putting up with my venting!!!!!!

Beautiful Dance

This was posted on CHI group this morning! I think it is one of the most beautiful things I have seen in awhile! Goes to show what someone can do even when faced with MANY obstacles!

How I Felt Today

St. Mary's Walk/Run Challenge

Saturday there were no soccer games, so we decided to get moving anyway! We went to our friend Jennifer's school fundraiser. She teaches autistic children at St. Mary's, a school for some very special kids here in our town!

Our friend Jennifer

We walked a little over a mile and the going wasn't that fast, but we did enjoy being with Jennifer and meeting the kids she teaches!

Clifford was there, too, and I got this cute shot of the kids, much to my oldest sons horror. He did not want to pose, but as you can tell, he humored his dear old mom!

SUITCASE PACKED............CHECK

I have been thinking a lot about Heaven this week!

Not in that weird, as if I was going to die tomorrow way, but that He just might be coming back SOON!

Well, as I was talking to my mom the other day, she told me this story of my great-grandmother Lucy..................

Mama Lucy always kept a suitcase packed in her bathroom, so she could be ready in a moments notice to go on her next adventure. All one had to do was drop by and say do you want to go where ever and she could be ready in two minutes! My mom and I both agreed that this is probably why she lived to 94, because she was always READY.

The more I have thought on this story, the more I realize that this is the way we are to live, daily expecting the coming of the Lord. I can say I am looking for Him, I can spend time with Him daily, and I teach my children all about the things in His Word, but do I really have my suitcase packed by the door? Am I really expecting Him in a few minutes, tomorrow, or next week?

Probably not!!!!

I have so many things that need to be done before............

Before what?

Not anymore!!!!!!!!!!!

Mama Lucy, my suitcase is packed...............

See you on the right side of the throne SOON!!!!

"I Went to the Animal Fair, the Birds......"

The Fair is going on this week in our Parish, so we went today to see the animals. Riding rides is still a source of contention among the kids. Ricky is large enough to ride most things, but the others still do not meet the height and weight standards for most of the rides. Sorry to say, Ricky just has to skip riding when we are all together. Hopefully Toby can take him by and let him ride a few things without the worry of little brother crying because he can't ride.

The animals were so much fun, and I think the kids really enjoyed them, too! I am like a big kid when it comes to baby animals and petting farms. I was raised in the country and had all sorts of animals to fill up my time. Sometimes I feel really bad for my kids because they do not get to experience some of the things that I really enjoyed as a kid living in the country!

As you can tell the 30 yr old horse was a big hit with the kids! They all wanted to sit in the saddle! When their turn was over, they got back in line several times for another turn in the saddle!

The next three pictures were taken by my budding photographer Ricky Brazzel. He has found one of our older digital cameras and has begun taking pictures. He is hoping to enter a photo at the fair next year. He has year to practice!

photo by Ricky Brazzel

photo by Ricky Brazzel

photo by Ricky Brazzel

Ricky said that this duckling was practicing for a future Aflac commercial!

Kensli really liked the donkeys!

When we left the petting farm, Kensli asked where we were going? I told her to the exhibits. She replied, "Oh, to the exhibits! I love the exhibits! Can I pet them?"

My friend Neysha won a ribbon for the sweater she made! Also, her oldest son won two ribbons for things he had entered! WHOO HOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, this is what my two youngest thought of the larger animals!

After we got home, Kensli told me she was, "ready to go back to the Fair, but not to the stinky mess! Let's just go back the the good mess!" She was referring to the large animals and the petting farm.