Every Day Life

Every time our life seems to be falling into a routine, something changes. So, I'll just update each child.

Tyler -- he was working custodial at the mall, but they kept leaving him to close alone, which is at least a two-person job. Iron Wok saw how hard he worked and hired him for the days he didn't work custodial. He also works in our flea market shop Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

Finally he couldn't take the stress of the custodial job and gave two weeks notice. Iron Wok gave him an extra day, and Hickory Farms just called to see if he wants to work seasonally starting November 21. They hired him last year when they saw him sweeping the food court. I really don't have recent pictures of him because he works every day except Tuesday. So on Tuesdays I usually take both him and Jessica to Taco Bell. This is last Tuesday.

Jessica continues to work two jobs, one retail, one a waitress job on the beach. She works evenings, so there is only a short time gap between when she leaves for work and when Hunter gets home. We take turns helping her with the babies. I had them today. Yesterday she and I took them to the park.

Jeff- I haven't heard from him in two years by his choice.

Adam -- He has moved three hours away to become active reserve. Thankfully he does come home every few weekends so we can make connections. He and Tara are no longer together. They have been on and off so many times, but this move seems to have ended it. I hate that because I think they are good together. But it's their lives. So we watch and pray. He is involved in coaching a boy's basketball team after work. And he has an endless supply of friends.

Jasmine-- Life has gotten stressful far too quickly this year, her junior year. She is not in band because when you are percussion, it is your life. She said she could not go through another year of that. She is in a local children's theater group, though, and loves that. Since it is two nights a week, she chose to not participate in county Christian choir this year. I am a bit sad about that because it's a great program that combines a Bible study with choir, and they go on tour the first week of summer every year. This next summer they are going to California. But she has to do what she feels is best for her, and she is struggling with math and history already. I'm glad she has the theater program for fun.

We went to the beach during a tropical storm two weekends ago.

Kaleb-- Intermediate band is marching with advanced band this year, so he has marched at a couple of football games already. Thankfully he can wear Jasmine's middle school uniform for the upcoming parade, except that he needs a different color cummerbund and bow tie. He is also in his third year of swimming. He can't decide if he likes it or not. He likes things to come easy and doesn't want to work at them. I know it will all click one of these days.

Kayla -- Kayla finished Teen Court. She just has to turn in her notebook completed. She tried out for middle school basketball and made first cut, but she did not make the team. We were all disappointed for her. She has the choice of playing on a city league, but it is not until Jan/Feb and is at the same time as middle school soccer. She has to decide quickly between the two.

This month was Kayla's turn to go on a Mommy date. She chose the Chinese buffet.

Ashley-- hoping to see her and the kids on our very brief trip to Indiana next month. Phoenix is in marching band, and Griffin is in football.

So those are my updates for now. I know I don't post much, just too much going on most days. And I'm never sure if anyone is really reading my posts other than my brother. LOL.

A Horrible, Amazing Weekend

It was both!


It started out routine. Jasmine had to march at a football game and got in really late Friday night. Rick worked concessions.

While she was gone, the twins practiced trombone.

And made sweet potato pie.

They split this smaller one.

The next morning, Jayden wasn't at the door waiting to get in like she always is. Here is a picture I took of her earlier in the week. We knew something was wrong when she didn't show up.

On Saturday Jasmine had to be back to the school for band pictures. They were at 10, but the director wanted them in place at 9:00! I dropped her off, then met Jessica and River at IHOP.

We had coupons that needed used, and Jessica had one for a free kids' meal, so River got that. She didn't eat it all!

 We went to the mall, and then I went to the library until Jasmine called at 1:15 that she was finally done! We went back to the mall to meet a lady who was going to sell us some clothes for $1 each!Pictures later!

We got home, and Jessica called that she had to be to work, but Hunter wasn't home because of a tire issue. So she brought River over. River stays with me some afternoons because she leaves two hours before Hunter gets home.

Then first thing this morning, Kayla came out to say that Sadie fell off of her bed, and she wouldn't walk on one leg. Of course this happens on a Sunday.

They left for church, and I decided to see if Ty could help me take Sadie kennel and all to a vet that was open on Sunday. He goes to a different church that has an early service. When I called him and asked him where he was, he said, "I just had a wreck." Not the words any mother wants to hear. So I went to get him.

He just paid $725 three days ago for a tune up and fuel pump! And $400 a few weeks ago for something else!! 

He only has liability, so we will have to see what the repair costs are. The tow truck driver was VERY rude to both of us because he couldn't accept a credit card on a Sunday!!! 

We came up with $91 of the $97.75 in cash due to Ty still having part of his paycheck with him. The guy was going to tow the car away (from where we had him tow it) and hold it at his lot until we paid the rest--and the additional $200 that would have called. He was so rude, I actually screamed in his face. We went through both vehicles for loose bills and change and were still .50 short and I pretty much told him that would be very anal to impound the van for .50!!

Meanwhile, Rick ran in to Adam and Tera and Tera's niece, Sierra, at church and ask them over for lunch. So we did a quick pizza run because I hadn't started lunch due to how much time it took waiting for the tow truck and the anal driver. (I offered to mail him the $6.75 and he said he didn't know me so couldn't trust me, but I'm suppose to let him tow Ty's van off to somewhere on the far side of town?)

I found out that a former foster child of ours was at the beach 45 minutes away, so we quickly made plans to meet up. Unfortunately, he told us the wrong location. He was at a pier, but not the one he said. So we waited a while, and then Jessica, who works near there, figured out what had happened. We quickly drove to the other pier 15 minutes away--and closer to home!

Jessica talking to Dwight's girl friend.

It was cool to hear that Dwight has the photo album we made for him even though he was only with us 42 days due to him having to go to a group home because his previous foster home lied about some behaviors. He came to us as an emergency "just for the weekend child." (Stop laughing Felicia!!) We would have kept him, but due to the accusations, he had to go to a different type placement. 

 After they left, Jasmine and I stayed and took some photos.

While we were still there, Rick texted to say that they'd spotted Jayden making her way home injured. Her eye is a mess!!! So it looks like we may have a double--or triple--vet visit tomorrow. Travis is having respiratory issues and is not responding to the meds. I'm kind of hoping Sadie will be okay in the morning, that she just banged up the leg and it's not broken or anything.

Poor Jayden! Ty had to run a really big, mean cat out of our yard a couple of night ago, and I think that same cat did this. Jayden may have to stay in at night.

So that was our weekend! Good and bad. Bad for pets, Hunter's tire and Ty's van, good for connecting with people.

Hurricane Weekend

On Wednesday evening it looked like Hurricane Hermine was heading our way, so they canceled school for Thursday and Friday. 

On Thursday night, we were right in the path, and everyone was preparing in case we got hit. But then the storm shifted east and thankfully while some cities had damage, it wasn't devastating as some past ones had been.

I would have loved to go out of town for the five day weekend, but hurricane or not, the high school football game had to go on!! That meant Jasmine had to be here to play in the band.

So we did a lot of hanging around Thursday and Friday. We all helped Kayla get started on her trombone. Kaleb started in April. I played saxophone from 9th grade through my first year of college. I got out our spare saxophone (Jessica played from 6th on and still plays in church orchestra and Adam played in middle school). 

We also got out the guitar and ukulele and sang and played. 

Adam came over to see River, and we had pizza.

Her hair isn't red, but my Nikon lens is broken. I'm shooting with an old fixed lens Kodak, and the colors are always a bit off.

We started a puzzle and caught up on homework.

We were supposed to go to the bay and take the jet ski and kayaks out Saturday, but rain was forecasted and none of the bigger kids wanted to go. So the twins, Jasmine and I headed north to Ponce de Leon springs state park. They were supposed to get a thunderstorm at 1:00, so we figured we could get in two hours of fun before that.

We stopped and got Subway on the way. We do it in pairs, so each pair has to agree on the sandwich, although they can have their own toppings. We took a 2 liter, cookies and chips with us.

It didn't rain. In fact it was sunny and beautiful out. We ended up staying until late afternoon.

Jasmine and Kaleb have been there twice before, but this was Kayla's first time.

All three decided to jump together. The jump is on video though.

On Sunday we were going to cook out breakfast on the beach and do devotions there. But it poured. Really, really poured. All day. So we cooked at home, watched the movie "Risen" and later watched "Miracles from Heaven." We were going to get out some board games, but totally forgot.

There was rain forecast for all day today (Labor Day), so I was thinking we'd end up cancelling our jet skiing at the bay again, but it was beautiful all day! So much for weather forecasts. Adam had already made other plans, so he wasn't with us.

Jessica, Hunter and River came for a little while, but left at River's nap time.

Jasmine and Kayla

Kaleb and Kayla

Our neighbor with River.

Hunter and River

Papa Rick and River

Kaleb

Jessica and River

Tyler and our neighbor. Josiah is having a tough time of it because he is the youngest of 5 and they have left one by one. The next older one left for college two weeks ago, so he's the only one at home now. He looks up to Ty and they share interests in Magic and Pokemon cards and Wii games. Ty doesn't play the shoot em up kind.

Tyler, Kayla, Kaleb and Josiah all went out on the knee board. It is new to them.

We had several dophins join us in the water. I have videos, but have to get them downloaded.

So our hurricane weekend turned out pretty well!