Updates

I've put some countdowns on the side of my blog to keep track of things. If I ever lose my calender, I'm lost!

Twins--are doing pretty well. There's a lot they still need to learn before 1st grade next year. They are supposed to be doing three letter blends now! (thr, str etc) They test the boundaries at times and we still watch for bonding issues. People think we are overboard but I know from past experience that we are not.

Jasmine--has surgery Thursday April 7. Pray for very good health between now and then or they'll cancel it. It's right before state testing but that can't be helped. Her dr is actually retired now but is still doing the surgeries for the little ones he started with as babies. She is struggling with the last quarter push and with math. She needs to raise $1,100 more for her summer mission trip.

Adam--has started tumbling and gymnastics at the gymnastics place. He's a natural at tumbling but didn't want to pursue it when he was young because he didn't want to work that hard : ) Now he wishes he had. It's too late for team or anything, but fun to do. He is job hunting and I've told him after he has the job he can do his drug course and take the driver's permit test.

Jeff--was unable to get his permit because we don't have proof of his citizenship. I filed a N 600 but haven't heard back. He goes to basic training May 9. He is work almost full time at BK.

Jessica--is in the final push of her freshman year of college. She isn't working nearly as many hours as she'd like because she needs off some weekends for Explorers activities. She's very much in to Explorers. She is currently secretary and treasurer and I believe she was voted the same for next year. She needs about $800 more for her mission trip. Her starting amount was less because she's a leader.

Tyler--will age out of Explorers in July when he turns 21. He has applied to UWF but has to get his transcripts sent. He's very hesitant but need to do this. He is ADHD and aspergers so life can be a challenge.

Explorers

I've mentioned before that both Tyler and Jessica are in the Police Department Explorers program. It's for kids 9th grade until they turn 21 who are interested in police work--but you don't really have to be. Tyler joined just because it was interesting. It not only provides classroom and practical training on things like arrest procedure, domesticate violence, bomb searches and stuff like that but it also provides a lot of community involvement. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas the Explorers patrol the mall and walk people to their cars if desired, the color guard marches in parades, they help with safety days and two weekends ago they were the parking and gate attendants at the Scottish Festival. I paid the $10 to get Jasmine and I in just to get pictures of my crew.


This is their friend Anthony who is now in a relationship with Jessica. They've been friends since she joined a little over a year ago and they became closer friends after surviving the Explorer's boot camp together. Anthony is the color guard captain for next year. He's also vice president of Explorers for next year.

This is Tyler. He will age out of the program this year. He shaved before our not-so-great church directory picture Friday.

They were playing some sort of game where you throw a hay bale over the cross bar. I've only been to Scotland once it was for two days in 1988.

The guy in the kilt is the Sgt in charge of Explorers.

Jessica was in charge of the handicapped parking. She is a criminology major in her freshman year at college.

Getting Ready

Today was church directory pictures, and I thought it would be a good chance to get a family portrait. Wrong. We got everyone clothes that more or less went together, got all the hair done and everyone dressed. Olan Mills took the pictures at our church. And they were mediocre. I mean, even Walmart does better. Now I wish I'd taken some at home before we went. But all I have are these few of the little ones getting ready. For some reason the bigger ones didn't want me taking pictures of them getting ready : )

If the church hadn't been doing the directory, I would have gotten pictures taken at Sears. They would have done much better and I would have been able to afford the pictures. I don't think I could get everyone to go through it again. We are having some issues here that I can't really post about right now. Those of you who know the situation understand. After the photo shoot, we all went to the Chinese buffet except Rick who had to go back to work. The buffet was a hit.

So Much Excitement...

Okay, not really. It's spring break but we have nothing big planned. So here's what we've done.

On Monday I took Adam, Jasmine and the twins went to the bay. Jessica worked. Tyler and Jeff slept until noon. Jeff worked in the afternoon.

We had new kites to fly. Jasmine chose Batman over all the girly kites.

The water is too cold to swim but Kaleb chose to throw the ball into the water on purpose, so I made him go after it : ) Adam helped him. They were cold but it was 74F so while the water was icy, the air wasn't. Hopefully--lesson learned. Don't be a stinker.

On Tuesday I took Tyler, Adam, Jasmine and the twins to the cheap theater to watch yogi. Jessica was working and so was Jeff (Jessica works at the theater and Jeff at BK). We went to the first showing. The first show of the day is only $1. Popcorn and drinks are only $1 on Tuesdays too. We never get those because it's cheaper to fill the bucket and get a large drink and refill it. But every other mother with four or more children decided to come to the $1 show on $1 popcorn day. It was PACKED. We waited over 30 minutes for a drink refill during the movie. Yogi and Tangled were both sold out.

Today we went to our favorite beach.

It will take a couple of months of hot weather for the water to be warm, but it was perfect for kicking around the soccer ball, playing Frisbee and building sand castles.

Adam was in a diving mood.

I have a penguins kite.

Tomorrow is just a catch up day around home and then on Friday we have the church directory portrait. Hmm. Think we can get nine people smiling at the camera at the same time? Maybe if they think about going to the Chinese buffet afterwards....

Sixteen and so full of potential

Random Thoughts

1. I'm glad the dr agrees Jasmine is ready for surgery. 2. I miss writer's conference. It's one time I fit in. 3. I hope Jasmine's name gets drawn for the charter school. Lottery shortly. 4. I'm proud of my two oldest ones who are in Explorers. Thursday night they were hostages on a school bus at a closed airport for real life swat training. Today they are security at a festival. 5. I hope someone gives Jessica and I a contract for Kidnapped in Haiti. 6. I am surviving without regular soda so stop preaching at me about how unhealthy diet is. I have to die from something. 7. I wish it were warmer for spring break. 8. Tangled was really good. I wasn't sure if I'd like it since Rapunzel isn't one of my favorites. I don't even really know the story. 9. I want my gall bladder back. 10. I hope a lot of people buy my quiz book when it comes out in July because the publisher doesn't really believe in this book as much as I'd like. 11. My shoulder is really sore. My horse spooked yesterday and dropped down. I chose to go off rather than possibly under. My instructor said it was a good looking fall. That's how my mind is working today. Share some of the random thoughts that are running through your mind.

I think we are all ready

for this neck thing to be over with!! Jasmine goes to Shands on the 18th to set the surgery date. We have church directory pictures the same day!! I was hoping this would be behind us by then. We have dance photos too. Ugh. Not sure about those.

Rick has been building with Lincoln Logs with the twins.

Jessica's all dressed up to go out with Anthony. They are both Explorers and last night they, along with Tyler, were "hostages" on a school bus at the old airport for training for the real swat team here in town.

I found a book review site and they reviewed three of my books HERE.