Life is Crazy.

Truly it is. There are just not enough hours in the day. Between keeping up with the shop and dealing with issues, I am not getting much else done.

But I am calm about what we are going through with the twins. It started when Kaleb was supposed to be selling candy bars for band and decided he could keep the money. And spend it all on sweets. He got a taste of having big bucks and it has escalated. But we have enlisted appropriate help, both the school SRO and the local sheriff. And since Kayla willingly covers for him and accepts part of the money, she was talked to too. She seems to realize the seriousness, but to him it is merely a game.

I am hoping that the five weeks at a very regimented, closely supervised mission camp this summer will make a difference.

Here are some general updates.

Rick got a new job a few months ago. God really opened the door and he walked right into a job that is closer to home and pays better. So that has been a big blessing.

Tyler is busy with the shop. He is becoming an expert garage sale shopper. He sniffs out the best deals. He also can buy bits and pieces and assemble things. He sells the geeky stuff--action heroes, Marvel, Ninja turtles etc. I have the dolls, stuffed animals cute stuff.

We are really full. After I took the pictures below, we packed a bunch of it to sell at a church sale tomorrow. It's a different group of shoppers so we took some of the things that aren't selling at the shop.

Jessica took Winter to her two-week appointment today. There is a concern, so she is being referred to a pediatric endocrinologist. I wonder if she'll get the one Jasmine has? We were sent over an hour away, but the dr was worth it.

We had a get together for those who hadn't met Winter to meet her. River got some presents too.

And River had her modeling debut at a local boutique

Adam came over to meet River and brought his whole crew. I think they are going to be joining us in NC this summer.

Jasmine is really, really, really stress about school. We only have four weeks left, and it looks like she'll be taking algebra for the third time next year and repeating English 2 and possibly one other class. She is really looking forward to to choir tour which leaves about three hours after school ends!! Then we leave for NC/IN and OH a day after she gets home. Crazy summer!

The twins turn 12 next week. They leave for camp the day after NC. Unfortunately they are very short on money and will have to drop to the Florida team. They are even very short on it.

Kaleb was there, you can see his hand in the picture, but I didn't get one of just him.

Anyway, this is a brief update, and it's taken me three days to write it!

Winter in Florida

Winter Robin that is.

Friday 7:34 p.m.

7 lbs 10.8 oz

Overdue

I know a blog post is long overdue. Unfortunately, so is Jessica's baby! Winter was due April 11, and there is no sign of her.

Jessica has been wanting to go to the beach, so we went twice. Jasmine had late start due to the testing schedule so was able to go the second time.

River is getting so big. She can walk, climb and get in to everything. She is 15 months old. 

She loved the sand. Especially putting it all over herself.

We went to a different beach both beach days.

River helps me test new toys for the shop.

Tara, Sierra, Adam and Kiki came over for a bit before leaving for the beach. Here are the girls. Wish Jessica and River could have joined us, but they did meet us at the beach.

Have fun with photos. Ty was still asleep!

Glad to have so many together, but sad we are not yet approved for child #9.

Flying kites on Easter. A Haitian tradition.

Hopefully we will have baby news for you soon.

It's Been a Month

It's been a month since I last posted. Sometimes there is nothing to say, others times there isn't time to say it.

Opening a shop at our local flea market has been very time consuming, but it's also given me a sense of purpose.  It has been a waiting game with hearing back from a publisher about my YA fiction. No answer to my e mails, no nothing. A waiting game to hear from our adoption worker and wondering why everything has come to a halt. But when it comes to the shop, we are all fully engaged.

Ty and I spend the week searching for good buys--toys that are for sale cheap because of their condition that we can clean up, repair etc and get ready to resell. Our family room (you remember I fixed it up a while back--see that post here) now looks like a warehouse. Other than being totally frustrated by the clutter, I am loving it.

Tara came to visit the shop. I will take some better photos of the shop on Friday. The flea market is open 8-5 Friday and 7-5 Saturday and Sunday. We can't get in during the week at all. So bad news if we leave something there we need.

We've had spring break.Too much of it was spent dealing with behavioral issues, but we also had a nice day at the beach.

I took River to the park while Jessica went to her prenatal appointment. She goes weekly now.

There is a big storm moving in right now, and school is already canceled for tomorrow. Jessica is due on the 11th, and I'm hoping she doesn't go into labor during this storm.

I have a parenting blog that features quick tips since most of us don't have much time to read. You can check that out HERE.

Who has already had spring break and who is on break this week?

Fun Friday:Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

Life has been so crazy that I am simply going to share the recipe we are having tonight when another family comes over in a bit.

Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

4 chicken breasts

2 cans Rotel tomatoes

1 large can corn undrained

1 can black beans drained and rinsed

1 can red kidney beans drained and rinsed

2 envelopes ranch dressing mix

1 tsp chili powder

2 8 oz pkg cream cheese

Place the uncooked chicken in the bottom of the crock pot. Top with the Rotel, corn, beans, dressing mix, cumin and chili powder. Stir to mix. Top with cream cheese. Cook on low for 4-5 hours stirring occasionally. Shred the chicken before serving. Can serve over rice or baked potato or use as a dip.