Family....

Well, today is the day....the day we have been waiting for, #8 joins us! I am feeling so great, so ready, but so not at all at the same time.

Having done this 7 times already, I have never had any fear, everything has been placed in God's hands from the moment that this little one entered my body. The problem is, I am 40 and that tells me that this is it, this is the last time I will feel someone kicking around, the last time that I will press and he/she will press back, the last fluttering of tiny hiccups. With my other children, I definitely enjoyed watching those little milestones as I trudged along my months of pregnancy, but at the same time, I always wished for that delivery day so I could finally meet my bundle of joy. This time around, it has been very different. I focused more...rushed less. I smiled when I felt those little stray movements early on, pressed my hand to my belly when they began getting stronger, lay down more just to watch.....this one put on quite a show as the curtains are quickly coming down on this production. 

I love what the last 18 years have brought to my life...boys and girls, in no particular order. Soon to be 8 different personalities, looks, smarts....they are all so unique, yet all so the same. They are ours. Those that we can enjoy, make us laugh, make us cry, raise and send off to do good in this world. I have no doubts that each and every one of them will. My babies have brought more joy to me than anything I have ever experienced or done in my entire life! There are many things in my life that I can be proud of....getting a job at the FBI right out of high school, going to college for 4 years and getting my Interior Design degree, owning/operating my own consignment shop...honestly, the list is a big one, but nothing in this world gives me even close to the amount of pride that I have from having children.

They will always be my life, my loves, my joy, my world! Cameron, Genin, Kaplyn, Reiner, Brandis, Matlyn, Wynslet and Baby Boy!

Vacation Time!! Day 6! Our Last Day

 

 

Vacation Time! Day 6!! 

Our last day at Emerald Isle. Always a somber day, but we have to get back to reality. Thank goodness my in-laws live here! Just a few more frolics first!

 

 

Some sand time.....

 

 She does her best work if her world is upside down....

Sun is going down....time is passing too quickly....enjoying just a little more...

Til next time beach.... XOXO

Game Review: Punderdome

"I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review”.

Game Summary: From the daughter-father duo that created Brooklyn's beloved live pun competition comes Punderdome, the "Punderful card game [that] will replace Cards Against Humanity at your next party" (Mashable.com).

My Review: I was so excited to find something so unique as a game when I went to get my next book to review this last time around. Comes in a neat little box to keep everything safe, neat and sound. Dug into the game and had a ball...warning, you must have no shame to play this game! Really no winner to this game, just a night of fun! Give it a try and see what you think!

Beautiful....

Sometimes I wake up in the morning, stumble to the mirror and have a good hard look at myself....man, where did that young girl go?!! Then I remember that I have an 18 year old beginning college in a few weeks and a long line of kids right behind him. Time flew! With 7 children and 1 on the way, it could be easy to just lay on a couch all day, engrossed in a tv show, my kids coming in and out between sports, jobs, and such, but do I want that for myself? Life is short and I love each and every day of it. After all...do I want to look in that mirror and see another 18 years fly by? Although I can see life go by in an instant, I have so many memories locked away to pull out anytime I need because I made the decision to enjoy life. So, each day, I get myself up, wash away the nighttime and look forward to the day ahead...makes me feel beautiful! 

7 Days of Inspiration, Day 6: Beautiful. That's what you are!

Vacation Time!! Day 5!

Vacation Time!! Day 5!

 

Day 5, we decided to stay local and enjoy some of the fun going on around town. 

 

We began our afternoon with the King Cole Circus. You could not get any more old school than this! Everything under the big top in scorching hot weather! They definitely made their money off of us in water. It was good for the kids to experience this though....they got to see how we enjoyed activities such as this as children, before you had a/c everywhere ;)

 

Even in the heat, the little ones were so excited!

 

The camels were fun to see.... 

But we always love waiting for the elephants!

Dripping with sweat, but with smiles on our faces, we loved the show! 

We decided the best place for us after all of this heat was in the air...(yeah, we are still a little spoiled) So, my in-laws decided to do a cookout. My father-in-law grabbed up some freshly caught shrimp and scallops....

 Who loves their father-in-law extra today?!! This girl right here!

After lunch, the sprinkler was brought out for the kids....that hit the spot!

 

 My little one always gets tickled with the whole idea of water sprays....hee-hee!

The older kids always do their own thing. They made their way to the front of the house to play some ball.

Who needs to cool off even more? Watermelon!! This piece is bigger than my daughter's head!

We definitely had our share of being outside for the day. After baths and jammies, we did a nice evening craft with the kids. Yesterday, I picked up some shells while on the beach and we decided to do some shell art.

A ridged shell and markers can make some really beautiful art! These are mine...

Lots of great art from age 2 to adult.

It was a great day! 

See you soon,

 

Book Review: 101 Ways to Have Fun

Book Review: 101 Ways to Have Fun, A Faithgirlz Book.

I was so excited to be offered this book from "BookLook Bloggers" in exchange for my honest review :)

Book Summary: Bored? Need something to do with your BFF's? We've got you covered, whether you have ten extra minutes to chill on a school night or a full day to fill with your friends. 101 Ways to have Fun is loaded with cute DIYs, tips on throwing the best sleepovers (complete with awesome snacks you can whip up in no time) and ways to spend quality time solo. We're sharing tricks for de-stressing, finding new things you love and staying super close with your besties (even when things get crazy busy). Faithgirlz helps you make use of those spare minutes and turns even the rainiest of afternoons into amazing memories.

Book Review: My daughter is always so excited when a new Faithgirlz book arrives! The colorful cover draws you right in immediately. This book couldn't have come at a better time....summer! Lots to do including crafts, cool hairstyles, mani-pedi's and more!!! Need ideas for a game? Recipe? Even how to hold your own yard sale? You will find it in this book! I highly recommend this book to any girl from young to old! Have fun and enjoy reading!

Be still....

Hush....
Don't feel.
Be silent and still.

Pain...
An old song,
Grief, never wrong.

Ache...
It hurts.
Please, no worse.

Tears....
Roll down.
Trying not to drown.

Life...
Goes on.
Even when your gone.

Together.
One Day.
Nights, I pray.

Hush...
Don't speak.
Just....be still.