What I have learned from my life as a mom!

Many times in my life I have dealt with so many crazy people. Those who think that I have lost a marble or two because I have seven children. I love my kids and am so thankful for the many opportunities for growth that they give me. As I watch my oldest daughter Alecia grow and make good choices it helps me to want to be the best example I can so that she will know what our Father in Heaven wants for her. She is such a wonderful young woman. She makes such awesome choices in her life. She is smart and creative. She loves to write and make jewelry. She also loves words. She can make a great study of a word so that she can use it correctly. She stands strong in her beliefs and doesn't care what other people think of her only what her Heavenly Father thinks about what she chooses. It is amazing to me to watch her mature and her testimony grow. I am truly a blessed woman. She has earned her YW medallion and is only 16. She is excited for the opportunity to continue her study and earn the honor bee. Her example is great for her younger 6 siblings.
As I watch my son Brandon I know that the Lord has given me another blessing. He is strong and loves the priesthood. He has always been close to the spirit. I remember when he was about six, if he sat away from the girls he would watch conference just as intently as he watched his favorite shows. He is on the downward slope to getting his eagle scout award and he loves his family. I know that when he turns 19 that he will gladly serve a mission because it is one of his goals and he will achieve all his goals. He is a strong young man who loves his family and the Lord. I learn to be a better mother and strive to be closer to the Lord as I watch my strong young man struggle through the life of a young man in a world that has so many pitfalls. He will make it because he has the spirit with him always.
As I watch my beautiful daughter Katie who is only 12 but looks a whole lot older, I learn the importance of fun and laughter in life. She is so vibrant, her eyes light up and she just glows. She is also struggling in a world of Satan's pitfalls but she will persevere because she has a desire to do good. I love her so much. She has a wonderful example in her big sister Alecia but that can be a hard thing to follow sometimes, especially when she is so different from her big sister. I have had to tell her over and over again that she is who she is and that is good. She can be a great example for good in this world and still be the happy excited person that she has always been. I have learned the importance of difference and fun from my darling Katie.
Krystal is my wonderful 10 year old. She is my little sunshine. When she smiles she can light up the life of the most depressed person. I am so blessed to have her as an example in my life. She has the tough road of being a middle child and I have watched her excel in many things. She has taught me to look out for those moments when I can brighten someone else's life with a smile.
Bethany is a shooting star. She can make you laugh and cry and want to laugh some more. Bethany is only 8 and I watch her looking up to her sisters and finding her own little niche in the family. She is her own little individual and I love to see her smiling face. She has taught me to laugh and enjoy myself. Life is fun and you can have a great time and still serve the Lord.
Jessica is our little princess. She is a calming influence on the family but is also the littlest. It is hard to pinpoint her exact personality just yet as she is only 6 but she is loved by all. She teaches me humility as she looks up to all her sisters.
Jared is the youngest son and has a spirit of energy. I wish I could bottle that energy and use it for myself. He teaches me to be more active and love it. He too is 6 and because he and Jessica are twins they have a love for one another that is amazing. When one is sick they want them to get better and they teach me the importance of unconditional love.
So as the mother of a large family I have learned that I am teaching them but if I watch closely I will learn so much more from them.

School Already!

Is it really time for a new year of school to start!!! Ugg I can't believe the summer went by so quickly. I love my kids and really enjoy having them at home. It also doesn't hurt that taxi momma's duties are less during the summer. LOL Anyway I'm off for a day of shopping. Have to get the kids stuff on less than half of what I need but I will try to persevere and get the best deals. Wish me luck.

Summer Scripture Reading Program

We started a summer scripture program today. It is this awesome program that a website I found does. It is called scriptures4kids and you can find it on my facebook page. Anyway I followed the family home evening for the kick off tonight and then asked the kids to commit to the program. Alecia, Brandon and Katie are to read 8 pages a day and at the end of the summer they will have read the entire Book of Mormon. Krystal, Bethany, Jared and Jessica are reading 15 minutes a day. I helped Jessica read tonight and she managed to get 13 verses done in the 15 minutes. I had her read the words that she knows and then helped her with the harder words. It was a lot of fun. I will let you know how we're doing next week. Wish us Luck!!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!!!

David turned 41 today. I asked him what he wanted for his birthday present and he started naming things that either he would forget about, needed at the office, or would have bought himself anyway. He finally mentioned that he wanted a suit. I figured it's something he's been wanting for a while and he would not buy himself so that is what I got him for his birthday. Isn't he handsome!!!! Ahh I just love this man.

Surprise, Surprise!!!

There are many times in your life that makes you go WHAT!!!!! Today was one of those days. As I was sitting with my family in Sacrament meeting today little did I know what kind of change the Lord had in store for our ward. It is so amazing that our Heavenly Father knows what needs to be done to spread his gospel through out the world. He is always a step ahead so when he does something sometimes our reaction is WHAT. Today our ward of about 120-150 active members was split into two wards. The kicker is that we were actually a ward of about 800 but you do the math and you will see how many inactive members reside in these areas. Not to mention our ward boundaries covered one whole parish and several parts of surrounding parishes.
So when President Epperson announced this and then asked the Ward 2 side to stand, you knew it was right. However then he asked Ward 1 side to stand and it looked more like a branch. Of course we are on the tiny side so there is a lot of work that will be falling on a few strong shoulders until the ward takes off. I believe that our Father in Heaven is asking us to stand up and put our backs into the work. If we can get even a quarter of the numbers back into activation we will be a strong ward. I pray that we will all see that our Father's hand is in this and that we can and will make it work if we rely on Him.

Mysterious Fever

Not feeling so well today, I actually felt bad enough to stay home from church. I really hate missing church. Anyway I have been having this really crazy fever that goes up then I take Tylenol and it comes down and then it goes back up. I'm not sure what's causing it but it sure is annoying. UGH!!!

Krystal's Kent House Field Trip

Today I had the opportunity to spend time with Krystal. She always loves it when she gets one on one attention from David or I. I was so excited to get the chance to spoil her a little.

We went to the Kent House which was built in the early 1800's. We were able to walk through a see what life would have been like back then.

The Back of the Kent House, see how it is up off the ground. That was because the Bayou Rapides would flood and they needed to keep the house up out of the water.

Krystal smiling pretty.
Krystal and a friend posing.

Krystal and her teacher Mrs. Crawford. Mrs. Crawford has taught all of my girls so far. She is very fun but strict. When they get out of her class they always do super well in the 5th grade.

Krystal and several of her classmates.

They were able to learn how to make several things before they went on the tour. Here Krystal is watching a nice woman dressed in period clothes making a yarn doll.

One of the yarn dolls. I took a picture so we could remember how they were made. I thought it might be a fun summer project for the girls.

They also made sand art.

Krystal has started liking the LSU colors, I'm not sure why but it is cute.

Here the lady is showing them how to make corn husk dolls. It is the same idea as the yarn dolls only you use corn husks that are soaked overnight.

The Black Smith Shop

The Barn

This is where they make sugar. The doors open up to a huge fire place! The fire is used to boil the sugar cane.

There are 4 large bowls like this that are used in the process.

This was our tour guide. He was quite a cantankerous old man but he was very knowledgeable.

I just really like this tree.

Krystal listening to the tour guide.

The milk house. Can you imagine having to make butter by churning it? Nope I just don't think that life is for me. I'm so glad that I was born when I could go to the store to get my butter.

The mild bucket and other milking tools.

The bottle tree. This tree is used to help ward off evil spirits. If someone got sick they would breathe into a bottle cap it and then throw it into the river. They believed that the evil spirits liked color so it would go to the bottle. Hmmm

An herb garden was a very important part of a plantation. It was used for medicine, seasoning and of course the scent for soaps.

Krystal smelling a root beer plant the kids thought it really smelled like root beer. LOL

French Lavender was a favorite smell for soaps.

How would you like to have to cook in this kitchen. YIKES

Krystal and a friend.

Bethany's Baton Rouge Field Trip

Bethany's 3rd Grade class had a field trip to Baton Rouge to visit the Old State Capital and the Science Museum. I volunteered to go as a chaperon and had a wonderful time with my little girl! It is always fun to be able to focus on just one of the kids for a little while. This doesn't happen a whole lot so when it does I try to make the most of it.

The Louisiana State Capital

Bethany and her best friend Lauren. They have been in the same class since Kindergarten and Lauren lives right behind our house so they get to play together almost every day.
Bethany and some of her class mates with Miss LSU.

After the tour of the capitol, we had a picnic lunch under some trees close by.

We traveled to the Science museum and Bethany really like this castle looking building in the background.

We couldn't take pictures in the main part of the Museum but the kids got to see a real mummy. Bethany said mommy the mummy's head is rotten. I couldn't believe that they actually had the head showing. It kind of scared a few of the little ones, but not my Bethany nope she was fascinated. After looking at the mummy and getting some good facts about salt filled bodies and x-rays the kids were able to go to an area that they could touch and play with things. Bethany is such a ham, she loves to pose for pictures so I took a lot.

Bethany and a friend at the whispering post.

Bethany investigating some snakes. Yikes!!

Bethany was looking at this fur and asked what it was and I told her it was a coyote. This was her expression when she found out. It's so precious.

Of course than she wanted to pose with a red fox. LOL

Digging for fossils.

Learning fun facts.

Acting silly with teeth. I just love this picture it shows Bethany's quirky side. LOL

Showing of the chompers.

Looking at tree stuff.

Sitting by Dino bones.

Posing with a turtle shell but I just got her because she is just too cute. Hehehe

Bethany with some friends in her class.

After having fun in the play area we went to a planetarium show. It was amazing!!! I really enjoyed the information given. They told us we were going on a tour of the universe and then took us to each planet. I think the kids really enjoyed it too. I also took a much needed break.

Bethany and I had a great time and I am very glad that I had this opportunity!

Birthday Girls!

Today we Celebrated Momma, Alecia and Lauren's birthdays. It was very fun!! I always love going to visit my family. I am very thankful that I have been blessed to be around them for so long. Momma's Birthday was April 19, Alecia's April 24, and Lauren's is May 1.

Here is a picture of the birthday girls!!Alecia posing with her cousin Victoria.

While the Adults talked inside, Ryan took the kids for a ride on his 4 wheeler. They were having an awesome time. Here the girls are waiting for a turn.

Ryan with Krystal.

Ryan with Jessica.

Ryan and Katie.

Ryan and Bethany.

While the girls were riding the boys were having a nerf gun war.

Jared posing for a pic.

Cousins having a blast! LOL