My goodness, I haven't blogged in a while. I feel like I have so much to say. This summer has been one of the best summers I remember. I have taken two weeks off to be with my family and enjoyed it so much. Makes me think, geez, why do I have all these bills? If I didn't, I would definitely be a stay at home mom! My kids are some of the funnest kids around...(is funnest a word?)
I will start with Emy. She is blossoming into a beautiful young lady, with somewhat of a smart mouth....she is just like me, of course. She is very sarcastic at times, but fun loving and so sweet at times, my heart just melts. The first week I took this summer was July 4th week. We stayed around the house and just hung out. We went bowling this summer and to some birthday parties. We swam ALOT!! The second week I took, we all went to the beach. I splurged and we stayed at Myrtle Beach, opting for an ocean front condo with a pool AND lazy river. Now we are broke again :) but it was so worth it. That was the most fun I've had in a really long, long time. We camp alot and I just realized during that week at the beach, camping is more work for me than it is fun. lol. But it is a lot cheaper so I see alot of camping in my future :)
Emy has learned how to dive this summer. She loves Justin Bieber and all the shows that I can't stand. Disney TV is not my fave :( Neither is Nickelodeon. I prefer the Hallmark Channel, old movies or watching DVDs. Emy is developing into a great big sister. She watches Tessa for me in the mornings so I can shower and dress without worry. She helps me feed her and she changes her diapers every so often. Tessa adores her and loves to kiss her smack on the mouth with her appreciation :)
Emy just started back to school. Can you believe I have a 3rd grader? Unreal!! Although my 3rd grade teacher retired a few years ago (I really wanted Emy to have him as her teacher), she got two great teachers and we are all looking forward to a great year! Emy did get placed with one of her best friends, so it is good....so far, so good. Her favorite subject is math :)
Emy also learned the most verses in her classroom at church this time around. She just moved up into the next class. I'm so proud. She is extremely bright and loves to learn new things!!
Emy is also into girl scouts and gymnastics. I have a brag a little here. Every semester since she started gymnastics, she has moved to the next level. There are red stars, white stars, blue stars, gold stars and then starts levels for competition. Emy is already in blue stars!!!!
Emy's friend, Maggie M, introduced us to a great traveling game which will explain the title of my post. Have you ever paid attention to how many different colored fire hydrants there are on the sides of the roads we travel daily? Around here we have red (baby santa), red/white (santa), green (leprecaun), yellow (fat fairy), red/white/green (elf), and even at the beach we saw a DALMATION one!! We keep score and it is a loud game but it is fun and keeps them way occupied!! If we call one wrong, a point gets taken from us. :) Thanks Tracy and Maggie!!
Moving on to my sweet boy, Luke. Luke is going to preschool for one more year. We decided to hold him one more year so he will be ready when he starts Kindergarten. He has been home for 3 1/2 years, so he is doing really great! He loves books and cars. He can spot a mustang or a dodge pickup truck a mile away.
Luke's teacher adores him as does his sunday school teacher and basically anyone he meets. Luke is special and it is apparent to everyone he meets. We are having a little trouble with him stuffing his pockets with crayons from school and brings them home, but we are working on that. He prays over his friends at school, laying hands on them. He prays for us as well. He is a sweetie.
Luke loves his sisters, is very protective of them. He loves to babysit Tessa and loves for Emy to read to him. He likes to watch movies with all of us. He especially likes Barney and Cars.
Please pray for Luke, as I am unsure if public school is the right road for him. We will see. I plan to start him at Emy's school next year in Kindergarten, so we shall see. We have a year to work on it, so we have started the work hard process at home as well as at preschool. Luke is 6 and will be 7 when he starts Kindergarten. I can't bring myself to think that is a bad thing.
Miss Tessa is almost 9 months old! She has two teeth, is crawling, pulling up, and cruising furniture. She is so much fun at this age. She still gags and chokes easily so I am taking the additional foods really slow. She likes to eat baby food and yogurt and mashed potatoes. She loves mango, applesauce, pears, and the girl is crazy over ice cream!!!
Everyone adores her and of course we get some looks when we are all together. Who cares? This is my family, made several different ways. If someone wants to look, let them. I have three adorable kids they are staring at :)
Darrell and I are doing well, we are extremely busy, we both have full time jobs and come home tired.......but really, we are having a great time with these kids. We just realize that every day is a precious gift. We try to embrace life as a family and we are having a blast!! Well, time to close. Tessa has crawled under my feet and I need to go and watch Mickey Mouse. MEESKA, MOOSKA, MICKEY MOUSE!!!!
Lots of photos will follow soon in another post!! Later y'all.
Luke, taking a break from sucking his thumb :)
Goofing off.
Riding his "motorcycle"
At the state fair with Emy & Maggie
Swings and smiles!
Christmas present from Ma & Pa with the siblings and cousins
First picture I EVER saw of Luke. The one I fell for. This is my 2nd miracle, y'all. 
Still in India, waiting for Daddy to pick him up. Yes, he's wearing pink.
TOUGH JOB--BIG BROTHER AND LITTLE BROTHER TO THESE TWO.
He had been home 1 day when this picture was taken.
Still in India, waiting for Daddy to pick him up. Yes, he's wearing pink.
TOUGH JOB--BIG BROTHER AND LITTLE BROTHER TO THESE TWO.
He had been home 1 day when this picture was taken.
