Game Two District

We won!! What a night:) Savannah boys beat Chester County in a very exciting game! Chester County won our sub-district (we were third) so it was a big win for the boys! We will be back in Selmer playing again tomorrow night!

Becoming a typical evening...

Tonight Zack refused to go to bed. Refused. I called him downstairs to sit with me. He head banged, yelled, whined, cried, beat my computer cabinet (once, as I quickly told him if he broke my computer desk he would buy me a new one with his birthday money...he stopped. In spite of his continual bad behavior he does know I mean what I say.)

John is really getting into this reverse psychology. He sat with me as Zack tantrums. My big boys do this, sweetly and thankfully, out of concern. Zack is a big kid with a lot of anger. I truly hope the day does not come that they have to psychically intervene, but I appreciate the backup during times like this.

I continue to ignore the bad behavior. Occasionally I will stop and once again explain why he is sitting with me. John is my antsy one. He get tried of the constant "mommmmaaa. mommmaaa"

Zack "mommmaa mommaaa"
John "Zack call mom's name one more time just for me please?'

Zack "shut up!"
John "keep telling me to shut up, please"
Zack "I don't have to listen to you!"
John "Please keep talking to me Zack"
peace for a few short minutes and then....

Zack at an impasse begins to bang his head
John "Keep banging your head Zack, that's an order!"

(banging stops)

Zack..."momma can I go to my room??"
John..."ask mom some more Zack, please ask her again"

Ending with:
Zack "You aren't my real family!"
John "So where are you hiding the other one?"

I raise my hand to John (the universal halt sign), John stops and walks away.


I understand Johns frustration with Zack, and I can flip it over (although Zack's perception is extremely skewed....Zack just wants what he wants...period). BOTH of these boys came to live with us at age 7. Both with so much in common: part of a larger sibling group, from Texas, both second in the birth order, both boys. Yet HUGE oceans apart in reality!! The similarities end very quickly. I know that only two years separate these tow guys in age. I type that and quickly recount...is that right?? Again, HUGE differences. The only common ground these two will truly ever share is the family that loves them both. The very family John embraces and Zack denies.

New flower bed:)

Yesterday Jacob, Kade and Daniel worked VERY hard finishing up the flower bed Scott started. It is so nice to have my boys at the age where they can go get loads of mulch and help out in such a big way!! Jacob paid for all the materials and then itemized it all so I could pay him back:) My Jacob is a good kid!! Kade was a great helper! Not one of mine, but such a good worker(not to mention good guy) I sure would claim him:) Daniel did really well. He followed Jacobs direction really well and he sure can throw mulch!

Which one?

I laughed as I tried to take pictures of Jacob and Kelsey last night! Which picture is the "real" one...the one no one is tiptoeing in? They are a funny pair:) Kinda easy to figure out....In one Jacob is in his toes( making him super tall)...in one Kelsey is on her tiptoes and Jacob was standing in a hole (making them most even) and then there is the one where Jacob is just a good bit taller (being the "real one"). Jacob and Kelsey are professional baseball fans. Between Kelsey's brother and Jacob's brothers? They sit through a bunch of games!

Game One District

We played the first game of the district last night. The boys did really well, although we played a team that went to the World Series last year(just a tad bit better than us..lol). The team we played had not given up more than 10 runs in their last three games....we scored 13, but lost 13 to 28:( Seth was just so excited to have big siblings there! Caleb, Emily, Jacob, Kelsey, Doug and Chelsea....they made his night!! Chelsea and Doug had not seen him play as they had been on a mission trip. They drove 13 hours home and turned around and drove 30 more miles to see Seth play....gotta love a sister and brother like that!!

Above is Doug helping Seth fly:) Also Chelsea helping Seth get his batting bag closed...don't they look alike??

Doug's car

I laughed at Doug last night:) He was texting me and after a few he said, "Is my car okay?" A question only a 17 year old boy would ask:) I replied with "Define Okay?" Then I told him it was exactly where he left it! As seen above:)

Last day of school

Today was the last day of summer school. The kids have had such a great time:) I took these pictures this morning as they waited for the bus. The last picture is of Scott leaving for work. Every morning he rolls his window down and they slap hands:) My favorite part? All the little voices saying, "Make it a great day Dad!". lol:) Very sweet!!

I love this!!

Last week I was at the "dig store" down the street and found a set of sheets that matched the two comforters and sheets I bought from eBay. I was really excited, not thinking to find anymore of the pattern. After I left they found a second sheet set and called me! Two extra sets:) When I went in today to get them? They had matching quilts!!! They are beautiful. I paid all of $4 a piece for them:) I love love love deals like this!!

Jacob

Jacob is 16 and entering his sophomore year of high school. Jacob is such a great young man! He works extremely hard, having learned very well the "work hard and play hard" adage. He is very conservative with him money. A few months ago he bought an ipod touch thingy, but returned it to the store the next morning because the amount of money he spent on his made him sick. He rises early in the morning all by himself (not at all common for my teens unless drug from bed). Jacob is a great helper. I have never asked him to do something and have him complain. He is always there to pitch a hand. I love his spirit! Last year Scott baptized him and I was so thankful that the last of my teenage boys had put on Christ. Jacob is a great example to younger brothers and sisters. He is very long suffering ...a much needed and loved trait by my littles:) Jacob would spent his whole life on the water skiing or in the snow skiing. He loves both equally:) I am very proud of Jacob.

Mark Shultz

I cannot listen to this song without crying and I certainly cannot watch the video without tears. It's simply beautiful! This is the song John and I listened to:) The second video is Mark Shultz describing how he came to write this song...equally as special:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhqJYOYcnAU

John

It is always a surprise (and usually a pleasant one) to see my children grow into young adults! John is a wonderful guy! John is a Christian(has been for two years), smart (National Junior Honor Society President), friendly (Freshman class officer and member of Student Council) and a worker (works at the local Movie Theater). John is a wonderful helper with little kids homework! He is witty and funny. John is my guy that can to live with us at age 7, on his first day of second grade he told his whole class about his life (the whole thing: police, shelter and foster care) and he ended his talk with "I flew in a airplane to Tennessee, have a new family and now I'm home!". He WANTED life to be good (better than good...great) and his life is:) It's because he makes it so!!

A few weeks ago John sat with me as we listened to Mark Shultz song"Everything to me" I knew John would have the ability to listen and even though it did not exactly apply, he would understand. He did. I cried, he cried...I love this guy!! This Fall Mark Shultz will be the guest at the AGAPE Memphis fundraiser. I told Scott I would love to take some of the children, but if I could only take one? John. John knows where he has been and where he is going....He will travel in his lifetime where ever his heart wants to be because he has the dedication to make it happen!!

Carlton

Carlton is going into the eight grade. Carlton is a GREAT athlete! He is very strong and a big help in the yard. He worked for several weeks with Jacob on his yard work. Carlton very much likes hanging out with older brothers...playing ball in the yard, playing games inside or just talking with them. Currently Carlton is at a boys ranch. It is a wonderful program and we feel it might really help Carlton. Much like his birth brothers, Sam and Zack, he has wonderful positives but really needs some fine tuning on good behaviors.

Mercedez

Mercedez is very very much a 12.10 year old:) Tweenish to be sure:) She loves clothes, straightening her hair (most hair related things), talking on the phone, the computer and hanging out with big sisters. Mercedez easily slides into the big sister position. She is the oldest of my six little girls and is a good example for them (lol..most the time). Mercedez loves playing sports. She is going into 7th grade and it is so very hard to see this "little" girl growing up!!

Zackery

Zackery is nearly 13 years old...a long way for the 7 year old we brought back from Texas. He is going to be a big boy..lol...he IS a big boy:) Zack loves to draw and make crafts. If my tape or glue is missing it is a sure bet I will find it in Zack's room. He is really creative:) He likes younger children and can be very patient with them. Zack is one of my trio I worry most about. "Impulsive" does not begin to describe Zack! Zack has a lot of positives going for him, if only there were not for his behavior.

Rosie

Rosie is either with animals or babies:) She loves babies more than any tween I know. Always has loved babies, always has loved animals. I can remember when she was 3 or 4 Caleb and Jacob would be in the creek at my parents looking for crayfish. They would tell the little ones that they saw a snake(in hopes of running them off). Rosie would lay her baby down safely in the grass and run toward the creek. LOL Exactly opposite from the expected. She is really unique. Not at all influenced by others. If she likes something it is only because she likes it...never because someone else has something. I love that attitude! She needs and enjoys personal space. She would be very happy playing by herself. Sometimes she goes off to do just that. Rosie has come a very long way from that 9 pound, 5 month old baby I brought home! Thought to be failure to thrive she is thriving just fine now:)

Samuel

Samuel is one of my very best helpers. He can do anything when he sets his mind to it! He loves working outside and is a great help to Dad! Sam is currently at Youth Villages in a treatment facility. I have really been impressed with Samuel's improvement. Sam is a really sweet guy. He loves legos and model cars and about anything you do with your hands. He has the most beautiful blues eyes you'll ever see:)