The day has arrived.........

Monday was the day.   The twins, Ash and Megan hopped on the bus and headed to their school destination.  Ash got up to her alarm.  I told Brooke to get up, in which she responded, "YES!  THIS IS GOING TO BE AN AWESOME DAY!"  I got Macy up, to which she responded, "ARRRGGGHHH!!!!  NO! LET ME SLEEP!"  Wow!  Two kids, the same age, such different responses.  Macy cuddled with me, asked if she could stay home with me all day.  Luckily I had to go to work, or I would've said, "sure."  She then asked when is the next snow day.  Hehehe!  But she finally work up and got excited.  It was ok.  I went to work.  I had to be home to get Leah to high school sign in and bring her to work.  Busy day.  I was waiting in the driveway for the ladies when they got home.  Everyone was excited.   A few tears (from mom) but I kept it to myself so they didn't think I was nuts.

Then came Tuesday.......a 5 in school and I didn't have to work.  We had a good morning.  They got on the bus.  But Steve was still home.  We hung out: coffee and the Today Show.  Then he said, "I gotta go to work, love ya."  I said, "wait, what am I suppose to do all day?"  He laughed at me and told me to do whatever I want.  Have fun!    It's a strange feeling, is all I have to say.  It's a lonely, lost feeling.  It's quiet.   So I ran, but you can't do that all day.   Then I majorly cleaned the bathroom (boring).  Then I went out for lunch and hung out with my mom (YEAH FUN). 
All in all, it was a good day.  I only called Steve 3 or 4 times :)  When you've had kids under foot for 15 years it's strange to just do whatever you want or need, without thinking about the child that's attached to your leg. I told Steve maybe I should work full time, but he said, not quite yet.  (I think he thinks our house needs to be cleaned first). 
The girls are having fun, so I have to be excited for them.  What amazing ladies!  Praise the Lord!

Fun Fun Fun

Brooke did have her appointment with her pulmonologist (lung doctor).  I asked Steve to come with, because 4 ears are better than 2, and he can buffer my thoughts (I have a strong personality sometimes that needs taming.)  When we get there Brooke goes and does a bunch of breathing tests.  It took a little while this time.  I kept thinking, "oh brother, we're in trouble."  The inhalers they told me to give her last year, I failed to give.  I voluntarily didn't give them and I was prepared for them to be upset with me.   Brooke came back, PA came in and said all the tests look good.  She does not see why Brooke would need the inhalers, with the exception of if she's sick.  She said she might get sick faster than others, due to a lower immune system, but it appears she had a great year.   WOW!  We were so happy!!!  And we agreed, but the doctors don't always agree with us :)  So it's a pleasant surprise when they say, "don't come back unless you need us." 

So now that we put the asthma thing to rest, Brooke has decided to carry on with something else.  Glasses!!!  She is actually super excited about them.  At her physical they said her eyes changed a little, have them checked out.  So we did.  It appears one eye is normal and the other is not and she has astigmatism.   She is suppose to patch her good eye, once a day, to strengthen her other eye and then wear glasses as much as she can.  All do able.  Macy was bummed.  She said, " I was the one that wanted glasses.  Brooke gets all the fun things."  Hehehe, oh my!  Poor girl! 
Macy is wearing my glasses.  Had to feel included :)

The other new addition is...........a car!  We found the car for Leah.  The venture for a car has been interesting.  It consisted of Steve and I both on line searching and sending each other links (often times we were in the same room).  Then I'd drag him all over to look at some crappy car.  I don't think Leah had much hope.  Her expectations were/are low :)  But when we asked her, what she thought, she said, "I'll drive whatever you buy.  I may not tell you it's good looking, but I'll drive it."  We found some interesting automobiles. And we laughed a lot.  We settled on an Intrigue.  Oddly enough, we had an Intrigue when she was born.  She doesn't remember that :)  She seems ok with it.  There's been a lot of washing, fixing up, making it her own and saying, "dad can I drive it.  Dad can I drive it, Dad can I drive it.  Please DADDY!".  She has 2 months til she gets her license so I told her I'm going to break it in :) 

2 girls are off at camp!  Megan and Ashley are at camp Geneva.  Home is quiet, in a strange way.  But we pray they are having a riot, away from their sisters and family.  Becoming the young women God intends them to be.  Let your light shine ladies!!!

1 1/2 weeks til school starts.  So crazy!  I'm ready, and I'm not ready.  On days they are fighting, it's time to go to school.  On days they are getting along, I want summer to last forever.  Soon enough they will all be in school.    What shall I do with myself?   :)  I'm pretty sure it'll be ok!

 

Birthdays and Anniversary's

Summer is flying by!. June 30 was the twins birthday.  They got to spend the day at the beach and of course there were presents.  It's difficult to find gifts for girl #4 and #5.  I am thankful for new inventions that keep us entertained. They got a new scooter and razor bike. It is quite entertaining if I do say so. Leah and I look a little funny riding it but I promised her I would NOT post pictures of that.

Steve and I went to a Tigers game.  It was fun to go away, with just us.  We heard NUMEROUS times how unfair it was that we were leaving the kids home.  And they NEVER get to do ANYTHING fun. I told them when they get married they can go.  Megan said, "sign me up."  We are now nervous.  But we did have a great time.  It's not even where you go, it's being able to have conversations and not being interrupted or wondering who's listening :)  The girls stayed with my parents and my uncle and aunt at the beach.  Not sure my Uncle Larry and Aunt Brenda planned on having a kid in their trailer but they were awesome sports and they made Ashley feel so special!!!  She was very happy to not have to stay with her sisters.

Next up is Megan and Ashley's birthdays!  They are had a joint birthday party which they were super excited about.  The nice thing about this age is, I don't really have to plan much.  Just say, "yes" or "no" and buy the stuff.  They take care of the rest.  Happy Birthday my sweet, sweet girls! 

 


For some reason lately, my focus with the girls has been contentment.  We observe so much discontentment in this world.  I had a dad ask me, many years ago, "when will my children be content?  It's always, more, more more."  I thought it was funny he was asking me, because he was a lot older than me, but I understood and I still think of it to this day.  It's something we all strive for, and something I SOOOOO want to engrain in my children.  God put us here for a purpose and we don't want to get caught up in the worldy ways. 
This summer we got our kids started on Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace jr, for kids.  Steve and I believe in this program.  Steve has listened to him on the radio forever!!!  When someone is "cheap" we say they are "dutch" but this is not that.  This is being smart.  It's simple, they work.  (the older 2 have jobs so that's much easier.  The younger 3 have chores, more work for me :)  When they get their money, they divide it up into save, spend and give.  Each child has a different percent of spend and save depending on age and what they are saving for.  They have all been excited about it.
More than teaching them smarts with their money, we're trying to teach them contentment.    Contentment when you have much and contentment when you have little.  We can try :)

Not much time left before school starts.  We are going to try and fit in a little more fun.  2 girls have camp, and 1 more camping trip.  God is good!