Holden's surgery

Holden got his tonsils and adnoids out, due to chronic infections. He had strep throat 3 times in 8 weeks and seemed to be sick with a sore throat every morning. The fact that we live in an allergy infested climate doesn't help the poor boy, I'm sure. Nonetheless, we decided to take the plung and see if this would help him out. He was so brave I was so proud of him. He was a little nervous at the hospital, but I reminded him of the blessing Russ gave him and that he said he would do good and recover good. Then I explained to him that the blessing is from Heavenly Father. He then relaxed and was fine. He has great faith! We are still crossing our fingers for the results, but so far he is feeling really good. He was in a lot of pain for a week and now he's feeling good without the pain meds. So back to school he goes, even if it is only for 3 days. :)

Blueberry picking!

We went and picked blueberries this weekend and it was really fun! Between the 6 kids and I we picked 17 1/2 lbs! Loren was the star blueberry picker, but really I was so impressed at their stamina.
We woke up early so we could beat the heat and put on our backyard boots and ate and picked as much as we could stand. (Really we went by when we ran out of water.) I had Mason on my back and the others all walked. It was so fun to hear their voices of excitement as they would find "more blueberries!" They really did great. In the end they got snow cones while I stood in line to pay. My kiddos love blueberries and eat them as if they are a dessert so this was huge for them to go get them. I got a few pictures, unfortunately I didn't get any of Loren. He said on the way home, "that was really fun!" It really was!

Ashley's testimony

After our FHE today we were all sitting around and Ashley mentioned something about a testimony. I asked her if she wanted to bear her testimony, and she said yes.

She said:
"I want to bear my testimony, I know the temple is true, I know the church is true, I know that Jesus died for me, and that when is hands were like this (she shows us his hands clasped together, I think maybe in the Garden of Gethsemane) His hands hurt really bad. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Then she proceeds tell me that, "you know b/c his hands had those marks on them (nails) his hands really hurt."

I loved the sweet spirit she brought into the room, or at least into my heart. I felt what she said. She was really bearing her testimony. She really feels these feeling inside of her heart! I am so thankful for my children! I learn so much from them.

Mason Man his eating!

This little 17 plus lb lug is eating baby food! He loves it. He watches all of us eat our food and tries to grab it. It's funny that after having so many little people that I still forget that they will swat at anything in view. I've had many items almost knocked over b/c he's trying to swat at it!
He's had an ear infection for a few weeks now that wouldn't go away so we had to hold off on baby food b/c with the meds it was making him throw up everything he'd eat. It was really sad/embarrassing to find that out at JCPenny! I felt like a really crummy Mom that didn't care if she brought her sick baby to the store at
9pm! The ladies were really sweet though. I felt awful that he had that reaction. Poor baby.

Happy St Patty's Day!

Every year growing up my Mom, who served her mission in Ireland, would celebrate St Patty's Day! It was another holiday in our home. My Dad had a special tye he'd wear to work, or say his eyes were green, which doesn't count so we'd pinch him. We all put on our green. My Mom would make us a really fun lunch full of lots of green things to take to school, etc. But the best part was the meal. Corn beef and cabbage! To some that might sound gross, but it is so yummy.
So in our house now we do the same. To Russ the smell of it makes him gag, of course. So I do it as a lunch. St Patty's falls during spring break so we can eat it during lunchtime and try our darndest to get the smell out before Russ gets home. :)
First, though I make the kids go on a scavenger hunt all over the house looking for our "pot of gold" from the Leprachaun. I make up really cheesy riddles that make no sense, but totally rhyme and they find their stash of candy. During the hunt one of the clues makes them pose for the camera.
We had our friends over for the lunch this year and it was yummy! We even had a green pistachio bread that was so good. Can you tell I love food too much?
Happy St Patty's!!

Just for fun!

I was going through old pictures of my kids. My older kids photos aren't on the computer so they aren't on here. I am the baby in the pink dress with white tights, and I put that so people can see that in fact my kids do look like me! Ashley is the one in pink stripes, which I think looks like Mason. Emily's eyes are so beautiful with her too. Holden is the cute blond baby. He still smiles like that. Josh was the one on the ladder, what a cutie. Russ was doing a really funny face in public and wanted to post it. It was on Match Day years ago. He was "acting surprise." The one of me and Janette, she's going to KILL ME!! That one is a beauty to remember. Nicky made and wore those dresses to proms!! She design the pink one herself. Beauties!! Janette and I thought it would be fun to go and wear these gorgeous dresses and darkened our eyebrows, put on moles, crazy hair, etc. Good times!!

Cupid wishes you a Happy Valentine's Day!

I sent this to a few people on your phones on Valentine's Day. Last time to make a baby wear ridiculous clothes and not fight me, right? It was either him or Russ. Anyway, hope you all had a great V-day!

Our cute little Boo!

Mason is 4 months now! He's a great 6th baby, just rolls with the punches. He usually is fussy when he knows he can be held b/c his sissy Emmy's home or when Dad gets home. He's a smart one! We love him so much!! One of the pictures is him yawning, but looked a bit like an "angry pirate face," why not start that out early?

The best housekeepers around!

Russ had to go to Washington DC for 4 weeks in Jan-Feb so my wonderful, retired parents came to help hold down the fort for 3 weeks. As you can see they loved on our sweet little Mason, a lot. My Dad would take him over to the kitchen table and stand him up or just play with him. I had to take pictures of them together b/c he was so sweet and tender with him. My Mom was always caring for and loving them too. So besides their time devoted to my 6 kiddos they also cleaned my house everyday! We went for walks and then my Dad would make us a "green drink." It is everything healthy that is green thrown in the "Vitamix" and it's pretty good, but very healthy. Even the stickers are healthy. :)
We also tried out a ton of new recipes. Russ as you know doesn't like to eat creative food, or most food in general, so my way of getting through him being gone was cooking. My parents are being very healthy and so we tried out a ton of healthy meals that they could eat too. It was very fun!
On top of all of that, they watched 5 of the kids, while we went away for a night. It was to celebrate Valentines/Anniversary. (We went to Killen's Steakhouse. It was delicious!! Then we went to a nice place downtown in Houston. In the morn we ate at this yummy place for breakfast.)
Anyway, I can never repay them for the time and love that they showed me and my children. They are one of my best friends, so wonderful and I am so thankful for them! Love you both so much!! Thank you!

Christmas 2010

Okay so here's one picture of Christmas. We used our phones for the actual day, but this is Christmas Eve. The kids all got their jammies on and we went caroling with our friends the Fox's. We had a great Christmas! The kids were really happy with all they recieved.

Nature in your own backyard!

Long time no talk. :) Well tons has happened, but we'll just rewind a little so I don't bore you with every detail of my life.
This is our opossum we found in our yard one day. We were all sitting talking and I tell Holden, "K, Bud it's time to pick up the dog poo." (That's his daily chore.) He goes willingly, which doesn't usually happen. He's back inside as soon as he had opened the door making a sound he only makes when he is scared out of his wits. Like for instance the snakes he's almost come in contact with, etc. Anyway, he comes to me, and says, "Jaggers (our dog) is eating a rat!" Now for those of you who truly know me that is a bad word in our house. My whole body shuts down when I hear that word, I can think clearly, I want to just pass out. Why? Because I've had them in our old house in our attic before and I wanted to die.
Anyway, lots of emotions here sorry. After debating on what the heck to do I look out our kitchen window and I find this huge rat, but am a bit more calmed at the fact that it is a opossum instead. He's laying there dead (looking). I'm all panicked and luckily my man is home, sleeping, but still home (he worked night shift). So I run in and tell him.
Another side note: My awesome dog Jaggers is guarding our back door. He is not letting any of my kids go outside. He literally sat on the back door so they couldn't go out. Loved him that day. :)
Russ is Russ and I'm Denise so I'm freaking out and he is slowly waking up to listen to his crazy wife. All the while, I hear the kids say, "his ears are twitching, he's breathing, HIS EYES ARE OPENING!" Their screaming, I'm crying (on the inside), Russ is slowly getting up to load his pellet gun. As soon as my dog saw Russ he backs off and stopped protecting b/c he new Russ would take care of it. That's amazing to me. He sets up camp and starts to shoot the creature. I take the kids upstairs so they don't watch and Russ took over and he dies.
Later I research opossums and find they aren't anything like a rat, except for they look like a huge one. They actually are, "nature in your backyard." They eat rats, mice, snakes. Now I'm really crying as I read this b/c he was trying to help. We still would've had to kill him though b/c Jaggers and hurt him, while protecting us. So I am thankful for my dog today and my hubby. So glad he was home to take care of this! Crazy stuff huh?