Blessed Beyond Measure

I think this move to Louisiana even though hard in some area's has been so good for our family. I know there was an area that was suppose to change a long time ago but because of fear for whatever reason it remained the same. I knew what I was suppose to do but I just never followed through. In doing that I was made more miserable by being in a situation that was not good for me.

I think in moving so far from home even as hard as it is being so far from loved one's. It is exactly what God wants for us. It's a fresh start.

My life before the move was Family (immediate and extended) and church. That was about all I focused on. As of our move in June my life is now on a daily basis about my Family meaning my children, husband and of course our doggies. We are visiting new churches around the area and praying for guidance. I know how important it is to be in the right church and I know that God has the perfect church out there for our family.

There are times like today when I spoke with one of my Sisters on the phone that I missed them so badly I wanted to hop in the van and drive to Oklahoma. However that is just not going to happen today. Soon though!

In all of my life until the last year I have not gotten to spend near as much time as I wanted with a part of my family. I am so thankful that last summer we were able to start a family day once a month and although this month I am going to have to miss it for the first time. We are going to try to get back and make as many of them as possible. Family is so important to me.

I have always been a family person growing up we had a family get together at least once a month with my mom's family. She has 6 brothers so you can imagine how many people that is when you add all of the kids. It was an amazing childhood. As my sisters and I grew up and invited our friends to join us in our "Birthday parties" we realized that none of them had the same experiences and from an early age we were thankful for our close loving family. Those parties stopped quite some time ago however there have still been plenty of chances to see them all. At least until we moved. I am praying that we will make it back to Oklahoma at least for some things.

I miss getting to be with my mom and sisters for our Thursday lunch. I miss my nieces and nephews so much. Talking to the boys and hugging and kissing Sarah and Elizabeth. Watching them all grow into such great little people has been a blessing to me! They are all so very sweet! Every single one of them! (Will, Josh, Alex, Elijah, Sam, Sarah and Elizabeth!)

I have been Blessed Beyond Measure by MY GOD that loves me and even though I am undeserving of his blessings I am so thankful for them.

Do You Know?

Do you know what these are?




I got them off of this tree. . .



I wouldn't of known if I hadn't been told. I pulled a handful of them tonight after I researched how to tell when they were ripe. Caylea and I shared one tonight. We both agreed that maybe we would like them better cold. I had never had a fresh fig before only fig newtons.

I think we missed the plum tree's fruit. Hopefully next spring we will have plums growing in our back yard! How cool is that?

There are a lot of figs ripe I need to go our there with a bucket and a step stool and get picking. We may not eat enough of them though but we can share with our very nice neighbors :)

Playing In The Rain

I am not sure why but for some reason my kids have never played in the rain before. It was such an alien idea that Carolina would not have anything to do with it! However Caylea and Caden had a blast! It rained pretty good here this week -everyday minus today. It was nice and it cooled off the days a little. I see that we have some pretty hot weather moving in here the next week or so. I think we will be spending a lot of time at the pool and in the house!

Misty loves the rain also but Tiger and Maxx like to stay dry. . .can't say I blame them too much.

I Think We Are Becoming An Outdoor Family

We are loving our new home, our new backyard and our new neighborhood. The kids and I spend a whole lot of time out there during the day and then when Anthony comes home he joins us.

We have been walking the dogs every evening and just enjoying the beauty of the area. Yesterday after our walk Caylea and I decided to keep going so everyone else stayed at home and we went another way it ended up being a long walk . . .a very long walk. It was so beautiful I had wished I had my camera however I do not carry it on our walks.






Misty Mae loves this yard also! She spends a whole lot of time out there and she loves to run around the whole yard it is so funny to watch the other two puppies start off trying to play with her but then I think she is so fast it kinda freaks them out and they come to the porch and just watch her.



These two crack me up. Tiger did not like the puppy at all for the first day . . .a lot like he was with Misty the first day. However the very next day he was playing with him. This puppy just doesn't know when enough playing is enough. Misty has a way of getting his attention and putting him in his place it usually takes one little snap. However Tiger can attack him and he still doesn't get it. So I have to stop that and I am trying to teach Tiger to jump up in a chair or on the couch because Maxx can not yet so he will be safe (at least for now).

At the vet yesterday Maxx weighed 4 lbs and Tiger weighs just over 4 lbs so I am excited to see the puppy grow bigger and bigger. Since we do not know for sure what kind of dog Maxx is there is no telling just how big he will be however I am certain he will be much bigger than Tiger and most likely bigger than Misty girl.

Family Fun

This day was an awesome day with my family. . .right now I am missing my family. I wish I could drive back tomorrow. . .I may just have to make a trip back sooner than expected.

Four of our kiddos have July Birthdays. Steph has two Will and Josh and I have the other two Caylea and Caden.



Looks like Christmas right?



Time for the kiddos to get out in their very own water park that their Papa Larry Made for them!

Will

Caylea

Josh

Elijah

Carolina

Samuel

Alex

Caden

Sarah

Elizabeth

Wow a patient line. . .



The kiddos were not the only one's who had some fun!

Boxer Mix?

No I didn't get another puppy. . .however I did have to take Maxx to the vet hospital this morning because he has a bald spot on his back. Turns out it's just a bacterial infection so He is now on antibiotics.

So the vet assistant thought pit bull mix and the vet said no way he is a boxer mix and he is younger than 2 months old. . .

Anthony also thought he looks like he had boxer in him. . .

Beagle Mix

Today we were going by Petsmart to get some saltwater for the hermit crabs. I pulled up to Petsmart and noticed the big sign out front that the Pound was there doing a Pet adoption day. Didn't think too much of it. I thought no big deal we will go by and see the pets and then leave.



It didn't go quite like that! Caylea feel in love with this puppy! We walked out with her crying. Went to target to pick up some things and Caylea insisted on calling her daddy. I thought for sure he would say no as I had several times.



No such luck he told Caylea to ask me to go back to petsmart and take a picture and send it to him. So I did he said "he is cute! bring him home so we can play" I kid you not this is the last thing I thought was going to happen!



3 Kids, 3 Dogs, 3 Hermit Crabs! I think we are defiantly good now! My hands are full! Thankfully Misty and Tiger are wonderfully house trained so our only issue will be house training Max. That and normal puppy stuff!



I still have a post about last weekend to do however I just haven't had time yet . . .lots of pic's to go thru :)



Misty is doing great with the puppy. . .she acted like no big deal. . .sniffed him a minute and went about business. . .Tiger is a little unsure. . .it took him a little bit to get use to Misty so I am sure it will be the same with Maxx.

We have been taking the dogs on an evening walk and it is going great! Misty doesn't love the head collar but it helps her not choke herself while we walk and she is learning to control herself a little better when she sees another dog.

Any suggestions what else he might be besides Beagle?

Regressing

Living in Louisiana has finally hit me. . .I think I have been kinda numb and in shock mostly since the day Anthony called me and asked me how I felt about moving. This week so far has been the hardest. Before this week I was pretty much just keeping busy so not too much time to think about missing home, family and friends.

I think it was going back to Oklahoma last weekend all was well until we were heading back. Oh well this can not be changed now. I know this is where we belong! It is just going to take some getting use to.

I need to go get my Louisiana drivers license, tag, register the van and get the van inspected (yes they do that in this state). That is my plan for Monday to get as much of that accomplished as I can.

Then I need to work on the things I need to get done to get Caylea ready to home school this year. I did make an appointment for my kids with a ped that my neighbor's grand daughter uses on Aug 5.

Anyway about the regression Caden has been peeing his pants this week it is driving me crazy! He is even peeing in his pull up every night. He use to only pee in it once a month or maybe twice.

He has now pee'd on the carpet in the house 3 times this week! Which I can say he hasn't had real accidents in 6 or more months! This afternoon I packed us all up, swim suited everyone, sun blocked us all up and headed to the pool. . .

We were there about 30 minutes and Caden had to potty so I took him. Then a few minutes later I noticed he pooped in his swim suit! Thankfully he was not in the water! I am at my wits end I have talked to him, I have punished him and in fact today we came straight home put him in his bed and made him take a nap.

So I am up for suggestions if any of you have any.

Sometimes The Best Laid Plans. . .

Today started out great we all got up early and got around. Soon we will be starting school early so I am trying to get us into a routine. I decided we were going to make a trip today to Petsmart to pick up a head collar for Misty to help with her pulling while we walk around the neighborhood. So Caylea started in on wanting a Guinea pig. . .then it moved on to hamsters . . .then we walked past the cats. . .the fish. . .I guess she finally broke me at the Hermit Crabs. . .Shocking to all of those that know me . . .I know! Thinking back I would rather have any of those other pets (with the exception of a cat because of allergies and well Misty would eat it I am quite sure! The only think is the Guinea pigs are so big and a little intimidating to me. . .the hamsters I worry about the kids getting bit they are a little young for that. . .we've done fish. The only time in my life I have ever considering getting a hermit crab was in S Padre. . .and it didn't happen!

So here is Caden's crab his name is Dino short for Dinosaur Smith (yes my son totally named him!)



This is Carolina's crab ***I will fix this later I sure Can not remember this one's name***



This is Caylea's crab his name is Star short for Starfish



Snuggling (if that is possible)



Of course they needed a house



And of course every crab needs an extra outfit :)



PS we did get the head collar and Misty HATED it at first but by the end of our evening walk she was doing great!

Birthday in Oklahoma

We were all so excited to be going back to Oklahoma. Although I think if you asked any one of us or many of our family and friends you would find that the trip sadly just wasn't long enough!

On Saturday morning we had a Birthday Party for Caylea and Caden at my mom's. It was the most simple party I have ever had. I just called or e-mailed our family and Caylea invited two of her friends.

My family was so great they took care of everything my sister Amanda made the cakes, my sister Brandy made the brownies and my mom took care of everything else table clothes, plates, silverware, drinks, ice cream and probably lots of other things that I am not mentioning.

It was so nice to see everyone and have them celebrate two of our children's Birthday's with us. I miss seeing everyone and it was nice to visit for a short time.

Sunday we had planned on going to church and seeing church family however Carolina started running a fever and saying her ear hurt so she and I had to miss out. Anthony, Caylea and Caden got to go however and I know that they enjoyed that.

Sat. evening we had Lasenberry Family day and it was a blast I am going to write about it and share some pictures soon. . .not sure if it will be tonight but it will be soon!

The drive back this time was harder. I thought at first it was because Carolina was sick. However it was hard for Caylea leaving Memaw she loves her Memaw so much and she was very upset and cried for a little time. I told her we would be back in 6 weeks for a visit but that just didn't help her too much. It didn't help my mood that we had to be driving on her birthday . . .I usually make their birthday's special and take the girls to get their nails done and to dinner and we just couldn't . . .however I made it up to her on Monday.

Also Carolina was so hot on the drive back I was pretty worried about her I tilted her car seat back and covered her window so the sun wouldn't shine on her skin making her more hot. She seemed better yesterday in fact she was so chatty. . .however this evening not so much :(

K I feel as though I am not completing thoughts now so I am off of here to play Thomas trains with my 2 well kids after I go check on my baby girl.