Trip-a day at a time

So let me tell you how much fun it can be!!!! So the first day we drove to Baton Rouge.  Staying at hotels is super fun for my family because we don't have TV so it gives us an opportunity to see what TV viewing is all about.  The boys all like Discovery Chanel and Science Channel and all of us enjoy watching the Food Network and HGTV.  Well, maybe not Sennia, but the rest of us do so that's usually what goes on. We sit and eat dinner and wish we were eating what the bleached hair guy on "Triple D" is eating.  

The next morning before we headed out we enjoyed a very HOT and sweaty trip around the Baton Rouge Zoo.  It's a nice little zoo with very talented Macaws but this pregnant lady was melting.  I didn't have my camera but I did use my phone so maybe I'll get some pictures loaded at some point.

Next day we made it all the way to VA and took the big financial plunge to see Luray Caverns which I'd always wanted to see.

It was worth the investment. I loved it, we all did! This is a picture of the organ set up someone built using the Stalagtites.

There were all kinds of formations down there with some really engaging stories.

You can only get the tiniest glimpse of how amazing these VERY shallow pools of illusion were. It looked like a continuation of the cave formation when it was actually a reflection. It looked really deep but it was just a very still reflection in a couple of inches of water.

Flashback to August-NJ Here we come!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel in a full Suburban for about 4 days?

 

Or what it's like to have a VERY full hotel room?

First Fancy Date

Alena couldn't have been more exited about her date. We were given free ballet tickets. I did want to go but I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to waddle back to the car afterward. Matt said that she looked like Christmas had arrived when the ballet started.

Brig's first Science Class

This is actually the 2nd class. He is enjoying them though. I'm so glad. Here they're learning about wetlands and the life-cycle therein.

He is a bit of a perfectionist like Luke so he gets nervous about things he isn't sure he can do perfectly. Hopefully though by the time I have to take him and drop him off(post-baby birth) he'll be ok.

Baby alligators and other fun creatures.

Crepes for a Birthday Breakfast!

Since I'm already talking about E, I'll just reminisce about his birthday.  He turned the big 14 and if I could afford to, I'd go out for a birthday breakfast for everyone's special day. We love Coco's and going out for breakfast is my favorite thing.  He wanted crepes or pumpkin doughnuts for his birthday and since I can't stand at the stove that long for either of those and nobody else seems to want to do that, we took the plunge and spoiled him, and us.

Friendly game of Scrabble among brothers.

Dad and Sen getting their excited on.

Lane and I like watching them make the crepes.

What more can be said?

My Eagle Scout

So I'll admit that one of my favorite things that happened this year is this, I got my first Eagle Scout.  I'm pleased as punch with this boy of mine.  He is doing so many things that give me hope for his future which I admit scares me sometimes.  He also started seminary this year. He hasn't missed a day of getting himself up and taking his things and I really wondered about that kind of thing because he can't remember to put his clothes away in every day life. He has a very intense hobby that he's put lots of time and research into and I think he might grow up-as much as the male species actually does that. What great hope!!!

Want to know how M decided to prep for our new arrival?

So a few weeks ago after M decided to have our home appraised, I came home for my all to frequent appts with the Midwives to find him scheming.  What would a guy with a 7th child arriving any day be scheming about? It was not getting the cradle down from the attic as a matter of fact. He decided we HAD to remodel the Master Bath. I assured him that he had, indeed, lost his mind. After a time we finally compromised on a new tile, tub, shower job and leave the rest.
Here goes. Eli felt pretty special that he was allowed to do some of the dirty work. Usually M only trusts them to run his errands so it was a big day for the men of the house.

It's been sooooooooo long!

Pregnancy, taking pictures and especially blogging do NOT mix for me.  SOOooo, I shall just throw things in as it strikes my fancy but here's Halloween for now.

Luke, Eli and Sam 

$3 Chipole for the Vampire

And for the cutest happiest little witch you've ever seen. 

And here's the 2014 "Scary" Lineup. Black and White Ghost Knights, The ghost of Ophelia, a witch, a swamp monster, and a Vampire.

Sen had been hearing about "Trick or Treating" for over a month but when I asked her what it was she guessed it had something to do with swinging. I gave her the nitty-gritty and after she gasped, she said "I'm Ready!"

M said Brig was at the perfect age for it after watching him tonight. Eli is officially done trick or treating but he was sweet and walked with Sen, carried her "so heavy" bucket and made sure she didn't get left behind as M tried to keep up with Brig and Sam. So cute. 

I love to see the Temple-so close to home

Check out this amazing group of activity girls from our ward. Alena is technically not old enough yet but for this activity, the girls turning 8 this year were all invited. Alena was pretty excited.

Meet Joan of Arc

I signed Alena up to participate in a History Fair. She really would've preferred Laura Ingalls Wilder who is her favorite FAVORITE author in the whole world but since she was already taken, Alena went for Joan of Arc. It was a good choice since she was already studying her in history right now. She wrote a really great report on her life, and confidently read it. We learned that we need to work on slowing down and speaking up but she had a great time.

Jean d'Arc

The other History Fair participants. They were wonderful.

Flash back to February post



Curious and beautiful. Inside and out. My talented Aunt took these pictures. I probably should've archived them with the February post but here they are, I obviously didn't. I liked them too much so they get a whole new flash back to February post. These are from the trip to Dallas for my Papaw's funeral.

 "

"I hab your cam-er-a?"

My Gramma and her children.

My cute brothers catching frogs.
 

Leading the way for Grandpa.

Love these people.

Swim Meets Part 1

Brig's first swim across the pool for time trials.

He can hardly keep from smiling.



For a treat, they got to go off the high dive.

Cheering on his friend.



 Waiting on the ready bench for their first race.

Happy Boys on the bench, 2nd meet.

The boys helped with the flag before their Merit badge Clinic.

It was pretty cold on that first day.

Getting good at this race thing.

Sam has no fears or reservations about racing.

Alena on the other hand has lots.

Glad she has friends to encourage her.