Another rainy day...

MITCH POSING FOR THE CAMERA AS ALWAYS
HANNAH AND STEPHANIE DRESSED UP FOR GIRLS NIGHT OUT

BRANDON EATING QUICHE BEFORE GOING OUT TO DINNER (HE LOVES MY FOOD)

SHANE, BRANDON, STEPHANIE, HANNAH, GARRET DRESSED UP FOR A FRIDAY NIGHT OUT

It's pouring outside. The sun porch has flooded for the 80th time, I really need gutters and a french drain....

The kids are all home, and so is Melody. She is making slow and steady progress, its just going to take some time.

We all had a great visit with Mack's mom this weekend. The visit was way too short, but we hope to have her back again soon.

A roller coaster lately, I hope it slows down sometime soon, just a little bit.

Melody

Melody, who is always a big part of our family here at the house, was in a car accident Friday night. She was hurt and is expected to make a full recovery but has many broken bones including, pelvis (both sides) back, tailbone, hand and wrist. Our lives are now full of trips to the hospital as well as everything else. I am just so thankful she will recover, although it will take a long time..... Luckily we have lots of that....

CRAB (KID) COUNT

UPDATE:

The guys are leaving me left and right. I knew they had to grow up but why so quickly? Here is the current household college and job update as well as where they are, or soon will be.

The college acceptance and gainful employment update:

Jeff; ULM; Working for Oma & Poppa /Location: Washington State & Monroe LA

Mitch; LSUS/ Bossier parks and rec/ Location Shreveport LA

Shane; ULM/O/Location: Monroe LA

Courtney; LSUS IN SPRING 2010/O

G-Wizz (or Cody with a d, not to be confused with Coty hence the Wizz); BPCC/Shogun & Valero. Location moving to his own apartment August 1 Bossier City LA

Snapp; O/Working for a roofing company/ Location Kansas City MO

Hannah BPCC/O

Brandon; Bossier High School Senior/ Bossier parks and rec lifegaurd

Garret; Bossier High school junior/O

Coty: Bossier High School Senior/Bossier Parks and Rec Referee

We are almost there. All are getting on with life and I am so happy for them all.

They are all moving on, I am proud but sad. I miss them all... Already.

CHICKENS AND CHOPS

In this house we cook. All of the time. Tonight's menu was tacos and Spanish rice and almond scones and white cake with cream cheese frosting. It will all be gone by morning. I love the lack of leftovers, I love to bake so it is wonderful to have so many willing Guinea pigs to eat all of my food. A little while back Shane and Wizz cooked for us. I have never had such great food. Southern style fried pork chops with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. I was spoiled rotten that night, and Mack agreed with me. The boys can cook for us any night!

STEPHANIE PAUL SHANE AND COURTNEY, HANGING OUT IN THE KITCHEN WHILE COOKING
JEFF JACKIE PAUL AND WIZZ WAITING FOR THE FOOD AS USUAL

THE FAMOUS PORK CHOP SOUTHERN STYLE

SHANE AND WIZZ THE CHEFS FOR THE EVENING

Due to the excessive amount of kids and the food they require I made an executive decision. We go through 5 dozen eggs a week, at least. The guys wanted a dog, so I got them chickens. I figured if we were going to get a pet might as well be something that we could use, and might provide a benefit to the family.
So we are hoping the egg production will begin soon. They are really fun and are getting huge. We have one confirmed rooster that will be sacrificed as soon as he starts making noise, I think he knows it because we have not heard a squack or crow out of "Tropic Thunder".
THE CHICKENS SO BIG AND GETTING READY TO LAY EGGS AND MAKE SOME NOISE

Swimming

It is so very hot here. We are spending almost every spare moment in the pool. With busy jobs and trying to get all of the boys into college, all of the time is gone. No big vacations this year for us. The house is filled with kids playing and laughing and listening to music. Mack is out of town constantly for work (in Baton Rouge) and this leaves me with the big guys. Last night we re-arranged the den (it was looking very shmultzy, and dorm like).

I brought back 8 roses from my last trip to Texas that need to find homes in the yard. One found a permanent residence last night. We also weeded and spread out some mulch and steer manure. The yard is inching along toward completion. So very slowly, but we are at least making baby steps. The boys are a great help.

Mitch helped me carry and spread out the bags of mulch, while Shane, Coty, Wizz, and Mitch all helped move things around in the den. I was the one pointing and saying "I think that 500 pound TV might look a little better on the other side of the room behind the 1000 pound couch. If you could just move the 2 so I can see" They just smile and haul things around for me. No grumbling, they just 'do'. They keep things simple and in perspective for me. They make me smile.

Tucker being silly
Capp (Garrett)

Jeff as he always is

4th of July

Tuck with a pinwheel in his hair. He ran around the house catching the wind in his hair

Coty Wizz Shane and Tuck

Tucker lighting his fireworks while avoiding the wreckage of watermelon carcasses

Mitch and Monica with Roman Candles

The day was so much fun. We grilled, and swam (it's still in the 100's)and then blew up watermelons, cantaloupes, a stuffed rabbit, and the back of Coty's pants. He was dared to sit on a watermelon. So of course he did. We had a great time. Mack was the one who thought of blowing things up. Great parental advise and support from both of us. I may have been photo documenting Coty's watermelon explosion.

Tucker got to have all of his favorite fireworks. This included a variety of tanks and chicken laying eggs. The boys had Roman candle wars running down the street. They laughed and played and ran. It was brilliant.

We had a great day together. As always