A Big First for Me and Stuart:)

In parenting there are all kinds of firsts. In truth, it seems with 21 children and the youngest 8 I have meet and passed about all those. I am now working on all my "first lasts".

But....Stuart discovered a new one for me! Yesterday along with two buddies he jumped out of a plane! Certainly a BIG FIRST! It reminds me of my brother who used to say the jump wouldn't kill you, not even the fall, it's that sudden stop at the end:) Well, apparently Stuart is alive and well. He called with gushing words about the incredible-ness of it all. I'm sure that all the wonders God created are incredible from the sky! I think I will just stick to viewing them through google maps:)

Hurry home skydiver!

Boys....

Jacob and Caleb were in the yard talking today and I talked Sarah into walking out and taking a picture. These moments are the ones I will remember....just seeing the boys together! It was a hundred degrees outside and they still stood out laughing and talking.



This was after they blew the horn and scared Sarah:


I am glad the car was sitting in the driveway...this looks like they might be wrecking:

Love it!

Women should not have children after thirty-five. Thirty-five children are enough. - Author Unknown

We are exactly one week away from family picture day! I am so very excited:) Starla Steward is taking the pictures. She did such a beautiful job with Chelsea and Bo's wedding:) We are hoping to get a new "mantle" picture and Christmas card picture. It will be the last time my whole bunch could possibly be together until mid 2011. Sam and Zack will not be pictured, but I cannot help (or change) that. Carlton will be here. We are nearly done with all the searching for white!

Here, there and BRB...

Stuart has been here all week, hanging out and being my "Stuart". Today he is headed back to Maryville to go jump out of a plane with some friends. Isn't that crazy? lol:) Well, to Stuart it is a dream...something he has REALLY been wanting to do. And now? He is MIA from the house but will BRB (meaning on Saturday after he jumps). I hope he takes pictures:)

Sharing...

This morning, every morning Seth and Caleb have spent time together. Seth gets up and quietly hangs out. Today, Caleb pulled out a Guitar Hero and surprised Seth. Seth nearly cried(shhh!). That sounds silly, well, sweetly silly. I really don't think it was the fact that Caleb gave him the guitar hero, it was that Caleb was sharing something so "Caleb" with him. Seth knew that. I suppose it was like your Major League Baseball Hero giving you a baseball, it isn't the ball that you love....it's the act! Together they put stickers on the guitars and set it all up on the projector. Caleb and Seth talked a while and played a while. That time was PRICELESS!

Stuart, cementing big brother love, sat and played with the kids a while. Neat times. Memory making times. My kiddos are really good at the making memory part:)

The word?

Words do not begin to describe the pictures in my mind (lol...or on my camera). Joy. Just joy. That is what the house has been over the last two days. Watching my silly kids. I love it. I spend time with my older children, truly loving the conversations and laughter, the funny stories and the memories, imagining dreams and destinations.... Joy. Yep. That's the word! I wonder if I will ever be there with my younger kids and then I rewind about 10 years and begin to laugh, WHO would have ever thought that parenting got so much better? I loved the sweet baby smiles, the giggles and fun of toddlers, I loved the ball games and all the activities of childhood and teenage years....and then, out of right field....BOOM! They are all grown:) Lovely and fun. Silly and strong. My big kids:) I love them all!!

These two are both so much alike and yet so unique. I laughed and took endless silly pictures....

Leave begins!!!

We left home early yesterday morning driving to Murfreesboro to wait for Caleb to arrive. In Murfreesboro we were just 30 minutes from the Nashville Airport. We so enjoyed being with Scott's parents:) So very thankful they allowed us to invade their nice quiet home. The birds, squirrels and little bitty rabbits are likely very happy we have departed!

Caleb called this morning from Atlanta at 8am. He was able to get on an earlier flight and was in Nashville by 11am! We were all their waiting:) There just aren't great words to describe how happy (even "happy" seems a little dull!!) I was to see Caleb. I have never been away from any of my children 7 months! I am so blessed that it was not longer (which it certainly could have been!). We spent a while hugging and laughing and even a tad bit of crying. But, it was so good!

I will be wallowing in my time with Caleb for the next 15 days!!

The girls had posters, this first is Rosie:)

Mary Lita...

Isabella...

Mercedez...

Tasha...

The boys had flags:) And I can report that no one got poked in the eye! A serious concern when you hand four little boys wooden dowel rods!

Nancy, Sarah and I waiting.

The crew waiting:)

And waiting......lol:)

We see him way down the terminal!

The first hug! Oh how I love this son!!

Hugs all around...I did not include the individual hugs all around:) I will simply add that the hugging took a little while...

Caleb and Sarah, both 15 months apart in age and looking so much alike:)

Grannie, Pa and Caleb:)

Me, Scott and Caleb:)

Uncle Nelson, Caleb and Pa! Nelson (Scott's uncle and his dad's brother) along with Pa(Scott's dad) both served in the Army. It was so neat and truly special to have them with us!!

Jacob, Caleb and Doug....

This last one was taken by a really nice worker at the Nashville airport who offered to get a picture of us all:) A very happy "ALL":)

Upon arriving home we had three guys in the driveway, sitting in lawn chairs waiting for us:) Stuart who came home yesterday too! His arrival was a little overshadowed by Caleb's but I am so happy he is here for a few weeks before his last year of college begins!! Also sitting was Doug, who had been at the airport but did not stop and eat with us because Jacob had to get back for work so he was a good bit in front of us:) And last but by no means least John. John had to work while we were gone and was very ready for his x-box loving, rockband rocking brother to be home! John and Caleb share so much gaming and technical loves:) BUT all three looked a little like the men that sit on corners with signs wanting to exchange work for food! I especially loved their spelling. Who would think these are my two college students and the Senior Student Council President? lol:) LOVED IT!!



My dad and step-mom Clara Ruth came shortly after we arrived home to see our soldier too:)