urgent pray request

My mother had another stroke yesterday. PLEASE lift her up in prayer today.

Couple needing prayer

This has been a very hard 2 weeks for my son Jeffrey. His wife Jessica said that she doesn't love him anymore and told him to move out! He is heart broken and she is making some very ridiculous accusations that are tearing him up. Please pray for this young couple.

Thanks!

Voted today with my son. How cool is that to vote with Jeffrey the first time he votes, even though we didn't vote the same way:)

soccer

Peter and Danielle are both playing soccer and love it. Today Danielle scored 4 goals and Peter started playing indoor soccer. Indoor soccer is crazy. It's like hockey---very aggressive!

Jeffrey and Jessica

I want to introduce my son Jeffrey and his wife Jessica to all of you who have not yet met them. I know how the story of the father in Luke must have felt when his prodigal son returned, TOTAL JOY!!!! Words can't express how excited I was to see my son and my daughter-in-law.

IEP

We had our annual IEP (Individual Education Plan) meeting for Robbie yesterday. All I can say is God is good!!!! Everyone had only awesome things to say about Robbie. They have all seen how far he has come since 7th grade when he began Jr. High. 7th grade was very rough on him and everyone who had him in class and our family. We ached at how much he was struggling everyday. We knew that God had a plan but just didn't know what or how to help Robbie. We have a team of educators at his school that truely care for Robbie and are amazed at Robbie's mind and gift. They went above and beyond to help Robbie and we are so very grateful. 8th grade got better and he had such wonderful teachers who embraced him and challenged him. Now as a 9th grader Robbie is amazing us all. He enjoys school (he says it is now challenging and not boring) and has had to leave a classroom ZERO times! Writing was his biggest trigger for meltdowns and yesterday his Pre-AP English teacher got emotional telling us how much she adores Robbie and how she is amazed at the growth he has shown. She also shared that his writing is incredible and the stress level is pretty much not there when it comes to writing. He understands that he did his best and that is good enough! WOW!!!!!!! After the meeting one of the team members shared with us of how her son was just diagnosed with Aspergers. She said it was hard to hear but she knew there was hope that he would be ok because she sees how Robbie has grown and what he is doing and how he is overcoming his diagnosis. We have had several mom's appoach us about their children being diagnosed with Aspergers. I know part of Gods plan now. Because of Robbie people see that their IS hope. I love this young man so very much and am so proud of him!

end of summer

I loved having a three day weekend but am so sad that summer is over. I so enjoy hanging with my kiddos. Today we just hung out at the pool! Enjoy every minute with your children, time goes by way too fast! I am now looking forward to fall and all the fun memories we will soon be making with everything that comes with the season.

My good friend Isabelle gave me her

camera just recently and I love it. I took so many pictures today!

Thanks Isabelle!

Peter's Baptism

Peter was baptized on Sunday August17th. What a wonderful moment for all of us. Peter asked Christ into his heart Christmas eve 2006. He didn't talk much about baptism but totally got what being a believer in Christ meant. This last spring we were having quite a thunderstorm. Peter is terrified of storms and I mean TERRIFIED!!!!! During this storm Peter said, so mom, if I die tonight I will still go to heaven even though I haven't been baptized right?" I told him that yes he would and that baptism is an outward sign showing that you believe that Jesus is God's son and died for us. He then with a huge sigh said "Wow, what do I have to be afraid of then!!!!"

Peter decided that he wanted to get baptized and after talking to Pastor Gann he decided that the next available Sunday he was in! Peter was awesome, not nervous at all. He knew what he was doing and we could not have been more proud of him and his love for Christ.

We were very blessed to be surrounded by our small group, friends and Peter's best friend Brig. I can't wait to see what wonderful plans God has for this young man.

Where does time go?

Where does time go? Robbie was born just yesterday wasn't he??? Such a beautiful little boy who loved to learn and read. He is now a freshman and his love for learning and reading hasn't changed. I know he will have a great freshman year. I am so proud of him!

Oh Peter and Danielle! They are now in first and third. Once again, how did this happen? I need to embrace them and inhale them more because way to soon they will be gone and out on their own! Slow down please!!!!!!

The summer flew by as well but the kids were ready to go back. Danielle was most excited because that meant she got new clothes!!!! Once again embrace every moment!!!!!!!

We gave in!!!

Danielle has been wanting to get her ears pierced for a very long time. We told her that she could when she was 10 but would talk about it when she turned 8. Well she is almost 7 and she got them pierced today!!!! We are weak!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They do look very cute though!

Danielle was very brave, she said it hurt, her eyes watered up and she giggled all at the same time!

Danielle's best friend Mikayla and her mom Kim went with us and afterwards Mikayla gave Danielle a friendship bracelet. They are such good friends!

Day of Beauty

The girls wanted to have their hair done so we decided to do crazy hair in honor of Haley and Isa's mom Jennifer( my niece). When Jennifer was about Haleys age she spent a few days with me and she let me do her hair. I put hot rollers in and back combed and used lots of hair spray. I thought she looked beautiful(it was the 80's). Jennifer looked in the mirror and cried!!!!!!!!! She has not let me forget about it!!!!!!! So Jennifer here's to you, CRAZY HAIR!!!!!! I had too much fun!

We decided the girls looked like "Who's" from Whoville!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who needs toys when you've got tape and paper

The kids spent an entire day making paper airplanes, parachutes,coloring and painting boxes .

Taton loved making the airplanes and launching them from the top of the stairs. We also found that he loves boxes as much as Robbie!!!!!

What fun it was watching each of them create and use their imaginations and how affordable this day was when you have 6 children to entertain!

waterpark fun

We had so much fun at the waterpark. We took Robbie's friend Joel and Peter's bud Brigham plus our 6, so there were 10 of us! Everyone did great and no one was ready to leave except for Marty and I.

Control

Six years ago Robbie was diagnosed with Aspergers and anxiety disorder. It has been a long road since then. There have been lots and lots of tears, meetings, more tears, dr's appointments and medication. Yesterday his doctor, after six years has released him from her care (unless things were to change, but we aren't expecting this) and free from the depokote that he has been on. WOW what a praise to God and cause for celebration. Robbie told us when he was younger that he didn't have Aspergers but hamburgers and yesterday I said "Robbie you have beat this hamburger syndrome" and he said "I let it control me for a long time and now I am in control of it!" Robbie also said that he has learned that no matter what the situation, just smile because it helps. I wondered why he has been smiling so much especially when a lot of them looked very forced! God has blessed me so much with Robbie. God has such big plans for him and this too was obviously part of His plan. I and so many others have learned a lot from Robbie, not just math facts but about life and challenges and how to face them. Six years ago I was mad at God because my child had special needs but learned very quickly to praise Him and thank Him for the wonderful person Robbie is and how Robbie blessed so many people along the way, especially me. Robbie will always have Aspergers but he has control of it now and we couldn't be more proud.

Cheaper by the half dozen day two

Today we went to church, went swimming, took a nap (Issa and Aunt Angie), played Wii and painted our toes and fingernails.

Peter and Taton are inseperable! They are great buds and are constantly playing and talking.

Here is the gang minus Robbie (he didn't want in the picture). We tried to make a pryamid so this is as good as it got!!!

Taton loves Einstein!

Painting toes and fingernails.

Cheaper by the half dozen

Cheaper by the half dozen is our new motto!

We love every minute of it! We woke up this morning to see 5 of the kids in sleeping bags on our floor all snuggled in and sound asleep and right beside them was Einstein! This was so fun to see and I can't believe that I didn't take a picture! (whats up with that?) Getting ready for church was easier than I could have imagined. Everyone got dressed quickly and the girls all wanted very easy hair styles. YEAH!!!!!!!! Even breakfast was super easy. Thank goodness for cereal and pop-tarts!!!

COOKIES by Chef Issa

While Issa was making cookies she turned the blender on high and flour flew everywhere! It was so funny. She said "Uh-oh, I sorry!" I told her that it was ok and she cracked up! The cookies were YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!