what a fabulous vacation!!...

well, we've been gone for awhile now on vacation... we returned this past sunday & man did we have a great time... we'd been in myrtle beach with our best friends... spike & i had our 4 girls (14y, 4y, 3y & 2y) & kyle & angela had their 3 kids (6y, 4y & 2y)... anyone who thinks that taking 6 kids ages 6y & under would be a disaster needed to go with us... there are some days i think that mysef & we're just at home, but these kiddos did fabulous!!... we drove ½ way on day 1 & then drove the rest of the way on day 2...while we were there we did everything from eat our way through the entire state of south carolina (absolutely wonderful restaurants) to playing on the beach, swimming in the pools, golfing, taking a dolphin watch boat ride, going to a theme park, going to see the movie 'cars', going to dixie stampede, etc. etc. etc...in the movie, we all took up 1 entire row (brit, ruby, me, kiara, spike, karleigh, maddie, kyle, noah, angela & sanite)... well into the movie, spike leaned up & said, "lori, karleigh's pooped all over the place & it's in her hands!!"... my thought was, "well, you're the one sitting by her!", but i chose to not say that & instead, jumped up, grabbed a diaper, wipe container & karleigh & ran to the bathroom (where they had NO CHANGING STATION!!!)... after arriving in there i noticed that she'd completly ruined not only her shorts, but also her light yellow shirt as well... i was in the process of trying to clean her up when a cleaning lady walked in... i said, "ma'am, could you help me??... my daughter's obviously a mess & i'm needing my diaper bag... it's in the theater across the hall with my husband, our children & some friends of ours... i need you, if you will to: 1) go get my husband to bring me the diaper bag 2) you bring me the diaper bag 3) stay with her (miss poopy pants) while i go get the diaper bag"... she didn't say a thing, but ran out the door (guess she didn't want to stay with lil' miss P.P.)... she came back with the bag & i finished my work at hand... we went back into the movie with her wearing just her t-shoes & a diaper (she loved it!)... just after we sat down a dress was passed to us from down the isle (from our friends) & so she had something to wear home... we're taking the kids this weekend to see 'cars' again to mommy can see it!! *smile*...the resort that we stayed in was just across the street from the beach, it had 3 pools (2 outside & 1 inside/heated) & also had lazy rivers at each pool...you're really never sure how things will work out for 2 (or more) families to co-habitate for several days/weeks... with everyones personalities being different, different foods tastes, different ways to discipline (or NOT!), different schedules, etc. etc. etc... we went in this vacation with a 'i think it'll work out well, but we'll just wait & see' attitude, but i'm happy to report that it went so well that we've already started planning our next 'family' trip together for next year ~ we're taking everyone to disneyworld!... it was so enjoyable & fun, we'd all do it again in a heartbeat!!...

busy days around here...

well, we were gone all day yesterday & again all day today... i came home tonight & had 599 emails to go through (& i cleared everything last night before bed, so that was just from today!!)... we took the girls this AM for pictures & as you can see, they had a ball!!... we then ran over to papaw & nanas house to visit (alright, brit & i went to visit, but kiara, ruby & karleigh had other plans ~ EATING!!)... we were there for about 1 hour & in that length of time they consumed several circus peanuts, several wafer cookies & a bag of chocolate candy each!... nana was at the heart of this madness & takes all the blame (as she snickers under that smile she's got plastered to her face)... after leaving their house, we drove around looking at houses most of the afternoon... we're right now out on space for the 6 of us & would love to have a bit 'more room'... we're very open when it comes to what we're able to do (ie: add on to this home, buy something existing, build again, etc.) & we're in nooooooo hurry... we'll continue to keep searching for the right thing for us, but our goal's to 'know what we're going to do' by the end of 2006... this evening we took kiara to church again for the VBS program & like yesterday, she had a blast!... she's got 1 more night (tomorrow) & she's looking very forward to it...

for those of you who've been emailing/calling asking about ruby, i'll apologize now for not updating better... she's doing fabulous!... we're starting to see soooooooo much improvement with her hearing, it's incredible... we go in every couple months for a 'mapping' (where they turn up the volume & tweak things a bit)... they also give us 4 new programs each time (1's low, 2's a bit louder & so on)... each time we go back in for a mapping, the new programs they give us are louder & stronger than the last set was... she goes back again for another mapping in july, but can already hear us say, "shhhhh" if we're standing behind her!!! (praise the lord)... she's trying so hard to repeat everything that's being said too... she curls that little mouth around in all sorts of weird contortions (it's hilarious!!), trying to look like we do... she's doing very well as she continues to pick up ASL & we just keep 'learning with her'... thanks for all the prayers & concerns (keep them up!) & i promise to update better as time goes on...

my hubby ~ what am i going to do with him??...

well, as you've read from recent posts, we're heading out for vacation next friday... all 4 of the girls & myself are all packed completely... we've also packed up the pool bag (beach towels, swim suites, floaties, etc.), snack bag, toy bags for each of the little ones, overnight bags for each of us (as we're only going ½ way & this way we won't need to unpack EVERYTHING when we stop for the night), blankets, pillows, DVD player/movies, CD's, brit's backpack of her 'goodies', etc... i've also recharged all the cameras, cell phones & 2-way radios...

spike's been needing to get his hair cut, buy a new pair of shoes, pack his suitcase, his overnight bag & load it all (including our stuff) onto the top of the van in a car carrier thingy... as of today, he's got his hair cut... he's leaving town on tuesday & wednesday, so those days are out as far as getting anything else done... the only thing he's wanting to do on thursday night after work's load the top of the van (praying it all fits!!)... what this means' he's got to do EVERYTHING else either sunday (all day) or monday night ~ EEEEKKKK!!!!...

i know he's thinking his normal thought, "it'll just take me 15 minutes!"... yeah right!! *smile*, but i sure hope he makes it!!...

our friends...

well, this evening we met kyle & angela in a nearby town & then we all drove back to our hometown for dinner... the kids were all excited to meet up with them, but since we're planning on heading out next friday (with this family), all the kids thought we were leaving TONIGHT ~ wish we were!!... we had a great time & are now counting down the days/hours until we leave... we're meeting another set of friends down there (doug/connie) & so in the end we'll have about 15 people all together (8 of them are children ages 6 & under ~ *smile*)... tomorrow's a day full of spike working to get things 'ready to leave', brit's getting a hair cut & then we're running errands... i'm not sure when i'll be able to post again as the next few days will be busy, but i'll try...

silly little girls...

here's a picture taken last night of our 3 little ones... they were rough housing around on the bed & i snapped this... (kiara 4y, ruby 3y & karleigh 2y)... they're such silly little girls & love, having a good time... they're getting very excited as we continue to pack up & get ready to head out for vacation next week... they've been camping, out of town for the weekend, etc., but have never been away for that long on a vacation... we'll be gone 10 days & so to a little one, it'll probably seem like a lifetime *smile*...

busy, busy, busy...

well, it's already wednesday night & we don't have much longer to pack & get ready to leave... we're leaving on the 16th, heading to myrtle beach, south carolina... we've always taken the kids & gone on a nice vacation every year since we've been married... we'd usually either go over spring break or else we'd take a week + & head off sometime during the summer... we started 'thinking' about adopting in 2000, prayed about it in 2001, started paperwork in 2002 & kiara came home in 2003... needless to say, we've not had a vacation since 1999 & so we're off!... we were planning this trip for some time now & talked to our best friends (kyle & angela) & asked them to go along with us... we'll have our 4 girls (brit 14y, kiara 4y, ruby 3y & karleigh 2y) & also have their 3 kids (sanite 6y, noah 4y & maddie turns 2y while we're gone!!)... so, who wants to tag along, going with 5 kiddos, all 6 & under, do we have any takers??... it does look as if barbara might meet up with us while we're gone & 'vacation' a bit too (she's such a sucker when it comes to her kiddos)!!... we're really excited & know that no matter what, it'll be a memorable trip for sure *smile*... dustin will be staying here, taking care of our cats & also getting our mail, so that's all taken care of... we're praying that we all stay healthy & well while we're gone & can soak up the rays & bring them home with us!!... we'll be traveling to TN on the 16th, then on in to SC on the 17th... we'll not be leaving SC until the 25th so when we get home on the 26th or so, we'll need to catch up on sleep!... while we're in SC, we're planning on heading to a theme park 1 day, an aquarium 1 day, the beach several days & other than that, we'll shop, the guys will play golf & do whatever we want!!... i'll write more when i can...

brit's now a freshman, whaaaaaaaa!!!...

well, it's official, she's growing up & will start HS next year... boy, time's sure gone by quickly... she's such a huge help around here & doesn't mind pitching in to get things done (most of the time *smile*)... we've got a very busy summer planned, so i'm sure it'll go by way to fast as they always do... we've now got 1 out on his own, 1's a freshman & 3 still scooting around the house, so we'll still have this 'freshman' thing to go through 3 more times - hopefully it won't get here too fast!