Vacation time

Travis and I are going on vacation! We have not gone anywhere by ourselves in our 10 1/2 year marriage. I have never left Ryan for more than one night. This should be interesting!

Creighton and Christie (my brother and sister-in-law(SIL)) have agreed to take on Wyatt, Elizabeth, and Dixie (the dog).

My mom and mother-in-law will split the day/night and keep Ryan.

I am looking forward to laying in the sun and spending quiet time with Travis. He has worked so hard for 10 years...he deserves a break.

Pray for my family members as they take on my kids. I know they are good children, but they love to be with their mom. I foresee lots of tears before we return. I hope that the love of my brother, SIL, and mothers will be enough to get them through until we return.

More after we return! LOL to Willard, Pearl, and Franko...We will miss you terribly! LOVE-Momma Stella and Papa Tito

Triple Threat

Watch out world...these cousins are definitely a triple threat! Not only are they beautiful...they are talented. I had forgotten how wonderful it is to be a little girl. They have their own special language and protect each other with a fierce loyalty. Each of them brings to the table what another may be lacking. I sat in wonder today as I watched the three of them create different worlds to play in. I was so jealous that I had to join in. We had the best tea party ever! It made me think of my three best friends growing up and all of the adventures we went on. If I could keep them in this place for the rest of their lives, I would. They are a beautiful force of nature.

A Little Girls Bling!

Elizabeth decided that a plain cast was not for her...she needed JEWELS!!! So we hot glued flowers of all different colors to her cast. The top of her hand was covered in jewels, we had to take them off before the doctor could cut the cast off. She was so glad to have her arm free. The doctor said that it would take 3 months before she got full function back in her arm and wrist. Swimming has done wonders for her. She can almost extend her arm the whole way!

The laundry is definitely not done!

Note to self...when keeping more than three children, drink lots of caffeine and eat lots of chocolate.

I have inherited (until Monday) my niece and two nephews. Yes, I have 6 children in my house at this very moment.

No, I have not lost my mind, I will be sending them to my mother's after 5:00 pm today and pick them up again on Monday.

We are coping with each disaster as it comes...Sam is hungry and belts out a healthy cry, Ryan has fallen down again and is bleeding, Luke needs to go potty but is afraid it will hurt, Elizabeth is constantly trailing one of the little boys to keep them out of trouble, Michaela has made a tent and is hiding from the boys, and Wyatt has decided to keeping his door closed and yells when anyone comes in. I am on my second Pepsi of the day and it is only 11:00 am.

This may sound like a complete failure of parenting or being a good aunt, but each child is fed, dry, and smiling. Sam is so sweet, he wakes with a wide grin. Luke has given me some of the best hugs I have gotten all week. Ryan has grown up in two days...he now sleeps in his own bed and drinks from a regular cup. Elizabeth is my saving grace...she has helped at every turn without complaint. Michaela uses her imagination to entertain us all and Wyatt, well he does read to the boys occasionally.

I love the the sound of feet running on the tile and the kind of laughs that you just can't help but laughing along with. All of this craziness just means that we are family and I would not have it any other way.

Give me back my cast!

Elizabeth went to the doctor yesterday. She was so excited...she thought she might get to take her cast off for good. The doctor cut off the cast and she still had swelling around the break sight. She could not flex her arm or rotate her palm without crying. She asked the doctor to put her cast back on. He told her he would and that she would have to wear it for at least two more weeks. She was not upset...she did not want to hurt. She picked a pretty purple for her new cast. She would like to put jewels on it so it will sparkle. Stay tuned for pics.

Fourth of July

I am a SUPER HERO !

Ryan

Wyatt and Michaela

My mom hosted a great Fourth of July party this year. The weather was perfect, the food was great, and you couldn't ask for better company. We were not able to shoot fireworks this year, due to the burn-ban. The grass is so dry here that one spark could set the whole county on fire. The kids did not complain. My mom had a pool and slip-and-slide set up for them to play on. She also asked all of the kids including a great-niece to spend the night at her house. They had so much fun. Here are a few picks from swimming. P.S. Elizabeth "accidentally" fell in the pool while watching the kids. That was the only snafu of the evening.

The Best Ice Cream In The Country

The Jaster/Jaster-See Family went to BlueBell today. Luke got a handle on milking a cow.

My brother Creighton and his son Luke.

The boys and I had a great time. We had a private tour of the factory. We saw things that most people don't get to see. Elizabeth decided not to go because our plan was to swim after the tour. We were so tuckered out by the end of the tour, we skipped swimming. I wish shw would have come. I will take her before the summer is out.

Wyatt, Ryan, Michaela, and Luke with the BlueBell car.

Wyatt, Michaela, Luke, and Ryan with the BlueBell cow and girl.

Summer Blues

The kids have lost their minds! We have cabin fever in July. It is so hot that the kids have not been able to go outside to play during the day. We limit time outside to early morning and early evening. We have done so many crafts that I am running out of supplies. The play dough is getting hard from all of the time it is out while they play with it. TV is completely boring and video games only keep them interested for a limited time. They spend more time picking on each other than they do anything else. I long for the pool, but Elizabeth still has her cast and we a extremely limited as to what we can do. I hope this month begins to look up. If nothing else, the kids will do what all children should do in the summer...use their imaginations:)