Reason I Have Not Blogged...

Did you think we dropped off the face of the earth? Not quite, but often times I do feel that way. This week, for example, I worked 5 nights in a row, got home from work in the morning and got the girls off to school then caught about 3 hours sleep before heading off to school! Kenneth and I saw each other in passing, me coming in- him going. I feel like I have missed out on an eternity with my family, really just a week but it really bites sometimes! Kenneth and I have dealt with family stuff solely by phone and I have found that at times we forget to even ask how the others day has gone.

The moral of the story though is that...it is almost over! I graduate May 18th and hopefully our household will resume some kind of normalcy, whatever that may be. It has been 4 years of this craziness while I have been in school. I don't know that we even remember what normal felt like. I find myself a little fearful of picking back up where we left off before I started this process; it has become such a norm for us that not having it anymore seems crazier than our current lifestyle! I know, I am insane but seriously, the thought of not having school anymore, not juggling schedules, actually seeing and having to interact as a family...THAT is gonna' take some adjusting.

So, for those of you who may have thought I forgot all about this blog, I haven't. Just had to put it on a back burner for a while. Really, right now I am just using it as a break from my studying for a BIG test tomorrow. The next few weeks confront me with one to two tests per week so am feeling a little overwhelmed. But, I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel...ROCK ON!!!!

Hope everyone is doing well...

-B

We're Still Alive!!!!

The chances of people still checking this are probably fairly slim since it has been FOREVER since I have updated this. But, for sake of those who may still take a peek every now and then here are some new pictures.

Jovi Gets Her Orange Belt

Brooke's Football Homecoming Pics

Brooke's Bday Pics

Date Night!

This past Friday we had NO kids! All day long we had talked about going out on a "date" with each other and doing something different. Our time together is few and far between while I am in school and working nights so we were going to take advantage of my weekend off. Needless to say, when it came time to decide what to do, neither of us could really think of anything we were just dying to do. So....we went to dinner and to WalMart to get ideas for Christmas for the kids. Go figure- a night alone and we still had the kids on our minds! Does it ever end? I wonder sometimes, what will we do when all three are grown and out of our homes? Sometimes it seems so impossible to imagine. This weekend, once we had all 3 kids back, things turned into total chaos...kids yelling at each other, griping because they have to help around the house, doors slamming, radio's blaring, computer occupied, telephone occupied, friends over...and, would you believe- I felt totally at peace. It is when the noise dies down and the house is quiet that I think something is not right; so, the radio goes on and I make noise of my own! When we are in the thick of things and Kenneth and I long for the days of just he and I it is easy to get caught up in how irritating kids can be sometimes...but, when things are quiet and they are all in bed, I find myself loving the fact that they are here, in my home, SAFE and SOUND. I love my kids. I just hope that in the chaos of our lives they pick up on some kind of normalcy and we are able to teach them how to be good, responsible adults and parents some day.

Brooke's 1st Football Game 2006

Here are some pics from last Saturday's football game. Brookelynn had decided not to cheer this year and then at the last minute- literally, the day of the game- she decided she wanted to. We kind of figured that would happen, or at least that she would regret not cheering, just didn't know we would be enrolling her and rushing around the day of the first game.

Kenneth & Brooke

Jovi's 1st Day of School

Here is a pic from Jovi's first day of school. I don't have one of Brooke because Rachel took her to school.

Back To School

Okay, well...no new pictures to display but thought I would post a little something on here before I go to bed.

We have all officially started back to school, the kids and me! I am in my 3rd semester of nursing school and have one more to go after this. I can't wait! I am so ready to be done with school and actually just have to work and not do both. This summer was really awesome in that I got a taste of what it is like to JUST work again and not have to juggle a family, work and school. It will actually be a break for me when that time comes.

The girls both started back and seem to be liking their teachers. The first day that they had to go to grandma and grandpa Fergie's they had a big mess to deal with in that the bus they usually ride over there doesn't go to that edition anymore so grandpa had to come get them at the school. Jovi was in the office crying because she couldn't find Brooke and thought she got on the wrong bus...it was a little hectic for them but I don't think they were TOO scarred and grandpa made it to the school to retrieve them. I worry so much about their afternoon schedules with me in school and it is total chaos sometimes but I don't know what I would do if it weren't for Don being around to help out. I really feel bad that we have to rely on them so much but, on the same token I thank God everyday they are there to help because I don't think I could do my school otherwise.

Brauk is back in school at Moore and so far so good. It is the second week of school and he is still making straight A's! Yah hooh! Kenneth told him that if he made straight A's we would get him his first car and Rachel said she would pay his insurance. Don't quite know for sure where Kenneth plans on pulling the money from but I guess if that's what he wants to do we will find a way. I am really proud of Brauk he seems to be doing a lot better this year. I don' tmiss being a 16 year old or dealing with 16 year old boys for that matter. He is an awesome kid though and I am glad to be a part, even if it is just a meesly ole wicked step-mother one. Lol!

My wonderful husband is still working his tale off so that I can go to school and only work part-time. I can't wait to be done with school so that he can finally find a job that he actually half-way enjoys or doesn't dread quite as much as he does this one. He is a trooper though and is handling the stresses we are going through right now like a champion. He is still my rock and I depend on him so much at times that I can't wait to be able to repay him for his loving patience he has shown me the past 2 years.

One last thing...please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I really am feeling pulled in all directions as far as what kind of nursing I want to go into when I am done. We are doing our Psych rotations this semester and it all seems so interesting. I feel like I just want to do it ALL and know that's not possible so think about me and pray that I can figure out what direction God has planned for my life.

-B

Jovi's 1st Airplane Ride, Alone!!!!

Walking into the airport!

There she goes....

"Really, mom. I will be just fine."


Well, I just got home from sending Jovi off on her very first airplane ride by herself. She is going to Phoenix to see her grandma Debbie and will be back on Sunday. This is not her first airplane ride, she usually goes each year; however, never by herself. I wasn't too happy about it but have been saying no for 3 years now, since she was 5 she could ride by herself. I figured it would come sooner or later and she was ready.

I cried when she boarded the plane. She just turned and waved. Errr...the aches and pains of raising a child! It's really hard for me watching her and the other two grow up so fast and become less and less dependant on me.

-B

South Padre Trip

The kids and I just got back from a trip to South Padre for the week. I thought I would take them for one last hurrah before school started back. I had so much fun and have not enjoyed hanging out with the kids this much in a long time. We all really needed the break away from everything where we could just hang out and have fun.

South Padre Trip

"Hi'ya'll, I'm from Oklahoma"

Brauk and I at dinner on the ocean.

Colton, Brauk and Brooke after catching some waves.

Jovi on her way to catch some waves...she already looks tired.

Brooke & Jovi at dinner.

Padre Trip

Brooke & Jovi on the beach.

Colton is using this device to pull up the mysterious creature that looks like a cross between a crab and a shrimp. The people there were calling them "bait."

Just taking a nap, don't mind me.

Jovi was brave enough to hold the "bait."

Beach bums...Jovi, Brauk and Brooke.

South Padre Trip

Morgan & Jovi...Best Buds For Life!

Jovi and Travis's baby girl, Austen.

Colton & Brauk on our way to go shopping in Mexico.

Brookelynn and baby Austen at Pizza Hut.

Brooke & Jovi coming back from Mexico.

South Padre Trip

This is Dylan, Brookelynn's secret "crush!"

Brooke, Colton, Dylan, Megan & Morgan @ the go cart tracks.

Megan, Brooke, Kayla & Jovi waiting to ride the go carts.

Brooke, Megan, Morgan & Dylan @ Dairy Queen.

Brauk says it's not that he is so scrawny but that Seth is so fat, lol!

South Padre Trip

Jovi and Colton eating cereal...they couldn't find "regular" spoons!

Brauk & Brooke at the go cart tracks.

Brooke & Jovi playing in the pool @ our condo.

George Washington a.k.a. Brookelynn

Jovi & Colton in their secret nook at our 1st Condo.