McDonalds at Midnight!

Fall Festival 2010

A few weeks ago we went to a fall festival with friends from church. 

(Absolutely love this picture of Jameson and Rhema!  The kids were waiting to get on one of the many bouncy thingys they had.)

(Jameson playing on the bounce house)

(Jensen and Holland playing!  Holland looks a little scared...hmmm?)

(Holland looks much better! LOL!)

(I love seeing them having so much fun!)

(Johnston about to jump over the last hurdle!)

It was fun, but I have to say the three hours we spent at McDonalds was much better.  We aren't really McD's kinda people, but it was the best choice we had at 9pm to grab something to eat and we were really hungry.  The restaurant was pretty much empty the entire time we were there and so we spread out.  Parents/Holland at a booth, older teen girls at a table, the youngest two boys at a table near us (gotta keep an eye on those two rascals!), and this group pictured below did their own thing!

The kids ate and then ran off to the indoor play area.  I being the germ freak that I am usually I don't let the kids play in the play areas...gross....but it was late and we were having such a good time talking with the Cooks.  So off the kids went for two hours.  They had a blast, I kept handing out Germ X and we were all fine! :)  Rachel was so sweet to take lots of pictures for us.  I love having pictures to look back on and remember these times in our lives.

(Holland dressed up as a ballerina!)

(Becca being crazy!)

(Jameson - I love this little guy!)

(Sweet smile on my sweet Holly girl!)

(The Three Muskateers! Jensen, Jameson and Holland)

(This tree is full of some cute stuff!)

(LOL....I just don't know what to say about this picture!  Jameson is one of a few kids in our family that has a gift of making people laugh, smile and just wanna hug him!)

(I'm assuming he is using his Buzzlightyear laser?!?!?  LOL!)

(Morgan and Max doing something that was making Lil Miss Holly laugh very hard)

(The whole gang...minus our oldest three who were off doing adult things like working!)

(Justice doing...I'm not quite sure what)

(Wow...I don't think Becca fits...)

When the kids went in to play in the play area McDs was empty.  They had the play area to themselves the entire time we were there.  Looking at the pictures I am so glad they did! LOL!  I'm sure if other kids had been in there my well behaved kiddos would have not been doing half of what is documented above.  At least I can hope this would not have been happening.  :)

(I'm thinking he might be doing some Spanish dance here!  LOL!)

(Lots of pictures of Becca and Rhema!)

(And even more pictures of Becca and Rhema!)

(Wow....they sure jumped a lot!)

(Johnston causing a slide jam up pile!)

(Davidson in his Ninja costume!)

(Max and Jensen....so much jumping!  Max got some good height though!)

(Jensen had to jump as well I guess.  He dressed up as Bob the Builder...he's missing his accessories!)

(Morgan getting some air herself! Glad to see at 14 she doesn't think she is to cool to be silly with the little kids!)

(Holly taking a leap!)

 (Johnston not to be left out!  It makes a lot of sense as to why most of them fell asleep on the 30 minute drive home.)

(Jamesons precious little face!)

(Who can resist this face?)

(The gang plus Rhema!)

(The boys!)

(The girls!)

(All the girls!  Morgan, Rachel (our wonderful photographer!), Rhema, Becca and Holly!)

(Morgan and Rachel!)

While the kids were off playing in the kids zone we were able to talk with David/Glenda cook.  It was fantabulous!  We heard the kids having fun, but until I saw the pictures above I had no idea how much fun they were in deed having.  I remember having fun with my friends when I was 14.  Spending the night with two of my dearest friends.  Staying up all night and dressing up, doing our hair and makeup and posing for pictures.  Running around and sledding in the snow at midnight or hundreds of other things.  I love seeing my kids making memories with new friends.  When they are my age they can look back and laugh at these memories.

Miss Diagnosed!

Josalynd dressed up for the college age (Halloween) party at Free Chapel.  She was kind enough to stop by at Panera to show me her outfit.  LOL!  It was hilarious!  I love the ribbon she made: Miss Diagnosed!

Love the wig!!!!

Washington Farms in Athens!

After having a long day in court on Friday we enjoyed a long morning in bed.  The older teens slept in, the middles and littles curled up on the couches in blankets watching Space Chimps 2 that we had rented for them.  When it was over they came in and had a seven kid pile up in our bed.  (You can barely see Tim's face! LOL!)  It was a nice long morning in our PJs and we so needed it after the past week gearing up for Friday's court day.

Johnston being his usual cute self.  I just love this boy!

 

Jameson being a goof!  He's so funny!

Holly giving Daddy a snuggle.  She is such a sweetie pie and the apple of her daddy's eye!

It was very hard to round up the energy to get dressed.  We all just enjoyed our lazy morning so much, but Tim's mom, sister Kristin and her two kiddos had invited us to go to a local farm for the afternoon.  So we finally rallied the energy and got dressed.  Piled into the can and off we went.  Once we were in the van and our adventurous blood was flowing we were very glad we were out of the house.  We enjoyed a hay ride, corn maze, giant inflated tampoline, and many other adventures.

Cousin Hannah and Holland on the cow train ride!

Max, Jensen and Davidson all in a row!

Becca all by herself in the middle of the train!

Johnston, Jameson and Cousin John protect the rear of the train!

Jensen loved riding these pedal cars around the playground!

The five youngest in our group enjoyed playing in a corn pit.  It was a rather interesting idea.  Their was corn down their pants, in their hair, pockets, etc.  They made corn angels, barried themselves and just had a ball!

It was such a blessing to be able to spend such a wonderful day with Tim's family.  We are just starting to enjoy having the time to spend with his sister and her family home from China.  We are looking forward to spending many more days with them making forever memories!

It's been awhile

I realized the other day that I miss blogging.  I've stayed away....worried about who might be lurking on my blog.....who might take what I say and twist it for something not good.  As a Christian these past few weeks God has been working in my life to have faith in Him and He has given me this peace that is so calming.  So I am taking back something that I love and am not going to worry about who is reading it.  I can't wait to talk about what is happening in my family.  Lots has gone on since my last post.  Another first tooth was lost, we've lost two dear men in the span on two weeks, two adoptions were finalized, another adoption is almost final, I started my first homeschool co-op which is awesome, I've switch a lot of my homeschool methods which I thought I would never be confident enough to do, and I've made some amazing friends in our church.  The list is long!  We've been very, very busy! 

I'm back!

Tooth Fairy visit!

Jameson lost his first tooth!!!!!

So cute!!!!! I love it when one of my kiddos loose their first tooth.  Jameson put his tooth under his pillow and the "tooth fairy" *cough Daddy cough* left him a letter telling him that he was going to go on a special date with Daddy and Mommy in celebration of his first tooth being lost.  This date will include dinner out and a trip to Walmart to pick out a small toy.  Way more memorable then a few quarters under a pillow.  Loosing a first tooth is pretty special around here!!!

With so many kids that came to live with us in 2009 that had already lost their first teeth, but were still loosing teeth left and right Tim decided we had to do something.  So one night the "tooth fairy" left a letter for the Jeffries household.  It said that due to the amount of teeth being lost and going to be lost in our home that it would be more beneficial to give a gift for the entire family that will cover all remaining teeth (except first tooth!).  So the kids were rather excited to find a Wii with a few games left for them that night.  So now the kids know that it's neat when they loose a tooth and they know the following day we will be getting our Wii out to play in celebration of the lost tooth, but the "tooth fairy" will only be visiting our home for the very important first tooth and that's it.  I think the "tooth fairy" was just getting tired of visiting our house every few days or weeks.  You know with it being such a hectic life for a "tooth fairy" have and all!

Wordless Wednesday !

(Jameson starring in a East meets West movie "Cowboy Ninja")