Finishing Off a Fun July~

Our dog Sadie loves golf cart rides and now she has been jumping up on the seat as if she is a person~

Look at the beautiful yard my amazing husband keeps!!!

We were SO blessed to get to spend the day with the boys while Savannah went to school for the day.
We actually stopped by Target for a little shopping, and they were all perfect~

Back in time for lunch~

There is nothing I love more than watching the boys busy in their space living their best life~

 Their new house is SO perfect, and we love going to visit.

The girls were all due haircuts, so we made appointments at this new salon in town~

BEFORE

 5 haircuts in and hour and half~

 Mimi came to be with us since she works a few buildings down~

 From long and stringy to fresh and healthy~

AFTER

 While we were at the salon, the boys were enjoying a sleepover with Aunt Susan~

 She spoils them, and they adore her... We ALL do!

The weekend brought a day with ALL the bigs.
We hung out by the pool, grilled, made ice cream,

 And went for a ride on the boat~

 We loved having Hayden with us too~

We also got to take care of our grand dog, Cabot~

 This photo of Rosie and Calla just made me smile all over.
Calla said, "Rosie, will you hold my hand?" :)

My mom and dad have a huge garden as you have already seen, and they are always gifting us wonderful vegetables~

This week after room time, I surprised the kids with a box of butterbeans the GOT to shell for dinner.
Seriously, they thought it was so awesome and ate every single one!!!

Lego Boys~

If you're looking for the boys~

You can usually find them adding to their amazing lego nation!

Falcon Day Date~

Scott and I were so excited for a day away for the Falcons game~

 It was SO fun being together all day long~

 He is one of the biggest die hard Falcon fans I know, and I loved sharing this with him~

We surprised the boys with their own Falcon shirts as part of Will's birthday.
What sweet faces!!!

A Week in Review {Big God story!}~

The boys had been begging for haircuts and I finally obliged~

Ella has two new nature finds: a nest of 6 Carolina Wrens and a turtle she named Cosmo~

Along about Tuesday, I knew little bit must be sick because she willfully fell asleep on the sofa (she never takes naps!) so on Friday we headed to the dr.
She and Ella both had sinus infections with a little pink eye thrown in for good measure~

NOW for the GOD Story!

After the dr we ran by the library to pick up the books they'd reserved and then to lunch. I had considered going to On the Border or Chili's but the kids insisted on CFA because they love the hostess Ms. Debbie! It's also their favorite 'outside' lunch food!

We were eating lunch and the manager Chris Holcombe came over to say hello to to the kids. When we left, he was out taking orders and helped us cross through the traffic to our truck. I clicked my automatic back door and it locked 2/3s up and would NOT budge! I didn't know what to do! There I sat in a truck with 7 kids, no way to close my back door, and about an hour from home.

The manager said, "I know some people so let me make some calls." In the meantime I contacted Onstar and all they wanted to do is send a tow truck. Can you imagine me with 7 kids and a tow truck? Hilarious and I said no! I didn't think that was helping. I needed a service guy from Chevrolet to help me!

Well guess who Chris knew? All the guys at the Chevrolet place and made arrangements for me to bring my truck there. Remember the back door is almost in the highest position. Chris offered to drive us to the dealership if Scott agreed so that's what he did. He drove us (with the door up) and when we got there, he PRAYED over us and stepped in to talk to service. 6 men came out to examine the problem. They were able to get the door closed, locate a part, and send us on the way.

We took Chris back to CFA and he walked away like it was nothing but we all knew it was completely God's provision. Lots of people on IG and FB have said it is {Typical} for CFA BUT I say... it was NOT Typical for me. It was beyond their responsibility but when I expressed this, Chris said, "From the moment you drive into our parking lot to the time you pull out, we are here to serve you in whatever capacity that calls for. It has been both my joy and pleasure to serve you today."

For a mom just trying to feed her kids and drive away safely, there is NO other place I would rather have been! SO a HUGE thank you to CFA Mall of Georgia, Buford for making us feel like we were the only concern that day even though they were in the middle of delivering 750 lunches to the WinShape camp too!!! I will never forget this man who made my children feel so important and bowed his head over them showing WHO delivers us through our troubles every single day!!!

Meet Chris Holcombe~

Saturday kids with a whole day of outside ahead of them~

Amelia & Logan are at the beach this week so Ella is babysitting Cabot, which she LOVES~

For many reasons~

Sunday Savannah, Josh, and the boys came for the day to celebrate an early Father's Day~

 I'm amazed how fast they are growing! Marshall will be 4 months very soon! We spent the day by the pool, and they brought steaks for lunch!~

 We threw in some homemade ice cream and the kids said it was the BEST day~

 I couldn't agree more!!!
AND it is such a blessing to have a mama and daddy with a garden~

AND a little helper in the kitchen... Fresh beans for dinner was perfect!!!!!

LOVE my Boys~

Here they are making sure Calla is okay while Evie drs her~

AND just look at those beautiful smiles~

Reppin' their dad's building adventure: Millstone Homes!

Writing Boys~

I moved the boys' rolling cart into their room with books, journals, and drawing caddy~

 They have gone crazy copying and drawing out of their books~

I LOVE when they come up with things on their own and don't even know they are learning!

Weekend Sweets~

Rosie and Hayden were gorgeous as they headed off to ZTA formal @ Chateau Elan~

The boys sang in their first performance at church today, and we were so proud of them~

Click video if you would like to see~

Good job boys!!!

Lovely Moments~

The Art Stories are really improving our drawing skills.
The boys loved drawing planes when we read The Glorious Flight~

 I have been printing paintings online to give the kids examples to inspire them~

 I'd say it's working!
We had the pleasure of keeping sweet Slate this week,
and it gave us a glimpse of having a toddler back in the house~

The boys finished a whole set of Bob books, and believe they are readers now~

Macy celebrated her first birthday~

Rosie and Hayden are home for Spring break~

AND I pulled out my sewing machine again to make boutique bottoms for the bitty girls.
It was broken, so I bought a serger with my birthday money, and just look at the cuteness~

Can't wait to make more!!!

Art is Improving~

The Art Stories are really improving our drawing skills.
The boys loved drawing planes when we read The Glorious Flight~

 I have been printing paintings online to give the kids examples to inspire them~

 I'd say it's working!

The boys finished a whole set of Bob books, and believe they are readers now~

Yay boys!!!

My Parapro~

It is impossible to be with 6 children schooling at the same time
and it is those times I am so thankful when one steps in to help another~

Yesterday we had eye appts so we did our bookwork before leaving.
There are many clothes to put on and hair to fix and I need to time to get ready
so SJ stepped in to call spelling words for the boys.
As they mature and grow, some of the educating can be shared.
I am thankful for my parapros!!!

Spelling You See~

EK, SJ, and the boys are using Spelling You See this year

and I really feel like it is working well.

EK, and SJ are whizzing through it but the boys have really gained confidence with reading~

They moved from bouncing through the sounds in short words to stretching them out

and reading like champs!

Good job boys! So proud of you!!

Our NEW Friday Routine~ {and a Field Trip}

So over the last weeks I have found the chore a day routine was just not working.

I spend the mornings schooling with laundry sprinkled in

and thought I would use a little time in the afternoons to clean...

Not.

{I want my early afternoon to read or blog or watch netflix... gasp!}

In the mornings I have started piling the dishes in the sink until lunch (ahhh)

and after breakfast 

we all get dressed, brush teeth, tidy room, and start school by 9.

Those two words {TIDY ROOM} are huge!

By tidying each day there is less to do when time to actually clean.

If this tells you anything...

I hear my children saying "I am organizing mom". 

When school ends and we finish up lunch everyone heads to their rooms for rest until 3~

Bitty Girls still nap and then play.

Boys play the whole time.

Big girls read for an hour and get school Ipad time.

I read or blog or watch Netflix. :)

Today for our Friday Routine we finished breakfast, threw the dishes in the sink

and went to the schoolroom for one activity~ Writing.

We read over the ideas we listed this week about Egypt~

And they all verbally told me what they learned.

They grabbed their journal to record their knowledge. The end.

Short, sweet, and meaningful.

Okay NOW to the New Routine:

Each twosome headed to their rooms to Organize and Tidy

then they dusted and vacuumed~

{I worked on our room and the living spaces}

The big girls and boys both cleaned their bathrooms too.

I worked right along beside them and our house was clean in about an hour and half.

The bitties mostly just played, organized, played, organized. :)

As I finished all of the things I needed to do, the kids watched another Egypt documentary.

After lunch I looked over to find Evie dangling for the counter rinsing dishes

and loading them into the dishwasher.

Now our house is clean for the weekend

and we can't wait to celebrate Will Perry and my dad's birthdays!!!

After rest today we took a little 15 minute trip to visit the Georgia Guidestones~

 SO cool that we recognized Egyptian hieroglyphics on the capstone
and the kids could read some of the letters~

 Double cool to take their photo in front of the stone with Chinese writing on it~

 A sweet couple was visiting and asked if she could take our photo!!!~

It was a fun outing and even Macy got to go!

Happy Friday!