BBQ and Halloween Costume Stuff

We finished putting together our room and mounting the dang TV. It has been years since we have had a TV in our room...as evidenced by our 5 kids. But we didn't want a TV in the game room/classroom so Lucas wouldn't be distracted for school or play. :)

We put up blinds in our bathroom, Jim's bathroom, and the study finally.

 John was on nights--this was after baby bath time. They were so cute I actually got the camera out lol. It takes a lot to do that anymore.

 Olivia is going to be Coraline from her favorite movie, so I ordered her a rain coat and boots, and blue wig. I also went to Hobby Lobby and got the materials to make her Coraline doll--it was fun to do!

 Frankie is so expressive...and his grimace/scowl is so scary lol. He came in the study like this, and then started dancing to some music I had on.

 Here's a cute one of Frankie and Tyrone waiting for Daddy to get home from work :) Frankie likes to carry around his purses everywhere he walks...

 This little chubby bubby is so cute when he's not screaming. He's really still teething badly but he's able to eat more foods so he enjoys that. He has such clear skin so I am glad he hasn't had gluten.

 Here's some from right before we had our BBQ---Tim and Teresa were coming over to check out the new house, and Emily came with her roommate Chainey, and my mom came too. It was really fun and John did an excellent job cooking and cleaning up too! Shrimp, sausage, chicken, burgers, hot dogs, corn, mom's potato salad yum. TNT brought our regular desserts---from their friends' restaurant DeVivo's. So good!
   Anyway these pics don't even look like us--my phone must automatically edit and photobrush because our skin looks so smooth..? It must also force you to make silly "selfie" faces.

 Lucas has decided to be Peewee Herman for halloween, so we got him a little buzzcut haircut. I am still looking for a gray suit but it's been hard. Hope we pull something together in time!

 Food & Fun (sorry they aren't the best pics--I didn't have a lot of patience or battery in the camera so I took some and put it away):

 Lucas was about to show us the Peewee "Tequila" dance :)

 Teresa brought all these cute clothes and shoes for Olivia from their other Godchildren in IL--like new nice stuff. Olivia loved it.

 She liked these pretty sandals:

 The end :)

And then we went upstairs in the game room to play with the kids and talk about church and school and work! 

Stuff

Some pictures from my phone recently...holding off on all the pics of the house til we are done installing, mounting, unpacking and cleaning etc.

 Made a little headway with the downstairs.

I bought this premium mural that just sticks to the wall like a decal. Awesome and easy :) This is right above our bed. I bought another one (not premium...regular glue with 8 pieces) that we will install in the dining area..kinda intimidated. Hope we do it right. 

 Eusty has been standing unassisted for a few seconds. Pretty proud of his 9 mo old self :)

 Mr. O came out to stay with us one night last week with his wife Kim---they were taking a road trip to explore places they might possibly move to next :) It was fun to catch up and i'm sure they missed their babies--Kim was so good with all ours. Unfortunately they got some horrible news that their home in CA was broken into so that put a damper on the night and this was the only photo I got :(

 Today was my mom's bday. We met up at the protestPP rally in Lewisville and prayed for hearts and minds to change and be informed. L & O were kinda scared but really want to help "save babies" :) All 4 behaved well and there were no violent outbursts, just horns honked and some dirty looks. As you can see, the planned parenthoods are always in the most fun neighborhoods...check into cash is always nearby. 

 Then we went to lunch at a new cafe in Frisco, The Black Walnut Cafe. The food was fine, and the kids were grateful for GF pancakes....but the service was terrible, and the "do everything yourself" style restaurant just doesn't work for families. Going to write a review soon...
  After the babies napped and John left for night shifts, we took the kids to the park and got ice cream. My mom looks cute on her bday huh? Happy Birthday mom!

We Have Moved!

We moved in last tuesday and it was very hectic. I caught a bad cold and am still recuperating but tuesday was the worst; constant sneezing (and thus peeing) and my head was so congested I wanted to just relax in a hot bath. But we had too much to do. Thankfully we had a lot of help from my mom and Emily watching the kids. The movers did a great job and reduced their price significantly since John and I had packed so much ourselves. (I'm talking from >$4k, to $2200 total!)
    The house is still in disarray. While I like the layout and the quality of the products used in building it, the storage is really lacking especially compared to our Savannah home. Our cabinets and drawers and closet shelves are so shallow, much of our stuff isn't fitting in them. The one basin kitchen sink is not really great of course, but it would be manageable if the garbage disposal were working correctly (someones coming to look at it today from Standard Pac). There is still so much to put away and install, but we have made some headway--I put up sturdy baby gates (mounted) up and downstairs.
    Pics to come soon--we don't even have any curtains or blinds, just pinned up sheets in the bathroom. It will be nice living here for a few years once everything is unpacked and cleaned up. But I can see us running out of space real fast once #5 comes. Before we move next time, I will definitely be getting rid of more stuff that we have but don't need! These are a few I took recently, but I was too sick to get any pics during move. After I arrange our stuff and clean i'll take new ones :)

 My 24 wk sonogram--confirms Toni is a girl :) And I didn't have gestational diabetes thank God. No profile pics as she was facing down.

 And we are all getting over this cold, but Eusty is also cutting more teeth so he's very whiny and drooly.

Other Updates

 The other night Olivia kept saying she couldn't sleep, so I told her to write a letter to Jacob and Alex. I found this the next morning. It's hard to read (she is just starting to read/write) but it makes sense. Translation:
"I miss you guys. I hope you have a good day, Alex Olivia Jacob"
I loved how I know she sat there trying to sound out "GACUP" haha. What baffles me is that she learned how to write her name when she was 3 when we first started homeschooling. Just in the past few weeks she started not only writing letters backwards, but as you can see, her WHOLE name backward. If it were just for fun it'd be one thing, but she doesn't even know there's a problem til I tell her. Now that I think of it, she does sound words out backwards often. Am I paranoid to suspect dyslexia this early?

 Susan and I went to the clubhouse gym one morning when John was home with the kids, and I saw that the pool was empty! There are only a few more weekends of using the pool, not only because we are moving but because it closes in sept. So we took the kids. Eusty liked it. :) Lucas is doing pretty well at swimming.

 My mom was over last week and we played tennis--Lucas is really good at hitting and aiming naturally somehow. He is ironically very coordinated on the court, despite his clumsiness elsewhere. I played a bit too and it was really fun and got my steps in but my umbilical hernia hurt afterward :(

 Eusty is getting around and is very strong. Crawling but also pulling himself up. Here he is one morning trapped under my bed lol.

And here the big'uns  are helping me make GF cookies with steel cut oats. They were pretty good! 

House Walk-through

We close next Monday, so we had our walk-through inspection today with the builder. The house looks great and it's a lot easier to gauge the size when we can see the finished wood floors and carpet in. I can't wait to move in and buy pretty stuff for the windows and walls. They did a great job on the kitchen and the appliances are really top of the line--it'll be cool to have a double oven. Also the stove top is big and there are big deep drawers under it for pots and pans. The only downside of the kitchen is that it has one large sink basin, instead of 2, but we will make do until we rent it out. We have packed most of our own stuff surprisingly, so I hope the quote we got for packing and moving next Tuesday will go down significantly. Our tenants move in on Thursday so we have to get out and clean up fast. Here are a few pictures I took with my phone today:

Here we have the upstairs game room/loft...and Frankie demanding the builder put his shoe on for him. Eusty is also crawling and pulling up to stand...at 9 mos..

This study is a lot bigger than we initially thought, which is good because it will fit the piano, desk, snake cage and my exercise bike :)

Can't wait to move in. We have been shopping around for good deals on a washer, dryer, blinds/curtains, fridge and ceiling fans, and then a gate to cordon off the the big backyard for Tyrone so the kids can play in a poop-free yard, I also have been looking at large murals to put up on big empty walls, and I think I've decided on a few but not sure yet. 

I Dare You

Fiorina's passionate speech made me want to catch up on the Center for Medical Progress videos exposing the Planned Parenthood atrocities. I still cannot believe that PP is allowed to continue not only to receive federal funding, but also to operate at all, with their criminal activity finally fully exposed.
   I admire and respect 26 yr old David Daleiden; he has worked so hard to show TRUTH to the world. Risked everything because you know how devious the abortion industry and those that benefit from it, can be. They are vicious and will vehemently protect their profitable enterprise of exploiting women, butchering babies, and callously selling parts. David may not have anything to show for his work in this life, but surely in the next.

    What these videos do in addition to enlightening the masses that are unaware of the dark truth, is:
 -forever invalidate the "blob of tissue" rhetoric; when you're harvesting liver, brain, thymus, eyes and hearts, it's hard to dismiss the fetus as an indeterminate blob

-PP can't make it all go away, by saying "oh this person was a lower-level employee who wasn't in line with our policy", since all the videos have been of very high up executives within the company-- and no bitching about "editing" can be made--CMP has released the full tapes. Many of these executives admit to their criminal activity and how they need to keep things secretive.

I also give much praise to Holly who worked for StemExpress. She risked just as much and her honest and heartfelt testimony will surely affect many women contemplating abortions, but also the people working in the biomedical field.

So, just as Fiorina dared Obama and Hillary to watch these videos, and see a full formed intact baby barely alive in a dish, and hear Holly's testimony about being shown abeating heart and being told to cut through a baby's face to take out the brain, and then oppose defund in PP.

   It's so frustrating that CNN and the like, frame this defunding bill as the Republicans "shutting down the government"-- if democrats simply won't vote on a bill because they know they won't have the votes, who's the real asshole? It sickens me that even with all this revealed, every Democrat politician is so heavily involved with the abortion industry money that they fall in line and BLINDLY support them. Are you really telling me that every Democrat has to tow the murderous line?! Not one can grow a pair and see evil for what it is?!
  I urge you to watch the 9th video released by CMP. I couldnt help but cry hard when I watched it today.. thinking of my little baby Toni, who I feel kicking and moving, ripped from the womb and dissected for profit. If the moms could see their beautiful babies...I know they'd see the terrifying truth about abortion and abortionists. https://youtu.be/FzMAycMMXp8

The Presidential Pageant

Things have been chaotic lately in preparation for our move (we close in 9 days) but I catch up on the necessary things...eventually. Since we don't use cable, I watched the second republican debate on youtube yesterday. Trump cannot be our candidate. Most of the candidates up there aren't truly viable options. (Also, for a laugh or two, look up the "bad lip reading" video of the first republican debate on youtube!)

 I like Rand Paul, I know he's smart but I'm not sure about foreign policy.

Huckabee is a nice guy...not presidential.

I really like Rubio. Not sure he's popular enough.

Cruz is probably the most qualified and has done well in TX.

Carson, nice guy, very smart, not presidential.

Trump. Some valid strengths, but some serious concerns. Not trustworthy. How could he win against a woman he previously endorsed!?

Jeb. I feel sorry for the guy. Just be happy dude. Don't prolong the Bush hating.

Walker. I'm sure he's done well in Wisconsin. I just don't care for his "I'm aggressively normal" persona.

FIORINA. My favorite. I really think she could put an end to the lame "war on women" BS and be strong enough to deal with global issues. I like that she hasn't been a politician, and I hope she gets the chance to take on Hillary. I love that she emphasized the evil that is Planned Parenthood and I feel she is genuine in her concern.

Christie. Like the guy, but seems too hot headed. I think he's better at the state or local level.

Fiorina/Rubio ?

Mini-HOGO reunion :)

This Labor Day weekend, Shawna and her boys came out to visit. She and Jim were mainly trying to look at areas they may be interested in buying their next home in, but it was kinda difficult with all that is going on. They are under lots of stress what-with Jim's new job, trying to get their KC realtor to do his job in selling their current home, and looking for schools and areas with resources they need for Alex & Jacob. Lots of prayers for their guidance.

    It has been about 2 yrs since we have all gotten together--I remember because I was pretty far along in my pregnancy with Frankie:

And back when we only had 4 kids total:


Our last (2013) HOGO Pics
Flashback to our HOGO beginnings :)

Didn't get many pictures this round, but they are moving here so there will surely be many to come!

 This was my favorite new game--Airlines Europe. Like a combo of Acquire and Ticket to Ride.I almost beat Jim the first time we played.

 Here's Eusty making a mess. Lucas was the only baby that didn't like being messy. Eusty is crawling sorta...dragging his belly still but he gets around. Hasn't been sleeping through the night unfortunately :( teething? idk.

 We took them swimming and it was thankfully not crowded esp for holiday weekend--Jim taught Lucas to swim and all the boys passed their swim test and rode the slide!

 Susan sat with Olivia who said, "i'll learn to swim when i'm...7" :P

 And little Lucas made me so proud!

 We got 2 games in--all new ones to us. This one was fun after learning the rules; Jim is the best game instructor ever. The game was Notre Dame. And Jim won. lol

 Here's Shawna getting her baby-fix in--she put little chubby bubby to sleep ;)

See you soon! Can't wait til we are both settled in our new homes and getting ready for Christmas time ;)

19 weeks...I feel Toni moving :)

Tonight I can feel gentle little kicks from my little Toni. And it breaks my heart to see this video, the 9th released by the Center for Medical Progress, where 2 tissue research companies talk of their methods of acquiring baby parts from Planned Parenthood. Such a pleasant and friendly woman, speaking of abdomen always being torn and damaging her requested parts and how it pisses her off since she needs to get intact organs, just makes me so sad. How can anyone believe that these babies being killed in (*and sometimes out) of their mothers womb aren't in excruciating pain? How can anyone believe that over 10 yrs of partnering with these govt funded, and fir-profit research companies hasn't resulted in a higher amount of abortions, and later term abortions?  How can anyone believe that women troubled with their predicament of unplanned pregnancies, are being treated compassionately when we see the volume they need for the sales they want, and spoken of in such a cold calculated manner? My sister is right...while ISIS news terrifies and saddens me, we have our own ISIS here in the abortion industry and their partners. And what has come of these videos that CMP worked to expose truth for? Certainly our president doesn't care. Most adamantly prochoice won't acknowledge any wrongdoing. Prolifers already know how horrific the reality of the abortion industry is. We failed to defund PP. The rest of the country seems bored if not irritated by the truth bring revealed. And powerful politicians like Pelosi are calling for CMP to be investigated. A judge tried to ban the videos. All I can do is pray that the main goal is accomplished in all this: the hearts and minds of all people are opened to the undeniable truth that abortion kills,harms,rapes, steals and lies. That the "burden" (as Obama calls it) of loving a mini-you is never worse than the pain inflicted by an abortion.
Watch:
https://youtu.be/ndJMawjoyPc