Not Feeling Well

Boy, it is too bad that it takes not feeling well to have a quiet, not going anywhere kind of day. This has been one of those really blah, blah, blah days and it is a good thing that it is nasty outside or I probably would have found some kind of reason to go out.

Papi's Ohio State Clothing

Isn't he cute? He doesn't care that they lost as long as he has his clothes to keep him warm. Papi will literally carry this shirt around and bring it to you to put on him.

Visit After A Year An A Half

The girls especially Kalee was quite upset that I had allowed Kimberly to show up at their soccer games. Originally Kalee cried for quite some time and refused to get out of the van. After talking with her and Demitrius assurring her that things would be ok cuz he wouldn't let anyone bother her, she finally got out of the van and strolled around with me. We went over and started watching Britenee's game and Kimberly was sitting at the other end of the field and Kalee was ok with that. As you can see after she came over where we were sitting Kalee got up and walked away and then Kimberly went over and talked with her for a while. However, Demitrius and Gracie didn't leave her out of their site. Look Kalee is taller then Kimberly at this point. Kimberly kept moving over to the hill so she could stand on it and be taller until Kalee figured it out! They had a brief discussion and then came over and sat on the blanket together while Britenee finished her game. By the end of the game they were both ok with the visit and I think in the long run the only thing that was left to be said is "I hope you keep up the good work so we can visit again" "But we don't want the visit if you aren't on the up and up". The girls did for the most part express that originally they were quite upset with me for doing it but in the long run they were glad that I did and that they just didn't want to be hurt again. I understand that they did have many questions for her and they indicated that they hoped she was telling the truth because they always find out in the long run. Kalee had to be told a couple of times to put the attitude away because she was very defensive and looking for fault and was causing stress that wasn't necessary. I took them to McDonald's and Kimberly paid for a snack after the games and they all seemed to have a good visit. Time will tell. I hope that Kimberly realizes that I still don't trust her and not looking to be a friend anytime soon. I was just opening the doors for her to try and do something with the girls. I do not plan on making her part of my plans or going out and parting with her anytime soon. I will try to make it possible for her to be part of a reasonable share of the things that the girls do but I will not go out of my way to get hurt later. Straight up the first time she tries to make him a part of anything that we do there will be absolutely no more effort on my part. Or the first time that I get word of him abusing her and her making the girls aware of it I am finished. Unfortunately, I have been there done that one to many times and I don't feel that I can go through it again. Then there is the stress that the girls will be going through and struggling through their own feelings and as it has always been in the past, it will end up being their school work that will pay the price of the confusion that has been brought back into their lives. Go God only knows that I hope that this time everyone thinks of the girls before they think of themselves.

Haircut Special

Dominic has been waiting for me to post this picture especially for Aunt Karen so that she could see his diehard dedication to the Dallas Cowboys. I personally think this is carrying it a bit far but then again I don't prefer the Cowboys so what can I say "Go Steelers"

Cheerleading for the High School Team

It was undefeated Genoa against Lake Local and the first quarter had special cheerleaders with the Genoa Elementary School being prepared to cheer on the winning team. Gracie had been hanging out with Emma for the day and was quite disappointed when she did not get to go down on the field and cheer with Emma. I did get her pom-poms so that she could do the cheer that they had worked on however she would not allow me to take a picture unless I let her go to the field with Emma so needless to say I didn't get one of Grace with the pom-poms but great ones of Emma. We left before the first quarter ended and the score already was Genoa 28 and Lake 7. Better luck next time and we definitely will have to get Gracie signed up for cheerleading!!!

Learning to Cross Her Eyes

As you can see Gracie has recently learned that she can get lots of attention and laughter from crossing her eyes. This has become almost an every day thing for her and in the other picture she is hiding from her Mommy because she knows she will get in trouble again for doing this

Feeding the Ducks

The kids have always enjoyed feeding the ducks and it was such a beautiful day that we took time out at the cementary after visiting "The Lady" and Norman's grave site to make sure the ducks had a good meal. Gracie, Britenee and Kalee as you can see started a little ways from the van but by the time the ducks were done coming up to them they were right at the door of the van to get away from them.

Creative Crafts Camping

The final craft of the camping season was doing pumpkins and cremanics. Everyone had their hands in it and really enjoyed doing their individual pumpkins. Tina is showing the great job she did painting her project and Derrin, Emma, Gracie, Britenee and Kalee all enjoyed decorating the pumpkins.



Later there was trick-or-treating from campsite to campsite and lots of goodies were to be had by all.




But wait there was time for a game of flag football in-between all the activities.


All good things must come to an end and this is everyone bundled up and getting ready to call it a night. This is the last camping of the season and everyone was a little bummed about it.

Playing on soccer field

Play time during soccer practice for Kalee. Gracie with Britenee and Ahmad with Demitrius are learning all about the good old fashion wheel-barrow racing. They had a great time trying to figure out what they should be doing and had many laughs learning to do it!! Didn't take long before Demitrius and Ahmad were off and running around the soccer field with Britenee bringing up the rear. They had a wonderful time just running off the extra energy.

Soccer Time

Talk about keeping busy, we have been trying something new with the soccer thing and needless to say all four are participating. We do practice on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after school and then on Sunday starting at 1:00 Britenee's game starts, Gracie and Demitrius both play on different teams with their games starting at 2:00 p.m. Then to bring up the end of the day is Kalee who either starts at 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. and a couple of times we have been blessed with a double header and have still been at the soccer field at 6:30 p.m. Makes for an extremely long day but the kids sleep well at night and have a blast playing the game.

Makiah Grace's 1st Birthday

Makiah celebrated her first birthday on a family farm and I had the pleasure of being able to enjoy it even though I was not present. As you can see from a couple of the pictures she is getting so big and looks like she had a wonderful time. Happy Birthday Makiah

Sounding Off with a Hurt Heart~~Open Heart and Open Door to be Damned Later

What is a person to do when children are born to women that are not able to follow through with the raising process as there are more important aspects of their lives then raising the little ones that they have brought hopelessly and defensively into this cruel world. A person opens their door and heart to give the little ones some sort of security when no one else cares enough. My Mother was one Hell of a Person as she was able to take in the child that was in this position and completely raise her as one of her own children. This gave her 9 children to work with and raise and we were always to believe that this other child was part of the family regardless of how she was acquired. It NEVER mattered or was made an issue because she was not the natural birth mother. She was the mother figure that this little child looked up to and respected. This was also the case even though their were two fathers, the birth father and the father that was part of the raising. But this never made one any less of a parent when they wanted to be. One was in and out of the life at his convenience and the other stood by the side until circumstances did not allow this any longer. Well, now the shoe is on the other foot and for some reason the rules of the game are being reestablished and I am not clear as to why this should be allowed at this stage of the game. When children are reared in a loving and secure environment for many years why should it be ok for someone that is basically a stranger to just come into their lives and say I want to be a Mommy now (something that they have heard many times over the years (from her) and have been hurt and let down each and every time) and they are to just be turned over to her and the man that has already made it very clear that he does not want them in his life and a part of his world. When I was the only one that wanted them and was willing to change my lifestyle for the sake of the children it was ok but now that there might be a change of heart I should just have to put my feelings aside and say sure just take them and what ever shall be shall be. With the history of abuse with the Mother and the boyfriend (possibly husband even though she assured the girls she didn't marry him) why should the girls be subjected to this? Help me to understand!! Follow back into the years with our own father and the relationships that he was involved in. There was no mothers' child from another man that was safe. Not to mention that this guy has even made it clear that he would personally kill both of the girls and me too. So what kind of a person does that make me to just let the little ones go into this environment. Life style changes when a child is involved includes eliminating all danger to the children. This has not been the case. There is also the issue of legally being able to financially support the little ones that are brought into this world (dealing in weed, is not secure and/or legal). I have done this for all the years without help from anyone except for the health care. This is not the case I know for a fact from the other sources. They were wanted children when others thought there was money to be had from the death of their father. Who by the way again choose the man over being with the children to support them in the loss of their father. When it was proven that this was not the case issues were dropped and that was the last time any mention was made of "taking them" from me. I love and care for the children because I want to and I can and the payment that I am satisfied with is the "I Love You's" and the "Thank You's" that come with every day life. There is no room for the selfish side of life in raising children. For any that think I am so wrong for loving and caring for the little ones sorry about that but when I signed up for the job I didn't sign to quit when someone else decided they wanted to step in.