pumpkin twist ice cream?

Oh yes I did. I picked up the three elementary kids early (well, I wrote the notes for two o'clock, then all day had myself thinking I was picking them up at three...let's just say I felt like The Jerk walking into the office to three kids who had been waiting and waiting...Sonja even called me from the office phone, but I was already on my way...ouch. Bad Mom.)

Anyway, good thing I had promised them a trip to town for ice cream. We stopped home first and had Sonja run in and ask who wanted to go...6 more kids came running out. So the ten of us went out for ice cream.

$24 dollars for 8 smalls, and two baby cones. ouch. I asked kiddingly when I was done, "who wants another one?"....of course I couldn't spend another $24....but if they were free, I would have had another. It was really really good. And...I lost more weight! The ice cream diet works! Ha, it is just because I am being extra careful everywhere else. And exercising alot.

So...how much have I lost all together? 45 pounds. Pictures of me? One of these days. I tried on my old shorts this morning, just for the fun of it...they fell right down.

I wish I had measured and taken a "before" picture. Oh well.

Two of my bathing suits came yesterday. They fit well and look fine. Can you tell I am not jumping up and down? I knew I wouldn't look like a million bucks, but I was hoping that maybe I would. Oh well, I will feel comfortable in them.

Rosie and I ran a bit this morning. She just loves it. When we stop, she asks me why we had to stop. She is beat now, instead of romping around with Kitty Kitten, she went straight for the morning nap. I think getting the kitten has really made her a better dog. I gave her food and water when we got home from our walk, and Kitten budged right in and started lapping up the fresh water. Rosie just stood there looking at me...I pet her and told her what a good girl she is...I can't believe she yielded to the kitten like that.

There is no school today. I went to bed at ten, and some of these guys were just agreeing to watch, "The Lord Of The Rings". Right now, Suzanne and Sonja are baking some of those Pillsbury ready-to-bake cookies (dollar store!) Jon is making some in his Easy Bake oven.

I will not have one when they come out of the oven, I will not have one when they come out of the oven...it would be easier if the whole family gave up cookies.

Paul and the older kids are working at the dome this afternoon/evening. I will just have Margaret, Kathryn, Evelyn, Suzanne, Sonja, Jonathan, Charlotte Claire, and Camille. Poor Jon, eh? But then he doesn't know any different, so he is fine. The rose among the thorns.

Update on all the kids:

1. Emily Anne, 26. She works days now, but that doesn't mean we see her enough. She still works lots of days in a row, and is taking classes too. She is a voracious reader, and supports Evelyn's reading habit by bringing her lots of good books from the library. She gives of her time and her money, and I have no doubt she will have piles of treasures in heaven. She is a free spirit, doesn't like stupid rules...she is faithful in her battles, trusts God with her life...she is sarcastic and funny and she always gets me.

2. Abigail Marie,24. She is extremely busy these days because her office is moving to another location. She is feeling better than she was, not as tired, and her heart (pulminary stenosis) is not a factor in how she is tired, according to the cardiac specialists. Abigail is so kind and thoughtful and good. She does whatever she can for these guys.

3. Benjamin Paul,22. We keep in tough mostly through facebook, but he calls when he can. He is finding his way through the trials of life by seeking God in all things, so things are going well for him. He is coming home for Christmas, is doing well, misses us all so much. He is deploying in February, wah.

4. Mirielle Joy, 21. Nursing school is keeping her busy. She also volunteers at the dome, so she has to work hard to catch up on her homework. I miss having her cook dinner once in a while...but she loves learning, and seems to have found the right career for herself.

5. Joseph Michael 20. He is doing well in college, I think. He doesn't volunteer much information. He keeps in shape, runs and works out. He takes the kids to soccer for me, and he watches them here when he is home and I need him to. He is a good kid, so respectful. This morning I tried to give him $15 for gas, but he declined, said he didn't need it. I had promised it to him the other day for driving someone somewhere. His hair is too long for my liking, but it isn't hurting anything but my eyes.

6. Aaron Royce, 18. He is so mature and responsible! He also likes nursing school. He is taking 18 credits, and is so busy. He gets stressed about it, but he has Mirielle to talk to about things, they commute together, with Mali. He actually deserves a million bucks for getting along so well with Mirielle and Mali. They have to work around each other's schedules, so they often have to go in much earlier than their own classes, and stay later for their siblings....

7. Mali Rose, 17. She really likes college too. She spends the night at Emily and Abigail's apartment every week so she can ride to the city with Abigail, since her siblings have really early clinicals on Friday. She has Thursdays off, yesterday we didn't go driving, she just stayed here and caught up on stuff...it was pleasant to be with her. She has her struggles with life, but she is always good to me.

8. Samuel James, 16. Mr. Sam...he is such a good kid. He works so hard on getting along with everyone. He most certainly has Aspergers, (World War II). He has to have his stuff just so, his plate and cup and fork...if he sits in the living room, he has to clear the area all around him. There isn't a mean bone in the kid, he is just too good for this world sometimes. Thankfully he has a good group of friends who appreciate him, and don't seem to mind his soliloquies on the war....he does well in school in the things that interest him, in other things he really has to work hard to get good grades.

9. Margaret Cheryl, 14. She is way too old for her age. She is a grammer freak, and drives us crazy with her corrections of our speech. She is a manners freak, she eats healthy food and exercises, and she knows everything about everyone famous. She can watch a movie and not only name the actors, but tell us their maritial status and favorite color. She wants a Vera Wang wedding dress someday, she is very smart and gets good grades, and plans to have a good job and lots of money. She does not believe in wives taking their husbands names, and she is very strong in her opinions. She also has a wicked sense of humor, she is quick and she is funny. She has wildly curly hair.

10. Kathryn Grace, 13. Kap is a tomboy. She is so pretty, too. She likes the Yankees, and gymnastics, and her ipod with the broken screen that she inherited from Ben. She is smart and funny and lately she has been too smart and funny. She is going through that Too Cool for School stage, and blah, I want more respect! She isn't mean though, just finding her way...

11. Evelyn Joy, 12. Ev is probably in bed with a book right now. She does well in school, is very mature and responsible, loves to do things with the little ones...she also has a short fuse, and is always the victim. She seems to delight in stomping down the stairs. She is funny and witty and just plain fun to be around.

12. Suzanne Eleanor, 10. Suze is growing so tall! She is obsessed with the pull-up bar in the laundry room doorway. She is always hanging there. She is lovely. She is ten going on sixteen. She is way smarter than me, and lets me know that with her tone. She likes to play school and office and tea party with the little ones. She is always struggling to keep her special things safe from the younger ones...

13. Sonja Kathleen, 9. Sonja is my baby...she is the youngest of the Five-Girls-In-A-Row in Five-Years....she whines and gets her way. She has the red hair and the freckles, and a fiery personality. She likes to pick out her own clothes, but it is a work in progress to get her to take care of her clothes. She is sweet and helpful and an excellent companion. When I take her places with me and give her lots of hugs, she just melts. She loves attention, and hasn't yet learned to say, "MOM!!!" when I hug her in public.

14. Jonathan Robert, 7. Jon...oh Jon. Hess trucks, cars, motorcycles...Wii driving games...he is like a miniature adult in so many ways, yet he also goes bonkers sometimes and is loud and silly and crazy. He can be difficult to deal with sometimes, but he ALWAYS says he is sorry after he gives me a hard time.

15. Charlotte Claire, 5. She loves school, but seems like a different girl now...she is more contentious here with Camille than she used to be. She writes her name correctly sometimes, and mirror image backwards sometimes. She likes to dress pretty, but does not want to look, "cute". She deliberately doesn't listen sometimes, so I have to have her sit in a chair until she decides she is going to be good. I hate sending her to school even though she likes going.

16. Camille Anaya, 3. Last but not least...she is a sweetie-pie. She is the best companion a momma could have. She chatters and asks questions and is mostly cheerful and happy. She is always on the lookout for me acting suspiciously, brushing my hair or putting on decent clothes, nervous I am going to leave and not take her. Really, if I pick up the hairbrush, she is asking if she can go with me. I haven't taken her to the pool this week because she has been sick, so that makes her clingier, poor child. She loves to have stories and cuddles and to have someone color with her.

That took longer than I thought it would, and the kids are needing me...day off, ha.