Family Picnic

Every year we usually have a Cousins Tea where my aunt puts together a nice tea for all the gals in the family. This year, instead of the Tea, we had a picnic. It was a lot of fun to see family members that we definitely don't get to see enough during the year. Of course "Cousin Gwen" was added to the family gathering and the kids ran her ragged...or was it the other way around? Actually, it was probably both! Boy were we tired by the end of the day (I think Mom more than anybody!) And...unfortunately...most of us look like lobsters as I didn't put any sunscreen on my whiter than white children or myself. ("Bad Mommy!":( )

Caleb walking Gwen


The Epps kids with Aunt Fern



Stacey and GrandMam


Auntie Binky and Anna

Cousins Kayla and Joanne

Auntie, Joshua, & Grandma

Cousins Katrina and Heidi with Abby

Homeschooling Conference in Modesto

This past weekend I attended the Modesto Homeschooling Conference with Wonder Woman. Yes...alas...I am personal friends with the great beauty of a Superfriend...and that is exactly what she is....a SUPER friend!!:):) I said the whole weekend, "We need to take a picture"... "We need to take a picture"...and then I forget to take a picture. Oh well, you'll just have to read my ramblings instead:) It was a great weekend and I really felt like the Lord was leading me to the exact places (i.e. seminars and even my seat at lunch) where He wanted me to be. Some of the seminars dealt with the exact things that I and my children have been struggling with and it was so neat to see the Lord's proddings in "the way you should go" in dealing with these struggles. He even led me to people who are either doing or have done the curriculum I am considering doing this next year so I was able to "pick their brains" about the pros and cons of the curriculum. This year, at the conference, was more of a "go and talk to the vendors" type year for me to research different curriculum and different ways to homeschool 4 children all at once.
It was also a relaxing weekend as we were able to go out to dinner, get Starbucks (a couple of times:), meet new people, see people we haven't seen in awhile, go to the mall, and just enjoy our time without having to hear "Mommy!" every 5 minutes:):)
My husband and kiddos also had a fun weekend. They went to the park, played tennis and basketball, went to the Silliman Center (water play place/pool), played baseball, went to Mc Donalds, and then ended the night with icecream from Rite Aid. Do you remember when you could get a single scoop for 15 cents, a double for 30 cents and a triple for 45 cents? Am I showing my age?:):) Well it's not as cheap as that now, but it is still a good price for a family of 7. They had a very FULL and fun day! Saturday they all cleaned the house! Go kids!! Kristina can now officially clean bathrooms. YEAH!! They picked me up in Dublin that night and we went to the Elephant Bar for dinner.
More pictures to be posted after Friday as we are going to.............(yah'll come back now...ya hear:):)

No Concept Of Time

This morning I was snuggling with Joshua and I said to him, " Do you know that I love you?" to which he replied, "Yes." Then I asked him, "How do you know that I love you?". His response was, "Because you told me you loved me a long time ago."
A few months back, he said, "Why is Daddy taking a shower? He just took one last year!":):):)

What I Appreciate About You

Yesterday was a hard day. We all seemed to be pretty weak in the areas of patience, diligence, and love:( Last night, after having a pep talk about showing love to each other, we went around the circle and the kids told each other what they appreciated about their siblings. This is what I appreciate about my kids.
"Kristina, I appreciate how responsible you are. You do your jobs very responsibly and with a good attitude. I know it's not always easy being the oldest and a lot of things get placed on your shoulders, but you always do a great job at whatever you do. Thank you honey. I couldn't do it without you!"

"Abby, I appreciate your kind and loving spirit. I cannot even count the number of people who have been encouraged by your hugs and love shown to them. Thank you for being a bright spot not only in our lives but in many others lives as well."

"Joshua, I appreciate your gentle spirit. You are very gentle and loving...especially to the babies and younger children at church. You don't overwhelm them but help them in a very gentle manner."

"Caleb, I appreciate your love for your Mommy. You love to give me love and hugs and kisses and....I love you! (don't tell anyone:)" (for those of you reading this...that last part was an inside joke)

"Anna, I appreciate your dimply (did I just make up a new word?) smile and your kisses and hugs. They really just make my day. Don't ever get "too big" to give your Mommy kisses and hugs. I love them!"

Tricky Mommy

Mommy to Caleb: "Before you take something else out, are all of the toys you've played with this morning put away?"

Caleb: "Hmmm. That's a tricky question...."

I'm such a tricky Mommy:):)

Our Baby is Growing Up

It is a sad day in the Epps household. Our baby is growing up. Don't take me wrong, I'm happy she is growing, but it is also a bittersweet time as she grows out of the "baby" stuff and turns into a little girl. A few weeks ago we took down Anna's pen, well used and loved (except for Kristina) by all of our kids. Anna probably liked it the best as she would even ask to go in it sometimes (I don't think any of the other kids did that). A plus to this is now I can actually put a dining room table in my dining room!

Today we took down the crib and set up her toddler bed. I know what you're thinking, "My goodness Stacey, it's about time! You're daughter IS 3 1/2.!" All of the other kids were kind of "forced" out of their time in the crib as there was a new baby on the way. Anna has had no reason to get out of her crib as she IS the baby (I tell her that she is my forever baby:):)

And so..we bid goodbye to babyhood:( Goodbye crib. Goodbye pen. We are starting to work on saying goodbye to diapers. What a precious time of life baby/toddlerhood is. A precious little one who is dependent on you for everything, loves you unconditionally and loves to (at least most of the time) lavish you, and be lavished upon, with hugs and kisses. There is nothing quite like it....maybe we should have another one.......:) JUST KIDDING!!

The 4th of July

We had a very fun, but busy, 4th of July this year. In the morning, Charley and the kids went to the Fremont parade and passed out tracts and CD's to the parade watchers as they waited for the parade to begin. Even Anna handed them out from her stroller. There were about 1300 tracts and CD's that were handed out (there were quite a few people that were handing them out...not just my kids:):) ) Please pray for those who received one that they would read/listen to it and want to know more about the Lord Jesus.
At night, we had all of the people who were handing out the tracts/CD's (about 30 in all) come over to our house for dinner and a fireworks show. FIREWORKS ARE LEGAL IN UNION CITY!! YEAH!! We bought about 1/2 the amount that we bought last year. It was just perfect! (yes, we did go a little crazy last year...we were just so excited to live in a city where we could set them off:).
The kids enjoyed lighting the fireworks and playing with the sparklers.

A quick Anna funny....Anna was getting a little scared because of the fireworks so she went in the house to sit with my mom. The following is the conversation that ensued...

Anna: "Grandma, those fireworks really annoy me."

Grandma: "I'm so sorry Anna."

Anna: "That's OK Grandma, it's not your fault, it's the fireworks fault." (out of the mouth of a very smart 3 1/2 year old)

Papa lighting a sparkler for Anna

A Day at the Fair

On Tuesday we took a trip to the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton for a very fun-filled day. Charley took the day off and the weather was absolutely PERFECT! The last time we went to the fair, I think it was over 100 degrees which made it almost too hot to do anything. This time it was perfect.

The kids saw all kinds of animals. We saw baby goats....

a 250 pound 6 MONTH OLD PIG!! WOW!...

and we were even able to see the sheep competition (*love this picture of the boys)

In one of the display halls, they had 2 huge areas that were full of Legos. The kids spent quite a bit of time there using their creative juices to create masterpieces.

The kids (minus Anna) were also involved in the tractor pull. Caleb pulled 60 lbs. in his tractor and was one foot away from "winning" 1st place. He came 2nd to a 10 year old who pulled 120 lbs. all 30 feet. We thought that pulling 60 lbs all that way was pretty good for a 6 year old. Must be all that big wheel peddling that he does:):) All the kids in the competition were given ribbons for a job well done.

They had lots of things for the kids to do there. In this picture the kids were involved in a water balloon toss. Unfortunately, I don't think my boys know the meaning of the word TOSS as they THREW it over hand. Needless to say they did NOT win the toss. This picture says it perfectly...notice Caleb's clenched fists and Joshua's "WHAT?" position along with his very wet shirt.:):) We just had to laugh. I think we will have to put "practicing throwing a water balloon" into our homeschool curriculum:) NOT!

My brave son did something that I didn't think any of my kids would do...he held a tarrantula! He's braver than I!

This year at the fair, they had a GREAT kids area, that I don't think has been there in past years. There were "musical instruments"....

a big corn box (who would a thunk that kids would enjoy playing in a big box of corn!)....

..and last, but definitely not least, Kristina got to "milk" a "cow". It was a great, but exhausting, day. Anna was asleep before we were even out of the fairgrounds and about 4 of them were asleep by the time we returned home. Having so much fun is hard work you know!!:):)