Kelloggs Rolled Into Town

We met these superstars a little over a year ago.  The T family kids and the K family kids are all close through various social media means.  This fabulous family has made their name known because of their travels. The Kellogg family spend their time together in their RV, homeschooling and enjoying every adventure life throws at them.  We are lucky to be able to join them when they hit Houston for a day or so.  Even with Gabby in town and a ton of other things going on but we were able to work in a few hours with our favorite traveling family.   An hour or so is all they need to pack tons and tons of fun into a short time.  

The kids just start playing like they have never been apart.  I love that.  I enjoyed my time with Susie.  We had a real mom to mom heart to heart.  Her oldest has already left the nest and I was picking her brain.  We both decided that having kids grow up and move out sucks.  We are thrilled that they are growing up and into who God wants them to be, but it still hurts a mom's heart.  

We enjoyed watching the the big kids run around like crazy people.

Beautiful - Adorable (closer and to the right)

We did overhear another adult at the park say, "No wonder the kids are acting like idiots the parents are too."  I can't believe how offended that woman was by a group of 15 kids playing and running around with their dads at a park. The kids heard this same lady say that we were incredibly irresponsible parents.  I didn't realize that playing with our children at the park was irresponsible.  I wonder what the heck responsible parenting is to this woman!?!?

Our older kids got together several other times with this family.  They played frisbee, went country dancing and even a late night "just one more time" round of Capture The Flag.

Chuys With Miss Gabby

What do we do when a guest comes to town?  We go to Chuys.  Yum.  

We love having Gabby visit.  She fits right in.

Showing Mom and Dad the New Place

After our dinner we headed to the girls new apartment.  They were trying to show dad and I what it looked like.  I know they will make this a cute little place.  J and I helped put the beds together and then the next morning he did a dad thing, he bought better window locks so no one could get in.  

I don't know how this is going to work.  Our lives will be changing but at least we know they will be ok.  They really are so cute and we are very proud of them.

Family Dinner

We have our friend Gabby in town for spring break, so we had to have our big family dinner.  The kids enjoy showing off how our family time works to others.  I just know we value family around here.

Sleep Anywhere

Twin Beautiful - Twin Adorable

So we have a quick trip in the car and that is about the only time I can get these two very very very active monsters to sit still for more than a second.  I should consider putting a car-seat inside the house for each of them.  Shhh I am sure they will wake up soon and be running again.

Moving Out

As mom I could title this one so many different ways.  "Hearts Breaking", "Little Ones Fly the Coop", "Emptier Nest", "Growing Up", "Family Changing" or even by some standards "Finally".  All those titles hold a little piece of the truth.  (According to the Urban dictionary "Fly the coop"  means to grow old enough to leave the house of one's parents.) 

Pooker and Goobers have gotten their own apartment and are preparing to move in.  As we have watched and helped with this process we have also watched a flood of various emotions from other siblings, those moving, and even from dad and I.

I want to record this moment as a happy one for my girls.  So I will record our mixed feelings here in this post as we all try to deal with the changes.

I am so proud of these two.  Pooker came to us and told us that she was ready to move out.  She has worked in the EMS field for almost a year and is working hard to finish up her paramedics license and a subsequent nursing degree.  She also asked what we thought about Goobers moving with her.  Goobers is finishing up her associates and will be wanting to transfer to a university after she finishes.  Their time to try this together is now.  Pooker wanted Goobers with her because after all her sister is her best friend.  I love that.  

Let's be honest I am mom and that means I am worried about their safety and their financial decisions and just about everything else.  (I don't worry about their faith.)  After I put aside the worry I am so excited for these two.  They have a chance to step out on their own and spread their wings.  They are smart enough to be doing this together, they are with someone that they know they can lean on if needed.  They have included every last person in this house in all their steps.  They have made sure that everyone knows that they are just growing up BUT NOT leaving any one.  They have made sure that we will set up new family rituals to make sure we all stay close.   Even though I have yet to see the place, all the siblings have, they are all apart of this in some way.

They are not moving out because of a fight or because of disagreements on life choices, they are moving out because it is time.  I would lie if I said that I am not at all heart broken.  I am very heart broken in knowing that our family life will forever be different but I am also so full of hope and joy as I watch my oldest show the world that they are women of God ready to take on the world.  My novena to St. Joseph leading up to his feast day has been for them, their vocations and those of their siblings.  I ask Dear St. Joseph to keep them close to our Lord in all that they do.

Hurry up and Finish

This time of year is when no one wants to be doing school work .  It gets super hard to get everyone to sit down and get any work done.  UGH  We will spice it up after LENT.