And the summer fun is in full swing! We thought school would never end, but it did, it did! Though, we only get a short summer this year so we are squeezing it dry for every last drop of fun. The creek is a local fun hangout that we all enjoy. We plan this several times each summer with different friends and family. This time all their cousins happened to come so that was way fun:) BryleeAnne is loving the water and getting a little scary with her bravery for it! We are definitely keeping a close eye on that girl;)

First Some Current Pics

So these are our "lil" family on vacation a week ago and current pics of our garden, etc.

Although I Wanted to Catch You All Up Through Pictures

Its just not gonna be possible! I may get off my lazy bones one of these days and save a ton of pics from the past year off my facebook so I can post them to you all here. These were our November 2012 Family photos. So much has happened this past year. Babies are turned toddler, pre teens are turning teen, toddlers turning kid, kids turning pre teen. That sort of thing :)

I think I May Have Forgotten How to Blog

        I know the title sounds hilarious, but seriously. Its been like 1 post in the last year. I realized the other day that I need to get back at it. Time is still precious and occupied with raising so many babes, but I love having a record of our day to day and a journal of my thoughts. Its always fun to look back through the years at feelings I was having, seeing where I have grown and where I am still standing there in the exact same place. Blogging is such a great way to reflect. I am hoping to get busy and dive back in!

SoRrY tO LeAvE YoU HaNgInG!!! Catching you all up through pics cause its faster and tells more

All my babies at the park

  Sweet BryleeAnne almost 3 months already!!!
Our vacation last week to Welk Resort San Diego!
Been getting a few new peircings including my nose as you can barely see in this photoBeen tending to our Garden :)

Reading this trashy deliciousness, just finished and book 2 will be here any day! Ohhh yea
been fishing!


been swimming lots
My lil men at the creek
My Divas at the creek
been diggin in the dirt LOTSHe's sexy and he knows it bwahahaha!
Been BBQing and making smores:)Been taking pics pics pics, enjying every last ounce of baby and toddler as the big kids head nearly into teen years :OBeen cooking lots of amazing food, especially from our garden, still eating Paleo and loving it. So healthy!
Love the 4th of July:)
Been busy taking all these photos and feeling complete gratitude for the vasectomy and freedom and world of possibilities its bringing to our lives with our perfect family of 4 and 4 :) Lucky.Blessed.Happy.Free.Healthy.Growing.Nurturing........most of all BUSY :)tata for now, will update more when I can:) Til then, know that I havent dropped off the planet, quite the opposite, I have dropped off the net a lot and into life!

Welcome BryleeAnne Renahe!!

So we were scheduled to be induced Friday the 27th at 7am. We woke up excitedly getting ready only to find out they were swamped with a bunch of women needing C sections and told us they would call IF they got a bed available. To say I was bummed would be the understatement of the century. We moped around most of the day with no call. Finally at 2:30 we were told to come in. I was in a major debate as to whether I wanted to endure childbirth pain one last time or enjoy the birth as a birthday party so right away I asked the nurse if the epidural might cause extra issues with the baby since she would be a preemie. The nurse told me they actually suggest epidural for moms of preemies to keep the labor in better control as well as the pushing. I was releived and asked for an epidural at only 2 cm. I have never done that before, but it was exciting to think of not dealing with any pain. They gave me my epidural at about 11pm that night. The first 4 hours I was on cytotech going from 1-2 cm and thinning out. They started pit around 9:30pm. After the epidual I was able to relax and dilation began. I was at a 3 at midnight, a 4 at 1 am and then a 5 at 2am. At that point I told everyone they had better get moving and get the warmer out and call my dr. They thought I was nuts and started nothing. 5 minutes later, I yelled that I was feeling some pressure, I was at a 6, 5 minutes later, a 7. They all got scared, paging my Dr overhead, calling NICU, getting the warmer out, breaking down the bed and my body started pushing without me during all this. As soon as my Dr walked in and told me to push, 3 lil pushes and BryleeAnne came into this world SCREAMING! None of my other kids came out screaming, but what a blessing that she did. We were so scared of her not breathing or any other thing that might go wrong being a preemie, but she let us all know she was alive and well. She was born at 2:30 am weighing 5lbs 15 ounces and 18 inches long. It was wonderful. I cried so much. It was my most emotional birth knowing it was our last sweet baby. We did skin to skin for over an hour before she was weighed or measured or anything. That was so amazing! I had no bleeding issues this time either. I cannot beleive how lucky and blessed I am as a mom to 8 beautiful children, 4 boys, 4 girls! I made it through all my childbearing without having had a C section too. I feel so undeserving of my life. I am so grateful for everything, my husband, my beautiful babies and my wonderful births. It was truly a birthday party Saturday morning April 28th at 2:30 am in that hospital. I will cherish that moment forever!