Aug. 27 - Sept. 1

Well friends, here is our week! It's the easiest way for me to update all of you and show Stephen some pictures. He is on a short trip and asked for pictures. Now he will get pictures, get updates, and all of you can be in on this. =)

Monday!

Ontologist appt went fabulous! Time to celebrate!

I tried to get the picture of Kyle eating pizza on here, but this website doesn't like it.

Sorry!

I had to get me a treat too!

Kyle couldn't be left out!

Tuesday

Tuesday is also the day Isaac started to hit.

Abby was nervous, upset, and full of ...well, nerves.

I had her rest on her bed with Kaden while I showered.

He is such a good puppy!

We all camped out in the TV room and watched movies.

Wednesday

Puppy snuggles.

The kids weren't in the mood to smile.

It was a day of forts, tv, and games!

Thursday

Storm is essentially passed!

No snakes!

Lots of mud!

Time to play!

LOVE this sweet face!

Both pups were SO muddy they got a bath.

Frankie was so exhausted he slept for almost four hours straight after his bath!

Friday

Pizza & ice cream, does it get better?

Saturday

Frankie holds his own...

2 hrs = 7 bags of branches and such from the storm!

So proud of my amazing helpers!

My sweet little man!

...not so little any more :'(

Puppy damage =( 

No more headset for Halo =(

The End.

Love & prayin for you!

It's Isaac's Fault

you see

we weren't affected/effected (whichever is correct) by this storm.

no really

there are several small branches down,

most of the tomato plants took a horizontal dive,

the pepper plants also took a dive.

 

there was a lot of wind

not as much rain here as anticipated.

however, in order to soothe the kids, we had an evac plan in place and were semi packed

should we lose power for a significant time period

or the water towers get smacked and knocked and us lose water

if this makes no sense, let me explain.

since monday night i have slept 9 hours and 20 minutes.

did you know kyle sleep walks?

yeah, it's true.

did you know abby will wake up with nightmares about this storm?

also true

did you know dogs don't appreciate creaks and groans?

true - in fact they will wake up barking their heads off at the wind.

better safe than sorry.

i am hoping to finish out the "week in pictures" tomorrow night

the story will be told in pictures

broken down by day

let your imagination fill in the gaps.

if you seriously desire, leave a note and i will explain various activities that are pictured.

i am tired.

i am hoping this is goodnight friends.

as long as no dogs bark, children sleep walk or scream through a dream, phone calls, or loud thug music parks outside of my door - i will see you in the morning.

love & prayin for ya'll

 

fyi

my man Wesley Goodman came through like a champ!

he is weighing in at 8+lbs now!

so much for "not compatible with life"

 

my little man A is still waiting on test results, for those of you who know who i am talking about.

lift that family up in prayer that Jesus would minister to them through the frustrations and joys of life! we all need it - own up to it.

Biological vs. Adoption

There comes a time in every couple relationship when children become more and more prominent. For most people, that means planning when the first born will enter upon the scene! For us, it is more like, when will number four come? Yes, Kaden counts as a child. Mostly because his personality is WAY too big to be just a dog.

Throughout our brief dating and now almost 14 months of marriage, we have deliberated having more children. 1 dog = perfect. 1 boy & 1 girl is the "American" ...ok, not really but whatever. The Kafoure's are thoroughly American and had the American 50-50 split. 3 boys & 3 girls.

The time has come people! Stephen and I have prayed about biological children vs. adoptive children. Either would fit nicely into our family as we have all adopted each other.  After discussing with Kyle and Abby, we agreed adoption would be best. Thus, we have entered into THAT phase.

I am pleased to introduce you to our youngest "child"

The pictures WITH awful quality, bleaching out and blurry, are courtesy of a cell phone. Please forgive me!

Below we have the proud daddy of yet another boy!!!!

He is most definitely a "Daddy's Boy"

He will be spoiled.

Kaden likes him.

However, this puppy is taking up residence in a very spoiled Kaden's domain.

Yes, Kaden has pouted.

Yes, Kaden is stealing his toys.

Yes, Kaden will try to plop right next to Frank to keep attention from Frank.

But who can resist such a cute little face!

Frank retaliated by stealing the beloved rainbow trout!

Both boys are well loved by everyone! Kaden is soaking up every bit of extra attention. Frank is milking the fact he is an adorable puppy. Both children are arguing over who is going to hold Frank. Stephen is taking "executive action" and putting the puppy on HIS lap in HIS chair. He didn't even stick his tongue out at the kids to irritate them further. And if you believe that last sentence, then you don't know my husband! Me? I'm trying to breathe. I wanted this. I asked him to THINK about it on Friday. =) However, I have all 3 humans coming to me complaining about the others. PLUS Kaden coming whining about attention and Frank whining because he needs to be in on the deal. Lol.

Hope you all enjoyed the surprise! There are more pictures of Frank on Facebook!

August

Well hello friends! It has been a very busy and crazy start to the school year. We've dealt with a small ear infection, 2 cavities (in different mouths,) Steve's work getting super crazy busy with the river so low, school officially starting, and trying to keep the house clean, dog exercised, physical therapy, and creating edible meals for the family. So far, only exercising has taken a back burner! There isn't much to write because I'm tired! Pray as we continue to blend as a family. Kids are testing new boundaries and it's exhausting. We've been praying a lot about this. Hopefully Stephen and God heard each other right. If so, the encouraging thought is that the kids are starting to understand what a family looks like and works together like. If that makes sense.

On the health side, because some of you have asked. My knee is fine & I need to keep up my PT. my knee is in good shape and will remain so if I use the stationary bike and do the exercises. I'm trying! The kidney is all well and good.

Kaden is more clingy than normal. Spoiled puppy is lost durin the day without his kids. Kaden turns 2 on the 21st! It's so hard to believe that he's been a part of my life for that long!

Ok I'm sorry. Goodnight folks.  I'll put up pictures next time. Love & prayin for you!

Thursday!? Already!?

 Stephen got the call on Monday to go underway. Whilst he is gone, I usually do deep cleaning...things I don't typically get to clean. i.e. the Honda. Stephen is a man - in all senses of the word. Therefore, when I think something is dirty, he thinks I'm ridiculous. Do you see this car?! It is a deep sparkly blue, do you see any deep sparkly blue?!? I don't!

Tada! Deep sparkly blue! No, not simply because I moved it. I detailed that baby inside and out! I'm talking toothpick to crevices and scratch repair pen to scratches. It only took 2 1/2hrs to clean it all. Partially because two little dears were underfoot along with a four legged angel.

Kyle brushed up on his ball handling skills while I washed the car.

Abby wouldn't stop stealing the hose from me! Arg! Eventually I just told her to take Kaden up and down our street a few times. Lol. We have a dog halter for him that works wonderfully. We allow her to walk him half three houses down and back as long as she stays on our side of the street. That way she doesn't pass any neighbors that have dogs that might tempt Kaden.

We had some visitors the last two days.
THANK YOU to those visitors.

It sounds crazy, but the more kids that are over - the more sane I stay.

Maybe it's because I lighten up and don't sweat the small stuff.

Maybe it's because all kids do better when there are friends over....

whatever the reason - I like it!

Abby absolutely LOVED having C over!

And so did Kaden!

All of the kids had an absolute blast playing together!

C discovered that she could carry the big baby doll around.

She kept patting it's back and saying, "Aaaahhhhh! Aaaaaahhhh!" while hugging and kissing it.

Too cute!

Kaden was completely infatuated with C!

He followed her everywhere and was EXTREMELY gentle with her!

All I had to do was ask him where C went and he would immediately find her and stay with her until I got to her. Here he is checking to make sure she is ok because she's squealing and smacking the door. lol

Of course, Kaden will NEVER turn his back on his one true girl!

Ew! Wet puppy kisses!

All the chicas in the house say CHEESE!

Last pic of C with Kaden. C's mom and I, B, were standing talking while all the kids were playing. Kaden had collapsed on the floor to rest after 4 straight hours of non-stop playing. We heard C going, "Ah Ah Ah Ah" in a sing song voice. We both looked down and saw this....

Yes, C was sitting and bouncing on Kaden's neck! Bless his heart! 

He didn't flinch or move until she bounced a little too hard on a sensitive spot of his neck!

You can't tell me this dog is not an angel!

C tried to get him to play tug of war (unbeknownst to her of course) However, because it was a baby handing Kaden the toy, he ever so gently put his mouth on the toy and held still. He would not even pull it from her hand for fear of hurting her!

Last but not least.

A picture of the most amazing kids in the world.

Most moms are biased because they gave birth to their children and have been their since birth.

I didn't get that with these kiddos.

Therefore, I am right - they are the best!

A little of this a little of that sprinkled with honesty

Well, let's get the uncomfortable out of the way first. Shall we?

I had this post written multiple times in my head. Now it will be re-written again.

The uncomfortable. 

I'm a horse person. In my mind, you ask, tell, command. Chad taught me that.

He was the main horse guy person at a camp I worked at way back when. If you want a horse to do something you ask them through a gentle shift in weight or slight squeeze of the calves, what have you. If said horse still does not listen, you repeat the command with a slight bit more of emphasis. In the unlikely even the horse again does not listen, you command. A command can be through a swift kick, a voice, spurs, and in some cases a crop. 

Did you know that doesn't work in marriage?

Or at least not for the wife.

Yeah, it's true.

My amazing husband has been ever patient. I had no idea how...unhelpful and damaging I was being. I knew something was up but it was like pulling teeth to get it out of him. Why? Because he is that wonderful to me. He was silently suffering because he did not want to hurt me while so much was already going on. 

*NOTE: "so much going on" refers to Kyle & Abby getting ready for school, keeping everything running around the house, helping pull more around here so that he is able to rest & unwind from work, establish a daily routine for the kids, and battle blended family junk.

To be honest (a large sprinkle of it to be exact,) when he told me I thought, "Self, he is over reacting and needs to chill out!" Yeah, so not true! Today I caught myself doing the very things that annoy him so many times they were too numerous to count!

YIKES! 

That hurt!

I'm learning. We are growing. I love him even more!

A little of this...a little of that...

Coast Guard day was WONDERFUL! We went to Blue Bayou Water Park today down in Baton Rouge. Kyle does not enjoy rides of any type except a car ride. He definitely does not enjoy water that much. Abby is feeding off of his fears. We, being the fabulously sweet, kind, loving, non-tricksy parents that we are, told them we were going to the Toilet Museum where they could see an exact replica of the toilet Abraham Lincoln used as a kid.  I hope that isn't disrespectful because he was an AMAZING president. Further, they would also be allowed to clean said toilet with tools of that time period. The "fun element" of the Toilet Museum was the Toilet shaped swimming pool the Museum had!

Kyle & Abby cried!

Not literally, but close!

There was no way to take my camera safely into the park as Stephen and I fully intended to join in the fun of water slides! Therefore, my pictures are before and after. Abby ran from slide to slide to slide in the children's section, no joke, for HOURS! We were able to get her to ride 2 adult rides. Both had rafts that she could sit in with Dad and Momma Liz. Kyle stayed with whichever parent was not riding. HOWEVER!!!! He did ride the scariest kid section slide that I refused to ride! Kyle must have ridden it 8 or 9 times!

Our favorite was probably the Lazy River ride.

That is a testimony to how busy our lives are!

Around 3pm (we arrived at 10am when the park opened) we cleaned up and drove to Chili's for dinner. Both kids were so tired they practically fell asleep upon their empty plates! Yes, both completely cleaned their plates after all that running and playing and sunshine! Stephen, my fabulous husband I've been telling you about, also willingly drove to 3 different stores in different parts of Baton Rouge to see if we could find a stationary upright bicycle. My knee doctor says that will be the best rehab for my knee possible!

"Mrs. Langenmayr (so weird! that's supposed to be YOU Connie!) Mrs. Langenmayr, motion is lotion. You ride that bike 3 to 4 times a day for at least 15 minutes and your knee will be good as brand new in 6 - 12 months."

At the 3rd store we found the bike we like. (RHYMES!)

However, they were out so I'm checking out Amazon.com and I do believe I found it!

Yippee!

Here are your pictures!

Enjoy!

Keepin the prayers going up! God's people are for some reason under extra attack lately.

We need to stand together and pray for each other. God said where 2 or more are gathered in His name, He is there with them. I am 1 person gathered in His name. Geographics don't make a bit of difference to God, so gather with me friends and let's get some protection prayed on God's people!

Abby & Kyle created a tent in the back of the truck!

Abby played with her baby doll and Kyle shot her with Spider Man webbing!

See how excited Stephen was about the trip!

It's in his eyes - just trust me...he was excited!

Kyle & Abby were excited to be in line, can you tell by Picture 4???

Stephen started to lighten up and get excited too!

The last picture is after dinner was eaten & while Daddy paid the bill - do they look tired to you?

This picture should probably be first.

Look closely at the outer pictures.

Our darling, sweet, loving, non-antagonistic daughter decided to frustrate her poor brother.

Yes, this time he was legitimately innocent!

So he shot spider web at her!

...can you guess who we are obsessed with lately?

SPIDER MAN!

Oh what a week!

wow

that is the best word.

it has completely flown by.

check out the lack of caps...i'm tired.

you will be ok without them.

it's been a very busy learning week. busy, i love. learning? i love that as long as it is from a book instead of beating my head against the wall or God beating me over the head. unfortunately, this week has been the last 2.

there have been quite a few fun times, so don't you worry your head about us.

we are fabulous and will end up even better.

it has been a learning week.

learning that God's sense of humor is not always appreciated.

case in point:

doodles decided to wear a certain outfit. to help her learn modesty, we set certain guidelines for outfits. i stopped by her room before she came out.

the chosen outfit was not within the guidelines so i tried to help her come up with a different idea along the lines of what she wanted.

i left the room shortly after.

when she still didn't come out - i checked up on her.

low and behold...

the outfit outside of the set guidelines was on her little body.

her comment?

i wanted to wear it.

yeah, that didn't go over well.

we chose another outfit and she cried.

i spoke w/ my momma and said "what the beans?! why do kids outright defy!?"

my mommas says i took there a few times.

we all know that isn't true

i was a perfect angel

i never questioned

i never challenged authority

i fo-shizzle never had a SS teacher tell my parents that when asked to stand, i sat.

and when asked to sit, i smiled and stood.

nope

never did that one.

dad flattened by backside

sorry stephen!

lol

or another this week is

momma liz says, let's do X

kids laugh and do Y

they can't figure out why they got in trouble since Y was clearly against what their dad has taught them.

they can't figure out why i'm done bargaining.

i can't figure why i feel like crying

oh it's cause i'm a grl

poor stephen!

i get an exercise bike tomorrow!

it's pretty exciting

monday we change phone people

yay!

tomorrow we go to baton rouge to some water park i can't remember the name of

i'm sure it's fabulous

something with a bayou or how ever you say it.

it'll be interesting.

i love water parks

abby is scared of fast things

kyle hates water

it should be great!

oh yeah, stephen gets to come too!

so!

maybe we will take turns going on the fast slides!

oh!

speaking of defiance

the four legged darling, for lack of a better word, has joined in.

no joke

we were playing fetch

only his favorite game in this entire world.

i threw the ball. he ran - half way - sat down and stared at me.

mind you, it's hot. but there's no way that after 2 throws that dog was tired.

not possible.

i kindly, gently, and lovingly urged him to retrieve.

nope

i went up and pointed to the ball and again encouraged with more emphasis.

nope

i utilized the training collar

nope

i increased up to a level 6 and had to add the plus 2 a few times before his buns moved.

before we reached this point i was a good doggie owner (wow that sounds childish) and checked for stings, bites, pain, anything that would keep this precious non stubborn almost 2 yr old dog from retreiving. nothing was wrong with him except he fully fits into this family.

it was 2 hrs later with lots of refreshing on his training (aka when i say sit, your buns will go down. and when i say lay, your whole body will go down. and when i say wait - you don't move...PERIOD!) before he finally decided oh yeah, mom's boss and i should listen.

now if only stephen would believe that!

here are 2 pictures for you.

that is all.

why? cause i'm tired, my hubby is waiting on me to shower up so we can get shut.

tomorrow we leave at 8am.

i will get up at 6 ish

the kids will get up at 645ish

and stephen will get up.

tee hee!

much love ot yall!

prayin for you!

keep your chin up and remember GOD IS IN CONTROL!

we simply have to get out of His way so He can work

that's my lesson this week!