The most brief, vague update possible, covering 2 years so I can be caught up and feel at a comfortable spot to regularly blog again. This was on my summer bucket list, but it never happened. So 6-9 months delayed but here it is! I hope to be back to blogging. Goal is 2x a month, starting after this! I started my writing goal small. On my summer bucket list was also mailing my grandparents 2 letters a month and I succeeded and kept it going ever since summer too, so I am hoping So here goes something or nothing, we will know soon enough!
Feb 2018:
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| Back to being able to visit Jayla's house after my first week back to work! |
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| Anthony's kind of birthday we went to Texas Roadhouse per his request: Mom and Dad's final birthday photo |
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| Georgie and Phyllis joined |
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| 14th year official |
March 2018:
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| Another visit to see Jayla and fam |
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| I got my boys a haircut! |
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| I took dad and the kids on a movie date to see I can only Imagine |
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| weekly Jayla visit |
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| more time with some of my favorite kiddos |
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| Anthony's belated bday meal at Alisa's |
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| celebrating Mashed Potatoes bday |
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| belated bday celebration for Payden |
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| Anthony got the defensive player of the year this season for basketball. Mr. Billy and Mr. Mark were his coaches |
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| in honor of Mrs. Kelly's daughter Shannon & Uncle Mark's gf Regina |
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| most of our gang |
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| Alayna's birthday |
April 2018:
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| Easter with Jayla |
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| Easter basket for mom I made her |
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| Mom jokingly told me to make the kids cleaning Easter baskets... so I did! |
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| Toby Mac concert at LU |
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| April 12- I took mom to have her permanent drain placed so she would no longer have to leave the house. It was 2 days before this I knew it wasn't good. She asked her nurse if she would make it to Jayna's birthday (10 days away). She still wasn't doing that bad minus fluid build up in her abdomen at that point and the nurse said she thought she'd be here beyond the traveling nurse's contract which ended in May. I called all my siblings the next day as I knew for her to ask that, it had to be worse than she was letting on. |
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| The same day as I took mom for that procedure Jayna and Anthony had a soccer game I chose to miss because my mom didn't want me to leave until my dad got home. She thought he would be home soon. She was acting very out of character, so I stayed until the last minute I could wait before picking the kids up after the game. Jayna had got hurt during the game but they thought it was minor as she went back into the game and finished it. This photo was taken the next day. |
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| My brother and his wife came to town as did my sister and her kids that next day for the weekend. Mom slept most of the weekend away. I realize I am not posting photos of her much in these blogs as I know that would have been her request as at this point she looked sickly. |
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| Even with family in town, we visited the ortho center and her ankle was broken |
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| April 17th mom died. We held her service April 21st. We requested people to wear mom's favorite colors. Dad wrote an amazing obituary. We worked hard on planning her memorial service. Zach and Rebekah stepped in to spoil Jayna as this put a major damper on her birthday. I am still grateful for their role with my kids and this is just another example. Below is Dad's speech he did for the service. |
May 2018:
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| Making mom day gifts with Jayla. |
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| Making Teacher Appreciation Week gifts with Jayla |
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| Celebrating my bonus neice Shania's 18th birthday |
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| Mexican, then ice cream for Shania |
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| Took some of my favorite kids to see I can only imagien |
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| Jayna's soccer award: Tough man |
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| Anthony's soccer award |
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| Indian Pow Wow |
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| Jayla is officially a 2nd grader |
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| May 24, Alisa told me she was pregnant |
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| May 31 we surprised Jayla and Cory with the pregnancy announcement |
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| Anthony's award. I wish I knew the exact title of it but like Christian Character-Community building award. All 6 teachers vote on who it would be. |
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| After 8th grade graduation |
June 2018:
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| Nana and Papa treated us to a visit to Ace's new water park! |
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| Our 1st summer vacay, a trip to Nana and Papa's |
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| Vbs |
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| Hunter's grad party |
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| Quickest visit ever bc I can't miss my nephew's HS Graduation |
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| Father's Day in Pa |
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| Father's Day in Pa |
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| Vbs |
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| Our favorite VBS: Tristan's 1st time! |
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| A visit to Wendy's dad as a belated Dad day visit |
July 2018:
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| Our favorite firework turned 14, Alonza! |
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| Fun day at Alisa's with a lot of the gang! |
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| 4th of July celebration at Thomas Road with Alisa, Brandy and kids |
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| The sprinkler station at Thomas Road |
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| Celebrating Alonza's bday at the Salem fair |
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| celebrating Peyton's 2nd birthday |
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| Jayna's summer highlight was Nana Jan taking her to visit cousin Kierra and family at Kierra's dad's near VA Beach. Jayna absolutely loves Kristi, Dwayne, Kaysyn and Kierra. Here she is pictured with Kaysyn. |
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| Jayna at Busch Garden's with kierra |
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| My July highlight was our first pictures of Baby "Kahuna" |
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| Spending band camp weeks with these boys |
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| A birthday visit to Daddio, Wendy's dad |
August 2018:
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| The way I honored mom's 1st birthday in Heaven was with "Kindness rocks" simply painted with the word Joy: a dual meaning! |
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| paint night for mom's birthday weekend kick off. Also a dual meaning as we vacationed at that Light house in 2015 with mom. What luck mom's birthday weekend paint night would be of this! |
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| We did a family outting to Mister Goodie's for mom's birthday. Addi was easily the highlight. |
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| Summer vacation 2018: WV State Fair where Zach and Rebekah met up with us and we got to see a Mercy Me concert |
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| Dad's 40th Anniversary gift: a huge scrapbook I made him |
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| visiting with Dwayne, Kristi, Kaysyn and Kendyl at the beach |
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| Virginia Beach |
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| Jayla starts 2nd grade |
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| Anthony grade 9, Jayna grade 7 |
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| a hiking adventure with water fun with dad after a weekend of yard work together at his house |
September 2018:
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| I ran up to PA for the wweekend to see my nephew off for Basic Training as a Marine! |
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| I dropped Hunter and his friend off at the Recruiter's station before I left town |
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| Visit with Jayla's family |
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| Hospice Remembrance Service is held 4x a year for patients who died that previous season. We postponed mom to the following season bc we weren't available for the summer service. Dad and I attended. |
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| Remembering Grandma Pam's birthday |
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| Park day with Jayla |
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| Community Service w/ Jayna's school, cleaning up Camp Blue Ridge |
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| Gender reveal ultrasound |
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| It's a BOY!! Baby Kahuna is a BOY! Let the name game fun begin. On Sept 22 his name became official. |
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| Corey, Alisa and Jayla's 1st time shopping for baby Kahuna-- at Kid's Kraze with me! |
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| Parker's Homecoming! |
October 2018:
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| Mercy Me concert in Charlottesville, VA- for Dad's bday |
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| Suicide Awareness Prevention walk with Dad: year 2 |
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| Desmond T. Doss 5k |
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| My Halloween babies |
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| Trick or Treat with most the gang |
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| Jayna, Alayana and RyLee made Ghost Buster costumes |
November 2018:
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| 4H camp with school |
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| Pastor Alonza is amazing with the kids and equally good grabbing the easily distracted adults attention- like me! |
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| Night Hike |
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| Jayna with 2 of her favorite roomies |
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| supporting Alonza at his football game |
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| Dad joined his church |
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| Sabbath Education Saturday |
December 2018:
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| Our traditional Community Market Christmas visit |
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| Christmas visit with our favorite Leesville church friends |
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| Celebrating Tabi's 14th birthday |
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| Andrea's choir concert |
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| Tabi and Abrianna's band concert |
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| some of my favorite elves |
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| Jayna's school Christmas program |
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| Jayna's best friend came to the program and gave Jayna a sweet homemade piece of art |
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| Surprise visit from our favorite Floridian Wrestler: Jesse |
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| Christmas sing a long at Jay;a's school |
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| Celebrating Jayla's birthday a pinch early as not to have to postpone, not knowing when Baby Malakhi will arrive |
January 2019:
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| Jayla is 8 |
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| It's baby time: Jan 16 |
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| He's HERE: Jan 17 |
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| Our first whole group visit |
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| Malakhi Luka-Layne; Jan 17,2019; 9lbs 15oz; perfection |
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| Jayna introducing her baby brother to some of my favorite boys |
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| family time |
February 2019:
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| supporting Andrea in her school play |
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| Jayna's talent show performance: American soldier in sign language |
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| Anthony's allergy test: he's allergic to everything outside, dog and seafood |
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| Anthony's 15th year celebration: bowling |
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| fancy cupckaes when you are 15 |
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| He bought himself some anime dvd |
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| I took him to Texas Roas House |
March 2019:
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| Poppy took us to a concert: Casting Crowns |
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| World MS Day: a shirt and tattoo in honor of mom |
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| World MS day |
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| RyLee's adoption day birthday |
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| Malakhi's 1st snow |
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| Supporting Dunbar and Tab- Tabi's soccer game |
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| Anthony's hoddy from Grandma Pam |
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| Jayna before Sabbath Education Saturday |
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| Marko playing phones with Zariah- Jayna's babysitting job |
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| Spring break anyone? |
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| Mister Goodie's opens |
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| Took Jayna to make pottery |
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| Another family visit. DNA holds no higher value than love |
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| At CiCIi's to celebrate Mashed Potatoes birthday |
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| Cool Pie shirt she made for Pi day |
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| Happy Birthday Mashed Potatoes! |
April 2019:
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| eye dr apt for Malakhi-- his dr thought he may be blind, I don't! |
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| I got to hold him for the entire exam and I was so impressed with the dr and all his ways to check his eyes |
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| Jayla and I went to a tea party with my church lifegroup. I was so happy to take her to a place my mom really loved |
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| My first borns- biological and not so much |
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| Jayna's soccer game... again ended badly |
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| Tendonitis they say... but that it is very uncommon as a result of one single incident they say... |
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| Father Daughter date! |
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| 1 year without mom |
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| Happy Easter to my bonus babies |
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| My 4 gifts |
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| Anthony and Jayna's Easter baskets |
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| Jayna's 14th birthday party at Lacaretta |
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| signing Jayna's birthday shirt |
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| Jayna's 14 |
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| Tristan's Birthday |
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| my $500 shopping spree I shared with my dad |
May 2019:
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| Mom's Mother's day gift: Hair donation |
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| Trip to Zach and Rebekah's came with a bonus train ride from Baltimore to DC |
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| At Zach and Rebekah's |
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| At DC zoo with Rebekah |
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| crafts with Aunt Rebekah |
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| Rebekah, Zach, Steeler, Jayna and Anthony |
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| Our new neice over a month early: Deijanae Ra'Monie Demoss |
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| What a difference a year makes? Celebrating the end of 2nd grade out to eat with Jayla and family |
June 2019:
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| WV visit to see Nana, Papa, Uncle King and Aunt Chris |
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| That's 1 expensive cat! But we barely managed to save his life! |
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| Nana and Papa gifted us a new experience: the coal mine museum |
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| Tabi's middle school graduation party |
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| Father's Day weekend trip to PA |
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| DAD'S fATHER'S DAY GIFT |
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| Night 1: VBS Leesville Rd Church of God |
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| Night 1: VBS Leesville Rd Church of God |
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| Night 1: VBS Leesville Rd Church of God |
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| Night 1: VBS Leesville Rd Church of God |
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| Night 1: VBS Leesville Rd Church of God |
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| Malakhi's 1st time swimming |
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| He slept through 6 month shots |
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| Poppy with most his grands |
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| We've added a new one to our gang: meet Mike |
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| 4th of July celebration at Thomas Road |
July 2019:
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| Look who's visiting!!! |
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| Our favorite Alligator Wrestler |
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| Jump Fun |
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| Jayna with her boyfriend and baby bonus cousins |
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| Sprayground fun |
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| Bandcamp week means I get my boys |
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| Peyton turns 3 |
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| Sprayground fun:Peyton |
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| Sprayground fun: Tristan |
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| Malakhi giving me kisses on videochat |
August 2019:
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| WV State Fair with my hero: Smokey the Bear |
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| Toby Mac concert at WV State Fair |
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| Bike riding at VA Beach |
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| Family vacay 2019 |
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| Jayla starts 3rd grade |
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| Anthony starts 10th grade |
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| Jayna's 1st day of school with her BFF and her at the same school for the 1st time |
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| Jayna starts 8th grade |
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| Jump with Jayla, Tristan, Malakhi and Jayna |
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| My babies after church, beauties |
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| Jayna meets baby D |
September 2019:
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| school pictures make me laugh |
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| Angela's baby shower |
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| Grandma Pam's birthday |
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| Pictures with my 2 |
October 2019:
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| Suicide Awareness Prevention Walk year 3 with Dad |
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| Mercy Me concert for Dad's bday |
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| meeting Micah Tyler |
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| Dday field trip with Jayna's class |
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| Bridge Day fun |
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| Play Auditions at Renaisance Theater |
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| Haunted House at ACE |
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| mall fun with Tristan and Peyton |
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| Pocohantas and her favorite Raccoon friend |
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| This trio is amazing |
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| Baby Beckham is born Oct 30.2019! Well done Angela! |
November 2019:
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| Lunch Dates with this one include random stops... |
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| Like Mike is 14! |
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| Malakhi full of crawling happiness at Basketball sign ups for Anthony |
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| Got my little lady her winter coat |
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| who doesn't need a sloth hug? |
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| Thanksgiving meal with my bonus babies |
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| Gilbert family Thanksgiving |
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| Clark family Thanksgiving, year 2! |
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| Thanksgiving in WV- Cousin fun |
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| an evening visit with our favorite County Clerk before his retirement |
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| Cousins Ryan and Anthony |
December 2019:
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| hoops with Uncle Mark and Poppy |
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| Her performance: Night 1 |
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| Christmas Community market fun |
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| Family photo on our new coush |
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| Jayna as Alice |
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| Jayna with director Jeff |
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| Dad's Christmas gift from mom via me and his checkbook (Thanks for helping Donna!) a clean house! |
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| Visit to Poppy's to see the grinch |
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| The start of my week off work |
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| Jayna loving her Christmas Gifts |
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| Marko with his neice |
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| Baby D |
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| Anthony with all the parts to build a gaming computer |
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| post Christmas visit to the Escape room in WV |
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| Visiting Nana, Papa and our WV family |
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| Some of our WV fam |
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| Final Father Daughter 2019 Photo |
January 2020:
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| New Years at the Gilbert house- complete with smores |
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| Opening Chrsitmas Gifts from us |
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| I took her to her dentist after our sleepover. Another 6 mos cavity free! |
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| my happy baby |
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| Sea Quest visit from me for their birthday |
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| little cat lovers |
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| Tabitha's pregancy gift: Mommy's future musician |
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| Our 1st solo adventure |
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| Jayla's 9th and Malakhi's 1st birthday party at Cici's |
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| RyLee and Jayna's sleepover with Gigi and Poppy (aka Mrs. Jeannie and Mr. Rick, RyLee's grandparents) |
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| Helping Georgie and Mrs. Phyllis move |
February 2020:
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| More baby sitting fun with this trio |
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| Babysitting when Tristan's at school |
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| It's official she needs surgery |
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| Jayna's buddy Dei'Dei went with Jayla and I too see the Diary of Ann Frank play at Dunbar |
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| Jayna and Tabi with baby J went to Dei'Dei's Robinhood Play at His school-- and Mashed Potatoes wanted in my picture! |
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| January and February have been basketball filled for Anthony |
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| Chick Fil A fun with my bonus babies-- Malakhi was having so much fun playing with me through the tunnel window in the play place |
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| picking locks with Marko |
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