Introducing...

...Luke Preston Poteet

My SIL, Christine & family welcomed "lil" Luke into the world on Sunday 8/30/09.

He was born at 11:53 a.m. at home, 10 lbs. 12 oz., hence the "lil" comment.

Christine with Luke shortly after his arrival ~ both are beautiful!

Christian 13, Jacob 11, Noah 9, Abby 5, Seth 3, Sam 2

Luke's addition to the family makes 6 boys, and 1 princess smack dab in the middle. We are all so excited for this family, and rejoice with them in this season of their lives. They are a sweet family, that love the Lord with a passion, and are light in this wacky world.

Undoubtedly, Abby will be well protected with all that brother power surrounding her.

Wordless Wednesday....My Man

Arlington Friends

We all got up early and went across town to visit friends at our old church home in Arlington. The church has changed A LOT, but the friends are just sweet as ever. After church, we went to Paul's fav. place for fajita's, then spent the rest of the day with one of my favorite families. Let me tell you about the Stotler's. After 6 months of marriage Paul and I moved to McAllen and lived there for 2 years. We hadn't been attending church long before we moved back to Houston. Well, after 18 months in Houston we were transferred to Arlington. After a year of 'church hopping' we went to one more church. By this time Cole was 2.5 and Cadie was still in the 'baby bucket' We walked into this church and there in the hall stood the Stotler's from McAllen. WOW! We just knew that this was where God wanted us to stay. It was a good day.

A little mexican food lunch after church.....miss that Pappasito's

Cole & Dallas playing a computer game

Katie & Rebecca

Libby, Celeste and Cadie

3 Families, 17 Kids.....God is awesome!!

Paula Visit

We drove to Dallas and spent 3 days with my oldest (NOT literally), sweetest, and dearest friend, Paula. We played the Wii, colored, ate junk food and ran errands. It was a lot of fun. After talking we realized this is most we've seen each other in one year since moving from Arlington 5 years ago and the years not over yet. :)

Paul showing Riley his best "on the couch" Wii moves

Cadie, Paula and Westin

I love this picture of Cadie and Aunt Paula....so sweet!

Chuck's Surprise Birthday Dinner

Tonight we met for a surprise birthday celebration for Chuck, Paul's oldest brother. We were able to go to dinner without the kids. My mom & my SIL's mom watched all 12 kids, and did a great job. Wellll, there was the one phone call about the 2 and 3 year old missing during dinner, but were quickly discovered in the bathtub playing with toys.

Chuck walking in for the big "S U R P R I S E"

Trey and LeAnne (Paul's sister)

Suzanne, Paul & Trey

Honey after a night with 12 kids, 12 and under .....

Beach Fun with the Cousins!

We took the kids to Galveston....12 kids (12 & under), 4 adults...woo hoo. It was a lot of fun. This was the first time for our kids to go to Galveston. Well, Cole & Cadie went when they were 2 and 10 months old, but they told me that it doesn't count, because they don't remember it.

A lil hermit crab

A jelly fish

...another jelly fish

The boys on a sandbar

It's fun to dig a hole in the sand

Westin (4) & Sam (3)

Time Spent With the "Cousins"

We spent the rest of the week in Houston and stayed with Paul's brother's family, aka, "The Cousins". Here are moments from our week :D

Sam, 2

Swimming Pool Fun

Peyton & Noah...The Force is strong with these two!

Sam LOOOOVES his markers!

This is what happens when Aunt Rhonda is in charge of 12 kids....

Sam is into the bag of unguarded chocolate.

We also celebrated MeMaw's birthday with some of her family. We had a nice lunch, then went to an afternoon movie. Thank you Paul for keeping those 12 kids busy while we were out with your mom. Four hours later we came home to a nicely manicured lawn, the pool had been vacuumed out and the garage and been cleaned & organized. Love it when dads are in charge!

MeMaw's beautiful flowers that her husband had delivered to the restaurant. Sister Pam, BF Elsie, Daughter Evette, Bday Girl, Niece Meredith,

Sister Patricia, DIL Christine

At the movies. Elsie, MeMaw and Pam

Sunday, we spent the day at the "Farmer's" house with his lovely bride, 2 dogs, 1 box turtle, a barn full of show steers, and 150 head of cattle. The kids loved it, we all did! This is Tracy & Shannon, from my high school. She is one of my closest friends. They have 6 boys. The oldest (18) was married this past May, and the youngest is 6. My older kids have always called Shannon, "The Farmer" (hee hee) and it's just stuck. We had a great visit.

Homeschool Conference

Okay.....My initial thoughts were that I would be keeping you updated, checking in every few days or so, but that hasn't happened. Here I am 2 months later, and only 2 posts. I am a first born, and most of you will quickly recognize that translates into 'rule follower'. I have sat down a number of times to catch you up over the fast 8 weeks, I mean past 8 weeks, but alas, that doesn't look like it's going to happen. I will confess that I went and 'back dated' the 2nd post, but now, I'm way past that. I have so much to tell you, but I MUST give you a quick run through........so pictures it is!!! :)

We sold our golf cart to the family that lets us stay in their beach house

at S. Padre (the morning we left for Houston)

We celebrated Cadie's 10th birthday a little early with the girls. Our first stop was

The Cheesecake Factory.

Aunt Christine, Rhonda, Honey, MeMaw, Bday Girl, Cousin Abby & Becca

Ack! ~ Next, she had her ears pierced! Notice the redness? Feel the throbbing?

Then it was 2 days of the most anticipated homeschooling conf. of our year. Which translates into great FUN, speakers, books, and seeing friends.

Mindy & Lisa....always make me smile!

Laura & her 2 precious girls. She always visits with us during our lunch break.

This year she brought us weary homeschoolers some warm brownies.

Tabitha & family...checkout those adorable monogramed outfits at

her new site

I drug my beautiful, quite pregnant, SIL, Christine, all over the homeschool

conference for those 2 days.