Chilson Family

Today is the final birthday for our family for 2014.  We celebrate Daughter #1's 26th birthday!  She has been such a joy to our family and is fun to be around.  She has been so good about taking the younger nesters to her home to spend time with them.  She took Daughter #7 home with her yesterday since the teens are gone to a winter camp in Southern Indiana.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAUGHTER! WE LOVE YOU AND ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! MAY YOUR DAY BE FILLED WITH BUBBLES AND BALLOONS! XO   LOVE, DADDY AND MOMMA 

Today we are celebrating Daughter #7's 10th birthday!  WOW!  How is it possible that all my children are now in the double digits?  Our tiny preemie is turning into a beautiful young lady.  She is a corker.  She comes up with some pretty witty sayings that have us laughing and repeating them at random! Store bought icing is NOT a good icing for writing, but was a yummy addition to a cookie cake! D#7 has loved elephants for as long as I can remember.  So when I made this card at a card club in the spring I knew I had to save it for her birthday! The only downside was she was not allowed to go through my card box to look at my cards.  So she "bugged" me quite often about her card in the box!  It became a fun little game!   She finally got an Aristocat watch that she has been dreaming over since early summer!   A dear friend bought and American Girl riding outfit for her Jubilee doll.  (D#7 saved her mo...

Daughter-in-love #3 and Grandson U came home from the hospital today!  Son #6 and I took Big Brother K home to Mommy, Daddy, and Little Brother.  I was able to take some pictures of Grandson K meeting his new little brother for the first time! Just a little bit of lovin'! First time to see Lil' Brother First family photo Daughter-in-love #3, Son #3 Grandson U, Grandson K Three Generations Proud Uncle, Son #6, holding Grandson U for the first time   Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord : and the fruit of the womb is his reward .   Psalm 127:3   

Okay, I LOVE to create cards.  Sometimes I CASE a card, sometimes my little ol' brain will come up with something by itself!  *I really love that when it happens.*  I enjoy sending out cards and letting someone know that I am thinking of them.  In an age of technology it seems that snail mail is used only for receiving junk mail and bills.  Gone, almost, are the days of receiving a card or letter from a friend/family.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my notes in my email box, and sweet notes left on my blog.  But sometimes it is nice to have a piece of mail to hold, read, and look at.  I recently made a set of baby shower announcements.  Mom-to-be had an idea of the theme, but not an announcement.  So she went to her favorite site--Pinterest-- and started searching.  Below is the announcement we came up with.  This is not an original idea of mine, but I changed it up with texture, left off a couple of things a...

I love it when our family gets together.  We are noisy, well, down right loud at times.  The house if full of fun and chaos, but I love it.  It is on a rare occasion that we get to enjoy every one at the same time.  Hubby's birthday celebration was one of those rare occasions.  He turned 58 on the 13th of November and we had a dinner to celebrate the following Saturday!  This time instead of trying to get all of together in ONE photo I asked to at least get each family's picture.  I honestly think it is easier getting everyone in ONE photo than trying to round up each family. (I know it is certainly easier to post one picture!) Son/Daughter-in-love #2, Granddaughter J Son/Daughter-in-love #3, Grandson K,(Grandson U growing) Daughter/Son-in-love #1, Grandson E Son #4 with my sister, Amy, the favorite aunt! Daughter #2 with Alex Hubby and Myself with our 14! S#3,  S#2, S#1, Hubby, S#6, S#4, S#5 D#1, D#3, Me, D#2, D#6, ...

That's right, our little family has grown...again!  Grandbaby #9, Grandson U, arrived today at 11:16 this morning weighing in at 9 pounds 10 ounces and 21 3/4 inches long!  Mighty big man!  He is Son #2 for Son and Daughter-in-love #3, and little brother to Grandson K.  Mama and Babe are doing well despite the hiccups in the road.  "Little" man is in NICU and will be there probably until tomorrow.  He had some breathing and oxygen issues they are trying to straighten out.  As of yesterday, the hospitals in our county are not allowing visitors under the age of 18 in the hospital because of the flu, and the maternity unit is only allowing parents and grandparents.  Needless to say there are some very disappointed aunts and uncles, not to mention our Daughter-in-love who can not see Grandson K until she is released for the hospital on Friday.   I tired posting some pictures we took from Hubby's birthday mid-November....

Today we celebrate Hubby's birthday!  He is such an amazing man.  He is a godly example to ours sons of what a husband and father should be.  He has been a wonderful example to all 14 of our children.  I am so glad that God brought the two of us together and I waited for God to send me His best! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUBBY! WE LOVE YOU AND ARE SO THANKFUL FOR YOU! XOXO  

I promised I would blog some pictures so let me see what I can do before the computer decides to have a mind of its own!    This picture was taken at the homeschool convention we attended in March of this year.  Son #7 wanted his picture taken with the author of the book he is holding "Leonard's Socks".  Son read the book from the library but wanted an autograph copy of  his own.  We have found him several times reading instead of sleeping! Son #7 sharing the lime light with big sister, Daughter #4.  These pictures are all from Son #7's camera.  One of our big guys gave him their camera and he is loving it! Daughter #3 on her 19th birthday, March 7, 2014.     Daughter #2 on her 22nd birthday, September 19, 2014. Son #4  and #6 playing at Chuck E. Cheese..."where a kid can be a kid"...guess when you are 24 and 16 you are still considered a kid at CEC!  (this is whe...

Today we celebrated Son #6 and Daughter #4, who just happen to be children #9 and #10, sixteenth birthday!  Where does the time go?  It seems like yesterday these two were just babes snuggling together in the womb and then in a crib together!  They certainly are a double blessing. HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY SON! YOUR DADDY AND I LOVE YOU AND ARE SO THANKFUL FOR  YOU! XO   HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY DAUGHTER! DADDAY AND I LOVE YOU AND ARE SO THANKFUL YOU! XO   My this year be a wonderful year and full of memories! Love, Daddy and Momma      (one of these days I will get some birthday pictures posted!)

Today marks the last of the October birthdays in our family!  It is a mile marker birthday.  Son #5 turns eighteen today!  That means I now have eight adult children--being eighteen and older.  Eighteen begins a whole new chapter of life.  It is the chapter on becoming a young adult.  In this chapter you register to vote, register for selective service, and now get to sign important papers, you know, doctor office, dentist, etc.  I wonder if our nesters knew just how much responsibility came with this "magic number" they may have not been so eager to grow up.   Back to the post: Son #5 is one of jokers.  He loves to make others laugh.  He is a great help and a hard worker.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON! MAY YOUR BIRTHDAY BRING YOU MANY HAPPY MEMORIES! DADDY AND I LOVE  YOU SO MUCH! XOXO    

Oh my!  This birthday post is so very late!  Granddaughter J turned three on the 14th of October!  We celebrated her birthday party the weekend before.  She seems so grown up.  Her vocabulary is way above her three years-just like her daddy, Son #2, was at that age.  She can tell you a line of stories, although her daddy has her beat on his "California" stories!!!  (The child has never set foot in California!  Where his stories came from is beyond me!) Anyway...Sorry Granddaughter J!  Mammi is behind in posting your birthday !   HAPPY THIRD BIRTHDAY GRANDDAUGHTER! PAW-PAW AND MAMMI LOVE YOU SO MUCH! XOXO 

This October seems to be filled with many things.  But today, I want to celebrate the birthday of Daughter-in-love #1!  We are so blessed to have her in our family.  {She is momma to three of our grands:)}  HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAUGHTER-IN-LOVE #1! WE LOVE YOU AS OUR OWN AND ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU AS PART OF OUR FAMILY! WE HOPE YOUR DAY IS FILLED WITH MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES! XO LOVE, DADDY AND MOMMA  

Today Hubby and I celebrate our thirty-first wedding anniversary!  It truly seems like it was only a few short years ago we were married.  The husband of my youth is the husband of my "old" age.  I would not have it any other way.  God has given me the perfect man for me.  He is a wonderful, godly husband and father. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HUBBY! I LOVE YOU AND AM SO VERY THANKFUL THAT GOD GAVE YOU TO ME! XO  

Okay, I am going to have to work on post headings for birthdays.  We have several months that we celebrated multiple birthdays and I fear that the headings are bit on the 'blah' side! So, with that out of the way... On Friday, the 19th of September, Daughter #2, who just happens to carry the title of Child #6, celebrated her 22nd birthday!  I remember being  in labor and watching the Miss America pageant.  Our little Miss America was born just four minutes before midnight.  It has been a wonderful 22  years!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAUGHTER #2! YOU ARE A BLESSING AND DADDY AND I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH! WE TRUST YOU  HAD A SPECIAL DAY! XO <3 MOMMA 

Today Grandson C turns TWO!  We will be celebrating the big day on Saturday.  It I so fun to watch this little man.  He knows how to steal your heart! HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY GRANDSON! PAW PAW AND MAMMI LOVE YOU SO MUCH! XOXO

Some of my men repairing the dining room ceiling from some storm damage.  As always, things never go a smoothly as planned. I am happy that it is not hot and humid as they replace the ceiling! Maybe an update will f follow tomorrow!

Today we gained another teenager!  Daughter #6 turns 13 today!  I can remember the day she came into our lives...a tiny baby weighing only 2 pounds 9 ounces!  We watched a miracle before our eyes as she continued to grow outside of the womb.  It was not without many setbacks and tears.  Today she is a healthy young lady and we are so thankful to our Lord for walking us through the days of a preterm baby!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAUGHTER! DADDY AND I LOVE YOU! XOXO 

Jacqueline from Deep Roots at Home has another amazing giveaway!  This dear, sweet lady has a wealth of knowledge and wisdom from food for your soul to food for your body. I would love to be able to sit and have a cup of tea and an afternoon chat and prayer time with her.  I am always encouraged by her blog. Check out Jacqueline's giveaway by clicking here .  If you have enough time sit and enjoy reading some of her blogs.  If you don't have time bookmark her blog and come back later for a blessing!  

This post is several days late.  Son #3 and his beautiful bride celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary on the ninth of this month.  Son #3 and Grandson K spent the day visiting with us.  Daughter-in-love #3 joined us after she got of work and along with Daughter #1 and Grandson E.  It was a fun evening.  We did not plan the evening as a celebration, but it is always a celebration when we are together as a family!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! MAY THE NEXT FIVE YEARS BE EVEN MORE SPECIAL THAN THE FIRST FIVE! WE LOVE YOU!! 

Late again in posting!!  Yesterday, August 6, Son #3 turned twenty-seven!  It seems like a life time ago, but it seems as if it was only yesterday.  Now he is grown and raising his own family.        HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON! DADDY AND I LOVE YOU AND HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY WAS SPECIAL!!!   LOVE, MOMMA 

Where has the time gone?  Summer had barely started the last time I posted and now here we are at the end of July and summer is fleeting!  It has been a very busy summer.  We have spent time as a family doing what we do best...being a family!  That ranges anywhere from babysitting the grands to just hanging out together!  Some of the nesters have gone a siblings home to spend a few days, others have gone to church camp.  Today we are celebrating Daughter #5!  She turns 14 today!!!  This is our little miss that was born with a club foot.  Her little toes pointed straight to her little nose.  She spent the first 3 1/2 years of her life seeing a specialist at the children's hospital  She never let her foot slow her down!  She has an amazing outlook on life and is a pure joy to be around! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAUGHTER #5! WE HOPE YOUR 14th BIRTHDAY IS THE BEST! LOVE YOU BUNCHES!!! XOXO LOVE, DADDY AND MOMMA ...

I think it is wonderful to be able to find natural products in the everyday products we use.  I wish I had been more informed as a young wife and mother with natural products.  I can not change the past, but I can make better choices now and for the future. Jacqueline, from Deep Roots at Home , has another great give away!  If you are not already a follower, why not pop over to her blog for a great  summer giveaway of herbal healing salves.  She is a joy to follow and always full of wonderful information!  I always come away from her blog feeling blessed! 

Today we are celebrating Grandson B's fourth birthday!  Yay!!!  He has become quite the little man!  HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY GRANDSON B!! PAW-PAW AND MAMMI HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY! WE LOVE YOU BUNCHES! XOXO

One thing about having a large family there is always something or someone to celebrate!  Some months there is more celebrating than others.  I have always tried to post the celebration on  the special day, but I am finding that I am stressing myself getting that done.  So, I figured it was time to play Elsa and "Let It Go". *smile*  (besides, believe it or not I only have one or two offspring who read my blog!) So the celebrations for this post: 1) Son #2 and Daughter-in-love #2 celebrated five years of marriage on June 20! HAPPY ANNIVERSAY! DADDY AND I PRAY THE NEXT FIVE YEARS ARE EVEN BETTER THAN THE FIRST FIVE! XO     2) Daughter-in-love #3 celebrated her birthday on June 21!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE! DADDY AND I TRUST YOUR DAY WAS AS SWEET AS YOU! XO   There is one more June celebration to come...stay tuned!  

It is always neat when a birthday and a "Hallmark" day fall on the same day.  That is just what happened yesterday, 15th of June!  First of all I want to wish a Happy Birthday to Son #4.  Yesterday Son #4 turned twenty-four!  He is so fun to be around.  The family loves it when he stops in for a visit.  There is never a dull moment with him!  He is so kind to listen to all the chatter of the younger set of nesters as they tell him all the news they have been saving up to share. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON! DADDY AND I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND ARE VERY PROUD OF ALL YOU DO! XOXO LOVE~  MOMMA         Second, a Happy Father's Day to my daddy and my hubby!  Both men have been great examples as earthly fathers representing our Heavenly Father.  I could not have asked for a better father to raise and guide me, nor a better man for a husband and as my children's father!   God is so good!  ...

  The handsome man in the middle is my daddy.  On June 14, he celebrated his 85th birthday.  I thought this picture was appropriate since June 14 is also Flag Day.    The above photo was taken on Labor Day 2013.  My daddy presented to me the last Spanish Flag that flew over the Intenden Palace at San Juan, which was then the Capitol Building of Puerto Rico.  My brother was presented the American flag which my great-grandfather raised on the same building on October 18, 1898.  My great-grandfather was given the distinguished honor of raising the first American flag over the Capitol Building at San Juan.   I had known from the time I was a small child of about 5 years old that I would one day inherit the Spanish flag and my brother would inherit the American flag, since we were the two oldest children in the family.  It was a great honor to receive a piece of history.  Both my brother and I wer...

June is quickly slipping away!  To my shame I have been very poor in keeping up with my blog.  It seems like one thing leads to another and before you know it time has flown by. Okay, so on a happier and brighter side of things...God is so good!  Daily He gives us only what we can handle and need.  For that I am thankful.  Some days it seems that I am drowning in the little things He has given me.  But as a child of His "I can do all things through Christ".  Even through the lonely and very hurtful days He is there.   "Every day He comes to me with new assurance, More and more I understand His words of love; But I'll never know just why He came to save me, Till some day I see His blessed face above.  No one ever cared for me like Jesus, There's no other friend so kind as He ; No one else could take the sin and darkness from me--Oh how much He cared for me." June 14 my daddy turned eighty-five!...

Have you ever thought of replacing white sugar or one of the artificial sweeteners with something that is better for you?  I know I have.  Artificial sweeteners leave me with a migraine and according to different things I have read white sugar is not healthy for you.  Jacqueline, from Deep Roots at Home , is offering a give away of one-half pound of cut and dried Stevia herb from the Bulk Herb Store.   Why not hop over to Jacqueline's blog and read her post about the giveaway.  Not only will you find out how you can have a chance to win, you can read her amazing post of making a stevia extract for yourself.   While visiting Jacqueline's blog take a moment and read some of her recent post.  This dear, sweet woman is amazing.  She truly loves the Lord Jesus and His love pours from her.  I know you will not be disappointed popping in for a visit.  You will come away uplifted and refreshe...

It seems since school has been out I am behind on posting.  I have been busy creating transcripts and getting this school year totally closed out.  Our next school year is in place except for the text book order that needs to be placed. So, let me do a few "catch ups"! Grandson A graduated from Kindergarten on Friday, May 23!  We were so proud to watch the program put on by his class and watch him walk down the aisle to receive his diploma!  He is a spitting image of his daddy at that age!  Son #3's family announced they are expecting baby #2 in December!!!!  This is not the "announcing" picture, but the most recent celebrating Grandson K's first birthday!  Love the red hair!  I call him the future "Doctor Who"!       Yesterday, Daughter #1 and Son-in-love celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary!         Life is full.  Everyday is a different day, but I would not ch...

Today is the final day of our 2013/14 school year!   We are all ready for a break.  I am ready to have my weekends back without the added work of preparing the next weeks lessons and test and quiz reviews!!!  The scholars are ready to have their weeks back without the extra studies!  With this school year out of the way I am on the count down for the 2014/15 school year.  This has brought many groans when I remind the scholars how many days of "freedom" they have left!  One hundred-one days until we begin!!! Life is good!

Today Grandson P, our oldest grand, turns nine!  It has been so much fun being a grandparent!  ALL THE SPOILING, NONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITY!!  Believe it or not, it is the only May birthday we have!  HAPPY  BIRTHDAY GRANDSON P! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH! WE HOPE YOUR DAY IS WONDERFUL! XOXO LOVE, PAW-PAW AND MAMMI  

I am finally getting around to posting our family photos!  This post is quite frustrating!   I am having problems with blogger and getting pictures to stay in place and "try" to list everyone! Top photo:  Hubby and myself (Paw-Paw and Mammi) with the eight grands:: Grandson K and Grandson E in my arms; Grandson C in Hubby's arms; standing are Grandson P and Grandson A; sittng at the table are Granddaughter J, Grandson B, and Granddaughter A.  The middle photo is all 28 of us!!!  We are a mega family and sometimes we can be very loud!  But I would not change it for the world! In this last photo are our children that we have raised or still raising!   Top row: Son #3, Son #2, me, hubby, Son #4, Son #5, Son #1 Middle row: Son #6, Daughter #1, Daughter #6, Daughter #5, Daughter #2, Daughter #4, Daughter #4 Very front row: Daughter #7, Son #7   I am so thankful and very blessed!

Today Grandson K turns ONE!  I can not believe how quick he has grown!  The old commercial is so true, "If they could just stay little 'til their Carter's wear out!" Grandson K is our only red headed child.  He is a happy lil' chap and loves to look and observe everything around him. Grandson K , we wish you a very happy day! We love you very much! Happy 1st Birthday! Love, Paw-Paw and Mammi       (You and your great-granny share the same birthday.  If she was still here on earth she would be so proud!  So let's say "Happy Birthday Granny!  We love you!") 

HALLELUJAH! WHAT A SAVIOR!!! 

We were able to worship today with family at my home church where I grew up.  After church we gathered at my oldest brother's  home for dinner.  He was taking family pictures and we were blessed to have all but one of our offspring and grands with us.  Usually we say cheese or something to get everyone to "smile".  We are all in position and ready to say cheese when one of the offspring yelled out, " [Name] is pregnant!"   Talk about everyone smiling!!!!!   IT'S TRUE!  WE ARE EXPECTING GRAND #9 THIS WINTER!!!!!!!  I cannot give out name of who is expecting just yet, but hopefully soon I can!!!

The other day while working on a birthday project I was using a personal cutter to do some close trimming.  The trimmer as a small draw to hold tools or cropped photos while working on them.  I had a few photos that I had been working on NINE years ago.  (Okay, so I am a little behind in scrapbooking.  I rather make cards!)  So I decided to go through the drawer and look at what I stopped working on.  In the bottom of the draw were some ultrasound pictures of Daughter #7 (Child #14).  We ooo-ed and ahhh-ed over them and I put them on the piano to put away.  That was Monday.  Come Thursday the ultrasound pictures are still on the piano. (You know how it goes, you have things that come up and life happens.)  Daughter-in-love #2 comes over and sees them and wants to know who's pictures they are and I tell her, "Mine."  Her eyes were BIG!!  Then I told her it was D#7.  We had a good laugh! Little did I know until...

April is a busy birthday month for us!  Today we are celebrating the birthday of Son #2!  He turns 28 today!  Time goes by so fast.  I was babysitting Granddaughter J yesterday remembering when her daddy was two and a half!  Such a long time ago, but it only seems like yesterday!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON! WE TRUST YOUR BIRTHDAY IS SPECIAL IN EVERY WAY! XOXO 

As spring returns in full force this month, so do April birthdays!  Yesterday, April 2, was Granddaughter A's 6th birthday!  She is learning so much in school and is always eager to color or draw a picture for me!  She is always eager to give hugs  and bounce around the house!  Oh to have the energy of a six year old!      HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDDAUGHTER A! YOUR PAW-PAW AND MAMMI LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND ARE GLAD GOD MADE YOU A PART OF OUR FAMILY! XOXO