ULTIMATE BLOG PARTY 2010

I am SO excited about joining in again this year for the 4th Annual Ultimate Blog Party 2010 over @ 5 Minutes For Mom.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. If you are a new visitor, then welcome! If you are a returning visitor, then welcome back!

So, now its time to introduce you to my crew. And a large one we are......

Me and Chris (with Connor)


I'm Crystal. I started this blog back in 2008 just for fun really. I put some of my poems on it, then posted a few of my thoughts. I didn't really get serious about blogging until January 2009. I still don't post as much as I'd like or as much as others do, but I try. I've opened up my life to the world. All I ask for is simple respect back. Now, about me: I am a home schooling (unschooling), non vaxing, non circumcising, non CIO, co sleeping mommy of 7. I have strong beliefs and I will defend them with all I have. I try to stay away from political and religious topics, as they cause lots of friction. However, if an open-minded person asks, I will discuss them. I am a full-time college student studying accounting. I found my home in Louisiana and it truly is the only place I'll call home. I am a football loving woman who will discuss it with you, who will watch games on Sundays and Mondays and who will yell at the TV louder than a man. Naturally, this fact about myself is a huge hit with my husband, as he doesn't have the nagging "Another game?" wife. My team is the New Orleans Saints and was before this season -- I am not, nor will never be a bandwagon fan. They pluck my nerves. I even put myself into pre-labor during the NFC championship (piece of advice -- do not jump out of a chair screaming when you are 35 weeks pregnant!). Enough about me.....

My association with my husband began 21 years ago when we were 10 years old. It was not a pretty sight. You see, he has this sometimes cocky attitude that existed even back then. He decided to inform me on the bus that he was god and that I should worship him. I decided against that idea, and let him know with a nice punch in the face. Love hurts, I guess. Seven years later we began dating. We still have our ups and downs, but then again, who doesn't? We were engaged a little more than a month after we started dating, had our first child 2 years after we started dating and finally got married when she was 10 months old. Yes, we went backwards......

Now, I have 7 children.


Before you begin wondering, yes all 7 are OURS. It's rare these days, but we are one of the rare ones.

Our oldest, Tina, will be 12 next month. She 100% has the teenage attitude. It drives me insane. Remember back when you were a pre-teen/teen and your mom would say "I hope you have 10 just like you!"? Well, that curse works!!! Tina is a home schooled 5th/6th grader. I home schooled her in Kindergarten and began home schooling 1st grade. Then I got a job and could not afford day care for 2 kids so I had to put her in public school. They never tested her, just stuck her back in Kindergarten. Then she went into 1st grade the next year. I got fed up with the school system, or apparent lack thereof, and pulled her back out. She has been home schooled ever since.

Next is Carly. She will be 8 this fall. She is named after 3 wonderful women -- my Nanny, my maternal grandmother and hubby's maternal grandmother. She is a home schooled 1st grader. She has never attended public school and says she never wants to.

Next are my first set of twins. Yes, I said first set. They are Caitie and Charlee (short for Charlotte). They were a huge shock. They will be 5 in the fall. Right now they are home schooled as "pre schoolers".

Then comes my second set of twins, Cheyenne and Courtney. They will be 3 in the fall. They are complete opposites. Blonde hair vs brunette; chunky vs skinny; pale vs tan.......

Now, before I move on, yes you have read this correctly. I have written about my 6 beautiful girls.

My last child just turned 6 weeks. He is a mama's boy 150%. His name is Connor and he has been my little troublemaker from the start.

So, there you have who I usually write about in some aspect. You all know I cannot have a boring life when I have a husband and 7 kids ranging from 12 to 6 weeks running around........

I, at one time, participated in several weekly blog events such as Thursday Thirteen, Aloha Friday, Question Of The Week, etc. I have gotten out of that due to my busy life, but plan to return to them soon.

For my new visitors, here are a couple of my favorite blogs I have written:

• Looking Back -- October 19 and 20, 2005 (Caitie and Charlee's birth)
• Looking Back -- October 10, 2007 (Cheyenne and Courtney's birth)
• All Blogs About Connor's Grand Entrance

Those are all about the birth of 5 of my 7 children. Tina's will be written next month and Carly's in September.

I have a few ways you can follow me.

• You can always follow me through blogger by clicking on the Follow button.
• My facebook fan page
• My Twitter
• I also have a home schooling blog that I have not really kept up with like I should have -- The Swarmer Academy

Comments are welcomed on any post. I read all comments and visit all visitor's blogs.

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There are so many cool prizes to be won at this year's Ultimate Blog Party. I am still narrowing my choices down and will have them posted before the 16th!