June

This is a picture from the Commercial Appeal featuring Frank (on the right) and a couple of guys from his crew guiding a more than two-ton granite turtle into place on the edge of the new splash park outside the Children's Museum of Memphis (CMOM).  Click on the link below to read the article:

 http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/may/14/childrens-museum-of-memphis-gets-granite-turtles/?partner=RSS

We had fun keeping cool this month by playing at the CMOM with family and friends! 

Benjamin dancing to "Old McDonald" on the green screen

Flying an airplane with Pops

One. Happy. Boy.

Catching fish with Olivia

Late night ice cream run

"He did it!" The girls (Elliot and Olivia) blaming Benjamin for being put in the back seat of a patrol car...at the CMOM of course : )

CMOM is an awesome place to play once your kids can start walking. It will only get better the older they get!

Project Update:

 Frank has been working hard to finish our playroom this month. 

After deciding to expose the back of the chimney, he went to work chipping off the plaster, cleaning it up, then sealing it.

Then he ran the new copper line up through the exposed wall and connected it into our master bathroom.

Now that the pipes were all fixed the dry wall went up.

Then he removed all the wall paper and sanded the original plaster.

Primer finished

Waiting for the paint...

We chose a lovely shade of green called artichoke : )

Benjamin loves to watch his daddy work from the window : )

Frank is excited to be working back on the guest house. He is ready to start the interior wall demo of the upstairs, replace the siding, and build a new roof over the stairs. 

Our lovely new addition...The Big Red Dumpster

Best. Daddy. Ever.

I made a pinterest project and it turned out pretty awesome! I bought a deck of cards and template, thought of over 100 reasons why I love Frank (but narrowed down to 52), typed them into the template, printed and cut out each one,  glued onto the cards, punched holes, and finished my project!

I think he kinda liked it : )

We enjoy going to the park around the corner from our house. I had not prepared for us to go to the splash park, however that is where Benjamin wanted to play on this particular day. No swim diaper, no towel, no change of clothes...Oh well just enjoying summer days.

Benjamin's First Red Birds Game: We hung out on the bluff in the shade and had a nice time with friends from our class. Benjamin actually stayed on the blanket the entire time and played. 

My favorite part of the game was when Frank surprised us with ice cream cones!

Bellevue's VBS Camp Outrageous

Frank and I took a week off work to do VBS. We taught in a 4th grade class and had a lot of fun! The production and music in the morning were amazing (below) and the kids had a blast during recreation/snack time. But the best part was hearing Frank teach the kids about the Armor of God from Ephesians 6. He is so good at bringing it down to their level and keeping their attention. I look forward to when Benjamin is a little older - Frank already makes Bible story time so fun at night : )

Benjamin's VBS classroom with Cole Veneman (top right)

He enjoyed playing with friends and having fun each morning.

Benjamin's first VBS craft...it just makes me smile : )

Class baby shower for Abbey (center) who just had twin boys this month (below)! 

**The 5 of us sitting in the couch are all pregnant and due between Sept and Dec**

Brice and Philip Peterson

After a short stay in the NICU they are healthy, happy, and back home! 

So excited to meet baby all these new babies this month! Ruthanne and Samuel (above) came over for a play date. Benjamin was so sweet once he figured out how to "play" with them.

Corrie Ann Gardner

Samuel Alan McGarry

Benjamin is going to make such a great big brother...to a little sister! 

I was convinced that I was having another boy because I felt like my pregnancy has been exactly the same (down to the heart beats) as Benjamin's. I guess gender prediction tests are really just myths! 

We are excited to add a sweet baby girl to our family! Lots of things to look forward to...bows, dresses, tea parties, dress up, sleepovers, teenage drama, planning a wedding... And who can forget that daughters often are the one's to care for their parents when they get older : ) 

My mom got this cute book for Benjamin. Love it! 

19 Weeks

It is hard to believe that I am already half way through this pregnancy! 

We have named our sweet little girl Hannah, meaning "favor" or "grace"

Benjamin is always learning new skills - Here he is brushing his teeth at the sink and putting on his shoes (or at least making a good effort).

Benjamin had a few sick days at the end of the month. Even though it meant a couple of long nights and days I cherished the extra snuggles along the way.

Here is Benjamin in my infamous "yucky shirt" - for those of you who don't already know... I made this shirt in high school and it turned out looking like relish and mustard got together and had a baby...who then threw up on my shirt. It's not pretty at all, however I wear it as a way to communicate to Frank when I'm not feeling well (and don't want to cook dinner). I only felt it was appropriate for Benjamin to wear it on one of his "yucky" days.

Thankfully Benjamin was feeling better by the end of the week. This was a sweet picture captured after  Frank came home from work and for the first time Benjamin - hearing him come in - ran to the door saying "Dada" and gave him a big hug. So blessed - love my boys!