September 2015

On the Roberts' Homestead:

Benjamin's favorite part of the day is going to get eggs from the chicken coop

He is always proud of his findings and is careful to place them gently in the carton

We have been getting more eggs then we can consume so Frank posted our eggs for sale and we got an overwhelming response from those in our neighborhood! I think Frank might be dreaming about being a chicken farmer now

Hannah helping figure out how many cucumbers can fit in a quart jar

We have a TON of cucumbers from our garden so I made an attempt at making sweet pickles...They look pretty in the jar but taste AWFUL. I'm sure it's not due to the recipe but operator failure. 

Round 2 with the my sous chef

We will have to wait a few weeks to see how these dill pickles turned out

Best. Watermelon. Ever.

I can honestly say that because in 30 years I have never eaten a full slice of watermelon until this month. It was so sweet and juicy. Might have something to do with being pregnant...either way, home-grown is always more delicious!

I started a learning board this past month and have been surprised at how excited Benjamin gets about doing the calendar and activity each day. I made extra calendar cards using my laminator for weekly activities such as church, date night, PDO, and even Frank's hunting days. 

Red toy round-up activity

I took Benjamin to the store and gave him $1 to spend. He methodically went through the toy section and picked out a butterfly net. All month he has been catching and discovering new creatures. So far he has caught: 5 Butterflies, 4 Crickets, 2 Grasshoppers, and a Frog. 

We made him a nature journal where he has been journaling/coloring his discoveries, such as painting with rosemary

Making nature observations at the park

Feeding birds at the zoo

We have noticed LOTS of butterflies this month

So we made butterfly art with their feet

(Benjamin wanted to match the butterfly we saw at the Zoo)

I love how Hannah always picks out the "girly" colors

We went to Delta Fest and to be honest it was a waste of money. We missed the demolition derby which was the main reason for going. Benjamin rode 4 rides (3 of which ended in tears). Hannah was too small and I was too pregnant to ride on anything else. 

We convinced Benjamin to go on this slide with Frank. 

He had no idea what he was getting into!

Final ride of the night that went a little better because Frank was able to ride beside him.

The following evening was members night at the Zoo. All the rides were FREE, Hannah could ride too, and there were NO tears! Next year we will be skipping the Fair for the Zoo : )

Frank made the kids a "Zoo" with the block and animals

Hannah is doing more building then tearing down of the blocks these days.

Our friend Elisha with Hannah playing on the church playground

Last swim of the summer

4 kids under 4 loaded up and ready for a night of fun

We had the blessing of providing a night of respite care for our sweet friends after they added baby #4 to their family.  

These two are peas in a pod...

and these two are trouble - ha!

Got all four kids ready for church on time!

Hannah wearing a smocked dress that I wore at her age

Hannah is now joining us for Bible time which makes it just a little sweeter. 

We love the Jesus Storybook Bible and would highly recommend it to those with small children. Each story points to the birth of a Child, the Rescuer, Jesus.

We now have HVAC in our guest house

and plumbing and electric...hopefully it won't be long before we have interior walls up!

The hole in our dining room has been patched. Guess we will be doing our dining room remodel sooner than expected. 

Nothing sweeter than a little girl with pigtails and goldfish

Hannah insists on wearing her back pack anytime we go somewhere. 

She is not a baby anymore - which is good since we have another one who will be here soon!

29 Weeks

4D comparison pictures

We got a sneak peak at Judah's sweet face (bottom two pics). I think he is going to look a lot like his brother and sister. 

My Nanny passed away at the end of September at the age of 90.

I was unfortunately unable to attend her funeral, but I wrote a tribute post on her life and legacy that you can check out.

The kids and I worked on making "hugs" to mail to my mom since we could not be there in person.

Mimi loved getting these hugs in the mail.

We are looking forward to giving my mom REAL hugs in just a couple of weeks when she comes to visit in October!

In Memory of Virginia Warren

Mary Virginia Warren

1925-2015

I wanted to find a special way to honor my sweet Nanny who passed away this week. This is a quick look back at her life and legacy. 

Mary Virginia Normant was raised in Lenoir, NC and graduated from Lenoir High School in 1942. My grandparents were high school sweethearts. My Grandaddy (J. Benjamin Warren) was on the football team and my Nanny was a cheerleader for their school. 

After Nanny graduated from Wake Forest in 1947 they were married. They lived in Durham, NC while Grandaddy attended Duke Medical School. Nanny served as Educational Director at a Baptist church during this time.

They had three children: Edward, Becky, and Marjorie (my mom in the middle) and raised them in a beautiful home on the Neuse River in New Bern, NC. 

Visiting my grandparents growing up was always a treat! We loved going down to the river to explore. One day Michael and I got in my Grandaddy's waders (with the help of my dad) and took this picture. He was a tall man : )

My Nanny and Grandaddy were married for over 50 years they were a wonderful example of a strong marriage built on faith in God. It is rare, but I'm proud to say that there have been no divorces on the Warren side of my family. Back then, when something was broken they fixed it instead of just getting a new one. 

When Frank and I were first engaged I remember asking my Nanny what was the "secret" to a long marriage. I will always cherish her response..."Never go to bed angry and always kiss goodnight"

Since my mom was a child they would spend a week at Emerald Isle, NC as a family. As their family grew so did the beach house. My favorite annual tradition was to be with the whole Warren clan! 

Each year we would all gather into one beach house and make sweet memories; playing on the beach, finding shells, playing putt-putt, eating at Tony's, playing games, eating great home cooked food, late nights laughing/talking, and yes...even wearing matching t-shirts : ) 

These were the special times where my cousins became my friends. 

I'm so thankful for all those summers, traditions, and special family memories made that made such an impact on my life. 

Beach 2012

Now all seven cousins are married and we are growing our families.

I am building the 4th generation up on the foundation of faith and traditions of my grandparents.

"A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children..." Proverbs 13:22

Thanksgiving 2003

The holidays were always another special time we spent together as a Warren family. 

Christmas was always a magical time...

...full of traditions, good food, presents, and many laughs.

(You are probably laughing right now at either my haircut, sweater, or red tights...)

I always looked forward to my Nanny's double chocolate chip cake that she made just for me when we visited. Grandaddy and I would sneak bites of cake between meals together (Nanny never knew).

Double Chocolate Chip Cake

• 1 Box Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix (without pudding)
• 1 5.9oz box instant chocolate pudding mix
• 8oz Sour Cream
• 1 cup oil
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips
• Dump the cake and pudding mixes together and stir briefly. Stir in the sour cream, oil, and eggs. Mix on medium speed for 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chips. Prepare a Bundt pan with PAM lightly. Pour in batter. Bake in preheated 350 deg oven for 50-60 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, remove to a rack, and cool further. Enjoy!

Nanny and Benjamin in 2012

How blessed to live to see your great-grandchildren! 

We named our son after my Grandaddy, Benjamin Warren. 

Nanny and Hannah in 2014

This picture was taken the last time I saw Nanny in person. 

We had a nice visit as she met her third great-grandchild. 

I have kept and cherished the sweet and encouraging cards that Nanny wrote me throughout the years. I received this letter on my birthday while I on a mission trip in Florida. I must have inherited my note writing skills from her : ) 

I was named after my Nanny and desire to continue her legacy for generations to come.

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." Proverbs 22:1

Just last week the kids and I had a nice "face time" visit with Nanny. The kids were sweet and gave her virtual hugs/kisses. I will miss her smile but I'm thankful that she is no longer struggling physically or mentally - she is fully restored, with Jesus, and reunited with my Grandaddy.

I love you Nanny and you will be missed dearly!