Thankful - Nov 2015

This month we made our Thankful Tree. It was cute to hear some of the things Benjamin was thankful for this year which included: firetrucks, motorcycles, rainbows, red trees, and God...who made zebras

One weekend Frank took Benjamin out into the woods for the first time. They rode around the property and put up trail cams. 

Benjamin said "This is the most fun ever!"

Frank caught several bucks on the cameras...

...and it paid off! 

This has been Frank's best hunting season yet!

3 does and 2 eight-point bucks by second day of rifle season.

Frank teaching Ryan how we process vension

Full Freezer in November = an extra month of duck hunting

(and a happy wife since Judah will be here soon)

On one of Frank's hunts he found a big and a little box turtle.

We had them as "pets" for a couple of days then let them loose back in the woods

"Mommy, he's so cute!"

Hannah enjoying the fall weather while eating her snack

Our duck is now laying eggs : )

(Benjamin couldn't find his boots so he put on Frank's)

There was a week we couldn't find any eggs...then we found her new nest in the front yard.

Makes for a fun daily egg hunt

Our Life Group's 6th Annual Fall Fest was a success!

Included skeet shooting, hay ride, bonfire/smores, and a delicious chili cook-off

Hanging out with friends by a bon fire is my idea of a good time

You can't see it but we were sitting on hay : )

It's been our Fall Fest tradition to do a pumpkin pic

Each of these were taken at 36 weeks pregnant

2011 Benjamin

2013 Hannah

2015 Judah

Benjamin has an eye for patterns and building

(maybe we will have another engineer in the family)

He loves to see how he can use the blocks to fill the chalk board space

One day I was cooking dinner and then heard, "Mom, come look!"

I was amazed at his handiwork (and that Hannah had not destroyed it)

Benjamin can't hold a candle to Hannah's towers...

Or maybe Frank had a little something to do with this one : )

Hannah 2 years old

We had a fun week of birthday celebrations with both kids birthdays just 5 days apart.

Trip to the zoo for Hannah's 2nd birthday

Although Benjamin loves seeing all the animals, peaking at the construction of the new Zambezi River Hippo Camp with all the tractors was a highlight.

These four sweet boys turned 4 this month. 

We celebrated by having a combined birthday party at a bouncy house place. 

They enjoyed it - to say the least...hence the red cheeks and sweaty heads

After 30 seconds of being on a jumpy house I regretted it...

I guess there are some things you just shouldn't do when you're 37 weeks pregnant

Nana and Pops helped us celebrate the kids' birthdays at home

Since my mom was not in town I went simple on the cake.

Benjamin LOVED it! He said, "I love my donut cake!"

Not what I was going for but I'll take it : )

"Happy birthday to you...

...Happy birthday to you..."

It was like Christmas morning at our house with these two opening presents side by side

Benjamin loves how fast he can go on his new "big boy" bike.

Obsessed does not even begin to describe this new relationship.

Perfect timing with baby #3 soon to arrive

During the week of birthday festivities Benjamin had a wonderful opportunity to pick out presents for a little boy through Operation Christmas Child. I love how the Samaritan's Purse not only gives these gifts to the boys/girls but uses it to turn as an opportunity to share Christ and how He is the ultimate gift.

Our life group hosted a packing party and all the kids got to color pictures to put with their boxes.

Finished box! 

Benjamin was so excited to send a present to a little boy in need this Christmas.

This will be a new tradition for sure!

This is apparently what Benjamin thinks I look like pregnant...

although I think his babies are bigger than mine : )

I'm 38 weeks today...

Baby Judah we can't wait to meet you!

October 2015

We kicked off October with a visit to Priddy's Pumpkin Farm

Hay ride to the pumpkin patch

Hannah found her perfect little pumpkin

Hannah's Pumpkins 

We had fun decorating them with buttons, googly eyes, and things from our nature walk

Benjamin's Pumpkins

I love how both sets of pumpkins mirror the kids' individual personalities

October = CANDY

My kids were excited to bring home a bag full of candy from their Halloween parties at PDO. We let Benjamin pick out several pieces he wanted to keep and we took the rest to make goodie bags for some of the residents at Town Village (An independent living facility where I work). Benjamin and Hannah both got into the giving spirit by coloring some pumpkins with a poem to go in the candy bags. We delivered them to residents and put smiles on many faces. I am proud of my kids and how they have servants' hearts (even if it means giving up their beloved candy).

Mimi came to visit! We always have a good time with my mom in town - she knows just what to do to make life easier and more fun (which is always a blessing, but especially when you are pregnant) 

My kids get new shoes/clothes, we cook new recipes, play games, and when she leaves my fridge is always full...but not as full as my heart : ) Thanks mom for making the trip between Kingsport and Memphis a frequent one! Next time you and Dad come you will be meeting grand baby #3!

The girls in my life group had a shoe cutting party for Sole Hope. We cut out patterns for shoes out of our old jeans and plastic bottles. Our patterns will be sent to Africa and sewn by tailors and then given to kids who don't have shoes. This keeps them from getting "jiggers" in their feet- Don't know what a jigger is? Just trust me - it's bad and you don't want to google it! 

Want to host your own party? 

Check out their website for more info http://www.solehope.org 

I had a nice dinner downtown at the Majestic with my good friend Maria

The Memphis Botanic Gardens is one of our favorite places to play

The kids always have a fun time exploring : )

We pack picnic lunches

and meet up with friends which makes it even better!

Benjamin and Elisha

Date night girls ready for bed

(Looks like Hannah needs a princess gown for bedtime)

Benjamin checking out the train tracks near the playground

Don't let all the pink, bows, and love for accessories fool you...

Hannah LOVES to put on her boots and play in the dirt,

and with dump trucks,

and ride on (parked) 4-wheelers,

and tractors,

and loves to feed our chickens. 

Basically, Hannah loves the outdoors and doesn't mind getting dirty which I think she learned from her brother. She also loves her baby dolls, purse, necklaces, and the color purple : )

I learned something new this month. You CAN hard boil fresh eggs! The secret is you don't hard boil them, instead you steam the eggs for 20 minutes. Result: Perfectly peeled eggs that make delicious deviled eggs!

Frank has already harvested two deer during bow season (yeah for meat!)

This 8-point buck will be joining our home soon - and I don't just mean in the freezer. 

Yikes!

Frank built a top for our new dining room table

The Crafted Classics shop at Frank's work built the bottom

Turned out beautiful! 

Perfect for our larger dinner parties (and future large family)

These two have been playing together so well this month.

Good timing since baby #3 is coming in 6 weeks (or fewer)

Painting a "Car" together

We pray that they will always have a strong bond and friendship as they grow

Benjamin has also really enjoyed doing his activities this month. This was a fun numbers/dice game I found on pinterest. 

Here he is working diligently to color a birthday card for Pops.

"Look Mom, a letter B for BENJAMIN!"

As much as we desire our children to learn their ABC's we want them to learn about God. Benjamin memorized two more catechisms this month and once he said all 5x he got a reward...

Ice Cream with sprinkles : )

As I am about to have boy #2 this is a good reminder for me. 

I'm glad our sons will grow up with a loving Father like Frank. This picture captures it well. He fiercely loves our kids - He intentionally plays, leads, prays for, and loves on them. He never acts as though they are a nuisance or an inconvenience because they are truly a part of his heart. The only thing that would make this picture better is more kids!