July 2017

The kids had fun this year at the 4th of July parade. We got together with our neighbors and made a float and won second place!

We had some fun play dates this month with old and new friends

These are two new friends who will be in Benjamin's Veritas homeschool class.

I can't believe he's starting Kindergarten in a few weeks!

Zoo time with the Burke's

It was good to have dinner with some of our favorite people - The Ligons!

Six years was way too long to not see this sweet couple. We loved meeting their kids and hearing about how God is using them in their college ministry in AR.

Pretty pretty princesses

and their brave knights

Hooray! We read 100 books this summer!

The kids were very proud of their accomplishment and we decided to celebrate with a pizza party with friends and...

...100 water balloons!!!

Benjamin asked me to make him a target so he could practice his aim with his water gun. He wants to be prepared for hunting season : )

July has been a hot one which requires water play and snow-cones

Drying off at the CMOM play ground before going home

Popsicles after lunch

One of our favorite places to play when it's too hot outside is the Art Project in midtown

They even have things to keep toddler hands busy

Benjamin's Batman creation

(I only helped with drawing the Batman symbol and cutting the mask)

Hannah has discovered the fun pastime of dress up

Which is even more fun with friends

Benjamin enjoyed his second year a Zoo Camp - Thanks Nana and Pops!

He is such an animal lover and came home every day excited to talk about the new facts he learned. 

While Benjamin was at camp we decided to enjoy the zoo too with the Brands

Even the panda bear said "cheese"

Being 32 weeks pregnant in 95 degree heat is no joke

Cooling off in the fountain at Teton Trek

Zoo members' night means free kid rides : )

Budgie Bird House

Meet our new sweet nephew Peter Frank Finfrock born July 23rd

We got a 4D sneak peak of Bethany. 

Less than six weeks before I get to hold her and kiss those sweet cheeks!

Hannah was thrilled while watching, "Look, that's my baby sister!"

I love this man! We celebrated our 11th anniversary with a relaxing family day around the house and swimming at the neighbor's pool. 

My heart is full and I'm so thankful for the many blessings that God has given us.

In honor of our anniversary I am in the process of writing a book about Frank called, 

"If you Give Your Husband a Hammer"

If you give your husband a hammer,

he's going to rip up your tile kitchen floor.

When he rips up the floor, he will look at the tile on the wall

and give his son a hammer to help him tear it down.

Once he realizes the cabinets are in the way he's going to rip them off the wall too

and go to IKEA to buy new ones.

His kids will be curious as to what is all the commotion behind the plastic

and they will discover it's their Dad cutting a HUGE hole in the wall.

Then he will realize it's load bearing wall and brace it with a beam. 

After he looks at the kitchen again he will realize that there are now too many openings and board up two of them.

The tools around the house will intrigue his youngest child and chances are his son will want to be just like him...

(My book will be continued in August which will include rerouting the boiler, two more walls and a chimney down, refinishing the hardwood floors and hopefully me not going into labor - Ha!)

Sweet Summertime - June 2017

We kicked-off June with a fun concert at the Levitt Shell

A boy who still likes to sit in his Mama's lap in public - I'm soaking it in while it lasts!

Our first week of June was a fun-but-busy one as the kids and I started VBS at Bellevue. 

Benjamin and Reece ready for an action-packed day at Camp Outrageous 

I had the privilege to serve in a 3rd grade class with these lovely ladies and a few other friends. 

By the end of the week this pregnant mama was exhausted!

On the last day of VBS Frank drove us through the night to meet my parents at Gulf Shores, AL

Ready for the Sun and Sand

It was nice to have a baby pool near the water for Judah since he wasn't so excited about the surf and waves. It ended up being a favorite hang out spot.

Grandy and Hannah building a perfect drizzle castle

A boy and his shovel...

and a bucket!

3 going on 13

*Time slow down*

Benjamin LOVED the water, sand, and catching tiny crabs/fish in the seaweed all week.

After-dinner playtime while the adults sat on the porch. As entertainment for the kids I buried 20 "treasures" in the sand but unfortunately I didn't mark the area well and the kids only found about 5...Oops!

Pinterest Fail

My Mom and Dad put Judah to bed and let us go play putt-putt with the big kids.

It was so much fun! Benjamin got two "legit" holes in ONE and Hannah screamed with excitement on every hole when her ball finally went in (even if it took 14 attempts).

Mid-week we took a break from the sand and beach and went to Alligator Alley about 45m North of Gulf Shores

We watched a live feeding - Oh my!

Then we walked through a huge swamp area which held over 250 alligators and got to feed them food pellets

Our family holding a baby alligator together

 - Judah kept yanking on his tail

"Third oldest turtle in the world"

"Look!"

I held a snake for the first and LAST time! My mom - who is obviously more adventurous than I - maintained her composure. Once I felt it's tail on my neck I was D.O.N.E.

It rained on us a bit but we made fun memories and we would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Gulf Shores this summer.

Dinner at the Oyster Shack

"Chee"

Frank was kayaking (the little red dot) and Hannah was screaming, "Daddy, come back!"

Lunch on the porch before hitting the pool

One of our kids' favorite Gulf Shores activities: Ghost Crab Hunting

With their new flashlights from Mimi and Grandy the crabs didn't stand a chance

We caught a lot then let them go at the end. Not sure which my kids enjoyed more: the flashlights, glow sticks, nets, or staying up WAY past bedtime : )

Benjamin was excited to be back in a kayak after learning how to paddle in Kingsport

The guys had a fun trip paddling around

This guy is swimming!

After a week of swim lessons before the beach he was ready to go!

Hannah is thrilled to float on her back and get her toes in the air

This guy...doesn't care much for the water this year but give him a ball and he's happy

What a wonderful week we had with my parents! 

Always a joy and full of fun memories : )

Back in Memphis summer is in full swing

Kids have loved going to the splash parks, pools, and having picnics!

Benjamin's favorite summer activity thus far has been fishing with his Daddy. He is constantly trying to catch or dig up worms in the back yard for their next trip.

He made this picture for Frank (all his idea) 

Super special and one for a frame

While the boys have been fishing I have taken Judah and Hannah out for special playdates. 

These two have a special friendship.

Hannah enjoys being the "big sister" and helping me out. She is very much looking forward to having "baby Bethany" to care for. 

Toddler play date with cousins, Henry and Oliver

These three will keep you on your toes!

Benjamin finished his third book! 

He enjoyed all the hunting parts of 'Little House in the Big Woods' by Laura Ingalls Wilder

We just started Indian in the Cupboard which is a great book for boys!

Benjamin enjoys digging in the dirt or sand while I read to him. 

He seems to listen better when he's "doing"

Benjamin asked me to print out a picture of a cowboy and Indian for him to color

This was his re-creation of the fighting scene from one of the chapters

Check out this HUGE tomato Frank grew!

Unfortunately most of our tomatoes are being eaten by squirrels, so Frank picked nine green tomatoes and I made nine loaves of green tomato bread. I got to use my new Kitchen Aid mixer for the first time - Thanks mom and dad : )

It's a sweet breakfast bread - doesn't sound good but it's delicious! 

You can check out the recipe HERE

On June 1st we became the proud owners of 68 Flicker St.

It doesn't look like much now but in the next two months it will transform into Quonset Studios - a new midtown art studio location. 

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