Lots of time with Family!

We have had a month filled with visits/visiting my family. It all started in early October. My cousins Matt, Jennifer, and Emily came from Nashville for a visit. Matt and Jenn have a little boy, Max, who is only a few months older than Rivers. We really didn't do much but watch football and catch up because it was raining most of the day, but the kids had a blast playing and it was so fun to see them together.

Max and Rivers

All 3 kiddos together before bed

Not really a "family" pic, but this is one of my favorites of Madeline this month. For any of you who know this girl you know she LOVES her veggies. This carrot was meant to feed a horse Mike took Maddie to see, but she ate it and wouldn't share with the horses!

Mid October Marmie came for 5 days to visit us in Louisville and we had a packed, fun filled time with her. We went with the kids to the Zoo for their Halloween party. Madeline was a little confused and upset because all the animals were not out, but she ended up enjoying all the characters. Rivers of course was just along for the ride and had a blast.

Our Little Oompa Loompa

Madeline liked the "cowboy" and "astronaut" the best

Getting lots of great snuggle time with Marmie

We went to Huber's to pick apples and visit the pumpkin patch. Madeline loving not just picking but eating the apples!

In the pumpkin patch

Little man enjoying crawling among the pumpkins

Marmie drove back with the kids and I to Mississippi for a week while Mike stayed in Louisville building up some work days to join us for a vacation. He flew down the next Thursday to meet us for another week. I love that we got to spend so much time with Papa, Marmie, Erica, and Uncle Al. Since we only get to see them every few months the kids change so much so quickly. When we get to see them for such an extended amount of time, I feel like they really get to know the kids and see their personalities (good and bad)! Ha Ha! While we were there we got to see two of Papa's football games. Rivers wanted so bad to be a big boy and get out there and play football!

We also visited the pumpkin patch in Mississippi and Madeline experienced her first pony ride. She was a natural and loved it!

Aunt E and Maddie on the hay ride

We had such a fun time! We also got to see Granne and Mamps and the kids had a blast picking tomatoes and peppers from Mamp's garden. My batteries in my camera died so hopefully I'll get pictures from Granne soon to post. We saw lots of other friends and family, got lots of rest and good meals. Thanks Marmie, Papa, Erica, and Uncle Al for "putting up" with us for so long!

First signs of FALL

Well it's getting to be that time of year again! The weather is getting cooler (well some days at least), its getting darker earlier, and FOOTBALL has started. We even found these outside today while playing...

Yep... that's yellow leaves that are already starting to fall.

We've even started decorating our house for fall and are thoroughly enjoying being able to go outside without immediately sweating and getting eat up by misquitos.

Madeline helped me plant some mums

Hung our fall wreath

This past weekend was the kick-off of college football and of course we had to cheer on our Wildcats against the Cardinals. We were supposed to have lots of people over for the game, but we all ended up coming down with a stomach bug. We had our own little party anyway!

Game day Picnic

Madeline and "Lexi" our UK cheerleaders

Welcome Fall... We are so glad you are here!

Bruiser

I know... I am WAY behind in any kind of blog catching y'all up on life's happenings. I couldn't pass by the opportunity to post a pic of Rivers' first black eye. I am sure it is one of MANY to come. The kids spent the weekend with Marmie, Papa, Erica, and Uncle Al this past weekend, and when we met them on Sunday afternoon to pick them up, this is what Rivers looked like.

Our little Bruiser boy

Vacation slideshow

We had an amazing vacation to Miramar Beach, FL. I have been trying to get some pics up but my old computer (the one I have to download them to first) is getting slow, so its been hard for me to get a post up. I will try to get some of our favorites up this weekend. I created a little slideshow though that you can check out by clicking the link below if you would like!

http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/mmsshareewelcome/p=824131279075591137/l=7658704014/g=126930880/cobrandOid=1000/otsc=SYE/otsi=SMMS

Rivers turns ONE!

June 18, 2009

This past Friday our little man turned ONE!!!!!!!!! WOW has this year flown by. Rivers has brought so much joy into our home. Anyone who knows him can testify that he is the sweetest most lovable baby! Its crazy how much little ones change in the course of a year. As you can see from the pics above and below, our precious baby is quickly turning into a toddler! It's been so fun to see his personality gradually show this year. He is our "quiet" one most of the time, but he is the happiest kid I have ever met (except when he is hungry, sleeping, or teething!) He loves to be around people, especially people he knows really well. He is SO curious about everything, and loves examining and studying things. He started crawling (well army crawling) around 10 months old and is into everything now. He is beginning to pull up and let go now, so I know its only a matter of months before he takes off and is a full blown toddler. He loves to laugh and his sister can make him laugh more than anybody else. He is an EATER. He eats twice as much as Madeline, and I think I'll be in trouble once he gets older! He is very affectionate, and loves giving hugs and kisses these days.

June 2010

We had such a fun day celebrating his birthday. We woke up and had breakfast with the Murrays and then went swimming with most of the Frantz cousins. Rivers had a feast of pizza and birthday cake for lunch. He demolished his piece of birthday cake... yes he shares his Daddy's sweet tooth. Not only was it Rivers birthday, but it was Will and James' 3rd birthday, so that afternoon we went to their birthday party. We had lots of fun celebrating the life of our little man. What a precious blessing from the Lord he is, and what a blessing it is to be his MOM! Happy Birthday Rivers, WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
Pics of BIRTHDAY
Hangin with the cousins

Some Pool time

Opening presents

Ready for cake

Mmmm... good

The birthday boys

Pickin Strawberries

Mike has an incredibly busy week this week, so on Saturday we took full advantage of his day off and had a Frantz Family Day of FUN!!!!!!! We shopped the neighborhood yard sale that morning. We found some great deals, but even better made some new friends! Then we went strawberry pickin at Huber's Orchard over in Indiania. It was a sweet treat... as you can tell from the kids faces!

Introducing Madeline to fresh picked strawberries

Workin hard!

"There are just so many ... can't I eat some!"

"Mmmmm. . . Good!!"

Brother liked them a lot too!

Our beautiful bushel of berries

Tractor ride back in from the fields

"I didn't eat many strawberries?!"

Top it off with homemade strawberry ice cream, YUM!

I think we can honestly say that Huber's is our new favorite Saturday spot! We finished the day with naps, an local cultural festival, and dinner with some of our great friends from church! It was an awesome weekend to say the least!

Happy Birthday Madeline!

Then

Now

Well yesterday our little darling turned TWO! My how these two years have flown... and I was assured by my Granne yesterday thatthey only get faster. We had an extremely fun day yesterday. We started our day by going to breakfast with the Murray clan, and then we headed to the zoo since it is probably Madeline's favorite place on earth right now! It was the perfect day at the zoo too, cloudy, which meant all the animals were out and active. Madeline even went on her first carousel ride, which she loved, except for the part where she had to get off! Next was lunch, naps, and mommy trying frantically to get the promised "Elmo cake" iced. Daddy helped Madeline fly her first kite, thanks to Mamaw, and do her next favorite thing, play in the dirt that afternoon. Dinner was of course Maddie's favorite Mac n Cheese! We ended the day with cake of course which turned out quite nice :) Marmie and Papa even joined us over Skype to watch Madeline blow out her two candles and open her gifts!

We cannot express how grateful we are for our precious Madeline's life. God has brought us so much joy and taught us so much by being her parents. I was asked a few weeks ago in one of those random "get to know you question" things "If you could have any job in the world what would it be?" My answer was quite simple and profoundly true... DO EXACTLY WHAT I AM DOING RIGHT NOW! I love getting to be a stay at home wife and mommy (thanks to my incredible hard working husband!) Madeline's two short years of life have absolutely been my BEST two years of life!

Here's some of the highlights from our day... ENJOY!