The Franklins in the Woods

2012-02-15T20:39:00.001-06:00

I think TED Talks are great. I have only watched 3 or 4 in the past year, but I have enjoyed the ones I have taken the time to watch. I had to share this one.
Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution! from Beaver Country Day School on Vimeo.
It is long, but so worth your time to watch..especially if you are homeschooling or are considering homeschooling (or really any kind of non traditional education.). I watched the RSA Animate of Sir Ken Robinson's talk called Changing Education Paradigms a couple of years ago. It is FANTASTIC. If you haven't watched it, GOOGLE IT!! So good. I love hearing him speak. He makes me want to stand up and cheer. He makes me want to get up and teach my children more. (I should also mention that I love British accents...hence my obsession with Jane Austen films, Downton Abbey, and Notting Hill.)

How to not ruin your kiddos Valentine's Day. ;)

2012-02-14T15:55:00.002-06:00

Just so you know, we are not perfect around here. :) Our house is often a disaster and we seem to be hurrying wherever we go. And, Mama makes lots of mistakes. Valentine's Day is a big deal to me. I have loved it since I was a little girl. Jake and I don't exchange gifts because it is right after our anniversary, but we LOVE to celebrate with the children. For weeks I have been planning. The last few days have been spent making gifts for friends, truffles for Jake, chocolate suckers for the kiddos etc..Last night I hung a big banner, set out M&Ms, balloons, and planned a special breakfast. This morning there was lots of squeals and happiness...for about 5 mins. Jake was heading out of town for the day with work and we opened the mail from yesterday before he left. We got a quarterly report from our credit card and I was confident it had a mistake. I spent the next 40 mins watching the clock until 7 am when I could call to find out how this mistake came to be. I called at 7:01. :) I was on the phone for 40 mins and spent the following 40 mins beating myself up when I found out that I was the one who had made the mistake. So, if you are following the minutes that adds up to a grand total of 120 minutes...2 HOURS wasted over such a small thing!! Two hours I should have spent snuggling and loving. I should have been reading all of the books that I had carefully laid selected about St. Valentine. I should have sat down to enjoy red velvet pancakes with maple syrup instead of rolling one up and shoving it in my mouth while walking around the room fretting over silly things. Suddenly, I realized I had wasted 2 hours of time with my kiddos to try to manage something trivial. It seemed HUGE at the moment, but when I looked at my sweet littles, it shrank quickly. I am thankful for kiddos that are forgiving and move forward. Thankful when Gideon told me at lunch that it had been a good day. They are full of grace and they are resilient. Will I make mistakes again?? Sure..in fact probably more today. But, we will get up and dust ourselves off and look forward to the next opportunity. I am so grateful for all of the love in my life.

I Corinthians 13:4-8

⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;^[a] ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never ends.

2012-02-03T13:35:00.001-06:00

Things are plugging right along, here. The kiddos are all thriving and school is going very well. I am so proud of the changes I have seen in Gideon. Sweet Dand'un recently told me use the scope of a year to measure the children's progress. And, I see leaps and bounds in so many ways. Gideon's handwriting is phenomenal considering we could hardly get him to grip a pencil in any way other than with his fist last year. He is really excelling in math as well. Annalise's comprehension with read alouds is fantastic and she is really making progress in her letter recognition and letter sounds. YAY!! We have also been joining sweet friends once a week to learn in a group setting. It has been wonderful for them and for me. I love being surrounded by brilliant and sweet Mommies to encourage me.

Here is an activity that Gideon did yesterday for Groundhog's Day. His first poll with tally marks. :)

And, here is Annalise's kidney bean sprout that she is growing. They all 3 are participating with this one, but hers is thriving the most. :)

And, lastly, here are my new cloth napkins. I know.. it is ridiculous that I am kind of giddy over cloth napkins. Especially since they are kind of white and boring. But, I have this dream of having a paperless kitchen. I am pretty sure it is unattainable, but I will feel better about using fewer paper towels, anyway. ;)

Bad, bad parents. ;)

2012-01-05T13:57:00.001-06:00

So, Jake and I decided it was time to cut Gabriel's hair. Partially because it was out of control and partially because he started the job himself last week. Sigh...when will I learn to put the scissors away??!! He was not happy about it and cried and whined a good bit the whole time she was cutting. Then when the clippers came out it caused a bit of hysteria. I am sure we have scarred him for life.

I know it looks like he was being tortured in this one, but it wasn't so bad...really. :)

Christmas Pics

2012-01-04T13:46:00.001-06:00

A few pictures from Christmas. I promise our children had a wonderful Christmas, but they look miserable in the pictures. :)

Okay...warning. From here on our children look like we dragged them from their beds and gave them switches. But, I promise, they woke us up and were pretty happy with their gifts. I PROMISE!!

New blog.

2011-12-30T13:18:00.001-06:00

I am starting a new blog today. It is for my kiddos. It is very basic and may even be a bit boring, but something that I have been wanting to do. I am making it private, but would always love to have visits from friends and family. I will keep this one as well, for the handful of folks that keep up with our family here. :) We will probably only do our major family updates on this site. The other blog will have a bit more of a personal touch for my little ones. :)

If any of our friends or family would like to visit mine and the kiddos blog, just let me know. I will send an invite. The link is here

Love,
Kristy

Christmas and Advent 2011

2011-12-27T12:38:00.001-06:00

This year's Christmas and Advent was a wonderful time. Dand'un filled the children's days with special activities and treats. There were 24 gifts to open. Each one was something special. We had muffins to bake, cookies to cut out, gel sticks for the windows, movies to watch. Just lots of activities that she put a lot of thought into. It was really a treat for the children and for us.

We also did a few random acts of kindness for some strangers. It was a lot of fun leaving money on drink machines, buying coffee for the person in line behind us, and giving cookies to our mailman. Our favorite reaction was the middle aged gentleman at Starbucks. He was almost speechless when Annalise handed him a gift card for his coffee. It made me smile. I didn't really take any pictures because I didn't want the children to have the idea that we were doing it "for show." But, it was a real treat for me to watch them.

We were able to spend time with our Mobile family at Miramar Beach. We all rented a HUGE house together and had a great time eating, and believe it or not swimming. :) It never got over 60 degrees or so, but the kiddos (and Jake) were not going to miss opportunity to swim in the Gulf or the pool. It is always a gift to spend time with our family... especially at such a beautiful beach.

Cold, snotty G Coy.

Sweet Auntie Kara.

Okay...still more Christmas pics to add. Gingerbread house, gifts. etc...I will get them on here sometime. :)

A few pictures.

2011-12-21T08:45:00.001-06:00

Here are just a couple of pictures before I start posting all of the Christmas/Advent pictures. I am sure I will get all of that on here before 2013. ;) Our kiddos love their stick horses. A lot of times we just have one of something because it helps them to learn to share. And, we just do not have room for 3 of everything. But, there was a constant "waiting line" (aka fighting) about the stick horses. So, Annalise and Gabriel's birthday presents in 2011 were stick horses. Those horses get a lot of exercising. :)

And, I love this one of Annalise. We use Usborne's Living Long Ago as part of our history lessons. We were reading about European fashions from 350 years ago. Did you know that Europeans used masks and little stick on "tattoos" to cover scars and blemishes?? I didn't. :) But, we made some "tattoos" for our faces and attached them with flour and water. The kiddos had a great time and I loved this picture of sweet Annalise.

My new favorite..

2011-12-16T15:16:00.004-06:00

Thank you, sweet Lindsey A. I LOVE JJ Heller. This song is one of my new favorites. :) The lyrics are so fantastic.

ttt

Our funnies from the week.

2011-12-15T20:01:00.001-06:00

Gideon has a new super hero that he has created. It is Superhero Missionary. He flew around the house quite a while Tuesday evening demanding that we all stop worshiping other idols and worship "THE ONE TRUE GOD"!!! (said in a booming voice) Afterwards, he decided that I needed to be the Old Testament Israelites that were constantly following their neighbors pagan ways. He would jump out from around the corner shouting "Aha!! You must worship the ONE TRUE GOD!! I will now have to punish you!! :) :) I am very anxious to finish up the Pentateuch in our Bible curriculum and move on to the New Testament... and talk about grace. HAHA!!

And, this little beauty requires no explaining. Nothing cuter than a masked snotty toddler.

Gideon the marksman.

2011-12-15T12:27:00.002-06:00

Gideon has discovered a new love...shooting. His Uncle Pete has loaned him a beginners rifle that is perfect for little guys. He has had several shooting sessions with it and I have to admit that he is getting pretty good. His cousins were over on Thanksgiving weekend and they had a ball shooting together. :) One of the many perks of living in the woods. Dand'un and Grandaddy were able to stay with us over the long weekend and it was wonderful having them here for several days. We love when they are at arms reach instead of 4 hours away. :) Grandaddy helped Jake burn the huge brush pile that was left from some clearing Jake did last year. So, that is the smoldering pile that is in the background. Oh...and I love the hand me down boy scout shirt Gideon is wearing. :)

Happy Birthday Gabriel!!

2011-12-12T14:02:00.001-06:00

Gabriel had his 2nd birthday last month. Since he is still little, we all picked his theme for him. We had a manly mustache party and it was just too fun. We had lots of fun with all of the fun ideas we found on Pinterest. I am not very creative on my own, but we found tons of ideas to copy-cat.

We were so happy to have sweet cousins and Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Amy, and Grandmama come celebrate our G-Coy with us. We are so thankful for him. He is such a bright, energetic, and really just hysterical little boy. He brings joy to all of us everyday. His brother and sister are so proud of him and they do such a good job in taking care of him. We love you G-Coy. We love watching you learn and grow. We are thankful that you belong to us.

Our News Writer..

2011-12-10T17:00:00.002-06:00

I am so behind on blogging. I have pictures from Gabriel's birthday and Thanksgiving weekend, but, this was just too cute to wait its turn. :) Gideon has been writing tons of newspapers lately. We love it when he reads them to us, so I decided to make a video of him reading one of his latest editions. I have no idea where he got his "news anchor voice" since he has only watched the news once or twice in his lifetime. :) I feel like I need to apologize for the condition of our table. I would give an excuse for the mess, but alas...it is like that all of the time. We just eat around it. ;)

2011-12-10T15:28:00.001-06:00

Goodbye, sweet Grandad. There are no words to express just how much we love you ... We will miss you forever.

A Day in the Life of Nyabwire

2011-11-17T10:09:00.001-06:00

A Day in the Life of Nyabwire

If you have a minute, please click the link above to watch a very special video.

If you are not sponsoring a child through Compassion International, please, please consider it. It has been a tremendous blessing to my family. Our little girl, Malia Toris, is a huge part of our lives. I have never felt such a strong connection to someone that I have never met. My children's hearts are always with her. Her birthday is in January. She will turn 6. She and Gideon are almost the same age and his connection to her is greater than I can express in words. I signed up for Compassion because I thought we could help her, but it turns out, she has helped us in ways that I cannot explain. We truly feel she is part of our family. If you want to change not only a special child's life, but your own as well, I challenge you to consider Compassion. I promise you won't regret it.

Report card time.

2011-11-11T13:38:00.002-06:00

We turned in our first official report card for Gideon. Hard to believe our little guy is so big. He received all Os for "Outstanding". I know that his teacher is somewhat partial, but he honestly deserved it. He has done so well and I am thankful. I am trying to have a relaxed attitude this year because I understand that things get a little more serious in first grade. So, our biggest goal is just learning to "love to learn". I recently discovered Pinterest. I LOVE it. We have been making all kinds of things and trying lots of new recipes. It is kind of like swapping ideas with friends. It is like a social network without the drama of Facebook. (Sorry Facebook...I still like you...most of the time.) The kids had a blast making Mayflower ships with their hand prints (thanks, Pinterest). Too cute!!

A morning of riding.

2011-10-31T15:01:00.001-05:00

We love taking care of our neighbors, Mr. John's and Mrs. Anna's horses when they are at the Lake or traveling. This past weekend, we decided to take advantage of Molly's sweet disposition. It had been a while since she had been ridden, but fortunately I am married to quite a cowboy. After Jake exercised her, she was all ready. The kids had a wonderful time playing and riding.

It's Fall!!!

2011-10-28T08:21:00.000-05:00

Fall is my favorite time of year at home. The leaves are so beautiful particularly in the morning. :)

The below is the poem "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer. I love it and I am trying to become more familiar with it since it will be Gideon's first poem to memorize later this year. Isn't it beautiful? :)

I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,	5
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.	10

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree

Peter Enns Article.

2011-10-26T15:54:00.000-05:00

My sweet husband sent this article to me this week. "Why It’s Good to Doubt God" It is just too good not to share. It is long, but so worth the time to read.

Kim...

2011-10-17T16:45:00.001-05:00

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone"

Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

And that is dying..

~Henry van Dyke

We will miss you ,sweet Kim.

Love is..

2011-10-16T22:17:00.000-05:00

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. I Corinthians 13:4-8

Thankful for all of the unfailing love that I have in my life and those that I hold dear. Love never fails...

Jake's Skydive

2011-10-11T15:23:00.000-05:00

Jake was able to go skydiving with his Dad, Jeremy, and Caleb. The skydive was to celebrate Caleb's birthday. It was a second tandem skydive for Jake and he loved it. Happy Birthday "Cabob"!!

Field Trip

2011-10-11T15:06:00.001-05:00

Gideon had his 4th field trip last week. Whew!! The school year just started and 4 field trips already. His Da was able to go with him this time and they had a wonderful time. It was an educational river walk through the Cahaba River Society. Jake said it was wonderful and Gideon came back tired, wet, dirty, and smiling. LOVE IT!!

One more post for the week. :)

2011-10-06T16:33:00.000-05:00

I had to share our funny from this week.

Gideon : " I cannot decide if I want to be a fireman, a paleontologist, a magician, or a music composer when I grow up."

Annalise : "I cannot decide if I want to be a ballerina, a mermaid, or a princess when I grow up. "

Gotta love those inherent differences between girls and boys. :) My children make my heart sing. Now, does anyone know of a university that offers a major in "being a mermaid"?

Driveway fun.

2011-10-05T13:18:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not, one of our favorite places to play on our property is the driveway. It has some great sandy spots with wonderful soft sand. I LOVE sand. It is just very relaxing to play in. Oddly enough, I am not really a beach person. Go figure!! I have wonderful memories of playing in those same sandy spots with Dand'un, "Auntie Kara", and "Uncle Cabob". Now I get to play with my own littles. :) The kids must love it, too because they are always asking to walk down the driveway. It can take us a pretty long time if we are just getting the mail. Just too many adventures on the way.

Sandcastles and "digging for jewels".

Is this the cutest little guy or what??

Hope your day is happy. If you have a minute whisper a prayer for my sweet Dad (well, actually step dad...but, I don't like that word.) He is in the hospital and our hearts are worried.

Still catching up.

2011-10-03T13:51:00.001-05:00

Since the beginning of school, the kids and I have made lots of crafts. I have just recently started enjoying crafting. I have always enjoyed sewing and knitting, but until I had my children, I did not consider myself a crafter. But, it is a joy with little partners. :)

This one was just for Mama. I just thought it would be so fun..and cute. And, it was both. :) Even Gabriel helped with it.

Proud of his cauldron. This was a during our few days of studying the Vikings.

Baking soda volcano with homemade clay.

Weathervane

A little climbing action for the big boys. :)

2011-10-03T09:08:00.001-05:00

My fellas working on a little climbing. LOVE...

Blogging...not so much.

2011-10-03T09:04:00.002-05:00

I have to be the worst blogger ever. I won't even try to catch everybody up with pictures now. Maybe later?But, we had a wonderful and busy summer. We made a trip to our nation's capital and a couple of the first settlements. We had a great time. The rest of the summer was spent being lazy, playing in the creek two or three times, trips to grandparents , trips to the Lake, vacation Bible school, and summer reading programs. We had a great time, but were definitely ready to settle down for school and regular routines. We are enjoying all of our curricula and are learning how to learn together. The children are good partners and I hope that they feel the same about me. Although, to be honest, I know I have work to do. Lately, I have been praying that God will help me in loving my children and accepting them fully the way they are. I am very blessed with children that want to please their Mama and Da....almost too eager to please. To be honest, I think I sometimes take advantage of their eagerness to please us. And, sometimes I feel as if I am not hearing them...not allowing them to be who they want to be. I am trying to let go of my ideals and make way for the adult they will become. I want to be a wonderful role model...not a bully. I am asking God for grace and wisdom to love AND respect my little people everyday.

DIY Tree Lamp @Craftzine.com blog

2011-05-19T07:53:00.000-05:00

Jake and I have been wanting a cool floor lamp forever. Just never have found anything that we like enough to spend the money. I love this one and I love the idea of making it ourselves. :)

DIY Tree Lamp @Craftzine.com blog

Just Call Us the Sickies

2011-05-18T13:44:00.001-05:00

Good gracious!! It has been an interesting month and a half. Lots and I do mean LOTS of germs around here. All three children and Mama had bronchitis. So, we had plenty of those nasty junky coughs that make other mothers look at you and cringe. I knew what they were thinking, because I always think the same thing when I hear other children coughing like that. It is something along the lines of ..."Why do you have your children out in public while they are coughing like that?." And, I know that I shouldn't have had them out in public. But, I felt so sorry for my little people. It is tough being sick day after day. It just helps to get out a little bit. Next up was the dreaded "fever virus". For those of you who may not be familiar with the dreaded "fever virus" it is the term that doctors use when they do not want to say "Your child is burning up with a fever, but I have no clue why". Poor Gideon really suffered with this one. His temperature got up to 104 degrees and was the only one that we took to the doctor. Of course, you know what our pediatrician (whom we love dearly) said...."It is a fever virus." :) Immediately following the week of fevers, all three started coughing and having runny noses AGAIN!! So, that brings us to our current status of three nasty colds, and two ear infections. One boy on antibiotic ear drops (thank goodness for tubes!!). And, one boy on oral antibiotics. Prayerful that this is the end of a very germ filled spring and that we will enter into the heat of summer healthier and less germy. Of course, all I can think about is the little girl that my children played with at the doctor's office today...who happened to have a full body rash. At least a rash would be something new, right? ;)

Blackberries!!

2011-05-02T10:38:00.001-05:00

Look what we have!! Blackberries and LOTS of them. We are so excited. Unfortunately, the Franklins have been....ahem....lazy this year. So, no garden this year. BOO!! But, we have been blessed with tons of blackberry bushes. We are so thrilled, because while we always have some scattered around the property, we have never had this many in one spot. And, they are just a few feet away from the front door. Cannot wait for blackberry pancakes and cobblers. YUMMY!!

Finding Joy in Sorrow

2011-04-28T13:05:00.000-05:00

We are completely grateful that our home and the homes of our family were untouched by recent storms. Unfortunately, there were many that were lost in the storms last night. It is completely overwhelming to think of all the loss, but we must find joy despite the sorrow. I am going to hug my babies close today and find joy in their smiles.

Miracles...

2011-04-20T14:00:00.001-05:00

Jake and I were honored to meet the little one of dear friends last night. New life never ceases to amaze me. The possibilities for a new little human being are endless. I always feel so full of emotion to see this new little person that has so much potential. It is particularly joyful to see parents who welcome this child with such joy, thankfulness, and a realization that they are not raising a child but raising an adult. I am still wallowing in the happiness of a new life on this earth. Welcome Brooks Nathaniel. We already love you. Cannot wait to see the mountains you will climb, the heights you will soar, and the new trails you will blaze.

"The potential possibilities of any child are the most intriguing and stimulating in all creation. " ~~Ray L. Wilbur

SPRING!!!

2011-04-13T12:54:00.000-05:00

I love spring. It is particularly fun with kiddos. It is a season of discovery. The children are loving spotting flowers, inch worms, trees budding, birds singing etc...It is a great reminder to me that they are learning constantly. Learning can be fun and exciting!! I love it when they get excited about wild violets or when Gideon shouts every time he sees a Grancy Greybeard. And, it thrills my heart that they wanted to take visitors on a tour of our Dogwoods. Their excitement is contagious. Sunshine is certainly good for whatever ails ya. :)

Looking ahead.

2011-04-09T15:51:00.000-05:00

So, I homeschool my oldest. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I truly love it. And, barring any unforeseen circumstances, I am planning to educate all three of my children for all 12 of their school years. But, it is very scary to be the one selecting curriculum, deciding what kind of learner each child happens to be, finding ways around personality conflicts and a couple of minor learning difficulties. Then there was the frightening realization that homeschooling means that they are always home. ;) Honestly, it was a little alarming when my son reached 4 years old and I realized that I would need to find (or at least help him to learn to find) something constructive to do for the hours when we were not actively doing school work. But, we are all learning together. It is truly a beautiful thing to see my children interacting with one another. They have such an amazing relationship with one another and I am grateful for that. We have always been the Franklin family, but now I see that we are becoming THE FRANKLINS. We are a team.The children are fully on board and are happy to be team players. I am grateful that we have chosen this path. I have to remind myself how grateful I am because I am currently in full planning mode. Choosing curriculum, deciding on a homeschool covering, planning on how much of a break we will take this summer. During this time I have to remind myself to take a deep breath and relax. It is alright to plan and to look ahead, but it really is always best to take one day at a time. I know that I am fully capable of teaching my children. I know them better than anyone else does. I know I do not want them to have a "conveyor belt" or "one size fits all" education. But, I also know that I am going to make mistakes. Sometimes, I am going to choose the wrong books or maybe use the wrong method. But, I will continue on this path because I see not only an incredible love my children have for one another, but the incredible love they have to learn. And, in my mind loving to learn is one of the most (if not the most) important thing in educating children. So, I will continue on this journey because I know it is the right one. I will continue to look ahead and try to plan but mostly I will just take one day at a time.

2011-04-06T07:36:00.000-05:00

I have never read Bleak House by Charles Dickens, but this quote was on my calendar this morning. "Oh running stream of sparkling joy. To be a soaring human boy!"

I love being a mother to my boys and girl. But, there is something fascinating about the energy of a little boy. It is endless and sometimes I just watch in amazement as my little Gabriel Coy (17mos) crawls up on top of the kitchen table. The inherent differences of girls and boys fascinates me on a daily basis. But, I love this quote because it puts that energy in such a positive light. It must be a wonderful thing to have that kind of energy and zest for life. Boys are always looking for the next adventure, the next mountain to climb. As a girl (a very girlie girl, at that) I admire that so much. It is easy to try to squelch it instead of fostering it in a healthy way. So, thank you, Mr. Dickens for such wonderful words of wisdom.

Hard....

2011-04-04T15:06:00.000-05:00

We took the kiddos to Dairy Queen for a post soccer lunch this past weekend. They sat at the high stools across from mine and Jake's table. Sigh....I guess it is that time already. I noticed there were two little girls near us and they had a pretty good case of the giggles. Since I had my own little giggler/wiggler in the high chair next to me, I didn't pay much attention to them. When it was time to go, Gideon (5) told me that the girls next to us were giggling and smiling at him. Then, he kind of sadly said, "Maybe they were making fun of me". Those of you that are mothers know what my heart felt like at that moment. I was torn between going back in and giving those girls a very long lecture. Or, I could grab my little boy and go home where I was confident I could protect him from people that would hurt him. But, I know deep down in my heart that he will experience hurt. Some hurts (like this one) he will rebound from quickly and others will be much deeper. So, how do I prepare him for this? I honestly am not completely sure. But, I do know that I am going to try to prepare him everyday. It is my intense desire to help my children to become responsible human beings that are confident of who they are and what they believe. To be thoughtful of others, but not to be swayed or hurt by the views of others. It is however, impossible to protect them forever and I shouldn't want to do that. It is my job to create independent human beings that are ready and eager to leave me when it is time. It is my job to make them able to leave my nest and do wonderful things. It is my job to help them manage the hurt feelings without being overcome by them. So difficult, but possible.

Photo by J Woodbery Photography

So, I told my 5 year old "I am not sure if those girls were laughing at you or not, but even if they were, it doesn't matter. You know and I know what an amazing boy you are. That fact will never change no matter what other people say or think. " And, then I prayed...A LOT!! :)

Beautiful Messes

2011-04-01T13:06:00.008-05:00

Parents are faced with lots of messes and it is hard to see the beauty in them. When I think of messy, I usually think about toys all over, sticky floors, and finger prints on the window. But, it really can be so many other things. And, sometimes believe it or not, messes can be lovely. It has been difficult for me to live my life without fear of messes since I have had children. As mothers, we are always planning things on schedules because if we veer from our routines, it can create a MESS!! But, sometimes an adventure requires us to leave our comfortable routine. An afternoon of hiking can create very tired little ones, but the memories are so worth the fussiness that comes afterward. A morning of play dough and finger painting can create a huge mess, but OH THE FUN!!

I read once that you should live your life as a movie. It needs a good plot or mission. It requires love and bravery. And, it needs to be interesting. Sometimes those things require you to step out of your normal comfort zone. Adopting a child can be messy. Building a new home can be messy. Having more than 2.5 children can be messy. But, all of those things will add so much to your life. I am grateful for a husband that is constantly pushing me beyond my normal comfort zone. He is constantly reminding me that just because things are not our "norm" doesn't mean that we should not try them. Since I have married him, I have tried so many things that I would not have been brave enough to try before. I have hiked into very remote places (which means that I have gone days without bathing...MESSY!!). I have taken music and knitting lessons. I have become a gardener. I have ridden motorcycles, run in races, given birth naturally, camped with infants and toddlers, homeschooled my children, and now consider myself a cloth diapering tree hugger. :) While all of those things are or have the potential to be messy they are all so wonderful and I am grateful to have experienced all of them. As a mother, I would love for all things to go as planned and to be neat and tidy, but really... where is the fun in that? Life is meant to be lived in joy and sometimes that means you have to get a little messy.

"Mommying"

2011-02-08T12:35:00.000-06:00

Do you like my new word? That is what I am doing...I am "Mommying". And, I LOVE it. I love it from the top of my head to the bottom of my big feet. I love to Mommy my little people. They bring me so much joy. With an almost 5 year old, almost 3 year old, a 15 mos old (and a dog the size of horse with a little separation anxiety thrown in the mix) most days are filled with tons of laughter and joy.However, there are difficult days. I mean, there have to be difficult days with 3 different little personalities that are trying to learn to adapt to life as we know it. But, I still love it. We are a very fortunate family. Since my hubby works at home and the oldest schools at home (as will younger siblings) our lives are intertwined 24 hours a day most of the time. We all love it. But, there are days when everyone is cranky and everyone needs a nap. Days like today when I have a nice mixture of brown rice and rice krispies all over the floor. And, I am so behind on laundry that we have all worn every pair of our jeans...3 times each. Those are some dirty jeans. :) I often fast forward in my mind 20 years from now. Our littles will no longer be little. They will be grown and more than likely living elsewhere. Which will mean our house will be so quiet. And, in those quiet days, what will I remember about these loud days? I am sure like most mamas, I will look back and wish that I had spent more time playing and less time doing laundry and housework. I will regret every time I punished when I should have hugged. I will wish that I had picked up every time that little arms were lifted up to me....EVERY TIME. I would like to write the "older me" a letter. I would like the "older me" to know that for the most part, I did the best I could. Remind "older me" that parenting is difficult and that 75% of the time you are kind of learning as you go along. :) I would encourage "older me" that my littles loved me and that they forgave me of my mistakes. And, most importantly they were happy...and so were their parents.

And, if "older me" could write back to me I am sure she would say don't worry about the rice on the floor, hug more, play more, and pick them up every time they ask....EVERY TIME :)

Free

2010-12-28T09:54:00.002-06:00

Lately we have been listening to a lot of music. One of our favorites is Renee and Jeremy. They are a wonderful duo that sing children's music that adults can enjoy. I love all of their songs, but I have particularly been enjoying their song Free. You can listen to the song and read the lyrics here .

The last 4 lines are so significant to me:
what you gonna take when you walk from me
what you gonna make of your world to be
what you gonna sing with your harmony
learn to be yourself and you'll always be
free
free

It makes me think about what my children are going to take away from me and our home. What am I teaching them to make of their world? Am I teaching them to be themselves and not only that, but to be happy with who they are ? I think sometimes as Christians, we are frightened to tell our children to not be afraid of who they are. That if we tell them to always be themselves, that it is giving them license to do something that is wrong. But, lately I have realized that if I give them a good moral compass as their foundation...a moral compass whose "true North" is Christ, then I can relax and say "be yourself". Be the individual that Christ made you to be. So, what are my duties as a parent? I believe that they are :
#1 Lead them to Christ.
#2 Teach them to be compassionate individuals who care more about others than themselves.
#3 Educate them and prepare them to leave my nest and be responsible adults. Adults that can make decisions for themselves based on THEIR OWN beliefs and thoughts.

These are just a few of my hopes and dreams in raising my children. What are your hopes and dreams and what music inspires you?

Posting at the Hubby's blog.

2010-11-23T13:55:00.003-06:00

Today I am posting over at Jake's blog. :) Have a great day.
http://www.familyadventurelife.com/

Family, adventure, life...

2010-11-18T13:53:00.000-06:00

I love my husband, Jake. No, I mean I REALLY LOVE him. Like, love him more than anything or anyone else in the world. It is a constant, steadfast, and unbreakable love. A love that lights the way during the darkest of days. He is my very best friend. I have been lucky enough to be his wife for 14 years. In those 14 years we have had lots of adventures, but the greatest adventure has been parenting and becoming a family. Jake is immensely talented and excels in whatever he puts his mind to. He recently decided to start a blog. He put in his first entry yesterday and just like everything else he does...it is awesome. Take a peek. I know you will like it. :)
http://www.familyadventurelife.com/

Gabriel's Party

2010-11-15T20:24:00.003-06:00

We had our celebration of Gabriel Coy turning one this past Saturday. We had such fun and so much appreciated everyone coming. In lieu of gifts, we asked everyone to bring a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child and of course everyone was so eager to help and they were incredibly generous with their gifts. We were able to collect 6 boxes. I wish so much that I could just slip inside one of the boxes and travel with it so that I could see the children's faces when they received these awesome boxes. My own children have been so excited and have completely understood that the toys, clothes, school supplies that have been coming in to our home are not for them, but for other children. In fact, the pediatrician asked them what they wanted for Christmas while we were at our appointment today and Annalise sweetly explained that we were packing shoe boxes for the children for Christmas. :) Of course, we will have gifts for our children, but I love that the first thing she thought of was giving to someone else. I am trying to learn from their example. :)

OCC in Sudan - Very Far Away

2010-11-10T15:14:00.004-06:00

So...our little Gabriel is turning one this Sunday. How can that be?? As we are preparing for our little one's birthday, we are also preparing our shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. It is heartbreaking to me as a mother to know that there are children in this world that do not have the necessities in life. I think about how I would feel to not be able to provide what my children need. My children have above and beyond what they need. As I stated in my previous post, God has been showing Jake and I so very much about how we need to change. We have been trying to introduce our little ones to the fact that there are so many orphaned and needy children are in this world. And, it is our duty as followers of Christ to help in any way that we can. Some days, I feel like we are doing well, and there are other days that I am sure that we are failing. But, I am realizing that even if I fail, God will bridge the gap of that failure. This morning, I showed this video to my two oldest (ages 2 1/2 and 4 1/2). If you know my two oldest, you know that they are both chatterboxes. They talk CONSTANTLY. I feel embarrassed to admit it, but sometimes I don't pay attention to every sweet word that they say. :) So, as I was showing this to them, Gideon was kind of quietly talking beside me. I am sorry to say, I wasn't paying attention at first. But, how I wish that I had paid attention to every word because what I did hear made my heart melt with the sweetness. The last thing I heard out of his sweet mouth was "help us to take care of all of the children in Africa and India...in Jesus name...Amen." He had been standing there quietly praying the whole time!! I turned to him with big tears rolling down my cheeks and put my arms around his sweet shoulders thinking "why was I not listening??!! Why didn't I pay attention to every sweet word and write it down??" But, then I realized...he wasn't talking to me. :)

Still learning...

2010-09-20T12:00:00.002-05:00

Jake and I love to talk to one another. We love to talk about politics, religion, family, children...and more children. ;) And, in these conversations we have lots of realizations of how our hearts are changing and the things we place importance on are changing. It has become our intense desire the past year to change our lives and how we can impact our children with these changes. We have always leaned more towards wanting to live and raise our children in our comfortable little bubble. We love our home and love being home with one another. But, it seems as of late that God is making us realize just how selfish that we have become. Our eyes have been opened to how many children in the world are orphans. There are approx. 133 million orphans in the world. A child is orphaned every 2.2 seconds. That is a staggering thought. There are so many people that are hurting and alone. There are so many people that are struggling with issues that we as Christians tend to turn our back on because we always think "they did this to themselves". These were not the thoughts of Christ. He taught us to love and run to help those that need it...even if it is over and over again. This is a difficult concept for me to understand. But, it is what He desires for us. He wants us to love. That is an easy thing to do when we think about loving a beautiful lost child. But, it is very difficult for me when I am faced with a drug addict that turns his/her life upside down over and over again. Or the person that is homeless on the street with mental illness. God has called us to clothe ourselves with compassion. I am challenged to change my own ways and be an example to my children. It is my intense desire to raise them as compassionate individuals and Jake and I are praying to do that everyday. It is so easy for Christians to boycott, criticize, protest, and even show disdain for others. I know there is another way. For now, this verse is my "daily bread". ~

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

2010-09-17T13:55:00.003-05:00

Gideon on first day of 4K with celebratory nutella toast with candle(PLEASE look over the garbage in background. We had a racoon visit during the night;) ), working on an experiment using a sieve (or colander since we didn't actually have a sieve).

Looking Forward to Fall

2010-09-17T13:49:00.002-05:00

Our family is very much looking forward to fall. And, of course all that comes with fall. Cooler temperatures, pumpkin patches, leaves changing, and of course roasting marshmallows and hotdogs. Just such a fun time. Gideon has begun his 4K homeschooling. He is doing so well and seems to be so happy doing it. It seems like he has suddenly become the big boy. He is just such an amazing little fella. Annalise has adapted quite well to Gideon's school time and seems pretty content just to sit with us and listen or play at the table while we work. And, little Gabriel is napping during our work time, but wakes up in time for morning playing...usually outside.

Jake is changing jobs at the end of the month. It is a welcomed change and he is very much looking forward to new opportunities. God has been so good to us...way better than we deserve.

Thoughts about the potty.

2010-07-16T13:56:00.007-05:00

So, we have been potty training our sweet little lady. It has been a bit on the difficult side since aforementioned sweet little lady is a bit on the stubborn side. But, we are making it and will not be discouraged. *Note my confidence *:) . But, I guess since we have been in the bathroom... A LOT... it has made me think about all of the time spent in that room with my little ones. All of us Mommies laugh about not having any time to ourselves. That even when we are in the ladies room ,we are either not alone or we have crying children beating on the door needing you desperately...you know for important things...like getting juice. :) And, I admit to using the bathroom a time or two for a selfish little crying session when I have three little ones crying their eyes out at the same time. But, really our two little bathrooms hold some pretty great memories. Like spending lots of time jumping up and down when someone does go tee-tee for the first time. And, all of the quiet little conversations about adventures had or about to be had while waiting for a poopy. And, then there are all of the stacks of books that have been read to a little fellow, hoping one will be a "moving experience". And, even more recently figuring out how to perch myself on the back of the potty while whispering encouraging words in a sweet little ear. And, it was my pleasure to sit with her on that potty and watch her transform from a toddler to a big girl. And, then there are the memories of nursing all three newborns in the bathroom because you know...a bitty baby has no understanding of "I will finish nursing you as soon as I go to the ladies room. " :) S0, I guess I have decided that the most unglamorous of rooms is the most beautiful. Who would have thought it?? ( pic by j.woodbery)

Finally...a new post!!

2010-06-24T15:22:00.005-05:00

Okay...so I guess I have neglected our blog a little...or A LOT!! :) But, I have to admit that posting pics on Facebook is so much easier. But, I do love to blog. So, I will try to do better. Our little family has been enjoying the summer so far despite the terrible heat that comes along with it. We spent a week in Wilmer and Point Clear last month with Dand'un and Grandaddy. We had a ball!! We spent some time at home with family and some time at the Grand Hotel. Unfortunately our camera battery went dead after one picture, but we have lots of mental pictures. :) We ate, swam, sailed, ate, biked, played in the sand, ate...well, you get the picture. Lots of eating!! The kids did really well considering we stayed up way past bed time every night and had naps in the car some days. They had a great time.

Last weekend we went camped at Payne Lake with our dearest friends the Juarez family. It was Gabriel's first time camping and his first time in the canoe. He did great!! It was loads of fun and we are busy plotting out any other short little camping trips that we can take. We all love it and cannot wait until the next time.

Annalise is 2!!

2010-03-17T10:20:00.004-05:00

So, my children are growing up! We are all enjoying the ride, even though it is waaaaay too fast for this Mama. We celebrated Annalise's birthday in Nashville at their favorite place there...the POOL! She had a lot of fun picking out things for her Tinkerbell cake. She is becoming such a sweet little lady. God has blessed us richly with these three children and we are grateful for everyday we have together.

What we've been up to....

2010-03-17T10:05:00.002-05:00

Gideon recently started his second season of soccer. He is one of two boys on his team...which he doesn't seem to mind. ;) He is having a great time. And, we all tagged along with Jake to Nashville a couple of weeks ago. We had a ton of fun at the Opry Mills Mall. We went to the Rainforest Cafe (not recommended for children who scare easily. HAHA!!), the Aquarium Restaurant, and Build a Bear. Not to mention we made use of the indoor pool and hot tub...EVERYDAY!! So fun. The children were all very good and had a blast.

Gideon is 4!!

2010-02-26T08:20:00.004-06:00

How can it be? How can the first little arrow in our quiver be 4 years old? Time flies and that is scary to a Mama of 3 precious little ones. Days are wasted with getting frustrated about the little things. A good reminder to stop and breathe deeply on those difficult days (as I am writing this I have a little one having a meltdown...so a good reminder for this very minute! HAHA!) and enjoy every minute of having my chicks around me. So, here are a few pics for those loved ones that we were thinking of, but were not able to be with us. Gideon had a wonderful b'day and enjoyed his day very much. These are pics of the Diego cupcakes that he chose, the joy of opening gifts, and a birthday waffle. Such fun being 4.

And a few more pics...

2010-01-15T17:34:00.002-06:00

Christmas

2010-01-15T17:25:00.002-06:00

I know I am terribly late at posting Christmas pics. But, better late than never. We had a wonderful Christmas. OH how I love Christmas with children. Jake and I always enjoyed Christmases alone, but having the children with us just is such a gift in itself. It is always so amazing sharing things with them. They are such amazing little human beings. We were able to do Graham Cracker houses, decorate, and drink lots of hot chocolate with peppermint sticks. There was the Polar Express movie, and two Charlie Brown Christmas specials. Oh...what fun we had. Cannot wait until next year. :)

Gabriel Coy

2009-12-08T13:37:00.002-06:00

So, I am a bit late in announcing Gabriel's arrival. But, HE IS HERE!! YAY!! And, we are all enjoying him very much. He was born on Nov. 14th at 10:58 am. He weighed 7lbs and 7oz and was 20.5 in. long. He is such a sweet baby. And, so easy going....so far. ;) His brother and sister were instantly smitten. They welcomed him with open arms and cannot keep their hands off of him. We are all adjusting very well and Jake and I are very proud and thankful for our little brood. God has been so good to us. Parenting is very challenging, but so rewarding. We are so thankful for every minute and pray for wisdom to raise these children in the way God would have us to.

Catch up

2009-11-03T07:58:00.002-06:00

Just realized how long it had been since I have posted.....anything!! Getting VERY close to the arrival time for Gabriel Coy. It has been a very easy uneventful pregnancy and I have enjoyed it very much, but I am ready to meet our new son. Very excited. Gideon and I started a very small amount of homeschooling. We have chosen (with much guidance and wisdom from our sweet Dand'un) a wonderful curriculum that we both love. It is called Five in A Row and it involves lots of reading....which we LOVE!!

The little ones had a great time dressing up for Halloween. Gideon got to be Buzz Lightyear which he was ecstatic about and Annalise was a beautiful Fairy Princess. They had a lot of fun despite Annalise being a little sick.

Jake is making us very proud with his EMT basic course. He has the highest average of the class and is giving it 100%....just as he does everything. So thankful for my precious family.

One of Gideon's favorites....

2009-09-08T20:45:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WsXtCPE7Ww

I hear my little guy singing this song a lot. He has heard it on Sesame Street a couple of times. It makes me smile and a little weepy when I hear him. I hope that he achieves whatever his goals are in life...but, I also hope he remembers his way back home from time to time. :)

Sweet Gabriel Coy

2009-09-05T20:51:00.002-05:00

Our sweet boy. His due date is sneaking up on his Mama and Da. November will be here before we know it. Gideon asked today would he be here after he got up from his nap. :) Sweet children. God is so good.

Making memories.

2009-09-03T18:33:00.003-05:00

These pictures make me smile. Splashing in mud puddles are just so fun. Even Mama participated a little. :)

New mixer!!!!!

2009-09-03T12:18:00.003-05:00

I got a new mixer!!!! Anyone that knows me, knows that this is a big deal. I LOVE to bake for my family. I love to make bread, cookies, dinner and sweet rolls, and lately even sandwich buns. We got 3 mixers for wedding gifts 12 1/2 years ago and have broken all of them in the past 4 years. So, I have been drooling over all of the KitchenAid models for years. But, just hated to spend that much on a mixer. We finally decided to save our Discover card cash back for one. And, this year for my birthday, my sweet parents, in-laws, and Jake's grandparents gave me money. So, I set it all aside and waited to have enough Discover card cash back to transfer to Bed Bath and Beyond gift cards. So, yesterday was the day that the children and I loaded up in the car and made the trip over to our Bed Bath and Beyond. I was able to get the Professional 600 model for 55.00 out of our pocket after coupons,rebates, cash back, and b'day money!!! It is a 400.00 mixer.So excited! So, a big thank you to all of my sweet family for the b'day money. It helped a lot. I am going to close for now so that I can mix and bake until my heart is content. :)

Sweet Girl

2009-07-21T15:27:00.005-05:00

Here are a couple of cute pics of our sweet girl. The one in the backpack is so priceless. This was one on our recent trip to Lake Jordan with our great friends Daniel and Elisha. It was our third day there and our second time hiking on Swayback Trail. I guess she felt that she had seen enough. HAHA!! We had the best time with the best friends. Somehow this was the only picture that we came away with, but I will say it was the greatest weekend. Thanks Daniel, Elisha, Anjali, and Jaiden for being the greatest friends. We love you. The other pic is Annalise in her ladybug boots. The boots were a gift from our beloved Aunt Trisha while I was still pregnant with our sweet girl. She has finally grown into them, and let me tell you....she is thrilled. Aunt Trisha is the best and always finds the best gifts ever. We love you Aunt T. I put them on her 10 times per day. Such a precious girl. We are forever thankful that God saw fit to make her ours.

Gideon singing his favorite song

2009-07-16T14:16:00.003-05:00

Here is a little video of Gideon singing a bit of his favorite song "The Fox'. I think he does a beautiful job. Please look over the folded laundry in the background. Obviously it was diaper washing day. :)

Sweet babies

2009-07-16T13:58:00.002-05:00

God has richly blessed Jake and I with such precious children. I never mean to imply that they or we are perfect. I am so grateful for God's grace and my children's ability to forgive a Mama who makes mistakes daily. They continue to love me and to be happy with me despite my constant failures. They really take joy in such sweet little things. I love the picture of them peeking into the oven. They were waiting on a blueberry pie that we made that morning. I love how Gideon is holding Annalise's hand. He takes his responsibility of older brother very seriously. I think he has days that she bothers him all day, but he cannot bear for her to get into trouble. And, they miss one another terribly when apart. The one of Gideon in the swing was just a wonderful gift. He was waiting on Annalise and I on the porch and took a book out while he was waiting. Just sweetness.

Another sweet boy for the Franklins!!

2009-06-22T16:12:00.002-05:00

Well, Jake and I saw our sweet Son for the first time today. Such a gift. Maybe I can get the video posted soon. It is huge and will take a while. But, he was perfect and very docile and sleepy. He was very modest for a good while and kept the sonographer guessing, but finally decided he would cooperate. So excited. So, we are looking forward to the Nov. arrival of Gabriel Coy Franklin. Our newest precious gift from God.

Happy Father's Day to the best husband and Da!!

2009-06-20T08:52:00.004-05:00

I don't know how Jake and I ended up with such a blessed life. Why God has given us soon to be 3 wonderful children. We have a life that is filled with smiles and laughter. And, I could not have asked for a better help mate and father for my precious children than Jake. What kind of man asks for a dryer and hot water heater for Father's Day? The best kind. The kind that take his little ones on long bike rides even though it is a much easier ride by himself. The kind that comes home and senses Mama needs a break from the little ones and gladly takes both of them out for the afternoon. The kind that rushes home from work and whose children rush to the door screaming when they seem him. The kind that calls throughout the day to tell us all how much he loves us and wishes he were home with us all of the time. The kind that looks for hobbies that includes all of us. Hobbies that are not a way to get away , but a way to bring us all together. The kind who always thinks of the children and I first and himself second. The kind of father that is always plugged in to his family. The kind who is a willing play partner in the floor with animals and trains(and even a baby doll every once in a while). The kind that oohs and ahhs over his baby girl in a new outfit. The kind that notices every little thing that his little boy accomplishes. And, the kind that makes me feel loved and treasured. That is the kind of husband/father that asks for a new dryer and water heater for Father's Day. I will give him an actual gift because I find such joy in seeing joy on his face. If the children and I can give him just a bit of joy that he gives us everyday, it will be a great day. We love you, Jake/Da!! Happy Father's Day!!

Sweet Babies

2009-06-19T14:51:00.002-05:00

I just love to see my little ones red faced and dirty. It has been really hot this week, and Gideon is a magnet for chiggers. BUT we refuse for any of that to keep us inside all day. We still try to get some time outside even if it is just a few minutes for a quick walk, throwing a few rocks on the driveway, or watering our garden. So, here are a few pics of the Franklin children good and dirty.

Just an update...

2009-06-11T16:48:00.003-05:00

So, we haven't posted anything in a while. We have been super busy, and I am afraid our digital camera has stopped working. So, no pics until we can find a good deal on a new camera. So, if anyone hears of a good deal, let us know! I don't really like to post much without pics, so it might be a while before we have any new posts. Little ones are growing like weeds. They are just getting so big. Our newest addition is growing as well...which means I am too. We are going to be having our ultrasound on 6/22. So, we will know if we are going to be bringing home a new little brother or new little sister for Gideon and Annalise. Very excited. I started feeling little flutters about 10 days ago and now am starting to feel just a little bit stronger movements now. So exciting. Nothing in the world like feeling a little one move. Just love being pregnant. I am so thankful for all of my sweet babies.

Annalise

2009-05-23T10:16:00.002-05:00

This is the result of letting a 14 month old feed herself yogurt. So messy, but she was so proud. Sweet girl.

Mother's Day etc...

2009-05-13T16:28:00.003-05:00

I dearly love Mother's Day. I treasure every one because I know how empty it is without any little ones. I had many Mother's Days without them and longing for them. Missing them even though I did not know them. God has blessed us with two...soon to be three precious children. We are forever grateful.

We had a wonderful day together. We decided to stay home from church and just rest Sunday morning. I am feeling lots more energetic now that I have entered the second trimester of my pregnancy, but still have days that a nice lazy morning is a perfect thing. Jake and Gideon went to the grocery store early and came home with all the fixins for the best omelet ever and, a beautiful arrangement of roses. They had already given me a very generous gift of an Ipod Touch but, the roses were just a wonderful surprise. We went to an art show and had a great lunch together. Then came home for a wonderful nap. ( A great gift in itself!) Afterwards, we were able to spend a great night with my wonderful Mama and family. Such a wonderful day spent with all of those that I hold near to my heart. Thank you sweet family for a wonderful day and for loving me, not just on Mother's Day, but every day.

Our little train engineer

2009-05-13T16:23:00.003-05:00

Gideon got a great engineering hat, bandanna, and train whistle from Dandun and Grandaddy for his birthday. He looks so cute in it, I just had to post this. He is getting so big so fast. We are taking a few minutes every morning to work on "school work". He is doing a handwriting workbook and is coming along really well. He is such a big boy and we are so proud of him and little sister.

More pics...

2009-04-28T21:14:00.001-05:00

Easter pics....finally!!

2009-04-28T20:46:00.004-05:00

Boy!! It has taken me forever to decide to sit down to work on our little blog. I don't know how long it has been since I have taken such a long break. Our little brood had a great Easter weekend. We started it on Friday by dying Easter eggs. Next, it was off to Grandmama's for an Easter egg hunt with cousins Ethan, Elijah, Alayna, Nathanael, and Alexander. I guess, technically Alexander and Annalise did not participate, but I think they had a great time. Next, the other Franklin brood came home with us and we planted our first raised bed garden. It was a lot of fun and we were pleased with how much the kids (espcially Alayna) enjoyed it. We planted yellow crookneck squash, zucchini, cucumbers, baby carrots, buttercrunch lettuce, eggplant, and tomatoes. We have since put in several herbs. So far, everything is sprouting and looking really great. We are super excited. On Easter Sunday, we went to church, took the little ones to the park for a bit, and then went home for lunch. It was a great weekend. And we enjoyed spending it with our family.

Sweet new pictures

2009-03-23T08:01:00.002-05:00

These are a few new sweet pictures of the kiddos. I just love the one of Gideon at the stream in the park. And the one of Annalise in her backpack. One of her most favorite places to be. :) The picture of Gideon at the table was taken because it was his first time setting the table. We have a new chore chart that he follows. It is not really a reward chart, but he does place a sticker by the chore when he completes it. He is learning to make his bed, feed the cat, take his dishes to the sink, set the table, etc. He absolutely loves doing the chores and begs to do more. ( That may not last very long...but, we will enjoy it while it lasts!)

Annalise's 1st Birthday Party

2009-03-18T20:58:00.003-05:00

We celebrated our precious little girl's first birthday on the 14th. She had a wonderful time. She is becoming such a special little girl and it meant so much to us to have our friends and family with us to celebrate. She received so many sweet gifts and is enjoying all of them. Her pretty ladybug dress was made with love by her Aunt Obbie who is always so generous. God has been so incredibly good to us, granting us such sweet children and family and friends that treasure them and enjoy them with us. Thanks to everyone for helping us celebrate. We love all of the gifts, but love all of you even more. Big hugs and kisses from our sweet girl.

Children at the park

2009-03-14T20:21:00.004-05:00

We recently had our first playdate with some sweet friends. Gideon and Annalise were able to meet and play with Bryant and Sophie Boemer. They had such a good time. And since I forgot my camera, Mrs. Jamie(Bryant and Sophie's Mama) was sweet enough to take some beautiful pics and share them. I love the one of Annalise and Sophie. We had a great time and are looking forward to the next time.

Such sweet gifts from such sweet folks.

2009-03-10T08:32:00.005-05:00

Mr. John and Mrs. Kathy are sweet friends of our little family. They are so kind to my children in every way. They are so sweet and loving to both of them, and are so thoughtful. The children both just had a birthday and we received the best presents from Mr. John and Mrs. Kathy. Gideon received his first batch of moon sand and I have to say he has hardly played with anything else. And, I have enjoyed it quite a bit myself. :) Annalise received a beautiful red and white summer outfit. She looks so gorgeous in it. In fact we will have more pictures to follow of her in her sweet outfit that our sweet friend Mrs. Jamie took in the park. So, a big thanks to Mr. John and Mrs. Kathy. We love the gifts but love you even more. Your generosity is only exceeded by your sweetness.

Pictures of camp out and soccer game

2009-03-10T08:25:00.002-05:00

A few firsts..

2009-03-07T13:03:00.004-06:00

This is the first time that I have ever posted anything without pictures. One reason is that Jake took my camera on his second round of his "Man Adventure" and I forgot to download before he left. Second reason, I forgot my camera for one event completely. Now... on to the Firsts this week. Annalise is such a big girl now that she is one. I am not completely convinced that she loves it. As I mentioned before, she had her shots on her big day. She ran a 102 degree fever the next day as a result. And, now she has discovered that turning one means leaving the paci behind. So, that brings us to our first First. Annalise had her First night without the pacifier. I am not convinced that she agrees with our decision that the paci goes at one year. So far, being one probably seems like a downer. Oh well, we will make it up to her. Gideon had his First dentist appointment. If you could just give me a little time to be an unashamed bragging mother... he did so great. He never even hinted that he would cry or even get upset. He went willingly with the dentist and had his teeth cleaned and examined without a single complaint. I was more than proud to say the least. Such a fine big boy. After his First dentist appointment, he had his First camp out with his Da. He was so excited he didn't even eat his hotdog that we roasted on the campfire for him. (Or his marshmallow.) They stayed out all night and he came in beaming. This morning we got up and headed to our First soccer game. Gideon had sooo much fun. He laughed and ran and was a willing player. He still doesn't seem to get exactly what he is doing. He very politely stopped and allowed the opposing team to kick the ball. HAHAHA!! Such a sweet little man. His coach had to explain that soccer matches are not really the time to share. :) Oh, well. There is always next time. We do have pictures of the campout and soccer game but, I forgot my camera for the dentist appointment. And, I assumed it would not be very kind of me to take the pictures of Annalise's first night without paci. But, just wanted to catch everybody up on what is happening with the Franklins. My little ones are a source of pure joy. I take joy in everyday with them and love watch them grow and advance in this life. I rejoice with them as they accomplish all of their Firsts whether joyful or hard. I am proud that they are mine.

Our Little Lady is one!!

2009-03-06T14:22:00.002-06:00

How could she be one? I have been remembering all week. The excitement of her coming. Dandun being here with us. So many sweet memories.Annalise is getting so big so fast. She is turning into such a funny little girl. Her personality is really starting to shine. She woke up to find her birthday balloon that brother chose for her. She LOVED it. Her party is not until the 14th, but Gideon was ready to celebrate. We got out the party hats and had a celebratory bagel. Of course, she may never forgive me for scheduling her doctor visit on her birthday. Pretty bad to get shots on your big day. But, we will make it up to her. Such a big girl!!

Man Adventure

2009-03-02T16:23:00.006-06:00

Jake just went on his first Hog Hunt with Pete and Jeremy. They had so much fun. We called it the "Man Adventure" so much that even Gideon was asking when "Da would be home from his Man Adventure". And, no they did not get any hogs this time. But, no one seemed to mind. I think they truly had a wonderful adventure. Jake and I are ready for a spring and summer of adventure with the kiddos. Gideon is talking about camping all of the time now. And, I am anxious to get some camping and canoeing in myself. Gideon has been practicing "sleeping" in our sleeping bags. He is very excited about an upcoming camp out with his Da on the property. Life is so good and an adventure in itself.

Snow on the mountain

2009-03-01T20:06:00.002-06:00

We had so much fun today playing in the snow. It snowed very close to 4". It was amazing. The wind was really blowing and with the snow still coming down it felt like we were in a blizzard. (Or as close to as a blizzard as we will ever see!) We went out the first time fairly early. It was really cold and I had Annalise on my hip so I could not play with Gideon as much as I really wanted to. We came inside for a break and to throw all the wet things in the dryer. Round 2 was much more fun because I put Annalise in the backpack and had my hands free to have what Gideon calls "snow battles". After our "battle" I put Gideon on a trash can lid and pulled him all over the yard like a sled. When you live in Alabama, you have to improvise a bit. We had to go in before Gideon and I were ready. Our sweet little girl decided she had enough wind and wet snow blowing in her face. But, we made lots of sweet memories. Just wish that Da could have been with us. But, he was on an adventure of his own. I really enjoyed hearing everybodys snow stories today. (Especially hearing about you making snow cream, Mama. Next snow we are definitely going to do that!)Lots of fun.

Soccer

2009-02-25T11:32:00.003-06:00

Gideon had his first soccer practice yesterday. He had a blast. I won't say that he "bent it like Beckham", but he enjoyed it so much. I do not think that he stopped smiling the whole time.

Gideon is 3!

2009-02-25T11:23:00.003-06:00

I can hardly believe that our little man turned three. He is such a big boy. We are so blessed that he is ours. God gave us such gifts with both of our children. We had a little birthday gathering with Grandmama, Grandad, Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Amy, and their brood. Gideon requested cheeseburgers, chocolate cupcakes, and vanilla icecream. We decided that I would make yeast rolls stuffed with sloppy joe meat and cheese. We figured that would be easy for the little ones and would be a little more fun for the grown ups. I think he loved his cupcakes with sprinkles. He had a great day. We want to thank everyone for making it so special.

Sweet baby goats

2009-02-17T08:30:00.005-06:00

The Franklins have new babies!! YAY! We have 4 sweet new baby goats. So far all are doing well and nursing. These were accidental breedings, but who can be anything but excited when you see new life. What a gift for our little family. Gideon and Annalise are so very excited. They are all so cute. I will post other pictures later.( Hopefully Sally's two will be cleaned up a little more and a little more presentable. The pics of them were immediately after birth)We are hoping all will be well with them. We are cautiously guarding our hearts as we have lost baby goats before, but so far these seem to be thriving. We will keep our fingers crossed.

My sweet little Poindexter

2009-02-13T20:22:00.002-06:00

Gideon just had to put on my glasses tonight. And, I just had to take his picture. Isn't he too sweet. Yesterday, he put his head on the table after lunch. I asked him "Are you tired, Bud?" He sighed and said "No. I am happy." I have to tell you I cried throughout the day thinking about that. That one little statement absolutely made my day. I am so thankful for these little gifts that God has entrusted me with. I pray for wisdom to raise them in the way that He would have me to and the way that they deserve. Not to mention, I want them to be happy. :)

Too much booty for those pants...

2009-02-13T20:15:00.002-06:00

Okay. I am already asking my sweet daughter to forgive me for posting these pics. We put her in these pants and laugh our heads off. She is too cute. Maybe she will never find out I posted these.

Hiking and picnic on Franklin Mountain

2009-02-09T13:09:00.003-06:00

A seventy degree day in February!! Too good to pass up. I took the children on a quick hike around our new fence line. Gideon had a wonderful time and asked to go again as soon as we got home. The picture of Annalise is not so great since she was in the backpack. It is kind of hard for me to get a good shot of her while she is on my back. We had a picnic on "Picnic Rock". The very spot Retta always used to picnic with her little ones. We treasure our home and land. God is good.

Annalise and Mama

2009-02-08T09:43:00.002-06:00

Obviously Annalise got those beautiful blue eyes and long eyelashes from her daddy. Such a pretty girl.

Jake and the guitar

2009-02-08T09:40:00.002-06:00

Jake is playing the guitar a lot these days. He is teaching himself on line. He is doing great. This picture shows him with his old guitar. He just bought a new one. We will post new pictures of that later.

Gideon's Tower

2009-02-08T09:34:00.002-06:00

Blocks are a big thing at our house. Gideon is getting really good at it. I helped him with the "foundation" for this building, but he is quite the builder on his own.

Beauty in blue

2009-02-02T15:06:00.003-06:00

Who says girls can't wear blue? How about this beauty?

Franklin kiddos at the Zoo

2009-01-28T08:04:00.002-06:00

Amy and I took the little ones to the Zoo yesterday since it was almost 70 degrees. They had so much fun. They rode the carousel and got to play on the playground. But, Gideon's favorite thing was still looking at the animals. Specifically, the lion and the llama. Annalise was happy in the backpack. All the kids were thrilled when Da (or Uncus to Alayna, Nathanael, and Alexander) showed up. Forgot to take any pics of Alexander. But, I think he enjoyed his outdoor nap in his stroller.

Yodel Farms with calves

2009-01-20T16:26:00.005-06:00

These pics are a few weeks old. Damon and Fran have a couple of new GORGEOUS jersey calves. We took the kids over to Yodel Farms (where the calves are living until D and F are ready for them) to see them. Damon and Fran got some beautiful shots. I love the smile on Gideon's face. That boy loves animals.

Even more of Lake Guntersville Lodge

2009-01-19T16:20:00.001-06:00

Here are some more shots of the Lodge. Just beautiful.

Gideon's Discovery

2009-01-19T16:12:00.002-06:00

This is a shot of Gideon that we love . He was really taken with this cave we found on our hike. He was a little nervous about going in because we had just read a book about children searching for a lion in a cave. But, it was just too cool watching his amazement.

More Lake Guntersville

2009-01-19T16:08:00.001-06:00

The Lodge and the view from our room.

Lake Guntersville

2009-01-19T15:57:00.003-06:00

We took our little brood to Lake Guntersville State Park for the night. We had such a wonderful time. We were able to hike 3 or 4 miles on some really beautiful trails. We stayed in the recently renovated lodge. If you have not been, you should put it on your list. It is so lovely. We have lots of pics. The children did fantastic on the hike. Annalise loves her backpack so much that she lunges for it whnever we get it out. Gideon was a real trooper. He walked the majority of the way. Such a fine little man.

Our little scholar

2009-01-14T16:43:00.005-06:00

Here is Gideon playing with his magnetic letters that he received for Christmas. He is really enjoying them and they are helping a great deal with letter recognition. We have been kind of throwing in a bit of phonics as well. This morning he brought the letter "R" to me and said "Here is letter R. Letter R starts Arby's." I have not had the heart to correct him yet. It was such a good try. He is getting to be such a big boy.

Annalise in her throne

2009-01-14T12:56:00.001-06:00

2009-01-14T12:38:00.003-06:00

This is too cute. I guess a popsicle feels good to a girl who is cutting her SIXTH tooth.