Our Family Blog

January 2013 - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 12:27:00 +0000

pictures taken January 2013

Bethany helps me unpack the kitchen:

Scooting through one of the parks we can walk to from our new home in Tallahassee:

Messy baby with food in her hair!

Exploring the trails that lead to the other park that we can walk to from our Tallahassee home:

Daddy gets in on a little dress up action:

Lily gives Bethany a tutorial in using her Leapster:

Breakfast with home schoolers! Lily loved learning about anatomy and this 3.5 foot fold out human body was a lot of fun.

Looking sweet:

More exploring of the parks near our home:

Doing some stacking with blocks made by Aunt Becca:

January 2013 - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 12:55:00 +0000

pictures taken January 2013

Bethany's first birthday!!!

As per our family tradition, we had a special dinner at home with a cupcake for dessert and the birthday girl was given the gifts from Mommy and Daddy. Bethany received some new books and a push cart.

Big sister was on hand to help open presents and put together the cart.

One of her favorite activities - parking in front of the bookshelf and reading.

Loni and Lily color together at the Gainesville house, post Bethany birthday party.

At Loni and Luke's house, Bethany enjoys the new books from Grandpa Jack and Nana Muriel.

Lily does a dry run in Luke's boat.

During another trip to Gainesville, Lily tells Gaga all about her first visit to the circus.

Bethany gets creative at Allison and Amanda's birthday party.

Bethany's 1st Birthday Party!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 20:27:00 +0000

Pictures taken January 2012

We had so much fun celebrating Bethany turning 1! What a wonderful day! Having so many friends and family show up to our empty house for a bouncing bee party was great.

Our awesome party helpers!

Serious baby, looking serious:

Trying hard to light the candle without a lighter that worked...

December 2012 - Part 5

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 12:15:00 +0000

pictures taken December 2012

Christmas morning, the girls opening presents near the tree:

Lily enjoying one of her presents, set of playsilks:

Bethany in the pack n play while we do some packing. Because she had never really been in it before, the novelty worked for us for a little bit and bought us some time to get things done for the move.

Lily and Sofia ride bikes together and have a last visit before the move:

The girls being silly, calling each other on their banana phones:

One of our moving helpers who came to help us load the truck:

Another one of our awesome helpers, Dylan, reading books with Bethany:

December 2012 - Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 12:08:00 +0000

pictures taken December 2012

Exploring the area and decorations near our new home in Tallahassee:

The girls are all packed and ready for the move to Tallahassee:

Visiting with the Stubees before we move:

The girls enjoy Christmas with their cousins:

Lily gets her Christmas Eve gift early that morning - a scooter which helps keep her busy while we worked on packing the garage:

Ready for Christmas Eve church service:

December 2012 - Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 11:59:00 +0000

pictures taken December 2012

Lily and I enjoyed going to Lily's first ballet with Nana and Becca. We went to see Cinderella and had such a lovely time!

And here is Bethany's first time in a Publix rocket ship shopping cart!

Sitting at the table like a big kid:

Nana and Aunt Becca joined us for a day at the Harn Art Museum:

Outside in the Asian garden, which was beautiful:

Lily reading Christmas books to Bethany under the tree:

Ready for her first Nutcracker performance! She was so excited to go with Papa James and Kandy!

December 2012 - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 11:48:00 +0000

pictures taken December 2012

Doctor Lily examines Paddington Bear:

Bethany works on her potty training:

One of our favorite pictures! Lily reading to Bethany while Bethany reads on the potty:

Lily doing some reading at the library:

Enjoying a beautiful day and doing school outside:

December 2012 - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 11:42:00 +0000

pictures taken December 2012

Because we were in the middle of getting ready to move, we decided to go for a minimalist Christmas this year. Our tree was so cute and so small, it was perfect!

November 2012 - Part 5

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:39:00 +0000

pictures taken November 2012

Aunt Becca and Lily snuggle up at bedtime:

Becca and Bee:

At the Natural History Museum:

These next few pictures were taken in the Discover Center. Here Lily is working with weights and magnets:

Becca built a mastodon:

Then we went to lunch with Nana and Uncle Michael (although I can't find all of those pictures):

November 2012 - Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:41:00 +0000

pictures taken November 2012

We brought Becca home with us from St. Augustine and enjoyed her visiting with us so much! The girls loved having her around to do puzzles-

Color -

and read together:

She even subbed for me in home school one morning as I had a few unexpected things to take care of:

This is how Lily felt about her visit - AWESOME!

November 2012 - Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

pictures taken November 2012

Thanksgiving night we stayed in the World Golf Village, a beautiful area. Lily really liked our balcony.

Then we went to the Jacksonville Zoo, which both girls really enjoyed.

Lily got to brush a goat:

The next day we headed back to St. Augustine to visit with Grandpa Jack and Nana Muriel:

November 2012 - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

pictures taken November 2012

Taking a walk in the beautiful fall weather:

Lily picked her outfit that day - pink sweater, striped shirt, polka dot pants and a green skirt.

On the drive to St. Augustine for Thanksgiving:

With Aunt Becca:

Bethany pulled up for the first time!!

With Nana:

November 2012 - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

pictures taken November 2012

Bethany loves books just like Lily (and Mommy):

Both girls are also big fans of Duplo:

We had Memaw over for a birthday dinner:

Fun in the tub:

Lily working on her sewing skills:

October 2012 - Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

pictures taken October 2012

Bethany starts using the potty - very successfully:

Lily loves to be a helper and she especially loves to help hang diapers out on her mini-clothesline:

Taking lessons outside, she is practicing her reading:

Peek-a-boo and swinging - two of her favorite things:

October 2012 - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

pictures taken October 2012

More time outside:

Sisters playing together on the porch:

Lily took the next two pictures of Bethany:

Reading:

Bethany finally get the hang of real food - broccoli and carrots here:

Practicing standing and walking with Daddy during cousin Zachary's birthday party in Tampa:

Also getting the hang of drinking from a glass:

October 2012 - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:07:00 +0000

pictures taken October 2012

Lots of time spent outside:

Playing peek-a-boo:

We hosted a garage sale to benefit an orphanage in Mozambique and our friends, Daniel and Sarah, who are going soon to live there and take care of the children. It was a ton of work, but so worth it!

September 2012 - Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:53:00 +0000

Nature study and science at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens:

Feeding the fish that live in the pond in the Children's Garden:

Drawing a leaf in her nature journal:

Also in the Children's Garden, Lily explores the treasure wall:

Bethany does a bit of nature study herself, this time back at home:

She uses all five senses during her studies, including taste:

September 2012 Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:05:00 +0000

Lily made a parachute during our study of air:

Storytime!

Journey bags! There were around 60 bags stored behind our couch for a while (plus another 50 or so in other homes) stocked full of items for kids entering foster care in our area. We so enjoyed being a part of this ministry and thank each of you that contributed.

Loni and Lily being silly:

Francis and I were asked if we would volunteer every so often in our church's classes for children and this is Bethany's first time in the church nursery. She is my little helper when I volunteer. When I'm not volunteering she still stays with us in church or with me in the mothering room. Lily loves having Francis volunteer in her classroom, too. :-)

Spending Time Outside

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

We try to spend as much time outside each day as we can. Here are some pictures from a particularly lovely afternoon in the yard:

Lily is watching the clouds go by...

September 2012 Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Lily makes a Mary Cassatt type art print for school:

and practices her beginning sewing and embroidery skills (this is a rug for her dollhouse):

She built a microphone out of tinker toys and held a concert in the living room:

Bethany and Lily play together:

Labeling her drawing of the firebush in her nature journal:

First Day Of Kindergarten!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Our first day of kindergarten started out right - in our jammies with a hot cup of coffee for Mommy. :)

We ended up starting on Labor Day so Francis was able to be home with us. After finishing our studies at home we went to Kanapaha Botanical Gardens for some nature and science study:

Checking out a sinkhole:

We visit Kanapaha regularly and each time with go Lily finds something to sketch in her nature journal. Later in the week she practices her reading and handwriting skills by labeling her drawing. Here she is matching the color of the fire bush blossom to her colored pencil so she can get the color just right.

Francis and the girls in the bamboo garden:

The first day of kindergarten was a big day for Bethany, too. We found her fast asleep when we got home from Kanapaha:

August 2012 Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

A nice day spent at the park:

Watching some tree service workers chop up a huge fallen tree:

Running down the nature trail with Sofia:

Exploring the creek:

Lily dressed up Bethany as a "fancy baby" and Bethany loved it!

Bethany starting on her math skills early:

Lily and Sofia open an ice cream shop:

Then play dress up and do each other's hair:

Dinner out with Memaw:

Tailgating with the Stubees:

August 2012 Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:40:00 +0000

pictures taken August 2012

After a nice dinner with Memaw and getting all cleaned up and ready for bed, Lily is thrilled to read her an early reader book:

Making a wish:

Tough baby:

August 2012 Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:29:00 +0000

Pictures taken August 2012

Lily does Gaga's hair:

Does some coloring with Loni:

Bethany's first Gator tailgate!

Lily Turns 5!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:20:00 +0000

pictures taken July 2012

Lily turns 5! Unbelievable! She got a few small gifts from us and had a special dinner and cupcake on her actual birthday. Here she is all dressed up as a princess to open her gifts:

Bethany is like what is going on over there with all those presents??

Of course we gave her some new books. She loves to read:

Another huge hit was the zoo clinic set Loni and Luke gave her:

Snuggling with Francis reading one of her new books: